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The pimco decision research virtual lab at the roman family center for decision research allows people from around the world to take paid research studies online using surveys, zoom video calls, and other remote tools..
Video Transcript
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By participating in online behavioral science studies, you play a vital role in helping Chicago Booth researchers better understand judgment and decision-making.
Here's how you can take paid surveys and interactive studies from the comfort of home. Sign Up (New Participants) Log In (Existing Participants)
You'll need:.
After completing these introductory tasks, you'll be able to sign up for behavioral science studies on our online research platform, Sona . Sign Up to Participate
Participants are compensated at a rate of $12/hour ($1 for every 5 minutes). Effective June 14, 2024, participants will be compensated in digital gift cards via Tango Card .
After you complete a study, you will receive an email from Tango Card letting you know that value has been added to your account. Select your country and currency, then choose a digital gift card to one of many businesses, including Amazon, restaurants, retailers, movie theaters, and more, or donate your earnings to a charitable organization.
Note: different gift cards are available depending on which country you reside in.
Behavioral science combines psychology, economics, and other fields to better understand human decision-making. The Virtual Lab's online research studies involve simple, everyday tasks like filling out surveys, providing your opinions, or chatting with a study partner.
Interactive studies are conducted using Zoom, a video chat platform. These tend to be our highest paying studies and require appointments scheduled Tuesday-Friday. Before taking Zoom studies, you must first complete the Zoom Prerequisite Study. Tips for using Zoom .
We pride ourselves on creating an inclusive and safe environment for all participants and researchers, so please review the Virtual Lab code of conduct before participating.
Questions? Email us at [email protected] .
Log into your account to see the paid research studies you are currently eligible to complete. Don't see any studies? Check back soon! New studies & time slots are posted each weeknight by 8pm.
Surveys are available on-demand 24/7 and can be completed any time before the study's deadline.
Zoom studies are conducted Tuesday-Friday 11am-4 pm CT (UTC -5).
If you are a researcher interested in conducting online studies in the Virtual Lab, please visit the Researcher Portal (requires CNET ID) or contact the Virtual Lab to discuss your options. The labs team can help with IRB approval, study design, data analysis, and more.
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Looking to level up your survey earnings and step into the world of paid research studies?
If so, you came to the right place.
Surveys are great to start out with, but doing 1-on-1 interviews and focus groups can be much more fulfilling and a higher paying, so it's worth trying out.
Below, you'll find some of the best platforms (sites and apps) to find paid research studies online and near you.
Featured platforms are are selected based on financial incentives like affiliate partnerships and sponsorships. They help keep Swift Salary free. Thanks for your support!
User Interviews is a crowdsourcing platform that connects researchers with paid study participants. Founded in 2015, the platform supports a variety of study formats (in-person, online, etc.) and types (focus groups, 1-on-1, etc.), and has been used by companies like Adobe, Spotify, Amazon, and more.
TestingTime is a crowdtesting platform that connects businesses and researchers with individuals looking to participate in paid user tests, interviews, focus groups, diary studies, and more. Founded in Switzerland in 2015, TestingTime is now part of the Norstat Group, and claims to pay over €1M per year to its pool of over 940k testers.
Opinion Outpost is a survey platform that rewards users for sharing their opinions. Founded in 2005, the platform is quite well-known in the survey space and is home to thousands of survey takers earning extra cash every month.
The criteria a site or app has to meet to make it onto this roundup is that it must either have:
These types of research participation opportunities typically pay a lot more than regular online surveys, questionnaires, and polls, so it makes sense to give them their own breakdown.
That said, they're not all perfect…
Learn how to make an extra $500+ a month with this FREE beginner's guide. Includes 7 main money-making strategies ranging from easy to advanced + dozens of mini-opportunities in-between.
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Prolific is a crowdsourcing platform that connects researchers with paid study participants. Supported study formats include surveys, video interviews, diary studies, and more. Founded in 2014, the platform claims to be home to over 120k participants and 30k researchers.
Minimum Age: | 18 years old |
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Supported Locations: | Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile Ă— |
Supported Devices: | Computer Browser, Smartphone Browser, Tablet Browser |
Income Type: | Active |
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Minimum Payout: | ÂŁ5 |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 0-4 days |
Other Notes: | Prolific may require you to verify your identity with an ID check. |
Chicago Booth CDR (Center for Decision Research) is a crowdsourcing platform for behavioral science studies and research. Here, participants from around the world can get paid to take part in studies that help researchers better understand human interaction, thinking, feelings, and more. The CDR has been conducting this type of research since 1977.
Minimum Age: | 4 years old |
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Supported Locations: | Worldwide |
Supported Devices: | Computer Browser, Smartphone Browser, Tablet Browser |
Other: | Zoom calling may be required for some studies. |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | None |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 1-4 days |
Sign Up Bonus: | $5 after completing the intro screeners. . |
Minimum Age: | 16 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | Australia, Canada, France, Germany, South Africa Ă— |
Supported Devices: | Computer Browser, Smartphone Browser, Tablet Browser |
Other: | Phone number verification. |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | None |
Payout Options: | Ă— |
Payout Speed: | 0-12 days |
IntelliZoom is a user experience (UX) research platform where panelists can get paid to give feedback on various companies' websites, apps, and other digital products via paid studies. Founded in 2007, the platform claims to have over 1.2M panelists and over 400 customers.
Minimum Age: | 18 years old |
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Supported Locations: | Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France Ă— |
Supported Devices: | Computer Browser, Smartphone Browser, Tablet Browser |
Other: | Webcam and microphone required for some activities. |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | None |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 1-14 days |
Respondent is a crowdsourcing platform that connects researchers with high-quality study participants from around the globe. The participants -- who earn money for taking part in studies -- are fully vetted and include industry professionals and general consumers.
Minimum Age: | 18 years old |
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Supported Locations: | Worldwide |
Supported Devices: | Computer Browser, Smartphone Browser, Tablet Browser |
Other: | Having expertise in a specific field is not required but can be advantageous as it gives you access to more industry-specific projects. |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | None |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 8-12 days |
Commissions / Fees: | Fulfillment fee of 5% or $1, whichever is higher. |
L&E Opinions is a rewards platform where regular people and working professionals can get paid for sharing their opinions and expertise. Owned by L&E Research (a market research company founded in 1984) the platform claims to have over 1.6M panel members and over $8.8M in yearly payouts.
Minimum Age: | 18 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | United States |
Supported Devices: | Computer Browser, Smartphone Browser, Tablet Browser |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | None |
Payout Options: | Ă— |
Payout Speed: | 1-21 days |
FocusGroup.com is a rewards platform where members can get paid to participate in online surveys, research interviews, focus groups, and more. Founded in 2002, the platform claims to have paid out over $65M in a single year.
Minimum Age: | 18 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | Worldwide |
Supported Devices: | Computer Browser, Smartphone Browser, Tablet Browser |
Income Type: | Semi-Passive |
---|---|
Point Conversion: | 1 FocusGroup.com Point is worth $0.01. 100 Points = $1. To reach the minimum payout amount listed below, you'll need to have around 1000 Points. |
Minimum Payout: | $10 |
Payout Options: | Ă— |
Payout Speed: | 1-32 days |
Minimum Age: | 18 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | Worldwide |
Supported Devices: | Computer Browser, Smartphone Browser, Tablet Browser |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | €21 |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 1-12 days |
dscout is both a crowdsourcing marketplace and a rewards platform. Researchers can use it to conduct studies while Scouts can join and make money sharing their insights and experiences. The types of research conducted on dscout can include diary studies, photo/video responses, usability tests, and much more.
Minimum Age: | 13 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | Worldwide |
Supported Devices: | Android Phone, Computer Browser, iPhone, Smartphone Browser, Tablet Browser |
Other: | Scouts must have a verified PayPal account. |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | None |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 1-12 days |
Testable Minds is a crowdsourcing platform that connects participants with researchers conducting psychological and behavioral experiments and scientific studies. Founded in 2015, the platform claims to have 12k+ researchers and 85k+ participants.
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | $10 |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 0-6 days |
Other Notes: | All participants are limited to earning a maximum of $50/month on Testable Minds. This is to maintain high quality participation. |
UserCrowd is a crowdtesting platform where testers can get paid to provide feedback on products, websites, and applications via surveys, usability tests, and more. Founded in 2008, the platform claims to have over 320k clients, including brands like L'Oréal, GoDaddy, Asana, Google, Airtable, and more.
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | $10 |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 1-30 days |
Ubertesters is a crowdtesting platform that facilitates the connection between those looking for testing services and those looking to make money testing things like websites and apps. Founded in 2013, the platform claims to have over 80k testers across the globe and to have worked with well-known clients like Zalando, Monday.com, NBC, and more.
Minimum Age: | 18 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | Worldwide |
Supported Devices: | Computer Browser, Smartphone Browser, Tablet Browser |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | None |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 1-60 days |
Tryber is a crowdtesting platform where testers can earn money for finding bugs, usability issues, and other problems in websites, applications, physical products, and more. The platform is owned and operated by Unguess (formerly AppQuality), a crowdsourcing platform that was founded in 2015.
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | €5.00 |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 1-23 days |
Commissions / Fees: | Tryber takes 20% of earnings for tax purposes. |
UsertTesting.com is a crowdtesting platform focused on usability testing. Companies can use the platform to get feedback on their websites, apps, prototypes, and more, while contributors (aka testers) can use it to make money by participating in usability tests. Founded in 2007, the platform has grown to become one of the largest and most well-known in the crowdtesting space.
Minimum Age: | 18 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada Ă— |
Supported Devices: | Android Phone, Android Tablet, iPad, iPhone, Mac Computer Ă— |
Other: | Don't create more than one account. |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | $0.01 |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 7 days |
Other Notes: | Occasionally, at the end of a test, a researcher might offer you a bonus payment. |
Crowdtap is a rewards platform where members can earn points for answering surveys and sharing their opinions. Surveys can range from one question long to full-on interviews.
Minimum Age: | 13 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | United States |
Supported Devices: | Android Phone, Computer Browser, iPhone, Smartphone Browser, Tablet Browser |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Point Conversion: | 1 Crowdtap Point is worth $0.005. 200 Points = $1. To reach the minimum payout amount listed below, you'll need to have around 1000 Points. |
Minimum Payout: | $5.00 |
Payout Options: | Ă— |
Payout Speed: | 2-4 days |
Sign Up Bonus: | Receive 100 points if you sign up with a referral link. The member who referred you will also receive 100 points once you've made your first reward redemption. . |
Userlytics is a crowdtesting platform that connects organizations with UX testers who get paid to provide feedback on websites and apps. Founded in 2009, the platform claims to have over 2M testers, around 50 new studies uploaded every day, and worked with companies like Riot Games, Microsoft, eBay, Verizon, Coca-Cola, and more.
Minimum Age: | None |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | Worldwide |
Supported Devices: | Android Phone, Android Tablet, iPad, iPhone, Mac Computer Ă— |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | None |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 1-25 days |
PlaytestCloud is a crowdtesting platform that connects mobile game developers with paid freelance playtesters from around the globe. Founded in 2014, the platform claims to have over 1M playtesters who get paid for providing feedback on a variety of mobile games from developers like Zynga, Ubisoft, Gameloft, and many more.
Minimum Age: | 3 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | Worldwide |
Supported Devices: | Android Phone, Android Tablet, iPad, iPhone |
Other: | Playtesters must have a PayPal account. |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | None |
Payout Options: | Ă— |
Payout Speed: | 0-7 days |
Other Notes: | (1) All test information is confidential — never share details about a test you've done. (2) Players may only have one account. (3) Using an emulator to participate in playtests is prohibited. |
Survey Junkie is a rewards platform and market research community that pays members for completing surveys and contributing their opinions, insights, and data. Founded in 2013, the platform is owned and operated by DISQO, an award-winning insights platform based in the U.S.
Minimum Age: | 16 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | Australia, Canada, United States |
Supported Devices: | Android Phone, Computer Browser, iPad, iPhone, Mac Computer Ă— |
Income Type: | Active, Passive and share your device usage data. |
---|---|
Point Conversion: | 1 Survey Junkie Point is worth $0.01. 100 Points = $1. To reach the minimum payout amount listed below, you'll need to have around 500 Points. |
Minimum Payout: | $5.00 |
Payout Options: | Ă— |
Payout Speed: | Instant |
Sign Up Bonus: | Members will earn 25 points upon signing up and 25 points for verifying their email. An additional 75 points can be earned by completing the survey tutorial and profile surveys. . |
iPoll is a rewards platform that pays members for sharing their opinions, testing products, completing real-world missions, and more. Founded in 2012, the platform was previously known as Surveyhead and is currently owned and operated by Dyanata.
Minimum Age: | 13 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | Canada, United Kingdom, United States |
Supported Devices: | Android Phone, Android Tablet, Computer Browser, iPad, iPhone Ă— |
Other: | Multiple accounts are not allowed. |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | $25.00 |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 0-42 days |
Product Report Card is a rewards platform that pays members to take surveys and participate in free product tests. Founded in 2012, they claim to offer more high-paying surveys and product test opportunities than any other platform.
