Writing reviews can be a fun and rewarding way to earn money online. From product critiques to book reviews, there are plenty of opportunities to turn your opinions into income.
In this guide, we’ll explore various platforms and strategies for getting paid to write reviews, whether you’re looking for a quick side hustle or aiming to build a full-time income stream.
Get Paid To Write Reviews: Quick & Easy Opportunities
Note: These methods are generally not the best ones to start earning money on the side. If you’d like better opportunities which will be valuable for your career (e.g, becoming a freelance writer for a reviews site), you may scroll down to the section on “Freelance Review Writing” below, or you can check out my other post covering 20 Ways You Can Make Money on The Side.
But if you’re REALLY keen on earning money from writing reviews, here’s how you can start.
This section covers platforms that offer immediate opportunities with minimal barriers to entry and are perfect for beginners or those seeking a low-commitment side hustle.
While the pay may be modest, these opportunities are a great starting point for if you’re looking to earn extra cash in your spare time. Plus, they offer the added benefit of helping you hone your review-writing skills, which can lead to better-paying opportunities later on.
Quick Method #1: Survey And Micro-Task Sites
If you’re looking for an easy way to get started with paid reviews, survey and micro-task sites are a great option. These platforms allow you to complete short tasks, including writing reviews and providing feedback, in exchange for cash or rewards. While the payouts may not be huge, they offer a simple, low-commitment way to earn money from your opinions.
Swagbucks is a popular rewards site that offers multiple ways to earn, including writing reviews. You can accumulate SB points through surveys, product testing, and other tasks, then convert these points into gift cards or cash. With a user-friendly interface and a $5 sign-up bonus, it’s an accessible platform for beginners looking to dip their toes into paid reviews.
InboxDollars offers a straightforward cash payment system for various online activities, including writing reviews. With a $5 welcome bonus and diverse earning options, it’s an attractive choice for those who prefer direct cash rewards over point systems.
The platform partners with major brands, providing opportunities to review a wide range of products and services. There are also additional earning opportunities, such as watching videos and playing games.
Survey Junkie specializes in surveys, many of which involve product feedback and reviews. Its streamlined point system (1 point = 1 cent) and low payout threshold make tracking your earnings and cash out quickly easy. The platform’s clean design and survey focus make it a good choice for those who enjoy sharing their opinions on various topics and products.
How to get started:
- Choose a platform and create an account: Visit the website of your chosen platform and sign up with your email address.
- Complete your profile thoroughly to receive more relevant opportunities: The more information you provide, the better the platform can match you with suitable surveys and review tasks.
- Check for available surveys or review tasks daily: Most platforms update their offerings regularly, so frequent checking can help you maximize your earnings.
- Be consistent and honest in your feedback to maintain a good standing: Platforms value quality responses, so take your time and provide thoughtful feedback.
Quick Method #2: Product Testing Platforms
Product testing platforms provide a hands-on way to write reviews while getting to try out new products for free. Instead of earning cash, you’ll receive products in exchange for honest feedback, which can be a great way to discover new items and enjoy their value. These platforms are ideal for those who love trying and reviewing products across different categories.
PINCHme offers a unique opportunity to try new products for free in exchange for your honest reviews. While you won’t earn cash directly, the value of the free products can be substantial. From beauty items to household goods, PINCHme covers a diverse range of categories, making it an exciting platform for those who enjoy discovering and evaluating new products.
BzzAgent connects consumers with brands for product testing and review opportunities. This platform often features higher-end products and well-known brands, providing a chance to experience premium items. While it requires more active participation, including sharing on social media, BzzAgent can be rewarding for those who enjoy being brand advocates and influencers.
How to get started:
- Sign up on the platform and create a detailed profile: Provide accurate information about your interests and demographics to receive relevant product offers.
- Apply for campaigns that match your interests: Be selective and choose products you want to try and review.
- Follow instructions carefully for receiving and reviewing products: Each campaign may have specific requirements, so pay attention to details.
- Provide honest, detailed feedback within the specified timeframe: Your thoroughness and timeliness can increase your chances of being selected for future campaigns.
Get Paid To Write Reviews: Higher Paying Opportunities
Ready to take your review writing to the next level? This section explores more specialized platforms and freelance opportunities that can provide higher earnings and more consistent work. Whether you’re passionate about books, tech, or consumer products, there are niche review sites that cater to your interests and expertise.
For those looking to build a freelance career, we’ll show you how to utilize popular platforms to find clients and establish yourself as a professional reviewer. These options require more effort but offer greater rewards and growth potential.
High Paying Method #1: Specialized Review Sites
These platforms cater to specific niches, offering more in-depth review opportunities with higher payouts if you have expertise or a passion in particular areas.
