It doesn’t matter if you’re searching for a new place to eat at, a hotel room to book, or a new product to buy, there is often one thing that can dramatically influence a purchasing decisions: reviews.
In fact, studies have found that 86% of consumer read local reviews when searching for products/services in their area, and reviews can be almost as powerful as personal recommendations.
After all, 5 star reviews and positive feedback can lead to favorable rankings on search engines or shop feeds, while low star reviews or negative feedback can literally wipe out businesses.
Ethics aside (I don’t write reviews for money/unless I have personally used a product, but hey, some people need to eat and I get that), it is actually incredibly easy to get paid to write reviews and I’m going to break down some of the best options to get started in the world of reviewing.
If you are looking to make extra money by writing Reviews, these are some of the most popular platforms to get started.
1. CAPTERRA
When it comes to the world of software reviews, Capterra is one of the largest players out there. From cloud computing to accounting software, Capterra is a one-stop-shop for everything you need to know when making a purchase decision on software.
Like all review-based websites, it’s the user submitted content that actually creates value. Since Capterra is interested in compiling as many great reviews as possible from real customers to make more money (through affiliate/lead generation deals), they are wiling to pay for reviews.
Now here’s the thing: Capterra makes it very clear in their guidelines that they vet reviews and only pay for reviews that pass approval.
When reviewing on Capterra, you verify your identity through LinkedIn, and as this Reddit thread describes, you might have to send screenshots of the software you are using/further proof you have real experience.
Regardless, if you frequently use software for work/school or are decent with language and can paraphrase other reviews, writing reviews on Capterra for money seems like an easy flow of $10 gift cards.
2. GARTNER PEER INSIGHTS
Gartner is another popular software/technology review website, and like Capterra, the only way Gartner can provide value is through continuing to grow their list of user reviews and resources.
Like Capterra, Gartner is also willing to pay users to review software, and offer a rate of $25 per verified review and a total of 10 reviews per year.
So, if you actually use a lot of software, this could be a decent way to make an additional $250 a year without much problem. Similarly, if you are looking for a new side hustle idea and don’t have any ethical qualms about paraphrasing, you could probably make a quick buck anyway.
This Reddit thread breaks down some payment proof and tips for writing reviews on Gartner, and you should not that you need a business email address to work for this program…No Gmail or Outlook.
3. G2 CROWD
G2 Crowd is yet another crowd sourced review website that focuses on covering business software and service solutions.
With 700,000+ verified reviews G2 Crowd is definitely a major player in the space, but they have the same never-ending need to keep the positive (and paid for) reviews coming in.
If you want to get paid to write reviews, I figure the combination of G2 Crowd, Gartner, and Capterra can net almost $500/year if you actually use software or are a very talented writer and researcher, so this is actually turning into a pretty decent hustle!
G2 CROWD PAYS $5-$15 PER VERIFIED REVIEW, AND YOU HAVE TO VERIFY YOUR IDENTITY THROUGH LINKEDIN AS WITH CAPTERRA.
New LinkedIn accounts will also not work, so you need to have a real account or aged fake account that looks convincing.
Note, you are also capped at 7 reviews per person with G2 Crowd!
4. APPERWALL
I’m using Apperwall for an example of how you can make money by reviewing apps or games but this website is really one amidst a sea of other sketchy platforms that sort of work.
The premise behind Apperwall is simple: create and verify your account/phone, and then earn money for downloading and reviewing specific apps.
Apperwall and similar websites generally pay out between $0.25-$1.50 for accepted reviews, but the main issue with these platforms is that they tend to come and go. Writing fake reviews is against the Google PlayStore or App Store terms of service, so these companies rarely have a smooth ride.
However, if you do a bit of research or even try out Apperwall for yourself, you might be able to make some decent side income in your spare time.
I’ve actually written a post that covers ways to make money by testing websites and games, and I would argue that user testing work is higher paying and more reliable than app review writing, so this is another option to consider as well!
5. UserTesting
UserTesting connects tech companies to regular people who want to help them test their websites and apps.
Companies will provide you with a link to their site or app and a set of tasks they’d like you to accomplish. An online retailer, for example, might ask you to go through the process of buying a shirt.
