Everything You Need to Know Before Taking Paid Online Surveys
- Select a reputable survey platform: Research and identify legitimate survey websites with positive user reviews and a history of timely payments. Make sure to avoid suspicious platforms that require upfront fees or promise unrealistic earnings.
- Read the survey instructions carefully: Before starting a survey, thoroughly read the instructions to understand the requirements and expectations. Pay attention to time estimates, completion criteria, and any specific instructions to ensure accurate responses.
- Provide honest and thoughtful responses: Take surveys seriously and respond truthfully and thoughtfully to each question. Avoid rushing through surveys or providing inconsistent answers, as this may lead to disqualification or a lower earning potential.
- Stay organized: Keep track of the surveys you've completed, including dates and payments received, to avoid duplication and ensure accurate compensation. Consider using a spreadsheet or survey tracking app to maintain records.
- Be patient: Earnings from online paid surveys may accumulate gradually, so maintain patience and persistence. Focus on the long-term benefits and consider survey taking as a supplemental income rather than a quick source of cash.
Tips For Maximizing Your Earnings From Online Survey Sites
- Completing your profile: Start by filling out your profile surveys accurately and thoroughly. This information helps match you with surveys that align with your demographics and interests, increasing your chances of qualifying for more surveys and earning higher rewards.
- Using the referral programs: Take advantage of [survey platform name]'s referral programs. Share your referral link with friends and family, and earn additional rewards or bonuses for each person who signs up through your link. This is a great way to boost your earnings without completing additional surveys.
- Targeting higher-paying surveys: Keep an eye out for surveys that offer higher payouts. While shorter surveys may be tempting due to their quick completion time, targeting longer and higher-paying surveys can significantly increase your earnings per hour spent.
- Staying consistent: Be consistent in your survey-taking activities. Set aside dedicated time each day or week to complete surveys. Consistency allows you to maximize your earnings and take advantage of a consistent flow of survey opportunities.
- Participating in focus groups and product testing: In addition to traditional surveys, some platforms may offer opportunities to participate in focus groups or product testing. These activities often pay more and provide you with a chance to express your opinion in a more detailed manner.
Some of the most common mistakes to avoid include:
- Inconsistent participation: Avoid being inconsistent in your survey-taking activities. Regularly check for new surveys and participate consistently to maximize your earnings.
- Incomplete or inaccurate responses: Take the time to provide thoughtful and accurate responses to survey questions. Rushing through surveys or providing inconsistent or false answers can reduce your chances of qualifying for future surveys.
- Failure to meet eligibility criteria: Read survey invitations thoroughly to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria. Attempting to complete surveys for which you are not eligible wastes time and reduces earning potential.
Warning Signs That A Survey Site May Not Be Legit
Be cautious when selecting a survey platform to avoid scams and protect personal information. Look out for warning signs of illegitimate platforms, such as:
- Unclear Privacy Policy and Terms: Legitimate platforms prioritize user privacy with clear policies and data protection measures. Beware of platforms without transparent policies or encryption measures.
- Suspicious Payment Practices: Legitimate platforms have transparent payment processes without upfront fees or requests for sensitive financial information.
- Unprofessional Interface: Legitimate platforms invest in a user-friendly interface, while illegitimate platforms may have outdated designs or broken links.
- Excessive Information Requirements: Legitimate platforms collect basic demographic information, but beware of platforms asking for unnecessary sensitive details.
- Unrealistic Rewards or Incentives: Be skeptical of platforms that promise excessive rewards beyond reasonable compensation.
- Poor Online Reputation: Research a platform's reputation for negative reviews or complaints before engaging.
Top Picks
Best Overall: Freecash with one of the lowest cashout minimums, a variety of surveys available, high payments, and a wide range of rewards.
Best App: Ipsos iSay with a highly rated, user-friendly app offering exclusive mobile offers.
Fastest Payouts: PrizeRebel, where all redeemed prizes are awarded within 24 hours.
Best Paid Survey Sites To Make Money In 2024
| Platform | Available Rewards | Minimum Cashout Required |
| Freecash | PayPal, Visa, Bank transfer money, gift cards, cryptocurrencies | $0.25 |
| ySense | Payoneer, Skrill, Dwolla, Tangocard, Check, PayPal, gift cards | $5 |
| Rewards1 | PayPal, Visa, gift cards, cryptocurrencies, game codes | $5 |
| instaGC | PayPal, Bitcoin, gift cards | $1 |
| Branded Surveys | PayPal, Branded Pay, direct bank transfer, gift cards | $5 |
Freecash
While Freecash is not solely dedicated to surveys, we do provide a wide range of surveys for our members that cover numerous topics. For added convenience, we also offer a mobile app that enables members to complete surveys and other tasks while on the move.
