Calculator estimates
Understand the numbers before you plan.
Our calculator uses earnings reported in our email-list poll, which we run every three months. The results offer a starting point, not a promise of income.
Where the rates come from
The calculator's earning ranges are based on a poll of people on the MoneyIdeas email list. Every three months, we ask our community to share their earning experiences to help inform these estimates.
Responses are self-reported and reflect the people who take part. They may not represent everyone using a platform or everyone in South Africa. The ranges are category-level estimates, not rates promised by individual platforms.
Help make these estimates more useful
Join our email list to take part in our quarterly earnings poll. Share your experience and help other South Africans understand what earning online can look like.
Contribute to the next poll
Email signup is coming soon. This form is a preview and does not collect email addresses yet.
The hourly ranges used
All amounts are in South African rand (ZAR). These values come from the same category data used by the calculator.
Surveys
R 15 to R 30 per hour, used to illustrate potential earnings.
Microtasks
R 18 to R 42 per hour, used to illustrate potential earnings.
Testing web/app
R 48 to R 108 per hour, used to illustrate potential earnings.
AI Tasks
R 27 to R 84 per hour, used to illustrate potential earnings.
Product Testing
R 21 to R 60 per hour, used to illustrate potential earnings.
Games & Offers
R 9 to R 27 per hour, used to illustrate potential earnings.
Passive Rewards
R 5 to R 15 per hour, used to illustrate potential earnings.
Local Tasks
R 27 to R 72 per hour, used to illustrate potential earnings.
How the calculation works
For example, 2 hours a day for 5 days gives 10 hours a week. Using the Surveys category range of R 15 to R 30 per hour, that produces R 150 to R 300 per week, R 650 to R 1 299 per month, and R 7 800 to R 15 600 per year.
- Weekly hours = hours per day x days per week.
- Weekly range = weekly hours x the low and high hourly estimates.
- Monthly range = weekly range x 4.33.
- Yearly range = weekly range x 52.
- Displayed amounts are rounded to the nearest rand. Monthly and yearly figures assume the same schedule and rates throughout; 4.33 weeks is an approximation.
What the estimate leaves out
- It assumes every hour you enter earns rewards. Waiting for tasks, unpaid screening, unsuccessful applications and rejected work are not modelled.
- It does not predict whether you will qualify or how many tasks will be available. Actual earnings may be below the range, including zero.
- Data, equipment, travel, platform fees, currency conversion and taxes are not deducted.
- Rewards may be points, vouchers or products rather than cash. Minimum withdrawals and payout delays can affect when you receive a reward.
- Product testing, games, passive rewards and local tasks may not pay by the hour. Expressing these rewards as an hourly range is a modelling shortcut, not an offered wage.
Use it as a starting point
Compare the platform's own eligibility rules, reward terms and withdrawal requirements before joining. Track your actual time and rewards to understand what works for you.
An estimate for a category does not mean we currently list a platform in that category.