Survey websites are a common method of making money online. And few other online money-making methods are so flexible and fast.
But the paid survey space is also full of websites that don’t pay users or make it difficult to cash out. If you’re trying to earn extra cash or free gift cards in your spare time, using these websites is a frustrating experience that often leaves you empty-handed.
Thankfully, numerous survey websites are legit and let you earn rewards for sharing your opinion. If you’re looking for a simple, flexible side hustle, these survey sites are worth using.
The Best Paid Survey Sites to Earn Extra Cash and Gift Cards
A survey site’s earning opportunities often run out once you answer all your eligible surveys. That’s why it’s always wise to frequent multiple sites.
So add several to your routine. That lets you maximize your earnings by shuffling between websites based on where the best offers are.
1. Swagbucks
If you’re looking for a versatile survey website with low cash-out requirements, Swagbucks is the website for you.
You can sign up for Swagbucks if you’re 13 or older, and it’s available in most countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. Once you create an account, you can earn SB points, the platform’s currency, by completing tasks like:
- Answering surveys
- Completing short daily polls
- Downloading new apps and games
- Referring friends
- Scanning grocery receipts
- Shopping online
An advantage of using Swagbucks is also its reward variety and ease of cashing out. You can redeem SB points starting at $1 for various gift cards, including Amazon, Starbucks, and Walmart. PayPal is also an option starting at $5, making Swagbucks one of the best survey websites for redeeming rewards quickly.
Read our Swagbucks review for more information.
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2. InboxDollars
Of all the survey sites, InboxDollars is one of the most popular.
You can join InboxDollars if you’re 18 or older and live in the United States. But once you create a free InboxDollars account, which earns you a $5 sign-up bonus, you can make money by:
- Answering surveys
- Playing games
- Shopping online to earn cash back
- Watching videos
- Using scratch-and-win tickets
There’s also an online coupons section and daily polls that pay small amounts.
The online shopping portal isn’t as robust as shopping platforms like Rakuten, which has several thousand retail partners. But it’s still a reliable way to get paid to shop at retailers like Best Buy, Kohl’s, Target, and Walmart.
InboxDollars requires $30 to cash out, which is steep in the world of survey sites. However, the sign-up bonus and multiple earning options help you reach this amount slightly faster than just answering paid surveys. You redeem your earnings through PayPal or check, so you can also spend your rewards however you please.
Read our InboxDollars review for more information.
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3. Survey Junkie
If you just want to answer online surveys for cash, it’s hard to find a better site than Survey Junkie.
You can sign up for Survey Junkie if you’re age 13 or older and live in the U.S., Canada, or Australia. Unlike some other survey websites, Survey Junkie only lets you make money with surveys, so there aren’t any games or online shopping rewards.
Despite the narrow focus, simplicity is what makes Survey Junkie work. Once you sign up, you answer a demographic questionnaire to help Survey Junkie match you to relevant surveys. Afterward, survey opportunities appear on your homepage.
Surveys display a time estimation and how much they pay. That helps you choose surveys that seem worth it to you, and many surveys pay around $0.25 to $2 upon completion. Survey Junkie only requires $5 to cash out, meaning you can realistically cash out after a day or two of use.
As for rewards, options include PayPal, direct transfer, and free gift cards to retailers like:
- Amazon
- Groupon
- Sephora
- Starbucks
- Walmart
Because of its low payout requirement and survey-matching system, Survey Junkie is the best site if you only want to answer surveys for money.
Read our Survey Junkie review for more information.
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4. InstaGC
InstaGC, which stands for “instant gift cards,” certainly lives up to its name. You can redeem free gift cards on InstaGC starting at just $1, making it one of the best survey sites to earn rewards quickly.
InstaGC is also fairly global. You can create an account if you’re 13 or older and live in the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and several European countries.
In terms of how you make money, there are several options, including:
- Answering surveys
- Browsing the Internet with InstaGC’s search bar
- Downloading apps
- Product testing gigs
- Shopping online
- Watching videos and advertisements
There’s also a sweepstakes section known as the InstaGC Decimal Pot. It lets you contribute 0.1-point fractions into a raffle that’s eventually split among several winners.
Overall, the $1 redemption minimum is what makes InstaGC worth using. You also unlock PayPal rewards after earning at least $50 on the platform.
