Best Paid Surveys Based on In-Depth Reviews
- 200+Hours of research
- 50+Sources used
- 21Companies vetted
- 4Features reviewed
- 4Top
Picks
- Cash rewards are the least common payout option
- Rewards depend on the surveys available to your demographic group.
- When possible, create a separate email account to complete the surveys.
- Surveys can complement your earnings but won’t pay a living wage.
How We Found The Best Paid Surveys
Our Top Picks: Paid Surveys Reviews
You might have heard the story of how one guy earned over a million miles with pudding cups. Although true, these types of reward opportunities are rare. Paid surveys are not meant to replace your salary. Nevertheless, they can be an easy way to make some extra cash or get discounts and rewards from top brands.
After hours of research, we determined that although some websites can be misleading, most live up to their promises. Our selection of the best paid surveys can help you get some extra cash or rewards out of simple tasks that you can complete in your free time. These are our recommendations:
PrizeRebel review
Best Points Based System
Screenshot Prizerebel.com, June 2020
Prize Rebel takes our recommendation for best points based paid survey due to its variety of point-earning activities, simple point-to-dollar conversions, and a wide array of gift cards and cashout options. This service also offers more than 500 gift card options ranging from $2 all the way to $100. Cash rewards start as low as 500 points for $5 that can be exchanged via Bitcoin, Visa, direct bank payment, or PayPal within 24 hours.
PrizeRebel provides points for watching videos, referrals, or with special deals showcased on their Offer Wall. If you participate and complete the instructions included with these offers, PrizeRebel will grant you additional points.
What’s more, points can be obtained through contests, events, and daily challenges. Raffles are conducted regularly for prizes such as Starbucks gift cards and Google Play credits. Special bonuses also provide you with points once your account reaches certain levels. The more you engage, the higher the amounts offered.
Further Insight Into Our Methodology
The first question we wanted to address with our research was just how much money you could actually make from answering paid surveys. The short answer is: not that much. The potential payout from these services is not nearly enough to quit your job, and any ad claiming to do so is likely clickbait. Still, there’s a real opportunity to gain an additional income source as well as valuable discounts and rewards for activities you’re probably already doing.
Paid surveys are not limited to simply filling out questionnaires. Most offer a variety of ways with which to accrue cash or points from everyday purchases. We examined each service’s offers, coupons, and any activities that will provide rewards for your engagement. We favored companies with the most survey options, especially those offering deals and payouts through reputable (and recognizable) retailers and service providers. Knowing that most of your free time will not be necessarily spent in front of a computer, we made sure that our recommendations include a dedicated mobile application for use with both iOS and Android.
Lastly, we focused on selecting legitimate services with a proven track record. We examined each company’s type of reward, whether cash or point-based exchange and favored services that detail the exchange rates and offer clear, thorough information on the redeeming process. Websites offering large rewards or lacking clear information on payout and data policies were cut from our list.
Payment
We examined each paid survey for its payout types. Companies that offer only gift cards or sweepstakes were eliminated, during this process. Instead, we favored paid surveys with various payment options, in particular those that offer detailed information regarding their payout practices. We also considered user reviews and experiences to make sure that the selected companies offer proven and quick payouts. Ultimately, we’ve only recommended services that pay in cash or that offer a points-based system with clear point-to-dollar rates.
Mobile App
Let’s face it, nowadays most of our web browsing is done through our phones. Having the flexibility to complete surveys from your mobile device allows you to obtain rewards while on the go. We looked for services that offer user-friendly platforms and survey apps, making sure they’re available on both iOS and Android phones.
Survey Alternatives
For the most part, surveys are directed to specific consumer groups. At times, you might go for weeks or even months without qualifying for surveys as these largely depend on what demographic the research is examining. Aside from the usual questionnaires, paid surveys offer a variety of ways in which to obtain cash and points for rewards. We favored services that offer alternative survey methods such as video, email reading, or gaming.
Coupons & Rewards
Besides cash and gift cards, legitimate paid surveys usually partner with known brands and services to present discounts, cashback, and other promotions. Some paid survey services hold sweepstakes and raffles as ways to garner additional points, while others give out points when you print and redeem coupons. We examined all the services for a variety of choices and favored those offering legitimate points or cashback programs with major retailers and service providers.
Helpful Information about Paid Surveys
What are Paid Surveys?
Paid survey software companies represent a $1.2 billion industry in the US alone. Paid surveys, statistical studies conducted by marketing research companies, are meant to obtain data on consumer practices and their demographics. In turn, the garnered data helps companies shape their offerings and can prove to be incredibly valuable when developing new products and services. To participate, subjects must meet the company’s given demographic criteria for that survey, which usually includes age and salary, as well as geographic and ethnic variables. Most online paid surveys take less than 15 minutes to complete.
A common misconception with paid surveys is that you can make a living off of them. This is far from true. Although particular surveys can occasionally pay participants a few hundred bucks, most online surveys pay anywhere from mere cents up to $10- $30 per questionnaire. Additionally, the majority of paid surveys won’t repay you with a cash amount, but instead, offer points to be redeemed for gift cards.
Search for the history of the company. Prefer services with years of experience and proven track records.
What To Watch Out For With Paid Surveys
Services asking you to pay for access
None of the paid surveys we’ve recommended, nor any of those we examined, required payment to participate. Paid survey services shouldn’t ask you to pay an upfront fee to participate or obtain access to survey lists. They might not necessarily be a scam, but you can access the same kind of surveys through websites where registration is free.
Know who you are dealing with
Sites have been known to change names in order to disguise previous wrongdoings through a refreshed image. Although it’s not uncommon for companies to partner or even merge with other paid survey providers, it’s always a best practice to check with sites such as Survey Police or WHOis, and assess the legitimacy of the website before you register.
Be mindful of the information you share
Remember: asking for general information to determine which demographic you fit into is normal. However, requests to provide personal information such as date of birth, social security numbers, or even bank account information are an enormous reg flag. Be mindful of what information is being asked of you and who you’re doing business with.
FAQs About Paid Surveys
How much does a paid survey pay?
Paid surveys payout vary greatly and can go from a few cents all the way up to the hundreds. Most online surveys peak around $30 for the most time-consuming questionnaires.
How fast do paid surveys payout?
Services usually have a threshold you need to meet in order to cashout. This can be anywhere from a few dollars and up to $30 dollars depending on the survey’s payout policy. Once you meet the minimum, payments can take anything from 24 hours to a month, depending on the service and the type of payment you request.
Can paid surveys be hacked?
Like all online services, paid surveys can be hacked. It’s good practice to read each service’s privacy policy, terms of use, and any information on the collection of information.
Do paid surveys offer insurance if my information gets stolen?
None of the services we examined offered any type of compensation in case your information is stolen. If you are doing paid surveys or if you frequently work or share personally-identifying information on the web, it would be best practice to employ an identity theft protection service to monitor your information online.
Do survey companies have legal rights over the information I provide?
When engaging with paid surveys, keep in mind that you are agreeing to voluntarily provide information. Legitimate websites offer privacy policies. Furthermore, protection on the information you provide varies per state. For example, if you are a resident of California, the Consumer Privacy Act establishes that you may request to opt-out of the sale of your information.