You test websites and apps. Share what you think about them. TestMate pays you for it.
Sounds easy. And honestly, the concept is simple. But I wanted to see how it actually works before I formed an opinion. What do you really earn? What do they ask you to do? Is it worth the time?
I signed up. Tested it. Looked at the tasks, the payment process, the requirements. Some things worked fine. Others felt more complicated than I expected.
I’ll explain what happens when you join. What you can earn, what you need to do, what slows you down. Then you can decide if it fits what you’re looking for.
Not here to convince you. Just sharing what I saw.
What is TestMate, and how does it work?
TestMate is an Australian platform for usability testing. Companies that need feedback on their websites or apps connect with people willing to test them.
You test websites, share your experience, and earn money. It’s real. You can actually earn from the tests available.
But is it worth your time? That depends on how the platform works and what kind of effort is required.
To figure that out, you need to look at the earning opportunity TestMate offers. Once you see how much time and effort goes into earning, you can decide if it makes sense for you.
Testing sites for money
The main way to earn is usability tests. No dashboard to log into. Everything happens through email, which I found a bit old school, but it works.
After you sign up, there’s a sample test you have to complete. Not optional. They want to hear you talk through what you’re doing while navigating a website. Can you explain what confuses you, what makes sense, where you’d click next. If you pass, real test invites start coming.
TestMate sends these invites straight to your email whenever something matches your profile. How often depends on where you live and what demographic details you gave them. I’ve read about people getting several invites per week. Others say they wait a month between tests. Honestly, that’s just how these sites operate. You can’t really control it.
Each test takes 10 to 20 minutes. You get a few tasks to complete on a website or app while recording your screen and voice. The whole point is narrating what you see. What’s confusing. What you like or don’t like. Being clear about your thoughts actually matters here (not just going through the motions). It affects approval rates and whether they send you more tests later.
When you’re done, you upload the recording. Their team reviews it to make sure it meets quality standards. If it passes, you get paid. I’ll get to payment details in a bit.
One thing though. You need a quiet room for this. Can’t do it with background noise or people talking. Worth checking if you actually have a space like that before signing up. I know it sounds obvious, but I’ve seen people complain about this after joining.
If TestMate’s setup doesn’t suit you (the email thing, the waiting for invites), there are other sites. EarnLab, Attapoll, ySense, HeyCash, FreeCash, GG2U. They offer surveys, mobile games, daily tasks. Different rhythm entirely. Some people prefer having more control over when they work.
How do people get paid?
PayPal. Which, okay, makes sense. Most people have it already.
When you sign up, they ask for your PayPal address right away. Not at the end when you’re trying to cash out and suddenly there’s a form. They want it upfront.
Test gets approved, payment lands in your account. Took about three days for me (might’ve been four, can’t remember exactly). Point is, you’re not waiting weeks.
No minimum. That’s what I actually appreciate. You finish one test, you get paid for that test. Not this whole “accumulate 50 dollars first” situation that drags on forever.
Other platforms? They make you wait. Collect enough points, reach the threshold, then maybe you can withdraw. Here it’s just done per test.
If you’re exploring other options that don’t need money upfront, there are apps designed that way. Worth looking into if you want more than just testing websites.
How Much Can You Earn with TestMate?
You get paid per test. More invitations, more money. Pretty straightforward.
Most tests pay around $10 to $15 AUD (about $7 to $10 USD) for 10 to 20 minutes of your time. Not bad, honestly.
Tests aren’t always there. Some weeks you’ll have a few waiting for you. Other weeks? Nothing.
If you’re in the US, you’ll probably see more invitations than someone in, say, France or Russia. Most of TestMate‘s clients are English-speaking companies, so they’re targeting that market. Makes sense from their side, I guess.
But even then, it’s unpredictable. One week I’d check and find three tests. Next week, zero. The flow changes constantly, and there’s no real pattern to it (or at least none that I could figure out).
The pay itself is fair. Ten bucks for fifteen minutes is decent. But the inconsistency makes it no longer a reliable income source. You can’t plan around it. Can’t say “okay, I’ll make $50 this week from TestMate” because you don’t know if tests will even be available.
So I’d treat it as pocket money. Log in when you remember, take a test if one’s there, earn a bit extra. But don’t count on it for bills or regular expenses.
That’s why I’d say the earning potential isn’t great. It’s there, but it’s too unpredictable to be useful beyond occasional spare cash.
