What Is Product Testing and How Does It Work?

Product testing is a process that can happen internally in a company, and we don’t know about it, or it can happen with our help as consumers.

The purpose of internal product testing is to help companies ensure their products meet all standards for quality and work the way they’re supposed to. Product testing applies to new products being developed and existing products that need to go through quality testing.

Internal product testing is sometimes required legally and indeed needed to test the safety of products. We count on the products we use every day to be safe and to work correctly.

The other kind of product testing includes asking the consumer to give their opinions and help companies determine how to bring their products to market or improve them. For these tests, there are rewards.

Keep reading to learn more about product testing, the process involved when done internally and how you can be a product tester and wish cash and rewards.

What is Product Testing?

Companies invest a lot of time and money into the research and development of new products and products currently on the market. They do so to understand which features and functions consumers like, what they don’t, and what is most valuable.

Some more prominent companies can afford in-house departments to test, while smaller companies will spend their research resources asking consumers what they think.

There are a couple of ways to test a product:

1. More prominent companies may test their products or use an independent laboratory or a government agency, depending on the situation.
2. Some bigger companies and some smaller ones will ask consumers to use a product and gather feedback.

What Kinds of Internal Product Tests Are There?

If you’re a little nerdy like me, you might find it interesting to know a few of the internal tests that enable us to have the products we love:

• ESS Testing (Environmental Stress Screening) - Simulation of the environmental conditions a product will be used, including extreme temperature and corrosive environments.
• Accelerated Weathering - Weathering tests simulate the weather conditions that products used outdoors will be exposed to, such as sunlight, moister, and extreme temperatures.
• Accelerated Life Cycle Testing - Accelerated life cycle testing stresses a product to uncover faults and failures.
• Mechanical Endurance Testing - These tests assess a product’s reaction to repeated stress.

Outside of a company’s internal product testing, there is consumer product testing that you can participate in and have fun doing so!

How to Become a Product Tester and Get Paid

Companies ask consumers to evaluate products for them. There are product testing sites where you can get paid to test, and you are called a product tester.

Brands will ask people to review their products and complete surveys before launching them in the market. This review is called Pilot testing.

Free trial products are sent to selected product testers, and they are asked to submit a review after using it. Some companies will give you cash or other freebies for testing.

• Step 1. Register on a product testing website. You will get a screener email to verify your eligibility for the program.
• Step 2. The company will contact you if they determine you’re eligible to test its product, or you will self-select. If you qualify, the company will send you a product to evaluate and submit the feedback.
• Step 3. You can get paid with cash, gift cards, vouchers, or freebies. There is NO cost to you to test the product.

*NOTE - not all companies will pay in cash.

How Much Can You Make as a Product Tester?

From my research, I found that most companies provide their test samples as a reward, some offer gift cards and vouchers, but most don’t offer cash.

For some, you might make between $30-$45 per hour. Honestly, product testing is more of a great way to get free sample products and give feedback. You can consider the samples as a way of getting free products and, thus, cutting down your expenses.

Here are the 8 Product Testing Websites:

Influenster.com - They are a community of 6.5 million reviewers that help to motivate brands to improve from hearing their voices.
Influenster looks for reviewers for an array of products and brands. Products such as makeup, toys & games, personal care, office supplies, and more.
Brands include Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic, Barnes & Noble, Baskin Robbins, Bath & Body Works, Tylenol, and more.
Trustpilot - 3.5/5 Stars

Itsallfreeonline.com (JJ Friends & Neighbors) Johnson & Johnson - Considered a “Consumer Perception Program.”
Trustpilot - No reviews, but it is Johnson & Johnson

Smiley 360 - More than one million members try products for free in exchange for your honest feedback.

Step 1 - Sample free sample products from hundreds of brands.
*NOTE - they are sample-size products.

Step 2 - Share your feedback with friends, followers, other members, and directly to brands.
*There is no cash reward for the reviews you make.
Trustpilot - No reviews

PINCHme - sign up, sample, give feedback, and get free samples.
*There are no cash rewards with this program.
Trustpilot - 2.5 stars/5

Usertesting.com - Get paid to share your opinions and experiences - make things you care about better.
*NOTE - You can earn $10 for every 20-minute test you complete and even more for interviews.
Trustpilot - 2.7 stars/5

i-Say - i-Say lets you redeem points for charity donations, gift cards, or cash, depending on how many points you accumulate through completing their surveys. You can participate in polls and create your own polls. They cover topics such as lifestyle, music, movie & tv, and more.
Trustpilot - 4.2 stars/5

Social Nature - Social Nature helps you find more natural and sustainable products at stores near you.
By joining their product testing campaigns, you get to test products in exchange for your review and posting on social media. You let them know what products you’re interested in testing.
Trustpilot - 3.7 stars/5

Bananatic - This one is fun! You can earn rewards by testing games and banking points, called bananas. If you’re a gamer, this one's for you!.
Trustpilot - 4.8 stars/5

A Final Thought

Becoming a product tester for any one of the companies above can be a fun experience.

Overall, i-Say and Banatic earned the highest Trustpilot scores, but all these companies are legitimate.

If you enjoy getting new products to try and giving your opinion, you will love this. If you look forward to receiving rewards such as gift cards, vouchers, and sometimes cash, then this side gig is also for you.

My advise

• Check sites and read their terms of participation carefully before registering.
• Only select products that you really want to try or that you know already.
• Don’t expect to get rich from this endeavor.
• HAVE FUN!