Get Paid To Take Surveys – 13 Best Online Sites

Did you know that you can get paid to take surveys from home? Believe it or not, millions of Americans are making a nice chunk of change with this unique opportunity!

The internet is not only a place to find information, but you can also make money from it. One way that you can do this is by taking surveys. 

Surveys are typically used by companies to get feedback on a product or service and often, they will give the survey taker monetary compensation for their time. The best part about getting paid to take surveys is that there’s no cost to you involved – as long as you find the right provider, that is. 

What Are Paid Survey Sites?

If you’re like most people, you probably love the idea of being able to make money while sitting on your couch at home! The good news is that paid survey sites make it easy for you to do this. As long as you have a reliable Internet connection, you don’t have to have any special skills or education in order to make money. 

Paid survey sites are usually used to collect quantitative or qualitative information about your personal and economic habits. Generally, these surveys will gather information about your particular demographic and are used by companies to direct their marketing and product development efforts.

Normally, members are rewarded through incentive programs, but some offer direct payment in the form of cash. Depending on the paid survey site you select, you can expect to be paid via gift cards, small cash rewards, or even sweepstakes programs. 

There are all kinds of scam sites out there that promise generous rewards in exchange for completing surveys – but remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Look for survey sites that offer reasonable amounts of compensation in exchange for the time commitment involved and never provide credit card information or highly personal details if asked (like your social security number). 

Best Online Survey Sites

Ready to get started taking surveys? Here are some of the best online survey sites that will allow you to get paid to take surveys in your spare time. 

1. Opinion Outpost 

Signing up for Opinion Outpost is easy. All you need to do is provide your name, gender, and email address – or you can use your LinkedIn or Facebook account to get started.

Once you’ve registered, you will receive an email invitation and you can then add more personal details so you can be matched with additional surveys if you choose. You’ll receive survey notifications by email but you can also choose to browse the site for openings. The average payout is around $0.30 to $5 per survey with options like iTunes or Amazon gift cards, charitable donations, or PayPal cash payments available. 

2. i-Say

i-Say, also referred to as Ipsos i-Say, is another great survey site. Here, you’ll find all kinds of opportunities, from polls to loyalty programs, that will allow you to earn points and redeem them for gift cards or cash.

Like Opinion Outpost, you can sign up for notifications or browse the site. Don’t expect to make bank with this one – the average payout is less than $1 per survey. 

3. MyPoints

This paid survey site is primarily an online rewards and shopping service. However, it also makes it possible for you to take paid surveys for money. You can sign up for an account to view all the promotional options, from taking surveys to watching videos. Again, you won’t earn a ton – around $1 per survey – and you can only receive payment via a Visa gift card or a gift card to one of a list of retailers. 

4. OneOpinion

OneOpinion is one of the simplest paid survey sites to register for. All you have to do is provide your email address and you can start making money immediately.

You’ll get opportunities sent directly to your email but you can also browse. YOu’ll be able to choose from cash and gift card payment options, which you can cash out as soon as you accrue 25,000 points. 

5. Swagbucks 

Swagbucks is one of the best online survey sites, offering countless opportunities for surveys. The downside of using this platform is that disqualification is common and frequent. You can get disqualified before even providing demographic information, in many cases!

However, Swagbucks tends to be one of the best companies out there when it comes to survey availability. There is almost always another new survey to try. It normally uses third-party surveys so you might be sent to some better sites than others. You’ll be eligible to receive a variety of types of payment for your efforts, including gift cards, sweepstakes entries, and direct payments via PayPal. 

Swagbucks has more than 20 million active members and provides users access to tens of thousands of opportunities each day. 

6. Harris Poll Online

Harris Poll Online is one of the most unique survey sites out there. Not only can you make money on this platform, but you can also share your opinions and view the results of surveys that you complete. This platform is operated by the Hairs Panel, a member of the National Council of Public Polls.

Therefore, it’s also one of the most reputable. The polls often appear in national publications, so you’ll know the responses you provide on Harris Poll make a real difference in major marketing decisions, too. 

7. Survey Junkie 

Survey Junkie is another paid survey site that’s easy to use. You’ll start by completing a profile so that you can be matched with relevant survey opportunities. Then, you’ll be able to complete surveys directly on your mobile device or computer, earning points for those that you complete. These can be redeemed for PayPal cash or even e-gift cards. You’ll only need $10 of points to cash out. 

8. Toluna 

Another website for aspiring survey-takers to consider is Toluna. This website will allow you to earn points by taking surveys, referring your friends, or playing online games. You’ll just need to complete a profile and then you can access relevant community features. This is one of the best paying survey sites out there, with some (limited) opportunities offering up to $50 per survey!

9. InboxDollars 

InboxDollars is one of the most diverse survey websites out there, offering payment for things besides just taking surveys. You can even get paid for watching television and videos, playing games, or shopping! You’ll get a $5 bonus just for signing up and you’ll be granted a wide variety of payment options once you reach the cash-out minimum. 

10. LifePoints

LifePoints is another one of the many survey sites that will allow you to take online surveys for money. Hundreds of market research companies rely on LifePoints to help them make major decisions.  It is a conglomeration of MySurvey and Global Test Market, allowing users plenty of opportunities to take surveys for money. The average payout is around $.20 to $1 per survey. 

