If you search the web for work from home opportunities, paid surveys are likely to be at the top of the list. And with so many sites to choose from, it’s hard to determine which ones are worth the energy and which ones are a waste of time. You must also consider the possibility of fraud from online survey platforms promising big bucks.
To help make your life easier, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the best places to take paid online surveys for money. While you won’t get rich, you’ll make a few extra bucks on the side.
Sites That Will Pay You to Take Surveys
1. CashCrate
CashCrate partners with the top paid survey providers online to get you top dollar for your time. The partners listed on their site offer two types of surveys to those looking to make money:
- Daily surveys- These are surveys of varying lengths that are geared towards topics you’re most qualified to give feedback about. In some instances, you may be able to take a survey more than once.
- Targeted surveys- These are surveys that cater to a particular demographic and have a higher rate of compensation than daily surveys.
Keep in mind that some surveys are prerequisites to the paid offerings. For this reason, the platform encourages you to keep taking surveys until you’re a good fit for a paid opportunity.
When you register on the site, you’ll automatically receive $0.50 for your time. To view a comprehensive list of partners in their network or read reviews, visit their website.
2. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is one of the more popular paid survey platforms online. Over the past 19 years, they’ve paid members over $56 million in cash and this number continues to grow daily. Each day, surveys on various topics, including automobiles, fashion trends, healthcare, groceries, sports, current events, travel, and many more, are available for members to take in exchange for money.
Surveys are simple to complete, and compensation ranging from $0.10 to $5.00 (or more for select opportunities) is offered via cash, gift cards, or PayPal. It’s easy to sign up and you’ll earn $5 right away as a registration bonus. You can register online or by downloading the mobile app on your iOS or Android device. And once your account is active, you can start taking surveys right away.
3. i-Say
While i-Say doesn’t pay cash for surveys, you have an opportunity to earn i-Say points for each survey you complete. These points can be redeemed for funds through PayPal and gift cards from Amazon, Visa, and iTunes.
To join the i-Say community, complete the online form. You’ll be asked to provide your email address, gender, and date of birth. Once your profile is activated, you’ll be eligible to receive paid survey opportunities. Expect to receive at least one survey invitation per month, but some members earn 8 or more.
4. LifePoints
LifePoints offers paid surveys on an array of topics, including health, sports, travel, and several other components of everyday life. Compensation (paid in LifePoints) varies, and you’ll only receive invitations to complete surveys that you’re highly qualified for.
When you join the LifePoints community as a new member, you’ll receive 10 rewards points right away just for signing up. You should also know that any LifePoints earned are redeemable for gift certificates and PayPal vouchers.
5. MyPoints
Established in 1996, MyPoints is another online platform that will compensate you to complete surveys. But instead of doling out cash, you’ll earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards from 82 of your favorite brands, including Amazon, AMC Theatres, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Chili’s, Google Play, Starbucks, The Cheesecake Factory, and United Airlines.
It’s free to join and registration only takes a few minutes of your time. When signing up, you’ll be asked questions about yourself and your personal preferences so you can be matched with surveys that you’re highly qualified for.
6. MySoapBox
A subsidiary of the Interview Service of America, MySoapBox offers market research opportunities, including surveys, to consumers from all walks of life. And each time you complete a survey, you’ll earn rewards points that can be redeemed for prizes.
Although you’ll need to earn at least 25,000 points for redemption, you’ll automatically earn 2,000 when you register. You should also know that the points you’ll earn will vary by the length and complexity of the survey.
To join MySoapBox, you should be at least 13 years of age and have a valid mailing and email address. You can register online using the link found on the homepage, and once you’re in the system, you’ll receive an activation link via email. Click on the link and within 24 hours, your first survey invitation will be on its way.
7. OneOpinion
OneOpinion prides itself on the ability to swiftly compensate consumers in exchange for their opinions. You’ll be paid in points, but the exact value varies from survey to survey.
The registration process only takes one minute, and you’ll be eligible to start taking surveys right away. There’s also some flexibility in the way you are compensated as you can choose to redeem your points for cash or gift cards from leading brands, including Amazon.
8. Opinion Outpost
Opinion Outpost partners with everyday consumers to solicit opinions through surveys for brands they serve. Surveys are on a wide range of topics and in exchange for your time, you’ll receive cash or a gift card from one of your favorite brands, including iTunes and Amazon.
Ready to get started? Complete the online form found on the homepage. You’ll be asked to provide your name, email address, gender, birthday, race, ethnicity, and zip code. Your responses to these questions will help Opinion Outpost match you to surveys that are most meaningful.
9. SurveyClub
Founded in 2005, SurveyClub is a research recruitment platform that has helped over 16 million individuals on 6 continents get paid by taking surveys. But what makes them unique is the ability to search for paid opportunities by state.
To be considered for paid surveys, create a free SurveyClub Account. Be prepared to provide identifying and demographic data so SurveyClub can match you with paid survey opportunities that are a good fit. And each time you complete a survey, you can choose to be compensated by Amazon Gift Card or cash.
10. Survey Junkie
Want to get paid to share your opinion with big brands? Look no further than Survey Junkie, an online platform with over 10 million members that will pay you to complete surveys from your smartphone, laptop, desktop, or another mobile device.
Each survey allows you to earn points, which can be redeemed for gift cards or cash through PayPal. When you’re ready to get started, you can register to become a member of the affiliate program here.
11. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is another platform that allows you to share feedback with leading brands in exchange for money. As a member of their community, you’ll be afforded the opportunity to complete surveys on an array of topics, including, product appeal, advertising effectiveness, and brand recognition. Even better, if you’re offered a survey but don’t quite qualify as determined by the initial screening, you’ll still receive a small bonus for your time.
Sound like a great opportunity? Give it a try by registering for a Swagbucks account. For each survey you complete, expect to be paid between $0.40 and $2, depending on the complexity and length of the survey. And keep in mind that some surveys pay as much as $50.
12. Vindale Research
Vindale Research offers another opportunity to get paid taking surveys from the comforts of your home or while on the go. To date, they’ve paid out over $7 million to members, and when you sign up, you’ll receive $1 as a new member bonus.
Members are paid in cash, and hundreds of paid surveys are added each day so you’ll have a chance to ramp up your earnings. Another perk is that there are quite a few surveys on the platform that pay up to $50 in exchange for your time. You can sign up to become a Vindale Research member right over here.
A Few Helpful Tips When Taking Surveys Online
Before you start signing up for the different survey sites to fatten your wallet, keep the following tips in mind:
- You’ll need to be at least 13 years of age to sign up on most online survey platforms.
- You probably won’t make a ton of money since most sites only pay a few dollars, at most, to complete surveys.
- The longer and more complex the survey, the higher the compensation.
- Expect to spend hours at a time in front of the computer screen if you want to make a decent sum of money.
- It’s a good idea to install anti-malware software to ward off potential attacks from spammy websites.
How to Spot Online Survey Scams
Unfortunately, there are sites that prey on those looking to put a few extra dollars in their pockets taking surveys. Here are some tell-tale signs that you want to be on the lookout for:
- The site boasts an unrealistic earning potential.
- The site assesses a fee to new members.
- You’re required to enter your Social Security number or driver’s license number.
- You’re asked to input banking or credit card information.
Most importantly, use your best judgment. If an opportunity seems too good to be true, it probably is.
The Bottom Line
While you probably won’t amass a great sum of cash taking online surveys, they’re an ideal side hustle for someone who wants to earn a few extra dollars without exerting too much effort. But before signing up to join any of the online platforms, do your homework to confirm they are legitimate sites that won’t steal your identity or hard-earned cash.
