Top 15 Paid Research Studies for Extra Income

Do you have spare time and want to get paid as a panel or respondent for research studies? Find out the paid research studies that pay good money!

If you’re looking for a straightforward side hustle that does not require much work, consider joining paid research studies and focus groups. There are tons of money-making opportunities from this side hustle, from online focus groups you can join without leaving your home to in-person focus groups where you can share your thoughts and opinions about a brand or service face-to-face.

Imagine being compensated for sharing your thoughts on a new product, trying out the latest gadgets, or participating in meaningful discussions. It’s a legitimate way to earn extra cash while having the opportunity to have your opinions heard. Your opinions will be valued.

Keep reading to learn how to make money from paid research studies, whether you want to participate in clinical trials, focus group opportunities, or online surveys.

What are paid research studies?

Paid research studies are studies conducted by market research companies, academic organizations, and institutions where they gather valuable insights and feedback from consumers like you. As a respondent or panel for paid research studies, you join focus groups, online studies, or answer surveys, and you’ll be compensated for your time and effort.

A paid research study allows individuals and consumers like you and me to air our thoughts and give feedback on products and services. Brands and companies must conduct research to improve their products. Data from paid focus groups, clinical studies, medical research, and user interviews are very valuable.

As a participant in paid research studies, you will get paid for your thoughts, time, and effort. The time commitment can vary wildly, from survey opportunities that can be completed in a few minutes to focus groups that last for hours.

Many medical trials take place over a much longer period–some for months.Your income from this side hustle can vary too. For example, some online surveys typically follow a reward or point system. Your earnings depend on how many points a survey provides. On the other hand, paid focus groups, human behavior studies, and clinical trials fetch up to a couple hundred dollars.

Best Paid Research Studies That Pay Well

Wondering which paid focus groups or market research companies to sign up for that pay good money? Check out this list of the best research studies, online surveys, and focus group opportunities.

1. SIS International

SIS International provides focus group opportunities and paid interviews to help brands determine the best direction. Their research studies fall under three categories: consumer market research, B2B (business-to-business) market research, and healthcare market research. The company is based in New York but welcomes respondents and study participants worldwide.

To become one of SIS International’s respondents, you must sign up and submit your information to their database. They will contact you if you are eligible for a study or a paid focus group. Focus groups typically involve 6 to 8 people who provide feedback on various products, such as appliances, automotives, skincare, etc. Most of these studies pay $25 to $200 each.

2. American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion is one of the most popular market research companies you can join. This get-paid-to-participate platform is free to join. The only thing that costs you is your time commitment to answer paid surveys. Each month, you’ll receive survey screening questions where you earn 5 to 50 points, short surveys that help the platform “profile” you and determine if you qualify for a paid online survey.

If you qualify, you’ll receive a lengthier survey where you’ll rack up even more points! You can make 50 to 5,000 points for each survey (longer surveys pay more). You can cash out your points when you’ve accumulated at least 1,000 in your account and withdraw your earnings via Hyperwallet or PayPal, donate them to charity, or use them to enter sweepstakes.

3. PaidStudies.com

Want to make money participating in legit paid studies? Sign up for PaidStudies.com and become one of its panelists! PaidStudies.com conducts online and in-person focus groups and taste and product testing. And the best part is that you get paid with actual cash, not points or rewards.

It’s easy to join PaidStudies.com. Visit the official website and create a profile. Answer this honestly, as this will help PaidStudies.com determine your eligibility to join available online surveys or focus groups. They send you screening questions to assess if you’re a good fit. If you are, you will answer online surveys or set a time and date for online focus groups, product testing, taste testing, etc. You will get paid for your time and effort via check, electronic payment, or Visa cash card.

4. Plaza Research

Plaza Research is a premium market research network with numerous brands and companies. It conducts research studies and focus groups featuring a panel of individuals from different walks of life. The platform conducts online focus and in-person focus groups and phone interviews wherein you are invited to give your thoughts on specific brands, products, or services or try new products.

Plaza Research conducts studies in fourteen states in the US. It is one of the best-paying focus groups, where panelists earn between $50 and $200 in two hours. To sign up for Plaza Research, fill out an online form here, answer all entries, submit them, and wait for offers.

5. AOC Marketing Research

If you want to participate in a research study where you get paid good money, consider signing up for AOC Marketing Research. AOC has a data bank of respondents and panelists, and they invite randomly selected individuals from different demographics and socio-economic backgrounds to participate in personal focus groups, taste tests, mock trials, etc. They conduct research in their facility in Charlotte, so you must live in Charlotte or nearby areas to participate.

You can sign up for AOC by filling out a registration form here. They’ll email you with survey questions if you’re a match for in-person studies or focus groups. If you are eligible to participate, AOC will contact you and set a time and date for your session. As for rates, more straightforward and shorter research activities pay $30, while longer and more complex ones pay $175. Participants receive a prepaid Mastercard to withdraw their income.

6. Rare Patient Voice

Rare Patient Voice conducts medical research studies and pays patients and caregivers to participate in online interviews, paid survey opportunities, and focus groups. If you have a diagnosis, whether or not it’s rare, Rare Patient Voice welcomes you as a panelist.

To join Rare Patient Voice, sign up to participate by filling out this form. You will be asked to provide personal data and more information about your condition. Participants receive an email inviting them to a research project, online survey, or paid focus groups. Rare Patient Voice runs hundreds of studies at a time. Most studies pay $120 per hour.

7. PingPong

Do you want to earn money participating in tester communities? PingPong is a great place online to join! PingPong pays respondents to test websites online, so you can join from anywhere worldwide. Although it is based in Europe and pays in Euro, you can sign up for PingPong’s tester community and earn extra money if invited for a testing session.