- Rewards: 30 different rewards, such as cash, gift cards, and cryptocurrencies
- Cashout Minimum: $0.25
- Amount per Survey: $1.50 to $5
- Mobile App: iOS and Android
ySense
Although ySense is primarily a get-paid-to platform, with multiple earning options available, its primary focus is on surveys. This platform provides members with a variety of daily survey opportunities tailored to their location, profile information, and other criteria. One notable feature of ySense surveys is their transparency, as they provide information on the average completion time and earning potential for each survey.
- Rewards: Payoneer, Skrill, Dwolla, Tangocard, Check, PayPal, gift cards
- Cashout Minimum: $5
- Amount per Survey: $0.75 to $2.45
- Mobile App: iOS and Android
PrizeRebel
PrizeRebel offers various earning opportunities, and surveys are among the most well-liked methods. Members of this platform have access to daily surveys, and PrizeRebel is known for its high earning potential in this area. Furthermore, each survey comes with an estimated completion time and is globally available.
- Rewards: Gift cards, PayPal, direct deposit, Bitcoin
- Cashout Minimum: $5
- Amount per Survey: $0.25 to $5.50
- Mobile App: Android
Valued Opinions
As indicated by its name, Valued Opinions is primarily focused on surveys. This platform provides a considerable number of paid surveys, with even more opportunities available in specific countries. Users receive email notifications for new surveys, but they can also access a list of currently available surveys to start completing them. The surveys on Valued Opinions are organized into categories and include information on the reward amount and estimated completion time.
- Rewards: Digital and physical gift cards
- Cashout Minimum: $10
- Amount per Survey: $1 to $5
- Mobile App: iOS and Android
Pinecone Research
Pinecone Research stands out as one of the most generous survey platforms available. However, there is a limitation you should be aware of - joining this platform requires an invitation link, and they only accept a limited number of new members each month. This means that persistence is key to securing a spot. While Pinecone Research does not offer daily surveys, they do have regular surveys that can pay participants up to $3 per survey.
- Rewards: Direct bank transfers, Visa gift cards, gift cards
- Cashout Minimum: $3
- Amount per Survey: $3
- Mobile App: iOS
Kashkick
Kashkick provides a range of paid offers and a decent number of surveys. However, the number of available spots is limited, and members must act fast to secure an invitation. When a new survey is released, it functions on a first-come, first-served basis, and all members must wait for the next batch of openings once all spots are taken. Each survey has a specific category, earning potential, and time required for completion, promoting transparency. Surveys on Kashkick typically last from 5 to 15 minutes, with some running longer.
- Rewards: PayPal
- Cashout Minimum: $10
- Amount per Survey: $0.50 to $3
- Mobile App: Android
Opinion Outpost
Opinion Outpost is a user-friendly survey platform that sends email notifications to members regarding new surveys. The surveys cover a wide range of topics, including product and ad reviews, focus groups, and location-based surveys. However, it is important to note that Opinion Outpost may not offer as many survey opportunities as some other platforms. Therefore, it could be beneficial to combine this platform with another to maximize survey availability.
- Rewards: PayPal, Mastercard, gift cards
- Cashout Minimum: $5
- Amount per Survey: $0.10 to $0.80
- Mobile App: None
Tellwut
Tellwut takes a completely distinct approach to surveys by allowing members to create their own, as well as completing surveys made by others. Members of Tellwut can earn money by both completing and creating surveys. Additionally, there is an opportunity to participate in third-party surveys provided by organizations and companies. These surveys are more lucrative compared to other surveys on the platform.
- Rewards: PayPal, Visa gift cards, gift cards
- Cashout Minimum: $10
- Amount per Survey: $0.80 to $5
- Mobile App: iOS and Android
Ipsos I-Say
Ipsos I-Say is a survey platform that is widely used in over 100 countries. The platform provides a vast selection of surveys to its users, although the number of surveys available may vary depending on the country. The topics covered by the surveys are diverse, covering areas such as politics, lifestyle, entertainment, and products, ensuring that there is something for everyone.
