Dscout

Dscout is an established user research platform where people can earn money by participating in paid research studies for brands, product teams and researchers.

The company launched in 2011 and is headquartered in Chicago. Its participant community, known as Scouts, takes part in studies designed to understand how people use products, services, apps and websites.

Dscout is different from a typical survey website because many of its studies involve more detailed participation. A mission might ask you to keep a diary over several days, record videos or photos, test an app, evaluate a website, visit a retail location, answer questions about your shopping habits or participate in a live interview. The exact activities depend on the research project.

To get started, you create a participant profile and apply for missions that match your background and interests. Researchers select participants based on the requirements of each study, so completing the application does not guarantee selection. Once selected, you complete the assigned activities through the Dscout app or another method specified by the researcher.

The potential payments can be considerably higher than ordinary survey sites because some Dscout studies require more time and detailed feedback.

Dscout reports that its participants earned an average of $1 per minute across its research activity and that the platform distributed $13 million to participants in 2025. These are platform-wide figures rather than a guaranteed earning rate for individual Scouts.

Dscout pays participants through PayPal after they complete their assigned work. The company also offers Dscout XT, an optional program that can match participants with paid research opportunities based on their browsing and shopping activity.

Want to take your online income journey a step further? Check out our Online Income Starter Kits for simple, practical guidance you can put into action.