Incentive / Reward Amount Recommendations – Best Practices

In this guide, you’ll learn:

Overview

Rewarding participants fairly is an important part of maintaining an engaged and active community.

Appropriate rewards recognize the time and effort participants invest in each task, encourage thoughtful and detailed responses, and help maintain long-term community engagement. When rewards reflect the level of effort required, participants are more likely to remain active and continue contributing high-quality feedback over time.

This guide provides recommended participant reward ranges for different markets, based on the overall effort required to complete the study. These figures are intended as guidance and may need to be adjusted depending on the target audience, complexity and overall participant effort.

Please note: This guide focuses on recommended reward amounts. If you are looking for instructions on how to configure rewards within the platform, please refer to How to Add Rewards/Incentives to a Brief and Incentive / Reward Setup – Best Practices


What Determines a Reward?

Reward recommendations should be based on the specific requirements of each study. Before deciding on a reward amount, we recommend considering the following factors:

  • Number of questions: How many questions does your brief have?
    •  Shorter briefs usually require lower rewards than longer briefs.
  • Question mix: What types of questions does the brief contain?
    • More complex question types like open text, image highlight, rich media require more effort than simple closed end questions and require a higher reward. 
  • Task complexity: Does the study require more than just an in-app brief?
    • The level of effort involved including media uploads, external activities (in-home, shopalong, multiple phases) require higher reward.
  • Target market: Who is the target market/segment?
    • Participant expectations vary by market or segment and rewards should be adjusted where appropriate. 

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How to use the reward tables

  1. Select the relevant participant market.
  2. Choose the row matching the number of questions in your brief.
  3. Select the column matching the media requirements.
  4. Use the recommended range to choose an appropriate reward based on the overall time and effort required.
  • Quick Pulse is only suitable for briefs containing up to three simple questions with no photo or video requirements.
  • If a brief requires both photos and videos, use the Up to 3 videos column.
  • For product tests, store visits or other activities outside a standard survey, refer to the Other study types table.

Choosing an amount within the range

Consider the lower end when the brief:

  • Is straightforward and quick to complete.
  • Requires minimal preparation.
  • Contains mainly simple, closed-ended questions.
  • Requires only one simple photo or short video.
  • Targets a general audience.

Consider the higher end when the brief:

  • Includes detailed open-text or video responses.
  • Requires several media uploads or additional preparation.
  • Involves finding, creating, using or demonstrating something.
  • Targets a specialist or harder-to-reach audience.
  • Has complex instructions or a limited completion window.

Always consider the full participant experience, not only the number of questions.

Maximum recommended survey length

We do not recommend including more than 30 questions in one brief.

Longer surveys can take too much time to complete, which may reduce participation, engagement and the quality of responses. Participants may also be more likely to leave the activity before completing it.

If your survey contains more than 30 questions:

  • Review the survey and remove any non-essential or repeated questions.
  • Consider dividing it into shorter briefs or separate stages.
  • Ensure the total reward reflects the time and effort required across all stages.
  • Clearly explain whether participants must complete every stage to receive the reward.

Multiple briefs and multi-stage research

When participants must complete several briefs or stages, assess the combined time and effort required across the entire project.

Estimate the appropriate reward for each stage, then review the total to ensure it fairly reflects the full participant journey.

Clearly explain:

  • Which stages participants must complete.
  • When each stage will be available.
  • Whether all stages are mandatory.
  • Whether rewards will be issued after each stage or after the full project.

Important: Reward setup uses GBP

Reward recommendations are shown in each market’s local currency. However, rewards are set up on the platform in British pounds (GBP).

After selecting the appropriate reward:

  1. Identify the recommended amount in the participant’s local currency.
  2. Convert the amount into GBP using the current exchange rate.
  3. Enter the converted GBP amount when setting up the reward on the platform.

As exchange rates can change, always check the current rate when setting up your reward.

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MARKETS:

Currency - British pounds (GBP) - NO need to convert the amount - rewards are set up in GBP.

United Kingdom

Standard Survey-based studies

Survey length No media (GBP) Up to 3 photos (GBP) Up to 3 videos (GBP)
Quick Pulse – Up to 3 simple questions 0.00–0.25
Small Survey – 4–10 questions 0.25–1.00 1.00–1.50 1.50–3.00
Standard Survey – 11–20 questions 1.00–2.00 1.50–2.50 3.00–4.00
Detailed Survey – 21–30 questions 2.00–3.00 2.50–3.50 4.00–5.00

Other study types

Study type Typical requirement Recommended participant incentive (GBP)
Simple product test DIY product logistics managed by the client 10.00–25.00
Store visit No product purchase required 15.00–25.00
Store visit with product purchase Product cost must be added on top of the recommended participant incentive 25.00–30.00

⭐ Please note: The amounts shown cover the participant’s time and effort. If participants are required to purchase a product, the full product cost must be added on top of the recommended incentive shown above.

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United States

Currency - US dollars (USD) - Convert the amount into GBP using the current exchange rate.