InstaGC offers over 300 gift cards, including:
- Amazon
- Chipotle
- Hulu
- Pizza Hut
- Starbucks
- Subway
- Target
If high payout thresholds prevent you from cashing out on other websites, InstaGC is a refreshing alternative.
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5. MyPoints
MyPoints is a paid survey and rewards website best known for its cash-back rewards and sign-up bonus.
You have to be age 13 or older and live in the U.S. or Canada to sign up. On MyPoints, you earn points by completing tasks like:
- Answering surveys
- Playing games
- Reading emails
- Shopping online
- Searching the Web
- Referring friends
These features are relatively standard for a robust rewards website. But MyPoints’ online shopping rewards and sign-up bonus really shine.
MyPoints partners with over 2,000 retailers and lets you earn points as cash back for shopping online. Plus, if you spend $20 or more at a MyPoints partner within your first 30 days of becoming a member, you get a free $10 Amazon gift card or Visa gift card.
Securing your sign-up bonus shouldn’t be difficult considering MyPoints’ shopping partners include:
- Amazon
- Best Buy
- Drizly
- HelloFresh
- Home Depot
- Walmart
Most cash-back offers pay between 1% and 5% cash back, although you can find deals for 10% cash back or more. There are also numerous reward options. Free gift card rewards start at $5, and you can cash out through PayPal at $25.
The other earning options aren’t very lucrative, but you can still earn around $0.25 to $1.50 for answering many surveys on MyPoints. Your best bet is to take advantage of the welcome bonus and use MyPoints for your online shopping. When you’re close to cashing out, answer several surveys to redeem your first reward.
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6. Opinion Outpost
Opinion Outpost is another way to make money by sharing your opinion with brands.
You have to be 18 or older and live in the U.S. or Canada to join Opinion Outpost. Once you sign up, Opinion Outpost asks you questions to build your demographic profile. That helps match you to relevant surveys.
Answering paid surveys is the primary way to make money with Opinion Outpost. Occasionally, there’s a chance to test and review a product for points, but these opportunities aren’t common.
Surveys can take a few minutes to 15 minutes or more. Opinion Outpost says most surveys pay around 10 points, or $0.10, but can be worth as much as 250 points, or $2.50.
Opinion Outpost lets you cash out at $5 for most gift cards and $10 for PayPal. Gift card rewards include:
- Amazon
- Domino’s
- Nike
- Home Depot
- Macy’s
- GameStop
- Target
Opinion Outpost is one of the lower-paying survey websites, but a $5 redemption minimum for gift cards is a plus. Ultimately, use Opinion Outpost to supplement your monthly paid survey earnings, but don’t use this as your website of choice.
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7. PrizeRebel
PrizeRebel accepts members from over 100 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, and much of Europe. That makes it one of the most global paid survey websites around.
Answering surveys is the primary way to make money with PrizeRebel. Occasionally, PrizeRebel has offers like watching videos or playing new games to earn points, but this website is only useful if you regularly answer surveys.
You can redeem points through direct deposit, PayPal, and dozens of gift cards to merchants like:
- Amazon
- Best Buy
- Burger King
- CVS
- Dunkin’
- Domino’s
- eBay
- Google Play Store
- iTunes
- Starbucks
- Target
- Walmart
Many gift card rewards start at $2 or $3, which is low in the world of get-paid-to websites. If you want a reliable survey website with an extensive rewards section and a low payout threshold, PrizeRebel is worth signing up for. Plus, it’s hard to find a survey website that accepts members from so many countries.
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8. Pinecone Research
Answering surveys is a realistic way to make small amounts of extra money. But between survey disqualifications and running out of surveys, your hourly earning potential often takes a hit.
If you want a survey website that pays a flat rate of $3 per survey and has a low disqualification rate, Pinecone Research is your answer.
You have to be 18 or older to sign up, and Pinecone Research accepts members from the U.S., Canada, Germany, and France. Pinecone Research is also invite-only. You apply by providing your demographic information, like your education level and job role. From there, Pinecone Research either accepts you immediately or places you on a waiting list.
Once you become a member, Pinecone Research emails you survey opportunities that match your profile. All surveys pay $3, which is higher and more consistent than other survey websites.
