If you’re looking to earn a little more money online, you may want to consider taking surveys. While you won’t get rich, it could help you supplement your income with a few extra dollars every day, potentially adding up to as much as $100 or so per month. Here’s a look at the best online surveys and which companies you can trust to pay your legitimate survey income.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Average payout | $0.40 – $2 | $1 – $3 | $0.50 – $5.00 |
| Payment method | Paypal or gift cards | Paypal, eGift cards, or bank transfer | Paypal Cash, Amazon gift cards, Starbucks gift cards, and more |
| Minimum to cash out | $3 for gift cards; $25 for PayPal | $5 (500 points) | $30 |
| Promotion | $10 | N/A | $5 |
| View Offer | View Offer | View Offer |
Our recommendations for the best online surveys for money
The top companies are legitimate enterprises working with various businesses to run consumer- and business-focused surveys. After entering your demographic information, survey companies match you with opportunities to earn money from answering questions about your shopping habits, household spending, and brand preferences.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is more focused on earning through shopping partners, but you can earn cash back in many different ways. These include watching videos, playing eligible online games, using the Swagbucks engine for web searches, and answering surveys. Payout options include PayPal, Amazon, and Walmart gift cards.
According to its website Swagbucks has paid more than $550 million in cash and gift cards since its founding in 2008 and redeems rewards for 7,000 gift cards daily. If you want a site that will let you earn money by doing more than surveys, Swagbucks should be on your list.
InboxDollars
InboxDollars is a major online survey website that says it has paid more than $80 million since its founding in 2000. You can earn from taking surveys, playing certain online games, and reading advertising emails. You can also earn cash by shopping through the company’s own shopping portal.
Online surveys pay from $0.50 to $5.00 each and take an estimated three to 25 minutes to complete. Occasionally, surveys pay as much as $10, $20, or even more when you match a specific profile. Redemptions include PayPal cash, Amazon gift cards, Starbucks gift cards, and more. You can currently earn $5 when opening an account.
KashKick
KashKick is a rewards and loyalty platform offering rewards for competing tasks, including surveys, playing partner games, and trying certain apps. As you earn from completing surveys and offers, your KashKick balance grows in an online account. KashKick offers payouts starting at $10. Payouts are made through PayPal.
You can quickly sign up with an existing PayPal, Facebook, or Google account. To keep your account active, you’ll have to log in at least every 90 days. You can complete surveys on the KashKick website or using the KashKick mobile app.
SurveyJunkie
SurveyJunkie is one of the biggest online survey websites, offering plenty of surveys to keep you busy. If you complete three surveys daily, you’ll earn around $40 per month. That comes out to about $0.50 per survey. You won’t earn a lot of money, but it’s more productive than playing games on your phone.
Surveys vary in length and can take up to around 30 minutes to complete. You’ll earn points for each survey, redeemable for PayPal payouts, gift cards, and direct transfers to your bank account. Balances must reach $5.00 (500 points) for a payout.
FreeCash
FreeCash is a money-making website offering rewards for trying different apps and competing tasks. Featured offers include surveys, signing up for partner services, and trying out apps and games. According to FreeCash, it has paid more than $64 million in rewards to users since its founding.
You can sign up using your email, Google, or Steam account. Cash out options are unique, including Revolut, PayPal, bank transfers, and several popular cryptocurrencies. You can also cash out using Amazon, Visa, Google Play, Apple, and other popular brand gift cards. It’s clearly focused on gamers, with additional withdrawals to Roblox, Fortnite, League of Legends, and other games.
Earning opportunities come from sign-ups, games, apps, investment apps, crypto platforms, purchasing from partners, free trials, casino games, quizzes, and, of course, surveys. If you’re going to play games or try out online surveys, this platform offers a compelling platform to get started.
SurveySavvy
SurveySavvy is a longtime online survey company. Not only can you earn by completing online surveys; you can also earn monthly cash rewards by installing an app, SavvyConnect, on your smartphone, desktop, or tablet that tracks your online activities.
