I checked out Rare Patient Voice to see if it is worth your time. It is legit and longer studies can pay well, but it is only for patients and caregivers, and invites are rare. Below is what I found, and which sites I recommend instead.
Legit, but only for patients and caregivers, and invites are rare
Paid research studies about your own medical condition, or the condition of someone you care for. No payout threshold, but no PayPal either.
On this page
The short answer
Rare Patient Voice is a legit site that pays you for research studies about medical conditions. Longer studies can pay a decent amount, and there is no payout threshold.
But it is only for people with an existing medical condition and for caregivers. If that is not you, don’t even bother signing up. You can go for weeks or even months without an invite, so it is not something you can reliably earn from.
- No payout threshold
- Paid once a study is completed
- Longer studies pay a decent amount
- You help researchers find treatments for medical conditions
- Limited earning opportunities
- Doesn’t offer payment via PayPal
- The registration process can take a bit of time to complete
- Only for patients and caregivers in 8 countries
My experience with Rare Patient Voice
I explored Rare Patient Voice, its studies, how it pays and how you join. This is what I looked at, and what I did not test.
- First checked
- October 2023Review first published Oct 18, 2023
- Latest retest
- Checked: studies, payment methods, joining, support
- Study invites
- RareWeeks or even months without one
- How paid research studies and invites work
- The referral link request form
- The site on a phone
- The registration survey
- The FAQ section
- A paid study. Rare Patient Voice only invites patients and caregivers.
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from Rare Patient Voice.
Rare Patient Voice at a glance
| What it is | Panel that connects patients and family caregivers of rare and non-rare diseases with paid research studies |
|---|---|
| Who can join | Patients with an existing medical condition, and caregivers |
| Countries | US, UK, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand |
| Ways to earn | Paid research studies (mostly surveys; also phone or online interviews and focus groups), referrals |
| Pay per study | Surveys pay little. Longer studies around $100 to $300. |
| Referral bonus | $10 once your referral becomes a member. You request your referral link first. |
| Minimum cashout | None. You are paid when a study is completed. |
| Payout methods | US: check by postal mail. Elsewhere: prepaid digital Mastercard or Amazon gift card, depending on the study. |
| Joining time | 3 to 4 weeks for your application to be reviewed |
| Support | FAQ section, email: [email protected], and the project manager named in each study invite |
Is Rare Patient Voice legit and safe?
Yes, Rare Patient Voice is legit. You can really earn from its research studies. But that does not mean it is the right opportunity for you. Here is what you should know.
- Only for patients and caregivers
Rare Patient Voice only invites you to studies about your condition, or the condition of the patient you care for. If you don’t have a medical condition and are not a caregiver, don’t sign up. Lying to earn a few bucks is not an ethical way to earn.
- Invites are rare
You can go for weeks or even months without an invite, so you cannot reliably earn from it. Studies have specific requirements, and it is hard to qualify.
- Joining takes 3 to 4 weeks
After the registration survey and the email verification, Rare Patient Voice reviews your application. That can take 3 to 4 weeks.
- No PayPal
In the US, you get a check by mail. Elsewhere, a prepaid digital Mastercard or an Amazon gift card. You don’t receive your earnings right away.
My takeIn my opinion, Rare Patient Voice is intended only for people with existing medical conditions or caregivers. If you are qualified to join, be patient, because you won’t always be offered opportunities to earn. The real value of this site is that it helps researchers find cures or treatments for specific medical conditions. That is more valuable than the money you can earn from it.
Not a patient or caregiver? These sites are open to everyone.
See the top survey sites in your countryHow you earn on Rare Patient Voice
There are 2 ways to earn. Paid research studies are the main one. Tap one to read more.
Paid research studiesAround $100 to $300 for longer studies
Once you are a member, you get study invites by email. Check your inbox regularly, and whitelist Rare Patient Voice so the invites don’t end up in spam.
