Want to Get Paid to Test Products at Home? 9 Trusted Websites to Check Out!

Turning a hobby into a way of making extra money on the side used to be limited to those selling art or making music. But what if your hobby is trying new things?

Well, you’re in luck! You can actually get paid to test products at home and write an online review. Product testing companies will be asking for your honest feedback in exchange for cash, merchandise, or prepaid gift cards.

You can find huge numbers of product testing opportunities online, but only some of them are legit. Here’s how to apply for product tests and 9 trusted websites guaranteed to compensate you for your efforts.

Can You Get Paid to Test Products at Home?

Yes, you can! It isn’t a full-time job, but it’s still super simple to get a hold of and can be pretty rewarding.

However, you should take note that product testing isn’t something you can do half-heartedly. Rushing through a product review or not providing your honest opinion of the product can cut your gig short.

What You’ll Need to Get Paid to Test Products at Home

Many side hustles require some kind of upfront investment, but not being a product tester. All you need to test products for money is:

• Time: Some types of products, like cosmetics, need time to give concrete results and hence to properly assess their benefits/side effects.
• Attention to detail: You must be able to understand and follow the company’s specific instructions to review the products.
• Product-testing email address: Create a dedicated account so you can separate your personal and day-to-day updates from your gigs and ensure you don’t miss any important updates.

Where to Get Paid to Test Products at Home: 9 Trusted Product Testing Websites

There’s nothing worse than spending time and effort expecting compensation, only to find out the product testing site you signed up for isn’t trustworthy.

To avoid that, stick with websites that have a good track record, including the following:

1. Johnson & Johnson (JJ Friends & Neighbors)

Johnson & Johnson is one of the largest companies that specialize in creating baby products, as well as personal care brands like Aveeno, Clean & Clear, and Neutrogena.

How Much You Can Make

It depends on the duration of the test, but the range is $10–$20.

What Makes This Option Great

Large companies like that understand that getting customer feedback is an essential part of any product launch. That’s why the product testing program, JJ Friends and Neighbors, supports a wide variety of products that are targeted toward different demographics.

Testing products can either be done at home or in a J & J testing facility. The tests may include smelling new fragrances, trying cosmetic products like mascara or lipstick, or testing a new type of dental floss.

Joining is super easy; all you have to do is register on the website, providing information that would help the program send you products that fit your profile.

• Requirements: Your name, email address, date of birth, and phone number.
• Typical Payment Method: A Prepaid Visa® Card

2. McCormick & Company

Known for its iconic spice containers, McCormick & Co. is a mainstay in any kitchen in the United States, Canada, or the UK. It’s hard to imagine a spice cabinet without one of those red lids!

How Much You Can Make

It depends on the type of taste test.

What Makes This Option Great

The consumer testing program is a crucial part of McCormick & Company’s product development process. So, taste tests are done every Monday through Friday at the Hunt Valley, Maryland, testing center or in the comfort of your own home.

When you sign up, you’ll agree to be called for one taste test every three months, with a maximum of four product tests per year. This allows McCormick & Co. to have as many taste testers as possible to cover a variety of different palettes.

If you live in the US, Canada, or the UK, you can sign up through the McCormick & Co. website. You can also sign up your child for taste tests aimed at children.

• Requirements: Your name, email address, residential address, phone number, occupation, and dietary restrictions
• Typical Payment Method: Amazon gift card

3. National Consumer Panel

From the veteran market research firms Nielsen and IRI comes this groundbreaking concept for keeping tabs on what consumers want. Instead of relying on paid surveys and focus groups, the idea of the NCP was to directly monitor consumer behavior and preferences.

How Much You Can Make

Depending on how often you scan your purchases, you can accumulate points and get rewards based on them.

What Makes This Option Great

When it started in 2009, a handheld scanner was given to each panelist to scan the products they usually shopped for. As of 2019, the scanner was replaced by a mobile app that does the same thing, as well as offering online surveys and other activities to participate in.

As of now, access to the mobile app is exclusive to accepted participants who fit the selection criteria for the National Consumer Panel. In return, the panelists receive points that they can trade for free stuff, like merchandise or prepaid gift cards.

• Requirements: Your name, email address, residential address, and date of birth
• Typical Payment Method: A point system that can be traded for goods and gift cards

4. Beta Testing

Beta Testing is a service geared toward service providers and tech companies that want to test the user experience of products before they’re launched. This is an invaluable step to spot bugs, dead links, and any possible malfunctions that could make the product behave improperly.

