If you're interested in taking part in academic research, Prolific is a solid platform that offers fair compensation for your time. However, the availability of surveys can vary depending on your location.
Prolific promotes itself as a place where you can earn money by sharing your unique perspectives and experiences.
But is Prolific actually legit, and is it truly worth signing up for—or should you steer clear?
I’ve personally tested the platform and compared it to hundreds of similar survey sites.
Right off the bat, I can tell you that Prolific stands out from many traditional paid survey platforms.
In this detailed Prolific Surveys review, I’ll walk you through how the site works, what sets it apart, and the kinds of opportunities it offers. By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of whether it’s a good fit for your time and effort.
What Is Prolific and How Does It Work?
Prolific, formerly known as Prolific Academic, is a platform designed to connect researchers with participants from around the world. Although some users still refer to it by its old name, the official rebrand to "Prolific" happened back in 2015 to make the name simpler and more memorable. The site also moved from prolific.co to prolific.com, though both refer to the same service.
Unlike many traditional survey sites, Prolific was created by two Ph.D. students who struggled to find quality participants for their academic research. They launched the platform to solve that problem—making it easier for researchers to gather data while offering people a straightforward way to earn money by contributing to meaningful studies.
Today, Prolific serves as a global crowdsourcing platform that benefits both researchers seeking reliable participants and users who want to support research while getting paid.
So, what can you really expect from Prolific in terms of earning opportunities? Let’s dive into what the platform offers for both researchers and participants.
How to Earn Money by Taking Surveys on Prolific
Prolific allows users to earn money by participating in academic surveys and research studies. As the platform serves as a tool for researchers to collect data, the availability of surveys depends entirely on when researchers post new studies.
This means that unlike many other paid survey sites, you might not find surveys available every day—especially if you’re located in a country with fewer research projects. In some regions, users receive frequent invitations, while in others, survey opportunities may be rare.
That said, the surveys on Prolific tend to be more engaging and meaningful. They’re all academic in nature, but you don’t need a degree to participate. These studies are typically conducted by universities or research institutions, and they cover a wide range of topics—from cultural behavior to moral decision-making.
Your background plays a role in whether you're eligible for certain surveys. Eligibility often depends on demographics such as location, profession, education, or family structure. Because of this, not everyone gets access to the same studies.
Despite the limited frequency, Prolific is a trustworthy platform that works with respected researchers worldwide. What’s unique is that your responses directly contribute to cutting-edge academic research—a rewarding aspect beyond just earning cash.
When a study becomes available, you’ll receive an email invitation. But be quick—spaces fill up fast. To improve your chances, consider installing the Prolific Assistant Chrome extension. It notifies you in real time when new surveys are posted, helping you respond before they close.
Surveys are usually short and pay fairly for your time. Most range between 10–20 minutes, though some may be shorter or longer. Prolific always displays the estimated time and payment upfront, so you can decide whether it’s worth your effort.
Prolific for Researchers: Recruit Quality Participants
Prolific isn’t just for survey takers—it’s also a powerful tool for researchers who need high-quality participants for their studies. Whether you're conducting academic research or running a data collection project, Prolific offers a streamlined way to recruit the right audience.
As a researcher, you can define your own prescreening criteria, such as age, gender, nationality, language, and more. This ensures your study reaches only the most relevant participants.
If your survey is hosted on an external platform like Qualtrics or SurveyMonkey, you can still use Prolific to recruit participants by simply linking to your study URL.
Signing up as a researcher is free, but you’ll need to cover participant rewards along with a small administrative fee to Prolific. You have flexibility over how much to pay participants, but the platform recommends a minimum of $6.50 per hour.
Offering higher compensation often leads to faster and more reliable participation—a trend supported by feedback from thousands of users and my own experience with online research platforms.
How Does Prolific Pay Participants?
Prolific pays its participants through PayPal, making it easy to receive your earnings in cash. If you prefer PayPal as a payout method, this platform is a great fit. However, if you're looking for alternative payment options, Prolific might not be the best choice.
You can request a payout once you’ve earned at least £5 or $7. There is a small transaction fee for each withdrawal. After your fourth cashout, you’ll automatically be upgraded to instant payouts, meaning your money will be transferred to your PayPal account immediately after you request it.
Before reaching that point, Prolific processes payments twice a week—on Tuesdays and Fridays—so even early on, you won’t have to wait long to access your earnings.
Once you complete a study, your responses need to be reviewed and approved by the researcher before your reward is credited. This process usually takes a few days.
In addition to cash payments, Prolific also offers the option to donate your earnings to charity. After completing a survey, you may be asked if you'd like to donate instead of keeping the reward. It’s a thoughtful way to give back if you support one of the causes featured on the platform.
