market research jobs online surveys

Get paid to participate in research studies

Find paid user research opportunities in topics you care about. Get paid to share feedback and influence the next generation of products and services.

new projects launch monthly

people participate worldwide

average project incentive

Getting started with paid research is quick and easy

1. create your profile.

Personalize your profile with your professional background, skills, and interests.

2. Get matched

Our matching algorithm will send research studies straight to your inbox based on your details.

3. Apply to studies

Answer a few screening questions online to help researchers know if you are a fit.

4. Get paid

Researchers invite participants to studies. Get paid quickly once your work is finished.

Get paid to influence the products you use daily

Choose from a wide variety of interesting paid research studies.

Unlock the power of your opinions in paid research projects. Influence tomorrow's products and services, from tech innovations to everyday items. Let your voice shape the future market.

Work with brands who value your opinion

Shape your daily tools, apps, and services through your insights. Make money by participating in paid studies, turning your experiences into influential feedback.

Earn money referring friends and colleagues.

When you sign up as a participant, you can make money by referring friends and colleagues.. Share studies with people in your network that are likely to be a good fit.

How do our participants feel about Respondent?

Rated 4.6 out of 200+ reviews on G2.com

Nareen Thompson

Property Manager - Real Estate

It's a cool way of spending quality time and earn some money as well as helping to shape decisions.

Eric Hollowaty

President - Energy, Oil and Gas

It's tangible - I know the feedback I'm providing is making a difference. Bonus points if it's for a product or service I already, or might in the future, use!

Almabelle Dorado

Regulatory Affairs Professional - Cosmetics

I enjoy contributing to a project and giving some of my insights. It gives me a sense of accomplishment when the product is successful.

Neels Minnaar

I like to share my experience and knowledge and being able to work remotely.

Jane Kimani

Licensed Agent - Insurance

I enjoy the fact that I can contribute to new innovations and/or improvement of products through my contributions and also get paid for it.

I like my voice being heard and talking about and trying out new things.

Get paid to share your opinions with interested brands.

Sign up to get started earning money with paid research today.

18 Best Places to Take Paid Online Surveys (Up to $50/hr)

Our readers always come first.

The content on DollarSprout includes links to our advertising partners. When you read our content and click on one of our partners’ links, and then decide to complete an offer — whether it’s downloading an app, opening an account, or some other action — we may earn a commission from that advertiser, at no extra cost to you.

Our ultimate goal is to educate and inform, not lure you into signing up for certain offers. Compensation from our partners may impact what products we cover and where they appear on the site, but does not have any impact on the objectivity of our reviews or advice.

Surveys offer a legitimate way to earn money on the side. Here are the best sites and a few tips so you can make the most of your time.

• Side Hustles
• Online Surveys

Our mission at DollarSprout is to help readers improve their financial lives, and we regularly partner with companies that share that same vision. If a purchase or signup is made through one of our Partners’ links, we may receive compensation for the referral. Learn more here .

Taking paid surveys online is an easy task you can do to earn money in your spare time.

Survey companies work with businesses that need feedback about new ideas or products before they hit the market. Survey takers earn cash for answering questions that will help brands improve their products.

Filling out surveys for cash can be worth your time if you sign up for the right survey sites and implement a few helpful tips.

All you need is an internet connection and a computer or mobile device to get started.

Best Sites to Take Paid Surveys

Registering with too many companies can lead to contact overwhelm, making it difficult for you to find the best opportunities. Rather than sifting through the myriad of options, stick with the ones that fit your demographics and availability.

1. Branded Surveys

Branded Surveys holds a 4.1 out of 5-star rating with Trustpilot with over 82,000 user reviews. The parent company, Branded Research, has been conducting market research since 2012.

When you register as a new member , you’ll earn 50 points, then another 50 points will be credited to your account after filling out your profile (a $1 sign up bonus in total).

Once your account is created, you can immediately start taking surveys, which can be worth up to $5 each. After you reach 500 points (equal to $5 USD), you can cash out your earnings in your local currency (USD, CAD, GBP).

Branded Surveys’ loyalty program, Branded Elite, offers the opportunity for anyone to earn bonus points on a weekly basis. You can increase your bonus amount by advancing through Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers. To advance, you must complete a certain number of approved surveys, and your bonus is based on your badge level.

I earned $7.41 and nearly reached the Silver badge tier within the first 2 hours of using the platform.

Additional ways to collect Branded Survey points include inviting friends to join, taking the daily poll, ranking on the leaderboard, and being randomly selected for up to 1,000 points. Learn more about my experience in our Branded Surveys review .

• Where it’s available: United States, Canada, and the UK
• Age requirements: 16+ years old
• Average earnings: $0.50 to $3 per survey
• Payment method: Branded Pay (direct deposit in the United States), PayPal cash, gift cards, prepaid Visa card, or charitable donations
• Minimum to cash out: 500 points

   Trust: ★★★★★

   # of Surveys: ★★★★☆

   Compensation: ★★★★★

   Cash out process: ★★★★★

2. Freecash

More a survey aggregator, Freecash.com is a “get paid to” (GPT) site that partners with several reputable survey providers like Pollfish and Bitlabs, allowing users to make money taking surveys online.

What makes the platform appealing is that surveys are just one of several ways to make an extra — or several hundred — buck(s). Testing apps or websites, signing up for offers, and taking quizzes are but a few of the many other ways users can earn. In fact, they have over 5,000 different offers users can complete to unlock free cash.

New users will earn a free $1 merely for creating an account and verifying their email address, and get to open a “Free Case” for a chance to win $250 more.

While not all of them will be relevant to you, it’s not uncommon to see some tasks with earnings of $100 or more, assuming the exact criteria or met.

Learn more in our Freecash review .

• Where it’s available: International users welcome
• Average earnings: $0.10 to $1 per survey
• Payment method: PayPal, bank transfer, gift cards, crypto
• Minimum to cash out: 250 coins ($0.50)

   Trust: ★★★★☆

3. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a paid survey site owned and operated by Prodege, LLC. Perhaps the most popular survey site in the world, it holds a 4.4 rating on the App store with 112,000+ reviews, and a 4.2 rating on Google Play with an additional 139,000 reviews.

Completed surveys pay between 1 and 350 Swagbucks (also called SBs), depending on the length and topic popularity. For every 100 SBs, you’ll earn an additional $1 that can be redeemed for PayPal cash or gift cards to places like Amazon, Lowe’s, and Target.

New Swagbucks members will receive a $10 signup bonus after spending at least $25 at one of the site’s featured retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart.

Paid online surveys are not the only way to make money with Swagbucks. The company awards its members SBs to shop online, search the web , and watch videos. You can start redeeming your earnings as soon as you reach 100 points.

In three days of passively using the platform, I accrued 256 points — roughly equivalent to $2.56. Over a thirty-day period with a similar effort, I’d expect to earn around $25.

The more SBs you accumulate, the higher the value of the gift card you can redeem. You can unlock more store options and find gift cards to places like Starbucks, Walmart, and iTunes. Learn more about my experience in in our Swagbucks review .

• Where it’s available: Most countries in the Americas, Asia, and Europe, and some areas in Africa
• Age requirements: 13+ years old
• Average earnings: $0.40 to $2 per survey
• Payment method: PayPal cash or gift cards
• Minimum to cash out: $1 in gift cards or $5 in PayPal cash

4. InboxDollars

InboxDollars has been in business since 2006 and was acquired by Prodege, LLC back in 2019. They hold a B rating with the BBB. According to its website, the company has paid more than $80 million to its members.

InboxDollars users accumulate earnings in cash instead of points, which makes it easy to know how much you’ll earn before committing to a task. Most paid opportunities offer a small amount of money, but the more surveys you take, the more you can earn.

It’s free to sign up and get started with InboxDollars, and you will get a $5 bonus once you activate your account. You’ll then answer a few simple questions about your income, race, education, and other demographic information. This initial screening will help InboxDollars match you with relevant paid surveys.

Other ways you can earn money with InboxDollars include watching video ads , playing games, and shopping online at stores like Target, Walmart, and eBay.

I earned mere pennies playing the games currently available over the course of 30 minutes but brought in $1.50 taking the paid surveys available to me after registering (l earn more about the experience in our InboxDollars review ) .

• Where it’s available: United States, United Kingdom (InboxPounds)
• Age requirements: 18+ years old
• Average earnings: $0.50 to $5.00 per survey and up to $10 and $20 or more for people in certain demographics
• Payment method: PayPal, e-gift cards, prepaid Visa card, charitable donation, or check in the mail
• Minimum to cash out: $15

Trust: ★★★★☆

# of Surveys: ★★★★☆

Compensation: ★★★★☆

Cash out process: ★★★☆☆

5. Ipsos i-Say

Ipsos i-Say is a survey site based in Paris, but it allows users around the world to get paid to take surveys. It has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a 4.7-star rating on Google Play with over 32,000 reviews.

You can register with Ipsos i-Say by creating an account using either your email address or Facebook account. You’ll then answer some demographic questions so the company can connect you to relevant opportunities. For example, if you’re a new mom, you may see a survey asking about which diapers you use.

After you complete a survey, you’ll earn points. How much you earn varies, but it’s typical to earn between 45 to 90 points per survey, or $0.45 to $0.90. You can also earn up to five points if you’re disqualified from taking a survey. Once you reach 500 points, you can cash out your earnings for PayPal cash, gift cards, or charitable donations.

I’ve found Ipsos iSay to be one of the more reliable survey providers and consistently hit the $5 per hour threshold in terms of survey earnings. This is among the highest in the industry, especially for a site that only provides surveys and little to no other ways to earn.

You can learn more about my experience in our Ipsos i-Say in our review .

• Where it’s available: United States, Canada, Australia, UK, and Singapore
• Average earnings: $0.45 to $0.90 per survey
• Payment method: PayPal, gift cards, prepaid Visa gift cards, or charitable contribution
• Minimum to cash out: $5

   Trust: ★ ★ ★ ★☆

   # of Surveys: ★★★☆☆

   Compensation: ★★★☆☆

   Cash out process: ★ ★ ★ ★☆

6. LifePoints

Originally known as National Family Opinion, LifePoints has been around since 1946 and has more than 5 million members around the world. Trustpilot gives the company a 4.1 out of 5-star rating based on 38,000 real member reviews.

You can become a member for free and start earning LifePoints by taking online surveys. You’ll get an immediate 10 LifePoints added to your account when you verify your email address and provide basic information like your name, date of birth, and address. Filling out a complete profile will allow you to view and select surveys that fit your demographic.

LifePoints survey topics range from technology to automobiles, to household brands, and more. Some surveys pay up to 600 points, or $5 each, but most opportunities pay between $0.50 and $1 to complete. We share more about the paid opportunities with the company in our LifePoints review .

• Where it’s available: United States, India, South Africa, Mexico, Hong Kong, China, and 35 more countries.
• Average earnings: $0.50 to $1 per survey
• Payment method: PayPal, e-gift cards, or charitable donations

   # of Surveys: ★★★★★

   Compensation: ★★★★☆

   Cash out process: ★★★★☆

7. Pinecone Research

After 21 years in business, Pinecone Research has earned a spot among some of the highest-rated paid survey sites. Pinecone Research is owned by The Nielsen Company, which holds a rating of A+ with the BBB.

Pinecone Research members influence future products and services every time they complete an online survey. Each survey pays 300 points, worth $3, and should take only a few minutes, according to the company.

You can also get paid to test new products as a member of Pinecone Research. You’ll be paid between $3 and $5 to complete a short report on each product. You might even be allowed to keep the product after the study is complete.

Pinecone Research is one of the more elite survey sites and limits its members based on demographics. You can apply for membership to see if you qualify.

