Top Online Survey Panels for 2016
Historical feature · Reference date label: January 10, 2016; updated January 1, 2021
This archive follows the five selections in SurveyPolice’s 2016 feature. The order and awards belong to that publication. Mevumo’s text is an independent summary and research commentary; it is not a reproduction of its reviews or a Mevumo award.
Read this as a historical list
Past eligibility, bonuses, payout methods and processing times can change. The dated notes below describe what the reference feature covered. Any present-day information is labeled separately and linked to a researched profile. No personal payment test or reader score is implied.
What an annual selection can tell you
A shortlist is a starting point for research. Compare the task you would perform, the country and age requirements, the reward you could use, and the process for resolving missing credit. Historical praise cannot establish any of those conditions for a current account.
For a fair comparison, keep the time spent screening as well as completing studies, any task costs, approved credit and actual rewards received in your own records. That separates an advertised offer from your result.
1. Pinecone Research
In the 2016 feature
Pinecone Research remained first, with product testing and an expanded historical reward selection discussed.
Questions for a reader today
Check whether recruitment is open for your residence and demographic. An old invitation link, fixed incentive or product-test example does not establish an available assignment.
The historical note does not confirm present availability. The Mevumo profile for Pinecone Research is currently unavailable.
2. Opinion Outpost
In the 2016 feature
Opinion Outpost placed second, with interactive surveys and several electronic reward options.
Questions for a reader today
Read current regional reward and account-verification rules. Keep the distinction between a study invitation, an accepted completion and an issued reward.
The historical note does not confirm present availability. The Mevumo profile for Opinion Outpost is currently unavailable.
3. PaidViewpoint
In the 2016 feature
PaidViewpoint placed third, combining a straightforward interface with cash-balance surveys.
Questions for a reader today
Compare short profile-building questions with research invitations. Confirm which first-payment method is required and whether any lower repeat-redemption threshold applies to your account.
Separately researched provider terms
Public information checked 2026-10-23; this is distinct from the 2016 snapshot.
First redemption: US$15 through PayPal. Eligible accounts in good standing may then redeem at US$10 and subsequently US$5; thresholds can be reset.
The official FAQ describes operation in 50 countries but does not provide a readable public eligibility list. Registration checks residence; no country whitelist is inferred here.
Read the full PaidViewpoint profile and official sources
Visit PaidViewpoint4. YouGov
In the 2016 feature
YouGov supplied public-opinion questionnaires and a geographically variable reward selection.
Questions for a reader today
Check the country-specific panel and reward catalog. Invitation topics, point values and redemption thresholds should be read from the applicable regional service.
The historical note does not confirm present availability. The original YouGov profile path is retained for further research.
5. Brand Institute
In the 2016 feature
Brand Institute was included for specialist medical research as well as some general-consumer assignments.
Questions for a reader today
Read the assignment’s requested expertise accurately. Specialist professional research should be matched to your real qualifications; a historical incentive is not a promised invitation.
Separately researched provider terms
Public information checked 2026-10-23; this is distinct from the 2016 snapshot.
No public universal redemption minimum was established from the reviewed registration pages.
The public registration form requires participants to be 18 or older. A complete currently accepted country list was not verified; a country field is not proof of eligibility everywhere.
Read the full Brand Institute profile and official sources
Visit Brand InstituteHonorable mentions
Branded Surveys
MintVine appeared as an honorable mention; the source also contains a later Branded Surveys name update.
Compare approved points with pending points and check local cash or voucher methods. A historic loyalty tier or joining offer can have different conditions today.
Compare the annual selections
This comparison uses the names in the two reference shortlists. It describes a list change, rather than claiming why a company’s performance changed.
New to the five compared with 2015: Opinion Outpost, PaidViewpoint, YouGov, Brand Institute.
Outside the five compared with 2015: Quest Mindshare (now Panel Champ), MyView, Epoll Surveys, OpinionSite.
Read the 2015 feature to compare each entry and its historical context.
Names alone do not establish continuity. Rebrands, mergers, closed programs and revised reward rules require a fresh check with the relevant operator before acting.
Keep researching
Use the platform directory for researched profiles, Pick-a-Perk to compare reward features, or Online Surveys 101 for participation guidance. These tools cover a limited researched set and do not guarantee eligibility.
Source: SurveyPolice 2016 annual feature, read October 23, 2026. Its rankings, historical descriptions and later annotations are attributed to that source. Present-day provider facts, where shown, have separate official references in the linked profile.