You can use uTest to perform freelance website testing and earn extra cash. But how does it work? Will this platform show off your testing skills?
Online website testing can be a good way to earn extra income. However, the challenge will be finding consistent income. So, I DO recommend trying website testing. But I also suggest you try other options in addition to this one.
One path for additional income is Mystery Shopping. You can register with multiple service providers to increase your shopping selections. Another income path could be Freelancing or Micro Jobs. Again, you can register with multiple providers so you have more diversity and income potential.
Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? Then perhaps you want to consider starting your own online business, beginning with a website. All of these options together give you more diversity – more options for income channels. There are a lot of resources available to help you get organized.
Website testing company:
uTest
www.utest.com
uTest website testing is part of Applause. uTest was founded in 2007 and has their headquarters in Framingham, Massachusetts. Their website boasts they are the number one destination for freelance software testing. They operate in more than 200 countries.
uTest focuses on crowdsourced testing to provide coverage and scale for digital validation. They provide more than just website testing: functional testing, automated testing, payment testing, security testing, accessibility testing, and usability testing to name a few.
And these different types of testing occur over a variety of connected devices: mobile, desktop, voice and AI (artificial intelligence), IoT (internet of things), automotive, etc.
Better Business Bureau (BBB):
uTest has been listed with the Better Business Bureau since 2018. They have received an A+ rating. They have no customer reviews but they also have no complaints.
Cost to you:
Registration: free
Software: N/A
Pay range:
With uTest website testing you typically get paid in the range of $1.75 USD to $17.00 USD. You are paid in USD regardless of the country where you register.
You are paid according to the type of testing you performed:
- Test cases – execution of scripted test cases
- Bugs found – you submit reports of the issues you discovered
- Usability – some tests require usability surveys where you provide feedback comments
- Bug fix verification – reproducing testing to confirm a code fix
There are two factors that contribute to how much you get paid:
- Value of Bug reported – bug reports have a base pay rate but if the customer deems the bug more valuable then you receive a higher payout
- Tester rating – you start out as an unrated tester. As your activity level and quality improves, you move through different ratings: Rated, Proven, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Gold rated testers receive up to 10% more pay for Bugs reported.
Your tester rating is a rather convoluted combination of customer impressions, your most recent activity level, the quality of your work, and your comparison to the broader tester community. Sometimes, it can seem rather arbitrary.
Payment method:
uTest offers two payment options: Payoneer or PayPal. Be aware that Payoneer applies minimum amount thresholds for transfers to bank accounts. Also, uTest applies a minimum account balance threshold before you can transfer amounts to Payoneer.
If you choose PayPal then we strongly recommend:
- When you register, ensure the email you use for registration is the same email you use for PayPal
- If you registered with a different email, then you need to add that email to your PayPal account
Payment frequency:
uTest website testing pays twice monthly. They pay on the 15th of the month and at the end of the month. On those dates, if the amount you’ve earned (the amount of your pending payment) is more than the minimum threshold required, then the money will be transferred to your default payment method.
Keep in mind that your pending payment will only contain funds for completed and approved test cycles. Unfortunately, we have not met the minimum payment threshold yet. So we can’t confirm payments.
Report submission:
uTest requires report submission for all the website testing. In most cases, that means you’ll be entering bug reports. uTest does not use recording software so your reporting is manual.
uTest has a lot of documentation on their site to assist testers, new and veterans alike. In their “Academy” section, they offer a number of courses. Some are for specific types of testing but you also have the classic introduction courses plus a course for bug reports.
Take advantage of these courses. They’re free and they’ll ensure you understand what you need to do for the different tests.
Website usability:
The website for uTest is fairly standard. Once logged in, you’ll find the navigation panel on the left with access to:
- Profile section – this contains all your personal information including payments settings
- Academy – this is the documentation/education section with a number of courses to help you with your testing
- Projects – this displays various testing projects, different test cycles, bugs, and test cases
- Community – this is an internal forum to connect with other testers on the platform
Social media:
uTest is available on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
Testing Category:
uTest includes website testing but also: functional testing, automated testing, payment testing, security testing, accessibility testing, usability testing, and voice testing. And for these different types of testing, you could be validating on a variety of devices: mobile, desktop, voice, IoT, etc.
However, from what we’ve seen, the majority of the testing falls into:
- Usability or exploratory testing – the focus is on finding bugs. You work with any aspects of the software, without any scripted test cases, trying to find issues.
- Functional testing – you are given specific tasks with test cases to execute. You’ll still open bugs for any issues you find.
If you want to learn more about website testing, read How You Can Be a Website Tester!.
Test availability:
There are usually between five and ten new projects available each week. But this is across the globe. You’ll have to weed through the projects you find interesting. And be certain to check the criteria: specific resident countries, particular devices, etc.
Generally, the criteria are not negotiable. If you don’t fit then you shouldn’t apply.
Tester support:
uTest has a few methods for support. They have a large FAQs section on the site that provides a lot of information for the typical questions. In addition, they have a contact form for testers to connect directly with site support. And, finally, you can consult the community forum for conversations with other testers. We did not see a contact phone number.
How does it work?
- Go to their website, www.utest.com, and from the top right, click on “Sign Up For Free”
- Enter your personal information, devices, preferences, etc., working through the four sign-up sections, and then click “Finish”
- Confirm your email address to complete the registration process
- Add your payment information and complete any other profile information
- After you’ve registered, you’ll receive an invitation to the sandbox cycle sample project. The invitation might be right away or it may take up to two weeks to arrive. This is a practice project to evaluate your testing skills. It also helps you understand how to use the platform.
- Once you’re registered, even before you complete the sandbox cycle sample project, you can apply to test cycles. You’re also eligible to receive invitations for testing.
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Recommendation:
We have received a number of invitations for testing with uTest. But certainly not enough to replace a full-time job. Although, perhaps if you combine this option with other freelance testing platforms, then it could work.
Here’s how we feel right now:
- Test availability – there seems to be a decent selection of tests available. But be careful to pay attention to the payment rates listed. Some are better than others.
- Tester support – there are a number of methods to reach support and they have a very active tester community
- Report – the reporting can take a lot of time. Entering bugs is tedious and requires a lot of detail and screenshots.
- Pay range – the pay rate isn’t bad, especially once you progress through the rating system to earn more per bug report
- Payment – we like the PayPal option and you’re paid in USD, a pretty stable currency
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