User testing can be a great and fun way to earn some extra money – IF you join the right platform. TestingTime is one of the sites that promises to pay you to test out new products, answer surveys, or join studies.
But is TestingTime legit and really a great opportunity, or is it a waste of time?
Let me answer the first question right away so we can discuss other important aspects of the site.
Yes, it is a legit site that does pay you to participate in the activities it offers. However, this doesn't ensure that you will be able to earn a good amount from this site.
I have tested it thoroughly myself, and this TestingTime review will show you what the site really offers so you can figure out if it does offer good earning potential and if it is for you or not.
What is TestingTime, and what does it offer?
TestingTime is a user testing site that offers to pay you for testing apps, websites, products, gadgets, and many more things. You can participate in a guided usability test, either with the client in person or via Skype. Sometimes, you can also earn by taking short surveys.
Now, to fully understand how well you can earn from this site, we have to take a closer look at the earning opportunities it offers.
I have made a video that will show you exactly how it works. You can also read all the details below the video:
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Option 1 – Usability Testing
TestingTime only offers one main method of earning, and that is through usability testing. As mentioned, there are two ways you can participate. You can either do the in-person testing or do it online via Skype.
Once you become a member of the site, you will be eligible to receive test invites. The invite will be sent via email, so you will have to check your email regularly. Each test offer is on a first-come, first-served basis.
However, they do also sometimes post available tests on their Facebook page, so that can be worth keeping an eye on as well once you become a member. So, it is important to get to the offer as quickly as you can.
When you receive an offer, you will have to select a time to do the test. So, make sure to choose the best time that fits your schedule. They emphasize the importance of being on time, and if you do not show up on the agreed time, you should not expect more jobs from TestingTime. Once you have been accepted for a job, you will be given the instructions you need to follow.
You will also need a Skype account, a webcam, and a microphone (but usually, webcams have built-in microphones already, so you don't need to worry about that if you are using a newer webcam) to participate in the tests.
You will also need a quiet room to do the test in. So, before you register, make sure you've got that covered. Each test will require around 30 minutes to an hour to complete.
Most of the companies that will ask you to test out digital products are listed in the photo above. So, as you can see, you might get to test for some big and famous companies.
You might also sometimes be invited to participate in an in-person interview. When you become a tester, the most important thing you need to do is to be on time when you agree to participate in a study. If you do have to cancel for any reason, just make sure to let them know as soon as possible.
And lastly, you must always answer all questions truthfully. During the testing process, a moderator will guide you through each step of the test. So, try to answer his or her questions spontaneously.
What the moderator is looking for is to understand your thought process. That's why you must always think out loud and voice out your thoughts.
The easiest way to earn is by participating in the paid surveys you might sometimes also get access to. But they also pay less, but more about the full earning potential later.
Option 2 – Invite Others to Join
There is one way you can potentially earn a bit extra on TestingTime.
You do not see this right away when you go to the website. But once you have signed up and confirmed your email, you will get to a screen that shows you a link you can share with others if you want to invite them.
If someone you invite ends up joining, you will earn 5€ when they complete their first test. Be aware that you will only get this bonus if they complete a test. It is not enough to just get them to join.
But if you know someone in the areas where TestingTime offers the most options (more about this below), it can be a way to earn a bit extra.
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How do you get paid?
Every test you complete will earn you a certain amount of Euros.
When it comes to the payout threshold, it is a bit confusing. In the FAQ section, it says that there might be a threshold, which is a bit confusing, in my opinion.
It did not use to have a payout threshold, but inside my account, I can see that I now need to earn €21 to be able to withdraw. However, based on what they write in the FAQ section, it seems that there might be some countries where there is still no payout threshold, but you will have to check your account to find out for sure in your country.
Once you have completed your first test, you will be asked to provide your preferred payment method. You only actually have two options. You can either choose to be paid via PayPal or direct bank transfer.
From then on, the money you will earn from succeeding tests will always be transferred to your PayPal or bank account of choice within 10 business days.
I like that you can easily get paid in cash. Just be aware that if you withdraw into your bank account, there might be extra fees involved, depending on your country and bank. If you withdraw via PayPal, TestingTime pays all fees, and you will get the full amount.
