It's a unique time we're living in with seemingly endless ways to make extra money… but there's also a lot of scams to watch out for. If you've been reading Field Agent reviews you've probably seen both. Some say it's a scam, others say they're make hundreds of dollars per day.
In this review I'll talk about what Field Agent is, how it works and whether or not it's legit.
- What Is Field Agent?
- Is Field Agent a Scam?
- How Does It Work?
Look For Field Agent Jobs
Types of Jobs
Field Agent Score - Field Agent Pay
Income Expectations
Fund Transfers and Frequency - Field Agent Reviews and Complaints
- Field Agent Tips
Record Your Expenses
Your Agent Score Matters
Pretend You're The Customer - What I Like
- What I Don’t Like
- Final Thoughts
Disclaimer:
Please note, I am not a member or an affiliate for Field Agent. This review has been researched with information and/or testimonials that are available online in the public domain. Any recommendations and/or conclusions are strictly opinions and may not to apply to, or agree with, all persons or situations. See full disclaimer for more info
What Is Field Agent?
Field Agent is a crowdsourcing app for Apple and Android that allows to you make money by doing small tasks that included mystery shopping, checking local prices, taking pictures of things like landmarks, menus, food etc.
Founded in 2010 and located in Fayetteville, AR, Field Agent is one of several make money platforms that are changing the world in subtle, but significant ways.
For example, a corporate office who uses mystery shoppers in their stores would at one time hire their own, or contract it out to an agency…
It could be relatively expensive and take weeks to receive the audit results.
Today they can simply download the Field Agent app, post a mystery shopper job for someone in the area, and not only have it completed that day, but at a fraction of the cost.
Another example… let's say I needed a particular photo for this review, instead of paying an expensive royalty fee to a stock image provider, or driving across town (or another city) to take it myself… I could just put the request on Field Agent.
The great thing with apps like Field Agent is that you can combine them with other ways to make money online like online surveys such as Survey Junkie.
Another site you can earn a few extra bucks from is inboxdollars.com.
Of course, you won't make a “4 Hour Workweek” income this way but sites like these are a great way to make a little extra pocket money. For a more substantial income you may want to consider starting an online business.
If you need a home based income because you have health issues for example, or young ones to take care of… a full-time income online is what you want. Using the internet to create simple assets online that generate income for you 24/7 is what you need in order to get what you want.
Now, I'm going to give you a free step by step beginner's guide to making money online and you can get it by Clicking Here
Like Uber and AirBnB, the web and these seemingly benign apps like Field Agent are causing major disruption.
Currently, Field Agent claims to have paid out 6 million to thousands of Agents across the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.
Is Field Agent a Scam?
Field Agent is not a scam, but if you've been reading the reviews you'd have reason to wonder…
I'm not here to defend Field Agent. Clearly, some people have an axe to grind and I have no reason to doubt there comlpaints are legit.
You can also find similar complaints (to the one above) at the Better Business Bureau.
However, unlike a lot of companies, Field Agent responds to these complaints and isn't afraid to admit mistakes or take accountability when someone has a problem.
Field Agent is definitely not perfect, and I don't think anyone expects them to be. But they're also NOT a scam.
How Does It Work?
Field Agent is available as free download for Android and Apple devices. Once installed you'll be prompted to create an account.
Step 3 is filling out your profile. Unless they're being selective with the jobs they offer you, I'm not sure why they need this information.
Some of the questions you'll see are…
- Age and gender
- Education level
- Number of children in your household
- Age ranges of everyone in your household
- Where you shop for various product categories (groceries, health and wellness, home improvement, etc.)
- Do you use alcohol or tobacco? (I don't think they care if you do. My guess is they hold back jobs that might involve alcohol or tobacco to people who don't consume them. Just a guess though…)
Look For Field Agent Jobs
Once I filled out my profile I wasn't expecting to see many jobs and I was right. In fact, there were none. I've had the app for a couple days now and there are still no jobs listed.
Of course, it'll depend on where you live. I'm in a Canadian city with a million+ people and I set the app to search a 150 km radius, so I figured there would be at least one or two… but nothing.
So, Field Agent won't work for everyone. If you don't live in a large urban area, the available jobs will likely be far and few between.
But that's okay because there are many ways to make extra money from home. You can also do online surveys with companies like Survey Junkie, or make money watching videos, searching online and visiting websites with Inbox Dollars.
These of course won't make you rich, but if you want to make money online they can be a great first step to something like starting an online business.
