Creative Ways To Get Paid To Shop [& Income Amounts]

Did you know there are places where can get paid to shop? Learn about the best places to get paid to shop, how they work, and how much you can earn.

  • You can earn money shopping via various services like mystery shopping or delivery.
  • Average earnings range from $14 to $15 per hour, depending on tasks.
  • Requirements include transportation, being 18+, and attention to detail.
  • Options include Instacart, Amazon, Care.com, and cashback apps like DollarSprout Rewards.
  • Brett Helling
    Founder, Gigworker.com

    Brett Helling is a gig economy expert who has been running his own small business for over 10 years.

    Want to start a side hustle but don’t know where to start?

    You’re not alone. Many people want to use their spare time to get a side gig and start earning more money. But finding a new opportunity can be difficult if you’re already committed to a full-time job.

    But did you know you can get paid to shop?

    Some excellent services are looking for people like you, who want to earn more money shopping. And getting started is easier than you think.

    Check out this article to learn about the 9 best places where you can get paid to shop.

    Can You Get Paid to Shop?

    These days, you can get paid for just about anything, even something as simple as texting.

    Getting paid to shop is a growing category in the gig economy. These positions can have different names, like mystery shopper or personal shopper, but they all boil down to the same thing.

    You get paid for running around a retail store, online shopping, or buying your favorite products through a specific app or browser extension.

    How Much Can You Make By Shopping?

    Indeed data shows personal shoppers earn around $14.95 per hour in the United States, while an undercover shopper earns a bit less, around $14.44 per hour.

    Rates differ a lot based on where you live, whether you’re shopping online or in-person, and performing extra tasks like writing a report after a mystery shopping trip.

    What You’ll Need to Get Paid to Shop

    If you want to get paid to shop, you’ll need:

    • Access to a Car or Bike: Not all, but many of these services will require a personal means of transport from their shoppers. You’ll need to deliver all items directly to the customer
    • Be 18 or Older: These companies usually work with people over the age of 18 since many shopping items could be restricted for that underage
    • Attention to Detail: A key skill with this side gig is fulfilling the order as closely as possible. You need to be fast, scan the barcodes of products, but also make sure you’re getting the right brands

    The Best Ways to Get Paid to Get Paid to Shop (Overview)

    Full List of Ways to Get Paid to Get Paid to Get Paid to Shop

    We’ve included an overview of our top picks above. For a full list and detailed information on each pick, scroll down.

    1. Amazon Personal Shopper (On-Location Gig)
    2. Instacart Shopper (Mobile App)
    3. Care.com (Job Posting Site)
    4. Secret Shopper (Website, Mobile App)
    5. Uber Eats (Mobile App)
    6. TaskRabbit (Website, Mobile App)
    7. DollarSprout Rewards (Browser Extension)
    8. Receipt Hog (Mobile App)
    9. IntelliShop (Website, Mobile App)

    Where to Get Paid to Shop

    This side gig is versatile and can be fitted even into a busier schedule.

    If you’re ready to kickstart this new career, here are nine solid platforms where you can get paid to shop:

    1. Amazon Personal Shopper (On-Location Gig)

    There are lots of ways to make money on Amazon, and shopping is one of them.

    Becoming an Amazon Personal Shopper means working in one of their grocery warehouses, which is less like a classic warehouse and more like a larger supermarket.

    You get paid to gather orders for delivery and do some inventory tasks.

    How Much Can You Make

    Amazon salaries all start at a $15 hourly rate. You can get paid more depending on your location and which shifts you choose.

    Personal shoppers can also access their funds at the end of each shift with the Anytime Pay feature.

    What Makes This Option Great

    Amazon personal shopper gigs are ideal if you want to stay in one place during your side gig. Shoppers don’t have to deliver the groceries to clients and only need to prepare the orders for delivery.

    You can also gain experience with store logistics and inventory management.

    • Fees/Commission: N/A
    • Payment Methods: Bank Transfer

    2. Instacart Shopper (Mobile App)

    Instacart Shopper is a grocery delivery service that provides a great opportunity to make money with your car.

