How to Become an Amazon Product Reviewer in 2025
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Ever wondered how some Amazon reviewers seem to get endless free products? They’ve cracked the code to Amazon’s reviewer system, and you can too.
Amazon has programs that let Amazon product reviewers get free or discounted products in exchange for honest reviews. If you want to try new products, help other shoppers, or save money on items you’d normally buy, becoming a trusted reviewer can help you do all three.
Read on to learn how to become an Amazon reviewer and get free products in return.
Eligibility Requirements – Your Amazon Reviewer Application
If you want to start leaving reviews on Amazon, you don’t need to fill out a formal application — but you do need to meet Amazon’s basic requirements. Think of your account profile as your “Amazon reviewer application.”
Here’s what Amazon looks for before you can post reviews:
- Recent purchase activity – You must have spent at least $50 on Amazon in the past 12 months. This prevents fake or inactive accounts from leaving reviews.
- Active Amazon account – A standard account is enough. Prime membership is optional but not required to write reviews.
- Completed profile – Adding a name, photo, or short bio can make your reviews feel more trustworthy to other shoppers.
- Rule compliance – Reviews must follow Amazon’s community guidelines. That means no abusive language, no promotional links, and no reviews written in exchange for money or gifts.
So is it competitive? Not at all. In fact, virtually anyone with an active Amazon account and a modest purchase history can leave reviews. There’s no approval process beyond meeting these simple requirements, and you don’t need to apply or wait for acceptance.
Competition does come into play with Amazon Vine. Getting invited to Vine is much more selective since Amazon only chooses reviewers with a track record of consistent, helpful feedback.
How to Become an Amazon Reviewer – 14 Steps That Work
If you want to become one of Amazon’s trusted reviewers and receive Amazon products without having to pay for the contents, read on.
1. Meet the Eligibility Rules
Amazon doesn’t require Prime membership for reviewers, but you need an active account with at least $50 in purchases within the past 12 months. That rule makes sure reviews come from real shoppers.
So, although it isn’t mandatory, an Amazon Prime membership can definitely make reviewing products easier and smoother. Free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and access to a wider range of products mean you’ll have more items arriving quickly and more opportunities to share detailed feedback. If you’re serious about reviewing, Prime can give you a head start.
Be sure to complete your Amazon profile as well. Adding a short bio, a photo, or notes about your shopping habits makes your reviews look more credible and helps other buyers trust your feedback.
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2. Download the Amazon App
The app will allow you to participate in this exciting new gig wherever you are by searching for and acquiring products at any time. It also has a barcode scanner that lets you scan items you already own. This will be helpful when it comes to the next step, which is…
3. Start Writing Product Reviews on Amazon
“Wait! I haven’t gotten anything free yet!” No, you have not.
But, the way to make companies send you free or discounted products is to display your ability to write a thoughtful and valuable review. You can do that by reviewing the products you have already purchased through Amazon (which is where the app barcode function comes in handy). Review as many items as you can to build your brand with Amazon customers before you start requesting free items. Few or no reviews are not going to get you far.
4. Start Receiving Free Stuff
At first, your reviews will be based on products you’ve already purchased. But over time, writing consistent, helpful reviews can open the door to free or discounted items.
There are two main ways this happens:
- Sampling sites and brand programs – Companies outside of Amazon, such as Home Tester Club or Brandbacker, sometimes send products in exchange for honest feedback. These are not official Amazon programs, but many reviewers use them to practice product testing.
- Amazon Vine – Once again, this is Amazon’s invitation-only official program for trusted reviewers, where you can receive free products in exchange for unbiased reviews.
Remember that Amazon does not allow paid reviews. Free products can be a nice perk, but only if your reviews remain honest and balanced.
5. Write Better Amazon Reviews
If you’re interested in how to become an Amazon reviewer, don’t let inexperience with writing hold you back. You don’t need to be a gifted writer to be a valuable product reviewer. What you do need is a critical eye toward product value and quality. Think about your own shopping habits. What do you want to know about the product? Why do you like one product so much and hate another with the same fervor?
Think about the Amazon reviews you have read. What did they say that influenced you, and how did they say it? Don’t plagiarize, but do consider using similar terms when they are applicable to the product you are reviewing.
Need some inspiration from a good reviewer? You can view the Amazon profile of other customers, where their previous reviews— and the number of helpful votes they received — are public.
6. Use Photos in Your Amazon Product Reviews
Customer reviews that draw attention often have photo or video content along with the text. Other customers can be immediately taken to your specific review with the “reviews with images” section. The pictures don’t need to be professional, but you’ll want to clearly showcase the products to get that “helpful” vote.
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7. Know Your Goal
Amazon gives readers the option to mark a review as “helpful.” The more helpful votes you earn, the more influence you’ll have as a reviewer. This matters because Amazon highlights reviews that other shoppers find helpful, and it can even improve your chances of being invited into the Vine program.
Your goal isn’t just to write more reviews, it’s to write better ones. Share details that answer the questions buyers usually have. Is the product easy to use? Does it feel well-made? Are there features that don’t work as well as you hoped? Including both positives and negatives shows honesty, making your review more valuable.
Reviews that help people make smarter choices are the ones that get noticed.
8. Create a Review Star System of Your Own
Your review will conclude when you give the product a rating on a five-star system. Determine how you are going to choose what rating to give a product. If you create your own standard, your reviews will have increased value. You will be downgraded as a reviewer if you only give five-star reviews (or, only provide negative reviews).
