Are Online Surveys Legit & Safe?
If you look up ways to make money online, one of the most common suggestions you see out there is to use paid survey sites.
This makes sense for a few reasons. For one, survey sites are beginner-friendly, and you can use them on your own schedule. Plus, you don't need any experience to get started.
However, as someone who has tested dozens of survey sites over the years, a lot of them are scams or aren't worth your time.
So, you're probably wondering: are online surveys legit? And is this side hustle idea safe and worth it?
After five plus years of testing out survey sites and apps, I'm sharing everything you need to know about this side hustle, how to identify scams, and how to maximize earnings.
Let's get to it!
What Are Online Survey Sites?
Online survey sites are websites that pay you for sharing your opinion. Generally, these sites ask you questions about topics like politics, health, entertainment, or specific products and then pay you with small amounts of cash or points for your time.
Companies like Branded Surveys and Survey Junkie are perfect examples. Each website is free to sign up for, and they let you complete short surveys to earn rewards like free PayPal money and gift cards.
The reason survey companies want to pay you for your opinion is because they generally sell this data to other market research groups or researchers.
Additionally, many survey platforms don't actually create the surveys you answer. Instead, they partner with market research groups like Dynata, Peanut Labs, YouGov, and Harris Poll.
The data survey companies sell is amalgamated into anonymous data sets. But the bottom line is that you're getting paid for your opinions and data.
Also note that many of these “get-paid-to sites” also offer other ways to earn, like playing games for cash, shopping online, and watching ads. But this survey guide is just going to focus on paid survey offers.
Are Online Surveys Legit?
Yes, online surveys are legit, and you can earn a bit of extra cash and free gift cards by using them in your spare time. However, survey sites aren't a full-time income source, and many of them only pay a few dollars per hour at most.
I've been using various paid survey sites to earn money online ever since college. And in that time, I've made a few thousand dollars from all the sites I've tested out.
But again, you're never going to earn a full-time income from these websites. Survey panels aren't online jobs or serious income streams, so keep this limitation in mind.
Are Online Surveys Safe?
Online survey sites are safe if you don't have to enter any sensitive financial information like a credit card. They're also safe if you don't have to enter sensitive personal information like a Social Security Number.
However, you need to be comfortable sharing some personal information to make money with online surveys. Examples of common questions you have to answer include questions about your:
- Age
- Education level
- Ethnicity
- Health
- Household composition
- Location
- Income
- Purchasing decisions (like the type of car you drive, your favorite brands, etc.)
If you don't feel comfortable answering questions about you, online surveys aren't worth it.
Also note that survey sites should never ask you for very personal information like your SSN or bank account information.
Common Online Survey Scams
As someone who's answered online surveys for the last few years to earn quick money, I've come across a lot of legit online surveys.
However, I've also tested and reviewed plenty of survey sites that I think are scams or aren't worth it. So, here are some of the main warning signs you should watch out for when considering a paid survey website.
1. Membership Fees
Legit online side hustles don't require membership fees, and this includes online surveys. So, if a survey panel asks you to pay a membership fee or enter your credit card information, it's almost certainly a scam.
Just note that some sites have cash-back shopping offers, and these can be legitimate. But never pay a base membership fee to use a website.
2. High Cash Out Minimums
Another sign a survey site is a scam is a super high cash out minimum.
Take it from me: legit survey sites usually let you cash out once you earn $1 to $10. Anything higher than this is a red flag since many scam sites make it easy to earn cash when you sign up but stop paying you when you're close to cashing out.
This is what InboxDollars, a leading survey site, used to do. And you can see how frustrated I was by this fact when I spent 10 hours answering surveys but still couldn't cash out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6cCosbcHpI
Thankfully, InboxDollars has changed since then and has a $10 to $15 cash out minimum. And sites like Swagbucks let you cash out at just $1, so you don't need to waste time with high minimums.
You can read my post on surveys that pay cash instantly for a list of 20+ sites with instant or quick payouts.
3. No Trustpilot Scores
When researching paid survey sites, always look up Trustpilot reviews and testimonials on forums like Reddit beermoney.
This type of first-hand experience can tell you if a survey site is a scam or not. Just be careful of fake reviews on Trustpilot and trust your gut.
4. It Sounds Too Good To Be True
Many scammy survey sites have massive promises, like making $200 a day, or earning up to $50 per survey you complete.
But when it comes to earning money online, always remember: if something is too good to be true, it probably is.
The bottom line is that these are just beermoney sites. You can't earn a full-time income from answering surveys online, so be cautious of sites that claim you can make thousands of dollars in a short amount of time.
If you want to try legitimate sites, you can read my post on the highest paying survey sites for some good starting sites.
5. No Privacy Policy
Since survey companies make money by gathering consumer data and selling it, it's vital to understand how your data is being used.
I suggest reading the privacy policy of any money-making app or site you use. If a survey website doesn't have a clear privacy policy or explanation of how your data is treated, it's probably not worth using.
Again, you have to be comfortable with giving up your data for this side hustle. But you should also know how it's used.
6. Lots Of Spam Emails
One final sign of a survey site scam is a flood of spam emails.
