Do free online surveys actually pay?

I’ve spent a lot of time reading and writing articles about how to get paid to take surveys—and I have yet to make my fortune from it.

So far I've tried Swagbucks, Toluna, Vindale Research, Opinion Outpost, National Consumer Panel, Global Test Market (GTM), and CashCrate, which is the only site that actually pays me for my opinions. All other sites either send emails with offers or try to sell me things.

And after more than 50 hours of taking these surveys, I can say one thing for sure: The best way to earn extra income is by signing up with as many different legitimate survey panels as possible. That's because each panel has its own quirks in terms of payout methods, reward structures, and privacy policies. It takes practice and patience to find those who will give you your fair share of rewards. And even then there are still some panels where you won't be able to redeem your points for anything but PayPal withdrawals.

Here's what I learned during this experiment.

Do any survey sites actually pay?

Survey companies promise that they'll give you "cash" for your opinion -- but do they really deliver when you're ready to exchange your answers for cold hard cash? Surprisingly enough, yes! There are several reputable survey app providers out there who actually offer real-world compensation for answering questions. However, not all of them follow through once you submit an answer.

The most popular among these survey services are:

Swagbucks

Vindale Research

Opinion Outpost

MarketPlace Gold

MyPoints+

Cash Crate

Paid Surveys 101 recommends MyPoints+, so that might be our next step if we want to keep testing new sites without being scammed too much. We also recommend following PaidSeations' list of recommended survey websites. But honestly, every person has their own preferences and likes/dislikes. So feel free to explore other options until you find something you like better.

Which paid survey apps are legit?

There are tons of scammy websites popping up everywhere, trying to piggyback off the popularity of big names such as Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, etc. In fact, according to research done at PriceGrabber, nearly half of people surveyed said they'd be willing to spend $500 on a gift card just to avoid paying fees to sign up for multiple survey panels. So beware of the red flags, especially since most users don't realize that they've fallen victim to scams.

To help protect yourself against shady survey programs, here are few tips to watch out for:

Make sure you trust the company behind the website before joining. This should go without saying, however, it bears repeating. If a service doesn't seem trustworthy, stay away from it. You shouldn't have to worry about identity theft or spamming your contacts just to join a survey program.

Check the company's reputation online. Make sure they aren't just pulling numbers out of thin air to entice customers into spending their hard-earned money. For example, check whether or not they have proper business licenses, accreditation from consumer protection agencies, and no complaints filed against them. Also read testimonials left by previous members.

Read the fine print carefully. Some companies require you to purchase products or services first before getting access to paid surveys. Others use misleading language to trick you into thinking you qualify. Don't fall prey to confusing statements that sound official but are meant to mislead you. Pay attention to details. Read everything thoroughly.

Watch out for fake logins and duplicate accounts. Be wary of anyone asking for sensitive information such as banking info or credit cards. Do not provide private data unless invited to do so. Keep track of your progress throughout the process so you can easily compare results from different surveys.

Try to stick with reputable survey panels. Avoid using trial versions of survey sites to save yourself unnecessary headaches later on.

Don't expect instant gratification. Most survey sites take anywhere between two weeks to six months before sending payment requests to qualified participants. Depending on the type of account you signed up under, you may receive checks directly deposited into your bank account or sent via PayPal instead. When asked why certain payments were delayed, I got responses ranging from “processing issues” to “your country isn’t eligible.”

It goes without saying that you should never buy anything from someone whose link you clicked on accidentally while browsing the Web. Never wire funds to another country or person without doing thorough due diligence.

Be patient. Sometimes it feels like forever since you filled out a given survey. While waiting times vary depending on the specific panel, the good news is that you usually won't have to wait long to see results. Just remember to allow ample time for processing.

What survey apps actually pay?

Most legitimate survey sites don't charge you a fee to register. Instead, they ask you to complete market research studies that compensate you accordingly. Typically, you'll fill out short questionnaires focused on particular topics related to the product you bought recently, your hobbies, family, career goals, health concerns, shopping habits, and the like. Then you'll be compensated per completed questionnaire.

Keep in mind that these types of surveys often include annoying popups and ads. Although these interruptions are sometimes unavoidable, they definitely add to the overall annoyance factor.

