8 Best Paid Focus Groups That Pay Up To $150 Per Hour

Finding paid focus groups near you or online can be an excellent way to supplement your income.

I mean, who doesn’t enjoy discussing their opinions?

Participating in focus groups for paid market research is an easy way to make money doing just that.

While some pay more than others, there are plenty of legitimate paid focus groups, including how much you can earn by doing this.

This is why, rather than you figuring out how to find focus groups, this article has identified the best ones that actually pay.

You can also choose to participate in a discussion on almost any topic you can think of. Whether you want to talk about what you bought at the supermarket last week or your thoughts on the current state of politics in your area, there will undoubtedly be opportunities for you to make money.

What is a focus group?

A focus group is a small group of people who have been asked to express their thoughts.

Focus groups can be held in person or virtually.

They are typically used to determine people’s attitudes toward specific branding, usability, packaging, or ideas for new or existing products. They can also be used in political campaigns and polling. Consider paid focus groups to be much more in-depth surveys.

They usually involve you giving your thoughts and answering questions on a specific topic in exchange for free coffee and going home with an extra $50-$150 in your pocket!

More and more businesses are turning to paid research studies to better understand the market and trends, as well as connect with customers not only locally, but globally.

What is an example of a focus group?

A focus group is one that is held prior to the release of a new product. This allows the company developing the product to gauge public opinion on issues relating to the product, including any marketing campaigns surrounding it.

Focus Groups work in two ways:

In-Person
Online

IN-PERSON

If you find a local in-person focus group, you will be required to attend the interview in person. You will usually be interviewed in a group setting where everyone can talk to each other.

A researcher or moderator is usually present to lead the group, take notes, ask questions, and record the results.

If you join an in-person focus group, you may need to attend more than one session, but you will be paid for each one.

ONLINE

A focus group conducted online is very similar to a focus group conducted in person. You must participate online via chat, on your tablet or smartphone. You’ll typically be sent a link to the focus group, where you’ll be able to join the discussion and provide feedback.

Some online focus groups make use of video or specific web-based software. You must download the software prior to conducting your focus group research.

What are the best paid online focus groups?

There are numerous websites that offer opportunities to participate in paid focus groups online, and they are all free to join.

In most cases, this is the only way to see the available focus group opportunities, so sign up for as many as you can to give yourself the best chance of qualifying for a focus group and earning some extra cash.

1. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie’s main focus is on providing surveys for you to complete, which take only a few minutes and pay you a few dollars per survey.

They do, however, offer focus groups online as well as in-person or by phone on occasion. They pay up to $150 for these sessions, which usually require you to answer a few pre-qualification questions in order to be chosen.

2. Respondent

Respondent is well-known for providing a wide range of paid focus groups online, as well as some of the highest pay rates.

In fact, a one-hour focus group can earn you up to $250. You can also do this from anywhere in the world.

To apply for a Respondent focus group, simply create an account and fill out your profile.

You will then have immediate access to all of the different focus groups that are currently available to you.

This is far superior to some of the other companies, which only contact you via email if they believe you’re a good fit, making it difficult to know how many positions are available.

3. Recruit And Field

Recruit and Field, which has a Facebook rating of 4.9 out of 5, provides US nationwide online studies as well as focus groups in various locations.

For their studies, they seek participants of any gender and age, including professionals and medical professionals (doctor, nurse, lab technician).

They normally pay via PayPal but also offer Amazon or digital gift cards.

Their payments range from $100 to $275 per study.

4. American Consumer Opinion

With over 7 million users, American Consumer Opinion is a large survey company for people in the United States. Signing up is free, and you can receive money in two ways: via PayPal or by check.

Short surveys typically pay between $0.05 and $0.50, but if you are chosen for longer market research surveys, you can earn up to $50.

Each survey you complete earns you points. One point equals one penny. You can request your money once you reach $10.00.

5. User Interviews

User Interviews is one of the most well-known companies that offer paid focus groups, and signing up is simple.

Simply create your profile, and the system will begin automatically matching you with any offers that you qualify for.

In terms of how much you can earn, the starting range for a half-hour session is around $75. The amount you can earn from there can vary greatly depending on how much of your time is required and how specialized the questions are.

6. PingPong

PingPong is one of the newer sites offering paid focus groups, but that doesn’t make it any less legitimate. In fact, their clients include Skyscanner, Nestle, Dropbox, and McKinsey & Company.

You can earn up to €100 per hour for their focus group sessions, which are also open to those in the United States and other countries outside of Europe despite the fact that their rates are in Euros.

7. Probe Market Research

Probe Research, rated 4.7 out of 5 on FacebookFocus groups typically pays between $50 and $400, and you may not even need to leave your house in some cases!

Interviews are conducted in groups, over the phone, or online, depending on the time allotted to that particular study., is a US-based market research firm that regularly hosts focus groups to gather feedback for clients’ new advertising campaigns, products, or services.

8. Plaza Research

Plaza Research has 14 locations in the United States. It specializes in in-person focus groups and pays participants between $50 and $200.

Focus groups are typically held both during the day and at night. You may be asked to try a new product, preview a television commercial, or discuss future products.

You will be paid in person immediately following the session. A 2-hour session can earn you anywhere from $50 to $200.

Final Thoughts

Paid focus groups are an excellent way to supplement your income. The hourly rate is almost unrivaled, and there’s no denying that it’s entertaining to share your thoughts with a captive audience.

However, the main disadvantage of treating paid focus groups as a side hustle is a lack of consistency in your earnings.

It’s nearly impossible to guarantee that you’ll qualify for one of these groups every week, for example, because it’s so dependent on what paid market research is required — and, more importantly, from whom.