Joining focus groups can be a great way to make some extra money, but it can be tough to track down local focus groups right now. And even if you do find one, the sign-up process can be long and tedious. Online focus groups are a great way to participate in research studies from the comfort of your own home.
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Getting paid for voicing your opinion sounds like a dream come true, but it is a reality if you join online focus groups. With online focus groups, you can make extra cash from home, which can be a lot of fun too!
Market research companies always look for new participants for their online focus groups.
Joining an online focus group can be a great way to share your thoughts about products and services with other consumers and get paid for your time by the research company.
If you’re interested in joining an online focus group, read more about this side hustle!
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Table of Contents
Quick Picks
We use online focus groups as an easy way to earn free PayPal money, but some sites have a better payout or more survey offerings than others.
Here are our top picks for the best survey sites you can join:
- Best Overall – Swagbucks
- Quickest Payouts – Survey Junkie
- Other Ways To Make Money – InboxDollars
Online Focus Groups
An online focus group allows research companies to gather data from a target market by asking questions and opening up discussions.
The paid focus group discussions may be about current events, products, services, or ads.
For this essential research, you can often get cash and free gift cards!
Here are some of our favorite legit online paid focus groups:
1. Swagbucks
Average Pay: $0.50 – $2 per survey
We’ve been using Swagbucks for a while now. Swagbucks is one of the best paid online focus groups and surveys sites because they offer many daily surveys. You can take as many surveys as possible and get rewards for doing so.
With Swagbucks, you can make money by taking surveys, watching ads, shopping online, and even playing games.
Filling out your Swagbucks profile will make you eligible for more surveys that can score more rewards. Swagbucks surveys are matched to you and take about 15 minutes to complete.
Another way to earn Swagbucks is by installing the Google extension. You can use it for online purchases, watching movies, coupons, and entering Swag Codes.
Sign up today, and you can also get FREE money with the Swagbucks sign-up bonus!
Want to learn more about Swagbucks? Check out our Swagbucks Review for more details!
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2. Survey Junkie
Average Pay: $1 – $3 per survey
Survey Junkie is a focus group that helps companies gather your opinions about their products. Your opinions help the companies improve their products.
They are another online focus group we use to take surveys and give our opinions. The Survey Junkie site is easy to use and pays pretty well per survey.
The great thing about Survey Junkie is that their questionnaires can be taken anytime – while watching television, waiting for your biscuits to bake in the morning, or relaxing before bed.
Fill out your profile after registering so Survey Junkie can match you with surveys. Then start taking surveys to earn virtual points and turn those point into cash and gift cards!
To learn more about the online focus group, Survey Junkie, read our full review!
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3. InboxDollars
Average Pay: $0.50 – $5 per survey
InboxDollars is an online paid focus group where you can earn money by taking surveys. Over $50 million has been paid to consumers who have taken surveys!
This online focus group and survey site pay you points for giving your opinion on everything by taking online surveys, playing games, watching videos, shopping, reading emails, and more.
You’ll get an email when new market research surveys and offers are available, so check your email often, so you don’t miss any money-making offers.
You can also do online games and other fun things on InboxDollars to earn money.
Want to find out more about InboxDollars? Check out our in-depth review to find out more about InboxDollars!
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4. American Consumer Opinion
Average Pay: $1 – $50 per survey
American Consumer Opinion allows you to influence the future by sharing your opinions.
You will be able to evaluate new products, ideas, and packaging designs and help improve existing products.
It doesn’t cost anything to participate in user research, and you can participate in several market research company surveys a year.
Most paid research studies take around 10 minutes to complete, and the market research questions are usually easy to answer.
5. MyPoints
Average Pay: $0.35 – $1 per survey
MyPoints is one of the legitimate research companies that has been around for a while and has paid out $230 million in PayPal cash and gift cards. They have over 10 million members.
With MyPoints, you can give your opinion for user research on many market research topics and get paid for it by the research companies.
The MyPoints site is very user-friendly, and you can start earning points right away by taking surveys.
Each of the online surveys you take will give you a certain number of points. The number of points you can earn depends on the survey length.
You can earn points by watching videos, playing games, shopping online, and reading emails.
Once you have accumulated a certain number of points, you can redeem them for prizes such as gift cards or PayPal cash.
To learn more about MyPoints, check out our full review!
6. Branded Surveys
Average Pay: $0.05- $3 per survey
Branded Surveys is one of the best companies for taking surveys. You can make a lot of money if you answer many surveys.
You can trade your points in for cash through PayPal, or you can opt to receive gift cards for popular streaming services and rideshares.
Branded Surveys are a great way to earn gift cards and save monthly money! Each gift card offered by Branded Surveys is worth $5, so it may be more beneficial to redeem your rewards for cash unless you’re looking for small gifts.
