MyPoints Review — Cashbacks and Other Real Rewards 

MyPoints Review — Cashbacks and Other Real Rewards 
One of the foundational elements in personal finance is to make more than you earn. For some people, this means starting a side hustle to earn some extra cash. For others, myself included, it means taking advantage of rewards sites and apps to make extra money in my free time. 
One of such sites is MyPoints. If you spent a lot of time taking online surveys over the last two decades, chances are you know about MyPoints and its rewards program. If not, then this MyPoints review guide is for you. 
What is MyPoints? What kinds of rewards can you earn? Most importantly, is it worth it? Here’s what you need to know. 

What is MyPoints?

MyPoints is a popular rewards site where users are rewarded for doing simple tasks like taking online surveys, watching videos, playing games, and even shopping on MyPoints partner stores. Completing any of these activities earns you points, which you can later redeem for cash or other real rewards.
The MyPoints website was launched in 1996 and is still one of today's most recognizable survey sites. But MyPoints is more than a cashback survey site. Over the years, it has evolved into a platform with a robust rewards program that has benefited millions of users across Canada and the United States. 
In April 2016, MyPoints was purchased by Prodege LLC, a leading market research and consumer insights platform, for $13 million. Today, you can earn reward points on MyPoints through its web interface or by downloading the mobile app on your iOS or Android device. 
One of the things I love about MyPoints is that it offers rewards for doing things I love to do on a regular day — play games, watch videos, and shop online. So, it’s like being paid to spend time online, which I would do without any income incentive. 

Is MyPoints legit?

The short answer is yes, MyPoints is a legit rewards site. But don't just take my word for it. Here are three things that attest to its credibility: 
  • Legit parent company — MyPoints is owned by Prodege, a legitimate business headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Prodege also operates other survey sites and rewards platforms, including Swagbucks and InboxDollars.
  • Extensive history — MyPoints has been in existence for 26 years and counting. That’s over two decades' worth of street cred as reward sites go. Signing up for a MyPoints account is free, and there are many ways to earn points. The platform also has a comprehensive customer support section so you can easily get in touch whenever needed. 
  • Solid ratings and reviews — MyPoints currently has a 4.4/5 rating on TrustPilot based on nearly 16k reviews and is rated A- on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Other review sites have also rated MyPoints highly. The bottom line: It is not a scam platform. 

Navigating the app

As I mentioned earlier, you can use MyPoints as a web version or as a mobile app. A $10 welcome bonus redeemable as an Amazon gift card or Visa gift card is provided, no matter which version you select.
The app is more convenient since you can complete your point-earning tasks directly on your mobile device. This way, you can log in and make some money online while on the go. There’s also a sign-up bonus for app users. 

Signup process

It’s easy to sign up for a free MyPoints account. You’ll be required to enter your email and designated password on the signup page to start. After confirming your email address, you’ll need to answer a few basic questions like your birth date and zip code.
Unless you are delayed by restrictions — too young, signing in from outside the U.S. or Canada, etc. — the whole thing should only take a few seconds to complete. You can easily contact MyPoints customer support if you encounter any issues with this step. 

User experience

Overall, my user experience with MyPoints has been good. The site layout is clean, and I can usually find what I need on the navigation without complications. This was a welcome difference compared to some other rewards platforms I’ve tested, which came across as too cluttered and somewhat disorienting with all sorts of unnecessary information packed on the home pages. 
The interface is well-designed, and you can usually sign up for various tasks that let you earn points quickly.

Earning reward points on MyPoints 

The main idea behind MyPoints is to earn points for doing simple online activities. There are also bonus points to be won to increase your total earnings. 
One of the best things about the platform is that there’s no waiting period, so you can start racking up those point-earning rewards as soon as you sign up; plus, you’re not required to make any deposits, so it’s not like you’re spending money to earn points.

How do you earn points?