You can redeem cash instantly, and rewards include:
- Free gift cards
- PayPal cash
- Virtual prepaid Visa cards
If you don’t have much extra time to grind out surveys, Pinecone Research is your best choice since it pays more than most survey sites and emails you when there’s a survey opportunity.
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9. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys, formerly known as MintVine, is another reputable survey website where you make money for sharing your opinion.
You have to be 13 years old or older and live in the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. to join. Like most survey sites, you answer a demographic questionnaire when you sign up. That helps match you to relevant surveys and reduces the likelihood of disqualification mid-survey.
Where Branded Surveys differs from most survey websites is with its Branded Elite Program. This program places you into different tiers depending on how many surveys you complete each month on the platform.
At the end of each week, members receive a bonus based on how many surveys they answer and what tier they’re in. Current tiers and rewards include:
- Bronze: All members begin in this tier; earn between a 5% and 9% bonus on your weekly earnings based on how many surveys you complete
- Silver: Requires earning at least 600 points, or $6, in a week; earn between a 10% and 14% bonus on weekly earnings based on how many surveys you complete
- Gold: Requires earning at least 2,100 points, or $21, in a week; earn between a 15% and 19% bonus on weekly earnings based on how many surveys you complete
In other words, the more surveys you answer on Branded Surveys, the bigger your weekly bonus is. For example, if you earn $25 per week and complete 30 surveys within seven days to reach the maximum 19% gold tier bonus, you earn a $4.75 bonus at the end of the week.
Surveys usually pay under $1, but you can find surveys in the $1 to $2 range. You can cash out when you reach $10. Rewards include free gift cards, direct deposit, prepaid Visa cards, and charitable donations.
If you spend several hours per week answering surveys, take advantage of the Branded Elite program and earn bonus cash for your efforts.
Just note that some users report having trouble cashing out with Branded Surveys because they experience account bans. One common cause for this is accessing Branded Surveys from another country or on a virtual private network, which violates Branded Surveys’ terms of service.
Another potential cause is inaccurate survey responses. Branded Surveys and other survey websites can ban users who provide inconsistent answers. That means if you get questions like, “What is your household income?” it’s important to think carefully and answer accurately each time since you might encounter the same question on a future survey.
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10. Prolific
Prolific, which connects marketers and scientific researchers with survey participants, is one of the best ways to earn extra income answering surveys. That’s because Prolific has a minimum hourly pay requirement of $6.50, so you won’t spend 30 minutes answering a survey just to earn $0.50.
Prolific accepts members from over two dozen counties, including Canada, the U.S., and many European nations. You have to be 18 or older to sign up.
When you sign up, you complete an extensive profile questionnaire that asks about topics like:
- Basic demographic info
- Education level
- Income
- Languages you speak
- Political and religious beliefs
You don’t have to complete each questionnaire section. But your chances of matching with short surveys or longer focus groups increase the more you share.
Prolific emails you if you’re eligible for a survey. You can also view available studies on your dashboard. You can cash out through PayPal once you reach $6.50, and because of the minimum hourly requirements, Prolific is one of the highest-paying survey sites.
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11. LifePoints
LifePoints is another paid survey website where you earn for sharing your opinion with brands. There are several ways to make money besides just answering surveys, including:
- Answering mini-polls
- Filling out location-based surveys while on the go with LifePoints’ mobile app
- Product-testing gigs
There’s no guarantee you’ll receive product-testing gigs or location-based surveys. But the variety of earning options is a plus.
LifePoints accepts members from over 40 countries, and you must be 16 or older to join. When you sign up, you answer a demographic questionnaire to help match you to relevant surveys. You can also answer additional questionnaires to expand your demographic profile and receive more survey opportunities.
Surveys appear on your dashboard and display a time estimate and how many points they pay. Typically, surveys pay between $0.25 and $1, but you can sometimes find surveys that pay a few dollars. You can still face disqualifications from surveys, which is a downside, but the chances decrease as you complete more profile questionnaires.
As for rewards, options include:
- Charitable donations
- Free gift cards to companies like Amazon, Groupon, and the Google Play store
- PayPal cash
Redemption minimums vary among rewards, which is somewhat confusing. For example, a $5 Amazon gift card requires 550 points, whereas $10 PayPal cash requires 1,000 to 1,200 points, depending on LifePoints’ current offer.
