Updated September 25, 2026
Is Prolific legit? Yes. I’ve completed 512 paid studies and earned £574.30 plus $45.18 (about $800 total).
Table of Contents
What is Prolific?
Prolific is a platform where universities and researchers pay people to take part in studies. Most are surveys, but some are games or experiments. Sign-up is free, and studies that match your profile show up in your dashboard.
How to join Prolific (and the waitlist)
When I joined, there was no waitlist. I signed up and started taking studies right away. That has changed. Prolific now uses a waitlist to keep a balance of participants across different demographics. Some people get invited within hours, while others wait months, depending on which demographics researchers need at the time.
So if you sign up and land on the waitlist, that’s normal. It doesn’t mean you were rejected.
How I found Prolific
I found Prolific on the r/beermoney subreddit and have been using it ever since. I do studies whenever I have free time. There’s no set schedule.
How much can you make?
Most studies pay a few pounds or dollars. Every so often, a bigger one comes along. My highest-paying study was about hardware reverse engineering, basically how people figure out hidden designs in computer chips. It paid £20.20 plus a £5 bonus. My other top studies include an age-guessing game paying £14 plus a £1 bonus, an academic experiences study paying £12, and a visual memory study paying £9.75.
Some of my 512 paid studies were ones where I got screened out early, and Prolific still paid me for my time.
Across all my studies, I averaged roughly $12 an hour. That’s lower than AI training work like Outlier or Handshake AI, but studies are shorter and easier to fit into small gaps in your day.
For the full breakdown, see how much you can make on Prolific.
Want to know your own hourly rate? Upload your submission history to my Prolific hourly rate calculator.
What a typical study looks like
Studies vary a lot. I’ve taken studies about finance, decision making, health, politics, and more. Some take a couple of minutes, while others take about half an hour. Most are surveys, but some are games or experiments, like my age-guessing and visual memory studies.
The downside: It’s competitive
The most frustrating part is that good studies get taken within a minute. You have to keep the tab open and keep checking, and if you look away at the wrong time, you miss them.
Returns and rejections: will you get banned?
If you start a study and don’t want to finish it, you can return it. I’ve returned 117 studies and never been banned.
Rejections are different. A rejection means the researcher decided your submission wasn’t acceptable, and you don’t get paid. I’ve had one rejection, most likely because I failed an attention check.
How you get paid
I cash out through PayPal, and the money arrives in under a minute. The minimum payout is $6.
Most studies pay in GBP. Here’s how I convert it to USD on PayPal.
Tips to get more studies
- Fill out your “About you” profile completely so you qualify for more studies.
- Keep a tab open while you’re on your computer.
- Read instructions carefully, because studies include attention checks.
Want more? Here are my 10 tips to get more studies on Prolific.
Who Prolific isn’t for
Prolific isn’t a good fit if you like to multitask. Studies include attention checks, and if you’re doing something else at the same time, you’ll likely miss one. That can get your submission rejected, and you won’t be paid for that study.
So, is Prolific legit? My verdict
If you want to make extra money in your free time, I’d recommend Prolific to anyone. Just go in knowing it’s competitive and it’s side money, not a paycheck.
Want more studies? I also use CloudResearch Connect, where I’ve made $170+. Its studies don’t fill up as fast as Prolific’s, so using both means you’ll almost always have something to do. Here’s my CloudResearch Connect review. If you want a third platform to make even more money like I do, here’s my review for UserCrowd. If you want a fourth platform, here’s my Crowdtap review.
If you have more free time and want higher pay, read my Outlier AI review, where I made $5,900+. If you’re a student or graduate, check out my Handshake AI review, where I made $3,900+ in 9 weeks.
And if you want to save money on gas and groceries too, read my Upside review. It’s the cash back app I use every time I fill up.
See every platform I’ve used and how much I made: How I make money online.
Prolific FAQ
Is Prolific a scam?
No. I’ve completed 512 paid studies and earned £574.30 plus $45.18, about $800 in total.
How does Prolific pay you?
Through PayPal. When I cash out, the money arrives in under a minute. The minimum payout is $6.
Do you get paid if you’re screened out of a study?
Yes. When I got screened out early, Prolific still paid me a small amount for my time.
Why can’t I find studies on Prolific?
Good studies get taken within a minute. Keep a tab open, check often, and fill out your “About You” profile completely so you qualify for more studies.
How much can you make on Prolific?
Most studies pay a few pounds or dollars. Every so often a bigger one comes along; my best paid £20.20 plus a £5 bonus.
Is there a waitlist to join Prolific?
Yes. Prolific uses a waitlist to balance demographics. Some people get invited within hours, and others wait months.
How much does Prolific pay per hour?
I averaged roughly $12 an hour across all my studies.
Can you get banned for returning studies on Prolific?
Not in my experience. I’ve returned 117 studies and never been banned.
Why do Prolific studies get rejected?
Usually for failing attention checks. My only rejection was most likely from a failed attention check.
This isn’t financial advice, just my personal experience. Earnings vary based on your location, demographics, and how often you check for studies.
