If you’re over 50, you probably remember when earning rewards for your shopping involved clipping coupons, mailing something in, or collecting points the old-fashioned way. Well, times have definitely changed.
Today, you can earn rewards points simply by sharing information about the things you already buy. That’s basically what the National Consumer Panel is all about.
I’ve been a member for many years—long enough to remember when I had to use a separate hand-held scanner to scan my purchases.
Now I can do everything right from my phone. Talk about an upgrade!
But is NCP actually worth your time? Can you really earn rewards from your regular shopping? And how much work does it take?
Let’s get into my NCP Online review and how the program works.
What Is the National Consumer Panel?
The National Consumer Panel, better known as NCP, is a market research program that collects information about what consumers are buying.
NCP is a joint venture between NielsenIQ and Circana.
The shopping information provided by panel members helps companies better understand consumer buying habits and trends.
As a panel member, you share information about your weekly purchases.
In return for regular participation, you can earn points that can be redeemed for rewards.
You are not being paid to go out and buy a bunch of things you don’t need.
You’re reporting purchases you would normally make anyway, including groceries and other household items.
That’s one reason I’ve stuck with it for such a long time.
I also like how I can send them an email letting them know when I can’t scan like doing vacation, sickness or just too busy. I still get credit for the time I miss.
How Do You Join NCP?
The first step is applying to become a member of the NCP program. You’ll provide some basic information about yourself and your household.
This may include your email address, household size and certain demographic information.
This helps NCP maintain a panel that represents different types of households across the United States.
One thing to understand is that applying doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll immediately become an active member.
NCP may already have enough households matching your demographic profile, so some applicants may be placed on a waiting list.
If you’re accepted, you’ll receive information about setting up your NCP panel membership and getting started.
Be careful with your personal information and make sure you’re dealing directly with NCP when signing up or handling a panel-related issue.
How Does the NCP App Work?
For most people today, participating is much easier because you can use the NCPMobile app.
You can find the NCP app through the Google Play Store for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices.
The app turns your phone into the tool you use to report your shopping.
After a shopping trip, you’ll open the app and enter information about where you shopped and what you purchased.
Your phone’s camera can be used to scan barcodes.
You simply scan the barcodes of the items you purchased and provide any additional information the app requests.
Not everything you buy has a barcode. NCP also has ways of entering certain non-barcoded items.
It may sound like a lot at first, but once you get used to the process, it becomes pretty routine.
I certainly wouldn’t have continued doing it for all these years if every grocery trip turned into a second job!
I sometimes just scan in the store, so I am done before I get home.
Do You Have to Scan Long Receipts?
This is something people often wonder about when they’re familiar with other shopping rewards apps.
NCP isn’t exactly the same as apps where you simply take a picture of your long receipts and you’re finished. You’re providing specific shopping data about your purchases.
That can require a little more participation, but NCP is collecting consumer data for market research, not simply giving cash back on a receipt.
The best way to look at it is as a small routine you add to your normal shopping experience.
Surveys Can Help Your Points Add Up
Scanning purchases isn’t the only thing I’ve done through NCP.
There are also short surveys, special surveys and other special programs or projects that may be available to members.
I am in one program where I get extra points each week.
This is where I think NCP becomes more interesting.
I have used survey sites for many years, so I already know that small amounts can add up over time.
You may receive opportunities to earn extra points, bonus points or extra reward points for participating in certain activities.
There can also be opportunities for sweepstakes entries.
You aren’t going to get rich doing this, and I wouldn’t advertise it as a replacement for a job.
But if you’re already shopping and you enjoy earning rewards, it’s a good way to get something back for sharing your shopping habits.
What Kind of Rewards Can You Earn?
As you participate, you build up rewards points.
Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem them for available rewards.
Reward choices can change, so I always recommend checking the current options inside your account rather than joining for one specific reward.
Depending on what’s currently available, reward options may include things such as digital gift cards and other merchandise or redemption choices.
NCP has offered rewards such as Amazon gift cards and Visa gift cards, although availability and redemption requirements can change. They also offer Paypal.
For me, cashing out has been simple and easy.
I like programs where I don’t have to jump through another ten hoops just to use the points I’ve already earned.
NCP Membership Levels — The Longer You Stay, the More You Can Earn
Another benefit of staying active with the National Consumer Panel is that NCP has different membership levels.
As you remain an active member and move up through the levels, the number of rewards points you can earn for your weekly participation increases.
That’s something I really like about NCP because longtime members are rewarded for sticking with the program.
I’m currently at the Hall of Fame level, which tells you I’ve been doing this for a LONG time!
As you move up through NCP’s membership levels, your weekly point earnings can increase.
You can also earn additional points by answering surveys and participating in promotions and other opportunities offered by NCP.
That’s another reason regular participation matters. NCP recommends reporting your shopping information every week, scanning your purchases, answering surveys and participating in special promotions to help your reward points add up.
