Respondent offers generous payouts for participating in research projects. However, finding a project you qualify for can be challenging, so patience is required.
With so many online money-making opportunities today, earning extra cash from home has never been easier. At the same time, it can be overwhelming to determine which sites are trustworthy and which are scams.
One platform that promises earnings by sharing your insights and experience is Respondent.io.
But is Respondent legitimate and worth your time, or just another scam?
To be clear, Respondent is indeed legitimate—I’ve received payments from it myself. That said, it may not be the ideal choice for everyone.
This Respondent review covers everything you need to know, helping you decide whether joining the platform is the right move for you.
What Is Respondent and How Does It Pay?
Respondent is a crowdsourcing platform that pays users to take part in research projects. If you’re new to crowdsourcing, it’s essentially a way for companies to get tasks completed by a group of people, usually online.
On Respondent, partner companies can invite members to join various studies, providing valuable insights in exchange for payment.
To fully understand how much you can earn on this platform, it’s important to take a closer look at the ways Respondent compensates its participants.
Respondent Projects: How They Work and Pay
Projects on Respondent are research studies you can join. Once you become a member, you can log in to your dashboard to browse all available projects.
Before participating, you typically need to apply. The company requesting the study will review your profile to see if you qualify—similar to a job interview. Applications require completing a qualifying screener, which is not paid, and you can apply for up to three projects every 24 hours. This step helps ensure participants meet the study requirements.
Each project listing shows the payment amount and project type. Projects can be in-person or online and may involve one-on-one sessions or unmoderated studies.
In-person studies generally offer higher rewards but require traveling to a specific location, making them more selective since you need to live nearby.
Payment is issued only after completing a project. You can track your earnings and see the status of all your applications in the “My Studies” section of your dashboard.
Respondent Referral Program: How to Earn Bonuses
Respondent also offers a referral program that lets you earn by inviting others to join. You can share either a project-specific invite link or a general link to the platform.
For each person who joins through your referral, you can earn a $20 bonus. However, if the same person participates in multiple studies, you’ll only receive the bonus once.
To qualify for the referral reward, your referral must earn at least $75 through study participation. This means earning from referrals isn’t always easy—you’ll need to invite people who are genuinely interested in taking part in Respondent projects.
How Respondent Pays: PayPal and Fees Explained
Respondent pays participants exclusively through PayPal, so you’ll need an account before signing up. During registration, you’ll provide your PayPal email, which links your account to Respondent automatically.
Payments are processed automatically once a project’s company releases the funds. However, a processing fee applies—5% or $1, whichever is higher. For instance, if a project pays $150, you’ll receive $142.50. While this fee is higher than many other research sites, the payouts for projects are generally substantial, making it worthwhile if you qualify.
One advantage of Respondent’s payment system is that there’s no minimum payout threshold—you receive payments directly to PayPal without delay.
From personal experience, Respondent does pay reliably. That said, it’s important to understand the payment structure and manage your expectations, which we’ll cover next.
Respondent Earnings: How Much You Can Make
Your earnings on Respondent depend on the number of projects you complete, your industry, and the payment rates offered by each company.
- Average hourly pay is around $100/hour according to RichNiches, and up to $109/hour according to KissInvestments.
- Specialized projects—such as interviews with executives or tech experts—can pay as much as $700 per session (Cashembrace).
- Rates vary widely, from $10 to over $250 per project, depending on its length and complexity (LushDollar).
- “Best I did is $180 USD, $120 USD is the average of most studies” after completing 45 studies.
- “I made $1,350 in 2021 from 12 projects” — over $100 per project on average.
- “My best streak was about $400 in 30 days” from several short studies.
- “I have made $120 from 2 short interviews” in a short time frame.
- Some users report high competition: “I applied to hundreds… successfully got 2,” meaning you’ll need persistence.
- Projects that accept you often do so within hours or a day.
- After completing a project, Respondent deducts 5% or $1 (whichever is greater) from your earnings.
- Payments are sent via PayPal typically within 5–7 business days, though some users have reported up to 3 weeks in rare cases.
Respondent.io offers solid payouts, and with the right strategy, monthly earnings can reach $100–$300 from just one or two projects — or more if you qualify for high-paying, niche studies.
Using Respondent on Mobile: What You Need to Know
While Respondent can be accessed on a mobile device, it’s not the most convenient way to use the platform. Many projects require a computer and connected peripherals, which limits what you can do on mobile.
That said, you can still visit Respondent’s website through a mobile browser. The site is mobile-friendly, making it easy to navigate.
Using mobile access is especially handy for quickly checking the status of projects you’ve applied for or completed, even if full participation is best done on a computer.
Who Can Join Respondent and How to Register
Respondent is accessible to users worldwide, allowing anyone to sign up regardless of location.
You can register using your email or by linking your Facebook or LinkedIn account. After selecting your registration method, you’ll need to complete your profile to start participating in projects.
Keep in mind that Respondent pays exclusively through PayPal, so you must be at least 18 years old—the minimum age to create a PayPal account.
Other than that, signing up is straightforward, making it easy to become a member and start exploring available projects.
Respondent Support: How to Get Help
Respondent offers a comprehensive FAQ section that covers most aspects of the platform. Before reaching out to support, it’s a good idea to check the FAQ for answers to common questions.
If you can’t find the information you need, you can email their support team at support@respondent.io. The site does not provide a contact form or support ticket system, so email is the only option.
When emailing about a specific project, include the project name, participation date, and your question or concern.
Although there’s no direct contact form, Respondent provides a clear way to get help, as long as you follow the guidelines when submitting your inquiry.
Respondent Review: Pros, Cons, and Final Verdict
Respondent is a legitimate platform that pays for participating in research studies. Like any site, it comes with both advantages and drawbacks. Here’s a quick summary to help you decide if joining is right for you:
- Payments through PayPal
- High payouts for completed projects
- Available to users worldwide
- Limited number of project opportunities
- Earnings are not guaranteed, as you must apply for each project
- Relatively high processing fee on payments
It’s best used as a secondary income source since projects often require very specific participants, limiting regular earning potential. To supplement your earnings, consider exploring other reputable survey sites with consistent opportunities in your country. These platforms can help you maximize your online income while fitting your location and availability.
How to Join Respondent and Start Earning
To become a member of Respondent, simply use the invitation link to register. The sign-up process is straightforward, allowing you to start participating in projects and earning quickly.
If you have any questions, feedback, or experiences with Respondent, feel free to share them in the comments below.
Cons: Limited projects, high competition, and a 5% processing fee. Overall, it’s a great option for extra income, though not a full-time earning platform.