Minimum Age: | 16 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile Ă— |
Supported Devices: | Computer Browser, iPhone, Mac Computer, Smartphone Browser, Tablet Browser |
Other: | Upon registration, the platform will ask you to provide your cellphone number. Providing your number allows you to take part in highly paid opportunities requiring telephone interviews. |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Minimum Payout: | $25.00 |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 3-5 days |
Sign Up Bonus: | $5 for completing the Product Report Card 5-minute welcome survey. . |
Minimum Age: | 16 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | Canada, United Kingdom, United States |
Supported Devices: | Computer Browser, Smartphone Browser, Tablet Browser |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Point Conversion: | 1 Opinion Outpost Point is worth $0.1. 10 Points = $1. To reach the minimum payout amount listed below, you'll need to have around 50 Points. |
Minimum Payout: | $5.00 |
Payout Options: | Ă— |
Payout Speed: | 0-5 days |
American Consumer Opinion (ACOP) is an international rewards platform that pays people from all around the world to share their opinions on a variety of products and services. They offer paid surveys as well as occasional product testing and mystery shopping opportunities. Founded in 1986 as a small U.S. mail survey panel, the platform has since grown into an online community of over 7 million members worldwide.
Minimum Age: | 14 years old |
---|---|
Supported Locations: | Worldwide |
Supported Devices: | Android Phone, Android Tablet, Computer Browser, iPad, iPhone Ă— |
Other: | Only one member may register per household. |
Income Type: | Active |
---|---|
Point Conversion: | 1 American Consumer Opinion Point is worth $0.01. 100 Points = $1. To reach the minimum payout amount listed below, you'll need to have around 1000 Points. |
Minimum Payout: | $10.00 |
Payout Options: | |
Payout Speed: | 42-86 days |
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From testing products and services to sleep and diet studies, here's a list of vetted places you can participate in paid focus groups.
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A few years ago, I got an invitation to attend a research study hosted by a local skincare company. They were launching a new line of products and wanted feedback from 20 to 25 year-old-women with dry skin.
Since I was a new college grad who needed extra cash, I decided to go. They asked me various questions regarding my current skincare regimen, the products I used, and how I felt about them. It only took an hour, and I got a $75 Visa gift card and a few product samples. Not a bad way to kill an hour.
If you like the idea of getting paid to share your opinions, you’re in luck. There are plenty of places that host paid research studies. While the study I did was in-person, there are many online research studies you can do at home.
You can find online focus groups that’ll pay you for your time and feedback through a variety of websites. Each site has its own requirements and payment structure, so it’s a good idea to explore all the options available.
Survey Junkie is a survey site that’s been around since 2005. It will pay you to take surveys and express your opinions to big brands who want to improve their products and services. After you answer several questions about yourself and create a profile, the site will match you to surveys that are relevant to you.
Any time you complete a survey, you’ll earn virtual points, which you can redeem for PayPal cash or online gift cards. Most surveys take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes, and you can expect to make between 100 to 200 points or $1 to $3 per survey. You won’t have to buy any products or sign up for other websites.
American Consumer Opinion is a survey panel that partners with large companies who want customer opinions. To join, you’ll enter basic information such as your age and where you live. Then, you’ll take a general household survey where you’ll share details about your lifestyle.
You’ll likely receive survey invitations via email several times a year. The number of points you’ll rack up will depend on the length of the surveys.
While short surveys are typically worth anywhere between 5 and 50 points, you can earn up to 5,000 points with longer ones. One point equals $0.01, and you can cash your points in for PayPal cash or donate them to charity.
Related: 17 Best Places to Take Paid Online Surveys for Money
Respondent is unique because it organizes one-on-one paid research studies online and in person. You can sign up with your email address or via your Facebook or LinkedIn profile through the site.
Once you do, you’ll fill out some basic personal information such as your name, birthday, and email address. They’ll also ask for demographic details like your gender, ethnicity, and educational background.
After you’ve signed up, you’ll browse all of the “projects” available and details like the pay and how long they take to complete. When you see a project that interests you, you can apply to it through a short questionnaire. You’ll be emailed if the company chooses you for their project.
Most of the projects focus on small business or technology and pay anywhere from $50 to $85 via PayPal for 45 minutes to an hour of your time.
FocusGroup.com began in 1988 and offers surveys as well as in-person and online focus groups via phone and webcam. After you create a profile, you’ll be emailed surveys and focus group invitations.
The majority of the site’s surveys and focus groups revolve around health and wellness, pet products, finances, and shopping habits.
You’ll earn between $75 and $150 if you participate in focus groups and points for surveys, which you can apply toward a prepaid Visa debit card. You can cash out 100 points for $1.00.
Plaza Research pays parents, kids, teens, students, doctors, and business professionals to share their opinions on new products and services. It hosts surveys and a variety of in-person focus groups throughout the country.
If you attend a focus group, you’ll likely be asked to try a new product, watch a TV commercial, or discuss your thoughts about future products. To receive survey and focus group invitations, fill out an online form. The form will ask you questions about your education, electronic use, employment, household, pets, and more.
You’ll get an email if you’re a good fit for a survey or focus group. The amount you’ll earn depends on its length and scope. Most participants will earn between $50 and $200, paid via check, for two hours of their time.
Related: How to Get Paid to Write Reviews
You can create an account online or via the Mindswarms mobile app and get paid to answer questions via your smartphone or webcam.
After you apply to a survey that appeals to you, you’ll answer a few targeted questions to make sure you’re a good fit for it. If you are, you’ll answer seven questions and earn about $50. The money will be sent to your PayPal account within 24 hours. You can also redeem your earnings for an Amazon gift card.
Fieldwork has facilitated marketing research studies since 1980. The company hosts in-person focus groups in 11 cities across the U.S. If you don’t live near any of these cities, you can still register for Fieldwork’s national database and participate in online or phone interviews.
To register, fill out an online questionnaire and wait for Fieldwork to call or email you when an opportunity is available. Most in-person focus groups last between one and two hours and can be on random topics such as cereal and video games. Compensation is usually a $75 Visa gift card.
User Interviews organizes focus groups in-person, via phone, or video streaming about products, services, and websites. For a chance to participate, create a profile with your birthday, gender, household income, marital status, and education level.
If you find a project that interests you, complete a short screener survey to see if you’re eligible. If you are, you can sign up for the focus group and earn an average of $50/hr. You’ll get paid via check.
Brand Institute is a branding agency that supports healthcare and pharmaceutical companies with their marketing initiatives. You can become a Brand Institute panel member after you fill out a short online registration form. If you qualify for a paid research study, you’ll get an email notification and can participate right away.
Payment depends on the survey you take, and you’re more likely to receive invites for higher-paying surveys if you have a medical background. You can earn between $2 and $30 via check or PayPal. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and others in healthcare report that they receive about four surveys a month.
Engage finds respondents for various market research and usability studies. It offers both in-person focus groups and online discussions for panel members. You can join the healthcare panel if you’re a medical professional or consumer panel if you’re an everyday consumer.
You’ll have to provide information about your income, marital status, education level, and job. Once you do, you’ll receive an email notification whenever you qualify for a study. Most studies cover topics like cars, electronics, food products, music, and medical conditions. They usually pay $50 to $250 via check or PayPal.
You can also find paid focus groups at colleges and universities. Many of them offer year-round opportunities and focus on psychology and human behavior. While most of these studies are performed online, a few require that you participate in person.
You don’t have to be a student to participate, and payment is typically in the form of PayPal cash, gift cards, or a check. If you’d like to earn money via college-run focus groups, take a look at the schools near your home. Their websites will likely include details about these types of opportunities.
DollarSprout co-founder Jeff Proctor participated in a six-week research study on high-fat diets at Virginia Tech. During the study, he was compensated with meals and $500.
“It was a great experience but very involved,” he said. “I had to check in every day to get weighed, choose my meals, and get several blood and urine samples taken.”
Even though many focus group opportunities are legitimate, there are plenty of work-from-home scams out there. If you have to pay to participate or reveal confidential information such as your Social Security number or credit card details, that’s a red flag. Stay away from any focus groups that force you to buy products or services or sign up for other websites.
If you find an opportunity that interests you, do some online research to make sure it’s valid. Check the Better Business Bureau to see its rating and read any complaints. This way you can avoid a situation where you get excited about a focus group and then find out it’s a scam.
A legitimate company will never charge you to attend a focus group or take a survey. In addition, they’ll have a privacy policy that’s prominently displayed on their website and will only email you from a business email account, rather than one from a free service like Gmail or Yahoo.
Related: How One Woman Earns $5,000 per Month as a Surrogate Mother
Make money by participating in online focus groups with Respondent. Researchers from leading brands use focus groups to understand pain points, sentiments and identify product usage patterns that can help build better experiences. Share your insights and get paid to participate in a focus group. You can find focus groups targeted at professionals in industries such as software as well as consumer audiences such as for packaged goods. Apply below to get started.
Research methodology, paid studies faq, how does participating in a paid research project work.
The first step is to apply to a project, you can do this by signing up as a participant or logging in and selecting 'Start Screener' on the project you are interested in. Researchers will then review your responses and invite qualifying participants for the project. You will receive an email notification if you have been selected, with instructions on how to participate in the research session. Upon successful completion of the project, the researcher will typically initiate payment within 5 business days.
Research incentives vary from one research project to another and can range from $5 to $1000 per project, the average incentive for an active participant is around $100. Before you apply to a project you will be able to view the time required for the research task, the type of research and the incentive offered. Research studies on Respondent are typically open for 1-2 weeks and incentive payout is usually processed within 5-10 business days after successful participation.
Respondent is 100% legit and pays participants for completing research studies and is an attractive source of side income. Successful participants on Respondent create a strong, accurate profile and apply to relevant projects, and share their insights with researchers in different kinds of research tasks. Highly trusted platforms such as G2 and Side Hustle Nation rate Respondent as a reliable platform for supplemental income.
Researchers can publish their projects to this page and to the entire Respondent participant panel in 3 easy steps: 1. Create a researcher account 2. Create your project and define the target audience 3. Publish your project Learn more about how to recruit participants with Respondent.
There are plenty of ways to earn extra cash online, and one easy method to pay decent money is to do paid research studies.
But the question is, where can you find the best paid research studies online?
I have tested hundreds of paid research opportunities, and in this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about paid research studies to find out how to get the most out of earning this way.
I’ll also list down several sites you can join and include a summary of each, so you can easily figure out which will fit your needs.
All the sites I will be including in this guide are legit and free to join . So, you’ll just need to invest a bit of time and some effort to earn.
Disclosure: Some articles on this website contain affiliate/sponsored links. Click for more info .
Paid research studies are activities done by companies, businesses, or even schools that are designed to gather data.
Technically speaking, if a company or business is the one conducting it, it is called paid market research. But regardless of who is doing it, the process remains the same. The participants of these activities will get paid to provide valuable input.
There are several types of paid research studies you can find online. Among the common ones are one-on-one interviews, focus groups, and surveys. These activities can be conducted online or in person.
For one-on-one interviews, whether they are conducted online or in person, the process usually involves discussing a certain topic. You will be asked to provide your opinion on certain topics. And once you are done with the interview, that’s when you will be compensated.
For focus groups, the dynamic will be a bit different because this activity will involve multiple people. Just like with interviews, it can be done online or in person. The activity will have one or more moderators and the rest will be participants.
Focus groups are conducted to gather opinions about a specific topic in a group setting to gain extra insights from the group dynamic. For example, a movie company wants to get the best ending for its movie. They conduct a focus group on which kind of ending will resonate with more people. Then you as a participant, will choose which kind of ending you prefer and discuss it in the group. This is a pretty common thing, especially with big companies.
Surveys, on the other hand, are less personal, because you won’t be interacting with anyone. You will just be answering a set of questions. But what you need to know about surveys is, they usually have a qualifying process you need to go through.
This is how companies can filter the appropriate respondents. So, when you answer a survey, the first set of questions are usually the qualifying questions. If you qualify, you get to proceed to the actual survey.
By far, among all the types of paid research studies, the most common one you can find online is paid surveys. This is also the type of paid research study that pays the lowest. It’s not surprising though since this kind of study requires the least time and effort to complete.
All the other activities usually take up a bit of time and some effort too.
Now, if you are wondering where these in-person research studies take place, it is usually conducted in facilities provided by the company/business/school. So, you will have to travel to that facility to participate.
Each site that offers paid research studies has different pay structures. Some pay more than others. So, it’s really hard to put an exact figure on how much money you can earn per site.
But, in my experience, the best way to earn the most from these sites is to join around 5 to 7 sites . That way, you gain access to more opportunities and therefore, you can earn more.
In my experience, this is the perfect number of sites to get involved with especially if you are just starting out. It won’t overwhelm you, but you will still be able to earn a decent amount. You can always join more sites further down the line when you become more experienced with this kind of stuff.
Now that you know the basics, let’s talk about the actual sites you can join that offer paid research studies. Take note that these aren’t the only sites that offer this kind of opportunity.
Instead, they are what I found to be worthy of your time. I will keep updating this list if I find more opportunities worth adding. So, make sure to bookmark this page and check on it from time to time for new additions.
Available in: US Payout methods: Â Cash Payout threshold: N/A More information: Â Check out their website
Short summary: This school’s Department of Psychology regularly conducts research studies that require participants. The research activities offered will vary but most of them are conducted in person. So, you will have to go to their facility to participate.
That means, it is only really available for people who live in the vicinity. Weinberg College is located in Evanston, Illinois. So, if you don’t live near that area, then this isn’t really something worth doing. As for how they pay you, you will usually get compensated in cash after every session you complete.
