11 Online Surveys for Money | Legit Sites & Apps
These are the top legit paid survey sites available today. We’ve spent hundreds of hours looking into them all and below is the truth about each survey site, including what we think you’ll earn.
One thing we can all agree on – having some extra cash would be great. You have probably seen the advertisements for paid survey sites in various corners of the Internet. You wonder ‘do these sites really pay?’ These ads make pretty big promises: Get paid to take surveys! Earn big money in your spare time! No money to join!
It’s easy to have a cynical reaction to such promises. There are a lot of scams out there. But the following legit paid survey sites are on the up-and-up and can offer you a tidy little side hustle.
Survey sites pay you small amounts to take surveys, play games, watch videos, or do other various activities. While you won’t get rich, it’s taking paid surveys can be a way to earn some extra money while you watch TV or do other mindless tasks.
Each site “pays” but it may not necessarily be in the way you think. Some pay in cash or gift cards, some in reward points, and some even pay in airline miles. Here’s what you need to know so you can decide if this will be a good side hustle for you.
4.8 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
- Best Overall: Branded Surveys (full review)
- Best for Beginners: Swagbucks (full review)
- Best for Business Owners: Respondent (full review)
- Best Survey App: InboxDollars (full review)
How Legit Paid Survey/Apps Sites Work
Survey sites generally start by asking you for your personal and demographic information. You can trust that credible sites (such as the ones listed here) will not disclose this information to any other party without your permission. This information is used to choose participants for surveys.
Generally, the sites will offer several types of surveys and trial offers. Free surveys are completely free for you to take part in, and you receive compensation for your time. Offers, on the other hand, might cost you a small fee to take, but you receive payment for taking part. The offers are generally for subscription services, so it is up to you to cancel the subscription before the trial period is over.
Not all survey takers will qualify for every survey. For many surveys, you will have to answer several preliminary questions to determine if you qualify. If you are screened out, most survey sites will not pay you for that time.
When you have earned money through the survey site, you will receive your earnings as a gift card, Paypal cash, or a check, depending upon the site. Most sites have a payout minimum that you must meet before you receive your money.
All Legit Paid Survey Sites Details
1. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys is a survey service that offers users the chance to earn rewards for completing surveys and other tasks. On the surface, it has an impressive 4.3-star rating on Trustpilot and a new mobile app.
However, users should be aware before signing up that Branded Surveys may be limited in certain countries and there have been reports of reward issues and slow payouts.
Signing up requires providing an email address or using social media accounts like Facebook, Google, and Twitter. Once signed up, members can start taking surveys from the dashboard or the mobile app in exchange for points.
Depending on the survey, users could earn anywhere from few points to 300+ points per survey, with each point worth $0.01 (USD).
Furthermore, users can receive additional rewards by referring friends through the referral program or join the Branded Elite program which offers exclusive surveys with higher payouts.
Overall, Branded Surveys can provide a great opportunity to make some extra money in one’s spare time but potential users should be aware of its shortcomings before investing their time into it.
Has App? Yes
Earning Potential: Around $12/day with two hours of survey time.
Read our Branded Surveys review to learn more, or get started today with 100 bonus points.
2. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is not solely a survey site. This is a great site for the shopper in all of us. You can earn money by shopping online and buying gift cards through Swagbucks. They also provide ways for you to earn money through various other online activities.
In terms of surveys, Swagbucks continually works to bring in higher-paying and better surveys for their users and they distinguish themselves with a very low cash-out minimum of just $3. You can also engage in any of their other earning platforms to reach that threshold. Other ways to earn include watching videos, playing games, referring friends and more.
You don’t want to go out of your way to buy things through Swagbucks that you normally wouldn’t. Just shop how you regularly do and earn some extra cash for it.
Has App? Yes
Earning Potential: Around $10/day with an hour and a half of survey time.
Read our Swagbucks review to learn more about the benefits and or click this link to sign up now and get $5.
3. Respondent
Respondent takes surveys to a whole other level. It is a website that matches companies that are performing research studies with qualified professional participants. They report you can earn $140 per hour, however they are usually looking for a specific set of people, which makes it difficult to be selected for studies.
Research studies are typically done as interviews over the phone, or as a survey you complete yourself.
