Many people have a little extra time when they are at home watching TV, in the car waiting for kids to get out of school, or during breaks at work, and some people are looking for a new hobby or way to make money from home. If you have extra time and want an extra few hundred dollars a month, you could try what many do: take surveys. Surveys are an easy way to make extra cash and help the economy produce better products and services—it’s a ‘Win Win.’
One of my best friends who is a stay-at-home mom makes $200-$500 a month taking surveys. Some of that is in gift cards to Amazon and other retailers, but it benefits her family just like cash would. That said, trust-worthy survey sites are sometimes difficult to find. I’ve done a lot of research and highlighted in this post some of the best ones I’ve found.
IMPORTANT: I would really recommend subscribing/signing up for ALL of the companies below. The reasons are many, but the main reason is that it is better to have multiple streams of income instead of one. If you only have one way of earning money (if you are signed up to only one survey company) and it is slow, you lose out that month. Plus, some surveys may not work for you. Most of the survey companies below do compensate you a bit for taking the time to qualify or not for them, but if you’ve never even seen or heard of their product, you may not be a fit and therefore not get the bigger payout. So, in order to maximize your ability to make good money from survey-taking, you’ll want to sign up for them all—and they are free. This way you have a high likelihood of actually making some good money. I’d also recommend using a separate email account to keep things organized, and so you can easily see new offers.
Here are some of the most trust-worthy survey sites right now…
MySurvey
MySurvey is an online paid surveys community where consumers influence future products and services by volunteering to participant in consumer research, such as online surveys, diaries and product tests.
Earnings System: 1200 points = $10
Rewards: Cash via PayPal, gift cards and sweepstakes entries.
Opportunities: Online Surveys, Product Testing
Minimum Cashout: $10
What Else to Know: Typically earn between 10-500 points for each survey you successfully complete.
Digital Reflection Panel
Digital Reflection is a market research community dedicated to understanding how people use the Internet in their homes. As a member, you’ll be able to participate in research that may contribute to enhancements and new ways to experience the Internet.
Earnings System: $10 per month plus bonuses
Rewards: Cash via check.
Opportunities: Passive Internet meter installed on your wireless router
Minimum Cashout: $50
What Else to Know: Earn a $25 bonus for installing it within four days and up to $170 your first year.
Sign up at Digital Reflection Panel
MySoapBox
The most successful brands depend on MySoapBox members to help them evaluate how they are doing, what they need to do better, and what they should create in the future.
Earnings System: 1000 points = $1
Rewards: Cash via gift cards such as Amazon, Walmart and iTunes.
Opportunities: Online Surveys, Product Testing
Minimum Cashout: $25
What Else to Know: New members get 2,000 points (worth $2.00) free in their account.
PointClub
PointClub relaunched in 2016 with a very cool superhero theme featuring your guide, Captain PC. In addition to offering a wide variety of surveys, they seem to always be adding more features such as a daily streak, Facebook contests, and most recently, games!
Earnings System: 1000 points = $1
Rewards: Cash via PayPal or gift cards.
Opportunities: Online Surveys
Minimum Cashout: $25
What Else to Know: Join and get as much as 5,000 free points (worth $5).
Opinion Outpost
Earnings System: Points
Rewards: Cash via PayPal, gift cards and sweepstakes entries.
Opportunities: Online Surveys
Minimum Washout: The minimum cash out for Paypal is $10 and only $5 for Amazon gift cards.
What Else to Know: Typically earn between 10-500 points for each survey you successfully complete.
GlobalTestMarket
In partnership with top companies around the world, their online paid surveys offer you the ability to help influence the development of products and services that you use every day.
Earnings System: 1200 points = $50
Rewards: Cash via PayPal or check, gift cards and sweepstakes entries.
Opportunities: Online Surveys
Minimum Cashout: $50
What Else to Know: Survey lengths vary, but are typically between 10 – 20 minutes. 1 point = approximately $0.05.
YouGov
It is free to join – and to welcome you to the YouGov panel, they’re offering 2,000 points as a sign-up bonus!
Earnings System: 30,000 points = $25
Rewards: Cash via PayPal or check, gift cards and sweepstakes entries.
Opportunities: Online Surveys, Product Testing
Minimum Cashout: $30
What Else to Know: You will earn 1,000 bonus points per user referral and if they connect via Facebook you will earn 2,000 more points.
Smart Panel
Anonymous statistics collected from the Smart Panel help your favorite websites, apps, and technology companies improve their services and features for everyone.
Earnings System: $5 per month plus bonuses
Rewards: Cash via Paypal.
Opportunities: Passive Internet meter installed on your wireless router
Minimum Cashout: $15
What Else to Know: Great earning potential with over $100 available to you in your first year!
SwagBucks
SwagBucks awards you for taking surveys. Some surveys reward you more points than others. Some you’ll have to qualify for first.
