Warning: many complaints about not getting paid
There are a lot of complaints from people who say Panda Research has not paid them, and I could not find any really positive reviews of the site. Its own terms say it does not guarantee that you receive credit for a completed survey or offer. Most of its “surveys” are promotional offers, and some make you pay to sign up. A reader told me in 2023 that money was still locked up and not credited. I do not recommend Panda Research. The sites I recommend instead are at the end of this review.
I signed up for Panda Research and looked deep into what it offers, its terms and the complaints about it. Below is what I found, why I think it is too risky to join, and which survey sites I recommend instead.
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 Panda Research himself and does not earn a commission from it.Learn more about Mikael
Last retested · First published
Too risky: a $50 threshold, no payment guarantee and many complaints
Most “surveys” are promotional offers, and many people say they were not paid.
On this page
The short answer
At first sight, Panda Research looks like a legit survey site where you can earn some extra cash. But most of what it presents as paid surveys are promotional offers, some of which you have to pay for.
You cannot cash out until you have earned $50, its terms do not guarantee that you get paid, and there are A LOT of complaints from people who say they were not paid. In my opinion, Panda Research is simply too risky to join and spend time on.
- Free to join
- Pays out through PayPal
- The website works fairly well on mobile
- Limited earning opportunities
- High payout threshold: $50
- Many complaints about not getting paid
- Its terms do not guarantee that you get paid
- Many offers on the site are VERY poor
- You cannot opt out of its promotional emails
My experience with Panda Research
I signed up for Panda Research, went through its surveys, offers, emails and terms, and looked for complaints about it. This is what I looked at, and what I did not test.
- First checked
- November 2018Review first published Nov 25, 2018
- Latest retest
- Checked: surveys, offers, payouts, terms, complaints
- Emails after testing
- DailyEven though I did not confirm my email address
- The sign-up process and the offers it shows you there
- The “Available Surveys” and “My Studies” sections
- The paid emails and the email settings
- The referral program, the payout rules and the terms
- The website on a mobile phone
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from Panda Research.
- Taking the paid offers. I would have had to pay to sign up for some of them.
Inside Panda Research: my video
I made a video that gives you an inside look at Panda Research, so you can see exactly how it works. The design of Panda Research has been updated since I recorded it, but what it offers and how it works is still exactly the same.
Screenshots from Panda Research
Panda Research is too risky, in my opinion. These sites have real surveys, lower thresholds and a better reputation.
See the best alternativesPanda Research at a glance
| What it is | A site that presents itself as a paid survey site, but mostly shows promotional offers |
|---|---|
| Company | A & A Marketing. Panda Research has existed since 2005. |
| Ways to earn | Surveys and offers, paid emails, and inviting friends |
| Joining bonus | $3 |
| Payout method | PayPal only |
| Minimum cashout | $50. At most $25 of each payout can come from emails. |
| Payment guarantee | None. Its terms say it does not guarantee you receive credit for a completed survey or offer. |
| Who can join | US residents aged 18 or older |
| Mobile | No app. The website works fairly well on mobile, but paid emails only count on a desktop. |
Is Panda Research legit and safe?
There are different opinions about this. You can earn on Panda Research, but it has several warning signs. Here is what you should know before you join.
- Many complaints about not getting paid
When I looked for reviews of Panda Research, I found A LOT of complaints, and I could not find any really positive reviews. Most of them are about not being able to get the money out, and some people have waited years.
- No payment guarantee in its terms
The terms say Panda Research “does NOT guarantee that a member will receive credit for a completed survey and offer”, and that it does not guarantee the precision of its tracking. Combined with the complaints, that is a reason to worry.
- Offers presented as surveys
Most of the “surveys” are promotional offers Panda Research gets paid to promote. Some make you pay to sign up, or get you contacted by a lot of advertisers. I saw a $30 “evaluation” that was really a get-rich-quick program you had to buy. This is a clear breach of trust, in my opinion.
- A $50 payout threshold
You cannot get paid until you have earned $50, which is very high compared to most survey sites. With few opportunities, it can take a long time, and you can waste a lot of time if you end up not getting paid.
- You cannot opt out of its emails
You can only choose daily, weekly, bi-weekly or weekday emails. I did not confirm my email address after testing it, and I still got daily emails.
My takeAt first sight, Panda Research looks like a legit site where you can earn some extra cash. But combined with the fact that their terms state they do not guarantee payment, and after having taken a look at the offers they have, Panda Research, in my opinion, simply is too risky to join and spend time on. There are so many great survey sites with more earning opportunities, a lower payout threshold, and a better reputation, so why take the risk?
How you earn on Panda Research
There are 4 ways to earn. Read the conditions of every offer before you take it. Tap one to read more.
