Best Survey Apps to Make Money
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The already booming gig economy took off even further during the COVID-19 pandemic. As economic uncertainty gripped the world, many people turned to side hustles to shore up their finances and lessen the damage of financial hardship. But the pandemic is in the rearview mirror, yet making money online remains a big priority for many individuals. These apps allow you to earn extra income without compromising your current schedule.
Your primary 9-to-5 job helps pay for essentials, but a side hustle can help you stash extra money. One such side hustle is taking online surveys. That's right: You can complete surveys and bring in extra cash just by answering a few questions about something you're already using. The best part? No experience is necessary. All required is an Android or iOS mobile device, an internet connection, and 15 minutes. However, these survey apps cannot be seen as a get-rich-quick scheme because you'll only be making enough to probably pay for small expenses if you dedicate a fair amount of time and effort.
Online survey companies serve various functions for their clients, but each collects feedback and information about customers' wants and needs at the core. For example, one survey could conduct market research about new products, while another might gauge the target demographics' familiarity with your brand.
Online survey sites offer various payment methods to cash out your earnings. Some support PayPal, while others give you gift cards from retailers like Amazon or direct deposit to your bank account. Below, we list the best survey apps to help you make money online.
Related: Best Money-Making Apps
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Overview of the best survey apps to make money
Site | Cost | How to earn rewards | Rewards |
Swagbucks | Free | Watching videos, taking surveys and polls, performing website searches, playing games, shopping online and in-stores | Gift cards or PayPal |
InboxDollars | Free | Taking surveys and joining focus groups | Gift cards or PayPal |
Survey Junkie | Free | Taking surveys, watching videos, reading emails, online shopping, playing games and using coupons | Gift cards or PayPal |
MyPoints | Free | Taking surveys and shopping online | Gift cards or PayPal |
Toluna | Free | Surveys, product testing, social media activity, playing games | PayPal, direct check, or gift cards |
i-Say | Free | Surveys, contests, invite a friend | PayPal or gift cards |
Opinion Outpost | Free | Taking surveys | PayPal or gift cards |
Pinecone Research | Free | Taking surveys | check, Paypal or gift cards |
Google Opinion Rewards | Free | Taking surveys | PayPal or gift cards |
National Consumer Panel | Free | Taking surveys, allowing access to internet habits | Gift cards |
Quick Thoughts | Free | Taking survey and location-based activities | Gift cards |
Best survey apps to make money
1. Survey Junkie
Create a profile with Survey Junkie and you’re awarded 25 points just for finishing the sign-up process. You can earn another 50 points once you answer more in-depth questions. Once you’re set up, the system matches you with appropriate surveys depending on your preferences. You can check how long it will take to complete the survey and how many points you can earn. The site sometimes also invites members to participate in focus groups and product testing studies. In return, you get reward points that can be redeemed for gift cards or cash. You can transfer the money directly into your bank account or receive cashouts via PayPal or Amazon gift cards.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
2. Swagbucks
Swagbucks rewards users via in-app currency called Swagbucks Points (SBs) to search the web, watch videos, play games, and, you guessed it, take surveys. One Swagbucks Point is worth $0.01, so you'll need to complete many tasks to see a difference in your account. These points can be redeemed for gift cards and PayPal cash. Signing up is free, and you may even earn a sign-up bonus if you have a referral code. Before you take your first survey, you must verify your account.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
3. InboxDollars
Take short surveys, pore through emails, complete offers, play games, or make online purchases. Inbox Dollars pays you to do all these things, and it's transparent about how much you can make. The company offers a $5 welcome bonus. However, you can only cash out once you have $30 in your InboxDollars account, and when you do, a $3 processing fee is deducted from your account if you opt for a check. But you should only use this app if you plan to be active. Your account will automatically deactivate if you do not use the app for 10 days.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
4. MyPoints
MyPoints is a company that lets you make money in various ways. Gigs include watching movies, reading emails, playing games, and taking surveys. You also earn reward points for online and in-store shopping and dining out at participating retailers and restaurants. Joining MyPoints is free; you will earn a $10 sign-up bonus. However, you have to spend $20 or more at one of its partners within the first 30 days of your membership. Points can be redeemed via Amazon and Visa gift cards, and you can also use rewards as travel miles through your United Mileage Plus account.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
5. Toluna