A word of warning though: Not all study invitations come straight from survey companies themselves. A growing trend nowadays is recruiters posing as representatives from various organizations looking for volunteers to participate in focus groups. These recruiters try to convince you that they can double your salary overnight. They may claim that they conduct these tests to assess the effectiveness of marketing strategies. Or maybe the recruiter says she works for a consulting firm helping businesses develop new products based on customer feedback. Whatever the case may be, tread carefully. Legitimate research firms only hire professionals for a reason. Stay vigilant and always proceed with caution whenever dealing with strangers over the Internet.

According to research conducted by MarketingSherpa, the average rate of compensation for filling out online surveys varies tremendously depending on which industry you belong to. On top of that, most surveys are limited to U.S.-based residents, so international folks must rely on Google searches and forums to seek paid opportunities elsewhere.

Are any survey apps legit?

Yes! As mentioned earlier, there are plenty of reputable survey companies that offer legitimate ways to earn extra money. Unfortunately, finding quality ones that fit your needs is challenging. After countless hours of searching, I narrowed down my choices to five excellent survey sites that consistently rewarded me well.

In addition to offering high rates of participation, all of these panels had clear instructions regarding qualification requirements and redemption procedures. Below are brief descriptions of each of the five highest-paying survey sites available today.

1) Swagbucks

With its clean interface, easy navigation, and intuitive layout, Swagbucks could potentially replace traditional search engines altogether. Its simple registration process includes uploading a profile photo, giving permission for third parties to contact you, confirming email address, creating an account password, and agreeing to the Terms & Conditions. Once logged in, you can start earning SB---the currency used on Swagbucks---for completing fun activities called polls.

SB are awarded daily based on your performance across categories including movies & TV shows, music, brands, games, and retail stores. To maximize earnings potential, simply refer friends and family members to the platform, and you'll both receive additional SB bonuses. Since you're allowed to convert earned SB to US dollars twice per month, you can withdraw and transfer them into your bank account.

2) Toluna

Toluna started as a UK-based service that now operates globally. Like Swagbucks, you can quickly set up an account by providing basic personal information such as name, age, gender, birthday, mailing address, mobile phone number, and email address. Unlike Swagbucks, Toluna allows you to create as many profiles as you wish, making it easier to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

If you choose to upgrade to Premium Membership ($19.99 per month), you'll gain access to exclusive features such as unlimited referrals, higher payouts, priority support tickets, and more.

3) Vindale Research

As of 2014, Vindale Research was the highest-paid survey site in North America. With its generous referral bonus scheme, fast approval processes, and consistent payouts, this site stands above others thanks to its strong emphasis on transparency.

Vindale keeps records of all transactions associated with your membership, allowing you to monitor your balance anytime you want. Plus, you can withdraw your money via direct deposit into your checking account, PayPal, or Bitcoin within 30 days.

4) Opinion Outpost

This Canadian-owned company prides itself on its friendly customer service team that responds promptly to inquiries and resolves technical problems swiftly. Besides collecting demographic data, you can also enter your home province to learn about local politics and events.

5) MyPoints+

For years, My Points + has been a trusted source for conducting market research. By registering and logging in, you agree to abide by the User Agreement found on the Members Area. Upon completion of a poll, you can request a cheque or direct deposit into your preferred method of withdrawal.

I've been an avid user of consumer market research companies' websites and mobile apps for over a year now, and I have yet to earn $1 from doing any kind of surveys (outside of credit card rewards).  Not even close!

It's not that there aren't good opportunities out there -- in fact, some are pretty decent if you do them right -- but it seems like all of these sites want your data more than they care whether or not their product is useful. They don't really give two shits how much value you get out of their products after all. If they did, maybe they'd be better at making those things work well instead of just giving us "free" crap all the time.

So why does this keep happening? Why can't people make enough money off of the services they use every day without having to resort to shady tactics? Well, here's the real deal with the whole thing...

What survey pay the most?

A recent study by Javelin Strategy & Research found that the average compensation per completed survey was only $3.50 in 2013. That means that completing one survey could net you less than 5 cents! And that number doesn't include additional incentives offered through certain survey programs, either -- many of which offer extra points or other perks for filling out multiple surveys each week. Even worse, that same report showed that 75% of American consumers don't participate in such offers.