My Personal Experience With NCP
This is where my review is a little different from someone who just signed up.
I have been with National Consumer Panel for many years.
When I first became a member, things were very different. I had a separate barcode scanner—a physical gadget that I used to scan the items I purchased.
Yes, before we had an app for everything, some of us actually had a whole separate device for this!
I would scan my purchases using the hand-held scanner and submit my shopping information.
It worked, but compared with what we can do now, it definitely felt more old-school.
Today, I simply use my phone and the NCPMobile app.
That has made participating much easier for me. I don’t have another gadget sitting around the house that I need to keep up with.
My phone is already with me, so I can use it to enter my new purchases.
I also participate in the surveys and special programs that are offered to me.
That’s one of the things I think people overlook when they first look at the program.
Don’t just think about scanning your shopping.
Surveys and special projects can give you additional opportunities to earn points, and those earnings can add up surprisingly fast over time.
I’ve also found cashing out to be simple and easy.
After being a member for so many years, I obviously wouldn’t keep participating if I felt it took too much time for what I received in return.
For me, NCP has become one of those little routines that I do without thinking much about it.
Shop. Scan. Answer some surveys when they’re available. Build up points. Redeem them.
Pretty simple.
Is NCP Like Fetch Rewards?
There are some similarities between NCP and Fetch Rewards because both involve your everyday shopping, but I wouldn’t consider them the same type of program.
Fetch is primarily a shopping reward app where you earn points from eligible receipts and purchases.
NCP is a consumer research panel.
Your participation contributes shopping data that helps researchers understand how consumers shop.
So although both can result in shopping rewards, the purpose and participation process are different.
Personally, I don’t see why someone necessarily has to choose one or the other.
If you’re eligible for both and don’t mind the extra steps, you can decide whether using multiple reward programs is worth your time.
What About Negative NCP Reviews?
Whenever you’re researching a company online, you’re going to find both positive reviews and negative reviews.
NCP is no exception.
Some user reviews, mobile reviews, and other online reviews may mention problems with the app, account issues, qualification, the amount of time required, or expectations about rewards.
That’s why I think it’s important to read reviews from people who have actually used a program for a meaningful amount of time.
My experience has been positive enough that I’ve remained a member for years.
That doesn’t mean every mobile app user will have exactly the same experience.
If you have a problem with your account, rewards or membership, contact NCP customer service or the Panel Support Center rather than relying only on comments from other users.
Current NCP panel members can also check the panel member website for their own personal panel membership information and additional details.
Is the NCP Mobile App Worth Downloading?
If you’re accepted into the panel, I think it’s worth downloading because using your phone is much more convenient than the old system I started with.
For people over 50 who aren’t crazy about complicated apps, don’t let the technology scare you away.
You don’t have to be a tech wizard.
If you can open an app, follow the prompts and use your phone’s camera, you’ll probably get the hang of scanning fairly quickly.
And if you’re wondering, “Does the NCP Mobile app work for someone who isn’t glued to their phone all day?”—in my experience, yes.
Once you learn the process, you don’t need to spend a lot of time figuring it out every week.
NCP may also provide helpful videos and other additional information if you need help getting started.
Can You Make Extra Money With NCP?
I wouldn’t call NCP a way to make serious extra money but extra cash for doing something simple.
Think rewards—not a paycheck.
That’s an important distinction.
You’re not going to scan a gallon of milk on Monday and retire to the Bahamas on Friday.
If that ever becomes an option, somebody please let me know!
What NCP can provide is an easy way to earn rewards over time from something you’re already doing: shopping.
Combine your shopping participation with surveys, extra points, bonus points, and special opportunities, and your points can build up.
For someone like me who enjoys finding different ways to stretch my money, that’s a win.
Is National Consumer Panel Legit?
Based on my many years as an actual panel member, yes, NCP has been legitimate for me.
I’ve watched the program change from using a separate Nielsen computer or scanning device to today’s mobile panel experience where I can participate through my phone.
Technology has changed, but the basic idea remains the same: consumers share information about what they’re buying, and that information is used for research.
In return, active panel members can earn rewards for their participation.
Final Thoughts: Is NCP Worth It After 50?
For me, yes.
One thing I’ve learned after 50 is that I don’t want to spend half my day doing something to earn 37 cents. My time counts too!
That’s why I look at these programs differently now. I ask myself: Is it easy? Can I fit it into something I’m already doing? Are the rewards worth the effort?
For me, NCP checks those boxes.
It isn’t a get-rich-quick program. But if you’re already going shopping anyway, it can be a great way to turn a normal weekly activity into great rewards over time.
And at this stage of life, I’ll take an easy reward wherever I can get one. Groceries certainly aren’t getting any cheaper!
Have you tried National Consumer Panel? Tell me about your experience in the blog comment section.
If you’re a current member, I’d especially like to hear how long you’ve been with NCP and whether you remember using the old scanner.