• Where it’s available: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany
• Average earnings: $3 per survey
• Payment method: A check in the mail, PayPal, or gift cards
• Minimum to cash out: $1

8. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is another leader in the survey industry, with a BBB rating of B. The company has been in business since 2011 and serves more than 20 million members.

Survey Junkie is best known for the basics and mainly offers paid survey opportunities. This site tracks earnings in the form of points. Every 100 points equals $1 earned, and it takes a minimum of 500 points (or $5) to cash out via PayPal or with e-gift cards.

The site does offer some users the chance to earn money testing products, participating in online or in-person focus groups , or via phone surveys. It pays between $5 and $150 per task, but that option is extremely limited at this time.

Start making money within five minutes when you sign up and complete your profile . Most of the surveys are fairly easy to complete. You also won’t be forced to sign up for something or buy anything in order to complete a survey.

Our favorite part about the platform is that they award you a nominal number of points even if you’re disqualified from a survey. You won’t earn the full amount displayed, but it’s better than zero return on your time, as is the case with many other survey sites.

Learn more in our Survey Junkie review .

• Where it’s available: United States, Canada, and Australia
• Payment method: PayPal cash in all countries, or e-gift cards and direct bank transfers in the United States

9. American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion (ACOP) is owned by Decision Analyst, Inc. which has been in business for more than 41 years. The BBB gives this site an A+ rating.

When you sign up for an account with ACOP, you can start your first paid survey in under two minutes. Your first survey pays five points and includes questions regarding your demographic information like marital status and education level. If there are surveys available, you will see them listed in your account.

ACOP keeps things simple and offers nothing more than surveys for money. The company accumulates your earnings in points, and you’ll need to earn 1,000 points, or $10, to cash out.

• Where it’s available: Worldwide
• Age requirements: 14+ years old
• Average earnings: $0.05 to $0.50 per survey
• Payment method: PayPal cash, Hyperwallet, sweepstakes entry, or a charitable donation
• Minimum to cash out: $10

10. MyPoints

MyPoints, owned by Prodege, LLC, has been in business since 1996, holds a B rating with the BBB, and has paid out more than $236 million to its 10 million members.

With MyPoints , you can take online surveys for money, but the site also has other paid gigs. These include shopping online and in-store, printing and redeeming coupons, watching videos, playing games , and booking travel accommodations. It also gives you five points if you are not qualified to take a survey, with a maximum of 25 disqualification points per day.

All of your earnings through MyPoints accumulate in points. You can claim a $3 gift card once your account reaches 480 points. Or for 15,800 points, you can get a $500 gift card.

Note that points may stretch further depending on where you redeem them. Redeeming points for a prepaid Visa card requires a minimum of 1,500 and is worth 150 points per dollar, or $10.

MyPoints gives $10 Amazon or Visa gift cards to new users. You’ll need to spend $20 or more using MyPoints shopping to redeem this bonus.

• Where it’s available: United States and Canada
• Average earnings: $0.35 to $0.55 per survey
• Payment method: PayPal cash, gift cards, and e-gift cards, or redeem for travel miles

Toluna is a market research firm that’s been in business since 1994. It has an A+ BBB rating and a 3.7-star rating on Trustpilot from 10,000 member reviews.

After you sign up for a free account, you’ll receive a confirmation link in an email that, once you click, will finalize your registration and allow you to start taking surveys. You’ll also earn 500 bonus points just for signing up .

Each survey Toluna offers is worth between 15 and 50,000 points, depending on the length and time needed to complete the survey. Like other sites, you will have to qualify for surveys. If you don’t qualify, you don’t receive disqualification points. Instead, you’re entered into a sweepstakes.

The minimum points you need to redeem a reward is 10,000, which lets you plant a tree in Peru, Thailand, or Uganda. For gift card rewards, 30,000 points will get you a $10 gift card to major retailers like Starbucks, Petco, and Kohl’s.

• Where it’s available: 21 countries include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Mexico
• Average earnings: 15 to 50,000 points per survey
• Payment method: Gift cards or sweepstakes entries
• Minimum to cash out: 10,000 points

   Trust: ★★★☆☆

   Cash out process: ★★★☆☆

12. Survey Club

Survey Club has been around since 2005 and has an A- rating with the BBB. If you sign up as a member, you’ll join more than 16 million other users.

After you become a member and provide your demographic information, Survey Club will connect you with paid studies. It also refers members to other sites like Survey Junkie, LifePoints, and Pinecone Research. Your earnings from surveys hosted by Survey Club are added to your account in cash, and you can cash out when you earn at least $25.

Survey Club also provides paid focus group opportunities. It reports the average earnings of those who participate as $50 to $200 per hour.

• Where it’s available: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia
• Average earnings: $0.10 to $5 per survey
• Payment method: Cash, gift cards, prepaid debit cards, cash sweepstakes, prize drawings, and charitable contributions
• Minimum to cash out: $25

   Cash out process: ★★★ ☆ ☆

13. KashKick

In addition to surveys, KashKick pays users for watching videos, surfing the web, and signing up for deals through the platform.

Surveys are on par with industry standard, with opportunities to earn upwards of $2 per completed questionnaire. Payments are processed every two weeks, and you need at least $10 before you can cash out via PayPal.

The primary complaint from former users is losing earnings for inactivity. If you fail to verify your email address, provide incorrect contact information, or don’t log into your account for 60 days, your account might be deactivated. In this case, any earnings you had will be forfeited.

You can reactivate your account within 60 months, but you can’t get back any previous earnings. KashKick wiped inactive accounts right before processing payments, so be sure to log in regularly and verify your email address so you don’t lose your rewards.

• Where it’s available: United States
• Average earnings: $0.20 to $2 per survey
• Payment method: PayPal (payouts every two weeks)

   Trust: ★ ★ ★☆ ☆

A globally recognized survey site, YouGov allows users to share their opinions on politics, public affairs, products, and brands. Unique for its focus on current events and societal issues, YouGov provides an engaging platform for those interested in influencing decision-makers and contributing to public discourse.

For example, YouGov has had data from dozens of polls shared across massive networks like CBS News, Politico, Yahoo, and more, across a variety of topics. Trump and Biden head-to-head numbers, support for IFV, where Haley voters will fall after her dropout, and the Israel-Hamas war are but a few recent hot-button topics they’ve shared data on.

Members earn points for completing surveys, which can be redeemed for various rewards, including cash and free gift cards . Earnings vary based on survey length and complexity, with YouGov offering a transparent and straightforward platform for users to voice their opinions and earn rewards. New members get a free 1,500 welcome bonus for signing up.

• Where it’s available: 75+ Countries ( See list )
• Average earnings: $0.50 to $1.50 per survey
• Payment method: Direct deposit or gift cards
• Minimum to cash out: $15 (gift card)

   Trust: ★★ ★★ ☆

   # of Surveys: ★★ ★☆ ☆

15. Crowdtap

Used by more than 2 million members, Crowdtap is a popular paid survey site because it offers more ways to earn than just taking surveys. Member users can also earn points by participating in online discussions, product testing, art and other content submissions, research programs, and more.

To get started, merely register for a free account . After completing the registration process, you’ll receive an email confirmation. After that, you can begin earning points by taking surveys you qualify for.

Most surveys are worth $0.25 to $0.75, but their homepage suggests you can find surveys for $25, $50, or even more. I recently took surveys for about 90 minutes and earned 1,000 points, good for a $5 gift card, but earnings of just $3.33 per hour.

That said, one nice thing about Crowdtap is its low minimum withdrawal threshold. Once you reach the minimum threshold of 500 points, you can cash out for e-gift cards to popular retailers. Learn more about my experience in our Crowdtap review .

• Age requirements: 13+
• Average earnings: $0.25 to $0.75 per survey
• Payment method: E-gift cards

16. PrizeRebel

Since its debut in 2007, PrizeRebel has paid more than $19 million to its 9 million members.

PrizeRebel’s signup process is quick to complete. You just need to provide your name and email address. After confirming your email address, you can start taking paid online surveys. The first required survey asks for your demographic information and is worth 10 points.

You can cash out when you’ve earned at least 500 points, worth $5. Most surveys pay between 40 and 60 points and can take up to 15 minutes to complete.

PrizeRebel has a unique program that awards members based on the level of earnings. If you earn 4,500 points, you’ll reach Gold level status and receive a 1% bonus to your earnings and a 1% discount on your prize. Platinum level (10,000 points) gets you a 2% bonus and a 2% discount, and Diamond level (16,000 points) gets you a 3% bonus and a 3% discount.

• Where it’s available: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, or Australia
• Age requirements: 16 or 17 years old with parental permission, or 18+ years old without
• Average earnings: $0.40 to $0.60 per survey
• Payment method: PayPal, physical or e-gift cards, or direct deposit into your bank account

17. Opinion Outpost

To get paid to take surveys with Opinion Outpost, you will need to complete the initial screening . You’ll have to answer questions about things like your education level, work status, and the number of children you have. Then you’ll complete a questionnaire based on recent events like whether you’ve taken your pet to the vet or watched a movie in theaters. Opinion Outpost will ask duplicate questions along the way to make sure you’re answering honestly.

Most surveys are worth 3 to 30 points. You can cash out for free Amazon gift cards or $10 iTunes or App Store gift cards, or a $10 PayPal credit. Alternatively, at 30 points you can unlock games on Alawar.com or join the MileagePlus Program to use your points toward travel credits. You’ll need at least 105 points to receive 300 Award Miles.

Opinion Outpost offers some of the highest-paying surveys we’ve found. I recently completed a shopping and retail survey and earned $2.50 in under 30 minutes. The biggest con we’ve discovered is that the number of surveys users are eligible for is lower than that of other paid online survey sites we’ve used. Learn more in our Opinion Outpost review .

On a philanthropic note, every month Opinion Outpost makes a donation to the American Red Cross in honor of the time its users take to complete surveys. Its corporate donation does not impact your points balance, but you can use your points to make a separate donation if you’d like.

• Where it’s available: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Spain, and Germany
• Average earnings: $0.30 to $3 per survey
• Payment method: PayPal, Amazon gift cards, and Apple App Store and iTunes gift cards, UnitedMileagePlus points, gaming credits, or charitable donation
• Minimum to cash out: $5 for an Amazon gift card or $10 for PayPal

18. Panda Research

Panda Research has paid out more than $2.2 million to its members since 2005. The company is owned by A&A Marketing, Inc. and has a B+ rating with the BBB.

To get started, you’ll need to complete your member profile and confirm your email address. The company also requires a valid phone number to become a member. Then, you can take surveys that pay up to $50 each. You can also earn up to $25 per time you cash out for reading paid emails.

Panda Research pays members with earnings of at least $50 on the 1st and 15th of each month via PayPal. Note that you will only receive your payments in increments of $50, so if you have total earnings of $110, you will be able to cash out $100 and the balance will carry over to a future payment request.

• Average earnings: $0.10 to $50 per survey
• Payment method: PayPal
• Minimum to cash out: $50

When to Avoid a Survey Site

Although the sites on our list are trustworthy, you can’t trust every site that claims to pay you to take surveys. Avoid survey sites if they:

🚫 Ask for payment. A legitimate survey site will never ask you to pay to join.

🚫 Ask for private information upfront . You should not be asked to provide your Social Security number unless you’ve earned at least $600.

🚫 Have no history or ratings . Well-established companies are more trustworthy. You can read what real users have to say about them and verify their history of payments and available opportunities.

🚫 Pay too little . Legitimate companies will have some higher-paying opportunities worth completing.

🚫 Have a glitchy or outdated site . Companies that don’t take care of their websites may not take care of their members.