Earnings System: Average survey pays about 75 SB
Rewards: Cash via gift cards and sweepstakes entries.
Opportunities: Online Surveys and others
Minimum Cashout: $5.00
What Else to Know: Survey lengths vary, but are typically between 10 – 20 minutes. 100 point = approximately $1.00. You can earn SwagBucks in a lot of other ways (watching videos, printing coupons, etc.) more info here.
Springboard America
Springboard America is one of the leading online market research communities in the US, giving fellow Americans the opportunity to participate in surveys and discussions that will influence the brands, products, and services we all use every day!
Earnings System: $1 Survey Dollar = $1
Rewards: Cash via bank transfer, Visa prepaid cards, gift cards and sweepstakes entries.
Opportunities: Online Surveys, Online Focus Groups
Minimum Cashout: $50
What Else to Know: Most surveys award between $0.50 and $5.
Sign up at Springboard America
Tulona
Earnings System: Toluna Points
Rewards: Cash via bank transfer Paypal, Visa prepaid cards, gift cards and sweepstakes entries.
Opportunities: Online Surveys, Online Focus Groups
Minimum Cashout: $25
What Else to Know: Most surveys award 15-50,000 points per survey. Mobile-specific surveys are available to sign up for.
The Harris Poll
Earnings System: Points
Rewards: Cash via bank transfer Paypal, Visa prepaid cards, gift cards and sweepstakes entries.
Opportunities: Online Surveys, Online Focus Groups
Minimum Cashout: $25
What Else to Know: Most surveys award 15-50,000 points per survey. Mobile-specific surveys are available to sign up for.
VIP Voice
Earnings System: VIP Points
Rewards: Sweepstakes and Bidauctions.
Opportunities: Online Surveys, Voice surveys, Email surveys
Minimum Payout: 1 VIP point is one entry into sweeps or auction
What Else to Know: Most surveys award 25-50 points. Voice surveys earn more. You earn participation points even if you don’t qualify for the survey.
Conclusion
In order to make money from taking surveys, set aside time each day i.e.: during carpool pick ups, commercials on TV, your kid’s nap time, break time, in the morning before the kids wake up, etc. And be sure to sign up for all of these trust-worthy survey companies so that you can get a lot of opportunities, and you will have a pretty consistent workflow of surveys that you qualify for.
For other inspiring ways to legitimately work from home, please click the links below.
Series 1: Medical Billing
Series 2: Starting an Online Business
Series 3: Housecleaning
Series 4: Cosmetology
Series 5: At-Home Airline Assistant
Series 6: Become an At-Home Employee
Series 7: Make Money Captioning through Rev
Series 8: Freelance Writing
Series 9: Run an at-Home Daycare
Series 10: Write and Self-Publish an eBook Part 1 & Part 2
Series 11: Teach Music Lessons from Home
Series 12: Distribute a Product You Love
Series 13: Blogging
Series 14: Become a Virtual Assistant
Series 15: Buying and Reselling Cheap Finds
Series 16: Become an Editor
Series 17: How to Make Money as a Transcriptionist
Series 18: How to Write and Publish a Paperback or Hardback Book
Series 19: Do Online Tech Support from Home
Series 20: Graphic Design
Series 21: Sell Your Own Sheet Music Part 1 and Part 2
Series 22: Start a Preschool from Home
Series 23: Start Your Own Boutique
Series 24: How to Make Money on YouTube
Series 25: Take Legitimate Online Surveys
Series 26: Open an Etsy Shop
Series 27: Become a Photographer
Series 28: Become a Property Manager
Series 29: Make Money Locally Teaching a Talent, Sport, or Hobby
Series 30: Substitute Teaching
Series 31: Make Money through SwagBucks
Series 32: Review Websites for UserTesting
Series 33: Tutoring—coming soon
Series 34: Become an Affiliate with Spark Naturals Essential Oils
Series 35: Quilting and Embroidery
Series 36: Make Money by Doing Laundry for Others through Laundry Care
Series 37: Make Money on Fiverr
Series 38: How to Make Money from Home with Contena
more coming…pin or bookmark for more.
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Terrie
Sunday 6th of August 2017
I'm just curious if one would be required to claim this income on their taxes?
Anita Fowler
Thursday 11th of January 2018
If you make more than $600 a year from a company you do have to claim it. as of 2018.
Red
Friday 17th of March 2017
I've done some of those for years they are good. There are a few more good ones to add to your list refundsweepers.com/surveys.shtml
Anita Fowler
Tuesday 21st of March 2017
Thanks for the tip!
Ashley
Thursday 16th of February 2017
Thought I would let you know that opinion outpost is legit too.
Anita Fowler
Tuesday 21st of March 2017
Thank you Ashley, I forgot to add them. I just added them to the article.