What are good side hustles for stay-at-home parents?
Good side hustles for stay-at-home parents are the ones you can do in short, interruptible blocks: paid user testing of websites and apps (15 to 45 minute recorded sessions during a nap or after bedtime), online surveys, selling outgrown things, and online tutoring once you have a reliable hour. User testing pays the most per minute of these but needs a quiet room and a microphone.
What fits around children
| Side hustle | Block of time | Needs quiet? | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid user testing | 15 to 45 minutes, when invited | Yes, for the recording | Fixed per study, cash to PayPal |
| Online surveys | A few minutes | No | Cents to a few dollars |
| Selling outgrown things | Whenever | No | Whatever it sells for |
| Online tutoring | A scheduled hour | Yes | Hourly |
| Transcription | Flexible | Headphones help | Per audio minute |
User testing during nap time
An Inflight study shows its length before you start, so you can pick one that fits the window you have. You need a desktop or laptop with Google Chrome, a microphone and a room quiet enough for the recording; a crying baby in the background makes the audio unusable and the study may have to be redone. Studies are unmoderated, so there is no appointment to keep, and you can stop a study if you have to.
Every study shows its pay and expected time before you start, and a study done in good faith is paid the amount shown even if you got stuck or gave up. Pay is added to your balance when the study is approved, usually within two working days.
What to expect from the money
Invitations arrive unevenly on every panel, so treat it as extra rather than income to plan around. Is user testing a good side hustle? has the comparison.
Questions people ask next
- Can I do user tests on my phone while the baby sleeps on me?
- Not on Inflight, which needs a desktop or laptop in Chrome. Surveys work on a phone; some other testing panels run phone tests through an app.
- What if I have to stop mid-study?
- You can stop at any time. A study you had to abandon is not held against you; you may be asked to redo it.
- Is there anything to buy?
- No. Applying is free and Inflight never charges you anything.