For a real online income if you need to work at home due to health issues or kids at home, depending on your goals you can use the web to create simple income producing assets online. It's definitely NOT a get-rich-quick scheme but it's a a great strategy to get what you want.
To learn how I did it, I'm going to give you a free step by step beginner's guide to making money online and you can get it by clicking HERE.
Types of Jobs
In theory, there are thousands of possible jobs you might run into and to be clear… these are real jobs you can do, not the fake “tasks” you find on sites like Viral Bucks. They're also more interesting in my opinion than the kinds of jobs you'll find on platforms like Remotasks.
Some examples of Field Agent jobs you're likely to see are..
- Store audits/mystery shopping
- Taking pictures of various items… brackets on a shelf for example, a menu, or a used car for sale (a potential buyer may not want to drive an hour to confirm the vehicle has no damage, rust, etc.)
- Tasting food and drinks.
- Price checks or making sure a coupon or sale price is on display.
Field Agent Score
Every Field Agent is given a score that determines your reliability, as well as your willingness to accept and complete tasks.
A better score means more (and better paying) opportunities.
It's calculated using a formula that factors in the number of jobs you accept, deny and complete…
- 85 + Completed Jobs – (Accepted – Completed) = Agent Score… or
- 85 + Completed Jobs – Denied Jobs = Agent Score
Field Agent Pay
We've talked about what Field Agent is and how it works… but the reason you're here is probably for the “why”… your reason to use Field Agent in the first place. The pay….
Income Expectations
Where you live is the most important factor affecting your earning potential… and it should be noted that even though a big city will have more jobs, it'll also have more Field Agents competing for those jobs.
Having read what seems like hundreds of reviews, most of which just say “Great app” or “waste of time”… there were quite a few with members sharing how much they made… which ranges from as little as $50/year, to $720 in single day!
There's no way of knowing if the above claim is true or not, and although I have my opinion… that's all it is. Just an opinion.
I will say though, if true, it would be extremely rare… and if you consider things like the average pay-per-task, the number of hours in a day, the likely distance between tasks and other Field Agents in the area… let's just say I'm cautiously skeptical. 😀
I'll just leave it at that and let you decide…
As far as the amount you can earn per job, according to some long-time users, it seems the range is from as low as $2 to as high as $30.
One user reported earning $5000 from January to September of 2018. Having said that… you don't often read about how much they're spending. Some say they've spent dozens of hours on the road racking up hundreds of miles.
I wish I could provide some definitive numbers here but unfortunately there are too many variables. The only way for you to know is from your own experience.
Fund Transfers and Frequency
Payments are made either through direct deposit/e-transfer or Dwolla. I think PayPal is still available in the US but for some reason is no longer in Canada.
There's a small $5.00 minimum payout threshold, and a 75 cent fee for withdrawals less than $50.
Your pay is supposed to show up within 48 hours but there are reports of some people waiting up to 10 days or more.
Field Agent Reviews and Complaints
As you might expect, the reviews are mixed and sometimes it's about the same issue. For example, some people say their customer service in non-responsive and terrible, while others say it's great.
Some of the other complaints you'll find are…
- Approvals taking too long.
- Jobs not being approved at all, even when completed to the letter.
- A seemingly simple task can take a lot longer than expected, especially if you're driving around to multiple stores, fighting with traffic, parking etc.
- Not enough jobs available (in my case there's been zero).
You can find many positive reviews as well. Some of the things people like are…
- The app is easy to use, the interface is simple and clean.
- It's a good reason to take your kids out of the house and make a game of it.
- Making money while you're out shopping or running errands anyway.
Field Agent Tips
It's important to decide what your plans are for Field Agent. Is it just a casual app to check when you're out doing your thing, or… like those who say the make thousands, are you going to go out of your way and use Field Agent as a side hustle?
Record Your Expenses
Personally, I don't think Field Agent is profitable enough to run as a part-time business, but if you do use it that way… make sure to record your expenses. Things like fuel and parking can add up quickly.
Once you know how much you're spending, you can subtract your expenses from your revenue and divide the result by your hours to see if it's worth it doing.
Your Agent Score Matters
New, or overly-ambitious freelancers in all industries tend to take every job that's offered. But… taking a job and not completing it is worse than not taking it all.
Your Agent score will drop quickly if you're accepting jobs you're not 100% sure you can finish.
Also, double and triple check the instructions before your final submission so your denial rate remains low.
