Get paid to nap and how it actually works in 2026
By Rimante Kudabe
jun 15, 2023 jan 27, 2026 • 6 min read
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By Rimante Kudabe
jun 15, 2023 jan 27, 2026 • 6 min read
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Imagine closing your eyes for a short nap and waking up richer than before. Sounds like a dream job, right? While plenty of shady ads promise you can get paid to sleep, not all of them are scams.
In fact, there are real companies and research programs that pay people to rest, if you know where to look and how to apply to these jobs. You should always do your own research on these weekend side hustles, as ads can be misleading.
This guide breaks down how it works, who qualifies, how much you can actually earn, and safer alternatives if you don’t get selected.
Taking naps can be rewarding for your sleep health. It can also be rewarding for your wallet. Most opportunities fall into a few common side hustle categories:
It can become one of the best ways to make money from home, whether that’s your home or someone else’s.
Getting paid to nap is legitimate, but it works best as occasional or supplemental income rather than a steady paycheck. Below, we’ll walk through the most popular ways people actually get paid to nap.
If you’re new to the idea of getting paid to nap, passive income apps are one of the easiest places to start. They don’t require applications, interviews, or special qualifications, and they can help you earn money while you sleep.
One of the easiest setups is Honeygain, an online earning app that pays you for sharing unused internet. Once installed, it runs in the background, even while you’re sleeping.
How to start:
The setup takes around 10 minutes in total. After that, the app works on its own.
Typical payout is around $20 per cashout (via PayPal). You won’t earn thousands of dollars with Honeygain. However, it’s a reliable way to earn money without worrying about how to apply to studies or test mattresses correctly.
You can also explore other options to boost your earnings. For example, the best GPT sites offer surveys and microtasks that you can complete in a few hours (or even minutes) for extra cash.
Clinical studies are the highest-paying form of getting paid to sleep. They also come with stricter requirements. Some examples include:
You can expect to get paid anywhere from $500 to $2,000 per study, based on examples from 2021. The payment depends on how long and invasive the study is. You should be prepared to spend the night in the lab or agree to remote sensors that track your sleep and naps.
Sleep studies have several clear advantages:
However, there are also some downsides to consider:
If you want to become a part of a sleep study, you’ll need to pass a rigorous selection process. It usually looks like this:
Common requirements:
You need to understand that you might not get accepted. The selection process is strict and competitive, and studies often need very specific people. If you’re rejected, don’t give up. Seek out other studies, apply early, and be honest about your condition to qualify for the next trials.
If joining a full-on medical sleep study feels intimidating, sleep product testing might be a softer entry point. Companies constantly need feedback on how their products perform in real life, and that includes items you use while you sleep.
These testers are sometimes referred to as nap reviewers, since their job is to nap, track comfort, and share detailed feedback.
Below are some of the most common opportunities for official nap reviewers.
Brands like Eachnight.com and Sleep Junkie have been known to pay people to test mattresses and report on sleep quality. They run occasional gigs for product testers to select the best mattresses or pillows for their nap reviewers. The best part? No relevant experience is typically required.
Payment varies from $100 to $3,000 depending on the length and depth of testing. It’s not guaranteed you’ll earn that amount of money for testing sleep-related products. However, it can be a significant addition to your finances.
How to start:
Tip: Be cautious of websites that ask for upfront payment to “apply.” Legit companies provide sleep products free of charge.
Some hotels and wellness brands hire mystery shoppers to evaluate guest sleep experiences. That may include rating sleep quality, noise levels, and comfort of beds.
Usually, travel expenses aren’t compensated, so look for hotels in your area. You’ll get to fall asleep in a luxurious hotel and get paid for it. Alternatively, it’s an opportunity to travel and spend a night in different hotels.
Payment is usually a free overnight stay plus a stipend ($100–$300). No other services are compensated, to pack the essentials.
How to start:
It’s not a consistent income stream, but if you love travel, it’s a fun side hustle that mixes leisure with small pay.
Sleep-tracking apps often launch beta programs to improve accuracy. Testers are asked to use the app nightly, record observations, and share whether features worked as intended. You can even track sleep habits, the best nap duration for focus or recovery, monitor sleep inertia, or your awake hours.
Payouts are lower ($50–$150 for a testing phase), but this is one of the easiest ways to enter the “paid napping” space since requirements are minimal.
Also, testing apps for sleep are a great way to make money in college as you’re not required to disrupt your sleep schedule for the testing period, and you can do it alongside your studies.
Occasionally, wellness companies run programs where sleep product testers receive sleep teas, CBD oils, or melatonin supplements to evaluate if they provide better sleep.
You’re not obliged to provide a report praising the product if it didn’t work or improve your productivity. Stay honest in your feedback to get more side hustle gigs like that.
These are usually short-term gigs paying $30–$200. Also, you get free sleep-related products to take with you.
Caution: Always check whether a supplement is safe and legal in your country before applying or signing legal paperwork. Stick to reputable wellness brands, and never take substances without medical approval.
Also note, that many of these roles also require strong English writing skills, since testers are expected to submit clear, detailed feedback or written reports.