Market Agent Review – The Definitive Australian Guide

Updated 27 July 2023

We reveal how much you can earn from working for Market Agent’s platform, who they’re looking for and what’s involved.

Our review covers the following:

• What is Market Agent, and is it Legitimate?
• Earning and Redeeming Rewards
• Must-Know Facts
• Pros and Cons
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

What is Market Agent, and is it Legitimate?

• Market Agent is a popular and widely used online survey rewards platform worldwide, but it’s not as popular in Australia as other platforms such as Ipsos iSay and Opinion World.
• Market Agent is owned by Marketagent.com Online Research GmbH, a German-based company that has operated since 2000.
• Despite not being as well known as local-themed survey sites, thousands of Australians sign up to Market Agent every year, and its members participate in online surveys on various topics and receive points for the time and effort invested. This is the standard process with any legitimate survey site, and Market Agent is no exception, however Australian users continue to report a lack of survey opportunities given the company’s European and American focus.
• While there are some negative reviews online about the Market Agent platform, this is typical of any survey site and our users rarely report any issues with the platform. We have listed these in our Pros and Cons section below.

How Do I Sign Up?

Signing up for Market Agent is a straightforward process:

1. Visit the Market Agent website and click on the “Register” button.
2. You’ll be prompted to provide some basic information, such as your name, email address, and date of birth.
3. You’ll need to double-check your name and all other personal details, and fill out more detailed profile surveys which collect demographic information that Market Agent uses to match you with relevant surveys. It’s important to provide accurate and complete information here to increase your chances of qualifying for surveys. You will not be paid for these profile-building surveys.
4. Once completed, you’ll be able to see the dashboard and the surveys available. 

MoneyHub Head of Research Christopher Walsh walks through Market Agent’s sign-up process in the video below:

Earning and Redeeming Rewards

Each survey on Market Agent has an associated point value, which can vary depending on the survey’s length and complexity. After completing a survey, points are added to your account. Market Agent operates a slightly different system from other survey platforms; each point is worth approximately 1.6 cents, and 5000 points translate into $82.19. You can also donate the points, but most Australians are likely to take the PayPal option.

Know This: Some survey sites can be sluggish or even elusive when crediting points to your account. Our research suggests Market Agent credits promptly and accurately, but there are lots of profile-building surveys that don’t pay any points. This means you need to complete detailed surveys covering your interest in movies, pets, music, phone types, sport, gambling etc. In essence, it takes some effort to even be considered for paid surveys. If you have any comments on this matter (or anything else to do with the platform), please contact our research team.

What Can I Earn?

• Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem them them for cash via PayPal transfers. The minimum reward cost is 1,000 points, which is worth $16.44, and if you choose this reward the money will be sent to you in 1-3 days.
• Each survey will take around 10-25 minutes to complete; we estimate you’ll earn around $4+ an hour if you continuously complete surveys, however this is near-impossible so Market Agent will, for most people, serve as something you access every few days for 10-30 minutes.
• We have had user feedback at Market Survey offers very few survey opportunities compared to other platforms, which is something our research team also experienced in putting together this review. For this reason, we suggest considering our list of trusted survey websites for other options.

Must-Know Facts

Before signing up, be aware of the following:

1. Your demographic profile determines your survey eligibility. Therefore, updating your profile regularly can help you qualify for more surveys. However, if you’re over a certain age and single, it’s realistic you’ll be less ‘in demand’ for surveys than someone with young children aged between 25 and 45. This is because Market Agent, like any survey company, is paid to do research for brands that mass consumers buy. If you’re not spending regularly, you’ll be less relevant to Market Agent (and arguably many other survey sites). 
2. Market Agent is committed to data privacy and security. They follow strict procedures to ensure that your personal information is secure and used appropriately for research purposes. Their Data Security disclaimer confirms that “your data is absolutely safe in our hands; the protection of your personal data, information and opinions is our first priority. For that you have trust in us means a lot to us and we will therefore make every effort to get it. All the data you provide will be kept strictly confidential. There is no connection between the analysis data and personal information. We guarantee that from the analysis data no individual identification can be withdrawn. Our clients are only interested in information of larger collectives (e.g. female and location between 20 and 29)”.
3. Market Agent’s rewards system is straightforward. It’s a points for PayPal process. However, it may take time to accumulate enough points (e.g. 1,000) for substantial rewards (~$16 PayPal transfers) – how many surveys you do will directly influence how much you earn, and we are aware Market Agent lacks regular opportunities. 

Pros and Cons

Market Agent is a popular survey site across Australia, but before signing up it’s important to understand its limitations alongside its benefits:

Pros:

• Global trust: The platform operates in Europe and the US, and has thousands of positive reviews from customers from these countries, but it does lack presence and survey regularity in Australia.
• Clear and straightforward points system: There are no tricks or complexity; every time you complete a survey, your points are promptly credited.
• Simple earning: 1 point = around 1.6 cent. Each survey states upfront how many points will be rewarded so you can pick the most relevant and lucrative options and easily see the dollar (or cent) value.
• Low threshold for pay outs: 1,000 points is the minimum, whereby you’ll be sent around $16 via PayPal. 

