Survey apps are a great way to make some extra cash on the side. I make around $300 to $400 per month in extra income just by using around ten of these apps.
With so many survey apps claiming you can make hundreds of dollars within a short amount of time, it’s difficult to determine what’s a scam or legit.
That’s why I’ve sorted through them for you. All of the apps on this list are ones that I’ve used. They’ve all paid me on time and have paid me the correct amount.
The reason survey apps are able to pay you is because they take the information that you submit and sell it as market research. Companies take this data and use it to improve products and services that consumers like you and I use on a daily basis.
Use Multiple Survey Apps
I strongly suggest using multiple apps. This is because there are usually a limited number of surveys on each app. By having multiple apps in your arsenal, you can rotate between them and always have a way to make some extra cash.
Furthermore, even if a survey app has several surveys, the number of high-paying ones is most likely limited.
For example, Ipsos i-Say is one of my favorite survey apps, but I’m not going to participate in all of their surveys because they have a limited amount of high-paying surveys at a time. I might take a few that pay at a rate of $10 to $15 per hour.
Once these run out, I’ll go to the next app and repeat the same process. Later I’ll come back to PointClub and see if there are new, high-paying surveys that I can take. Let’s get started with some of the best survey apps out there.
Best Survey Apps That Pay
1. Ipsos
What I love about Ipsos is that they always tell you how long their surveys will take. Also, most surveys are actually much shorter than stated. I can make about $8 to $10 an hour with Ipsos as long as I stick to the better-paying surveys.
Every time you take a survey, you are also automatically entered into a drawing. Win great prizes like an MP3 player, gift cards and more.
Ipsos also rewards you for participating in many surveys. For example, if you complete your first five surveys, you will automatically receive 5 points. The more surveys you take, the higher you climb on the reward ladder. The points can be redeemed for a gift certificate of your choice.
2. Pinecone Research
With Pinecone Research, you always know how much you’re going to earn. They pay a flat rate of $3 per survey and typically take anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Most of the surveys cater to your demographics as well as products that you frequently use.
As a result, I find their surveys a bit more interesting than the ones on most survey apps. The only downside with Pinecone Research is the low number of surveys available.
While I can sometimes receive one or two a week, there have been periods in which I’ve only received one or two a month.
Sign up for email notifications to find out when a new survey is available. Cash out once you reach a minimum of $10 for gift cards, physical prizes, or direct deposits to PayPal.
3. ShopTracker
If you love shopping on Amazon, then you might as well receive cash for it. ShopTracker works a little bit differently than most survey apps. Instead of getting paid to take surveys, you earn cash by allowing the app to track your Amazon purchases.
When you sign up, you automatically get a $3 bonus after taking a short three- to five-question survey and linking your Amazon account. Once this is complete, leave the app installed on your phone and take a short survey at the end of each month about your Amazon shopping experience.
You earn $3 at the end of each survey, and all payments are made in the form of Visa gift cards. These gift cards can either be used online or in stores.
4. Zap Surveys
Zap Surveys is quickly becoming one of the best survey apps out there. For starters, they give you a $6 bonus when you complete your first survey – and it doesn’t even take that long. The downside about Zap Surveys?
There aren’t that many surveys available. However, when they are available, they tend to be really high-quality surveys. Zap doesn’t waste your time with low-paying surveys and makes sure that 100% of the surveys on the app are worth your time.
5. YouGov
YouGov is great for those who are interested in politics. Get paid to take surveys and polls regarding current events. You get a $2 bonus for registering as a new user, and most surveys tend to be short.
YouGov acts more like a community than the other survey apps on this list. Once you complete a questionnaire, you instantly know how other people answered the same question. This gives you further insight as to what the general public thinks about political issues.
The minimum payment threshold is set at $5, and I can usually reach this amount quite quickly. The $2 sign-up bonus definitely helps. The only downside with this money making app is that sometimes it can take weeks before you receive your payments. YouGov has a great referral program. Each time you refer a friend, you both receive a $2 bonus.
6. PointClub
PointClub is one of my favorite survey apps for multiple reasons. To start with, they immediately give you a $5 bonus for signing up as a new user. Not only that, but of all of the apps on this list, I find that PointClub tends to have some of the best hourly rates.
They also have a bonus program. For every five days that you log in consecutively, you get a 10 percent bonus of all your survey earnings. You can keep increasing this amount until you reach a maximum bonus of 100 percent.
However, if you forget to log in for one day, your bonus will reset back to zero. With the bonus applied, I usually earn at a rate of $10 to $15 per hour with the high-paying surveys. The surveys are also very easy to complete, and are typically more enjoyable than other surveys on the apps on this list. Unfortunately, this app is only available for Android users.