To start an assignment, you’ll need a microphone. While you’re going through your tasks, UserTesting will record your screen and anything you say. You should speak your thoughts clearly and out loud so that the people reviewing your recordings can understand your thought process and update the website accordingly.
You’ll be paid $10 through PayPal for every 20-minute recording you complete.
6. Vindale Research
Vindale Research allows you to review products in many different ways. The traditional method is to get paid to take online surveys and you can also make money by sharing your opinion after watching videos.
Additional paid opportunities include reading promotional emails, finding rewards codes from the Vindale community, and referring friends.
If you are ready to join Vindale Research you can on either your desktop or your mobile device.
Vindale’s payment options are PayPal and paper check. It’s free to join, and, you earn your first $2 when you signup. For some surveys, Vindale will pay up to $75 to gather your opinion!
7. ReviewStream
ReviewStream allows you to get paid to write reviews on nearly any product. In addition to getting paid for writing the review, you will also earn a cash bonus when a user votes for your content.
User votes indicate that your review is useful and relevant to prospective buyers.
While you can write a review on almost any product, you should pay attention to ReviewStream will pay higher rates for more detailed reviews that meet their publishing guidelines.
Your earning potential can also be higher by writing reviews for in-demand products.
ReviewStream will pay you via PayPal when you are ready to request payment.
8. Software Judge
Software Judge will pay you up to $50 for your honest reviews for the digital software you use on a regular basis. The minimum payout is $1 per review and you can submit up to three reviews per day.
You write the review and Software Judge encourage you to “tell it like it is.”
In addition to being paid in cash, a more lucrative form of payment can be digital products like programs, games, and e-books.
Software Judge will also occasionally give you free product keys and game downloads as an added bonus for being a regular reviewer.
9. PINCHme
PINCHme lets you review free samples. Every Tuesday, you can select a new box of samples to be reviewed and they will be shipped to you for free.
After trying out the products, leave your review on PINCHme and you can do it all over again on the next Sample Tuesday.
Membership is free and available to any resident living within the continental U.S.
One drawback to PINCHme is that you don’t receive payment or rewards for your reviews, but, the free samples can be nice if you enjoy trying out new items and letting the brand know what works and what can be improved.
10. Ciao
Ciao is a UK-based paid review website that is open to the international community. You can get paid to write reviews for products listed on their website.
They also pay additional money for focused categories that are changing on a regular basis.
The payment for each review can vary based on how much traffic it generates.
One good thing about reviewing with Ciao is the low payout requirements of five pounds which is about $6-$7 USD depending on the exchange rate.
11. FameBit
FameBit, which is owned by YouTube, takes a slightly different approach to reviews. You can get paid by negotiating your payment and the channels you plan to use to review a specific product.
It’s possible to get paid to share your review on your social media accounts, blog, or on YouTube.
The review expectations with FameBit might be higher, but, the earning potential can be more lucrative.
It’s free to join and new sponsorships are being added each day across a variety of product categories.
You can be paid by PayPal, check, or direct deposit.
12. Slicethepie
Slicethepie claims to be the largest online review site. You can get paid to review new music, fashion items, accessories, and commercials before they are released.
Unlike some of the other review sites that don’t pay you for free samples, you will get paid for every review.
Once you earn $10 in rewards, you can be paid by PayPal. And, you can receive a bonus for referring a friend.
A Note On Writing Fake Reviews
I want to point out one important thing about this sketchy side hustle before concluding the post.
You cannot always write reviews for money overnight.
Search engines and marketplaces like Amazon are getting better at detecting fraud, and they are also making an effort to remove and ban fake reviewers from their platforms because it detracts from their reliability.
If you are actually serious about making money through review writing, you will probably have to spend many hours of unpaid work building up history on your Amazon, Google, Yelp, or whatever other account you will be using.
I suggest remaining honest and only writing reviews for products or services you use, but hey, do whatever you have to do.
Additionally, you might want to have backup accounts at the ready in case you get banned or your reviews just automatically get flagged as spam.
In my opinion, the best way to gain from writing reviews is to ask for free products in exchange for reviews, or to create your own blog that is in a very narrow niche and to pitch sponsored posts to companies.
At the end of the day, I think fraudulent reviews are never going to disappear , and you can definitely use review writing to make extra money on the side, but I wouldn’t bank on this one for a long term, life-sustaining hustle.
If you have any doubts please let me know