October 16, 2024
Editorial Guidelines
Experts in this article:
Louida, who goes by Lou, has been a product reviewer for 12+ years. In addition to reviewing products (especially beauty...
Victoria is a writer and editor for SideHustles.com. She has extensive experience editing research for publication in academic...
Earn
$1-$500 per testRemote-Friendly
YesCollege Required
NoHave you ever bought something that didn’t quite hit the mark and felt the urge to offer up suggestions to the company that made it? If so, then product testing could be a great side hustle for you to take up.
We’ll walk you through the process of becoming a product tester and point you toward 15 companies you can register with right now.
Understand the details about the role, its compensation, and the types of products you can test
Before a new product hits the market, it needs to undergo careful testing to ensure it actually works and doesn’t have any faults or defects.
This is where you come in as a product tester. You get to try out products before anyone else sees them, and in exchange for your feedback, you get to keep them (and sometimes receive direct monetary compensation, too).
Your first step when you get into professional product testing is to decide what products you want to focus on. Although some require special skills or qualifications to test, there are plenty that just about anyone can review.
Here are a few popular product testing options:
When choosing a niche, consider your interests, knowledge, and experience. You’ll get much more out of reviewing products you actually like and use frequently. So will the companies you’re testing for, which will make them more likely to give you assignments in the future.
When you get into product testing, you can choose between home-based, online, and in-person jobs.
Product testing is an incredibly broad job category. Some product testing jobs require a degree or special training, whereas others you can do with no experience.
It all comes down to the type of product being tested and what tasks you’re expected to perform. We’ll cover the main options you’ll come across when looking for product tester jobs.
This is a traditional type of product testing job where a company offers you money in exchange for taking the time to test out a particular product and provide feedback. While you may also receive the product for free, this isn’t a given.
Payment methods vary from company to company. For example, you could receive compensation via a direct bank deposit, PayPal transfer, Visa debit card, or gift card.
Some companies choose to offer up free products rather than hard cash in exchange for honest feedback. Free product testing jobs aren’t a good option if your goal is to find a side hustle that will help you make ends meet, but they have definite perks if you love having all the latest products or you just like getting free stuff.
One of these gigs could end up saving you lots of money and get you exclusive access to brand-new products that have just hit the market—and sometimes even ones that aren’t on the shelves yet.
Instead of filling out surveys after testing a product, you can also get jobs writing actual product reviews. There are a couple of ways to get paid for product reviews:
Be wary of companies that demand positive or five-star reviews. This isn’t just an unethical practice—it may also violate the terms and conditions of certain reviewing platforms.
Quality assurance (QA) testing is generally a more complex and advanced form of product testing. QA product testing jobs often require a degree, special training, or experience using QA testing software.
Most people associate QA tester jobs with technology and software development, but companies in various industries hire people for these types of roles.
Product testing has several obvious benefits. If you play your cards right, it gives you the chance to get paid to test out things you’d have bought anyway. It’s also a very flexible side hustle—it’s easy to fit in a bit of testing work no matter how busy your schedule is.
We worked on this article with Louida Martin, an experienced product tester and the creator of Product Review Mom. We asked her what originally drew her to this type of work, and she told us it was a combination of the money and the chance to express her opinions.
“I began product testing by participating in market research studies, which are also referred to as paid online survey panels,” she said. “I was interested in finding a way to earn additional income and came across an advertisement from a mother who claimed to make money online for free by taking paid surveys. Intrigued, I decided to join and started completing questionnaires from various brands seeking feedback on their latest product developments.”
One of the big draws for Martin was the opportunity to test products she was interested in. “I started testing beauty products, as it’s something I love to review,” she said.
According to Martin, the biggest downside of product testing—at least when it comes to paid online surveys, her particular focus—is that it can be very time-consuming.
She told us that filling out surveys often takes around 30 minutes.
Moreover, the pay isn’t the highest, and it can be unpredictable. According to Martin’s website, her jobs sometimes pay as little as $3 (although she noted they also can pay up to $300).
When we asked Martin what a “typical” rate was, she told us that the pay rate for participating in a market research program was usually $10 for a two-week period.
“If you’re looking to make a full-time living product testing, you’ll need to have a blog and/or YouTube account to make money through affiliate marketing, ads, and sponsorships,” said Martin. If you’re not interested in becoming a product-testing content creator, you probably won’t be able to turn this type of work into a full career, although it can still be a very rewarding side hustle.
Sign up with one of these companies to get real money in exchange for your feedback on products
If you’re looking for cash in exchange for your time and input (or you’re looking for an actual career in product testing), then look into these companies, all of which Martin recommended to us:
McCormick & Company, Inc. is a large producer of consumer packaged goods, and their testing program offers the chance to try various food and drink products in exchange for your input.
McCormick offers home product testing, as well as on-site testing at their location in Hunt Valley, Maryland. 1 It’s worth noting that you’ll only be allowed to test products once every 3 months, for a total of 4 times per year.
How much it pays: Varies depending on the type and duration of the taste test
Types of products: Foods, snacks, and beverages
Where to apply: McCormick & Company online registration form
Product Report Card will pay you to test out products from home and fill out an online survey about your experience. They’ll invite you to partake in surveys every day, and you can receive up to 32 free product tests per month.
The table below details the company’s estimated payout for at-home product tests.
| Product Type | Payment Amount | Time Required to Complete Test |
|---|---|---|
| General | $85 | 80 minutes |
| Food and drinks | $25–$35 (+ free product) | 25 minutes |
| Bath products | $5 | 12 minutes |
| Two new foods | $2.50 (+ free product) | 20 minutes |
| Oculus VR games | $35 | 45 minutes (mostly gaming) |
Source: Product Report Card
In most cases, you’ll earn money in the form of “rewards,” which you can redeem for an Amazon Gift Code. However, for especially high-paying jobs (they claim some product tests pay up to $100–$500), you’ll receive compensation in the form of a Visa gift card or check.
How much it pays: $0.50 to $500 per test
Types of products: Virtual reality games, wearable technology, hygiene products, food, drinks, and pet supplies
Where to apply: Product Report Card online registration form
UserTesting is a firm that primarily offers website and app testing, although they also sometimes offer consumer testing for digital products or prototypes. You can complete online tests from home or opt for their in-person tests when they’re available.
To enroll, you’ll need to download the UserTesting app from the Apple Store or Google Play and ensure that you have a computer (and microphone) that meets the company’s system requirements.
UserTesting will pay you for each test you complete via PayPal, so make sure you have an account before you sign up. You can expect to receive your payment 7 days after you complete a test.
How much it pays: Unspecified (some online sources suggest $10 per test)
Types of products: Web products, digital products, apps, in-person experiences, and prototypes
Where to apply: UserTesting online registration form
Sago, previously known as Schlesinger Group, is a company that runs product testing studies for various companies. They do both in-home use tests (IHUTs) and in-person tests.
To become a product tester, you’ll need to sign up to be a panel member for Focus Group by Schlesinger, Sago’s online community of testers and reviewers. After testing a product, you’ll provide feedback by phone, in person, or digitally.
You’ll be compensated with rewards points, which you can redeem for products or Visa debit cards. Every 100 points equals $1 in cash, and you can cash them in once you reach 1,000 points. It generally takes 4–6 weeks to get paid after you complete a product test. 2
How much it pays: Unspecified
Types of products: Food, drinks, packaged consumer goods, healthcare products, and prototypes
Where to apply: Sago online registration form
Princeton Consumer Research is a market research firm that offers consumer testing for products in the healthcare and cosmetics industries. They do both safety testing and efficacy testing.
Depending on what you’re willing to do, you could get involved in a clinical trial or test out a new diet pill, anti-wrinkle cream, or blackhead removal product to see how well it actually works.
Currently, the company recruits testers in the following US locations:
Note that you’ll need to visit testing centers in person to complete your assignments. At the end, you’ll receive payment in cash.
How much it pays: Unspecified
Types of products: Skincare products, dietary supplements, baby products, clinical products, hygiene products, feminine products, and makeup.
Where to apply: Princeton Consumer Research online registration form.
