Focus Group vs National Consumer Panel: Which is Better?

	Focus Group Paid studies up to $200 5 Surveys American Consumer Opinion Angus Reid Forum ask GfK Branded Surveys Brox Panel Cashwalk Consumer Opinion Institute Crowdology E-Poll Surveys Fetch Rewards Freecash Hintsters InboxDollars InboxPays InstaGC Ipsos KashKick LEO by Leger LifePoints Media Rewards Mindfield Online MindsPay MobileXpression MOBROG MyPoints MySoapBox Nicequest Nielsen Digital Voice Nielsen Mobile OnePoll Opinion Outpost Opinionsite PaidViewpoint Panel Engage Panorama Panel PermissionResearch Pinecone Research Pogo PointClub Points2Shop Prime Opinion PrizeRebel Product Report Card QuickRewards QuickThoughts Rakuten Insight Rewardia SpeakUp Surveys Survey Club Survey Junkie Survey Roundtable Survey Savvy Surveyeah SurveySavvy Connect Swagbucks Tellwut The Panel Station Toluna Influencers Unlock Surveys Voz Latinum YouGov ySense Yunite	National Consumer Panel Scan barcodes on what you already buy for real money 5 Surveys American Consumer Opinion Angus Reid Forum ask GfK Branded Surveys Brox Panel Cashwalk Consumer Opinion Institute Crowdology E-Poll Surveys Fetch Rewards Freecash Hintsters InboxDollars InboxPays InstaGC Ipsos KashKick LEO by Leger LifePoints Media Rewards Mindfield Online MindsPay MobileXpression MOBROG MyPoints MySoapBox Nicequest Nielsen Digital Voice Nielsen Mobile OnePoll Opinion Outpost Opinionsite PaidViewpoint Panel Engage Panorama Panel PermissionResearch Pinecone Research Pogo PointClub Points2Shop Prime Opinion PrizeRebel Product Report Card QuickRewards QuickThoughts Rakuten Insight Rewardia SpeakUp Surveys Survey Club Survey Junkie Survey Roundtable Survey Savvy Surveyeah SurveySavvy Connect Swagbucks Tellwut The Panel Station Toluna Influencers Unlock Surveys Voz Latinum YouGov ySense Yunite

At-a-Glance Comparison

Get a look at the differences between Focus Group and National Consumer Panel with this overview of their features and benefits.

	Focus Group	National Consumer Panel
Summary	Focus Group Focus groups paying up to $200 Potential for 4-6 monthly invites for high-paying focus groups Online, in-person, and phone surveys available Operated by the Sago online community, a top-tier market research company Opportunities for participating in a variety of research studies such as product testing, concept testing, and advertising research. A chance to influence the development of new and services. Flexible scheduling and weekend sessions available. A comfortable and professional environment for in-person focus groups. Opportunities to participate in online focus groups from the comfort of your home. Quick and easy payment options, including cash, gift, PayPalli>	National Consumer Panel Get rewarded for scanning your groceries and other purchases Receive a free barcode scanner or use the app to scan products Choose from a huge merchandise catalog when you redeem your points Take surveys on a variety of topics to earn even more points Get sweepstakes entries for your ongoing participation Backed by market research leaders Nielsen and IRi
Accepting New Users	Focus Group Yes	National Consumer Panel Yes
Accepts Teens	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Has Signup Bonus	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Has Referral Program	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Has Loyalty Bonus	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel Yes
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Rating Comparison

Which is better, Focus Group or National Consumer Panel? See how their expert and user ratings compare.

	Focus Group	National Consumer Panel
Overall	Focus Group [4.71/5]	National Consumer Panel [4.79/5]
Opportunities	Focus Group [4.25/5]	National Consumer Panel [4.5/5]
Rewards	Focus Group [5/5]	National Consumer Panel [4.25/5]
User Reviews	Focus Group [5/5] Read 43 Reviews	National Consumer Panel [4.5/5] Read 22 Reviews
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Rewards Comparison

Compare Focus Group rewards and National Consumer Panel rewards to see how their redemption options stack up.

