I signed up for BARE International to see if its mystery shopping jobs are worth your time. It is legit and pays, but one job can take a lot of time for a couple of euros. Below is what I found, and which sites I recommend instead.
Legit mystery shopping, but too much time for a few bucks
Available globally and pays monthly by PayPal or bank transfer. Few jobs outside big cities, and long reports.
On this page
The short answer
BARE International is a legit mystery shopping site that will pay you to become one of their mystery shoppers. It is a global company, so you can become an evaluator regardless of where you live.
But it simply takes too much time to earn a few bucks. You travel to the store, follow detailed instructions and write a report, and if they do not approve it, you do not get paid or reimbursed. You also won’t get paid until the next month. There are better sites to earn extra cash with less time investment.
- Available globally
- Provides a convenient payment method: PayPal or bank transfer (check in Canada)
- Expenses are reimbursed up to a set amount per job
- You can also take jobs in other parts of the world when you travel
- Limited earning opportunities, especially outside big cities
- Requires a significant time investment just to do one job
- The registration process is a bit complicated
- The site is not that user-friendly, and support is hard to reach from the dashboard
- You are paid once a month
My experience with BARE International
I signed up as an evaluator and went through the job board, the job instructions, the payment setup and the support options. This is what I looked at, and what I did not test.
- First checked
- October 2019Review first published Oct 15, 2019
- Latest retest
- Checked: job board, payments, support
- Job fees
- In euros in most countriesIn USD in some countries
- Payday
- The 16th of each monthFee and reimbursement together
- The registration process and the qualifying survey
- The job board, the job instructions and the reimbursement limits
- The member dashboard on desktop and on a mobile browser
- The help section and the contact page
- Completing a mystery shopping job. My review does not show a finished job.
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from BARE International.
An inside look at BARE International
I have made a short video that will give you an inside look so you can see exactly how it works.
Screenshots from my test
BARE International at a glance
| What it is | A global market research company that employs mystery shoppers, called evaluators |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free, but some jobs ask you to buy a product or a service first |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Ways to earn | Mystery shopping jobs from the job board |
| Pay per job | A fee shown on the job board, in euros in most countries and in USD in some |
| Reimbursement | Up to a set amount per job, shown when you apply |
| Payout methods | PayPal or bank transfer. Check in Canada. |
| Payout schedule | Once a month, on the 16th |
| What a report needs | Proof of visit, a photo of the receipt or job order, a selfie at the site and a government-issued ID |
| Mobile | Mobile-friendly dashboard (powered by Sassie), and jobs in the iSecretShop app |
| Where you can join | Anywhere in the world. Most jobs are in big cities. |
| Support | Help section, and contact details on the Contact Us page of the company website |
Is BARE International legit and safe?
Yes, BARE International is legit and does pay. But mystery shopping comes with its own risks, and scammers misuse the BARE name. Here is what you should know before you take a job.
- Scammers pretend to be BARE International
Some people pretend to be from the company. If you get a cashier’s check, or someone asks you to deposit a check and buy gift cards, it is a clear sign of a scam. All emails from the company end with @bareinternational.com.
- No approval means no pay and no reimbursement
If they do not think you followed the instructions, your job is not approved. Then you do not get reimbursed, and you do not get paid. You can end up losing time and money.
- One job can take a whole day
You travel to the store, get everything you need for the report, and travel back home. It can take a whole day, and all you get is a couple of euros. Travel costs can make a job unprofitable.
- Reports ask for a lot
A report needs proof of visit, a photo of the receipt or job order, a selfie at the site and a government-issued ID. Readers who do mystery shopping say the reports are checked very strictly.
- Readers report low pay and late payments
A reader who did a phone shop in 2016 got $3 for 45 minutes to an hour of work. In 2024, another reader wrote that a completed shop had not been paid by the expected date.
My takeIn my opinion, there are simply better sites to earn more extra cash with less time investment. But if you often go shopping and live in a big city with several BARE International jobs, it can be a way to earn a bit while shopping anyway.
BARE International takes a lot of time for a few bucks. These sites let you earn from home, wherever you live.
See the best sites in your countryHow you earn on BARE International
There is one way to earn: mystery shopping jobs from the job board.
Mystery shopping jobsFee per job
Once you become an evaluator, you find all available jobs on the Job Board section of the dashboard. All the shops listed are relevant to where you are. You see how far each store is from you and the fee you get for the job. You decide how far from your home you want to see jobs. Keep it as close to your home as possible, or transportation eats the profit.