Here are a few sites to consider if you’re ready to step up your review game.
Online Book Club is a platform that pays you to read and review books. With payments ranging from $5 to $60 per review, it offers a decent earning potential for avid readers. The site covers various genres, allowing you to explore different types of literature while earning money. It’s an excellent opportunity for book lovers to monetize their reading habits.
Kirkus Media offers more professional book review opportunities, often paying higher rates for experienced reviewers and the potential for consistent work. While getting accepted may be more challenging, Kirkus provides a platform for severe reviewers to build a reputation in the literary world. Reviews for Kirkus are typically more in-depth and analytical, requiring a strong grasp of literary criticism.
UserTesting pays you to test and review websites and apps, offering $10 for a typical 20-minute video review. This platform allows you to provide valuable user experience feedback to companies, potentially influencing product development. It’s an excellent option for those interested in technology and user interface design.
How to get started:
- Research and choose a platform that aligns with your interests and skills: Consider your expertise and what type of reviews you’d enjoy writing most.
- Create a compelling profile highlighting your expertise: Showcase your writing skills and any relevant experience or qualifications.
- Submit sample reviews or complete test assignments: Many platforms require a trial review to assess your capabilities.
- Build a reputation for high-quality, timely reviews: Consistently delivering excellent work can lead to more opportunities and higher pay rates.
High Paying Method #2: Freelance Review Writing
If you want to earn higher pay and build a steady stream of review-writing work, freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr provide excellent opportunities. These sites allow you to connect with clients, set your own rates, and establish long-term relationships. If you’re willing to put in the effort, freelance review writing can lead to more consistent income and career growth.
Upwork is a large freelancing platform with various review writing opportunities. You can set your rates and bid on projects that interest you. While competition can be high, Upwork offers the potential to build long-term relationships with clients, leading to steady work and income.
Fiverr allows you to create “gigs” offering your review writing services. You can set different pricing tiers and offer services like rush delivery or extra revisions. Fiverr’s structure makes it easy for buyers to find and purchase your services, potentially leading to a steady stream of review writing work.
How to get started:
- Create a strong profile showcasing your writing skills: Highlight your experience and expertise in writing reviews.
- Develop a portfolio of sample reviews: Create examples of different types of reviews to show potential clients.
- Start with competitive pricing to attract initial clients: Research similar gigs to price your services appropriately.
- Deliver high-quality work to earn positive feedback and repeat customers: Building a good reputation is key to success on freelance platforms.
Get Paid To Write Reviews: Become Your Own Boss As An Affiliate Marketer
Affiliate marketing offers an exciting opportunity for those looking to turn review writing into a more substantial income stream. In this section, we’ll explore how you can earn commissions by promoting products through affiliate programs.
You can create a steady source of passive income by setting up your own review website, joining affiliate networks, and writing content that drives sales.
While it requires more upfront effort, affiliate marketing allows you to monetize the products you review and build your own brand as a trusted reviewer in your niche. Affiliate marketing can be a rewarding long-term strategy if you’re serious about earning more from your reviews. It’s also just a small section of digital marketing.
If you want to jump all-in with digital marketing, check out my Ultimate Guide to Digital Marketing, where I’ll walk you through step-by-step marketing strategies, content creation and how to grow an email list. Just tell me where to send it!
Step #1: Choose a niche or product category you're passionate about
The first step to building a successful affiliate review business is choosing a niche that compliments your passion and expertise. Your niche will define the type of products you review, the audience you attract, and the content you create. By narrowing your focus, you’ll establish yourself as an authority and gain your readers’ trust.
- Identify your interests, expertise, and potential audience: Think about areas where you have hands-on experience or a strong passion. Whether it’s tech gadgets, beauty products, or fitness equipment, having personal interest ensures you stay motivated and your reviews will feel authentic.
- Research market demand and competition in your chosen niche: Research demand to ensure enough interest in your niche. Use tools like Google Trends to gauge search popularity and explore forums and social media to identify what people are discussing.
- Consider profitability and available affiliate programs in the niche: Look at whether the products in your niche have strong affiliate programs and reasonable commission rates. This will help you evaluate the potential earnings and decide whether the program is financially viable.
- Narrow down to a specific sub-niche for better targeting: The more specific your niche, the easier it is to carve out a dedicated audience. Instead of reviewing general fitness equipment, for example, focus on “home workout equipment for beginners” or “nutrition supplements for endurance athletes” to become an expert in your subcategory.
For example, if you’re interested in fitness, you might narrow your search to “home workout equipment for beginners” or “nutritional supplements for endurance athletes.” This specificity helps you target a clear audience and become an authority in your chosen area.
