Fancy getting products sent to your home to try in return for your opinion?
Product testing is a genuine way to get free products and, in some cases, vouchers, points or cash for taking part in research.
You could be asked to test anything from shampoo and skincare to food, cleaning products or kitchen appliances.
Earn a bit of extra money in your spare time with surveys, offers and other simple tasks you can do at home.
New users can currently get a bonus when they sign up.
Claim sign-up bonusJust don’t expect it to become a regular income. You won’t qualify for every test and opportunities can be unpredictable.
Think of product testing as a way to pick up useful freebies and occasional rewards in your spare time. If you’d rather build something that can make money more regularly, take a look at our ways to make money online or our best UK side hustles.
Last checked: September 2026. Product testing programmes can open, close or change their rules, so check the company’s website before signing up.
How we checked them: We checked the official UK website for every programme in this guide and confirmed that it was active, what testers can receive and whether products can normally be kept. Details can change, so we’ve linked directly to the official programme wherever possible.
Best product testing sites in the UK
These are the product testing programmes I’d look at first if you live in the UK.
| Site | Best for | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Boots Volunteers | Beauty and skincare | Free products; some paid studies |
| Shark & Ninja | Appliances | Product to keep |
| Philips Product Tester | Electricals and personal care | Usually keep the product |
| Tesco Home Panels | Tesco products | Product samples to keep |
| Clicks Research | General products | Product to keep + survey rewards |
| Test for SAM | Rewarded research | Vouchers and/or products |
| trnd | Big consumer brands | Products, usually to keep |
| Triyit | Food, drinks and household | Free product boxes |
| Savvy Circle | P&G brands | Products, usually to keep |
| Home Tester Club | Everyday products | Free products |
| Ipsos iSay | Surveys + occasional tests | Points + sometimes products |
| Alba Volunteers | Beauty and personal care | Products or paid studies |
Joining doesn’t guarantee you’ll receive anything. Testing companies choose people who match the type of customer they need for each study.
Where I’d start
If I were starting from scratch, I’d probably join Boots Volunteers, Clicks Research, Shark & Ninja and Test for SAM. That gives you a mix of beauty, everyday products, higher-value household items and voucher-paying research.
I’d start with three or four rather than signing up to everything at once.
1. Boots Volunteers
Boots Volunteers is one of the first places I’d try if you’re interested in skincare, cosmetics and toiletries.
Its home-user studies are available across the UK. If a study matches your profile, you’ll be invited to complete a short screening questionnaire. If you’re selected, Boots sends the product to your home, tells you how to use it and asks you to complete online feedback.
Studies can last from one day to 12 weeks. Home tests aren’t paid, but Boots says you normally get to keep the product afterwards. It also runs compensated on-site studies at its testing centre in Beeston, Nottingham.
You need to be 18 or over, and you won’t qualify for everything. Boots says studies often have around 50 to 400 samples, so even suitable applicants aren’t guaranteed a place.
Best for: skincare, beauty and toiletries.
2. Shark & Ninja product testing
Shark and Ninja product testing has an official UK programme where you can register to test products at home.
You tell them what sorts of products you’re interested in. When a suitable new product is being launched, SharkNinja may contact you and invite you to test it in return for an honest review.
And this one can be particularly worthwhile: SharkNinja says testers can test, review and keep the products they receive.
Demand is understandably high, though, and signing up doesn’t guarantee you’ll be chosen.
Best for: kitchen appliances, vacuum cleaners and home gadgets.
3. Philips Product Tester
Philips Product Tester also has an official product-testing programme.
You register, choose an available product you’d like to test and answer a few questions to see whether you match the type of tester Philips needs.
If you’re selected, the product is sent to you. Philips says tests usually last around 14 days, after which you’ll need to submit the required honest review.
You can usually keep the product afterwards, although Philips says some tests may require it to be returned. You’ll be told before applying if that’s the case.
There can be more applicants than products, so don’t assume one rejection means you won’t be picked another time.
