Sharing your opinions by taking part in surveys is a great way to influence products and services and make some cash at the same time. The best survey sites work with companies to get consumer thoughts on current and future products and services.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can earn some extra cash by sharing your opinions, check out our suggestions for the best survey sites to sign up with.
What are the Best Survey Sites?
Not all survey sites are the same. The best survey sites make it easy to sign up, easy to complete surveys, and easy to make money.
While some survey sites are definitely not legit, the survey sites mentioned here are the real deal. Here’s a bit of information about the best survey sites on the web.
1. Survey Junkie
You know Survey Junkie is legit when it’s one of the most popular survey sites around. And it was created in 2005 which makes it one of the longest running survey sites. Survey Junkie has over 10 million members so they must be doing something right.
The company has two survey groups you can sign up for: The regular Survey Junkie and SJ Pulse.
The basic Survey Junkie gathers opinions through surveys and other types of market research. SJ Pulse works to have members participate in focus groups and share browsing activity.
If you choose to participate in basic Survey Junkie, here’s how it works:
- You complete profiles to see if you’re eligible for surveys
- Once you’re eligible, you can take surveys anywhere from any type of device
- You earn points for every completed survey
With SJ Pulse, you just download the extension or opt-in on the Survey Junkie app. Survey Junkie does the rest as it assesses your browsing activity for market research purposes.
So, with Survey Junkie you get points for each completed survey or activity. Then you can use your points to get PayPal cash or gift cards to a variety of retailers. If you choose the gift card option, you can get gift cards to Amazon, Walmart, iTunes, and more.
Oh, and you can get paid via bank transfer as well.
Trustpilot score: 4.5 out of 5 stars
2. Swagbucks
Swagbucks nears the top of our list as one of the best survey sites too. First launched in 2008, Swagbucks has paid out over $460 million dollars to its members.
Once you’ve signed up, Swagbucks will show you a list of surveys you can take. As you answer the questions you earn points.
Bonus: Swagbucks has other ways you can earn points too. You can watch videos, shop online, play games, search the Web and more. In fact, the site often has signup bonuses of $5 or $10 to give you an earnings boost.
Just browse the site daily to look for ways to earn points that can be converted into cash.
Once you’ve hit the minimum number of points you can redeem those points for PayPal cash or gift cards to popular retailers.
Some of the retailers Swagbucks partners with include Walmart, Target, and Amazon.
Trustpilot Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars
3. Vindale Research
Vindale Research is another long-time site in the survey business. They’ve been in operation since 2004 and have paid out nearly $8 million.
Once you’ve signed up, you’ll get invitations daily to complete surveys on a number of topics. Survey topics include:
- Automobiles
- Politics and current events
- Home improvement
- Health and beauty
And other topics. You can also earn cash through Vindale Research by referring others to sign up and by participating in other activities.
One unique thing about Vindale Research is that they pay you in cash. There are no points to earn or redeem. Just request a PayPal payout when you’re ready.
Trustpilot score: 4 out of 5 stars
4. InboxDollars
InboxDollars started up in 2000 and has paid out over $59 million to members. Oh, they often have sign up bonuses as well.
When you sign up (for free) as a member, you’ll be asked a number of questions in order to complete your profile. The answers you enter will help InboxDollars direct you to surveys that are right for you.
As you fill out the surveys you earn cash for each completed survey. And you can also earn money by completing other activities such as:
- Watching videos
- Playing games
- Shopping online
- Taking advantage of deals
Each task has a dollar amount assigned to it so you know how much you’ll earn if you choose to complete the task.
As with Vindale Research, InboxDollars pays you in cash, not points. When you’ve reached the minimum earnings threshold of $30 you can request your cash.
They’ll pay you via mailed check, PayPal, or you can get an e-gift card to retailers such as Amazon.
Trustpilot score: 3.5 out of 5 stars
5. MyPoints
MyPoints has been helping people earn money through surveys since 1996. They’re another trusted site you can earn some cash with.
When you sign up on the site you’ll get notifications to see if you qualify for surveys. One cool thing about MyPoints is that they pay you even if you don’t qualify for the survey. They’ll pay you a bit just for trying. Many sites won’t do that.
There are other ways to earn with MyPoints too such as shopping online and watching videos.
When you earn your points you can redeem them for a variety of gift cards. You can get gift cards to PayPal (i.e. cash) or gift cards to one of the company’s 75+ other retail partners.
Trustpilot score: 4.4 out of 5 stars
6. Harris Poll Online
Harris Poll Online is one of the longest-running survey sites. They’ve been in the market research game since 1975 and did in-person and mail-in surveys before online surveying became a thing.
Once you sign up with Harris Poll Online you’ll be eligible to start receiving survey invitations. The invitations are based on the information you shared when you signed up.
Each invitation comes with a short questionnaire to see if you’re eligible. If you are, you continue on with and finish the survey to get points.
You earn what are called “HiPoints” for each survey you complete with Harris Poll Online. After you’ve earned the minimum number of points, you can cash those points in for free gift cards to various retailers.
Trustpilot score: 3 out of 5 stars
7. Pinecone Research
Pinecone Research is another longtime survey company with a great reputation. Although the website doesn’t say how much they’ve paid out, I can tell you they’ve been around for quite some time.
When you sign up you’ll start getting notifications for surveys. Note that when you sign up you need to fill out your profile as accurately as possible. This will ensure you qualify for the highest number of surveys.
