Testerup is a user-testing platform that offers various opportunities for users to earn money. It allows users to earn by testing apps, playing games, completing surveys, and testing products.
You've probably seen ads for platforms like Testerup that claim you can make money testing websites, apps, and games. But is Testerup legit, or just overhyped? As an avid side hustler myself, I decided to thoroughly test out Testerup to provide a transparent insider look at what it's really like.
In this detailed Testerup review, you'll discover everything you need to determine if it's worth spending your valuable time on. I'll cover how Testerup works, payout and threshold details, testimonials from other users, and plenty of pros and cons to weigh based on my experience.
That way, you can make an informed decision about whether Testerup fits into your money-making strategy.
Let's take a closer look!
How Does Testerup Work?
Testerup connects companies needing testers with everyday people looking to make extra money. It offers a variety of "tests" where you can evaluate games, apps, websites, services, and products.
Testerup is currently available in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Companies then use your feedback to identify issues and improve offerings before full market release. In return, they pay you for your time and effort.
To get started, just create your free Testerup account. You'll immediately gain access to available "tests" on your personalized dashboard. Each test shows potential payout details, estimated time commitment, and requirements upfront.
Tests typically involve:
- Playing games to achieve specific goals
- Checking websites for bugs/errors
- Evaluating apps and digital tools
- Trying products and assessing user experience
Many tests involve free trials that require credit card info. However, Testerup promises you won't be charged as long as you cancel on time.
Once you complete test activities, you'll earn varying amounts. When your account balance hits the $70 threshold, you can cash out via PayPal.
It definitely seems too good to be true. So, let's analyze what's really going on with Testerup...
Scrutinizing Testerup: Transparency Issues
At first glance, Testerup appears to offer a fantastic opportunity to generate income from home. However, several concerns arose once I dug deeper into the user experience.
The main red flag? Lack of transparency, mainly involving the use of misnomers and unclear intentions.
For example:
- Tests don't involve actual "testing" with feedback forms. They are essentially just promotional paid offers under the guise of market research participation.
- The platform claims you'll earn over $120 per test when that only applies to very intensive, time-consuming tests - not the average experience.
- Testerup isn't clear enough about how they make money. Companies pay them to promote offers, products, and games to generate new users through their testers - not to actually test and provide feedback.
- By positioning tasks as "tests requiring feedback," Testerup primes testers to expect to give input to improve products when that's not the reality.
Essentially, Testerup oversells the concept of testing and frames it vaguely on purpose. This allows them to push various money-making offers through you without being fully upfront.
While it's not entirely deceptive, the lack of transparency is concerning for several reasons:
- You can't properly assess if tests will be worth the time/money investment needed if details are obscured.
- It violates user trust by misrepresenting the intentions behind offers.
- You can't provide truly constructive feedback to improve products if that's not the actual goal.
Considering these factors, I would approach Testerup cautiously instead of taking it at face value. But maybe you find the transparency issues acceptable...so let's explore more pros and cons.
Testerup Pros
- Easy sign-up: Creating your account is quick and only requires basic personal info.
- Instant offers: Tests become available for you to browse right after registering.
- Variety: Plenty of websites, apps, games, products, and subscription tests are available.
- Mobile compatibility: Testerup works on both desktop and mobile (iOS and Android).
- PayPal payouts: When you hit the threshold, you can conveniently cash out earnings.
- Global access: Anyone 18+ worldwide can sign up and participate.
- Referral program: You earn by getting friends to join too.
- Reviews: Testerup has mostly positive online reviews (take it with a grain of salt, given affiliates incentivize sign-ups).
Testerup Cons
- High threshold: You must earn $70 before cashing out - very difficult.
- Time commitment: Reaching payout requires investing lots of time in completing tests.
- Risks spending: Certain tests make you spend first to earn rewards later.
- VPN issues: Using a VPN can get your Testerup account blocked.
- Support concerns: Users report issues getting helpful support responses.
- Account terminations: Some accounts get suddenly suspended before hitting the payout mark for unknown reasons.
- Lack of transparency: See the full transparency section above.
As you can see, Testerup comes with several annoying disadvantages to consider alongside the upsides. Now, let's compare it to a popular alternative.
Testerup vs Swagbucks: Which is Better?
Swagbucks is a free cashback site where you earn money by shopping online, taking surveys, playing games, and more. I personally use it myself, so I think it's helpful to compare Swagbucks and Testerup.
Payout Threshold
- Testerup: $70
- Swagbucks: $1
Swagbucks has a much lower threshold, making it way easier to cash out earnings.
Time Commitment
- Testerup: High
- Swagbucks: Flexible
Swagbucks lets you be more selective about investing less or more time. Testerup requires long hours to hit its high payout requirements.
Risk
- Testerup: Moderate risk
- Swagbucks: Low risk
You may have to spend your own money first on Testerup without a guarantee of earning it back. In contrast, Swagbucks tasks are free outside of shopping/promo codes.
Transparency
- Testerup: Low
- Swagbucks: High
Swagbucks directly explains how you earn for each activity instead of masking things as "tests."
Considering these key differences, Swagbucks clearly comes out ahead for most users. The only exception would be if you truly enjoy testing games, apps, products, etc., and have ample free time.
Testerup Reviews: Real User Testimonials
Beyond my personal trials with Testerup, I dug into reviews from others to uncover common experiences.
On Trustpilot, Testerup has over 8,000 reviews averaging 4.4 stars. However, when reading the low-rated reviews, I noticed some reoccurring complaints:
- Tasks often pay very little compared to the time spent
- Sudden account suspensions before hitting the payout minimum
- Issues getting support help
Reddit forums like r/beermoney had mixed opinions. Most agreed that Testerup seems legitimate, but some users felt it took unreasonable effort for low earnings.
Reviewer complaints align with the cons I uncovered during my own testing. While Testerup presents a legitimate opportunity, actually earning a worthwhile amount is quite difficult.
Testerup Review Final Verdict
At the end of the day, Testerup offers a legitimate side income opportunity but not an efficient one for most users. The high investment of time and funds required to earn payouts just rarely seems justified.
You'll essentially trade hours of your life testing apps, games, websites, products, and services for pennies on the dollar due to Testerup's extremely high threshold. Plus, you risk spending your own money in hopes of eventual reimbursement.
And due to the underlying lack of transparency, you can't even provide constructive feedback since the "tests" are actually just promotional offers in disguise.
Instead of wasting 20+ hours a week trying to hit $70 on Testerup, I'd suggest exploring simpler, more transparent options like Swagbucks that lets you earn faster and cash out instantly or you can check my article about businesses that run themselves.
With all that said, giving Testerup a shot for yourself could make sense if:
- You find testing digital products intrinsically fun and rewarding.
- You have ample free time with very minimal responsibilities.
- You're okay risking some of your own money to advance through games and offers.
Otherwise, I suggest passing on Testerup altogether. Be wary of exaggerated claims from affiliates incentivized to convince you to sign up.
I hope this inside look at what it's really like using Testerup has helped you determine if it deserves a spot within your side income strategy!
