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Earnings2026-05-23·6 min read

How to Make Money Testing Products

How to Make Money Testing Products

Getting paid to test products is a real category — brands need feedback before launch, companies need usability testers, and some platforms pay you to try new apps and services. The range is wide: from $10 for a 20-minute website review to paid product samples mailed to your home. AirPerks covers the "try a brand's service" angle through Rewarded Offers, where completing a brand sign-up or trial earns a reward. Start exploring offers at airperks.app, or download the app.

Here's what actually pays and how to access it.

User testing (websites and apps)

Companies pay people to navigate their websites or apps while recording audio and screen. The goal is usability feedback — finding where users get confused.

UserTesting. The most established platform. Pays $10 per 20-minute session. You answer a screener, and if you match what the company is testing, you get the test. Not everyone qualifies for every test. US-based testers typically get 1–5 tests per week depending on demographic fit.

TryMyUI. Similar model — $10 per 20-minute session, paid via PayPal. Different client pool than UserTesting.

Respondent. Higher-value research studies ($50–$250+) for specific professional backgrounds. Requires more targeting — a software developer testing a development tool, for example. Less frequent but higher pay.

Userlytics. Another user testing platform. Pay varies by test type ($5–$90). More test types including mobile, prototype, and card sorting.

Product sample testing

Some brands send free products in exchange for a review. These aren't cash payments — they're product value.

PINCHme. Free product samples in exchange for honest reviews. Apply at PINCHme.com; samples are allocated based on demographic profile. No cash payment — you get the product.

BzzAgent. Similar model — Walmart and other major brands use BzzAgent to distribute samples to their community in exchange for social sharing. No cash; product value only.

Amazon Vine. Invite-only program for top Amazon reviewers. Receive free products to review. Invitation is based on review history and helpfulness ratings.

Influenster. Brand campaigns sometimes include product boxes (VoxBoxes) for selected community members. Free products, no direct cash.

Brand sign-up and trial offers (AirPerks Rewarded Offers)

AirPerks includes Rewarded Offers — a category where brands pay you to try their service. These aren't physical product tests; they're app installs, subscription trials, or account sign-ups.

The flow:

  1. Sign up at airperks.app or via the mobile app.
  2. Open the Offers tab. Browse available brand offers.
  3. Read the requirements. Each offer specifies what triggers the reward — account creation, trial start, first purchase, or using the service for X days.
  4. Complete the required action.
  5. Earn the reward. Typically $5–$20+ per completed offer, crediting within hours to days.

The important note: if an offer requires a credit card and a free trial, set a calendar reminder to cancel before billing. The reward is yours either way — but your card will be charged at the end of the trial period if you don't cancel.

Paid survey platforms (for product and brand feedback)

Surveys about products are a consistent paid category. You share opinions on new products, packaging, advertising concepts, and brand positioning.

AirPerks surveys. Paid per completion, including product-focused surveys. Survey Missions add a bonus on top when you hit a target count. The $5 cashout threshold is reachable in one session. Redeem via PayPal, bank transfer, gift cards, or Visa prepaid.

Survey panels (Ipsos, KantarOnline). Professional panels that send longer, higher-paying surveys about consumer products. Slower pace than AirPerks, higher individual payout per survey, less frequent invitations.

How much you can realistically earn

  • UserTesting: $10/session, 1–5 sessions/week depending on demographic fit.
  • Respondent: $50–$250 per study, rare frequency.
  • AirPerks surveys: $0.30–$3 per survey, multiple per day.
  • AirPerks Rewarded Offers: $5–$20+ per offer, varies by catalog.
  • Product samples: free product value, no cash.

A realistic combined income from user testing + AirPerks surveys and offers: $50–$150/month.

What to watch out for

  • "Get paid to test products" schemes that charge upfront. Legitimate testing platforms pay you; they don't charge you.
  • Extremely high promises. "$500 to test a product at home" is almost always a scam.
  • MLM "product testing." Some MLM companies dress up their recruitment model as product testing. You're not being paid to test — you're being recruited.
  • Data brokering sites disguised as panels. Some "survey panels" primarily collect your demographic data for resale. Look for platforms with clear payout histories and real community discussions.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need special skills to use UserTesting? No — you need a working computer with a microphone, a reliable internet connection, and the ability to narrate your experience while navigating a website. No technical skills required.

How often will I qualify for user tests? Depends heavily on your demographic profile. UserTesting targets specific audience segments for each test, so qualification rate varies. Most testers see 1–3 tests per week.

Can I do AirPerks surveys AND user testing at the same time? Yes — they're completely independent platforms. Many people use both.

What's the AirPerks cashout minimum? $5 standard; $3 at higher Levels.

Start earning with AirPerks

Earnings vary based on user activity, demographic profile, and survey availability in your region. Top user earnings of $1,000+ are real but not typical.