15 Best Online Paid Focus Groups (Make $300/Hour)

Do you have a bit of time to share your opinion or answer a few questions on various things?

If yes, then you could end up with a couple of hundred bucks for it.

People’s feedback matters. So much that companies are willing to pay for it. That’s where paid focus groups come into place.

With time, more and more companies use paid focus groups to better understand the market.

After all, market research is a vital part of any business strategy.

If you are looking for legit ways to make extra money fast, then you should seriously consider taking part in paid focus groups.

Paid focus groups are similar to online surveys but their main advantage is that they pay way better and they are usually more fun to do.

In my opinion, paid focus groups are one of the most lucrative side-hustles you can do to make money online.

If you want to know more about this side hustle, keep reading.

What is a focus group?

A focus group is a small group of people that are brought together to share their opinion, give their feedback, or answer questions on something specific.

Usually, a focus group consists of 5-8 people but there are focus groups that can require 10-12 people as well. It really depends on the topic discussed.

Basically, it is a method of gathering people’s feedback so that companies can improve their products and services.

Let’s see some examples so you can understand how this works. Generally paid focus groups can include the following:

• Companies paying people for their feedback on their product
• Companies being interested in people’s feedback for market research
• Companies paying people to give feedback on a service they want to offer

And more…

Back in the day paid focus groups weren’t a common thing and they didn’t pay as much as they do today.

However, as the need for market research arose, this method became more and more widespread.

Today, you can even make $300 by completing a paid focus group. How cool is that?

For the most part, a focus group lasts about 60 to 90 minutes but it can definitely last longer depending on the topic.

Usually, the more it lasts the better it pays.

The research topics of a focus group can vary. Some common ones include Automotive, Health & Care, Cooking, Beauty, Travel, and Pets.

Are paid focus groups legitimate?

Yes. Paid focus groups are a 100% legit way of making extra money fast.

In fact, many large and known companies provide paid focus groups to further understand their products or the market.

On the other hand, not every company that runs paid focus groups is legit, and that’s something you should keep an eye out for.

That means that you should be careful when choosing to participate in a paid focus group.

Many companies don’t pay well for your time and others are scams.

Don’t worry though, I’ve made all the research needed for anyone that wants to find legit companies offering paid focus groups.

Pro Tip: Generally, websites that offer paid focus groups are free to join. If a site encourages you to pay before joining their platform, it’s most likely a scam.

Types of paid focus groups

There are many types of focus groups but the most common ones are the following two:

In-person

In-person focus groups usually take place in specific facilitated locations chosen by the company itself.

When you sign up for an in-person focus group, the company will inform you about the place and time of the meeting.

In-person focus groups typically involve a group of people brought together to answer questions or give their ideas on a certain topic.

Online

The biggest advantage of online paid focus groups is there are no location limits, so people worldwide can join if they speak the same language.

When you join an online focus group, the company tells you the meeting time and which platform to use, like Skype, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams.

As long as you have a PC or laptop, a webcam, a microphone, and internet, you can join a wide variety of paid focus groups starting today.

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How much are focus group participants getting paid?

It depends on the company, but usually, you can expect to earn $50-$300 per hour.

That’s a lot of money for an hour of your time, and that’s why many people join paid focus groups.

It’s smart to join multiple platforms offering paid studies so you can qualify for more opportunities and increase your overall earnings.

The good news is that hundreds of paid focus groups are posted each month, giving you plenty of options across different topics.

How to find paid focus groups online

As mentioned above, not all companies that offer paid focus groups are worth your time.

And that’s because some of them pay low or in the worst case are a scam.

That’s why I made a list of the best and most legit paid focus groups available today.

Once you find a company you like, go ahead and sign up for them. After that, check the available studies and apply to what you think suits you best.

That usually includes filling out a form with some information about you.

From there on, your application will be reviewed and you will get notified whether they accept you or not.

I have signed up for a bunch of them and also subscribed to their email list so that I get notified when new focus groups are available.

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15 companies that offer paid focus groups

1 User Interviews

With 2000+ paid studies launched every single month, User Interviews is a fantastic platform for making money online.

You can create your profile and start applying to paid research studies right away.

It is actually one of my preferred focus group platforms and that’s why I put it first on my list.

As a matter of fact, User Interviews has a very large community of researchers and participants making it one of the best choices today.

You can browse their available paid research studies, apply, and start getting paid for your feedback right away.