- Rewards: Visa gift cards, PayPal, gift cards
- Cashout Minimum: $5
- Amount per Survey: $0.25 to $1
- Mobile App: iOS and Android
Toluna
Toluna provides a limited number of surveys each week, usually ranging from five to ten, depending on the user's current geographical location. One remarkable aspect of this platform is that members who are disqualified from surveys still receive compensation. The surveys offered on Toluna are typically short, with an average length of less than 10 minutes. They are conveniently organized by payout, with information listed regarding the category, points earned, and estimated time for completion.
- Rewards: PayPal, gift cards, products
- Cashout Minimum: $10
- Amount per Survey: $0.10 to $5
- Mobile App: iOS and Android
Rewards1
Rewards1 operates as both a get-paid-to website and a survey aggregator, listing surveys from their partner websites. Instead of completing surveys directly on Rewards1, members are redirected to other platforms where they can fill out the surveys, earning points on Rewards1.
- Rewards: PayPal, Visa, gift cards, cryptocurrencies, game codes
- Cashout Minimum: $5
- Amount per Survey: $0.50 to $1
- Mobile App: None
Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is undoubtedly one of the top-rated and widely used survey platforms, known for offering a large number of surveys that are frequently updated. Their unique system encourages members to spend more time completing surveys by offering them additional survey opportunities. This incentivizes members to take part in more surveys. Additionally, even if members are disqualified from a survey, they are still rewarded with points.
- Rewards: PayPal, bank account, gift cards
- Cashout Minimum: $5
- Amount per Survey: $0.50 to $3
- Mobile App: iOS and Android
instaGC
InstaGC offers a range of partner portals to give members a wide selection of surveys to choose from. However, it is important to note that these surveys are completed on external portals, with points being earned on InstaGC. Although the options for surveys are extensive, the percentage of disqualification is also considerable. Fortunately, even if members are disqualified, they will still receive points as compensation.
- Rewards: PayPal, Bitcoin, gift cards
- Cashout Minimum: $1
- Amount per Survey: $
- Mobile App: None
Prime Opinion
Prime Opinion is highly regarded as one of the top survey platforms due to its extensive range of surveys covering various topics. These surveys are carefully sorted based on the user's profile, length, and earning potential to provide the best match. Moreover, the surveys on Prime Opinion typically take around 10 to 15 minutes to complete, offering decent earning potential. A notable feature of this platform is the survey leaderboard, which rewards users who complete the most surveys in a month with lucrative bonuses.
- Rewards: PayPal, Visa, gift cards
- Cashout Minimum: $1
- Amount per Survey: $0.20 to $5
- Mobile App: iOS and Android
LifePoints
Lifepoints, a survey platform that operates in over 40 countries and collaborates with various partners, provides a diversity of survey topics to its members. Subscribers receive survey invitations via email, covering subjects across the spectrum from politics to lifestyle and beyond. Completing surveys pays well and takes between 10 to 20 minutes to complete.
- Rewards: PayPal, gift cards
- Cashout Minimum: $10
- Amount per Survey: $0.25 to $5
- Mobile App: iOS and Android
Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys stands out as a highly reputable and top-rated survey platform. Its main strength lies in its ability to provide a high earning potential for users, supported by features such as the survey streak, which rewards members for completing multiple surveys each week, and leaderboard bonuses. Surveys typically take between 5 and 20 minutes to complete, with the potential for increased earnings as time goes on.
- Rewards: PayPal, Branded Pay, direct bank transfer, gift cards
- Cashout Minimum: $5
- Amount per Survey: $1 to $3
- Mobile App: iOS and Android
Pawns
While the primary method of earning on Pawns is by sharing internet bandwidth, the platform also provides paid survey opportunities. It's worth noting that the platform offers a substantial number of surveys. What's even more convenient is that the payment is automatically added to your account balance once you complete a survey. Just remember that in order to use Pawns, you'll need to download it onto your device as there is no browser-based option available.
- Rewards: PayPal, Bitcoin, Visa gift card, gift cards
- Cashout Minimum: $5
- Amount per Survey: $1
- Mobile App: iOS and Android
YouGov
YouGov is a highly regarded survey platform with a longstanding history spanning over two decades. It sets itself apart by offering a wide range of engaging surveys on topics such as TV series, relationships, health, and more. On average, YouGov surveys take around ten minutes to complete, and while the earning potential is decent, it's important to note that there are only a limited number of surveys available per week.
- Rewards: PayPal, bank transfers, gift cards
- Cashout Minimum: $15
Amount per Survey: $0.70 to $1.35 - Mobile App: iOS and Android
