12 Best Survey Apps to Make Extra Money
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Since the gig economy surged in the pandemic, many have resorted to side hustles to supplement their income. Even post-pandemic, making money online remains popular. Survey apps are an easy way to earn extra cash without disrupting your schedule. By answering a few simple questions, mostly about products and services, you can earn small amounts of income that can cover minor expenses. These apps are free, require no special skills and can be used on your phone at any time. While they may not make you rich, they do offer flexible ways to bring in extra money. Here's our list of the best survey apps to make money.
In this article
Compare the best survey apps to make money
Site | Cost | How to earn rewards | Rewards |
Free | Watching videos, taking surveys and polls, performing website searches, playing games, shopping online and in-stores | Gift cards or PayPal | |
Free | Taking surveys and joining focus groups | Gift cards or PayPal | |
Free | Taking surveys, watching videos, reading emails, online shopping, playing games and using coupons | Gift cards or PayPal | |
Free | Taking surveys and shopping online | Gift cards or PayPal | |
Free | Surveys, playing games | PayPal | |
Free | Surveys, contests, invite a friend | PayPal or gift cards | |
Free | Surveys, games and testing apps | PayPal or gift cards | |
Free | Taking surveys, downloading and playing games, completing offers | PayPal | |
Free | Playing games | Gift cards | |
Free | Taking surveys | PayPal or gift cards | |
Free | Taking surveys, allowing access to internet habits | Gift cards | |
Free | Taking survey and location-based activities | Gift cards |
Swagbucks
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free to use.
- Helps you save on routine shopping at retailers like Walmart and Target.
Cons
- You might not qualify for all surveys.
- You need to commit to taking regular action to earn points.
Swagbucks rewards users via in-app currency called Swagbucks Points (SBs) to search the web, watch videos, play games, and, you guessed it, take surveys. One Swagbucks Point is worth $0.01, so you'll need to complete many tasks to see a difference in your account. These points can be redeemed for gift cards and PayPal cash. Signing up is free, and you may even earn a sign-up bonus if you have a referral code. Before you take your first survey, you must verify your account.
Or read Joywallet's review of Swagbucks.
- Get paid to answer surveys. Anytime. Anywhere.
- Share your opinions by completing online surveys to earn extra cash. From single-question polls to 30-minute market research questionnaires, there's always time to earn Swagbucks.
- Cash back shopping online & in-store.
- Swagbucks is one of the most extensive shopping rewards programs on the internet. Find coupons, promo codes, deals, and cash back offers to your favorite stores. Combine with your preferred credit card to earn additional cash back.
- Entertainment that pays.
- From web browser games to our popular Swagbucks Daily Trivia app, you can get paid to play games. Create or discover the latest short videos on Swagit.
InboxDollars
Pros & cons
Pros
- Multiple opportunities to make money.
- Sign up bonus of $5.
- Opportunities to save on purchases online and in-store.
Cons
- Limited number of surveys.
- Minimum payout threshold of $30.
Take short surveys, pore through emails, complete offers, play games, or make online purchases. Inbox Dollars pays you to do all these things, and it's transparent about how much you can make. The company offers a $5 welcome bonus. However, you can only cash out once you have $30 in your InboxDollars account, and when you do, a $3 processing fee is deducted from your account if you opt for a check. But you should only use this app if you plan to be active. Your account will automatically deactivate if you do not use the app for 10 days.
Visit InboxDollars
Or read Joywallet's review of InboxDollars.
Survey Junkie
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free to use.
- Minimum redemption value of $5.
Cons
- Requires sharing personal information.
- Very rare higher-paying opportunities.
Create a profile with Survey Junkie and you’re awarded 25 points just for finishing the sign-up process. You can earn another 50 points once you answer more in-depth questions. Once you’re set up, the system matches you with appropriate surveys depending on your preferences. You can check how long it will take to complete the survey and how many points you can earn. The site sometimes also invites members to participate in focus groups and product testing studies. In return, you get reward points that can be redeemed for gift cards or cash. You can transfer the money directly into your bank account or receive cashouts via PayPal or Amazon gift cards.
Visit Survey Junkie
Or read Joywallet's review of Survey Junkie.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
MyPoints
Pros & cons
Pros
- Welcome bonus of $5.
- Excellent user experience.
- Multiple ways to earn money.
Cons
- Any account deemed inactive for over a year can forfeit points.
