The three types

Type Pay rate Min. withdrawal Examples
Survey apps£2–£5/hourVery lowQmee, AttaPoll
Traditional panels£3–£8/hour£5–£50YouGov, Ipsos, Toluna
Research platforms£6–£15/hour£0–£25Prolific, Respondent

1. Survey apps

Mobile-first platforms with low thresholds and high convenience. You install an app, notifications alert you to available surveys, and you can complete them anywhere.

Pros

  • Very low withdrawal thresholds — some pay out from a few pence
  • Mobile-native, so surveys fit into commutes and dead time
  • Quick payouts

Cons

  • Lower pay per hour
  • Higher screen-out rate
  • Smaller survey volumes
  • Some apps have mixed Trustpilot reputations

Best for

Users who want to earn from their phone during commutes or waiting periods and don't mind a lower hourly rate for the convenience. Ideal if you want small, frequent cashouts.

Top examples

2. Traditional research panels

Established survey companies that recruit large UK panels. You complete surveys on politics, consumer habits, current events, product feedback and lifestyle.

Pros

  • High survey volume — typically 3–10 invitations per week
  • Well-known brands with long histories
  • Interesting topics, especially political surveys
  • Choice of reward (cash, vouchers, charity)

Cons

  • Lower pay per hour than research platforms
  • Higher withdrawal thresholds (£5–£50)
  • Screen-out rate around 30–50%

Best for

Users who want a steady stream of short surveys and don't mind waiting longer for payouts. Especially good for users who find political or consumer surveys interesting.

Top examples

  • YouGov — best-known UK panel, £50 threshold
  • Toluna — 251,000+ Trustpilot reviews
  • Ipsos i-Say — global research firm
  • MOBROG — 74 countries, high response rate

3. Research platforms

Academic and market research studies from universities and companies. Studies are longer and more involved, but pay significantly more per hour.

Pros

  • Highest pay per hour (£6–£15+, sometimes £25+)
  • Lower screen-out rate because studies are more targeted
  • Often zero or very low withdrawal thresholds
  • Interesting research topics

Cons

  • Study availability depends heavily on your demographics
  • Fewer studies overall — sometimes weeks between invitations
  • Some require video calls or interviews (higher commitment)

Best for

Users who want the highest pay per hour and are willing to wait for study invites. Ideal for professionals, students, and anyone whose demographic matches research demand.

Top examples

Which should you use?

Pick survey apps if:

  • You want to earn from your phone during spare moments
  • You prefer small, frequent cashouts over larger savings
  • You value convenience over maximum hourly rate

Pick traditional panels if:

  • You want a steady stream of surveys to fill time
  • You're interested in political or consumer topics
  • You don't mind waiting for a £5–£50 threshold

Pick research platforms if:

  • You want the highest possible earnings per hour
  • You're comfortable with longer, more involved studies
  • You're patient about study availability

Or combine two

The best strategy for most users is:

  • Prolific as your primary — for high-value studies when they're available
  • One traditional panel (YouGov, Toluna or Ipsos) as a background — for filling time between Prolific invites
  • Optionally, one app (Qmee) — for convenience during commutes

Three platforms is the sweet spot. More than that and you're spreading yourself too thin to earn meaningfully on any of them.

See also