✨Is Respondent Legit? My Honest Review After Getting Paid $200 for 2 Hours of Work
- Karynn Snow
- May 11
- 4 min read
Updated: May 19
If you’ve been following me, you know I love a good user research app. One platform that kept popping up in my feeds was Respondent—with claims that you can earn $100 to $700 per hour just by sharing your opinion. So of course, I had to try it for myself and give you the honest truth.
🧐 What Is Respondent?
If you're new to user research platforms, here’s the quick breakdown: Respondent connects everyday people like you and me with companies that want honest feedback to improve their products and services.
Unlike basic survey sites that pay pennies, Respondent offers real money for:
✅ One-on-one interviews
✅ Paid focus groups
✅ Usability tests
And let me be clear—user research is one of the few online side hustles where you can realistically earn $1,000+/month if you're consistent and selective.
📝 How to Sign Up & What to Expect
Respondent is a global platform that operates in 21+ countries. Signing up is easy with just your email, but it quickly becomes clear that it’s targeted toward professionals, though not all studies require you to have a specific job or title.

👤 What You’ll Need to Fill Out:
Gender, ethnicity, and education level
Household income (optional)
City or region (to match with in-person studies)
Employment details, industry, and job skills
LinkedIn (optional but highly recommended for credibility)
💡 Pro Tip: Fill out your profile completely for better matches. You can even browse available studies before signing up directly from their homepage.
Each listing shows:
🕒 Duration
💰 How much it pays
📍 Whether it’s remote or in-person (most are remote!)
🔍You can also filter by category and track which studies you’ve already applied to.
Sign up for Respondent here 👉 https://app.respondent.io/r/karynnsnow-c799e1b46de4
🎯 The Catch: You Can Only Apply to 3 Studies Per Day
Here’s where things get a little tricky…
You're limited to 3 screener surveys every 24 hours. That means you need to be strategic with what you apply for—because once those slots are gone, they're gone. 😩
And unfortunately, if you don’t get selected, you won’t get notified—only if you do get chosen. If you are selected, Respondent sends a text and email.

🔄 What Happens If You Get Picked?
This part surprised me: most opportunities aren’t actually hosted on Respondent itself. Once selected, the company running the study usually sends you to another platform to complete the work.
Also—just because you’re selected doesn’t always mean you’re guaranteed a spot. For some surveys, it’s first come, first served even after you’re approved. I once waited an hour before clicking the study link and got hit with a “spots filled” message. 😒

💸 My Real Experience: Paid $200 for a 2-Hour Focus Group
Yes—I got paid. 🎉 I was selected for a remote focus group geared toward content creators, and it paid $200 for a 2-hour session.
Here’s how it went:
I was contacted by the company directly to confirm my info.
They checked out my YouTube channel to verify I was actually a content creator.
I joined a virtual room with about 10 others and chatted for 2 hours.
✅ Two weeks later, I received $190 via PayPal (after Respondent’s 5% fulfillment fee).
🔹 Note: Respondent takes a 5% fee ($1 minimum) from your total payout.

✅ Is Respondent Legit?
Is Respondent Legit? Absolutely. 💯 You can make $100+/hr if you're selected. But here’s the thing:
My success rate was around 10–15%, lower than with other research platforms.
The 3-screeners-per-day limit caps your earning potential.
That said, the screeners only take about 5 minutes, and the payout is so worth it if you land a gig.
🔗 Want to Try Respondent?
If you're curious and want to see for yourself, here's my referral link to get started:👉 Sign up for Respondent
If Respondent doesn’t seem like the right fit for you, don’t worry—I’ve got a full list of other legit user research and market research platforms on my site 👉 Side Hustle Seattle
💬 Have you tried Respondent?
Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried Respondent or plan to! Have you landed a study? Was it worth it? And for more creative side hustle ideas that actually pay, subscribe to Side Hustle Seattle on YouTube.
Disclaimer:
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. All opinions shared are my own, and I only recommend products or services I truly believe in. The information provided here is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.
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