Whether you need to pull in some extra cash to pay for an unexpected expense, you’re trying to put aside money for a rainy day, or you simply want to monetize your free time, taking paid surveys online can be a great way to make money at home during your non-working hours.
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Are These Online Survey Sites Legit?
Just like with any other industry, there are scammy survey sites out there. Many will try to lure you into different traps. But most of the better-known sites are above board, and all the sites listed at the bottom of this article have been vetted so that you can rest assured about their legitimacy.
How Much Can I Make?
While there’s technically no limit to how much you can make by completing surveys, everyone is limited by the number of hours in a day. Payment varies between each site and even between the particular surveys on each site. But most websites end up paying anywhere between 50 cents to $3 per survey, but in rare instances, it can go up to $50 per survey.
How Long do Paid Surveys Take?
Depending on the topic, the duration of each online survey will vary. Some may be completed in as little as 5 minutes, while others might take up to 30 minutes. But before you begin a particular survey, you should be given an estimate of how long it will take.
Tips For Getting the Most Out of Your Time and Effort
1. Fill Out Your Profile Entirely
The companies paying for the input you’re providing are often looking for specific demographics. Make sure you complete your profile so that you’re matched with surveys that are a good fit for you.
2. Put In an Honest Effort
It may be tempting not to take these surveys very seriously and hurry through them as fast as you can to maximize the money you earn for your time. But the companies paying for your feedback are doing so because that feedback is valuable to them. Many of the sites have systems in place to flag suspicious activity. So, pressing recklessly without ever reading what’s on the screen will most likely get you flagged. If you don’t put in the effort to complete a survey properly, you run the risk of having it rejected, and you won’t get paid.
3. Never Pay to Take Online Surveys
Remember when we mentioned some sites being scammy? Well, here’s a big red flag to look out for.
Online survey websites should not require registration fees. So, if you are asked to pay a fee to join, it is most likely a scam, and you should run the other way.
The 10 Best Online Survey Websites to Make Money
1. Branded Surveys
One of our personal favorite and most trusted sites on the list is Branded Surveys. The website is extremely easy to use, even for people who are new to the world of online surveys. The website is also known for its superfast payouts, with a minimum reward threshold of just $5.
Filling out surveys earns you points that can be converted into money or gift cards. You can also earn points by referring friends to use Branded Surveys and get a percentage of what they earn. In the long run, this referral can make a significant amount of money.
2. SurveyJunkie
SurveyJunkie has been one of the most consistent and reliable sites that allow you to earn money by filling in surveys and sharing your browsing history. As you fill in surveys, you will accumulate points ( 100 points equals $1). The website has an intuitive interface and has all the useful information presented in an organized way.
The points you earn can then be redeemed via payday or gift cards. One advantage of SurveyJunkie is that it allows payout for just $5, so you do not have to wait for too long before you can transfer the money to your bank account.
3. Zen Surveys
Formed in 2015, Zen Surveys has managed to create a commendable user base in a short span of time. The way Zen Survey works is completely different from other survey sites as Zen Surveys does not directly partner with any market research platforms. Instead, it is a catalog of other survey websites, and you can access them right from the dashboard that Zen Surveys offers.
This approach has a few key advantages over the competition, like never running out of surveys to fill. There are also no restrictions on location as Zen Surveys can be accessed around the world and can be used by any age group. However, because there are so many websites you can take the survey from, the payment system is not consistent as you have to rely on the website which owns the survey.
4. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is the gold standard when it comes to reliable websites to earn money. You can watch videos, play games, read emails, take surveys, and shop at selected stores to earn rewards. The best part of InboxDollars is its simple approach. It does not have any points system. Rather you get cash directly added to your account once you fill up a survey.
InboxDollars also has a generous sign-up bonus of $5 for its new users, and in general, each survey pays anywhere between 50 cents to $5. Each survey takes around 2 mins to 10 mins to complete. In our test, you can make up to $30 to $60 a day, one of the highest payouts in our test.
You can get paid through PayPal or direct bank deposit, and there is a wide selection of gift card options and cash incentives.
5. Survey Voices
Survey Voices is another new platform that promises a payout of up to $300/month. Although we highly doubt how much of that is possible realistically, there is no doubt that Survey Voices is one of the high-paying platforms.
One small nuance with Survey Voices is they require you to register with a valid phone number and email. You are more likely to receive promotional messages and calls as Survey Voices share your details with marketers. Although there is no obvious problem with these, if you are concerned with privacy and do not want to receive emails, you should try other platforms from the list.
6. Pinecone Research Surveys
Pinecone is considered to be the most prestigious and reliable research survey platform currently available in the market. Invites are rare, and applicants have to undergo a rigorous selection process before being eligible on the platform. The payout is significantly better than any other platform on the list and usually takes less time to complete.
7. OpinionInn
OpinionInn is another solid platform that allows you to earn cash by filling in surveys and polls. OpinionInn has an affiliation with major research companies, and their survey is usually of a high standard and can take a bit of thinking to complete. But the payout is good with enough opportunity to help you make some good cash.
One downside with OpinionInn is its relatively high payout threshold of $25. You most certainly need to be serious about OpinionInn if you want to earn money through the platform, as getting started may be a bit harder due to the high payout threshold.
8. Survey Roundtable Recruitment
Next on our list is Survey Roundtable Recruitment, a reliable platform that offers high-paying surveys with $3 on sign-up bonuses. Now Survey Roundtable Recruitment is a bit different from the rest in our list because they do not offer cash payout. Rather they give you a choice of gift cards that you can redeem to purchase different products.
Now, this is definitely not ideal as you technically do not make any money off the platform, but with affiliate partners like amazon, Survey Roundtable Recruitment makes sure you can make the best use of your gift cards and also support the platform in the process.
9. Timebucks
Timebucks is another solid platform on the list with good ratings and overall acceptance in the community. You can earn money on this platform by watching videos, playing games, and of course, filling out surveys. The website is intuitive, and the questionnaires are well explained and do not require any prior knowledge to complete.
But we are not a huge fan of their marketing claims of earning $1 every 5 seconds. We understand it is a marketing buzzword, but it may often mislead customers. Again, there may be instances where you will earn $1 every 5 seconds, but these situations are extremely few and far between and not at all realistic in the real-world scenario. But overall, Timebucks is a solid platform where you can make decent cash during your free time.
10. KashKick
KashKick is another solid paid survey website on our list that prioritizes quality over quantity. The way the site works is to initially access your profile and then match you with surveys that best fit your demographic. This ensures that the company paying for the survey revised great feedback, which in turn will make more companies take its service.
KashKick also has a good payout when compared to other similar platforms, and you can redeem your reward both by PayPal or gift cards. One small downside of KashKick is that it has no signup bonuses and is not accessible from every part of the world. But other than that, it is a great platform, especially for folks who prefer quality over quantity.
Final Thoughts
It is important to reiterate that paid surveys will not make you a fortune overnight, and filling out surveys does take time. If you want to make full use of your free time, you may consider learning an in-demand skill. You may also start a small online dropshipping or affiliate marketing business. But if these options are not your cup of tea, you may also consider getting paid to read emails as an easier alternative to earn some quick money.