PingPong sends you screener questions if you are a good fit for a research session. After which, you will be invited to join a remote one-on-one session immediately. You’ll need an excellent working laptop or computer and a high-speed, reliable internet connection to join the session. PingPong pays €30 for a 60-minute video session, but special cases pay more. Payments are processed through Wise or PayPal account.

8. Respondent.io

Another reputable company that pays for your participation in in-person and online focus groups is Respondent.io. To become a respondent, you create a profile with a LinkedIn profile or Facebook account and provide your personal details. You can browse several online studies to see whether it’s an online or an in-person focus group. Additionally, you’ll also see how much each research study pays.

If you find something you like, answer screener questions and wait for the company to contact you. If selected, you become a respondent for such a study and earn around $100 per hour. Specialized studies, particularly those that need respondents from specific industries, tend to pay more. Respondent.oi pays their participants via PayPal.

9. Product Report Card

Are you interested in testing products for free and making extra money for your time and effort? Consider signing up forProduct Report Card, a company that rolls out paid survey opportunities and product testing. As a market research company, Product Report Card helps brands improve their products and services. They do this by gathering data from high-quality respondents.

Joining Product Report Card is easy and free. After creating an account, you’ll answer a short survey so they can get to know you better. That makes it easier for them to match you to surveys, focus groups, and product testing opportunities. You earn rewards by answering surveys, which you can redeem as an Amazon gift card. In-depth interviews, product tests, and focus groups pay around $100-$500 each. You will receive a prepaid Visa card or check to withdraw your income.

10. FindFocusGroups.com

FindFocusGroups.com is a website that helps you find paid online studies and focus groups near you. It works like a middleman, allowing you to cut down on the time and effort in finding eligible focus groups to participate. FindFocusGroups lists focus group opportunities from all over the US and works with the top market research companies.

It is easy to use FindFocusGroups. Enter your location or state on the search bar to find studies and focus groups near you. Or you can find online focus groups, and your location won’t matter. Scroll through the list and click on studies that catch your interest. Read the description to ensure you meet the requirements, such as location and age group. Follow the instructions for the application and answer follow-up questions. If you are eligible, they will set a schedule for your session. The listed paid focus groups range from $50 to $600.

11. User Interviews

User Interviews is one of the legit platforms that pay you to participate in focus groups and online studies. It connects researchers to high-quality and eligible participants. Respondents from User Interviews come from diverse backgrounds, professions, and product usage. This allows researchers to find the best segments for their studies.

Making money as a participant in User Interviews is easy. Sign up for an account by providing your phone number and email address and create a profile. Browse through the available online studies and focus groups. Each study indicates what they’re looking for in participants, the required device, and the pay rate. Apply to a study or focus group you believe you’re a good fit in, and the researcher will review your application. If you are eligible, you will receive instructions on how to go about your session and get paid after fully complying.

User Interviews pay between $10 to $200, depending on the complexity and time commitment of the study.

12. Probe Market Research

Probe Market Research is a national recruiting firm that hires respondents and panelists for in-depth interviews, website usability studies, product trials, and focus groups. It is a solid firm trusted by big-name clients, including Sanofi, Lego, Chanel, Old Navy and more.

Probe Market Research pays for your feedback and opinions. You may be viewing TV commercials, soda bottle designs, skincare products, and more. Studies are conducted from home, whether over the telephone or online, and you make $50-$400 per session. Just fill out an online form and wait to be contacted for studies that match your profile.

13. Field Voices

Field Voices is another excellent platform for finding paid research studies. It lists paid focus group opportunities where you are paid to air your voice about brands and services. They work with various industries, such as automotive, recreation, and education.

Sign up for Field Voices and start getting matched with studies. Fill out an online form and answer all fields. Field Voices will contact you when they find a study that matches your profile. You can also find current studies on their website and apply if you think you’re a great fit. Field Voices pays competitively, with one of their current studies paying $150 for a 60-minute interview. But unlike other platforms, Field Voices pays with e-gift cards.

14. Inspired Opinions

Inspired Opinions is always looking for people who want to participate in market research studies, which may be conducted online, over the phone, or in person. The company aims to help brands shape their products and services in the food, healthcare, and technology industries.

Anyone 18 years old and above can sign up and join Inspired Opinions. You will have to sign up by providing personal information to their database. If you qualify for a study, you will be contacted via email or phone. Each study you participate in earns you points, and you can exchange these points for real cash. To earn more money, confirm your willingness to participate in a study immediately, as some studies no longer accept respondents once they’ve reached their quota.

15. Focus Insite

Another reputable US-based market research company is Focus Insite. Focus Insite primarily deals with medical, technical, and B2B studies research. It is an excellent platform for medical professionals and individuals to get paid to participate in personal focus groups, secret shoppers, and product testing opportunities.

As with most market research firms, you must sign up to join their database as a panelist. They will contact you once they find a study that matches your profile or demographic. You can also view current active studies and check if there’s anything that you can join. The listings indicate how much you’ll earn, the study format, the location when applicable, and the time commitment. You want to get first dibs on qualified studies, so checking your email frequently is a good idea. You will get paid via a digital prepaid Visa Mastercard or an e-gift card to your favorite merchant.

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Final Thoughts

Participating in a paid research study is a great way to earn extra income during your free time. You don’t need special skills or educational qualifications to participate in such studies, which makes them more accessible to a lot of people. You need to find studies and focus groups that match your profile, making you an eligible respondent or panelist.

Hopefully, the list above gives you a clearer idea of paid studies, how they work, and where to find the best opportunities. Remember that these studies will pay less than your day job, so don’t expect full-time income. It is still a fantastic side hustle you can do in your spare time, and these opportunities can go a long way in helping you achieve your financial goals.