uTest is one of the many websites that pay you to test a variety of digital products, such as phone apps, software and even games.  According to the company, they are said to be home to the largest community of digital freelance software testers in the world.

If you like the idea of testing new products and helping major brands you have heard of, this may be a program to consider.

Now, as a fair warning, you won’t get rich, but you could earn a nice chunk of change throughout the month.  Like anything, it will greatly depend on how often you log in as well as which jobs you complete.  As long as you have this mindset, it makes the job that much more enjoyable.

So, in today’s review, I talk about uTest.  I will show you how it works, what you will make as well as what others think about it.  As in all of my reviews, I’m always 100% honest, only recommending what I feel is worth your time.

Let’s begin!

What is uTest?

uTest is a privately held computer software company based in Framingham, Massachusetts.  It’s one of the many beta testing-like sites that hire freelancers such as yourself to test products about to hit the market.  You accept which projects you want to work on then follow the directions to ensure you get paid.  Usually, these companies will ask you to speak your thoughts aloud and/or record yourself while performing.  It all varies on the projects, however.

In most cases, what makes uTest unique in comparison to its competitors is that you will be paid whenever you find a bug, and the amount you get paid will be dependent on the severity of the bug.  However, not all jobs work like this, as there are times when you test consumer products, such as smart home devices and consumer products.

As I write this, the company has more than 700,000 testers and continues to add members to this day.

uTest is 100% legitimate, but the question here is if it’s worth your time.

Signing Up

To sign up, you can do so via the “Become a uTester” link found on the main page.

During the process, the company will ask for your name, email, your location and, the devices you own.

Once registered, you will then have to follow the following three steps to get started:

Before you get started, you will first have to participate in the uTest Academy.  This is a small class of sorts, which teaches you how the platform works as well as how you can succeed in your testing.  At the moment, there were more than 24 classes to take.  While you don’t have to take every class, it does increase your chances of getting more projects.  For that reason, I highly recommend you take as many courses as possible.  You will not be compensated, however.

Next, after you complete the educational portion, you will then have to fill out your tester profile.  Similar to that of surveys, companies will want to know more about your demographics so that they can match you up with what they are looking to test.  For example, it would be silly for you to test a baby app if you don’t have a baby.

And, lastly, you will set up your payment method so that you can get paid whenever you complete a job.

Once you complete these steps, you can then move on to the testing phase.

To sign up, you must be 18+ years old.  Registration is open to every country worldwide.

How uTest Works

After you complete the three-step program, you can then get matched up with opportunities, referred to as Test Cycles.  You will get paid whenever you provide your feedback and/or report bugs.  As mentioned, you will know everything that’s expected of you before you begin the job.

For example, above you can see a few of the jobs that were posted when I was logged in.  The last one noted that they were “looking for testers from the United States with specific laptops and desktops to participate in an upcoming usability testing project. ”  If you were to click on the job detail, you could read more about it, including the time the project starts as well as what it pays, etc.

If the project seemed like something of interest, then you could submit your application and wait for a response.  Keep in mind that you will not get to start the job immediately; rather, you will have to wait for the company to contact you.  This can take a few days, sometimes longer, depending on the number of applicants.

Aside from finding jobs on the project board, some companies may email you directly to see if you’re interested in an upcoming project.

• NOTE:  The number of jobs available will depend on the season, the clients, demographics, etc.  There are a lot of factors involved, so it’s hard to give a definite number.

How Much Can You Make?

How much you make will depend on how much you want to test, your demographics as well as how well you test.  uTest does use a rating system, so the better your ratings are, the more invites you may see.  Your results will vary, though.  Just keep that in mind.

What I found is that the projects vary, but in many cases, you will have to find bugs, which you will only get paid for if you find the bugs.  In this case, there’s no guarantee you will even get paid.  If you were to take part in a bug survey, then you will need to have the skills to spot these bugs.  This is where the educational classes will come in handy.

However, if it’s a set rate, then the rates are usually in $5 to $35 range, sometimes more, sometimes less.  You will know exactly what you’re getting paid before you start.  Remember, you will have to build up your reputation so that you can see more invites in the future.

As for payment, the company does pay out either via PayPal or Payoneer on the 15th and last day of every month.  As long as you earn $2, you will qualify for a payout.  All payments are sent automatically to your information on file.

What the Internet Is Saying

Overall, most of what I read was mixed, but it was more positive than negative.

For example, on Indeed, more than 57 people gave the company a 4.1/5 rating.  They liked the flexibility as well as the company culture; however, the pay for many projects seemed to be lower than the industry standard.

On Glassdoor, more than 340+ people gave the company a decent 4/5 rating, with more than 93% approving.  People loved the educational platform as well as the number of jobs available.  Many didn’t like that some jobs only paid you if you found bugs.  This often led to non-paying opportunities.

Lastly, users on TrustPilot.com gave the company an okay 3.4/5.  Many did like the company’s reputation and the number of jobs available, but many complained of the numerous emails and time restraints on some jobs.  With some jobs, they invested an hour+ of their time, only to make a few dollars.

Final Thoughts

9/10In the end, I would say uTest is pretty good.  As long as you take those courses and log in on occasions, I feel you can easily earn $50 to $150+ per month testing apps, etc.  If you’re much more aggressive, I think you could earn even more.

You won’t get rich with uTest, but this is the case with any of these sites, but it’s a nice way to buy a dinner or two.

If you do sign up, remember that it may be frustrating at first because you will have to build up your reputation to prove yourself.  Once you do, then you can start to see even more earnings.

If you like the idea of testing software/apps and looking for glitches/bugs, then this is something to consider.  It has solid reviews, so I’m sure you will think positively of it as well.

That’s going to wrap it up for now.

As always, if you want to comment on uTest or add to what I have written, feel free to do so in the comments below.