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17 Sites That Pay You to Answer Questions in 2026 (Up to $220/hr)

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You can get paid to answer questions online, but how much you make depends on what you already know.

If you don’t have special skills or professional experience, survey apps might bring in around $10 to $40 a month.

But if you have a degree, a license, or years of experience in a specific field, the numbers change fast. Companies like Mercor are currently paying experts $150 to $220 an hour for specialized knowledge.

So instead of giving you a random list, I organized this guide by your background. Find the section that fits you and skip the rest.

Looking for Chegg? It Shut Down in March 2026

If you searched for “get paid to answer questions,” you probably found Chegg near the top of older articles.

Chegg used to be one of the biggest platforms where experts answered student homework questions for money.

But according to Chegg’s own shutdown notice, its Q&A operations ended on March 18, 2026. The expert portal was turned off that same day, and final payments were sent in April.

Chegg also made this clear:

“At this time, there are no additional freelance opportunities being offered through Chegg.”

I explain why Chegg disappeared later in this guide. For now, let’s look at the platforms that are actually paying people today.

Get Paid to Answer Questions for AI Companies

This is where the biggest money is right now.

AI companies pay people with real knowledge to help train AI models and make them better.

You’re not just answering random questions.

You’re creating examples, checking AI responses, and explaining where the AI got things wrong.

Here’s what the work usually looks like:

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  • You create difficult questions in your area of expertise
  • You write the correct answer and explain your reasoning
  • You review AI-generated answers and point out mistakes

This is the highest-paying category in this guide.

Pay can range from around $25 an hour for general tasks to more than $200 an hour for specialists.

The catch?

You need something valuable to offer. That might be a degree, professional experience, technical skills, or deep knowledge in a specific subject.

You also need to explain why an answer is right or wrong. Knowing the answer isn’t enough. These companies are paying for your judgment.

Mercor

  • Pay: $60 to $220 an hour. Mercor reports an average rate of $120 an hour
  • How you’re paid: Stripe Connect directly to your bank account. Debit cards are not supported. Wise is used for some one-time payments
  • Payment schedule: Automatic weekly payments. Mercor says it cannot hold, delay, or batch payouts
  • Minimum cashout: None
  • What you need: At least undergraduate-level knowledge. Many projects look for years of experience or an advanced degree

Mercor currently offers some of the highest rates I found.

One thing I like about Mercor is that it posts specific rates on its job board. You can see the pay before applying instead of guessing what you’ll make.

What the roles actually pay

These were live listings on Mercor’s site this week:

  • Management Consulting Expert: $150 to $220 an hour
  • Data Science Expert: $120 to $170 an hour
  • Emergency Medicine Physician: $115 an hour
  • CUDA Engineering Expert: $80 to $100 an hour
  • Cybersecurity Expert: $70 to $90 an hour
  • Chemistry or Biology PhD: $65 to $70 an hour

How you get accepted

This isn’t a normal job application where you send a resume and wait.

You create a profile first. Then you complete an AI interview that adjusts based on your background.

The interview asks questions from your actual field. If you pass, Mercor matches you with projects that fit your experience.

You need at least undergraduate-level knowledge in a subject. Many higher-paying projects look for years of experience or an advanced degree.

The concern many people have

A lot of experts have the same question: “Am I helping train the AI that will replace me?

That’s a fair concern.

Mercor addresses this in its FAQ. The company says interview answers “are not sold and are not used to train customer AI models.

That’s their written policy. Many platforms in this space don’t clearly explain what happens to expert responses.

Pro tip MP

Apply to a Talent Network listing instead of only one project. For example, Mercor’s Physician network lists opportunities from $110 to $250 an hour, while its Lawyer network lists $60 to $150 an hour. One application can put you in front of multiple matching projects.

Outlier

  • Pay: Varies by project. You always see the rate before you start a task
  • How you’re paid: PayPal, Airtm, or ACH bank transfer
  • Payment schedule: Weekly on Tuesdays, covering the previous Tuesday through Monday at midnight UTC
  • Minimum cashout: None
  • What you need: An associate degree at minimum. A valid ID, a resume, and a LinkedIn profile

Outlier is operated by Scale AI and is one of the easier AI training platforms to join because it accepts generalists, not just people with advanced degrees.

The company says it has paid experts more than $500 million across 50 countries.

Getting started usually takes 30 to 90 minutes. There are no minimum hours, and you’re free to accept or decline project invitations.

The catch

Outlier is a real platform, but it isn’t as consistent as a traditional job.

It has a 4.1 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot from more than 3,000 experts. That’s decent, but not amazing.

