I looked into A Closer Look to see if its mystery shopping jobs are worth it. It is legit, but most assignments do not reimburse the full amount you spend. Below is what I found, and which sites I recommend instead.
Tested by Mikael (EarnWithMike)Founder and lead testerMikael founded PaidFromSurveys in 2016 and has personally tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites since then. He shows his tests and payment proof to 555K+ subscribers on his YouTube channel, EarnWithMike. He looked into A Closer Look himself and does not earn a commission from it.Learn more about Mikael
Last retested · First published
Legit mystery shopping, but it does not pay that well
Assignments in hotels, restaurants, spas and shops. Most need a purchase that is only partly reimbursed. US and Canada only.
On this page
The short answer
A Closer Look is legit. It is a market research company, and you really receive rewards when you work as a mystery shopper for it. There is no payout threshold, and you can get paid by direct bank transfer.
But most assignments require a purchase, and you usually do not get the full amount back. In small cities, you can hardly find any assignments. If you want to earn from mystery shopping, this is not the right site to join, in my opinion.
- No payout threshold
- Direct bank transfer without a fee
- Mobile-friendly website
- Help page and chat support with a real representative
- Low rewards
- Most assignments do not reimburse the full amount you spend
- Few assignments outside big cities
- A long wait if you choose to be paid by check
- Only available in the US and Canada
My experience with A Closer Look
I looked at A Closer Look’s registration, its assignments, the payment options and the support. This is what I checked, and what I did not test.
- First checked
- August 2023Review first published Aug 18, 2023
- Latest retest
- Checked: assignments, payments, support
- Assignments available
- A decent number in large citiesHardly any in small cities
- Reimbursement
- Usually not the full amountStated on each assignment’s details page
- The registration steps
- The available assignments and their details pages
- The payment options
- The website on a mobile phone, the Help page and the chat
- Doing an assignment. My review does not show a completed mystery shop.
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from A Closer Look.
Inside A Closer Look: my screenshots
These screenshots are from my look at the site.
Screenshots from my test
A Closer Look at a glance
| What it is | Market research company that offers mystery shopping assignments |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free |
| Ways to earn | Mystery shopping assignments only |
| Assignment types | Hotels, spas, dental offices, restaurants, fitness centers, senior living facilities and retail stores |
| Purchases | Most assignments require one. You are reimbursed a set amount, usually not the full amount. |
| Minimum cashout | None |
| Payout methods | Check, or E-Payment to a debit card or by direct bank transfer |
| Fees | 3.5% for debit card deposits. No fee for direct bank transfer. |
| Sign-up | Registration form, a verification code to your mobile number, and a few more steps |
| App | No app. The website is optimized for mobile. |
| Where you can join | US and Canada only |
| Support | Help page in the member dashboard, and a chat where a representative can take over |
Is A Closer Look legit and safe?
Yes, A Closer Look is legit, since you can really receive rewards as a mystery shopper. But that does not make it worth it. Here is what you should know.
- You spend your own money first
Most, if not all, assignments require a purchase. You are reimbursed a set amount, but usually not the full amount. Add other costs like gas, and making a profit is difficult. This is the main downside, in my opinion.
- Miss one requirement and you are not paid
Every assignment comes with instructions. If you miss even one requirement, your submission is not approved, and you do not receive the reward.
- Few assignments in small cities
There is a decent number of assignments in large cities. In small cities, you can hardly find any, so you will most likely not earn anything.
- Checks take a long time
If you choose to be paid by check, you wait until the 4th Monday of the following month. E-Payment is weekly.
My takeIn my opinion, if you are looking to earn from mystery shopping, this is not the right site to join, because it does not pay that well. It is only beneficial if you take on assignments from places where you usually shop or dine. That way, you only pay a small amount to enjoy the product or service.
Want to earn without spending money first? See the top sites in your country.
See the best sites in your countryHow you earn on A Closer Look
There is only one way to earn: mystery shopping assignments.
Mystery shopping assignmentsReward + part of your purchase back
Log in to the member dashboard to see the assignments in your area. Click one to see the instructions, the reward and how much of your purchase is reimbursed.
Pick a date and time for the assignment. A Closer Look reviews your application. Once it is approved, you do the assignment at that date and time, and then submit your report.
Check the reimbursement before you choose an assignment, so you can still profit from it. The higher-paying assignments take a lot of work, so the time-to-money ratio is not that good. See also the best mystery shopping sites.
How much can you make?
It depends mostly on where you live. In a big city, you can earn a decent amount. In a small city, you will hardly find any assignments.
Most assignments require a purchase that is not fully reimbursed, and you also have costs like gas. The higher-paying assignments take a lot of work. That is why I would say the earning potential of A Closer Look is not that good.
It is only beneficial if you take on assignments from places where you usually shop or dine anyway.
Payout methods, fees and speed
| Method | Fee | When you are paid |
|---|---|---|
| E-Payment: direct bank transfer | None | Every Friday after report approval, then 1 to 3 days to reach your account |
| E-Payment: debit card deposit | 3.5% | Every Friday after report approval, credited instantly |
| Check | — | The 4th Monday of the following month |
There is no threshold: you are paid for whatever you earned. For E-Payment, reports approved by Thursday are paid the following Friday. For a check, the earnings from June are sent on the 4th Monday of July.
I like that it offers direct bank transfer. If you want more sites with this method, see the top sites that pay via direct bank transfer.
A Closer Look alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| PrizeRebel | Many surveys and offers, with excellent support | $5 PayPal; some gift cards from $2 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Prime Opinion | High pay per survey and fast payouts | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| Swagbucks | Many daily ways to earn, one of the biggest GPT sites | About $5 PayPal; gift cards from 100 SB | 4.3 / 5 |
| iShopFor Ipsos | Mystery shopping in 80+ countries, best in big cities | No threshold; PayPal | 3.1 / 5 |
For mystery shopping, see the top mystery shopping sites. To earn without spending money, see the top survey and GPT sites in your country.
How I scored A Closer Look
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
A Closer Look scores 44 out of 100. I recommend these sites first.
See the best sites in your countryA Closer Look FAQ
Is A Closer Look a scam?
No. A Closer Look is a legit mystery shopping company. But it does not pay that well.
Do I have to spend money?
For most, if not all, assignments, yes. You are reimbursed a set amount, but usually not the full amount you spend.
Is there a minimum payout?
No. You are paid for whatever you earned.
How does A Closer Look pay?
By check, or by E-Payment to a debit card (3.5% fee, instant) or by direct bank transfer (no fee, 1 to 3 days).
How fast does A Closer Look pay?
E-Payment is every Friday for reports approved by Thursday. Checks are sent on the 4th Monday of the following month.
Which countries can join A Closer Look?
Only the US and Canada.
Does A Closer Look have an app?
No. But the website is optimized for mobile, so you can apply for assignments and submit reports on your phone.
How do I contact A Closer Look?
Check the Help page in the member dashboard, or click the Message icon in the lower right corner to chat. A representative can take over the chat.
Who tested A Closer Look for this review
Founder of PaidFromSurveys.com since 2016. Mikael has tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites and shares his tests with 555K+ subscribers on YouTube (October 2026).
If you have any comments, questions, or experience with A Closer Look, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.