Toluna offers the usual, like taking surveys, which vary in length from a minute or two to up to 15 minutes, and playing games. But if you sign up for this option, its product-testing feature will put emerging products in your hands before they hit the wider market. In addition, you can also make money by posting on Toluna's social media forums. The company also offers a monthly sweepstakes giveaway where you can earn prizes like video game systems and TVs. As for how much you can earn, the company pays you with in-app points, 3,000 of which are worth $1. On average, you can expect to make 1,000 to 2,000 points for taking a survey. To cash out, however, you need to earn at least 30,000 points, equivalent to about $10. You'll earn 500 points for signing up.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
6. i-Say
Depending on your answers during the sign-up process, you'll receive email notifications about surveys you can complete. You can earn between 45 and 200 points for each survey your return. And if you're screened out, you'll still make 5 points, but it won't explain why you were disqualified. I-Say also has a loyalty program where you are rewarded for completing a set number of surveys yearly. For example, if you complete 200 surveys, you can expect to earn 600 points (100 points equal $1). You can redeem points via PayPal, but that requires at least $5 worth of points in your account and takes up to 3 weeks before your PayPal balance is updated.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
7. Opinion Outpost
Opinion Outpost is also one of the few companies that let you test products before they hit the shelves, and it'll mail you the prototypes at no expense. You can also give feedback on adverts before they launch on TV or online and take part in targeted surveys based on your location, sharing your experience of the shops, cafes, and restaurants you visit. With location services on, you could pop into a store and get pinged about a survey of your in-store experience. An average survey pays out around 10 points; with 100 points (worth $10), you can request a PayPal payment.
8. Pinecone Research
Nielsen, one of the world's largest market research companies, owns Pinecone Research. As with other survey websites, signing up is free. Each survey can take anywhere from a few minutes to as much as 30 minutes. You earn points, which can be redeemed via check, Paypal, or gift cards. However, it appears Nielsen isn't invested much in Pinecone. Several reviews online have bemoaned the lack of customer support and low earnings potential.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
9. Google Opinion Rewards
Surprise, Google has its own survey app as well. Getting started is easy. Download the app and answer a few basic questions about yourself. You'll then start receiving surveys around once a week, although it may be more or less frequent. You'll get a notification on your phone when a short and relevant survey is ready, and you can receive up to $1.00 in Play Store credit for completing it. Getting paid via Play Store credits is a good option for gamers who often make in-game purchases. You can also choose to get paid via PayPal.
10. National Consumer Panel
A venture led by Nielson and IRI, National Consumer Panel allows you to make money by taking surveys and letting them monitor your internet habits. The company pays thousands of dollars to users each month, and there's a sweepstakes where you can earn even more. However, the company doesn't pay in cash; all rewards are gift cards. The app can also earn cashback if you're willing to provide the necessary information.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
11. Quick Thoughts
You can take up to five surveys daily through Quick Thoughts to make money and embark on location-based activities. Each survey rewards up to $3, and local activities pay up to $5. And once you have $10 in your account, you can cash out for iTunes or an Amazon gift card. Each survey and reward are different, meaning longer polls and in-person activities can compensate you more.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Pros and cons
Pros
- These survey apps are free to sign up.
- Many survey apps offer sign-up bonus.
- Some survey apps let you cash out after earning just $5.
Cons
- Survey apps won't make you rich.
- In order to earn money, you need to dedicate a significant amount of time.
- These apps ask personal questions that some user may find intrusive.
FAQs
How much can I earn from survey apps?
Nobody can provide you with an exact number, but the more surveys you take, the more you'll make. However, anything you earn wouldn't make a significant change in your lifestyle.
Are survey apps a scam?
Scams may be rampant in other survey, but the ones we've listed here are legit.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
The bottom line
Survey apps are a great option for earning money if you have time and enjoy taking surveys. They're free to join, and the sign-up process is easy. Most apps also offer sign-up bonuses, so you earn even before you can start taking surveys. Many of the apps now offer more than just surveys. You can also read emails, play games or complete a task at a specific location. But you can't expect to make Scrooge Mcduckian amounts of money. In fact, earning any money through these apps requires a significant time commitment.
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Writer
Jasir Jawaid is Joy Wallet's Assistant Editor. He has more than 13 years of experience as a journalist covering Wall Street, equities, financial policy and regulation, and cryptocurrency and blockchain.
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