Reviews are a vital part of the Amazon ecosystem. For shoppers, they offer intel on whether that product from a third-party seller that's on a Lightning Deal is a waste of money or a smart buy. For sellers, they can make or break their success on the platform.
“Amazon reviews are incredibly important for sellers because they play a big role in how well a product ranks and how trustworthy it appears to potential buyers,” says Krishna Vemulapali, founder of Trellis, a company that helps sellers navigate big online marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart. “The more positive reviews a product has, the higher it tends to rank in search results, which is crucial for standing out in a crowded marketplace.”
To keep a steady stream of those sweet, sweet reviews coming in, Amazon sellers sometimes offer select shoppers free products in exchange for writing them.
How do you get in on this? Can anyone get free products for review? The short answer is, yes, you can get free stuff for writing Amazon reviews if you get into the Amazon Vine program. But, no, not just anyone can get in. We talked to real Vine members and Amazon experts to learn how to increase your chances of getting in and how much work you'll need to put in to get free products.
For more smart shopping tips and savings hacks, download the KCL app or text HACKS to 57299.
First things first: Amazon doesn't allow sellers to send you free stuff under the table in exchange for reviews anymore.
In the past, sellers and shoppers alike could (and would) deal under the table when it came to exchanging positive reviews for free stuff. Sellers would offer up free products on third-party sites, or even contact shoppers directly.
Amazon, however, has tamped down on these tactics. In 2016, they announced they'd start prohibiting sellers from offering or requesting compensation (free stuff or discounts) in exchange for reviews. Now, according to Amazon’s Anti-Manipulation Policy for Consumer Reviews, sellers risk getting kicked off Amazon, having reviews removed, or having their products delisted if they solicit reviews directly from shoppers.
That doesn’t mean you can’t get free stuff for Amazon reviews anymore; it just means sellers and shoppers alike have to play by Amazon’s rules, which leads us to the Amazon Vine program.
Amazon Vine is now the legit way to get free stuff for reviews on Amazon, but it’s an invite-only club.
Vine is an official Amazon marketplace that allows brands and Amazon sellers to send free products to reviewers (called Vine Voices). Sellers list products they’re willing to send to reviewers for free (they also pay an enrollment fee). Reviewers can order those items free of charge and then write reviews.
For sellers, it’s a chance to get exposure and get reviews on products that don’t yet have any, in a way that won’t violate any of Amazon’s rules. For consumers, it’s a chance to get free stuff.
Becoming an Amazon Vine reviewer isn’t something you can just apply for, though. And you can’t pay your way in either. You have to be invited. And that takes some work and a bit of luck.
How do I get invited to Amazon Vine?
If you’re invited to Vine, you’ll get an email at the email address tied to your Amazon account.
Amazon is vague about what triggers an invite, simply stating on their Vine page that they look for “consumers who consistently write insightful reviews.” Some Amazon Vine members who create content on TikTok credit their status as influencers and their product review videos as reasons they got admitted. But regular people can get in too.
Take Michael Grant, a writer and mortgage loan officer based in Connecticut. He got invited to Vine three years ago after a couple years of writing reviews for products he’d bought on Amazon.
“When I’d write my reviews, I wouldn’t just say, ‘The product does this,’ or ‘The product doesn’t do this,’” he says. “I’d tell a story. I’d make it interesting, because those are the types of reviews I like to read.”
His motivation was to help other shoppers, and the Vine invitation came as a surprise, he says.
According to Tom Jauncey, CEO of digital marketing agency Nautilus Marketing (and also a Vine member), regular reviews won’t guarantee you an invite, but they increase the chances that Amazon’s algorithm may choose you for the program.
“While getting free products in return for Amazon reviews has become increasingly difficult, it is not impossible,” Jauncey says. “You need to be a reliable reviewer by posting regular, high-quality reviews.”
KCL TIP: Add photos or videos of what the product looks like and how it works to support your review.
