In recent years, website and software designers have begun to rely on freelance workers to do a lot of their website and app testing, and several companies have risen up to help them fill that need. These companies generally look for ordinary people with no particular training, and the work is fairly easy.
The work generally involves going through a website or trying out a piece of software while providing real-time feedback about your experience. Afterward you may have to answer a questionnaire.
Keep in mind this is not something to do for full-time work. It is just for extra money. Some of the services do pay quite well in terms of compensation relative to the time you spend on a given job, but since most tests only take about 20 minutes to perform, that still does not add up to a whole lot.
A good strategy is to sign up with several different services at once to maximize your testing opportunities. It isn't unusual for companies to provide anywhere from four to eight jobs in a given month, and that can add up if you are working for enough of them.
Two other options worth adding to your extra-income lineup while you're at it: User Interviews and Respondent. Both connect you with paid research studies from real companies. Most pay $50 to $100 or more per session, and they pair really naturally with website testing work since it's the same general idea of sharing your opinions for money.
1 – UserTesting
This company uses software to record the actions of your mouse cursor on your computer screen while also recording your voice through a microphone. Pay varies, but typically Standard 15 to 20 minute tests pay $10, and Live Conversation tests pay $30 for 30 minutes or $60 for 60 minutes. Mobile device tests are also available.
Pay is via PayPal, sent automatically 14 days after you complete a test. UserTesting holds a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot from over 3,200 reviews, which is a good sign for a trustworthy platform.
You do need to pass a sample test to get accepted, and test frequency varies. Some testers report getting several invites a week, while others get fewer based on their demographics and location.
Available to testers worldwide as long as PayPal is supported where you live. Must be 18 or older.
Read our UserTesting review for more details, or sign up for UserTesting here.
2 – Testbirds
As a “Testbird,” you will earn money in your spare time checking websites and apps for software bugs to improve their usability.
Usability tests pay €10 to €50 depending on complexity, and bug tests pay €1 to €5 per bug depending on severity. Pay is via PayPal within 7 to 21 days of approval. Note the pay is listed in Euros, so you'll want to check the current conversion rate for your currency.
You start with a free entry test to get familiar with the platform, and projects come in waves. This isn't something you'll have work available from every day, but it's worth having in your lineup.
Open to testers worldwide, including those under 18 with a signed parent or guardian consent form.
Read our Testbirds review, or go here to sign up as a Testbird.
3 – BetaTesting
BetaTesting, formerly known as “ErliBird,” allows their users to test new products and give feedback on those products as well as apps and websites.
A typical test taking 45 to 60 minutes pays $15 to $30, with shorter tests paying less and longer multi-week projects paying more. Payments are made within 14 days of test completion via Tremendous, which lets you choose from PayPal, bank transfer, Visa gift cards, Amazon gift cards, and many other options.
Most testers receive 0 to 5 opportunities per month via email, so it works best as one of several platforms you're signed up with rather than a standalone income source.
Open to testers worldwide. Just about every country is represented in their panel, though the US, UK, and Canada tend to have the most opportunities. Must be 18 or older.
4 – Userlytics
The tasks you'll be required to perform vary a lot, including everything from simply browsing a website with no particular goal in mind, to making comparisons between multiple sites. Pay ranges from $10 to $50 per study depending on complexity, with payments sent to PayPal every 15 days for approved tests.
During each test, you're expected to talk very freely and describe everything about the experience you're having with as little shyness as possible.
Available in over 150 countries worldwide. If your country supports PayPal, you can participate. Must be 16 or older.
Read our Userlytics review for more information, or sign up for Userlytics here.
5 – Userfeel
Userfeel pays you to test websites, apps, and prototypes by working through assigned tasks and speaking your thoughts aloud while your screen is recorded.
The pay structure is clear and consistent: $3 for a 5-minute test, $10 for a 20-minute test, $20 for a 40-minute test, and $30 for a 60-minute test. Once a test is approved by the client (typically within about a week) the money lands in your Userfeel account, and you can transfer it to PayPal at any time. Some countries also have the option of bank transfer.
You'll need to pass a free qualification test before receiving paid invites, and you should go in with honest expectations about frequency. Some testers report getting invites regularly while others find opportunities sparse, especially outside major markets.
Userfeel is open to testers in over 40 countries including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, India, Japan, and more. Must be at least 18 to sign up. Native or strong English fluency is required, though they do accept multilingual testers for non-English studies.
