I looked into National Consumer Panel to see if scanning your shopping is worth it. It is legit and has big sweepstakes prizes, but the rewards are low for the time, there is no cash, and you have to be accepted. Below is what I found, and which sites I would pick first.
Tested by Mikael (EarnWithMike)Founder and lead testerMikael founded PaidFromSurveys in 2016 and has personally tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites since then. He shows his tests and payment proof to 555K+ subscribers on his YouTube channel, EarnWithMike. He checked National Consumer Panel himself and does not earn a commission from it.Learn more about Mikael
Legit, but low rewards for scanning all your shopping
A US panel from Nielsen and IRI. Gift catalog rewards only, and you have to be accepted.
On this page
The short answer
National Consumer Panel is legit. It is a joint venture between Nielsen and IRI, two of the leading market research companies in the USA, and it has been around for about 30 years. You scan everything you buy and earn points for it.
But it does not pay out in cash, and the rewards are fairly low for the time it takes to scan all your purchases. It is only for the US, and you have to apply and be accepted. Whether you are happy with it depends a lot on your expectations. Do it for fun and a bit extra, not for real money.
- Free to join
- A fun and different way to give feedback
- Great sweepstakes prizes
- An intuitive app for Android and iOS
- Support by email, Facebook and phone
- Fairly low rewards for the time spent
- Does not pay out in cash
- Can take time to be accepted as a member
- Only available in the US
- You have to scan regularly to stay a member
My experience with National Consumer Panel
I looked at how National Consumer Panel works, its app, its rewards and its support. This is what I checked myself, and what I did not test.
- First checked
- April 2019Review first published Apr 21, 2019
- Latest retest
- Checked: scanning, rewards, sweepstakes, support
- Rewards start at
- Around 8,000 pointsFrom the gift catalog
- Payout
- Not shownMy review does not show a reward
- How the scanner and the app work
- The surveys, sweepstakes and member perks
- The gift catalog
- The support options, including replies on its Facebook page
- Scanning my own shopping as a panel member. My review does not show that I was accepted.
- A reward. My review does not show a reward from the gift catalog.
National Consumer Panel at a glance
| What it is | Shopping data panel, a joint venture between Nielsen and IRI |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free |
| Ways to earn | Scanning your purchases, surveys and special studies, sweepstakes |
| Points for scanning | Unclear. Some people report 20-50 points per item, others 150 points per week at the start. |
| Bonuses | On your birthday, after 3, 6 and 12 months, and every yearly anniversary |
| Minimum reward | Around 8,000 points |
| Rewards | Gifts from the gift catalog. No cash. |
| Scanner | A handheld scanner, or the app for Android and iOS |
| Who can join | US only. You apply and have to be accepted, depending on your demographic group. |
| Support | Email, Facebook and phone |
Is National Consumer Panel legit and safe?
Yes, National Consumer Panel is legit: there are reputable companies behind it, and you can earn from it. But it is very different from most survey sites. Here is what you should know before you apply.
- It takes time and effort
You scan the barcodes of everything you buy, and you add products without barcodes, such as fruits, vegetables and baked goods. It will not give you a great hourly rate for your efforts.
- No cash, and unclear points
You cannot get paid in cash. You choose gifts from the gift catalog, starting at around 8,000 points. How many points you get for scanning is unclear, and it seems to depend on how long you have been a member.
- You have to be accepted
It is only for the US, and even there you are not guaranteed a spot. It depends on your demographic group, such as where you live and how many people are in your household. If you are not accepted, you go on a waitlist.
- You are responsible for the scanner
If you use the handheld scanner and later leave the panel, you have to return it. Some members report technical problems with the scanner. The app avoids both.
- You cannot be inactive for long
Scanning is required. If you do not scan for a little while, the panel contacts you to ask if you still want to be a member.
My takeOverall, I think National Consumer Panel can be a different way to give feedback and get some rewards at the same time. You just have to do it for fun and to earn a bit extra, as it will not make you huge money unless you win the quarterly sweepstakes. If you join, I recommend the mobile app over the scanner: it is a lot more practical and saves you time.
National Consumer Panel pays in gifts and takes a lot of scanning. The top sites in your country let you earn more effectively.
See the best sites in your countryHow you earn on National Consumer Panel
There are 4 ways to earn or save. Scanning your shopping is the main one, and it is required. Tap one to read more.
Scan when you shopWeekly points
The panel collects data about shopping habits, quite similar to NielsenIQ Homescan. Manufacturers and retailers use it to improve their products, so they are willing to pay for it.
You get a handheld scanner, or you use the mobile app. After a shopping trip, you scan the barcodes of everything you bought. You also add products without barcodes, which shop you went to if you shopped online, and some general information. The data is sent once a week.
The app seems like the obvious choice to me. You can start sooner, you are not responsible for any equipment, and you do not carry a scanner around.