So let’s say I get into Amazon Vine. What kind of free stuff can Vine reviewers get?
All kinds of free stuff, from inexpensive items to big-ticket ones.
When Grant first got accepted into Vine, he started small, ordering a passport holder, a mug, and lightbulbs. But he’s since gone bigger, receiving and reviewing a mopping robot vacuum, a chandelier, bathroom fixtures, a pressure washer, and smart door knobs. “Now if I need something like windshield wipers, I’ll check Vine first,” he says. “I’ll get them, I’ll review them, and I’ll use them.”
According to Jauncey, top reviewers can get as many as 30 free products a month.
How much work do I have to do to stay in Amazon Vine?
While the items on Vine don’t cost money, reviewers have their own end of the bargain to uphold and need to write a certain number of reviews in a certain time span and review a certain percentage of the items they receive (this varies and depends on the conditions of your Vine invite and level of status).
“It’s a commitment,” Grant says. “It’s like having another job." Also, keep in mind, the items you get on Vine are taxable. You’ll get a 1099 every year from Amazon.
Does Amazon make Vine reviewers write positive reviews?
No. In fact, Amazon encourages honesty. Amazon does have community guidelines for reviews, Grant says, but writing a positive review about a bad product is not one of them. Grant says he’s given some products low ratings in the past because that honestly reflected his experience. Sellers aren’t allowed to ask you to change your review either.
Why would sellers give away free product and risk negative reviews? "Vine gets sellers reviews faster than they’d get them organically," says Vemulapali.
“The downside is that Vine reviewers tend to be more critical, so you might see a mix of lower star ratings,” Vemupali says. “But the benefit is that these reviews come in fast, often within the first month, which can really help boost your product's visibility and build trust with potential buyers early on.”
Can reviewers sell stuff they got on Vine?
Yes, but there’s a waiting period. Vine reviewers must keep items for six months before selling or giving them away. In other words, you can’t just order free stuff via Vine to turn it around and immediately sell it.
“So I wouldn’t consider this a way to make money doing it,” Grant says. “There are probably easier ways in the world to make a dollar.”
Review-trading sites offer an alternative, but they're not quite the same.
If you’re still waiting on your Vine invitation, you might be wondering if there are other ways to get free stuff in exchange for reviews. If you've searched Google or YouTube for options, you've likely stumbled upon review-trading sites.
Examples of review-trading sites include Snagshout and Elite Deal Club. On these sites, sellers list items for "free" with rebate (or at a very deep discount, think 80% off or more) in exchange for a review, a survey, or a video of you using the product.
These sites exist in ways that don’t run afoul of Amazon’s Anti-Manipulation rules. Snagshout, for example, explicitly states in its FAQ that, for Amazon products, no review is required (just highly recommended). Products from other platforms may require a review.
While these sites are absolutely legit and aren't scams, something to keep in mind is that relatively few products are free up-front (which makes these sites different from Vine, where reviewers pay nothing). In most cases, you’ll pay a discounted price (usually with a discount code provided by the site). Or you’ll pay full price with the promise of a rebate later via PayPal.
So these sites aren’t really comparable to Amazon Vine. But assuming something you really want is listed on a review-trading site and you’re willing to wait for your cash back or are just happy with a big discount, review-trading sites can be an option.
Social media review clubs and groups can get you banned, so stay away.
According to Jauncey, some sellers take part in review clubs on social media, where they “pass around discounted products, hoping to solicit reviews.” But this runs afoul of Amazon’s terms and conditions and could get you banned, along with sellers who participate.
“Of course, these methods are extremely risky, and will get an account suspended when Amazon catches them,” Jauncey says.
Even if you don't score an invite to join Vine, you can still get Amazon freebies.
Even if you never make it beyond the velvet rope of Amazon Vine, you can get free stuff on Amazon (like free memberships, free samples, free promo credits, free digital downloads, and more). Check out our full list of Amazon freebies.
Related reading
Tell us what you think