Sermo (previously MNOW) is a medical survey panel for healthcare professionals. I looked at how it works, how it pays and how you can join. Below is what I found, what readers report, and which panels I would pick first.
High pay per survey, but only for healthcare professionals, and invites are rare
Only for healthcare professionals. Surveys pay around $25 to $100, but invites are rare and there is no PayPal.
On this page
The short answer
Sermo, previously MNOW, is a medical survey panel that pays healthcare professionals for market research studies. Most surveys pay around $25 to $100. In January 2025, a physician told me that he and several physician friends did its surveys and were never paid.
It is only for healthcare professionals, and you have to request to join. Surveys are not frequent, and there is no PayPal: you are paid by check, prepaid credit card or voucher. Do not count on regular earnings from it.
- High rewards for each survey
- No qualifying questions once you get an invite
- No payout threshold: you are paid per survey
- Available in 80 countries
- Two readers report problems: unpaid surveys and members thrown out
- Very hard to register as a member
- Limited earning opportunities
- Payment via PayPal is not available
- Little information on the website, and no FAQ
My experience with Sermo
Sermo is only for healthcare professionals. I looked at its website, the request form, how the surveys and payments work, and the support options. This is what I looked at, and what I did not test.
- First checked
- July 2020Review first published Jul 7, 2020
- Latest retest
- Checked: request form, surveys, payments, support
- Sign-up
- Request to joinOr an invite from a trusted member
- Panel website
- mnow.comStill the address of the panel
- The website and the request-to-join form
- How the survey invites and the honorarium work
- The website on a mobile phone
- The contact form
- Taking surveys as a member. Sermo is only for healthcare professionals.
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from Sermo.
What Sermo looks like
These screenshots show a Sermo survey invite, the mobile site and the request form you fill out to join.
Screenshots
Sermo at a glance
| What it is | Medical market research panel, previously called MNOW |
|---|---|
| Who can join | Healthcare professionals only: physicians, nurses, dentists, optometrists, pharmacists, veterinarians and others |
| Ways to earn | Paid surveys related to your medical field |
| Pay per survey | Most surveys around $25 to $100, usually for around 30 minutes |
| Minimum cashout | None. You are paid for every survey you complete. |
| Payout methods | Check, prepaid credit cards or vouchers. No PayPal. |
| Payment speed | A couple of weeks after the survey. Checks take longer. |
| Reader reports | One reader reports surveys that were never paid |
| App | No app. The website is mobile-friendly. |
| Where you can join | 80 countries. More surveys in countries like the US and the UK. |
| Support | A contact form. No FAQ page. |
Is Sermo legit and safe?
Sermo is a real medical panel that pays for market research studies. Two readers report problems. Here is what you should know before you request to join.
- Readers report surveys that were never paid
In January 2025, a physician wrote that he and several physician friends did Sermo’s surveys and were never paid, and that Sermo ignores the people it does not pay.
- Readers report members being thrown out
In July 2024, a reader who had been a member for 10 years wrote that Sermo throws members out, even when they have the credentials.
- A strict registration
You cannot just sign up. You request to join and give a work number, and Sermo reviews your request. The other way in is an invite from one of its trusted members.
- Few surveys
Sermo sends surveys based on your profession, so you do not answer qualifying questions. But the survey invites are not frequent, so do not expect to earn regularly.
- No PayPal, and little information
You are paid by check, prepaid credit card or voucher. Checks take a long time. The website does not explain much and has no FAQ.
My takeSermo’s best quality is that it pays pretty well per survey, and it lets medical professionals help with research in their field. But surveys are not frequent, and there is no PayPal. Two readers also told me about unpaid surveys and members being thrown out. If you are a healthcare professional, I would look at the other medical panels first.
Sermo invites are rare, and there is no PayPal. These sites are where I would start instead.
See the best sites in your countryHow you earn on Sermo
There is only one way to earn: paid surveys and research studies for your medical field.
Paid medical surveysAround $25 to $100
Once you are a member, you see the surveys you can take when you log in, and Sermo emails you when a survey is available. The surveys are related to your medical field.
You do not answer qualifying questions. Sermo mostly qualifies the surveys it sends you by your profession, so if you get an invite, you are already qualified. You still have to complete the survey to earn.
The downside of this system is that you will not receive many survey invites. When you complete a survey, you are eligible for an honorarium.
How much can you make?
