You can make money in your sleep, mostly with paid sleep studies and product tests, but you have to qualify, and most of them are tied to a location. Below I show what you do for each option and what you get.
Three good ways to make money in your sleep
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#1 Clinicaltrials.gov
Best for: Finding sleep studies all over the world
It is the main database of clinical studies all over the world, run by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. You search it, open a study and see how to apply.
- What you do
- Search a database of clinical studies, including sleep studies · worldwide
- What you get
- Paid studies
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#2 Fortrea
Best for: Well-paid clinical sleep studies
Its clinical studies pay really well, and they usually include a travel allowance, so you do not pay to get to the study.
- What you do
- Apply for clinical studies about sleep
- What you get
- Paid studies · Travel allowance
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#3 Mattress Product Tests
Best for: Free sleep products
You track your sleep at home with a device and simple surveys, so the company can see how well its sleep products work. You usually get a free mattress.
- What you do
- Track your sleep at home with a device and surveys
- What you get
- Free sleep products (like a mattress)
This is not a ranked list. I suggest you try all of them, because that gives you the best chance to earn while you sleep.
On this page6 sections
Compare all 7 ways to make money in your sleep
| Site | What you do | What you get | Join or read review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search a database of clinical studies, including sleep studies · worldwide | Paid studies | ||
| Apply for clinical studies about sleep | Paid studies · Travel allowance | ||
| Track your sleep at home with a device and surveys | Free sleep products (like a mattress) | ||
| Online focus groups and interviews about sleep, for example on Respondent | PayPal (on Respondent) | ||
| Sleep studies in its hospitals · Massachusetts, US | Paid studies | ||
| Studies from its Division of Sleep Medicine | Paid studies | ||
| Passive appApps that run in the background while you sleep · anyone can join | Small app earnings |
No site on this list matches these filters.
7 best ways to make money in your sleep
Now that you know what to expect from these opportunities, it’s time we discuss the actual methods to choose from. It’s not a prioritized list, so you can just choose which ones you prefer. In fact, I would even go as far as to suggest you try all of them.
That would be the best way to gain access to more opportunities to earn while you sleep. I will keep updating this guide if I find more great ways to make money in your sleep, so make sure to bookmark this page and check on it from time to time for new opportunities.
#1 Clinicaltrials.gov
- What you do
- Search a database of clinical studies, including sleep studies · worldwide
- What you get
- Paid studies
One of your best options to find sleep studies is to visit the website Clinicaltrials.gov. It is a publicly accessible database run by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
It’s the main platform where you can find detailed information about clinical studies being conducted all over the world. These studies involve human participants and are used to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of drugs, medical devices, behavioral treatments, and other healthcare-related interventions.
Read more
You can find sleep studies just by searching the database. Once it displays the search results, just click on one to see the full details, as well as how you can apply.
Most of the time, the sleep studies pay quite well, but they are very specific with who they accept as participants, so it can be quite hard to participate in one. But the good thing about this opportunity is that it can help you understand the sleep condition you might have, so it’s a win-win situation on your end, in my opinion.
#2 Fortrea

- What you do
- Apply for clinical studies about sleep
- What you get
- Paid studies · Travel allowance
Fortrea is a global contract research organization (CRO) that supports drug, biotechnology, and medical-device companies in developing and bringing therapies to patients. You can also find clinical studies about sleep on this website.
All of the clinical studies it offers pay really well ($5,000+), plus they usually include a travel allowance, so you won’t have to pay out of pocket to get to the location of the clinical study. You just have to keep in mind that they are very specific with who they accept, so it can take a lot of patience to find the right study for you.
#3 Mattress Product Tests
- What you do
- Track your sleep at home with a device and surveys
- What you get
- Free sleep products (like a mattress)
The next opportunity is all about testing mattresses. SleepScore Labs, for example, runs a sleep study that invites people to participate in tracking their sleep at home. It uses a device and simple surveys, so that the company can evaluate how well different sleep products work in real-life environments.
As a participant, you’ll receive free products like mattresses and a $150 SleepScore Max, which is a device that helps you track your sleep. It’s not a way to earn extra cash, but you usually get a free mattress, which is a bit expensive.
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This is just an example, and if you search online in your area, you can sometimes find more opportunities like this.
#4 Online Focus Groups
- What you do
- Online focus groups and interviews about sleep, for example on Respondent
- What you get
- PayPal (on Respondent)
While this opportunity doesn’t necessarily pay you to sleep, you can still earn some cash by discussing sleep-related topics. A good example of a site where you can find these opportunities is Respondent.
There won’t be a lot of focus groups or interview opportunities about sleep, but the good thing is that most of them will be conducted online, so you won’t have to travel to earn. It doesn’t pay as well as clinical trials and other sleep studies, but it also doesn’t require a lot of effort and time.