Standard Survey-based studies

Survey length No media (USD) Up to 3 photos (USD) Up to 3 videos (USD)
Quick Pulse – Up to 3 simple questions 0.00–0.50
Small Survey – 4–10 questions 0.50–1.50 1.50–2.50 2.50–4.50
Standard Survey – 11–20 questions 1.50–3.00 2.50–4.00 4.50–6.00
Detailed Survey – 21–30 questions 3.00–4.50 4.00–5.50 6.00–7.50

Other study types

Study type Typical requirement Recommended participant incentive (USD)
Simple product test DIY product logistics managed by the client 15.00–37.50
Store visit No product purchase required 22.50–37.50
Store visit with product purchase Product cost must be added on top of the recommended participant incentive 37.50–45.00

Please note: The amounts shown cover the participant’s time and effort. If participants are required to purchase a product, the full product cost must be added on top of the recommended incentive shown above.

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Canada

Currency - Canadian dollars (CAD) - Convert the amount into GBP using the current exchange rate.

Standard Survey-based studies

Survey length No media (CAD) Up to 3 photos (CAD) Up to 3 videos (CAD)
Quick Pulse – Up to 3 simple questions 0.00–0.50
Small Survey – 4–10 questions 0.50–2.00 2.00–3.00 3.00–6.00
Standard Survey – 11–20 questions 2.00–4.00 3.00–5.00 6.00–8.00
Detailed Survey – 21–30 questions 4.00–6.00 5.00–7.00 8.00–10.00

Other study types

Study type Typical requirement Recommended participant incentive (CAD)
Simple product test DIY product logistics managed by the client 20.00–50.00
Store visit No product purchase required 30.00–50.00
Store visit with product purchase Product cost must be added on top of the recommended participant incentive 50.00–60.00

Please note: The amounts shown cover the participant’s time and effort. If participants are required to purchase a product, the full product cost must be added on top of the recommended incentive shown above.

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France / Italy / Spain

Currency - Euro (EUR) - Convert the amount into GBP using the current exchange rate.

Standard Survey-based studies

Survey length No media (EUR) Up to 3 photos (EUR) Up to 3 videos (EUR)
Quick Pulse – Up to 3 simple questions 0.00–0.50
Small Survey – 4–10 questions 0.50–1.50 1.50–2.50 2.50–4.50
Standard Survey – 11–20 questions 1.50–3.00 2.50–4.00 4.50–6.00
Detailed Survey – 21–30 questions 3.00–4.50 4.00–5.50 6.00–7.50

Other study types

Study type Typical requirement Recommended participant incentive (EUR)
Simple product test DIY product logistics managed by the client 15.00–37.50
Store visit No product purchase required 22.50–37.50
Store visit with product purchase Product cost must be added on top of the recommended participant incentive 37.50–45.00

Please note: The amounts shown cover the participant’s time and effort. If participants are required to purchase a product, the full product cost must be added on top of the recommended incentive shown above.

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Germany / Netherlands

Currency - Euro (EUR) - Convert the amount into GBP using the current exchange rate.

Standard Survey-based studies

Survey length No media (EUR) Up to 3 photos (EUR) Up to 3 videos (EUR)
Quick Pulse – Up to 3 simple questions 0.00–0.50
Small Survey – 4–10 questions 0.50–2.00 2.00–3.00 3.00–6.00
Standard Survey – 11–20 questions 2.00–4.00 3.00–5.00 6.00–8.00
Detailed Survey – 21–30 questions 4.00–6.00 5.00–7.00 8.00–10.00

Other study types

Study type Typical requirement Recommended participant incentive (EUR)
Simple product test DIY product logistics managed by the client 20.00–50.00
Store visit No product purchase required 30.00–50.00
Store visit with product purchase Product cost must be added on top of the recommended participant incentive 50.00–60.00

Please note: The amounts shown cover the participant’s time and effort. If participants are required to purchase a product, the full product cost must be added on top of the recommended incentive shown above.

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Australia

Currency - Australian dollars (AUD) - Convert the amount into GBP using the current exchange rate.

Standard Survey-based studies

Survey length No media (AUD) Up to 3 photos (AUD) Up to 3 videos (AUD)
Quick Pulse – Up to 3 simple questions 0.00–0.50
Small Survey – 4–10 questions 0.50–2.50 2.50–3.50 3.50–7.00
Standard Survey – 11–20 questions 2.50–5.00 3.50–6.00 7.00–10.00
Detailed Survey – 21–30 questions 5.00–7.00 6.00–8.50 10.00–12.00

Other study types

Study type Typical requirement Recommended participant incentive (AUD)
Simple product test DIY product logistics managed by the client 25.00–60.00
Store visit No product purchase required 35.00–60.00
Store visit with product purchase Product cost must be added on top of the recommended participant incentive 60.00–75.00

Please note: The amounts shown cover the participant’s time and effort. If participants are required to purchase a product, the full product cost must be added on top of the recommended incentive shown above.

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South Africa

Currency - South African rand (ZAR) - Convert the amount into GBP using the current exchange rate.