🚫 Make it hard to qualify for surveys . Don’t waste time on a company if it consistently disqualifies you for surveys.

Even if the site seems legitimate, if you’re skeptical about it or it spams you with emails, remove yourself from its list. There are enough quality survey-taking opportunities available that you can avoid ones that annoy you or aren’t a good fit.

Related: 6 Common Work-from-Home Scams to Look Out For

Tips for Earning the Most Money

There are a number of things you can do to maximize your earnings when taking surveys for money.

✅ Stick with a few trusted sites. You don’t have to sign up with hundreds of survey sites to earn some cash. Focus on the best, highest-paying options.

✅ Fill out your profile completely. Completing your personal profile on each survey site allows the company to match you with relevant offers. Update your profile if you have a life change, like having a baby, getting a pet, or quitting smoking. You might find yourself eligible for new or different surveys.

✅ Watch the time. Keep track of the time spent completing surveys. You’re not likely to earn a high hourly rate completing easy surveys so, if possible, do surveys when you have small windows of time, like when you’re standing in line to fill a prescription or waiting for a meeting to start.

✅ Answer consistently. Take the time to read each question and respond honestly and consistently across sites. Survey sites compare answers and can disqualify users who appear to be inconsistent in their responses.

✅ Check for free offers. Some survey sites have a “free offers” section where you can earn points for signing up for free trials or newsletters. You can also watch for exclusive bonus opportunities on social media and refer friends to your favorite sites to earn free money or bonus points.

✅ Take the highest-paying surveys first. If you register with multiple websites, you might receive dozens of surveys to choose from. Take a few minutes to estimate your earnings per hour before you start a survey. You may be able to make more by picking the highest-paying opportunities first.

Best Practice for Taking Paid Online Surveys

Even if a survey site is trustworthy, there are still precautions you should take.

• Use a separate email address. Creating a separate email address for survey offers will keep your work and personal inboxes clear of clutter. Plus, if you stop doing surveys, you can stop checking that email account instead of unsubscribing from a bunch of sites.
• Be mindful of what you share. Good survey companies will keep your individual identity a secret. But that doesn’t make it safe to provide them with your Social Security number, driver’s license number, or bank account numbers. Legitimate survey companies do not need this information.
• Use anti-malware software. Anti-malware software can keep your laptop virus-free. If you visit multiple survey sites per day, it’s important to protect your computer from malicious spyware and viruses.
• Take frequent breaks. Completing surveys can be tedious. Take frequent breaks from your screen so that you’re not tempted to rush through surveys and provide wrong or inconsistent answers.
• Fees and false promises. Any survey site that promises you’ll earn thousands per month is either a scam or at least misleading. Make sure the sites you join make realistic statements about your potential earnings and the amount of time it takes to complete surveys.

Keep Your Expectations Realistic

Paid online surveys are the perfect side hustle for someone looking for an easy gig to do while at home or on the go. If you’re uncomfortable sharing your demographic information or want to earn a high hourly rate, you should consider a different option.

But if you do want to give online surveys a try, be realistic about how much you’ll make. Manage your time wisely so you maximize your earnings, sign up with multiple sites to receive the best opportunities, and research the company before registering.

While there are better ways to make money online , most will require more skill, training, and time than taking surveys for money.

Rating Methodology

With so many options available, it’s hard to know which sites are worth using. We took a look at some of the most popular ones and considered these three important categories to decide which sites to recommend:

1. Track record . Trust was our number one priority when picking a survey site. The best ones maintained a successful history documenting timely payments and positive user reviews.

2. The number of opportunities . When reading reviews of a survey company, we looked for those that mentioned the number of opportunities available. We didn’t want to recommend sites that offer limited opportunities to earn money.

3. Income potential . We tried to get a feel for how well the companies pay for your time. We did that by testing out a few and by reading reviews to see how much they pay.

Related : 20 Money-Making Apps for Earning on the Go

You May Also Like

21 Best Money Making Apps for Earning On the Go

31 Practical Ways to Make $500 Fast

12 Legit Ways to Make Money Watching Videos

5 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Watch Ads

42 Easy Ways to Make Money Fast

29 Best Work From Home Jobs Hiring Now

15 Best Cash Back Apps to Earn Rewards in 2024

20 Best Places to Find Small Task or Micro Jobs

How To Become a Paid Market Research Participant

A job as a market research participant can be a rewarding side-hustle where you can get paid to offer your opinions on products and services.

In this era of online market research, it’s easier than ever to become a participant in research studies. You can often participate from the comfort of your own home using survey apps and websites and receive payments to your PayPal account, or by digital gift card.

In this guide, we present a comprehensive guide for how to become a market research participant and offer tips for how to make the most of this role.

What Does A Market Research Participant Do?

This data is collected by a market research company, is aggregated and anonymized and is then forwarded to its business client(s). These businesses will use this data to improve their existing products, tailor their marketing, and create new products and services.

Your personal data is collected and stored securely by these market research companies, and is never passed on to the end client in raw form, so you don’t have to worry about any breaches in your privacy.

Typically, you’ll participate by answering questions via forms hosted on websites or a mobile apps, although some market research companies conduct in-person user interviews such as focus groups.

How To Become a Market Research Participant: Step-By-Step Guide

This step-by-step guide will show you how to become a market research participant for a company that best suits your personal goals.

Step 1. Determine the type of research you want to participate in

There are different types of consumer research you may want to get involved with.

Online Surveys

Popular survey companies include:

• Branded Surveys – get a $1 joining bonus and cash out your survey earnings with just $5 in your account.
• Tellwut – not only offers you the opportunity to take surveys, but also the ability to create them. Earn gift cards and cash for your efforts.
• Survey Junkie – join 11 million members of this very popular online surveys community.

Focus Groups

Popular focus group companies include:

• Survey Junkie – offers online focus groups in addition to paid surveys. Earn cash rewards for participating.
• LEO Surveys – offers both online and offline focus group sessions. Earn cash or gift cards if you’re seelcted.
• Clear Voice Surveys – is a popular choice for people wanting to participate in focus groups. Visit their website for more details.

Product Testing

Popular product testing companies include:

• Pinecone Research – offers fairly frequent product testing opportunities where you can get paid to test products from your home.
• Opinion Outpost – also provides its users the ability to test products from home (in addition to paid research studies).
• YouGov – is a political polling expert that mainly offers online surveys, with some product tests.

Mobile Survey Apps

Popular companies that offer survey apps include:

• MobileXpression – offers a unique app where you can earn rewards passively by letting the app run your phone’s background. Get a $5 Amazon gift card after just one week.
• Marketagent – offers a slick mobile app which you can use to take surveys. Cash out your earnings via PayPal.
• Swagbucks – has a mobile app where you can participate in a wide variety of activities (taking surveys, watching videos, playing games, shopping, etc.) in exchange for cash and gift cards.

Mystery Shopping

Landing a mystery shopping assignment is by far the most difficult type of side hustle opportunity for a market research participant to get. There are far more applicants than assignments available out there, but if you’re fortunate, you may be selected for an opportunity in your local city.

Popular companies that offer mystery shopping assignments include:

• TGM Panel – offers periodic mystery shopping assignments. Sign up to take surveys and participate periodically to be eligible for mystery shops.
• QuickThoughts – is a mobile app that will connect you with mystery shopping assignments available in your area, in addition to paid survey studies.

It’s important to decide what type of market research you want to participate in when choosing which company to sign up for.

Some companies only offer one type of market research while others will give you the opportunity to take part in several different types of research study projects.

Paid surveys are the most common and convenient type of market research offered, but they also tend to pay the least. Sometimes, you’ll need to build your experience answering surveys for a particular company, before you’re offered the chance to get involved with other more extensive (and better paying) research products, so although not always highly remunerative, being a market research participant in online surveys may lead to bigger things.

Step 2. Determine the type of rewards you want

Different market research companies will reward their participants in different ways.

Typically, you’ll be rewarded in credits for every project you complete, which you can then choose to convert into a reward of your choice.

The most common types of rewards offered are PayPal payments , Amazon gift cards or gift vouchers to other major retailers. However, many companies will pay their research participants via other methods, such by bank transfer, in virtual Visa cards , cryptocurrency (including Bitcoin ) or charity donations.

The best market research participant jobs will offer a wide variety of options for rewarding their members, or will offer rewards that are actually useful (like cash, vs a magazine subscription). It’s also important to take note of the speed at which rewards are issued. Some inferior companies take weeks to issue payments after claimed. Still others will require you to reach a high threshold of credits before they pay out.

Companies offering unique rewards:

• SuperPay.me offers a super-low cash out minimum of $1.00 and a $0.20 joining bonus.
• PrizeRebel offers hundreds of different rewards options ranging from cash options to gift cards.
• MySoapBox offers payment in Bitcoin or via gift cards from tons of different retailers.

Step 3. Choose the most relevant market research company

Some smaller companies don’t have enough clients to offer as many projects as their participants would like, so it may take longer to earn your first payment.

It’s recommended to choose a company based in your home country, as these will often have more clients looking for opinions from people living there.

There are international companies accepting members from all over the world, but these will usually also mostly be looking for opinions from specific countries.

Refer to our country-specific list of survey sites that will connect you with market research companies available in your area.

Step 4. Get started

The registration process for becoming a participant with an online market research company is a simple process that typically only takes a few minutes. To start, you’ll be asked for your email address, date of birth and your address. Some companies allow you to enter more details about yourself in your profile, which can help you become eligible for more projects.

Once you’re signed up, you’ll be able to start applying for projects and earning credits straight away. Log in to your account to find a list of opportunities available to you, or wait to be invited to projects via e-mail.

Happy surveying!

Related posts:

• Paid Survey Panelist Tips and Tricks
• Best Survey Sites for 2023
• How to Find the Best Survey Sites

You may also like

Why Paid Survey Panels Close and Merge

Branded Surveys Launches Improved Referral Program

How Your Feedback Influences Fashion, Food, and Pop...

Online Survey Jobs in Nigeria

Paid Surveys Around the World

Artificial Intelligence and Survey Experience...

About the author.

SurveyPolice

SurveyPolice.com is the world's largest online survey reviews website. For over 15 years we have provided ratings on top online survey panels. Compare the best online survey websites and see which are worth joining!

» Find paid online survey sites available in your area «

Leave a Comment X

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Online Focus Groups: 27 Paid Research Companies that Pay Up to $250 an Hour for Your Opinion

I recently participated in a paid focus group in San Francisco. You know, the kind with the one-way mirror on the wall.

We talked about travel habits and preferences for an hour and half, and I got paid $150 for my time and opinions. Not bad!

The whole thing was pretty quick and painless—and actually kind of interesting—which got me thinking that this could be a great side hustle . Especially if I could do it from home!

So down the rabbit hole I went, trying to find other companies that conduct paid research studies online .

And I should note before we get started that these aren’t the typical companies that pop up when you search for “online surveys.” Those companies, like Swagbucks and  InboxDollars , are legit, but pay relatively little .

The companies I was after here were the ones that pay bigger sums to make it more worth your time. I earned $100 an hour for my little focus group adventure, and you can too.

Earn $50-150/hr, with thousands of new studies added each month.

Earn an average of $75 per project, and get notified of upcoming studies you may qualify for.

Patients and caregivers can earn $120/hour while helping advance medical research.

1. User Interviews

2. respondent, 3. rare patient voice, 4. survey junkie, too many choices, 5. product report card, 6. lightster, 7. pingpong, 8. fieldwork, 10. experience dynamics, 11. american consumer opinion, 12. l&e opinions, 13. focusgroups.org, 14. findfocusgroups.com, 15. sis international, 16. surveyfeeds, 17. recruit and field, 18. focusgroup.com, 19. field voices, 20. probe market research, 22. glg insights, 24. watchlab, 25. mindswarms, 26. 20|20 panel, 27. focus insite, other online focus group and paid research study options, online focus groups alternatives, market research groups: your turn, serious about making extra money, frequently asked questions.

