Play games before they are released, provide your feedback, get paid. That is the premise behind game testing gig GameTester.gg. The platform is owned by Lionbridge, an Australian company that runs quality testing for major game studios worldwide. Don’t worry, you don’t have to live down under to participate as this one is fully open to US based testers. In our GameTester.gg review, we give you the 411 on exactly what you are getting into before you sign up.
Quick Facts
| Platform Name | GameTester.gg |
| Earning Potential | Varies, around $5.00 |
| Typical Duration | 15 minutes to several hours |
| Payment Frequency | On-demand (min $25) |
| Required Equipment | PC, Mac, Smartphone or VR |
What’s Inside
- Is GameTester.gg real and safe?
- How hard is it to sign up?
- Can I do this whenever I want?
- How much money can you really make?
- When and how do you get paid?
- What stuff do you need to start?
- Is the work easy or hard?
- The Pros and Cons of GameTester.gg
- Final Verdict: Is GameTester.gg worth your time?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Is GameTester.gg real and safe?
GameTester.gg has been running since 2017 and is part of Lionbridge Games, a major global player in the gaming services industry. In our view, this corporate backing provides a high level of legitimacy and security for participants. If you aren’t familiar with that name, Lionbridge is quite old school and reputable quality testing firm that works with major game studios. Proof is in the pudding as over 500 Trustpilot reviews average a strong 4.7 out of 5. There are members who have been active for three years+ who consistently report getting paid. The one thing worth knowing is that payouts are managed via a payment firm called XTRM, so for you PayPal lovers this unfortunately isn’t an option. And yes, you will need to setup a separate XTRM account, which adds a step, but its no big deal.
Since you will often be testing unreleased software, you will likely be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). We remind all users that these are legally binding contracts that strictly prohibit sharing any gameplay, screenshots, or details publicly.
How hard is it to sign up?
The sign up only takes a couple of minutes where you will provide your email address and a chosen gamer nickname. After you confirm your email addy, you need to complete your gamer profile. This consists of three sections before tests start coming your way:
1) Your general gaming background
2) The genres you play
3) The devices you own.
Ensure you complete all of this fully, as it directly impacts how many tests (aka earning opportunities) you will receive.
Now here’s where your patience will get tested. Newbie members typically do not get a ton of opportunities regardless of how complete their profile is. What happens is you will start getting introductory questionnaires, which furthers your user profile and grows what they call your XP ranking. As your XP ranking grows, playtests will appear. Ironic (or not), it’s interesting how their XP system works so similarly to playing actual games!
💡 Insider Tip:
Join the GameTester.gg Discord channel! New testers tend to ramp up faster because experienced members share tips on what makes good feedback and how the XP system works.
Can I do this whenever I want?
Game test invitations are sent to you via email and app notification, with a deadline attached. Like most, its always best to react quickly before spots fill up. An interesting component with GameTester.gg is you are not able to browse an open list of available tests and select one. Everything is done via the notification methods mentioned above.
Once you are accepted into a playtest, most sessions have a multi-day window to complete, so you are not scrambling to finish. Your XP rank directly impacts how many invites you receive, which is why building it early is key to success.
How much money can you really make?
This is where things get a bit confusing. GameTester.gg pays out in a currency called GTGold. The equation to dollars is quite simple: 1,000 GTGold equals $1. Prior to accepting a game test, you are told the payout in GTGold before you accept, so you always know what you are earning. Users should review the current exchange rates and cash-out options within the XTRM eWallet to understand exactly how their GTGold converts to US currency.
It is important to understand that new users may find invitations infrequent at first. Based on our research, the platform uses an XP (Experience Point) system. As you build your tester rank, the frequency of higher-paying opportunities appears to increase.
As you build up your XP with introductory tests and short questionnaires, your earnings are very limited and pay small amounts. Where more meaningful money comes is with the full playtesting sessions. This also means that patience is key here because there is a $25 minimum cashout, which you won’t achieve until you start participating in playtests. Realistically it will be months, however once you start getting more and more playtests the initial investment of time does pay off.
