Yes. Making money from online surveys is possible, and many people do it daily. Most survey apps and websites have hundreds of thousands of users who make money daily taking surveys. For the very popular websites, millions of users benefit from the advantages of their services.
Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you have probably heard of online surveys and how people make some cash out of them. If you are like me, who is always on the lookout for additional ways to make money, especially when free, you would have also asked how you can get into the whole making money with survey thing.
If that is you, then you have come to the best place.
What Are Paid Online Surveys?
Paid online surveys are a tool used by various researchers to get valuable public feedback on varying degrees of topics such as products, politics, brand sentiments, and more.
These surveys are paid, which means you get paid if you take such surveys. The good thing about online surveys is not only that they pay you to provide your honest opinions, but they also make things easier with their websites and apps. Downloading an app means you get real-time notifications about surveys, and when you have some time to spare, you can make money with them.
Surveys are an excellent way for marketers, researchers, and the government to understand how to make things better for all of us. But physical surveys are not always the best ways to achieve such goals. This has resulted in the online survey community, allowing them to gain almost real-time feedback to do their work.
How Online Surveys Work
Online surveys work in a simple way. Organizations are always on the lookout for what the general public thinks about issues. For businesses and brands, it may be their products and services. Or even how you feel about their brand. For governments, it may be about policy and decisions concerning the country. For startups, they want to know if their product meets a need and could actually make a product-market fit.
So there are lots of reasons organizations need your opinions. While this may not be your responsibility, you can certainly profit from it. Here is how it works.
We have established what you have to give. Organizations pay for your opinions on such survey platforms because they can get ready feedback instead of experimenting for months on their own. It is a sure way to do market research.
Getting Started with Online Survey Platforms
When any organization needs public opinion or even segmented opinion, the survey is quickly uploaded to platforms like Swagbucks and Opinion Outpost. These platforms already have users signed up. During the signup process, your data is collected. So anytime a survey meeting your profile is uploaded, you get notified and see it on your available surveys.
Of course, this means it is not all surveys you qualify for. But that is okay. You will always find platforms and surveys that meet what you can provide. And there are more general survey sites like Geopol that anyone can join and still get paid.
Once a survey is uploaded and made available to you, you may be given a time frame to respond to the survey or lose the chance. As I already mentioned, most surveys need fast responses, so regularly watching out for your app is a good idea.
How Do Online Surveys Pay You?
The common methods are through PayPal and gift cards. Here is how it works.
By filling out these surveys, you accumulate points that you can withdraw in the form of cash, rewards, and presents. Of course, the type of reward system used depends on the platform.
But most of the popular platforms allow you to choose between a wide range of rewards such as shopping gift cards, cash through PayPal or bank, and more.
Best 15 Online Survey Sites To Start
What Online Surveys Pay The Most? These are legit platforms to make money and earn rewards from taking surveys.
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the largest online survey platforms. On Swagbucks, you get paid by earning points. Activities such as shopping online, surfing the internet, watching videos, and performing other tasks are all you need to do to get these points.
There are also surveys, in case you were wondering. Payment methods include PayPal or gift cards. For example, Swagbucks will give you a free $20 bonus upon signing up, and you could earn as much as $2 per survey.
2. LifePoints
LifePoints is a platform for influencer communities. They give you a bonus of 10 points when you sign up. To withdraw your funds, you can only do so through PayPal, and you must be 16 years of age before you can apply.
The platform is also available to only US and Canadian residents. The good thing about this platform is the ease of getting picked for surveys. Also, it takes an average of 10 minutes to complete their surveys.
3. Google Opinion Rewards
Google Opinion Rewards is one of the easiest ways to make money, and it is from Google. The app is available on the play store, and Apple users can also find it on the app store. Using the platform is simple.
You have to respond to your assigned surveys within 24 hours. You have to be 18 years or above to join the program. You get rewarded through PayPal, google or play credit.
4. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys give you the opportunity to make money by taking surveys. You also get opportunities to perform other tasks and earn extra money. Branded surveys will pay you up to $3 for each survey or task, and you can redeem your rewards through PayPal or a gift card.
5. Harris Poll Online
Harris Poll Online is a world-renowned brand when it comes to research. Their platform performs surveys that have been used for large projects such as government studies. They pay a small reward of $1 per survey, and you can redeem this through gift cards and charity donations.