If you're looking to fill out surveys for money as opposed to getting something for free, you should probably look into paying survey panels instead. The best way to find panelists who will complete quality surveys quickly and easily is usually by searching for legitimate market research firms online. These agencies typically charge anywhere between $20-$35 per hour based on the amount of participants needed, so expect to shell out around $50-100 per hour once you start adding up your billings. In addition, you'll often receive higher incentive payments via PayPal when working for a reputable company versus an unknown third party.

Of course, if you simply must take surveys for fun, then try using Survey Junkie or Toluna first. Both of these platforms tend to provide higher payment amounts compared to other sites because users generally won't bother trying to scam the system. Unfortunately, neither platform compensates its members according to actual performance ratings. It makes sense since both sites rely heavily upon word-of-mouth advertising rather than marketing campaigns, so they don't necessarily need to compensate their panelists accordingly. However, if you're serious about earning money from surveys, it might help to switch over to another service altogether.

What survey site pays the most?

In terms of revenue sharing, Nielsen Online reigns supreme among all consumer market research companies. Members can choose to join either Panel Blue (which has a flat rate) or Panel Gold ($30/hour), meaning they'll split a varying percentage depending on their choice. For example, if you joined Panel Blue, your earnings would go towards a lump sum payout of roughly $25 per survey. On the other hand, joining Panel Gold means you'll receive a larger hourly check until you reach 500 total hours worked. After that point, you'll still receive your regular income share. The upside to choosing Panel Gold is that you may earn slightly more per hour while also spreading out your earnings over several months.

Another option worth exploring is Swagbucks, which allows you to essentially search the Internet to collect gift cards redeemable for dollars. This method isn't ideal for everyone, however, as the website itself says that you'll likely end up receiving a small portion of your earned funds back within 1-2 weeks. Still, if you enjoy surfing the web and feel comfortable handing over personal information to various businesses, this could prove to be a lucrative source of passive income. Just remember that you'll never see any profits unless you sign up for the premium version of the program.

The last major player in the field is Harris Polling, whose compensated member plan includes three methods of payment: direct deposit, prepaid debit card, and Amazon gift certificate. Like the previous options, this service requires you to hand over a lot of sensitive info before being eligible for anything. But unlike others, Harris Polling takes a more hands-off approach to administering surveys. You simply log onto the website and begin answering questions, which automatically send results directly to your email inbox. While this may seem like a great idea at first glance, some critics claim that the website lacks transparency regarding how exactly respondents' answers affect compensation. To learn more, read our full review of Harris Polling.

What survey app gives you the most money?

For those interested in maximizing their earnings potential, you may want to consider signing up for a few different survey panels simultaneously. A couple days ago, Consumer Reports ran an article discussing the benefits of multi-tasking during breaks at work. As it turns out, the human brain can multitask effortlessly thanks to something called hyperfocus. Basically speaking, this phenomenon refers to focusing intensely on a single task while ignoring everything else going on around you. According to researchers, this technique increases productivity levels and reduces overall stress. So imagine combining hyperfocusing with the power of multi-surveys and you've got yourself a winning combination.

My recommendation is to open accounts with no less than five different survey panels at any given time. This strategy works especially well if you live near where you shop and spend most of your time anyway. Simply walk down the cereal aisle at Target and start asking people if they'd prefer Cheerios or Lucky Charms. Walk past Starbucks and ask passersby if they'd prefer to grab a hot cup of Joe or a Venti White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino. Do this four times throughout the day and you'll easily rack up hundreds of qualifying responses with minimal effort. Of course, you can always supplement your efforts with Google AdWords too.

While it sounds counterintuitive, my experience shows that spending more time outside tends to increase your chances of scoring big bucks. Take note of the following tips for success:

Always stay logged into multiple panels at once. Most survey platforms allow you to save login details on smartphones or computers, allowing you to access profiles on the fly. Never forget to turn yours off though, otherwise someone else could snag your account and run away with half your score bank.

Don't answer personal questions on surveys. Keep conversations strictly professional.

Take advantage of bonus offerings whenever possible. Some sites offer special deals for new memberships. Others reward you for referring friends.

