Did you know you can get paid to test a company’s products?
Any time a company introduces a new product or service to the market, there’s risk involved. What happens if the product isn’t well-received, or a critical defect derails the product rollout, resulting in costly delays and damage to the company’s brand?
For these reasons and more, companies will pay regular people to test products at home before they are released on store shelves. It helps them ensure that their products are ready for the market and reduces the risk of failure.
You can become a product tester and get paid to test products at home.
It’s a great way to pad your savings account and have some fun doing it. In this article, I’ll share no fewer than 12 ways you can get paid to test products from home.
I’ll let you know how much you can earn and which product testing companies are more trustworthy.
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How To Get Paid To Test Products at Home
When you sign up to work with one of the companies listed below, they’ll put you on their product tester list.
You will get sent products at random intervals, use the products as instructed, and give feedback to the company that makes the product.
The company will then use your feedback to determine whether the product needs improvement or is working as designed.
Product testing companies might also have you test services or other parts of their business, like their website.
At the end of each testing period, the company will reward you with cash, products, or points that you can convert into prizes such as gift cards. You won’t get paid today, but over time it can be meaningful.
In addition, you’ll often get to keep the product you’ve tested as well. Here are some of the most popular companies you can sign up with to be a product tester.
Social Nature – Try Free Products
Social Nature won’t pay you to try products but they will send you them for free (or vouchers where you can redeem for free products from your local stores). They have a lot of products available and I recently joined them to give it a try.
Also, when you join, you get an entry into a monthly $100 gift card drawing.
1. Pinecone Research
Pinecone Research is one of the top product testing sites around. They pay well compared to many other companies, and that’s why they’re featured first.
With Pinecone Research, you’ll earn points for taking surveys and also for testing products at home.
Each survey you take will help influence the development of products and services. And you’ll earn points worth $3 to $5 for each 20-minute survey you take.
When you get invited to test products at home, you’ll know the number of points you’ll earn before agreeing to the test.
You can convert your Pinecone Research points to PayPal and other gift cards. You can also ask Pinecone to mail you a check.
Pinecone Research has weekly and quarterly cash giveaways too. You’ll get one entry into the cash giveaway sweepstakes every time you complete a survey.
In other words, the more surveys you complete, the more chances you have to win sweepstakes jackpots.
Note that Pinecone Research is discerning about the members they allow to become a part of their team.
You must fit the demographics of their client base, and they expect quality work when filling out surveys.
Find out more in our Pinecone Research review or click the link below to sign up.
👉 Learn more about Pinecone Research
2. Valued Opinions
When you join Valued Opinions, you can influence product development in several ways, like taking surveys or testing a product and providing your feedback. Valued Opinions may also ask you to review advertising campaigns to help determine their effectiveness. They pay up to $5 for each survey taken.
Product testing could earn you even more. You will earn rewards points each time you participate.
You can use your rewards points to get Visa gift cards, Amazon gift cards, etc. Or you can choose to use your points to get merchandise or to donate to a charitable cause.
3. JJ Friends and Neighbors
JJ Friends and Neighbors is the product testing arm of Johnson & Johnson.
When you join, you can sign up to take surveys or to become a product tester. There are also panels, focus groups, and discussion groups.
JJ Friends might ask you to give your opinion on any number of products, from baby products to personal care products.
For instance, you might be asked to smell fragrances or try a baby product on your baby.
You’ll get paid anywhere from $5 to $100 or more per test, and payment comes in the form of your choice of gift cards, such as prepaid Visa cards.
Again, you’ll qualify with more surveys for JJ Friends and Neighbors if you fit their demographic.
For that reason, you’ll want to answer the initial sign-up questions thoroughly.
4. BetaTesting
With BetaTesting, you can test apps, websites, and computer hardware from home.
Upon completing each test, you’ll have an opportunity to give feedback, report bug issues, and more. Each test pays roughly $10 to $20, although some tests might pay more.
Most members get 0 to 5 tests per month, depending on their demographic. You must be at least 18 years old to participate.
In addition, you must read and write the English language fluently. Payments are made via PayPal about seven days after you complete the test.
Note that tests range across a variety of devices. Some tests require a PC, while others might require a phone or tablet, etc.