Surveys and special studiesExtra points
Members are encouraged to take surveys. They ask follow-up questions about your shopping habits, and you earn points depending on the length. I could not find how many points they pay.
Do not expect big money from them. Take them mostly if you want your opinion heard. Sometimes you are invited to special studies that earn extra rewards.
SweepstakesLuck only
When you take part regularly, you get entries into weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly sweepstakes. The biggest is the quarterly sweepstakes, where one winner gets $5,000. It used to be $20,000.
Other prizes range from $25-$500, and some are products. You have to be lucky to win any of these.
Membership perksDiscounts
Panel members sometimes get special discounts from the panel’s partners, for example on AT&T Wireless plans and accessories. It is not worth joining just for this, but it is a nice bonus.
How much can you make?
It is difficult to say exactly. The longer you are a member, the better your opportunities and rewards, according to National Consumer Panel.
But no matter what, it will not make you big money. Scanning all your purchases takes quite a bit of time and effort, so you will not get a great hourly rate. It can be fun, and if you are lucky, you can win a great prize in the sweepstakes. Overall, it takes patience to earn and get a reward from NCP.
Points and rewards
| How you earn points | Points |
|---|---|
| Scanning your shopping each week | Unclear: some report 20-50 per item, others 150 per week at the start |
| Surveys and special studies | Depends on the length |
| Birthday and membership anniversaries | Bonus points after 3, 6 and 12 months, then every year |
You use your points for gifts from the National Consumer Panel gift catalog, which has a lot of great gifts. Rewards start at around 8,000 points, and you can save up for bigger ones.
You cannot get paid in cash. With so many rewards to choose from, it is almost as good as cash. If you only want sites that pay cash, see the best PayPal survey sites.
Who can join National Consumer Panel?
National Consumer Panel does not let just anyone become a member. It is only a panel for the US, and even there you have to apply and be accepted. That depends on your demographic group, such as where you live and how many people are in your household. If you are not accepted, you go on a waitlist.
They are often looking for new members, so if you are interested, why not give it a try? If you live outside the US, NielsenIQ Homescan is similar in some ways and available in more countries.
The app runs on Android and iOS. The user interface is quite intuitive, and the overall experience is quite good, in my opinion.
For support, you can email them, message them on Facebook, or call the phone number on their website. Opinions about the support differ: some members say it is not very responsive, others say it is really helpful. On Facebook, they respond very quickly to both positive and negative comments.
Is National Consumer Panel available in your country?
National Consumer Panel is only for the US. Pick your country to see if it is on my list of the best sites there, and which sites are.
National Consumer Panel alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survey Junkie | Easy-to-use survey site in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK | $5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Swagbucks | Many daily ways to earn, one of the biggest GPT sites | About $5 PayPal; gift cards from 100 SB | 4.3 / 5 |
| NielsenIQ Homescan | Also scan your groceries, in Australia and other countries | Varies by reward | 3.5 / 5 |
| Fetch Rewards | US only. Scan any receipt for points | 3,000 points ($3) | 3.3 / 5 |
| Ibotta | US only. Cashback on groceries, in store and online | $20 | 3.3 / 5 |
If you want to earn extra money more effectively with small online tasks, see the best Get-Paid-To sites or the best survey and Get-Paid-To sites in your country.
How I scored National Consumer Panel
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
National Consumer Panel scores 46 out of 100. To earn more effectively, see these sites first.
See the best sites in your countryNational Consumer Panel FAQ
Is National Consumer Panel a scam?
No. It is a legit panel from Nielsen and IRI that has been around for about 30 years. But the rewards are low for the time it takes, and it does not pay cash.
Who runs National Consumer Panel?
It is a joint venture between Nielsen and IRI, two of the leading market research companies in the USA.
Does National Consumer Panel pay cash?
No. You exchange your points for gifts from the gift catalog. Rewards start at around 8,000 points.
Do I need the scanner?
No. You can use the app for Android or iOS instead. I recommend it: you are not responsible for any equipment, and it saves you time.
Who can join National Consumer Panel?
Only people in the US, and you have to apply and be accepted. It depends on your demographic group. If you are not accepted, you go on a waitlist.
What can I win in the sweepstakes?
The quarterly sweepstakes pays $5,000 to one winner. Other prizes range from $25-$500, and some are products.
How do I contact National Consumer Panel?
By email, on Facebook, or by phone. The phone number is on its website.
Who checked National Consumer Panel for this review
Founder of PaidFromSurveys.com since 2016. Mikael has tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites and shares his tests with 555K+ subscribers on YouTube (October 2026).
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with National Consumer Panel, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
Thank you very much for the advice and the pros n cons the information was very helpful I will be back to let you know how everything went Thanks Once Again????????
Glad it helped.