Are you observant by nature? Do you notice the little details? Can you follow instructions to the letter? Then maybe you could earn some money as a website tester. Below is our evaluation of Testbirds, a website testing company.
Website testing company
Testbirds
www.testbirds.com
Testbirds was established in 2011 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany. They provide crowdtesting, testing + crowdsourcing, services to deliver an unbiased perspective to their clients. They work with customers and testers worldwide.
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
In Germany, the equivalent of the Better Business Bureau is Verbraucherschutz Zentrale, however, Testbirds is not listed with them. But they do adhere to the Crowdsourcing Code of Conduct which is mediated by the Ombuds Office (see more information here: https://ombudsstelle.crowdwork-igmetall.de/en.html).
Their initial funding was provided by the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Energy through scholarships and start-up competitions.
Pay range
Testbirds pays you depending upon the complexity of the testing task. Typically, you’ll receive a fixed rate for your test report but additional pay for each defect/bug you find. If you discover serious technical bugs then you earn even more.
For example, for a usability test you would receive between €10.00 and €50.00 – yes, you’re paid in Euros. If you find a unique bug, then you’d receive between €1.00 and €5.00.
Payment method
Testbirds pays you in different ways based upon your home country:
- Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA) – if you live in a country where SEPA is available then they can pay directly into your bank account via IBAN/SWIFT
- If you can’t receive money via IBAN then you would be paid through PayPal
Payment frequency
Testbirds payout is on-demand – you have to request to be paid out from your account. You can only request a payout when your account has reached a minimum balance of €10.00.
Testbirds pays twice monthly: in the middle of the month and at the end of the month. So, if you have the minimum balance required and request your payout on the 25th of May, as an example, then Testbirds will payout at the end of May. Allowing for processing time, you should receive the funds in the first week of June.
Report submission
The test reports for Testbirds website testing are critical for their clients. You must submit an accurate test report to be paid and that means following instructions exactly as outlined. Each test is different so you need to review the instructions for each test carefully before you begin the work.
A few things you’ll need to know for most test reports:
- How to take a screenshot from any device you might use for your testing
- A way to get a video of your screen while testing, better known as screencasts
- How do get system or “crash” logs from your device
Website and Mobile App usability
With Testbirds you use their website (they don’t have an app) to get your test instructions and submit your test report. But for the testing itself you could be accessing a completely different website or using an app or some other device connected via IoT (Internet of Things).
The Testbirds website has a left panel vertical primary menu for navigation and the menu options are pretty standard.
Social media
Testbirds has a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Testing Category
Testbirds website testing covers a lot of options. You might be involved in usability testing, prototype evaluation, exploratory bug testing, regression testing, and even end-to-end testing. But you choose which type of testing you perform.
When you receive an invitation to join a test, you have the opportunity to review the details before you accept. Be certain to read the information carefully, especially the deadline for completion. Then you simply accept and begin testing.
Most of the tests are “documented”, meaning you follow the instructions, answer the questions, provide your screenshots/screencasts/logs, and open any bugs you found.
But there are occasionally two other types (and these do not require a separate test report):
- Remote usability videos, often described as “thinking out loud” videos – these would use software recommended by Testbirds to record your voice and your screen clicks and navigation. These types of tests focus on your impressions, ease of use, and reactions while working through the client product.
- Remote interview – you would have a conversation via Skype or a VOIP app and you are usually also recorded. The interview is typically moderated by a staff member at Testbirds or the client directly or both. And these types of sessions usually pay better than other test types.
If you want to learn more about website testing, read How You Can Be a Website Tester!.
Test availability
Testbirds website testing is by invitation only, not from browsing a list of jobs. You’ll receive email invitations for testing based on your profile. So you can make yourself more competitive if you ensure all the details in your profile have been completed.
As with most testing companies, you’re competing with all the other available testers. This means your opportunities are not only linked to the number of customers and tests with Testbirds but also the other testers who might accept an offer first. It’s up to you to assess the offer and accept it quickly.
Tester support
Testbirds provides a contact form in their Help section if you are a registered tester. Just be aware of their time zone when you submit the form and be patient for a response. There is also a support email for direct contact and a phone number on the site.
What do you need?
To work with Testbirds website testing there are a few things you’ll need:
- Internet – you must have a reliable and safe connection and we recommend you avoid public or shared WiFi when doing your tests
- Device – tests will usually outline the type of device you need to use so be careful to read the instructions. You might use a laptop or a mobile device but you also might use some other connected device, for example a gaming unit.
- Software – Testbirds does not require you to use specific software however you will need:
- Tools to take screenshots
- Software to record your screen (screencast)
- If you want to accept any remote usability video tests or remote interview tests then you also need:
- Headset and microphone to ensure sound quality
- Webcam
- Video software as designated in the test instructions: Skype, Zoom etc.
How does it work?
- Go to their website, www.testbirds.com, and in the top right click the menu option “Tester login”
- You will be redirected to the tester launchpad, nest.testbirds.com/home/tester, where a member form is already displayed for you
- Enter the form information and then click “Let me in”. NOTE: If you intend to be paid via PayPal then ensure you register with the same email address you use for PayPal (it’s just easier).
- We recommend you complete the advanced profile to ensure you can be matched better with future tests. Your profile includes devices, job/education information, hobbies, languages, etc.
- Take the “Entry test”. Every new tester must perform an entry/qualification test which outlines instructions to perform on a specific website. You’ll need to perform the required tasks, add the relevant screenshots to confirm what you did, and submit your test report for evaluation.
- Staff at Testbirds will evaluate your test and once approved you are then eligible to receive test invitations
NOTE: You are paid €5.00 for your entry test and once you’ve reached the minimum balance of €10.00, you can request payout.
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Recommendation
We have not done a lot of testing with this company yet but their model is sound. We rate them well for:
- Test availability – we’ve received a few invitations but that was over a span of two months and the first invitation came after at least five weeks of waiting, so don’t expect this to be full-time work
- Tester support – they have a number of ways to contact them and are pretty responsive when you do
- Pay range – the pay is pretty good but it does depend on the type of testing so read those invitations carefully
- Payment – they pay as advertised
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