Best for: electricals and personal-care gadgets.
4. Tesco Home Panels
Tesco Home Panels is a research community for Tesco customers.
Members can be invited to complete surveys, try products at home or take part in research sessions such as focus groups and one-to-one conversations.
Tesco uses the panel to gather feedback on products, experiences and ideas. Members can be invited to surveys, product trials and focus groups, and products sent for home trials can normally be kept once the required feedback is complete.
You won’t necessarily be selected for every product trial, but it’s an obvious one to consider if you’re already a regular Tesco shopper.
Best for: Tesco customers who want a mixture of surveys, product trials and research.
5. Clicks Research
Clicks Research has one of the simplest descriptions of product testing:
“We Send, You Test, You Keep.”
You can receive products including cosmetics, toiletries, household products, skincare, clothing, food, drinks and pet products.
Once you’ve used the product as instructed, you complete a survey and keep it. Clicks says testers aren’t charged for the products they receive.
Clicks also runs ordinary online surveys. These earn Clicks Points, and 2,500 points can currently be exchanged for £25.
Best for: a broad range of everyday products.
6. Test for SAM
Test for SAM is one of the strongest additions to this guide.
It’s run by consumer research company SAM-Sensory Dimensions and offers both home product testing and in-person research.
Home tests are available around the UK. Test for SAM says participants may receive a gift voucher, get to keep the product, or both.
It also has testing facilities in Reading and Nottingham, where people who live locally can take part in on-site product tests in return for gift vouchers.
The company says payments are normally in gift vouchers and that sessions lasting up to an hour typically pay £15. It also makes clear that this isn’t regular employment or a guaranteed activity.
Best for: people interested in rewarded consumer research as well as free products.
7. trnd
trnd UK runs product-testing campaigns for some very recognisable brands.
Rather than simply signing up and waiting for a parcel, you apply for individual projects that suit you.
Its UK campaigns in 2026 have included products from Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Aussie, Mielle, Nissin and Coca-Cola, among others.
Some campaigns ask you to test the product and share your experience online or on social media, so check what’s expected before applying.
Best for: food, drinks, beauty and big consumer brands.
8. Triyit
Triyit is a free product discovery club that sends selected members products to try at home.
You create a profile to help Triyit understand your interests, likes and needs. When a campaign matches your profile, you could be selected to receive a Triyit box containing full-size products for free.
After trying the products, you’ll need to complete the required feedback. Joining doesn’t guarantee you’ll receive a box, as you need to match what the brand is looking for and the number of boxes available can be limited.
Boxes can include food, drinks, snacks, cosmetics, grooming, healthcare and household products. Triyit keeps the contents of each campaign secret until the box arrives.
Best for: free surprise product boxes.
9. Savvy Circle
Savvy Circle is part of P&G’s SuperSavvyMe community.
Members can apply for campaigns involving P&G brands and try products before sharing their experiences.
It’s active in 2026, with current and recent campaigns including products from brands such as Oral-B and Always.
Because P&G owns a large range of household and personal-care brands, the types of products available can vary.
Best for: household, beauty and personal-care products.
10. Home Tester Club
Home Tester Club is a large product-review community where members can register for free product-testing opportunities.
Its UK signup includes the option to receive emails about free product tests.
If you’re selected for a campaign, you’ll normally receive the product to use at home before giving your feedback or review.
Tests can cover a broad range of everyday consumer products.
Best for: a mixture of household and everyday products.
11. Ipsos iSay
Ipsos iSay product testing is part of the wider Ipsos iSay research community.
It’s primarily known for surveys, but members can also be invited to test products at home.
There isn’t a separate product-testing membership. You join Ipsos iSay and complete the “Special Studies and Communities” section of your profile so Ipsos knows you’re interested.
If you’re selected, the product is sent to you to use before you complete a follow-up survey. You’ll earn Ipsos iSay points, which can be exchanged for rewards such as gift cards and PayPal credit. Depending on the study, you may also be able to keep the product.
