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Are you interested in taking online surveys for cash, but you’re not sure which ones to trust? This is a go-to list of legitimate paid online surveys 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.
Are Online Surveys Legitimate?
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!
How Much Can You Earn With Surveys?
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.
The Best Online Surveys for Cash
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!
Pinecone Research: This was my very favorite survey site when Jesse was in law school! They pay $3 promptly for every survey completed. Go here and sign up to see if you qualify. This company has a lower acceptance rate than other companies, but they take new applicants at the very beginning of each month! So if you don’t get in on the first try, come back on the 1st of each month to keep trying!
OneOpinion: This company gets really great reviews and is known for their availability of quick and easy paid online surveys, their amazing 24/7 customer service with a smaller customer-focused team, and super quick payout when you redeem your points. Once you reach 25,000 points, you can cash in for $25 in the form of PayPal funds, a VISA gift card, or an Amazon gift card! Go here to sign up.
Opinion Outpost: This company pays in point rewards for every completed survey. You can cash these in for instant win opportunities, sweepstakes, or cash. There are also opportunities to do free product testing. You can choose payout at $5 for an Amazon gift card or at $10 for cash. Go here to sign up.
Harris Poll: When you sign up for Harris Poll, you will receive 50 points to welcome you to the site. When you reach 1250 points, you can trade in for a $10 gift card. Most surveys take less than 15-20 minutes to complete and can be done from your mobile device. Go here to sign up. (And go here to see a reader testimonial about this company!)
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!
Bonus: In addition to these paid online surveys, you can also sign up for Inbox Dollars where you’ll get paid to read emails, search the web, take surveys, and more. I used to love earning free gift cards through Inbox Dollars!
Some Tips on Taking 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?
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