Paid Surveys

PAID SURVEYS OPPORTUNITY REVIEW

Did you know that some companies will actually pay ordinary consumers for their opinions? It’s true, and one of the ways they obtain, analyze and evaluate consumer opinions is through paid surveys.

These companies have a number of ways of getting these surveys for cash into the hands of the consumer, but today the most popular method is via the Internet. Typically the companies do not administer this part themselves. Instead, they contract with some type of intermediary, like an advertising or promotional company with better tools for reaching an audience of consumers. It is through these forums that consumers can access surveys for money.

WHAT KINDS OF PAID SURVEYS ARE AVAILABLE?

If you Google “paid surveys” or “surveys for cash,” you’ll see that there are dozens and dozens of returns over several pages. Every paid surveys site is a little bit different from the next, and the surveys that they offer cover just about every topic you can imagine. All of them are designed to evaluate consumer interest in and use of goods and services. Some surveys for money may be specific to a certain brand (say, Coca Cola) while other surveys for money might be more general (i.e. your soda-drinking habits and preferences). Some paid surveys sites will offer surveys on all kinds of different topics, while others may be dedicated to surveys for cash within a particular field (info tech, for example).

HOW MUCH CAN I MAKE TAKING SURVEYS FOR CASH?

The reason there are so many surveys for money is that brands and product manufacturers want the opinions of regular consumers to help them improve their business, products or services (or all three). They also use the information that consumers provide them on these paid surveys to develop new products for the market.

Of course, filling out surveys takes time, and so companies provide incentives (like cash rewards) to get consumers to take that time and share their opinions. It’s difficult to say how much you can make taking paid surveys because every survey is different and pay can vary quite a bit. Typically, the longer the survey, the higher the pay rate. Paid surveys that require the opinions of people with a very special discipline (i.e. health care professionals, teachers) also tend to pay a little more. A very short survey on a general topic may pay a dollar or two. Paid surveys that are a little bit longer might pay between three and five dollars. Surveys for cash that are longer or require more intensive answers (i.e. narrative answers instead of simply check-marking boxes) might pay between five and $25. Very specialized paid surveys targeted towards a certain type of professional group may pay upwards of $50. When it comes to the majority of the paid surveys sites out there, you can probably expect to earn between one and five dollars per survey.

One thing that you should know about taking surveys for cash is that you will have to “qualify” for every survey that you take. By “qualify,” we mean that you must meet certain criteria as specified by the company that’s paying for the information. For example, a tobacco manufacturer needs the opinions of people who actually smoke. They don’t want to pay for opinions from people who don’t use their (or similar) products. So, to determine whether you actually “qualify” for a survey on tobacco products, the first several questions of the survey will be about your smoking habits.

You’ll probably find questions like these:

Do you currently smoke?

If you don’t smoke, have you ever smoked in the past?

If you’re a smoker, how many cigarettes do you smoke per day?

Which of the following cigarette brands have you heard of? (This will be followed by a list of several brands that you’ll have to choose from.)

It is how you answer these first questions that will determine whether you are “qualified” to take that particular survey. If you were to answer “no” to the first two questions, it is highly likely that you would not be “qualified” and therefore would not be able to finish the survey and, thus, not receive the payout.

The fact that you must “qualify” for paid surveys comes as a surprise to some consumers. Many people assume that when you join a survey forum online you can take as many surveys for money as you want, but this is simply not the case. Just be aware of this when you start joining such sites so you won’t be disappointed. Knowing this ahead of time will also help you to choose your surveys for cash wisely so you don’t waste time attempting surveys for money that you don’t end up qualifying for. By the way, this applies to ALL survey Websites, not just certain ones.

HOW DO I GET PAID FOR THE SURVEYS FOR CASH THAT I TAKE?

This all depends on the specific site or sites that you join. Each one is unique, including in how they pay their members. The vast majority of such paid surveys Websites offer rewards in the form of gift cards to major retailers, both brick-and-mortar as well as strictly online retailers (i.e. Amazon). Many of these sites also offer the option of receiving your payment via a PayPal (or other online bank) deposit. Some offer prizes, either instead of or in addition to, gift cards or PayPal deposits. Prizes can range from household items like electronics to travel and hotel vouchers. Very few pay by check, although once in awhile you’ll run across one that still offers this option.

Minimum Threshold

Another thing that surprises some paid surveys site members is the fact that, with almost every survey site, you cannot simply ask for a three dollar payout. Most require you to reach a minimum threshold of accumulated points or cash before you can ask for a payout or redeem for gift cards or prizes. Some will let you cash out at five dollars while others may not pay out until you reach $50.

Read The Fine Print

It’s important that you read the fine print and know when you sign up with a particular forum what the minimum payout threshold is. With some paid surveys sites it can actually take awhile to accumulate points/cash. This might not be a big deal to you if you can use your earnings when you reach five dollars, but if you have to wait until you have $50 before you can ask for payment, you might find yourself getting frustrated early on.