The biggest complaint is that projects can end suddenly. One week you have work. The next week, the project may be gone.

That’s not necessarily a surprise. Outlier says project length depends on customer demand. When one project ends, you need to qualify for another.

So think of Outlier as flexible income, not a guaranteed paycheck. Keep another platform available as a backup.

Watch out MP

Good to know

While researching Outlier I noticed something that seems more like an editorial mistake than anything nefarious really. Outlier’s own website lists different expert numbers in different places. It mentions 100,000 experts in one spot, 700,000 in another, and more than 1,000,000 elsewhere. Because those numbers don’t match, I’m not using any of them as a fact here.

DataAnnotation

  • Pay: $25 to $30+ an hour for general work. $50 to $100+ for coding, STEM, law, finance, and medicine. $20+ for multilingual work
  • How you’re paid: PayPal only
  • Payment schedule: Usually within a few days after you request a withdrawal
  • Minimum cashout: None
  • What you need: A bachelor’s degree or equivalent real-world experience. Higher-paying tracks may require specialized credentials

DataAnnotation is probably the most beginner-friendly option in the AI training category, especially if you don’t have an advanced degree.

Here’s why…

The generalist track is open to people from almost any background.

Instead of focusing only on your resume, approval depends heavily on how well you perform on their assessment.

No traditional interview. No LinkedIn requirement. You take the test, and your performance decides whether you get accepted.

The company says it has paid contractors more than $20 million since 2020 and that more than 100,000 people work on the platform.

It also holds a 4.6 rating on Indeed from 145 reviews.

The one-shot test

This is the part many people miss before applying.

You only get one chance to take the Starter Assessment.

There are no retakes!

The general assessment takes about an hour. Specialized tests in areas like coding, math, chemistry, biology, physics, finance, law, or medicine can take one to two hours.

DataAnnotation says it looks at the quality and thoroughness of your answers, not just how quickly you finish. Rushing through it can hurt your chances.

If you don’t pass, you usually won’t get a detailed explanation. The company says it can’t respond individually to every applicant.

So take the assessment when you can focus. Don’t squeeze it in late at night or when you’re distracted. You only get the one attempt.

Handshake AI

  • Pay: Handshake doesn’t publish a rate card. Fellows report roughly $17 to $22 an hour for general work, up to about $125 for credentialed specialists
  • How you’re paid: You set up payouts through Stripe after your first task
  • Payment schedule: Set per project in your Project Terms, so check yours
  • Minimum cashout: Not published
  • What you need: To be US-based with valid work authorization

Handshake AI is one platform where I’d read the payment rules before doing any work.

The reason?

Some contractors have sued the company over unpaid work.

The lawsuits

Business Insider reported on five contractors who worked on OpenAI-related projects through Handshake AI.

Their accounts were suspended without warning between late December and January. Four said they never received payment for completed work.

Handshake told some contractors they violated contract terms. The reasons included credential mismatches and completing tasks faster or slower than expected benchmarks. According to the report, there was no formal appeal process.

One contractor filed a lawsuit in August after Handshake accused them of using AI to complete work, even though Handshake’s own policy allowed ChatGPT. The court later sided with the contractor and awarded the $6,475 they were owed.

The rule that explains many payment complaints

Many workers complain that they were paid for fewer hours than they actually worked.

There is a specific reason this happens, and it’s written in Handshake’s own rules.

The company’s help center article on earnings, updated June 18, 2026, explains that certain activities are unpaid:

  • Onboarding, unless the Project Terms specifically include payment
  • The initial setup checklist
  • Optional meetings, including office hours and task Q&A sessions
  • Time spent communicating in Slack
  • Emailing for clarification about confusing instructions
  • Time lost because of internet problems, device issues, or login errors
Screenshot of the Handshake AI help center page listing unpaid activities including onboarding, Slack time, and meetings

Now here’s the part that surprises many people…

Many projects have a “maximum handling time.”

If a task takes longer than that limit, you only get paid for the allowed time. You still have to complete and submit the work to receive payment.

For example, imagine a task has a one-hour time limit. You spend three hours doing a careful job. You may only be paid for that first hour.

Do that repeatedly, and your effective hourly rate can drop much lower than you expected.

Handshake also warns that logging time for unpaid activities could lead to no payment, removal from a project, or losing access to the platform.

The rules are there. The problem is that many workers don’t read them until after something goes wrong.

What to do if you try it anyway

Before starting, read section 4 of the Contractor Agreement and the Project Terms for the specific project you’re joining.

Find out the maximum handling time before you begin.

