Product testing sites fall into two groups. Some send you physical products to try at home and keep, usually in exchange for honest feedback or a review, but rarely pay cash. Others pay you money to test websites, apps, software and games, usually by recording your screen and voice. Knowing which kind you want saves a lot of wasted sign-ups.
“Get paid to test products” is one of the most searched side hustle ideas, and one of the most misunderstood. This guide explains how each type of testing works, what it really pays, which platforms are worth joining, and the rules and scams to watch for.
In this guide
- Two kinds of product testing
- Home product testing: products you keep
- Paid testing: apps, websites and software
- Paid game testing
- Research studies and interviews
- User-generated content: getting paid for product videos
- What product testing really pays
- Rules on reviews and disclosure
- Scams to avoid
- Owen’s take
- FAQ
1. Two kinds of product testing
| Home product testing | Digital product testing | |
|---|---|---|
| What you test | Food, beauty, household, baby and pet products | Websites, apps, prototypes, software and games |
| What you get | The product, sometimes points | Cash per test, usually by PayPal |
| What you do | Use the product, answer questions or write a review | Complete tasks while recording your screen and voice |
| How often | Occasional, when you match a campaign | Regular if you check often |
2. Home product testing: products you keep
Brands send free products to consumers to gather feedback, reviews and social media posts before or after launch.
Influenster
Influenster is a product review community owned by Bazaarvoice, which bought it in 2019. Brands run campaigns through it, offering complimentary products or digital rewards to members who match brand and product criteria. Products arrive in boxes called VoxBoxes, and members are asked to try them and share honest reviews. It mainly serves the US and Canada.
Amazon Vine
Amazon Vine sends free products to selected reviewers, called Vine Voices, who write honest reviews. It is invitation-only: you can’t apply, and Amazon selects reviewers it considers helpful. Vine Voices keep products but are not paid.
Survey panels with product tests
Some survey panels occasionally send products to test at home. Pinecone Research, an invitation-only panel, is known for product tests alongside surveys, and Survey Club matches members with product tests, focus groups and clinical trials as well as surveys.
What to expect
Home testing is fun but irregular. You may wait weeks for a campaign you qualify for, and most products are everyday items such as snacks, skincare and cleaning products. Treat it as a perk, not income.
3. Paid testing: apps, websites and software
Usability testing platforms pay you to use a website or app while thinking aloud, so designers can see where people get confused. You need a computer or phone, a microphone and a quiet space.
- UserTesting. Pays per completed test, with typical pay of $4 for short tests, $10 for standard 15 to 20 minute tests and $30 for a 30-minute live conversation. Payment goes to PayPal, usually 14 days after the test.
- Userfeel. Pays $3 for a 5-minute test up to $30 for 60 minutes, credited to a wallet about a week after the test and then withdrawn to PayPal.
- Userlytics, PlaybookUX and Trymata offer similar recorded tests and interviews.
Bug testing
Bug testing platforms pay you to find and report problems in real products.
- uTest, run by Applause, pays freelance testers for approved bugs, test cases and usability surveys. Typical bug pay is about $5 to $50 per approved bug.
- Test IO and Testbirds also pay testers for approved bugs and usability tests.
Bug testing rewards patience and attention to detail. Clear, reproducible bug reports earn more approvals.
4. Paid game testing
PlaytestCloud pays players to test unreleased mobile, PC and Steam games while recording their play. Typical pay is about $5 to $9 for a 15-minute test, paid by PayPal within about three days. It suits people who play games regularly and can talk through what they think as they play.
5. Research studies and interviews
The best-paid testing work is usually research interviews and longer studies.
- User Interviews lists paid interviews, surveys and usability tests from companies, with typical pay from about $20 for short surveys to $150 or more for interviews.
- Respondent pays professionals and consumers for research interviews and studies.
- dscout pays people for short missions, diary studies and live interviews, paid by PayPal after the mission closes.
- Prolific pays participants in academic and AI research studies, with a minimum of £6 or $8 an hour.
Professional profiles, such as IT managers, nurses or small business owners, often qualify for the highest-paying studies.
6. User-generated content: getting paid for product videos
User-generated content (UGC) is a newer way to get paid for testing products. Brands send you a product and pay you to make short videos or photos about it, which they use in ads and on social media. You don’t need a big following.
Platforms include soona UGC, which pays a set amount per completed video based on your creator level, Insense and Collabstr. See our Influencer & UGC directory for more.
7. What product testing really pays
- Home product testing usually pays in products, not money.
- Usability tests pay a few dollars to around $30 per test, depending on length and type.
- Bug testing pays per approved bug, so income varies with skill and luck.
- Research interviews pay the most per hour, but you must qualify through screeners.
- UGC can pay well per video once you have a portfolio.
Like surveys, testing work comes in irregularly. Joining several platforms and keeping your profiles complete gives you more invitations. You can compare every testing and research platform we’ve checked in our User Testing & Research directory.
8. Rules on reviews and disclosure
If you receive free products in exchange for a review, honesty matters, and so does disclosure.
In the US, the Federal Trade Commission’s rule on consumer reviews and testimonials, announced in August 2024, prohibits fake reviews and bans businesses from offering compensation or incentives in exchange for reviews that express a particular sentiment, positive or negative. That means a legitimate program can ask for your honest opinion, but not for a five-star review.
When you post about a free product on social media, disclose that you received it for free. Amazon labels Vine reviews to show the product was free, and you should be just as clear wherever you post.
9. Scams to avoid
- Paying to become a tester. Legitimate testing programs don’t charge you to join.
- “Keep the product and get paid” offers from unknown sellers. Some sellers pay people to buy a product and leave a positive review, then refund them. This breaks marketplace rules and the FTC’s rule on reviews, and you may never be refunded.
- Requests for card details for “shipping”. Fake testing offers often ask for a small shipping fee to capture card details or sign you up for subscriptions.
- Check-cashing schemes. Any “tester” job that sends you a check and asks you to send money back is a scam.
- Unrealistic pay. Offers of hundreds of dollars for testing a product at home are almost always fake.
10. Owen’s take
If you want free stuff, join Influenster and a couple of survey panels with product tests, and enjoy what arrives. If you want money, focus on usability testing, research interviews and, if you are good on camera, UGC. I’d keep a simple setup ready, with a decent microphone and a quiet room, and check the testing platforms when you have spare time. And remember that any program asking for a positive review, or for money upfront, isn’t one to join.
FAQ
Can you really get paid to test products?
Yes, mostly for digital products such as websites, apps and games. Physical product testing usually rewards you with the product rather than cash.
Do product testers keep the products?
On home testing programs such as Influenster and Amazon Vine, yes. They are typically not paid in cash.
How much do usability testers earn?
Usually a few dollars to around $30 per test, depending on length. Live interviews and research studies can pay more.
Is it legal to get free products for reviews?
Yes, if the review is honest and you disclose the free product. Programs can’t require a positive review.
This guide is part of our User Testing & Research section, with every platform we have checked in that area.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission, “Federal Trade Commission Announces Final Rule Banning Fake Reviews and Testimonials”: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/08/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-rule-banning-fake-reviews-testimonials
- Wikipedia, “Influenster”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenster
