How to Start Getting Free Products to Review

How to Start Getting Free Products to Review — No Gimmicks, No Catch

If you’ve been following me since my original blog back in 2014 (which, by the way still exists, as NYC Gal Out), you already know the story — I started off not as a “content creator” like so many micro “influencers” on TikTok now, but as a blogger. I blogged about life and product reviews, and even started making review videos on my old YouTube channel before it got nuked by Google. Now I’m rebuilding from scratch. I even talked about it in my first video on the new channel last month — but here’s something that hasn’t changed — people still ask me the same question I’ve been getting for over a decade: “How do you get free products to review?”

The short answer? I’ve built relationships, audience trust, and brand recognition over the years — but if you’re just starting out, you don’t need a million followers or a fancy media kit. There’s a legit starting point for beginners that I wish existed when I first started: Influenster.

From Walmart Spark Reviewer to Influenster: The Backstory

Some of you may remember when I was part of Walmart’s Spark Reviewer program — the invite-only program where selected customers got free products in exchange for honest reviews. It was ran by a technology company called Bazaarvoice, based out of Austin, TX. (That program is now defunct as of January 2024, but Walmart still has an internal invite-only community called Spark Community that I was also, thankfully, still invited to be a part of.)

For the rest of us missing those freebie days, or those who were always trying to figure out how? Influenster is the modern version of that idea, but bigger. It’s not just Walmart — it’s high-end beauty brands you’d find at Ulta or Sephora, big-ticket items like home goods, tech, clothing, and so much more.

WHY? Well, in plain terms, Bazaarvoice bought Influenster a few years ago and now owns that app.

Bazaarvoice is a company that specializes in user-generated content (UGC) for brands and retailers. They provide the tech and services that let customers leave product reviews, post Q&As, upload photos/videos, and share feedback directly on a brand’s site or retail partner’s site. They also syndicate that content — meaning if you review a product for one store, the brand can push that same review to other stores or platforms in their network. For influencers and product testers, Bazaarvoice runs programs like Influenster, where you get products for free in exchange for authentic reviews that can end up published on multiple retailer sites. The main goal is to boost social proof, trust, and sales by letting potential buyers see real experiences from other customers — as well as collect consumer data; I mean, let’s not be naive, and I’m not trying to be gimmicky here.

What’s the Catch?

I get it — the internet has trained us to be suspicious of everything and anything.

This doesn’t cost you anything — not a penny.

You’re not signing up for some “free trial” that turns into a credit card charge in a few days.

So what’s the real trade-off then?

You’re giving brands two things:
1.) Consumer data — they want to know who likes what, and why.

2.) Free advertising — whether you post within the Influenster app or make a TikTok video, or just a written review, you’re giving the brands exposure in exchange for a free product that they have plenty of to give out as consumer samples. That’s thousands (sometimes even millions) that they don’t need to spend on marketing.

Even if you have no followers, you’re still valuable because you still represent a real consumer for market research data.

Why Brands Do This (and Why It Works for You)

If you’ve ever wondered why someone with 200 Instagram followers (like me, when I first started making public content on social media in 2020) still gets PR mailers, it’s because brands care about targeted reach, not just big numbers. They want the right products in the hands of people who will talk about them — online or offline.

Influenster’s algorithm is all about matching products to the right testers. The more surveys and reviews you complete, and the more active you are, the more “in the loop” you become for future campaign programs.

My Results

I’ve gotten everything from high-end skincare (La Roche-Posay eye serum) to big-ticket items like an area rug, clothing invites from Abercrombie & Fitch and Nike, and multiple home products that I used to also get when Bazaarvoice was operating Walmart’s Spark Reviewer program.

Your Starting Point

If you’ve been watching product review videos on YouTube and thinking, “I want to do that, but I don’t know where to start,” this is your low-barrier entry. You can:

Test products before they hit shelves.

Build your review portfolio.

Get content for your TikTok, Instagram, blog, or YouTube.

If you don’t want to be a content creator? You can still enjoy free products in exchange for just reviewing the free samples that you do get.

No gimmicks, no fake “secret method.”

Click here to join Influenster for free and start getting products to review.

Why I’m Only Sharing This Link Now?

If you’ve been with me since the Walmart Spark Reviewer days, you know that program officially ended on January 31, 2024. When Walmart sent us the goodbye email, they let us know their product testing would be handled internally by the invite-only Walmart Spark Community — and for everyone else looking for freebies, they recommended Influenster.

At first, I didn’t jump on board. I’ve seen too many gimmicky “free stuff” apps that promise the moon, then all you do is fill out survey after survey for months without ever getting a single product. (Home Reviewer Club, anyone?) I don’t mind giving feedback, but if all I’m doing is handing over my consumer data with nothing in return, that’s not worth my time.

I also have a personal rule with referral links: I only share them when I trust the source. That’s why you’ve only ever seen me use my Amazon affiliate links — because I know Amazon is legit. With Influenster, I waited. I signed up, tested it for myself, and made sure it wasn’t just smoke and mirrors.

It’s legit. After I Google them and realize it’s now owned by Bazaarvoice, it gave the app more credence.