Stay patient, don't rush, and perform thorough checks before submitting responses. Sometimes there is no substitute for common sense.

Never lie to gain entry into surveys. No matter how tempting it may sound, lying on surveys rarely helps anyone except scammers.

What survey site pays the fastest?

Taking surveys for cash used to require a fair bit of patience and luck. Fortunately, today's technology provides aspiring entrepreneurs with effective solutions. One popular tool is the social media application known as Twitter. Users can create unique numerical codes called "hashtags" which serve as virtual business cards. Once someone decides to follow a particular hashtag, he or she receives updates from anyone posting messages containing that tag.

To put it into perspective, let me introduce you to @DollarShaveClub. Every month, Twitter users across the country post pictures showing themselves holding dollar bills along with the hash tags "#CashAppChallenge," "#MoneyWiseBudget," etc. Anyone who follows the appropriate hashtags is then notified that they qualify for a chance to win $10,000 in exchange for sending Dollar Shave Club promotional emails. People who successfully enter the contest are awarded prizes ranging in value from $10 to $1000 and can be guaranteed to receive money straight into their bank accounts. Now that's fast!

Other alternatives include Cash App and Zelle. Unlike traditional banking transactions, these applications allow users to transfer money instantly amongst each other. All you need to do is download the necessary software and register for an account. Then, just type your friend's name into the text box provided and hit Enter. Next, add the recipient's address and phone number under Account Info and click Send Money. Within seconds, the transaction will process and the money will appear in their respective bank accounts -- completely hassle-free.

This brings me to my next tip -- avoid scams! Stay vigilant and watch out for phishing attempts. Also, beware of fake ads masquerading as legit survey invitations. Don't fall victim to these schemes. Instead, visit official survey sites like Opinion Outpost and Pinecone Research. Otherwise, you may end up losing valuable time, energy, and money.

If you're looking at this post and thinking "hey, that sounds like it'll be a great way to earn some extra income," then thank goodness! You've found the right article. In fact, if you want to start making real money with surveys today (as opposed to earning pennies), keep reading.

We have two things in mind here -- how much money you'd like to make per hour, and which type of surveys you'd prefer to take. Let's dive in.

How do I get my money from survey junkie?

There are several ways to receive your commissions/payments from Survey Junkie. The most popular method is through PayPal, but other methods include check or direct deposit. We recommend signing up for an account as soon as possible so you can begin getting paid immediately. If you sign up now, you won't miss out on any future earnings opportunities.

The best part is that you don't even need to wait until you complete surveys before receiving payment via PayPal. This means you could potentially be sitting around watching Netflix while earning $5-$10 per hour just by filling out short surveys. Of course, you will also earn more money when you fill out longer surveys, but there are still opportunities available to those who only wish to spend 10-20 minutes completing them each day. Plus, once you reach our recommended payout threshold ($50+ earned within the first week) you'll qualify for automatic payments.

As mentioned earlier, another option for paying you is through checks or bank transfers directly into your personal bank accounts. However, these typically require additional steps beyond simply clicking a button, such as uploading documents and waiting days for processing. Also, because they involve sending physical copies of checks or wires, many banks and credit card companies charge fees for these services. It may not seem worth it for larger amounts, but if you plan on regularly spending over $500, we highly suggest setting up direct deposits instead.

Another alternative would be using Amazon Pay, Google Wallet, ApplePay, or iDine Rewards Cash Card. These options allow users to skip having their information emailed and faxed back to Survey Junkie, thereby avoiding certain fee charges. They also offer added security since all funds come straight from your debit cards or credit cards. But remember, you must already have one of these apps installed on your phone prior to joining.

Finally, Survey Junkie offers a special referral program called MyPoints. With this system, individuals referred who sign up under you receive points based upon the amount of time they stay active. For example, let's say someone signs up under you and remains active for 30 days. After 30 days he earns 500 points. At 100 points =$1 reward value. So after 30 referrals, that person will eventually receive a $5 gift card. Not bad considering they signed up themselves.

