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Nielsen is one of the most well-known market research and data companies with decades of industry experience. The company has received a BBB accreditation and rating of A+. Apart from collecting user data via its computer and mobile data apps that members can install on their devices for free, Nielsen also offers its members many other ways to earn more prizes, including sweepstakes and gifts.
Pros
- Earn $50 a year by installing an app – the Nielsen mobile app will collect your mobile usage data in the background, giving you rewards over time.
- Earn up to $1000 from sweepstakes – all members with the Nielsen app will automatically qualify for a monthly sweepstakes with a $10,000 prize pot.
- Many ways that you can redeem your rewards – choose from over 15 different types of rewards, including TVs, cameras, electronics, and gift cards.
- Win up to $500 by downloading computer app – the Nielsen computer app gives extra sweepstakes entries. There are more than 500 winners per month.
Cons
- Cannot redeem earnings as cash – you can’t redeem your earnings as cash but have more than physial gifts or gift card options for redeeming rewards.
- Privacy issues with data collection – you must be at least 18 to join Nielsen since you will be giving up your personal data for market research.
Jump to: Full Review
Compare to Other Survey Sites
Branded Surveys
$0.50 – $5 on average per survey with bonus points ($1 sign up bonus)
Average survey length is 10-20 minutes and minimum payout is $5
Collect rewards in PayPal, Direct Deposit or gift cards (100+ brands)
Swagbucks
$0.50 to $1.50 per survey – earn up to $100 each month using Swagbucks
18 unique ways to earn money and free gift cards, plus $5 sign up bonus
Redeem e-gift cards from $1 or withdraw $5 minimum payment from PayPal
How Does Nielsen Work?
Nielsen is one of the most well-known market research companies in the world. The company specializes in audience measurement and data analytics. The company operates in over 100 countries across the world. It is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, highlighting its legitimacy.
Nielsen works by gathering data from different sources. As a consumer, you can sign up with Nielsen to provide market research data by downloading the company’s data collection software. In exchange for participating in market research, you can earn cash and other rewards from the company.
Nielsen does not primarily gather market data through surveys. Instead, Nielsen mainly collects data through its apps for mobile devices and computers. The data collection apps work in the background of your devices, and you will not even notice that they are running.
Nielsen sometimes also offers users opportunities to participate in short surveys. In exchange for answering these surveys, you can earn points that you can exchange for rewards.
How Much Can You Make From Nielsen Online Surveys?
Nielsen does not specialize in online surveys. Thus, your earnings from these online surveys may vary significantly. You can check the number of points you earn from each survey before you attempt it.
What Are the Other Ways to Make Money on Nielsen?
Nielsen Mobile App
If you own a mobile phone and use it regularly, Nielsen enables you to earn a passive income just by downloading the app. You can make around $50 a year just by leaving the app in the background on your phone. While running in the background of your phone, the app collects data about your usage habits.
The Nielsen mobile app collects data about:
- Your communication habits
- Online behavior
- Website usage
- Usage of messaging and other apps
Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel
The Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel functions similarly to the mobile app, and your earnings from both are around the same. However, the main difference is that you can install the panel on your computer devices.
Some of the information that it collects include:
- The websites you visit
- How long do you spend on each website
- The apps you download and use
The company does not collect private information such as your IDs and passwords.
Sweepstakes
Nielsen also operates monthly sweepstakes draws for all Nielsen members, and you will get an automatic entry for the monthly draw just by having a Nielsen account.
The monthly sweepstakes have a prize pool of $10,000, with two members winning $1000 and others winning smaller prizes.
Nielsen Reviews: is Nielsen Legit?
Nielsen is a legitimate market research company that has been around for almost a hundred years. The company has accreditation from the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating. The company has received mixed reviews from users, with some users praising the company and others highlighting issues.
Many reviewers praised the company for offering legitimate surveys that pay decently. Users were also satisfied with the platform’s easy-to-use user interface and quick cash-out times.
However, the platform has received some negative reviews from users who stated they did not have access to many surveys. Some reviewers complained that the Nielsen apps caused their devices to crash or slow down, although the company states that this is not supposed to happen.
Who is Nielsen for?
Nielsen is ideal for anyone who wants to earn some extra cash or other rewards with minimal effort. The platform enables users to earn passive income, and you can start earning money just by downloading the company’s app on your electronic devices.
If you want to increase your earnings on the platform, you can also do so by answering occasional surveys.
How to Sign Up With Nielsen?
To sign up for an account with Nielsen, you must complete an online form with your details.
Some of the information you will need to provide include:
- Name
- Address
- Household details
- Other background information
If you intend to participate in market research by downloading the Nielsen data collection apps on your devices, you will need to provide additional details as well. These details include the operating systems of your devices, users of your devices, and the types of services you use.
There are also some requirements to join Nielsen, including:
- Be at least 18 years old and capable of signing a contract.
- Own an eligible mobile device or computer that you can use to download the app.
How Much Are Nielsen Points Worth?
The value of Nielsen points depends on the type of rewards you want to redeem. Some reward types give points a lower value than others. Thus, research the redemption options available to get an idea of how much your points will be worth based on your preferred redemption option.
On average, you will need around 800 points to redeem a reward worth $5.
Nielsen Hacks
Here are some Nielsen hacks you can take advantage of to maximize your earnings on the platform:
- Download both the Nielsen mobile app and computer and mobile panel to increase the number of points you get.
- Keep an eye out for survey opportunities. Although these tend to be rare, you can earn a lot of points if you manage to get one.
How to Redeem Points With Nielsen?
Physical Items
You can redeem your Nielsen points for physical items, which the company will mail to you. There is a rewards catalog that you can browse to find items that interest you.
