18 Best Places to Take Paid Online Surveys (Up to $50/hr)

Paid online surveys are often presented as an easy way to make quick cash, but not all platforms are worth your time. With so many options, it can be tough to know which ones are legit.

We’ve tested the most popular sites to cut through the hype and find the ones that actually pay. Our insights will help you focus your time on the best survey opportunities and avoid wasting effort on platforms that don’t deliver.

Best Sites to Take Paid Surveys

Registering with too many companies can lead to contact overwhelm, making it difficult for you to find the best opportunities. Rather than sifting through the myriad of options, stick with the ones that fit your demographics and availability.

1. Branded Surveys

Branded Surveys holds a 4.1 out of 5-star rating with Trustpilot and over 100,000 user reviews. The parent company, Branded Research, has been conducting market research since 2012.

When you register as a new member, you’ll earn 50 points, then another 50 points will be credited to your account after filling out your profile (a $1 sign-up bonus in total).

Once your account is created, you can immediately start taking surveys, which can be worth up to $5 each. After you reach 500 points (equal to $5 USD), you can cash out your earnings in your local currency (USD, CAD, GBP).

Branded Surveys’ loyalty program, Branded Elite, offers the opportunity for anyone to earn bonus points on a weekly basis. You can increase your bonus amount by advancing through Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers. To advance, you must complete a certain number of approved surveys, and your bonus is based on your badge level.

I earned $7.41 and nearly reached the Silver badge tier within the first 2 hours of using the platform.

Additional ways to collect Branded Survey points include inviting friends to join, taking the daily poll, ranking on the leaderboard, and being randomly selected for up to 1,000 points. Learn more about my experience in our Branded Surveys Review.

2. Freecash

More a survey aggregator, Freecash.com is a “get paid to” (GPT) site that partners with several reputable survey providers like Pollfish and Bitlabs, allowing users to make money taking surveys online.

What makes the platform appealing is that surveys are just one of several ways to make an extra — or several hundred — buck(s). Testing apps or websites, signing up for offers, and taking quizzes are but a few of the many other ways users can earn. In fact, they have over 5,000 different offers users can complete to unlock free cash.

New users will earn a free $1 merely for creating an account and verifying their email address and get to open a “Free Case” for a chance to win $250 more.

During my testing, I earned from several avenues, including surveys and other offers, with nine offers alone totaling over $205 in value. While a few tasks required an upfront investment of $46 to unlock their payouts, surveys proved to be a consistent and accessible way to add to my overall earnings.

While not all of them will be relevant to you, it’s not uncommon to see some tasks with earnings of $100 or more, assuming the exact criteria are met. Learn more in our Freecash Review.

3. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a paid survey site owned and operated by Prodege, LLC. Perhaps the most popular survey site in the world, it holds a 4.4 rating on the App Store with 123,000+ reviews, and a 4.4 rating on Google Play with an additional 197,000 reviews.

Completed surveys pay between 1 and 350 Swagbucks (also called SBs), depending on the length and topic popularity. For every 100 SBs, you’ll earn an additional $1 that can be redeemed for PayPal cash or gift cards to places like Amazon, Lowe’s, and Target.

New Swagbucks members can earn a $10 signup bonus after spending at least $25 at one of the site’s featured retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart.

Paid online surveys are not the only way to make money with Swagbucks. The company awards its members SBs to shop online, search the web, and watch videos. You can start redeeming your earnings as soon as you reach 100 points.

In three days of passively using the platform, I accrued 256 points — roughly equivalent to $2.56. Over thirty days with a similar effort, I’d expect to earn around $25.

The more SBs you accumulate, the higher the value of the gift card you can redeem. You can unlock more store options and find gift cards to places like Starbucks, Walmart, and iTunes. Learn more about my experience in our Swagbucks Review.

4. InboxDollars

InboxDollars has been in business since 2006 and was acquired by Prodege, LLC back in 2019. They hold a B rating with the BBB. According to its website, the company has paid more than $80 million to its members.

