Are you looking for a side hustle that allows you to earn money from the comfort of your own home? Participating in online focus groups might be the perfect opportunity for you.
With advancements in technology, you can now contribute your opinions and insights to help renowned brands refine their products, services, and marketing strategies, all while earning some extra cash.
In this article, I will share my personal experience with over 40 online focus groups and present to you the 15 best paid online focus groups that offer lucrative opportunities for individuals like you to share your valuable opinions and get rewarded for it.
Table of Contents
15 Best Paid Online Focus Groups
1. Survey Junkie
As someone who has participated in numerous online surveys and focus groups, Survey Junkie stands out as one of my favorite platforms. The main focus of this site is on online surveys, which typically offer payouts ranging from $1 to $3.
However, what sets Survey Junkie apart is that the more surveys you take, the more likely you are to receive offers for higher-paying focus groups, extended phone surveys, or even product testing opportunities.
I have personally participated in focus groups through Survey Junkie that paid up to $75, with some in-person sessions offering up to $150. Signing up for Survey Junkie is free and only takes a few minutes.
Additionally, you can set up email notifications to stay alerted about available focus group opportunities.
2. User Interviews
User Interviews has been a go-to platform for me when it comes to participating in both in-person and online focus groups.
As an international consumer research platform, User Interviews offers a wide array of studies across various topics and industries.
From my personal experience, the average payout for an hour-long focus group through User Interviews ranges from $50 to $75, but I have also come across opportunities that offered over $400 for participating in more in-depth studies.
What I find particularly helpful is how User Interviews clearly outlines the timeline and payout for each listing, making it easy to navigate and choose the most suitable opportunities.
Another tip to maximize your chances of finding relevant focus groups is to link your Facebook or LinkedIn accounts, as this can help the platform connect you to more eligible opportunities.
3. Ipsos
Ipsos is another prominent player in the online survey and focus group arena. Based on my personal experience, Ipsos offers a wide range of surveys and focus groups that provide cash rewards or gift cards.
While the average payout for their surveys may be slightly lower compared to Survey Junkie, typically ranging from $0.10 to $1.00 per quick survey, their focus groups and in-depth surveys can be quite lucrative, with potential earnings of up to $100 per hour.
What I appreciate about Ipsos is their user-friendly mobile app, which allows you to conveniently participate and earn rewards on the go.
Additionally, Ipsos has a low payout threshold, making it easy to cash out your earnings.
4. Survey Feeds
Survey Feeds has been an excellent option for me when it comes to paid online survey groups, especially considering their in-person focus group opportunities. Living in one of the eligible cities, I have been able to participate in not only online studies but also in-person focus groups.
Survey Feeds regularly launches focus groups in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Miami. The online studies I have taken part in through Survey Feeds have paid up to $450, while some of the more extensive in-person studies can offer even higher rewards.
I highly recommend exploring their website and regularly updated social media accounts to stay updated on new opportunities.
5. Respondent
As someone who has participated in several online focus groups through Respondent, I can attest to its legitimacy and lucrative opportunities. Setting up an account is simple, and once registered, you can browse through the current studies that match your requirements. If a study catches your eye, you can complete a quick screening survey to officially apply.
From my experience, the researchers at Respondent review the responses diligently and send email invitations to participate if you’re chosen.
One thing to note is that Respondent pays out via PayPal, so having an account is necessary to receive your payment.
While you can make decent extra money by participating in generic focus groups open to everyone, the real money lies in niche professional groups.
6. American Consumer Opinion
With over 7 million users, American Consumer Opinion has emerged as a reliable platform for both surveys and focus groups. While surveys are their main focus, I have also come across focus group opportunities on their site. American Consumer Opinion utilizes a points system, where $0.01 is equal to one point. Once you accumulate a set number of points, you can redeem them via PayPal or a paper check.
From my personal experience, their focus groups and longer surveys can pay up to $50. Another exciting aspect of participating in short screening surveys through American Consumer Opinion is the chance to enter their monthly lottery drawings, which could net you an additional $50.
7. FocusGroup.com
Having been a participant on FocusGroup.com, a platform backed by market research giant Schlesinger, I can vouch for the legitimacy and rewarding nature of their focus groups.
When filtering open research opportunities to national studies, I have connected with various focus groups and interviews that can be conducted over the phone or through video chat.
From my personal experience, the research topics covered by FocusGroup.com are diverse, ranging from banking to dining. The average payout I have received through FocusGroup.com ranges from $75 to $250, making it a worthwhile platform to consider.
8. Recruit and Field
Recruit and Field has been in the business since 1977 and has earned an exceptional 4.9 rating on its Facebook page. As someone who has made money participating in focus groups through this platform, I can confidently recommend it to others.
