Finding the best mystery shopping companies is harder than it looks. Over 450 companies operate worldwide, but not all of them pay reliably, treat shoppers fairly, or offer enough work to make the time investment worthwhile.
The companies on this list share a few things in common. They belong to MSPA Americas — the industry’s primary trade organization. They have strong Better Business Bureau ratings. They’re free to join. And they have track records of paying shoppers on time. Most pay between $7 and $150 per assignment depending on complexity.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to expand your roster of companies, this guide covers 19 legitimate mystery shopping companies worth your time — including the best options for beginners, higher-paying opportunities for experienced shoppers, and the top choices for Canadian mystery shoppers.
| Company | Best For | Pay Range | Payment Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Force | Beginners, restaurants | $7–$22 + reimbursement | 20th of next month |
| Ipsos | Beginners, global | Varies by assignment | After report review |
| IntelliShop | Beginners, training | $10–$25 | 15th of month |
| Secret Shopper | Beginners | $10–$30 + reimbursement | Monthly |
| Intouch Insight | Skilled shoppers, fast pay | Varies by assignment | 15th & last day of month |
| Coyle Hospitality | Luxury, experienced | $65–$395 | Last week of next month |
| BestMark | Cars, apartments | $5–$35 + reimbursement | 4–6 weeks after completion |
| Second To None | Skilled shoppers | $10–$50+ | Monthly |
| TrendSource | Fast pay, variety | $5–$100+ | Twice monthly |
| Confero | Phone assignments | $10–$75+ | 10th–15th, second month |
| Reality Based Group | Video mystery shopping | $100–$150+ | Varies |
| Ellis (EPMS) | Apartment evaluations | $30 + rush bonuses | 22nd of month |
| A Closer Look | Fine dining, hotels | Varies, up to $100+ | Fridays (e-pay) |
| BARE International | International travel | Varies | Varies |
What Makes Mystery Shopping Companies Legitimate
Mystery shopping companies hire independent contractors to evaluate customer service by posing as regular customers and submitting structured reports on what they observed. The best mystery shopping companies operate transparently and follow industry standards set by MSPA Americas.
Legitimate companies have a few things in common that make them easy to identify. They never charge registration fees. They don’t send payments before you’ve completed work. They don’t ask you to wire money or purchase gift cards as part of any assignment.
Industry Standards
All reputable mystery shopping companies belong to MSPA Americas, the industry’s primary trade organization since 1998. MSPA sets ethical guidelines that member companies agree to follow. You can verify any company’s membership at mspa-americas.org before signing up.
Legitimate mystery shopping companies pay a base fee of $10 to $40 for standard assignments, plus reimbursement for required purchases. Most pay monthly via PayPal or direct deposit, typically 14 to 60 days after assignment completion. Payment cycles vary significantly by company — always check before accepting an assignment.
Realistic Earnings
Part-time mystery shoppers working with multiple companies typically earn $5,000 to $10,000 per year. This is supplemental income, not a salary replacement. Anyone claiming you can earn $500 to $4,000 per week for easy assignments is running a scam. For a full breakdown of realistic mystery shopper income by experience level, see our secret shopper pay guide.
Best Mystery Shopping Companies for New Shoppers
If you’re just getting started, these five companies offer clear onboarding, accessible assignments, and reliable payment. They’re where most experienced mystery shoppers began their careers.
Market Force Information
Market Force is the most common starting point for new mystery shoppers. With over 600,000 trained shoppers and more than 100,000 evaluations completed monthly, they have the volume to keep most shoppers busy. Their assignment types span restaurants, retail stores, movie theaters, and banks across the US, Canada, and UK.
Their “Eyes On” app makes it straightforward to find open assignments, review guidelines, and submit reports from your phone. Restaurant assignments typically pay $10 to $22 plus $17 to $25 in meal reimbursement. Note that MCI acquired Market Force in March 2024, but the shopper-facing experience remains unchanged.