User Interviews facilitates in-person and online consumer conversations about products, websites, and services. The pay rates vary, but the average seems to be around $50-100 an hour.

I’ve earned $105 through the site so far, in exchange for about an hour a half.

In one of my studies, I earned a $10 Amazon gift card for completing a short online survey for bald guys! It said it should take 15 minutes, but all the questions were straight yes/no, so it probably only took 5.

User Interviews is a legit facilitator of online (and in-person) consumer research studies. Participants can get paid (generally $50-150/hr) to share their opinion and shape future products and services. While this won’t replace your day job, it can be a nice supplemental income.

• One of the best-paying survey companies I've found.
• Easy to sign-up.
• Lots of new studies added every week.
• Can be difficult to get selected.

Click here to join User Interviews .

Or check out our full User Interviews review .

Respondent is a cool service that facilitates consumer research studies online—and often pays $100+ an hour !

Once you create your account, you’ll be able to browse all the open studies you might qualify for. The research brief shares the type of person the company is looking to connect with, the expected time commitment, and pay rate .

If it looks like a fit, answer the brief screener questionnaire to throw your hat in the ring. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get selected right away—I’ve been selected for 5 studies out of 50 screeners so far.

While there are some “general population” studies, the best-paying opportunities are for industry professionals— up to $750 an hour!

The company takes a 5% processing fee, but the rest of the funds you earn will hit your PayPal account within 8-10 days of your study. (I’ve earned $395 through Respondent so far! )

Click here to join Respondent .

Read our full Respondent.io review here .

(Since recording, I’ve done a couple more studies.)

A leading source for medical research, Rare Patient Voice pays patients and caregivers $120 an hour. You can browse a full list of available studies on their site—nearly all of which are phone or webcam interviews.

If you suffer from any sort of medical condition (even if it’s not super rare), this one is worth a look.

The site is open to residents of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.

While most Survey Junkie earning opportunities don’t pay much, you’ll occasionally get emails for better-paying focus group and product testing studies.

These admittedly are pretty rare, but pay up to $75.

Still, power users of the regular Survey Junkie site/app report earning up to $40 a month. 

Super popular survey app that rewards you for sharing your opinion.

The site boasts more than 20 million members and pays out more than $1 million every month.

Click here to sign up for Survey Junkie .

Start here instead. Punch in your name and email below I'll show you step-by-step how to add $500 to your bottom line.

Join the Free 5-Day $500 Challenge

You're in! Want to supercharge your challenge? Grab the companion workbook and earn $125 more (on average).

You'll also receive my best side hustle tips and weekly-ish newsletter. Opt-out anytime.

Another well-established market research company is Product Report Card . They offer paid surveys, product testing and review gigs, and online focus groups.

The best-paying work is for in-home product tests and remote interviews and focus groups — often in the $75-$150/hour range.

Product Report Card will also give you a $5 welcome bonus for completing a short survey after you join. There’s a $25 minimum to cash-out.

Lightster is a unique money making app , where you get matched with brands and researchers based on your profile.

To get started, you’ll add some demographic information about yourself and answer some questions about your experience and interests.

After that, you may see some questions pop up in the app. Answer those to qualify for paid research conversations that pay $1 per minute.

I got invited to my first half hour session within a couple weeks of downloading the app, and got paid (via Amazon gift card) right away.

I was excited to discover PingPong as a newcomer to the online market research field. The service specializes in user experience testing for apps and websites, with pay rates ranging between €10 and €100 an hour. (Roughly $11-110.)

You might be curious—with the rates in euros—if this one is open to non-Europeans. PingPong let me join as an American and says they welcome testers from all over the world.

Since joining, I’ve received invites to several studies but haven’t been able to book one just yet.

Fieldwork was the company that hosted the San Francisco focus group I participated in. They have locations throughout the US:

• Los Angeles (Orange County)
• Minneapolis
• San Francisco

Compensation starts at $75 for participating in focus groups, which usually last between 1-2 hours. The drawback was I got paid in Visa gift cards instead of cash, so I went to the grocery store and bought Amazon gift cards with them instead.

Maven is a unique on-demand consulting platform. You can set your own rates to participate in one-off expert interviews, paid market research studies, and online industry surveys.

(Experts can also get hired for longer-term consulting projects, as well.)

Maven has been around since 2008, and routinely has projects paying anywhere from $25-$500+. 

Experience Dynamics specializes in user experience and user interface testing (UX and UI). Corporate clients pay Experience Dynamics to help “make their users smile,” and they turn around and pay people like you for honest feedback on website designs and software applications.

According to the site, they recruit testers worldwide with all levels of technology experience. Most studies pay between $50-$150 dollars.

Experience Dynamics also facilitates:

• Field Studies, 1-2 hour interviews at your home or work
• Diary Studies, where you record your thoughts over 1-2 weeks
• Phone Interviews
• Online Focus Groups
• Online Surveys

American Consumer Opinion is another market research company where you can qualify for several surveys a year.

Annoyingly, they insist on using their own “virtual currency” point system. Still, you can earn up to $50 worth of points for longer market research surveys.

There’s a $10 minimum to cash out and you can deposit your earnings directly into PayPal. To give you an incentive to complete the low-paying screener surveys, American Consumer Opinion will add your name to a monthly $50 drawing .

On L&E Opinions , I found nationwide studies paying $125-250.  The company has been in business over 30 years and pays out millions of dollars in research incentives every year.

FocusGroups.org is an aggregator service that lists focus groups and paid research opportunities around the country. When I registered, I saw online focus group options that paid anywhere from $75 to $625!

Topics included pets, hygiene, cooking, luxury cars, and lots more. There are some handy filters you can use to select only online or “National” studies.

Another site that pulls in lots of different paid studies, FindFocusGroups.com was a great find. 

At press time, they had the best-looking interface of most of these sites, but hadn’t been updated in several months.

When I checked, the compensation for these ranged from $50 to $200.

Through “compensated interviews” and focus groups, SIS helps brands figure out direction for their products. You’ll have to register for their database to get notified about upcoming paid studies.

I found rates from $25-200, depending on the time required and complexity of the topic. SIS recruits participants from all around the world, not just the US.

Similar to FindFocusGroups above, SurveyFeeds isn’t a market research company itself, but instead a promising “feed” of paid survey opportunities.

I found their Facebook page updated more frequently than their website, so it might be worthwhile to check there and see what you might qualify for.

The online studies I saw ranged from $75 to $300 .

Recruit and Field is one of the longest-running national market research companies. Since 1977, they’ve built up a participant database of over 300,000 consumers, business leaders, and medical professionals.

The company works with lots of name-brand clients and typically pays $100-275 for in-person and online surveys.

I recently earned $250 for a 1-hour call about business banking!

FocusGroup.com offers nationwide paid research opportunities. (The site is powered by Sago, a leading market research company.)

Be on the lookout for the “National” studies that pay between $75 and $200 . These are scheduled over the phone or webcam so you can take the calls from anywhere at times that are convenient to you.

It took a while, but I eventually earned $115 for an online study related to a well-known Seattle-area company.

The next one I did was an hour-long online focus group on credit cards that paid $100.

Other studies I saw were  related to cars, technology, and banking.

I receive a few email notifications every month with studies. Those range from around $2 for 20-minute surveys, up to $150 for 90-minute in-person or online focus groups.

Check out my full FocusGroup.com review to learn more.

When I checked out Field Voices , I found a couple available studies to apply for. One was a neighborhood improvement interview that paid $150 for one hour, and the other was a group workshop on snacking habits that paid $300!

This firm works directly with companies as well, which means they’re not just pulling together lists of other research projects.

Consumers, medical professionals, and executives are in demand for Probe Market Research’s panels. Focus groups pay between $50 and $400, and you can often participate online or over the phone.

Major brands enlist Probe to conduct online surveys, mystery shopping gigs , mock juries, product trials, and more .

The popular and well-rated dscout app connects you with “engaging research missions.” Through those, you can get paid to share your feedback on a product or service.

Typical studies pay anywhere from $2 to $100 , paid out via PayPal. The biggest complaints from users are that the often in-depth screener surveys are unpaid.

Less of a market research firm and more of a consulting marketplace, GLG Insights aims to match you up with their clients looking for industry-specific expertise. Request to become a “Council Member” to get notified when relevant paid studies are available.

On GLG, you’ll be asked to connect your LinkedIn profile and upload a resume (or link to an online resume) to verify your career credentials. You can also name your own consulting rate — usually $100-150 and up .

After that, I answered a series of ethics questions based on GLG’s terms and conditions.

Since 2007, Zintro has been connecting researchers with industry experts. According to the site, the vast majority Zintro’s consulting and online focus groups pay between $150 and $300 per hour.

Popular industries include:

• Software and tech
• Banking and finance
• Healthcare and insurance
• E-commerce and retail
• Travel and hospitality
• and lots more

It’s free to set up your expert profile and start to get invited for calls.

WatchLab has an obnoxiously inadequate website, but they claim to facilitate all sorts of focus groups, usability tests, interviews, mock juries, and more.

The pay varies depending on the research, and may be in the form of gift cards or cash. I saw ranges from $100 to $175 for 1-2 hour focus groups. WatchLab has locations in San Francisco and Chicago, as well as online options.

For in-person focus groups, you get paid on the spot — online may take 4-6 weeks.

Mindswarms is a unique video consumer research platform. They’ll pay you $50 via PayPal to answer 10 questions about a product or service.

These studies normally take around 10 minutes and can be recorded via your webcam or smartphone, but competition to get selected can be fierce.

To create your account you’ll need to record a 60-second video about one of your passions. Or you can do this through the Mindswarms app on iOS or Android .

Earn $50-150 for online focus groups and studies. While the website doesn’t necessarily inspire confidence, 20|20 Panel has been around for over 30 years.

I found several online focus groups paying $50-200 on Focus Insite . The company popped up in my Instagram feed, a signal they’re actively recruiting new participants.

You can join their panel database as a medical, technical, or business professional, or just as a general consumer. Alternatively, you can apply directly to the available market research studies listed.

The companies listed above certainly aren’t the only research companies around, and for this side hustle, it makes sense to join as many firms as you’re comfortable with.

That way, you’re presented with all the opportunities available, not just the projects managed by one company.

Here are a few more to consider:

• Prolific  — When academic and research institutions need opinions from the general population, they turn to Prolific. The pay is a bit lower — often in the $8-15/hr range — but in my Prolific review , I found plenty of quick and easy surveys available, and you can cash out to PayPal.
• Ascendency Research — On average, studies pay $60-350. Many are local to the Twin Cities, MN, but they have some national studies, too.
• Elliott Benson — Conducting paid market research since 1995.
• PRC Market Research — You can browse upcoming projects (and their pay rate) before registering. Most studies pay $100-300/hour.
• NewtonX — Strictly for industry professionals to share their insight and get paid.
• UserTesting – Earn $10 for completing 20-minute online user tests of websites, apps, shopping portals, and more. This is pretty fun but you have to be fast because these tests get snatched up quickly.
• Pulse Labs – Earn up to $100 a week providing video feedback on products.
• Intellizoom – Get paid an average of $10 testing and reviewing websites.
• UserBrain – Receive new websites to test every week, and earn $5 for each 5-15 minute test.
• Google User Experience – Google pays gift cards for feedback on their products.
• Nelson Recruiting — Nationwide market research company established in 1980.
• Marketade – Specializes in remote usability testing, market validation, navigation research, and more.
• Engage Studies – Earn as much as $100 per focus group through this research company.
• Tell Us Your Opinion – Mainly operating in Tulsa but may have online/phone opportunities as well.
• Adler Weiner Research – In-person studies in Chicagoland and Southern California, plus remote studies nationwide.
• Advanced Focus – Hosts market research panels and focus groups in New York City.
• Nichols Research – Get paid to participate in in-person focus groups, primarily in Northern California.
• Herron Associates — In-person studies in Indianapolis, IN and Tampa, FL.
• PrizeRebel – Earn $10-12 an hour doing surveys or completing other tasks. (Just avoid the low-paying ones.)

