Is user testing a good side hustle?
User testing is a good side hustle for a few hours a month: no experience, no equipment beyond a computer and a microphone, cash to PayPal, and the work is mildly interesting. It is a poor side hustle if you need steady income, because invitations arrive unevenly and every panel limits how much you can do. Treat it as money on top of something else.
What it is good for
- Short, self-contained sessions you can do between other things. An Inflight study runs about 15 to 45 minutes.
- No skills, no inventory, no customers, no reviews of you by strangers.
- Higher pay per minute than surveys, because a recorded think-aloud is worth far more to a company than a questionnaire.
- Cash, not points or gift cards.
What it is not
It is not a job and it is not scalable. You cannot do more studies by wanting to; you do the ones you are invited to and pass the screener for. Most testers describe a good month as a few hundred dollars across several panels, and quieter months in between. If you need a predictable amount every week, gig work with a schedule (delivery, tutoring, freelance work) fits better.
Compared with the alternatives
| Side hustle | Pay per hour of your time | Predictable? | Needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| User testing | Higher per study, but limited by invitations | No | Computer, mic, quiet room |
| Paid surveys | Low | No | Phone |
| Delivery driving | Moderate, minus car costs | Yes, if you schedule it | Car or bike, insurance |
| Online tutoring | Moderate to high | Yes, once you have students | A subject, a webcam |
| Freelance writing or design | Wide range | Builds over time | Portfolio, clients |
Best side hustles from home with no experience goes through each of these.
Making it worth your time
Join more than one panel, keep your profiles complete, respond to invitations quickly, and record well so your approval rate stays high. How much do user testers make? has the published rates.
Questions people ask next
- How many hours a week is it?
- Usually a few hours a month, not a week. It depends on how many studies match your profile.
- Do I need to be good with technology?
- No. Panels want ordinary users, and being confused by a product is useful to the people who made it.
- Can I do it alongside a full-time job?
- Yes. Studies are unmoderated, so you take them when it suits you, and you can stop at any time.