Introduction
The internet is a boon for many people. It's easy to make money online, but there are some things you should know before you get started.
Paid survey sites can be legitimate and an excellent way to make money. We have been doing them for years and have never had a problem with them. But there are several things you should be aware of first signing up for them:
It will take time to make money. Surveys usually take anywhere from 2-10 minutes to complete, and you might get paid $3-$5 per survey or as little as $0.25. Developing your skills and earnings will take time, but sticking with it can be worth it.
Of course, you need an internet connection, and some require video or audio calls. Be aware of this, as it could consume your phone plan's bandwidth.
This is especially important if you plan on doing many of these surveys, as they typically pay better than ones that don't require interaction with other people or companies.
Some companies will only pay after they have verified your account. This usually takes about two weeks, so don't expect immediate payment when signing up for surveys if this is the case.
How Survey Sites Make Money?
How do survey sites make money? Survey sites make money in many ways, but they all depend on collecting data.
Companies can pay these sites to conduct market research, advertisers to collect data about their target audience, publishers to publish sponsored content, and businesses for feedback on products and services.
- Market research companies hire survey sites to collect customer preferences and buying habits.This helps the company improve its products or services to serve its customers better (and sell more stuff).
- Advertisers pay survey sites to collect data on consumers' online behavior to determine how best they should advertise through online media channels (i.e., Facebook ads).This allows them to identify what types of ads are most effective at driving sales conversions from their marketing campaigns.
The advertiser doesn't even have anything directly related to surveys; it's just sending out a message about its product/service that people see while browsing their favorite websites and apps.
In 2023, will it still be worthwhile to take paid surveys?
Paid online surveys are still a great way to make money from home, but they're only for some. You should consider whether you are comfortable sharing personal data and information about yourself with corporations.
Also remember that you aren't going to get rich by taking surveys for money. That said, you can make some extra money by taking online surveys.
Here's how to get started:
- Check out our list of the best survey sites of 2022 and see which ones pay more than others (or are easier to use). We'll also show you how much they pay per survey.
- Weigh the pros and cons of signing up with each site separately by reading through our reviews. We'll explain what they make accessible and where they struggle so that you can clearly understand what will work best for your needs—and decide if it's worth trying.
How To Weed Out Scam Survey Sites?
Before we jump into our list of the best paid surveys online, we recommend you familiarize yourself with the ways that scam companies can try to take advantage of survey junkies.
Here are some quick tips for weeding out scam survey sites:
Check the Privacy Policy & Terms of Service
The first thing to check on a survey site is its privacy policies and terms of service. The company is probably a scam if they're vague or don't seem legitimate.
Many scammers don't even have any privacy policy or terms of service. This can be one way to tell if something seems fishy.
Check Their Payment Policies
The amount of money offered varies depending on how long the survey takes and how much information is required.
In addition to having an official privacy policy (and terms/rules), most legitimate companies will also post their payment policies on their website. You should know exactly how much you'll get paid for completing surveys or participating in other activities like product testing or focus groups.
Typical payouts range from $3-10 per survey (although I've seen some as high as $50).
These payments generally come by check 6-8 weeks after completion, which means there shouldn't be any delays with receiving your reward once customer service staff approve.
More Signs That A Survey Site Isn't Legit
Some companies claim they will pay people to take surveys but won't follow through on their end of the deal. Instead they simply take your information.
If you wish to prevent falling victim to these scams, here are some signs that an online survey site might be illegitimate:
Urging You To Install Games
If you're asked to download games, software, or other tools to complete a survey, it's a sign that the site isn't legit.
Legitimate survey sites typically don't ask users to install anything else on their devices besides the browser itself.
It means the site may not be as safe as it claims to be. There are plenty of ways for cybercriminals to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers via shady survey websites and apps. They will never inform you about any potential risks until they already have your personal information and money.
False Claims
There are several claims that survey sites make that indicate you should be wary. Keep an eye out for the following:
- Claims of being a legitimate company, government agency, academic institution, non-profit organization, or charity when you know this is false.
- The site's "About Us" page is filled with buzzwords like "Top 10 List" but has no information about who owns it or how it operates.
- If the site promises you will be paid "instantly" or "within 24 hours."
Posing As Reputable Companies
If you're looking for legitimate survey sites and avoiding scams, keeping your guard up is essential.