Available in: More than 40 countries Payout methods: PayPal, Venmo, direct bank transfer Payout threshold: $5 More information: Â Read full Prime Opinion review
Short summary: Prime Opinion is a survey site that will let you earn by answering surveys. You can also earn from its leaderboard contest and affiliate program. It offers a decent number of earning opportunities at any given time, so you can earn more or less regularly.
The payment options it offers will depend on the country you live in, but the most common option is PayPal. It also offers Venmo and direct bank transfers for certain countries. It is available in more than 40 countries.
Available in: 50+ countries Payout methods: Â PayPal, gift cards Payout threshold: Depends on your country More information: Â Read full YouGov review
Short summary: YouGov is a survey site that is available in a lot of countries and every country has its own survey panel you can join. So, if you are looking for a survey site that offers surveys in your native language, this is one of the best sites you can join.
The payment methods it offers will depend on your country, but usually, PayPal, products, or gift cards  are used to withdraw your earnings. As to the payout threshold you need to reach before you can withdraw your earnings, it will depend on the country you live in.
But in my experience, it will usually be around $10 or so (or the equivalent to your local currency). So, it’s not hard to reach since they do have a decent number of surveys available.
Available in: More or less worldwide Payout methods: Â PayPal, Amazon gift cards Payout threshold: N/A More information: Â Check out their website
Short summary: CDS or Columbia Decision Sciences, will allow you to participate in their studies online. The research studies you can participate in will vary but they will mainly be conducted online.
To participate, you have to fill out their sign-up form and submit it. Then, just wait for them to contact you via email for any opportunities to earn. After you’ve completed any of their research activities, you will be able to receive your payment via PayPal or you can convert your earnings to an Amazon gift card.
The site pays by the hour ($16/hour) for all the research studies they offer. And the best thing is, you don’t have to reach a threshold to withdraw your earnings. You will immediately be able to withdraw the payment after you complete a study.
It also accepts members anywhere in the world (more or less). So, you can register as a member regardless of where you live.
Available in: More or less worldwide Payout methods: Â PayPal, gift cards Payout threshold: Â Depends on your country More information: Â Read full Toluna Influencers review
Short summary: Another survey site that offers decent earnings is called Toluna Influencers. This site is available more or less worldwide and each country has its own survey panel too. That means surveys will be offered in the local language (if applicable, otherwise, it will be in English).
You will get paid via PayPal or in gift cards. The threshold you need to reach to withdraw your earnings will depend on the country you live in though. It also has a mobile app you can download so you can convenient answer surveys from your mobile device.
Available in: Â Available in many countries Payout methods: Â PayPal Payout threshold: Â ÂŁ5/$7 More info: Â Read full Prolific Surveys review
Short summary: Prolific Surveys is more a crowdsourcing platform rather than a straight up survey site. It is available in many countries. To earn from this site, you can answer surveys or participate in research studies offered by other participants of the site.
You will get paid via PayPal as long as you’ve earned £5 (if you live somewhere in Europe) or $7 (if you live in the US or other regions). That’s a pretty low payout threshold, in my opinion. So, if you get to answer surveys or participate in even just one research activity, you will be able to withdraw your earnings because they do pay a decent amount.
Available in: Â US, UK, or Canada Payout methods: Â PayPal, gift cards Payout threshold: Â $5 More info: Â Read full Branded Surveys review
Short summary: Branded Surveys is a straight-up survey site where you can earn by answering surveys and polls. That’s how easy it is to earn from this site. The only downside is, it is only available in the US, UK, or Canada. So, it has a pretty limited reach.
But if you are eligible to join, you can get paid via PayPal or gift cards. And best of all, their payout threshold is very low ($5). So, you won’t have to wait very long to withdraw your earnings.
They also have a decent number of surveys available, so you can definitely rely on this site for earning extra cash.
Available in: US Payout methods: Â Check, gift cards Payout threshold: N/A More information: Â Check out their website
Short summary: Another school that offers paid research opportunities is the MIT Behavioral Research Laboratory. Their research studies can be conducted in-lab or online. Lab studies will take place in Cambridge, Massachusetts. So, if you don’t live in that area, then that opportunity isn’t for you.
When you sign up, you may be asked to do various things like filling out questionnaires, playing games, performing various tasks on a computer, completing group assignments, and taking part in discussions or interviews.
You get paid in cash, gift cards, electronic gift certificates, or checks. If the amount exceeds $75, MIT BRL is required to pay you via check for tax reporting purposes. This panel is only available for US residents who are at least 18 years of age.
Available in: Â Worldwide Payout methods: Â PayPal Payout threshold: Â Pays instantly More information: Â Read full Respondent review
Short summary: Respondent is a form of crowdsourcing site that will pay you for participating in research activities. These activities are called projects, but before you can work on one though, you will have to apply for it.
A study will either be one-on-one or an unmoderated study, and it can be conducted in person or online. The in-person study pays more, but it is harder to qualify for. Every time you complete a project, you will get paid via PayPal immediately.
But, Respondent will charge 5% or $1 (whichever is higher) every time you get paid. That’s a part of how they make money. It is available globally, so you can register as a member regardless of where you live.
Short summary: The Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior is part of UCLA and it is located in Los Angeles, California. Most of the research studies it offers are conducted in person. So, if you don’t live in the vicinity of their facility, I don’t really recommend this for you.
Most of the studies pertain to the brain, so qualifying for one can be hard. It’s considered a niche platform but it does pay well. It pays every participant in cash once the research session has been completed.
Available in: Â US Payout methods: Â PayPal, Prepaid Visa cards, gift cards Payout threshold: Â $10 More information: Â Read full Focusgroup.com review
Short summary: As the name of the site suggests, you will be able to earn from Focusgroup.com by participating in, well, focus groups. But aside from that, you can also participate in interviews, shop along activities, and product testing.
It pays a decent amount per study you participate in. And you can usually withdraw your earnings right away for every study you complete because you only need to earn at least $10 to reach their payout threshold.
When you hit their threshold, you can withdraw your earnings via PayPal or convert them to a prepaid Visa card or gift card of your choice. The only downside of this site is, it is only available in the US.
Available in: UK Payout methods: Â Cash Payout threshold: N/A More information: Â Read full Research-1 review
Short summary: Research-i is a market research company that offers an opportunity for you to earn by participating in research studies. The types of studies available are one-on-one interviews, group discussions, in-home interviews, telephone interviews, games and app testing, and product testing.
As for the payout methods, if it is conducted at a Research-i facility, you’ll get paid in cash after completion. I’m not exactly sure how payment is made when projects have to be completed at home because there’s no information on their website regarding the payment system. But, in my experience, sites like this usually use a convenient payment method like PayPal or direct bank transfer.
Research-i is only available in the UK.
So there you go. Those are the best paid research studies online that I have found after having tested hundreds of options.
Keep in mind that all the sites on this list are legit and free to join . You just need to invest your time and a bit of effort in order to earn from them. You also need to be patient because you won’t always qualify for these earning opportunities.
As I’ve suggested earlier, if you want to maximize your earnings, you should join around 5-7 of the sites so you gain access to more earning opportunities. I will keep updating this list if there are any new good sites to join so make sure to bookmark this page .
If you have any comments, questions, or know of paid research studies online that is not on the list, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
Love from India bro I see your all viedo keep growing ❤️??
Thanks. All the best to you too.
Hye Mikael Can you make a video or write article on Paid online Research Studies that pay via Payoneer or airtm and are available for Asian countries especially Pakistan. BTW your videos helped me a lot keep it up?
Sorry, but you will not really find any platforms like that in your country, so I cannot make any content about it.
I live in South United States. I recently am looking to find out how to find these places that pay for clinical trials. Do to my current situation, this seems to be my only option. I’m about to lose my job over an injury/illness situation. If anyone could give me a tip on how to find trial jobs or what is the best state for high demand of clinical trials. I would greatly appreciate it.
You can use some of the options on the list above. And you can also check out some clinical trials here .
Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You will at the same term confirm you accept our privacy policy .
There are many opportunities to earn extra income sharing your opinions with paid research studies. Find out how to maximize your earning potential.
Have you recently wanted to plan your next big vacation or significant purchase but are unwilling to move forward with the big expense? You're not alone–consumer spending in early 2023 remains flat as inflation persists and fears about the economy remain. To avoid putting life goals on hold, consider finding new areas to earn a side income. Paid user research provides an excellent opportunity to work toward your goals and can often be done online from your home.
You've probably heard terms like user research, market research, user testing, or research and development before. These functions describe the work companies perform to understand customer needs and motivations better and uncover new product opportunities.
Especially as the economy tightens, consumers tend to be more choosy about where and why they spend their money, creating a poignant need for companies to better understand why and how people choose to use their products. Creators of the products you use daily have research teams to regularly assess and reassess real consumer needs, why customers tend to make a purchase decision, and how customers interact with new products or features to ensure they create products their customers will want and use. And to ensure research teams receive accurate and honest feedback, they'll pay for these opinions.
The availability of online research opportunities has increased exponentially in recent years as more teams have adopted remote and online collaboration. People now have more opportunities to earn extra income working with companies to provide user research information. While there are many legitimate opportunities to participate in paid online research studies , finding and qualifying for the right ones can take some know-how. We'll provide you with some tips below.
The first step in finding paid online research studies is knowing where to find them. Start with reputable websites that connect participants with research opportunities. Popular platforms like Respondent and UserTesting are known to provide legitimate research opportunities, vet the research organizations performing each study, and pay their participants on time.
The next step is to create a strong, complete, and honest profile . Your user profile works like a map to help researchers find your specific qualities in their database. Ensuring yours is complete and contains accurate information will help you qualify for more studies and increase your chances of being selected. Provide detailed information about your demographics, interests, and experience. This information will help your profile stand out amongst the rest.
Before applying for a paid online research study, read the requirements carefully. Researchers often require specific criteria for their studies, such as age, household demographic, or work experience information. Ensure you meet these requirements before applying to increase your chances of being selected and avoid wasting your time.
Earning money with paid online research studies has become more popular, so it's essential to be consistent and persistent. Check research platforms regularly for new opportunities, and apply to as many studies as you qualify. This will increase your chances of being selected for a study and earning money. User research for products focused on industry professionals tends to pay more for your time ; be sure to search for and apply to any studies that fit your profession and work experience.
Once you have been selected for a research study, respond promptly to any communication from the researchers. Researchers often have strict deadlines and must fill their study quotas quickly, so being responsive can increase your chances of being selected for future studies.
One of the most important things to remember when participating in paid online research studies is honesty and transparency. Researchers rely on accurate and truthful information to make informed decisions. If you provide false or misleading information, you risk being disqualified from the study and potentially damaging your reputation.
Lastly, staying organized is essential when participating in paid online research studies. Keep track of your applications, scheduled studies, and payment information. This will help you stay on top of your commitments and ensure that you are being paid on time.
Participating in paid online research studies can earn considerable extra income in your spare time. By starting with reputable user research platforms and following these tips, you can increase your chances of finding and qualifying for paid online research studies. Though it can take a tiny investment in time to get started, many new research opportunities are posted daily, and it's interesting to learn more about and influence the brands you already use as they create new products and services.
Sign up today to check out new paid online research studies on Respondent!
Are you a software engineer looking for an easy side hustle to extra income? Read our list of the best side income jobs and projects you can try...
Remember, your profile is your first and only chance to show researchers that you are a credible professional with knowledge to share. Try these six...
How can you optimize your profile for maximum engagement and success? Our team shares the best ways you can improve your participant profile to land...
Taking part in paid market research is a great way to get your opinions heard by the brands of products and services that you see and use daily. now for the legal jargon that we are forced to include. by registering with us, you are giving us your consent to process your information as described in our participant privacy policy. step 1: register by clicking the register button you will take the first step to create a profile and begin receiving surveys & calls for potential studies. the initial questionnaire asks for information that will assist us in finding upcoming studies for which you might qualify step 2: take surveys online & over the phone online: surveys will periodically be emailed to you. our surveys are mobile-friendly, so you can conveniently complete them from any mobile device on-the-go by either clicking on the link in your email. completing these surveys will help us to determine if you qualify. if you meet the preliminary criteria, one of our recruiters will give you a call to ask a few more questions and hopefully get you signed up to participate. step 3: participate and get paid for sharing your opinions once invited, you will have the opportunity to share your thoughts and opinions on a variety of topics and products, either in person or online, helping brands improve their products. you might even get to try new products before they make it to market, all while having fun and getting paid. look around you, everything you see started somewhere and grew to the product it is today with the input and opinions of individuals just like you, so join us, and help shape the world around you. now it’s your time to shine. register today to get the chance to explore the latest market research projects directly to your inbox., still not ready to register check out our faq’s, who doesn’t want to earn some extra mad money to spend on themselves, their family or a special event paid market research not only gives you the opportunity to earn extra dollars but also allows you to voice your opinion on everyday goods, services, and brands, helping decision makers to direct product development and marketing initiatives. why do you need personal information about me we use that information to sort potential candidates to participate in the research. all studies have various requirements and quotas based on age, gender, household income, and even specific product usage. we use this data to help guide our initial search to avoid bombarding your inbox with studies that you may not pre-qualify for. do you sell my information no, we keep your information confidential. our clients are only allowed to use your data for the specific purpose for which it was collected. what are the different ways i can participate there are a variety of ways you can participate with the majority having a professional moderator leading the discussion. focus groups online or in-person: this type of study consists of participants who are led through specific discussions by a moderator and can range in size between 3 - 15 people. and sometimes we will conduct one-one sessions with individual participants. these discussions may be conducted remotely, using your desktop or laptop and webcam, or in one of our focus group facilities across the country. online bulletin boards: online bulletin boards are private community platforms where you and other participants can post responses and participate in activities and exercises. researchers will view and respond to posts and pose questions in the forum space. in-depth interview in real life environment: an in-depth research interview, with the observer physically present, with the research experience to be completed in real-life environments, such as out shopping, eating at a restaurant or even at home. all participation in any of the above will require you to be pre-screened, qualified, and invited to participate by our recruiting specialists prior to participation and receipt of compensation. what are you trying to sell me paid market research isn’t and never will involve a sales pitch. the goal is to gain feedback on products and services used in our everyday lives. rest assured, there will never be any sales attempt made by our company. ever. how do i know this is legit most market research companies you come across are genuine and we are one of those you can always do your own research to ensure the company asking you to participate is a member of a market research organizations, such as insights association, american marketing association, qrca and esomar. and we are members of all how will i be paid there are several different methods we use to thank our participants for their time and opinions. you may get paid with cash, check, gift cards, by keeping the product, or a combination of these. the incentive amounts are based on what our clients specify, and we will share these details with you during the invitation process. if you’d like to give some of the big brands your feedback on their offering, have some fun and put some green in your pocket at the same time, register today still have questions [email protected].
