How to Become a Product Tester: 11 Companies Listed

Yes, you can get paid to test products. You can apply online to be a product tester by registering with various consumer product testing companies. A few companies are American Consumer Panels, Influenster, PINCHme, and Swaggable. In most cases, testers are allowed to keep the products. And, sometimes, you will be paid an incentive — ranging from a $5 gift card to $45 per hour.

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What to Know About Product Testing

Product testers get to try out various items and services — sometimes even before they hit the market — and often get paid for their honest feedback. There are a variety of consumer product testing companies looking for people with a little extra time to share their opinions via surveys, reviews, and/or social media posts. While some companies ask product testers to return the items after use, most allow testers to keep the products — another perk of the job!

In most cases, you can sign up to be a product tester online. You may be asked to fill out lengthy surveys or create a profile so companies can get an idea of who you are and what your interests are. You may also be asked for links to your social media accounts; more product test reviews are now done via social media. Beware of any company that asks for personal finance information (except for maybe your annual income bracket) or asks you to pay a fee, as these may be a scam.

Payments for product testing vary greatly. Some companies don’t pay at all, except in free products you can keep after texting; at the high end, a company may pay over $20 per hour to product testers. Don’t expect to make a living off of product testing, as even the companies that do pay product testers may offer irregular or sporadic testing opportunities.

Where to Apply to Be a Product Tester

Applying to multiple product testing companies will help increase your odds of being chosen. And, if you are able to work for more than one company, you will earn more money — and products too. The following are product testing companies that mail products to their members, so you can work from home.

American Consumer Panels

Minimum age: 18
Payment method: Mailed check
Payment amount: Product testers can earn $25-$45 per hour, depending on the project; testers must commit to working 15-20 hours per week — that’s up to $900 per week!
How does it work? You can apply to work with American Consumer Panels online. Selected candidates will be contacted within three weeks of submitting an application. American Consumer Panels then contacts qualified candidates when an in-home usage test matches clients’ needs.
Types of products: Various
Likelihood of receiving a product to test: According to reviews on Glassdoor, the chances of being chosen as a product tester are slim, and applicants report endless surveys during the application process. But it could be worth a shot, as this is the highest paying testing site we found.
BBB rating: Not rated
Complete an American Consumer Panels application

Note: While American Consumer Panels advertises the best pay rate on this list, be aware that the company has mixed reviews on sites like Glassdoor, with many reports of applicants being prompted to sign up for third-party survey sites.

BzzAgent

Minimum age: 18
Payment method: Not applicable
Payment amount: BzzAgent does not pay product testers; however, testers can keep the products.
How does it work? You can apply to work with BzzAgent online. You will need to complete a few surveys and link your social media accounts. BzzAgent will then match members with the right BzzCampaigns and send products and services for review.
Types of products: Food and beauty products
Likelihood of receiving a product to test: If you keep their BzzScore high (by being active and influential on social media), you’ll have a greater chance of receiving products to test. Members are also asked to check in weekly and stay up-to-date on surveys so they can better be matched with product testing opportunities.
BBB rating: A+, but with a one-star customer rating
Complete a BzzAgent application

Chatterbox (by Ripple Street)

Minimum age: 18
Payment method: Not applicable
Payment amount: Chatterbox does not pay product testers; however, testers can keep the products.
How does it work? Check the Chatterbox website to look for open opportunities. If you are chosen for a project, Chatterbox will send you a Chat Pack of products and/or special offers to try and share with friends. You can then join the conversations on the Chatterbox site and participate in activities to share your opinions and experience.
Types of products:
- pharmaceutical (over-the-counter)
- pet supplies
- food and beverage
- magazines and books
- toys and games
- movies and music
- online shopping
- health and wellness
- household products
- apparel and accessories
Likelihood of receiving a product to test: We checked the Chatterbox website several times over the course of two weeks, and there were “no Chatterbox programs open for application.”
BBB rating: Not rated
Apply for Chatterbox events

Crowdtap

Minimum age: 18
Payment method: Not applicable
Payment amount: Crowdtap does not pay product testers; however, testers can keep the products. Members are also entered into monthly drawings for gift cards from $5 and $100.
How does it work? You can join Crowdtap by signing up online. Members are asked to complete as many missions as they can share on social media. If friends comment and/or like a post, members get points for their social media influence.
Types of products: Various
Likelihood of receiving a product to test: Chances of being chosen to test a product depend on how many missions you are able to complete. If you don’t mind answering short surveys and sharing on social media, there is a good chance you will be chosen to test a product.
BBB rating: A-, but with a one-star customer rating
Sign up to join Crowdtap

Friends & Neighbors Program (by Johnson & Johnson)

