Paid surveys are known across the web. At some point, you might have tried one, only to get a pocket change after hours of effort. While online surveys won’t make you rich, you can find surveys that pay good money. Just make sure that you choose the right one so you won’t get ripped off. Below, we listed some of the highest-paying surveys that you can try.
How paid surveys work?
For those who aren’t familiar with online surveys, it could be confusing why a company would pay you to answer random questions. Well, it all boils down to marketing.
Your answers become raw data that will help marketers re-align their marketing campaigns. Usually, the questions lean on your personal preferences, gender, age bracket, location, and so on. Companies pay you for the data and feedback that you provide.
Also, companies use online surveys to test an idea, product, or service before they roll it out. In fact, paid surveys are just parts of a bigger process called ‘market research’.
There’s a lot of money on market research. Big firms and think tanks create surveys to gather data for their clients. The answers to these surveys help companies decide what flavor of potato chips will sell up to who will likely win an election.
The tricky part about surveys is that it’s structured in a way that prevents you from manipulating the results. Each question is connected to one another and written in a way that will incite natural answers.
Top 10 Surveys that Pay Good Money
1. Swagbucks
Topping our list is Swagbucks. It has one of the highest money-making potentials of all the paid surveys you can find online. Although surveys are one of the most popular services of Swagbucks, they also pay their users for watching videos, searching the web, and more. They pay through cash or gift cards, depending on your preference and type of survey you’re answering.
Swagbucks has headquarters in El Segundo, California, and is a subsidiary brand of Prodege, LLC. Overall, there are 11 ways to earn money on their website and app.
If there are no available survey items, you can sign up for their trial tasks like trying Hulu for a month for a specific fee. Since its conception, Swagbucks have paid over $600 million in their rewards system.
Approximate payout: 30 to 150 Swagbuck points per survey (100 SB point = $1)
2. Pinecone Research
The Pinecone Research survey program pays good money, but it’s exclusive and accessible on a per-invite basis. It’s one of the top survey programs for years now, mainly due to its credibility and excellent payout.
Each survey from Pinecone Research lasts for up to 15 minutes. It’s rare for users to get disqualified from a specific survey. Aside from answering surveys, they also hold product testing where you’ll get the products for free. You can get a free Panini machine and keep it after the test. You can also redeem your payout in points or prizes.
Take note that Pinecone Research surveys are only available in the U.S., Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Pinecone Research will be the one to send you survey invites if you qualify for the program.
Approximate payout: $3 per survey, up to $15 per product test
3. OnePoll
If you’re looking for short surveys you can finish on the go, you should consider OnePoll. They hold surveys for major brands and media organizations. Also, they are one of the first paid survey programs on the web. Their surveys are fun and easy to finish. You can also find surveys about celebrities and pop culture.
On average, surveys from OnePoll take three minutes to finish. However, since the surveys are short and easy, it has a lower payout than most. Still, they pay properly by cash or PayPal.
Currently, OnePoll is based in London and caters to UK and US members. They also have headquarters in Bristol and New York City.
Since 2018, about 2,500 surveys were completed, and over 50,000 questions are answered.
Approximate payout: Around $1.25 per survey
4. Toluna
Toluna is one of the trusted surveys that pay good money. They usually pay in cash, Amazon gift vouchers, high-street vouchers, PayPal, free merchandise, and other rewards based on your liking. As an opinion website that works with major brands and institutions, Toluna offers a solid market base.
Aside from surveys, they also have a product testing program. You’ll get the merchandise for free, test it, and send them your feedback.
The survey reward system is measured through points. You can get anywhere between 1,200 to 50,000 points per survey. Once you earned 80,000 points, you can redeem a $20 voucher.
You can take multiple surveys each day through their website or mobile app. Usually, each survey will take you 15 minutes. If you get to answer four surveys an hour, your average income would be around $5 per hour. That is if you get a continuous supply of surveys to answer.
Approximate payout: $20 for every 80,000 points
5. Survey Junkie
One of the most popular surveys that pay good money online is Survey Junkie. They offer cash and gift card rewards via PayPal, Amazon, and GiftCard. Currently, Survey Junkie claims to have about 6 million members.
Survey Junkie has a straightforward process. It’s also easy to use, and you can get started right away. You just have to sign up via Facebook or email, answer five questions, and start making money through surveys.
The good thing about Survey Junkie is they can pay you directly through cash. There’s no need to earn hefty points just to redeem a reward. Also, each survey pays 400 to 700 points. By the time you reach the 1,000-point threshold, you can cash out. It’s easy to reach this threshold so you can get your money fast.
Approximate payout: Roughly $0.5 to $1 per survey
6. LifePoints
LifePoints is the merger of two popular survey platforms: GlobalTestMarket and MySurvey. They pay you through PayPal, high-street vouchers, and Amazon.