If you are interested in sites that will pay you faster without a threshold, I suggest you also check out the fastest paying sites.
How much money can you make?
TestingTime no longer mentions any specific amount you will earn per survey, but they just write that it will depend on the test. They used to explain that you could earn up to €50 per hour for every test you complete.
In my experience, €50 per test is possible to earn, BUT you will not earn that much for every test. But you can always see exactly what you will earn before you decide to participate in a test or not.
Overall, they pay well per test, but it will still all depend on whether you will receive a test invite or not, and they do say that there is no guarantee you will receive test invites regularly.
In my experience, you will be lucky to receive 1 invite per month, and you have to keep in mind that each test is on a first-come-first-served basis. So, you will be competing with other members of the site for slots on the test.
So, even though it does pay you a significant amount, you still can't expect to earn a lot from this site. That's why I would say that its earning potential isn't really that good. But it depends mainly on your location (more about who can join below).
The tests that pay the most are, in general, the in-person tests. The online interviews/tests pay a little less, and the surveys pay the least.
Can you use it on mobile?
TestingTime doesn't have a mobile app you can download, so you can do tests using your mobile device.
However, it is possible to use a mobile device when doing tests since you will only need Skype and a webcam to perform the test.
But I don't recommend doing it on a mobile device because the audio quality won't be as clear compared to when you are doing it on a computer with a high-quality webcam with a built-in microphone.
Who can join TestingTime?
You can join TestingTime no matter where you live. However, how many opportunities you get access to depends a lot on the country you live in.
But they are very clear that it might take a long time before you will receive an invite. If you are located in one of their core markets, where they have the most clients and the most studies going on, then you will receive more test invitations.
Their core countries are Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. So, if you don't live in any of these countries, you should not expect many (if any) invitations. This, in my opinion, is the one major limitation of the site.
If you are eligible to join, all you have to do is fill out the registration form and wait for their confirmation email. Now, if you are looking for sites you can join regardless of where you live, I suggest you check out the top survey sites in your country instead.
Can you get support?
If you have a question that needs to be answered, I suggest you first check out their FAQ page. It covers most of the basic topics about the site.
Unfortunately, the answers they provide on their FAQ page aren't as detailed as you would hope, in my opinion. But it has improved quite a bit since I first tested it, so there is a good chance you can find answers here.
Now, if you can't find the answers you are looking for, you can send your inquiry through their contact form (refer to the photo above). To access their contact form, just scroll all the way down to the bottom of their website and click on the “Get In Touch” link.
Then, all you have to do is choose the right heading for the inquiry you want to send.
Overall, I would say that they do provide a decent way for their members to receive support. But they could stand to benefit more if they only made a more comprehensive FAQ page, in my opinion.
Final Verdict
TestingTime is a legit testing site that does pay you for participating in their usability tests.
It has a couple of good qualities, but there are just a couple of limitations that make it a less-than-ideal option, in my opinion.
But let’s finish this review with a summary of its pros and cons so you can get a better overview before deciding if you should join or not.
Pros:
- Payment via PayPal or bank transfer
- Significant reward offered per test completed
- No payout threshold
Cons:
- Limited earning opportunities
- Requires a significant amount of time to complete one test
- Each test is on a first-come, first-served basis
When you first look at what TestingTime offers, it can be very tempting to join. That's because you will get paid a significant amount of money for each test you complete.
However, the test invites are few and far between. In my experience, with sites like this, you will be lucky to receive 1 or 2 invites in a month. Plus, you'd have to consider that you won't always get to the test offer first.
So, there's no real guarantee you will be able to earn from this site regularly. The regional limitation also doesn't help. If you don't live in the region where it is available, this site will not be very beneficial.
But if you do live in the relevant regions, it can be worth signing up for as an extra site – just do not expect to get a lot of tasks there.
That's why if you are looking for sites that will allow you to earn with less effort and regularly, I recommend you check out the top GPT sites instead.
The sites on this list all have good earning potential and will allow you to earn a decent amount regularly. Plus, you will be able to find sites you can join regardless of where you live.
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with TestingTime, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