Ipsos (iShopFor Ipsos)
Ipsos is the world’s largest mystery shopping company, operating in 180+ countries with over one million shoppers. They’ve won the MSPA Shopper’s Choice Award six consecutive times — the clearest signal in the industry that shoppers genuinely like working with them.
Ipsos acquired MaritzCX’s mystery shopping division in January 2020. Their “iShopFor Ipsos NEXT” app walks new shoppers through their first assignments with step-by-step guidance, making it one of the more accessible platforms for people who are completely new to the work.
Shoppers’ View
This Michigan-based company has been running mystery shopping programs for 25+ years and explicitly welcomes new shoppers with no prior experience. Their assignment portfolio covers in-store visits, restaurant evaluations, phone calls, and video assignments across the US and Canada.
Their phone mystery shopping program is worth highlighting — it lets you complete evaluations from home, which is useful if your transportation situation is limited. Shoppers’ View pays twice monthly: assignments completed the 1st through 15th pay at month’s end; assignments from the 16th through 31st pay on the 15th of the following month.
IntelliShop
IntelliShop has earned 11 MSPA Awards and maintains active shopper support through their “Shopper Hub” training platform and a dedicated support phone line (419.931.8069) — unusually accessible for an industry that rarely offers live support. They cover 18,000+ cities across the US and Canada with a shopper network of over one million.
Their assignment rating system directly affects which opportunities you can access. Strong early performance ratings open doors to better-paying and more complex assignments over time, making IntelliShop a good long-term investment even if early earnings are modest.
Secret Shopper
Operating since 1990 with an A+ BBB rating and MSPA membership, Secret Shopper is one of the most established companies in the industry. Their application process is straightforward, and they’re commonly recommended as a starting point for new shoppers.
One thing to know before you sign up: their paper check payment system has generated complaints — checks get lost, and replacement fees run $15 to $40. Select PayPal or direct deposit when setting up your payment preferences. This applies to most mystery shopping companies but is especially worth noting here.
Best Mystery Shopping Companies for Experienced Shoppers
Once you’ve built your performance ratings and want to pursue higher-paying, more complex assignment types, these companies offer the best opportunities.
Intouch Insight
Intouch Insight stands out for two reasons: payment speed and platform breadth. Based in Ottawa, Canada with 40+ years in the business, they pay twice monthly — on the 15th and the last day of each month — faster than almost any other company in the industry. Their shopper network exceeds one million following their 2021 acquisition of SeeLevel HX.
Their iSecretShop platform lists assignments from multiple providers, which means signing up with Intouch Insight gives you visibility into opportunities from other companies as well. Assignment types cover dining, gas stations, convenience stores, grocery, retail, and hospitality.
Coyle Hospitality Group
Coyle is the premier mystery shopping company for luxury hospitality evaluations. Their assignment portfolio covers high-end hotels, spas, fine dining restaurants, and cruise lines across 70+ countries. Pay ranges from $65 to $395 per assignment — significantly above industry averages for standard evaluations.
New shoppers should start with assignments that don’t require significant upfront spending until you understand what Coyle calls “the Coyle Way” — their specific evaluation methodology and reporting standards. Once you’ve established a track record with them, the assignment quality and pay are among the best available anywhere in mystery shopping.
BestMark
Founded in 1986, BestMark is one of the industry’s oldest companies with 600,000+ shoppers across the US and Canada. Their specialty assignments — apartments, automotive dealerships, banks, casinos, and hotels — tend to pay better than standard retail or restaurant evaluations and suit experienced shoppers looking for more complex work.
Payment note: Some shoppers reported delayed payments in 2024. Track your completed assignments and follow up directly with BestMark if payment hasn’t arrived within their stated window.
Second To None
This Ann Arbor-based company has maintained an A+ BBB rating for 35 years and works with major brands including Chipotle, Krispy Kreme, Kroger, Xfinity, and Citibank across the US and Canada. Their shopper network exceeds 700,000.