This is because companies that hire Pinecone Research have specific client bases for each market research project.
Every time you complete a survey you’ll earn points. Then you can redeem your points for cash via a bank transfer. You can choose e-gift cards or other merchandise as payment too.
Note that with Pinecone your points do expire after 12 months of no earning activity. So if you’ve earned points and have decided to discontinue working with Pinecone be sure to cash out your points.
Trustpilot score: 2.5 out of 5 stars
8. LifePoints
LifePoints has a member community of over 5,000,000 that earn money by taking surveys. The LifePoints website says that the company is ranked the largest provider of custom research and analysis.
Once you sign up to become a member, you’re sent surveys you have the option to complete. As long as you complete the surveys within the specified survey period you will earn LifePoints.
Along with surveys, you might be asked to participate in market research that involves recording daily habits or trying out a new product.
You can use your LifePoints to get paid by PayPal or to get other rewards such as e-gift cards. The site even has an option where you can trade in your LifePoints to make a donation to charity.
Trustpilot score: 4.6 out of 5 stars
9. Ipsos i-Say
Ipsos i-Say is an online survey community with millions of members. One cool thing about i-Say is that along with traditional market research surveys they have polls that are created by members.
As with other survey companies, you start by becoming a member. You’ll earn points for each survey you complete. And there are contests you can enter as well. As with any of these sites, you can earn cash at home or anywhere else where you have a few minutes to spare.
As you earn points, you can use them to get e-gift cards to retailers such as Starbucks, Amazon, and Walmart. You can get PayPal gift cards as well.
Trustpilot score: 4.2 out of 5
10. Opinion Outpost
Opinion Outpost is another upstanding survey company that’s been around for years. In addition to surveys, the company also offers product testing.
When you first sign up you take a screen questionnaire to help match you with the right types of surveys for your demographic. Sometimes there will be duplicate questions in the screening questionnaire to ensure you’re answering questions accurately.
Once you’ve completed the screening session you’ll get access to surveys that fit your demographic.
Opinion Outpost awards points for each completed survey or other activity. You can use your points to get PayPal cash, Visa gift cards, or other awards like Amazon e-gift cards.
Trustpilot score: 4.3 out of 5
11. Toluna
Toluna shares surveys on current affairs, new products and more.
When you sign up to be a Toluna Influencer you’ll be a part of a community that influences the products and services of the future. Each survey takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete.
Toluna uses a points-based system. Points can be used to get cash, e-gift cards, or other prizes.
Trustpilot score: 4.2 out of 5 stars
12. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys is a bit newer on the scene than some of the other companies we’ve mentioned here. However, they’re already gaining a great reputation from survey takers.
You’ll answer some demographics questions when you sign up, as with similar sites. The site has several different profile surveys you can fill out.
You choose which ones you fill out and which ones you don’t, but the more you fill out the more surveys you can be matched with. You’ll be given survey opportunities based on your screening survey answers.
You get awarded points for each survey you complete. After you’ve reached the minimum threshold of 1,000 points, you can get paid via PayPal or Branded Pay, which is the company’s own payroll system.
You can get e-gift cards as pay too.
Trustpilot score: 4.4 out of 5
13 .PrizeRebel
PrizeRebel has been in business since 2007. They’ve got over 10 million members and they’ve paid out over 22 million rewards.
The sign up process is super easy. Once you sign up, you’ll complete a demographics survey for which you’ll earn points. This survey will match you to surveys you can complete to earn cash.
PrizeRebel works on a points-based system, meaning you’ll earn points for every completed survey. You can choose to redeem your points for PayPal cash, e-gift cards, online games, or other prizes.
Trustpilot score: 3.3 out of 5 stars
14. Valued Opinions
Valued Opinions has been conducting market research since 2004. They’re a part of a larger company called Dynata Global which is the largest research market company in the world.
After you complete the registration form (it only takes a few minutes) you’ll start receiving survey invitations. If you fit the right demographic, you’ll receive invitations to test new products and review advertising campaigns as well.
You can use your earned points to get a Visa gift card, a gift card to one of many store retailers, or use your points to make a donation to one of the company’s partner charities.
Trustpilot score: 4.0 out of 5 stars
15. Google Opinion Rewards
The Google Opinions Rewards app lets you share your opinion right from your phone (most of the other companies mentioned here do to, though).
After you sign up, you can complete short surveys while doing other tasks such as waiting for appointments. The app will tell you when there is a survey waiting for you.
You’re chosen for surveys based on the information you fill out when you sign up. Each short survey pays between $0.10 and $1.00
Every time your rewards balance reaches $2.00, Google Opinion Rewards will send the money to your PayPal account via the address you signed up with.
Trustpilot score: None listed
16. American Consumer Opinion
American Consumer Opinion started surveying customers in 1986 via phone and snail mail. Today the company’s digital surveys ask you questions about the economy, and about products and services they use.
After you register, the company will send you survey invitations via email. Know that this company sends survey requests several times a year.
That means you might not get as many survey requests as you would with some of the other companies listed here. As you complete each survey you will be rewarded with points.
You can cash out your points and get PayPal cash. Or you can choose from a variety of other rewards such as e-gift cards.
Trustpilot score: None listed
Summary
You won’t get rich by taking surveys but it can be a great way to earn some extra cash. Especially if you use the sites listed here.
Laurie is personal finance writer and a licensed Realtor. Her goal in blogging is to help others find their way to financial freedom, and to a simpler, more peaceful life.