Keep Your Expectations Reasonable

Taking surveys for cash in your spare time can actually be a lot of fun, especially if you like the idea of voicing your opinion and influencing the consumer market. As long as you keep your expectations reasonable (you won’t get rich taking paid surveys), you can get some cool rewards or some extra spending money by filling out surveys for cash.

Side Note

While paid surveys can help you to make a small amount of money, there are better ways to make money. Why not create your own business selling on Amazon? Check out my free course here.

Or, maybe you like to make money shopping. Into investing? You could join the Bitcoin revolution.

Join More Than One Surveys For Cash Site

To help you get started, we’ve generated a list of some of the most popular (and verified legitimate) surveys for money Websites out there. We suggest that you join more than one surveys for cash site (since it’s possible that you can go for days or weeks without qualifying for any surveys for money on a given site), but keep it manageable. This way, you can gauge which one you’re having the most luck with and you can eventually cut back on the others and focus your time on the one that gives you the best return on the investment of your time.

ARE YOU SURE THESE SURVEYS FOR MONEY SITES AREN’T SCAMS?

While it’s possible that there are paid surveys scams out there, there are actually lots of legitimate surveys for money sites. We have taken the time to verify more than 15 of the most popular paid surveys sites for you so you can shorten your own research time if you’re thinking about joining one. Our list contains only legitimate, vetted surveys for money sites that have been verified to pay out.

THE BEST PAID SURVEYS WEBSITES

Swagbucks: Swagbucks.com offers members the opportunity to earn “Swagbucks” (which are, essentially, points) for completing different types of online activities, including surveys for cash. Once you accumulate enough Swagbucks, you can trade them in for retail or restaurant gift cards and other prizes. Joining Swagbucks is free. You must be at least 13 years old to become a member (although some activities on Swagbucks are only open to people aged 18 or older).

Survey Junkie: SurveyJunkie.com is a Website where members can earn points by taking surveys for cash. (There are also other activities on SurveyJunkie.com that award points, but the main focus of this forum is paid surveys.) Each “point” is worth approximately one cent and can be saved up and cashed in for prizes in the form of gift cards to retailers and restaurants or for actual cash in the form of a PayPal deposit. Membership is free and you must be at least 18 years old to join.

Mypoints: MyPoints.com is a Website that rewards consumers for conducting a variety of online activities, including filling out paid surveys. Each activity is worth a certain number of points. Points can be collected and redeemed for retailer and restaurant gift cards, travel deals, or a PayPal deposit of cash. Membership is free. You must be at least 13 years old to join.

Grabpoints: Grabpoints.com is another Website that rewards users with points for doing online activities, including filling out surveys for money. Points can be accumulated and traded in for gift cards to restaurants and retail stores, or you can opt for a cash deposit into a PayPal or Skrill account. There is no fee to join, but you must be at least 13 years old to be a member.

InboxDollars: Inboxdollars.com is similar to the previous sites in that it rewards users for engaging in various online activities, including filling out surveys for cash. Instead of receiving “points” for your efforts, members are awarded “cash.” However, it is essentially the same as a points system but saves the user the trouble of converting his or her points into a dollar amount when it comes time to redeem prizes. Membership is free. You must be at least 18 to sign up for membership.

Ipsos I Say: Ipsos i-Say was created by the well-known market research company, Ipsos. Ipsos is different from the previous sites in a couple of ways. First, Ipsos only administers its own surveys for cash, while others work with multiple clients. Ipsos is also distinct in that the site is dedicated to surveys for money.

PrizeRebel: Prize Rebel rewards members for doing a variety of online activities, including filling out paid surveys. Points are awarded for individual activities. Points can be redeemed for gift cards or a PayPal payment. You must be at least 18 to sign up and membership is free.

Harris Poll Online: This site is strictly a surveys for cash site…. no games, videos or other activities to earn points on. Members are awarded “HIPoints” for each survey they complete Points can be redeemed for gift cards, travel and magazine subscriptions subscriptions. Every completed survey also gets the user entered into a quarterly sweepstakes draw.

Vindale Research: Vindale rewards members for filling out surveys for money as well as for other online activities, including reviewing products (called “evaluations”), signing up for and opening emails from sponsor companies and watching videos. They also offer some fun ways to earn extra money, such as sending a pic of yourself holding your Vindale payment. Vindale calculates members’ earnings in dollars (not points) and pays cash rewards via PayPal deposit. It’s free to join, but you have to be at least 18 to sign up.

Opinion Bureau: Opinion Bureau is strictly a survey Website, and its surveys for cash are almost always geared toward the subjects of business, education and information technology. Its rewards system operates on a basis of cash. Your accumulation of cash can be used to purchase a gift card or you can take your payout in the form of a PayPal deposit. Membership is free, and you must be 18 or older to participate.