My reading of active member feedback describes this as a fun, occasional earner rather than a consistent income from day one. You really have to think of it as getting paid to do something you would be doing for free anyway, so its truly a gig “for the gamers” if this makes sense.
When and how do you get paid?
Payment goes out through a firm called XTRM, which is a global payment processor. You will need an account setup with XTRM before you cash out. The process is simply converting your GTGold into a XTRM eWallet credit and from there you can cash out to a virtual Visa, direct bank transfer, or gift vouchers. The minimum cashout is $25. It’s worth noting that bank transfers take two to seven business days once processed and have bigger fees, so we always suggest one of the other methods.
While many users report smooth payouts through the XTRM system, some have noted that the verification process for bank transfers can take longer than e-gift card redemptions. We suggest checking US availability for your preferred payout method.
What stuff do you need to start?
GameTester runs play tests on PC, Mac, Android, iOS, and VR. You’ll need one of these, but considering you are likely reading this on your mobile device, I am guessing you have at least one of them covered! This said, if you have more than a phone, ensure you list them on your profile. The more devices you list in your profile, the wider the range of tests you get matched to. A basic gaming PC or a smartphone is enough to get started. There is no minimum spec requirement to join, though some individual tests will specify system requirements in the invite.
Is the work easy or hard?
This is entirely personality driven. If you love games, you’ll love this gig. If you don’t like games, move on and find another one. Playing the game is the easy part, the effort and value you bring is providing meaningful written useful feedback. GameTester.gg is not just about logging bugs, the developers want to know how the game felt, what confused you, what bored you, what made you want to keep playing, etc. Don’t be vague with answers like “it’s fun” as that is a quick path to limiting your involvement in future playtests.
In fact, the way the system is built, it rewards those that go above and beyond. Bonus GTGold is paid out to testers whose input developers actually find useful. This is why it is key to write like you are talking to the person who made the game.
The Pros and Cons of GameTester.gg
| The Pros | The Cons |
|---|---|
| Play unreleased games: Early access before public launch. | Slow start: New member means few quality invites at first. |
| US availability: Open to testers in US, despite being AUS. | XTRM payment setup: Extra registration step before first cashout. |
| Free to join: No fee, no catch. | $25 min cashout: Takes time to reach, especially early on. |
Final Verdict: Is GameTester.gg worth your time?
If you are a gamer, yes. Not a gamer? Take a pass. The true value from GameTester.gg is early access to games that have not been announced yet and being involved by communicating opinions to the actual people building them. View your occasional earnings for feedback as a bonus, getting paid for something you would have given for free anyway. Yes, the money is real and the platform does pay, but you need patience. The first month will likely feel like your progress is minimal and nothing is happening. Push through it, build your XP and it will pick up.
The Bottom Line: Sign up today if you love games. Fill out every profile section, select all genres, set up your XTRM account before you need it, and join the Discord on day one. The cash is a bonus. Getting to play games nobody else has played yet is the real reward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most members report a few weeks to a couple of months before proper playtesting invites start coming in regularly. It depends entirely on how quickly you build XP. Completing every introductory test and questionnaire right away speeds that process up.
Currently GameTester runs tests on PC, Mac, Android, iOS, and VR. Console testing is not part of the platform as of now.
Specificity. Developers are not looking for summaries like ’the controls felt off.’ They want to know which controls, in what situation, and what you expected instead. Screenshots or screen recordings to support your report help a lot.
Yes. The platform is open globally and US testers are eligible for all standard tests. XTRM supports USD payments and US bank transfers.
Yes. Any cash you receive counts as income regardless of which platform paid you. GameTester does not withhold anything. If your total side income across all platforms goes over $400 in a year, self-employment tax rules apply in the US.
