Not all paid research panels are created equal. Respondent and Focusgroups.com both target professionals for high‑value studies, but they differ dramatically in study formats, acceptance rates, and who actually gets invited. If you're a B2B decision‑maker, IT manager, healthcare professional, or freelancer, this comparison will show you exactly where to invest your time for the highest hourly return in 2026.
Essential Research Panel Guides
- Platform Overview: Respondent vs Focusgroups.com
- Pay Per Study: Which Pays More?
- Study Formats: Moderated, Unmoderated & Focus Groups
- Screener Acceptance Rates: Who Actually Gets In?
- Professional Profile Requirements: B2B vs General
- Payment Speed & Methods
- Geographic Availability: US, UK, Canada, Australia & Beyond
- Pros & Cons of Each Platform
- Which Platform Should You Prioritise?
- How to Maximise Invites on Both Platforms
- Alternative High‑Value Research Panels
- Frequently Asked Questions
Platform Overview: Respondent vs Focusgroups.com
Respondent.io launched in 2017 and quickly became the go‑to marketplace for B2B and high‑value research studies. Researchers (from startups to Fortune 500) post studies requiring specific professional criteria – e.g., "IT director who uses AWS" or "marketing manager at a retail brand." Participants apply, and if screened in, earn $50–$200+ for 30–90 minute sessions, mostly live video interviews.
Focusgroups.com is a traditional focus group aggregator, operating since the early 2000s. It partners with market research firms and recruiters to list in‑person and online focus groups, product tests, and bulletin board studies. Pay ranges from $50 for short online boards to $150+ for multi‑day in‑person groups. The platform is less tech‑forward but has a broader range of study types.
Both are legitimate and pay reliably. The key difference: Respondent focuses on professional expertise, while Focusgroups.com includes more consumer and general population studies alongside professional ones.
Pay Per Study: Which Pays More?
| Metric | Respondent.io | Focusgroups.com |
|---|---|---|
| Average study pay | $75 – $200 | $50 – $150 |
| Highest typical pay | $250+ (specialist B2B) | $175+ (multi‑day in‑person) |
| Lowest pay | $50 (short surveys) | $30 (online bulletin board) |
| Pay per hour (effective) | $50 – $120/hr | $40 – $90/hr |
| Payment speed | 5–7 days after study | 2–4 weeks after study |
Respondent consistently pays more per study, especially for specialized B2B roles (IT, healthcare, finance). Focusgroups.com has a wider range of lower‑paying consumer studies, but their top‑tier in‑person groups can match Respondent. However, Focusgroups.com pays slower – often 2–4 weeks after completion vs Respondent's 5–7 days.
Study Formats: Moderated, Unmoderated & Focus Groups
Respondent.io
- Live video interviews (70% of studies) – 30–90 minutes, one‑on‑one with a researcher. Pay $75–$200.
- Unmoderated tasks (20%) – self‑guided diary studies or app tests, pay $50–$100.
- In‑person (10%) – mostly for major metro areas, pay $100–$250.
Focusgroups.com
- Online focus groups (40%) – 90‑minute group discussions via Zoom, pay $50–$100.
- In‑person focus groups (35%) – facility‑based, often include meals, pay $75–$175.
- Bulletin board studies (15%) – post comments over 3–5 days, pay $30–$60.
- Product tests (10%) – try a product at home and give feedback, pay $50–$100 + keep product.
Respondent favours busy professionals who can spare 30–60 minutes for a live video call. Focusgroups.com offers more variety, including asynchronous boards, which suits people who prefer not to be on camera.
Screener Acceptance Rates: Who Actually Gets In?
Both platforms use screeners to filter participants. Acceptance rates are low because studies are high‑value and require precise criteria. Based on 2026 data from active users:
- Respondent.io: 5–15% of applications lead to a booked study. For hyper‑specific B2B roles (e.g., "CTO who just migrated from on‑prem to cloud"), acceptance can be as high as 30% because few applicants match.
- Focusgroups.com: 8–20% acceptance, but heavily dependent on your location and demographics. Major cities have more in‑person groups, so acceptance rates there can reach 25%.
Pro Tip
On Respondent, fill out every single profile field – including job title, seniority, company size, tools you use (e.g., Salesforce, AWS, HubSpot). The matching algorithm prioritizes complete profiles. On Focusgroups.com, check the site daily because groups fill within hours.
Professional Profile Requirements: B2B vs General
Respondent is built for professionals. The most sought‑after categories:
- IT/Engineering (cloud, cybersecurity, DevOps)
- Healthcare (doctors, nurses, hospital admin)
- Marketing & e‑commerce (managers, directors)
- Finance & accounting (CFOs, controllers)
- Small business owners & freelancers
If you lack a professional role, Respondent will have very few studies for you. Students and general consumers rarely qualify.
