Microtasking (part 2): surveys, research studies, testing, field data and local tasks
This lesson covers microtasks that come from market research, universities, software companies and field data collectors. Many are open to people with only a smartphone, and some are done offline in your own town.
Common features
- Eligibility matters: many survey and testing sites screen by country, age, occupation and device. You won't qualify for everything.
- Honesty is required: giving false profile information to qualify for more surveys usually leads to bans and lost earnings.
- Rewards vary: cash (PayPal, bank), gift cards, airtime or points.
- Low pay per task: these are side-income methods for most people, not full-time jobs.
See also: microtasks, surveys and testing overview.
20. Paid online surveys
What it is: Answering questionnaires for market research companies about products, brands, habits and opinions. How it works: You join survey panels, fill in a profile, and receive invitations; short screener questions decide whether you qualify. Completed surveys earn points or cash.
| Skills | Reading, honesty, patience |
| Cost & equipment | Smartphone or laptop, internet, email |
| Where to find work | Survey panels and research companies that accept Kenyan members (check country lists); local research firms |
| Payment | Points converted to cash (PayPal, bank), airtime, M-Pesa (some local panels) or vouchers |
| Realistic earnings | Very low; many surveys screen you out |
| Time to first income | Weeks (minimum payout thresholds) |
How to start: Join 3–5 reputable panels; complete profiles honestly; use a separate email for surveys; check payout thresholds before investing time. Pros: No skills needed; phone-friendly. Cons & risks: Frequent disqualifications; payout thresholds; time-consuming for little money. Scam warning: "Earn KSh 5,000 per survey" offers and sites asking for a registration fee or your M-Pesa PIN are scams. Kenya notes: Local market-research firms sometimes pay via M-Pesa or airtime for surveys and phone interviews.
21. Paid academic research studies
What it is: Taking part in online studies run by university researchers: questionnaires, decision-making games, reaction-time tests or interviews. How it works: Research participant platforms list studies with time estimates and pay; you complete them carefully and get paid after approval.
| Skills | Attention, honesty, following instructions |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop (often required), internet |
| Where to find work | Research participant platforms (many restrict countries), university studies advertised locally |
| Payment | PayPal or platform payouts |
| Realistic earnings | Very low to low; often better per hour than surveys, when available |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Check which participant platforms accept Kenyan residents; join studies advertised by Kenyan universities and research institutions. Pros: Fair pay standards on reputable platforms; interesting. Cons & risks: Limited country availability. Scam warning: Fake "research studies" asking for bank details or deposits. Kenya notes: Health and social research projects in Kenya sometimes recruit participants with compensation for time; ethical studies explain consent clearly.
22. Focus groups and in-depth interviews
What it is: Joining a group discussion or one-on-one interview (in person or online) about products, services, adverts or social issues, organised by research agencies. How it works: Agencies recruit people matching a profile; sessions last 1–2 hours; you receive an incentive.
| Skills | Expressing opinions clearly, punctuality |
| Cost & equipment | Phone; for online sessions, a laptop or phone with camera and stable internet |
| Where to find work | Market research agencies, recruitment panels, university researchers |
| Payment | Cash, M-Pesa or vouchers per session |
| Realistic earnings | Low; occasional |
| Time to first income | Depends on invitations |
How to start: Register with reputable research agencies' participant databases; respond quickly to screeners. Pros: Better pay per hour than surveys. Cons & risks: Occasional; screening is strict. Scam warning: No legitimate agency charges you to attend a focus group. Kenya notes: Research agencies in Nairobi and other cities run consumer focus groups regularly.
23. Website and app usability testing
What it is: Using a website or app while thinking aloud, recorded on screen and voice, so companies can see where users get confused. How it works: You take a screener; if selected, you complete a 10–30 minute task, speaking your thoughts clearly; reviewers rate your feedback quality.
| Skills | Clear spoken English, describing thoughts, basic tech comfort |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop with microphone (some tests on phones), quiet room, stable internet |
| Where to find work | User-testing platforms (country availability varies), UX research agencies, start-ups |
| Payment | Per test, often via PayPal |
| Realistic earnings | Low; tests are occasional but pay better per minute than surveys |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Complete a practice test well; speak clearly; give specific, honest feedback ("I expected the button to say 'Pay' rather than 'Continue'"). Pros: Interesting; builds UX awareness (UI/UX design). Cons & risks: Limited tests for Kenya; screeners exclude many. Scam warning: "Testers" asked to buy expensive equipment or pay for "tester certification". Kenya notes: Kenyan fintech and app start-ups sometimes recruit local testers directly; follow their social media.