One notable perk for experienced shoppers: long-tenured contractors can self-select assignments rather than waiting for scheduler approval — a meaningful time saver compared to companies that require you to apply for each opportunity. They’re part of the CX Group network, which expands their client roster.
TrendSource
TrendSource was one of MSPA’s founding members when the association launched in 1989. Their 300,000+ field agents work across the US, Canada, Caribbean, and UK. Like Intouch Insight, they pay twice monthly — which sets them apart from the majority of companies that pay monthly.
TrendSource’s assignment portfolio extends beyond traditional mystery shopping to include retail compliance audits, business verifications, exit interviews, and shop-alongs. This variety gives experienced shoppers more ways to fill their schedule and maintain income consistency.
Confero Inc.
This North Carolina company earned a significant distinction in 2024 when the U.S. Chamber of Commerce named them America’s Top Small Business. Founded in 1986, they work with major brands including AMC, Coca-Cola, Staples, and Jiffy Lube. Confero is also an MSPA founding board member.
Their phone evaluation program is one of the stronger remote options in the industry — all calls are recorded, making the documentation process more straightforward than in-person assignments. One firm policy worth knowing: Confero states clearly that they never send paper checks. Any check claiming to be from Confero is fraudulent.
Specialty Mystery Shopping Companies
Some of the best mystery shopping companies focus on a single industry or assignment type. These specialists often pay more and require specific skills or equipment, but they represent some of the highest-earning opportunities in the field.
Apartment and Residential Evaluations
Ellis (EPMS) is the dominant company in apartment mystery shopping, completing 8,000+ evaluations monthly across the US. They exclusively evaluate apartment leasing offices, which means their schedulers develop deep expertise in matching shoppers to assignments. Standard evaluations pay around $30, with rush bonuses of $25 to $100 available when deadlines approach. Payment arrives on the 22nd of each month via direct deposit.
Fine Dining and Hotels
A Closer Look specializes in upscale restaurant, hotel, and senior living evaluations with a shopper network of 160,000+. High-end dining assignments can pay over $100 for experienced shoppers. If you sign up with A Closer Look, select electronic payment — their paper check option adds 14+ days to your payment timeline compared to their Friday e-payment schedule.
Video Mystery Shopping
Reality Based Group (RBG) pioneered video mystery shopping with their proprietary GameFilm® methodology. They work with major brands including Nike, Four Seasons Hotels, Ferrari, and 7-Eleven, and were one of MSPA’s four founding companies. Video assignments for home builders and automotive dealerships typically pay $100 to $150 or more. This type of assignment requires specialized recording equipment and MSPA video certification — see our MSPA certification guide for details on the video certification process.
International Mystery Shopping
BARE International operates in 165+ countries, making them the natural choice for shoppers who travel internationally or want access to assignments outside North America. They hold ISO certification and won the MSPA Shopper’s Choice Award in 2019. Age requirements vary by country — 21+ in the US, 18+ elsewhere.
Best Mystery Shopping Companies in Canada
Canadian mystery shoppers have two options: major US companies with strong Canadian coverage, and Canada-specific companies that focus exclusively on the Canadian market.
US Companies with Strong Canadian Coverage
- Market Force Information — Full Canadian coverage with local offices (read our review)
- TrendSource — Canada-wide coverage; PayPal payment for Canadian shoppers
- BestMark — 600,000+ shoppers include Canada (read our review)
- Intouch Insight — Based in Ontario; operates iSecretShop (read our review)
- Ipsos — Global coverage includes all Canadian provinces (read our review)
- A Closer Look — US and Canada for hotel and restaurant evaluations (read our review)
Canada-Specific Companies
Shoppers Confidential (Toronto) covers stores, restaurants, hotels, and automotive across Canada. Requirements include strong English, a smartphone with GPS, and a PayPal account for monthly payment. They belong to MSPA and hold a BBB rating.
Lanla (Quebec) operates one of Canada’s largest mystery shopping networks with 200,000+ shoppers. They cover transit, real estate, and financial services. Pay ranges from $10 to $40 per assignment, with twice-monthly direct deposit payment.