InboxDollars users accumulate earnings in cash instead of points, which makes it easy to know how much you’ll earn before committing to a task. Most paid opportunities offer a small amount of money, but the more surveys you take, the more you can earn.

It’s free to sign up and get started with InboxDollars, and you will get a $5 bonus once you activate your account. You’ll then answer a few simple questions about your income, race, education, and other demographic information. This initial screening will help InboxDollars match you with relevant paid surveys.

Other ways you can earn money with InboxDollars include watching video ads, playing games, and shopping online at stores like Target, Walmart, and eBay.

I earned mere pennies playing the games currently available over the course of 30 minutes but brought in $1.50 taking the paid surveys available to me after registering. Learn more about the experience in our InboxDollars Review. 

5. Ipsos i-Say

Ipsos i-Say is a survey site based in Paris, but it allows users around the world to get paid to take surveys. It has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a 4.5-star rating on Google Play with over 66,000 reviews.

You can register with Ipsos i-Say by creating an account using either your email address or Facebook account. You’ll then answer some demographic questions so the company can connect you to relevant opportunities. For example, if you’re a new mom, you may see a survey asking about which diapers you use.

After you complete a survey, you’ll earn points. How much you earn varies, but it’s typical to earn between 45 to 90 points per survey or $0.45 to $0.90. You can also earn up to five points if you’re disqualified from taking a survey. Once you reach 500 points, you can cash out your earnings for PayPal cash, gift cards, or charitable donations.

I’ve found Ipsos iSay to be one of the more reliable survey providers and consistently hit the $5 per hour threshold in terms of survey earnings. This is among the highest in the industry, especially for a site that only provides surveys and little to no other ways to earn.

You can learn more about my experience in our Ipsos i-Say Review.

6. Pinecone Research

After 21 years in business, Pinecone Research has earned a spot among some of the highest-rated paid survey sites. Pinecone Research is owned by The Nielsen Company, which holds a rating of A+ with the BBB.

Pinecone Research members influence future products and services every time they complete an online survey. Each survey pays 300 points, worth $3, and should take only a few minutes, according to the company.

You can also get paid to test new products as a member of Pinecone Research. You’ll be paid between $3 and $5 to complete a short report on each product. You might even be allowed to keep the product after the study is complete.

Pinecone Research is one of the more elite survey sites and limits its members based on demographics. You can apply for membership to see if you qualify.

7. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is another leader in the survey industry, with a BBB rating of B. The company has been in business since 2011 and serves more than 20 million members.

Survey Junkie is best known for the basics and mainly offers paid survey opportunities. This site tracks earnings in the form of points. Every 100 points equals $1 earned, and it takes a minimum of 500 points (or $5) to cash out via PayPal or with e-gift cards.

The site does offer some users the chance to earn money testing products, participating in online or in-person focus groups, or via phone surveys. It pays between $5 and $150 per task, but that option is extremely limited at this time.

Start making money within five minutes when you sign up and complete your profile. Most of the surveys are fairly easy to complete. You also won’t be forced to sign up for something or buy anything in order to complete a survey.

Our favorite part about the platform is that they award you a nominal number of points even if you’re disqualified from a survey. You won’t earn the full amount displayed, but it’s better than zero return on your time, as is the case with many other survey sites.

Learn more in our Survey Junkie Review.

8. American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion (ACOP) is owned by Decision Analyst, Inc. which has been in business for more than 41 years. The BBB gives this site an A+ rating.

When you create an account with ACOP, you can start your first paid survey in under two minutes. Your first survey pays five points and includes questions regarding your demographic information like marital status and education level. If there are surveys available, you will see them listed in your account.

ACOP keeps things simple and offers nothing more than surveys for money. The company accumulates your earnings in points, and you’ll need to earn 1,000 points, or $10, to cash out.

9. MyPoints

MyPoints, owned by Prodege, LLC, has been in business since 1996, holds a B rating with the BBB, and has paid out more than $236 million to its 10 million members.

With MyPoints, you can take online surveys for money, but the site also has other paid gigs. These include shopping online and in-store, printing and redeeming coupons, watching videos, playing games, and booking travel accommodations. It also gives you five points if you are not qualified to take a survey, with a maximum of 25 disqualification points per day.

