Is Gorilla Participant Pool Legit? 2026 Review, Safety Score & Payouts
By GrindBoss Team • Last updated: January 16, 2026
Gorilla Participant Pool Review Quick Verdict
The Bottom Line: Gorilla Participant Pool is not a direct earning platform for gig workers. It's a powerful tool that researchers use to build studies, which are then posted on other sites where you can earn money.
Why We Love It
- Studies are often well-designed
- Wide variety of task types possible
- Used by reputable universities
The Catch
- ✕Not a direct earning platform
- ✕No direct way to find studies
- ✕No direct payouts from Gorilla
We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What is Gorilla Participant Pool & How Does It Work?
Gorilla is an advanced online platform that helps researchers create many kinds of studies, like surveys and experiments. It's used by universities and scientists to design tasks to understand how people think and behave.
Unlike typical survey sites where you sign up directly to take studies, Gorilla is the software behind the scenes that researchers use to build those studies.
At A Glance
- TypeSurvey
- PlatformWeb
- CostFree
- Est. Year2016 (10 Years)
How It Works
Researchers Build Studies
Scientists use Gorilla's tools to create different types of online experiments and questionnaires.
Find Studies on Other Sites
These studies are then posted on participant recruitment platforms like Prolific or CloudResearch, where you can find them.
Participate and Get Paid
You take the study using Gorilla's technology. Your earnings are paid by the external platform where you found the study, not directly by Gorilla.
Is Gorilla Participant Pool Legit or a Scam? (Safety Check)
It's important to understand what Gorilla is before checking its legitimacy for earning. It is not an earning platform itself, but a tool for creating studies.
- Real Company, Real Purpose: Gorilla was launched in 2016 by Cauldron Science. It was created to give behavioral scientists a way to easily make their own online experiments.
- Experienced Team: The company has grown from 3 people to a team of more than 10. The team includes behavioral scientists and software developers.
- Trusted by Universities: Over 30,000 researchers at more than 1,000 universities use Gorilla. This shows it is a respected tool in the academic world.
- Transparent Leadership: The company is led by Jo Evershed (CEO) and Nick Hodges (CTO). Their backgrounds are public and show expertise in science and software development.
Verdict: Proceed with Caution
Gorilla is a completely legitimate and well-respected platform within the academic and research community. However, it is a tool for researchers to build studies, not a place for participants to directly sign up and earn money.
How Much Money Can You Make? (Earning Potential)
You cannot earn money directly from Gorilla Participant Pool. It does not have its own panel of participants or a direct payment system for individuals.
- No Direct Earnings: Gorilla is a software tool for creating studies. It does not pay participants directly for taking studies.
- Earnings via Other Platforms: When you take a study built with Gorilla's tools, you will earn money through the participant recruitment platform where you found the study, such as Prolific.
- Pay Rates Vary: The amount you earn per study depends on the researcher and the external platform. Gorilla does not set these pay rates.
- Study Availability: How often you find studies built with Gorilla depends on the activity of researchers on other platforms, not on Gorilla itself.
Bottom Line: Do not expect to earn money by signing up for Gorilla Participant Pool. Your earnings will always come from other participant recruitment websites.
Gorilla Participant Pool Payment Methods & Cashout Speed
Gorilla Participant Pool does not handle payments to participants. All payment processes are managed by the external platforms where researchers post their studies.
- Payment Method: Payment methods depend on the specific participant recruitment site you are using, not Gorilla. Common options include PayPal or gift cards.
- Minimum Cashout: The minimum amount you need to earn before cashing out is set by the external platform, not by Gorilla.
- Cashout Speed: How quickly you receive your earnings is determined by the external platform's policies and processes.
- Approval Process: Study approval and payment release are handled by the researcher and the recruitment platform, not directly by Gorilla.
- Tax Considerations: Any tax responsibilities for your earnings are related to the external platform that pays you, as Gorilla does not pay participants.
Bottom Line: For all payment related questions, you need to check the rules of the participant recruitment platform where you find studies built using Gorilla.
Pros and Cons of Using Gorilla Participant Pool
The Good
- Well-Designed Studies. Studies built with Gorilla often have clear instructions and a smooth user experience.
- Variety of Tasks. You might encounter many different types of tasks, from simple surveys to complex experiments.
- Used by Reputable Researchers. Studies often come from trusted academic institutions and scientists.
- Supports Online Research. This tool helps bring more research opportunities online for participants worldwide.
- Seamless Experience. The studies themselves tend to run smoothly for participants, reducing frustration.
The Bad
- Not an Earning Platform. You cannot sign up with Gorilla to directly earn money or take studies.
- No Direct Study Access. There is no dashboard on Gorilla for participants to find available studies.
- No Direct Payouts. Gorilla does not pay participants, all earnings come from other sites.
- No Direct Support. Participants needing help with a study must contact the researcher or the external platform.
Gorilla Participant Pool Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gorilla Participant Pool legit or a scam?
Gorilla is a legitimate and well-respected tool used by academic researchers to build studies. However, it is not an earning platform for participants, so it's not a scam, but it's also not where you directly earn money.
How much money can I earn with Gorilla Participant Pool?
You cannot earn money directly from Gorilla Participant Pool. Any earnings come from the external participant recruitment platforms (like Prolific) where you find and complete studies built using Gorilla's tools.
How fast do I get paid from studies made with Gorilla?
Payment speed is determined by the external platform that hosts the study, not by Gorilla. Each platform has its own rules for how quickly payments are processed and sent to participants.
What payment methods are available for Gorilla Participant Pool studies?
Gorilla does not handle payments. The payment methods available, such as PayPal or gift cards, will depend entirely on the specific participant recruitment platform you are using.
Who qualifies to take studies made with Gorilla?
Eligibility for studies built with Gorilla is set by the individual researcher and the external recruitment platform they use. You will qualify based on your profile details on those external sites.
How can I find studies created using Gorilla?
You can find studies created using Gorilla by signing up for participant recruitment platforms like Prolific, CloudResearch, or Sona Systems. Researchers post their Gorilla-built studies on these sites.
Is it easy to take studies built with Gorilla?
Many users find studies built with Gorilla to be well-designed and easy to follow. Gorilla focuses on creating a smooth experience for both researchers and participants.