	Focus Group	National Consumer Panel
Cash / e-Wallet	Focus Group Yes	National Consumer Panel Yes
Virtual Visa	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Cash App	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Cash via Check	Focus Group Yes	National Consumer Panel No
Apple Pay	Focus Group Yes	National Consumer Panel No
PayPal	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Direct Deposit	Focus Group Yes	National Consumer Panel No
Venmo	Focus Group Yes	National Consumer Panel No
Gift Cards	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel Yes
Amazon E-Gift Codes	Focus Group Yes	National Consumer Panel Yes
Amazon Gift Cards	Focus Group Yes	National Consumer Panel Yes
iTunes Gift Cards	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Electronic Gift Cards	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel Yes
Electronic Gift Codes	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel Yes
Crypto	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Bitcoin	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Etherium	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Dogecoin	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Merchandise	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel Yes
Sweepstakes Entries	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel Yes
Charity Donations	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
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Opportunities Comparison

Compare how you can earn money with Focus Group and National Consumer Panel and find your next side hustle.

	Focus Group	National Consumer Panel
Do Micro Tasks	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel Yes
Download Apps	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Focus Groups	Focus Group Yes	National Consumer Panel No
Listen to Music	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Play Games	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Read Email	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Share Your Data	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel Yes
Shop	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel Yes
Take Surveys	Focus Group Yes	National Consumer Panel Yes
Test Products	Focus Group Yes	National Consumer Panel No
Train AI	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Upload Receipts	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel Yes
Use Search Engines	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Walk / Exercise	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Watch Videos	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
Write Reviews	Focus Group No	National Consumer Panel No
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Service & Snafus

Learn about customer service and potential issues with Focus Group and National Consumer Panel before you sign up.

	Focus Group	National Consumer Panel
Customer Service	Focus Group Most users report an excellent experience with customer service when encountering a problem. You can expect a quick response if you're having problems.	National Consumer Panel This program is backed by the Nielsen company so expect quick and courteous response if you run into any problems.
Bad News	Focus Group While there's no doubt that Sago is a completely legitimate and professional market research organization, they aren't the fastest to pay out, and qualifying for focus groups can be a bit difficult. This stems from the fact that focus groups are generally small in nature and very specific demographics are sought. While the company has some of the best pay-outs, you may find yourself receiving few invitations for these lucrative opportunities.	National Consumer Panel Since scanning all of your purchases can be a bit tedious, some might consider the compensation from National Consumer Panel to be a bit low for the effort.
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Final Verdict

See our closing thoughts to help you decide if Focus Group or National Consumer Panel is better for you.

	Focus Group	National Consumer Panel
Closing Thoughts	Focus Group The prestigious Schlesinger Associates, a leading provider of market research opportunities for the last 40 years, operates Inspired Opinions. You can certainly expect a professional experience. That being said, to the average user this program is an all or none proposition. While focus groups are the crown jewel for increase your earning potential, they can be exceedingly difficult to qualify for due to limited size and the need for precise demographics when it comes to precise research. Although there may be some hurdles to overcome, there's no reason not to give Focus Group a shot. There's simply way too much upside to ignore this program.	National Consumer Panel If you buy a lot of groceries and don't mind taking the time to scan them, National Consumer Program is a great way to earn a variety of rewards as well as sweepstakes entries. There's really no reason not to give this one a try. Might as well get paid for things you already buy, right? If you stay diligent about scanning the products you buy, you will be eligible to rack up some great merchandise. It's also worth noting, that if you find NCP isn't for you, a prepaid shipping label is provided for you to send your scanner back. As of December 2015, you can now use their app which performs the same function as the scanner which eliminates the hassle of shipping if you change your mind.
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Focus Group

National Consumer Panel

Closing Thoughts

Focus Group

The prestigious Schlesinger Associates, a leading provider of market research opportunities for the last 40 years, operates Inspired Opinions. You can certainly expect a professional experience. That being said, to the average user this program is an all or none proposition. While focus groups are the crown jewel for increase your earning potential, they can be exceedingly difficult to qualify for due to limited size and the need for precise demographics when it comes to precise research. Although there may be some hurdles to overcome, there's no reason not to give Focus Group a shot. There's simply way too much upside to ignore this program.

National Consumer Panel

If you buy a lot of groceries and don't mind taking the time to scan them, National Consumer Program is a great way to earn a variety of rewards as well as sweepstakes entries. There's really no reason not to give this one a try. Might as well get paid for things you already buy, right?

If you stay diligent about scanning the products you buy, you will be eligible to rack up some great merchandise. It's also worth noting, that if you find NCP isn't for you, a prepaid shipping label is provided for you to send your scanner back. As of December 2015, you can now use their app which performs the same function as the scanner which eliminates the hassle of shipping if you change your mind.

Click to Join

Focus Group vs National Consumer Panel