- Who owns Influenster and how long it's been around
- How Influenster makes money and why brands send freebies
- How you get picked for an Influenster program
- The catch: tasks are mandatory and some offers cost money
- Disclosing free products: the FTC's rules
- Can Influenster become a side hustle?
- Wrong deliveries and lookalike scams
- Verdict: is it worth joining
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, Influenster is a real review community, launched in 2010 and now part of Bazaarvoice. Brands send samples through VoxBox-style programs, but being picked depends on your profile and Impact score, and its help centre says completing the required tasks is mandatory once you opt in. Some offers may cost you money, so read each program's terms.
Free products in the post sound like the dream side hustle for anyone who loves beauty, snacks or gadgets, so I get why people ask whether Influenster is legit before they hand over their address. I've read what Wikipedia, Influenster's own pages and help centre say, plus the FTC's rules on free products, so you know what you're agreeing to.
Who owns Influenster and how long it's been around
According to Wikipedia, Influenster launched in 2010 and was founded by Aydin Acar and Elizabeth Scherle, and it's based in New York City. Wikipedia says Bazaarvoice acquired the company on August 28, 2019, and that the co-founders stayed with the business.
That fits Influenster's own About page, whose footer reads Copyright 2026 Influenster, a Bazaarvoice company. So it isn't an anonymous app that appeared overnight. It's a long-running platform with named founders and a corporate owner.
How Influenster makes money and why brands send freebies
You aren't the customer here, brands are. Wikipedia says the main business model runs through VoxBox or VirtualVox campaigns, where brands offer complimentary products or digital rewards to users who meet brand- and product-specific criteria. Brands want reviews and social posts from real people, and Influenster supplies the audience.
That's why the platform is free to join. You pay with your time, your reviews and the information you share, rather than with cash. Keep that in mind when you decide what profile and social account details to connect.
How you get picked for an Influenster program
Wikipedia says invitations depend on a user's Impact score and demographics. Influenster's help centre explains that you can qualify by taking a pre-survey, or by receiving an invite based on your profile, connected social accounts and Influenster activity such as reviews.
In practice, that means nobody can promise you a box. Plenty of people join and wait. Writing honest reviews of products you've already used and keeping your profile complete are the things the help centre points to.
| What I checked | What the public record says |
|---|---|
| Who owns it | Bazaarvoice, per Wikipedia and Influenster's footer |
| When it launched | 2010, per Wikipedia |
| Who gets samples | Users who match brand criteria, Impact score and demographics |
| Are tasks optional? | Not once you opt in, per the help centre |
| Is it always free? | Not always; some offers may cost you money |
The catch: tasks are mandatory and some offers cost money
This is the part most excited new members skip. Influenster's help article says that once you opt in, completing the required tasks is mandatory. It also says that after you claim a product or offer, you can't be removed from that program. So don't claim things you won't review.
The same article says products may come at no cost, shipped to you, but you may instead receive a voucher or gift code to buy the product, and it warns there may be an out-of-pocket cost to you. Read the program terms before you claim anything. If an offer involves paying, decide whether the product is worth it without the reward.
- Tasks such as surveys and posts are required once you opt in.
- Some offers are a voucher or gift code, not a free product.
- You can't be removed from a program after claiming.
- Selection isn't promised and depends on your profile.
Disclosing free products: the FTC's rules
If you post about a product you received free, the FTC's influencer guidance applies to you. The FTC says a material connection includes a brand giving you free or discounted products, and that you should disclose it even if you think your evaluations are unbiased. The disclosure should sit with the post, where it's hard to miss, not buried in your profile.
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If you're building up a reviewing habit, keep your reviews honest and specific, because shoppers get better at spotting padded ones.
Can Influenster become a side hustle?
Honestly, think of it as free samples with homework, not a paycheque. Wikipedia describes the rewards as complimentary products or digital rewards, so it's not a steady income. If you want ways to earn, my overview of easy ways to earn money using your phone and online surveys for money is a more realistic starting point.
Wrong deliveries and lookalike scams
Influenster's help centre has an article for products shipped to the wrong address, so use that route and its Contact Us link rather than third parties. Because the brand is popular, scammers copy it.
- Influenster won't need you to pay a fee to receive a sample box.
- Be wary of messages on social media claiming you've 'won' a VoxBox and asking for payment or card details.
- Log in by typing the address yourself, not through a message link.
- Never share your password or verification codes.
Verdict: is it worth joining
Influenster is legit: a real, Bazaarvoice-owned platform with named founders. It's best for people who already enjoy reviewing and don't mind completing the tasks. Be selective about what you claim and disclose free products when you post about them.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Influenster?
Bazaarvoice. Wikipedia says it acquired Influenster on August 28, 2019, and Influenster's footer reads Copyright 2026 Influenster, a Bazaarvoice company.
Are Influenster products really free?
Sometimes. Its help centre says products may come at no cost, but you may instead get a voucher or gift code to buy the product, and there may be an out-of-pocket cost to you.
Must I review products I claim?
Yes. The help centre says that once you opt in, completing the required tasks is mandatory, and you can't be removed from a program after claiming.
How does Influenster choose who gets a VoxBox?
Wikipedia says invitations depend on your Impact score and demographics, and the help centre says you can qualify through a pre-survey or an invite based on your profile, social accounts and activity.
Do I need to disclose free products from Influenster?
The FTC says a free product is a material connection and should be disclosed with your post, even if you think your evaluation is unbiased.
