I signed up for Lightster to see if sharing your opinion with creators is worth your time. It is legit and pays without a threshold, but I did not get a single invite while testing it. Below is what I found, and which sites I recommend if you want to earn regularly.
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 Lightster himself and does not earn a commission from it.Learn more about Mikael
Last retested · First published
Legit, but there is no guarantee you will ever get an invite
Creators pay you per session, with no threshold. Invites are rare, so you cannot earn from it reliably.
On this page
The short answer
Lightster is legit. It is a market research company where creators pay you to share your opinion about their product or service in a live session.
The pay per session is usually decent, and there is no payout threshold. But there is no guarantee you will ever receive an invite. I did not get any while testing it. This is not something you can reliably earn from.
- Offers payment via PayPal
- No payout threshold: you are paid after every session
- Rewards arrive within one to three business days
- The member dashboard works well on mobile
- Limited earning opportunities
- Requires a certain level of commitment to earn
- No guarantee you will ever be invited
- You must give your mobile number to sign up
My experience with Lightster
I signed up for Lightster, answered the questions in the member dashboard and waited for an invite. This is what I looked at, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- October 2023Review first published Oct 20, 2023
- Latest retest
- Checked: earning opportunity, payouts, support
- Invites received
- NoneWhile I was testing the site
- The registration with SMS confirmation
- The questions in the member dashboard that match you with creators
- The member dashboard on a phone
- The FAQ section
- A session with a creator. I did not receive any invite.
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from Lightster.
Inside Lightster
These screenshots show the member dashboard, the questions you answer to get matched with creators, and the sign-up.
Screenshots from my test
Lightster at a glance
| What it is | Market research company. Creators pay you to share your opinion in a live session. |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free |
| Ways to earn | Sessions with creators, by invite only |
| Pay per session | Set by the creator and stated in the invite |
| Payout methods | Usually Amazon gift cards. Some creators pay cash via PayPal or bank transfer through Wise. In Canada, also e-Transfer. |
| Minimum cashout | None. You are paid after every session. |
| Payout speed | One to three business days |
| App | No app. The member dashboard is optimized for mobile. |
| Who can join | Not stated by Lightster. As far as I can tell, certain countries like the US and Canada. |
| Sign-up | Registration form plus your mobile number, confirmed by SMS |
| Support | FAQ section and email: support@lightster.co |
Is Lightster legit and safe?
Yes, Lightster is legit. It is a market research company that rewards you for sharing your opinion. But being legit does not make it a good way to earn. Here is what you should know.
- You may never get an invite
There is no guarantee you will ever receive an invite to connect with a creator. I did not get any while testing the site.
- Invites fill up fast
The number of members who can connect with a creator is limited. If you do not respond quickly, the spots can be gone, and you lose your chance to earn.
- You must give your mobile number
The sign-up requires your mobile number, and Lightster sends a confirmation code by SMS. If you are not comfortable with that, this site is not for you.
- You share your screen and your opinion live
Every session requires you to share your screen, and the creator interviews you about their product or service. If you are shy and very timid, this opportunity is not for you.
My takeLightster is not a bad way to earn extra cash as long as you are comfortable with sharing your opinion with others. Just keep in mind that there’s no guarantee you will be invited to participate in the earning opportunity it offers. So, this is not something you can reliably earn from.
Lightster invites are rare. The top sites in your country let you earn regularly.
See the best sites in your countryHow you earn on Lightster
There is one way to earn: a paid session with a creator. These are the steps.
Answer the questions in the dashboardNo pay
When you log in, you find survey-type questions that do not take long to answer. Lightster uses your answers to decide which creators to match you with, so answer them honestly. They increase your chances of getting an invite.
Accept an invite from a creatorReward stated in the invite
When Lightster matches you with a creator, the invite appears in the member dashboard and you get an email. It contains the date and time of the session and the reward you get. Respond quickly, because the number of members who can connect with a creator is limited.
Join the sessionPaid at the end
Click the link in the invite. The session usually takes place in the member dashboard. Some creators use Zoom or Skype instead. The creator interviews you about their product or service, and you share your screen.
You don’t have to worry about whether the creator likes your opinion. As long as you answer honestly, you receive the reward at the end of the session.
How much can you make?
I can’t tell you how much you earn per session, because I did not get any invites while testing the site. The creator sets the reward, and the invite tells you what it is.
From my experience, this type of opportunity, where you commit to a certain date and time, typically pays a decent amount per session. You can usually earn more than $10 per session.
But the earning potential of Lightster is not that great, because there aren’t a lot of opportunities. Even if it pays a decent amount, you will still not earn a lot from it.
Payout methods and speed
| Method | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon gift card | None | The most common reward |
| PayPal | None | When the creator pays in cash |
| Bank transfer through Wise | None | When the creator pays in cash |
| e-Transfer | None | Canada only |
You are paid after every session, so you don’t need to earn a specific amount first. You can expect the reward within one to three business days. If you want more sites that pay quickly, see the fastest paying sites.
Lightster alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | Surveys only, payouts usually within 30 minutes | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| User Interviews | Paid research studies, mostly for US residents | No threshold; paid per study | 3.4 / 5 |
| UserTesting | Video feedback on sites and apps | Paid per test via PayPal | 3.4 / 5 |
| Respondent | Research studies, open globally | Paid per project via PayPal | 3.0 / 5 |
If you want to earn regularly, see the top survey and GPT sites in your country. You will find a site you can join wherever you live.
How I scored Lightster
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
Lightster scores 52 out of 100. If you want to earn regularly, see these sites first.
See the best sites in your countryLightster FAQ
Is Lightster a scam?
No. Lightster is a legit market research company where you earn by sharing your opinion with creators. But there is no guarantee you will get an invite.
How much does Lightster pay?
The creator sets the reward and states it in the invite. This type of opportunity usually pays more than $10 per session.
How does Lightster pay?
Usually with Amazon gift cards. Some creators pay cash via PayPal or bank transfer through Wise. In Canada, you can also get paid via e-Transfer.
Is there a minimum payout?
No. You are paid after every session, within one to three business days.
Who can join Lightster?
Lightster does not say which countries it is available in. As far as I can tell, certain countries like the US and Canada. The only way to find out is to try and sign up.
Does Lightster have an app?
No. But the member dashboard is optimized for mobile, and some creators require you to use a mobile device.
How do I contact Lightster?
Check the FAQ section first. If you cannot find your answer, email support@lightster.co.
Who tested Lightster 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 experience with Lightster, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.