Click More to see the instructions, then Apply. Once that clears, visit the shop at the time listed in the job offer. When you apply, you indicate if you can submit the report within 24 hours. There is no right or wrong answer; just be honest.
Not all jobs involve spending money. Sometimes you buy a product or use a service. Other times, you just ask a lot of questions and evaluate the service and the overall experience in the shop. Keep the receipt, because you need to photograph it for your report.
After you submit the report, BARE International reviews it. Once it clears, you receive the fee and the reimbursement for what you spent.
Check Out the Top Survey Sites in Your Country
How much can you make?
Theoretically, there is no limit. But it all depends on whether you receive plenty of offers to shop where you live. Unless you live in a big city, you should not expect to find jobs very often. You can also take jobs in other parts of the world, which is useful if you travel frequently.
In my opinion, the earning potential is quite low considering the time one job takes. It can take a whole day, and all you get is a couple of euros. The money/time ratio simply is not good enough, unless you are already going to those shops anyway.
See it as a fun way to make a bit extra, not as continuous income.
How you get paid
| Method | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | Everywhere except Canada | Monthly, on the 16th |
| Bank transfer | Everywhere except Canada | Monthly, on the 16th |
| Check | Canada | Monthly, on the 16th |
The monthly payment covers the reimbursement for what you spent in the stores plus the fee for each job. Every job has a reimbursement clause with a maximum amount, which you see when you apply. Make sure not to overspend.
BARE International does not notify you of the total fee you have built up each month. You track it yourself in the Shopper’s Log tab on the dashboard. If you live in Canada and want a more convenient payment method, see the top survey sites that pay via PayPal.
Who can join, and how
BARE International caters to people anywhere in the world, so you can become an evaluator regardless of where you live. You have to be at least 18.
The registration process is longer than most. After it, you complete a short survey that helps them qualify you for more job offers in your area. Do it once you become an evaluator.
On mobile, you can log in to the member dashboard in a mobile browser. It is powered by another mystery shopping platform called Sassie and is mobile-friendly. You can check the instructions, see jobs near your current location and submit reports with photos. You can also use the iSecretShop app to access BARE International assignments, which is the more convenient option, in my opinion.
Support is harder. The help section has improved since I first tested BARE International, but there is no way to contact the support team from inside the dashboard. You have to log out and go to the Contact Us page on the company website.
What readers told me
This review has 11 comments since 2020: 6 from readers, including the owner of BARE International, and 5 replies from me. These are the things readers wrote about most.
Readers asked if emails, letters or check offers in BARE’s name were legit. Check offers that ask you to buy gift cards are a scam, not BARE.
An experienced mystery shopper found the pay too low for the detailed instructions and reports, and cancelled her jobs.
One reader wrote in 2024 that a completed shop had not been paid by the expected date.
Jason Bare commented and shared a direct email address for questions.
“They want me to give my bank info and drivers license and also to do my first job I have to give them my email also so they can email me a check which I am to deposit in my checking account and then go by gifts cards and such.”
Mikael: No, do NOT deposit a check. This is a classic mystery shopping scam that will get you into trouble. It is important to be aware that this scam is NOT from Bare International or any of the legit companies even though you have likely received a letter with their logo.
“The phone shop entailed so many details that it would take at least an hour to prepare, make the call then do those annoying reports they require, just for $7.00.”
Mikael: Thanks for sharing your experiences.
BARE International alternatives I have reviewed
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | Surveys from home, high pay per survey and fast payouts | $5 or $10 for PayPal, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| Swagbucks | Many daily ways to earn from home | PayPal around $5, £5 or €5, by country | 4.3 / 5 |
| iShopFor Ipsos | Mystery shopping in more than 80 countries, with expenses paid back | None | 3.1 / 5 |
| PrestoShopper | Mystery shopping jobs, mostly in US and Canadian cities | None | 2.5 / 5 |
Want to earn from home with less time per reward? See the top survey sites in your country. You will find a site that fits your needs, regardless of where you live.
How I scored BARE International
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. Platform Information.
BARE International scores 50 out of 100. I recommend these sites before BARE International.
See the best sites in your countryBARE International FAQ
Is BARE International legit?
Yes. BARE International is a legit mystery shopping company that pays its evaluators. But one job takes a lot of time for a small fee, and scammers misuse its name.
How does BARE International pay?
Once a month, on the 16th, through PayPal or bank transfer. In Canada, you are paid by check. The payment covers your job fees and your reimbursements.
How much does BARE International pay per job?
Each job shows its fee on the job board, in euros in most countries and in USD in some. In my opinion, it is a couple of euros for a job that can take a whole day.