The good thing about LifePoints is they send a lot of surveys, and they match your profile to the interests of the consumers they are targeting. This way, they can get more accurate data.
Each survey from LifePoints will take 15 minutes to finish. Payouts are in a points system, with one survey worth 100 points. The minimum reward threshold is 550 points, which is very easy to attain. The 550 pounds is equivalent to roughly $6.5. At this phase, you will earn $3 to $6 an hour.
Currently, LifePoints operate in 70 countries.
Approximate payout: About $1 per survey
7. Survey Club
Survey Club has been operating since 2005, with over 16 million members on 6 continents. You’ll earn cash here by answering surveys, joining private panels, and focus groups. They also have a clinical trial program that offers a larger payout.
Some of their surveys fall in Food, Buyer, and General Opinion categories. They have new featured categories from time to time, depending on the needs of the clients.
Most of their surveys can be completed from 5 to 15 minutes. Also, they will match the survey based on the member’s age, gender, and location.
As for payouts, it varies based on the category. Food surveys have the biggest payouts that can be as much as $115 per survey. Other surveys average between $1 and $3 each. You can also get free appliances as part of their product tests.
Approximate payout: anywhere from $1 to $115
8. Opinion Outpost
Opinion Outpost offers short surveys that can finish in 10 to 15 minutes. However, they also offer one of the lowest payouts among popular survey platforms. Still, if you don’t want to get ripped off, this survey site will pay real money.
Also, payouts in Opinion Outpost are fast, which you can process via PayPal, check, or gift cards. You can also join the monthly draws where you get a chance to win a prize. However, it’s only available for UK and US members.
The minimum threshold is slated at around $3 (£2.5) before you can cash out your earnings. This is equivalent to more or less five surveys. If you want to get more surveys, you can sign up for their panel program. This way, you can earn more money.
Approximate payout: About $3 for 5 surveys
9. Survey Savvy
Survey Savvy is probably one of the oldest survey sites on the web. It has been around since 1999 and is owned by Luth Research. This opinion site is based in California and offers unique rewards and ways to earn money.
Each survey has a different payout, depending on its length. The good thing here is you can cash out your earnings with only $1 of minimum balance. It’s open worldwide for all ages.
Survey Savvy also has a VIP membership where you’ll get an extra $5 per month for each device you register. The VIP membership also offers special surveys and faster payouts. And if you refer a friend, you’ll receive a commission for every survey they get to complete.
Moreover, Survey Savvy conducts contests where you’ll get the chance to win up to $500.
Approximate payout: around $3 to $4 per survey
10. i-Say (IPSOS)
If you have the time to spare and you’re looking for the best payout offer, you must check the i-Say platform. I-Say works with top brands as a survey-based market research company.
Each week, you’ll receive surveys on your email. Another good thing about this platform is there’s a low threshold. You can cash out your earnings once you reach around $13 (£10).
Currently, i-Say has 7 million active members and a total of $30 million payouts. Since it’s founded, over 20 million surveys have been answered. They also hold product testing where you get merchandise for free.
However, it’s quite challenging to get approved at i-Say. If you got disqualified on your first try, keep on sending requests.
Approximate payout: around $1.25 (£1)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do paid surveys really work?
A: A lot of paid surveys really pay you real money. However, you should choose a reliable one to avoid being ripped off. Aside from that, don’t expect that you can make a fortune out of answering surveys alone.
Q: Is it safe to make money on paid surveys?
A: Many paid surveys are legitimate and will pay an average of $1 to $50 per survey. However, you have to be careful because the internet is mired with survey scams.
Q: Do I need to pay taxes from my income from online surveys?
A: Any form of income, even those from online surveys should be declared in your taxes. However, since many don’t make much on surveys, they just pocket it for lunch or a few cups of coffee.
Q: How much money can I make per day answering surveys?
A: It depends on the number of surveys you get to answer. Usually, survey companies will limit entries from each user to gather accurate data. Even if you sign up for several survey platforms at a time, you’d be lucky to make $50 a day. Usually, most people who answer paid surveys would make an average of $1 to $5 a day. On some days, you may not earn anything at all.
Q: Should I go full time on doing paid surveys?
A: If you’re thinking of considering paid surveys as your main source of income, think twice. Paid surveys are just side hustles that pay a measly amount of money. Usually, it’s a type of money-making hustle enough to give you extra money for lunch.
Conclusion
These surveys that pay good money are a great pastime and side hustle. Although it’s not enough to pay the rent, it’s always great to earn extra money. Just make sure that you choose trusted sites that pay real money.
Have you tried joining online surveys before? How did it go? Share your experience with us in the comment section!
