Nielsen is the ratings company. You’ve heard of it from TV. Its Computer and Mobile Panel is the open version anyone can try: you install its app, it measures how you use your phone and computer, and you get points.
That’s the whole deal. Here’s what it collects, what it pays and whether it’s worth the trade.
- What it is
- Nielsen’s online research panel. Software on your devices logs your internet and app use for its research.
- What you do
- Register, install the Nielsen Mobile App on your phone or tablet, and add the computer software if you want the sweepstakes. Then use your devices like always.
- How much it pays
- Points you redeem for gift cards and prizes, up to $60 a year ($30 for mobile, $30 for computer). The computer software also enters you in a monthly sweepstakes where Nielsen gives away $10,000, with $500 for the top prize earners and more than 500 winners.
- The catch
- You’re trading your browsing data for it. Points expire a year after they’re credited, and your account closes after 6 months in a row of no activity.
Worth it? Only if the data trade doesn’t bother you. It’s the most passive money there is, and also some of the smallest.
What Nielsen collects
This is the part to think about before you install it.
Nielsen gets the URL of each site you visit, how long you stay on it, and general activity on your computer or phone. It doesn’t collect your user IDs or passwords.
On Android, the app runs a local VPN on your phone to collect that usage info, like timestamps and URLs. So yes, it sees where your phone goes online. That’s the product you’re selling.
The data is never supposed to be used to market or sell stuff directly to you. You also have to own every device you put it on, and be the parent or guardian of any kid who uses them.
How much does Nielsen actually pay?
Here’s where it gets a little fuzzy. Nielsen’s FAQ gives two numbers: up to $60 a year in rewards, split $30 for mobile and $30 for computer, and elsewhere up to $50 in points for a year on mobile.
Either way, you’re looking at roughly $4 to $5 a month if you keep everything installed all year. Not life-changing.
The sweepstakes is the wild card. $10,000 a month split across 500+ winners sounds big, but that’s a chance, not pay. Count on the points, and treat any prize as a bonus.
Nielsen also mentions scratch-off and spin-the-wheel games for signing up, plus invites to other paid research. It doesn’t put a number on any of that.
| What | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Points, mobile | Up to $30 to $50 a year | Two figures in the FAQ |
| Points, computer | Up to $30 a year | Gift cards and prizes |
| Sweepstakes | $10,000 a month, 500+ winners | Needs the computer software |
| Points expiry | 1 year | Account closes after 6 months inactive |
The downsides people mention
Ratings are mixed.
The Nielsen Mobile App sits at 3.7 stars from about 14,900 ratings on Google Play and 4.2 from 755 on the App Store, and neither listing shows a recent update. That’s not a scam signal, it just means don’t expect a slick app.
Your points have a shelf life too. Forget about it for a year and what you earned is gone.
So log in and redeem a couple of times a year.
Who can join
You need to be at least 18 and own the computer or phone you install it on. Nielsen’s panel pages are for the US. There’s no fee, and a legit Nielsen panel never asks you to pay.
Heads up: this isn’t the Nielsen TV ratings panel. Those homes are picked by Nielsen and invited by mail, and you can’t apply. More on that in the guide to how to get paid to watch TV.
Is Nielsen worth it?
Bottom line: it’s worth it for one kind of person.
You don’t mind the tracking, you want zero effort, and a few bucks a month in gift cards feels like a win.
If you want real spending money, put your time somewhere else. Game offer apps like Freecash and Testerup pay a lot more for your time, and the best money making apps list ranks them. For other set-and-forget options, see the passive income apps that actually pay, and skip the apps that pay you to watch ads unless you really like ads.
FAQ
Is Nielsen Mobile Panel legit?
Yes. It’s run by Nielsen, the ratings company, and it pays points for gift cards and prizes. The money is small, up to $60 a year.
Does Nielsen pay in cash or PayPal?
Nope. It’s points for gift cards and prizes, plus sweepstakes entries. No PayPal cash.
Is the Nielsen app safe?
It’s a real company and it doesn’t collect your passwords or user IDs. But it does see the websites and apps you use and how long you spend on them. If that bothers you, don’t install it.
Do Nielsen points expire?
Yes. Points expire a year after they’re credited, and the account closes after 6 straight months with no activity.
More ways to earn are in side hustles and in the list of apps that pay you real money.
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