Recruit and Field cater to participants from all demographics and professions, offering general consumer surveys as well as specialized ones for professionals like medical personnel.
Through Recruit and Field, I have had the opportunity to test products ranging from beauty products to new TV series, as they collaborate with major brands like Netflix, Apple, Spotify, Grey Goose, and Clinique. Payments can be received via PayPal or gift cards, and the potential earnings per study can go up to $250.
9. Mindswarms
Mindswarms offers a unique approach to consumer research by requesting participants to upload video responses to questions about the product or service under review.
Having personally participated in studies through Mindswarms, I can attest to their straightforward payment structure. For answering 10 questions about a product or service, participants receive a flat payment of $50. Once you submit your answers, you will be paid directly through PayPal. The best part about Mindswarms is the efficiency of their studies, which typically take only around 10 minutes to complete.
To get started, all you need to do is register and complete screeners for the studies that interest you.
10. Inspired Opinions
Inspired Opinions has been a reliable platform for both in-person and at-home focus groups in my experience. They use a points system, where 100 points are equal to $1.
From my personal participation, I have earned an average of $50 to $250 per focus group through Inspired Opinions. Participating in their studies is simple. After signing up and providing basic details, the company matches you with studies that align with your profile.
Then, you can expect a call or email to screen you for the study. Once the study is completed, you earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards. The platform has garnered high ratings on Facebook, further enhancing its credibility.
11. Fieldwork
Fieldwork has been a valuable platform for me, offering not only focus groups but also phone interviews, product trials, shopping experiences, and taste tests. By joining their national database, I have been able to participate in virtual focus groups from anywhere.
However, living near one of their thirteen active cities across the country has unlocked additional in-person focus group opportunities for me. While Fieldwork covers diverse topics, they specialize in the medical industry, actively seeking medical professionals for specialized surveys.
As a participant, I have received Visa gift cards as payments, with amounts starting at around $75 for a one to two-hour focus group.
12. Rare Patient Voice
Rare Patient Voice focuses on gathering insights from patients and their caregivers regarding their experiences with medical services and products.
Through my personal experience with this platform, I have found opportunities ranging from $35 for a survey to $400 for in-person interviews.
To sign up, all you need to do is submit an application listing your medical conditions. Based on your profile, you will be contacted about studies that match your criteria. Rare Patient Voice conducts research internationally, with a significant number of studies taking place in the United States.
13. FindFocusGroups.com
FindFocusGroups.com is a valuable resource for individuals looking to participate in a variety of focus groups.
As someone who has used this site, I appreciate its role as an aggregator, providing a comprehensive list of focus groups sourced from across the internet. This feature is particularly helpful for those who are open to working with multiple survey sites and want to explore all their options in one place.
Through FindFocusGroups.com, I have come across listings that pay anywhere from $100 to $325. The website’s user-friendly interface makes filtering available studies easy, allowing you to search by location or set the filter to nationwide. Applying directly on the site saves valuable time during the search process.
14. Brand Institute
Brand Institute has been a trusted platform in the field of brand identity development, particularly in the healthcare industry.
They conduct consumer research to gather opinions on various products and services, from pharmaceutical products to cars to perfume branding. Registering with Brand Institute is a quick process, and once you provide your information, the site will determine your eligibility and match you with relevant studies.
As a participant, I have found their website to be user-friendly, and the company’s partnerships with reputable brands further enhance its credibility.
15. PingPong
As a participant on PingPong, I have found it to be a unique consumer research platform that focuses on user experience testing to improve website and app usability.
With over 175,000 users, PingPong offers payments ranging from $15 to $220 for most of its studies, depending on the complexity and time required for each task.
Although PingPong is based in Europe, it welcomes participants from the United States as well. Engaging in 1-on-1 video chats with researchers, a computer with a microphone and camera, and a stable internet connection are the prerequisites for participation.
Conclusion
Based on my personal experience participating in over 40 online focus groups, I have compiled a list of the 15 best paid online focus groups. These platforms offer excellent opportunities for individuals to earn money by sharing their opinions and insights from the comfort of their own homes.
From Survey Junkie to Brand Institute, each platform has its unique features and strengths, providing a diverse range of focus group opportunities.
Whether you are a student, professional, or caregiver, these online focus groups offer a rewarding side hustle that allows you to contribute your valuable opinions and influence the development of future products and services.
So why not take advantage of these opportunities and start earning money while making a real difference today?
Anthony Smith is an internet entrepreneur. He created the Side Hustle Ideas Database to help people find side hustles for making extra money, with the potential of turning into a full-time income.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a business degree, he gained business experience at a consulting firm. At the same time, he tried various side hustles including freelance writing, blogging, and eCommerce. He managed to turn his side hustles into a full-time business, earning over $3 million. Now, he enjoys financial freedom and travels around the world as a digital nomad.