7 Best Paid Online Survey Sites in 2023

Taking paid online surveys is a great way to make money in your spare time, but with so many survey sites out there, it can sometimes seem impossible to choose just one or two to try out. Luckily for you, we’ve distilled the mountain of options into a concise list of our favorite survey sites.

Pro Tip: Sign up to multiple platforms (i.e. at least 2 survey sites) to maximize your earnings and keep a steady flow of surveys coming your way.

Top Paid Online Survey Sites

These survey sites allow you to monetize your spare time. You will typically get paid via PayPal cash, checks, prepaid Visa cards, and gift cards. As long as you have an internet connection, you can make some extra cash.

1. Branded Survey: Best Overall

Branded Survey is an online survey site that offers you points in exchange for survey completion. Each point is worth one cent, and you’ll be eligible to redeem your points when your balance reaches 1000 points (or $10.00).

Branded Survey guarantees points for taking a survey. As with many other survey sites, you won’t qualify for every survey you click on. There may be demographic requirements or profile criteria you don’t meet. But unlike some other sites, Branded Survey will reward you with a few points even if you don’t qualify for the survey. Read our full Branded Surveys review to learn more.

2. Survey Junkie: Best for Short Surveys

The proprietors of Survey Junkie are extremely honest. They do not promise to make you rich. Instead, they promise to offer you a reliable way to earn extra cash.

The minimum payout is only $10, which is equal to 1,000 points. You can redeem points in the form of e-gift cards or cash through Dwolla or PayPal. Bank transfers are also available for US accounts. 

However, remember to keep identifying information handy — the website requires that you verify your identity before redeeming points. (In fact, you may have to do so every time you opt for e-gift cards.). Read our full Survey Junkie review to learn more.

3. Swagbucks: Best for Mobile Users

If you’re looking for a survey site that offers a bit more than just traditional surveys, give Swagbucks a try. Since it offers several ways to earn money, you might end up spending a lot of time on the platform.

The whole program is based around a well-designed points system that rewards you based on your performance. You can convert these points, known as Swagbucks, into PayPal money or gift cards. There is also a $5 sign-up bonus for new users. 

Swagbucks’ popularity is mainly due to its versatility. It offers several ways to earn rewards, which include watching videos and playing games. Read our full Swagbucks review to learn more.

4. MyPoints: Best for Earning Daily Points

MyPoints is different.  It is essentially a cash back site that offers up to 40% back with every purchase at more than 2,000 top stores, including Amazon, Home Depot, Best Buy, and Walmart.

In addition to completing surveys and shopping online, you can earn points by taking advantage of the special deals posted regularly. They offer great discounts and points for completing special tasks.

You can also earn points by playing games and watching videos on the Daily Scoop mobile app found on both iOS and Android. Moreover, MyPoints is one of the few survey sites with a lucrative affiliate program. You will get $2 for every successful sign-up through your link.

5. Ipsos i-Say: Best for Loyal Users

Ipsos i-Say is the online survey arm of the famous Ipsos market research company. While it operates much like any other online survey site, what sets Ipsos i-Say apart from its competitors is its opportunities for bonus points and additional prizes.

If you answer enough surveys, you’ll be rewarded with bonus points that you can redeem for cash or gift cards. Plus, you’ll get even more bonus points the longer you stay an active member!

6. InboxDollars: Best For Cash Payments

If you want to use a site that offers several options to make money with surveys, then InboxDollars is the one for you. It offers a wide range of surveys (both short and long). Additionally, you can make money conducting web searches if you use InboxDollars’ search engine tool. Finally, you can earn cash back if you shop through the platform. 

Unlike most other sites on the list, this one pays directly in cash. There is no need to keep tabs on your points and mentally convert them into cash. You will get paid directly in cash which you can deposit into your account. 

You get paid $5 just for signing up. The interface is very easy to use. It’s also accessible from outside the US and is available to international users from most countries. Read our full InboxDollars review to learn more.

7. LifePoints: Best for Video Surveys

LifePoints is an online survey site offered by Lightspeed, a consumer research company that’s been offering surveys since 1946. They have an outstanding and trustworthy brand.

LifePoints recently absorbed the users of MySurvey and GlobalTestMarket, which means the number of people using the service now totals over 5,000,000. The large user pool allows LifePoints to offer one of the most user-friendly survey sites on the market.

This survey service offers great prizes and rewards to those members who follow it on social media. They’ve given away game consoles, Apple Watches, and more to participating people. Check out our LifePoints review to learn more.

