☰What’s in this guide21 sectionsShowHide
- 1Best UK Mystery Shopping Platforms
- 2What Is Mystery Shopping?
- 3How Does Mystery Shopping Work?
- 4Mystery Shopping vs Micro-Tasks
- 5Mystery Shopping
- 6Micro-Tasks
- 7Real Examples of Mystery Shopping Tasks
- 8Product Display Check (£5 - £30+)
- 9Checkout Audit (£10 - £20)
- 10Mystery Shop (£7 - £20+)
- 11Free Pint Visits
- 12How Much Can You Earn?
- 13How to Maximise Your Earnings
- 14Stack Tasks Together
- 15Focus on Higher-Paying Jobs
- 16Check Apps Daily
- 17Combine with Existing Trips
- 18Do People Ever Question You?
- 19Tax & Record Keeping
- 20Is Mystery Shopping Worth It?
- 21Calculate Your Earnings
Earn money by completing mystery shopping tasks, retail audits and product checks. A flexible side hustle that lets you get paid for visiting shops, taking photos and providing feedback.
Best UK Mystery Shopping Platforms
What Is Mystery Shopping?
What if we told you that brands will actually pay you to visit shops, take a few photos, check a display, buy a pint, or simply report back on your experience in-store?
That's exactly what mystery shopping is.
It's one of the easiest side hustles to fit around everyday life because many tasks can be completed while you're already out shopping, commuting or running errands.
We've personally earned thousands of pounds from mystery shopping apps over the years, and whilst it won't replace a full-time income, it can be a great way to generate an extra £50-£500+ per month.
The best part? Most tasks require no special skills and can be completed using nothing more than your smartphone.
How Does Mystery Shopping Work?
Companies pay mystery shoppers to collect information from stores, restaurants, pubs and other businesses.
This can include:
✅ Taking photos of displays
✅ Checking prices and stock levels
✅ Reporting on customer service
✅ Confirming promotions are displayed correctly
✅ Purchasing and reviewing products
✅ Completing mystery visits
You'll accept a task through an app, visit the location, complete the instructions and upload your findings. Once approved, you'll get paid directly through the platform.
Mystery Shopping vs Micro-Tasks
There are generally two types of jobs available.
Mystery Shopping
These involve assessing your experience as a customer.
Examples include:
Visiting a mobile phone shop and asking questions
Buying a drink and reporting on service
Assessing staff knowledge
Checking cleanliness and presentation
Micro-Tasks
These are often quicker and easier.
Examples include:
Photographing a promotional display
Checking shelf stock levels
Scanning products
Confirming pricing information
Auditing checkout areas
Many people actually earn most of their money from micro-tasks rather than traditional mystery shopping.
Real Examples of Mystery Shopping Tasks
To give you an idea of what these jobs actually look like, here are examples of tasks we've completed:
Product Display Check (£5 - £30+)
Visit a supermarket.
Find a specific display.
Take a few photos.
Answer questions about stock levels and pricing.
Checkout Audit (£10 - £20)
Visit a store.
Take photos of tills or checkout areas.
Answer a short questionnaire.
Mystery Shop (£7 - £20+)
Interact with staff.
Ask specific questions.
Report on the experience afterwards.
Free Pint Visits
One of the more enjoyable tasks.
Visit a pub.
Purchase a specified drink.
Take a photo.
Answer a few questions.
Get reimbursed for the drink and receive payment for completing the task.
How Much Can You Earn?
This varies hugely depending on location and how much effort you put in.
As a rough guide:
Beginners: £20-£100 per month
Regular users: £100-£300 per month
Highly active users: £300-£600+ per month
Some experienced mystery shoppers earn considerably more by targeting higher-paying assignments and combining multiple tasks into the same trip.
We've personally seen months exceed £300 from mystery shopping alone.
How to Maximise Your Earnings
The biggest mistake beginners make is travelling long distances for low-paying jobs.
Instead:
Stack Tasks Together
If you're already visiting Tesco, see if multiple apps have jobs nearby.
One trip could generate income from several different tasks.
Focus on Higher-Paying Jobs
Not every assignment is worth accepting.
Always estimate:
Travel time
Time in-store
Reporting time
Check Apps Daily
Many of the best jobs disappear quickly.