Once you apply with your demographics and other data, you can start applying for studies. Respondent allows you to apply to up to three per day, with remote ones filling up much faster than in-person opportunities.
Unlike survey sites that pay pennies and gift cards, research studies pay cash. However, you have to be chosen for the study. It’s less spray-and-pray and more focused application. This makes it less reliable financially, but a bigger payout when you do get into a study.
If you are looking for more substantial chunks of money, this is a great option to add to your daily survey routine.
Has App? No
Read our full review or get started with Respondent.
4. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is more than a survey site. You can take surveys, watch TV, play games, and more. There seem to be endless options on how you can earn extra cash. For signing up you automatically receive $5. You can click on any option and see the amount of money InboxDollars would like to reward you.
This site is designed to help connect brands and consumers. It is a lead generator for companies looking for new customers. If you are comfortable having your contact information provided to brands, then this is a great site for a little extra cash. Just understand that the brands you connect with on InboxDollars will be able to contact you and send you information about their products.
Payout on Inbox Dollars starts at $30.00. The money you have earned will get added to your account. Your account must be active to collect.
InboxDollars gives you the option of cash, eCard, or PayPal. If you choose the cash, a check will be mailed to your home. You get to choose what works best for you. Overall, Inbox Dollars is a good way to make fast cash in your free time.
Has App? Yes
Click here and get $5 to get started with InboxDollars!
Read our review: Earn Money with InboxDollars
5. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is one of the biggest names in the online survey business with over 5 million members. Unlike other survey sites on this list, Survey Junkie acts as a kind of middleman between users and the market research companies looking for survey participants. Once you join (for free!), you provide the site with an email address where you will receive invitations to take surveys.
Unfortunately, according to some reviews, you will also receive many email solicitations and other spammy contacts in addition to the surveys. According to Survey Junkie spokesperson Thomas Ensch, “We do NOT sell any of our users’ first-party data to anybody.” As far as I can tell, the additional emails that some reviewers have complained about are the kinds of trial offers you will receive from many survey sites. An easy way to handle this issue is to create a dedicated email account for your Survey Junkie correspondence.
Each survey you take earns you between 15-60 points, and you will even earn 2-3 points when you screen out of a survey. The payout minimum is $10, or 1000 points. You can opt to be paid through PayPal, with e-Giftcards, or by bank transfer if you are in the U.S.
Has App? Yes
Sign up now with Survey Junkie.
6. Harris Poll Online
Taking surveys with Harris Poll Online earns you HIpoints–generally between 75 and 150 points per survey. You can redeem your points for gift cards only (there are no cash payouts), and you need 1,250 HIpoints for each $10 gift card you redeem.
Harris Poll has a relatively high rate of screen-outs for potential survey takers, but if you screen out of any particular survey, the site awards you 15 points and an entry into their quarterly $10,000 sweepstakes, so your time is not completely wasted. In fact, if you are disqualified quickly, you might find that being screened out and earning 15 points is a better deal than actually completing a survey.
Harris Poll Online only emails participants three to four surveys per month, so it is up to you to check out potential surveys on the site to really earn money from them.
Has App? No
Related: 37 Most Trusted Money Making Websites (No Investment Needed)
7. Opinion Outpost
Opinion Outpost is remarkable for having a high qualification percentage for survey takers, meaning you will waste less time on surveys that you end up being screened out of. In addition, if you end up being screened out of a survey with Opinion Outpost, the site enters you into a quarterly drawing for $10,000.
Opinion Outpost will email survey takers about two surveys a day, providing you with the number of points you will receive and the time it will take to complete each survey. These surveys tend to be geared toward your demographic, so you are less likely to be disqualified from them.
Each point you earn with this site is worth $0.10, meaning 200 points = $20. There is a 1-year limit on using the points. There is a $50 threshold for cashing out (unless a lower redemption is available), which you receive via PayPal instantly. You can also choose Amazon or iTunes gift cards, if you would rather. Regardless of how much you earn, Opinion Outpost donates $10,000 a month to the American Red Cross
Has App? No
Read our full review of Opinion Outpost or get started.
8. Toluna Influencers
Toluna Influencers complete surveys, play games, and watch online content to earn points. Points earned can be redeemed for gift cards, giveaways, gadgets, and cash. Gift cards include Amazon, Target, and Starbucks, just to name a few. Or have your points changed to cash and deposited into your PayPal account.
