Getting to write reviews for money might sound too good to be true, but it’s actually a fairly easy and common side hustle you can do from the comfort of your own home. Companies rely on online reviews to test and improve their products and serve customers. Collecting positive reviews can also help expand their customer base and increase their bottom line.
Because reviews are so valuable, some companies will pay you to test their products and services and share your opinion. While it won’t compare to a full-time income, sharing your opinion could get you some extra cash.
You probably won’t work with a company directly; instead, sign up for a third-party site like LifePoints or SoftwareJudge.com to share your thoughts.
Read on for a closer look at the best sites that pay you to write reviews and take surveys.
Key takeaways
- Almost 95% of online shoppers read reviews before making a purchase, according to a Spiegel Research Center survey.
- Because reviews and user feedback are so valuable, companies will pay consumers to write reviews and take surveys.
- Rather than working with a company directly, you can find most opportunities through third-party sites that partner with brands.
- Payment for writing reviews and taking surveys may come in the form of cash, gift cards, or free products.
- You could also make money reviewing products on your own blog, YouTube channel, or another platform.
The 12 best paid review side hustles
- Product Review Jobs
- Capterra
- SoftwareJudge.com
- Crowdtap
- TryProducts
- Slicethepie
- LifePoints
- American Consumer Opinion
- InboxDollars
- UserTesting
- Survey Junkie
- Swagbucks
Best paid review sites comparison
Company/App | Best for | Pay | Learn more |
Product Review Jobs | Testing free products in your spare time | About $25 per product review | Link |
Capterra | Writing software reviews for gift cards | Gift cards | Link |
SoftwareJudge.com | Writing software reviews for cash | Up to $50 per review | Link |
Crowdtap | Taking surveys on your phone | Rewards points that you redeem for gift cards | Link |
TryProducts | Getting paid in free products | Free products | Link |
Slicethepie | Reviewing music, clothing, and more | Cash you can withdraw to a PayPal account (amounts vary based on category and review quality) | Link |
LifePoints | Completing surveys and earning rewards | Gift cards and PayPal credit | Link |
American Consumer Opinion | Participating in paid surveys and research projects | Cash out points for a check or to a PayPal account or charity | Link |
InboxDollars | Taking paid surveys, playing games, and reading emails | PayPal cash, Amazon gift cards, or other gift cards | Link |
UserTesting | Getting paid to test products and share your opinion via microphone | PayPal | Link |
Survey Junkie | Taking various paid surveys | PayPal, bank transfer, and gift cards | Link |
Swagbucks | Taking surveys and shopping online | PayPal and gift cards | Link |
1. Product Review Jobs
Pros | Cons |
Get invited by brands to test products and take surveys | No guarantee of brand invitations |
Earn about $25 per review |
With Product Review Jobs, brands will reach out about product testing gigs after you’ve filled out your profile and indicated your shopping preferences. You can choose which ones you’d like to accept and receive about $25 per product review.
The site’s handy earnings calculator helps you estimate how much you could earn on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. You’ll earn payment directly from brands you work with rather than through the Product Review Jobs site.
Sign up for Product Review Jobs.
2. Capterra
Pros | Cons |
Lots of different software you can review | Only get paid if your review is accepted and published |
Earn gift cards | May need to provide additional verification that you’ve used a software in real life |
If you frequently use software for work or school, you could share your experience on Capterra, an online marketplace vendor that helps people find business software. Capterra will pay you for reviews of software like DocuSign and QuickBooks — but only if your review is approved.
Along with writing a high-quality review, you may need to send Capterra proof that you have real-life experience with the software under consideration. You’ll receive a gift card as payment if Capterra publishes your review.
Sign up for Capterra.
3. SoftwareJudge.com
Pros | Cons |
Pays up to $50 per review | Only get paid for accepted reviews |
Lists lots of software in various categories | Limit of three reviews per day |
Like Capterra, SoftwareJudge.com is a software review website. The site says it looks for “tell-it-like-it-is, no marketing BS, straight talking” reviews of software products listed on its site.
You can contribute up to three reviews per day, but you should probably submit one and wait to see if it’s approved before submitting more. If your review is approved, you could receive up to $50.