To sum up, once you’ve cashed out four times, you’ll benefit from instant PayPal payments, making Prolific one of the more efficient and reliable survey sites when it comes to receiving your rewards.
How Much Can You Earn on Prolific?
Prolific is a good option if you're looking to earn some extra cash, but it’s not the best choice if your main goal is to maximize your income through surveys.
In my experience, the surveys are well-designed, relevant, and often thought-provoking. They also contribute to real academic research, which adds value beyond just the monetary reward. That sense of purpose can be a great motivator if you're considering joining.
However, because Prolific is a crowdsourced research platform, new surveys don’t appear frequently. In some countries, users may get regular invitations, while others might go weeks—or even months—without a single opportunity.
That said, when surveys are available, the pay is solid. Researchers are required to compensate participants at a minimum rate equivalent to $8 per hour, though most surveys are much shorter and vary in payout based on length and complexity.
This doesn’t guarantee a consistent hourly wage, but it does ensure fair compensation across studies. Still, reaching the payout threshold may take some time depending on your location and demographic profile.
Personally, I enjoy using Prolific as a supplementary platform. It supports important research, and I see it as a meaningful way to contribute while earning a little extra. For more regular income, I rely on other survey sites that offer daily opportunities.
Can You Use Prolific on Mobile Devices?
Using Prolific on a mobile device is definitely possible and can be a convenient way to take surveys wherever you are. Since some studies fill up quickly, having mobile access helps you respond faster without needing to be at your computer.
While Prolific doesn’t have an official mobile app, its website is fully mobile-friendly. You can access it directly through your browser or by clicking the survey link sent to your email.
That said, be cautious: if you search for “Prolific” on the Google Play Store, you might come across an app called Prolific Surveys, which is unrelated to the official platform. Prolific currently operates only through its mobile-optimized website.
I’ve personally completed surveys on my phone without any issues—the interface is easy to navigate, and everything works smoothly. So if you prefer taking surveys on the go, Prolific’s mobile site is a reliable option.
Who Can Join Prolific Surveys?
Prolific is currently open to participants in most OECD countries—excluding Turkey, Lithuania, Colombia, Costa Rica, and South Africa. This means users from about 33 countries are eligible to join.
Although Prolific has mentioned plans to expand globally, this hasn’t happened yet. So if you're outside the supported regions, you may want to check the site periodically for updates.
As of the latest update, Prolific is available in the following countries:
AT, AU, BE, CA, CH, CL, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, JP, KR, LU, LV, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PL, PT, SE, SI, and US.
To join, you must verify your email and either your phone number or your Facebook account. This step ensures that only real individuals participate in research, which helps maintain data quality.
Phone verification is quick and straightforward. When I signed up, I simply entered my number and received a verification code via text within seconds—it took less than a minute.
Prolific is open to users who are 18 years or older. However, there’s one important thing to know: Prolific has recently introduced a waitlist for new users. This helps ensure that current members still have access to a fair number of studies.
While that’s great news for existing users, it means that new members might have to wait a bit before they can start earning. If you’re interested, it’s still worth signing up early to secure your spot.
Getting Support and Giving Feedback on Prolific
If you need help while using Prolific, support is available—but it comes with a small caveat. You must be logged in and go through the FAQ section first. Only then will the contact form become available if your question isn’t already answered.
I haven’t had to contact their support myself, so I can’t speak to their response time. However, Prolific also maintains an official Facebook page where they post updates and announcements. You can leave comments or feedback there, but replies seem to be slow, which is unfortunate. Timely support should always be a priority.
That said, Prolific does offer a convenient and quick way to give feedback right after completing a survey. After each study, you’ll be asked whether the survey worked properly—this lets you report technical issues easily, and it’s a feature I really appreciate.
On the researcher side, there’s also an interesting feedback option. Researchers can give a star to participants who provide particularly thoughtful or valuable responses. Only 5% of participants can receive this recognition, and those who do may be selected as Participant of the Month, earning a small prize as a reward.
Is Prolific Worth It? Final Thoughts and Honest Review
Prolific is a legitimate survey platform that offers a unique opportunity to contribute to real academic research while earning some extra cash. But whether it's right for you depends on your expectations and what you’re looking for in a survey site.
To help you decide, here’s a quick overview of the pros and cons:
- Surveys are meaningful and often quite interesting
- Payments are made via PayPal
- Great tool for researchers to find qualified participants
- Compensation is fair compared to many other platforms
- Survey availability is limited and varies by country
- Rewards can take several days to be approved
- New users must join a waitlist before participating
Prolific is best suited for those who are genuinely interested in research and don’t mind the occasional wait between studies. Personally, I find it valuable as an extra platform—a way to contribute to scientific research while earning a bit of cash on the side.
So yes, Prolific can be worth joining, as long as you go in with the right expectations.
Have questions, feedback, or your own experience with Prolific? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!