2 Respondent

Respondent is a great platform for market research. Lots of companies use the platform to conduct studies on targeted audiences.

You can sign up as a researcher or a participant. Researchers use the platform to conduct studies in order to gather market insights.

In your case, you should sign up as a participant. This way you will get notified when paid focus groups are available and you can join whichever you like.

You can check their available projects here.

You can also check their FAQ page if you have more questions on how things work on the platform.

3 Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is one of the most popular sites when it comes to surveys, but did you know that it also offers paid focus group opportunities?

That’s right. You can sign up and get notified when new studies are available.

One thing to keep in mind though is that Survey Junkie doesn’t pay in cash but in points that can be redeemed into gift cards.

4 FocusGroup

FocusGroup is an online community that offers multiple ways of participating to focus groups.

These ways include participating online, on the telephone, or in person.

They basically provide market research services intending to help companies understand the market.

You can learn more about them by checking their FAQ page.

5 Ipsos i-Say

Ipsos i-Say is another well-known survey site that also offers paid focus groups.

You can simply sign up and search for available focus groups on their site.

After completing surveys and focus groups you will gain points which you can later redeem as PayPal funds or a variety of gift cards.

You can also download their mobile app to check for new focus group studies on the go.

6 Survey Feeds

Survey feeds is a large company that runs studies all over the US. It includes paid focus groups online and in person.

Their goal is to connect research companies with the right participants so they can improve products and services through real feedback.

If you’re interested, submit your profile through their homepage and check current studies so you can join any that match your interests.

7 20|20

20|20 has been in business since 1986 and offers companies various ways to get valuable market research insights.

Some of them include surveys, surveys + chat at online interviews, online discussions, online webcam discussions, and in-person studies.

Once you sign up and submit your personal information, the system will automatically match your info with the most fitting focus groups available.

After that, apply to any study that interests you. If you qualify, you’ll get an email with the next steps to follow.

8 Experience Dynamics

Experience Dynamics offers many studies like field and diary studies, usability testing, phone interviews, online focus groups, and surveys.

They are looking for people’s feedback, regardless of their background, to improve user experience.

They also do regular global usability studies for people all over the world to join.

Once you sign up you will be added to their private Participant Database and from there you will be contacted through email for any available studies.

9 American Consumer Opinion

With over 7 million members, American Consumer Opinion is another great choice when it comes to paid focus groups.

You can sign up for free and start making money by taking surveys, joining focus groups, evaluating new products, or testing new advertising.

How it works is simple: When you complete something, you earn points. These points can be redeemed either on PayPal or by check.

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10 SIS International Research

SIS International Research is a huge global market research firm where you can give your feedback on many things.

Some of the topics they include are Health Care, Travel and Tourism, Automotive, Construction, and Engineering.

Since they are an international platform, they have conducted projects in over 120 countries to gather insight into a buyer’s perspective.

So, if you live outside of the US this can be a good choice for you.

11 Ping Pong

Ping Pong is another great platform that provides research studies all over the world. That means that you can sign up even if you live outside the US.

It works like that: You share your opinion on products from various companies, and you get paid after you complete the study.

To do all that, you’ll need to have a computer or laptop with a webcam and mic, and a good/stable internet connection.

12 Field Voices

Field Voices is another interesting choice when it comes to paid focus groups.

You can take part in online and in-person studies as long as you meet the criteria for them.

Some of the topics discussed in the research studies include Automotive, Recreation, and Education fields.

They once had an in-person study where all you had to do is try out some new drinks. And the pay was $100. Yep, you read that right!

13 Recruit and Field

Another good platform for discovering research studies is Recruit and Field.

This particular company has very good reviews online and I’ve also heard friends of mine say good things about the platform.

They offer in-person studies like focus groups, interviews, and usability tests, plus digital options like online focus groups and bulletin boards.

Pay: $100 – $275 Per Study

14 Probe Market Research

Probe Market research is a market research recruiting firm based in New York and San Francisco.

They have been around since 2005 and they offer multiple opportunities for anyone who wants to make extra money.

You can give your opinion on things like TV commercials and beauty products and get paid by completing studies conducted in person, by phone, or online.

Once you sign up, they will notify you of new research studies that match your interests.

15 WatchLab

WatchLab specializes in market research across metro areas like Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, Dallas, and more.

They offer online and in-person focus groups, including usability testing on websites and devices, in-home studies, webcam interviews, and more.

You can go to their sign-up page, fill in your information, and get notified when new studies are available.