In this article, we’re going to explore the highest-paying online surveys and survey sites and how much it’s possible to earn in return for a little of your spare time.
If you found 25 cents on the street, you’d most likely stop and pick it up. Add another one a little further on – that’s a smile-worthy find. But imagine this. What if they kept on appearing every 50 yards? Suddenly, it feels like your lucky day.
By the time you reach the end of the street, you’ve pocketed a little over $2. It’s not a fortune, but it’s a nice reward for doing very little (and you even got some exercise while doing it).
Now, what if I told you there’s a digital equivalent of this scenario that you can use on your mobile phone?
Just like finding free money on the street, online paid survey sites and apps can put a little extra cash in your pocket just for taking surveys and offering your opinions on a broad range of topics.
That’s right, I said surveys and opinions.
We’re going to look at some of the top paid online survey sites including:
- InboxDollars
- MyPoints
- PrizeRebel
- Valued Opinions
- Monetha
- Swagbucks
- LifePoints
- Survey Junkie
- Opinion Outpost
- Ipsos i-Say
- Toluna
- Pinecone Research
We’re also going to break down just how much you can expect to earn for sharing your thoughts and opinions with paid online surveys.
But why should companies care what you think?
Every choice we make, from the brand of coffee we buy to the movies we watch, tells a story. And here’s the thing, companies and brands are always on the lookout for these stories.
They’re curious about why we prefer one product over another or what makes us recommend a particular service to our friends. This curiosity isn’t just about understanding us better, it’s a big part of their business strategy, and they’re willing to pay for that information.
Before launching a new product or changing an existing product in any way, companies and marketing agencies want to know what people think.
In the U.S. and around the world paid online surveys let companies understand what consumers want. Plus, after a product’s release, they listen closely to see if it lived up to expectations and what they might need to improve.
Surveys sites also help companies to make decisions that could shape their future. By understanding the thoughts and feelings of the man and woman on the street, they’re in a better position to make the right decisions and connect with the public.
How do you maximize your earnings from surveys?
If you want to earn even more from paid survey sites, there are a couple of easy things you can do to up your game. You can learn a whole lot more here and grow your earnings even faster.
Earning Potential
Completing 3-5 paid surveys daily can net you $20-$30 weekly with minimal effort.
Diversify Your Platforms
Register on multiple reputable online survey sites to increase earning opportunities.
Explore Other Tasks
Along with surveys, sites like Monetha offer points for shopping with partner retailers along with a range of daily micro tasks.
Referral Bonuses
Earn bonuses by referring friends and family. Some sites also reward you when your referrals make purchases or complete tasks.
Set Targets
Top U.S. paid survey sites often offer bonuses for consistency and achieving daily or weekly goals.
Opt for Simplicity
Sometimes, shorter paid surveys paying less can be quicker and more enjoyable.
Stay Updated
Create a dedicated email address for survey notifications. If using an app, check the app’s dashboard regularly to catch more paid surveys.
Some survey sites only allow users from a certain geographic area or country. It might look tempting to use a VPN to change your location and maximize your earnings, but it’s risky and may eventually lead to an even lower commission or a complete ban from the survey sites.
Potential earnings from top survey sites
In this section, we’re going to examine some of the more popular sites and try to understand the average payout, how often you can take paid online surveys, payment rates and methods, the site’s reputation, and take a look at some user reviews.
Not all sites pay equally or reliably, that’s why we’re including only reputable sites in our review.
So, let’s jump in and get started.
Potential earnings from top survey sites
In this section, we’re going to examine some of the more popular paid survey sites and try to understand the average payout, how often you can take surveys, payment rates and methods, the site’s reputation, and take a look at some user reviews.
Not all survey sites pay equally or reliably, that’s why we’re including only reputable sites in our review.
So, let’s jump in with some of the most popular online survey sites and get started.
InboxDollars
InboxDollars surveys pay an average of $0.01 to $2.50 per survey.
Users claim to earn between $40 and $60 per month.
InboxDollars also rewards new users with a $5 sign-up bonus, along with earning 30% of any referred user’s earnings.
With InboxDollars, along with paid surveys, there are additional ways of earning.
- Watching clips
- Reading emails
- Engaging in games
- Referring friends
- Online shopping
- And a range of other micro tasks
Once you accumulate $10, you have the option to cash out using:
- PayPal
- Mailed checks
- Amazon vouchers
- Digital payments (via Tango)
A unique feature of InboxDollars is its ability to customize online surveys based on your background and interests. This ensures that when you access your dashboard, you’re presented with paid online surveys that more closely match your profile.