How to Get Support on TestMate
No Help section. If you have questions, you fill out their contact form and wait.
I’ve done this myself. They get back to you fairly quickly and do their best to help. Every time I reached out, they responded with something useful. I can’t complain about that.
Here’s how it works:
General questions – Use the contact form on the website. Anything about how the platform works, payment questions, account issues.
Questions about a specific test – Reply directly to the email they sent you for that test. Don’t use the contact form for this. TestMate tracks things better when you reply to the original email thread.
That second point matters. I didn’t know this at first and used the contact form for a test question. Took longer to sort out because they had to find which test I meant. Replying to the test email keeps everything in one place.
The support works. You can reach them, they respond, they try to help. But it’s minimal. Would be easier if they had an FAQ section for basic stuff (like payment timelines or how to update your profile). Small questions that don’t need back and forth with support could be answered faster.
For now, the contact form gets the job done. Just know which channel to use depending on what you need.
How to Join TestMate
You need to live in Australia or the US. Those are the only two countries where TestMate operates right now. If you’re outside those regions, you can’t sign up (and no, using a VPN won’t help because they verify details during the process).
Registration takes about 10 minutes if you don’t overthink it. They ask for:
- Your name and email (standard stuff)
- Country and device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)
- Experience level (beginner, intermediate, doesn’t really matter much)
- Types of tests you’re willing to do (website navigation, app testing, prototype feedback)
After you fill that out, you get instructions for a sample test. This is where it gets real. You have to record your screen and voice while completing tasks on a test website. They want to hear you thinking out loud, describing what you see, where you click, what confuses you.
Speaking naturally while being recorded. A lot of people freeze up or start talking like robots (I’ve been there). They’re not looking for perfect commentary, just clear explanations of what you’re experiencing. If you normally say “this button is weird” instead of “the interface presents usability challenges,” stick with your natural voice.
You submit the sample, then wait. Usually takes a few days for them to review it. They’re checking if your feedback is detailed enough and if your audio quality is decent. If you pass, you’re in. If not, they don’t really tell you why (kind of annoying, but that’s how it works).
Once approved, test invitations come via email. Each one shows:
- What the test involves (usually a brief description)
- How long it takes (anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes typically)
- Payment amount (varies based on test complexity)
You can accept or skip based on your schedule. No penalties for declining.
One thing I wish I’d known earlier: the sample test matters more than you think. If your first recording is too quiet, too rushed, or lacks detail, you might get rejected. Take it seriously, but don’t overthink it to the point where you sound scripted.
Can You Use It On Your Phone?
Yes, you can use your mobile device, but not for everything. The platform doesn’t have a member dashboard to log in to, so you won’t be accessing it like a typical app. However, when you’re assigned a usability test for a mobile app, you’ll need your phone to complete the work and earn.
These mobile app tests are optional. You decide whether to accept them based on your setup. So mobile works for specific tasks, just not as your main way to use the platform.
Advantages and Disadvantages of TestMate
Advantages
- Pay is fair for the time spent: $7-10 USD
- Withdraw via PayPal with no minimum threshold
- Tests take 10-20 minutes of your time
Disadvantages
- Test invitations vary greatly, some get many, others few
- No dashboard exists, everything runs through email
- Must pass an initial sample test for approval
- Available only in Australia and the US
- Not consistent income, works as occasional side activity
Is TestMate LEGIT or SCAM?
TestMate pays you to test websites and apps. I signed up, completed tests, got paid. No issues there.
The problem isn’t the platform itself. It’s how rarely you’ll actually get work. I’d finish a test, check back the next day. Nothing. Check again two days later. Still nothing. Sometimes a week would pass before another test appeared. That waiting period gets old fast (especially when you’re trying to build any momentum).
Pay per test is decent. Won’t argue with that. But decent pay doesn’t help when there’s nothing to do. You can’t force tests to appear. They show up when they show up.
If you’re okay with that kind of sporadic setup, go ahead and join. Just understand what you’re signing up for. This isn’t regular income. It’s more like finding twenty dollars in your coat pocket every now and then. Nice when it happens, but you can’t plan around it.
I think most people want something more reliable. If that’s you, check the top survey and GPT sites to make money online worldwide instead. Those platforms have consistent work available. You log in, there’s something to do. Simple. And you’ll find options regardless of where you live.
Anyone else tried TestMate? Curious how often tests actually came through for you.