I tested Connect by CloudResearch to see if it is worth your time. It is legit, pays through PayPal from $5 and has no screen-outs, but there are not many projects. Below is what I found, and which sites I recommend instead.
Tested by Mikael (EarnWithMike)Founder and lead testerMikael founded PaidFromSurveys in 2016 and has personally tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites since then. He shows his tests and payment proof to 555K+ subscribers on his YouTube channel, EarnWithMike. He tested Connect by CloudResearch himself and does not earn a commission from it.Learn more about Mikael
Legit, but too few projects to earn regularly
Convenient payouts from $5 and no qualification process, but not many projects, and you wait up to 3 business days before you can start.
On this page
The short answer
Connect by CloudResearch is legit. You really get paid to answer surveys and complete research tasks. It is a decent site to earn extra cash from, in my opinion.
It offers convenient payment methods and a low payout threshold. But there are not a lot of projects, so you will not earn a lot from it, and you have to wait 1 to 3 business days after signing up before you can start earning.
- Payment via PayPal
- Low payout threshold
- No qualification process: if a project is offered to you, you can do it
- Works well on a phone, with no pop-up ads
- Limited earning opportunities
- You cannot start earning right after signing up
- A researcher can reject your work
- It does not say which countries it is available in
My experience with Connect by CloudResearch
I signed up for Connect, went through its verification, and looked at the projects and payout options. This is what I looked at myself, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- May 2023Review first published May 15, 2023
- Pay per project
- Around $1 to $2Most projects take around five minutes
- Minimum cashout
- $5 to PayPal$25 for a bank transfer
- Waiting time
- 1 to 3 business daysAfter the verification, before you can start
- Signing up and verifying my email
- The extra verification questions
- The projects in the member dashboard
- The payout options
- The website on a phone
- The Help Center and the contact form
- A payout. My review does not show a cashout from Connect.
- A bank transfer through Stripe.
Inside Connect: my screenshots
These screenshots are from my own test of Connect by CloudResearch.
Screenshots from my test
Connect has few projects. The top sites in your country give you more ways to earn.
See the best alternativesConnect by CloudResearch at a glance
| What it is | A survey site where researchers post projects |
|---|---|
| Ways to earn | Projects: surveys and research tasks |
| Pay per project | Usually around $1 to $2, more for longer projects |
| Minimum cashout | $5 for PayPal · $25 for a bank transfer · no threshold for Amazon gift cards |
| Payout methods | PayPal, bank transfer through Stripe, Amazon gift cards (up to $100) |
| Who can join | From age 18. It does not say which countries. |
| Before you can earn | A verification and a wait of 1 to 3 business days |
| App | No app. The website works well in a mobile browser. |
| Support | A Help Center and a contact form |
Is Connect by CloudResearch legit and safe?
Yes, Connect is legit, because you really get paid for the projects you complete. But that does not automatically make it worth your time. Here is what you should know.
- There are few projects
You have no control over how many projects you are offered, and there are not a lot of them. So you cannot earn regularly from it.
- You wait before you can start
After signing up, you go through a verification and wait 1 to 3 business days to hear if your registration is accepted.
- A researcher can reject your work
The researcher reviews your answers and the completion code. If they think you did not answer properly, they can reject your submission. You can contest it, but the decision is usually not overturned unless the researcher made an error.
- ID verification
Two readers report that Connect asked them to verify their identity, for example with a government ID. Most earning platforms ask for some verification before they pay you, to avoid fraud.
My takeIn my opinion, Connect by CloudResearch is a decent site to earn extra cash from. It offers convenient payment methods and a low payout threshold. Just set your expectations properly, because there are not a lot of projects.
How you earn on Connect by CloudResearch
There is one way to earn: projects posted by researchers. Tap it to read more.
ProjectsAround $1 to $2
You see the available projects in the member dashboard, and you also get an email when there is one for you. Click a project to see the full details, including what you earn, and click the start button when you are ready.
