How You Can Earn Up to £100 an Hour from Paid Market Research in the UK

The Penny Pincher Team
Nov 20
12 min read

Can you get paid for market research? What is involved for you to participate in paid market research projects?

Share your opinion and get paid. This guide shows how UK market research projects can pay up to £100 an hour for specialist tasks, how they work, and which companies to join.

Market research is a simple way to earn extra money in your spare time.

Companies want your honest opinions and genuine feedback. You can help shape products, services, and campaigns, and they'll pay you for your time!

You don’t need experience; there are no wrong answers. The people asking the questions want to know what you think, and they'll pay you up to £100 an hour, sometimes more, for your input. So, it's a great way to earn some extra money.

If this sounds like a great way to earn some extra money, you'll find my guide helpful in learning how paid market research works, what you can earn, and the best companies to sign up with.

I’ve participated in several studies, including testing washing-up liquid, providing feedback on shopping habits, and discussing mobile phone contracts and current affairs, such as Covid-19 and politics.

The market research side hustle can be perfect for everyone! It suits students, stay-at-home parents, or anyone looking to earn a bit extra. You can do it during your lunch break or in the evening after work, and it can be an interesting way to earn some extra money!

What is Market Research?

Businesses need to know what works and what doesn’t. Market research enables them to test ideas and refine products before launch, so they'll compensate individuals like you for your feedback and suggestions.

You might answer a few questions, test something new, or join an online group chat.

Who Can Take Part?

Anyone! If you’ve bought a product or used a service, your opinion matters.

Market research companies want a range of people. Your age, lifestyle or background might be exactly what they need.

Types of Research Projects

Online Surveys

Quick and simple. Often just ticking boxes or giving short answers. These are known as qualitative research projects, which means you don't have to speak to anyone; you get on and complete the research tasks, and then you'll be compensated in points or cash incentives once you've completed the study. Nice and easy!

Phone Interviews

Telephone interviews are simply conversations with a researcher over the phone, during which the researcher asks about your habits, opinions, or choices. Don't worry, it's not scary, I've never had an unpleasant interview yet!

One-to-One Interviews (Online or In Person)

You might meet in person or join a video call. These are usually more detailed. In-person interviews without an app like Teams are infrequent these days; it's almost always via video call, especially since the researcher might be thousands of miles away.

You'll often be asked to share your screen, and you might be asked to perform a specific task, such as road testing a mobile app prototype, or perhaps a user test of a website, or answer some questions about how you do certain things, or they'll ask your opinion on new products or services. Most of these types of online chats are video-recorded for later use.

Focus Groups

You participate in online focus groups or group interviews, discussing a topic with other panel members. A researcher guides the research study, and you all participate in the conversation as needed or prompted.

These can be pretty interesting, and if you're a people watcher like me, it's fascinating to see the other research participants who join the meeting, as they come from all around the UK, or even the world, creating a diverse mix of people.

These focus groups might be in-person meetups, but nowadays they're more likely to be online panels you can join on your phone or computer, and you'll participate via webcam from the comfort of your own home.

IDR Medical offers a comprehensive, in-depth guide on the nature and methods of focus groups. If you're interested, you can read more on their website to become familiar with the process, should you decide to participate in one yourself.

Product Testing

They send you something to use. You try it out and share your thoughts either via email or, most likely, you'll get a link to complete surveys online.

I tested a pet food brand and an oven cleaner that actually outperformed what I usually use, so I found a new product that I still use today as a result of taking part in a study!

How Much Could You Earn?

It depends on the task, and how the task goes on for:

Surveys: £1 to £5
Phone or video interviews: £20 to £75
Focus groups: £50 to £250
Product testing: Free items, sometimes extra money

Specialist or longer projects pay more! You can earn hundreds per month. Even occasional work adds up.

How You Get Paid

Most companies will pay you via a payment method such as:

Bank transfer
PayPal
Gift cards (Amazon, Tesco, etc)

Some pay in British pounds. Others in US dollars via PayPal (easy to convert to GBP!)

Payout times vary. Some pay within minutes, while others pay within hours or days. Others take a few weeks.

My Top Tips for Success in taking part in paid market research projects

Sign up with several market research companies to see more projects; sticking with one or two will limit the number of projects you can participate in, and that's going to restrict your earning capabilities.
Fill out your profile completely and accurately with your personal details. The more they know about you, the easier it is for them to match you to paid projects.
Use a separate email to stay organised. You'll receive lots of emails about the latest paid research opportunities, and you don't want to miss out on projects because you haven't seen the invitation email!
Apply quickly. Good projects fill up fast, so don't hang about thinking about it!
Be honest. Don’t fake knowledge or experience, you'll look stupid when you have no idea what they're talking about!
Join calls on time with working tech. Test it before you try to use it!
Choose a quiet place to avoid interruptions; nothing worse than the phone ringing or someone walking into the room! (Put your phone on silent!)
Be clear and polite. Say, if you don’t know the answer, they want honesty, not guesses as to what you think they want to hear! They are real people and know you won't know the answer to every question or every aspect of the subject matter.
Ensure you have a PayPal account; you'll likely need one.