One of the most typical ploys employed by scammers is posing as reputable companies like Apple, Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more. Unfortunately, survey sites that claim to be associated with these brands are almost always fake.
Here are some examples of how this could happen:
- A site may claim that they were hired by "Apple Inc" or "Amazon Inc" as part of a unique initiative to collect opinions from people worldwide about its products or services.
- Another scammer might say that they need your feedback on their product so they can improve it before releasing it in stores worldwide.
Spamming
Spamming is sending out unsolicited emails. Be wary if you get an email from a survey company you have never heard of.
Survey companies don't randomly send emails to people; they only contact people who've already signed up with them—or at least that are known to take surveys.
Be careful if you get an email from a survey company you have heard of but have not signed up with. You may have signed up for one or two surveys and forgotten about it—but if there's no other reason for the company to contact you, it could be spamming.
Phishing
Phishing is a scam where someone impersonates a company or organization to get you to give them sensitive information.
This can occur in many ways, but it's most common through email or text. To avoid being scammed, always be skeptical when you receive an email asking for personal information and money.
If you suspect a survey site isn't legitimate, check the URL of the website (the web address) before responding.
A phishing scammer may have copied their version of the survey site's URL to appear natural at first glance.
If it looks strange or too simple, double-check with another source before giving out any private information—and never send money.
Poor Writing
A telltale sign that a survey site isn't legit is poor writing. If the website is filled with spelling and grammatical errors, likely, you won't get paid for your time.
Survey sites with lousy grammar will also make it more difficult to understand how to complete each survey and what information you need to provide to receive payment.
Poor formatting is another way to judge whether or not a survey site is trustworthy. For example, if a website has inconsistent spacing, uses too much punctuation or capitalization, or changes font size from one section of text to another (like different paragraphs), it may be trying to hide something from you as well.
When considering which survey sites are legitimate, look for websites where all of these things are consistent throughout every page of their site.
Read user reviews online
Look at reviews from other users. If someone says something negative about their experience with a particular survey sit, there might be a reason for concern or at least additional research is needed before joining them.
It's also worth noting that most people wouldn't leave negative feedback unless there were something seriously wrong.
Therefore, if someone has both positive AND negative experiences with one company, this could indicate some inconsistencies in how those companies operate, which would warrant further investigation into potential risks associated with doing business together."
Examples of Legit Paid Online Survey Sites
Online paid surveys are a great way to make money, but it's essential to ensure you join an honest and legitimate site.
You want to save time and avoid getting scammed with a bad site. The following list of paid survey sites has been verified as legitimate by our team:
Harris Poll Online
Harris Poll Online is part of the more extensive Harris Interactive network. They pay $0.50 to $10 for each completed survey. Surveys can take 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the questions.
You need to register with them directly before you can take surveys; registration is free but requires a social security number or taxpayer ID number, so they know who you are when they send you surveys in the mail or over email. Thy are a premiere legitimate survey site, and they offer some great payouts per survey.
This company has been around since 1989 and has earned recognition as one of the most trusted names in market research.
MyPoints
MyPoints is another excellent site to join if you want to make money online. MyPoints is a bit different than other sites. Rather than just paying out cash, you can earn points that can be turned in for cash or put towards online shopping or rewards.
In other words, it's not just about getting paid using MyPoints; it's also about acquiring rewards that may be exchanged for gift cards and prizes from more than 30 retailers, such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, PayPal or gift cards.
You can earn anywhere from 100-500 points per day by browsing the web on your computer or mobile device.
MyPoints has been around since 2001 and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
If you have any concerns about giving out personal information or becoming a member of MyPoints, rest assured they take the security measures needed so that no one else will see it besides yourself.
Ipsos i-Say
A reliable website for paid surveys is Ipsos i-Say, which pays you for your opinions. Your earning potential will vary depending on the length of the survey and how many questions it has, but surveys typically pay between $0.75 and $5. It isn't one of the highest paying survey sites, but it's simpler than other paid survey sites.
If you take all the surveys and work diligently at them, you should make about $150 every month.
You can join Ipsos i-Say by going to their website or downloading an app on your phone or tablet.
As long as your gadget can access the internet, it should be fine to join this service via any method of communication - so don't worry if there's no computer in sight.