Pinecone Research: This is another site that is focused strictly on surveys for cash. Members are rewarded for participation with points. Each point is worth a penny, so essentially you are being rewarded in dollars. Points can be redeemed for a check, PayPal deposit, or a gift card from an extensive list of retailers and restaurants. Sign-up is free and you need to be 18 or older to participate.

E-Poll Market Research: You’ll find only surveys for money (no games, etc.) on this site. The surveys are largely on the subject of entertainment preferences (TV shows, movies, etc.). Members are rewarded in points, which can be traded for cash via PayPal or can be used to purchase a gift card (retailers and restaurants). With E-Poll, your points actually increase in value as you let them accumulate.

ProOpinion: ProOpinion is dedicated to surveys for cash, and although you can’t earn money playing games or watching videos, there is a lot of great content on this site. You can read articles, blogs and results of past surveys. Members earn points for each survey completed. Points can then be used to purchase gift cards, or you can take your cash in the form of a PayPal deposit. It’s free to sign up, but you must be at least 18 years old.

Opinion Outpost: Opinion Outpost is dedicated entirely to surveys for money, and each one completed nets points for members. Points can be accumulated and used to redeem prizes in the form of gift cards to on and offline retailers, or you can take cash deposited into your PayPal account. Each survey completed also gets your name in the quarterly draw for a $10,000 prize. Joining is free, and membership is open to all adults aged 18 and up.

VIP Voice: This surveys for cash site is unique in that it doesn’t offer direct cash rewards (or points that can be converted to cash for gift cards). Instead, when a member completes a survey, he or she is awarded “VIP points.” They can then be traded in for entries into cash sweepstakes or the chance to participate in BidLand auctions. There is no cost to join VIP Voice, but you have to be at least 18 years old.

Toluna: This market research company that offers the opportunity for consumers to answer paid surveys and receive points in exchange for their time. Points can be accumulated and traded in for prizes. Available prizes include retailer gift cards, gadgets and travel rewards. You can also trade your points in for cash. Toluna also gives members the opportunity to create their own content, such as polls Toluna is free to join if you are at least 18 years or older.

Global Test Market: Members of Global Test Market are offered the opportunity to take surveys for cash and earn “MarketPoints” for their completion. “MarketPoints” can be exchanged for prizes that include gift cards to major retailers (online and in-store) and restaurants, cash payouts via PayPal or even donations to certain charities. Membership is free, and you can join if you are aged 14 or older.

Valued Opinions: This surveys for money site allows members to earn cash for completing surveys as well as for testing products. Survey values vary, and cash accumulated can be used toward the purchase of retailer (online and in-store) and restaurant gift cards, Visa prepaid cards and airline miles. You must be at least 13 years old to join this free paid surveys forum.

Point Club Surveys: This site offers points in exchange for the completion of surveys for cash. A point is worth $ .001 (1000 points equals $1.00). Points can be accumulated and then used to redeem a variety of prizes, like retailer and restaurant gift cards (more than 80 of them), plus several others that you don’t see on most surveys for money sites. This includes Tango gift cards (Tango is a prize platform all on its own with lots of rewards to choose from), movie theater vouchers and cash via PayPal. There is no cost to join Point Club Surveys, but you must be at least 18 years old.

MintVine: This site strictly offers surveys for cash from Fortune 500 companies. Members receive points for filling out surveys, which can be accumulated and traded in for rewards. Available rewards include retailer (online and in-store) and restaurant gift cards, movie theater vouchers, pre-paid Visa cards or cash payout via PayPal or Dwolla. You can join if you are 18 or older, or 13 to 17 years old with parental consent. Membership is free.

EarningStation: This market research company allows members to make money taking surveys for cash as well as through a variety of other online activities (such as playing games and watching videos). Each activity or survey has a dollar amount attached to it. Earnings can be traded in for a variety of prizes, including retailer (online and in-store) and restaurant gift cards, Virtual Visa gift cards, Amazon virtual claim codes and cash payment via PayPal. Adults aged 18 or older can join. Children aged 13 to 17 can join with parental permission. There is no membership cost.

OpinionPLUS: This site is dedicated strictly to paid surveys. Surveys for money are worth varying numbers of points. Points can be converted to a cash value and payment is made via PayPal. This is one of only a small percentage of surveys for cash sites that offer only cash payouts as rewards (not prizes or gift cards). To become a member of Opinion Plus, you must be 13 years or older. There is no fee to join. (WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PROGRAM ANY LONGER)

MindsPay: MindsPay’s money-making opportunities include filling out surveys for cash, providing product reviews, subscribing to email lists, printing coupons and participating in focus groups. Each activity is worth a particular dollar amount. Instead of prizes or gift cards, members are rewarded cash payouts via PayPal. MindsPay is unique in that payouts occur automatically two times per month. However, you can only get paid if you have accumulated at least $50. It’s free to join, but some surveys for money require you to sign up for “trial offers” that cost money. You’ll have to give your credit card info to participate, and there may be stipulations attached requiring you to pay more money in the future. You have to be 18 years or older to join MindsPay.