Things to Consider While Taking Paid Online Surveys

There are a number of things you need to consider before signing up to any of these sites. You’ll want to find sites that pay the most, and only sign up to reputable sites.

How to Maximize Earnings

Here are some tips:

• Join multiple platforms so you never miss out on surveys that pay well. And make sure to turn on notifications to get regular updates on the latest surveys.
• Avoid using fake information when signing up for a new account (some websites may require you to submit identity documents).
• Only fill out surveys as a side hustle. They won’t replace a job.
• Do not take on surveys you know nothing about. They will take you longer to complete.
• Some companies may cancel surveys if you are not honest in your feedback. Therefore, be careful when recording your answers so that you always get paid for your time and hard work.
• Be sure you know all the relevant fees and charges. And always use the most “profitable” method to withdraw money.
• Do not leave your money sitting in the wallet for too long — some websites are known to delete unused accounts.

How to Avoid Scams

A couple of quick tips will help you when trying to avoid scams in the world of online surveys.

• Stick with reputable, established firms: Scam websites will often be fly-by-night enterprises, popping up one day only to shut down the next. If you only use  sites that have been around for years, you’ll minimize your risk.

• Look out for the little things: Keep an eye out for small errors on the website that can indicate a less-than-professional operation. Spelling and grammar mistakes on the landing page, buggy webpages, and unprofessional or non-existent customer service can all be warning signs that indicate a scam.

How to Identify a Legitimate Online Survey Site

Similar to spotting and avoiding scams, identifying legitimate online survey sites can be challenging. We have a few tips, however.

• Focus on reputation: Stick to survey sites that have a good reputation among their users and the industry in general. You can find reviews from a lot of different online sources. You can also use articles like this one to make sure you stay on the beaten path of quality, established survey sites.

• Focus on customer service: Legitimate survey sites will make an effort to take care of site users. by providing decent customer service to users.  Make sure you keep in mind that these are digital products and that (as with many other purely digital services) customer service can sometimes be lacking. But relatively speaking, legitimate online survey sites will offer much better customer service than scam sites.

FAQs: Best Paid Online Survey Sites

We’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions on the internet about paid online surveys. Here are our answers:

Are Online Surveys a Legitimate Way to Make Money?

Yes, survey sites do pay real money, but they can never replace income from a regular job. Even if you join a site that pays well, you will only make about $300 per month.

While some sites offer very high rates — up to $1000 per survey — high-paying surveys are very rare and are only available for users with a specific profile (For instance, clinical trials).

However, make sure to opt for a website that is legitimate and safe, because there are a significant number of survey sites that do not pay. They are scams and will result in a waste of time. 

Beyond this, some sites do not pay cash and only offer rewards in the form of gift cards and vouchers, so choose your platform carefully.

How Much Money Can I Make Taking Online Surveys?

As mentioned earlier, there is no fixed salary when it comes to completing surveys. On average, you will make $10 per hour (which equals about $20 per day if you spend two hours completing surveys).

If you have a full-time job, then you will not be able to spend more time responding to surveys. However, if you’re free, you may be able to put more time into the work. But keep in mind that it may (likely) never be enough to pay your bills. 

Plus, the payment is also not guaranteed as your responses may get declined or you may get disqualified due to incomplete details or false information.

How Do I Get Paid for Taking Online Surveys?

You will get paid when you hit the minimum threshold, which can be as high as $100 in some cases. It is best to opt for a platform that has a small threshold so that you don’t have to wait for months to reach it.

Different platforms offer different ways to get paid including Visa, PayPal, and bank transfers. It can take 5 to 15 days to receive payment in your bank account.

Bank transfers are the slowest and are only available in a limited number of countries. Other than this, you can opt for gift cards and vouchers. They usually get approved within five days and can be utilized at specific online or physical stores.

What Kind of Questions Do Online Surveys Ask?

This changes from survey to survey. When you join a platform, you will have to complete a personal survey regarding your preferences and background. The platform will use your responses to prepare your profile which they will use to assign you surveys.

Once done, you will get to choose surveys in different niches, including products and services. There may also be surveys related to politics, entertainment, health, and religion.

Online survey topics can also change depending on which survey service you’re using as well.

Final Thoughts

Online survey sites can be a valuable addition to any money-making strategy. However, you won’t get rich quick and you’ll need to keep an eye out for less reputable websites.

If you keep your expectations reasonable and stick with the more well-established survey sites, you should be in the clear. Happy survey answering!