Reviews
With over 38,000 reviews on the Trustpilot review platform, InboxDollars received an overall score of 4.2 stars (from a possible 5)
MyPoints
The average survey payout with MyPoints is $2.50 and can be redeemed in the form of gift cards.
Dedicated users can expect to earn between $20 to $40 per month.
New members receive a welcome bonus, choosing between a $10 Amazon gift card or a $10 Visa gift card. The welcome bonus comes with some terms and conditions.
With a low – $3 – cash out, MyPoints means you can earn your rewards far quicker than many other survey sites.
Earn rewards for:
- Answering surveys
- Participating in polls
- Viewing videos
- A range of other micro tasks
- Scanning receipts
- Shopping online
Even if you’re ineligible for a specific survey, you still earn points.
Once you’ve earned $3 in points you can redeem your points for:
- Gift cards
- PayPal Cash
- Vouchers
Extras
- Available in: US, Canada
- Minimum age: 13 years
With over 21,000 reviews on the Trustpilot review platform, MyPoints was awarded an overall score of 4.4 stars (from a possible 5)
Prize Rebel
On average PrizeRebel surveys pay anywhere between $1 and $2.
By completing 10 surveys, users could earn up to $20 per day – that’s $600 per month.
Since 2007, PrizeRebel has rewarded its members with more than $20 million for participating in surveys, watching videos, and signing up for mailing lists.
PrizeRebel has a global user base of over 6 million, primarily from countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Get paid for:
- Taking surveys
- Trials
- Internet searches
- Watching videos
- Signing up for mailing lists
- Various daily tasks
While there are numerous opportunities to gather points on PrizeRebel’s website, it’s worth noting that non-English speakers might encounter challenges.
Nonetheless, compared to other survey platforms, PrizeRebel, and its easy-to-use interface, provides a notably superior point value and processes payouts faster, with multiple payout options, than most competitors.
Once you’ve accumulated $5 in points you can claim your rewards in the following ways:
- Gift cards
- PayPal Cash
Users can reach different levels of membership, from bronze to diamond, and open new ways to earn bigger rewards and greater payouts.
Extras
Having only garnered almost 500 reviews on Trustpilot, PrizeRebel has an acceptable score of 3.8 stars (from a possible 5).
Monetha
Average survey earnings are between $0.25 and $2.00 each.
Monetha users can earn on average $40 per month.
For some surveys, users must take a short pre-qualification survey to determine their suitability. Even for non-qualification, their accounts will be credited with $0.01.
Monetha lets you earn points for taking surveys, referring friends, completing various daily tasks, and just for signing up.
How to earn with Monetha
- Shop online
- Complete surveys
- Refer friends
- Sign up
- Take daily tasks
The accumulated points can then be exchanged for a huge range of gift cards that include PayPal, Visa, Apple, Nike, Amazon, eBay, and thousands of others. Points can also be used to invest in cryptocurrencies or donated to a range of charities.
You can exchange your Monetha points in the following ways:
- Thousands of top gift cards
- PayPal and Visa cash-back
- Invest in cryptocurrencies
- Donate to charities
Extras
Monetha is availabe to users all around the world via an easy-to-install and use app.
Valued Opinions
Typically, each Valued Opinions survey, which lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, rewards you with $1 to $5.
There are also opportunities to take occasional surveys valued between $10 and $20.
Users can expect to earn between $25 to $40 per month.
Users – who must be 17 years of age – must have a minimum account balance of $10 to redeem their rewards.
Rewards are paid in the form of gift cards from PayPal, Amazon, Footlocker, John Lewis, Primark, and dozens of other top brands.
The platform has a minimum cash out of $3 for gift cards and $25 for PayPal.
How to earn with Valued Opinions
- Surveys
- Product testing
- Test products
- Diary surveys
- Mobile surveys
- Teen surveys
Notification emails for new surveys provide an estimated completion time and a deadline. Although the number of surveys might seem limited, the chances of qualifying for surveys on Valued Opinions are quite good.
Once you’ve earned the minimum cash value of $3 you can swap your points for:
- Gift cards from top global brands
Valued Opinions tailors the survey opportunities to your profile, ensuring you only encounter relevant paid surveys.
Extras
Over 3 million worldwide members.
Trustpilot has given Valued Opinions a score of 3.9 stars (from a possible 5) from over 3,200 reviews.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks has an average payout per survey of $0.40 and $2.00.
For 10-25 minutes per day, users can earn an average of $100 to $200 a month.
Earn Swagbucks points just for signing up.
Payments are made via PayPal Cashback or a range of popular gift cards.
How to earn with Swagbucks
- Sign up – $20 sign-up bonus
- Shop online
- Take surveys
- Watch videos
- Referring friends
- Use the Swagbucks search engine
With a vast array of paid survey opportunities, Swagbucks stands out as one of the largest and most reputable survey platforms in the market.
