There are plenty of websites that exist today which offer a convenient way to earn extra income online by completing various tasks. With no required initial investment and the ability to start without prior knowledge, Toloka is seemingly a compelling choice in this space. But, you might be wondering – is the platform actually legitimate or is it a waste of time?
In this review, I’ll delve into Toloka to determine its legitimacy, uncover the benefits and drawbacks, and give you a clear understanding of whether it’s the right choice for you. Let’s get started!
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What exactly is Toloka?
Toloka is a crowdsourcing platform and microtasking project launched by Yandex in 2014 to quickly markup large amounts of data, which are then used for machine learning and improving search algorithms. The proposed tasks are usually simple and do not require any special prior training from the user.
How can you start earning on Toloka?
In order for you to be able to earn on Toloka, you will first need to register an account. All of the tasks can be completed via a web browser, so there is no need to download the application separately if you are using a desktop device. To sign up, you can use your existing e-mail address, or for a more hassle-free registration process, you can use a Google, Twitter, or Facebook account instead.
How do you earn on Toloka?
The primary way of earning on Toloka is by completing various tasks. Once you have signed up for an account and successfully logged in, you can then access the main dashboard area, from where you will be able to choose from a variety of tasks to complete.
In the “Tasks” section, you can explore all the projects that are available to you. Simply choose a task that seems appealing, and when you start, you’ll receive a set of instructions to follow. Usually, you will first have to go through training and then an exam before you can begin earning money.
Upon successfully completing a project, submit your task for review. Toloka then checks the quality of your work, and if all requirements are met, you’ll receive payment for your efforts.
The availability of tasks will mostly depend on your skill level and rating. Your rating is basically determined by the quality of responses that you provide in the completed tasks. Providing good quality responses and performing tasks frequently can help you achieve and maintain a high rating.
Skill level itself relates to how well you do in a certain task. Every time you complete a task, Toloka will rate your skill in handling it. Gradually, your skill level might increase or decrease depending on how well you complete your tasks.
In addition to the standard jobs, there are also “City tasks”. City tasks require you to physically travel to certain locations and to perform a set of instructions there. Jobs can include taking a photo of a certain store, checking product placement on shelves, acting as a mystery shopper, analyzing traffic in a certain area, collecting information about in-store prices and more. However, in my personal experience it seems that these tasks only pop up in certain regions of the world, so your experience may vary here.
And as a third option, Toloka also has a referral program. The way this program works is you invite people to join the site and if they successfully register as a member, they will then become your referral and you will start earning a bonus when they themselves earn on the website. You can earn 5 to 20% of what your invited friends will earn, but the program is limited to a 1 month period, meaning you will earn a bonus only for a period of 1 month per each invited friend.
How much money can you earn?
Your earning potential on Toloka is largely influenced by task availability, which is dependent on your location. Unfortunately, you don’t really have control over which tasks are accessible to you at any given time.
In general, most tasks pay between $0.05 to $1. Higher paying tasks do exist, but are somewhat rare. Some projects don’t offer payment, but are considered training instead and can boost your rating and skill level, which are key to maximizing earnings in the log run. The higher your rating and skill, the more you can earn per task and access to a wider range of tasks. However, it’s unlikely that Toloka will replace your full-time job even if you perform all tasks perfectly, meaning that it should not be relied upon as a consistent source of income.
How do you cash out?
For cashing out your earnings, Toloka offers 3 withdrawal options – PayPal, Papara (exclusive to Turkey) or Payoneer. Payment for every task that you successfully complete will be paid out in US dollars.
If you would like to be able to withdraw smaller amounts right away then you can use PayPal, since Payoneer has a minimum withdrawal of $20 (PayPal minimum is $0.02 for one withdrawal per week, subsequent withdrawals within a week are $1). However, each PayPal cash out comes with a 2% fee, while Payoneer has none. If you are okay with collecting the minimum amount required for withrawing your earnings then I would recommend using Payoneer in order to avoid any fees.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Toloka available on mobile devices?
Yes, Toloka has a separate mobile application developed for both Android and iOS devices.
Can anyone join Toloka?
Toloka is available globally, meaning that anyone should be able to join, no matter where they are located in the world. However, do keep in mind that certain regions may receive more tasks than others.
Is Toloka safe to use?
Yes, Toloka is a completely safe platform to use, and it does indeed pay you for completing various microtasks.
How can you contact support?
To contact the Toloka support team, navigate to the bottom of the page and select “Help”. From there, you’ll be able to browse their FAQ. In the left section of the dashboard, you’ll see a separate “Support” option that you can choose.
Final Thoughts
So, is Toloka legit or a scam?
Toloka is legitimate microtask website that pays you for completing various jobs. It’s available on both desktop and mobile devices and it’s easy to withdraw your earnings either through PayPal or Payoneer. However, keep in mind that the pay offered isn’t anything to write home about, and if your location isn’t favored by Toloka then your potential earnings can be quite limited. Overall, I do recommend using Toloka as long as you have realistic expectations heading in.
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Summary
Toloka is a legit microtasking platform where you can make money by completing simple tasks. The website has a good variety of tasks to choose from, but its earning potential is not the best.
Many thanks for reading my Toloka review! Should you have any additional questions or concerns please do not hesitate to leave a comment down below.