6. Valued Opinions
Valued Opinions is a market research platform. They have a point-based system which means you earn points for tasks done. The points can be converted to rewards which you get through gift cards. The minimum cash out on Valued Opinions is $20, and you get paid an average of $2 per survey.
7. Ipsos i-Say Panel
Ipsos i-Say Panel is a platform that holds draws to which all their members are automatically entered. This is a bonus, and you can get rewarded a lot for free.
But the main attraction of the platform is that you get to perform tasks and earn gift cards and PayPal funds.
They also have a point-based system which means you redeem points for money or gift cards. You must be 18 point-based to sign up for the Ipsos i-Say Panel.
8. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is one of the only platforms that will give you a check for your reward redemption. They also have prepaid VISA and gift cards. They pay up to $5, and you can cash out when you reach the $30 threshold.
9. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is one of the best out there. They require you to take surveys and perform tasks like other platforms, and you earn as much as $3 per survey.
You can get cash through PayPal or some eGifts from them.
10. OneOpinion
OneOpinion is one of the easiest platforms to get into. They have a simple process that allows you to get signed up fast. OneOpinion also uses a point-based system. So for 1000 points, you get $1.
To join the platform, you have to be 13 years or above. But there is a catch for users less than 18 years. They have to get parental consent before they can access the platform.
You redeem your rewards through only gift cards, but you stand to make as much as $5 per survey on this platform. With a withdrawal threshold of $25, you need about 25,000 points a day to make a withdrawal.
Other Online Survey Platforms
11. Opinion Outpost
12. i-Say
13. Survey Club
14. Toluna Influencers
15. MyPoints
How Much Money Can You Make From Online Surveys?
You can typically make between $1 and $20 for each survey taken. You might be wondering how it all works. There are a lot of survey platforms out there. We have listed 15 of the best in this article. As you sign up for each one, you will notice that they have similar and varying terms.
And when it comes to getting paid, they vary as well. This means there is no fixed amount for each survey you take. Certain surveys will pay more while others will pay less. Particular platforms pay less and have fewer surveys, while others have the opposite. Take some time to study platforms to make a good income from taking surveys online.
How To Make Consistent Money From Surveys
If you have tried making a decent amount of cash from survey sites, you will notice that some of them are scams, others pay less, and others have fewer opportunities to make money. However, if you follow some of the strategies here, you will be able to generate a good income daily from these sites to pay for basic amenities.
1. Register For Several Survey Platforms
Being active on one survey platform may stunt your income potential, especially if the platform doesn’t have opportunities on a daily basis and also if they pay low rewards.
A good way to bump your earnings from survey sites is to register and stay updated on multiple platforms. This way, you can benefit from a lot of opportunities that are available to each. This is a smart idea because most platforms put a cap on the number of surveys you can take daily.
For instance, if platform A gives a limit of 5 surveys a day, you can jump to platform B if you reach your limit. Perhaps you have more time on a particular day, you can increase your rewards in general by simply following this method.
Also, some platforms generally pay more. You can focus on them, but the reality is that they usually are very specific, and such opportunities don’t come around often. So spreading your net wide here is an excellent idea to work with.
2. Maintain a Complete and Updated Profile
Survey sites are just like social media. You sign up, fill in your information, and surveys are sent to you based on your profile. The key here is that surveys are sent based on your profile. If your profile is not updated or complete, you may be getting opportunities that don’t match you well.
This could easily result in you getting no opportunities. You could also get low-quality surveys that do not allow you to get higher bucks.
Maintaining an updated and complete profile takes only a few seconds, don’t let those few seconds take away good opportunities from you.
3. Verify Your Email and Contacts
You will have to provide your email to the platforms when registering. But most people forget to confirm the subscription for email notifications, even after signing up.
If you are in this situation, you may not receive any email updates. While you may be quite happy about that, you really shouldn’t. This is because you may not receive emails from them, including updates on surveys you can take. Most online survey sites will send you emails with the latest surveys you qualify to take. By not receiving emails, you miss out on such opportunities.
