While they aren’t the most profitable, online surveys are an easy way to earn extra cash. A few dollars a day can add up quickly, helping you fast-track some of your financial goals.
Here’s a roundup of legitimate survey sites that are Millennial Money tested and approved to help you boost your income.
11 Best Online Surveys for Money
Here are the top highest-paying sites to get paid to take surveys in your spare time:
- 🏆 Branded Surveys
- MyPoints
- HeyPiggy
- Prime Opinion
- Freecash
- Swagbucks
- Survey Junkie
- Inboxdollars
- Kashkick
- Opinion Outpost
- Pawns.app
1. Branded Surveys
- Availability: US, UK, Canada
- Age requirement: 17+ years old
- Trust: 4.1 based on 95.4k reviews on Trustpilot
The Branded Surveys platform offers a $1 sign-up bonus just for signing up and has several brief “get to know you” survey questions.
There’s also a Branded Elite loyalty program. As you take surveys, you advance through bronze, silver, and gold levels. You move up by collecting credits for completed surveys or tasks like referring friends and family. Higher levels unlock more earning potential and better survey opportunities.
Average Payout (per survey)
$0.30 – $3
Payment Method
PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards
Minimum to Cash Out
$5
$$ Sign Up Bonus
$1
2. MyPoints
- Availability: US, Canada
- Age requirement: 13+ years old
- Trust: 4.4 based on 23.6k reviews on Trustpilot
MyPoints allows you to earn gift cards for answering questions, taking polls, watching videos, and completing other online activities like shopping. With MyPoints, you earn points even when you don’t qualify for a given survey, and it offers a welcome bonus of $5.
However, it’s worth noting that many offers will navigate you away from the MyPoints portal and onto third-party sites, which can be less intuitive to use.
Average Payout (per survey)
$2.50
Payment Method
Gift cards
Minimum to Cash Out
$3
$$ Sign Up Bonus
$5
3. HeyPiggy
- Availability: Worldwide
- Age requirement: 14+ years old
- Trust: 4.6 based on 2.1k reviews on Trustpilot
HeyPiggy offers a large number of surveys and is also available on iOS and Android. Payouts start at just $1 and they are fully transparent about how long each survey takes and what it will pay to help you decide upfront if it’s worth it.
HeyPiggy offers 24/7 support and fast payouts. You can answer surveys from large companies like Target, Netflix, and Starbucks, while earning money doing it.
Average Payout (per survey)
$0.50 – $4
Payment Method
PayPal or Gift cards
Minimum to Cash Out
$1
Sign Up Bonus
N/A
4. Prime Opinion
- Availability: US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, and more
- Age requirement: 18+ years old
- Trust: 4.5 based on 11.4k reviews on Trustpilot
Prime Opinion is a free survey website that pays up to $5 per survey for answering questions for companies. The survey app pays points for every survey you complete, and you can redeem the points for 150+ prizes, including cash, gift cards, or donations to your favorite charity.
Prime Opinion is easy to sign up for and use, and if you are consistent in your efforts, you can make extra cash quickly.
Average Payout (per survey)
Up to $5
Payment Method
Bank transfer, PayPal, Venmo, Gift cards
Minimum to Cash Out
$5
$$ Sign Up Bonus
$5
5. Freecash
- Availability: Worldwide
- Age requirement: 16+ years old
- Trust: 4.5 based on 84.5k reviews on Trustpilot
Freecash is a site that pays you to take surveys, play games, watch videos, and complete other online tasks. It makes it easy to compare your options, displaying featured offers with high payouts that are available in your area.
You can also scroll through thousands of available offers, using filters like game, free trial, surveys, and quiz to narrow down the results.
Once you complete an offer, you’ll earn coins you can cash out on. There are several ways to cash out, with different limits we listed below.
Average Payout (per month)
$0.25 – $1
Payment Method
PayPal, crypto, bank transfer, and gift cards
Minimum to Cash Out
$5 for cash/gift cards; $2 for crypto
Sign Up Bonus
N/A
6. Swagbucks
- Availability: US, Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada, Spain, Portugal, UK
- Age requirement: 13+ years old
- Trust: 4.1 based on 36.8k reviews on Trustpilot
Swagbucks is a fun rewards program that allows you to earn points by shopping online, watching videos, and taking surveys. At a minimum, you can use the Swagbucks search engine to do your regular daily web browsing.
Once you sign up, you can earn Swagbucks (SB) points to redeem for cash back or gift cards for popular retailers. Swagbucks offers tens of thousands of paid survey opportunities. It’s one of the biggest and most legitimate survey companies available.
Average Payout (per survey)
$0.40 – $2
Payment Method
PayPal or gift cards
Minimum to Cash Out
$3 for gift cards; $25 for PayPal
$$ Sign Up Bonus
$10
7. Survey Junkie
- Availability: US, Canada, Australia
- Age requirement: 18+ years old
- Trust: 4.1 based on 44.6k reviews on Trustpilot
With Survey Junkie, you’ll earn automatic points by signing up and completing your profile. It’s 100% free, and you can sign up with Facebook, Google+, or any email address.
