Apps That Pay for Reviews, Visits and Check-ins in 2026

Your opinion has value and so does your presence at specific locations.

Businesses pay significant money to understand consumer behavior, verify store conditions, and generate authentic reviews. Apps in this category connect you to those opportunities, paying for actions you might do anyway. This works because your attention has real monetary value in today's economy.

We tested 18 review and check-in apps over 90 days to find which ones actually pay fairly for your time and effort. Most failed our tests: impossible payout thresholds, penny rewards for hour-long tasks, or mysteriously "disappearing" earnings.

12 apps passed. These platforms pay legitimate amounts for store visits, product reviews, mystery shopping, and location-based check-ins. This guide covers earning potential, time investment, and which apps work best for different situations. No purchases required for most opportunities. For the complete picture of phone-based earning, see our guide to apps that pay real money.

How Review & Check-In Apps Actually Work

These apps operate on three distinct business models, each with different earning potential and effort requirements.

Mystery Shopping Networks

Companies pay to verify store conditions, employee behavior, and customer experience. You visit a location, document your experience through photos and written observations, then submit a detailed report. Pay ranges from $5-$50 per visit, but assignments require significant time and attention to detail.

Location Verification Platforms

Businesses want proof of foot traffic and real customer engagement. You check in via GPS, scan a QR code, or photograph a receipt. Pay is lower, typically $0.10-$5 per action but tasks take seconds rather than minutes. High volume makes up for low per-task pay.

Review Aggregators

Platforms need authentic product and service reviews to attract users and advertising. You write detailed opinions about purchases, experiences, or services. Payment varies based on review quality, length, and the platform's specific model.

Location-based earning works best when you visit places naturally. For QR-focused options that don't require detailed reviews, see our guide to apps that pay to scan QR codes.

12 Apps That Pay for Reviews, Visits & Check-ins

Category 1: Quick Check-In & Scan Apps

1. VISU Network

Pay: $0.025-$1.00+ per scan depending on campaign | Time: Seconds | Payout: Token/Credits

VISU Network pays you to scan QR codes at partner locations like restaurants, retail stores, events, and cafes. Scan the code, watch a brief ad or engage with branded content, and earn instantly. No review writing, no lengthy surveys, no purchase requirements.

The model differs from traditional check-in apps: advertisers fund rewards directly, so payouts are immediate rather than requiring point accumulation. Active users report earning $15-$40 monthly from regular scanning during normal daily activities. For details on how VISU rewards actually work, see our breakdown.

Our verdict: Fastest earning per minute spent. Best for people who eat out, shop, or attend events regularly.

For a detailed analysis of VISU including payout verification and user experiences, see our VISU legitimacy review.

2. Shopkick

Pay: Points for walk-ins and scans | Time: 2-5 minutes per store | Payout: Gift cards, $5 minimum

Shopkick rewards "kicks" (points) for walking into partner stores and scanning product barcodes. 250 kicks equals roughly $1. You don't need to buy anything — just walk in, scan featured products, and leave. Partner stores include Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and grocery chains.

The catch: not all stores near you will have active offers. Urban users see more opportunities than rural ones. For more apps in this category, see our guide to apps that pay for store visits.

Our verdict: Solid option if you already shop at partner stores. Not worth going out of your way.

3. Foap

Pay: $5+ per photo accepted | Time: Minutes to upload | Payout: PayPal, $5 minimum

Foap connects photographers with brands seeking authentic user-generated content. Take photos of products, locations, or everyday scenes and upload to the marketplace. When a brand purchases your photo, you earn $5+ (Foap takes 50% commission). "Missions" from specific brands pay $50-$500 for winning photos.

Our verdict: Best for photography enthusiasts. Casual users may struggle to make consistent sales.

Category 2: Mystery Shopping & Store Audits

4. Field Agent

Pay: $3-$20 per job | Time: 15-30 minutes | Payout: PayPal within 48 hours

Field Agent assigns retail audit jobs like photographing shelf displays, checking prices, verifying product availability, or testing customer service. Accept a nearby job, visit the location, complete required photos and questions, submit within the deadline. Jobs pay $3-$20 depending on complexity.

Higher-paying jobs ($15-$20) often require more detailed documentation or multiple store visits.

Our verdict: Good pay rate if jobs are available near you. Availability varies heavily by location.

5. Gigwalk

Pay: $3-$100 per gig | Time: 15 minutes to 2 hours | Payout: PayPal, usually 24-48 hours

Gigwalk offers similar retail audit work with a wider range of job complexity. Simple price checks pay $3-$5. Full store audits with detailed photography and reports can pay $50-$100. Build your reputation through quality submissions to access higher-paying opportunities.

Our verdict: Higher earning ceiling than Field Agent, but requires building reputation first.

6. Mobee

Pay: 50-1,000 points per mission (10,000 points = $5) | Time: 10-20 minutes | Payout: Gift cards

Mobee focuses on restaurant and retail mystery shopping "missions." Visit a location, answer questions about your experience, submit photo proof, earn points. The gamified approach makes it more engaging than traditional mystery shopping, though earnings per hour remain modest.

Our verdict: Fun interface, but lower per-hour earnings than dedicated mystery shopping apps.

Category 3: Product Review Platforms

7. ReviewStream

Pay: $0.50-$2.00 per review | Time: 10-15 minutes per review | Payout: PayPal, $50 minimum (high threshold)

ReviewStream pays for detailed product, service, and local business reviews. Payment depends on review quality, uniqueness, and reader engagement. The $50 minimum payout threshold means you'll need 25-100 approved reviews before cashing out — not ideal for quick earners.