All of your earnings through MyPoints accumulate in points. You can claim a $3 gift card once your account reaches 480 points. Or for 15,800 points, you can get a $500 gift card.

Note that points may stretch further depending on where you redeem them. Redeeming points for a prepaid Visa card requires a minimum of 1,500 and is worth 150 points per dollar, or $10.

MyPoints gives $10 Amazon or Visa gift cards to new users. You’ll need to spend $20 or more using MyPoints shopping to redeem this bonus.

10. Toluna

Toluna is a market research firm that’s been in business since 1994. It has an A+ BBB rating and a 4.1-star rating on Trustpilot from 99,000 member reviews.

After you create a free account, you’ll receive a confirmation link in an email that, once you click, will finalize your registration and allow you to start taking surveys. You’ll also earn 500 bonus points just for signing up.

Each survey Toluna offers is worth between 15 and 50,000 points, depending on the length and time needed to complete the survey. Like other sites, you will have to qualify for surveys. If you don’t qualify, you don’t receive disqualification points. Instead, you’re entered into a sweepstakes.

The minimum points you need to redeem a reward is 10,000, which lets you plant a tree in Peru, Thailand, or Uganda. For gift card rewards, 30,000 points will get you a $10 gift card to major retailers like Starbucks, Petco, and Kohl’s.

11. KashKick

In addition to surveys, KashKick pays users for watching videos, surfing the web, and signing up for deals through the platform.

Surveys are on par with industry standards, with opportunities to earn upwards of $2 per completed questionnaire. Payments are processed every two weeks, and you need at least $10 before you can cash out via PayPal.

The primary complaint from former users is losing earnings for inactivity. If you fail to verify your email address, provide incorrect contact information, or don’t log into your account for 60 days, your account might be deactivated. In this case, any earnings you had will be forfeited.

You can reactivate your account within 60 months, but you can’t get back any previous earnings. KashKick wipes inactive accounts right before processing payments, so be sure to log in regularly and verify your email address so you don’t lose your rewards.

12. YouGov

A globally recognized survey site, YouGov allows users to share their opinions on politics, public affairs, products, and brands. Unique for its focus on current events and societal issues, YouGov provides an engaging platform for those interested in influencing decision-makers and contributing to public discourse.

For example, YouGov has had data from dozens of polls shared across massive networks like CBS News, Politico, Yahoo, and more, across a variety of topics. Trump and Biden head-to-head numbers, support for IFV, where Haley voters will fall after her dropout, and the Israel-Hamas war are but a few recent hot-button topics they’ve shared data on.

Members earn points for completing surveys, which can be redeemed for various rewards, including cash and free gift cards. Earnings vary based on survey length and complexity, with YouGov offering a transparent and straightforward platform for users to voice their opinions and earn rewards. New members get a free 1,500 welcome bonus for signing up.

13. Crowdtap

Used by more than 2 million members, Crowdtap is a popular paid survey site because it offers more ways to earn than just taking surveys. Member users can also earn points by participating in online discussions, product testing, art and other content submissions, research programs, and more.

To get started, merely register for a free account. After completing the registration process, you’ll receive an email confirmation. After that, you can begin earning points by taking surveys you qualify for.

Most surveys are worth $0.25 to $0.75, but their homepage suggests you can find surveys for $25, $50, or even more. I recently took surveys for about 90 minutes and earned 1,000 points, good for a $5 gift card, but earnings of just $3.33 per hour.

That said, one nice thing about Crowdtap is its low minimum withdrawal threshold. Once you reach the minimum threshold of 500 points, you can cash out for e-gift cards to popular retailers. Learn more about my experience in our Crowdtap Review.

14. PrizeRebel

Since its debut in 2007, PrizeRebel has paid more than $19 million to its 9 million members.

PrizeRebel’s sign-up process is quick to complete. You just need to provide your name and email address. After confirming your email address, you can start taking paid online surveys. The first required survey asks for your demographic information and is worth 10 points.

You can cash out when you’ve earned at least 500 points, worth $5. Most surveys pay between 40 and 60 points and can take up to 15 minutes to complete.

