Is CloudResearch Connect Legit? I’ve Made $170+, Here’s My Honest Review

I’ve made $176.72 on CloudResearch Connect by taking paid research studies in my free time. I have 213 approved studies and zero rejections.

If you’re already on Prolific, or looking for sites like it, here’s my honest experience with Connect: how it works, what it pays, how you get paid, and whether it’s worth your time.

What Is CloudResearch Connect?

CloudResearch Connect is a platform where researchers, like university professors and companies, pay you to take part in their studies. Most of them are surveys: you answer questions about your opinions, habits or reactions to a scenario.

You sign up, fill out your profile, and studies you qualify for show up on your dashboard. You complete them, the researcher approves your work, and the money goes into your balance.

How I Found Connect

I’d been doing studies on Prolific and wanted more sites like it. I found Connect on the r/beermoney earnings thread, where people post how much they make on different platforms.

I started doing studies on Connect in September 2025, and I’ve been doing them occasionally, whenever I have free time.

When I signed up, there was no waitlist. Now there is, so if you’re interested, join the waitlist early.

How Much I’ve Made

So far I’ve earned $176.72 on Connect:

• 213 approved studies
• 0 rejected
• 8 partial completes: I was screened out partway through, but still got paid for my time.

For my full breakdown by month and per study, see how much you can make on CloudResearch Connect.

Want to see your own numbers? Upload your Project History to my CloudResearch Connect earnings calculator.

What the Studies Are Like

New studies show up on my dashboard every day. On Connect I see more studies than on Prolific.

Each study shows the payment, the hourly rate, how long it takes, and how many spots are left. For example, one study pays $0.80 for 6 minutes ($8 an hour), and another pays $1.00 for 6 minutes ($10.86 an hour).

Typical pay is around $10 an hour or below. Studies on Connect pay less than Prolific, both per study and per hour, but they’re also shorter and take less time to complete.

The best part is that studies don’t fill up instantly. On Prolific, a study can be gone in seconds. On Connect, studies sit for a while before filling up, so you can work through your daily list at your own pace. Sometimes one or two get taken before I get to them, but I still get to do most of them.

I turned on browser notifications, so I get an alert whenever new studies are posted.

Getting Screened Out Still Pays

Some studies screen you out if you don’t fit what the researcher is looking for. On Connect, if you’re screened out partway through, you still get a partial payment for the time you spent.

It’s usually just a few cents, but I’d rather get paid something than nothing. I’m fine with being screened out.

Your Quality Score

Connect gives you a quality score. The higher your score, the earlier you’re notified about new studies, which gives you a better chance to get in.

My score is 782, with “Priority Access: Preferred” and 5 stars. Here’s what I do to keep it high:

• Keep my “About You” profile filled out
• Pass the attention checks, so my submissions don’t get rejected
• Use my own answers instead of AI

For more ways to raise your score and get more studies, read my guide on how to get more studies on CloudResearch Connect.

How You Get Paid

You can cash out your Connect balance three ways:

• PayPal: paid instantly, $5 minimum, one payout a day
• Amazon.com gift card: $5 minimum, one a day
• Bank transfer: $25 minimum

I always cash out to PayPal. The money lands in my account instantly, and I’ve never had a failed payout.

CloudResearch Connect vs. Prolific

I use both, and each has its ups and downs:

• Pay: Prolific pays better. Prolific requires researchers to pay at least $8 an hour, and I’ve seen Connect studies pay less than that, like one at $7.22 an hour.
• Study volume: in my experience, Connect has more studies available at any given time.
• Competition: Prolific studies get taken in an instant. Connect studies sit for a while, so it’s less stressful.

It’s a hard call, so I don’t pick one. Using both is the better move: when one runs dry, you work on the other. I’ll write a full Prolific vs. Connect comparison soon.

If you want a third platform to make even more money, here’s my review of UserCrowd.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Lots of studies, new ones every day
• Studies don’t fill up instantly
• Shorter studies
• Partial pay if you’re screened out
• Instant PayPal payouts with a low $5 minimum

Cons:

• Lower pay than Prolific
• Some studies pay below $8 an hour

Is CloudResearch Connect Legit? My Verdict

Yes, CloudResearch Connect is legit. I’ve made $176.72 with 213 approved studies and zero rejections, and every PayPal payout has arrived instantly.

It’s worth it for anyone who has free time and wants to get paid to take studies. The studies are short, and there’s always something on the dashboard. If you want to try it, you can sign up for CloudResearch Connect here. The sooner you sign up, the sooner you can start.

If you’re already on Prolific, join Connect too. You’ll essentially double your chances to earn, and when one platform runs dry, you can work on the other. If you want a fourth platform, here’s my Crowdtap review.

If you want to earn more for your time, check out my Outlier AI and Handshake AI reviews.

See every platform I’ve used and how much I made: How I make money online.

FAQ

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This article is based on my personal experience with CloudResearch Connect. Earnings vary by person, and study availability and pay can change at any time.