You are only invited to studies about your condition, or the condition of the patient you care for. Most studies are surveys, which don’t pay a lot. From time to time there are phone or online interviews and focus groups, which take more time and pay more: around $100 to $300, depending on the length of the study.
You are paid once a study is completed. But you can go for weeks or even months without an invite.
Referral program$10 per member
Invite other patients or caregivers with your invite link. You get $10 once your referral becomes a member of the panel.
Rare Patient Voice does not give referral links to anyone. Fill out a form and wait for it to send you your link. Then share it by email, in newsletters, in online support groups or on social media.
How much can you make?
There aren’t many opportunities, because studies have specific requirements. Unless you have several medical conditions, or care for people with different conditions, don’t expect many invites.
Surveys don’t pay a lot. Longer studies pay around $100 to $300, depending on how long they run. That is decent compared to other survey sites, but qualifying is quite hard, so the overall earning potential isn’t that great.
Payout methods
| Where you live | How you are paid | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| US | Check by postal mail | None |
| Other countries | Prepaid digital Mastercard or Amazon gift card, depending on the study | None |
You are paid every time you complete a study, with no threshold. But the payment methods are a bit outdated, in my opinion, and you don’t receive your earnings right away. For a more convenient payment system, see the top sites that pay via direct bank transfer.
What a reader told me
This review has 2 comments since October 2024: 1 from a reader and 1 reply from me.
A reader agrees the site is legit, but feels older members are picked less often. Who qualifies for a research study is always very specific, and age is one of the factors.
“I agree the site is legit but i have some issues with how participants are chosen.”
Mikael: With any research study, the types of people who will qualify will always be very specific, so in most cases it can be very hard to qualify.
Rare Patient Voice alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | Surveys for everyone, with high pay per survey and fast payouts | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| User Interviews | Paid research studies, mostly in the US | No threshold; paid per study | 3.4 / 5 |
| Respondent | Research projects that pay well | None; paid per project | 3.0 / 5 |
| Askable | Paid research studies, paid right after you finish | No threshold; paid per study | 2.9 / 5 |
See the top survey and GPT sites in your country. Most of them offer convenient payment methods, and you will find a site you can join wherever you live.
How I scored Rare Patient Voice
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. Platform Information.
Rare Patient Voice scores 56 out of 100. These sites are open to everyone.
See the top survey sites in your countryRare Patient Voice FAQ
Is Rare Patient Voice a scam?
No. Rare Patient Voice is a legit site that pays you for research studies about medical conditions. But it is only for patients and caregivers, and invites are rare.
Who can join Rare Patient Voice?
People with an existing medical condition, and caregivers, in the US, UK, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand.
How much does Rare Patient Voice pay?
Surveys don’t pay a lot. Longer studies, like interviews and focus groups, pay around $100 to $300.
How does Rare Patient Voice pay?
In the US, by check through postal mail. Elsewhere, by prepaid digital Mastercard or Amazon gift card, depending on the study. There is no PayPal.
Is there a minimum payout?
No. You are paid every time you complete a study.
How long does it take to join?
After the registration survey and the email verification, the review of your application can take 3 to 4 weeks.
How do I contact Rare Patient Voice?
Check the FAQ section. For a question about a study, contact the project manager named in your invite. For the site or your account, email [email protected].
Who checked Rare Patient Voice for this review
If you have any comments, questions, or experience with Rare Patient Voice, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
I agree the site is legit but i have some issues with how participants are chosen. They’ll deny it till the cows come home, but it seems quite evident that older folks are not high or welcome on the list of prospective research subjects. Think about it; if you were a company or business wanting opinions on, for example, some sort cutting edge medical technologies or pharmacological breakthrough, would you have much interest in the opinions of a bunch of seniors 65 years or older?
What we have at work here is a kind of kind of built in ageist element that is somewhat understandable.
With any research study, the types of people who will qualify will always be very specific, so in most cases it can be very hard to qualify. Age is not the only aspect they use to decide, but it is definitely a part of it, as it is on all platforms that offer you to participate in research studies.