How Much You Can Make

You can make from $15–$30 for each Beta test.

What Makes This Option Great

If you want to get paid to test digital products like websites, apps, or physical smart devices like vacuum cleaners and home media devices, then this is for you!

Since tech companies will pay to get a product Beta tested, some of this money should go to the people testing it. Beta Testing acts like the middleman to match the companies with their would-be consumers, provided they offer detailed feedback the company can use.

Just keep in mind this isn’t a full-time tech product tester job, but rather a side hustle to make a few extra bucks. That’s because you can only get up to 5 monthly product assignments, and the funds take up to 14 days to reach your PayPal account.

• Requirements: Your name, email address, and other demographic information
• Typical Payment Methods: Cash through PayPal, Amazon Gift cards, or physical products

5. User Testing

Continuing with the digital product testing trend, the website User Testing offers you the chance to review the user experience of apps, websites, and other smart products before they hit the web.

How Much You Can Make

Short tests pay around $10, while longer studies pay up to $60.

What Makes This Option Great

The User Testing system is a little more involved than other tech testing gigs, asking all contributors to use a microphone to take part in test sessions. However, it pays well compared to other websites.

There’s also an element of flexibility where you can use your Windows or Mac computer to test websites or use an Android or iOS mobile device to test apps.

All that’s required of you as a contributor is to provide accurate feedback that can help tech companies spot any possible issues. This is done by taking your time, not rushing the process, and being engaged and interested in the tech product you’re testing.

If you offer valuable feedback during your User Testing session, you’re more likely to be asked to participate in other user tests in the future.

• Requirements: Your name, email address, and other demographic information, a microphone, and the User Testing mobile app on Android or iOS
• Typical Payment Method: Cash through PayPal

6. Pinecone Research

Pinecone Research is one of the leading yet most exclusive market research panels operating today. The rules are strict, but that’s because they deal with some of the biggest brands on the market, and quality feedback is non-negotiable.

How Much You Can Make

Around $13–$18 per hour

What Makes This Option Great

Unlike other product testing panels that offer direct registration, Pinecone Research is a community of consumers invited via banner ads on specific websites. While this limits participation, it also offers more candid reviews of all kinds of products.

The idea here is to gather unbiased, honest reviews from panelists that belong to a certain demographic without the interference of a referral system.

Pinecone Research panelists take online surveys and participate in product tests that reflect the consumption habits of the household. If you belong to the desired demographic, you’ll be able to access current product testing opportunities that match your profile.

• Requirements: A recruitment invitation, your name, email address, and other demographic information
• Typical Payment Method: Prepaid virtual card

7. American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion is an online survey site that can help you make extra money online. The website sends periodic “screener” surveys that help the system figure out what surveys best fit your demographic information so you can participate in market research.

How Much You Can Make

Screener surveys are subject to a draw where you can earn anywhere between 5 and 50 points. As for product testing surveys, you get paid in points every time, where every 100 points = $1. You can only cash out your points once you reach a balance of 1000 points ($10).

What Makes This Option Great

The surveys usually ask questions about popular brands and how they fit into your shopping habits. The answers help companies adjust their products to fit consumer expectations.

Oh, and contrary to what the name might suggest, you don’t have to be a US resident to join American Consumer Opinion panels. The website has surveys that target consumers all around the world, and you’re welcome to join any of them.

• Requirements: Your name, email address, and other demographic information
• Typical Payment Methods: Cash out through PayPal (US and Canada), Hyperwallet (worldwide), or use your points to enter sweepstakes. You can also donate your cash-out points to charity.

8. Influenster

If you want to receive a wide range of products (and keep them!), then Influenster is about to be your next favorite thing.

The website’s product testing program is built around the idea of matching popular brands with their target consumer base. Influenster VoxBoxes contain 4 to 5 full-size products that are about to hit the market but require the last step of consumer opinion.

How Much You Can Make

While Influenster isn’t a way of making extra money on the side, you get to keep everything that’s sent to you to test.

What Makes This Option Great

To start being an “Influenster,” all you have to do is sign up, then download the Influenster app and share your likes and dislikes. You can also share product reviews for items you’ve used before to help the algorithm match you with product testing opportunities a bit faster.

