12 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Test Products (2026)

Saving money on legit ways get paid does not have to be complicated. We rounded up the essentials so you can spend less and skip the guesswork.

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The world's largest brands frequently seek feedback on products before they spend millions sending them to market. Here's how you can get paid to test products from home (and frequently keep them for free, too).

Written by Annette Miller Last Updated: April 29, 2024 Reviewed by Jana Lynch

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Did you know companies will sometimes send free products for people to try at home?

It’s true.

Product testing is a way for companies to get real user feedback on a product or service before pushing it to market. To do this, companies ship you a free physical product to use in exchange for a candid review. At the end of the testing period, they typically let you keep the item. Some might even pay you in cash.

But how can you find sites that will pay you to test products at home? How do you know if they’re legit?

Fortunately, there are a number of reputable companies looking for users to test products and give their honest feedback.

How to Get Paid to Test Products from Home

To make money testing products, you’ll want to register with several sites that offer paid product testing gigs. Each site will ask you to fill out a short form with key demographic information which lets you companies match you with relevant products to review.

How much you earn testing products depends on the number and types of programs you choose to join. The more programs you join, the more ways you’ll be able to make money testing products.

1. Homescan

Nielsen, most well-known for polling American TV watchers about their viewing habits, operates a handful of sub-brands, including the Homescan program. This is separate from its Computer & Mobile panel, which pays users for letting Nielsen track their internet usage.

When you sign up for free to become a product tester with Homescan, you’ll receive a handheld scanner or access to its mobile app. When you shop, scan the barcode of the products you purchase to earn points. You can also participate in surveys to earn additional points, and you’re automatically entered into quarterly, monthly, and weekly sweepstakes.

The Homescan program does not pay in cash, but you can redeem the points you earn for gift cards and merchandise.

2. Pinecone Research

Pinecone Research focuses on product tests for items that haven’t been introduced to the general public. It pays via points in exchange for completing questionnaires about the products the company sends to you. You can then redeem your points for cash, gift cards, or brand-name merchandise.

Although the company is reputable and clear about how it pays (flat rate of $3 per survey), panel positions aren’t always open. If your household information doesn’t match what it’s looking for at the time, you’ll receive a notification that there are no openings available.

The company will keep your information for a few weeks in case a spot opens up, but if it doesn’t, you may need to reapply.

Related: 56 Real Ways to Earn Money Online

3. American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion (ACOP) is another site that pays for product testing and surveys. You’ll provide your opinions on things like advertising campaigns, the economy, ideas for new products, and more.

Registration is simple, and you can create an account with your Google or Facebook login. When you become a panel member, you can expect to participate in several surveys per year. Each survey typically takes around 10 minutes with short, simple-to-answer questions.

For each survey completed, you’ll receive points that can be cashed out via PayPal. You can also donate your rewards to charity or use your points to enter various sweepstakes for a chance to win cash and other prizes.

Every month or so, you’ll be asked to take a screener survey so it knows which opportunities to send your way.

Related: 8 Ways to Get Paid to Watch Ads in Your Spare Time

4. JJ Friends & Neighbors (Johnson & Johnson)

Johnson & Johnson is one of the biggest brands in the world, owning companies like Aveeno, Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, Roc, and other brands you may have in your home. It also owns the JJ Friends & Neighbors program, which allows you to test products for free and keep them before those products are launched in the market.

That might mean smelling fragrances or trying makeup and other self-care products. Other opportunities include participating in online surveys, discussion groups and forums, focus groups, and various panels. Anyone can join, and it’ll email you if you’re eligible to participate in a test.  And if you live in the NYC area, you may be eligible to participate in one of the company’s “dedicated sensory panels.”

Its site is sparse on payment details, but prepaid Visa Gift Cards seem to be the most common.

Related: How to Sell Makeup Online and The Five Best Sites to Use

5. McCormick & Company, Inc.

If the idea of testing food sounds appealing, participating in McCormick & Company’s product testing panel might be a good fit for you.

To become a McCormick panelist, you need to apply. Once in the database, you should receive periodic emails recruiting for studies. It says studies fill up quickly, so you’ll want to select a participation time as soon as you receive notice of one.

Home tests run between 30 minutes to two hours and pay $10 to $15 each in the form of Amazon gift cards, although some tests may pay up to $30 per hour. McCormick also seeks out participants for in-facility testing at its location in Hunt Valley, MD, near Baltimore. These tests typically last between half an hour and two hours and pay between $30 and $100 each.

Related: 15 Places That Offer Paid Research Studies 

6. UserTesting.com

If you’re good at noticing little details when visiting a website, you might be able to get paid to test websites by signing up for UserTesting. To get started, create an account, download its software, visit websites or apps, and answer questions about your experience.

How numerous websites you can product test depends on how well your demographic background lines up with the target user of the site. For example, if Facebook is trying to test a new feature with 62-year-old men in Alaska and you’re a 31-year-old woman in Florida, you probably won’t see that test in your inbox.

You’ll need a reliable internet connection, a microphone, and a way t

Final Thoughts

The bottom line: a little research on legit ways get paid goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is one click away.

Originally published at dollarsprout.com.