If you still want to give PointClub a try without an Android phone, you can always take surveys using their desktop version. You need a minimum of $25 in your account to cash out for either gift cards or direct deposits to PayPal.
7. Toluna Opinions
Toluna Opinions is great for those who want cash fast. All payouts are made immediately after you request them. You need a minimum of $20 in your account to cash out for either direct deposits to PayPal or for gift cards. You also get a $2 bonus as a new user.
Toluna surveys are a bit higher-paying, which is great since you don’t have to weed out the lower-paying ones. Expect to earn anywhere from $1 to $5 per survey, and each one takes roughly 5 to 20 minutes each.
What I also like about Toluna Opinions is that they are great about telling you whether you’re eligible for a survey or not. I usually find this out just by answering the first question of a survey.
8. MySurvey
If you’re looking for short surveys at a decent payout rate, MySurvey is the perfect money making app for you. MySurvey always tells you how much you’re going to make and how long each survey will take before you actually start. The more surveys you take with MySurvey, the more you’ll be rewarded.
They reward frequent survey takers with more surveys and also higher-paying ones. What I really like about MySurvey is their poll system.
Answer a daily question and receive a couple of points for it. MySurvey is available in the US, Australia, and the UK. Points can be exchanged for gift cards, direct deposits to PayPal, and also charitable donations to UNICEF.
9. QuickThoughts
QuickThoughts is known for more than just surveys, but we thought we’d put them under this section since the payout rate per survey is so high. The only downside is that there aren’t that many surveys available.
Expect to quickly earn an extra $30 taking surveys with this money making app. QuickThoughts also gives you an opportunity to earn cash by completing small tasks in your area. Get paid to report prices in local supermarkets or scan barcodes on store shelves.
The larger your city, the more tasks you are likely to have. This is definitely one money making app you don’t want to pass up on. Overall, I commend this app for its easy-to-use interface and functionality.
10. GlobalTestMarket
GlobalTestMarket stands out on this list due to the fact that they’re available in multiple countries across the globe. It doesn’t matter what country you’re in; as long as you have internet access, you’re more than likely going to be eligible to take surveys.
Some users have reported difficulties with registering. If this is the case for you, simply wait a few hours or refresh the page. In 2014 they awarded over $32 million in prizes to their members.
They have a long-standing reputation and pay out in both gift cards and PayPal deposits. What I also like about GlobalTestMarket is that you usually know within the first couple of questions whether you’re eligible to continue a survey or not. Many survey sites drag you halfway through a survey only to tell you that you can’t continue.
11. MySoapBox
If you’re looking for a mobile app with high-paying surveys, then you can’t go wrong with MySoapBox. They don’t bother with lower-paying surveys as they know their users won’t be interested in them.
The only downside is that there aren’t many surveys available. Since they don’t offer very many surveys, I strongly suggest signing up for their email notifications. Your first time cashing out you need a minimum balance of $25. The $2 sign-up bonus definitely helps in reaching this amount a bit more quickly.
After you cash out for the first time, you only need a minimum of $1 to cash out again. What I’ve noticed is that MySoapBox surveys are typically longer because of their high payout rate. While that may seem like a downside, it’s a great way to prevent burnout.
In other words, there’s no need to be constantly searching for new surveys. Each time you refer a friend using your referral link, you get a $1 bonus and your friend receives $2.
12. Valued Opinions
Valued Opinions is great for their high payout rate, as you can earn anywhere between $1 and $5 per survey. The best part? They always tell you how long a survey will take before you actually take it. You’re rewarded in points each time you take a survey.
These points can be exchanged for gift cards to popular retailers such as Best Buy and Macy’s. Valued Opinions states that they can take up to 48 hours to deliver, but generally I receive rewards within 24 hours.
In my experience, surveys tend to take around 10 to 20 minutes each to complete. Earn more with the Valued Opinions badge system. The more surveys you take, the higher you will move in ranking and thus earn more per survey.
13. Google Opinion Rewards
Google Opinion Rewards has the highest payout when it comes to survey money making apps. Each time you complete a one- to five-question survey, you can easily earn anywhere from $.25 cents to $1 in Google Play credits.
Unfortunately, they don’t have direct cash payouts. This credit can be used to buy books, magazines, and other items that you might find on the Google Play Store. The payout is quite high for the little amount of effort required, and it’s a great way to score some free ebooks and music.
This app is available in the US, Germany, Australia, the UK, and Canada. Turn on notifications to find out when new surveys are available so you don’t constantly have to be checking the app.
