UserTesting Review: Can You Really Make Real Money?

If you have a keen eye and a digital-first brain, you can get paid to be a tester of brands websites, apps and online products with UserTesting. The gig is as simple as it gets with you sharing your feedback by recording your screen as you assist in bettering products for other. Getting paid is convenient with PayPal and no experience is required. In this review, we found that UserTesting is a legitimate side hustle where users can earn real money by testing websites.

Quick Facts

What’s Inside

• Is UserTesting 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 UserTesting
• Final Verdict: Is UserTesting worth your time?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Is UserTesting real and safe?

Yes, in our view, UserTesting is a legitimate platform. It is operated and owned by UserTesting, Inc., a company headquartered in San Francisco, having been around in business since 2007. They are as good as it gets when it comes to App Testing gigs and are widely considered the industry standard for website and app testing firms.

Users think highly of it too. On Trustpilot, UserTesting ranks as “Excellent” and at the time of this review has a 4.5 / 5 star rating. This isn’t based on a handful of reviews either, nearly 3,000 people have taken the time to provide review on their service. We echo this with our own 3-star rank, the highest we give out.

How hard is it to sign up?

It is fairly easy, but takes a bit of time to sign up to UserTesting. The process runs about 15 to 20 minutes where you provide your personal information and then must complete a brief practice test. The purpose for this test is to essentially pre-qualify you by confirming your ability to speak clearly while you describe exactly what you are doing as you navigate a website.

You are not immediately approved as one of the team members must review your test and ensure you meet their basic requirements. If for some reason you are rejected, you can always try again.

💡 Insider Tip:
Ensure you are in a quiet space with no distractions during your sign up test.
Many users report that background noise can lead to an automatic disqualification of the test.

Can I do this whenever I want?

You can, but with a big catch. All tests have quotas, meaning a limited number of people are able to participate as testers for any given project. It is a first come, first serve basis. So while you are technically able to work on your own schedule, the big earning members are frequently logging in to see opportunities are available.

They do alert users when new opportunities become available, but sometimes these notifications are delayed and projects will already be filled when you attempt to join.

How much money can you really make?

With an average rate of $10 for a twenty minute recorded test and around two tests per week, you can expect to earn $80 to $100 per month. While there are many variables that impact test payouts, the duration (how long it takes) will always be the biggest payout driver. This is why you will see opportunities ranging from $3 to $60, with paid surveys being on the smaller end and representing the lower payout range.

You may seem claims of testers who report being able to make around $100 per week, but those we consider to be “super users” who are always logging in and active on the platform. This gives them the greatest likelihood to be accepted to higher paying tests before they fill up.

The general rule of thumb is as follows: $4 for micro-tests, $10 for standard tests, and $30–$60 for Live Conversations.

When and how do you get paid?

UserTesting pays via PayPal. After you complete a test that is approved by their team, it takes around two weeks (14 days) for them to process payment to you.

Based on our research and the high volume of positive user feedback, the company has a strong reputation for paying its testers reliably. So, despite the slight delay you should have confidence the money will show up into your PayPal after you request it. You are viewed as a contractor, so UserTesting does not withhold any taxes. This is something you are responsible for reporting when you file your annual returns.

What stuff do you need to start?

An iPhone or Android device are both suitable options so long as they are not super old. More specifically, your need either iOS 14 or Android 10.0 (or higher). On mobile devices you will require the UserTesting app from the App Store or Google Play store before you apply.

If you would like to use a computer, you will need a supported Internet browser, upload speed of 3.0 Mbps or better, and of course a working microphone. One benefit for computer users is you do not need to download anything extra as the whole platform operates within your browser.

Is the work easy or hard?

It’s easy peasy. All you are really doing is navigating a website or app and speaking out loud about what you are experiencing as you go. The real value you bring to the firms that pay for these tests is your genuine reaction as their goal is to understand how their products will perform “in the wild.”

Where some frustration may arise is in the pre-qualifying, which is a series of questions (a screener) to ensure the testers fit the profile the companies are looking for. That said, once you do qualify the actual testing process is not hard at all.

The Pros and Cons of UserTesting

Final Verdict: Is UserTesting worth your time?

If you have a desire to test websites and apps, this is the gig for you. People are always rightfully concerned about online scams or not getting paid, but that is absolutely not a concern with UserTesting. You’re not going to get rich doing this, so put that thought out of your mind. However, if you want to make some extra pocket money with a low barrier to entry, look no further.

The Bottom Line: In our opinion, UserTesting is one of the top platforms in the space, offering rates that appear to be higher than many of its direct competitors and has great support service for testers. It’s certainly worth “testing” this opportunity out to see if you like the work.

Frequently Asked Questions