Want to learn how you can make money by taking online surveys? Check out our Branded Surveys Review for more information!
7. YouGov
Average Pay: $ 50 – $100 per payout
YouGov is the place to go if you’re interested in politics and government focus groups. These paid online focus groups are ideal for political enthusiasts because the questions are always about current events and public policy.
YouGov differs from other online focus groups and surveys sites because the questions are usually more in-depth, and you’re asked to give your opinion on various market research topics.
We looked up reviews and even checked YouGov, but how many points you earn per survey isn’t exactly straightforward. They just stated that once you hit 5,000 points, you could redeem them for a $50 gift card.
8. Opinion Outpost
Average Pay: $0.50 – $5 per survey
Opinion Outpost might be a good option if you want to make some extra cash with online focus group studies. They have a variety of fun surveys that you can take part in.
Opinion Outpost’s short surveys only take a few minutes, and we found that you can make $1 – $2 per hour. That might not seem like much, but it adds up quickly–you could cash out within a day or two after taking just a few surveys.
You earn credits for completing surveys, which you may exchange for cash awards! Alternatively, you may obtain Amazon gift cards.
The Opinion Outpost payments are fast, so you won’t have to wait long for your money with this program.
Our Opinion Outpost review can give you more information!
9. Lifepoints
Average Pay: $0.20 – $1 per survey
Lifepoints is a fun and rewarding survey company that will pay you to give your opinion on various topics and products.
You can get 10 bonus points for joining LifePoints now! You’ll receive surveys through email rather than scrolling through a bunch that you may or may not be eligible for.
The offers you receive could be questions that only require a quick answer, or they might ask you to look at a website and give feedback. Some companies might even send you products to test out.
You can exchange your points for PayPal money and gift cards (such as Starbucks and Amazon) or even donate them to charities through their website.
10. Pinecone Research
Average Pay: $3 per survey
Pinecone Research is one of the legit paid focus groups that allow you to give your opinions about products before they make it to the store shelves.
Thanks to Pinecone Research, I took advantage of focus group opportunities, took surveys for money, and evaluated a few items. As an active buyer who buys, similar to the average consumer, I qualify for surveys and have some influence on products.
You can then use the points you earn to get rewards or cash (PayPal or money order). After you’ve earned enough points on Pinecone Research, they will be automatically cashed out and sent by check to your home address.
11. Plaza Research
Average Pay: $50 – $200 per research panel
Plaza Research is an online focus group conducting market research panels for major manufacturers. They have locations in 14 different U.S. cities where you can go to meet with in-person focus groups.
The in-person focus groups meet at various times during the day and evening, but they also conduct user interviews by phone and online.
Some of the things you may be asked are: to talk about future products, sample new products, or watch a TV commercial. After the focus group session is over, you’ll get paid in person.
12. Ipsos iSay
Average Pay: $0.40 – $1.50 per survey; sometimes offer $50-$100
Ipsos is a global marketing research firm that uses surveys to conduct market research and collect consumer data worldwide.
They usually offer surveys that pay a small amount, but they occasionally offer surveys and focus groups that pay more.
You can also take their market research on the go with their mobile app.
Their market research studies pay points instead of cash. The number of points you earn depends on the length of the online survey. Once you have at least 500 points, you can trade in your points for cash.
Ipsos pays with a pre-paid Visa to your PayPal account or gifts from retailers like Amazon or iTunes.
13. Engage
Average Pay: $50 – $250 per study
Engage Studies is a company specializing in market research studies on consumer behavior and healthcare. When you join focus groups, you must choose one of these areas.
The paid focus group studies are available to people from all over the world. You’ll need to select your country when you sign up.
14. FocusGroup.com
Average Pay: $70 – $250 per study
In-person and online paid focus groups are available from FocusGroup.com in the United States.
FocusGroup.com allows you to give your opinion on consumer, business, and medical topics through online surveys, in-person focus groups, product tests, video diaries, web chats, telephone conversations, and more!
Each research study has a different payment strategy. Before you submit your application, be sure you understand the payment method!
They usually pay by a pre-paid Visa gift card (usually valid for 180 days), check, gift card like Starbucks, or cash.
15. Inspired Opinions
Average Pay: $50 – $250 per research study
Inspired Opinion is a company that pays people to share their opinions on different topics to help to develop new technology, food, healthcare, and more.
To participate in the Inspired Opinions research studies, you must be at least 18 years old. People worldwide can register to participate in research studies.
There are three ways to participate in research studies through Inspired Opinions:
- You may visit one of their 14 offices across the country in person.
- On the phone
- From a computer anywhere in the world
They will contact you by email or telephone when a matching study is found. If you qualify for the study, they will request your participation. Make sure to fill out your profile information to receive more opportunities!