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Happy to share your views on hair products or politics? If so, you can easily make up to $150 an hour from anywhere, participating in market research! Online focus groups are a great way to make some extra cash from the comfort of your own home!
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The other day I got an email in my inbox that said:
“Sara, you might be a fit for a $150.00 study!”
I wouldn’t have opened it if it wasn’t from a legit consumer research company! But I knew the company really well and knew that this was a real money-making opportunity.
It was for a study about hair care purchases and routines!
But hey, $150 for an hour of my time? Why not?
That’s pretty special and not that easy to find!
I used survey companies before! And as much as I love Swagbucks for their Gold Surveys and cashback (I made over $200 in a couple of months just by buying through their links! So you should really subscribe for free…), $150 for an hour is not bad at all!
And as I am always super interested in side hustles and ways to make extra money, I did a little research to find other companies that look for people to do paid focus groups, either in person or online.
And the great thing about online focus groups? You can do it from anywhere!
So you can take part in some of these, no matter where you are or your nationality!
Available internationally. Earn from $75 for 30 minutes of your time to $450 for specific one-hour studies.
Available internationally. Earn from $50 to 250$ per research (sometimes more).
A focus group is a small group of people invited to share their opinions.
Focus groups can be conducted in person or online.
They are normally used for market research for new or existing products to determine people’s attitudes towards specific branding, usability, packaging, or ideas. They can also be used for political campaigns and opinion research. You can think about paid focus groups as much more in-depth surveys.
They usually involve you giving opinions and answering questions on a specific subject, getting some free coffee, and going home with an extra $50-$150 in your pocket!
More and more companies are now using paid research studies to better understand the market and trends and connect with consumers locally and globally.
If you find an in-person focus group near you, you will be expected to attend the interview in person. You will generally be interviewed within a group where each participant can talk to each other.
There is usually a researcher or moderator to lead the group, take notes, ask questions, and record the results.
If you join an in-person focus group, you might need to attend more than one session, but you will be paid for each session you attend.
An online focus group is very similar to an in-person focus group. You’ll need to join online via chat on your tablet or smartphone. You’ll typically receive a link to access the focus group, and from there, you’ll be able to join the discussion and give feedback.
Some online focus groups also use video or specific web-based software. You’ll need to download the software ahead of your focus group research.
More and more research studies are now opting for online focus groups as it’s a lot less expensive for them: they can cut down on money spent on materials and staff, plus it makes it a lot easier to have a bigger pool of possible participants in the research study.
Each focus group will be different, but you can expect to make from $30 to $150 per focus group (although some very specific focus groups can pay up to $450 for an hour of your time!).
The amount you will receive will depend on the time you’ve spent, which is usually an hour or two.
You’ll typically get paid in cash, via PayPal, check, or gift cards. Some market research companies pay with points you can redeem using a specific credit card.
Make sure you know exactly how you’ll get your money before agreeing to participate in a focus group!
Whether you are looking for online focus groups or in-person focus groups near you, you will have to be a bit patient as you have to go through a screening process before you can participate in any research study.
Consumer research companies normally look for people with very specific interests and profiles, and you will not be able to qualify all the time.
By joining as many companies as possible, you will maximize your chances of qualifying for as many focus groups as possible.
But before you start signing up, spend a couple of minutes to check out the company and make sure it’s legit. The last thing you want is to waste your time and get scammed online!
Read all the fine print and check their Facebook pages to find out what kind of reviews they are getting. Like with all survey companies, you’ll never find a 5-star rating from everyone! Some people will love them. Some will hate them.
But lucky for you, I have done a lot of the hard work and researched the best online focus group companies!
Free resources and money advice to make money work for you so that you can live your dream life! ♥
Here I put together a list of 16 companies that pay the biggest sums to make the most of your time!
You will find info on how each company pays and if they accept registration from specific countries, cities, or from all over the world.
User Interviews used to be available only in the US or Canada.
But they have recently opened up international studies and are adding more and more research studies.
It’s one of my favorite online focus group websites out there, and for a reason. In a month, I made $535 ! You can read about my experience here .
The first step to signing up is to create an account by clicking here. You will need to supply basic information like name, city, state, and demographic information. This information will help User Interviews to pair you with studies. Creating an account takes about 2 minutes!
If you connect via Linkedin and Facebook, you’ll get more chances to participate in focus groups, as they’ll be able to see details in your profiles.
As soon as you sign, you’ll be able to select between the following:
You’ll be paid via cash, check, PayPal, Amazon, or Visa gift card. The incentive type and amount are displayed before you select a study, so you can take the payment method into account before applying.
The pay goes from $75 for 30 minutes of your time to $450 for specific one-hour studies.
What I like about User Interviews is that their studies are super diverse, covering a slew of topics: technology, food, consumer goods, family, software, hobbies, pets, sports, transportation, beauty, social media, music, you name it! You’ll get to be a part of the conversation as new products, apps, websites, etc., are created, sharing their unique perspectives so teams can build better things.
They have some incredible clients, including Pinterest, Spotify, Vistaprint, Wayfair, Thumbtack, and more.
It’s really a no-brainer. Sign up here!
Respondent is my favorite option for in-person and online focus group studies and the one that got me the $150 focus group.
Their payout is excellent, up to $250 per research, sometimes more!
And they accept respondents from ALL OVER THE WORLD!
Respondent.io has projects that are available to US Residents as well as International. This means you don’t have to be in the US to join and earn from $50 to 250$ per research.
All you need to join is a PayPal account and either Facebook or LinkedIn to connect your profile.
This is how it works:
Respondents are paid the cash incentive amount advertised by the researcher, less a 5% (or a $1 fulfillment fee, whichever is higher). Example: If the cash incentive is $150, you will receive $142.50 via PayPal.
I know you’ll love it, and you’ll soon find something that’s right up your alley!
Just sign up here .
Ipsos is the third largest survey-based research firm in the world, and its consumer survey platform accepts people from all over the world .
Most of the offers available here are for small surveys where you can only earn $0.40-$1.50 per survey, but they do offer from time to time high-end surveys and focus groups that pay $50-$100 for an hour of your time.
They also have a mobile app that allows you to take surveys on the go.
You’ll earn points instead of cash when you complete a survey or focus group. Points vary depending on survey length. You can redeem your points when you have at least 500 in your account.
You’ll get paid with gift cards (including Amazon and iTunes), or you can also choose a prepaid Visa or PayPal cash.
Click here to sign up from anywhere.
And if you want to know more about Ipsos Isay, you can read my full review here .
With an outstanding 4.9 out of 5 on Facebook , Recruit and Field offer US nationwide online studies as well as focus groups in different locations.
They look for participants from any gender and age for their studies, including professionals and medical professionals (doctors, nurses, lab technicians, etc.).
They usually pay via PayPal but also offer Amazon or digital gift cards.
Their payments range from $100 to $275 per study.
Survey Junkie is a great legit website to make some extra cash! It’s mostly a survey company. With their surveys, you can earn between $0.5 to $5 (although the average is probably around $0.5-$3). But once you have signed up, you can opt in for some great focus groups and studies.
Survey Junkie offers:
The only catch is that some of these higher-paying options are available only once a month (or less, depending on your profile).
I really like how easy Survey Junkie is to set up, and it doesn’t cost anything to subscribe. Just sign up here .
Survey Feeds is US-based and has opportunities in many US cities (Boston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami, to name a few) and online. You can earn anything from $50 to $475.
Survey Feeds Specializes in the following:
In-Person Studies
Online studies
Their Facebook page is updated quite often with great market research opportunities.
You can browse the different options online by clicking here , or you can follow their Facebook page . They usually share their most profitable market research studies there!
FocusGroup.com offers both in-person and online focus groups all over the US. You can have a look at “Available studies” to check how much you can get paid. Most studies pay between $70 to $250.
Most of the research studies you’ll find interesting are probably under consumer topics, which include:
But they also run business-specific topics and medical topics.
Their payment methods are different for each research study. Make sure you check if you are happy with the payment method before you apply!
They usually pay either via pre-paid Visa card (normally valid for 180 days), check, gift card, or cash.
American Consumer Opinion is a big survey company for people from the US with over 7 million users. It’s free to sign up, and you can receive money in two ways: PayPal or a check.
It usually doesn’t pay very much, with short surveys making you $0.05 to $0.50, but if you get selected for longer market research surveys, you can make up to $50.
You get points for each survey that you take. 1 point is equivalent to 1 penny. When you hit $10.00, you can request your money.
Fieldwork compensation for participating in a focus group starts at $75, and their focus groups typically last one to two hours.
It has locations throughout the US:
But if you don’t live near any of these locations, you can still apply to join their national database. They usually pay with Visa gift cards, but check before you apply for a focus group.
Rated 4.7 out of 5 on Facebook , Probe Research is a US-based market research company that constantly hosts focus groups to get feedback for clients’ new advertising campaigns, products, or services.
Focus groups normally pay between $50 and $400; in some cases, you may not even need to leave your home! Interviews are conducted in groups, by phone, or online—depending on the amount of time assigned to that particular study.
Mindswarms is quite unique: they will pay you $50 to answer seven questions about a product or service or $10 to answer 1 question.
You can create an account using one of two ways:
1) On the web platform using your laptop/desktop. 2) Using the MindSwarms app on iOS or Android operating system with your smartphone or tablet.
You’ll need to record a profile video or two (to verify that your camera works well) and answer a few questions. Then you can begin applying to surveys.
Once you have registered, you’ll see studies that you might qualify for based on your profile. You can apply by answering a few simple questions in less than a minute.
If you are invited to take a survey, you’ll be asked to answer up to 7 questions using the video function on your smartphone, tablet, or webcam. It’ll take you less than 10 minutes to record your answers.
Then you’ll get paid automatically via PayPal 24 hours after you post your responses to a study.
Voted 4.6 out of 5 on Glassdoor and 4.5 out of 5 on Facebook , Brand Institute seeks participants to take part in pharmaceutical and market research worldwide .
You just need to register your details and reply to some simple questions. Make sure your account is as up to date as possible, and you will be contacted if you qualify for any study.
If you do, you will receive an email, so make sure you check regularly.
You will be paid via PayPal (remember to claim your payments within 30 days of completing a study!) or check.
Plaza Research has locations in 14 US cities. It specializes in in-person focus groups and pays $50-$200 to group participants.
Focus groups are usually held both during the day and in the evening. You may be asked to sample a new product, preview a TV commercial, or talk about future products.
You’ll get paid in person straight after the session. You can earn between $50- to $200 for a 2-hour session.
To participate in research studies, you just need to be over 18. You can register from all over the world.
You will be asked for some basic information and will be able to create your own personal login and password. Once your profile is complete, they will match you to their research studies. When they find a study that fits your profile, they’ll contact you either by email or phone to see if you qualify.
You can then participate in research studies in a variety of ways:
By participating in one of their focus groups, you can earn anything from $50 to $250.
They use an Opinion Reward points system. And you need to reach 1,000 ($10) before you can redeem points for gift cards.
Voted 4.4 out of 5 on Facebook , you can earn from $50 up to $200 for a study (US-based only).
WatchLab has online focus groups, in-person research studies, and in-home studies. You can check out their Facebook page to see the range of focus groups they offer.
I saw focus groups in San Francisco, LA, Seattle, Chicago, New York, Denver, and Portland. There might be more!
Engage has a pretty old-school-looking website.
It specializes in consumer and healthcare market research studies (you’ll need to pick one when you subscribe), and the pay ranges from $50-$250.
You can subscribe from all over the world. Just select your country when you sign up!
My 15 favorite websites for online and in-person focus groups aren’t the only ones around! And as I said before, the more you can find, the more opportunities you have to be a perfect fit for a paid focus group.
You can also search Facebook for “focus group” to find a list of pages of companies looking for applicants. I’ve listed some more companies below that might be worth checking out!
