Now recruiting donors in Philadelphia Apply now
Helio Rewards

Earn up to $650.
Advance science.

Anonymous. HIPAA compliant. Payment within 48 hours.

HIPAA Compliant Anonymous Matching Zero Data Selling
Start earning
Growing donor community Earn $50-$650 per donation Thousands paid to donors Your donation helps researchers find cures faster 10 minutes per donation Payment within 48 hours Growing donor community Earn $50-$650 per donation Thousands paid to donors Your donation helps researchers find cures faster 10 minutes per donation Payment within 48 hours

Three steps. Real money.

No hidden fees. No complicated process.

Score
Step 1

Score

Quick screening draw at a partner clinic. 10 minutes. We build your Helio Score — and you earn $50 just for showing up.

Match
Step 2

Match

AI matches your profile to active studies. The more valuable your blood, the higher the payout.

Earn
Step 3

Earn

Get paid $50–$650 within 48 hours. Your way — Venmo, PayPal, direct deposit, you pick.

Get paid your way
Venmo
Pay PayPal
$ Cash App
Zelle Zelle
Direct Deposit
gift Amazon Gift Card

What you can donate.

Different types pay different amounts. Here's what they are in plain English.

Quick — 10-15 min
Blood Draw
A nurse draws a small tube of blood. Way less than a regular blood donation. In and out in 10 minutes.
⏱ 10-15 min 📅 Every 2 weeks
$50–$150
per draw
Moderate — 30-60 min
Platelets
Your body's biological band-aids. A machine draws your blood, skims off the platelets, sends everything else back. You barely feel it.
⏱ 30-60 min 📅 Every 2 weeks
$100–$200
per session
Moderate — 30-60 min
White Blood Cells
Your immune soldiers. Researchers need these for vaccines, autoimmune research, and drug development. Same machine process — blood out, cells collected, everything else back.
⏱ 30-60 min 📅 Every 2-4 weeks
$150–$300
per session
Premium — 3-5 hours
Leukopak
The big one. Billions of immune cells collected over a few hours. This is what powers CAR-T cancer therapy and gene therapy. The most valuable donation you can give.
⏱ 3-5 hours 📅 Every 4-8 weeks
$300–$650
per session

Your condition is your superpower.

Researchers need specimens from real people with real conditions. The rarer your profile, the more you earn.

What researchers pay for YOUR blood
Healthy volunteer
Whole blood
$50–100
Healthy volunteer
White blood cells
$100–200
Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes
Whole blood
$150–300
Autoimmune (Lupus, MS, RA)
White blood cells
$200–400
Oncology patient
Matched specimen set
$300–500
Rare condition
Leukopak (apheresis)
$400–650

Your pay is based on what researchers need from you — not a flat rate. The more valuable your profile, the more you earn.

Your blood. Your data.
Your rules.

Blood is deeply personal. We built Helio to protect you by default — not as an afterthought.

Anonymous Matching

Researchers get your specimen. Never your identity. Your name never leaves Helio.

HIPAA Compliant

Full compliance with federal health data protections. No exceptions.

Zero Data Selling

We don't sell your data. Ever. Not to advertisers, not to insurance companies, not to anyone.

You Stay in Control

Your health data stays yours. Always. Delete your account anytime — we erase everything.

Where we're collecting.

Active collection cities: Dallas, Chicago, Seattle

Helio collection locations across the United States
Live — Dallas, Chicago, Seattle Now recruiting: Philadelphia

Can't find your city? Sign up anyway — we're expanding to new metros monthly and will notify you when collection is available in your area.

Keep coming back. Keep earning more.

Loyalty bonuses on top of every payout.

Spark
First visit
$50 + Helio Score
Beam
3 visits
+5% all payouts
Radiant
7 visits
+10% + priority
Helio Elite
15+ visits
+15% + first access
Paid to our donors
Thousands
paid to donors and counting

The world needs what you have.

Every condition, every background, every blood type — researchers are looking for someone exactly like you.

80%
of researchers can't find the specimens they need
<48h
from donation to payment in your account
13x
more you could earn vs. commercial plasma

Questions? We got you.

Does this affect my health insurance?

No. Your donation is anonymous and completely separate from your insurance. Researchers never see your identity. Nothing is reported to insurance companies.

How much can I earn?

$50–$650 per donation. Your first screening visit earns $50 and builds your Helio Score. After that, your pay depends on your health profile and what researchers need. Donors with conditions like diabetes, autoimmune disorders, or cancer often earn the most — because their blood is exactly what studies are looking for.

What happens to my blood?

Your blood specimen is used for medical research — things like cancer studies, drug development, and disease detection. It's never sold commercially and never used for insurance purposes.

How often can I donate?

For standard research draws (about 40mL — less than a regular blood donation), you can donate every 2 weeks. Your body replaces this amount in days. Larger donations like leukopaks have longer intervals — typically every 4–8 weeks. We'll never schedule you more often than is safe.

Is Helio free to join?

Yes, 100% free. No signup fees, no hidden costs. You earn money — you never pay us anything.

Is there an age requirement?

You must be 18 or older to donate through Helio. There is no upper age limit — healthy donors of all ages are welcome.

Can I donate if I'm on medication?

In most cases, yes. Many medications actually make your blood more valuable for research — studies specifically need specimens from people on common medications like metformin, biologics, or immunosuppressants. Your health questionnaire captures this information so we can match you to the right studies.

What should I bring to my appointment?

Just a valid photo ID and your Helio confirmation email or text. The phlebotomist brings all medical supplies. Wear a short-sleeved shirt or something with sleeves you can roll up easily. Drink plenty of water beforehand.

What does the actual donation feel like?

It's a standard blood draw — the same thing you'd experience at a doctor's office. A trained phlebotomist uses a small needle in your arm. Most people feel a quick pinch. The whole draw takes about 10 minutes. Some people feel slightly lightheaded afterward, so we recommend having a snack and water handy.

What if there are no studies matching my profile right now?

You stay in our donor network and we'll notify you as soon as a matching study comes in. Many donors receive their first match within 1–2 weeks. Donors with common conditions (diabetes, autoimmune) tend to match faster because demand is highest for these profiles.

Your biology pays off.

Earn real money. Advance real science. Stay completely anonymous.

Start earning now

About Helio Rewards

Helio Rewards is the donor-facing brand of Helio, a biospecimen marketplace based in Philadelphia. We exist to celebrate the people who let science move forward — and make sure they're rewarded for it. Every donation you make helps researchers study diseases like diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. Your identity stays completely anonymous. Your blood helps save lives. And you get paid for it.

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