Pretend You're The Customer
If you were the one paying for the task, what would be your expectations. For example… if you were paying someone $4 or $5 for a picture, you probably wouldn't want one that's out of focus and taken in poor lighting.
It's always good to put yourself in the customers shoes. Of course… this is a two-way street. Every customer should consider how much effort a task is going to require if they're only willing to spend a couple bucks.
What I Like
- The concept… it's like the Uber of small jobs. In practice though… considering the number of complaints, it seems there are still some wrinkles to iron out.
- Small (near zero) minimum payout threshold.
- If you involve your kids it'll be a good tool to help them develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
What I Don’t Like
- Not enough jobs.
- Similar to the previous point, most rural residents won't be able to use Field Agent.
- Your time and expenses can add up quickly if you'e not paying attention.
- No passive income potential. You do a job and get paid once. The great thing about making money online is being able to do something once and get paid over and over. Field Agent doesn't provide that opportunity.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I like the idea of Field Agent. The gig economy is really just beginning and what I think will happen is one of two things…
Existing apps like Uber and Lyft could start adding new categories and features, small jobs being one of them…
Or… we might see more apps like Field Agent but specializing in a specific niche. For example, businesses that need a warehouse worker for day…
I would recommend Field Agent though. Not as your primary source of income, but if you can make a few extra bucks while you're out doing regular activities… why not?
… and you can supplement that income with other sources like online surveys. Survey sites like surveyjunkie.com will pay you for your opinion and you can also make money watching videos, searching online and visiting websites with Inbox Dollars.
For a more significant income you can start an online business.
It's really an extraordinary time we're living in with so many opportunities. You may have medical issues keeping you at home, or kids to take care of and there really are a lot of things you can do.
If a part-time or even a full-time income from home is what you want, then a strategy to leverage the internet and work from home is what you need in order to get what you want.
Now, I'm going to give you a free step by step beginner's guide to making money online and you can get it by Clicking Here
For other work-at-home jobs with higher income potential I've listed hundreds of opportunities here.
I hope my review of Field Agent has been helpful and if you any comments, questions, or experience with them, please share in the comments section below.
for a job like this use quickbooks self employed. It will track your miles and purchases made through your bank account. When its time to file your taxes with a 1099 the company will send you. You can use those purchases that you made while working like getting something to eat or putting gas in your car. you can also use your car as a right off with your taxes since you use it for work. also your car insurnace and your phone since you use it.
How would I deposit a check to begin working or is it a scam or what
Because I live in a rural area, I don’t have the opportunity to complete as many jobs as say someone in a large city does, but with that being said, since May of 2014, I have earned $994.20. Not too bad for a part-time gig.
Good job. You should mention they require your credit card as their means to pay you. I consider this risky to the consumer.
Hi Stephen, thanks for your insight. From what I understand they do direct deposit which means they will need your bank account number… or the same information your employer would use from a void check. I’m not certain anyone can do anything with that information other than make a deposit, but I agree that we need to be very careful and there’s always a risk when doing something financial online.
Thanks again for reading,
Jay
I’ve been using for almost a year now. Most I’ve made in a day was $120, I drove 148 miles and it took me 5.5 hrs according to my google maps timeline. Most of the jobs I do when going on mystery shops for other companies, so it is extra cash while out that way. I’m almost to $1,000 for slightly less than a years work, little over $400 in 2018 and almost $600 so far this year. It wouldn’t be anywhere near that amount though if it was the only jobs I was doing. Example: I have a mystery shop from another company paying $35 and is 40 miles away, but with slight detours I can pick up another $18 doing Field Agent shops. Rather than driving 80 miles round trip for $35(plus $5 to $10 reimbursement for a purchase), I drive 100 miles round trip for $54. I’m not driving 100 miles for $18, but since already going that way, 20 extra miles for $18 is okay.
Hi Kenneth,
I was just curious to know what other company do you use aside from field agent! I’d like to juggle a couple of these mystery jobs to maximize my earnings. Looking forward to your reply!
Thanks.
I use field Agent. I think it’s a pretty awesome app. The most I’ve made was $60 in one day but I wasn’t home I was in a bigger city. I live in a pretty small town. I don’t go out my way to do the jobs but if I’m out, I grab them. Why not? I like making money to do what I was going to do anyway. I recommend this app. It’s been my gas money, light bill, water bill and sometimes the kids snacks. Job well done on the revi
Great review; very thorough! I really appreciate all the info you provided and how often you looked at multiple angles in sharing that info.
Bravo!