Focus groups will not make you rich overnight, but they are a nice side hustle to make some extra cash in your spare time!
And if you are not going to get a free coffee from an in-person focus group, you can sign up to Swagbucks and get free $5 credit that you can use for s Starbucks gift card!
If you want to find other ways to hustle for money, check out these other side hustles:
Let me know in the comments below if you had any success with paid focus group studies!
I really love online focus groups as a way to make some extra money on the side. You won’t get rich quickly, or they cannot replace your full-time income, but making $150 for an hour of your time a few times a year, sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me.
I wish it were possible to qualify for one a day! Lol!
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Some useful tips to make quick money online here..
Thanks for sharing
I’ve been doing focus groups and on line interviews for almost a year just sporadic at first then more often.year to date I’ve made a little over $ 2000… You got all the bigger ones that I know of but here’s a gem for you voxpopme, their mobile app is called influence. You answer video questions. Great, fun, topics, responses are usually 1 minute and they typically pay $1 by my math that’s somewhere around $60 an hour. Soon as you get $10 (I think) you can cash out via pay pal. Great app easy to navigate and it really Is fun to make and send these videos, the topics are fun the questions are creative it’s not my most lucrative but by far my favorite.
Thanks Steven, for the suggestion! Never heard of this one before but I’ll definitely look into it!
Thank you. I am recently unemployed and need income asap. I am hoping that these are legit. Have a great day.
Best of luck, Jay! I hope you can get selected for a focus group as soon as possible!
I have done focus groups in the past (contacting them the old fashion way) when my children were young. The enjoyed those groups because they got a chance to sample new toys…and my daughter ended up with several new dolls just for participating (while I earned $75 each time, just for making her available). So, I know it’s possible to earn a bit of spending money participating in these groups. The problem is finding legitimate groups/companies. That said, I really do hope this information is legit. If so, I must thank you in advanced because I really do appreciate you doing the leg work! It’s so difficult to find legitimate earning opportunities via the internet (no human contact). (This blog is very likely the closest thing to human contact as is possible via cyberspace.)
Have a try with some of these companies! I am sure you’ll find some that will work for you 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to research all of these focus groups. Much appreciated.
You are welcome, Julianne 🙂
It’s good information in one place.
That is good
Thank you Joseph!
yaaaaaaaa!! Just got paid $157.55
Amazing Ryan!! 🙂
Join me to find out:
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Did you know that last year, corporations have spent $76 Billion on market research?
Almost 5% of research budgets or $9.4 Million DAILY is spent on participant incentives. Which is a fancy way of saying – paid to people like you and me in exchange for participation. So if you are looking for a way to earn some extra cash and make an impact at the same time, you’ve come to the right place. I really believe that participating in research studies is a great side hustle option.
However, often it can take a lot of time because you have to show up be present and in some areas, you will find very few local opportunities.
But luckily, there are also online opportunities that make it easy for you to participate in paid studies, regardless of where you live.
Not all studies are worth it though – therefore, I have made a list of the 13 best online paid research studies so you can easily find the ones worth your time.Â
And I will also make it clear exactly what you can expect as a participant so you can see if it is the right opportunity for you
If you are new to online research studies, you likely want to know exactly how much you can expect to earn by participating.
There is no exact answer to this though as it varies a lot from study to study.Â
You will find some online surveys where you might get $1-$2 for a 15 minutes survey and other times you might get up to $50 per hour or more for specialized online interviews or online paid focus groups .
Just don’t expect this to be a way to make a living or anything like that. But it definitely can be a great way to make some extra money and make an impact at the same time. So we urge you to consider getting paid to do research studies.Â
Based on our research, Focus Groups Pay an average of $62 Hour. But this includes a very wide variety of topics and some of them actually pay $200+ but you need to be a doctor to qualify.Â
And you will always be able to see what you get for participating before you start and can then choose if it will be worth it for you or not based on this.
The following are what I have found to be the best places to participate in online studies.
Branded Surveys is one of the platforms where you can almost always find studies/surveys to participate in.
And the more active you are, the higher rewards you get for each online survey. In fact, you can get up to a 19% bonus for each survey which means you will get very good value for your time.
You can get your earnings out in cash via PayPal or choose between a large variety of gift cards.
Click here to Join Branded Surveys
YouGov is another platform that offers broad online research studies so you can find surveys you can participate in here no matter your background and location.
The surveys are fairly short and pay decently for your time and are about current and interesting topics.
You will get paid in cash or via gift cards depending on your preferences. YouGov also has an app so you can take the online surveys and research studies on the go.Â
Click here to Join YouGov
Respondent offers some of the highest paying research studies online. Depending on your background, you will get somewhere between $100-$700 per hour.
However, the studies Respondent conducts requires quite a bit of effort to complete, so you need to be willing to invest some time to qualify for them. But for the high incentives, it definitely can be worth it.Â
Just be aware that they often look for very specific people to participate, so it can take some patience to find a study you qualify for. Respondent is seeking participants for a variety of online studies that pay well including usability studies, online focus group, psychology studies and many more
Click here to Join Respondent
Survey Junkie offers several different kinds of studies you can participate in. You can, for example, find online surveys here and that is the fast and easy way to earn as you can almost always find available options.
But sometimes you might also be invited for online interviews or online focus groups. If you get invited for these, you should definitely consider participating as they usually pay well.
You can get your earnings out in cash via PayPal or choose between many different gift cards.
Click here to Join Survey Junkie
The Center for Behavioral and Decision Research (CBDR) at Carnegie Mellon University is often looking for participants for their focus groups and research studies.
Often the studies will take place at the campus but you can also find online studies you can do at home.Â
You will usually get $8-$10 per hour and will get paid in cash or gift cards. Great way to make some extra money.
Click here to Join CBDR
The Department of Psychology at Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences has quite a lot of different research studies that pay– many of them are online studies.
You can see an overview of the current studies on their website (link below) and read descriptions and requirements for each of the studies there as well. They are frequently searching for clinical trial participants, so if you are interested in psychology and want to participate in experiments for money, this is a great option.Â
You will usually get paid in cash or gift cards but how high incentives you will get depends a lot on the specific study.Â
Click here to Check Current Studies
LifePoints Panel will give you access to quite a lot of online studies and surveys and it is very easy to use.
You just sign up and then you will start receiving email invitations for available studies. And usually, you will receive several per week.
You can get paid in cash via PayPal or choose between many different gift cards.
Click here to Join LifePoints Panel
Toluna Influencers is another easy-to-use survey site that also occasionally offers bigger studies.Â
It also has an app so you can easily participate on the go which makes it very convenient. Usually, you can expect to be invited to a short online survey several times per week. Not a lot of focus groups on this platform but it’s easy to get a quick flow of paid surveys near me.
You can get your earnings out in cash via PayPal, choose between many different gift cards, or sometimes also get products as a reward if you prefer.
Click here to Join Toluna Influencers
PingPong is specialized in helping companies get consumer feedback about their apps and websites to improve them.
So if you join, you will be able to participate in online interviews and focus groups where you give feedback about different websites and apps for some really big companies.
You will usually earn $20-$100 per hour and you will get paid in cash within 7 days after an interview finishes via Transferwise (into your bank account) or via PayPal.
Click here to Join PingPong
Userlytics is a great platform to join if you would like to give feedback about websites and apps.
They offer both short interviews (usually you can record it when it fits into your schedule) and longer tests.Â
You will usually get paid $5, $10, $15, or $20 per test, but some projects will also pay as much as $90. You will get paid via PayPal within 15 days after the interview/test has been approved.
Click here to Join Userlytics
Mindswarms offers you to participate in video interviews – so if you are not comfortable with recording yourself on video, this is not the right option for you.
If you think this sounds fun, you can earn $10-$50 per video you record and they usually do not take long and you can record on your own time.Â
Just be aware that they are often looking for very specific people with specific backgrounds for their studies, so it can take some patience to find one you qualify for.
Click here to Join Mindswarms
The department of psychology at Harvard University is regularly looking for young adults and volunteers to participate in their research.
By participating, you can help to advance the understanding of human thought and behavior and it can also be a great way to learn more about psychology yourself.
Often the studies require you to show up physically but they also sometimes offer online research studies. You will get paid $10-$25 per hour in cash or gift cards.
Click here to Apply for Harvard Studies
The Behavioral Pharmacology and Health Promotion Laboratory (BPHP) at American University conducts research on cognitive and behavioral factors.
The exact topics vary from time to time, but you can see the currently available options through the link below. Many of them require you to show up personally but you can also find regular online research studies you can get paid to participate in. This is a great option if you are interested in medical research and highest paid clinical trials that are safe.Â
How much you will get depends on the particular study but you will always be able to see this clearly stated before applying.
Click here to Apply for American University Studies
User Interviews is an online paid research studies platform that allows you to participate in research studies, paid focus groups and online consumer conversations.
Unlike other websites that conduct online surveys, User Interviews rewards you for your time not with hard cash, but with gift cards. Although this may seem like a deal breaker, in exchange you can earn a steady rate of $55 per hour .
Moreover, the site has some excellent reviews, putting it in the top rank of paid online studies sites in terms of user satisfaction.
However, surveys on User Interviews are very time consuming, averaging over 60 minutes, and most of them are looking for specialist in a certain field, like medical professionals.
Click here to join User Interviews
American Consumer Opinion is one of the oldest research companies, helping research participants find paid research studies online since 1986.
Being one of the largest market research companies, you can will never run out of surveys to fill. The compensation for each survey varies, as the platform uses a point based system. Shorter surveys offer about 50 points, and some larger ones can go up to 5000 points. You can cash out once you have over 1000 points, which is equivalent to about 10 dollars.
Bear in mind, that turnaround time with American Consumer Opinion is very drawn out. You typically have wait 8 weeks for payment.
Click here to Join American Consumer Opinion
MOBROG is an survey platform, which primarily focuses on market research and consumer feedback. This means, that you are helping user experience of companies, while earning money online.
Speaking of money, you can expect to earn about $3 per survey, which takes you approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. This means you can make about $15 per hour.
You can collect your payment through Paypal or by Skrill.
Click here to Join MOBROG
Boston University School of Business offers paid research opportunities for a variety of demographics.
While some research studies require in person focus groups, many can be completed online as well. They typically require a long period of time to complete, and may ask you about some sensitive topics. If you do not wish to share personal experiences, then this option may not be for you.
The exact amount of payment can vary drastically, depending on the study, but compensation for participants is typically between $10 and $20 per hour.
Click here to Apply for Boston University Questrom School of Business Behavioral Lab
At Engage Studies or Engage in Depth you can take part in paid market research projects. This can take the form of focus groups, online discussions, website usability studies and more.
With Engage Studies you can expect to make average rates of $50-250 per every survey, which takes approximately 1-2 hours.
Although the pay varies based on your qualifications, this is an excellent opportunity worth checking out.
Click here to Join Engage Studies
MIT behavioral research lab provides you to be a research participant in paid non-clinical trials, including some fun and interesting experiments.
A great benefit to MIT Behavioral Research studies is that everything has strict standards and regulations, which means they will respect your thoughts and boundaries, and they will compensate you appropriately.
Click here to Apply for MIT Behavioral Research Lab
Brand Institute offers companies market research services, which is why they connect willing participants to various surveys and research studies, while compensating them appropriately.
For regular surveys, you will paid $2-5 per survey, while for medical research studies you will earn more at about $5-10.
However, many users have complained about not being able to find suitable surveys. Because of this I would recommend giving it a try, before committing to it.
Click here to Join Brand Institute
Panelbase is an UK-based online survey panel offering members cash rewards for their opinions on various services like product testing, SMS, postal, telephone, and much more.Â
You can expect to make $0.25-10 for a completed survey, which takes between 3-10 minutes. For further incentive, for every survey you can earn a prize draw of up to $50.
The downside is that there is no option for PayPal, so you have to enter your bank account details at each step.
Click here to Join Panelbase
Prolific is a survey and research studies site that boasts high reviews and is one of the most recommended platforms on various social media. It is one of the only services that has a $6.5 hourly minimum wave requirement.
You can expect to be paid $9-12 per hour on the platform. However this depends on the researcher in question.
Click here to Join Prolific
Valued Opinions is a research studies survey website that has over 3 million members worldwide. It connects people with online surveys on topics that interest them, and rewards them for their time.
It offers compensation as gift cards for top retailers, instead of direct cash. This might seem like a major negative, but with gift cards you don’t have to worry about long turnabout time on your payment.
On Valued Opinions you can earn up to $5 per short survey.
Click here to Join Valued Opinions
Opinium is a market research and insight agency established 15 years ago. It is a reputable platform that has operated for many years so you can trust them with your time and efforts.
The surveys offered are short 5 minute questionnaires. For them you can expect to be paid about 50 cents. You may cash out once your account reaches $25.
Click here to Join Opinium
Y Live is another UK based survey platform that works on a point based system for its members, where 1 point is equivalent to $1.
Unlike other sites, it offers a fixed hourly wage of $1 for every 5 minutes you spend completing surveys, but don’t expect to cheat the system as it has security measures in place.
You can redeem your points only after you reach 50 points in one month.
Click here to Join Y Live Community
AttaPoll is a survey app that makes it easy to fill out surveys and make a few dollars on the side-all on the convenience of your phone.
You can earn money two ways, either by referral or by filling out questionnaires. After you are done, you can cash out right away via PayPal or by cheque.