Exclusive panels usually pay a lot better than regular survey sites. Based on feedback from members, the normal rate is around $25 per survey, and most surveys pay around $25 to $100. They usually take around 30 minutes.
But surveys are not frequent, so you cannot expect to earn hundreds of dollars every month. And a reader reports surveys that were never paid. So I would say the earning potential is not that high, even though it pays well per survey.
If you want more surveys, see the best paid medical survey panels. It can be a good idea to join several panels.
How you get paid
| Method | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Check | None | Usually takes quite a long time |
| Prepaid credit card | None | Instructions come in the email from Sermo |
| Vouchers | None | Instructions come in the email from Sermo |
You do not have to reach a threshold. You are paid for every survey you complete, a couple of weeks later. The website does not say whether you can choose how you are paid. The instructions are usually in the email you receive.
There is no PayPal. If you prefer to receive your earnings online, see the top sites that pay via PayPal.
Who can join Sermo?
If you are not a health professional, you cannot join. Sermo is for practicing physicians, nurses, dentists, optometrists, pharmacists, veterinarians and other healthcare professionals.
You request to join through a form, with a work number. Sermo reviews your request and emails you a link to complete your registration if it accepts you. You can also join through an invite from one of its trusted members.
The panel is available in 80 countries. You see them in the Country field of the request form. Some countries, like the US and the UK, get more surveys than others.
What 4 readers told me
This review has 4 comments since 2024: 2 from readers and 2 replies from me. Both readers report a problem.
A physician wrote that he and several physician friends did surveys and were never paid.
A member of 10 years wrote that Sermo throws members out, even when they have the credentials.
“I’m a physician, several of my friends are physicians. We’ve done their surveys. They never pay us.”
Mikael: Thanks for sharing your experiences.
“when they want to throw u out the do,even if u have the credentials.”
Mikael: Thanks for sharing your experiences and opinion.
Sermo alternatives I have reviewed
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZoomRx | Physician surveys that usually pay $50 to $500, with PayPal | No threshold | 3.8 / 5 |
| M3 Global Research | Surveys and interviews for healthcare professionals | None | 2.6 / 5 |
| Prime Opinion | Surveys for everyone, fast payouts | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| ySense | Surveys plus other ways to earn, most countries | $10 PayPal | 4.0 / 5 |
Healthcare professional? See the best paid medical survey panels. Not in healthcare? See the top survey sites in your country. They accept members regardless of their profession.
How I scored Sermo
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. Platform Information.
Sermo scores 52 out of 100. These sites are better options.
See the best sites in your countrySermo FAQ
Is Sermo a scam?
No. Sermo is a real medical panel that pays for market research studies. But in January 2025, a physician told me that he and several physician friends were never paid for its surveys.
Are Sermo and MNOW the same?
Yes. The panel used to be called MNOW and is now called Sermo. You still sign up for its research studies at mnow.com.
Who can join Sermo?
Only healthcare professionals, such as physicians, nurses, dentists, optometrists, pharmacists and veterinarians. You request to join, or you get an invite from a trusted member.
How much does Sermo pay?
Most surveys pay around $25 to $100 and take around 30 minutes. But surveys are not frequent.
How does Sermo pay?
By check, prepaid credit card or voucher, a couple of weeks after the survey. There is no PayPal and no threshold.
Which countries can join Sermo?
80 countries. You see them in the Country field of the request form.
Does Sermo have an app?
No. But the website is mobile-friendly.
How do I contact Sermo?
Through the contact form on its website. There is no FAQ page.
Who checked Sermo for this review
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Sermo, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
It’s a scam. I’m a physician, several of my friends are physicians. We’ve done their surveys. They never pay us. In my mind, that’s what I consider a scam or a breach of contract. Considering that they continue to ignore the many people who they do not pay, that’s in my mind what makes me lean more towards scam than than breaching contracts with everyone I know. If it looks like a duck, and if it quacks like a duck, it is a duck.
Bottom line, if you are physician, do not use them. It’s a scam.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Sermo is not really legit as the medical team for support and giving reward are actually recruiters-marketing from all over the world.Head name is Obed Sanchez from Mexico,others in Lithuania and when they want to throw u out the do,even if u have the credentials.I guess pharm companies are behind but since Peter Kirk a scandinavian doctor 2 yrs ago became the leader i suspect an organization behind it that steals articles from doctors.After 10 yrs and 10000 I am completely disgusted by them
Thanks for sharing your experiences and opinion.