If a project won’t clearly tell you the time limit upfront, that’s a warning sign.

Expert Q&A Sites for Licensed Professionals

These platforms pay you to answer real people’s questions in your professional field. You usually work through chat or phone calls.

This is probably what most people imagine when they hear “get paid to answer questions online.”

The difference is that these sites usually require proof that you actually know what you’re talking about.

This section is mainly for professionals like lawyers, doctors, veterinarians, mechanics, tax experts, and IT specialists.

JustAnswer

  • Pay: 20% of what the customer pays to start, rising toward 50% as your ratings build
  • How you’re paid: Through Hyperwallet, then out to direct deposit, PayPal, or Venmo (US only)
  • Payment schedule: Monthly
  • Minimum cashout: $20
  • What you need: Proven expertise, license verification, and a peer review

JustAnswer is probably the most recognizable name in paid expert Q&A.

As I mentioned in my JustAnswer review the company launched in 2003 in San Francisco.

It says its platform has:

  • 12,000+ verified experts
  • More than 200 categories
  • 25 million+ questions answered
  • 22 million customers across 196 countries

Here’s how it works:

A customer pays to ask a question, and JustAnswer connects them with a verified expert in that category.

You choose which questions you want to answer.

You can also decide whether you want to handle chats, phone calls, or both.

How much can you make on JustAnswer

JustAnswer says experts earn $2,000 to $7,000 a month.

You’ll see this number repeated online, but keep in mind it comes from JustAnswer itself, not an independent study of average expert earnings.

Some sites also claim it has 700+ categories, but JustAnswer says it covers 200+ categories, so I’d stick with that.

The bigger factor is the revenue split. New experts may start at 20%, while experienced experts with strong ratings can earn much more.

Pro tip MP

Choose a category where your expertise is rare. Being one of 10 specialists in a niche field can be much better than competing with hundreds of general experts. A rare credential is often worth more than a popular category.

PrestoExperts

  • Pay: You set your own per-minute rate. Clients typically pay around $1 to $3 a minute
  • How you’re paid: Per session, after the client has been invoiced and has paid
  • Payment schedule: Not published
  • Minimum cashout: Not published
  • What you need: To pass their vetting as an expert or subject specialist

PrestoExperts pays experts and tutors by the minute. You can work through chat, phone, or email.

The problem is that some important payment details are hard to find.

PrestoExperts does not clearly publish what percentage of your earnings the platform keeps. I couldn’t find that information in its public terms or website.

Before building a profile, ask support exactly how the revenue split works and get the answer in writing.

The main difference from JustAnswer is the payment model. PrestoExperts pays based on time spent with a client, not the number of questions answered.

That can work well if you are good at explaining things and having detailed conversations.

Clarity.fm

  • Pay: You set your own per-minute rate. Clarity keeps 15%
  • How you’re paid: PayPal only
  • Payment schedule: You can request payment two weeks after a call. Payments are processed within 14 days
  • Minimum cashout: Not published
  • What you need: A track record or expertise that people would pay to learn from

Clarity.fm is a little different from the other expert Q&A sites here.

Instead of answering customer questions one at a time, you get paid for short phone calls where people want your advice.

This works best if you’ve built something, solved a difficult problem, or developed expertise that other people want to borrow.

For example, someone who has scaled an online store, raised funding for a startup, or built a successful marketing strategy can turn that experience into paid calls.

If your profile doesn’t show a reason someone would pay to talk with you, this probably isn’t the right platform.

Maven (Another One to Be Careful With)

  • Pay: You set your own hourly rate, but payment is based on actual talking time
  • How you’re paid: For balances under $100, virtual cards including PayPal, Venmo, Amazon, and Visa. Amounts over $100 can also use ACH, check, and wire transfer
  • Payment schedule: Interviews are usually credited within about 3 business days and surveys within 10 days. You must request payment, then allow up to 2 weeks
  • Minimum cashout: $25
  • What you need: Professional expertise in a field that investors, researchers, or consultants want to understand

Maven is a micro-consulting platform. It connects experts with investors and consultants who want industry knowledge.

The work usually comes in two forms:

  1. short surveys
  2. and paid video calls.

On paper, it sounds simple. Share what you know, get paid for your time.

The problem is that payment complaints show up repeatedly in user reviews.

People report delayed payments, approved work being rejected later, and money being reversed after it was already paid.

The important part is that some of these rules are not hidden. They’re written into Maven’s own payment policy.

What Maven’s own payment policy says

Maven’s payment policy says Maven and its clients can “review, reject, and reverse payment for any Survey responses that fail to meet minimum quality expectations, even if payment was initially issued.”

