At a glance
| Prolific | YouGov | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Academic/research studies | Traditional survey panel |
| Pay rate | £6–£15/hour | £3–£8/hour |
| Min withdrawal | £0 (no minimum) | £50 |
| Payment | PayPal | PayPal / vouchers / charity |
| Survey volume | Variable by demographic | High |
| Screen-out rate | Low | Moderate |
| Trustpilot | 4.5/5 (~15,200 reviews) | Mixed on Trustpilot |
| Best for | Higher pay per hour | Frequent short surveys |
Prolific — better pay, fewer studies
Prolific hosts research studies from universities and market research firms. Studies are longer (10–30 minutes typically), and pay £6–£15/hour on average — significantly higher than traditional panels.
Strengths
- No minimum withdrawal. Withdraw any amount to PayPal instantly.
- Higher pay per hour. A 20-minute study might pay £4–£5.
- Low screen-out rate. Because studies are targeted, if you're invited you usually qualify.
- Strong Trustpilot reputation. 4.5/5 from over 15,000 reviews.
- Research-focused. Academic studies, so often on interesting topics.
Weaknesses
- Study volume is inconsistent. Some users see 5+ studies a week; others see one a month. It depends heavily on your demographic.
- No mobile app. Web only, though mobile web works fine.
- Highly selective. Studies usually target specific demographics, so you can't just "do surveys whenever you want".
YouGov — higher volume, lower pay
YouGov is one of the UK's best-known research firms. As a panel member, you complete frequent surveys on politics, consumer habits, current events and lifestyle.
Strengths
- High survey volume. Members typically get 3–10 survey invitations per week.
- Well-known brand. Established reputation in the UK, especially for political polling.
- Interesting topics. Surveys on current events and consumer trends.
- Choice of reward. PayPal, vouchers, or charity donation.
Weaknesses
- £50 minimum withdrawal. The single biggest drawback. At £3/hour average and 15 minutes/day, it takes 3–6 months to reach.
- Modest pay per survey. Most surveys pay £0.50–£1.50.
- Screen-out rate around 40%. Standard for a general panel.
Which one should you pick?
Choose Prolific if:
- You want the highest pay per hour
- You prefer fewer, higher-value studies
- You want to withdraw immediately
- You match a demographic that research often targets (students, professionals, specific age ranges)
- You're willing to wait for study invites
Choose YouGov if:
- You want steady survey volume
- You don't mind the £50 threshold
- You're interested in political and consumer surveys
- You want a well-known UK brand
- You're patient and can wait months for payout
Use both if:
- You want the best of both worlds. There's no reason not to have both accounts. Prolific for higher-value studies; YouGov for filling dead time.
What about other options?
If neither Prolific nor YouGov is a good fit:
- Toluna — high volume like YouGov, but with a lower £5 threshold
- Ipsos i-Say — similar to YouGov, established global brand
- Qmee — lowest threshold, fastest cashout
- AttaPoll — mobile app, low threshold
See the full comparison in our surveys directory.
The verdict
If you can only use one, start with Prolific. The pay rate is significantly higher, the threshold is zero, and the platform has a strong reputation. The only downside is that study availability depends on your demographics.
If Prolific doesn't offer you enough studies, add YouGov as a secondary platform. It pays less per hour, but you'll have something to do while waiting for Prolific invites.
Both are legitimate, both pay, and both are in our directory with current trust scores.