Some of the items that you can redeem from Nielsen include:
- TVs
- Cameras
- Electronic devices
- And many more
Nielsen ships out rewards within a few days of ordering, although it may take a few weeks for you to receive your rewards.
Gift Cards
Apart from exchanging your points for physical items from a rewards catalog, you can also exchange your points for gift cards. The company partners with different businesses to offer you a wide range of gift card options.
Some of the gift cards you can get include:
- Target
- Amazon
- Starbucks
- Walmart
- And many more
PayPal
You can also withdraw your earnings from the Nielsen computer and mobile panel in cash via PayPal. You need a verified PayPal account to withdraw your earnings via this method.
However, there may be additional restrictions if you want to withdraw your earnings via PayPal. You can visit the Nielsen website to see if any these apply to you.
What Are the Nielsen Pros & Cons?
Nielsen Pros
- The company has been around for almost a hundred years and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
- You can earn around $50 in passive income per year just by downloading a mobile or computer app.
- You can potentially win up to $1000 from sweepstakes every month.
- There is a variety of different items that you can redeem your Nielsen points for.
Nielsen Cons
- Some users have complained about the app causing technical issues with their devices.
- There are limited surveys available for you to participate in.
Nielsen Review Verdict: is Nielsen Worth It?
Nielsen is one of the oldest market research companies in the world. If you have a mobile phone or computer that you use regularly, Nielsen is one of the most worthwhile platforms you can join. All you need to do is download an app on your device to earn around $50 worth of rewards and prizes each year.
Nielsen also offers other ways for users to earn rewards. As a Nielsen member, you can get free entries to monthly sweepstakes. You can potentially win up to $1000 from these sweepstakes.
While you may not be able to replace your full-time job with Nielsen, it is still a worthwhile app you can use to supplement your income.
Sites Like Nielsen
| Comparison | Nielsen | Branded Surveys | Survey Junkie | Swagbucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay Per Survey | $50 per year with the Nielsen app or panel | $0.50 to $5 | $1 to $3 | $0.50 to $1.50 |
| Min Withdrawal | Depends on withdrawal method | $5 | $10 | $1 |
| Best For | Passive income | Mobile surveys | Focus groups | Free gift cards |
Nielsen vs. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys Summary
- $1 sign up bonus
- Earn $0.50-$5 on average per survey
- Average survey length is 15 min
- Pays by bank transfer, PayPal & gift cards
Branded Surveys is a well-established market research company that gathers data from consumers by conducting paid online surveys. If you want to earn a side income by sharing your opinion, you can join Branded Surveys as a survey participant.
However, Branded Surveys does not have a data collection app you can install to earn money. Thus, if you want to earn a passive income, you can still consider joining Nielsen.
On average, you can earn between $0.50 to $5 per survey on Branded Surveys.
Nielsen vs. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie Summary
- $1-$3 average earnings per survey
- Extra points if you screened out of survey
- Additional ways to earn up to $100
- Install Survey Junkie extension for bonus
Survey Junkie is a popular online survey website that enables you to earn cash and other rewards just by answering simple survey questions. The surveys on the website pay between $1 to $3, and you can withdraw your earnings once you have at least $10 in your Survey Junkie account.
Apart from surveys, Survey Junkie also offers focus group opportunities to its users. You can earn up to $75 just by participating in these focus groups, making them a good side hustle idea.
Nielsen vs. Swagbucks
Swagbucks Summary
- 18 ways to earn money and e-gift cards
- $5 sign up bonus
- Up to 10% cashback when shopping online
- $1 minimum e-gift card withdrawal
Swagbucks is one of the most well-known online rewards platforms. You can join Swagbucks to access a variety of earning opportunities.
Some of the ways you can earn money on Swagbucks include:
- Answering surveys
- Watching videos
- Browsing the internet
- Downloading coupons
- And many more
You can also exchange your earnings on Swagbucks for gift cards starting from just $1. Thus, this makes Swagbucks a good platform to consider if you’re looking for a website where you can make money fast.
Other Sites Like Nielsen
What is Nielsen?
Nielsen has been around since 1923, and conducts market research for different businesses. The company gathers information about consumer behavior, including what people watch, listen to, buy, and do online.
The company’s values include:
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Responsibility and sustainability
- Privacy
- Innovation
- Public policy
The company uses the data it gets from different sources to help other businesses improve their products and services.
Is Nielsen Free?
Yes, it is free to join Nielsen as a member and you will not need to pay any fees to install the mobile app or computer and mobile panel.
How to download the Nielsen mobile app?
You can download the Nielsen mobile app either by visiting the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, depending on whether you own an iOS or Android device.
Where is Nielsen available?
Although Nielsen operates in over 100 countries across the world, you can only download the mobile app or computer and mobile panel if you live in the United States.
Is Nielsen a scam?
Nielsen is not a scam. The company has been operating since 1923 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. It is also accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
Is your information safe with Nielsen?
Although Nielsen collects your data for market research, your information is safe with them. The company separates personal identification data from market research data, so you will not be connected to the information collected from your devices.
The types of data that Nielsen collects are also not personalized and they include:
- Call time and duration
- Text messages
- File types and sizes
Moreover, Nielsen reports the information it collects through its app and panel in the form of aggregate data. Thus, individual data sources are unidentifiable from the data. You can be certain that you will enjoy a high level of privacy when you use Nielsen.
How to contact Nielsen customer service?
You can contact Nielsen customer service by creating a support ticket using the contact form on the Nielsen website. A customer service officer will then get in touch with you to help you resolve any issues you may encounter.