Cons:

• You need to be ‘transactional’ to be surveyed: The number and type of surveys can be limited based on demographic profile; the more you spend and behave like a typical consumer, the more you’ll be invited to surveys.
• A lack of continuous opportunities: Market Agent doesn’t have the survey flow you’ll find with sites such as Ipsos iSay and Opinion World. Furthermore, the profile building surveys are unpaid.
• PayPal payout is the only reward option: While we like cash as a reward option, some Market Agent members may want gift cards or similar.
• The rewards can take some time to earn: The minimum reward is around $16 which requires 1,000 points; in most cases need to complete 10-25+ surveys to earn enough to generate the reward, given some surveys pay as little as 5-10 points.

User Testimonials

Over 95% of Market Agent’s online feedback is positive, but around 5% negative feedback still needs to be considered. While the vast majority of Market Agent’s members have no issues completing surveys and cashing out rewards (e.g. PayPal transfers), some common themes and issues are mentioned by a minority of users. Please note the reviews we inspected are international; we cannot isolate Australian-specific feedback but have not come across anything problematic in our research. The general negative experiences are as follows:

1. Payout problems: Several users reported that they could not cash out their earned points to PayPal, citing cancellations and technical issues. Even when they contacted customer service, the issues remained unresolved. A few users mentioned they experienced long delays in receiving payments, even when using alternative payment methods like Skrill.
2. Poor remuneration for surveys: Many users complained about the low value of the surveys, with some claiming they were getting only 5 points for short surveys and that referral points weren’t counted towards withdrawal.
3. Difficulty in completing surveys: Some users had issues with accessing the surveys, with some even getting excluded from the surveys midway or being notified that they were not suitable for the survey after several minutes into the survey.
4. Inadequate customer service: Many users cited poor customer service, stating they didn’t receive any response to their queries.
5. Issues with unsubscribing: Some users mentioned they were still receiving emails despite unsubscribing.
6. Discrepancies in points: A few users mentioned their points showing up differently on different days, creating confusion and dissatisfaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often can I take surveys?

The number of surveys you can take depends on your demographic profile and the current research needs of Market Agent. It’s a good idea to check the platform regularly for new survey opportunities and promptly respond to email invitations. 

How long does it take to receive PayPal transfers? 

The processing time for PayPal can vary, but our research suggests you’ll receive payment within 1-3 days of requesting it.

What happens if I don’t qualify for a survey?

If you start a survey but don’t qualify to complete it, you’ll usually receive a small number of points to compensate you for your time. Always provide accurate and consistent responses to improve your chances of qualifying for future surveys – survey sites actively use fraud prevention and look for inconsistencies to ensure their data has integrity, so always be truthful. 

What types of surveys can I expect on Market Agent?

Market Agent offers a wide variety of surveys spanning various subjects. These can range from product and brand opinions to advertising effectiveness, political polling, and more. The types of surveys you receive will largely depend on your demographic profile.

How long does each survey typically take to complete?

This can vary widely; between 10 to 20 minutes is the average. Longer and more complex surveys typically offer more points. Please be aware that Market Agent requires numerous unpaid surveys to be completed upfront to help build profile. Some survey sites pay for these tasks – Market Agent does not.

How many points do I earn per survey?

The number of points you earn per survey depends on the survey’s length and complexity. While specific point allocations may vary, each survey’s point value is clearly stated upfront, so you’ll know how many points you’ll earn before you start. Each point roughly equates to A$0.016 (or 1.6 cent), so if a survey states you’ll earn 160 points, that’s worth around $1. However, some surveys only offer 5-10 points, meaning you’ll earn around 10 cents, which challenges how rewarding Market Agent is.

Can I participate in surveys on mobile devices?

Yes – Market Agent is accessible on multiple devices, including smartphones and tablets. This means you can take surveys at your convenience, whether at home or on the go.

I signed up and haven’t received any survey invitations. What’s going on?

This is a recurring issue with Australian consumers who have signed up to Market Agent. We believe the number of survey invitations you receive can depend on various factors, including your demographic profile and the current needs of Market Agent’s clients. If you’re not receiving many survey invites, consider updating your profile to ensure it’s accurate and complete. However, while Market Agent is popular in Europe and America, Australia is a lower focused market for the business hence there are far less survey opportunities.

How long do my points stay valid?

Per Market Agent’s Terms and Conditions PDF: “Points will remain valid for 2 years”. This means you’ll need to withdraw at least 1,000 points every two years to cash in on the ~$16 PayPal transfer award.

Conclusion

• Market Agent is a legitimate survey site that allows you to earn rewards for sharing your opinions and insights.
• While the income is ~$16 to $50 here and there, you’ll need to complete a lot of surveys and the biggest limitation with Market Agent is the lack of survey opportunities. 
• This means you may get to 300 or 500 points over a year, but then lose the points after two years if you can’t reach the 1,000 PayPal threshold.
• As with any survey site, it has pros and cons, and success requires understanding how the system works and being relevant to the research it wants to complete. However, we believe better survey sites (e.g. those that are more Australia-specific) are a better investment of time compared to Market Agent.