PrizeRebel has a unique program that awards members based on the level of earnings. If you earn 4,500 points, you’ll reach Gold level status and receive a 1% bonus to your earnings and a 1% discount on your prize. Platinum level (10,000 points) gets you a 2% bonus and a 2% discount, and Diamond level (16,000 points) gets you a 3% bonus and a 3% discount.

15. Survey Club

Survey Club has been around since 2005 and has an A- rating with the BBB. If you sign up as a member, you’ll join more than 16 million other users.

After you become a member and provide your demographic information, Survey Club will connect you with paid studies. It also refers members to other sites like Survey Junkie, LifePoints, and Pinecone Research. Your earnings from surveys hosted by Survey Club are added to your account in cash, and you can cash out when you earn at least $25.

Survey Club also provides paid focus group opportunities. It reports the average earnings of those who participate as $50 to $200 per hour.

16. Panda Research

Panda Research has paid out more than $2.2 million to its members since 2005. The company is owned by A&A Marketing, Inc. and has a B+ rating with the BBB.

To get started, you’ll need to complete your member profile and confirm your email address. The company also requires a valid phone number to become a member. Then, you can take surveys that pay up to $50 each. You can also earn up to $25 per time you cash out for reading paid emails.

Panda Research pays members with earnings of at least $50 on the 1st and 15th of each month via PayPal. Note that you will only receive your payments in increments of $50, so if you have total earnings of $110, you will be able to cash out $100 and the balance will carry over to a future payment request.

17. LifePoints

Originally known as National Family Opinion, LifePoints has been around since 1946 and has more than 5 million members worldwide. Trustpilot gives the company a 4.0 out of 5-star rating based on 41,000 real member reviews. You can become a member for free and start earning LifePoints by taking online surveys. You’ll get an immediate 10 LifePoints added to your account when you verify your email address and provide basic information like your name, date of birth, and address. Filling out a complete profile will allow you to view and select surveys that fit your demographic.

LifePoints survey topics range from technology to automobiles, to household brands, and more. When I signed up, I was matched with various surveys, including ones about car brands and everyday tech products. Some surveys pay up to 600 points, or $5 each, but most opportunities pay between $0.50 and $1 to complete. I found the interface easy to navigate, and I appreciated the range of survey topics available. We share more about the paid opportunities with the company in our LifePoints Review.

18. Opinion Outpost

To get paid to take surveys with Opinion Outpost, you will need to complete the initial screening. You’ll have to answer questions about things like your education level, work status, and the number of children you have. Then you’ll complete a questionnaire based on recent events like whether you’ve taken your pet to the vet or watched a movie in theaters. Opinion Outpost will ask duplicate questions along the way to make sure you’re answering honestly.

Most surveys are worth 3 to 30 points. You can cash out for free Amazon gift cards, $10 iTunes or App Store gift cards, or a $10 PayPal credit. Alternatively, at 30 points you can unlock games on Alawar.com or join the MileagePlus Program to use your points toward travel credits. You’ll need at least 105 points to receive 300 Award Miles.

Opinion Outpost offers some of the highest-paying surveys we’ve found. I recently completed a shopping and retail survey and earned $2.50 in under 30 minutes. The biggest con we’ve discovered is that the number of surveys users are eligible for is lower than that of other paid online survey sites we’ve used. Learn more in our Opinion Outpost Review.

On a philanthropic note, every month Opinion Outpost makes a donation to the American Red Cross in honor of the time its users take to complete surveys. Its corporate donation does not impact your points balance, but you can use your points to make a separate donation if you’d like.

When to Avoid a Survey Site

Although the sites on our list are trustworthy, you can’t trust every site that claims to pay you to take surveys. Avoid survey sites if they:

🚫 Ask for payment. A legitimate survey site will never ask you to pay to join.

🚫 Ask for private information upfront. You should not be asked to provide your Social Security number unless you’ve earned at least $600.

🚫 Have no history or ratings. Well-established companies are more trustworthy. You can read what real users have to say about them and verify their history of payments and available opportunities.