Spot Check Services (Regina, Saskatchewan) operates coast to coast in Canada, covering restaurants, salons, gas stations, hotels, and retail.
Field Agent Canada pays via Interac e-Transfer every Tuesday and allows cashout from $15. This makes them one of the faster payment options specifically for Canadian shoppers.
How to Identify Fraudulent Mystery Shopping Schemes
Mystery shopping scams cost victims thousands of dollars every year. The most widespread scheme works like this: you receive an unsolicited check for $2,000 to $4,000. You’re instructed to deposit it, keep a portion as payment, and wire the remainder. The check bounces days later. You owe your bank the full amount while the scammer has already withdrawn the funds. This is check fraud, and it’s devastatingly common in the mystery shopping space.
Red Flags That Indicate a Scam
- Payment arrives before you’ve completed any work
- Instructions to wire money via Western Union or MoneyGram
- Instructions to purchase gift cards and share the PIN numbers
- Unsolicited contact via phone, text, or email about mystery shopping opportunities
- Contact originating from a free email service (Gmail, Yahoo, AOL)
- Claims of $500 to $4,000 earnings for simple, easy tasks
- Pressure to respond or act immediately
What Legitimate Mystery Shopping Companies Do
Always free to join. No legitimate mystery shopping company charges registration fees, access fees, or “certification costs” before you can see available assignments.
MSPA membership. Verify any company at mspa-americas.org. MSPA membership is the clearest signal that a company operates ethically.
Company domain email. All legitimate communication comes from @companyname.com, never from free email services.
You work first, then get paid. No exceptions. Payment always follows completed, approved work.
Realistic pay rates. Expect $10 to $40 per standard assignment — not thousands per week.
Formal application process. Legitimate companies use multi-step applications, skills assessments, and W-9 tax forms.
BBB Ratings for Top Mystery Shopping Companies
| Company | BBB Rating | MSPA Member |
|---|---|---|
| Market Force | A+ | Yes |
| IntelliShop | A+ | Yes |
| BestMark | A+ | Yes — Elite Member |
| Secret Shopper | A+ | Yes |
| A Closer Look | A+ | Yes |
| Confero | A+ | Yes — Founding Board Member |
| Second To None | A+ | Yes |
Warning: Elite CXS received a BBB Alert in August 2024 following numerous shopper complaints about unpaid assignments. Avoid this company.
Which Mystery Shopping Companies Pay Most Reliably
Payment reliability matters as much as pay rates. Here’s how the top companies compare on timing and consistency.
Fastest Payment Turnaround
Intouch Insight pays on the 15th and last day of each month — twice monthly, which is significantly faster than the monthly standard. (read our review)
TrendSource also pays twice monthly, making them the other top choice if payment speed is a priority for you.
RQA may process payment the day after assignment completion for shoppers with direct deposit configured — among the fastest in the industry.
Reliable Monthly Payers
IntelliShop pays on the 15th of each month with few reported delays. (read our review)
Market Force pays on the 20th of the following month and consistently adheres to their schedule. (read our review)
Companies with Recent Payment Issues
BestMark and A Closer Look received shopper complaints about delayed payments in 2024–2025. Both remain on this list because of their overall track records, but track your assignments carefully and follow up proactively if payment doesn’t arrive on schedule.
Secret Shopper’s paper check option continues to generate complaints about lost checks and $15 to $40 replacement fees. Always select electronic payment.
Getting the Most Out of Mystery Shopping
The shoppers who earn the most from mystery shopping don’t just sign up with one company and wait for assignments to appear. They build a systematic approach across multiple companies.
Starting Out
Build your performance ratings before pursuing complex assignments. Start with straightforward retail visits, fast food evaluations, and basic store checks. Most companies expect reports within 24 hours of assignment completion — missing that window or submitting incomplete reports damages your ratings and limits future assignment access.