11. Vindale Research

 Vindale Research offers another one of the most reputable ways to take  surveys for money, partnering users with market research companies from all around the world. These market research surveys require your basic demographic information and can be complete on any device. The only payout option, unfortunately, is via PayPal. 

12. CashCrate 

CashCrate is another one of the many legit survey sites out there, allowing users to make money online and to get paid with gift cards or other payment options. The downside of using this paid survey site is that it can be difficult to qualify for surveys, though there are plenty of opportunities available. 

13. Branded Research 

With Branded Research, you’ll take market research surveys that average $.50 to $3 per survey. You’ll be able to receive daily email updates regarding challenges, polls, and other ways you can make money online. You can receive payment via gift cards, PayPal, charitable donations, or even cold hard cash. 

Tips for Taking Online Surveys for Money

Once you’ve found the ideal online survey site, follow these tips so that you can start earning money – safely and quickly. 

Be Careful About Oversharing

Many surveys will ask for information about your demographics and other characteristics to determine your eligibility for a survey. They are often used to screen for the ideal participants.

It’s fine to provide this kind of information but be wary of survey sites that ask for highly personal information, like your social security number. 

Other information you should avoid doling out includes your bank account information or your driver’s license number. Don’t worry about giving out your gender or age – this is pretty common. 

Create a Unique Email Address

To minimize the amount of junk mail and email you get by taking paid surveys online, you may want to create a dedicated email address just for your survey-taking endeavors. You should always read the website’s privacy policy and reviews before signing up – and you should request that companies don’t sell your personal information. Most surveys have checkboxes you can mark to indicate this while taking a survey. 

Watch the Malware 

Be careful of survey sites that send you to third-party websites during a survey – and be even more skeptical of those with pop-ups. In any case, it’s a good idea to make sure the anti-virus and anti-malware software on your computer are both up to date before you start taking surveys. 

Don’t Quit Your Day Job 

While taking paid surveys is a great way to supplement your normal income and make a bit of extra cash on the side, it’s probably not going to be enough to allow you to quit your day job. It’s likely not going to be steady or reliable in any way – nor will it allow you to make a full-time living. 

So don’t hand in your notice as soon as you sign up for Swagbucks or CashKarma – you’re not going to be able to quit your job to do surveys from home. It would be nice, though, right? 

Sometimes It’s Too Good to Be True

There are all kinds of surveys out there that promise ridiculously high sign-up bonuses, offering hundreds of dollars in exchange for simply signing up to take surveys. Don’t buy into it. Beyond an initial start-up bonus of $10 or so (this is pretty common and normal) don’t be fooled by these lofty promises. 

The same goes for promises of receiving free products, earning free vacations, big-screen televisions, or tablets. Never pay any upfront fees or sign up for a site with a credit card! This is a sure sign that it’s probably a scam.

Be Sure to Take Regular Breaks 

It’s easy to “get in the zone” once you start taking surveys online – but try not to get too overwhelmed. You may want to take frequent breaks so you don’t get eye strain or fatigue. Too much screen time can cause headaches!

Plus, you’ll want to take your time as you go through surveys so that you don’t accidentally share sensitive information by rushing. 

Are Paid Surveys Worth It?

Surveys are a great way to make money from home and improve your spending habits. But not all paid surveys are created equal, so it’s important to know which ones will work best for you. If the idea of taking online surveys seems daunting or time consuming, don’t worry! 

Sign up for just a few of the survey sites we reviewed above. This can help you increase your chances at finding an easy-to-complete survey opportunity that pays well without requiring hours out of your day. Over time, and by experimenting with the many options out there, you’ll find the site that’s perfect for your survey-taking preferences and the amount of free time you have available. 

Don’t delay – companies want your opinions, and they’re willing to pay good money for them, too!

FAQ: Getting Paid to Take Surveys

What paid survey sites are legitimate?

It’s not uncommon to see a paid survey site pop up in your Facebook feed or on your Twitter timeline. You may be tempted to join one of these sites, but before you do, it is important to know what they are and how they work. All of the survey sites listed above in our overview are legitimate, but if you aren’t sure whether the new opportunity that popped up is safe, use a dedicated email address and don’t provide any personal information.

Do survey takers really pay?

The legitimacy of survey takers is always questioned. Many people wonder if they should just pay for the product or service instead of wasting their time answering questions about it. However, surveys are a great way to make extra money and get free stuff in exchange!

Do surveys get paid in South Africa?

A lot of people are earning a living from doing surveys. Some do them for a hobby, while others make it their full-time job. If you’re looking to get paid by survey and live in South Africa, then don’t worry! You, too, can get paid for taking surveys. This is not a geographically-limited endeavor!

What surveys pay you instantly?

When people think of surveys, they often assume that the process is complicated and time-consuming. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth! Surveys can actually be easy and fun– you just need to know where to look for them.

There’s no minimum payout or anything like that, and it typically takes less than 15 minutes to complete one survey. You can earn anywhere from $0.50 – $5 per completed survey depending on the company and length of the survey. 

Most don’t pay out instantly. However, some, like iSay, allow you to redeem your points immediately once your balance hits a certain threshold. You can instantly receive things like an electronic Starbucks gift card.