The people who earn the most are often the ones who check the apps
everal times per day.
Combine with Existing Trips
This is where mystery shopping becomes powerful.
If you're already heading to the supermarket, earning an extra £5-£20 while you're there feels much more worthwhile.
Do People Ever Question You?
This is one of the most common concerns.
The reality is that most store staff don't notice.
If somebody does ask what you're doing, you can simply explain that you're completing a store audit, mystery shop or sending product photos to someone else.
After a few jobs, you'll become completely comfortable taking photos in public.
Tax & Record Keeping
Mystery shopping income is generally taxable.
If your side hustle earnings exceed the relevant thresholds, you may need to declare them to HMRC.
It's also worth keeping records of:
Payments received
Jobs completed
Mileage travelled
Business mileage may be claimable as an expense if you're completing tasks specifically for work purposes.
Is Mystery Shopping Worth It?
For most people, yes.
It won't make you rich overnight, but it's flexible, easy to start and can fit around almost any schedule.
The key is treating it as a collection of small opportunities rather than relying on one huge payday.
Install a few apps, complete a handful of tasks and see which ones work best in your area.
You might be surprised how quickly those £5, £10 and £20 jobs add up.
Calculate Your Earnings
Work out your true hourly rate on any mystery shopping job — after time, travel and costs — and see if it beats the wage you'd happily work for.
What you get paid
How long it takes
Costs you'll incur
If you'd have bought the item anyway, set its value to what you'd have paid. Anything you wouldn't have bought is worth £0.
Defaults to UK National Living Wage (£12.21). Change it to whatever wage you'd happily work for.
Frequently asked questions
Is mystery shopping legitimate?
Yes. Mystery shopping has been around for decades and is used by major brands, supermarkets, restaurants and retailers to monitor customer experience, store standards and product displays. Legitimate mystery shopping companies will pay you for completing genuine tasks and audits.
How much can you make from mystery shopping?
Most people won't replace their full-time income, but many mystery shoppers earn anywhere from £20 to £300+ per month depending on their location, availability and the number of apps they use. Active users who regularly complete higher-paying tasks can earn significantly more.
Do I need any experience?
No. Most mystery shopping apps are beginner-friendly and provide step-by-step instructions for every task. The biggest learning curve is simply becoming comfortable taking photos and completing reports in public.
What types of tasks are available?
Tasks vary by app and location but commonly include:
Taking photos of product displays
Checking prices and promotions
Completing store audits
Mystery shopping visits
Testing customer service
Reviewing products
Purchasing and being reimbursed for specific items
Which mystery shopping app is best?
In our experience, Roamler tends to offer the best mixture of regular work, mystery visits and retail audits. However, we recommend installing multiple apps including Shepper, SmartSpotter, Field Agent and BeMyEye to maximise the number of available tasks.
How do mystery shopping apps pay you?
Most apps pay directly to your bank account or PayPal once tasks have been approved. Some platforms have minimum withdrawal thresholds before you can cash out your earnings.
How long do mystery shopping tasks take?
Simple product checks can take less than five minutes, while larger mystery shopping assignments may take 20-30 minutes or longer. As you gain experience, you'll become much faster at completing jobs and reports.
Can I do mystery shopping while shopping normally?
Absolutely. Many experienced mystery shoppers combine tasks with their existing shopping trips. Completing multiple jobs in the same area is one of the best ways to increase your hourly earnings.
Are you allowed to take photos in stores?
Yes. Many mystery shopping assignments require photographs as evidence. Whilst staff may occasionally ask what you're doing, it is extremely rare for this to cause any issues. Some tasks even include an authorisation letter within the app if required.
Is mystery shopping income taxable?
Yes. Mystery shopping income is generally considered taxable income in the UK. If your side hustle earnings exceed the relevant thresholds, you may need to declare them to HMRC. Keeping records of earnings and mileage is highly recommended.
Can I claim mileage expenses?
If you're travelling specifically to complete mystery shopping assignments, you may be able to claim mileage expenses in line with HMRC guidance. Always keep accurate records and seek professional advice if unsure.
Why do some tasks pay more than others?
Pay is usually determined by how difficult, urgent or time-consuming a task is. Jobs that require travel, interaction with staff or more detailed reporting often pay significantly more than simple photo audits.