16. Recruit & Field
Average Pay: $100 – $275 per study
Recruit and Field is a market research company that offers focus group opportunities to consumers, business professionals, and medical professionals.
They offer online paid focus groups nationwide in different locations and online paid focus groups on various products and services.
Respondents will participate in paid focus groups, phone interviews, internet surveys, and even product testing at home.
Recruit and Field participants from any gender and age group can get paid in PayPal, Amazon, or free digital gift cards.
17. User Interviews
Average Pay: $60 per study
User Interviews is a website that helps researchers find people willing to participate in user research. Members of the User Interviews community get access to studies they can take to earn money.
The process is simple – just apply to a study. If you are approved for the study, follow the participation instructions. They will pay you for the study if you follow the instructions thoroughly.
18. Mindswarms
Average Pay: Up to $50 per study
Mindswarms uses people’s phones to ask them questions about the market. People film themselves answering the questions and upload the videos to Mindswarms.
You can answer the questions when you want, making it more flexible than attending an online focus group or in-person focus group where you have to be at a set time.
The questionnaire goes by quickly because you only answer up to seven questions simultaneously.
19. Brand Institute
Average Pay: $2 – $5 per survey; some medical surveys pay $30
Brand Institute is seeking individuals interested in pharmaceutical and market research worldwide.
This is your chance to give your opinions about pharmaceutical issues and be compensated for your time. All you need to do is register your details and answer some simple questions.
Then, keep your account up to date, and you will be contacted when you qualify for a study.
Check your email regularly, so you don’t miss your chance to make a difference.
Once you complete a study, you will be paid via PayPal account or check. You will need to claim your payments within 30 days of the study to claim the PayPal payment.
20. Respondent.io
Average Pay: $100 – $140 an hour
Respondent.io is a new and improved approach to conducting market research. You complete your Respondent profile to get offers based on your information.
You can also link your LinkedIn and Facebook accounts and allow it to use your demographic and employment data to get offers.
The average completion time for navigating the list of available studies is 30 minutes.
21. PingPong
Average Pay: €10 – €100 per study ($9.80 – $98 USD)
PingPong may be the perfect online forum platform for you if you want to give your opinions about products and get rewarded for it!
They connect individuals with companies looking for consumer feedback to help shape the future of their products.
By sharing your honest opinion, you can directly influence the development of new and innovative products. Plus, you’ll earn rewards for every research session you complete.
Sign up now and start earning extra pocket money!
22. WatchLab
Average Pay: up to $400 per study
WatchLab is a marketing research company that conducts qualitative research and quantitative research for businesses.
They provide businesses with reliable consumer research data to make decisions about their products or services.
With WatchLab, you’ll be able to participate fully in interviews, paid focus groups, web surveys, online interviews, and more.
WatchLab offers online services as well as locations in San Francisco and Chicago.
You are paid on the spot when you participate in in-person focus groups. The payment for online focus group participation may take 4-6 weeks.
23. Survey Feeds
Average Pay: up to $600 per study
Survey Feeds may not look like much, but the company offers excellent compensation for participating in a paid focus group. Currently, there are not offering very many consumer research studies on their site.
They are a global user research organization that has been in business for over twenty years. Survey Feeds connect its clients with qualifying participants.
They offer studies in-person or online all over the United States. Each study lasts about 60-minutes.
24. GLG Insights
Average Pay: $100 – $150 per study
GLG Insights is a dependable company that offers monetary compensation for taking surveys and participating in other consultancy services.
While the platform does not require payment to sign up, it is difficult to be accepted onto the site.
If you are willing to wait, you can apply and hope to be eventually approved.
It is important to remember that only professionals such as senior executives, academics, and scientists are accepted on GLG Insights.
You may join a Network council to receive notifications when new paid research becomes available. As a Council Member, you’ll be among the first to know about it.
GLG will ask for your LinkedIn profile and resume to double-check your professional credentials.
GLG Insights connects you with its clients in many different ways. You can connect via phone, in person, or through a virtual event. You also may be invited to work with them on long-term projects.
25. Fieldwork
Average Pay: up to $75 an hour
Fieldwork has been around since 1980 and is a U.S.-based marketing research company.
It started as a company running the standard in-person focus group settings.
But they have now moved away from using only that in-person setting to using other market research technology.
With Fieldwork, you can take part in different ways:
- You can sign up to give your opinion on future services and products.
- You can participate in in-person focus groups at one of their locations.
- You can receive email invitations to participate in online surveys that match your profile.
The website allows you to work whenever convenient, so there are no restrictions on where you may take surveys (when one is available).
This isn’t a terrible option if you’re searching for a side hustle. You can earn some decent money from time to time.
26. Probe Market Research
Average Pay: $50 – $400 per study
Probe Research, a US-based market research company, constantly hosts paid focus groups to get feedback on clients’ new advertising campaigns, products, or services.
