How Influenster Works: Selection, Shipping and Who Can Join
By Laura Jordana · Editor
Published Oct 10, 2026 · 4 min read
In this guide
Influenster is an app where you review products you already use, and in return some members get picked to try new ones before or around launch. It is owned by Bazaarvoice, the company that runs review systems for a lot of retailers. The part people want to know is how the picking works, so that is most of this guide.
What you get and what it costs
Influenster calls its sampling offers “programs.” The older name you will still see online is VoxBox, the box the products used to arrive in. Influenster’s help center describes two ways a program can work:
| Program type | What happens | Cost to you |
|---|---|---|
| Shipped product | The product is mailed to your home | Nothing, shipping included |
| Coupon or gift code | You get a code and buy the product yourself | Sometimes free, sometimes a small out-of-pocket cost |
Joining costs nothing. The catch on the second type is real, so read the program details before you tap claim. Influenster says once you claim a product or offer, it cannot remove you from that program.
How Influenster picks people
According to the help center, you can qualify in two ways:
- Take a pre-survey. These ask about your habits and needs. Influenster now tells you at the end of the survey whether you fit, instead of making you wait up to two weeks.
- Get an invite. These are based on what you have already shared: profile information, connected social accounts and your Influenster activity, including reviews.
The help center’s own tips for getting more invites:
- Fill your profile to 100% and set a preferred language.
- Agree to share profile information with brands and delivery companies. Influenster says some programs need this.
- Connect Instagram or TikTok. Instagram must be a public Creator or Business account.
- Turn on notifications, because some invites are first come, first served.
- Write detailed reviews with clear photos.
Follower count is not on the list. Influenster says the number of followers you have on its app does not affect eligibility, though engagement on your connected social posts is one factor it looks at. Only one person per household can take part in the same program.
Where it ships: US, Canada and beyond
Anyone 16 or older can join from anywhere. Shipping is the limit. Influenster’s help center lists these countries as current shipping destinations: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US.
In the US you are on the shipping list, and Influenster notes that a program still has to match your profile before you get an invite. Either way, being eligible to receive a product is not the same as being picked.
The tasks, the timing and the catch
Once you opt in, the tasks are mandatory. They usually include:
- A review in the Influenster app.
- Reviews on retailer sites, where the program asks for them.
- Social posts, with a disclosure that you got the product free. Influenster points to FTC guidance on this.
Products typically ship within two weeks of a program’s start and can take four to six weeks to arrive. Some programs ship later or get paused. If an item is lost or damaged, Influenster says it cannot promise a replacement. Skipping tasks or posting a false or incomplete review lowers your Completion Rate Score, which affects future picks.
The bigger trade-off is data. The whole system runs on matching your profile to brands, and Influenster says sampling requires some data sharing with brands and retailers. It also says Influenster and Bazaarvoice do not sell data for other purposes. If you want the sharing to stop, the help center’s answer is to delete your account with the in-app tool.
Is it worth your time?
If you already write reviews, Influenster adds a chance at free products for work you do anyway. If you only want free things and hate writing, you will find the tasks tedious and your score will drop. Treat it as a hobby with occasional perks, not a supply of anything you need.
For a side-by-side of Influenster with other tester programs, see real product tester programs. Two others work differently: PINCHme is US-only sampling, and Amazon Vine is invite-only for Amazon reviewers. If someone asks you to pay a fee to become a “tester,” read our guide to Shein free clothes scams first.
Sources checked October 2026: Influenster: can I join if I don’t live in the US, Influenster: programs and how to participate, Influenster: boost your chances, Influenster: survey results, Influenster: follower count, Influenster: cost to join, Influenster: shipping times, Influenster: program tasks, Influenster: data use.
Frequently asked questions
Does Influenster ship to Canada?
Yes. Influenster's help center lists Canada among the countries it currently ships product programs to, along with the US, the UK, Mexico, Australia and much of Europe. Being in a shipping country does not mean a program will fit your profile right away.
How old do you have to be to join Influenster?
Influenster's help center says anyone 16 or older can join, from anywhere. Product shipping programs are only available in the countries on its shipping list.
Does Influenster cost anything?
Joining is free. Most programs ship the product to you at no cost, but Influenster says some programs give you a coupon or gift code instead, and those can leave a small out-of-pocket cost. Read the program terms before you claim.
Do I need a lot of followers to get picked?
No. Influenster's help center says your follower count on the Influenster app does not affect your eligibility for invites. A complete profile, connected social accounts, reviews and engagement on your social posts are what it lists as factors.
What is a VoxBox?
VoxBox is the name Influenster long used for the boxes of products it sent to members. The current help center calls them programs, and some now arrive as a coupon or gift code instead of a box.