And as you can see in the screenshot below, the company says that if a client later flags a response, Maven “reserves the right to retroactively reverse payment.”

Screenshot of the Maven's payment policy showing where it says they can reject and reverse payment for survey responses after issuing it.

Reasons Maven lists for rejecting responses include:

  • Completing a survey too quickly, meaning half the median completion time or less
  • Selecting the same answer repeatedly on rating scales
  • Failing an attention-check question
  • Giving short or vague answers to open-ended questions
  • Providing answers that are considered unreasonable compared with other participants
Remember MP

Maven doesn’t pay you for time spent preparing or researching before a call. It also won’t pay you if your internet cuts out during an interview. Also, Maven credits expire after 3 years, so once you hit the $25 payout minimum, cash out.

Get Paid to Answer Questions About Your Job

This category is different from expert Q&A sites.

You are not teaching someone. You are not giving professional advice.

Companies are paying to understand how people like you work, what tools you use, and how you make decisions.

Research platforms typically pay $50 to $500 for a single session, similar to what online focus groups pay.

The catch?

They need a very specific type of person. If you match what a company is researching, you can earn good money for an hour of your time.

This is one of the most overlooked options in this guide because many people assume they don’t qualify.

But you don’t need a special license. Your job experience itself may be what companies want.

Respondent

  • Pay: $75 average per study. Most sessions run $50 to $250, and senior business roles pay $400+
  • How you’re paid: Through Tremendous
  • Payment schedule: Within 48 hours of your session
  • Minimum cashout: None
  • What you need: A profile and one ID verification. No credentials required

Respondent is one of the best-paying research platforms because companies are not looking for random opinions.

They are looking for specific people.

A company might want to talk to a CFO about financial software, a nurse about hospital tools, or a parent who recently bought a certain product.

A typical Respondent study takes about 45 minutes. The payout numbers above come from the company’s own published figures, and they are much more specific than the vague earnings claims you see on many survey sites.

Real studies they posted recently

As you can see in the screenshot below, Respondent publishes actual studies with real payouts.

Screenshot of Respondent's study board showing paid research sessions from $60 to $500 per participant

Here are a few more example studies available at the time of writing this guide:

  • Heads of Finance at companies with 100 to 1,000 employees, 60-minute video call: $500
  • Senior product managers with pricing authority, 60-minute video call: $200
  • ICU and med-surg nurses with 3+ years of experience, 45-minute call: $150
  • A 10-day diary about using AI at work: $300
  • A two-week video diary about grocery shopping: $120
  • Anyone who booked a multi-city trip, 30-minute call: $60

Respondent says it has 4.3 million verified participants across more than 150 countries.

It also has a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot from more than 900 reviews.

How often you actually get invited?

This is where expectations usually get too high.

Respondent says most participants receive one to three invitations per month.

At the $75 average payout, that works out to roughly $75 to $225 a month for many users.

The hourly rate is genuinely good. The problem is that you usually won’t have many hours available.

The best way to use Respondent is simple: create a detailed profile, apply when a good match appears, then move on with your day.

Checking constantly won’t create more opportunities, lol!

Pro tip MP

Your profile details matter more than almost anything else. A profile saying “Head of Finance at a 400-person SaaS company using NetSuite” is much more likely to match premium studies than “finance professional.”

User Interviews

  • Pay: The site says the average study pays over $45
  • How you’re paid: PayPal, Amazon gift card, or Visa gift card, depending on the study
  • Payment schedule: A few days after the researcher confirms you finished, and up to 10 business days
  • Minimum cashout: None
  • What you need: A profile. No credentials required

User Interviews works very similarly to Respondent. They pay you to share your opinions, habits, and experiences through interviews, surveys, and research sessions.

Most sessions take 30 to 60 minutes.

Why use both platforms?

Because neither one guarantees a steady stream of invitations. They work with different companies and different research projects.

Creating profiles on both increases your chances without requiring much extra work.

Prolific

  • Pay: A guaranteed minimum of £6 / $8 an hour. Prolific recommends researchers pay at least £9 / $12 an hour
  • How you’re paid: PayPal only.
  • Payment schedule: You can cash out once a day. Your first four cashouts have a 72-hour waiting period between them
  • Minimum cashout: £6 / $6 in approved balance
  • What you need: A profile and a PayPal account in your own name

Prolific is different from most survey sites.

It usually pays less per study than platforms like Respondent, but there is much more work available.

The thing I like most about Prolific is that you’re not stuck guessing whether your time is worth anything. They have a minimum pay rate that researchers have to follow.