24. Software and beta testing (crowdtesting)
What it is: Finding and reporting bugs in websites and apps before launch, following test plans or exploring freely. How it works: Crowdtesting platforms invite testers to test cycles; you report bugs with steps to reproduce, screenshots and device details; you're paid per approved bug or per cycle.
| Skills | Attention to detail, clear bug reports, knowledge of devices and browsers |
| Cost & equipment | Smartphone(s), laptop, internet; more devices = more opportunities |
| Where to find work | Crowdtesting platforms, beta programmes of apps |
| Payment | Per bug or per test cycle |
| Realistic earnings | Very low to low–medium (skilled testers do better) |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Learn bug reporting basics; join crowdtesting communities; complete their training; report only real, reproducible bugs. Pros: Path into a software testing (QA) career. Cons & risks: Competitive bug hunting; duplicates aren't paid. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: QA testing skills are valued by Kenyan tech companies; combine with Git and web basics.
25. Game testing
What it is: Playing pre-release games to find bugs, test balance and give feedback. How it works: Through crowdtesting platforms, game studios' beta programmes or QA companies.
| Skills | Gaming experience, patience (repeating the same level many times), clear reporting |
| Cost & equipment | Phone, PC or console depending on project |
| Where to find work | Crowdtesting platforms, studio beta programmes, QA outsourcing firms |
| Payment | Per bug/session; salaried QA jobs exist in studios |
| Realistic earnings | Very low as crowd work; low–medium as employed QA |
| Time to first income | Weeks to months |
How to start: Learn QA basics; join beta programmes; build a record of good bug reports. Pros: Fun for gamers; path into game industry. Cons & risks: It's repetitive work, not just playing. Scam warning: "Get paid to play games" apps that pay almost nothing or require deposits. Kenya notes: Kenya's game development scene is growing; local studios occasionally need testers.
26. Website first-impression and preference tests
What it is: Very short tests (often under 5 minutes): looking at a design for a few seconds and recalling it, choosing between two designs, or answering questions about a page. How it works: UX research tools invite panel members; quick answers, small rewards.
| Skills | Quick, honest responses |
| Cost & equipment | Phone or laptop |
| Where to find work | UX research panels, user-testing platforms |
| Payment | Small per-test payments |
| Realistic earnings | Very low |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Join panels attached to user-testing platforms. Pros: Fast. Cons & risks: Tiny payments, limited availability. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Availability for Kenya is limited; treat as a small extra.
27. Mystery shopping
What it is: Visiting shops, banks, restaurants, petrol stations or calling customer service as a normal customer, then reporting on service quality, cleanliness and procedures. How it works: Research companies assign "shops" with a checklist; you visit, observe, sometimes buy something (reimbursed), and submit a detailed report.
| Skills | Observation, memory, writing clear reports, punctuality |
| Cost & equipment | Smartphone, transport (sometimes reimbursed), ability to make purchases upfront (often reimbursed) |
| Where to find work | Mystery shopping and customer experience research companies |
| Payment | Fee per visit plus reimbursement, by bank or M-Pesa |
| Realistic earnings | Low; occasional |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Register with established customer-experience research firms operating in Kenya; complete early assignments perfectly to receive more. Pros: Offline; sometimes free meals or services. Cons & risks: Irregular; transport costs. Scam warning: The classic fake cheque/transfer scam: "We'll send you money, keep your fee, and send the rest via M-Pesa/money transfer" (the original payment later reverses). Never forward money for a "mystery shop". Kenya notes: Banks, telcos, supermarkets and fuel stations use mystery shopping in Kenya.
28. Field data collection apps (photos, prices, locations)
What it is: Using a smartphone app to complete tasks in your area: photographing shop shelves or price tags, verifying business locations, recording road conditions, or answering local questionnaires. How it works: The app shows tasks near you with payments; you complete them with GPS-tagged photos and answers; submissions are checked.
| Skills | Following instructions, local knowledge, polite interaction |
| Cost & equipment | Android smartphone with GPS and camera, data bundles, transport |
| Where to find work | Field-data apps operating in Kenya, research firms |
| Payment | Per task, often to mobile money or airtime (check the app) |
| Realistic earnings | Very low to low; better in busy towns with many tasks |
| Time to first income | Days to weeks |
How to start: Install only official apps from the Play Store; read task rules; be careful and respectful when photographing (ask permission where required). Pros: Works offline in your own area; phone-only. Cons & risks: Transport and data costs; tasks may be scarce in rural areas; safety when walking around with a phone. Scam warning: Fake apps asking for registration fees; legitimate apps don't charge you. Kenya notes: Respect privacy and local rules; some businesses dislike being photographed, so follow app instructions on consent.
29. Retail audits and price checks
What it is: Visiting shops to check product availability, prices, shelf placement and promotions for brands or research firms. How it works: Assignments with checklists and photos; usually through research agencies or merchandising companies, sometimes as part-time contracts.
| Skills | Accuracy, punctuality, communication |
| Cost & equipment | Smartphone, transport |
| Where to find work | Market research and merchandising companies, FMCG brand agencies |
| Payment | Per audit or daily rate |
| Realistic earnings | Low; can become regular part-time work |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Apply to research and merchandising agencies; mention your town and availability. Pros: Local work; can lead to merchandising or sales roles. Cons & risks: Travel costs; irregular. Scam warning: Agencies demanding "uniform fees" upfront. Kenya notes: Supermarkets and dukas across towns are audited by consumer-goods companies.