Swagbucks points can be exchanged for:
- A range of branded gift cards
- PayPal Cash
Extras
Regions of Operation: USA, Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada, Spain, Portugal, and the UK.
Minimum Age to Participate: 13 years and above.
Trustpilot has given Swagbucks a score of 4.3 stars (from a possible 5) from over 32k reviews.
LifePoints
Each survey pays between $0.40 and $3.50.
Dedicated users can easily earn from $25 to $100 per month.
Regular users can earn up to $1,500 a year.
The minimum cash out amount is $20.
New users are rewarded with 10 LifePoints for signing up.
How to earn with LifePoints
- Take online surveys for money
- Each time you complete a survey, you’ll accumulate virtual points, which are referred to as LPs.
Once your points balance has reached $20 you can exchange it for:
- Top brand gift cards
- PayPal Credits
The more surveys you take, the greater the rewards you’ll receive.
A majority of their surveys are designed to be concise, often taking less than 10 minutes to finish. While this might result in slightly lower payouts for each survey, the overall return on your time investment remains competitive.
Extras
Regions of Availability: LifePoints is accessible in the US, Canada, the UK, and 41 other countries worldwide.
Participants must be at least 18 years old.
Survey Junkie
Surveys pay between $0.20 and $3.00 each.
Your earnings can vary based on your profile, but by completing three surveys daily, you could potentially earn up to $40 monthly.
Survey Junkie pays $0.03 for disqualified surveys.
How to earn with Survey Junkie
- Take surveys
- Test new products
- Join focus groups
Once you’ve reached the cash out minimum of $10 you can redeem your earnings with:
- PayPal Credit
- Gift cards
- Bank transfers
It’s worth noting that with Survey Junkie you will need to act fast as surveys tend to fill up quickly, plus, it can be quite difficult to qualify for focus groups.
Extras
Available in the U.S. Canada, and Australia to users over 18 years of age.
Trustpilot has given Survey Junkie a score of 4.3 stars (from a possible 5) from over 44k reviews.
You can learn more about making money with Survey Junkie here.
Opinion Outpost
An average Opinion Outpost survey pays between $0.50 and $5 – depending on the time invested.
Users claim to earn approximately $6 per hour.
How to earn with Opinion Outpost
- Take surveys
- Product tests
- Give reviews
- Join focus groups
- Location-based surveys
- Advertisement reviews
Rewards can be redeemed for:
- PayPal Cash
- Gift cards.
The minimum cash out for both differs slightly with $5 for gift cards and $10 for Pay Pal.
One of the site’s strengths is the abundance of survey opportunities it presents daily. This ensures that users have a higher likelihood of qualifying for several surveys.
Extras
Intended solely for users in the U.S.
Users of the app must be over 17 years of age.
Trustpilot reviews by over 1,500 users have given Opinion Outpost a score of 4.1 stars (from a possible 5 stars).
Ipsos i-Say
The average compensation for taking Ipsos surveys is between 45 and 250 points. (100 points equals $1).
Average earnings can range between $50 and $150 per month.
Earn 5-10 points even for not qualifying for a survey.
How to earn with Ipsos i-Say
- Take surveys
- Offer opinions
Take note, rewards will be different in every country.
What’s appealing about i-Say is its low redemption threshold, enabling users to quickly access gift cards.
Points can be redeemed for:
- Amazon gift cards
- PayPal Cash
- A range of other merchandise
Additionally, if you’re short on points for a particular item, you have the option to cover the remaining amount using cash from your PayPal account.
However, a potential drawback to consider is that the compensation rates for their surveys aren’t among the highest in the industry. It’s advisable to bear this in mind before registering.
Extras
Users must be based in the U.S. and be over the age of 18.
Ipsos i-Say received a commendable 4.2 stars, (out of 5 stars) based on feedback from 46.6k Trustpilot reviewers.
Toluna Influencers
The average survey payout with Toluna is between $1 and $5 and can be redeemed as a range of top gift cards or PayPal vouchers.
Users can expect to earn an average of $25 – $50 per month.
How to earn with Toluna Influencers
- Completing surveys
- Keeping your profile complete and up to date
- Answering polls
- Playing games
- Entering lotteries
- Recommending friends
- Engaging with social media
There is a minimum cash out threshold of $10.
In addition to its primary survey feature, Toluna spices things up with daily lottery opportunities. Participating in these lotteries could land you a jackpot of a million points, equivalent to roughly $300.
Points can be redeemed for:
- PayPal Cash
- Gift cards from top brands
However, a word of caution: it’s essential to keep an eye on your points’ expiration date. Points will lapse 16 months post-acquisition, so it’s wise to redeem them before that.