5. UserTesting
UserTesting works a lot like BetaTesting. When you sign up, you’ll fill out a profile to help determine which tests you qualify for.
You’ll test websites, apps, and more for functionality, ease of use, etc. UserTesting pays $4 for a 5-minute test, $10 for a 20-minute test, and even more for live interviews. They send payment via PayPal 7 days after the test period.
To qualify, you must be at least 18 years old, be able to express your thoughts in English, and meet UserTesting’s computer or mobile device requirements.
In addition, all applicants must take a practice test to determine eligibility.
Note: If you like making money through website testing, you might want to check out these ways to make money by playing games.
6. McCormick & Co.
McCormick & Co. hires taste testers to test the spices and other food products they make. If you love to cook (or eat), this might be the perfect product testing opportunity for you.
After you apply and are in the company’s database, you’ll get invitations via email.
You’ll want to be sure to request to participate quickly, as studies fill up fast. Most tests last 30 to 120 minutes and pay between $10 and $30, although some may pay more.
If you happen to live near the company’s headquarters in Hunt Valley, MD, you could get paid even more with in-person testing groups.
McCormick & Co. send payment in the form of Amazon gift cards. Note that you can only be approved to test products with McCormick & Co. up to four times per year and only once every three months.
7. American Consumer Opinion
American Consumer Opinion pays you for helping its clients to develop and perfect new products.
When you sign up to be a member of American Consumer Opinion, they might ask you to: :
- Take a survey about a product
- Evaluate new products
- Optimize existing products
- Give feedback on packaging
And more. You get rewards points for each task you complete. Once you’ve earned at least 1,000 points, you can cash out.
You can choose from a variety of rewards, including PayPal. Other payment options include Hyperwallet, charitable donations, sweepstakes entries, and more.
8. Product Testing USA
Product Testing USA chooses members to test products from home. When you sign up to be a member, you can select which products you’d like to try.
The company will send you the product, and you’ll follow the testing instructions and then give your feedback.
Payment is in the form of a product; you get to keep the products you test. The products available for testing vary.
When I checked the Product Testing USA website, they looked for people to test air fryers, smartphones, and more.
Note that you’ll have to take a qualifying survey before the company approves you to test products you’re interested in testing.
9. BzzAgent
Becoming a member of BzzAgent can be a fun way to test samples of new products coming on the market.
You’ll have to start by filling out an application and taking a qualifying survey. Doing so helps put you in the right demographics group to test products that are right for you.
BzzAgent then sends you samples. You use the samples according to the directions BzzAgent provides.
Then you submit your product review or post your review on social media, depending on the test’s instructions.
Your payment is in the form of a product – you get to keep the products you test.
10. SheSpeaks
SheSpeaks launched in 2007 as a mean’s to amplify women’s voices.
When you join SheSpeaks, you can influence products via product testing, surveys, and more.
With SheSpeaks, you won’t earn cash or gift cards for your time. Instead, you’ll be entered into a series of drawings for cash and other prizes.
Or, you’ll get to keep the product you’ve tested or choose other products as your reward.
You can get entered into giveaways when you complete other activities, such as leaving video reviews, participating in discussion forums, and more.
Giveaway winners can win any number of products, from beauty products to small appliances.
Is Product Testing Worth It?
You might be wondering if product testing is worth your time. Let me start by saying that you will not make a total time income with product testing.
The downsides of product testing are that most product testing companies have members test at limited intervals, and the pay you get from product testing isn’t what you’d get paid if you were working a higher income skill.
However, product testing has several benefits.
One advantage of working as a product tester is that you get to help influence product development. As a consumer, you might like having a say in products that are on the market.
Another benefit of product testing is that you don’t have to leave home. It’s always nice to be able to earn some extra cash from your living room.
The takeaway here is that everyone is different, and only you can decide if working as a product tester will be beneficial for you.
Research the available product testing companies and decide which you might like to try. Consider the time input you’ll have to dish out giving feedback, and make your decision.
Final Thoughts on Becoming a Product Tester
Make no mistake; product testing won’t make you rich.
Feel free to check out our list of side hustles you can do from home if you’re looking for a higher-paying gig. That said, it can be a fun way to influence the products you see on store shelves and the available services, and you might discover a new, favorite product along the way.
Have you ever worked as a product tester? Share your experience in the comments section.
