If you like to criticize things, why not get paid for it? There are plenty of platforms that pay you to test websites, apps, and video games by connecting you with companies looking for feedback on their products.
User testing gigs are essentially quality assurance jobs or user experience evaluation sessions. As a user tester, your feedback will help improve the usability, design, and functionality of all sorts of consumer digital products.
How Does Paid User Testing Work?
After being accepted to a testing platform, you’ll have access to all sorts of user testing opportunities. Testing services will either post gigs on their site or invite you to participate in a testing assignment. Of course, you can choose to participate in whatever test you’re interested in.
The first task in any paid testing session is to actually try out the product. You will be given a set of instructions on what to do. Many testing sites will provide software that lets you record your testing session.
After testing the product, you’ll need to provide your opinion on topics such as easy-of-use, feature value, or functionality. You’ll need a webcam and microphone, because testing sites usually want visual and audio feedback in addition to text feedback. In other words, most user testing sites will want you to speak out your opinions about the product after or while you try it.
A more sophisticated (and higher payment) level of user testing is bug testing. As a bug tester, you will methodically try out a website, app, or game to identify major and minor technical issues. Quite literally, you will be expected to find places where the product breaks.
Low effort testing gigs (i.e., try out a product and provide general feedback) usually pay $10 to $5 per test. Bug testing and technical issue detection will require longer testing sessions and pay out much more. The good news is that you usually don’t have to reach a certain payout threshold to withdraw your earnings. You’ll likely get paid after each test is done and approved.
Popular User Testing Websites
Here are some popular platforms to find user testing gigs:
- uTest – claims to be the largest community of digital freelance software testers. You’ll be asked to find bugs, conduct test cases to verify bugs, and complete usability surveys. If the task is to spot bugs, you’ll only get paid when you find one and the bug is approved/confirmed by uTest. It takes time to learn how to be good at spotting bugs, and if you’re not detail-oriented you won’t make much money at all.
- Trymata – this site specializes in usability testing. You’ll be asked to use a website/app exactly as you would in a real-life situation. The feedback you submit will be in the form of a video and audio recording and a written response to a wrap-up survey. You can earn $30-$5 per test. Expect only a few testing opportunities per week but take as many tests as you like.
- Usertesting – share your opinions on products for cash. Your feedback must be submitted through video recordings. You’ll get paid for every completed test. Longer assignments can pay out around $50 per completed test. Payment is via PayPal, and you’ll get cash 7 days after the test is done. You need to take a practice test to join their platform.
- Userlytics – help make products more user friendly by conducting usability tests on this platform. In each test, you’ll follow specific instructions on how to use the product, and you’ll communicate your thoughts out loud. Typical tests take 20 to 40 minutes to complete. After your test has been submitted and approved by the platform, you’ll earn $90-$5 for the test. Payments are made via PayPal every 15 days.