I tested Respondent myself and have been paid by it. Below is how its paid research projects work, what the PayPal fee costs you, and why it can take months to qualify for a project.
Tested by Mikael (EarnWithMike)Founder and lead testerMikael founded PaidFromSurveys in 2016 and has personally tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites since then. He shows his tests and payment proof to 555K+ subscribers on his YouTube channel, EarnWithMike. He tested Respondent himself and has been paid by it.Learn more about Mikael
Last retested · First published
Legit, with high rewards, but projects are hard to qualify for
Research projects pay well, straight to PayPal. Expect a 5% fee and a lot of patience.
On this page
The short answer
Respondent is legit. I have been paid by it myself. Companies pay you to take part in research studies, online or in person, and the rewards per project are generally fairly high. Payment goes automatically to PayPal, with no threshold.
But the projects can be hard to qualify for, and depending on your profile, it might take months before you find one. Every payment also has a processing fee of 5% or $1, whichever is higher.
- Pays quite well for each project
- Payment via PayPal, sent automatically
- No payout threshold
- Available globally
- A fairly detailed FAQ
- Limited project opportunities
- No guarantee you can earn regularly: you apply for every project
- Relatively high processing fee: 5% or $1
- You can only apply for three projects per 24 hours
- Support by email only
My experience with Respondent
I signed up, set up my profile, looked at the projects and the referral program, and got paid. This is what I did myself, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- January 2020Review first published Jan 12, 2020
- Latest retest
- Checked: projects, payouts, fees
- Paid out through
- PayPalThe only payment method
- Sign-up
- Fairly easyEmail, Facebook or LinkedIn
- Registration and the profile checklist
- Projects and the qualifying screeners
- A payment to PayPal
- The referral program
- The website on a mobile browser
- The FAQ section
- An in-person study. They pay more, but you have to live close to the location.
- The email support at support@respondent.io.
My Respondent test on video
I know from personal experience that Respondent pays: I have been paid by it myself, through PayPal. In the video below, I give you an inside look at the earning opportunities. The website looks a bit different now, but what the video explains still holds.
Screenshots from my account
Respondent has paid me through PayPal. It is free to join from anywhere.
Join Respondent freeRespondent at a glance
| What it is | Crowdsourcing site. Partner companies pay members to take part in research studies. |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free |
| Minimum age | 18, because you need a PayPal account |
| Ways to earn | Research projects (online or in person, one-on-one or unmoderated), referral program |
| Applications | Up to three projects per 24 hours. The qualifying screener is unpaid. |
| Minimum cashout | None. You are paid automatically after each project. |
| Payout method | PayPal only |
| Fees | 5% or $1, whichever is higher, on every payment |
| Apps | No app. The website is mobile-friendly, but most projects need a computer. |
| Where you can join | Available globally |
| Support | Detailed FAQ; email support@respondent.io |
Is Respondent legit and safe?
Yes, Respondent is legit. I have been paid by it myself. But you need the right expectations. Here is what you should know.
- Projects are hard to qualify for
Most studies look for very specific participants. Depending on your profile, it might take months before you find a project to earn from.
- Screeners are unpaid, and you get three per day
You apply for each project through a qualifying screener, which does not pay. You can only apply for three projects every 24 hours, so only apply for the ones you have the best chance at.
- A 5% processing fee
Every payment has a fee of 5% or $1, whichever is higher. If a project pays $150, you receive $142.50. That is fairly high compared to other online research sites.
- In-person studies need you nearby
In-person studies pay more, but you have to go to a designated location, so you need to live close to it to be accepted.
- You need PayPal
PayPal is the only payment method. Register with the email address of your PayPal account.
My takeRespondent is a decent site to earn a few extra bucks, in my opinion, mainly because it pays well and you receive your payment quite conveniently. But do not expect it to replace a full-time job. Make it a secondary site, since you will not be able to earn from it regularly.
How you earn on Respondent
There are 2 ways to earn. Projects make up most of the money. Tap one to read more.
Research projectsFairly high
Projects are research studies. Your dashboard shows all available projects, with what each pays and what type of project it is: online or in person, and one-on-one or unmoderated.
You apply for each project. The company reviews your profile, and you take a qualifying screener. Think of it as a job interview. The screener is unpaid, and you can apply for three projects per 24 hours.
You are paid after you complete a project. Check the status of every project in the My Studies section. Harder or longer projects pay more.
Referral program$20 or $50
Share your general invite link, or an invite link for a specific project. You get $20 for each person you invite once they earn at least $75 in incentive payments. You get one bonus per person, even if you refer them to several studies.