Lionbridge Technologies is a tech company that offers content testing and creation services to companies in various industries. Their gaming division, Lionbridge Games, offers product testing jobs specifically for video games.
If you’re an experienced and enthusiastic gamer, you could join Lionbridge’s growing pool of testers and get paid to play and give feedback on games that haven’t even been released yet. Simply register and download the Game Tester App from Google Play or the App Store to get started.
As a tester, you’ll be given a game to play and then asked to perform certain tasks. Each time you complete a test, you’ll receive GTGold, which you can cash out as XTRM eWallet credit. You can then redeem this credit in the form of a prepaid debit card, gift voucher, or direct bank transfer.
How much it pays: $21–$32 per hour
Types of products: Video games
Where to apply: Lionbridge Games Studios online registration form
By signing up to be a L’Oréal VIP testing panelist, you get the opportunity to try out an array of products and play an important role in the company’s product development process.
You can either partake in the at-home testing program or do on-site testing at L’Oréal’s Clark, NJ location. At-home testing studies usually last 1 week. L’Oréal mails the test products to you, and then you complete a questionnaire.
How much it pays: Unspecified
Types of products: L’Oréal makeup, skincare, hair care, and hair color products
Where to apply: L’Oréal consumer testing online registration form
Kolcraft is a company that produces baby products, and their consumer feedback program, Mom Matters, gives mothers and fathers the opportunity to get paid to test out new products that are still under development.
The company also runs other paid programs that parents can sign up for to earn an extra few bucks, like focus groups, beta testing programs, and photo and video shoots (compensated at $75 per hour).
How much it pays: Unspecified
Types of products: Strollers, crib mattresses, homeware, bassinets, and baby carriers
Where to apply: Kolcraft online registration form
Opinion Outpost is a survey site that offers various ways to earn money by sharing your opinion, including by testing out prototypes for new products. It’s also a good place to get paid to write reviews (which can be a bit more involved than product testing).
For every product you test, you’ll need to complete a survey, and each survey you take earns you Opinion Points. You can redeem these points as gift cards for various retailers or as a deposit into your PayPal account.
The company claims that the average survey earns you 10 points (equal to $1) but that some earn you up to 250 points (equal to $25).
How much it pays: $1–$25 per test
Types of products: Unspecified
Where to apply: Opinion Outpost online registration form
Louida Martin singled out MindField as a company that you should check out. “I’ve been getting a lot of invitations for product testing from them lately, and they’ve been around as a market research platform for quite some time,” she said.
MindField doesn’t indicate on their site what products they solicit tests for, but online reports suggest that many are hygiene, skincare, or beauty products. In addition to testing, you can also take surveys (which they apparently pay $10 for) or participate in focus group discussions (which pay $100).
How much it pays: Unspecified
Types of products: Mainly skincare and beauty products
Where to apply: MindField online registration form
Instead of paying you, these companies offer exciting freebies and access to new products
If you aren’t dead set on earning real money from product testing, you can also look into these companies. They won’t directly pay you, but they’ll send you samples, which—depending on your interests—you might value just as much as actual cash.
Influenster is a company that offers members free samples of a wide variety of products. Once you enroll and download the Influenster mobile app (available from Google Play or the App Store), the company will find products that match your profile and send them to you in a package they call a VoxBox.
One advantage to Influenster over many other companies is that you only need to be 16 years old to sign up, making it a good option for teens. 3
Types of products: Beauty and wellness products, snacks, drinks, pet food, games, home improvement products, and more
Where to apply: Influenster online registration form
The Home Tester Club is a product testing scheme run by The Brand Power Company. It’s exclusively a home product testing program, meaning that they’ll send you the products they want you to test and you’ll complete the whole product testing process online from home.
After you register, you should hear back by email after 1–2 weeks if you’ve been selected to participate in a product test. 4 After that, it’ll take an additional 1–3 weeks to receive your free products.
Types of products: Toys, male grooming equipment, skincare products, and car air fresheners
Where to apply: Home Tester Club online registration form
Brooks is a well-established sportswear company, and they have a consumer testing program that’s perfect for athletes and amateur fitness enthusiasts alike. As a product tester, you’ll get to try out top-of-the line sports shoes and apparel that hasn’t yet been made available to the general public.
