Is UserTesting Legit or a Scam? (An Insider’s Review)

UserTesting.com is a platform where you, supposedly as a consumer, can give feedback to companies about their websites and get paid for the feedback.

But is UserTesting legit and worth the time, or is it just another scam?

Let me just reveal right away that it is a legit site, but whether it is worth your time is another important question to ask before you join.

I am a member of the platform myself and have been a member for a few years. In this UserTesting review, I will give you the details about what the platform offers and my experiences with it, so you will know exactly what to expect and whether it is a platform you want to join or not.

What is UserTesting, and what does it offer?

UserTesting.com has a section for businesses and one for consumers who want to earn. If you want to become a tester and start earning, you need to choose the “Get Paid to Test” option at the top of the website.

Let me reveal right away that UserTesting is legit and a real way to earn by becoming a tester, and it is not a scam. And like any other legit site where you can get paid to give feedback, it is, of course, free to join.

But let's first go into more detail on what you can expect before you decide whether you want to join, and whether it will even be worth it.

I have made a video that gives you an inside look and explains all the details. You can also read everything below the video:

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The earning opportunity – Participate in user tests

UserTesting is a platform that helps companies improve website usability and eliminate bad user experiences. To make this happen, testers/users need to give feedback on websites and let companies know what their experience is like.

This is what makes the site interesting from a user's perspective, as it gives you a chance to earn a bit of extra money by providing this feedback.

Just be aware that it has merged with IntelliZoom, which was another user testing platform that lets you earn by testing products. So, if you were a member of that platform before, you can use the same login details to log in to UserTesting.

It works with some of the world's biggest brands, so by becoming a member, you can potentially test both large and small websites and influence their future experiences.

By joining, you can become a tester and provide video feedback of you sharing your thoughts while navigating different websites.

That sounds like a pretty cool way to make a bit of extra cash so far, right? But let's go a bit deeper into what the platform is about before you decide whether it is for you or not.

How does it work?

Once you have become a panel member on UserTesting, you will get a notification when a new test is available. You can then apply to take this.

However, sometimes, they do not send an email when there is a new test, in my experience, so it can still be a good idea to log in to the platform once in a while to double-check for new opportunities.

Often, you need a very specific profile or to come from a specific part of the world to participate. So, even though you've become a member, you might not get very many opportunities.

When you get a test, you will first get a description of the task. It can be a specific situation, like, for example, “Imagine that you are interested in visiting this museum and looking for information about it”.

This scenario is something you have to keep in the back of your mind while taking the test, and give feedback accordingly.

Most tests on UserTesting are video feedback. That means you will have a screen recorder that captures how you navigate the specific website, and at the same time, you will have to explain your thoughts and provide feedback on specific questions using a microphone.

You can also find tests you can take on your phone via their app. This way, the companies will receive a video showing how you navigate their website or use their app, along with all your thoughts while doing so.

It might sound a little complicated at first, but it is a lot simpler than it sounds. It is easy enough for everyone to do, as long as you are used to using websites.

One thing to know is that the quality of the videos you make matters. The companies are only interested in genuine and useful feedback, and therefore, there is a rating system.

After each video you have made, the website owner will give you a star rating of 1-5, and this will produce an average rating for you over time.

People with higher ratings have a better chance of getting more tests, as website owners, of course, prefer feedback from people who are doing a good job rather than those who are rushing.

Once you are a member, there is a whole section on how to ensure you get good ratings. But in short, you will be fine as long as you are taking it seriously and giving genuine and honest feedback.

Just be aware that when you first join, you need to do a test recording to get accepted as a member. This test is unpaid, and if you pass it, you will get access to the paid tasks.

The video below is a short official video from UserTesting.com that gives a few tips about the approach you need to have to become a tester, so you can get a better idea about how it works and what you need to do:

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Do you need special equipment to participate?

You do not need any fancy equipment that most people do not already own to become a tester at UserTesting. You can do tests on Mac or PC, but also on iOS and Android mobile devices.

Before you apply for a test, you will be told what device it is for, so you know if you are able to take it.

You need a specific screen recorder tool on your device, and you will be guided through installing it as you sign up. The good thing is that it is a free tool to download. It is very easy to install, and if you no longer want to be a member, it is also very easy to uninstall.

You also need a microphone so you can record your feedback. It does, however, not need to be a fancy microphone. You can just use a headset that you are using for a mobile phone, which you probably already own. So, you do not need to go out and invest in any special equipment to participate.

How do you get paid?

Once you have completed a test and it has been approved, you will get paid via PayPal. That is currently the only payout method UserTesting offers.

You will receive the money in your PayPal account 14 days after you have completed a test. There used to be only one week's waiting time, but this has increased a bit.

It is not a big deal, in my opinion, but you just need to know you will not get paid immediately. Also, to get access to paid tests, you first have to link your PayPal account with your UserTesting account.

I assume they have made this a requirement to verify that people do not cheat or fake their identities. So, when you first join the platform, this should be the first thing you do, as you will not get access to paid tests until you have done that.