As with any side hustle, there’s an opportunity cost. As in, what else could you be doing with your time?

I encourage you to check out our monster list of side hustle ideas , but here are a few that are similarly flexible.

Become a Bookkeeper

One of the first jobs that many companies hire out is “someone to keep the books.” If you have experience in this field, or just love numbers, becoming a remote bookkeeper could way to make extra money.

Most businesses don’t need a full-time bookkeeper so they’re open to hiring someone part-time. Most virtual bookkeepers charge $100-300 per client per month.

Network with business owners locally or online and let them know about your service. It might make sense to check out this  free training on how to start a remote bookkeeping business .

Alternative Investments

If you’re after passive income , you might consider adding some alternative investments .

For example,  Fundrise  allows you to invest in professionally-vetted commercial real estate. This spreads your risk around with properties in multiple geographical locations–and minimums as low as $10 .

Disclosure: I’ve been a Fundrise investor since 2015, and earn a commission when you join through my referral link. Opinions are my own.

Resell Furniture Returns

Reselling furniture returns is a unique low-risk side hustle .

How it works is you join Sharetown as a local “reverse logistics” rep. Sharetown partners with direct-to-consumer mattress and furniture brands to handle their return requests.

When customers decide they don’t want to keep the item, you’ll get dispatched to go pick it up. After that, you’ll:

• clean it up
• photograph it
• list it for resale on sites like Facebook Marketplace

The Sharetown reps I’ve connected with target $150-250 per flip — and, importantly — you don’t have to pay Sharetown for the inventory until the item sells.

Check out my full Sharetown review to learn more.

Sharetown reps make money by reselling gently-used furniture and bed-in-a-box mattresses. Top reps earn $4000+ per month.

• Low startup costs
• Great earning power
• No hunting for inventory
• Requires a truck or SUV
• Bulky items to store
• Not available in all areas

Mobile Notary Service

Becoming a mobile notary loan signing agent is one of the most popular gigs among the Side Hustle Nation community. The flexible, part-time side hustle involves walking new homeowners through their stack of mortgage documents.

Appointments typically take around an hour and pay $75-150.

One big drawback to focus groups or online surveys is you’re limited in how much you can earn. It’s a great side hustle, but it’ll never be a full-time income.

Focus groups or paid research studies won’t pay your mortgage, but one or two a month will definitely help build your side hustle snowball .

Have you had any success in landing paid focus group studies? What do you think of this little supplemental side hustle?

Let me know in the comments below!

• Start Your Free $500 Challenge . My free 5-day email course shows you how to add $500 to your bottom line.
• Join the free Side Hustle Nation Community . The free Facebook group is the best place to connect with other side hustlers and get your questions answered.
• Download The Side Hustle Show . My free podcast shares how to make extra money with actionable weekly episodes.

The award-winning Side Hustle Show is a Top 10 Entrepreneurship podcast with over 1,200 5-star ratings!

Listen in your favorite podcast app or directly in your browser.

Is there such thing as an online focus group?

Yes! Several companies facilitate online consumer research focus groups, which is great because that means you can earn money from the comfort of your home or office. Check out our full list to learn more.

How much do focus groups pay?

The pay for focus groups depends on how long the session lasts. Most commonly, you’ll find rates average around $100 an hour.

Where can I find legit paid focus groups?

Companies like Respondent, Fieldwork, and FocusGroup.com are all legit facilitators of paid focus groups. Or, for the best results, you might try an aggregator service like FindFocusGroups.com, which pools together focus group opportunities from several sources. Be sure to check the list of providers on Side Hustle Nation as well.

How do online focus groups work?

Online focus groups work either via conference call or more commonly, through a group video chat to more closely mimic the in-person experience. A moderator will lead the group discussion and participants can chime in through their webcam and computer microphone or phone line.

********* Stock photo  by Akhenaton Images via Shutterstock

Like That? There's More!

Join the 100,000 who get my best stuff via email.

I'll also send you my free guide: The 5 Fastest Ways to Make More Money .

You're in! Make sure to check your email (including spam/promotions) for your free welcome gift.

About the Author

Nick Loper is a side hustle expert who loves helping people earn more money and start businesses they care about. He hosts the award-winning Side Hustle Show, where he's interviewed over 500 successful entrepreneurs, and is the bestselling author of Buy Buttons , The Side Hustle , and $1,000 100 Ways .

His work has been featured in The New York Times, Entrepreneur, Forbes, TIME, Newsweek, Business Insider, MSN, Yahoo Finance, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Financial Times, Bankrate, Hubspot, Ahrefs, Shopify, Investopedia, VICE, Vox, Mashable, ChooseFI, Bigger Pockets, The Penny Hoarder, GoBankingRates, and more.

58 thoughts on “Online Focus Groups: 27 Paid Research Companies that Pay Up to $250 an Hour for Your Opinion”

Nice job, Nick! I have only ever been able to score low paying “mystery shopper” gigs. I get a free meal and $15 or $20 for my trouble. It usually takes about an hour, so am making $15 – $20 per hour. I have repeatedly mystery shopped a “Roy Rogers” restaurant that is on the NYS thruway. Almost every time I have had to travel to or from my daughter’s college campus I have been able to get a free meal, $10 or $15, and a portion of my tolls paid. I wouldn’t make the effort except that I am already driving by and there is a good chance that I would need a bathroom break anyway. Everybody wins. :>) I will be checking on a couple of the sites you provided to see if there is anything I qualify for.

Thanks Kevin. I’ve been half-heartedly attempting to find a mystery shopping expert to school me on how it really works :)

Hi Nick – If you are still reading these comments, I hope you will remove User Interviews from your list. After reading your article, I applied with them and was excited at first, but they have a serious flaw. They do not screen what the companies post for the surveys. First you have to take a questionnaire to see if you will be selected for the survey. Time after time you spend time answering the flawed questionnaire, and then not being selected, probably because of being forced to complete an answer that is not correct. Here’s an example that I just sent to Tabitha at User Interviews:

“I was applying for the Medical Injectibles survey, and the first several questions went well. Then there was the question “Do you care for a child with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?” with the options of yes or no. I checked no, and I cannot imagine there are vast numbers of people who would have been able to check yes.

The next question was required, and it asked for the age of the person I care for, and had a box, also required, asking for the required medications.

Why was I prompted with that question when I had answered no?”

So that was yet another questionnaire that was flawed that completely wasted my time because I could not proceed. I have asked them to remove me from all further communication as I want nothing to do with them anymore, and I honestly don’t think you should be recommending them.

Hmm sorry for the trouble, Balinda. I agree, their conditional logic on the screener surveys could be better — or they could just advance to a “thanks but you’re not a fit” page. When those types of funky follow-up questions happen for me, I just back out and go back to the list since it’s clear I’m not going to qualify.

Nick, this list is AWESOME! I’ve been using User Interviews for about a month and a half and it seems like I hardly ever get selected for any of the surveys. In fact, I’ve only been selected for 1 so far (which literally took 10 minutes and I got a $30 Amazon gift card) and the second one I got approved for, by the time I got around to actually confirming my spot that evening, it was already fully booked up! I’m wondering with all the different options available if it would be feasible to make some decent side money – assuming the time commitment doesn’t get overwhelming. I’m gonna dig into this a little I think and see what I can come up with.

Hey Kyle, I hope you found some good “side jobs.” You mentioned that you used user interviews and only got 1 job. I’m so surprised by that. I have been using them for a few months and I have made a good bit of money. I had a 20 minute telephone survey and was paid $150! I had another that was in person. They came to my apt (they originally said to see my wardrobe in closet, but never did) they interviewed me on camera for about 10-15 minutes and then we went to a clothing store! They asked me if I liked the store, clothes, etc. In all I was with them about an hour. I got $350! I could have made another $100 for doing “homework,” but I was too busy. That’s just 2 of jobs I had from them. Anyway, I just wanted you to know, bcuz you should keep trying with them. I plan on hitting all these new ones, thanks to Nick! Good Luck!

It’s funny you bring this topic up. I LITERALLY started signing up for focus groups last Monday (going on two weeks) and I’ve already made $650. Most have came from respondent. I also signed up for the Reddit r/paidstudy group as well as the cool work ideas.com FB which posts multiple studies a day. I’m loving it so far!

Hi Nick, I’ve been using ACOP for a few years now it does take a long time to gather up money. I usually wait till I get up around $50 or so to cash in. The problem I find is it takes two to three months for it to show up in my Pay Pal account, very slow turn around.

Nick, I’ve been doing these for several years. I probably average about $1,000 per year doing these. This a great comprehensive list!

I tried Mindswarms. I had no trouble creating a profile video (though it really does not flatter me, nor had I trouble applying for studies. However, I have been on there for over a month, and I have been rejected for every. Single. Study. Besides that, they do not ever bother telling me, or giving me helpful suggestions. Their FAQ section is so useless as to be counterproductive. And I suspect that my mind and my interests are not average enough to make Mindswarms (or online studies/surveys in general) worth my while.

Here is a good rule of thumb: if you prefer the musical works of Vasily Kalinnikov (or just know who Vasily Kalinnikov was) over “Lady” Gaga, do not bother with surveys. Only the most average individuals with the most average minds can succeed with this rubbish. Or so my experiences would indicate.

Actually, the opposite is true. just regular surveys do kind of suck. However, the focus groups and interviews and so forth, all the ones that I’ve actually gotten into have been because I’m weird or different. That’s why so many people get declined. They look for people who don’t conform, mostly because they’re looking for new and innovative ideas. Why would you research the monotonous and mundane?

Thanks so much for the information. I signed up on Respondent today and have a 71% match on 1 survey. We’ll see how it goes.

I just tried to sign up with Respondent, and probably I’m the only one in the world with this problem of not having any social media sites. They want to verify your work on LinkedIn or your FB profile. I don’t have a FB account nor do I have a LinkedIn account. I know, I must be living in a cave, but the work I do does not allow me to use social media. What to do? I guess Respondent is out. Bummer.

This is pretty much the same for me too, Shari. Even if I had an account on social media I would only have my family and close friends on it. I wouldn’t want to give some site access. I also ran into one (can’t remember the name) where they wanted you to upload a video of yourself in order to get the surveys. I am also not comfortable with that. I’ve signed up with all that was listed above. We’ll see how it goes. Good luck to you!

Since I haven’t seen it noted in the comments or main blog anywhere I just wanted to put it out there that technically if you make over $600 with any single company like this they are supposed to issue a 1099 for your payouts. Normally if you accumulate that much over a year they may not bother BUT I was lucky enough to get into a study that paid $875 which immediately put me over that threshold. So then they issued a 1099 for all my earnings from them in that year. That hurt at tax time. This year I’m going to spread it out over as many companies as I can to hopefull get a lot but no single one over $600. And if you are lucky enough to get into a single high paying study, keep the tax implication in mind.

Very nice blog post. Thanks for sharing. On respondent I made $30 today. Not bad!