30. Survey enumerator / field research assistant
What it is: Conducting face-to-face or phone interviews for research projects (NGOs, government, universities, market research) using tablets or phones, often in local languages. How it works: Short contracts (days to months) with training, then fieldwork collecting data in assigned areas.
| Skills | Communication, local languages, data accuracy, ethics and confidentiality; experience with data collection apps helps |
| Cost & equipment | Usually provided (tablet); you may need a smartphone |
| Where to find work | Research firms, NGOs, universities, KNBS census and survey recruitment, job boards |
| Payment | Daily rate or contract fee, by bank or M-Pesa |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium during contracts |
| Time to first income | Weeks (recruitment and training) |
How to start: Build a CV highlighting languages, local knowledge and any data collection experience; apply to research firms and NGOs; follow official announcements for national surveys. Pros: Better pay than online microtasks; builds research careers. Cons & risks: Contract-based; travel; sometimes difficult conditions. Scam warning: Fake recruitment notices charging application fees (official recruiters don't charge). Kenya notes: Kenyan research and development organisations recruit enumerators often; county-level knowledge and languages are valuable.
31. Data labelling quality reviewer / team lead
What it is: Checking other annotators' work, giving feedback, and managing small teams on data projects: a step up from doing tasks yourself. How it works: Platforms and companies promote accurate, reliable workers to reviewer roles, or hire experienced annotators directly.
| Skills | High accuracy record, clear communication, guideline expertise, basic management |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop, internet |
| Where to find work | Annotation platforms (promotion), AI data companies, managed workforce firms |
| Payment | Hourly or salary |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Months (after building a track record) |
How to start: Excel at annotation work (methods 1–6, 9); apply for reviewer roles when offered; learn spreadsheet reporting. Pros: Better pay and stability. Cons & risks: Responsibility for team quality. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Experienced Kenyan annotators sometimes move into project coordination roles.
32. Rewards and cashback apps (games, videos, offers)
What it is: Apps and sites that pay points for watching ads, playing games, downloading apps or completing offers. How it works: You earn points per activity and convert them to small amounts of cash or vouchers once you reach a threshold.
| Skills | None special |
| Cost & equipment | Smartphone, data |
| Where to find work | App stores and "get-paid-to" sites (many restricted by country) |
| Payment | Small cash-outs, gift cards, airtime |
| Realistic earnings | Very low: often less than the data you spend |
| Time to first income | Weeks (high thresholds) |
How to start: If you try, use only well-reviewed apps, never pay, and track your time and data costs honestly. Pros: Requires no skills. Cons & risks: Extremely low value; privacy concerns (apps collect data); many fake apps never pay. Scam warning: Apps that ask for a deposit to "withdraw", or promise large daily earnings for watching videos or "liking" content, are scams (often Ponzi or task scams). Kenya notes: "Task scams" (like, review or "boost" products for commission, then deposit to unlock) have targeted Kenyans; avoid them.
33. Phone-based market research interviews (CATI interviewer)
What it is: Calling respondents from a research company's call centre or from home to conduct structured telephone surveys (computer-assisted telephone interviewing). How it works: Training on the questionnaire and system; you call assigned numbers, read questions exactly, and record answers.
| Skills | Clear speech, patience, local languages, accurate data entry |
| Cost & equipment | Often provided at a call centre; remote roles need a laptop, headset and quiet space |
| Where to find work | Market research companies, polling firms, NGOs |
| Payment | Per completed interview or hourly |
| Realistic earnings | Low to low–medium during projects |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Apply to research and polling firms; highlight languages and phone manner. Pros: Steadier than online surveys during projects. Cons & risks: Rejections and repetitive calls; project-based. Scam warning: "Call centre jobs" requiring payment for training or headsets. Kenya notes: Opinion polling and consumer research in Kenya often use phone interviews.
Methods we don't recommend
- CAPTCHA-solving sites: real, but pay is extremely low and the work often helps bypass website security.
- "Like and follow" task apps, "product boosting" and "order grabbing" jobs: usually task scams that end with you depositing money.
- "Online typing jobs" requiring registration fees: scams.
These aren't counted in the directory.
Summary
- Surveys, research studies, focus groups, usability and beta testing, game testing, mystery shopping, field data apps, retail audits, enumerator work, reviewer roles and phone interviewing are real microtask and research methods.
- Most pay very little per task; field and research contracts pay better but are occasional.
- Never forward money for "mystery shops", never pay to withdraw from apps, and avoid task scams.
Check yourself
In mystery shopping, a "client" sends you money and asks you to forward part of it. Is this a scam? (yes or no)
Show answer
yes
What is the title for someone who conducts face-to-face survey interviews for research projects?
Show answer
enumerator
Finding and reporting bugs before an app launches is called what? (one word, or two)
Show answer
crowdtesting
Should you give false profile information to qualify for more surveys? (yes or no)
Show answer
no