What are good side hustles for retirees?
Good side hustles for retirees are flexible, from home, and value experience or perspective rather than speed: paid user testing of websites and apps, where companies specifically want older first-time users; consulting in your former field; tutoring; and paid research studies. Paid user testing pays a fixed amount per 15 to 45 minute recorded study in cash to PayPal and needs only a computer, a microphone and a quiet room.
Why companies want older testers
Most people who build apps are under 40, and most testing panels skew the same way. A company shipping a banking app, a pharmacy site or a travel booking flow needs to see how a 68-year-old uses it, and cannot get that from its own team. Panels screen on age, so being older gets you into studies, not out of them.
What a user test asks of you
You try a few tasks on a website or app while saying what you are thinking, on a recording. If you cannot find something, that is exactly what they wanted to learn. Inflight studies run 15 to 45 minutes, show the pay before you start, and pay a study done in good faith even if you gave up. You must be 18 or older and live in the United States, with a desktop or laptop, a microphone and Google Chrome. Studies run on desktop; there is no phone app.
The options side by side
| Side hustle | Needs | Pay | Flexible? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid user testing | Computer, mic, quiet room | Fixed per study, cash to PayPal | Yes, when invited |
| Consulting in your old field | A network | High, irregular | Yes |
| Tutoring | A subject, a webcam | Hourly | Scheduled |
| Paid research studies | Computer or phone | Per study | Yes |
| Pet sitting | Being home | Per visit | Yes |
Money, Social Security and taxes
Inflight does not withhold tax and issues no tax forms. Whether side income affects your benefits depends on your situation; ask a professional. Taxes on user testing income explains what Inflight does and does not do.
Questions people ask next
- I'm not good with computers. Can I still do this?
- Yes, if you can open a web page in Chrome and talk. Companies want to see exactly where a product loses people who are not confident with technology.
- Is there anything to install?
- Not on Inflight. Studies run in Google Chrome with no extension. Some other panels require their own recorder app.
- Is it safe?
- Inflight never asks for a fee, bank login or documents by email, never uses your camera, and records only the study tab. Read the scam guide for what to watch for anywhere.