From there, you get paid points for each completed survey. Survey Junkie is easy to use and doesn’t spam you with emails. Plus, it’s hard to run out of survey invitations since it offers so many.
Average Payout (per survey)
$1 – $3
Payment Method
PayPal, eGift cards, or bank transfer
Minimum to Cash Out
$5 (500 points)
Sign Up Bonus
N/A
8. InboxDollars
- Availability: US, UK (as InboxPounds)
- Age requirement: 18+ years old
- Trust: 4.1 based on 42.5k reviews on Trustpilot
With a quick sign-up process (literally took me about 30 seconds!) and a simple format, InboxDollars works on a real cash reward system, not a point system. If you do a few quick surveys regularly throughout the day, you can earn quite a bit in less time than you’d think.
InboxDollars also offers rewards for carrying out everyday tasks, like playing games online, watching videos, reading emails, and online shopping.
Average Payout (per survey)
Up to $5
Payment Method
Check, prepaid VISA or gift cards
Minimum to Cash Out
$30
$$ Sign Up Bonus
$5
9. KashKick
- Availability: US
- Age requirement: 18+ years old
- Trust: 4.0 based on 1.1k reviews on Trustpilot
KashKick rewards you for completing an array of tasks, from taking surveys and playing games to signing up for accounts and services like Credit Sesame or a Chime bank account.
Once you finish the free sign-up process, you can scroll through offers and complete the ones that interest you. Rather than awarding points, the site pays out in cash via Paypal once you earn $10.
While KashKick doesn’t have a mobile app, the online dashboard is convenient and user-friendly.
Average Payout (per survey)
$0.50 – $5
Payment Method
PayPal
Minimum to Cash Out
$10
$$ Sign Up Bonus
N/A
10. Opinion Outpost
- Availability: United States
- Age requirement: 17+ years old
- Trust: 4.3 based on 4.8k reviews on Trustpilot
A company with a low payout threshold and straightforward design, Opinion Outpost is easy for paid survey beginners. It works on a points system, and you can cash out to your PayPal account or gift cards for popular retailers, making it flexible, too.
The site offers a high number of surveys on any given day, increasing the odds that you’ll qualify for at least a few. But, the average earning is fairly low.
Average Payout (per survey)
$0.50 –$5
Payment Method
PayPal or gift cards
Minimum to Cash Out
$5 for gift cards; $10 for PayPal
Sign Up Bonus
N/A
11. Pawns.app
- Availability: Worldwide
- Age requirement: Varies by Location
- Trust: 4.5 based on 1.7k reviews on Trustpilot
While it’s a newer survey site, Pawns.app has over 2 million downloads and a wealth of positive ratings on Trustpilot.
We found signing up to be really simple—you can create an account in seconds with your Apple ID, Gmail, or an email and password and enter coupon or referral codes when you sign up.
Once you download the app and verify your email address, you can start taking surveys and sharing your internet connection to earn money.
Average Payout (per survey)
$1
Payment Method
PayPal, Bitcoin, gift cards
Minimum to Cash Out
$5
Sign Up Bonus
$3
Summary of Top Paid Online Survey Sites
| Site | Avg. Payout (per survey) | Payment Methods | Min. to Cash Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Branded Surveys | $0.30 – $3 | PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards | $5 |
| MyPoints | $2.50 | Gift cards | $3 |
| HeyPiggy | $0.50 – $4 | PayPal or Gift cards | $1 |
| Prime Opinion | Up to $5 | Bank transfer, PayPal, Venmo, gift cards | $1 |
| Freecash | $0.25 – $1 | PayPal, crypto, bank transfer, or gift cards | $5 |
| Swagbucks | $0.40 – $2 | PayPal or gift cards | $3 for gift cards; $25 for PayPal |
| Survey Junkie | $1 – $3 | PayPal, eGift cards, or bank transfer | $10 (1000 points) |
| InboxDollars | Up to $5 | Check, prepaid VISA or gift cards | $30 |
| KashKick | Up to $5 | PayPal | $10 |
| Opinion Outpost | $0.50 – $5 | PayPal or Gift cards | $5 for gift cards;$10 for PayPal |
| Pawns.app | $1 | PayPal, Bitcoin, Gift cards | $5 |
Rating Methodology
It’s no secret that there are many survey site options, but we were highly selective in choosing the best surveys for money. Here’s what we considered.
- Reputation: We did thorough research on each company and its reputation. When available, we consulted Trustpilot and the BBB to ensure we only suggested legitimate companies with a great reputation.
- Number of surveys: Some survey sites only occasionally have surveys, and others have hundreds a day. The sites we recommended each have numerous opportunities daily.
