Panelbase is now Norstatpanel
Norstat acquired Panelbase in 2023 and has since moved its users to its own platform, Norstatpanel. Panelbase no longer exists under its own name, so you cannot join or earn on Panelbase now. If you had a Panelbase account, you can still use it to log in to Norstatpanel.
You can read my full Norstatpanel review. I keep my Panelbase review below as a record. The UK survey sites I would pick instead are further down.
Panelbase was a UK survey site that paid you for surveys, focus groups and product tests. It no longer exists: Norstat bought it and moved its members to Norstatpanel. I tested Panelbase myself before that. Below is what I found, and which sites I would pick instead.
Panelbase is now Norstatpanel
Norstat bought Panelbase and moved its members to Norstatpanel, so you can no longer join Panelbase. When it was running, it was a legit UK survey site with bank transfer payouts, but low rewards.
On this page
The short answer
Panelbase is now Norstatpanel. Norstat acquired Panelbase in 2023 and moved its users to Norstatpanel. You can no longer join Panelbase, but if you had an account, you can use it to log in to Norstatpanel. See my Norstatpanel review.
When it was running, Panelbase was legit. It had been around since 2005 and paid by direct bank transfer from £10. But the rewards were fairly low, there were not a lot of surveys, and it was only for UK residents. It was a decent secondary site, not more.
- Several earning opportunities
- The website was easy to navigate
- A direct bank transfer option for cashing out
- Panelbase no longer exists. It is now Norstatpanel.
- Fairly low rewards
- Not a lot of surveys
- Only for UK residents
- The mobile site was not optimized for phones
My experience with Panelbase
I tested Panelbase myself and compared it with the hundreds of other survey sites I have tested. This is what I did myself, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- May 2019Review first published May 22, 2019
- Status
- Now NorstatpanelNorstat acquired Panelbase in 2023
- Minimum cashout
- £10Bank transfer (BACS), vouchers or charity
- Who could join
- UK onlyFrom 16
- The surveys and the info shown for each one
- The other research opportunities
- The monthly prize draw
- The payout options
- The website on a phone
- The FAQ section and the contact options
- A payout I can show.
- Norstatpanel. See my separate Norstatpanel review.
What I saw in my Panelbase test
These screenshots show Panelbase when it was running: the surveys, the other research opportunities, the prize draw and the inactivity rule.
Screenshots from my test
Panelbase is now Norstatpanel. For other UK survey sites, see the top survey sites in your country.
See the best alternativesPanelbase at a glance
| What it was | A UK survey site, started in 2005, a division of the market research agency Dipsticks Research Limited |
|---|---|
| Status | No longer exists. Norstat acquired it in 2023 and moved its users to Norstatpanel. |
| Ways to earn | Surveys, focus groups, product tests, phone interviews, a monthly prize draw and a referral program |
| Pay per survey | Usually £0.25 to £10, mostly at the lower end |
| Minimum cashout | £10 |
| Payout options | Direct bank transfer (BACS), vouchers by post, or a donation to charity |
| Inactivity | Rewards were lost after 12 months without activity |
| Who could join | UK residents from 16, with internet, a landline or a mobile phone |
| App | No app. The website worked in a mobile browser, but was not optimized for phones. |
| Support | FAQ section, email, phone and a postal address |
Was Panelbase legit and safe?
Panelbase no longer exists under its own name. When it was running, it was legit: it had been in business for more than 10 years and paid real money. These were the catches.
- It is now Norstatpanel
Norstat acquired Panelbase in 2023 and moved its users to Norstatpanel. You cannot join Panelbase now.
- Fairly low rewards
Most surveys paid at the lower end of £0.25 to £10. A survey over £5 was rare.
- Rewards expired after 12 months
If your account was inactive for 12 months, you lost every reward you had earned, and logging back in did not bring them back.
- Not great on a phone
There was no app, and the tabs on the mobile site were too small to tap without zooming in.
My takePanelbase is now Norstatpanel, so it is no longer an option under its own name. When it was running, it was a decent secondary site for UK residents, but there were better options. See Norstatpanel and the alternatives below.
How you earned on Panelbase
There were four ways to earn. Tap each one to read more.
Panelbase surveysUsually £0.25 to £10
Surveys were the main way to earn. The dashboard showed each survey’s deadline, reward, estimated time and which devices it worked on, which most survey sites do not show.
You had to fill out a long profile to qualify for more surveys. You did not get a reward for it, but Panelbase used it to match you with surveys. A survey took around 10 to 15 minutes on average. Taking a survey as soon as it was available gave you the best chance to qualify.
Focus groups, product tests and moreHigher rewards
Now and then, you could be invited to phone interviews, focus groups, product tests and more. These took longer and paid more, but you could not expect many of them.
Monthly prize draw£1 to £50 prizes
Every time you did not qualify for a survey you started, you got an entry into the monthly prize draw. Prizes ranged from £1 to £50, with two £50 winners a month. It was a consolation prize, not a reliable way to earn.
Referral program£0.20 per friend
You earned £0.20 for each friend you invited. You did not earn a share of what they earned, so it was a weak way to earn, in my opinion.
See the Best Survey Sites in Your Country
How much could you make?
Not a full-time income, which is normal for any survey site. Most surveys paid between £0.25 and £10, but usually towards the lower end. A survey for more than £5 was rare, though it could happen.
How much you made also depended on how many surveys you got and how often you qualified. Overall, there was not much money to be made, but Panelbase could be a decent secondary site.
How Panelbase paid
You could request a payment once your rewards reached £10.
| Method | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct bank transfer (BACS) | £10 | No PayPal fees |
| Vouchers | £10 | Sent to your address by post |
| Charity | £10 | A donation of your earnings |
Your rewards were lost if your account was inactive for 12 months.
Panelbase alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norstatpanel | Panelbase’s new home. Invite only, paid in gift cards. | Depends on the gift card | 2.8 / 5 |
| YouGov | Opinion polls, with a panel for each country | Varies by country | 4.3 / 5 |
| Prime Opinion | Surveys only, fast payouts | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| Prolific | Academic studies, with many studies for the UK | £6/$6 | 3.4 / 5 |
For more, see the best survey sites in the UK and the best online focus groups.
How I scored Panelbase
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. Platform Information.
Panelbase scored 60 out of 100 before it became Norstatpanel. For other UK survey sites, see these.
See the best alternativesPanelbase FAQ
Does Panelbase still exist?
No. Norstat acquired Panelbase in 2023 and moved its users to its platform, Norstatpanel. You cannot join Panelbase now.
Can I still use my Panelbase account?
Yes. You can use your Panelbase account to log in to Norstatpanel. See my Norstatpanel review.
Was Panelbase legit?
Yes. It started in 2005, was part of Dipsticks Research Limited, and paid real money. But the rewards were fairly low.
How did Panelbase pay?
By direct bank transfer (BACS), vouchers by post, or a donation to charity, from £10.
Who could join Panelbase?
UK residents from 16.
What are good alternatives to Panelbase?
Norstatpanel, YouGov, Prime Opinion or Prolific in the table above, or the best survey sites in the UK.
Who tested Panelbase for this review
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Panelbase, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.