Types of products: Brooks running shoes, athletic wear, and sports bras
Where to apply: Brooks product tester online registration form
Just about anybody can benefit from signing up for PINCHme, which is a product testing company that offers an impressive array of freebies from different brands, including big names like Kraft, Kellogg’s, Nestle, Starbucks, Pepsico, Olay, Sephora, Clinique, and Garnier.
One of the best parts of the program is that you get to choose the products you want to try. You’ll then receive a box of free samples in the mail. Once you’ve tried them out, all you need to do is complete a short survey.
Types of products: Skin products, makeup, personal care products, pet food, and food items
Where to apply: PINCHme online registration form
Smiley360 is a free product testing platform and online community, and they work with hundreds of brands. When you sign up as a member, you’ll be offered a Smiley Mission, which you can choose to accept or decline.
Like the case with other at-home free product testing schemes, the products will be sent to you by mail so you can try them out from home. You’ll then be invited to share your opinion online with fellow Smiley members, friends, and the company that developed the product.
Types of products: Unspecified
Where to apply: Smiley360 online registration form
Only preselected customers can access these attractive product testing gigs
While most companies that do product testing are open to applications from just about anyone, others are much more selective. As you might expect, these invite-only product testing programs often happen to be the most appealing product testing gigs out there.
These exclusive platforms include:
Amazon’s product testing program, Amazon Vine, gives you access to Amazon products free of charge or at a discount in exchange for an honest review. However, only well-established and respected Amazon reviewers are invited to sign up.
If you’re interested in Amazon Vine, the best thing to do is to start writing reviews and try to build a solid reputation for yourself on the platform.
Pinecone Research is a market research company that hires consumers like you to test products for various brands. They offer attractive product testing jobs, but the downside is that they’re not easy to land.
You can’t just sign up for Pinecone Research on the company’s website—instead, you have to sign up through one of their ads, which are scattered across the internet.
As a product tester, you’ll be enrolled in the company’s Pinecone Rewards program, which allows you to earn points for each product test you complete. You can then redeem these points in the form of cash or prizes. You’ll receive rewards 3–5 days after you complete a product test.
Discover ways to get more jobs (and more money) as a product tester
Product testing is a job that just about anybody can do, but some people will be offered more jobs than others. Although sometimes your success is beyond your control, there are steps you can take to maximize the number of gigs you get.
When you first register as a product tester for a company, you’ll generally be asked to fill out a survey or form so that the company can get a feel for your habits, interests, and demographic profile (including factors like your age, sex, parental status, and where you live).
These pieces of information are key factors determining whether you’ll be offered a product testing gig.
Companies primarily use product testing as a way to understand the needs and desires of their target customer base, so they’re more likely to want you to test out their products if you fit the description of the people most likely to buy their products.
Providing complete and accurate information in these initial surveys will help companies recognize when you’re a good fit for testing out a particular product—plus, it’ll help you get matched with the products you’re most likely to want.
Some product testing organizations will award you points or credit each time you use a review platform or app. Generally speaking, the more active you are and the more useful contributions you make through these platforms, the more likely you are to be selected for upcoming testing jobs.
Similarly, some invite-only product testing programs (like Amazon Vine) require you to demonstrate your ability to provide high-quality, honest, and useful feedback about certain products. If you get in the habit of regularly reviewing your purchases, these companies may invite you to become a product tester.
Companies can only benefit from your product reviews if you give them detailed and sincere input. Taking each product testing assignment you do seriously will put you on the radar of companies offering the most attractive product testing gigs.
Some companies that offer product testing jobs specifically target influencers. In these cases, strengthening your social media following can make you a more appealing candidate.
Ultimately, however, don’t get discouraged if you struggle to get jobs testing the products you love. Try broadening your search to include other types of products or enroll in more testing schemes.
Louida, who goes by Lou, has been a product reviewer for 12+ years. In addition to reviewing products (especially beauty products and vehicles), she is a full-time blogger and the owner of Product Review Mom, a site that has been featured on Dr. Oz and in publications like CNBC, The Good Life, First for Women, and Woman's World Magazine.
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