Unlike most survey sites, there is no qualification process. If a project is offered to you, you are already eligible, so you just answer the questions as honestly as you can.
Most of the time, you get a completion code at the end, which you copy and submit. Some projects do not use a code. The researcher then reviews your answers, and when they approve your submission, you get the reward.
Check Out the Top Survey Sites in Your Country
How much can you make?
It depends on how many projects you can complete, and you do not control how many you are offered. So it is hard to say exactly.
Connect pays a decent amount, usually around $1 to $2 per project. Most projects take around five minutes, and longer projects pay more. The earning potential is decent, but you will not earn regularly from it, because there are not a lot of projects.
How Connect by CloudResearch pays
What you earn for each project goes to your Connect balance. You can withdraw it in three ways.
| Method | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | $5 | The lowest threshold, so you can withdraw quickly |
| Bank transfer | $25 | Through Stripe. You go through the Stripe onboarding to link your bank account. |
| Amazon gift card | No threshold | Up to $100 per redemption |
The payment system is straightforward. For more sites with a low threshold, see the fastest paying sites.
Who can join, and on which devices?
Connect does not say which countries it is available in. It only says you must be at least 18.
To find out, you sign up and click the verification link in the email. When you log in, you see the message “Connect is not available in your region” if your country is not included. If you do not see it, you can join.
Then you answer another set of simple verification questions, which is really just a very long CAPTCHA. After that, you wait 1 to 3 business days, and Connect emails you whether your registration is accepted.
There is no app, but the website is made for mobile use, and you do not see annoying pop-up ads. For questions, the Help Center is under the profile icon in the member dashboard, and there is a contact form.
What 6 readers told me
This review has 12 comments since May 2023: 6 from readers and 6 replies from me. These are the two things readers write about most.
Experiences differ. Two readers are very happy with what they earn, one sees good and bad sides, and one closed their account because they found the pay too low. One reader says they check for new surveys very often.
Two readers mention identity verification, for example before using Amazon gift cards or after completing some surveys.
“Once I completed 10 surveys, the website asked me to verify my identity by uploading a picture of my drivers license or some type of government ID, and I am hesitant to do so… Did you have to do this, and if you did, will they do anything with it?”
Mikael: More or less all free earning platforms will ask for verification before they pay you. They have to do this to avoid fraud. … usually they only use it to make sure you are not faking your country or something like that.
“Unfortunately their payscale is an insult and it is like working at a sweatshop. Cloudresearch does not set the rate of pay, but they do also do not stop the abuse either by researchers who can pay you as little as 25 cents for a survey.”
Mikael: Thanks for sharing your experiences and opinions.
“The positives: one, the surveys are high quality in terms of content, fairness, and pay per hour. Rarely are you screened out of surveys (a godsend).”
Mikael: Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Connect by CloudResearch alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | Surveys in more than 70 countries, PayPal payouts | $5 or $10 PayPal | 4.6 / 5 |
| Survey Junkie | Surveys in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK | $5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Prolific | Academic research studies, about 33 countries | £6/$6 | 3.4 / 5 |
| User Interviews | Paid research studies, mostly for US residents | None | 3.4 / 5 |
For more, see the top survey and GPT sites in your country.
How I scored Connect by CloudResearch
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
Connect by CloudResearch scores 48 out of 100. I recommend these sites before Connect.
See the best alternativesConnect by CloudResearch FAQ
Is Connect by CloudResearch legit?
Yes. You really get paid to answer surveys and complete research tasks. But there are not a lot of projects.
How does Connect pay?
Through PayPal from $5, a bank transfer through Stripe from $25, or Amazon gift cards with no threshold, up to $100.
How much does Connect pay per project?
Usually around $1 to $2. Most projects take around five minutes, and longer projects pay more.
Who can join Connect?
Anyone from age 18 in a country where it is available. It does not list the countries, so you find out after signing up.
How long before you can start earning?