- Payouts: The point of taking surveys is to make money, so we looked for sites that paid quickly and well. Of course, you won’t get rich taking surveys, but we looked for the highest-paying options available with as many payout options as possible.
Tips for Earning the Most Money with Online Survey Sites
Online survey sites will not make you rich, but there are a few ways you can maximize your earnings:
- Fill out your profile: Not only can you usually earn a few welcome points by completing your personal profile when you sign up for a new survey site, but keeping your profile up to date with any life changes will help you get matched with relevant offers.
- Take advantage of free offers: You can sometimes earn points by referring friends, sharing something on social media, signing up for a free newsletter, answering a quick daily poll, or downloading the survey site’s app.
- Calculate the highest-paying surveys: Sometimes survey sites distract you from the ultimate goal—making the most money in the least amount of time—by valuing payouts in points (with unique redemption values) and separating the payout from the time requirement. Take a few minutes to plug the offers into our calculator and prioritize surveys that pay the most per hour to make more money overall.
Ultimate Surveys For Money ROI Calculator
Once you’re signed up and ready to take surveys, use this calculator to prioritize which surveys or activities to complete first. This will help you identify the highest-paid activities.
The key to success is only to take surveys with the highest time-to-point (payout) ratio. If you’re going to make money taking surveys, it’s important to identify the surveys that will pay the most for the least amount of time.
Unfortunately, this isn’t always clear. Each platform values its points or rewards differently, making it hard to compare the top survey sites.
Our tool demystifies this, however, and lets you calculate how much each activity is offering to pay you – in simple, consistent dollars per hour.
Check it out!
Best Practices When Taking Online Surveys
In addition to the money-maximizing tips, here are some other best practices to keep in mind when taking online surveys:
- Create an email address just for survey sites: In our experience, many of the survey sites send daily emails – sometimes multiple each day. Signing up for these sites with a separate email will keep your primary inbox clean.
- Take breaks: Surveys can be long and tedious. Take frequent breaks to rest your eyes and avoid answering inconsistently, which can get you blocked from a site.
- Install antivirus software: This cautionary step helps ensure that your computer is protected, in case one of the sites directs you to a spammy third party.
- Under 18 crowd: Ask your parents! If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission to join the site and participate in surveys. Most of the sites that allow minor members require this step anyway, but you should run it by your parents regardless.
Warning Signs That A Survey Site May Not Be Legit
Taking online surveys is an attractive side hustle for a lot of people. Understandably so. Anyone can join a survey site, download the app, and start making money, and it can be done from anywhere with an internet connection. But keep in mind not every survey site on the web is trustworthy.
If you venture away from those on our list, here are some things to look out for:
- Membership fees: If you’re asked to pay money to join a survey site, move on quickly. Legitimate sites will always be free to join.
- Lack of customer reviews: The best sites have been around for a while, and you should be able to find real users sharing their experiences.
- Asking for private information: If you’re asked to give your Social Security number, driver’s license, or bank account information, leave!
- Difficult qualification: Answering a few preliminary questions only to find you don’t qualify for the full questionnaire is a reality of taking online surveys. However, if you find a site where you’re denied more often than approved, you’re better off focusing your time elsewhere
Frequently Asked Questions
Are surveys for money legit?
Yes, there are legitimate surveys for money. All of the sites in our review are safe and legit places that will pay you for taking surveys online. The best part is that taking surveys can be done on your smartphone from anywhere, at any time. If you’re looking to develop a more sustainable, truly wealth-building side hustle for extra income, then check out our article on the best side hustles.
How long does it take to complete an online survey?
Most online surveys take about 15 – 20 minutes to complete. However, some of the more thorough and targeted surveys can take up to an hour. Typically each site will tell you approximately how long the survey will take before you accept and start the job.
What surveys pay cash instantly?
Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and MyPoints are survey sites that offer cash instantly or provide signing bonus points when you create a profile. Also, check out these articles for how to get free money and sites that offer sign-up bonuses!
Which is the best survey app?
Survey apps are great! Freecash currently has the best app store rating on our list. But, you can download as many as you want and receive notifications as soon as a new survey is released right to your phone. So, as soon as you have time, you can complete surveys on the go. This option is ideal for spare moments like waiting in line.
Why do companies pay you to take surveys?
Brands, companies, and organizations pay you to take online surveys because they depend on the opinions of people like you to shape the products they develop and how they ultimately market them. Offering surveys for money is a way to get information directly from individuals without paying for an expensive market research company.
Are Paid Surveys Worth It?
Regardless of which paid survey site you use, the earnings can be pretty low and most require you to earn a certain dollar amount or number of points before they’ll pay out. So consider carefully if it’s worth it to you to potentially make less than the federal minimum wage on your time spent taking surveys. This is also why we recommend taking surveys while commuting on the bus or train or sitting in front of the TV.
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