🚫 Pay too little. Legitimate survey sites offer higher-paying opportunities that make the effort worthwhile.

🚫 Have a glitchy or outdated site. Companies that don’t take care of their websites may not take care of their members.

🚫 Make it hard to qualify for surveys. Don’t waste time on a company if it consistently disqualifies you for surveys.

Even if the site seems legitimate, if you’re skeptical about it or it spams you with emails, remove yourself from its list. There are enough quality survey-taking opportunities available that you can avoid ones that annoy you or aren’t a good fit.

Related: 6 Common Work-from-Home Scams to Look Out For

Tips for Earning the Most Money

There are a number of things you can do to maximize your earnings when taking surveys for money.

✅ Stick with a few trusted sites. You don’t have to sign up with hundreds of survey sites to earn some cash. Focus on the best, highest-paying options.

✅ Fill out your profile completely. Completing your personal profile on each survey site allows the company to match you with relevant offers. Update your profile if you have a life change, like having a baby, getting a pet, or quitting smoking. You might find yourself eligible for new or different surveys.

✅ Watch the time. Keep track of the time spent completing surveys. You’re not likely to earn a high hourly rate completing easy surveys so, if possible, do surveys when you have small windows of time, like when you’re standing in line to fill a prescription or waiting for a meeting to start.

✅ Answer consistently. Take the time to read each question and respond honestly and consistently across sites. Survey sites compare answers and can disqualify users who appear to be inconsistent in their responses.

✅ Check for free offers. Some survey sites have a “free offers” section where you can earn points for signing up for free trials or newsletters. You can also watch for exclusive bonus opportunities on social media and refer friends to your favorite sites to earn free money or bonus points.

✅ Take the highest-paying surveys first. If you register with multiple websites, you might receive dozens of surveys to choose from. Take a few minutes to estimate your earnings per hour before you start a survey. You may be able to make more by picking the highest-paying opportunities first.

Best Practice for Taking Paid Online Surveys

Even if a survey site is trustworthy, there are still precautions you should take.

1. Use a separate email address. Create a separate email for survey offers to keep your main inbox free of clutter. Plus, if you stop doing surveys, you can stop checking that email account instead of unsubscribing from a bunch of sites.
2. Be mindful of what you share. Good survey companies will keep your individual identity a secret. But that doesn’t make it safe to provide them with your Social Security number, driver’s license number, or bank account numbers. Legitimate survey companies do not need this information.
3. Use anti-malware software. Anti-malware software can keep your laptop virus-free. If you visit multiple survey sites per day, it’s important to protect your computer from malicious spyware and viruses.
4. Take frequent breaks. Survey fatigue is real. Taking breaks helps you stay focused and avoids mistakes or inconsistent answers.
5. Fees and false promises. Any survey site that promises you’ll earn thousands per month is either a scam or at least misleading. Make sure the sites you join make realistic statements about your potential earnings and the amount of time it takes to complete surveys.

FAQs

Keep Your Expectations Realistic

Paid online surveys are the perfect side hustle for someone looking for an easy gig to do while at home or on the go. If you’re uncomfortable sharing your demographic information or want to earn a high hourly rate, you should consider a different option.

But if you do want to give online surveys a try, be realistic about how much you’ll make. Manage your time wisely so you maximize your earnings, sign up with multiple sites to receive the best opportunities, and research the company before registering.

While there are better ways to make money online, most will require more skill, training, and time than taking surveys for money.

Rating Methodology

With so many options available, it’s hard to know which sites are worth using. We took a look at some of the most popular ones and considered these three important categories to decide which sites to recommend:

1. Track record. Trust was our number one priority when picking a survey site. The best ones maintained a successful history documenting timely payments and positive user reviews.

2. The number of opportunities. When reading reviews of a survey company, we looked for those that mentioned the number of opportunities available. We didn’t want to recommend sites that offer limited opportunities to earn money.

3. Income potential. We tried to get a feel for how well the companies pay for your time. We did that by testing out a few and by reading reviews to see how much they pay.

Related: 20 Money-Making Apps for Earning on the Go