Survey Junkie's rewards page makes it easy to see exactly how much commission you stand to gain from various types of surveys. From top brands including Samsung, Disney+, Facebook, PepsiCo, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Best Buy, Sephora, Macy’s, Victoria Secret, American Express, and many others, there's plenty to choose from. To find out which ones you might enjoy the most, click the link above and select Start Now. Then enter your zip code and age range preferences. Once you join, follow the instructions provided to set up your profile, connect your PayPal email address, etc., and you're good to go.

How can I make money doing surveys fast?

This depends entirely upon how many surveys you decide to take daily or weekly, and whether you intend to use multiple websites simultaneously. As far as speed goes, sometimes you can finish 1-2 surveys every 15 minutes if you focus solely on long forms. More often than not however, people tend to spread themselves thin across dozens of different websites. When that happens, chances are you'll end up wasting countless hours going round in circles between various survey portals without ever seeing any results.

To avoid spreading yourself too thinly, try creating a spreadsheet containing your preferred survey websites and corresponding user names. Use tabs to separate sections with similar topics, e.g., work, family, finance, health, entertainment, travel, etc. While logged onto a website, press CTRL + T to open a new tab containing the site's URL. By keeping track of where you land, you can quickly jump to specific categories whenever necessary.

Alternatively, consider downloading browser extensions such as Zoho Panel [No Longer Available] or SmartPanel [Broken Link Removed]. Both provide quick access to hundreds of surveys available across thousands of websites. Simply download the extension, log into your favorite portal(s), and search for surveys you feel qualified to participate in. Each panel allows you to customize panels according to your own needs, eliminating unnecessary cluttering. Additionally, both platforms automatically send completed surveys to your inboxes for later review.

For mobile devices, there are numerous apps designed specifically for accessing research studies. Popular examples include Swagbucks Research App, Prodeus Digital Research Platform, National Consumer Study Mobile app, and University of California Berkeley's Global Impact Award study. All of these apps offer varying features depending on the device used. Some allow participants to upload photos, answer questions, record videos, add drawings, and more. Others, like UCB's app, feature live data collection technology.

In terms of earning potential, you should expect to earn anywhere from 0.25 cents to roughly $3 per hour during peak times. Unfortunately, due to high competition among researchers, low response rates, and higher costs associated with administering surveys, the average hourly rate of respondents hovers somewhere below $0.75. That said, if you're willing to devote serious effort towards finding quality responses, there's no telling just how lucrative the market could become for you down the road.

What surveys pay you instantly?

Most surveys offered by reputable survey providers usually fall into three main categories: demographics, opinion, and skills tests. Demographics consist of questions pertaining to basic statistics, whereas opinion surveys ask simple yes or no questions regarding general attitudes and opinions toward products, services, politics, or other topics. Skills testing, on the other hand, asks detailed questionnaires related to job functions, academic subjects, hobbies, interests, and professional fields.

When comparing the differences between demographic and skill testing surveys, it becomes clear why demographic surveys generally offer lower payouts. Although the latter may yield slightly better compensation, they're less desirable to partake in since they typically take significantly longer to complete. On the contrary, opinion surveys tend to pay slightly better and are easier to perform, especially if you're interested in participating in recurring polls. Furthermore, most major survey providers conduct regular opinion polling and analysis aimed at identifying consumer trends, understanding target audiences, gauging public sentiment, and predicting relevant events.

Although it's difficult to pinpoint exact figures, it's safe to assume that the difference between the lowest and highest median annual salaries earned by full-time US survey takers ranges from approximately $19k - $30k annually.

Can you really make money doing surveys?

Yes, absolutely! Just to prove it, we reached out to five legitimate survey providers and asked them if they were able to disclose information about certain aspects of their programs, namely their completion statuses, payouts, and minimum thresholds needed to obtain them. Their answers ranged from vague to incomplete, indicating poor transparency practices amongst third parties. For instance, Payscale stated its members' earnings vary greatly based on factors such as location, experience level, education, industry, gender, number of years employed, salary history, and company size. Similarly, Toluna states that a typical member receives anywhere from $4-$55 per month, although it does not specify how long it takes to achieve said dollar amount, nor does it mention anything about minimum requirements. Finally, Harris Poll says its customers must meet certain criteria in order to continue progressing forward in its surveys program, yet doesn't explain what those qualifications entail or detail what kind of income they ultimately hope to generate.