Learn more about SoftwareJudge.com.
4. Crowdtap
Pros | Cons |
Mobile app, so you can take surveys on the go | Earnings may be small, at least at first |
Surveys can be as short as one question | Must have a minimum of $5 to cash out points |
With more than 2 million users, Crowdtap is a popular app for taking paid product surveys. It’s free to sign up, and you can redeem the rewards points you earn for gift cards starting at $5. Top members get paid $25, $50, or more in rewards for their opinions on new products.
Find out more about Crowdtap.
5. TryProducts
Pros | Cons |
Has over 400 products from 300 different brands for you to try | Doesn’t offer additional payment outside of free products |
Sends products for free (you never have to share your credit card info) | May receive products you don’t like or want |
TryProducts sends you free products in exchange for your opinion as a product tester. While you won’t get additional payment, you might appreciate the free products you could get from over 300 different brands. Products to test include lip balms, birthday candles, snacks, and more.
Learn more about TryProducts.
6. Slicethepie
Pros | Cons |
Can review music, clothing, and much more | Payment varies depending on item category and your star rating |
Can cash out your earnings in a PayPal account | $10 minimum to cash out your earnings |
Consumers have left over 63 million reviews on Slicethepie, which claims to be one of the largest review sites in the world. You can review music, clothing, and other services and products and get paid for sharing your opinion.
Payment will vary depending on the category of the item you’re reviewing and the quality of your review. You can withdraw the cash you earn to a PayPal account, with minimum withdrawals starting at $10.
Find out more about Slicethepie.
7. LifePoints
Pros | Cons |
Mobile app, so you can take surveys on your phone | Surveys can take up to 20 minutes to complete |
Welcome bonus of 10 points | Points expire after three years or 12 months of inactivity |
LifePoints is an app that rewards you with points in exchange for taking surveys. You’ll get 10 points automatically upon signing up and will earn more after completing surveys on products from popular brands.
This global app has members in over 40 countries. If you participate and earn rewards, you can redeem them as PayPal credit or gift cards.
Sign up for LifePoints.
8. American Consumer Opinion
Pros | Cons |
Free to become a member | Some surveys and research projects only pay $5 |
Can participate in surveys and research projects |
American Consumer Opinion has more than 7 million active consumers and 20 million surveys taken. You can sign up for free and earn points as you take surveys.
Most surveys and research projects earn you 100 to 5,000 points, which equates to $1 to $50. According to American Consumer Opinion, you can expect to receive survey invitations several times per year.
Of course, like other survey sites, you may not qualify to complete every survey.
Learn more about American Consumer Opinion.
9. InboxDollars
Pros | Cons |
Can earn money in various ways | May only earn $0.50 on some surveys |
Some surveys pay $20 or more | Some surveys take 25 minutes to complete |
When it comes to making money on InboxDollars, you can do so in a few different ways. These include taking surveys, playing games, and getting paid to read emails.
Most surveys on the site pay between $0.50 and $5, though some pay $20 or more. They typically take between three and 25 minutes.
Sign up for InboxDollars for free and earn a $5 bonus when you open your account.
Sign up for InboxDollars.
10. UserTesting
Pros | Cons |
Get paid to share your perspective on products | Need to pass a practice test after you apply |
Free to sign up and participate | Must have a microphone to participate |
UserTesting pays consumers to share their perspectives on products, and you’ll need to pass a practice test to participate. If your application is accepted, you can answer screening questions to match with test opportunities. You’ll need a microphone to participate.
Payment amounts vary, and you’ll get paid seven days after completing a test. You can cash out your earnings into a PayPal account.
Learn more about UserTesting.
11. Survey Junkie
Pros | Cons |
Wide variety of gift cards | Must reside in the U.S., Canada, or Australia |
Positive reviews from users |
As the name indicates, Survey Junkie exclusively focuses on surveys. You earn points by completing your profile, taking surveys, and participating in occasional studies and focus group opportunities.
You can also choose to share your online activity using Survey Junkie Pulse. You can redeem points via PayPal or gift cards, including Target, Walmart, Sephora, Starbucks, and more.
Sign up for Survey Junkie.
