If you’re trying to earn extra cash online without selling anything, user testing is one of the cleanest side hustles: you show up, do a task, talk through your thoughts, and get paid for being honest. No “build a funnel,” no “buy my course,” no chasing followers.
But let’s keep it real: user testing won’t replace a full-time income for most people. What it can do is stack up as reliable “extra money” when you treat it like a system—good profile, quick responses, consistent quality.
What ‘User testing’ is (and why companies pay for it)
User testing is a research service companies use to catch problems before (or after) they launch a website, app, product page, checkout flow, or feature.
They’re paying for a very specific thing: your real-time reactions—where you get confused, what you expected to happen, what feels sketchy, what’s missing, what’s slow, what makes you bounce.
Here’s what companies get from user testing:
- Usability feedback: “Can people find the button?” “Can they finish checkout?” “Do they understand the pricing?”
- Clarity checks: Does the wording make sense, or is it corporate gibberish?
- Conversion fixes: Where do people hesitate or drop off?
- Bug + friction spotting: Especially on mobile—tiny annoyances kill conversions.
- First-impression truth: The kind your friends won’t give you because they’re being nice.
And what you do as the tester:
- You follow a short scenario like “Find a pair of shoes under $80 and try to check out.”
- You narrate your thoughts out loud.
- You answer a few wrap-up questions.
- Sometimes you join a live call (moderated interview) where a researcher asks follow-ups.
That’s why it’s one of the more straightforward ways to earn extra cash online: you’re being paid for attention + honesty, not for hype.
Before you start: quick “don’t waste your time” rules
- Use one PayPal (or the platform’s required payout method) and keep it consistent.
- Treat screeners like auditions, not a quiz to “beat.” If you lie to match everything, you’ll get rejected, flagged, or just get fewer invites over time.
- Quiet space + decent mic matters. Your audio quality affects whether researchers trust the session.
- Speed helps. Many studies fill fast. Checking your dashboard regularly is basically part of the job.
Now let’s get into the platforms.
6 Legit User Testing Websites to Earn Extra Cash Online
1) UserTesting
UserTesting is the classic. You do short, guided tasks on websites/apps and speak your thoughts out loud. They also run longer sessions depending on what brands need. It’s one of the biggest and most established testing networks, and they clearly explain participant compensation and timing.
How you earn
- You’ll see the payout amount before you take the test (it’s shown in your feed/dashboard).
- Payments for completed tests are typically sent 14 days later via PayPal (per their support/FAQ).
What it’s like
- Short tests: usually a quick run-through with follow-up questions.
- Occasionally you’ll get higher-effort sessions (more steps, more feedback, sometimes live).
- It’s for people who can explain what they’re thinking without sounding like a robot and anyone trying to earn extra cash online in small, repeatable chunks.
Watch out because you won’t qualify for every screener. That’s normal and also Consistency matters. One sloppy session can hurt your invites.
2) User Interviews
User Interviews is more “paid research” than quick usability clips. Think: interviews, surveys, diary studies, prototype tests, product feedback sessions—often better payouts than tiny tests.
They’re transparent about incentive timing and how incentives are issued. They note researchers generally issue incentives within a day or two, but can take up to 10 business days after completion.
They also support multiple incentive types and currencies via their incentive system.
How you earn
- You apply to studies that match you.
- Many studies involve a moderator/researcher (live session), so payouts can be higher than “talk for 10 minutes” tests.
- Good if you want fewer sessions but higher pay.
- If you’re comfortable being interviewed and giving detailed opinions.
Watch out because researchers can reject if they suspect low effort or mismatch and some studies require specific demographics, jobs, or tools.
3) Trymata (formerly TryMyUI)
Trymata is classic usability testing—websites and apps—similar vibe to UserTesting, with a simple “do a test, get paid” setup and they openly advertise their tester payout range, commonly $5–$30 per test.
How you earn
- You accept a test, complete it with recorded feedback, and get paid based on the test type/length.
- It’s best for people who want frequent, smaller tests.
- Anyone building a routine to earn extra cash online consistently.
Like all platforms, quality control is real. If your feedback is rushed or vague, approvals can drop.
4) TestingTime
TestingTime is strong if you’re open to research formats beyond quick website tests—interviews, workshops, product/service feedback. It’s especially well known in Europe, but they run a mix of studies. They clearly position it as paid testing/research and explain the matching process. Their materials also describe incentives being credited to a wallet and paid out after completion, typically within business-day windows.
How you earn
- Fill out your profile carefully.
- Get invited based on fit.
- Complete sessions (often longer than quick tests, but can pay better).
- It’s best for folks who don’t mind longer sessions for higher hourly-style payouts.
- If you want “real research studies” instead of constant micro-tests.
Note that studies are match-based, so you may have quiet periods. Some opportunities may be location-specific.
5) dscout
dscout is very different from traditional user testing platforms. It focuses on in-depth research missions, not quick screen recordings. What makes dscout different is they do a lot of diary studies, video responses, real-life product usage and offer higher payouts for longer commitments.
How you earn
- Apply to missions via the mobile app
- Complete multi-day or multi-task studies
It’s best for people comfortable on camera and those who prefer depth over speed when earning extra cash online.
6) Userlytics
Userlytics is a solid alternative to UserTesting, offering both unmoderated tests and live moderated sessions. It is a well-established UX research platform and used by real companies, not “growth hackers”.
How you earn
- Short usability tests and longer live interviews
- Payments typically sent via PayPal
- It’s best for testers who give clear, structured feedback
- People stacking multiple platforms to earn extra cash online
Tips
If you want to earn extra cash online from user testing consistently, your “strategy” is basically professionalism:
- Make your profile boringly accurate. Job title, devices, shopping habits, subscriptions—be specific.
- Answer screeners fast. Most fills happen quickly.
- Talk like a normal person. Not “I am now clicking the navigation.” More like: “I expected this to be under pricing, not resources.”
- Give receipts. Say what confused you, why, and what you expected instead.
What are the technical requirements?
Every usability testing company has its own requirements depending on the type of tests they offer its clients. When you register, check each company’s requirements to ensure you can perform the tests.
The general requirements are:
- A computer (Windows or Mac)
- A microphone and headphones (you will talk and describe what you’re doing)
- A webcam (only some tests require a webcam)
- Stable Wifi
- The mobile devices (tablets and phones) are optional, but you need them if you want to perform the tests that require those devices.
An example usability test
Each test is different, but you can watch an example test from PlaybookUX to understand better what might be expected of you and if it’s something you want to do. It’s a great opportunity to make money online, but it’s not for everybody.
Caution
Legit testing platforms:
- Don’t charge you to “unlock tests”
- Don’t ask for weird identity docs upfront “just because”
- Don’t require you to buy a product to get paid to test it
User testing is best viewed as a stackable side income stream. Some weeks you’ll get multiple sessions; some weeks it’s quiet. The win is that it’s straight work for straight pay—one of the more realistic ways to earn extra cash online without turning your life into content.
If you stay consistent, keep your quality high, and spread your effort across multiple platforms (instead of relying on just one), you’ll give yourself the best shot at steady invites and better-paying studies.
Honorable Mentions
- Respondent: Click here to sign up and become a tester
- Prolific
- Cloud Research
Maybe one day we will do a video walkthrough of these above.
Hope y’all learned something!
Zed
