How to Make Money Doing Online Surveys: The 2024 Guide
Online surveys are one of the most popular ways to make money online today. If you're interested in them but not sure how to get started, take a look at our article which explains exactly how online surveys work and how you can use them to generate income.
What are online surveys?
Brands and companies conduct market research all the time to understand consumer behavior, preferences, and market trends to improve their product, experience, or brand perception. To make it worth your while, these brands or companies reward you for completing online surveys with cash or a range of different benefits, such as gift cards or discounts, and all you need to do is share your opinion and insights.
Many different platforms host surveys for these brands and companies, aiming to streamline the process so users can complete surveys easily and get paid quickly. This then incentivizes people to complete more surveys, which provides more data to the paying brands - a win-win!
Where can I find online surveys?
There are loads of different sites out there offering the chance to complete online surveys for money, but be cautious, as not all of them are as legit as they might seem. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scam online survey platforms out there, so you need to be savvy and watch out for any red flags, such as unrealistic payment amounts, fees, and asking for too much personal information.
There are many genuine online survey platforms out there to get you started, including Freecash, Survey Junkie, Vindale Research, LifePoints, and Toluna, to name a few. You can also look for other surveys by:
- Searching on the websites of market research firms like Pollfish and Nielsen
- Checking freelance platforms like Upwork for any paid survey listings
- Looking through Google and IOS or Android app stores to find online survey apps
How do online survey platforms work?
To join an online survey platform, you should register on the website or mobile app by providing your name, age, and email address. Once your email address has been verified, many platforms will ask you to fill out a questionnaire about your interests and hobbies in order to accurately match you with available surveys. This allows you to take a survey that you're engaged in, which helps make the work more enjoyable.
You'll then be given access to a variety of surveys to complete on a wide range of topics depending on your questionnaire, which could include:
- Health
- Fitness
- Cooking
- Beauty
- Politics
Once a survey is complete, you will generally be awarded virtual currency, which you can then redeem for cash or other rewards.
How can I make money from online surveys?
Online survey platforms offer to pay you for each survey you complete, though the amount you can earn varies depending on the platform and the survey length, averaging between $0.40 to $5.00. So while it won't make you rich, taking paid surveys can help supplement your daily income and give your wallet a little extra boost.
Most surveys pay between $0.40 and $1.50 and tend to be short and suitable for many people. Sometimes you may be offered a longer survey that pays more, but these often have specific rules and you may not qualify.
Once complete, you'll usually be able to withdraw money using PayPal or VISA, although this may differ from platform to platform, with some rewarding checks or pre-paid cards. You can also keep an eye out for bonuses or sweepstakes offered by some platforms for completing surveys or referring friends and family for more opportunities to earn.
What happens after you complete a paid online survey?
Once you’ve completed the online survey and earned your virtual currency, the survey platform will forward the participant’s responses and information to the brands or companies conducting their market research. They will then analyze this, creating reports and business decisions based on the answers provided.
| Pros | Cons |
| Most online survey platforms are free to join | Surveys can fill up fast if you're not quick to sign up |
| A lot of platforms have mobile apps allowing you to earn from anywhere | There are many scam survey platforms out there |
| No training or qualifications are required to participate | Some platforms have high payout thresholds |
| Most platforms aim to pay you quickly, within 48 hours of withdrawal | Average pay is usually on the lower side |
| They are usually quick to complete | Some surveys target specific demographics, which could limit your survey options |
| They typically cover topics that you’re interested in | Registering with multiple survey sites can flag you for fraud |
| You can earn extra money to supplement your income | Online survey completion lacks scalability and financial growth prospects |
FAQ
Are paid online survey platforms legit?
Yes, there are many legit paid online survey platforms out there used by businesses for market research, however, there are scams out there too, so always be wary of the warning signs before joining any platform.
How can you avoid the risks of completing paid online surveys?
Before joining an online survey site, read their reviews and their privacy policy. If the reviews are bad or they don't have a clear privacy policy, it's probably safer not to share your personal information. Also look out for promises you will ‘get rich quick’ or offers of big payouts that sound too good to be true, because they probably are.
Which online survey platform pays the most?
The amount varies depending on the length of the survey, but the average highest-paying platforms are Freecash, Survey Junkie, and InboxDollars.
How much money can you make from online surveys?
Completing online surveys won’t make you a fortune by any means, but they can earn you a bit of money without much effort. For example, survey platform LifePoints says a casual user can earn between $25 to $100 which could be a welcome increase in your monthly earnings.
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