Surveys are shared with members based on their demographic profile, which the use of SurveySavvy can make more detailed, leading to additional research opportunities that pay higher rewards. Payouts are sent by check in the mail. Act quickly if you get a survey invitation, because each survey is limited to a specific number of responses. You won’t make a lot of money, but every dollar adds up. A snapshot of available surveys during a recent login shows a couple of surveys paying $1.00 each for approximately 10 minutes of answering questions. While $6.00 per hour is less than minimum wage, it’s easy to earn a few bucks while hanging out on the couch or during your daily commute.
OpinionOutpost
OpinionOutpost is another large survey website for various market researchers and brands. It claims to pay out $390,000 for more than three million surveys per month. Some users also have opportunities to earn from product testing, watching online ads, and going on missions to answer questions or take photos of products in local stores.
The average survey pays 10 points, but some offer as much as 250 points. You can redeem 100 points for a $10 gift card. Payout options include gift cards for PayPal, Amazon, Target, Uber, Apple, Domino’s, Macy’s, and other major retailers.
FocusGroups.org
FocusGroups.org offers online studies, online focus groups, and in-person focus groups with larger payouts than typical online survey websites. The site offers paid focus groups in more than 200 cities, and the average payout is around $50 to $200 for completing a study. Some pay more than $1,200 for in-depth participation.
FocusGroups.org is free to join, as are all survey sites on this list. You can browse survey listings or wait for targeted focus groups and surveys to appear in your email. Payouts are made by Visa gift card or check. The site has paid out more than $32.5 million to members.
Is taking surveys for money worth your time?
Nobody gets rich from online surveys, but they can be fun if you want to earn a small amount of money without doing much work. Swagbucks insists that you can earn $1 to $5 per day by just taking several of its surveys. If you jump around among multiple survey sites, you can probably increase that. However, you would earn much more from a part-time job.
For example, pulling up a survey app or website can be worthwhile if you are hanging out watching TV or have time to kill in a waiting room. After all, who wouldn’t like to see a higher balance in their bank account?
5 tips for taking online surveys
Here are five tips for making the most with online surveys and avoiding scams.
- Research websites before joining. Because the online survey industry is rife with fraud, spend a little time on research before handing over your personal information. While the sites above are all legit, many survey websites are scams.
- Skip some low-paying surveys. If you see a survey with a high time requirement and low payout, you may want to skip it and find something else with a better time-to-payout ratio.
- Create a dedicated email address or filters. You may get many emails from survey sites. Creating a dedicated email or setting up filters will ensure that they don’t clog your inbox.
- Use multiple survey platforms. Only using one survey website can limit your earnings potential. While you probably don’t want to overdo it, signing up with a few trusted options helps diversify your income.
- Cash out often. Survey websites are not bank accounts, so there’s no protection if you get hacked or the company changes rules or shuts down. As soon as you have a balance qualifying for a payout, it’s worth clicking the button to get your reward.
TIME Stamp: Online surveys can be good for earning pocket money
Online surveys are a good way to earn a little extra spending money or top off your bank account. It’s not a good way to build wealth, but you can earn around $5 daily without a major commitment. Taking them could be a good choice if you’re looking to put idle time to better use.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What are the best money-making apps for 2024?
The best money-making apps depend on your interests and skills. Some people may want to earn from driving for a rideshare or delivery service, while others may prefer earning through survey apps.
What are the best side hustles?
The best side hustles depend on your abilities. Many people turn a side hustle into a full-time job using the skills they’ve learned in their day jobs. Others prefer part-time income from activities such as online surveys.
What are the top ways to earn money online?
Countless workers earn a full-time income online. While online surveys can earn a small income, those serious about making money online should consider a self-employed side hustle or finding a full-time job through a reputable employer.
The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page.
