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I’ve made no secret of the fact that Prolific is one of the better survey sites out there. It’s straightforward, pays fairly, and you don’t feel like you’re wasting hours for pennies.
Traditional survey sites can feel like a slog when you can sometimes spend 20 minutes for 30p, or are screened out after ten questions.
The platforms I’ve listed here are different.
They’re usually run by universities, researchers, or proper market research companies, so the studies are more interesting and the pay is much higher. I talk about the pay in dollars, but you can cash out to PayPal in British Pounds.
If you’re serious about topping up your income, Prolific isn’t the only one out there that pays more.
I’ve been signing up for a few myself, and here’s what I’ve found (with some extra ones I’ve got my eye on, too).
respondent.io – big money if you qualify
- What you do: one‑to‑one interviews, focus groups, diary studies
- How much you earn: typically $100/hr, but some studies pay $100–700/hr!
Respondent is one of the heavy hitters when it comes to online studies. These aren’t your bog-standard “do you like this advert” surveys; they’re proper interviews, focus groups, or specialist research tasks. The catch? You do have to qualify, and the screeners can be tough.
When you do get in, though, the pay is incredible. I’ve seen studies offering anywhere from £70 to £200 for under an hour of your time. Some people report averages of around £80 an hour, which makes Prolific look like pocket change. The downside is that you won’t get constant invites, so it’s one to keep on the side and pounce on when you’re a fit.
User Interviews – similar idea, solid payouts
- What you do: remote or in‑person chats about products and services
- How much you earn: around $100/hr, often paying $75 or more per session
User Interviews is another one that works in a similar way to Respondent (you can earn $10 when you sign up and complete your first study through this referral). The studies often involve chatting about a product or giving your take on a service. From what I’ve seen, you’re looking at £50 to £100 per session, and they don’t usually drag on.
I like the fact that it’s very focused and there are no endless multiple-choice questions, just real conversations where your opinion actually matters. Like Respondent, the tricky bit is qualifying. But when you land one, it’s a nice chunk of cash for not much time.
Connect (cloudresearch) – steady, reliable, but less flashy
- What you do: quick academic‑style studies (short surveys, opinions, occasional micro tasks)
- How much you earn:
- minimum now $7.50/hr
- typical studies aim for $10+/hr
- Some Reddit users report earning $400–500/month when active
I’ve signed up for Connect, and it feels a lot like Prolific — short academic surveys, usually paying around £6–£10 an hour. Researchers are told to set fair pay, and I’ve noticed most do. Some people on Reddit even say they’re pulling in £300–£400 a month just from this site.
This isn’t the place you’ll get rich overnight, but if you’re after something steady to keep ticking away in the background, Connect has been worth it so far.
How it’s been for me
I’ve signed up to CloudResearch Connect, and it feels a lot like Prolific in the way it works. The studies are mostly short academic surveys, usually run by universities or research teams, and they pay a set hourly rate.
What I like is that the pay is transparent and you see what you’re going to earn before you start, with most researchers sticking to fair rates. The dashboard is straightforward, and I’ve had no trouble finding surveys to fill spare time. Some people online say they’re making £300–£400 a month just from this site, though I’d say it depends how often you log in and whether you match the studies on offer.
It’s not the highest earner compared to things like Respondent or User Interviews, but I’ve found it steady and reliable, which makes it a good one to keep running alongside other platforms.
Testable Minds – academic, international feel
- what you do: psychology / behavioural experiments and surveys run by universities
- how much you earn: maybe $4-10 or more for more involved tasks
I’ve also signed up for Testable Minds, which is another platform focused on proper research studies rather than consumer surveys. The studies tend to be run by universities all over the world, and the pay is usually in US dollars or euros, but it converts fine into pounds.
It feels a bit like Prolific did in the early days with not loads of studies, but when one lands, it pays fairly. The dashboards are clear, and it’s got a nice academic feel to it.
How I’ve found it
I have used Testable Minds, and this is how I find it: after I sign up, filled in my profile and verified my identity, I could start to see what I qualify for. But there aren’t loads. However, the payments are fair, for example I saw one 15 minute task pay around $5-6, another more complex one nearer $9-10. There’s a cap of $50/month earnings, so once I hit that, no more paid work until the next month. It’s not going to replace a full-time income or the other sites, but it’s another good iption to check once a day.
Wynter – high reward if you’re invited
- What you do: B2B or specialist panels—often invite only
- How much you earn: up to $600/hr (not a typo!) if you’re invited
Wynter is one I’ve not been accepted onto (yet), but it’s worth mentioning because of the potential. It’s invite-only, and they’re often looking for professionals with certain job titles. If you do get in, the pay can be huge, and I’ve seen people mention $200 to $600 an hour.
That’s not everyday side hustle money for most of us, but if you’ve got a specific background in tech, marketing, or business, it’s definitely worth applying.
Lightster – quick bursts of cash
- What you do: short micro‑interviews or quick feedback sessions
- How much you earn: around $1 per minute (around $60/hr)
Lightster is more about short, sharp interviews rather than hour-long sessions. The idea is simple: you give feedback for a few minutes, and you’re done. The pay works out at about $1 a minute, so around $60 an hour.
The great thing here is that you don’t need to block off a huge chunk of your day. If you’ve got 15 spare minutes before the school run or while waiting for tea to cook, you could fit one in.
Hotjar – test apps and websites
- What you do: UX testing, giving feedback on apps or websites
- How much you earn: about €10–100/hr (roughly $11–110/hr)
Hotjar (which used to be called PingPong) is all about user testing. You sign up, they match you with tasks, and you give feedback on apps, websites, or digital products. Pay ranges from €10 to €100 per hour, depending on the complexity of the study.
It’s easy enough to get started, and if you’re comfortable speaking your thoughts out loud while trying something, it’s actually quite fun. I like it as a way to break up the more repetitive surveys elsewhere.
Final thought
If you’re serious about earning more than Prolific, these sites are worth adding to your mix.
Respondent and User Interviews can be brilliant when you qualify.
Connect and Testable Minds are reliable and more accessible.
Then you’ve got specialist options like Wynter, Lightster, and PingPong, which can bring in bigger bursts of cash when you get lucky.
I’ve signed up for a few of these myself, and I’ll keep sharing how they stack up against each other. It’s also worth looking into paid market research and online focus groups to earn £70+ per hour. You’re not likely to get surveys daily, like you will with Prolific and friends, but it’s still worth looking into.
The key is not to rely on just one but to spread yourself across a couple of platforms, and you’ll always have something on the go.
Naomi knows the burden of living on very little and became debt free by following her own money saving tips and tricks. She is an expert on saving money at the supermarket and side hustles.