Payment varies based on your demographics and expertise.
Click here to Join AttaPoll
Ipsos iSay is a rewards community that allows users to voice their opinion on subjects important to them, while making some profit on the side.
It is the third largest research company and has over a million users worldwide. Its clientele comprises of some of the largest advertisement companies.
The platform operates on a points based system. One survey gets you between 45 and 90 points, where 100 points is equal to $1. You can redeem your points once you have earned $5.
Click here to Join Ipsos iSay
Focus Group is a site that offers online surveys and other research opportunities like focus groups to help you side hustle and earn some cash in your spare time.
One great positive about Focus Group lies within its diversity. It doesn’t have demographic nor a professional requirements that other platforms do. You can fill out a survey by phone, email, in person, or just on the Internet.
If you join focus groups and complete long surveys, then you can make up to $150. The best part is you can check out almost immediately after you have accumulated 100 points or $1.
Click here to Join Focus Group
Apex Focus Group connects people with paid focus groups, clinical research trials, and phone interviews, supporting the interests of both the companies and the participants. You can take part in it from the safety of your own home, and still make up to $700 a week.
The only downside is that many have complained about the low acceptance rate of these studies, and some couldn’t even find suitable surveys.
Click here to Join Apex Focus Group
Opinion Outpost is a market research panel where members collect points for their opinion in free online surveys.
These surveys mainly come from small companies, looking for feedback and consumer feedback. Like many other platforms it works on a points based system. Rewards can vary drastically between 10 to 250 points per survey.
The bad news is that 10 points equal a dollar, which is quite a low pay rate.
Click here to Join Opinion Outpost
As you can see, there are plenty of options if you want to participate in paid online research studies and online focus groups, without having to leave your home. If you do want to find a local focus group though and live in a larger city, we have probably analyzed and ranked the best in person focus groups in your city.
All of the options above offer online studies – some more often than others.Â
But if you make sure to join several of them and apply for studies regularly, you will find very frequent paid research opportunities and can make some nice extra cash while making an impact at the same time.
The great thing about paid research studies online compared to the ones where you have to show up, is that there often are no requirements for your location.
Therefore, it will be easy for you to find opportunities no matter where you live and you can do it from the comfort of your home.
However, there are some research studies that are looking for a very specific group of people, so you will likely not be able to qualify for all studies.
And sometimes it might take a bit of patience to find the ones you qualify for – however, on the list below, I have included sites with both very specialized studies and more broad studies that accept most people.
It is definitely possible to find some good options for YOU.Â
What is a paid online research study.
Online paid research study is essentially a type of market research that pays YOU for your time. It is usually conducted online by a market research company. Online studies come in a from of online surveys, focus groups, online interviews or paid clinical trials.
There are dozens of market research studies if you know where to look. StansGigs is dedicated to helping you find the best online opportunities. This list is a good start. Also check out the listing of in person studies as well as paid surveys.
Compared to studies that require a person to be physically present, there are often no hard requirements to get the gig. So you can find paid online study opportunities wherever you live and perform them from the comfort of your home. The only things you will need is a good internet connection, a microphone and most of the online focus groups will require a camera. Also note that before participating in a focus group you will usually be required to take a short survey or answer a few screening questions to ensure your eligibility.
The short answer is: Your phone will likely suffice. As long as you have a reliable smartphone, good internet connection and working camera, you should be okay. Some studies will ask for a certain app to be installed (Zoom) but they will notify eligible participants of this ahead of time.
Any of the market research companies mentioned above will pay you through Paypal or with gift cards.
I think that’s about it.
If you have participated in any paid studies online yourself and would like to share your experiences, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.Â
I am a father to a beautiful baby girl, a husband and a serial gigster 🙂 I live in Toronto, Canada. My claim to fame: I made thousands of dollars from focus groups and surveys over the last 15 years. Studied Marketing in Ryerson Univerity and worked in Marketing and Marketing Research for the last 14 years+ My mission is to educate others how to be successful with side hustles. You can contact my be email or on Facebook .
Wow! Never realized that there are better surveys online than those that pay you anything from 50cents to $2. Many of the ones you have listed actually look exciting as well. A possible alternative side source of income if one chooses. I personally think the psycology and behavioural science ones will certainly be interesting – but will have to explore them when I have fewer things on my plate. Thank you so much for a great compilation.
Thanks for Kind words and happy that you liked the content. Best of luck in your surveys 🙂
This is extremely helpful. I didn’t think there was a lot of services or places that would actually provide something like this. I always thought it would be a scam of some sort. I will definitely be looking into this thank you.
Hi Alex, Glad you liked it. Many people at first think it’s too good to be true. But after a bit of the research and trial and error they find ways to use it well
I wasn’t impressed with the YouGov website. Too much going on, couldn’t find where to start with my basic profile, and didn’t see any paid studies to apply for.
Thanks for the feedback. We will take a close look at them and perhaps will change the recommendation.
[…] you prefer to earn some cash from the comfort of your home, online focus group is a great option. Typically, they pay a bit less, but that’s the tradeoff for more flexibility […]
I look forward to receiving your emails! Thank you so much for doing this.
Glad to have you onboard, Erika 🙂
Thanks so, so much. I’m using research studies to build up a little fund to leave an abusive parent (I’m eighteen, it’s a funding issue.) Thanks for the resource. 🙂
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In-person and online focus groups are an incredible side hustle opportunity. And I've actually been making money for the last couple of years by taking part in different market research groups.
Unlike survey sites , focus group opportunities often pay $50 to $100+ per hour. Plus, you get to take part in interesting research and studies in a variety of fields.
However, not all focus groups are the same. And some are downright scams or aren't worth your time. This is why I'm sharing some of the best paid focus groups you can use to start earning today!
Table of Contents
User Interviews is my favorite paid online focus group. I've been using it since 2022, and I've completed studies on it before and have always been paid on time.
The company has over 2,000 focus group studies per month. Pinterest, Adobe, Spotify, and Wayfair are just a few of the recognizable brand names that have partnered with User Interviews.
The signup process is also painless. Just create an account with your email and then answer a demographic and career questionnaire to help match you to the best focus groups.
One thing that’s great about User Interviews is the search page. You can immediately see how much focus groups pay, their date, how long they take, and a description of what's involved.
Some studies and focus groups are quite generic, like seeking participants to give feedback for a product. These usually pay $10. But you can find more niche focus groups easily paying $50 to $100 upon completion.
For example, one I completed recently paid me $65 for a 45 minute study. All I had to do was give feedback on a new design tool for business cards, which was pretty fun!
You have to apply to focus groups which involves completing a short screener. But if you get accepted, this is an excellent way to get free money and gift cards in exchange for your feedback and opinions.
👉 Start earning with User Interviews!
Survey Junkie is a leading survey website where you can share your opinion to get paid.
It's free to sign up for and is available in North America and Australia. I've used it for years, and it's one of the highest-paying survey websites in the business.
Most surveys on Survey Junkie pay $0.50 to $1 or $2. But you can sometimes find longer surveys that pay more. The company also has occasional product testing or paid market research opportunities.
This is certainly more of a survey site than paid online focus group. However, you can cash out with PayPal or free gift cards at only $5, so it's a nice way to get quick money .
👉 Start earning with Survey Junkie!
Respondent is another amazing way to get paid to be in a focus group. And this is also our favorite User Interviews alternative.
The platform is super easy to use. Simply sign up for free as a focus group participant and complete a demographic questionnaire. You can then browse and apply to available studies and focus groups.
In our experience, focus groups and paid market research studies pay anywhere from $10 to $150 per hour or completion. There's also in-person, phone, and Zoom-call focus groups too.
The best part about Respondent is that the very niche studies can pay hundreds of dollars. Many studies look for certain career professionals or business owners too, so keep this in mind.
Branded Surveys , like Survey Junkie, lets you complete online surveys to earn cash and gift cards.
The site is free to join and is available in North America and the UK. It's a very easy way to earn money online , and you only need $5 to cash out.
Most surveys you complete pay $0.50 to $2.50. There's also a great loyalty program that pays bonus cash each month if you complete enough surveys.
My advice is to use Branded Surveys in the downtime you have while searching for paid focus groups. The hourly pay is lower, but it's easier to make money consistently since there are almost always available surveys.
👉 Try out Branded Surveys!
FocusGroup.com offers (as the name suggests) focus groups as well as surveys and on-the-go tasks like mystery shopping gigs .
Signing up is similar to other paid online focus group websites. You have to answer some questions about yourself, including demographic and career questions. This takes a bit of time, but it's the only way to unlock focus group opportunities and not just cash surveys .
Some FocusGroup.com opportunities pay $100 to $300 or more. However, the downside is it generally takes a long time to match and qualify for an opporutnity.
We filled out our personal survey to test out FocusGroup.com. We still haven't been matched to any focus groups or studies, only surveys. So, this site isn't a consistent money-maker, although it does pay participants well.
Check out our FocusGroup.com review for all the details!
Rare Patient Voice is one of the best paid focus group websites for patients with rare conditions or their caregivers.
This site lets you take part in both webcam and phone interviews. And it's available in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Italy, Spain, Germany, and France.
Rare Patient Voice pays up to $120 per hour to both caregivers and patients. This is one of the higher rates out there. You can also get paid $20 for taking part in a screening, since screenings generally take a bit of time.
If you have any type of condition, even if it's not the most rare, Rare Patient Voice is worth checking out. The same goes if you work in health services or are a caregiver.
Field Voices is another popular focus group side hustle you can try out. And we like it since it has both in-person and online focus groups you can participate in.
It's also a very lucrative side hustle . For example, when we checked them out they were calling for applicants to a 4-hour in-person workshop in Plano, Texas in return for a $300 Visa gift card. The other paid market research group was a 3-day focus group on meeting your healthcare needs, in return for a $350 Visa gift card.
Like other websites, you have to submit some personal information to Field Voices when applying. Many focus groups look for specific demographics or job types, so you won't get accepted every time. But the pay is quite high if you end up getting approved for a study or focus group.
Lightster is a money making app where you get to share your opinions with different companies to get paid.
The platform works with massive companies like Google, Best Buy, Sephora, and Microsoft. Once you sign up and complete your profile, you can then get receive questions from brands and creators who want your insights. As you answer questions and have a conversation, you get paid.
This is a unique way to get paid for your advice . And what's nice is that after you complete your profile, researchers and companies reach out to you, so you don't have to hustle and endlessly apply to focus groups.
Payments vary, but you can earn up to $1 per minute. As for rewards. Lightster offers free Amazon gift cards , PayPal cash, or Wise payments.
Fieldwork is another popular paid market research company that's looking for consumers, business professionals, patients, and healthcare professionals right now.
You can create a profile on its website and then complete your profile to get started. You can then receive studies and focus groups to take part. There's one-on-one interviews, virtual sessions, and even at-home studies researching a wide range of topics.
Compensation is fixed at $75 per hour and payment is made with virtual gift cards. Unlink some of the other options listed here, Fieldwork will reach out to you via phone or email about opportunities that might be a good fit.
L&E has 1.7 million participants and paid out nearly $9 million in 2023. When we signed up, they said there were 205 active studies available. There are also specific medical and B2B panels where patients, caregivers, and business owners can find better-paying focus groups.
According to their website, some medical and business focus groups can pay up to $1,500 (you read that right) depending on position in the organization…all for one hour. Wow…bet you’re wishing you went to med school now, or worked your way up the corporate ladder!
As for the rest of us, focus groups pay quite well. One thing we love about L&E over some of the other choices is that the displayed list of available studies is very transparent. You’ll see the exact range of compensation, the location (nationwide is what you want), age range, gender, and description. You still need to complete pre-screening questionnaires, but they’re all within the L&E website and relatively painless.
Extra Reading – How To Make $200 Fast .
R&F gleans consumer insights for companies like Apple, Netflix, GMC, and Clinique. The website is a little more lo-fi than some of the others, but that’s okay. After a quick introductory signup, you just fill out a list of demographic information to get matched focus group opportunities.
Payment for participation in groups typically falls between $100 and $275 per session. The sign-up questionnaire takes a while to fill out. But considering these payouts, the effort is worth it.
However, Recruit & Field doesn't have a page to browse paid focus groups. Rather, it’s a targeted research group that reaches out to you. For this reason, you should take the questions seriously.
Experience Dynamics specifically focuses on UX, or user design. And this is a way to get paid to test websites and then give your feedback on them
Compensation generally ranges from $50 to $150. Some tasks require one sitting, while others involve a “diary” type of process where you record your experience over a few days or weeks.
This is more involved than using usability testing platforms like UserTesting or PlaytestCloud . However, the pay is much higher since you have to put in more effort.
The above options are some of our favorite ways to make money with focus groups. But you can try even more websites and research studies that pay to maximize your opportunities, including:
👉 The 25+ Highest Paying Apps To Try .
How much you earn with paid focus groups largely depends on how many opportunities you qualify for. Payment per hour also varies depending on the company, type of focus group, and how niche a particular study is. But participants can generally expect to earn at least $50 to $100 per hour.
For example, my latest User Interviews test paid me $65 for 45 minutes. And some of my friends have taken part in multi-day studies paying several hundred dollars.
Ultimately, this isn't a full-time online job . Income can be very inconsistent, so apply to focus group opportunities but don't expect a steady paycheck.
