Is the Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel legit? Yes. It’s run by the same Nielsen behind the TV ratings, it’s free, and it does pay.
It just doesn’t pay much. You install the Nielsen Mobile and Computer Panel app on your devices, browse like you normally do, and earn points worth up to $60 a year in rewards.
However, you should know that you’re selling your data and that’s why they’re paying you. If you’re fine with that trade, it’s about the easiest money there is. If you’re not, skip it.
Nielsen Panel at a Glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free. No credit card and nothing to buy |
| What you earn | Weekly points worth up to $60 a year in rewards ($30 for mobile, $30 for a computer) |
| Sweepstakes | $10,000 given away every month to computer panel members |
| How you are paid | Points you redeem for prizes and gift cards |
| Who can join | Adults 18 and older who own the device |
| What it tracks | The websites and apps you use and how long you stay |
What Does the Nielsen Company Do?
Nielsen is a global audience measurement, data and analytics company. It’s best known for the Nielsen TV ratings.
This panel is the online side of that. Nielsen wants to know which websites and apps people really use, so it pays a group of regular people to let it watch.
Is Nielsen Panel Legit?
What if I told you that this company has been around since 1923 (over 90 years), would you believe me?
Well, it’s the truth. This company was founded in 1923 in Chicago by Arthur C. Nielsen. You can see the timeline of the company here.
Is Nielsen Panel legit? Nielsen Panel is totally legit. They pay you because they want your data, and that’s how it makes money as a business.
There is no charge to join. You’ll never be asked for a credit card or told to buy anything.
How Much Does Nielsen App Pay?
Not a lot. Here’s how it breaks down.
You earn points every week that the app stays installed and connected. Those points are worth up to $60 a year in rewards: $30 for your phone or tablet and $30 for your computer.
That’s the total, not a per-device amount. You’ll see $60 per device quoted around the web, and that’s not what Nielsen’s own FAQ says.
Plus, anyone with the computer software installed is entered in a monthly sweepstakes. Nielsen gives away $10,000 a month, there are more than 500 winners, and the top prize earners each take home $500.
You also get a few chances at scratch-off or spin-the-wheel games just for signing up.
Two catches. Points expire a year after you get them, and you lose them if you leave the panel or your devices sit inactive for six months in a row. So redeem as you go.
If you want in, you can sign up for the Nielsen panel here.
How Does the Nielsen Panel Work?
It takes a few minutes to set up, and after that there’s nothing to do.
- Sign up: Answer the registration questions about you, your household, and the devices you use.
- Install the app: Download the Nielsen app or software on each device you registered.
- Earn rewards: Use the internet like you always do. Points add up weekly, and the computer software enters you in the monthly sweepstakes.
You have to be 18 or older and own the device. If other people use it, you’re supposed to tell them and get their okay first, and you need your employer’s permission before putting it on a work computer.
What Data Does Nielsen Collect?
This is the part to read before you install anything.
The app tells Nielsen which websites and apps you go to and how long you stay there. That’s what you’re being paid for.
It does not collect your user IDs or passwords. Your name is separated from the data, which is then combined with the data of thousands of others like you, and it will never be used to directly market or sell products to you. The details are in the Privacy & Cookie Notice.
Changed your mind? You can opt out from your profile page and remove the app from your devices.
Does Nielsen Pay You to Watch TV?
Not through this panel. The Computer and Mobile Panel tracks what you do online and in apps, not what you watch on TV.
Nielsen Pros and Cons
Pros
- It’s free, and you never give a credit card number.
- There’s no work after setup.
- Computer panel members get a shot at the $10,000 monthly sweepstakes.
- The company has been around since 1923.
Cons
- The pay is small: up to $60 a year in rewards.
- You’re paid in points for prizes and gift cards, and points expire.
- You’re sharing your browsing and app activity.
- You have to be 18.
Want to Earn More Than $60 a Year?
Nielsen is a set-it-and-forget-it app. If you’re willing to put in some time, two other apps pay more.
Freecash pays you for playing mobile games, taking surveys and trying apps. PayPal and Venmo payouts usually process the same day, and most people earn a few dollars up to around $50 in a typical month.
Bigcash has more than 3,000 offers that mostly take 5 to 10 minutes each. You earn coins (250 coins is $1) and trade them for cash or gift cards.
Nothing stops you from running Nielsen in the background while you use both.
Ready to Join Nielsen?
Bottom line: Nielsen is legit, free and easy, and it tops out at about the price of a nice dinner per year. Install it if you’re comfortable sharing your browsing data, and don’t expect it to change your budget.