How can I tell a BARE International scam?
All emails from the company end with @bareinternational.com. If you get a cashier’s check, or are asked to deposit a check and buy gift cards, it is a scam.
Who can join BARE International?
Anyone aged 18 or older, anywhere in the world. Most jobs are in big cities.
Is there a BARE International app?
The member dashboard works in a mobile browser. You can also use the iSecretShop app to access BARE International assignments.
How do I contact BARE International support?
Use the contact details on the Contact Us page of the company website. You cannot reach support from inside the member dashboard.
Who checked BARE International for this review
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with BARE International, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
Thank you for the information in this article. You are spot-on with what is typical in the mystery shopping profession in general. I was an evaluator several years ago for BARE, (2016) performed one phone shop where I only received $3.00 for 45 minutes to an hour of work. I started getting slammed with calls from telemarketers after the shop even though I was listed on the NO-CALL REGISTRY by car dealerships (the shop was a car purchase inquiry). I deleted the account and worked with other mystery shopping companies that paid more for phone shops and didn’t compromise my personal information.
Earlier this year my husband lost his job and we got desperate, so I signed up to be an evaluator for BARE again back in June and learned that they now offer a more extensive list of phone and internet shops that can be done at home, with the pay listing a more reasonable amount for the time involved-or so it seemed. Doing shops at home is appealing to me as I have anxiety leaving the house. I signed up for a couple of the jobs, one was internet research and the other a phone call, but when I was accepted, the instructions were much more detailed than what was initially listed on the Job Board. The internet shop was so confusing that I just cancelled it. It was too much stress to even try to figure out what they expected from me. The phone shop entailed so many details that it would take at least an hour to prepare, make the call then do those annoying reports they require, just for $7.00. I canceled that one as well. I’ve done 100+ mystery shops over the years with several different companies listed through the MSPA (Mystery Shopper Providers Association) and have learned that the reports are the most crucial. The auditors pick through your grammar with a fine-toothed comb and nit-pick the slightest thing that causes the report to get kicked back and often times get rejected and you don’t get paid. Never mind the fact that their job listings are full of grammatical errors, but your grammar must be perfect in the reports. This is not sustainable income by any means, and I find it rather abusive that they will only pay a pittance for your time and expect college course quality reports. They need to pay more if they want dependable evaluators. Mystery shopping works if you want to dine out and get it paid for, or you need an oil change and get it paid for, or do some banking. Things you already do anyway. I found myself forgetting the details they wanted because there is SO MUCH they want, and if you forget, you don’t get paid. Just my two cents for your readers who are looking at this as a side hustle.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I am just trying to do this and I do not know if the email I got is legit
or not.please let me know.
Thanks Robin
I cannot really say without more info.
But just be aware that I have just reviewed the platform and do not have access to your account info or anything like that so I cannot say anything specific about that. You need to contact their support about this.
Question?? If this is a legit company why are they using a different return address?
That is not associated with the company? Why are correspondence so lets say, secret.
It definitely seems a bit strange. But you would need to ask them about this.
Dear Blogger,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your opinions and insights on BARE. As the owner of BARE International I can validate that some comments above are inadequate.
We’re always available to answer any questions, queries or concerns. I’ll even put a direct email address to me on this site. [email protected]
-Jason Bare
Thanks for stopping by Jason. I also just replied to the comment you left on my YouTube channel.
Always great when owners of the platforms are willing to share their perspectives and answer questions.
However, just saying some of the information is inadequate seems a bit strange without expanding on it. I am always happy to receive feedback but it needs to be a bit more constructive than this.
So if you have any specific parts of the review you do not agree with or you think some info is missing, I will be happy to hear from you and look at it.
Thanks
Trying to see if an offer I got is legit from y’all. They want me to give my bank info and drivers license and also to do my first job I have to give them my email also so they can email me a check which I am to deposit in my checking account and then go by gifts cards and such. Is this what y’all would do
No, do NOT deposit a check. This is a classic mystery shopping scam that will get you into trouble. It is important to be aware that this scam is NOT from Bare International or any of the legit companies even though you have likely received a letter with their logo. Scammers misuse the name and logo from some of the big and legit mystery shopping platforms but they would never ask you to go deposit a check and go buy gift cards.
Why have I not been paid for my work? I completed shops for your company since last year. I completed shops for you this year, also. The last one I completed was in February, at Andretti’s. The shop was supposed to pay over $200. I completed the shop and was supposed to be paid before March 18th. It is now March 25th, I have not been paid. Why is that?