Thanks Nick, this list is AWESOME! I’ve been doing surveys and focus groups for about a year. I’ve had some great paying, easy jobs. I’ve also spent, what felt like like forever, time trying to qualify for them to no avail. However, from my experience, I can definitely say not to give up! Surveys are time consuming with little pay, for the most part. Focus groups, interviews, etc., is where the money is! I have been looking for more sites and you just gave me a bunch! I am gonna try them all! Keep the info coming! Thanks again!

I’m wondering if the earning need to be claimed on our taxes? Is there a record that we are being paid? Do these companies ask for any personal information? Thanks

Try Jackson/Adept in Los Angeles. They have a Beverly Hills and Encino location.

Here are Metro Detroit Focus Groups and my reviews of them

Morpace Inc. 31700 Middlebelt Road Suite 200 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 Phone: (248) 737-5300 http://www.morpace.com Pays $80-$250 Focus Group Surveys (In Person). If they over fill the group which happened to me on one occassion then you get paid instantly without doing the survey. They pay by check or cash after the 1-2 hour in person survey. They offer surveys 1-2 times a year.

Shifrin Hayworth 26400 Lahser Rd #430, Southfield, MI 48033 Phone: (248) 223-0020 https://www.shifrin-hayworth.com/ Pays $50-$300 Focus Group Surveys (In Person). They pay by check or cash in person after the 1-2 hour survey. They offer surveys about 1-2 times a year.

I recently learned that you can only participate in 1 survey every 6 months which is why after being asked if you’ve done one recently you get disqualified.

I just did a study for them last week. They promised a $200 virtual gift card within 48 hours but it’s been a week and still nothing. They’ve stopped answering my emails and I can’t find a phone number for them, which seems pretty shady.

Did they ever get back to you/pay you?

So I have had really good luck with a lot of these companies you listed. I am a stay at home mom have been looking into all this and actively participating for about 6 weeks and made over 3000 dollars I have made 630 dollars on users interviews, 585 on respondents, 310 on user testing, 270 on validately usability studies , 250 on 20/20 panel, about 140 on intellizoom/ what users do Usability studies, 90 dollars on TrymyUI, and 50 on ping pong research. I have also made 375 dolars from focus point global. plus more companies that i got under 20 each from so there is money to be made here if you invest the time. I have done one on one studies with a web cam, phone interviews, product testing (shampoos, and even new cereal), online diary studies (usually about things you eat), and lots of usability studies. the key is knowing how to answer the screener questions. Thank you so much for your list I am going to check out the companies I have not uses yet

Whoa that’s awesome Casondra – thanks for sharing!

Hi Nick-I just found this post and thank you for “heads up”… I’m writing to share with you two top performers here in Seattle for in-person focus groups. In-Sight Space and Fieldwork / Seattle.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have had a few gigs with each of these company’s who conduct only focus groups. Most of the time the pay is cash on the spot and the groups range from 45 minutes to 2 hours. These two company’s have frequent remarkably high-paying gigs. It’s fairly common to attend a 90 minute focus group that pays anywhere from 150.00 – 350.00. On occasion I’ve landed one of their mock jury groups, sometimes held at one of Seattle’s finest hotels and lasts close to 8 hours. These mock jury groups have paid me between 300.00 to 550.00 for the gig and always provide a catered breakfast and lunch. Again, thanks for sharing your information and I hope you’re able to use my information and experience to help others.

Sincerely, Jason B.

Nice, Jason — thanks for sharing!

I’m registered with two companies for focus group and mock jury participation. I’ve done both and found them enjoyable and worthwhile. Usually payment was cash. One time it was a VISA gift card. The mock juries required more hours than the focus groups. One was Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Saturday evening. My experience has been food and beverages were provided when the event was more than 3 hours.

Participants were usually limited to one event in 6 months.

I’ve seen a large dropoff in opportunities since I reached a certain age. Sigh.

Very occasionally the local newspaper has a classified ad for focus group participants.

I need the mock jury site

Ok…I see several people are interested in Mystery Shopping so I thought I’d share a little info. I have done a lot of mystery shopping in the past and love it. Not amazing money but interesting and I enjoyed it. So…here are a few sites to start with…I hope this is OK…I see a few people said they would send information, but a lot of others requested info and I don’t know if they got what they needed. I hope this helps. So…first… this is the official website of the Mystery Shopping Professionals Association…it has a ton of good info and resources https://www.mspa-global.org/index.html Work available always depends on the type of job you are interested in and where you are located so the best companies to work with will vary for different people. Here are some other resources that may help… https://www.mysteryshopperjobfinder.com/members/resources/mspa-interview/ https://www.mysteryshopforum.com/ https://www.mysteryshoppermagazine.com/?source=forum-top-discussions and last but not least… https://www.shadowshopper.com Shadow Shopper…the first thing that pops up when you google Shadow Shopper will be scam alerts. I’m here to tell you it is not a scam. I have used them for years off and on. They do have a fee option, and to get anywhere, you probably will want to use it at least for a short time. But a lot of job boards charge a small fee. Basically it is where companies post work that they need to get done and shoppers go to find work. It’s a great way to see what is available in your area and skill set and interest and sign up with those companies offering that work. You can go out on your own and start just looking into shopping sites, but that sign up processing can be lengthy and if you pick one that doesn’t offer work in your area or jobs you want, you have wasted time and effort. Once you sign up with a few companies that you’ve found on Shadow Shopper, move on until you want to look for more. No need to keep your subscription if you have the work your want. Just my suggestion, but it has landed me several really good opportunities. One lasted years and was around made me around $2000/yr. Oh…and if you are wanting a list of companies…go here… it’s a tedious process to choose, but it’s an option… https://www.mysteryshopforum.com/companies/ Good luck and enjoy :)

Thank you Anna!

I’ve used Focus Pointe Global and Schlesinger in the Boston area for years. I’ve made really good money with them ($75-200 per session). People seem to over-estimate how difficult this all is. Sign up in the database, fill out a survey if you get an e-mail, if you pre-qualify for a study they call you to screen you again, you either qualify or you don’t on that phone call. If you’re picked, you go to their office and sit with the other people picked and just give your opinion for about 90 minutes. The hardest part for me is fighting traffic to get to the office in the city. These focus groups have been a lifesaver for me in periods of unemployment.

Will you get called every week about a survey? No, you definitely won’t, maybe not every month either. But if you sign up with 5-10 companies your chances of getting picked go up. And I agree that sites like Swagbucks are more or less a waste of time. It’s very small money.

Everyone is asking: How do I join? You have to go to the companies website and sign up for the panel (“Join the Panel”) and then wait. Also, the bigger companies post surveys on their Facebook pages so sign up for their notifications.

I do the best with Respondent, User Interviews and UTest.com. Also check out Affectiva’s job listings if you’re in the Boston area. I’ve made a lot helping to test out their automotive AI.

I have been doing focus groups online for prob 3 years or so. I have done a lot of them with watchlab and user interviews. Also accelerant research is a good one. Field work is another I’ve done them with. I’m sure there is more that I’ve used but i gotta tell u that these have been a life saver for me at times. I most recently did one that paid $400 which is the most I’ve made. I am signed up and in the databases of all that u listed plus a few others like accelerant research. Oh yeah another great place is Elliot Benson research.

Thanks for sharing Shelley!

you might try Mturk if you money to pay…

Great job on this article! I’ve been doing focus groups for many years. Probably made about $2,000 or so altogether.

I’d also recommend instapanel. I’ve been using them for several years to complete video surveys. They pay $20 for about 5-10 minutes of work. Here’s a link: https://instapanel.com/ .

I work for one of the market research companies that hire these focus group facilities/recruiters to get us the research we need. For in person focus groups (in facility) you can expect to get paid around $100 per hour, and more expensive if you’re in a specialty group (certain ailments, professionals such as tech). For online focus groups they run around $75 per hour.

If you want to know the panels to join around your area to join focus groups, I’d recommend going on Green Book (for research) and search on recruiters or facility around your neighborhood. This is where researchers go to find panels to do research with and you’ll get more opportunities with the facilities/recruiters there.

I don’t recommend online surveys bc you might terminate out of many surveys before you complete one and they won’t pay you more than $5 for one, and that’s on the rare end. Hope this helps!

Appreciate the insight — thanks Michelle!

I love love love all the great information I just obtained by reading your blog. OMG ! If anyone has any leads for Indiana specifically please let me know. I know of Herron Associates does a lot of research focus groups. Just go to their website and sign up. Ive done a few for them in the past and made anywhere from $50-150 for about an hour or so in person focus group. I think those are great and very interesting. If anyone wants to contact me to give me some tips on the mystery shopping I’d greatly appreciate it. TIA ( Thanks in Advance) Carrie

Thanks a bunch for the informative post! I signed up for several of the ones you have on this list and already got selected for a study. Just curious – most of the prescreen questions ask if you’ve recently participated in a study. If you have (I’ll fall into this bucket once I complete the study I just got picked for), does that greatly reduce your chances of being selected for another one?

Hi, are any of these open to people under 18?

All clinical trials are for ages 18-99.

Amalia, I apologize. I read your question to quickly & transposed the numbers. I thought you said 81.I’m rarely asked to prove my age, but they may have some way of checking. Product reviews are open to 16+, I believe. I’ve never had to show my ID online, only when I do things in person. Obviously medical care you’d show your ID.

Withpower.com is a great website to checkout medical trials. There are all sorts & bonus if you need medical care & don’t have the money to pay for it. Some just monitor or interview you…all the way up to getting medicated treatment for your condition. I even saw dental work on there.

Every clinical research compensated me for my time & travel. It’s always paid out very well for me & it’s definitely worth the time. I got $365 for downloading an app on my phone that I recorded how long I slept the night before.They sent a little survey with 4 questions every day to the app & I told them what time I went to bed, did I wake up during the night, how long did it take me to get back to sleep, and what time I woke up. I got paid in intervals at week 2, 6, 10, & 14. Super easy money.

I’m on #4 of this list now. User interviews has been fair to me. I’ve seen product reviews, online, and focus groups on there. If they let you know that you are qualified, act quickly!

Clinical research & focus groups are my favorite. I used to like doing product reviews & I still do. But once you really start getting into it, the rewards get better & better. Thank you so much, Nick. Yes, I referred you when signing up. You deserve it.

Hi Nick, this is a great job.

Many of these websites do not authorize participants from Nigeria and Africa. They have country-based restrictions. It sucks.

I have a master’s degree in business administration. I have a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. I have a postgraduate diploma in economics, a postgraduate diploma in education and a professional diploma in early childhood education. I have a CEFR Level C1 in IELTS exam. I have done some surveys in my country, Nigeria and I performed well.

What survey sites do you recommend that do not have country-based restrictions? I am really curious Nick.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Usually hustling, occasionally social.

The Company About Contact Books Advertise Media 4580 Klahanie Dr SE #155 Sammamish, WA 98029 925-365-6671

Free Resources Blog Community $500 Challenge Personalized Playlists Side Hustle Quiz

The Fine Print Terms of Use Privacy How We Make Money CCPA Do Not Sell My Personal Information As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Login Register

Access The Best Online Paid Surveys

Surveys are a great way to earn extra money, for just saying what your opinions are., great for stay-at-home moms, students, and anyone who wants to be paid for their opinion.

Create a free JoinSurveys account.

Access our list of surveys, and register for the ones that you're interested in.

Start taking surveys! You'll get paid for the surveys you complete.

Let's Take Surveys Online!

Date of birth.

By registering, I agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . I agree to receive emails from JoinSurveys, of which I can unsubscribe at any time.

How Surveys Work

Register for your free JoinSurveys.com account.

Access our list of Paid Surveys, and register for the ones that interest you.

