testNow vs Lightster
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
testNow
This app allows freelance testers to find and participate in app, website, and game testing projects on the go. Earn money by reporting bugs, reproducing issues, and confirming fixes. It provides tools for managing tasks, submitting reports, and tracking earnings.
- Explore and join available tests
- Submit bugs with AI assistance
- Reproduce and confirm bug fixes
- Track ongoing tasks and earnings
- Access learning opportunities
- Communicate with other testers
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testNow is Test IO’s app for freelance testers. It allows you to test the latest apps, websites, and games on the go and get paid for the issues you find. Why not earn some extra money? You decide when and where you want to work. Our focus is to make testing on the Go as easy as possible. We offer an overview of all available projects and tasks, intuitive submission forms with smart AI hints, and reminders of ongoing tasks and requests — all to support you in your testing journey. In order to earn money with testNow: * participate in our tests and report the bugs you find * reproduce the bugs submitted by other testers * confirm bug fixes of previously submitted bugs testNow is suitable for anyone, from day-one beginners to QA professionals. App Features: TESTING ACTIVITIES * Explore available tests - join or reject * Participate in Exploratory and Test Case tests * Explore our multilingual tests * Get access to specialized testing campaigns * Start, stop & extend test sessions * Submit activity sessions * View and execute User Stories BUG REPORTING * Submit bugs through our AI-powered bug submission form * Submit Custom Reports through the 3rd party extensions * Edit & delete your bug reports * View & post bug comments * Submit disputes for your bugs * Reproduce bugs of other testers * Get access to your bug reproductions within tests * Confirm bug fixes and bug reports * Suggest bug improvements for fellow testers LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES * Overview your onboarding progress and steps required to unlock testing activities * Complete onboarding courses and unlock main testing opportunities * Complete optional courses and unlock additional testing opportunities MONITORING * Get an overview of your ongoing tasks and requests * View your activity history * Keep track of your submitted issues in locked tests * Keep track of your Tester Level progression * Get access to your billing details for all "Pending" activities and earnings * Check your payout information for each activity type available in the app * Stay connected and updated with our smart push notification system * Manage email and push notifications from Test IO platform FREELANCE COMMUNITY * Communicate with other testers in a test chat * Receive and access test cycle announcements * Mention TLs in the test chat and be aware when you are mentioned * Give badges to test members & view all your badges * View profiles of fellow testers * Monitor progress across your level * View team and global ranking * Monitor your progress in-test ranking * Refer friends, earn points & redeem them for rewards * Contact Test IO Support Team for help MOBILE-ONLY FEATURES * Pause push notifications for default or custom periods of time * Smart filtering, sorting & search functionalities * Seamless navigation between the Test IO web version and the mobile app * Connect your current device to the app * Sign in via QR code
Lightster
Facilitates ongoing product discovery by connecting creators with users. Creators can build or join communities for feedback via chat or calls. Users can explore new products early and earn rewards for their time.
- Continuous product discovery
- Community feedback
- Chat and video calls
- Early access to new products
- User rewards
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Build the best products together. Lightster is an app that enables continuous discovery between product creators and users. As a product creator, you can create or follow an existing community for feedback through chat or audio/video calls. As a user, you can learn about new products and services built for you before everyone else and receive a reward for your time. [:mav: 1.10.48]
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: testNow at 4.7 against Lightster's 3.6. testNow also leads on ratings volume (66 vs 9) and review sentiment (83% vs 75%). Lightster's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
testNow holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: testNow has 66 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of testNow's written reviews are positive against 75% of Lightster's.
testNow ships an update every 6 weeks, Lightster every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | testNow | Lightster |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (66 ratings) — better | 3.6 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews — better | 75.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 66 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 48 MB | 175 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | test IO GmbH | Lightster Inc. |
Customer experience
testNow
Lightster
In-app purchases
testNow
No in-app purchases
Lightster
No in-app purchases