Many focus group and market research groups offer in-person studies alongside phone and online webcam studies. So, you can search for nearby paid focus groups if you use the websites we've listed above.
Just note that larger cities generally have more paid market research opportunities than small towns and rural areas.
There are many paid focus group scams out there or companies that try to steal personal information from participants. And some companies, like Apex Focus Group , just consolidate focus group opportunities but don't run studies themselves.
Ultimately, we suggest sticking with reputable companies that have a proven track record of paying participants. Reference data like Trustpilot scores, Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, and social media reviews or comments when choosing a focus group company.
Extra Reading – The Top Online Jobs Paying Weekly .
These are some of the best paid focus groups we could find. And if you snag a few studies per year, you could be looking at hundreds or thousands of dollars in additional income.
Also note that there are so many market research studies out there that pay. This list is a great way to get started. But don't be afraid to search around your city for more market research surveys and studies.
Of course, you can always make money right away with gpt sites or other digital side hustles that are more consistent. But we think applying to a few focus group websites is a good idea. After all, you never know which studies you'll get into. So, a big payday could be around the corner!
Want even more ideas to earn? Checkout :
Tom is a full-time blogger and freelance writer with a passion for side hustling, passive income, and making money online. His work has appeared on dozens of personal finance websites like Money Crashers, The College Investor, Forbes, and more.
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The Behavioral Lab (BeLab) studies human behavior and decision-making by inviting participants to participate in paid online or in-person studies and contribute to cutting-edge research. To participate in paid studies:
HBS researchers study a wide range of topics, including decision making, consumer preferences, group interactions, and economic behaviors. Studies typically involve completing surveys and tasks on a computer. Some studies involve small group interactions with other participants. ​More information on each study is listed in their descriptions on Sona .
Based in the United States
18 years of age or older
Able to show a valid photo ID (government or school issued)
Able to understand and speak English
Comfortable using a computer
The BeLab is located on the 3rd floor of 2 Arrow St, Cambridge, MA 02138. It is a 5–7-minute walk from Harvard Square. The lab is close to Massachusetts Avenue and located near popular shops like Berryline yogurt, Kung Fu Tea, Boston Burger Company, and across the corner from Zinneken’s Belgian waffles. We are also next to Arrow Street Cleaner’s on Arrow Street.
The lab is about a 7-minute walk from the Harvard Station MBTA stop, that includes the Red Line and various bus lines. The lab is also one block away from the MBTA bus 1 stop at Mt. Auburn and Putnam.
Parking in Cambridge is limited and heavily regulated. When possible, we recommend that participants use public transportation. If you decide to drive to the BeLab, there are a few metered parking spaces on Mass Ave and Arrow Street and nearby paid parking garages.
Our website is supported by our users and contains affiliate links. We get paid when you purchase or sign up for anything through those links. Read the full disclaimer for more information.
Last Updated on December 9, 2021 by Daniella
A great way to make money online is with online paid research studies.
These studies usually consist entirely online but may also have the opportunity for an in person activity. They could be interview based, online survey based, focus group based, panel based, or clinical trial based.
Online paid research studies are a notch up from the online paid survey apps like Swagbucks and InboxDollars that take you a week to get to a $20 payout. A good pay range for participating in paid research studies would be $50 an hour and up. You’ll see that some clinical studies mentioned make up to $400 for one study.
All of the sites mentioned in this article pay $50 and up for each paid study, making it a worthwhile way to make extra cash but maybe not a sustainable side hustle – since you have to rely on if you fall into a certain demographic for a study or not.
Let’s explore the opportunities available.
Table of Contents
1. respondent.
Respondent is a website and company that will paid you for online paid research interviews based on both your professional and life experience.
You’ll find research interviews you can get paid for ranging from getting paid to ordering food at a restaurant to testing software, apps , feedback on financial needs, and more. In this case, your data is the product for the payout you’re earning (as with most research studies).
Pay rate: Ranges from $15 for 15 minutes to as much as $300 an hour for 1 study
User Research International is a company that runs studies for consumers, IT professionals, developers, and more. When you join as a participant in their database, you’ll start receiving emails with study opportunities you can apply to participate in.
Most studies take less than 2 hours and pay anywhere from $50 to $200.
You can get started by going to User Research International and signing up for free.
Pay rate: $50 an hour and up
FieldWork is a company that relies on focus groups to aid in their nationwide paid market research studies. Your expertise can influence decision makers through their research.
The site says they are looking for all types of people in all different areas to participate in their studies. If you listen to music or use a bank, FieldWork has a study for you to participate in.
When I went to try it out for myself to apply for a study, I applied for this study for remote workers since I am a full time remote worker . They had tons of different studies available for different workers, interests, and more.
Pay rate: $100 an hour and up
Get paid by testing an app, website, or just talking about your life experiences with User Interviews.
User Interviews pays you for your user feedback on an array of different things including (but not limited to):
The site features tons of studies that pay anywhere from $50 per 30 minutes so as much as $150 an hour. All studies are done online.
Pay rate: $50 per 30 minutes to as much as $150 an hour
Experience Dynamics is a company whose sole purpose is to provide feedback and data to their clients to continually improve the software and products we use in our everyday lives.
They host user research studies that range from interview style, survey, or walking through a website from a start of an action to the end of an action.
All of the different types of studies they have available are:
Each study pays anywhere from $50 to $150.
Related: 9 Creative Ways to Get Paid to Text
As you apply to any of the studies above, continue applying. Don’t expect to get accepted to a study on your first application so increase your chances of acceptance to apply for several studies that fit your expertise or experience.
Be sure to set and keep your boundaries when applying for these studies as well. This is your personal data you’re selling and when it starts to feel a bit too intrusive, chances are your gut is right and maybe you shouldn’t go for that study.
Getting paid to contribute to research is exciting, and keep an open mind but always keep a look out for red flags and anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. You never have to do anything or provide any information that you don’t want to.
For more ways to make money online, take our free side hustle quiz.
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Daniella is the creator and author of iliketodabble.com. When their wife Alexandra and them aren’t globetrotting or playing with their 7+ animals, they are dabbling and working towards a future of financial freedom.
I work as a web developer and I’ve joined User Research International and it’s great!! I got two studies this past month they were 2h and I was paid 225$ for both. You do need to have a technical background for most studies but they are really easy if you have the knowleagh and payment tends to be fast and you have many options on how to get paid.
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Help us further our discoveries of how the mind works
You do not have to be affiliated with Stanford University to participate in Psychology research. The majority of our paid studies take place on the Stanford campus, but we also offer opportunities to take part in our experiments online. We appreciate your participation, which is vital to the continued success of our department. Out of consideration for our researchers' time and resources, we ask that you please only sign up for studies you can attend and that you cancel any appointments you are unable to make.
Stanford students in Psychology classes can not receive course credit for participating in paid studies. Please check your course syllabus for participation instructions.
Sign up to participate
Existing participants can log in to browse our current studies and sign up for open timeslots.
The following studies are recruiting participants and pay for your time. Read the descriptions and requirements. If you are interested, email the researcher asking to participate. Information on some studies is also posted on bulletin boards in Swift Hall.
Emotional processing in friendships.
Do you or your friend struggle with self-confidence? Help us research how close friends talk and support each other! If you AND one of your close friends are between 18 and 40 years and willing to participate together, you may be eligible. You and your friend can each earn up to $125. For this study, you and one of your close, same-sex friends will participate together at Northwestern’s medical school campus in downtown Chicago. You will complete an interview, a variety of questionnaires, and several tasks with your friend while having your brain activity recorded using EEG. Many of the procedures will be completed online rather than in person. This study will take approximately 5 hours to complete, splitting into 2 days. You and your friend will each be paid $25/hour for a total of $125 (the total amount will depend on how long your visit takes). Additionally, you will also be compensated for parking or CTA travel for attending the study visit.
If you are interested, please fill out this brief survey to see if you are eligible ( https://redcap.nubic.northwestern.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=487MNAJAMWMLC9AM ). If you have more questions, feel free to email the us at [email protected] or call/text at 312-884-9797! A team member will get back to you shortly. Principal Investigator : Dr. Stewart Shankman
Study Title : Emotional Processing in Friendships
IRB# : STU00218814
8/6/2024
The Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences is recruiting families with babies 9 to 30 months of age to participate in the pilot phase of a study investigating early brain and child development.
The visit will consist of a lullaby MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) while baby is sleeping. No dyes/contrast or sedation are used. MRIs are safe and routinely used in research settings. The visit will take approximately 2.5 – 3 hours and families are compensated $115 for their time. The visit will take place on Northwestern’s Chicago campus. Parking validation or transportation reimbursement will be provided along with childcare (if needed for other children).
For more information or to sign up, please email HBCD Study Manager, Brianna Sinche, at [email protected] .
Study Title : The HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study (HBCD) Principal Investigators : Drs. Lauren Wakschlag and Elizabeth Norton IRB# : STU00217118
The Dynamic Brain Lab at Northwestern University is recruiting volunteers to participate in research on the brain dynamics underlying memory and cognitive control across the human lifespan. We are recruiting adults and children for multiple studies.
Participants will be compensated at $30/hour.
The research will take place in downtown Chicago.
Follow this link for more information, and to sign up: https://redcap.nubic.northwestern.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=93P9HHRYXXDMLYTD
Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Johnson, PhD
Study Title: Behavioral and neural mechanisms of memory across the lifespan
IRB# : STU00216728
We are seeking young people to participate in a research project at Northwestern University about how the relationships between social networks, personality, and unusual thoughts some people may have fluctuate over a brief period. The goal of this research is to increase understanding of how social interactions influence mental health concerns and/or mental health concerns influence social interactions.
You may be eligible for this study if you are between 12 and 34 years of age. The study would entail coming in for 3 visits each approximately one week apart, and you will be compensated $25 per hour for your participation. During these sessions, you will complete questionnaires about unusual thoughts and experiences, mental health symptoms, and your social network and a brief interview with a researcher about your social life.
If you are interested, please email us at [email protected] , and a member of our team will get back to you shortly.
Principal investigator : Dr. Vijay Mittal
Study Title : ORBITZ
IRB# : STU00203263
The SoundBrain Lab is seeking participants for a research study investigating how our brains identify and categorize different talkers/voices.
You may be eligible if:
Participation includes:
All measures are non-invasive. Participation requires two 1-hour visits. These visits may be on the same day, separated by at least two hours, or on consecutive days. Participants will be compensated at $15/hour.
If you are interested, please email [email protected] for more information.
Principal Investigator : Bharath Chandrasekaran, PhD
Study Title : Neural Systems in Auditory and Speech Categorization
IRB# : STU00219433
We are seeking young people who are concerned about recent changes in mood, thinking or behavior. This research project aims to increase understanding of mental health concerns in young people and how to prevent the development of a more serious mental illness such as psychosis.
You may be eligible for the study if you meet any of the following criteria:
The study would entail visits over a 2-year period, and you would be paid $30 per hour for your participation. Eligible participants will be asked to come in for various assessments including:
If you are interested, please email us at [email protected] or fill out this online eligibility survey , and a member of our team will get back to you shortly.
Principal investigator: Dr. Vijay Mittal Study Title: ProNET IRB #: STU00215145
The Cognitive Neuroscience Lab in the Department of Psychology at Northwestern is recruiting volunteers to participate in sleep research ( STU00034353 )
Compensation is provided for studies ($12.50/hr)
You can participate in Chicago or at our sleep lab on the Evanston campus.
To sign up and learn more about the The Paller Lab, visit: www.northwestern.edu/people/kap/apply
Principal Investigator: Dr. Ken Paller
Study Title: Strategically strengthening declarative memories during sleep: Learning, Creative Problem-Solving, REM Sleep, and Dreaming
IRB# STU00034353-MOD0044
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Kelan Kline | Updated July 3, 2024 Make Money
Many people regularly participate in paid research studies as a side hustle to make extra cash quickly .
However, finding legitimate studies can sometimes be difficult if you don’t know where to look.
If you want to learn more about participating in paid studies, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll share 15 of the best sites and companies offering paid studies.
So without further ado, let’s get started.
Start sharing your opinion, earn points, and cash them out for free gift cards or cash today. Claim your FREE $10 sign-up bonus now!
Table of Contents
I’m sure you want to know all the options for paid research, but here are the top picks we’ve done to get quick and high payouts for our time:
For paid research studies, we have a variety of survey sites, marketing research, and clinical research that give a variety of payouts.
There are plenty of creative ways to earn money , and these sites give you many options.
Some can give you a few bucks for a few minutes of answers, whereas others take a few hours and can make you $300!
Let’s check out your options for research studies:
Have you taken any Buzzfeed quizzes lately? Where you won’t know which Hogwarts House you’re in, you could answer survey questions and make instant money !
One of the quickest ways to take paid online surveys and get fast payouts is Swagbucks .
Swagbucks is a site that connects people with paid research opportunities from marketing companies.
They have an extensive database of paid online surveys from all types of industries, like beauty products, baby products, housewares, and more.
And they also offer other ways to earn money, including watching videos, playing games, and shopping online.
Check out our Swagbucks Review to find out more!
Most surveys pay an average of $1 to $5.
Many surveys vary regarding how long they take to complete and how much they pay. But you can typically expect to make around $10 – $15 per hour.
Do you like the idea of earning money by sharing your opinion? If so, Survey Junkie is one of the best survey sites to do it!
You can take surveys on a variety of topics. Best of all, you can do it entirely from the comfort of your own home!