You can participate in Probe Market Research paid focus groups without leaving home! They conduct interviews in groups, by phone, or online—depending on the time assigned to that particular study.
27. Experience Dynamics
Average Pay: $50 – $150 per study
Experience Dynamics is a company that prospers from happy customers. They do this by focusing on user experience and user interface testing (UX and UI) for corporate clients.
In other words, they test websites and software applications to provide feedback on what needs improvement design-wise.
They hire testers worldwide with various levels of experience.
You can also give your opinion to Experience Dynamics in one of the following ways:
- Field Studies (1-2 hour interviews conducted in your home or place of work)
- Diary Studies (document your thoughts for 1-2 weeks)
- Phone Interviews
- Online Paid Focus Groups
- Online Surveys
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an online focus group?
An online focus group, or remote focus group, is a focus group that takes place remotely through the internet. Participants join a conversation with other participants by using audio or video technology.
The focus group allows people from different parts of the country (or even the world) to participate in discussions without having to be in the same physical space.
It also allows people who may not be able to leave their homes or work for a traditional focus group to participate in studies for market research companies.
How do online focus groups work?
You will need a computer with internet access and a webcam or microphone to participate in online paid focus groups on the computer or in a high-paying phone app.
Most online focus groups use audio or video technology to allow participants to communicate with each other.
These focus groups allow people from different parts of the country (or even the world) to participate in discussions without having to be in the same physical space.
Do online focus groups pay well?
The quick answer is that it depends on the market research company. Some online focus groups pay very well, while others may only offer a token amount in an Amazon gift card or Visa gift cards.
The amount online focus groups pay varies from company to company and project to project. Longer market research surveys usually pay more.
However, as a general rule, you can expect to earn more for participating in online paid focus groups than you would for completing a standard online survey. They usually do not pay as much as an in-person focus group.
How do I find focus groups online to join?
You can find online paid focus groups to join by doing a Google search for “online focus groups” or “focus group research.”
Blogs specializing in making money from home or online work opportunities (like our blog) are also an excellent place to look for leads on focus group opportunities.
Once you find paid focus groups, sign up with as many paid focus groups as possible. Include in-person research studies and online focus groups, as both types often have work available.
Most companies will require that you complete a profile and answer some screening questions before they allow you to participate in their paid focus groups.
Can I join different focus groups?
You can join multiple paid focus groups, but you may not be eligible for all of them.
It depends on the company conducting the paid focus groups and their needs for that particular research project.
You may find that you have to do a phone screening interview before being invited to participate in market research groups.
This is the reason once you find focus groups, you should join as many focus groups as possible to increase your chances of being selected to participate in paid research opportunities.
Other Ways To Make Money Online
You may not be interested in paid research opportunities like online paid focus groups.
You may be looking for longer-term side hustles that pay more.
Here are some ideas we have for other online side hustles:
Proofreader
Proofreading is a great way to make money from home because you can work whenever and on your schedule. The best part is, you don’t need any experience!
You essentially take other people’s work and check it for grammatical errors and other content errors before things get published.
Proofread Anywhere offers a free workshop so you can learn more about what the job entails.
Learn About Proofreading Here
Freelance Writer
If you have a knack for writing and want to earn extra cash, consider becoming a freelance writer.
Many companies and individuals are looking for talented writers to create content for their websites or blogs- even if you don’t have a ton of experience.
Freelance Write From Home offers a free eBook to show you how to get started as a freelance writer!
Download FREE eBook Now
Virtual Assistant
Since the pandemic, more people have been working remotely. They need people like virtual assistants to help with tasks like customer service, data entry, social media management, and many other things.
To get started as a virtual assistant, you need to have some basic office skills and be able to use a computer. You will also need access to the internet and a phone.
You can learn more about becoming a virtual assistant with the FREE training offered by Savvy Systems.
Blogger
Starting a blog is our favorite way to earn money online! It’s a great way to share your passions and get paid to write about the things you love.
To get started, you only need a computer and an internet connection. You can choose any topic that you’re passionate about, and there are millions of possibilities!
Once you’ve chosen your topic, you’ll need to set up your blog on a platform like Bluehost.
Final Thoughts
Participating in online focus groups for market research companies is a great way to earn extra cash. Some even pay a welcome bonus when you sign up!
By joining a paid focus group, readers can share their opinions on current affairs and receive compensation for their participation.
Many reputable companies offer online focus groups, like Swagbucks, but it’s essential to research before joining one- primarily to ensure you fit into the focus group demographic.
So what are you waiting for? Sign up for a few and get paid instantly today!
FREE $10 Sign Up Bonus
Swagbucks
Start sharing your opinion, earn points, and cash them out for free gift cards or cash today. Claim your FREE $10 sign-up bonus now!
Get Started Now