Accepting email alerts may bring you opportunities but, at the same time, frustrate you as you try to sort survey alerts from emails from work and friends. To solve this, simply create a dedicated email that you can use to sign up to survey sites. Don’t make it generic. Instead, use what you would use for a real account.
Another good reason to do this is that you can simply delete the account from your email app anytime you decide to stop taking surveys for some reason. That way, you do not have to go through your email to unsubscribe from dozens of services.
4. Download Apps and Allow Notifications
A good number of survey websites also have apps. Before we talk about the apps, let’s look at the websites.
Using the websites on a laptop is probably the best way to use survey sites. But who walks around with a laptop all the time? And even if you do, it is simply not as convenient as using a phone. That said, you can easily perform multiple tasks using your PC, so always consider it first.
But on the flip side, you are always on the move. So it is best to download the mobile apps. The popular ones like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and Geopol have apps. You should download them immediately after signing up and allow notifications so that you are always the first to see new opportunities.
5. Login Daily; Search for High Paying Surveys
Staying active on the website or app is key. However, this does not mean spending your entire day on the applications. Remember, you have full-time responsibilities. So, what’s the best way to deal with this?
Have a specific time you login in daily. For example, it could be 2 or 3 times a day. This will save you from having to log in daily impulsively. This also sets you on a habit that means you get to earn daily.
6. Give Honest Information
Surveys are data collection tools for organizations to get genuine feedback. Of course, this depends on how honest you are with the submissions you give. While it may tempt you to simply give quick responses, have the purpose of the entire exercise in mind.
Another reason to give honest responses is that the platforms are advanced and can spot contradictions in your responses. You can actually get banned if the system detects some of these inconsistencies in your account.
Another thing to beware of is using several accounts to respond to one survey. This is shady and may land you in legal problems as the platforms have terms and conditions against such practices.
By reading and sticking to the terms and conditions, you can make money legally in your free time. In addition, it is easy to make money with online surveys.
Can You Make A Living Doing Surveys?
No, regardless of the platform or number of surveys you take a day, it is not ideal to think of online survey sites as your full-time source of income. According to Nerdwallet, users get paid 41 cents to $2.03 per hour. So you could earn as much as $20 a day from taking surveys.
It is a great way to pay a few bills and buy groceries. But it cannot be sustained as a “job” for anyone. However, you can increase your earnings by trying other options like selling your unused bandwidth and testing applications.
You might want to try out this platform if you’re interested in making a full-time income online. I got to learn how making money online works even as a student including affiliate marketing.
Are Online Surveys Safe?
Yes, online surveys are safe and legit to use. But it would be best if you were careful. When it comes to online surveys, most people ask if they are legit. And this is because a lot of people get scammed, or their data were stolen because they do not take the necessary security checks.
The number one rule to taking online surveys is to stick to the mainstream ones and check the website before signing up.
Learn to perform quick Google research on any platform before you sign up. Look for the legitness, earning rate, and some strategies to make a killing on them. This way, you do not waste your time on platforms that are fake, scams or don’t deserve your time.
Keynotes About Making Money With Online Surveys
- Stay away from paid membership sites
- Taking surveys online is time-consuming
- Some sites never payout, Deal with only legit sites
- Don’t put all your hopes on survey sites
- Study the platforms and identify high paying strategies and researchers
Recommendations and Better alternatives
Surveys have made people hundreds and even thousands of dollars but they require active work. Among the above-mentioned platforms, Swagbucks will be your first place to stop by followed by Inboxdollars. Swagbucks is a well-established platform with several options to earn from and gives you a $20 bonus as a welcome.
While you can’t quit your job over surveys, you can definitely increase your earnings with your idle computer and responding to other usability tests. One such platform that makes you more than cents is Respondent. I’ve made money there myself.
However, what gave me passive income online while studying is the Wealthy Affiliate platform. It taught me all that I needed to know to make a living with the internet. And now I can do it irrespective of where I am.
The best thing is that you can check it out for free. No credit card and any financial information are required. It was one of the best decisions I ever made so you can try it if you want to make more than cents in taking surveys.
Do you have any experience in taking surveys? Kindly share it in the comment box below to help a friend. If you’ve come across any better platform than the ones listed here too, kindly drop it in the comment and I will be glad to check it out. Until then, I hope you make a good decision