On most survey sites, you can spend 15 minutes answering screening questions, get rejected, and walk away with nothing.

Prolific works differently. Once you’re accepted into a study and complete it, the study has to meet Prolific’s minimum pay rules.

The rule that makes the difference

Researchers can’t make one low-paying study and use a higher-paying study later to balance it out. Each study has to stand on its own.

That’s why Prolific often pays better per minute than traditional survey apps.

One thing that confuses new users is that your balance has two parts.

You can only withdraw money that’s been approved. Anything still waiting for researcher approval stays locked until it’s reviewed.

If you want smaller but more regular payments instead of waiting around for occasional big research studies, Prolific is one of the better options.

Answer Homework Questions for Students

These sites pay you to explain school subjects to students, or to do homework for money.

Some pay by question. Others pay by the hour.

You do not need to be a licensed teacher, but you do need to understand the subject well enough to explain it clearly.

The difference between a good tutor and a bad one is usually not knowing the answer. It’s being able to walk someone through the steps so they actually learn.

Studypool

  • Pay: $3 to $40 per question. Students set the budget and you bid
  • Platform fee: Starts at 20%, and drops the more active you are
  • How you’re paid: PayPal, Wise, Payoneer, or Western Union
  • Payment schedule: Withdrawals are reviewed, usually about a day, then paid out at your method’s own speed
  • Minimum cashout: Studypool doesn’t publish one. Tutors consistently report $50
  • What you need: Subject knowledge. Tutors are accepted worldwide

Studypool works like a marketplace.

Students post questions with a budget. Tutors decide which questions they want to answer and submit bids.

The nice thing about Studypool is that it shows real examples of questions and prices on its tutor page.

You can see the type of work available before signing up.

Mercor job board listing expert roles that get paid to answer questions at $150 to $220 an hour

What questions actually pay

Here are examples of questions listed on the platform:

  • Calculus problem about parallel and skew lines: $3
  • Spanish paragraph using the imperfect tense: $5
  • Organic chemistry reaction mechanism: $7
  • Moment of inertia explanation: $10
  • Management case study: $15
  • Comparison of Islamic sacred texts: $20
  • APA annotated bibliography: $24
  • Exception handling in programming: $28
  • Child custody law questions: $32
  • Engineering stress and strain problem with a graph: $40

As you can see, the highest-paying questions are not always the hardest subjects. They are the ones where fewer people can provide a quality answer.

Almost anyone who remembers basic calculus can compete for simple math questions. Far fewer people can explain engineering, law, programming, or advanced writing assignments.

Studypool says tutors can earn up to $7,500 a month. Treat that as a top-performer example, not what most tutors should expect.

If you want better-paying work, focus on subjects where your knowledge is harder to replace.

Wyzant

  • Pay: You set your own rate. Most tutors charge $25 to $100 an hour
  • Platform fee: 25%, so you keep 75%. Students pay another 9% on top
  • How you’re paid: Direct deposit only. You have to sign up for it to get paid at all
  • Payment schedule: Twice a month, on the 1st and the 15th
  • What you need: To pass Wyzant’s tutor approval

Wyzant is different from Studypool because you’re not answering one-off homework questions.

You’re tutoring students by the hour, the same way most online tutoring jobs work.

The platform is owned by IXL Learning and works more like a marketplace. Students search for tutors, choose someone who fits their needs, and book lessons.

Two deadlines that can cost you money

These are two Wyzant rules that new tutors often miss.

First, every lesson has to be submitted within 14 days. Wyzant says lessons older than 14 days cannot be submitted, which means you won’t get paid for them.

Second, lessons must be submitted at least 5 business days before a payout date to be included in that payment.

For example, submit a lesson on the 12th and you may have to wait until the next payment cycle on the 1st.

The simple fix?

Submit your lessons the same day you teach. It takes less than a minute and keeps your money from getting stuck.

How to avoid the 25% cut

A 25% platform fee sounds high, especially compared with Studypool’s 20%.

But there is a way to avoid it for some students.

As you can see in the screenshot below, Wyzant says tutors who bring in their own students through a referral link keep 100% of their tutoring rate. Wyzant does not take its usual platform fee from those lessons.

Screenshot of Wyzant's help page showing tutors keep 100% of their rate for students they refer

That means a student you find yourself is worth significantly more than a student who finds you through Wyzant.

Pro tip MP

If you already tutor locally, bring those students onto Wyzant by having them sign up through your referral link. That way, you can use Wyzant’s scheduling and payment tools to handle the time-consuming admin work. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, you keep 100% of your tutoring rate.