Minimum age: 18
Payment method: A variety of incentives, including prepaid Visa gift cards
Payment amount: Between $5 and $250, depending on the product tested
How does it work? You can join the Friends & Neighbors Program online. Members matched with opportunities will receive invitations via email to participate in product tests, focus groups, discussion forums, and online surveys.
Types of products: Various health care products
Likelihood of receiving a product to test: Chances of being chosen will vary; Johnson & Johnson is a reputable organization, and there don’t seem to be any drawbacks to registering and waiting for an invitation via email.
BBB rating: Not rated
Complete a Friends & Neighbors Program application

Influenster

Minimum age: 18
Payment method: Not applicable
Payment amount: Influenster does not pay product testers; however, testers can keep the products.
How does it work? You can sign up on Influenster’s website. You will need to complete a profile and link your social media accounts. Influenster will then send qualifying members a VoxBox full of products to test. Influenster asks members to provide honest feedback and share their experiences on social media.
Types of products: Various, including beauty products and food companies
Likelihood of receiving a product to test: You will receive a VoxBox when you have a high enough social impact score. It can take a bit of effort to raise your score, but the website is user-friendly and it can be fun to complete the surveys.
BBB rating: A+, with a five-star customer rating
Sign up to join Influenster

Want to see our list of places very, very similar to Influenster? Check out our article: Websites like Influenster for Getting Free Stuff

PINCHme

Note: To learn more about PINCHme and find similar sites, check out our article: Websites Like PINCHme.

Minimum age: 18
Payment method: Not applicable
Payment amount: PINCHme does not pay product testers; however, testers can keep the products.
How does it work? You can register with PINCHme online. You will be asked a series of questions about your household and shopping habits. PINCHme learns what members like and offers samples based on their preferences; members then choose which samples to add to their PINCHme box. After trying the samples, members are asked to complete a short feedback survey.
Types of products: Various
Likelihood of receiving a product to test: When we applied, we received this message: “No samples are available for you today as your Member Profile does not match our Brand Partners’ needs.”
BBB rating: Not rated
Sign up to join PINCHme

Smiley360

Minimum age: 18
Payment method: Not applicable
Payment amount: Smiley360 does not pay product testers; however, testers can keep the products.
How does it work? You can sign up on Smiley360’s website. When members qualify for a Smiley Mission, the company will send out products in exchange for tester’s honest opinions and feedback via social media. Sometimes, Smiley360 sends coupons for free products instead of actual samples.
Types of products: Various
Likelihood of receiving a product to test: Smiley360 relies on members who share frequently on social media. If you are able to stay active on social media, you will have a greater chance of receiving products.
BBB rating: Not rated
Sign up to join Smiley360

Swaggable

Minimum age: 18
Payment method: Not applicable
Payment amount: Swaggable does not pay product testers; however, testers can keep the products.
How does it work? You can sign up with Swaggable online. You will be asked which products and categories you are interested in. Swaggable then connects members with free samples of new products and will provide an easy way to share your experiences through reviews and coupons.
Types of products: Various
Likelihood of receiving a product to test: Swaggable garners interest from members to see if they would like to test certain samples. Therefore, members need to log in occasionally to express interest in specific products. Invitations are first-come, first-serve, so members need to act quickly after receiving an invitation.
BBB rating: Not rated
Sign up to join Swaggable

thePinkPanel

Minimum age: 18
Payment method: PayPal
Payment amount: Varies by product; sometimes no payment is offered, while other times payment ranges from $50 to $200
How does it work? You can join thePinkPanel online or through thePinkPanel Facebook page. Once selected, members receive free samples of skincare or makeup products and are asked to complete a few online surveys about the products.
Types of products: Skincare and makeup products
Likelihood of receiving a product to test: Members are encouraged to check Facebook and/or their email for invitations to apply for various beauty product testing opportunities. From our research, it seems members are generally pleased with their experiences with thePinkPanel.
BBB rating: Not rated
Sign up to join thePinkPanel

Toluna

Minimum age: 16
Payment method: Toluna offers points that can be redeemed for a variety of things, including gift cards and even cash. When members receive a full-size product to test, they can earn up to 10,000 points per short follow-up survey. When members accrue 15,000 points, they qualify for a $5 gift card. E-gift cards arrive within hours; physical gift cards and checks arrive within six weeks. Product testers also get to keep the products.
Payment amount: Varies
How does it work? You can sign up with Toluna online. You will be asked to fill out various Profile Surveys. If a product survey matches your profile, you will be invited to participate.
Types of products: Various
Likelihood of receiving a product to test: Toluna only tests one to three products at a given time, so it may be rare to get an invitation. The most up-to-date your Profile Surveys are, the better chances you’ll have of being matched.
BBB rating: Not rated
Sign up to join Toluna

In Summary

Product testers get to try out various items and services and are often paid for their honest feedback. In most cases, testers also get to keep the items. You can apply to various product testing companies online by filling out a few surveys and/or profile information. A company will contact you if you’re a good fit for a project. Product testing can be a fun way to earn some extra money and shape consumerism by providing your opinions about new and coming products.