I missed out on a £100 project because my webcam failed, which was so frustrating. Now I test everything way before the call starts!

Recommended UK Market Research Companies

My Top 5 recommended market research companies to join

Respondent: Respondent is known for offering some of the highest-paying interviews, especially on specialist topics. Many people who use the platform regularly report earning £300 or more from a handful of well-matched studies. It is an American-run site, and payments are made through Tremendous.com, where you can choose gift cards for retailers such as Amazon, Tesco and several others.
You will usually find a wide range of projects available at any given time. The largest payments tend to go to people with specific job roles, industry experience or niche knowledge, but there are plenty of general consumer studies too. You will also see smaller tasks paying around $5 or $10. These usually take only a few minutes to complete, so the hourly rate still works out well, and they are quick wins!
Respondent also offers a referral scheme that pays a bonus when friends you refer complete a project. Keeping your profile detailed and up to date helps improve your chances of matching with higher-paying opportunities when they come up.
User Interviews: User Interviews is a US-based platform, much like Respondent, and it consistently offers a broad mix of projects across topics such as shopping habits, tech use, health, finance and home life. Many studies pay well, particularly the more niche or specialist ones. Most sessions work out at around one dollar per minute, and the longer or more complex projects can easily pay twice that.
Although payments are made in US dollars, UK participants can join many of the studies, and you can cash out through PayPal or a bank transfer, depending on the project. They also run a referral scheme where you earn a bonus when friends you recommend complete a study.
It is worth keeping your profile fully updated and responding quickly to project invites, as many of the higher-paying studies fill fast. Matching rates tend to be better for people who give plenty of detail in their screening questions, so it pays to take a little extra time with your application.
Testing Time: Testing Time does not have the same volume of projects as the largest research companies, but it still offers a steady mix of studies across a wide range of subjects. They pay in pounds, and most sessions start at around 50p per minute, rising to about £1 per minute for specialist or harder-to-fill topics.
Your earnings go into your account wallet, and once you reach £18 or more, you can cash out directly to your bank or through PayPal. Many of their studies involve usability testing or trying out digital products, so it is worth keeping your profile updated to increase your chances of matching with new projects.
Take Part in Research: This market research company runs studies on a huge range of topics and pays in pounds, usually between 50p and £2 per minute. They offer the same interviews and one-off surveys you see with most research companies, but they also run a large number of diary-style projects. These involve giving feedback over several days or weeks rather than completing everything in one go.
Some diary or tracking studies last for months, and a few continue for years. Examples include being given a small device that connects to your TV to monitor what you watch, or a simple plug-in unit for your car that tracks driving data. You may also come across app-based studies where you log habits or complete short tasks throughout the week.
These longer projects often pay monthly or provide a yearly lump sum, which makes them a steady extra income stream. It is worth noting that places on these long-term studies can be limited, so responding quickly to new project emails usually helps.
Angelfish Opinions: Angelfish Opinions runs projects that often focus on parenting, household habits or family life, but they also put out more unusual studies from time to time. You might be asked to give feedback on TV programmes, take part in online discussions, or even welcome a well-known homeware brand into your home so you can talk through their ideas and answer questions in person.
The pay is solid and in line with the other major research panels. They also offer a £10 referral bonus when you recommend friends who go on to take part. It is worth signing up for their email alerts, as many of their projects fill quickly, especially the higher-paying or more unique in-home studies.

Other companies that are worth considering joining are:

Trend Market Research: Trend Market Research is a smaller company, but they send out a steady stream of study invites and keep things straightforward. Their projects usually come with clear instructions, easy screening questions and quick turnaround times. Payments are processed fast once a study is completed, and most projects are short, making them a reliable option to keep an eye on alongside the bigger panels.
Saros Research: Saros Research tends to run more specialised studies, often focusing on healthcare, medical experiences or wellbeing topics. They do not release projects as frequently as some of the larger panels, but the ones that come through are usually well paid. Many of their interviews take place online, and they often look for very specific criteria, so keeping your profile detailed can help you match with the better-paying opportunities.
Bunnyfield: Bunnyfield runs a wide mix of studies, covering everything from beer tasting and food trials to financial opinions and everyday consumer habits. They are known for being reliable and consistent with their invites, and most projects are simple to complete with clear instructions. Payments are straightforward, and they often have quick, one-off studies that slot easily into your day.
Fresh Thinkers: Fresh Thinkers is a strong option if you enjoy product testing. They regularly run hands-on sessions where you try out new household items, food products or tech and share your feedback. Payments are generous for the time involved, with many short sessions offering fees around the £75 mark. Projects are usually straightforward, and you often find out quickly if you have been selected.
Swift Insight: Swift Insight offers a mix of tasks, although new projects do not come through as often as some of the bigger panels. Many of their studies involve testing products at home, such as food items, toiletries or washing powder, and then sharing your thoughts through short online forms. Payments are usually made via gift card, and most tasks are simple and low-effort, which makes them a good extra option to keep on your list even if invites are less frequent.
Ragdoll Research: Ragdoll Research sends out a wide variety of short studies, but most of them do not offer direct payment. Instead, you are entered into prize draws for cash or gift cards if you take part. It can be hit-or-miss, as there is no guarantee you'll receive anything for your time, but the surveys are usually very quick to complete. They can be worth doing if you enjoy fast, low-effort tasks and do not mind the prize draw format.
Pinecone Research: Pinecone Research does not release studies very often, but it is still worth signing up when places open. You earn points for every study you complete, and these can be exchanged for gift cards or cashed out once you reach the minimum threshold. Their surveys tend to be short, well paid for the time involved, and usually focused on new products or household brands, so it is a good panel to stay on, even if invites are infrequent.

Influenster: Influenster is a strong option for at-home product testing, and everything works through push notifications in the app. Once you complete your profile questions, the app matches you with individual products that fit your lifestyle. For example, if you say you have a cat, you might get a notification offering a free cat food sample. If your profile says you do not have a cat, you will not see that offer.
All offers are on a first-come, first-served basis. Influenster sends a push notification or email to a large number of people who match the criteria, but only a small number of products are available. Free items disappear within minutes because they are claimed so quickly. I have managed to get a couple of things myself, including an electric toothbrush and some snacks, but I have never landed any of the bigger products. I know plenty of people who have received expensive items like fridges, freezers, cookers, computers and other high-value products, as well as everyday essentials!
They also offer discounted items, which work exactly the same way as the free ones. You get a notification that a heavily discounted product is available, but you have to pay for it with the discount code they provide. These are usually higher-value items such as TVs, computers or household appliances. For example, a television that costs typically around a thousand pounds might be offered to you for five hundred. Because you have to pay for these, they are not as popular as free offers, but if you were planning to buy them anyway, the savings can be huge.
The timing of offers can be unpredictable. Sometimes you might not hear anything for weeks, and then suddenly receive several notifications in a single day! Other times, you may go through long, quiet spells with nothing at all. If that happens, it is worth checking your profile and updating your basic information, because people with complete profiles often get far more matches. I know users who sometimes get three or four offers in a day!
Personally, I tend to miss most offers because they come through while I am working, and by the time I see the notification, the products are already gone. If you want the best chance of grabbing something, it helps to enable app notifications and check them quickly.
Influenster is not something you can rely on all the time, but when an offer comes through and you catch it in time, it can be a brilliant way to try products for free or get a genuinely big saving on something you were already looking to buy.
Focus4People: Focus4People sends a steady stream of study invites, usually a few emails per week. They cover a wide range of topics, from general household opinions to more specialised medical-related studies. Medical projects often pay more because they require very specific criteria or health conditions. Most studies are straightforward to take part in, and payments are usually processed quickly, making this a solid panel to stay signed up to, even if you do not qualify for every project.
Research Opinions: Research Opinions regularly posts a wide range of studies, and you will usually find new projects to apply for throughout the week. The compensation is generally on the higher side compared with many other panels, especially for studies that require specific experience or knowledge. Some of the topics can be relatively niche, but the applications are quick to complete, and the higher payments make it worth keeping an eye on their latest listings.

Market research can be an easy way to earn a bit of extra money in your spare time. It fits around work, studying and parenting, so most people can slot it into their week without any stress.

If you’ve got half an hour and an internet connection, it is worth giving it a go. You already have opinions on the things you use and do every day, so you may as well get paid for sharing them.

FAQ/Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need experience?

No. Most companies want everyday opinions, not expert knowledge.

How do I determine if a company is legitimate?

The companies here are trusted. Never pay to join. Real research companies don’t charge fees.

How quickly will I be paid?

It varies. Some are instant. Others take a few weeks.

What kind of questions will I be asked?

Mostly about your views, habits, or past experiences with certain products or services.

Can I do this around my job?

Yes. Most projects happen outside of regular hours, or you can arrange to do them in your lunch break in many cases!

Can I join more than one company?

Yes. It helps you find more opportunities.

Will I be taxed on my earnings?

The market research companies won't tax you, but if you earn over £1,000 from all your side hustles in a tax year, you need to report it to the HMRC.

More info: When do you need to report side hustle earnings to the HMRC?

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