How do you feel about offering money to test a product?
Product Hunt was created specifically to showcase what you do. But let’s face it, with the progress of AI, there are more and more products and you don’t have time to test them all (respect to @gabe , who does this job brilliantly).
I noticed that as my following grew throughout social media, more people contacted me wanting to test products. Of course, I don’t have room for everyone, and what’s even more shocking is that to get to me, they want to compensate me for testing.
I have a question for people who create products:
• Why is offering money to people with a large following so valuable to you? Wouldn’t it be more rational to offer that money to companies that have a professional team of testers?
I would like to hear the thoughts of the PH community.
Replies
Paying can get quick testers, but nothing beats organic curiosity. If someone wants to test your product, the feedback is usually way more honest.
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@shabb_katoch Yes, but usually people notice the product from the big influencer who made the statement.
@busmark_w_nika I usually write unit and automation tests myself to reduce the need for manual testers. IMO For very large products, I still hire manual testers, but in fewer numbers. Automation covers most scenarios, but humans are essential for edge cases, UX feedback, accessibility checks, exploratory testing, and real-world usage nuances. This hybrid approach saves time ⏱️ and cost 💰 while ensuring quality 😄.
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@1001binary How long does this process take you? Approximately?
@busmark_w_nika IMO, it really depends on the size and complexity of the product. For small to mid-sized apps, setting up and maintaining automation plus writing tests might take me just a few days initially, since I already have testing templates in place. After that, it’s mostly incremental updates when features change. For larger systems, the upfront effort is bigger, but it pays off since automated regression is much quicker than manual testing 😄.
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@1001binary But you have any approximate reckon, or? :D
I don’t see anything wrong with it. If someone is spending their time trying out a product and sharing feedback, a small payment is fair. It also motivates more people to participate, which helps the company improve.
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@lalit_sen I think it helps me filter out those requests so I feel less under pressure.
Really interesting perspective! 👏
I think the value of offering money to people with a large following isn’t just about testing the product, it’s about visibility and trust. A professional testing company can validate functionality, but an influencer with a strong community can accelerate adoption by sharing authentic feedback and reaching the exact audience the product is built for.
That said, I agree there should be a balance, companies need structured QA/testing, but they also benefit from the real-world perspective and reach of creators.
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@ritik_ranjan So is it legit to take money for such "influencer testing"? How much?
@busmark_w_nika Great question! Yes, it’s legit, as long as it’s transparent. The value comes from the creator’s ability to give authentic feedback while also exposing the product to the right audience. The compensation usually depends on factors like audience size, niche relevance, and the level of effort required (just testing vs. testing + content creation). There’s no fixed number, it can be small for simple testing or higher for deeper involvement
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@ritik_ranjan Thanks for your POV :)
It makes no sense from a pure testing standpoint. But most founders aren't actually looking for feedback, they're looking for exposure. Paying influencers is just marketing disguised as product testing. At least be honest about what you're buying - reach, not insights.