Product tests are less frequent than ordinary surveys, so I wouldn’t join solely for freebies.
Best for: people who are also happy to complete paid surveys.
12. Alba Volunteers
Alba Volunteers, part of Eurofins Alba, specialises in testing cosmetics, toiletries and personal-care products.
Its nationwide home-user panel sends products such as moisturisers, facial wipes, make-up, shampoo and conditioner to people to test at home.
Home testers don’t receive expenses, but they get products to try for free.
Alba also runs paid clinical studies at its Edinburgh facility. Its current information says expenses range from £20 to £500, depending on the type and length of study.
Best for: cosmetics and toiletries, particularly if you live near Edinburgh and can take part in paid studies.
What is product testing?
Product testing is when a company asks real consumers to use something and give honest feedback.
The product may already exist, be about to launch or still be going through development.
Depending on the study, you might be asked to use something for a set period, complete questionnaires, compare products, write a review or attend a research session.
You don’t need to tell companies what you think they want to hear. Useful product testing depends on honest feedback, including when you don’t like something.
How to become a product tester in the UK
You don’t normally need any special qualifications or experience.
A sensible way to start is:
- Join several legitimate panels rather than relying on just one.
- Complete your profile properly so companies know which tests are relevant to you.
- Watch your emails and account for invitations.
- Answer screening questions honestly.
- Follow the testing instructions if you’re selected.
- Complete the feedback you’ve agreed to provide.
- Keep your profile details up to date.
You won’t qualify for every test, and that’s normal.
A company testing a shampoo for a particular type of hair, for example, needs people who genuinely match the study rather than everybody who wants a free bottle of shampoo.
My wife Naomi’s experience with product testing
My wife, Naomi, took part in a product test around four years ago, although she can no longer remember which company it was through.
She was sent a cream in a plain, unbranded bottle with just an ingredients label attached. She was never told which brand made it or what the finished product eventually became.
She had to use the cream every day for two weeks and keep a diary of how she found it. At the end of the trial, she uploaded a summary of her experience and answered some additional questions.
She got to keep the cream and remembers being paid around £30 for taking part.
The application itself was fairly straightforward and mainly asked general questions. She wasn’t told exactly why she’d been selected.
The only slightly annoying part was remembering to update the diary every day, although she soon got used to it and says she’d happily do another test.
The cream itself was good enough that she says she probably would have bought it again — if she’d ever found out what it was.
She still sometimes sees skincare adverts quoting things such as “89% of women agreed…” and wonders whether feedback from tests like hers ends up contributing to those figures. She was never told, so there’s no way of knowing.
Can you get paid to test products?
Yes, but actual cash payments aren’t the norm for most home product-testing programmes.
There are three main types of reward.
Free products
This is probably what most people mean when they talk about product testing.
You’re sent something to use, provide the required feedback and can often keep it afterwards.
Boots home testing and Clicks Research are examples of this model.
Points or vouchers
Some research communities reward your time separately.
Ipsos iSay awards points for its research, while Test for SAM offers gift vouchers for taking part in tests.
Paid studies
Some in-person research pays more.
Boots compensates people selected for certain on-site studies in Nottingham, while Alba pays expenses for eligible clinical studies in Edinburgh.
The important bit is not to treat product testing like a job.
Freebies and occasional rewards are realistic. A dependable monthly wage isn’t.
How to get picked for more product tests
There’s no trick that guarantees you’ll be selected, but there are things worth doing.
Fill in your profile properly
Testing companies use your information to work out which products are relevant to you.
Ipsos specifically recommends keeping your profile up to date so it can match you with suitable studies.
Be honest
Don’t try to work out which answer will get you accepted.
If researchers need people who buy a particular shampoo every week and you never use it, you’re simply not the right tester for that study.
Test for SAM even points out that researchers sometimes specifically want people who don’t use a particular product, so claiming you use everything won’t necessarily increase your chances.