Read more
You can also check out the best online focus groups for money for more sites that offer this opportunity.
#5 Mass General Brigham
- What you do
- Sleep studies in its hospitals · Massachusetts, US
- What you get
- Paid studies
Another place where you can find sleep studies and clinical trials is called Mass General Brigham, which is a large, nonprofit, integrated academic health-care system based in Massachusetts, USA. It offers everything from routine medical care to highly complex specialty treatments.
As mentioned, you can find sleep studies or clinical trials by simply doing a search on the website. These clinical trials and studies are usually conducted in Mass General Brigham’s member hospitals, so expect to travel to those locations to participate.
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But again, most studies are looking for specific people, so you must be patient when looking for trials and studies to apply for. You can expect to earn around $100 or more from most studies about sleep, so it’s not as high-paying as the other options on this list. The good thing, though, is that their studies don’t require a lot of commitment on your end, which is probably the reason for the lower rewards, in my opinion.
#6 Harvard Medical School
- What you do
- Studies from its Division of Sleep Medicine
- What you get
- Paid studies
One more place where you can find sleep studies and clinical trials is the Harvard Medical School, specifically the Division of Sleep Medicine.
This division’s goal is to bring together clinicians, scientists, educators, and trainees working in sleep, circadian rhythms, and sleep disorders medicine.
Read more
You can find clinical trials and studies about sleep on its recruitment page. There aren’t a lot of studies, but most studies pay around $500 or more.
#7 Passive Income Apps
- What you do
- Passive appApps that run in the background while you sleep · anyone can join
- What you get
- Small app earnings
The easiest way to earn money in your sleep is by using passive income apps. This is something anyone can do, but let me just be clear that you won’t earn a lot of money from this method.
Most of the time, all you have to do is install a program on your computer or phone and let it run in the background. While the program is running in the background when you are sleeping, you’ll earn a little bit of money.
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It can take some time to accumulate a significant amount from this method, but you won’t really have to do anything once it is set up. So, it’s a very convenient way to earn, in my opinion.
For a list of great passive income apps, you can check out this list of the best passive income apps.
What to expect?
Making money while you sleep sounds effortless, but it is important to be realistic about what you are getting into.
Free, and it can pay well
All of these methods are free to apply for. If you get chosen for a sleep study, a product test or a mattress gig, you can earn good money.
Hard to qualify for
They will not make you rich overnight. Most of them are tied to a location and look for specific people, so you need patience to find the right one.
What to do if you don’t qualify for some of these opportunities?
Everyone qualifies for passive income apps. If you do not qualify for the clinical trials, focus groups and other options on this list, you still have options that pay close to what they offer.
- Look close to homeCheck local hospitals, sleep clinics and medical universities. They usually run sleep studies regularly.
- Search for local studiesSome studies do not make it to the big websites. Search for “sleep studies near me” or “university research participants in (city name)”.
- Be patientIt takes some effort, but you can sometimes find better and more flexible opportunities this way. You might even end up sleeping better.
The easiest way for everyone
Passive income apps run in the background while you sleep. You will not earn a lot, but you do not have to do anything once they are set up. See the best passive income apps.
How I choose the sites on this list
What I look at
- Free to apply for
- Realistic, not a promise of quick money
- Lets you earn while you sleep, or with sleep topics
- Can pay well if you get chosen
Ready to start?
All of these are free to apply for. I suggest you try all of these methods, because that gives you the best chance to earn while you sleep.
I keep this list updated, so bookmark this page. Know a site that belongs here, or have a question? Leave a comment below.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make money while I sleep?
Yes, but it takes some effort at the start. Paid sleep studies, product tests and mattress gigs pay you for your sleep, but you have to qualify, and most are tied to a location. Passive income apps are the easiest way, because anyone can use them, but you will not earn a lot.
What is the best way to make money in your sleep?
Sleep studies usually pay the most. You can find them on Clinicaltrials.gov, Fortrea, Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School, but they are very specific about who they accept. If you do not qualify, passive income apps are a way for everyone.
I suggest you try all the methods on this list, because that gives you the best chance.
What are some ways a beginner can earn passive income?
Passive income apps. You install a program on your computer or phone and let it run in the background, also while you sleep. You will not earn a lot, and it takes time to build up, but you do not have to do anything once it is set up. See the best passive income apps.
How to earn money at night?
Let passive income apps run on your phone or computer while you sleep. Or apply for paid sleep studies: you can find them on the sites in this list, and at local hospitals, sleep clinics and medical universities.
How to make $500 overnight without a job?
There is no quick way that I can recommend. None of the methods on this list will make you rich overnight. Some sleep studies pay well, but you have to qualify first, and it can take a lot of patience to find the right one.