Focusgroups.com includes many consumer studies (shopping habits, food & beverage, entertainment) alongside professional ones. Even if you're not a C‑level executive, you'll find opportunities. However, the pay for consumer studies is lower – typically $40–$70.
Payment Speed & Methods
- Respondent.io: Pays via PayPal, direct bank transfer (ACH), or TransferWise. Payments are released 5–7 days after study completion. No minimum payout.
- Focusgroups.com: Pays via PayPal, check, or gift cards. Payment takes 2–4 weeks after the study. Some in‑person groups pay cash or Visa gift card on the spot.
Respondent is faster and more convenient for regular earners. Focusgroups.com can be slow, but the "cash on the day" for in‑person groups is a nice bonus.
Geographic Availability
Respondent is strongest in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Western Europe. It has some studies in Latin America and Asia, but volume is lower. Most studies require fluent English.
Focusgroups.com operates primarily in the US and Canada, with limited presence in the UK and Australia. In‑person groups are concentrated in major metro areas (NYC, LA, Chicago, Toronto, London). If you live outside these regions, your opportunities will be mostly online groups.
Pros & Cons of Each Platform
| Platform | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Respondent.io | High pay per study ($75–200); fast payment (5–7 days); strong B2B focus; modern interface | Low acceptance rate (~10%); limited consumer studies; requires professional background |
| Focusgroups.com | More study types (in‑person, product tests); higher acceptance for general audiences; cash payments available | Slower payment (2–4 weeks); lower average pay; older platform interface |
Which Platform Should You Prioritise?
Choose Respondent.io if: You have a professional role (IT, marketing, finance, healthcare, management) and can spare 30–60 minutes for live video interviews. You want the highest hourly rate and fast PayPal payments.
Choose Focusgroups.com if: You prefer in‑person groups or product tests, don't have a specialised B2B background, or want to supplement Respondent with more study opportunities. Also good if you're in a major US city with frequent in‑person groups.
Best strategy: Use both. Apply to Respondent studies first (higher pay), then fill your downtime with Focusgroups.com listings. Many professional participants stack 3–5 research panels to reach $500–$1,000/month part‑time. See our platform stacking guide for details.
See a side‑by‑side comparison of hourly earnings between user testing platforms and Respondent.
How to Maximise Invites on Both Platforms
- Complete your profile 100%: Respondent has over 50 profile fields. Fill in job title, company size, seniority level, software used, certifications. Focusgroups.com has a shorter profile, but add all demographics.
- Apply within 1–2 hours of notification: High‑paying studies fill quickly. Turn on email/SMS notifications for both platforms.
- Write thoughtful screener answers: For Respondent, many screeners have open‑ended questions. Write 2–3 sentences showing you understand the topic. Generic answers get rejected.
- Be honest and consistent: Contradictory answers across screeners will flag your account.
- Keep a calendar: Live interviews often require scheduling within 48 hours. Missed appointments hurt your acceptance rate.
For more advanced strategies, read our paid focus group earnings guide.
Alternative High‑Value Research Panels
If Respondent and Focusgroups.com aren't a perfect fit, consider these alternatives:
- UserTesting – $10 for 20‑min recorded tests, $30–$90 for live interviews. Lower pay but much higher acceptance rate. See comparison.
- Prolific – Academic studies, $8–$12/hour, but very consistent work for general demographics. Prolific vs Respondent.
- Product Testing Panels – Free products plus cash. Good if you enjoy trying new items. Full guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Respondent.io is a legitimate platform used by companies like Google, Microsoft, and thousands of researchers. They have paid out over $10 million to participants. They require ID verification before your first payout to prevent fraud.
Active professional users average 2–4 studies per month, earning $150–$500. Power users with in‑demand profiles (e.g., IT manager, HR director) can get 6–8 studies, earning $600–$1,000+ monthly.
For in‑person focus groups, many recruiters pay cash or prepaid Visa cards at the end of the session. Online studies pay via PayPal or gift cards, typically 2–4 weeks after completion.
Yes, Respondent accepts participants from over 80 countries, but study volume is highest in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Non‑English speaking countries have very few studies.
Yes. In the US, if you earn $600+ from a single platform, you'll receive a 1099‑NEC. Even below that, you're required to report income. See our gig economy tax guide for details.
Focusgroups.com, because they have many consumer studies. Respondent is not beginner‑friendly – you need a verifiable professional role to qualify for most studies.