Our verdict: Only worthwhile if you enjoy writing reviews. The high minimum makes it a slow earner.

8. UserTesting (Store Visits)

Pay: $10-$60 per test | Time: 20-60 minutes | Payout: PayPal, 7 days after test

UserTesting primarily offers website usability tests, but some opportunities involve visiting physical stores, testing checkout processes, or documenting in-store experiences. These "field studies" pay more ($30-$60) than standard desktop tests ($10). Availability varies by location.

Our verdict: Excellent pay when available, but store-visit opportunities are rare compared to online tests.

9. Observa

Pay: $1-$10 per observation | Time: 5-15 minutes | Payout: PayPal/Venmo, $3 minimum

Observa assigns quick photo and video tasks at local businesses — documenting displays, checking stock levels, or capturing store conditions. Lower-paying than full mystery shops, but faster to complete with a reasonable $3 minimum payout.

Our verdict: Good middle ground between quick scans and full mystery shopping assignments.

Category 4: Receipt & Purchase Verification

10. Ibotta

Pay: $0.25-$5.00 cashback per offer | Time: Seconds to activate, seconds to submit | Payout: PayPal/Venmo, $20 minimum

Ibotta provides cashback on grocery and retail purchases. Activate offers before shopping, buy qualifying products, submit your receipt photo, receive cashback. Works at major retailers including Walmart, Target, and most grocery chains. Requires actual purchases, but you earn from spending you'd do anyway. See more options in our best cashback apps guide.

Our verdict: Essential for grocery shoppers. The $20 minimum is manageable with regular use.

11. Fetch Rewards

Pay: Points per receipt + brand bonuses | Time: Seconds per receipt | Payout: Gift cards, $3 minimum

Fetch accepts receipts from any store — no pre-activation required. Scan any receipt, earn points. Certain brands and products earn bonus points. The low $3 minimum makes cashing out accessible. Works best as a "set it and forget it" addition to your earning stack.

Our verdict: Lowest effort receipt app. The $3 minimum is the best in this category.

12. ReceiptPal

Pay: Points per receipt | Time: Seconds | Payout: Gift cards, Amazon sweepstakes, $10-25 minimum

ReceiptPal awards points for any receipt — grocery, restaurants, gas stations, online orders. Earnings are modest (roughly $5-$10 per month for active users), but the effort is minimal. Higher payout thresholds make it a slower earner than Fetch.

Our verdict: Use as a secondary receipt app after Fetch. Higher minimums hurt overall value.

Receipt apps work well alongside location-based earning. For apps focused purely on quick tasks without store requirements, see our guide to apps that pay for small tasks.

Comparison Table: Review & Check-In Apps

How to Maximize Review & Check-In Earnings

Stack Apps by Location Type

The most effective earners don't rely on single apps — they stack multiple opportunities per visit. Going to a restaurant? Scan the VISU QR code for instant payment, activate Ibotta cashback offers before ordering, submit the receipt to Fetch after paying, and check Gigwalk for nearby restaurant audit jobs. One visit, four earning opportunities.

Example Stacking Scenario

Target shopping trip:

1. Before leaving home: Check Field Agent and Gigwalk for nearby jobs. Activate any Ibotta offers for items on your list.
2. Upon arriving: Earn Shopkick kicks for walking into Target. If there's a VISU QR code, scan it for instant payment.
3. While shopping: Complete Field Agent product photo task ($8, 10 minutes).
4. After checkout: Scan receipt with Fetch Rewards (5 seconds), then upload to Ibotta for cashback.

Total earnings from one 30-minute shopping trip: $8 (Field Agent) + $0.50 (VISU) + $0.25 (Shopkick) + $0.50 (Fetch) + $3.00 (Ibotta) = $12.25

That's $24.50/hour effective rate while doing shopping you needed anyway.

For a complete stacking strategy across all earning types, see our comprehensive guide to money-making apps.

Focus on High-Value Opportunities (But Calculate Effectively)

Mystery shops paying $10+ seem more lucrative than quick scans paying $0.50. But consider time investment: $10 for 60 minutes equals $10/hour. $0.50 for 30 seconds equals $60/hour effective rate. VISU's instant scans often beat mystery shopping on a per-hour basis, even with lower per-task payouts.

Build Ratings for Better Opportunities

Platforms like Field Agent and Gigwalk reserve high-paying jobs for top-rated agents. During your first few weeks, prioritize perfect completion over maximum volume. Take clear, well-lit photos. Submit on time. Answer questions thoroughly. Higher ratings unlock $20-$100 jobs that new users can't access.

Enable Notifications

High-value gigs disappear within minutes. Turn on push notifications for all your active apps so you catch lucrative opportunities before they're claimed. Morning commute is prime time for new job postings.

Combine with Passive Earning

Review and check-in apps require active effort. Balance your earning stack with passive income apps that generate money in the background while you complete active tasks.

Red Flags: Review App Scams

The review and mystery shopping space attracts scammers. Avoid apps that require upfront payment to access jobs — legitimate platforms never charge workers. Be skeptical of promises exceeding $100/hour for simple reviews; real rates are $5-$25/hour for most people.

Watch for impossible payout thresholds ($500 minimum withdrawals), requests for excessive personal information beyond what's needed for payment, and lack of verifiable payment proof from real users. If an app has no reviews on legitimate forums or app stores, proceed with extreme caution.

Realistic Monthly Earnings

Your earnings depend on location density, time investment, and which app categories you focus on. Here's what our 90-day test revealed across different user types:

Students can fit these opportunities between classes with minimal schedule disruption. See our guide to money apps for students for flexible earning strategies. If you need faster payouts, check our side hustles that pay daily guide.

Frequently Asked Questions