All you need is a computer and an internet connection. Simply sign up for an account and start taking surveys. Each online survey will earn points that can be redeemed for cash or gift cards.
Learn more about them in our Survey Junkie review !
The typical payout for a survey is around $1 – $3. However, some surveys can pay up to $10 or more.
Want to make money from your couch? Survey Junkie pays out over $40,000 daily to its members for taking paid online surveys. Get your share today!
Respondent is a platform that connects businesses with research participants. Companies use Respondent to get high-quality feedback from consumers fast.
The platform is free to join, and you can start earning money by participating in online research studies as soon as you’re approved.
Studies are matched to your demographics and profile information. Respondent doesn’t choose who participates in the paid studies; the companies requesting the research choose who participates.
The typical payout per paid study is anywhere from $50 to over $200, with more comprehensive studies paying more.
American Consumer Opinion is a paid research study site that has been around for over 20 years connecting businesses with consumers.
Businesses and organizations rely on consumer feedback to improve their products and services, so your online surveys provide valuable info.
Surveys on various topics are available, and they also have a panel where you can participate in focus groups and product testing.
You can complete surveys on your own time and get a payout with PayPal cash or gift cards.
The average payout per survey is $2 – $5 for surveys that take only a few minutes.
They offer a few cents compensation if you don’t qualify for the survey, which other sites don’t offer.
User Interviews is a website that allows you to sign up to participate in paid studies. These studies can take place through phone interviews, in-person, or streaming focus groups.
The interviews about products, services, and websites usually last between 30 minutes and an hour. Study participants are paid by cash, check, PayPal, or by gift cards like Amazon or Visa.
Want to see what some of the research study topics are? You can see some research studies and the price they will pay before you apply with User Interviews.
Payouts vary but start at around $15 per hour up to over $300 per hour
Engage Studies is a research company that conducts studies on behalf of various pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
They’re looking for people to participate in their studies through online discussions or in person.
Engage Studies conduct studies essential for advancing the knowledge and treatment of diseases.
Participating in their studies can help make a difference in the lives of people affected by these diseases.
Their homepage says you can make anywhere from $50 – $250 for studies that often take less than 30 minutes.
The PingPong program offers one-on-one video chats to help developers and participants work together on testing websites .
They’ve previously worked with organizations like BT, Skyscanner, Zapier, and Nestle. to get research on how their sites work.
You’ll need a computer or laptop with a camera and microphone. In the one-on-one sessions, you can share your computer screen and honestly discuss the websites you test.
They pay you automatically within 7 days of the interview via Transferwise to your bank account or your PayPal account.
You’ll earn rewards from €10 to €100 for each session.
Recruit & Field has been around since 1977, providing many opportunities for paid research studies, focus groups, and online surveys.
Some clients include GreyGoose, Microsoft, Apple, Uber, and more. They have studies for everyone and often have a high payout, especially if you’re a medical professional.
They are a company worth checking out if you’re looking for paid opportunities.
The typical payout is $50 – $300 per study.
Taking part in one of the focus groups with Apex Focus Group is a great way to voice your opinion and get compensated for your time.
They connect people with paid focus groups, clinical research trials, and phone interviews. You can take part online or in person, and the company has opportunities across the country.
Sometimes, you may even get a sample of new products before they are released to the public!
Participants can get paid up to $750 a week.
If you’re looking to get paid to participate in research studies, the Northwestern University Department of Psychology is a great place to start.
They regularly run psychological research studies on various human behavior topics such as linguistics research study, guided breathing and a smell test, mood and phone usage test, and more.
The online research studies may take anywhere from an hour to two hours over one to multiple days, so be sure to know the details of what you sign up for.
Depending on the study, the pay for the in-person research projects ranges anywhere from $7 – $700.
Brand Institute is a Better Business Bureau-certified research company specializing in medical branding.
It’s been in business for over 20 years and has conducted surveys for major pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer and Merck.
Its mission is to assist its valued, worldwide clients in obtaining best-in-class strategy, name development, trademark screening, market/safety research, and visual identity services.
While Brand Institute is geared more toward medical professionals, they also welcome non-medical people such as business professionals, consumers, parents, etc., to participate in their research.
Brand Institute offers various surveys and online research, so there’s sure to be one that interests you.
And, you can be confident that your answers will be used to improve the quality of medical care.
Surveys pay anywhere from $2 – $5 and typically take 30 minutes. Medical professionals have access to medical surveys that pay more, usually around $30.
Taking research studies at MIT’s Behavioral Research Lab (BRL) could be a great way to earn some extra money.
BRL conducts studies on various topics, ranging from consumer behavior to economic decision-making.
Participants are typically paid for their time and can sign up for multiple studies if they wish. BRL is an excellent opportunity for those who want to help shape the future of behavioral research.
You may be asked to complete questionnaires, play games, complete computer tasks, participate in group activities, and so on.
Online research and in-person studies are available. Lab studies will be conducted in Cambridge, Massachusetts, whereas online tests may be performed online from anywhere using a computer.
BRL offers a competitive pay scale and an opportunity to work with some of the world’s leading researchers.
Participants are paid between $15 – $25 an hour for lab research and $12 – $20 an hour for internet studies.
Participants receive payment in cash, gift cards, electronic gift certificates, or checks. The researcher determines this.
If the payment reaches $75+, researchers will only accept checks to reimburse participants because this is necessary for MIT tax filing.
Mindswarms is a unique survey site that collects responses in video format, which allows respondents to provide more detailed and personal responses than traditional written surveys.
Top brands from all fields such as tech, advertising, retail, healthcare, and other fields use Mindswarms as a market research firm.
A short introductory survey takes less than a minute to complete and has a few multiple-choice questions.
After you’ve submitted your introductory survey, a Mindswarm researcher will go through it within 24 hours to see if you’re suitable for the survey.
Once the researcher accepts the introductory survey, you can start recording video answers to the survey. Mindswarms surveys usually have one to seven questions.
There is a time limit to the video submissions, usually limited to 45 to 60 seconds long.
Respondents are paid based on the number of questions they receive in the study.
Pay for less than seven questions is typically $10. For studies with more than seven questions, the pay is up to $50.
Fieldwork connects people with opportunities to participate in paid research studies, typically in person rather than online, but with some phone options available.
The paid focus groups are conducted in one of their locations.
Fieldwork has locations in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New Jersey, New York City, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Seattle.
You can select it if you live near one of the Fieldwork locations. You may join their national database for phone interviews if you don’t reside near any.
The groups last approximately 1 – 2 hours, and participants are paid $75 – $100 for their time and opinions.
FocusGroup.com is a website that connects people who need engaged and enthusiastic participants for research studies with those looking to participate in a study.
Members of FocusGroup.com are people like you that want to share their opinions on various topics by participating in paid research studies.
The topics available include technology, food taste tests, healthcare, and product and device tests.
Research studies can be completed in one of three different ways:
Payment for each research study varies, but you can typically expect to earn $50 – $200 for your participation.
What pays better, in-person or online paid research studies.
In general, in-person paid research studies pay better than online research, so they’re the more profitable side hustle opportunity .
However, there are some notable exceptions to this rule, so it’s always best to research various options before choosing which study to participate in.
Also, remember that the amount you’re paid for a study may vary depending on your qualifications and the length and complexity of the study.
A focus group is a group of people who market research companies bring together to give their opinions on various topics.
These focus groups are generally used by businesses to get feedback on products, services, or marketing campaigns.
Focus groups generally look for engaged participants willing to share their opinions.
A representative of the market research company usually moderates paid focus group discussions.
The research can be conducted in person or in an online research group, typically lasting for one to two hours.
No, not all focus group opportunities are legit. There are several scams out there, so it’s essential to be careful when looking for paid focus groups and use actual companies to connect with research.
The best way to avoid these scams is only to join focus groups that are proven to be from a reputable market research company.
Generally, companies that request payment to participate in a focus group are not legitimate.
Do your online research and look for reviews of the focus groups and research companies you’re considering before joining to make sure you’re not getting scammed.
Paid focus groups can be used as a part of your multiple streams of income . You can typically earn anywhere from $50 to $200 per session, depending on the focus group and the length of the session.
Some groups may also offer a small compensation for your time in transit. Generally, you’ll be paid in cash at the end of the focus group.
Clinical trials are research studies that test new drugs, treatments, or therapies. They also can be used to compare existing treatments to see if one is better than the other.
Participants vary, including consumers, parents, kids/teens, students, physicians, and business professionals.
The payments can vary significantly, so it’s best to research each opportunity before deciding whether to participate in one as a way to get paid the same day .
Pharmaceutical companies or hospitals usually conduct paid clinical trials. These trials can last several weeks or months and may require multiple visits.
Many other survey sites offer paid market research. Some popular online research studies include Pinecone Research , Ipsos iSay , and MySurvey .
Each of these sites has a different payout structure and different types of surveys available, so it’s worth signing up for a few of them to see which one works best for you.
There are several side hustle apps to make money online with your phone. You can complete paid surveys, download and use apps, or get paid to play games.
Paid surveys are a great way to make money with your phone, as you can earn rewards simply for sharing your opinion.
Apps can also be a great source of income, as you can sell products or services through them.
Finally, playing games on your phone can also be a great way to make money. There are many ways to do this, such as entering competitions or earning rewards for high scores.
Paid market research is a great way to make money from the comfort of your own home.
You can easily make an extra $100 per month by participating in online focus groups, studies, and surveys. You can also make money by playing games on your phone or downloading apps.
Remember that each site has different rules and regulations, so read the terms and conditions before signing up.
Also, ensure you know the payout structure and how you’ll be paid for your participation in online research studies.
Your time is really the only investment you need to put into this side hustle, so it’s a great low-cost money-maker to try out.
See what offerings there may be in your local town just by searching for research studies, or start small with Swagbucks surveys on your phone.
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Get paid to participate in research studies
Online Focus Groups: Up to $250/hr Paid Research ...
7. Purdue University. You can find a lot of paid online studies here. Currently, they have studies on Parkinson's disease (and other neurodegenerative diseases), flavored water, biosensors, mushroom nutrition, linguistics, cancer, and so on. Participants are paid somewhere between $10 and $500.
Respondent.io is a website that helps companies like Allstate and eBay perform market research studies. As a "respondent" (fancy word for research participant), you'll be paid for taking part in focus groups, one-on-one interviews and other research work. Examples of paid research studies available at Respondent:
Paid research studies typically offer $50 to $100 per hour in compensation, with both online and in-person opportunities available. Here are the best platforms for finding legit focus groups, research trials and more.
Pay: The in-person studies pay up to $100 for two hours, and the online surveys are paid in points that can be redeemed for Amazon e-vouchers. #8. Engage in Depth. Engage in Depth has paid research studies for two demographics: general consumer/business professionals and medical/healthcare community members.
Virtual Lab Online Research Studies
IntelliZoom. (4) IntelliZoom is a user experience (UX) research platform where panelists can get paid to give feedback on various companies' websites, apps, and other digital products via paid studies. Founded in 2007, the platform claims to have over 1.2M panelists and over 400 customers. Requirements 🔎.
One point equals $0.01, and you can cash your points in for PayPal cash or donate them to charity. Related: 17 Best Places to Take Paid Online Surveys for Money. 3. Respondent. Respondent is unique because it organizes one-on-one paid research studies online and in person.
Online Focus Groups - Get Paid to Participate
To earn from this site, you can answer surveys or participate in research studies offered by other participants of the site. You will get paid via PayPal as long as you've earned ÂŁ5 (if you live somewhere in Europe) or $7 (if you live in the US or other regions). That's a pretty low payout threshold, in my opinion.
31 Paid Studies (And How You Can Make Money ...
4. Be consistent and persistent. Earning money with paid online research studies has become more popular, so it's essential to be consistent and persistent. Check research platforms regularly for new opportunities, and apply to as many studies as you qualify. This will increase your chances of being selected for a study and earning money.
Focus groups Online or In-Person: This type of study consists of participants who are led through specific discussions by a moderator and can range in size between 3 - 15 people. And sometimes we will conduct one-one sessions with individual participants. These discussions may be conducted remotely, using your desktop or laptop and webcam, or ...
15 Best Paid Online Focus Groups: Make $150/hour
Field Voices connects eligible participants to research opportunities that help to shape the future generation of products and services. We find distinguished participants to take part in various types of paid studies, focus groups, online communities and in-depth interviews, across the USA and overseas. At Field Voices we value transparency ...
Prolific. Prolific is a survey and research studies site that boasts high reviews and is one of the most recommended platforms on various social media. It is one of the only services that has a $6.5 hourly minimum wave requirement. You can expect to be paid $9-12 per hour on the platform.
27 Best Paid Focus Groups (Earn $300/hr ...
Participate in Research - Behavioral Research
Most studies take less than 2 hours and pay anywhere from $50 to $200. You can get started by going to User Research International and signing up for free. Pay rate: $50 an hour and up. 3. FieldWork. FieldWork is a company that relies on focus groups to aid in their nationwide paid market research studies.
You do not have to be affiliated with Stanford University to participate in Psychology research. The majority of our paid studies take place on the Stanford campus, but we also offer opportunities to take part in our experiments online. We appreciate your participation, which is vital to the continued success of our department. Out of ...
Paid Research Opportunities: Department of Psychology
15 Best Sites To Find Paid Research Studies In 2024