How much money can you make?

On UserTesting.com, it used to say right away that you can earn up to $60 per test.

However, they have changed this, and you can no longer see any specific amount mentioned. Instead, it now says that the reward varies by test type.

This is also a more accurate way to explain it, in my opinion, because people used to think they would get $60 for every test, but that was only for the highest-paying tests and not very often.

Therefore, I think it is clever to have changed this so it is clearer for people what to expect. In general, UserTesting is very honest about what you can earn and does not promise that you can make a huge amount of money.

In fact, they clearly say that it can be a great way to earn a few extra dollars on the side, but that it won't make you rich. They make it clear that your focus should be on giving feedback and having your thoughts heard, not on making a huge amount of money from it.

But you can still get a nice reward for the tests you take. In my experience, you get around $10 for a regular test, and it takes about 20 minutes on average, which is pretty good. Such a test consists of a 20-minute recording, and you then usually have to answer four follow-up written questions.

In addition to this, there are sometimes live conversations that require you to get on a video conference call with a customer at a scheduled date and time. This will pay up to $60 per test, but it also takes more time and planning. And they are not available as often as the other tests.

As mentioned, the exact earnings per test will vary, but you can always see in the invitation what you will get and then decide whether you want to participate or not based on that. However, you might not be able to take a lot of tests. It very much depends on where you live and what kind of companies are currently looking for feedback.

So, do not expect to be able to take tests every day. Maybe in some countries you can take several a week, but compared to paid survey sites, where you can often take several surveys a day, you will not have many opportunities.

In general, UserTesting says it has the most opportunities in English-speaking countries. But also, other countries have opportunities. In my time as a member, I have, for example, seen tests for Spanish, Belgian, and Japanese-speaking people.

Who can participate?

UserTesting allows members from all countries. On the website, they used to have a box with the different continents (see picture below), and by clicking the little arrow, you would get a full list of the countries in that part of the world.

They no longer have this box after they updated the design of the website. Now, all you can see is that they, in the FAQ section, say that they accept members from all over the world.

But as mentioned above, even though it accepts members from your country, it does not mean that you will get many opportunities to earn. In some countries, there won't even be any opportunities at all.

To join, you need to live in a country that accepts PayPal, as that is the only way you can receive your rewards.

Also, you should only join if you enjoy speaking your thoughts out loud and feel comfortable doing this while recording them. UserTesting mentions that, in fact, you need to be able to speak your thoughts aloud in English to be able to join.

You also have to be at least 18 years old to join. Be aware that you can NOT take tests while you are traveling.

UserTesting will detect if you log in from a different country than where you have registered, and this can lead to you being disqualified as a user or getting really low ratings, which will make it more difficult for you to qualify in the future.

How do you sign up?

It is fairly easy to sign up for UserTesting. You do, however, need to spend a little more time than many other sites where you can get paid to give feedback.

The reason for this is that UserTesting mainly uses video feedback and needs to make sure that members are comfortable doing this and can live up to a certain quality. Therefore, you will have to do a little test to become a member.

First, you just put in your email on the UserTesting website, and you will then have to verify your email by clicking a link in an email you receive. After that, you can take the test to become an actual member.

The test takes around 5-10 minutes. At first, you will be taken to a screen where you can download the screen recorder. Then just follow the instructions step-by-step.

You have to do a 5-minute sample video, where you record your screen and voice. When you follow the steps on the website, there will also be an example so you can see how it is done before you try it yourself.

I would advise you to watch this tutorial, as it can be a bit confusing to figure out what you need to do if you do not watch it first.

When you are doing the sample video, make sure to speak your thoughts out loud as much as possible, speak clearly, and be honest. Then, you will have the best chance of getting approved for the panel.

There is no need to think too much about what you are saying. It is about what you are thinking and what your experience is, so there is no right or wrong.

After you submit your video, you will receive a confirmation email, and within a week you will receive the answer. Personally, I already got an email the next day that said I was approved for the panel, so it does not necessarily take up to a week.

Final Verdict

UserTesting is definitely a legit platform and not a scam. But whether it is a good option for you or not depends a lot on your expectations and whether you feel comfortable recording yourself speaking aloud in English.

To help you decide whether it is the right platform for you or not, let's finish this review by summing up the pros and cons.

Pros:

• Pays pretty well for the time spent
• Fun tasks
• Available in many countries

Cons:

• Limited earning opportunities
• A little confusing to do the initial sign-up test

As you can see, UserTesting has both good and not-so-good sides. Whether it is worth joining depends a lot on where you live and your expectations. You should only join if you would like to give feedback just once in a while, but do not expect to do so very often.

But if that is okay with you, it can be a fun and interesting way to make a little extra money. And it pays pretty well for your time for the tests you qualify for.

If you would like to join platforms where you can give feedback more regularly or even several times a day, you can instead consider joining some of the legit survey sites in your country.

They will most often not pay as well for your time, but if you join the good ones, you will have many opportunities to make a bit of extra cash. So, in total, it can give you a lot more income.

If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with UserTesting.com, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.