Extras
Toluna is available to users from all around the world who are 16 or older.
Trustpilot reviews by over 10,000 users have given Opinion Outpost a score of 3.8 stars (from a possible 5 stars).
Pinecone Research
PineCone Research pays on average $3 for every survey taken.
Calculating monthly earnings can be difficult as membership and surveys are only available through an exclusive invitation. Many users claim to qualify for 1-4 surveys per month.
It’s recommended to complement PineCone Research with other survey sites to maximize earnings.
How to earn with Pinecone Research
- Completing surveys for money
- Enter sweepstakes
It’s essential to note that PineCone Research has a limited intake of new members each month, and there might be instances when they don’t accept any new registrations at all.
With a modest payout threshold set at $3, users can regularly redeem their earnings via:
- Bank transfers
- Gift cards
- Prepaid VISAs
Extras
Reviews on Trustpilot are quite mixed with the company scoring 1.8 from 120 reviews. However, if you are lucky enough to snag an invite to this survey platform, you’ll find the rewards to be quite generous.
Things that can affect your earning potential
The best paid survey sites are usually a straightforward way to earn some extra cash. However, there are factors that can affect your earning potential if you’re not careful.
Location
- The availability of surveys often varies by country. Developed countries or regions with significant consumer markets, like the US or Europe, might have a higher number of surveys due to the presence of many multinational companies interested in these markets.
- Cultural, economic, and political factors in certain regions can also influence the type and number of surveys available.
Demographics
- Companies often target specific demographic groups based on the product or service they’re promoting. For instance, tech companies might target younger age groups for feedback on a new app, while luxury brands might focus on higher income brackets.
- Factors like gender, education level, and household size can also play a role in the kind of surveys you’re invited to participate in.
Time Commitment
- Like many endeavors, the more effort and time you put into taking surveys, the higher your potential earnings. Regularly checking for new surveys and promptly completing them can increase your chances of earning more.
- Some survey sites also offer loyalty or consistency bonuses for users who log in and complete tasks daily.
Site Reputation
- It’s crucial to choose reputable online survey sites. While many platforms offer genuine earning opportunities, others might have low payout rates or might be unreliable when it comes to disbursing earnings.
- Researching reviews, checking for transparency in terms and conditions, and understanding the payout threshold can help in selecting trustworthy sites.
Top tip to grow your earnings:
Join Multiple Sites – Diversify your opportunities
Set Up a Dedicated Email – To avoid cluttering your primary email
Survey Length and Complexity
- Typically, online surveys that are longer or require more detailed input from participants offer higher rewards. This is because they demand more time and effort, and the insights gathered are often more valuable to the companies.
- However, it’s essential to balance this with the time commitment. While a longer survey might pay more, two shorter branded surveys might be more efficient and enjoyable to complete in the same timeframe.
Survey sites in a nutshell
The amount of money a person can make on a top U.S. paid online survey site varies widely based on several factors, including the site itself, the user’s demographics, the number of surveys they qualify for, and how much time they dedicate to taking surveys.
If you’re looking to live a life of luxury in a paradise location, taking surveys for money probably won’t be the route you need to take.
However, if you want to supplement your income, save for something special, or just give yourself a treat from time to time, paid online surveys and survey sites are the perfect answer.
Survey sites takeaway:
- Most surveys on top sites pay between $0.50 and $5, but some specialized surveys or focus groups can pay $50 or more.
- A dedicated user who consistently uses survey sites might earn anywhere from $20 to $200 or more per month. However, it’s essential to note that these figures can fluctuate based on the factors mentioned above.
- Some survey sites also offer other ways to earn, such as product testing, watching videos, or referring friends, which can boost earnings.
- Many sites have a minimum amount you need to earn before you can cash out, which can affect how often you receive your earnings.
- Survey sites offer multiple ways to cash out your earnings from PayPal Cash and bank transfers to gift cards, donations to charities, and cryptocurrencies.
It’s important to approach online surveys with realistic expectations.
While many high-paying surveys can provide a source of extra income, they’re unlikely to replace a full-time job’s earnings. Always research and choose reputable survey sites, and be wary of any site that requires payment to join or promises unusually high earnings.
If looks too good to be true, then it probably is.
When choosing paid survey sites, stick with the most respected brands with a proven track history. Whether you decide to choose Survey Junkie, LifePoints, Monetha, or any of the others, you can be sure that you’re in safe hands.
Along with the survey sites mentioned here, there are many more survey sites out there; just be sure to do your homework before you sign up for anything.
Once you find the survey sites that are right for you, get ready to start making money from your spare time today.
