What Is User Testing?
Get Paid to Review Websites & Apps
The Definition
User testing is getting paid to test websites and apps while sharing your honest feedback.
Think of it like being a professional complainer. but in a good way. Companies need real people to click through their websites, try their apps, and point out what's confusing, broken, or annoying before they launch to millions. You complete tasks while thinking out loud, your screen and voice get recorded, and designers get to see exactly where users struggle.
You basically get paid for narrating your thoughts.
User testers evaluate digital products by completing tasks and providing verbal feedback.
Companies pay participants to identify usability issues through recorded testing sessions.
Last Updated: 10/12/2025
Why do people choose User-Testing?
User testing pays better than surveys because your detailed feedback helps companies avoid expensive design mistakes.. they'd rather pay you $10 now than lose thousands in sales later.
Who likes Usertesting?
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Tech-comfortable people who can articulate what they're thinking
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Anyone who's ever yelled "why doesn't this work?!" at a website
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Side hustlers wanting higher-paying gigs than typical survey work
Key Benefits
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User tests pay $10-$60 per session versus pennies for surveys
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Testing requires no specialized skills beyond basic internet navigation
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Flexible participation allows completing tests during any free time
How Do You Get Started?
Step #1 Aspiring testers create profiles on platforms like UserTesting, TryMyUI, or Userlytics.
Sign up on multiple platforms, tests are first-come, first-served and fill up fast, so cast a wide net.
Step #2 New users complete sample tests demonstrating clear communication and task completion.
This practice test shows you how it works and proves you can think out loud coherently - they're screening for articulate feedback.
Step #3 Approved testers receive test invitations via email based on demographic matching.
Check your email obsessively, set up notifications, tests disappear within minutes of being sent, and you snooze, you lose.
Step #4 Participants complete tasks while verbalizing thoughts and navigating the test interface.
Talk continuously about what you're seeing, thinking, and feeling, awkward silence doesn't help designers, and you might get rejected.
Step #5 Submitted tests undergo review before payment processes to tester accounts.
Your recording gets reviewed for quality (did you actually talk? follow instructions?), then payment hits your account 7-14 days later.
Common Questions About Usertesting
A: Standard user tests pay $10 for 20-minute sessions while specialized tests offer $30-$60. Active testers completing 5-10 tests monthly earn $50-$300 in supplemental income. Most basic tests pay $10 for 15-20 minutes of work, that's $30-$40/hour, way better than surveys.
Live moderated testing sessions command premium rates of $50-$100 per hour. Longer or more complex tests pay $20-$30, and live moderated sessions (where you video chat with a researcher) can hit $50-$100.
Realistically? You're not getting rich.
Test availability varies significantly based on demographics and platform demand. Most people land 2-10 tests per month depending on their demographics and how quickly they respond to invitations.
If you're on multiple platforms and fast on the trigger, $100-$300/month is doable.
The Real Truth..
Extremely limited availability - You'll get 2-10 tests per month max, not consistent work
First-come-first-served chaos - Miss the email by 5 minutes, test is gone
Demographic lottery - Your age/location/job might disqualify you from most tests
Can't scale it - No way to turn this into more than $100-$300/month
Best pay-to-effort ratio - $30-$40/hour for talking while clicking
Actually interesting - Testing different websites/apps keeps it engaging
Genuinely helpful - Your feedback improves products, feels less meaningless
Low barrier to entry - No special skills beyond clear communication
Ready to Start Earning with Usertesting?
User testing is one of the better-paying "anyone can do this" side hustles.. if you can talk and click, you're qualified. The key is signing up on multiple platforms and being quick to grab tests when they land.
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The Beginners Guide to Getting Paid as a Website and Appt Tester
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Sarah James
Hi, I’m Sarah James, content creator at Online Income Directory. I test the side hustles, affiliate programs, and online tools so you don’t have to.
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