"€10 for 20 minutes," says the homepage. That's even true – for the 20 minutes. The two hours of waiting for a test you qualify for aren't mentioned.
The short answer
In a user test you use an app or website, say out loud what you're thinking, and get recorded while doing it. Companies pay for this because they want to see where real people get stuck. The pay per test is higher than for surveys, but you get fewer of them. You need a quiet room, a decent microphone and the willingness to speak English in English-language tests.
How it works
- Sign-up with a sample test. Platforms such as [UserTesting](/en/providers/usertesting) or [Userlytics](/en/providers/userlytics) have you do an unpaid sample test. They check whether you speak clearly and follow instructions. Only then do paid tests arrive.
- Screeners. Before each test you answer a few questions ("Have you bought furniture online in the last 30 days?"). If you don't fit, the test is gone – unpaid. This is the biggest time sink.
- The test. Usually 10 to 30 minutes, sometimes a video call with a moderator. You get tasks ("Find the return policy") and comment out loud. Moderated studies are common at [TestingTime](/en/providers/testingtime); they pay better but come up less often.
- Rating and payout. The client rates your recording. Poor ratings (too quiet, too brief) reduce your chances of further tests. Payment is usually via PayPal, often after a waiting period of one to two weeks.
- Crowdtesting is a different job. At [Testbirds](/en/providers/testbirds) or [uTest](/en/providers/utest) you hunt for bugs in software and report them in a structured way. That's closer to quality assurance than to "giving your opinion" and is often paid per accepted bug.
What you need
Current devices (the platform specifies which), a microphone without hiss, stable internet, a place without flatmates in the background and, on many platforms, a minimum age of 18. English helps a lot because a large share of tests is posted internationally.
In practice
Time yourself for a week: screeners, waiting, the test, follow-up. Divide the amount paid out by that total time, not by the test minutes. Then you know whether it's worth it for you. The [time-value calculator](/en/calculator) does the maths with your own benchmark.
Checklist
- Sample test done and the platform's feedback read.
- Microphone checked by listening to yourself: clear, no echo.
- Profile honest and complete so screeners match.
- Screener and waiting time counted in.
- No test that asks for real passwords, bank details or ID documents (see [Stay safe](/en/safe-start)).
- Payout method and waiting period read beforehand.
All test platforms with ratings and evidence are in the [comparison](/en/comparison).