6 – QuestionPro UX
QuestionPro UX is a usability testing platform that connects testers with companies looking for feedback on their websites and apps. You simply use the site or app as you normally would in real life while voicing your thoughts and reactions aloud, with your screen and voice recorded throughout.
Tests pay $5 to $30 depending on length and complexity, and payments go out every weekday morning via PayPal once your test has been reviewed and accepted.
You'll need to complete a sample qualification test before receiving paid invites. Expect a few tests per week once approved, though volume varies. There is no set minimum payout threshold mentioned.
Note that this platform was formerly known as TryMyUI and then Trymata, so if you have an account with either of those, you may already be in the system.
Sign up for QuestionPro UX here.
7 – uTest
This company is primarily involved in beta and alpha testing new software. You'll be looking for bugs and reporting them.
Pay is per bug found and accepted. Standard bugs typically pay around $5, with test case execution paying $5 to $50 or more. Pay goes out twice a month via PayPal or Payoneer.
The pay is potentially quite good compared to other jobs in this category. Some people claim to make well over $1,000 a month. But you'll need some degree of technical savvy if you want to get into that range.
uTest ranks their testers based on quality of performance, and higher-ranked people get better pay and more opportunities. This one has a learning curve, but the ceiling is higher than most on this list.
Open to testers in most countries worldwide.
You can sign up for uTest here.
8 – Digivante
Digivante is a UK-based crowdtesting company that pays testers to find bugs and run test cases on websites, apps, and software for major brands. Unlike most platforms on this list, Digivante requires demonstrable QA or quality assurance experience to join, so this one is best suited to people who already have a technical testing background.
The acceptance rate is low by design (only about one in ten applicants pass the qualification test), but that selectivity means consistent paid work for those who do get in.
You get paid for every valid issue you identify, every test case you execute, and for reproducing issues flagged by other testers. Pay goes out weekly via PayPal or Payoneer.
The opportunity is open to testers worldwide. Must be 18 or older and have native or full professional English proficiency.
9 – TesterWork
TesterWork is a bug-testing and QA platform backed by Global App Testing, with a community of over 100,000 testers worldwide. You get invited to test cycles by email based on your device profile and testing experience, and each invitation clearly states the pay upfront so you always know what you'll earn before committing.
Pay is either per valid bug found or a fixed amount for test case execution. Payment goes out 12 to 14 days after a test cycle closes via PayPal or Upwork, with a minimum payout of $5. If PayPal and Upwork aren't available in your country, their team will work out an alternative such as bank transfer via Wise.
To get started you'll need to pass a two-part online assessment that tests your QA knowledge and written English skills. You get two attempts, and the whole onboarding process takes about 30 minutes.
New test cycles launch every day, though invites depend on your device profile and location.
Open to testers worldwide. Must be 18 or older.
10 – TestIO
This company will pay you up to $50 for rating apps and finding bugs. The more devices you have to find bugs on, the more invitations you will likely receive to test.
They pay once monthly using PayPal, Skrill, or Payoneer, one of the few platforms on this list that offers multiple payment options.
Appears to be open worldwide.
Go here to sign up for TestIO.
11 – PlaytestCloud
PlaytestCloud pays you for playing mobile and browser-based games. You're asked to voice your thoughts aloud as you play so that game developers can listen and benefit from your feedback.
Tests pay $9 for 15 to 30 minutes of your time via PayPal.
You'll need an Android (5.0 or newer) or iOS device and must complete a qualification test before receiving paid invites. Most opportunities go to testers in the US, UK, and Canada.
If you're outside those countries, you can still sign up, but invites will be less frequent. Frequency is unpredictable and varies based on your device, gaming habits, and demographics, so treat this as a fun occasional earner rather than a regular one.
Be sure to read our PlaytestCloud review and learn more about how it works, or sign up for PlaytestCloud here.
12 – Userbrain
Userbrain pays you to test websites, apps, and prototypes by speaking your thoughts aloud while completing tasks, with your screen and audio recorded.
Tests run between 5 and 20 minutes and pay $5 each via PayPal. You start by completing a free qualification test, and if approved, you'll begin receiving paid tests. Most testers report getting a few tests per week, not a huge volume, but the tests are short enough that it adds up with minimal time invested.
Open to testers worldwide, available on Chrome, iOS, and Android. Must be 18 or older.
Go here to sign up for Userbrain.
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Good luck!
Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 15 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.