Is Prolific Legit? Honest Review & What to Expect

What Is Prolific?

Prolific is an online survey site platform for academic research studies where researchers can easily connect with a pool of participants who make money by simply sharing their opinion or answering a few questions for Prolific surveys.

The platform stands out due to its academic focus and ethical foundation, emphasizing transparency, fair hourly rate, and participant diversity. For this reason, Prolific surveys and studies are more detailed, as collected data is often used for scientific research.

Is Prolific Legit?

Platform Overview

Prolific is used by researchers at Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard

Only verified researchers can post studies

Participants are paid fairly and consistently, often above minimum wage standards

Things to Consider

Prolific follows strict data protection guidelines, including GDPR compliance

Prolific pay is transferred using secure and encrypted systems

The platform has a 4.5 review on Trustpilot from +6,000 Prolific reviews

How Prolific Works

Sign Up

Go to Prolific’s website and sign up for free. You’ll need to go through a few steps to complete your account registrations, verify your email, and agree to Prolific’s terms of use to get started

Complete Your Profile

Fill out your profile in detail, including your demographic and background information like age, education, location, employment, and habits. Prolific reviews all applications to match with appropriate studies

Get Matched with Studies

Prolific will automatically match your profile with available studies. Once you get notified, choose from the studies provided, follow the instructions, and complete Prolific surveys or studies within the given time

Get Paid Quickly and Securely

Study response information is typically reviewed within 1 to 2 days after submission. After that, your Prolific pay will be made through PayPal, with the ability to cash out once you meet the minimum payout threshold

How Much Can You Make on Prolific?

Typical hourly pay

Average earnings are around $12 per study

What affects your earnings

Study availability, location, profile, and study complexity

Realistic monthly expectations

Users report earning $20–100+ per month for a few hours per week

Can You Withdraw Money From Prolific?

Payment method

PayPal

Payout threshold

$6 minimum balance required to withdraw

Process time

Typically within 1–2 business days

What Users Say About Prolific

Positive Reviews (5 Stars)

Fair pay and engaging, academically meaningful studies

Payments are usually fast, reliable, and easy to withdraw

Participants feel respected and valued

Negative Reviews (1 Star)

Study availability can be limited

Users outside the US and the UK may see fewer opportunities

Studies often fill up very quickly

Pros and Cons of Using Prolific

Pros of Prolific

Prolific is trusted by top universities and used for real scientific research

Most studies pay above the minimum hourly rate

Many surveys involve psychology, decision-making, and social behavior

Cons of Prolific

The number of available studies can vary day to day

Users outside of major research regions or outside may receive fewer studies

It can be challenging to land a spot in a study due to high competition

Prolific vs Other Survey Sites

	Prolific	MTurk	Swagbucks	InboxDollars	Pawns.app
Avg pay rate	$8–$15/hr	$3–$10/hr	$1–$3/hr	$0.50–$2/hr	$3–6/hour
Survey types	Academic, high-quality	Mixed, some tedious	Low-effort, repetitive	Ads, offers, basic surveys	Paid for quick online surveys
Approval process	Auto or 1–2 day review	Manual, requester-based	Instant for most tasks	Manual, can be delayed	Automatic payouts
Best for	Thoughtful survey work	Microtasks, flexibility	Casual point earners	Passive browsing/email users	Passive background income

*Information was taken from Trustpilot in June, 2025

Tips to Maximize Earnings on Prolific

Fill your profiles with details

The more detailed the profile, the higher the chance of landing more and better-paying studies

Enable notifications

Turn on browser or email notifications so you’re alerted as soon as a new study becomes available

Check in during peak hours

Logging in during these peak periods increases your chances of catching available tasks

Final Verdict: Is Prolific Worth Your Time?

Prolific is a popular research platform that academics, scientists, and companies use to find matching participants around the world to complete different online surveys and studies

It’s flexible and low-effort, allowing users to earn extra cash without investing too much time. Whether you’re just looking to make money or you have a keen interest in academic studies, Prolific is a great platform

It’s good for you, if:

You enjoy taking surveys and participating in research

You want flexible, remote work you can do on your own schedule

You’re looking for ethical studies with fair pay

You may want to avoid it, if you:

You need a consistent or high-paying income

You live outside major research regions like the US or the UK

You prefer more interactive or physical types of work

Have questions?

We’ve got answers. The most common questions answered in one place.

Why am I not seeing any available studies on Prolific?

Study availability highly depends on your location, demographics, and the current research demand. To maximize your chances of getting selected for a study, make sure to stay active, have a detailed profile, and show up consistently during peak hours.

Can I use Prolific on my mobile device?

Absolutely. While Prolific doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app, its website is mobile-friendly, allowing you to complete surveys from anywhere, whether on a bus or a couch.

Does Prolific require ID verification?

To ensure data security and integrity, every participant is requested to complete a few simple steps to complete their registration, which includes an ID verification. This is a standard process handled securely through third-party providers.

What happens if I fail an attention check on Prolific?

Attention checks are meant to test the attention of all participants. Failing can result in being less accepted for surveys. To avoid this, carefully follow instructions and answer honestly.