Prolific vs LifePoints: Which Pays Better in 2026?

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

 
Prolific
LifePoints
Our rating
3.8 / 5
3.2 / 5
Earning potential
4 / 5
2 / 5
Payment reliability
5 / 5
3 / 5
Hourly pay
At least $8 / £6 an hour on every study (Prolific minimum)
Well below $1 to about $2.77 an hour in two tests (The Ways to Wealth, January 2025; DollarBreak, October 2024)
Survey length
Set per study; each shows the researcher's time estimate
10 to 20 minutes on average (LifePoints)
Minimum cash-out
$6 / £6 by PayPal
$5, or a $1 charity donation
Payout time
Within 24 hours
Up to 10 days; PayPal averages 5
Before your first cash-out
72 hours between each of your first four cash outs
No extra hold stated
Cash-out methods
PayPal
PayPal, Venmo, Gift Cards, Charity
When screened out
Paid for the screening questions; a screen-out does not affect your account
A handful of points (LifePoints, 2023)
Ways to earn
Studies
Surveys, Product tests, Polls
Apps
No app; website and browser extension
App Store 4.5, Google Play 4.5
Minimum age
18 or over, in a supported country
14 or over
Trustpilot
4.5 from 15,402 Trustpilot reviews
3.1 from 45,131 Trustpilot reviews
Running since
Co-founded at Oxford University in 2014
Online since at least 2018; Lightspeed traces its roots to 1946
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

LifePoints

Pros

  • ✓ Open from age 14 in 44 countries
  • ✓ PayPal, Venmo and gift cards from $5
  • ✓ Run by Lightspeed, part of Kantar

Cons

  • × Points can be forfeited after 90 days without a survey
  • × Around 110 points to the dollar
  • × 61% of the last year's Trustpilot reviews at 1 star

The Verdict

Earning potential is where Prolific and LifePoints differ most. On earning potential our reviews give Prolific 4 out of 5 and LifePoints 2. LifePoints 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 LifePoints →

Prolific vs LifePoints FAQ

Which pays better, Prolific or LifePoints?

Prolific scores higher for earning potential in our reviews, 4 out of 5 against 2 for LifePoints. Prolific: At least $8 / £6 an hour on every study (Prolific minimum). LifePoints: Well below $1 to about $2.77 an hour in two tests (The Ways to Wealth, January 2025; DollarBreak, October 2024).

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

LifePoints: $5, or a $1 charity donation. Prolific: $6 / £6 by PayPal.

Which pays out faster, Prolific or LifePoints?

Prolific is faster by the figures in our reviews. Prolific: Within 24 hours. LifePoints: Up to 10 days; PayPal averages 5.

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

Prolific: Paid for the screening questions; a screen-out does not affect your account. LifePoints: A handful of points (LifePoints, 2023).

Can I use both Prolific and LifePoints?

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.

Both platforms appear in

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