Most paid survey sites send daily or weekly emails to members to inform them of new surveys and money-making opportunities.
This isn't inherently a red flag. But if you start getting several emails per day with clickbait-type claims, you're probably getting scammed. Plus, spam emails are annoying and clog up your inbox.
Pro Tip: I always use a separate email for survey websites so my main email doesn't get spammed.
My Favorite Paid Survey Sites
As mentioned, I've been using survey sites for the last 5+ years since college. This is because I think they're a good way to make money online for beginners, and I test them all the time to write about them on WebMonkey.
In my testing, these are some of my all-time favorite survey sites that I think are legit:
- Branded Surveys: A leading survey platform with PayPal money and gift card rewards.
- Ipsos iSay: A global survey panel with a low $5 cash out.
- Swagbucks: A versatile platform that pays you to complete surveys, play cash games, shop online, install apps, and more.
- Survey Junkie: Another leader in the paid survey space with a $5 cash out minimum.
- Kashkick: This U.S. platform lets you complete short surveys and play games to get PayPal money.
- PrizeRebel: Another popular survey site with excellent gift card rewards.
- Grindabuck: Lets you cash out with PayPal, gift cards, and crypto!
- Pinecone Research: Pays you $3 for every survey you complete.
- 1Q: This survey app pays you instantly with PayPal cash.
My YouTube video also covers some more of my favorite survey sites, like Prolific, that you can check out as well.
These sites won't make you $1,000 a day or anything crazy. But I've tested them and cashed out with them and think they're legitimate.
Tips For Making More Money With Online Surveys
Now that you know some of the top survey sites and how to spot survey scams, here are some of my tried-and-true tips to maximize your earnings:
- Always Be Honest: Survey companies track your responses over time to look for inconsistencies. Always be honest so you don't get banned.
- Set Income Goals: Do you want to make a quick $5, or an extra $500? Set an income goal so you know how much you need to make per day, and be realistic.
- Never Use A VPN: Most survey sites can detect if you're using a VPN to access them from an ineligible location, so don't try to game the system.
- Invite People To Join: Using referral bonuses is a great way to earn some passive income from most survey sites.
- Don't Burn Out: Like any side hustle, make sure you take breaks and don't burn out.
- Use Mobile Apps: Many top survey sites also have mobile apps, so you can earn money with your phone while you're out on the go.
Pros & Cons Of Online Survey Sites
Pros:
- Free to sign up for
- You don't need any prior skills or knowledge
- Lets you earn quick cash and gift cards
- Many sites have sign up bonuses
- Available around the world
- Some survey sites are available for teens
Cons:
- Low hourly earning potential
- Countries outside of North America and Europe have fewer opportunities
- You have to share your data to make money
Are Online Surveys Worth It?
Online surveys are worth it if you want an easy, flexible side hustle that makes a bit of money in your spare time. However, paid surveys aren't worth it if you want to earn a full-time income.
In my experience, making $5 to $20 a day is pretty feasible with the top survey sites. Making more than this is difficult and requires a few hours per day, which isn't worth it when you consider your hourly pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Legal To Take Surveys?
Yes, taking surveys for money is legal, and survey companies are legit businesses that are collecting data for market research purposes.
Do Survey Sites Sell Your Info & Data?
Yes, survey sites make money by conducting market research and then selling that data to other companies. Data is amalgamated to protect individual user's privacy, but your data is still being sold.
Do You Pay Tax On Surveys?
In many countries, income you make from answering surveys online is considered ordinary income. In the United States, you have to declare survey income if you earn more than $600 in a year from one platform, even if it's in gift card or PayPal cash.
If you have questions about taxes on survey site income, speak with an accountant or tax professional.
How Much Can You Make From Online Surveys?
In my experience, making $50 to $200 a month is realistic with online surveys. How much you make depends on how much time you spend, your efficiency, sign up bonuses, and a bit of luck.
Some people make much more per month with online surveys. However, the most you can realistically make is $3 to $7 per hour with a lot of these platforms.
Why Do Survey Sites Disqualify Me?
Survey sites can disqualify you during a survey because they often want to hear feedback from very specific demographics. So, if you don't meet certain criteria, you can get disqualified.
For example, if a survey site wants to hear from male drivers between the ages of 20 and 25, but you don't have a car, you probably won't be eligible for that survey.
Can You Make $100 A Day From Surveys?
In my opinion, making $100 a day with online survey sites is almost impossible for most people. This is because the average survey site doesn't pay enough per hour.
If you want to increase your online earnings with similar gigs, you're better off using microtask sites like Appen and Clickworker.
Final Thoughts
I hope my guide on online surveys helps you understand which ones are legit and how to spot a paid survey scam.
Again, I don't think any of these sites are going to earn $500 a day or some full-time income. But after testing them for a few years, I think they're an easy side hustle that can help when money is a bit tight.
Back in college, an extra $50 per month went a long way for me. So use survey sites when they're appropriate, and stick with the legit ones.
On the flip side, consider the opportunity cost of doing surveys all day. Selling skills online as a freelancer or using different gig apps can be way more lucrative, so consider a variety of options.
Best of luck!
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