I looked into Panel Opinion to see if its paid surveys are worth your time. It is a legit UK survey panel with a user-friendly site and app, but the earning potential is low. Below is what I found, and which sites I would pick first.
Legit UK survey panel, but the earning potential is low
Paid surveys and focus groups for UK residents. Cash out from £10 through PayPal, bank transfer or cheque.
On this page
The short answer
Panel Opinion is legit and not a scam. It is a UK-based survey panel owned by the MIS Group, a market research company, and it pays you to complete surveys. You can cash out from £10 through PayPal, bank transfer or a cheque.
But its earning potential is relatively low, and you can only join if you live in the UK. There are quite a lot of survey sites with better earning potential. It is a decent panel to join, just do not expect to earn a lot from it.
- User-friendly site and app
- Three payout options: PayPal, bank transfer and cheque
- Some surveys still give a small reward when you do not qualify
- Focus groups that pay more than surveys
- The mandatory profile survey gives a small reward
- Earning potential is relatively low
- The referral program does not guarantee you earn anything
- Completing your profile takes some time
- Only for UK residents with a UK phone number
My experience with Panel Opinion
I looked at Panel Opinion’s registration, the member dashboard, the profile surveys, the focus groups, the referral program, the prize draw, the payout options, the app and the support. This is what I checked, and what I did not test.
- First checked
- September 2019Review first published Sep 15, 2019
- Latest retest
- Checked: earning methods, payouts, who can join
- Who can join
- UK onlyYou need a UK phone number to confirm your membership
- Payout threshold
- £10PayPal, bank transfer (BACS) or cheque
- The registration form and the member dashboard
- The profile surveys you complete before you get survey offers
- The focus groups, the referral program and the monthly prize draw
- The payout options, the mobile app and the FAQ
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from Panel Opinion.
- A focus group. I have not taken part in one.
- The support. I have not needed to contact it myself.
Inside Panel Opinion: my screenshots
These screenshots are from my look at Panel Opinion.
Screenshots from my test
Panel Opinion at a glance
| What it is | UK-based survey panel, owned by the MIS Group, a market research company |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free |
| Ways to earn | Paid surveys, focus groups, a referral program and a monthly prize draw |
| Rewards | Paid in British pounds into your Panel Opinion account |
| Minimum cashout | £10 |
| Payout methods | PayPal, bank transfer (BACS) or a cheque in the post |
| Apps | Android and iOS |
| Who can join | UK residents. You need a UK phone number to confirm your membership. |
| Support | FAQ, contact form and a Facebook page |
Is Panel Opinion legit and safe?
Yes, Panel Opinion is legit. It is a real survey panel that pays you to complete surveys. But that does not make it the best use of your time. Here is what you should know.
- Low earning potential
How many surveys you get varies from member to member and mostly depends on where you live. There are quite a lot of survey sites with better earning potential than Panel Opinion.
- Your profile takes time
You have to complete a mandatory profile survey and more parts of your profile. If you skip this, there is a good chance you will not receive any survey offers.
- You will not qualify for every survey
Each survey starts with profiling questions. Some surveys give a small reward when you do not qualify, but not all of them do.
- The referral program is a lottery
You do not earn money for inviting friends. You earn stars for the monthly prize draw, so you are not guaranteed to earn anything.
- UK only
You need a UK phone number to confirm your membership. If you visit from Europe or the US, the site may point you to a partner panel in your country.
My takeIn my opinion, this survey panel would have been a great one if its earning potential was a bit higher. But don’t get me wrong, Panel Opinion is a decent survey panel to join. Just don’t expect to earn a lot from it. Their site and app are user-friendly, which is a huge plus.
Panel Opinion is legit, but its earning potential is low. These survey sites give you more for your time.
See the best alternativesHow you earn on Panel Opinion
There are 4 ways to earn. Paid surveys are the main one. Tap one to read more.