- Cannot replace your primary source of income.
MyPoints is a company that lets you make money in various ways. Gigs include watching movies, reading emails, playing games, and taking surveys. You also earn reward points for online and in-store shopping and dining out at participating retailers and restaurants. Joining MyPoints is free; you will earn a $10 sign-up bonus. However, you have to spend $20 or more at one of its partners within the first 30 days of your membership. Points can be redeemed via Amazon and Visa gift cards, and you can also use rewards as travel miles through your United Mileage Plus account.
Visit MyPoints
Or read Joywallet's review of MyPoints.
Get the Best Android Gift Card rewards with Rewarded Play
- It's legit: Best game platform on Google Play, average 4.3/5 Stars for over 100k ratings
- Fun and innovative game portfolio
- Get up to and over $100 gift card value per game completed
- Cash out with Amazon, eBay, Wal Mart, Best Buy Gift Cards and more!
Cash Giraffe
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free app.
- Regularly offers new video games.
Cons
- Not available for iPhone users.
- Low pay.
- You must install games within Cash Giraffe’s dashboard to play.
If you enjoy playing games, Cash Giraffe will help you make money while you do so. It is a free app that uses a gem system to award users to play games. Once you collect enough gems, you can redeem them and deposit the money in your account after you have exceeded the $0.20-$0.50 threshold. The gem arrangement will allow you to continuously explore new games and you earn gems for every minute you spend playing. Besides that, you can also earn cash when you take surveys on the app. It has a PayPal integration and the cash will go directly into your PayPal account. However, the app is not available for Apple users.
Visit Cash Giraffe
Or read Joywallet's review of Cash Giraffe.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
i-Say
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free to use.
- Offers gift cards from some of the top retailers.
- Offers a loyalty program.
Cons
- Not easy to qualify for a survey.
- Could take 3 weeks to receive the amount in your account.
Depending on your answers during the sign-up process, you'll receive email notifications about surveys you can complete. You can earn between 45 and 200 points for each survey you return. And if you're screened out, you'll still make 5 points, but it won't explain why you were disqualified. I-Say also has a loyalty program where you are rewarded for completing a set number of surveys yearly. For example, if you complete 200 surveys, you can expect to earn 600 points (100 points equal $1). You can redeem points via PayPal, but that requires at least $5 worth of points in your account and takes up to 3 weeks before your PayPal balance is updated.
Visit i-Say
Freecash
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free to use.
- Globally available.
- Multiple opportunities to earn money.
- Multiple options for cash out.
Cons
- No mobile app.
- Limited surveys available.
You can get paid for testing apps, taking surveys and playing games with Freecash. You can use the earned coins to withdraw on PayPal, Bitcoin, VISA, or Amazon. For your first withdrawal, you will need at least 2,000 coins and the crypto withdrawals start at $0.50, while the Stake withdrawals at $0.25. Freecash is a globally available free platform that offers multiple opportunities to make money. It offers users a wide range of options to choose from and is a leading get-paid-to platform that is constantly evolving.
Visit Freecash
Kashkick
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free to use.
- Multiple earning opportunities.
- Low payout threshold of $10.
Cons
- No mobile app.
- No gift cards.
- Only available in the United States.
Kashkick offers multiple earning opportunities from online surveys, to playing games. You will win cash awards for completing activities like surveys, shopping deals or signing up for its services. It only offers a PayPal checkout option and has a low cash out of $10. The website is easy to use and will only take a few minutes to build your profile. You get a $1 bonus when you sign up. Kashkick is free and it is only available in the U.S. On the down side, there are a limited number of surveys which means it will take a while for you to earn.
Visit Kashkick
Or read Joywallet's review of Kashkick.
Rewarded Play
Pros & cons
As the name suggests, Rewarded Play is exactly what it sounds like, a rewards app which allows you to make money by playing games. The free app is available on Android and you earn gift cards from different stores as you keep playing. It is available in the U.S. and Canada and offers gift cards from Amazon, Walmart, eBay and Target. New games are always added so you can keep exploring and enjoy playing. There is a limit of 5,000 points to be earned everyday. There is no PayPal option and the minimum cash out threshold is $5 for gift cards.
Visit Rewarded Play
Or read Joywallet's review of Rewarded Play.