Survey Apps That Pay You to Answer Questions

If you don’t have any special skills or experience, survey apps are the easiest way to get paid for answering questions online.

Just keep your expectations realistic. Even on the best sites that pay cash, most people earn around $10 to $40 a month.

There’s almost no barrier to getting started, which is exactly why the pay is so low.

One thing you should know before signing up: 1Q is the only app on this list that pays you for a single question.

Every other site sends full surveys that usually take 5 to 20 minutes.

And in many cases, you can answer several screening questions, get disqualified, and earn nothing.

That’s why I pay more attention to how a survey site works than how much it claims to pay.

1Q (The Only True One-Question App)

  • Pay: A set amount for each question you answer, plus $0.25 for every referral with no limit
  • How you’re paid: PayPal
  • Payment schedule: Instantly, after each response
  • Minimum cashout: None
  • What you need: A phone and a PayPal account

With more than 1 million users (according to the company), 1Q is one of the most popular apps in this space.

And it’s easy to see why. You get one question, answer it, and get paid instantly through PayPal.

I’ve been taking paid surveys since around 2007, and instant payouts like this are actually pretty rare.

After you sign up, you don’t have to keep checking the app for work. When a question matches your profile, 1Q sends you a notification by text message or through the app, depending on how you’ve set up your account.

What I like most about 1Q is that, unlike most survey sites where you can spend 10 or 15 minutes answering screening questions only to get disqualified before the real survey even starts, every question you receive is one you get paid to answer.

Pro tip MP

I actually learned this from the r/beermoney subreddit and decided to test it myself. I turned on location services for a couple of months and compared the number of questions I received with the months before. I averaged about three extra questions a month, so I’ve left it on ever since.

Survey Junkie

  • Pay: Points that you can redeem for cash or gift cards
  • How you’re paid: PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards
  • Payment schedule: Usually within a few days after redeeming
  • Minimum cashout: 500 points, which equals $5
  • What you need: Nothing besides an account

Survey Junkie is one of the older survey panels around.

The experience is pretty similar to most survey sites. You’ll answer some screening questions first, and sometimes you’ll get disqualified before reaching the actual survey.

And as I explained in my post on how Survey Junkie works, I like that the cashout minimum is only $5, so you can test it without spending weeks trying to reach your first payout.

Swagbucks

  • Pay: Points called SB. 100 SB is worth about $1
  • How you’re paid: PayPal cash or gift cards
  • Payment schedule: Usually within a few days after you redeem
  • Minimum cashout: 2,500 SB (about $25) for PayPal. Gift cards start much lower, at around 300 SB (about $3)
  • What you need: Just an account

If you read my Swagbucks review, you know I have been a member of Swagbucks way before I even started MoneyPantry in 2013.

It is one of the handful of reward and survey sites that I can honestly say it has gotten better over the years.

Besides surveys, you can also earn points by playing games, shopping online, watching videos, and completing other small tasks.

The cashout mistake a lot of people make

Look at those two minimum cashout amounts again.

There’s a big difference!

If you’re planning to cash out through PayPal, you’ll need about $25 worth of SB before you can withdraw.

But if you’re happy with a gift card, you can cash out with as little as about $3.

If your goal is cash, expect to save up a little longer. If you already shop at Amazon or another major retailer, grabbing a gift card gets money in your hands much sooner.

KashKick

  • Pay: Usually around $0.25 to $2 per survey, with longer surveys paying more
  • How you’re paid: PayPal or Venmo & gift cards
  • Payment schedule: Usually 1 to 3 business days after you request a cashout
  • Minimum cashout: $10
  • What you need: Just an account

KashKick is just like Swagbucks. You get paid for answering questions, completing offers, and doing other small online tasks.

The thing I like about KashKick is that unlike a lot of other reward sites, you earn actual cash instead of points that you then have to convert to cash.

There is one issue I kept seeing while researching for this post. Some users say that earnings can stay in a pending status for 14 to 31 days before becoming available to withdraw. So while the $10 cashout minimum is easy to reach, don’t expect your first payment instantly. It could still take a month or longer to see money in your account.

The higher-paying offers come with a catch

Where you can make more money is through the offer section, but there is a catch.

Some of the highest-paying offers involve downloading mobile games and reaching certain levels within a set time frame

These can pay more than surveys, but the goals are not always easy to hit.

Some offers also require in-app purchases, which means you have to spend your own money first. I personally wouldn’t do those because the goal is to make money, not spend it. The only time I’d consider one is if it’s something I was already planning to buy anyway. For example, if I was going to purchase a gaming app, I might go through KashKick first so I could get some cashback.