Your VoxBox is likely to contain products that match the profile you provided while signing up. If you’re interested in hair care and cosmetic products, your box will look very different from someone who has a baby and is interested in keeping their house clean.

• Requirements: Your name, email address, and other demographic information, and the Influenster mobile app
• Typical Payment Method: Full-size products and a chance to remain a product reviewer for Influenster

9. BzzAgent

BzzAgent is another website that offers products in exchange for reviews and hyping up the product you receive on social media accounts after a testing period.

The task is simple enough; you provide information about yourself, then receive a product, and review it to remain on BzzAgent’s roster.

How Much You Can Make

While there’s no promise of extra cash or gift cards, you do receive expensive products that can include electronics, household appliances, and full-size cosmetic products. Some product reviewers consider this a good-enough incentive to join.

What Makes This Option Great

Being a BzzAgent is pretty straightforward. The most important thing is to complete all the “activities” required of you during each campaign.

These include writing a review, providing your honest feedback on any surveys, and mentioning the social media handles and hashtags of the product.

Once you sign up and apply for a campaign, you can expect confirmation to reach your email inbox shortly after. In 1 – 3 weeks, you should receive a shipping confirmation email. Once the product arrives, you can start reviewing it!

• Requirements: Your name, email address, and other demographic information
• Typical Payment Method: The brand-new products you’ve received plus a chance to receive more products for reviews in the future

Why You Should Consider Testing Products at Home As a Side Hustle

Whether you’re thinking of product testing to get some extra money or if you’re thinking of becoming a product reviewer, here’s why you should consider starting now:

• It’s a gig with zero upfront cost: All of the product testing companies we mentioned have something in common; you pay nothing to join. This is great if you’re a student or don’t have extra cash lying around to invest in a side hustle.
• You get a variety of consumer products for review: Many companies jump at the chance to get valued opinions about their products, so you get the benefit of different types of products that you get to keep for free.
• You can do it in your spare time: Aside from limited-time campaigns that require speed, most product tests and reviews can be done in your spare time without rushing.
• You can do it at home: If you’re a stay-at-home parent trying to make some money without leaving the house, surveys about products you use could be a great way to earn an income to help with living costs.

Problems With Testing Products at Home For Money

Not everything is peaches and cream when it comes to product testing jobs. Here are some problems you might face with trying to make money testing products:

• Not all products are from reputable companies: You might find low-quality products in the mix, and they might disappoint you while using them.
• You might face allergic reactions to some product samples: Even if you receive products from brands you trust, there’s no guarantee they won’t set off an allergy you have. This is especially an issue in consumer products like foods, personal care, and hair color products.
• You might have to wait longer than expected to get a product testing gig: Unless you sign up for multiple websites at once, your chances of finding a test for the type of product that fits your demographic are pretty low.
• Not all product testing jobs are done in exchange for cash: Many companies choose to incentivize their testers with an Amazon Gift card, physical products, or a point system they can exchange for other modes of payment.

How To Get Paid to Test Products at Home: Step-By-Step Instructions

Things to Consider When Testing Products at Home for Money

Keep the following in mind if you intend to start your product testing side hustle today:

• Companies really like their privacy policies: Make sure not to divulge any information that’s deemed confidential during any product tests or reviews, or you might face litigation.
• Apply for relevant products only: Although it’s tempting to want to get a gig in any way possible, lying on your product tester job application will likely be discovered, and your account might be deleted.
• Set aside the time needed: Whether you need to do a 5-minute test or a 20-minute test, rushing isn’t a good idea and will result in a half-hearted product testing survey, which isn’t a good look.

Frequently Asked Questions

Similar Ways to Get Paid

Are you looking for another way to make money from home?

• Get Paid to Take Surveys: If you’re more interested in the surveys than the products in product tests, check out this guide!
• Get Paid to Watch Ads: Watching ads can be a drag, but not when you’re paid for it! Check this out to know which websites pay you to watch ads.
• Get Paid to Play Games: If you’re interested in video games, check out this guide to learn how you can make money from them.

Wrapping Up

Full-time product testing jobs exist, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dabble in it from time to time as a side hustle. Companies are always looking for a bigger consumer base to test their products, so why not make use of this?

Thanks to trusted websites for company consumer testing programs and third-party market research firms, you can easily sign up to be a product tester at home!

So what do you think? Is product testing at home the gig for you, or is it not the right fit?

Please share your take in the comments below and pass this on if you learned something new!