Maximizing Earnings
Read all assignment guidelines before accepting, not just the pay rate. Keep all receipts. Take required photos before consuming or using any purchased items. Target these assignment types once you have established ratings:
- Apartment community evaluations: $30–$75
- Video mystery shopping: $100–$150
- Luxury hotel assignments: $65–$395
These require a track record and in some cases specific equipment or certification. Build toward them systematically rather than applying before you’re ready.
Building Your Career
Consider pursuing MSPA certification once you’ve completed 20 to 30 assignments and know which assignment types you want to focus on. The Silver certification costs $55 and signals genuine commitment to companies reviewing your shopper profile. Our full breakdown: Is MSPA Certification Worth It?
Mystery shopping rewards shoppers who treat it professionally. Submit reports on time. Keep your performance ratings high. Work with multiple companies. You’ll find that access to better-paying, more interesting assignments opens up steadily as your track record grows.
If you’re brand new: Start with Market Force, Ipsos, and IntelliShop. These three offer strong onboarding, accessible assignments, and reliable payment.
If you’re building experience: Add Shoppers’ View and Secret Shopper to increase your available assignment pool without overwhelming your schedule.
If you want higher pay: After establishing solid ratings, add Intouch Insight, Coyle Hospitality, Reality Based Group, and Ellis. These offer the best pay rates for complex evaluations.
If payment speed matters: Prioritize Intouch Insight and TrendSource — both pay twice monthly.
If you’re in Canada: Focus on Market Force, TrendSource, Intouch Insight, and Canadian-specific companies like Shoppers Confidential and Field Agent Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mystery shopping companies should I sign up with?
Most experienced shoppers work with 10 to 20 companies simultaneously. Starting with 5 to 7 is a realistic goal for new shoppers. More companies means more available assignments in your area and protection against slow periods at any single company.
Do I need a car to do mystery shopping?
Not always. Many companies offer phone evaluations, online assignments, and video mystery shopping you can complete from home. Companies like Shoppers’ View and Confero specialize in remote work. That said, having reliable transportation dramatically expands your available assignment pool — particularly for restaurant and retail evaluations.
Can I do mystery shopping as a full-time job?
Very few mystery shoppers earn a full-time income from it. Most treat it as supplemental income. The realistic range for dedicated part-time shoppers is $5,000 to $10,000 per year working with multiple companies. A small number of highly experienced shoppers pursuing premium assignments earn significantly more, but they represent a small minority of the shopper population.
How long does it take to get paid after completing a shop?
It depends on the company. Intouch Insight and TrendSource pay twice monthly, so your wait is typically two weeks or less. Most companies pay monthly — 14 to 45 days after completion. Confero pays on the 10th to 15th of the second month after the assignment, which can mean up to 75 days. Always check payment timing before accepting assignments.
Will mystery shopping income affect my taxes?
Yes. Mystery shopping earnings are self-employment income. You’ll owe self-employment tax in addition to regular income tax. Track business expenses — mileage, required purchases, and a portion of your phone bill may be deductible. See our mystery shopper tax deductions guide for a complete breakdown.
Is MSPA certification worth it?
For shoppers committed to the long term, yes. MSPA certification doesn’t guarantee better assignments immediately, but some companies prioritize certified shoppers for premium opportunities. The Silver level costs $55. Our full assessment: Is MSPA Certification Worth It?
What happens if my report gets rejected?
Rejections are common early on. Typical reasons include missing photos, late submission, or incomplete responses. Most companies won’t pay for rejected assignments. Some allow you to correct minor issues and resubmit. Your performance rating takes a hit with each rejection, which affects access to future assignments. Re-read the guidelines before every submission.
Can I bring someone with me on a mystery shop?
Sometimes. Restaurant evaluations frequently require a dining companion as part of the assignment scenario. Other assignments require you to arrive and evaluate alone. Read the guidelines for each specific assignment carefully — bringing an unauthorized companion can result in rejection and may affect your standing with the company.