Get the Best Android Gift Card rewards with Cash Giraffe
- It's legit: Best game platform on Google Play, average 4.3/5 Stars for over 100k ratings
- Receive 3,599 coins when you sign up
- Redeem for PayPal or gift cards
- Sign up takes a minute
Google Opinion Rewards
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free to use.
- Excellent user reviews.
- Available on Apple and Android.
Cons
- Low payout.
- Limited number of surveys.
- You will receive rewards in the form of Google Playstore credits.
Surprise, Google has its own survey app as well. Getting started is easy. Download the app and answer a few basic questions about yourself. You'll then start receiving surveys around once a week, although it may be more or less frequent. You'll get a notification on your phone when a short and relevant survey is ready, and you can receive up to $1.00 in Play Store credit for completing it. Getting paid via Play Store credits is a good option for gamers who often make in-game purchases. You can also choose to get paid via PayPal.
Visit Google Opinion Rewards
National Consumer Panel
Pros & cons
Pros
- Easy to use
- Automatic sweepstakes entries.
- Special member perks.
Cons
- Need 5,000 points to redeem their first e-code reward.
- Doesn't pay in cash.
A venture led by Nielson and IRI, National Consumer Panel allows you to make money by taking surveys and letting them monitor your internet habits. The company pays thousands of dollars to users each month, and there's a sweepstakes where you can earn even more. However, the company doesn't pay in cash; all rewards are gift cards. The app can also earn cashback if you're willing to provide the necessary information.
Quick Thoughts
Pros & cons
Pros
- Good quantity of surveys.
- Available in multiple countries.
- Minimum cash out threshold of $10.
Cons
- Limited options on reward redemption.
- Cannot substitute primary income.
You can take up to five surveys daily through Quick Thoughts to make money and embark on location-based activities. Each survey rewards up to $3, and local activities pay up to $5. And once you have $10 in your account, you can cash out for iTunes or an Amazon gift card. Each survey and reward are different, meaning longer polls and in-person activities can compensate you more.
Visit Quick Thoughts
Make $500+ Your First Month With KashKick!
- Transparent information on each offer for earnings and tasks.
- Money is deposited quickly and securely
- Featured offers maximize earnings
- First-class referral program
How do survey apps work?
Survey apps connect users with companies seeking feedback on products or services. Users create a profile, which helps match them with surveys they qualify for based on demographic information. After completing a survey, users earn rewards, often in the form of cash via PayPal, gift cards, or points redeemable for prizes. Most apps require users to meet a payout threshold before cashing out, typically ranging from $5 to $25. These apps make money by charging companies for the data collected, sharing a portion of that revenue with participants as compensation for their time and opinions.
How can I know if a survey app is legit
To know if a survey app is legitimate, start by checking reviews and ratings on trusted platforms like Google Play or the App Store. Legitimate apps are often run by established market research companies, so do some background research on the company behind the app. Ensure they offer clear, transparent payment methods like PayPal, gift cards, or direct deposit, and avoid any apps that require upfront fees to join. Always review their privacy policy and be cautious of apps requesting sensitive information like your Social Security number. Red flags include unrealistic promises of high earnings or vague company details.
FAQs
How much can I earn from survey apps?
Nobody can provide you with an exact number, but the more surveys you take, the more you'll make. However, anything you earn wouldn't make a significant change in your lifestyle.
Are survey apps a scam?
Scams may be rampant in other survey, but the ones we've listed here are legit.
Do I need to qualify for every survey?
No, survey apps have qualifying questions to ensure you fit the demographic a company is targeting. You will not qualify for every survey but completing your profile thoroughly will increase your chances.
Make $500+ Your First Month With KashKick!
- Transparent information on each offer for earnings and tasks.
- Money is deposited quickly and securely
- Featured offers maximize earnings
- First-class referral program
The bottom line
Survey apps are a great option for earning money if you have time and enjoy taking surveys. They're free to join, and the sign-up process is easy. Most apps also offer sign-up bonuses, so you earn even before you can start taking surveys. Many of the apps now offer more than just surveys. You can also read emails, play games or complete a task at a specific location. But you can't expect to make Scrooge Mcduckian amounts of money. In fact, earning any money through these apps requires a significant time commitment.
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Writer
Jasir Jawaid is Joy Wallet's Assistant Editor. He has more than 13 years of experience as a journalist covering Wall Street, equities, financial policy and regulation, and cryptocurrency and blockchain.
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