Overall, LifePoints is a popular survey website with reward variety and a reasonably low cash-out requirement. Use this website in conjunction with more popular survey sites, like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie, since it’s slightly lower-paying. But it’s still a legitimate survey site you can add to your roster to maximize your earning opportunities.
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12. TreasureTrooper.com
Another way to earn money for completing online activities and surveys is to use TreasureTrooper.com.
You can sign up for this adventure-themed website from anywhere in the world if you’re age 13 or older. The primary way to make money is to complete surveys, but TreasureTrooper.com says it has hundreds of offers ranging from $0.50 to $50 upon completion. Aside from surveys, offers include tasks like:
- Answering short opinion polls
- Trying new products and giving your feedback to brands
- Referring friends
- Searching the web
- Watching videos
Unlike most get-paid-to websites, TreasureTrooper.com has multiple currencies. You typically earn cash, which is redeemable via check or PayPal when you reach $20. But you can also earn rewards like gold coins and gems redeemable for prizes like free gift cards or even electronics like a free Kindle Fire or Xbox One.
Overall, TreasureTrooper.com puts more effort into its adventure theme and reward variety than any other rewards site. Plus, TreasureTrooper.com is global.
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13. YouGov
If you prefer receiving survey opportunities via email rather than searching for available ones, YouGov is for you.
This market research company accepts members from dozens of countries across North America, Europe, and Asia. You have to be 16 or older to join. Once you sign up, you answer a brief questionnaire about your gender, age, and location.
Signing up pays 500 bonus points. Afterward, you answer an additional profile questionnaire to earn another 1,000 points. You have to complete both to receive additional surveys. When you qualify for a survey, YouGov sends you an email, so you never have to check the website to see if there are earning opportunities.
Most surveys pay between $0.50 to $2, and you might only qualify for a few surveys per week. In terms of rewards, you can cash through direct deposit and free gift cards to companies like:
- Amazon
- AMC
- Foot Locker
- Lowe’s
- Macy’s
- Nike
- Old Navy
- Target
You can redeem cash starting at $50, which is 55,000 points, and gift cards starting at $15, which is worth 25,000 points. This point system is slightly confusing since points don’t correspond exactly to dollars, and $15 is a bit steep for a minimum reward redemption.
But if you want to passively get survey opportunities and slowly work toward a free gift card or cash reward, YouGov is reputable and pays its users.
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14. Valued Opinions
Valued Opinions is another survey website you can use to make money in your spare time if you’re 17 or older. It’s available in several countries, including the U.S., U.K., Australia, India, South Africa, and Thailand, so it’s more global than most other survey sites.
Like other survey sites, you have to complete a demographic questionnaire when you sign up to help Valued Opinions match you to relevant surveys.
You receive an email when you qualify for a survey, and most surveys take 15 to 20 minutes and pay a few dollars. That’s a fairly standard hourly rate in the world of paid surveys, but it’s nice that you don’t have to keep checking the website for surveys.
You can redeem earnings for gift cards, prepaid Visa cards, Southwest points, and various magazines. Gift card rewards start at $15 and include:
- Amazon
- Apple
- CVS
- Domino’s
- Macy’s
- Nike
- Target
A $15 minimum isn’t the lowest in the industry, and some gift cards start at $20 to $25. That makes Valued Opinions a slower earning option than survey sites like Swagbucks or Survey Junkie. But if you prefer having survey opportunities sent via email to earn rewards in your spare time, it’s a legitimate survey company worth using.
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Final Word
Survey websites won’t make you rich. If you’re looking for more serious cash, turn to gig economy jobs like delivering for DoorDash or Instacart instead since they often pay above minimum wage and let you work whenever you want.
Granted, revolutionizing your finances isn’t the goal of survey websites. Instead, these websites provide a fast, low-effort way to earn extra cash and gift cards in your spare time. So try out a few websites the next time you sit down to watch TV or when you have some spare time.
But always read reviews of survey websites so you can avoid scams and wasting time on a survey site that doesn’t actually pay. An effective way to find honest survey site reviews is to search websites like the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and Sitejabber to read about other survey users’ experiences. You can also search for a survey company by name plus the word “review” on Google or YouTube to find independent reviews before signing up for a survey site.
Over time, you’ll discover which websites work best for you and let you earn the most. You can then use these platforms to help chip away at bills or treat yourself once in a while.