# Observa: Earn Money From Gigs — Earn money as a secret shopper

> Earn money by completing secret shopper gigs and photo challenges. (iPhone/iPad app by Observa, Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observa-earn-money-from-gigs/id1082619370 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Observa, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1082619369)
- Category: Business, Lifestyle
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.41/5 from 10,073 App Store ratings · 242 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.0 · 19 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2016-02-12
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observa-earn-money-from-gigs/id1082619370/reviews.md

## What is Observa?

Getting started is simple! You just head to stores, snap some photos, and answer a couple of questions. Every now and then, you’ll also speak to a store associate. That’s it! Gigs pay between 3 and 25 dollars, and you’ll usually get paid within 72 hours. This side hustle is a great way to earn money for dinner dates, movie nights, and other special occasions!

FAST FACTS

Observa has paid out more than $500,000 to Observers.
Gigs take 15-30 minutes on average.
You’ll be notified when there are new opportunities near you.
There are more than 400,000 Observers.
Opportunities are available in the United States and Canada.
You’ll usually get paid within 72 hours. Please note: this process may take longer over weekends and holidays.
Gigs pay $3-25.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is this a legit way to make PayPal money?

Yes! Observa has been in business since 2016. Today, we work with leading brands like KIND and Beyond Meat. Observers complete opportunities at well-known retailers like Safeway, 7-Eleven, and Walmart.

Do you have opportunities outside of the United States and Canada?

Right now, the vast majority of our opportunities are currently in the United States and Canada. Observa is always working to get additional clients, in order to provide more opportunities for you to earn money.

If you turn your notifications on, you'll be notified when there are new opportunities near you. In the meantime, check out our paid photo challenges, which run every few weeks and can be completed from anywhere.

If Observa rejects an observation, is the data still sent to the customer?

Never. At Observa, we only want to pass along high-quality data to our customers, so we discard data from rejected observations. We only reject an observation if the Observer didn’t follow the instructions correctly. Right now, more than 90% of observations are accepted.

PRESS

Observa has been featured in Mystery Shopper Forum, Gotta Be Mobile, GeekWire, and more!

Mystery Shopper Forum - bit.ly/observamysteryshopperforum
Gotta Be Mobile - bit.ly/observagottabemobile
GeekWire - bit.ly/observageekwire

MORE INFO

Privacy Policy - bit.ly/observaprivacy
Terms of Service - bit.ly/observaterms 
Support - support@observanow.com

## Key features

- Complete in-store gigs
- Take photos and answer questions
- Earn $3-$25 per gig
- Get paid within 72 hours
- Flexible scheduling
- Photo challenges available

## What do users think of Observa?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 💰 Easy way to make extra money
- ⚡ Quick payouts
- 🕰️ Flexible scheduling
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly

**Cons**

- ⏱️ Unrealistic time estimates for tasks
- 🚗 Excessive travel/gas costs
- 🤖 Inconsistent/unfair review process
- 💸 Low pay for effort required
- 🇨🇦 Lack of opportunities in Canada

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Disappearing/unpaid observations
- Glitches during photo/data submission
- Inaccurate store information

**Most requested features**

- More detailed task instructions
- Ability to preview tasks before accepting
- Longer time windows to complete tasks
- Better communication from support team
- Improved app stability and reliability

## Recent user reviews (10 of 242)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observa-earn-money-from-gigs/id1082619370/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Too many photos

*2026-08-20, version 5.4.4*

Bottom line do not expect to get approved anytime soon, it has been almost over a week since I tried to submit two dogs and still. O updates and no approvals let alone any payments.  Support is useless and states backlog but it’s a waste of time and gas there is a reason there are so many orders available and it’s not a goodd one.  This company is unprofessional and incompetent

### 3/5 — not able to complete

*2026-08-18, version 5.4.4*

not able to complete

### 1/5 — App not fully developed

*2026-08-14, version 5.4.4*

Some sections state “if needed” but require photos, app needs refinement.

### 1/5 — Awful

*2026-08-11, version 5.4.4*

This app sucks. Because of numerous glitches, and the fact that they don’t give you any feedback with each photo taken to let you know if it was successful or not; it would’ve been nice if it had told you what was wrong with the photo while you were taking it instead of waiting till the end and having to take multiple photos over again.  This is my third attempt at . I was on the parking lot at the store yesterday and attempted to accept it and The app stated that my GPS location was hidden???

### 1/5 — Worthless App Even Worse Support

*2026-08-07, version 5.4.4*

Notice how their fake AI “developers” don’t reply to issues, only praise? They don’t care about fixing anything. I’d bet the reviewers are AI bots padding their reviews. 10k for this garbage? Yeah right lol. 
App doesn’t work outside of my home WiFi, which makes it impossible and worthless to use at the store. Emailed their inept support multiple times, and crickets. Not sure how this pathetic jr high school failed computer app project actually has anything over one star. Don’t waste your storage space or your data trying to get it to work and don’t waste keystrokes reaching out to the imaginary support, they don’t reply.