    Shoppers download the Instacart Shopper app and choose the shopping gig they want to complete.

    Shoppers handle the task from A to Z, meaning you’ll need to both gather the items from the grocery store and deliver them to the client.

    How Much Can You Make

    Shoppers view an estimated payment rate for each shopping gig before they select it. The price can differ depending on your location and how complex the task is.

    As an independent contractor, you get to make your hours, so this also factors into how much you’ll make. On the plus side, you get to keep 100% of the tips.

    What Makes This Option Great

    Instacart Shopper is for people who want flexibility both regarding how much time they put into this gig and the types of shopping tasks they perform.

    You can choose from a wide variety of gigs included in the list of tasks and find out how much it’ll pay before you accept it.

    The app also lets you talk to the customer if you need clarifications or if you can’t find one of the items on the shopping list at the grocery store.

    • Fees/Commission: N/A
    • Payment Methods: Bank Transfer and Instant Deposit to a Credit Card (Full-service shoppers only)

    3. Care.com (Job Posting Site)

    Care.com is a platform where you can find jobs centered on caring for kids and the elderly.

    It has a wide variety of gigs, including babysitting, grocery shopping, and living in a house with an elderly person who needs more daily supervision.

    How Much Can You Make

    Care.com users can set their hourly rates based on their experience or the types of tasks they perform.

    You can also browse through the existing list of tasks in the grocery helper and other categories and find one at a convenient rate.

    What Makes This Option Great

    This gig is for anyone who wants a human aspect to this type of side gig.

    You can get a recurring job helping someone older or with a disability get their groceries and even socialize with someone new.

    It’s a great opportunity to change a person’s life while getting paid for it.

    • Fees/Commission: N/A
    • Payment Methods: Debit Card transfer through Stripe

    4. Secret Shopper (Website, Mobile App)

    Secret Shopper is a market research company that provides one of the most popular mystery shopping service providers on the market.

    Mystery shoppers (also known as undercover shoppers) are people who visit certain stores, cafes, and restaurants and pretend they’re real customers.

    Thousands of stores work with Secret Shopper to gather information about customer service quality.

    How Much Can You Make

    Secret Shopper freelancers make between $15-$25. Some task rates may be higher and include the cost of services and products.

    Sometimes, Secret Shopper will ask you to pay for the items or services upfront and then reimburse you.

    What Makes This Option Great

    As a market research company, Secret Shopper wants you to behave like a regular customer. You don’t have to play a role.

    You simply head to the real store or business you need to test, use its services, and then provide an account of your legit customer experience.

    • Fees/Commission: None
    • Payment Methods: Direct Deposits, Checks, and PayPal

    5. Uber Eats (Mobile App)

    Uber Eats is a food delivery service, but unlike its ridesharing counterpart, you don’t need a car to complete tasks. The company also accepts scooters, bikes, and even on-foot deliveries.

    How Much Can You Make

    Uber Eats pays around $15-$17 per hour, depending on where you live.

    You keep all your tips and can even combine the food delivery gig with the ridesharing one to make even more money.

    What Makes This Option Great

    Uber Eats offers high levels of flexibility.

    You can log in to the app and view delivery gigs in your area, and choose the ones you like best based on how much they pay.

    It’s also great if you don’t have a car, since you can deliver food by bike or even on foot for short distances.

    • Fees/Commission: 25%
    • Payment Methods: Direct Deposits

    6. TaskRabbit (Website, Mobile App)

    TaskRabbit is a service that connects freelancers directly with people looking for various tasks.

    You can find a lot of small gigs on the platform, from testing products to helping someone move, furniture assembly, or shop at real stores.

    How Much Can You Make

    Wages are influenced by the type of tasks you accept and your location. For example, shopping pays an average of $20 per hour in Boston, and $25 in Miami.

    TaskRabbit has an online calculator that’ll show you how much you can expect to make for different tasks in your area.

    What Makes This Option Great

    You’ll never be bored with TaskRabbit. If you’re tired of shopping for money one day, you can scroll through the postings and find something new to do, such as pet sitting or volunteering.