Begin taking surveys immediately, earning cash and rewards for each one that you complete.

Read our tips after you register for how paid surveys work, and how you can make extra money for giving your opinions.

Check your email for new paid survey and market research opportunities from JoinSurveys.

How Can This Be Real?

Companies are willing to pay for your honest opinions. Take online paid surveys where you'll get cash or rewards in exchange for your thoughts.

There are many paid survey sites where you can find surveys, market research, focus groups, and online panels.

JoinSurveys is completely FREE to join, and we'll show you how to begin taking surveys immediately.

Is This a "Get Rich Quick" Program?

No. You will earn various rewards from the survey websites we offer to you. Some rewards are gift cards, points, and even cash. It's not meant to be a job. Surveys pay out various rates, typically from $1 to the higher end of $25. It all depends on the survey project, time involved, and many other factors. Surveys are a great way to earn a little extra spending money, and they are no way intended to replace a typical working job.

Help shape products & services.

People like you are earning cash everyday completing paid online surveys., start taking surveys today.

Home | Frequently Asked Questions | Unsubscribe | Terms | Privacy Policy | Contact Us

©2018-2024 JoinSurveys.com

11 Best Online Surveys for Money in 2024

Here’s a roundup of legitimate survey sites that are Millennial Money tested and approved to help you boost your income.

11 Best Online Surveys for Money

Here are the top highest-paying sites to get paid to take surveys in your spare time:

• 🏆 Branded Surveys
• Prime Opinion
• Survey Junkie
• Inboxdollars
• Opinion Outpost

1. Branded Surveys

• Availability: US, UK, Canada
• Age requirement: 17+ years old
• Trust:  4.1 based on 95.4k reviews on Trustpilot

The Branded Surveys platform offers a $1 sign-up bonus just for signing up and has several brief “get to know you” survey questions.

There’s also a Branded Elite loyalty program. As you take surveys, you advance through bronze, silver, and gold levels. You move up by collecting credits for completed surveys or tasks like referring friends and family. Higher levels unlock more earning potential and better survey opportunities.

Average Payout (per survey)

Payment Method

PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards

Minimum to Cash Out

$$ Sign Up Bonus

2. MyPoints

• Availability: US, Canada
• Age requirement: 13+ years old
• Trust:  4.4 based on 23.6k reviews on Trustpilot

MyPoints allows you to earn gift cards for answering questions , taking polls, watching videos, and completing other online activities like shopping. With MyPoints, you earn points even when you don’t qualify for a given survey, and it offers a welcome bonus of $5.

However, it’s worth noting that many offers will navigate you away from the MyPoints portal and onto third-party sites, which can be less intuitive to use.

3. HeyPiggy

• Availability: Worldwide
• Age requirement: 14+ years old
• Trust:  4.6 based on 2.1k reviews on Trustpilot

HeyPiggy offers a large number of surveys and is also available on iOS and Android. Payouts start at just $1 and they are fully transparent about how long each survey takes and what it will pay to help you decide upfront if it’s worth it.

HeyPiggy offers 24/7 support and fast payouts. You can answer surveys from large companies like Target, Netflix, and Starbucks, while earning money doing it.

PayPal or Gift cards

Sign Up Bonus

4. Prime Opinion

• Availability: US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, and more
• Age requirement: 18+ years old
• Trust:  4.5 based on 11.4k reviews on Trustpilot

Prime Opinion is a free survey website that pays up to $5 per survey for answering questions for companies. The survey app pays points for every survey you complete, and you can redeem the points for 150+ prizes, including cash, gift cards, or donations to your favorite charity.

Prime Opinion is easy to sign up for and use, and if you are consistent in your efforts, you can make extra cash quickly.

Bank transfer, PayPal, Venmo, Gift cards

5. Freecash

• Age requirement: 16+ years old
• Trust:  4.5 based on 84.5k reviews on Trustpilot

Freecash is a site that pays you to take surveys, play games, watch videos, and complete other online tasks. It makes it easy to compare your options, displaying featured offers with high payouts that are available in your area.

You can also scroll through thousands of available offers, using filters like game, free trial, surveys, and quiz to narrow down the results.

Once you complete an offer, you’ll earn coins you can cash out on. There are several ways to cash out, with different limits we listed below.

Average Payout (per month)

PayPal, crypto, bank transfer, and gift cards

$5 for cash/gift cards; $2 for crypto

6. Swagbucks

• Availability: US, Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada, Spain, Portugal, UK
• Trust:  4.1 based on 36.8k reviews on Trustpilot

Swagbucks is a fun rewards program that allows you to earn points by shopping online, watching videos, and taking surveys. At a minimum, you can use the Swagbucks search engine to do your regular daily web browsing.

Once you sign up, you can earn Swagbucks (SB) points to redeem for cash back or gift cards for popular retailers. Swagbucks offers tens of thousands of paid survey opportunities. It’s one of the biggest and most legitimate survey companies available.

PayPal or gift cards

$3 for gift cards; $25 for PayPal

7. Survey Junkie

• Availability: US, Canada, Australia
• Trust:  4.1 based on 44.6k reviews on Trustpilot

With Survey Junkie, you’ll earn automatic points by signing up and completing your profile. It’s 100% free, and you can sign up with Facebook, Google+, or any email address.

From there, you get paid points for each completed survey. Survey Junkie is easy to use and doesn’t spam you with emails. Plus, it’s hard to run out of survey invitations since it offers so many.

PayPal, eGift cards, or bank transfer

$5 (500 points)

8. InboxDollars

• Availability: US, UK (as InboxPounds)
• Trust:  4.1 based on 42.5k reviews on Trustpilot

With a quick sign-up process (literally took me about 30 seconds!) and a simple format, InboxDollars works on a real cash reward system, not a point system. If you do a few quick surveys regularly throughout the day, you can earn quite a bit in less time than you’d think.

InboxDollars also offers rewards for carrying out everyday tasks, like playing games online, watching videos, reading emails, and online shopping.

Check, prepaid VISA or gift cards

9. KashKick

• Availability: US
• Trust:   4.0 based on 1.1k reviews on Trustpilot

KashKick rewards you for completing an array of tasks, from taking surveys and playing games to signing up for accounts and services like Credit Sesame or a Chime bank account.

Once you finish the free sign-up process, you can scroll through offers and complete the ones that interest you. Rather than awarding points, the site pays out in cash via Paypal once you earn $10.

While KashKick doesn’t have a mobile app, the online dashboard is convenient and user-friendly.

10. Opinion Outpost

• Availability: United States
• Trust:  4.3 based on 4.8k reviews on Trustpilot

A company with a low payout threshold and straightforward design, Opinion Outpost is easy for paid survey beginners. It works on a points system, and you can cash out to your PayPal account or gift cards for popular retailers, making it flexible, too.

The site offers a high number of surveys on any given day, increasing the odds that you’ll qualify for at least a few. But, the average earning is fairly low.

$5 for gift cards; $10 for PayPal

11. Pawns.app

• Age requirement: Varies by Location
• Trust:  4.5 based on 1.7k reviews on Trustpilot

While it’s a newer survey site, Pawns.app has over 2 million downloads and a wealth of positive ratings on Trustpilot.

We found signing up to be really simple—you can create an account in seconds with your Apple ID, Gmail, or an email and password and enter coupon or referral codes when you sign up.

Once you download the app and verify your email address, you can start taking surveys and sharing your internet connection to earn money.

PayPal, Bitcoin, gift cards

Summary of Top Paid Online Survey Sites

Rating Methodology

It’s no secret that there are many survey site options, but we were highly selective in choosing the best surveys for money. Here’s what we considered.

• Reputation: We did thorough research on each company and its reputation. When available, we consulted Trustpilot and the BBB to ensure we only suggested legitimate companies with a great reputation.
• Number of surveys: Some survey sites only occasionally have surveys, and others have hundreds a day. The sites we recommended each have numerous opportunities daily.
• Payouts: The point of taking surveys is to make money, so we looked for sites that paid quickly and well. Of course, you won’t get rich taking surveys, but we looked for the highest-paying options available with as many payout options as possible.

Tips for Earning the Most Money with Online Survey Sites

Online survey sites will not make you rich, but there are a few ways you can maximize your earnings:

• Fill out your profile: Not only can you usually earn a few welcome points by completing your personal profile when you sign up for a new survey site, but keeping your profile up to date with any life changes will help you get matched with relevant offers.
• Take advantage of free offers: You can sometimes earn points by referring friends, sharing something on social media, signing up for a free newsletter, answering a quick daily poll, or downloading the survey site’s app.
• Calculate the highest-paying surveys: Sometimes survey sites distract you from the ultimate goal—making the most money in the least amount of time—by valuing payouts in points (with unique redemption values) and separating the payout from the time requirement. Take a few minutes to plug the offers into our calculator and prioritize surveys that pay the most per hour to make more money overall.

Ultimate Surveys For Money ROI Calculator

Once you’re signed up and ready to take surveys, use this calculator to prioritize which surveys or activities to complete first. This will help you identify the highest-paid activities.

The key to success is only to take surveys with the highest time-to-point (payout) ratio. If you’re going to make money taking surveys, it’s important to identify the surveys that will pay the most for the least amount of time.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always clear. Each platform values its points or rewards differently, making it hard to compare the top survey sites.

Our tool demystifies this, however, and lets you calculate how much each activity is offering to pay you – in simple, consistent dollars per hour.

Check it out!

What survey site are you using? Each site values their points slightly differently.

How many reward points does the site say you'll get for completing the survey?

How many minutes does it say the survey or activity will take to complete?

That survey pays

Best Practices When Taking Online Surveys

In addition to the money-maximizing tips, here are some other best practices to keep in mind when taking online surveys:

• Create an email address just for survey sites: In our experience, many of the survey sites send daily emails – sometimes multiple each day. Signing up for these sites with a separate email will keep your primary inbox clean.
• Take breaks: Surveys can be long and tedious. Take frequent breaks to rest your eyes and avoid answering inconsistently, which can get you blocked from a site.
• Install antivirus software: This cautionary step helps ensure that your computer is protected, in case one of the sites directs you to a spammy third party.
• Under 18 crowd: Ask your parents! If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission to join the site and participate in surveys. Most of the sites that allow minor members require this step anyway, but you should run it by your parents regardless.

Warning Signs That A Survey Site May Not Be Legit

Taking online surveys is an attractive side hustle for a lot of people. Understandably so. Anyone can join a survey site, download the app, and start making money, and it can be done from anywhere with an internet connection. But keep in mind not every survey site on the web is trustworthy.

If you venture away from those on our list, here are some things to look out for:

• Membership fees: If you’re asked to pay money to join a survey site, move on quickly. Legitimate sites will always be free to join.
• Lack of customer reviews: The best sites have been around for a while, and you should be able to find real users sharing their experiences.
• Asking for private information: If you’re asked to give your Social Security number, driver’s license, or bank account information, leave!
• Difficult qualification: Answering a few preliminary questions only to find you don’t qualify for the full questionnaire is a reality of taking online surveys. However, if you find a site where you’re denied more often than approved, you’re better off focusing your time elsewhere

Frequently Asked Questions

Are surveys for money legit.

Yes, there are legitimate surveys for money. All of the sites in our review are safe and legit places that will pay you for taking surveys online. The best part is that taking surveys can be done on your smartphone from anywhere, at any time. If you’re looking to develop a more sustainable, truly wealth-building side hustle for extra income, then check out our article on the best side hustles .

How long does it take to complete an online survey?

Most online surveys take about 15 – 20 minutes to complete. However, some of the more thorough and targeted surveys can take up to an hour. Typically each site will tell you approximately how long the survey will take before you accept and start the job.

