Are you interested in taking online surveys for money, but you’re not sure which ones to trust? This is a go-to list of legitimate paid online surveys for cash you can trust. We’ve done all the research for you (and most of these I’ve tried myself in the past) so that you don’t have to worry about being scammed.
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What Are Paid Online Surveys?
Online surveys are just what they sound like — it’s where you take surveys for money in exchange for your honest opinion.
Online survey companies want your opinion for market research purposes. One of the easiest ways for companies to do market research is to incentivize the general public to give their feedback, experience, or opinion — which is why you can get paid for online surveys!
When you take online surveys for money, survey topics can cover just about anything from your hobbies and interests to your shopping habits and product preferences, and everything in between.
Can You Get Paid to Take Surveys?
There is a common misconception that online survey companies aren’t legitimate, but that’s definitely not true!
You just have to know what to look out for, what to avoid, and which companies to trust.
The truth is that there are a lot of really great online survey companies that legitimately and honestly want your opinion in exchange for cash!
Can You Actually Take Surveys to Make Money?
While you won’t get rich or earn a full-time income from taking paid online surveys, it is a really nice way to earn a little extra money on the side — especially when you have more time than money!
It’s also a great way to save up for Christmas gifts throughout the year when you don’t have much wiggle room in the budget.
When Jesse was in law school and I had a lot of extra free time on my hands, I enjoyed taking online surveys for money! Those were some of the toughest times in our marriage, and every little bit helped stretch our really tight budget during those financially lean years.
Best Surveys for Money
If you’re looking for legitimate paid online surveys to take, here are some companies I highly recommend:
Swagbucks
This is easily my very favorite survey site — but it’s SO much more than a survey site! You can also earn for searching the web, playing games, watching videos, taking advantage of special offers, and shopping the Internet. For years, I’ve used Swagbucks to pay for plane tickets, hotel rooms, Amazon purchases, and SO much more. The best part of this site is how easy it is to cash out. Save up your points if you want, or redeem for a $3 or $5 Amazon Gift Card really quickly! Go here to get started. You’ll get $3 just for signing up!
Toluna
This reputable survey company, is currently accepting applicants! You’ll get paid for your opinion in the form of surveys, engaging in community content, inviting friends to join, and playing games.
When you earn enough points equal to $10, you can trade in for PayPal cash, Amazon gift cards, and more!
Branded Surveys
This is a really fantastic survey company that gets great reviews! You’ll get $1 just for signing up, and you can cash in for $10 through PayPal once you hit 1,000 points.
Ipsos iSay
This is a reputable, global survey-based market research company that gives its community members a chance to provide opinions in exchange for survey points that earn you money. Earn towards gift cards to spend at your favorite places such as Starbucks, Amazon, Target, and more. Or just trade in for cash through prepaid VISA gift cards or Pay Pal funds!
Survey Junkie
This reputable company gets really great reviews! It is known for a low minimum payout threshold and a quick & easy first payout. You can cash in for $10 once you reach 1,000 points. Choose from PayPal funds, direct bank transfer, or a gift card of your choice!
Lifepoints
This reputable research panel gets great reviews on Trust Pilot. The sign-up process is really simple and you’ll get 10 points just for signing up. Most survey payouts are between 50 and 150 points and don’t take longer than 20 minutes to complete. And the best part? They have a super low minimum payout threshold of $5, so it’s quick and easy to get your first payout!
Bonus:
Inbox Dollars pays you not only for surveys, but also for reading e-mails, searching the web, and more. I used to love earning free gift cards through Inbox Dollars!
Tips for Taking Online Surveys for Money
If you’re interested in taking online surveys for cash, here are a few more tips to keep in mind:
- Use a dedicated e-mail address for survey sites. When you’re taking a lot of surveys, you’re going to get quite a few e-mails. To avoid cluttering your personal inbox, I highly recommend signing up for a separate e-mail address that you use just for taking surveys.
- Update your information often. Survey companies are often looking for targeted demographics — certain age ranges, income levels, geographical locations, or job positions — so it’s really important to make sure you keep your information updated. If you change jobs, move geographical locations, have another child, or become a home owner, be sure to update all of that information!
- Always be honest, but don’t be afraid to keep it vague. It’s important to be honest when you take surveys, because a) legitimate survey companies are doing honest market research and b) your answers need to be consistent and not seem dishonest, especially when you’re taking a lot of surveys. That being said, don’t be afraid to keep things as vague as you can while also answering honestly. Don’t give any extra information you don’t feel comfortable with! Go with the quickest, easiest answer you can while also being honest. If any information is optional, I recommend skipping it.
- Never, ever pay to join a survey site. Legitimate survey companies will never charge you to join or sign up. If you see a survey company wanting to charge you, stay far away! That’s one of the surest signs that the survey company is not legitimate.
- Never give out your bank account information. Although you’re taking surveys for cash, legitimate survey companies always offer gift cards or PayPal as payout options. You shouldn’t ever be forced to give your banking information as the only payout option. That’s most likely a sign that the survey company is not one that can be trusted.
What are some of your favorite companies that offer legitimate paid online surveys? I’d love to know if I missed an important one! Tell us in the comments!
Looking for more in-depth advice on how to make money from home?
Be sure to check out my book Money-Making Mom: How Every Woman Can Earn More and Make A Difference, where I share creative ways to manage money, generate income and–most importantly–live a life of deeper meaning, fulfillment, and generosity than you might have ever imagined possible. This book will give you hard-won wisdom, real-life stories, and practical tips to help inspire and motivate you!
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Hi,
I was signed up with Pinecone but something went wrong and now I can’t get it started back up. I have emailed them but haven’t gotten an answer..
I just tried to apply again and it said my number was already in use.
Any ideas?
Also, any ideas in another domain I can use for surveys? I currently use yahoo and gmail.
Thanks so much!
Anita Cecul
Also,
This article gives information about all of the best survey sites that we have found! -Jordan, MSM Team
Mypoints———————earn gift cards for taking surverys, reading emails (and optional purchasing though the site)
I have done surveys on several different sites for a couple years, including a couple that are mentioned here. A separate email address for surveys is a good idea, but I have found that for Paypal payout at least your Paypal email and the account email have to match. When I tried to change my Paypal email address it was a huge headache so that would be something important to take into consideration.
Thanks for the tip! That’s a great thing to know!! -Jordan, MSM Team
The OneOpinion link doesn’t work.
I just checked and the link works for OneOpinion. Maybe try from a different browser or from a computer if you are using a mobile device. I hope that helps! -Jordan, MSM Team
Wow! This is incredible, but the only thing not mentioned was how many points, or credit toward a gift card each company pays per survey. Is it actually more beneficial to just choose 2 or 3 vs. all of them?
I signed up with Swagbucks after reading your article. I’m a little cautious because I’ve read so many horror stories of identity theft & scams. When it allowed me to go through with the survey, it said I was going to an unsecured site to finish filling out the survey.
I’m a little concerned. Is that normal? Is it safe?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!!
Thank you so much!! 🙂
I registered with Pinecone at the beginning of this month. I was given a survey right away and was paid right away, but I have not had any surveys since. Is it typical to only get a few surveys every month?
I love Survey Junkie and Branded Surveys. Thanks for your tips! Hugs…
The OneOpinion link doesn’t work.
Thanks! I registered,
It’s not working now. Do you have an updated link?
There is still not an option to sign up. There may be a malfunction with the link