Saros Research pays UK residents for focus groups, interviews and product tests. I signed up to see if it is worth it. It is legit and pays well per project, but invites are rare. Below is what I found, and which sites I recommend if you want to earn regularly.
Legit and pays well, but invites are rare
Around £40 for a 90-minute focus group, paid by PayPal or bank transfer. UK only, and you may wait months for an invite.
On this page
The short answer
Saros Research is legit. It is a UK-based market research recruitment agency, and the research projects you take part in really pay. They pay well too: usually around £40 for a 90-minute focus group, by PayPal or bank transfer.
But the projects are invite-only, and there is no guarantee you will ever get an invite. I waited about a month and never got one. It is best treated as a bonus site, not a regular source of extra cash.
- Offers decent rewards
- Allows you to shape the products and services that will be released in the future
- Offers convenient payment methods: PayPal or BACS bank transfer
- No payout threshold
- An extensive FAQ and several ways to contact support
- Very limited earning opportunities
- Most projects require a significant amount of time to complete
- Invite-only, with no member dashboard
- Only available to UK residents
My experience with Saros Research
I signed up for Saros Research and waited for an invite. This is what I looked at, and what I could not test.
- First tested
- February 2026Review first published Feb 11, 2026
- Latest retest
- Checked: project types, payouts, support
- Invites received
- NoneI waited about a month before writing my review
- Member dashboard
- NoneInvites only come by email
- The registration form and the verification email
- The types of research projects on the website
- The FAQ and the contact options
- A research project. I never got an invite while I was testing.
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from Saros Research.
Saros Research at a glance
| What it is | UK-based market research participant recruitment agency |
|---|---|
| Ways to earn | Invite-only research projects: in-home research, online research, telephone interviews and face-to-face interviews |
| Topics | Mostly household items, plus major brands in fashion, furniture and supermarkets, and technology like games, apps and devices |
| Project length | Most take at least 90 minutes |
| Pay | Usually around £40 for a 90-minute focus group. Longer projects usually pay a lot more. |
| Minimum cashout | None. You are paid after each project. |
| Payout methods | Usually PayPal or BACS bank transfer. The company running the research decides. |
| Payout speed | Saros aims for within one week. Usually 24 to 72 hours. |
| Who can join | UK residents only |
| Devices | You need a computer, or to visit a location, unless the project is about a mobile app |
| Support | FAQ, contact form, phone number on the Contact Us page, and email: [email protected] |
Is Saros Research legit and safe?
Yes, Saros Research is legit, because the research activities you take part in really pay. But that doesn’t guarantee it is worth it. Here is what you should know.
- No guarantee of an invite
Projects are invite-only. When Saros gets a client, it searches its database for people who fit what the researcher asked for. I waited about a month and never got an invite. You can consider yourself lucky if you take part in a project once every couple of months.
- Qualifying takes several steps
An invite links to a qualifying survey. If you qualify, a representative calls you to confirm your answers and check your availability. Only then are you booked.
- Projects take real time
Most projects take at least 90 minutes, and some mean going to a specific location. Only accept a booking on a day when you have enough time to complete it.
- UK residents only
If you live somewhere else, there is no point in signing up.
My takeIn my opinion, Saros Research is not a bad site to earn from. It pays well, and the payout methods are very convenient. Its biggest drawback is the limited earning opportunities available. It is best to treat it as a bonus site. If you get lucky, you can earn a decent amount. If not, you don’t lose anything.
Invites from Saros Research are rare. These sites let you earn more regularly where you live.
See the best alternativesHow you earn on Saros Research
There is only one way to earn: invite-only research projects.
Research projectsAround £40 per 90 minutes
Once you are a member, you wait for an invite by email. There is no list of projects and no member dashboard. The invite links to a qualifying survey. If you qualify, a representative calls you to confirm your answers and your availability, and then books you. You show up at the booked time and do what is asked.
There are four types: in-home research, online research, telephone interviews and face-to-face interviews. Most take at least 90 minutes. Topics are mostly household items, major brands in fashion, furniture and supermarkets, and technology such as games, online platforms, apps and devices.
After the project, you get the compensation stated in the invite.
Check Out the Best Online Focus Groups for Money
How much can you make?
The projects pay a decent amount. The researchers decide the pay, not Saros. But Saros says you can usually earn around £40 for a 90-minute focus group, and longer projects usually pay a lot more. From what I observed, the pay is always in proportion to the time and effort a project takes.
Even so, the earning potential is quite low, because qualifying for a project is hard. You can consider yourself lucky if you take part once every couple of months. The upside is that you can help shape products and services that will hit the market in the future.
How you get paid
| Method | Minimum | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | None | Usually 24 to 72 hours; Saros aims for within one week |
| BACS bank transfer | None | Usually 24 to 72 hours; Saros aims for within one week |
Saros usually does not set the payment method. The company running the research decides, but the site says it usually only uses BACS transfers or PayPal. You are paid after each project, so there is no threshold.
For more sites with convenient payouts, see the top sites that pay via PayPal.
Who can join, and how
Saros Research is only available to UK residents. Fill out the registration form, and Saros sends you a verification email. It can take a while to arrive. Click the link in the email, and your name is added to the database of potential participants.
You can check for invites on your phone, but use a computer for the qualifying survey to avoid typing errors. Most projects need a computer or a visit to a specific location, unless the project is about testing a mobile app.
For questions, the FAQ covers an extensive number of topics. You can also use the contact form, email [email protected], or call the phone number on the Contact Us page.
Saros Research alternatives I have reviewed
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| People for Research | Paid research studies, mostly for people in the UK | None, paid per study | 3.1 / 5 |
| Prolific | Academic studies with fair pay, open in about 33 countries | £6/$6 to PayPal | 3.4 / 5 |
| Respondent | Research projects that pay well, straight to PayPal | None, paid after each project | 3.0 / 5 |
| Prime Opinion | High pay per survey and fast payouts | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
See the best online focus groups for money, or the top survey and GPT sites in your country for a regular source of extra cash.
How I scored Saros Research
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. Platform Information.
Saros Research scores 66 out of 100. For a regular source of extra cash, start with these sites.
See the best alternativesSaros Research FAQ
Is Saros Research a scam?
No. Saros Research is a legit UK market research recruitment agency, and its research projects really pay. But invites are rare.
How much does Saros Research pay?
The researchers decide, but Saros says you can usually earn around £40 for a 90-minute focus group. Longer projects usually pay a lot more.
How does Saros Research pay?
Usually by PayPal or BACS bank transfer, after each project. Saros aims to pay within one week, and it usually arrives within 24 to 72 hours.
Who can join Saros Research?
UK residents only.
How often will I get an invite?
There is no guarantee. I waited about a month and never got one. You can consider yourself lucky if you take part once every couple of months.
Can I use Saros Research on my phone?
You can check for invites on your phone. For the qualifying survey and most projects, you need a computer or a visit to a location.
How do I contact Saros Research?
Check the FAQ first. Otherwise, use the contact form, email [email protected], or call the number on the Contact Us page.
Who checked Saros Research for this review
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Saros Research, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.