SurveysFew real surveys
You find some regular paid surveys in the “My Studies” section, but there are not a lot of them. The “Available Surveys” section has plenty of items, but most of them are NOT actual paid surveys. They are promotional offers that Panda Research gets paid to promote.
Some lead to sites where you really get paid for feedback, like the Nielsen panel. But many have nothing to do with surveys, and some make you pay to sign up or get you contacted by a lot of advertisers.
Paid offersRead the terms
You already see offers during the sign-up process, such as a free tax defense consultation. Those are not paid; Panda Research earns when you sign up for them. Once you are a member, you find offers that pay you.
Read the terms of every offer. I saw an offer that looked like $30 for an “evaluation”. In reality, you had to pay to join a get-rich-quick program that promises $500–$1000 per day. Stay away from offers like that.
Paid emailsMax $25 per payout
You earn a little for reading the promotional emails Panda Research sends you. At most $25 of each payout can come from emails; the rest has to come from other methods. Emails only count when you open them on a desktop, not on a phone. You cannot opt out of them.
Invite friends10%
You earn 10% of what a friend you invite earns, not counting their paid emails. Panda Research pays this, not your friend. But you only get it when your friend requests a payout, and with a $50 threshold, many people may give up before they reach it.
How much can you make?
You should not expect to earn a lot of money on Panda Research. It can be a way to make a little extra cash, but even with the $3 joining bonus, it can take you a long time to reach the very high payout threshold with the number of opportunities the site offers.
And before you try to reach the threshold, read the complaints and the payment terms in this review.
How you get paid
| Method | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | $50 | The only payout method. At most $25 of each payout can come from paid emails. |
PayPal is a great and easy way to get your money, but $50 is a very high threshold. Some of the quickest paying sites pay out when you have earned $1. See the quick paying survey sites with a low minimum payout, or the best survey sites that pay through PayPal.
Who can join?
You can only join Panda Research if you are at least 18 years old and live in the USA. With so many great survey sites in the USA, look at the best survey sites for the USA before you spend any time on Panda Research.
There is no app, but the website was redesigned and works fairly well on mobile. Paid emails only count when you open them on a desktop.
What readers told me
This review has 4 comments since 2022: 2 from readers and 2 replies from me.
A reader in 2023 had money still locked up and not credited to the account.
A reader agrees that the survey notifications are just links to sign up for money-making schemes.
“I have monies still locked up and not credited to my account.”
Mikael: As I explain in the review above, it is not really a platform I recommend using as there are many better options, in my experience.
“I get survey notifications from them that are just links to sign up for BS schemes to make money. It really has been a waste of time as far as making ANY extra money for taking surveys.”
Mikael: Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Panda Research alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| PrizeRebel | Many surveys and offers, and excellent support | $5 PayPal; some gift cards from $2 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Prime Opinion | Surveys only, high pay per survey and fast payouts | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| Survey Junkie | Popular survey site and app with PayPal payouts | 500 points ($5) | 4.4 / 5 |
| Branded Surveys | Surveys in the US, UK and Canada | $5 | 4.4 / 5 |
In the US, see the best survey sites for the USA. Anywhere else, see the top survey sites in your country.
How I scored Panda Research
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
Panda Research scores 30 out of 100. For surveys that pay reliably, see these sites first.
See the best alternativesPanda Research FAQ
Is Panda Research a scam?
There are different opinions about this. You can earn on it, but there are A LOT of complaints from people who say they were not paid, and its terms do not guarantee payment. In my opinion, it is too risky to join.
What is the Panda Research minimum payout?
$50, paid through PayPal. At most $25 of each payout can come from paid emails.
Are the Panda Research surveys real surveys?
A few are, in the “My Studies” section. Most of the items in “Available Surveys” are promotional offers, and some make you pay to sign up.
Who can join Panda Research?
Only US residents aged 18 or older.
Can I stop the Panda Research emails?
No. You can only choose daily, weekly, bi-weekly or weekday emails. There is no option to opt out.
Does Panda Research work on mobile?
Yes, the website works fairly well on mobile. But paid emails only count when you open them on a desktop.
Who owns Panda Research?
A & A Marketing. Panda Research has existed since 2005.
Who checked Panda Research 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 Panda Research, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
I have monies still locked up and not credited to my account. When you were and still are counting on those funds yet they don’t show up, makes you wonder.
Sorry to hear that. As I explain in the review above, it is not really a platform I recommend using as there are many better options, in my experience.
I agree with this assessment. I get survey notifications from them that are just links to sign up for BS schemes to make money. It really has been a waste of time as far as making ANY extra money for taking surveys.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.