Is Pavlovia Legit? 2026 Review, Safety Score & Payouts
By GrindBoss Team • Last updated: January 23, 2026
Pavlovia Review Quick Verdict
The Bottom Line: Pavlovia is a legitimate platform used by researchers to host studies. However, it is not a place for gig workers to directly find paid work or earn money.
Why We Love It
- High-quality research studies
- Secure platform for participation
- Contributes to scientific research
The Catch
- ✕No direct earning opportunities
- ✕Does not pay participants
- ✕Requires external recruitment
- ✕Not a typical survey site
We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What is Pavlovia & How Does It Work?
Pavlovia is an online platform that hosts behavioral experiments for researchers worldwide. It allows universities and scientists to run studies securely online.
It is a tool for researchers to manage and launch their studies, not a place for individuals to sign up and directly earn money by taking surveys or tasks.
At A Glance
- TypeSurvey
- PlatformWeb
- CostFree to participate
- Est. Year2020 (6 Years)
How It Works
Get Invited to a Study
You typically receive an invitation to a study from another platform, like Prolific or a university's research panel.
Take a Study
If the study is hosted on Pavlovia, you will complete the experiment on their secure website.
Receive Payment (from Recruiter)
Any payment for your participation comes from the platform or researcher who invited you, not directly from Pavlovia.
Is Pavlovia Legit or a Scam? (Safety Check)
Many people wonder if Pavlovia is a legitimate platform. It is important to understand its true purpose.
- Real Research Platform: Pavlovia was created by the team behind PsychoPy at the University of Nottingham. It has received funding from organizations like the Wellwell Trust and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
- Supports Open Science: The platform is dedicated to open science, providing a space for researchers to share, run, and explore experiments. It is used by institutions globally.
- Secure Study Hosting: Pavlovia offers secure servers and encrypted connections for running studies. This helps protect participant data during experiments.
- Used by Academia: The platform powers behavioral experiments for universities and researchers worldwide, indicating its standing in the scientific community.
Verdict: Legit
Pavlovia is a completely legitimate and respected platform within the academic research community. However, it is a tool for researchers, not a direct earning opportunity for gig workers.
How Much Money Can You Make? (Earning Potential)
If you are looking to earn money directly, Pavlovia is not the right place. It does not offer direct payment opportunities for participants.
- No Direct Earnings: Pavlovia does not pay participants for taking studies. It is an infrastructure for researchers, not a payment processor for participants.
- Payment by Recruiter: Any money you earn for participating in a study hosted on Pavlovia comes from the researcher or the platform that recruited you (e.g., Prolific, Sona).
- No Hourly Rate Guarantee: Pavlovia itself does not guarantee an hourly rate. The pay rate is determined by the individual researcher or the recruiting platform they use.
- Not a Work Platform: Think of Pavlovia as the website where a study happens, not the place where you sign up for work or get paid.
Bottom Line: Pavlovia is not a source of direct income for gig workers. Your earnings depend entirely on the platform or researcher who invited you to a study hosted there.
Pavlovia Payment Methods & Cashout Speed
Pavlovia does not handle payments to participants directly. Your payment experience will depend on the platform or researcher that recruited you.
- Payment Method: N/A (Payments are handled by the recruiting platform or researcher, not Pavlovia.)
- Minimum Cashout: N/A (There is no minimum cashout from Pavlovia itself, as it does not pay participants.)
- Cashout Speed: N/A (Payment speed is determined by the external recruiting platform or the researcher.)
- Approval Process: N/A (Study approval for payment happens on the recruiting platform, not on Pavlovia.)
- Tax Considerations: N/A (Tax reporting for earnings is handled by the platform or researcher who pays you, not Pavlovia.)
Bottom Line: Since Pavlovia is a study hosting platform, it does not manage or process payments to individual participants.
Pros and Cons of Using Pavlovia
The Good
- High-Quality Studies. Studies hosted on Pavlovia often come from academic researchers and are well-designed.
- Secure Environment. The platform uses secure connections to protect your data while you participate in studies.
- Variety of Research. You might encounter a wide range of interesting behavioral science studies.
- Contribute to Science. Participating in studies helps advance scientific understanding.
- Reliable Hosting. Pavlovia is a stable platform, meaning studies are less likely to crash or have technical issues.
The Bad
- No Direct Earning. You cannot sign up to Pavlovia and earn money directly from them.
- No Direct Recruitment. Pavlovia does not provide a list of studies for you to choose from to earn.
- No Payment System. The platform does not have its own system to pay participants.
- Not a Side Hustle. It is not designed to be a platform for gig workers to find consistent income.
Pavlovia Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pavlovia legit or a scam?
Pavlovia is a legitimate platform used by academic researchers worldwide to host behavioral experiments. It is not a scam, but it is also not a platform for gig workers to earn money directly.
How much money can I earn on Pavlovia?
You cannot earn money directly from Pavlovia. Any payment you receive for participating in a study hosted on Pavlovia comes from the researcher or the platform that recruited you.
How fast does Pavlovia pay participants?
Pavlovia does not handle payments to participants. The speed of payment depends entirely on the external platform or researcher who invited you to the study.
What payment methods does Pavlovia use for participants?
Pavlovia does not use any payment methods for participants because it does not pay them directly. Payments are managed by the recruiting entity.
Who qualifies to participate in studies on Pavlovia?
Eligibility for studies hosted on Pavlovia is determined by the individual researcher. You will typically qualify based on criteria set by the recruiting platform or researcher.
How do I find studies or tasks on Pavlovia?
You do not find studies directly on Pavlovia. You are usually invited to studies hosted on Pavlovia through other platforms like Prolific, Sona, or directly by researchers.
Is Pavlovia like other survey sites where I can sign up and earn?
No, Pavlovia is not like typical survey sites. It is a hosting platform for scientific experiments. You cannot sign up there to find work or earn money directly.