Step #2: Sign up to popular affiliate networks
Once you’ve chosen your niche, the next crucial step is joining the right affiliate programs. These programs provide you with the affiliate links you’ll use in your reviews, enabling you to earn commissions on any sales. Selecting the right affiliate network is key to matching the products you want to promote with the needs of your audience.
- Amazon Associates is one of the largest and most beginner-friendly affiliate programs. With millions of products available, you can find items to review in virtually any niche. While commission rates are relatively low, Amazon’s high conversion rates and customer trust can lead to significant earnings.
- ShareASale offers a diverse range of merchant programs, often with higher commission rates than Amazon, especially for niche products. It provides detailed reporting tools to help you track and optimize your performance. ShareASale is a good option for reviewers looking to promote more specialized products.
- CJ Affiliate is a well-established network featuring many well-known brands. It offers a wide range of product categories and provides advanced tools for tracking and optimizing your affiliate marketing efforts. CJ Affiliate suits more experienced marketers looking to scale their review-based affiliate business.
- Clickbank is particularly popular among beginners due to its easy signup process and the many products it offers to promote. However, it’s essential to vet the products you endorse carefully, as quality can vary. For reviewers, ClickBank offers opportunities to promote and review information products, software tools, and online courses in virtually any niche.
- JVZoo is known for its focus on internet marketing products, but it has expanded to include a wider range of niches. It’s particularly appealing for affiliates who want quick access to their earnings, as many products offer instant payments. JVZoo allows reviewers to test and review cutting-edge digital products and software, especially in the business and marketing sectors.
Step #3: Create a blog and start writing your reviews
With your affiliate accounts set up, the next step is to create a platform for your reviews. Starting a blog lets you publish in-depth reviews that drive conversions and build credibility. The key is writing honest, detailed content that helps your audience make informed decisions.
- Develop a consistent review format (e.g., pros/cons, scoring system): Create a clear structure for your reviews. Whether it’s a pros and cons list, a scoring system, or a comparison chart, consistency helps readers easily understand your evaluations.
- Actually use the products you’re reviewing whenever possible: Test the products yourself whenever possible. First-hand experience adds authenticity to your reviews and makes them more relatable to your audience.
- Include detailed, first-hand observations and experiences: Go beyond the product descriptions. Share your experiences, what stood out to you, and how the product performs in real-world scenarios. Your readers want to know what it’s like to use the product.
- Address common questions and concerns your audience might have: Anticipate and address your readers’ questions in your reviews. The more you can answer potential concerns, the more likely readers will trust your advice.
- Focus on providing genuine value to your readers: The goal is to help your audience make informed purchasing decisions. Prioritize value over sales tactics, and your readers will appreciate your honesty.
- Balance positive & negative aspects honestly: Transparency is crucial. Highlight the products’ strengths and weaknesses to build trust with your audience.
- Use a mix of text, images, and possibly videos to enhance your reviews: Diversify your content by adding photos and videos to your text. This keeps readers engaged and offers multiple ways to consume the information.
- Compare products to help readers make informed decisions: Product comparisons are beneficial when buyers try to decide between options. Offer a side-by-side analysis to clarify and assist them in making the best choice.
- Place links contextually within your review content: Add affiliate links naturally within the content. Make sure they fit the context and don’t disrupt the reading experience.
- Consider using link cloaking for cleaner-looking URLs: Cloak your affiliate links to make them look cleaner and more professional. Tools like Pretty Links or Bitly can help with this.
- Always disclose your affiliate relationships clearly: Transparency builds trust. To maintain honesty with your audience, clearly disclose that you earn commissions through your affiliate links.
There’s a lot that goes into starting a blog. It’s a lot of grunt work right up front, but once you have the foundation down, it’s really just about sharing your thoughts and keeping up with everything. For a more detailed guide on starting a blog, you can check out my post: How To Start a Blog in 2024 (& gain loyal readers).
Step #4: Profit!
Now that your blog has high-quality reviews, it’s time to drive traffic and earn from your affiliate links. Simply writing reviews isn’t enough—you need visitors to see them. Here’s how you can make that happen:
- Boost organic traffic with SEO: Use smart keyword strategies to rank your reviews on Google and attract readers searching for products in your niche.
- Promote your content on social media: Share your reviews across platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to expand your reach.
- Build an email list: Keep readers engaged by sending them updates about your latest reviews and offers.
For more in-depth strategies, check out my article to help you drive traffic and scale your blog to increase earnings:
With traffic flowing to your blog and readers engaging with your reviews, you’re now set to start earning real profit. The more valuable content you produce and the more effectively you promote it, the more your affiliate commissions will grow—turning your review-writing side hustle into a profitable income stream.
It’s one of the best things I’ve published (and 100% free), just tell me where to send it: