Why Efforia Studies Sometimes Have a Price
Clinical research is expensive—traditional trials often cost $1M+. That’s why only a small share of the questions we all care about ever gets studied.
Efforia is a Public Benefit Corporation (B-Corp) on a mission to make trustworthy research fast, transparent, and accessible.
What You’re Paying For (and Nothing More)
You’re not paying a “participation fee.” You’re buying the product or service you’ll use in the study—the same thing you could buy outside Efforia for the same price (and sometimes you’ll find it costs more elsewhere).
We bundle everything into one simple checkout and run a research-grade process so your results are meaningful. There’s no markup because you’re in a study.
Why your price might be lower
- Already own a device or service? Link it and your price adjusts down.
- Recently purchased something included? Use the invite link and the same email you used for that purchase, and your price adjusts down.
- Subsidies: In some cases, the study sponsor or author may subsidize certain items or costs.
How Efforia Funds the Platform
Efforia is funded by a pre-negotiated transaction fee from product and service providers—not by charging you anything extra. That fee helps operate the infrastructure and oversight that make these studies possible.
Why Pay at All?
Real-World Evidence
In everyday life, people pay for health products and services. Having “skin in the game” mirrors real-world use, which can make findings more reproducible than clinic-only settings where a few select people get everything for free.
Personal Value You Can Use
You get a structured way to see if something works for you—with measures, reminders, and comparisons included at no extra cost. Your personal results can also contribute to clinical-trial-quality aggregate findings for broader insights.
Access & Affordability
We’re mission-driven to open research to more people. Not all studies fit every goal or budget. To make participation as accessible as possible:
- We offer multiple studies on similar topics at different price points (including low-cost or free options when available).
- Some studies may be subsidized by brands or providers.
- Our goal is to make it possible for anyone to run or join a study—no seven-figure budget required.
Are These Studies Legal and Ethical?
Yes. Efforia’s pay-to-participate trials are reviewed and approved by independent ethics boards in North America and Europe. We follow the same regulations used in pharma and academia (many of those studies also involve insurance and other out-of-pocket costs). We adhere to rigorous standards for minimal-risk research.
Are These Studies Scientifically Valid?
We design for real-world relevance and actively measure common biases to support decision-ready personal and aggregate insights.
Quick Answers
Do I get personal results?
Yes. You receive personal results so you can decide if the time and money were worth it.
Is the price ever higher because it’s a study?
No. Providers don’t raise prices for research participation. By contract with Efforia (and via our ethical reviews), if you find the product for a lower price from a reputable source, please let us know—we’ll contact the study sponsor and make adjustments.
Can I join if I already have some items?
Yes, and your price adjusts accordingly. Note: in many cases you must join the study before your product arrives or before your first appointment so we can collect clean baseline data. After that point, eligibility may close.
Who approves these studies?
All studies on Efforia undergo an ethical review to ensure compliance with regulatory laws and Efforia’s own (often more strict) requirements.
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