Standard Survey-based studies

Survey length No media (ZAR) Up to 3 photos (ZAR) Up to 3 videos (ZAR)
Quick Pulse – Up to 3 simple questions 0.00–5.00
Small Survey – 4–10 questions 5.00–15.00 15.00–20.00 20.00–40.00
Standard Survey – 11–20 questions 15.00–25.00 20.00–30.00 40.00–50.00
Detailed Survey – 21–30 questions 25.00–40.00 30.00–45.00 50.00–60.00

Other study types

Study type Typical requirement Recommended participant incentive (ZAR)
Simple product test DIY product logistics managed by the client 120.00–300.00
Store visit No product purchase required 180.00–300.00
Store visit with product purchase Product cost must be added on top of the recommended participant incentive 300.00–360.00

Please note: The amounts shown cover the participant’s time and effort. If participants are required to purchase a product, the full product cost must be added on top of the recommended incentive shown above.

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Brazil

Currency - Brazilian real (BRL) - Convert the amount into GBP using the current exchange rate.

Standard Survey-based studies

Survey length No media (BRL) Up to 3 photos (BRL) Up to 3 videos (BRL)
Quick Pulse – Up to 3 simple questions 0.00–1.00
Small Survey – 4–10 questions 1.00–4.00 4.00–6.00 6.00–11.00
Standard Survey – 11–20 questions 4.00–8.00 6.00–9.00 11.00–15.00
Detailed Survey – 21–30 questions 8.00–11.00 9.00–13.00 15.00–18.00

Other study types

Study type Typical requirement Recommended participant incentive (BRL)
Simple product test DIY product logistics managed by the client 40.00–90.00
Store visit No product purchase required 55.00–90.00
Store visit with product purchase Product cost must be added on top of the recommended participant incentive 90.00–110.00

Please note: The amounts shown cover the participant’s time and effort. If participants are required to purchase a product, the full product cost must be added on top of the recommended incentive shown above.

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Mexico

Currency - Mexican pesos (MXN) - Convert the amount into GBP using the current exchange rate.

Standard Survey-based studies

Survey length No media (MXN) Up to 3 photos (MXN) Up to 3 videos (MXN)
Quick Pulse – Up to 3 simple questions 0.00–5.00
Small Survey – 4–10 questions 5.00–15.00 15.00–20.00 20.00–40.00
Standard Survey – 11–20 questions 15.00–25.00 20.00–30.00 40.00–50.00
Detailed Survey – 21–30 questions 25.00–40.00 30.00–45.00 50.00–60.00

Other study types

Study type Typical requirement Recommended participant incentive (MXN)
Simple product test DIY product logistics managed by the client 120.00–300.00
Store visit No product purchase required 180.00–300.00
Store visit with product purchase Product cost must be added on top of the recommended participant incentive 300.00–360.00

Please note: The amounts shown cover the participant’s time and effort. If participants are required to purchase a product, the full product cost must be added on top of the recommended incentive shown above.

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Best Practice Checklist

Before finalizing your participant reward, ask yourself:

  • Does my study include participant media uploads?
  • Have I selected the correct media category?
  • Have I considered the study length and complexity?
  • Does my study include additional activities, such as product testing or a store visit?
  • Have I increased the total reward to include any required product purchase costs?
  • Have I considered the target market and audience?
  • Is a higher reward appropriate for a specialist audience or short completion deadline?
  • Have I considered the combined effort across multiple briefs or stages?
  • Does the reward fairly reflect the participant’s overall time and effort?
  • If the reward is shown in another currency, have I converted it to GBP using the current exchange rate?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same reward for similar studies?

Yes. If your studies are similar in terms of number of questions, question types and participant effort, you can often use the same reward. However, we recommend reviewing each study to ensure the reward remains appropriate, particularly if the target market or task requirements have changed.

Can some studies be unpaid?

Yes. Very short, simple and infrequent activities, such as a quick poll or reaction, may not require a reward or may only require a small token reward. If these activities become more frequent or require additional effort, we recommend increasing the reward accordingly.

Can I offer a higher reward than recommended?

Yes. These recommendations are intended as guidance. You may choose to increase rewards for more complex studies, specialist audiences or projects requiring a greater level of participant commitment. A higher reward may also be appropriate when participants have a limited or very short time to complete the study, as this can encourage quicker participation and help improve completion rates within the required timeframe.

Can I offer a lower reward than recommended?

The reward ranges are guidance, but offering less may reduce participation and completion rates, particularly for longer or more demanding studies. Always ensure the reward fairly reflects the time and effort required.

What if my study requires both photos and videos?

Use the Up to 3 videos column and select the amount based on the total number of uploads and the overall participant effort. Consider the higher end of the range if several photos and videos are required.

What if participants need to upload more than three photos or videos?

The standard ranges may not be sufficient. Consider offering a higher reward based on the number and complexity of the uploads, or divide the activity into shorter stages.

How should I calculate rewards for multiple briefs or stages?

Consider the combined time and effort required across the entire project. Estimate an appropriate reward for each stage, then review the total reward to ensure it fairly reflects the full participant journey.

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