Read my full KashKick review for more details.

Pro tip MP

If you try these offers, make sure tracking is working before you start. A lot of users run into problems because KashKick can’t verify their progress. On iPhones especially, you may need to allow app tracking permissions, or your earnings could end up missing.

Sites That No Longer Pay You to Answer Questions

One thing I noticed while researching this guide is that a lot of articles on this topic are badly outdated. They still recommend sites that shut down years ago.

These platforms are either no longer around or have changed their programs and no longer pay users for answering questions.

SiteWhat happenedWhen
Chegg Q&AQ&A operations ended, expert portal shut down, no new freelance workMarch 18, 2026
Quora Partner ProgramEnded for English, then discontinued completelySept. 30, 2022 / March 24, 2023
Quora Spaces & Ads Revenue SharingBoth programs discontinuedNovember 18, 2024
6yaApp removed from Google Play; company later listed as defunctNovember 20, 2022
VIPKidEnded its China tutoring program and stopped hiring foreign teachers2021 onward

Why Chegg Q&A Disappeared

Chegg’s shutdown tells you a lot about where this industry is headed.

When ChatGPT became popular, students who used to pay for homework help suddenly had a free alternative. Demand for human homework answers dropped fast.

Chegg’s subscriber base fell by about 31% in a year to roughly 3.2 million in early 2025. The company then laid off about 22% of its workforce in May 2025 and another 45% that October.

But here’s the interesting part…

People didn’t stop getting paid to answer questions. The work simply shifted. Instead of paying people to answer students’ homework questions, companies now pay experts to train and improve AI models.

That’s why platforms like Mercor, Outlier, and DataAnnotation are at the top of this guide. Right now, that’s where the best opportunities are.

Sites I’d Skip

Weegy, Fixya, HelpOwl, and Answeree are still online, but they typically pay only a few cents per answer or reward you with points instead of cash.

You’ll make far more money (and waste a lot less time) using the platforms I listed earlier in this guide.

FAQ About Making Money Answering Questions Online

What’s the fastest way to get paid to answer questions?

1Q is the fastest. It pays instantly through PayPal after every question you answer, with no minimum cashout. Most other platforms make you wait until you reach a payout threshold or complete a study.

Which sites let you cash out through PayPal?

1Q, Prolific, DataAnnotation, Clarity.fm, Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and KashKick pay through PayPal. Outlier also offers PayPal, while JustAnswer pays through Hyperwallet. Mercor and Wyzant pay by bank transfer.

Can you get paid to answer questions without a degree?

Yes. Survey sites, Respondent, User Interviews, Prolific, and Studypool don’t require a degree. AI platforms like DataAnnotation and Outlier typically require a degree or equivalent experience.

Do you have to pay taxes on money you earn answering questions online?

Yes. In the U.S., this income is generally taxable even if you don’t receive a 1099. Most platforms treat you as an independent contractor, so you may also owe self-employment tax.

Is Chegg still paying people to answer questions?

No. Chegg shut down its Q&A platform on March 18, 2026, ended freelance expert work, and issued its final payments in April 2026.

How much does JustAnswer actually pay experts?

New experts typically earn 20% of what customers pay. That can increase to about 50% as you build ratings and experience on the platform.

Are these sites legitimate?

Yes. The platforms in this guide are legitimate companies. However, some have stricter payment policies than others. Always read the payment terms before you start, and never pay a fee to join. Upfront fees are one of the oldest work-from-home scams around.

Do AI companies pay more than sites where you answer questions for people?

Usually, yes. AI training platforms like Mercor, Outlier, and DataAnnotation often pay $25 to $220 an hour, while traditional Q&A sites usually pay less or take a percentage of what customers pay.

Can you really make a full-time income answering questions online?

Most people won’t. Survey sites usually pay extra spending money, while research platforms, tutoring sites, and AI training jobs can provide part-time or even full-time income if you have in-demand skills or professional expertise.

Does Quora Pay You to Answer Questions?

No. Quora does not pay users for answering questions. Quora used to have programs that paid some creators, including the Quora Partner Program, but those programs were discontinued. Today, people use Quora mainly to share knowledge and build a reputation.

Does Reddit Pay You to Answer Questions?

No. Reddit does not pay users just for answering questions or participating in discussions. But you can use it to make money indirectly by building credibility and sending interested people to your own website, products, services, or content.

Research Methodology
MP

How I researched this topic

I verified every platform in this guide against its own website, help center, payment pages, or terms during the week of July 27, 2026. I didn’t rely on other roundup articles. When a company published its own numbers, I used them and clearly identified them as company claims.

