Incentives FAQ
Incentives FAQ
Learn how to set, update, and track incentives in your studies, plus what participants experience when redeeming rewards.
Setting Incentive Amounts
How much should I offer as an incentive?
A good rule of thumb:
- Moderated sessions – Offer more, since they require active participation.
- Unmoderated tests – Offer less, since they require less of the participant’s time.
Here are some general benchmarks:
Study Type | Recommended Amount | Description |
Unmoderated prototype tests | $40/hour | Ideal for usability or task-based sessions |
Remote moderated interviews (consumers) | $80/hour | Standard for general participants |
Remote moderated interviews (professionals) | $100/hour | Recommended for specialized or B2B audiences |
Even for short sessions, a $20 minimum is recommended to make participation worthwhile.
How and When You Can Update Incentives
When you can update incentives:
- The study is in draft
- The “Thanks” message hasn’t been sent
- The study is paused
- The participant is not externally recruited
To update the overall incentive:
- Pause the study
Click the ⋯ menu → select Pause - Edit the incentive
Go to Incentives → click Edit - Update the amount or type
Adjust the value or switch between Money, Gift Card, Coupon, etc. - Save and unpause
Confirm changes → resume the study
To update a specific participant’s incentive:
- Open your study → go to the Participants tab
- Click the ➕ icon in the table header to show the Incentive column
- Find the participant → click their incentive amount
- Edit the amount:
- Increase: You’ll be prompted to add funds
- Decrease: Unused funds return to your wallet when the study closes
How to Track Incentive Delivery
Check status in the Participants tab:
Status | Meaning |
Sent | The incentive email was delivered |
Redeemed | The participant clicked the link and claimed their reward |
Other ways to confirm:
- Hover over Sent Thanks to check redemption status
- Open a participant profile → check Messages or Activity
- View overall incentive stats under Stats within the study
How to Delay Sending Incentives
To hold off on sending the "Thanks" message:
- When marking as Completed, toggle Send Thanks OFF
- Later, select the participant → click Compose → Thanks
- Review and send when you're ready
This gives time to review responses before incentives are released.
What Participants Experience
This is the participant experience when the incentives are managed via Great Question:
- Participant receives the Thanks email
- Clicks the CTA link
- Lands on a page where their Tremendous reward is generated
- Chooses their payout option: Gift card, PayPal, bank transfer, etc.
Troubleshooting Incentives
Issue | What's Happening | How to Fix It |
Can’t edit incentive details | The study is active or the “Thanks” message has been sent | Pause the study and confirm the “Thanks” message hasn’t been sent to affected participants |
Participant didn’t receive incentive | The “Thanks” message wasn’t sent | Go to the participant's row → click Compose → Thanks → review and send |
Incentive not marked as redeemed | Participant hasn’t claimed it yet | Hover over Sent Thanks or check Activity tab for real-time status |
Can’t update incentive for external participants | External incentives (e.g., from User Interviews) are managed directly in User Interviews | Participant must redeem directly through User Interviews and contact them for any payment issues |
Refund not visible after decreasing incentive | Funds are held until the study closes | Check your wallet or card on file after the study is closed |
Still need help?
Reach out to us anytime in the app or email us at [email protected]!