Paid surveysMain earner
When you log in for the first time, you get a mandatory profile survey. Panel Opinion uses it to match you with surveys, and it gives a small reward when you complete it. Complete the other parts of your profile too, or you may not receive any survey offers.
Each survey offer shows a rough estimate of how long it takes and the reward you get. You first answer several profiling questions to check that you belong to the target group. If you qualify, you answer the survey and earn the promised reward. If you do not qualify, some surveys still give a small reward, but not all of them.
Focus groupsPays the most
You apply for a spot by answering some qualifying questions. If you qualify, Panel Opinion gets in touch with more instructions.
It is harder to qualify than for surveys, and you cannot expect to earn from it regularly. But it pays more than all the other ways to earn, so if you see one you think you are eligible for, I recommend you go for it.
Referral programPrize draw stars
You do not earn money for inviting people. Instead, you get 3 stars for the monthly prize draw for every friend you invite who registers. You enter their first name, email address and a short message, and you can invite up to three people at a time.
In my opinion, this type of referral program does not motivate you to invite people, because you are not guaranteed to earn anything.
Monthly prize drawPrizes, not guaranteed
The prizes change every month and can be big, like TVs and computers. You need 100 stars to take part, and taking part costs you those 100 stars. You earn stars like this:
1 star every day you log in, 1 star for a minipoll, up to 3 stars for a survey, and 3 stars for every friend you invite who registers.
It takes quite some patience to collect 100 stars, and it is a lottery, so you have to be very lucky to win.
Recommended: Check Out the Top Survey Sites in Your Country
How much can you make?
Not a lot. To earn a good amount from a survey panel, you need plenty of survey invites, and how many you get on Panel Opinion varies from member to member. It mostly depends on where you live.
Some members say you can reach the payout threshold rather quickly, and some surveys still reward you when you do not qualify. But overall, the earning potential is relatively low, and quite a lot of survey sites have better earning potential.
Payout methods and minimum
| Method | Minimum | Note |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | £10 | The most convenient option, in my opinion |
| Bank transfer (BACS) | £10 | Direct to your UK bank account |
| Cheque | £10 | Sent in the post, arrives within 15 days |
Every survey you complete adds a set amount in British pounds to your Panel Opinion balance. Once you reach £10, you can request a payout. If you want more sites that pay through PayPal, see the top sites that pay via PayPal.
Panel Opinion alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | Surveys only, fast payouts | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| HeyCash | A decent number of surveys, PayPal usually processed fast | $5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| TopSurveys | Good pay per survey and few screen-outs | $5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Branded Surveys | Surveys in the US, UK and Canada, paid via PayPal, bank transfer or gift cards | $5 | 4.4 / 5 |
See all the best survey sites in the UK. Outside the UK? See the top survey sites in your country. You will find one that fits your needs no matter where you live.
How I scored Panel Opinion
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
Panel Opinion scores 46 out of 100. If you want better earning potential, start with these survey sites.
See the best alternativesPanel Opinion FAQ
Is Panel Opinion a scam?
No. Panel Opinion is a legit UK survey panel, owned by the MIS Group, that pays you to complete surveys. But its earning potential is relatively low.
What is the minimum payout?
£10.
How does Panel Opinion pay?
Through PayPal, a direct bank transfer (BACS) or a cheque in the post. A cheque arrives within 15 days.
Who can join Panel Opinion?
Only UK residents. You need a UK phone number to confirm your membership. If you visit from Europe or the US, the site may point you to a partner panel in your country.
Is there a Panel Opinion app?
Yes, for Android and iOS, so you can answer surveys on the go.
How does the referral program work?
You do not earn money. You get 3 stars for the monthly prize draw for every friend you invite who registers.
How do I contact Panel Opinion?
Check the FAQ first. You find a link to the contact form at the end of each question there. You can also send a message through its Facebook page.
Who tested Panel Opinion for this review
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Panel Opinion, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.