If you refer someone for a specific project, you get $50 when they earn $100 in total incentives. Earning from referrals is not that easy, in my opinion.
How much can you make?
It depends on how many projects you complete and how well each company pays. Respondent pays quite well, and harder or longer projects pay more. So it has good earning potential, as long as you qualify.
Complete your profile checklist first. Then only apply for projects you have the best chance of qualifying for, because you only get three applications per 24 hours. Even then, it might take months before you find a project, so do not count on regular income.
Payout method, minimum and fee
| Method | Minimum | Fee | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | None | 5% or $1, whichever is higher | Automatic, once the company sends the payment |
During registration, you give the email address of your PayPal account, and Respondent links it. Use the same email for both. Every payment is made automatically.
For more sites with this payout method, see the top survey sites that pay via PayPal.
What 13 readers told me
This review has 13 comments since 2020: 7 from readers and 6 replies from me. These are the things readers ask about most.
You need a PayPal account, and you should use the same email for PayPal and Respondent.
One reader calls Respondent awesome. Another says it is limited how much you can make. Both fit what I found: good pay, few projects.
You do not have to upload a picture, but a complete profile can help you get more studies.
Respondent is available globally.
“ShouldI use same PayPal and Respondent email or they could be different.”
Mikael: Yes, you should use the same email.
“Could you please tell is it compulsory to update profile picture to get more studies opportunities on respondent?”
Mikael: No, you do not have to upload a picture. But making sure you fill out your profile can help to get more studies.
“it’s still extremely limited how much you can make with them and a big grind doing surveys. Good for beer money but not much more than that IMO.”
Mikael: Thanks for sharing your opinion about this.
Respondent alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | Surveys only, payouts usually within 30 minutes | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| YouGov | Regular surveys, with an email for every new survey | Varies by country | 4.3 / 5 |
| Toluna Influencers | Surveys in more than 60 countries, in the local language | Usually around $7 to $10, by country | 4.2 / 5 |
| Swagbucks | Many daily ways to earn, one of the biggest GPT sites | About $5 PayPal; gift cards from 100 SB | 4.3 / 5 |
See also the best paid research studies online. To earn more regularly, see the top survey sites in your country.
How I scored Respondent
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
Respondent scores 60 out of 100. It pays well per project if you have the patience to qualify.
Join Respondent freeRespondent FAQ
Is Respondent a scam?
No. Respondent is legit, and I have been paid by it myself.
How does Respondent pay?
Only through PayPal. Payments are made automatically after you complete a project.
Is there a minimum payout?
No. You do not have to reach a threshold.
What are the fees?
5% or $1, whichever is higher, on every payment. A $150 project pays you $142.50.
How many projects can I apply for?
Three per 24 hours. The qualifying screener is unpaid.
Who can join Respondent?
Anyone, globally, who is at least 18 years old, because you need a PayPal account.
Should my PayPal and Respondent email be the same?
Yes, use the same email.
Do I need a profile picture?
No. But a complete profile can help you get more studies.
How do I contact Respondent?
Check the FAQ first. Otherwise, email support@respondent.io with the project name, the date you took part, and your question.
How to join Respondent
- Open Respondent through my invitation link.
- Register with your email address, Facebook or LinkedIn.
- Give the email address of your PayPal account. Use the same email for both.
- Complete the profile checklist, so you can start qualifying for projects.
- Apply for the projects you have the best chance at. You get three applications per 24 hours.
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Respondent, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
Who tested Respondent for this review
Founder of PaidFromSurveys.com since 2016. Mikael has tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites and shares his tests with 555K+ subscribers on YouTube (October 2026).
Is respondent available in Nigeria?
I explain who can join in the review above in the section called “Who can join”.
ShouldI use same PayPal and Respondent email or they could be different.
Yes, you should use the same email.
Hello Mikael
Could you please tell is it compulsory to update profile picture to get more studies opportunities on respondent?.
No, you do not have to upload a picture. But making sure you fill out your profile can help to get more studies. And maybe some people will also prefer particioants with profile pictures. I cannot say for sure.
Respondent is absolutely awesome!
Great to hear you like it.
If I’m trying to make money here what account do I need please?
Really good guidelines…appreciating step.
you are welcome. Glad it helped.
Hey, excellent rundown on Respondent – well done! We also researched them and found them to be the best survey site, but it’s still extremely limited how much you can make with them and a big grind doing surveys. Good for beer money but not much more than that IMO.
Thanks for sharing your opinion about this.