Remember that while Ipsos i-Say is a legit paid survey site, it may only sometimes have new surveys available; this is why having access through multiple devices is so important.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a rewards site that pays you for watching videos, taking surveys, shopping online, and more. You can also do small tasks like searching the web for local deals or participating in business promotions.
If you're not interested in redeeming your cash rewards back to your PayPal account, you can choose from thousands of gift cards from popular retailers like Amazon and Target. Or if you want a specific item that isn't available on their website, they'll let you redeem some of your points toward an order at their partner store.
You'll earn 10% more SwagBucks when using their mobile app or on the go with their mobile browser extension while browsing websites (without having to leave all those sweet discounts behind).
Pinecone Research
Pinecone Research is a legitimate paid survey site, and you can expect to earn up to $3 per survey. With surveys usually taking 10-30 minutes to complete, that's an excellent hourly rate. Survey takers can also participate in focus groups and other forms of market research.
Pinecone Research offers surveys in consumer goods and services, technology, media and entertainment, and restaurant dining experiences, among others. Surveys are open to Americans aged 18 and older.
You'll have access to new surveys on your dashboard throughout the day, with Pinecone Research updating them twice daily (at 9:00 AM EST & 5:00 PM EST). In addition, when you sign up for Pinecone Research using this link, you'll receive an extra $3 off your first survey.
SurveyClub
If you're looking for a legitimate paid survey site, then SurveyClub could be what you're looking for. In this section, we'll look at why they are one of the best-paid survey sites available today and how they can help improve your financial situation.
SurveyClub is one of the most well-known and trusted survey sites and has been operating since 1999.
They offer a wide range of surveys to suit all types of people, from stay-at-home moms to retirees.
The best part about this service is that it doesn't cost anything to join them and provides an excellent reward system for their members who regularly participate on their platform - which means more money in your pocket.
Valued Opinions
Valued Opinion is a site that has been around since 2001, and they offer a variety of ways to make money.
The primary way that you can earn money is through paid surveys. You can also be invited to participate in online focus groups and product testing sessions, but these opportunities are fewer than the survey offers.
With Valued Opinions, there is no minimum payout; however, they require you to reach $50 before requesting your payment because they want to ensure that their members are dedicated to completing surveys as needed. In addition, payments can only be made by check or PayPal (minimum charge is $5).
Even more good news: They have a rewards program where you earn points for completing surveys to redeem them for free merchandise like DVDs and t-shirts.
Opinion Outpost
Opinion Outpost is one of the most well-known paid survey sites. It has a good reputation and pays well, but it also has a lot of surveys to choose from.
This site has no minimum payout amount (you can request your money immediately).
Knowing which paid survey sites are legitimate before you join them is essential
Make sure that you only join legitimate survey sites. Read the terms and conditions of entering a paid survey site. Know what you are getting into before joining one.
You should also know if you are eligible for any surveys and how much each survey will pay you so that you can satisfy later on when your earnings are lower than expected.
Many paid survey sites have time restrictions and other rules that need to be appropriately followed if they expect their users to earn anything at all, so make sure to do this as well.
Conclusion
The bottom line is if you want to make money online with surveys, the best way to go about it is by joining legit sites that offer legitimate opportunities. It's also essential to avoid falling prey to scam sites or fake offers. Unfortunately, while there are many legitimate survey sites on the internet today, there are also a lot of scammers who will try anything they can think of to scam people out of their hard-earned cash. However, if you follow these tips and guidelines we laid out above, this article has helped inform you about whether or not an online paid survey site is worth using and what steps should be taken before signing up for one such website.
Guidelines Recap
First, be wary of survey sites that ask you to install games or apps on your device before taking surveys.
Survey companies should only require this if they provide compensation through gift cards or other rewards that can be redeemed electronically. If a company only offers gift cards as compensation, then they don't need customers installing games on their devices—you can save the reward at any time via email or online.
Second, if a survey site claims to be affiliated with a reputable company (like Google), it's essential to do some research.
Many scam artists create fake websites using names that sound like well-known companies to trick people into giving away personal information and credit card numbers over the phone or through an email link.
Check out reviews about any service before setting up an account, so you know what others think about them.
Thirdly, beware of spammy emails from third-party sources offering "free" products (or other incentives) in exchange for completing surveys and other promotional activities on behalf of these companies' partners/affiliates/sponsors." These unsolicited offers may have been sent by scammers who want access