There are dozens of ways to earn points on MyPoints. I mentioned a few earlier, but here's a more comprehensive list, so you have a better idea of what to expect once you start. 
  • Shop online — With access to over 1,900 retailers and brands, including popular stores like Target, Home Depot, Best Buy, and Walmart, online shopping may be the simplest way to earn points on MyPoints. Who knew being a frequent online shopper could be so rewarding?
  • Take surveys — Earn points by answering survey questions on MyPoints. Don't worry, surveys are generally short, though there might be some that can take up to 30 minutes to complete. In any case, the longer the survey, the higher the points you can earn, so it’s not like you’re spending all that time for nothing. 
  • Play games — Take on fun, challenging games like Solitaire and Angry Birds to earn points. 
  • Watch videos — The caveat is that you don’t get to choose the video content. Still, videos only last a few seconds or minutes, so it’s not that big a deal (well, for me at least). 
  • Read emails — There’s a service feature in MyPoints called BonusMail, which lets you earn points by clicking and reading emails. 
  • Print coupons — Earn points for printing and redeeming coupons. This is also a great way to save money on groceries and other expenses that can be offset with coupons. 
  • Scour the web for deals — Find and redeem deals to earn points. You can also search for local deals through Groupon and LivingSocial goods. 
  • Perform online searches — Search the web using Yahoo and earn points. 
  • Refer a friend — Invite your friends to sign up on MyPoints using your unique referral link. You’ll earn points for every friend who signs up, and additional points will be awarded when your friend earns points too. 
  • Use MyPoints Score — This browser extension alerts you when point-earning opportunities are available, so you never miss out on a deal. It will also automatically apply coupon codes when shopping online using your computer. 

How much can you make?

Point values tend to vary, so there’s no standard amount you can make when using MyPoints. That being said, points are typically worth a fraction of cents, so you’ll need to be ready to put in the effort if you want to gather enough points worth cashing out. 
You can also win gift cards, usually ranging from $1 to $100, sometimes more, depending on the store. In any case, you’ll be able to see the number of points needed to cash out the specific prize you want. 
One thing I should note here is that while using MyPoints is a great way to make some extra money, it cannot replace your primary source of income. The amount you can earn in cash, gift cards, coupons, etc., is usually insufficient. At best, it would be a side hustle or something you do in your free time to raise some extra cash. 

Redeeming your MyPoints rewards 

You can cash out your earnings through various channels when you've accumulated enough points. 
For example, you can redeem points for gift cards that you can use on your favorite MyPoints partner stores and restaurants. Another option is to convert your points into cash. You can arrange payouts to your PayPal account or a Visa prepaid debit card but note that processing can take 3 to 5 business days.
If that doesn't float your boat, you can also redeem points for travel miles from leading airlines like American Airlines and Delta. Otherwise, you can transfer your points to your United MileagePlus account and save money when booking flights.
One caveat: Some offerings (rare, but it happens) may have a limited number of redemptions offered and are based on a first-come, first-served basis, so there is a chance something you want may not be available.

MyPoints vs. competitors

Platform
Cost
Ways to earn
Rewards
MyPoints
Free
Taking surveys and shopping online
Gift cards or cashback with PayPal
Survey Junkie
Free
Taking surveys and joining focus groups
Gift cards or cashback with PayPal
Swagbucks
Free
Watching videos, taking surveys and polls, performing website searches, playing games, shopping online and in-stores
Gift cards or cashback with PayPal

Swagbucks

Like MyPoints, Swagbucks is a rewards site that offers surveys and other money-earning opportunities like web searches, online and in-store shopping, watching videos, playing games, and more. 
Swagbucks provides earning opportunities through points you can convert to cash. You can receive your earnings through gift cards or PayPal cash that you can transfer to your bank account. And, like MyPoints, Swagbucks offers browser extensions that give you access to additional earning opportunities. 

Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is another app that lets you make money, but unlike MyPoints and Swagbucks, it is only through surveys. It is free to sign-up and use, and you can cash out once you have $5 in your account, which is far lower than some of its competitors. 

MyPoints FAQs

How can I redeem points?
You can redeem your points for gift cards, travel miles or cash via PayPal.
How much can I earn through the MyPoints?
While there is no standard amount you can earn, your earnings will usually be in cents and gift cards. In any case, it cannot replace your income.
What happens if I don't redeem points?
Any account deemed inactive for over a year can forfeit points.

The bottom line 

As you can see, plenty of options are available to you when earning rewards on MyPoints. More importantly, it is a legit rewards site, so you can confidently interact with the platform. But whether it’s worth it will ultimately depend on how much time you’re willing to put in versus how much you want to make. Still, it won’t hurt to check it out and see if something there catches your fancy. Who knows, you just might uncover a new passive income source. 

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