9. Make a Shopping List
What items do you want to review? Since the goal is to receive free products, you want to request items that you are going to use in your life, or that you know your friends would appreciate. You also want to request items about which you are likely to form a thoughtful opinion. If you have no interest in dietary supplements, do not request such items (although you are likely to receive them anyway; that market loves to send free products in hopes of receiving positive reviews).
10. Build Your Brand on Amazon
You certainly can spray to all fields if you like, but one way to become a highly respected Amazon reviewer is to develop a field of expertise. You want to become recognized as an expert in your favorite type of product so that firms eventually seek you out in hopes of getting a review from an Amazon influencer with a reputation for being knowledgeable.
11. Tell the World
Sharing your reviews outside of Amazon can help build your credibility, but it isn’t required. If you like posting on social media, you might share your reviews on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, or YouTube. Adding photos or short videos makes your feedback stand out even more.
Reviewers with larger followings often get noticed by companies. Brands are more likely to send products to people who can showcase them to a broad audience. This is especially true for expensive items, where companies want reviewers with proven reach.Just remember that this leans more toward the Amazon Influencer Program, which is different from product reviews. Influencers earn commissions from content, while reviewers post feedback directly on product pages. Think of social sharing as a bonus, not a requirement.
12. Know the Amazon Rules
Amazon has clear rules for anyone who wants to post reviews, and it’s important to follow them. As stated earlier, you must have spent at least $50 in the past 12 months to be eligible. Beyond that, every review must follow Amazon’s community guidelines. That means no offensive language, no promotional links, and no reviews written in exchange for money or gifts.
Amazon no longer enforces a strict weekly review limit, but it does monitor for unusual activity. Posting too many reviews in a short time or accepting compensation from sellers can get your account flagged or even banned. Sticking to the rules keeps your account in good standing and helps your reviews carry more weight.
13. Create Your Personal Disclaimer
As mentioned in the last step, one of the most important rules is that reviewers must disclose when they received a product for free or at a discount. Both Amazon and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) require this. A short line at the start or end of your review is usually enough.
For example, you might write: “I received this product at no cost in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.” That makes it clear to other shoppers that you’re being transparent and keeps you in compliance with Amazon’s guidelines and federal law.
Adding a disclaimer also builds trust with readers. People are more likely to value your opinion if they know you’re upfront about how you got the product.
14. Check Your Amazon Product Reviewer Ranking
On your Amazon account, on the upper right is the Accounts and Lists tab. Click Account. There you will see your reviewer ranking in your Amazon profile. It also offers you an opportunity to write your own “About,’’ letting companies know what kinds of products you prefer to review.
Your ranking is partially determined by the number of reviews you submit, the number of “Yes” votes you get under the Helpful heading, and how recent your reviews are.
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How to Join the Amazon Product Review Program — Vine Voices
Now let’s zoom in on something we’ve mentioned several times — the Amazon Vine program. This program opens up opportunities to share your valuable insights and influence product reviews. Here’s what you need to know.
What is Amazon Vine?
As we said, Vine is an invitation-only Amazon product review program. Only people who consistently provide quality reviews are invited to become members. The goal is to help customers make informed purchase decisions by providing reliable information about the product’s functionality and performance.
How Do You Become an Amazon Vine Voice?
This is where things get tricky. You can’t request to join Amazon Vine. Instead, you must be invited. This is why it’s important to build a positive reputation by posting informative reviews on a regular basis. Think of your current profile as your Amazon reviewer application. You want to fill it with examples of your reviewing skills and ability to provide helpful, honest feedback. The more reviews you leave, the better your reviewer ranking will become—which makes you more likely to be invited into the program.
More Quick Facts About Amazon Vine
- You become an Amazon product reviewer and tester, so companies may provide samples of products not yet finalized so that they can get feedback before beginning wide production and distribution.
- The products you’ll receive are completely free. But as a verified buyer, you’ll be expected to share an unbiased opinion.
- You’ll have to fill out a 1099 form and pay taxes if the estimated tax value of the items you receive exceeds $600 per year.
- There’s no required frequency, but members are encouraged to review consistently.
- Vine Voices are not paid for their reviews. They only receive free products.
Start Your Journey as an Amazon Product Reviewer
From choosing items to building your brand, we’ve covered everything you need to know about becoming an Amazon reviewer. The rest is up to you.
Getting started is the first step toward building your credibility and increasing your reviewer ranking. The more you review, the more your profile grows, and over time, you’ll be recognized as a trusted voice in the Amazon community. You’ll even start receiving free products that align with your shopping preferences and lifestyle, making the process extra rewarding. So, take it one review at a time—each step brings you closer to your goal.
FAQs: How to Become an Amazon Product Reviewer
Curious about what it really means to be an Amazon product reviewer? These quick answers clear up the most common questions shoppers ask, including whether you can write reviews for Amazon and get paid.
You become an Amazon reviewer by buying products on Amazon and writing honest reviews. Your account needs at least $50 in purchases in the past 12 months to qualify.
Amazon reviewers don’t get paid for writing reviews. The only exception is Vine Voices, which may get free products in exchange for unbiased feedback.
You can leave a review once you’ve spent at least $50 on Amazon in the last 12 months. After that, you can post star ratings and review what you buy.
You can’t get paid by Amazon to test products. Vine members may get free items to review, but cash or other review rewards aren’t allowed.
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Kent McDill is a veteran journalist who has specialized in personal finance topics since 2013. He is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder. Contributors Sharon Quinn and Jenna Limbach contributed to this post.