### 1/5 — Scam

*2026-08-04, version 5.4.4*

First they put the wrong store hours, then they go uploading the images you are taking slowing you down and crashing the app. Estimated time to complete is off by a lot. If you are in middle of working and don’t finish on time they delete your work and steal your images. Then don’t request and payout lesss

### 1/5 — SCAM!

*2026-07-27, version 5.4.4*

THEY DO NOT PAY AT ALL! SUBMITTED A WHOLE TASK THEY ASKED AFTER TRAVELING FAR TO A STORE AND IT'S BEEN WEEKS. NOTHING! CONTACTED THE SUPPORT EMAIL MULTIPLE TIMES AND HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THESE DEVILS!

### 1/5 — Waste of my time

*2026-07-26, version 5.4.4*

I used the last of my gas money to go perform this task spent over an hour and wasn’t even able to submit. The requirements didn’t align with how Cosco is set up and they didn’t pay me. Thanks a lot
Some people can’t keep getting exploited like this

### 2/5 — takes too long

*2026-07-26, version 5.4.4*

Took me an hour and a half to finish one just for them to reject me because I didn’t know the difference between a display shelf and a main shelf which was not stated while I was taking photos. I also kept loosing my photos cause of an “error” having to restart it all over again. Not worth it for me but if you’re desperate for extra cash do it I guess.

### 1/5 — Timer in busy store makes it almost impossible

*2026-07-21, version 5.4.4*

They only give you a short amount of time to complete the tasks and they send you walking all over the store. When I finally got to the pharmacy section they deleted the photos I took 4 separate times. After almost 2 hours of walking around this just about made me want to quit.
Finally it accepted my photos only to load for 10 minutes AND THE. DELETE MY ENTIRE APPLICATION.
Waste of my time, I’d give it 0 stars if I could

## Frequently asked questions about Observa

### Is Observa a legitimate way to make money?

Yes, Observa has been operating since 2016 and has paid out over $500,000 to its users. They partner with well-known brands and retailers, indicating a legitimate business model.

### How much can I earn with Observa?

Gigs on Observa typically pay between $3 and $25. The average gig takes about 15-30 minutes to complete.

### When will I get paid by Observa?

You will usually receive your payment within 72 hours of completing a gig. Please note that this timeframe may be extended during weekends and holidays.

### Are there opportunities outside the US and Canada?

Currently, the majority of opportunities are located in the United States and Canada. Observa is actively working to expand its client base to offer more opportunities globally.

### What happens if Observa rejects an observation?

If an observation is rejected, the data is not sent to the customer. Rejections occur only if the Observer fails to follow instructions correctly; over 90% of observations are accepted.

### Does Observa have ads?

No, Observa does not contain advertisements. The app is free to use and does not display any ads to its users.

### What devices does Observa support?

Observa is available on iPhones and iPads, as indicated by its supported devices list.

### How often is Observa updated?

The latest version of Observa is 5.4.4, and it was last updated on May 6, 2026. This suggests a relatively active development cycle.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 5.4.4 — 2026-05-06

Includes camera upgrades to help users prevent blurry photos.

### 5.3.17 — 2026-03-31

We have added better control over the quality and resolution of captured photos to increase chances of successful observations.

### 5.3.14 — 2026-03-05

Added support for attaching multiple photos at once.
Switched to local fonts to reduce layout shifts.
Increased font size in observations for better readability.
General performance improvements and minor bug fixes

### 5.2.24 — 2025-07-01

Camera Upgrades: Sharp Shots, Smooth Zoom, Solid Performance
Wider Camera: Starts with a more zoomed-out view, making it easier to capture full shelves without stepping back.
Zoom In & Out: You can now zoom in and out, perfect for smaller aisles.
Tap to Focus: Focus is held longer and activates faster for clearer shots.
Dark Mode Friendly: Automatically adjusts to match your phone’s dark or light setting.
Quicker Capture: Photos now snap instantly on all devices.
Lag-Free Gallery: Scrolling through your photos feels fluid and responsive.
Bigger Previews: Gallery images are larger for quicker checks.
Faster Camera Launch: The camera opens and closes more quickly.
Safer Saving: Images won’t be lost if your phone crashes or loses power.
Battery-Friendly: Tilt detection now uses less power while still helping you keep shots level.

### 5.1.15 — 2024-11-20

We've updated the app to the latest iOS SDK version and fixed a bug where some photos were not being captured.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*