Sign-up is free and earns you 500 points. Friend referrals also get you 500 points. You can earn up to 1,000 points for creating content for the site such as polls, topics, or battles. These tend to be rewarded the most. An interesting reward from this site is their daily giveaway. Every day a winner gets 1,000,000 Toluna points. You can buy tickets for 500 points each and you are automatically entered by completing surveys. However, the tickets are only good in the month they are purchased.
Surveys work like other sites and you can end up not qualifying for them, which means no pay. Toluna does encourage you to fill out as many member personal profile surveys as possible, to increase your odds of qualifying. They even give you 100 points for every one you complete.
Toluna Influencers has a lot of ways to earn points for your time. Surveys will get you anywhere from 15-50,000 points, depending on length. A $10.00 Starbucks gift card will cost you 30,000 points. Keep in mind that points are only good for 12 months.
Has App? Yes
Get started with Toluna Influencers.
9. MySoapBox
MySoapBox is all about the surveys. After signing up for the free site you will receive your first survey within 24 hours. They refer to their surveys as research studies. The more studies you agree to, the more you are invited to participate.
Studies earn you anywhere from 750-1500 points. You have to reach 25,000 points before you can claim any gift card rewards. The redemption is $1.00 for every 1,000 points. Depending on how many studies you do, it could be a while before you are able to get anything.
MySoapBox is also about charity. They donate $500 per month to a charity and even if you do not qualify for a study, you are still able to vote on which charity will receive the donation that month. You can also use your points to donate to a charity of your choice, instead of claiming gift cards.
Check out MySoapBox if you are looking to earn some gift cards and make a difference.
Has App? No
10. MyPoints
MyPoints has something for everyone when it comes to earning. They offer the usual surveys and games, but they have a few more features also. You can earn points by shopping, watching videos, reading emails, searching the web, finding deals, and discovering content.
Whew, that is a lot of ways to earn.
Gift cards are the main reward with MyPoints, and you can choose from 70 retailers and restaurants. They also offer cash through PayPal or Visa prepaid cards. You can even earn travel miles with a United MileagePlus account.
Redemptions start as low as $3.00 which means you can get to the reward faster. As with any survey-taking site, be sure you are keeping an eye on your points, and you are getting what you earned.
If you are looking for a variety of ways to earn gift cards or cash, MyPoints might be the right place for you.
Has App? Yes
Get started with MyPoints here.
11. SayMore
SayMore is a research and survey company that offers rewards for individuals who participate in their research activities. By registering for free and providing basic information, users can earn points by taking part in surveys.
These points can be exchanged for rewards such as gift cards. SayMore focuses on the USA and requires participants to be located in the country.
Joining SayMore is a quick and easy process. Here’s what you need to do:
Answer a few questions about yourself: They will ask you some simple questions to create your profile and find surveys that match your interests.
Provide your contact details: They need your contact information to inform you about new survey opportunities. You will also use this information to log in to our secure website.
Confirm your email address: Once you sign up, they will send you an email. Click on the confirmation link in that email to activate your account.
Log in to saymore.io: Visit our website, saymore.io, and use your login credentials to access your account. From there, you can start taking surveys and earn rewards points.
Earn rewards points: By participating in surveys, you can accumulate rewards points. These points can be redeemed for electronic gift cards from popular retailers like Amazon, Apple, Google Play, Starbucks, and more.
Important note: To complete the registration survey, it is essential to have a valid email address.
You must answer each question truthfully. It is important to provide accurate information. If they find any inaccurate or false answers, they reserve the right to cancel your membership.
Has App? No
Get started with SayMore here.
Final Thought on These Legit Paid Survey Sites
Earning money by taking online surveys is not going to be anyone’s path to riches. However, if you are willing to put in the hour it takes to fill out the initial profile surveys, the time spent on answering survey questions in your spare time is well worth it.
I will add these sites to my portfolio, thanks for sharing as I think it is always good to have multiple streams of income.
These paid survey sites are great!! Definitely worth the time for the money you get.
I took Swagbucks for a spin a couple years back and ended up using the points on small denomination gift cards. I’m just amazed that you can still get paid for taking surveys in the first place.