Respond reasonably quickly
Some studies have far fewer products than interested testers.
Boots says its studies commonly have around 50 to 400 samples available, which means suitable people can still miss out.
Complete what you agree to
If you’ve promised to fill in a questionnaire or write a review, do it.
Reliable feedback is the reason companies are giving products to testers in the first place.
Join a few different panels
I’d start with four or five that match the types of things you’d genuinely use.
Someone interested in beauty might choose Boots, Alba and Savvy Circle, while someone more interested in household gadgets might start with SharkNinja and Philips.
Product testing scams to watch out for
Genuine companies really do give products away for testing.
Unfortunately, the promise of expensive freebies can also be used to tempt people into questionable promotions or lead-generation offers.
Don’t pay to join
You shouldn’t need to pay a membership fee simply for the chance to test a product.
All the programmes listed above have a free way to take part.
Check who is actually running the offer
If an advert says you’re being recruited as a tester for a big retailer or famous brand, look for evidence on that company’s own website.
Don’t assume a webpage using a company’s name or logo is actually operated by that company.
Be suspicious of unrealistic promises
Being selected to test an expensive appliance does happen.
Being told everybody who enters their email address will receive the latest £1,000 phone is very different.
Protect your information
Legitimate research panels need information about you so they can match you with studies.
But think carefully before giving banking or other sensitive information to a company you haven’t verified.
Does John Lewis have product testers?
Yes.
John Lewis runs a My John Lewis Review Panel, but you can’t apply to join it directly.
Instead, John Lewis invites selected My John Lewis members based on things such as their shopping history, previous reviews and participation in events and experiences.
If you’re selected, you may be sent a product free of charge to test and review. Reviewers aren’t paid and are expected to give an honest, impartial opinion. If you complete the programme requirements, you can keep the product.
John Lewis explains how the Review Panel works in its official terms and conditions. John Lewis Review Panel information
So if you see a third-party advert promising to “sign you up as a John Lewis product tester”, be careful. The genuine Review Panel is invitation-only.
Product testing UK FAQs
Is product testing from home legit?
Yes.
There are genuine UK product-testing programmes run by major retailers, manufacturers and market-research companies including Boots, SharkNinja, Philips and others.
The key is making sure you’re joining the genuine programme rather than a third-party page simply using a well-known brand name.
Can you test products and keep them for free?
Yes.
For example, Clicks Research says testers keep every product they test, while Boots says home users normally keep their product once testing is complete.
Other schemes have different rules, so check each test before taking part.
How much can you earn as a product tester?
Usually not much in cash.
Many tests reward you with the product itself. Others offer vouchers or points, while some in-person studies provide payments or expenses.
Product testing is better viewed as a way to get occasional products and rewards rather than a reliable side-hustle income.
How old do you need to be to become a product tester?
It varies by programme.
Boots requires applicants to be at least 18, while Test for SAM allows people aged 16 and over to have their own profile. Younger children can take part in some relevant studies through an adult’s account.
Check each company’s eligibility rules before signing up.
How often will I receive products?
There isn’t a set number.
You might qualify for several studies in a relatively short period and then hear nothing for months.
It depends on the products being tested and whether your profile matches the consumers researchers need.
Are product tester jobs real?
Professional product-testing jobs do exist, but that’s not what most of the programmes in this guide offer.
These are consumer-research opportunities where you occasionally test something and provide feedback.
If an advert promises a regular salary simply for sitting at home receiving free products, I’d treat it with caution.
Is product testing worth it?
I think it can be, as long as you go into it with realistic expectations.
If you like trying new products and don’t mind spending some time filling in questionnaires or writing reviews, getting useful items for free can be a decent return.
I wouldn’t sign up to dozens of panels or spend hours chasing every opportunity. Pick a handful that suit you, keep your profiles up to date and see what comes through.
You probably won’t make much money from product testing alone.
But you might get to try some genuinely useful products without paying for them — and your feedback can help decide what eventually ends up on the shelves.