Here’s what I paid the closest attention to:

  • Payment details: I verified payout methods, payment schedules, and minimum cashout amounts from each company’s own documentation whenever possible. If a company didn’t publish something, like PrestoExperts’ payment schedule or Handshake AI’s minimum cashout, I said so instead of guessing.
  • Shutdowns: For every platform listed as discontinued, I confirmed it through the company’s own announcement, app store listing, or reliable news coverage and included the shutdown date.
  • Pay claims: I separated advertised earnings from verified pay rates. For example, Mercor publishes live hourly rates on job listings, while JustAnswer and Studypool publish earnings claimed by the companies themselves.
  • Complaints: Rather than repeat online complaints, I looked for the official policies behind them. That’s why the Handshake AI section explains its payment rules and the Maven section quotes its payment reversal policy.

A couple of things couldn’t be verified. PrestoExperts doesn’t publish its platform fee or payment schedule, and I couldn’t find a reliable shutdown date for the old KGB text-answering service. Rather than guess, I left those details out.

Get Paid for Your Knowledge

The best platform depends on what you already know.

  • If you have professional experience, focus on AI training and expert platforms.
  • If you have a specific job or hobby, research studies can pay well.
  • If you just want simple extra cash, survey apps are the easiest place to start.

Just keep in mind that the highest hourly rates you see online usually come with fewer opportunities.

A $200-an-hour expert project sounds great, but one invitation a month is very different from a full-time income.

Before you start, read the payment rules and cash out when you can. Most complaints in this space come from people who didn’t understand the platform’s rules before they started.

When you find the right fit, getting paid to answer questions online can be a simple way to turn your knowledge, experience, or spare time into extra income.

Saeed Darabi
About the Author
Saeed Darabi

Founder, MoneyPantry — Personal Finance Researcher Since 2013. I came to the U.S. as a refugee at 20 with no money and no English. What I know about earning and saving money, I learned by actually doing it, not studying it. Since 2013 I've personally tested or thoroughly researched hundreds of ways to make and save money, from survey sites and cashback apps to side hustles and government assistance programs. If I recommend it, it's because it holds up to scrutiny.

View all posts by Saeed Darabi →

Discussion (17)

  1. ISAAC SATI DASMER
    ISAAC SATI DASMER

    is very very helpful

    1. Ogutu henry
      Ogutu henry

      yes

    2. Mmaduabuchi chidiebere
      Mmaduabuchi chidiebere

      Yes of course,very helpful

  2. Nitesh Bhuel
    Nitesh Bhuel

    I am very good at article writing and have good experience.

    1. Leila Costa Andrade
      Leila Costa Andrade

      Não sou tão boa prá escrever artigos mais vou estudar bastante
      estou precisando de uma renda extra esse trabalho pode ser uma boa opção

      1. Saeed
        Saeed

        Yes, Leila, if you are not good at writing long detailed articles, paid to answer sites are great because you can answer the questions as if you were taking to someone. Good luck!

        1. Icken
          Icken

          Okay that’s was a good idea

    2. Annette Bestwick
      Annette Bestwick

      Get paid to write, use the website Fiverr and sell your services. Blog writing between $10-$20 dollars to start with. Raise your prices when you become more proficient.

  3. Tomas
    Tomas

    I wanna to make money

    1. Saeed
      Saeed

      Welcome to the club Tomas, lol! MoneyPantry has tons of posts with various ways to make money online and offline. Pick one you like and start earning. Good luck!

  4. Esther Awoh
    Esther Awoh

    I am very good at giving people advice, most of my colleagues like taking family advice from me

  5. Nasra Mohamud
    Nasra Mohamud

    it’s very helpful for a lot of people are looking for a side hustle.thanks for the advice

  6. Mmaduabuchi
    Mmaduabuchi

    I like giving advice to people

  7. JAEL KOTEY
    JAEL KOTEY

    l like cooking

    1. Saeed
      Saeed

      Jael, if you are good at it, you may wanna consider starting a YouTube channel. You can film yourself cooking your favorite dishes as you talk and explain what you are doing.

  8. Yakubu Farhan
    Yakubu Farhan

    I have to be honest with my answers and not cheating

    1. Saeed
      Saeed

      Hey Farhan, Yeah, being honest is the only way to stay in the game longterm. These sites actually want real answers, so cheating just gets you banned. Focus on answering thoughtfully, and you’ll see steady payouts. Check out the post for more tips on making money by answering questions the right way. Good luck.

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