After signing up and the verification, you wait 1 to 3 business days for Connect to accept your registration.
What are good alternatives to Connect?
Prime Opinion, Survey Junkie, Prolific or User Interviews in the alternatives above. Or see the top survey and GPT sites in your country.
Who tested Connect by CloudResearch for this review
Founder of PaidFromSurveys.com since 2016. Mikael has tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites and shares his tests with 555K+ subscribers on YouTube (October 2026).
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Connect by CloudResearch, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
I have a question! Once I completed 10 surveys, the website asked me to verify my identity by uploading a picture of my drivers license or some type of government ID, and I am hesitant to do so… Did you have to do this, and if you did, will they do anything with it?
More or less all free earning platforms will ask for verification before they pay you. They have to do this to avoid fraud. Of course, you need to make sure only to do it on legit sites, but usually they only use it to make sure you are not faking your country or something like that. Site like this see a lot of fraud, so if they did not do any verification, they would quickly go out of business.
Maybe it’s got something to do with the geographical area you live or the way you answered your profile questions but I have $1,658 in the last 4 months. That may not seem worth it to some but for my family it’s been a godsend.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Cloudresearch supplies you with what is supposed to be a way of earning extra money by completing surveys provided by an assorted amount of researchers that vary from university students to firms. Unfortunately their payscale is an insult and it is like working at a sweatshop. Cloudresearch does not set the rate of pay, but they do also do not stop the abuse either by researchers who can pay you as little as 25 cents for a survey. Law firms also use their services to do a mini mock jury but once again the pay is pathetic. For those of you that have ever participated in an actual mock jury, you can expect at least $30-50 per hour. On this platform you are lucky to get $15. This company is a complete joke. They are getting rich of us which is why after 5 months I closed my account. The most I ever made in one month was a little over $300. NOT worth it!
Thanks for sharing your experiences and opinions.
I love Cloud Connect! The surveys are a lot of fun, and with regards to the Amazon gift cards, you can only withdraw earnings to that payment method if you have verified your identity after you
Thanks for sharing your opinion and experience.
I’ve been a participant with Connect for a few months now. I have earned in the neighborhood of $150 up to this point. The process is pretty transparent as far as qualification for surveys. The survey vendor has 14 days from the date of your initial submission to approve or decline. Payment methods have changed slightly since I signed up. It’s now a minimum of $5 to cash out with PayPal (my preferred method because it’s basically instant), and bank transfer now requires a $100 minimum. Both methods are limited to once a day. Amazon gift cards are available also, with a $1 minimum. Support is available by email and when I have had to contact them they’ve been very proactive in their efforts. Overall, I’m very happy with Cloud Research.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I’ve been on this platform for about a year. The negatives: first, you are correct, the earning opportunities are infrequent. I check in with Cloud Connect about every twenty minutes when I am working at my computer. I would say there is an available survey about 1/8 of the time. Second, in my experience, unlike MTurk where you can load available surveys into your queue, here you cannot: you can only work on one survey at a time. It is rare, but sometimes more than one survey is available and you will have to choose. The positives: one, the surveys are high quality in terms of content, fairness, and pay per hour. Rarely are you screened out of surveys (a godsend). And, for the most part, the attention checks are transparent. About once or twice a month, a mock jury study appears, and I have seen these pay between $9 to $12 for 45-90 minutes work (it is not unusual for these studies show up on a Saturday or Sunday morning). So, it seems to me Connect curates its requesters a bit more thoroughly than do other platforms. The second positive is I see no evidence of a worker ranking system like MTurk uses to “incentivize” its workers. Thus, in terms of opportunity to grab whatever surveys do become available, Connect seems to me more “democratic.” The mock juries are an excellent example: on MTurk I do not yet qualify for this level of compensation; here, apparently I do. I earn around $50 a month, but as mentioned, I am checking in very frequently. My gut feeling is that Connect is gradually building out its platform.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.