User Interviews vs Respondent.io
The two highest-paying user research panels. Both connect you with researchers willing to pay $50-$250/hour for your opinions or product feedback. Respondent.io leans B2B and professional; User Interviews has broader demographics.
Last updated:Side-by-side comparison
| User Interviews | Respondent.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Pay per session | $25–$200 | $75–$250 |
| Time per unit | 60 min | 60 min |
| Realistic $/hour | $75/hr | $150/hr |
| Task availability | Moderate | Low |
| Min payout | $0 | $0 |
| Payout speed | Most studies pay within 3-10 days via PayPal, Amazon, or Visa gift | Within 7 days via PayPal |
| Geography | US, CA, UK, AU | US, CA, UK |
Who wins for...
Winner: Respondent.io
Respondent.io averages $150/hr (range $100-$250) for studies you qualify for. User Interviews averages $75/hr (range $50-$200). Respondent's higher rate reflects its B2B/professional positioning — companies pay more for working-professional opinions.
Winner: User Interviews
User Interviews has more studies posted weekly and broader demographic acceptance. Respondent's pickier screening means fewer qualifying invitations per month. A typical UI user gets 2-5 study invites monthly; a typical Respondent user gets 0-2.
Winner: Respondent.io
Engineers, healthcare workers, finance professionals, executives, marketers — any role where companies want feedback — get the most invitations and highest pay on Respondent. If you have a specialized professional background, Respondent's premium more than offsets its lower study count.
Winner: User Interviews
Studies seeking parents, hobbyists, consumers of specific products, residents of specific cities — User Interviews has more of these. The lower per-study pay is offset by higher volume of qualifying studies.
The bottom line
Frequently asked
Should I get User Interviews or Respondent.io?
Run both — they're not substitutes. Apply to Respondent.io to capture the high-pay professional studies; apply to User Interviews for the higher-volume general studies. If forced to pick one: Respondent if you have a specialized professional role (engineer, healthcare, finance, executive); User Interviews if your demographics are more general consumer.
Can I get both User Interviews and Respondent.io?
Yes — most platforms in this space don't restrict you from using competitors simultaneously. Many users run multiple programs concurrently to maximize earning surface.
Which has the better welcome bonus?
See the side-by-side comparison table above. The "realistic" numbers we publish account for typical user experience, not the marketing peak rates.