What surveys pay cash instantly?

Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and MyPoints are survey sites that offer cash instantly or provide signing bonus points when you create a profile. Also, check out these articles for how to get free money and sites that offer sign-up bonuses !

Which is the best survey app?

Survey apps are great! Freecash currently has the best app store rating on our list. But, you can download as many as you want and receive notifications as soon as a new survey is released right to your phone. So, as soon as you have time, you can complete surveys on the go. This option is ideal for spare moments like waiting in line.

Why do companies pay you to take surveys?

Brands, companies, and organizations pay you to take online surveys because they depend on the opinions of people like you to shape the products they develop and how they ultimately market them. Offering surveys for money is a way to get information directly from individuals without paying for an expensive market research company.

Are Paid Surveys Worth It?

Regardless of which paid survey site you use, the earnings can be pretty low and most require you to earn a certain dollar amount or number of points before they’ll pay out. So consider carefully if it’s worth it to you to potentially make less than the federal minimum wage on your time spent taking surveys. This is also why we recommend taking surveys while commuting on the bus or train or sitting in front of the TV.

Read 6 comments

Read Comments

Advertiser Disclosure

This website is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. We want to help you make personal finance decisions with confidence by providing you with free interactive tools, helpful data points, and by publishing original and objective content.

We work hard to share thorough research and our honest experience with products and brands. Of course, personal finance is personal so one person’s experience may differ from someone else’s, and estimates based on past performance do not guarantee future results. As such, our advice may not apply directly to your individual situation. We are not financial advisors and we recommend you consult with a financial professional before making any serious financial decisions.

How We Make Money

We make money from affiliate relationships with companies that we personally believe in. This means that, at no additional cost to you, we may get paid when you click on a link.

This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear), but does not influence our editorial integrity. We do not sell specific rankings on any of our “best of” posts or take money in exchange for a positive review.

At the end of the day, our readers come first and your trust is very important to us. We will always share our sincere opinions, and we are selective when choosing which companies to partner with.

The revenue these partnerships generate gives us the opportunity to pay our great team of writers for their work, as well as continue to improve the website and its content.

Editorial Disclosure

Opinions expressed in our articles are solely those of the writer. The information regarding any product was independently collected and was not provided nor reviewed by the company or issuer. The rates, terms and fees presented are accurate at the time of publication, but these change often. We recommend verifying with the source to confirm the most up to date information.

Learn more in our full disclaimer

Cookie consent

We use our own and third-party cookies to show you more relevant content based on your browsing and navigation history. Please accept or manage your cookie settings below. Here's our   cookie policy

• Product overview What is Typeform?
• Form builder Signups and orders
• Survey maker Research and feedback
• Quiz maker Trivia and product match
• Typeform for Growth For B2B marketers
• Product updates Latest feature releases
• HubSpot for Typeform Our new partner

• Human resources
• Customer success
• Acquire customers
• Get feedback
• Do research

• Help center Find quick answers
• Community Share and interact
• Contact us Speak to our team
• Partners Browse or join
• Careers Join our team

• → The 8 types of market research and ho...

The 8 types of market research and how to use them

There are eight types of marketing research you can try to stay ahead of the competition. Learn more about marketing research methods and how to use them.

Latest posts on Tips

Typeform    |    08.2024

Typeform    |    07.2024

“If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got.”

Doesn’t sound too threatening if you’ve always been successful, right?

Continuing to do what you’ve always done means you’ll fall behind—and probably fade to darkness—to where all the forgotten brands go.

Take Kodak. They were a major player in photography for decades—remember? When digital photography boomed, Kodak kept doing what they always did. Their business floundered and people forgot about them. Well, everyone apart from Pitbull.

Now, look at Fujifilm, one of Kodak’s biggest competitors. They did the opposite and looked for ways to apply their expertise in film to the technology of the new millennium instead. Their company is still going strong.

The same goes for research. If you’re doing the same old types of market research, speaking to the same old people, and doing the same old tired surveys—you’re already behind.

How do you decide what kind of market research you need to do? It all comes down to what you need to know and what your business goals are.

In this article, we’ll explain the various types of market research you can use to solve issues and challenges in your business. We’ll throw you a freebie, too, and provide some market research tips about when to use each strategy.

Let’s get you ahead of the curve.

1. Brand research

Brand research helps with creating and managing a company’s brand, or identity. A company’s brand is the images, narratives, and characteristics people associate with it.

When to use it

Brand research can be used at every stage in a business’s lifecycle, from creation to new product launches and re-branding. There are at least seven types of brand research:

Brand advocacy: How many of your customers are willing to recommend your brand?

Brand awareness : Does your target market know who you are and consider you a serious option?

Brand loyalty: Are you retaining customers?

Brand penetration: What is the proportion of your target market using your brand?

Brand perception : What do people think of as your company’s identity or differentiating qualities?

Brand positioning: What is the best way to differentiate your brand from others in the consumer’s mind and articulate it in a way that resonates?

Brand value: How much are people willing to pay for an experience with your brand over another?

How to do it

A researcher will use several types of market research methods to assess your and your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. Generally, they will conduct competitor research, both qualitative and quantitative, to get a picture of the overall marketplace. Focus groups and interviews can be used to learn about their emotions and associations with certain brands.

Market research surveys are useful to determine features and benefits that differentiate you from competitors . These are then translated into emotionally compelling consumer language.

2. Campaign effectiveness

This type of market research is designed to evaluate whether your advertising messages are reaching the right people and delivering the desired results. Successful campaign effectiveness research can help you sell more and reduce customer acquisition costs.

It’s estimated people see up to 5,000 advertising messages each day. That means attention is a scarce resource, so campaign effectiveness research should be used when you need to spend your advertising dollars effectively.

Campaign effectiveness research depends on which stage of the campaign you use it in (ideally, it’s all of them!). Quantitative research can be conducted to provide a picture of how your target market views advertising and address weaknesses in the advertising campaign.

3. Competitive analysis

Competitive analysis allows you to assess your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses in the marketplace, providing you with fuel to drive a competitive advantage.

No business exists in a vacuum—competitive analysis is an integral part of any business and market plan. Whether you’re just getting started, moving into a new market, or doing a health check of your business, a competitive analysis will be invaluable.

A researcher will typically choose a few of your main competitors and analyze things like their marketing strategy, customer perceptions, revenue or sales volume, and so on.

Secondary sources such as articles, references, and advertising are excellent sources of competitive information; however, primary research, such as mystery shopping and focus groups, can offer valuable information on customer service and current consumer opinions.

4. Consumer insights

Consumer insights research does more than tell you about who your customers are and what they do. It reveals why customers behave in certain ways and helps you leverage that to meet your business goals.

Knowing your customers deeply is integral to creating a strategic marketing plan. This type of market research can help you anticipate consumer needs, spark innovation, personalize your marketing, solve business challenges, and more.

Consumer insights research should be specific to your business—it’s about getting to know your target audience and customers. Various market research methods can be used, such as interviews, ethnography, survey research, social monitoring, and customer journey research.

Here are some of the characteristics you should understand through consumer insights research:

Purchase habits

Interests, hobbies, passions

Personal and professional information

How they consume media and advertising

5. Customer satisfaction research

Customer satisfaction research is a type of market research that measures customers’ experiences with products or services, specifically looking at how those meet, exceed, or fail to live up to their expectations.

Customer satisfaction is a strong indicator of customer retention and overall business performance. Successful customer satisfaction research should help you understand what your customers like, dislike, and feel needs improvement. You can use this type of market research to look at the quality and design of products, speed and timeliness of delivery, staff and service reliability, knowledge, and friendliness, market price, and value for money.

There are several ways to measure customer satisfaction, most commonly using surveys. An NPS or Voice of the Customer Survey can help you measure customer loyalty. Customer Effort Scoring measures how satisfied people are with customer service or problem resolution. CSAT is any survey that measures customer satisfaction , typically measured using Likert scale surveys . They can be conducted at different points in the customer experience, allowing deeper insight into that moment.

6. Customer segmentation research

Customer segmentation studies aim to divide markets or customers into smaller groups or personas with similar characteristics to enable targeted marketing. By understanding how people in each category behave, you can understand how each influences revenue.

Customer segmentation research is best used if you’re ready to give customers individualized experiences. Not every customer in your target market is the same. The more you understand each specific persona, the easier it is to focus on delivering personalized marketing, build loyal relations, price products effectively, and forecast how new products and services will perform in each segment.

Market researchers use four characteristics to segment customers.

Demographics: demographic information such as age, gender, family status, education, household income, occupation and so on

Geography: where people live, from cities and countries to whether they are city dwellers or suburbanites

Psychographics: socioeconomic status, class, lifestyle, personality traits, generation, interests, hobbies, etc.

Behavior: brand affinity, consumption and shopping habits, spending, etc.

A researcher will identify your current customers and collect data about them through various market research methods, such as surveys, database research, website analytics, interviews, and focus groups. The aim is to gather as much information as possible.

7. Product development

Market research for product development involves using customer knowledge to inform the entire process of creating or improving a product, service, or app and bringing it to market.

Innovation is hard work. A quick Google will tell you that 80–95% of new products fail every year. Conducting market research for product and app development helps minimize the risk of a new product or change going bust as it enters the market. There are three stages where you can use market research:

Conception: The moment you’re thinking about adding something new, market research can find market opportunities and provide insights into customer challenges or their jobs-to-be-done, so you can find a way to fill the gap.

Formation: Once you have an idea, market researchers can help you turn it into a concept that can be tested. You can learn more about strategizing pricing, testing advertising and packaging, value proposition, and so on.

Introduction: Market research can help you gauge attitudes toward the product once it’s in the market and adapt your messaging as it rolls out.

Keep making the product better or find opportunities to introduce it to new markets.

Product development research will utilize different market research methods, depending on the goal of the research. A researcher could present focus groups with product concepts and listen to their opinions, conduct interviews to learn more about their pain points, or perform user testing to see how they interact with an app or website.

8. Usability testing

Usability testing is concerned with understanding how customers use your products in real time. It can involve physical products, like a new blender, or digital products like a website or app.

Usability testing is helpful when you need to detect problems or bugs in early prototypes or beta versions before launching them. It typically costs far less to test a product or service beforehand than to pull a flawed product off the shelves or lose sales because of poor functionality.

There are several types of usability tests, which vary based on whether you’re testing a physical or digital product.

Journey testing involves observing the customer experience on an app or website and monitoring how they perform. This type of study can be done online

Eye tracking studies monitor where people’s eyes are drawn. Generally, they are conducted on websites and apps, but can also be done in stores to analyze where people look while shopping

Learn ability studies quantify the learning curve over time to see which problems people encounter after repeating the same task

Click tracking follows users’ activity on websites to evaluate the linking structure of a website

Checklist testing involves giving users tasks to perform and recording or asking them to review their experience

Combining types of market research with Typeform

When it comes to market research, you need to ask yourself what business challenge or question you’re trying to address. Then, select the appropriate methods and tools, such as market research automation , to simplify your process.From there, the world of useful data and actionable insights will open to you.

About the author

We're Typeform - a team on a mission to transform data collection by bringing you refreshingly different forms.

Liked that? Check these out:

Make your business idea the next MVP

Got a good idea? Move it from minimum viable product to launch without losing your shirt.

Paul Campillo    |    05.2016

Zero-party data: a beginner’s guide

What is zero-party data? And how does it affect your business? Explore the evolution of data collection in a cookieless era and stay ahead in the changing landscape of digital marketing.

Typeform    |    01.2024

What is descriptive research? Definition, examples, and use cases

Descriptive research is a research methodology that focuses on understanding the particular characteristics of a group, phenomenon, or experience.