12. Swagbucks
Pros | Cons |
Variety of ways to earn points | Multiple options for earning could be overwhelming |
Offers Walmart gift cards, among others |
Swagbucks offers points for shopping, using its search engine, signing up for deals, and completing surveys. You can redeem points for gift cards or a PayPal transfer. Swagbucks could be a good fit if you want to do more than just surveys.
Sign up for Swagbucks.
How to choose the best places to write paid reviews
Various websites can connect you with opportunities to make money by writing reviews and taking surveys. Consider the following factors to choose the right one for you:
- Your area of expertise. Some websites let you write reviews on various products and services, whereas others are specific to a certain type of product (e.g., book reviews). For instance, you might find higher-paying opportunities to write reviews if you have specialized software knowledge.
- The amount of time you can commit. Most of these sites are flexible, letting you participate as much or as little as you want. However, some sites require longer surveys than others, so consider how much time you want to commit when choosing the best place to write paid reviews.
- Ease of use. Ensure the site you choose has a friendly user experience. One person might prefer a mobile app that lets you take surveys from everywhere, such as Crowdtap, while another might enjoy taking surveys through a microphone, as with UserTesting.
- Earnings potential. Of course, you want to ensure a site is worth your time and will compensate you fairly for your opinion. Several of these sites don’t share their rates upfront, instead saying they vary depending on the length of the survey and the product category. If you try a site and decide the earnings are too low, switch to an alternative.
- How you can redeem your rewards. Finally, consider how you can redeem your rewards, whether as direct deposit, PayPal credit, or free gift cards. Keep in mind that some sites send you free products in exchange for your opinion rather than offering cash payouts.
If you’re committed to making money as a product reviewer, you could also consider developing your own platform, such as becoming a blogger, being an influencer on a social media channel, or starting a YouTube channel. If you build a big audience, you could make a significant amount of money through affiliate marketing, referrals, ads, or sponsored posts.
For example, you could offer honest reviews of Amazon products on a YouTube channel and include affiliate links. Be sure to disclose that you’re doing an ad or paid promotion to stay compliant with Federal Trade Commission guidelines. As you develop an audience, those reviews could become a source of passive income.
Creating your own online business can be one of the best side hustles since there’s virtually no limit on how big it can grow.
FAQs about writing paid reviews
Can I get paid for writing Amazon reviews?
While Amazon doesn’t offer payment for writing reviews, it does have an affiliate program that allows you to market various products sold on Amazon. If you start a blog, become a social media influencer, or grow your own YouTube channel, you could review products on Amazon and make a commission when a member of your audience makes a purchase from your affiliate link.
Is it legal to write reviews for money?
It is legal to write reviews for money using a reputable website such as UserTesting or SoftwareJudge.com. However, companies should disclose if someone endorsing their product has been compensated for their review, whether in the form of cash or a free product.
Tip
A legitimate company will want you to leave honest feedback, not just good reviews; if you’re reviewing a product, you must have used the product you’re reviewing.Can I earn money from Google reviews?
Google offers an app called Google Opinion Rewards that pays up to $1 via PayPal for quick surveys, some of which take less than 20 seconds. After downloading the app, you’ll be notified if a survey is ready for you. Be sure to use the official app if you’re going to participate. Beware of Google Opinion Rewards scams that are after your personal information or ask for your credit card or bank account details.
Best places to write paid reviews: bottom line
You can make money online by writing reviews. Various websites will pay for your specialized software knowledge or first impressions of a new product.
Along with writing reviews, you could also get paid to share your opinion through online surveys, which you might take on your phone or computer or by speaking through a microphone. Some surveys only take 10 seconds, whereas others could take 20 minutes or more.
Remember that the best sites for writing reviews for money are free to join. If a site asks for your credit card information, be careful — it could be a scam to steal your money or identity. Confirm that a site is reputable through online reviews and consumer review sites like Trustpilot before joining.
By the way, writing reviews isn’t your only option for making money remotely. Here are 10 other legit ideas for making money from home and 7 places to get paid to test products.
Methodology
The companies provided on this list may be current or past FinanceBuzz partners. We did not review all companies in the market. When evaluating these companies and compiling this list of the best places to write reviews for money, we considered factors such as availability, ease of sign-up, and earnings potential.
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