Do you have a few minutes to spare answering questions online for cash? Ads like these do look tempting sometimes. Surprisingly, people do make extra cash by doing online surveys for money. This can be especially helpful if you’re looking to make money as a college student and need flexible options that fit your busy schedule. In this blog, we will show you how.
Key Takeaways
- Survey websites offer surveys for money that you can do anytime from anywhere.
- Reputable survey sites pay little for each survey and don’t ask for upfront payments or personal information.
- Popular online survey websites include Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, and MySurvey.
- You can also earn money through focus groups, product testing, and helping academic researchers.
How Do Online Surveys Work?
Companies periodically do online surveys to improve their product or service offerings. They care about their customers’ opinions and are sometimes ready to pay.
Doing online surveys for money is as simple as it sounds. All you need is a computer and internet access. You can find surveys for money on various platforms such as Toluna or MySurvey. Simply register on these websites, and the platform will send you surveys to fill out as it finds a match for you. You can link your credit card or PayPal to cash out the accumulated funds.
How To Identify Real Surveys That Pay and Avoid Scams
You should be careful not to fall for scams that pose as legitimate surveys for money. Here are some tips to help you identify accurate surveys that pay from fraudsters:
- Legitimate paid surveys usually don’t require a membership fee or upfront payment. Participation is always free, and you can withdraw the money from your balance.
- They provide transparent information about how much they pay you and how they pay you. The lack of information about a specific survey’s price and payment method sounds like a red flag.
- Scammers may ask for sensitive information, such as your Social Security number or bank account details, but reputable survey sites never do this. It’s important to stay cautious to avoid financial problems while exploring legitimate ways to make extra money online.
- Established survey companies usually have a solid online presence and reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You shouldn’t trust websites that you can’t find any information about online.
- Trustworthy survey sites have contact information on their website and responsive customer service.
- As sad as it is to admit, surveys that promise large payouts or expensive items are scams. Legit surveys usually pay a maximum of a few dollars or reimburse you with coupon codes or discounts.
How to Get Started with Paid Surveys
On that note, legitimate survey websites will never make it a hustle to register and start making money with paid surveys. It should be generally straightforward to start, so here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what to do:
Step 1: Research reputable companies that pay for taking surveys online. Some popular websites include Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, Vindale Research, and Pinecone Research.
Step 2: Open a new email address that you will use only for online surveys. This is only to separate your primary email from that for taking surveys, as these websites can send you multiple emails daily, and you want to ensure you don’t miss any of these.
Step 3: Register with your dedicated email address and input your personal information, such as your age and gender, to receive personalized surveys based on your demographics.
Step 4: Don’t just limit yourself to one website. Sign up for as many as you can to maximize your earnings.
Step 5: Log into your accounts daily and start taking surveys as they are available.
Step 6: Redeem your rewards promptly by withdrawing funds through your credit card or PayPal. Depending on the survey website’s policy, you can withdraw funds weekly, biweekly, or monthly.
Top Legit Sites That Will Pay You for Taking Surveys
The number of survey sites can be overwhelming. If you don’t know where to start, here are the most popular and legitimate websites that offer paid surveys at home:
- Swagbucks
- Survey Junkie
- Vindale Research
- Pinecone Research
- Opinion Outpost
- Ipsos i-Say
- MySurvey
- American Consumer Opinion
- Toluna
- Inbox Dollars
- MindSwarms
- LifePoints
- Panda Research
- Survey Savvy
Alternative Ways to Earn Money Through Surveys
Once you become a pro at filling out surveys for money, you can confidently make money online by undertaking other similar activities.
One of the best opportunities is to participate in focus groups. These are more in-depth than surveys and involve multiple people trying out, testing, and giving their opinions on various products or services. Focus groups last longer than surveys (about one to two hours), but the pay can be higher, sometimes up to $100.
Another avenue to branch out is product testing. Companies send products for users to test at home and give their feedback. Compensation usually includes free products and payments ranging from $10 to $100.
Alternatively, you can participate in academic and market research studies. You must be qualified in certain areas and assist researchers by completing more detailed surveys or experiments. The pay is generally from $5 to $50.
Getting started doing surveys for money is easy; practically anyone with a computer can do it from home. It requires patience and determination and can generate extra cash. Just be careful not to fall for scams, as many are online.
FAQ
Can You Get Money From Surveys?
It depends on how much time you dedicate to this activity and how many surveys you do daily. Most surveys pay $0.5 to $1, but if you have a constant stream of high-paid surveys, you can get a close-to-average salary monthly.
What Types of Paid Online Surveys Can I Take?
You can take surveys about any topic, depending on the requirements. Some surveys would be open to the general public for their opinions on specific products or offerings. On the other hand, some may be specifically targeted to a particular demographic, such as music lovers, where you can participate only if you meet their criteria.
What Payment Methods Are Available for Surveys?
Most surveys are transferred to you via PayPal or directly to your credit card. Some may only reward you through gift cards on their website.
What Is the Highest Paying Paid Survey?
The highest-paying surveys are usually those on medical or clinical topics. Market research studies like focus groups and product testing follow closely behind.
Which Survey App Is Best for Money?
Swagbucks and Survey Junkie are among the top survey apps for earning money, offering a high volume of surveys and additional ways to earn rewards.
How Much Time Do I Need to Spend on Surveys to Earn a Significant Amount?
Surveys are available only when the company sends you some to do. Therefore, it’s difficult to estimate the exact time needed to fill them out daily, as some days may bring more surveys than others.