Prolific vs InboxDollars: Which Pays Better in 2026?

Every figure below comes from our reviews of Prolific and InboxDollars, where each one links to its source.

 
Prolific
InboxDollars
Our rating
3.8 / 5
2.6 / 5
Earning potential
4 / 5
3 / 5
Payment reliability
5 / 5
3 / 5
Hourly pay
At least $8 / £6 an hour on every study (Prolific minimum)
Surveys averaged $1.16 an hour in a 5-hour DollarBreak test
Survey length
Set per study; each shows the researcher's time estimate
Most take 3 to 25 minutes
Minimum cash-out
$6 / £6 by PayPal
$15 first cash out, then $10
Payout time
Within 24 hours
About 3 business days, up to 10
Before your first cash-out
72 hours between each of your first four cash outs
$15 for the first cash out, then $10; Persona photo ID and selfie check when asked
Cash-out methods
PayPal
PayPal, Gift Cards, Prepaid Card, Charity
When screened out
Paid for the screening questions; a screen-out does not affect your account
Not paid
Ways to earn
Studies
Surveys, Offers, Cashback, Receipts, Games, Paid emails
Apps
No app; website and browser extension
App Store 4.5, Google Play 4.0
Minimum age
18 or over, in a supported country
18 in InboxDollars' help centre (Prodege's shared terms allow 13+ with a parent's approval)
Trustpilot
4.5 from 15,402 Trustpilot reviews
Rating withheld by Trustpilot after it removed fake reviews; 47,577 reviews
Running since
Co-founded at Oxford University in 2014
Running since 2000; now owned by Prodege
Joining
Waitlist
Open sign-up

Prolific

Pros

  • ✓ At least $8/£6 an hour on every study
  • ✓ Paid in-study screen-outs
  • ✓ PayPal within 24 hours

Cons

  • × Waitlist with no timeline
  • × Photo ID and selfie check
  • × Opaque account holds

InboxDollars

Pros

  • ✓ $15 first cash out, then $10
  • ✓ No fee on gift cards
  • ✓ Surveys, offers, shopping and receipts in one place

Cons

  • × US residents only, one account per household
  • × Payment removed if you go inactive before it is processed
  • × PaidEmails no longer pay cash to new members

The Verdict

Overall, Prolific comes out ahead of InboxDollars in our reviews. Prolific scores 3.8 out of 5 in our review, InboxDollars 2.6. InboxDollars is open to sign-ups, while Prolific has a waitlist. The two are not exclusive: where both accept members in your country, running them side by side means fewer days with nothing to do.

Join Prolific →Join InboxDollars →

Prolific vs InboxDollars FAQ

Which pays better, Prolific or InboxDollars?

Prolific scores higher for earning potential in our reviews, 4 out of 5 against 3 for InboxDollars. Prolific: At least $8 / £6 an hour on every study (Prolific minimum). InboxDollars: Surveys averaged $1.16 an hour in a 5-hour DollarBreak test.

Which has the lower minimum cash-out, Prolific or InboxDollars?

Prolific: $6 / £6 by PayPal. InboxDollars: $15 first cash out, then $10.

Which pays out faster, Prolific or InboxDollars?

Prolific is faster by the figures in our reviews. Prolific: Within 24 hours. InboxDollars: About 3 business days, up to 10.

What happens when Prolific or InboxDollars screens you out of a survey?

Prolific: Paid for the screening questions; a screen-out does not affect your account. InboxDollars: Not paid.

Can I use both Prolific and InboxDollars?

Yes. Joining one does not stop you joining the other, as long as both accept members in your country and you keep to each platform's own account rules.

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