    • Fees/Commission: None for taskers
    • Payment Methods: Direct Deposits

    7. DollarSprout Rewards (Browser Extension)

    DollarSprout Rewards is a browser extension you can install for free on Chrome or Safari and get cashback prizes from thousands of stores.

    With it, you earn money for personal shopping and need a personal computer or a laptop to fetch rewards.

    How Much Can You Make

    Once the extension is activated, it’ll show the cashback percentage you’ll earn back after shopping from a specific merchant.

    Stores offer different cashback percentages, so it depends on what they negotiate with DollarSprout Rewards.

    What Makes This Option Great

    This is a great method to help you save money while shopping from your favorite merchants for items you already need.

    You can use the extension in combination with other platforms in this review or cashback sites and increase your earnings even further. The company collaborates with thousands of stores.

    • Fees/Commission: Fees are covered by merchants
    • Payment Methods: PayPal

    8. Receipt Hog (Mobile App)

    Receipt Hog is a receipt-scanning app where you can leverage your real shopping habits and favorite stores to get coupon codes, deals, gift cards, and even real cash.

    You can add both paper and digital receipts and increase your earnings by taking surveys.

    How Much Can You Make

    Receipt Hog offer points based on the amount of money you spend shopping.

    For instance, if the receipt is over $100, you’ll get 20 points. 1,000 points are equivalent to $5.

    What Makes This Option Great

    Receipt Hog is another low-effort way to earn extra money.

    All it requires is uploading the receipts of the shopping you already do regularly.

    Once you accumulate enough points, you can cash out or get gift cards or other prizes.

    • Fees/Commission: N/A
    • Payment Methods: PayPal, Visa, Amazon Gift Cards, and Coupon Codes

    9. IntelliShop (Website, Mobile App)

    IntelliShop is another legitimate mystery shopping company where you can get paid to help businesses improve their customer support.

    Gigs here aren’t limited to shopping. You can make extra money from a spare room by calling customer support, visiting an online store, or performing a short online task.

    How Much Can You Make

    IntelliShop wages depend on the tasks you perform and your account rating. Indeed data shows undercover shoppers make around $20,000 per year.

    What Makes This Option Great

    IntelliShop allows independent contractors to choose the types of gigs they want.

    For instance, maybe one day you don’t want to head out and shop to assess the customer experience.

    Instead, choose a task that involves calling customer support, which you can do while sitting on your couch.

    • Fees/Commission: N/A
    • Payment Methods: PayPal

    Why You Should Consider Shopping As a Side Hustle

    Getting paid to shop can be a way to make extra money monthly or even shift to a new career.

    Here are some unique benefits of these types of jobs:

    • Versatility: These jobs come in all shapes and sizes. You can choose the type of gig that works best for you, from going out and purchasing products to online shopping
    • Passive Side-Income: If you choose cashback apps and services, you’ll get paid for something you’re already doing. You can buy the product you want from your favorite stores and get extra money without needing to do special tasks
    • Engaging: Some shopping gigs are perfect if you want to be more active. Mystery shopping and delivery services involve going out and meeting new people
    • Work for Multiple Companies: Shopping services don’t usually have any exclusivity clauses, so you can work for multiple companies at the same time to get paid to shop. You can also use multiple cashback sites at the same time to increase savings

    Problems With Shopping For Money

    Getting paid to shop can be fun and exciting, but there are some drawbacks to consider:

    • Vehicle Wear and Tear: If you choose delivery gigs, they won’t provide a car, scooter, or bike. You’ll have to use your own, and depending on how often you do these gigs, it could result in serious wear and tear
    • Inconsistent Earnings: Most side hustles won’t offer consistent revenue. Your earnings will depend on how much time you invest in this job, the quality of your work, and even the time of year, which can influence demand. Some companies, like cashback apps, don’t offer money but alternative payments like gift cards
    • Upfront Costs: These gigs may involve costs you need to cover. Some may be reimbursed later on, but not always. For example, freelance delivery drivers often need to pay for gas and car maintenance themselves
    • Additional Tasks: You don’t always get paid just for shopping. You may also need to write detailed reports and offer feedback on your shopping experience or navigate customer support issues

    How to Get Paid to Shop: Step-By-Step Instructions

    Getting started with this side gig is simpler than it looks. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

    Step 1: Pick a Gig Type

    Consider what type of side hustle or activity suits your current schedule best, as well as other needs.

    If you want something simple and almost passive, then cashback sites are best. They only involve installing an app or browser extension and shopping as normal.

    But if you have time and want to earn more, delivery services and mystery shopping assignments are more rewarding.

    Step 2: Sign Up

    Most of these services have a short online application. They’ll ask for your full name, email address, location, and relevant payment information.

    Sometimes, there could be a short test, especially for mystery shopping assignments that involve additional tasks, like writing a report.

    Step 3: Download the App and Log In to Your Account

    Once you sign up and pass any necessary test, you can log in to your account or download the mobile app if the service provides one.

    Some shopping gigs let you choose your tasks, while others will assign you jobs based on your location or other profile information.

    If you’ve gone the cashback app route, once you install the browser extension or app, you can earn money shopping with no other steps involved.

    Step 4: Start Making Money

    After all these logistics are out of the way, you can start shopping for money.

    Remember that your payment may also depend on the quality of your service, not just task fulfillment.

    Be sure to pay attention to all task details and complete it without error to avoid payment issues.

    Things to Consider When Shopping For Money

    You’re one step closer to a new side gig as a shopper.

    But before you sign up for any of these services, consider the following points.

    1. Final Revenue

    Some of these gigs will ask you to pay for a few things yourself, and you won’t get reimbursed for them.

    This usually happens with freelance delivery drivers, who cover the cost of gas for multiple shopping trips and any car repairs themselves.

    You should factor in these costs in your accounting and set aside money to cover them.

    Calculate the actual amount of money you make by subtracting these overhead costs, and see if this gig is truly profitable for you.

    2. Paying Taxes

    With these companies, you’ll be an independent contractor and not an employee. This means you’re responsible for filing your taxes.

    This is another reason you should follow your profits closely and set aside enough money to cover the income tax.

    3. Customer or Store Interactions

    Many of these side gigs involve real interactions with people or company representatives.

    As a delivery person, you need to talk to the customer directly to complete the task. Customer service skills are essential for these gigs.

    As an undercover shopper, you need to gather data on customer experience. This involves gathering objective data, so you’ll need to pay attention to details and not manipulate the interaction in any direction.

    Using your real shopping habits to gather real data is essential for these types of gigs.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Should I Get Paid to Shop at Online Stores or Real Stores?

    Both shopping at online stores and real stores can generate a solid side income. Choosing between the two usually comes down to personal preference.

    Using online stores is less demanding since you can do tasks from your laptop or even phone. But going to real stores is more engaging and justifies higher rates.

    How Much Can You Make from Cashback Apps?

    Cashback apps and sites negotiate their terms directly with vendors.

    Shoppers receive a small cashback percentage of the value of the cart. Typically, you can expect to get at least 1% back.

    Similar Ways to Get Paid

    If shopping isn’t the right gig for you, here are other easy ways to make more money:

    • Get Paid to Sell Pictures Online: Selling products online is a popular way to make extra cash, but selling digital pictures is even easier
    • Get Paid to Travel: If you want an active gig, then why not earn money for being a tourist and traveling all over the world?
    • Get Paid to Work Out: Get the best fitness incentive ever and earn money for going to the gym.

    Wrapping Up

    Whether it’s food delivery, mystery shopping assignments, or helping someone with grocery shopping every week, shopping is a great side-gig opportunity.

    The jobs you can find in this field are varied, so consider your needs, time, and resources before setting your sights on a specific opportunity.

    The nine services on this list have something for everybody, so start your search here to find the best place to earn money shopping.

    Let us know your thoughts on this side gig in the comments and how likely you are to give it a shot.