If you’re looking for ways to make money online, you’ve probably come across online surveys for money. They seem simple enough, right? Share your opinion. Get paid.

The reality is, they really are pretty simple. You don’t need any special skills, there are no upfront costs to get started, and you can take online surveys during your free time—from your couch.

But here are two important notes about online survey sites:

• They won’t replace your full-time job.
• It’s important to find a legitimate platform—and the best platform for you—to maximize your earnings.

Before diving in, keep in mind that online scams are skyrocketing, so be cautious when signing up for any ol’ site. Use this guide to learn how online surveys for money work and safely explore some of the best platforms—including KashKick, one of the leading options out there.

How Online Surveys for Money Work

Companies, researchers and brands pay survey platforms to collect consumer opinions to help shape marketing strategies, new products and more. These platforms then pass a portion of that payment along to the people who complete the surveys.

Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:

Survey Qualification

Not every survey you start will be a match. Often, companies look to survey a specific demographic—like age, location, job title or shopping habits—depending on their audience. Some sites aim to minimize survey disqualifications by having users fill out profiles. 

For example, KashKick rewards members $1 when they fill out a brief profile survey. These answers help match users to relevant surveys.

Reward Systems

Most survey sites reward users with points that convert to cash—or cash. Cash-based systems tend to be easier to navigate and more transparent. 

For example, KashKick rewards users with kash, and 1 Kash = $1 USD. Simple!

Typical Earning Ranges

As mentioned, taking online surveys for money won’t make you rich, but you should be able to make some extra cash. Most surveys pay between $0.25 to $5, though longer or more involved market research opportunities can pay more. The key is to find transparent survey sites that make it clear how much you can earn and how long a survey will take. 

For example, KashKick lists both earnings and time commitment, making it easier for members to calculate which surveys have the best pay rates.

Cashout Minimums

Many survey sites have cashout minimums. The lower the cashout minimum, the better!

For example, KashKick’s cashout minimum is just $10.

Payment Methods

Common payout methods include PayPal and gift cards. Occasionally, survey sites will offer direct deposit, Venmo transfers or charity donations.

For example, KashKick rewards members with cash through PayPal, gift cards and the option to donate to charity.

The Best Online Surveys for Money

With so many survey sites available, choosing the right ones can make a big difference in how much you can earn, how you get paid and your overall experience. Below are some of the best online survey platforms, starting with KashKick.

Learn more about how KashKick’s surveys work. 

1. KashKick

KashKick is one of the best places to take online surveys for money because of the low cashout minimum ($10), option to get paid cash via PayPal and fast payouts (1-3 days).

Plus, members can maximize their earnings by playing games and claiming offers. For example, you can get $10 when you sign up for and use Upside to save money. Get another $7 when you sign up and use Shipt grocery delivery service.

Real members have shared their success, including Eric, who earned $500 in less than a year.

Payout: PayPal, gift cards, charity donations

👉 Sign up for KashKick to start taking surveys today.

2. American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion rewards members points when they take surveys or participate in research projects. For context, 1 point equals 1 cent. Earnings range anywhere from 100 to 5,000 points, according to the site, and you’ll need 1,000 points to cash out for $10.

Payout: PayPal, charity donation

3. Branded Surveys

Through Branded Surveys, users earn points when they complete surveys. The minimum to cash out is 500 points, which converts to $5.

Payout: PayPal, bank transfer, gift cards

4. Google Opinion Rewards

Google Opinion Rewards is available only as an iOS and Android app. Members receive notifications when a short survey is available, which takes around 20 seconds to complete. The minimum to cash out is $2.

Payout: Google Play, PayPal credit 

5. InboxDollars

InboxDollars rewards users in dollars (hence its name) for playing games, shopping online and, of course, taking surveys. Once you earn $15, you can cash out. After your first payment, the minimum drops to $10. You’ll get a $5 bonus when you sign up and confirm your email.

Payout: PayPal, gift cards

6. Ipsos iSay

Through Ipsos iSay, participants take surveys that inform Ipsos’s market research. Fill out your iSay profile, take surveys and earn points. You can get notified of new survey invites through email, app/browser notifications or text.

Payout: PayPal, Venmo, gift cards and charity donations

7. LifePoints

Take surveys through LifePoints to earn points, called LPs, which you can exchange for a reward. You’ll get survey reminders sent to your inbox, and surveys typically take 10 to 20 minutes to complete. Earn 550 LPs and you can request a payout for $5 (though most gift cards are offered in increments of $10).

Payout: Gift cards, PayPal credit, charity donation

8. MyPoints

MyPoints rewards users for playing games, shopping online and taking surveys. Though the platform has a confusing points-to-dollar ratio and unclear minimum to cash out, you do get 5 points (a maximum of 25 a day) even if you are disqualified from a survey.

Payout: PayPal, gift cards, United MileagePlus miles

9. Opinion Outpost

Opinion Outpost is a market research site that offers users multiple ways to earn: take surveys, test new products, watch ads and more. The site doesn’t make it clear how many points you need to cash out, though one review reported the minimum was $5 (or 50 points). According to the site, you can earn up to 50 points per survey.

Payout: PayPal, gift cards

10. Pinecone Research

Pinecone Research pays users to take surveys, play games and more. Like all surveys, earnings vary, but the site says they typically pay 100 to 300 points. Once you collect 1,000 points, you can cash out for $10.

Payout: Gift cards

11. Poll Pay

Poll Pay is owned by the same company that owns InboxDollars. (Which is probably why it looks so familiar!) It seems the difference is that Poll Pay focuses more on paid surveys (versus games and cashback, though those are offered, too). Another difference is that you’ll earn coins for surveys, and the minimum to cash out is a hefty $30.

Payout: PayPal, gift cards

12. PrizeRebel

PrizeRebel is exclusively a paid survey site that rewards users in points. The minimum to cash out is $5, and if you choose to receive a gift card, the site states 99% are delivered within 5 minutes.

Payout: PayPal, gift cards, Bitcoin

13. Prolific

Prolific pays participants to help out top brands like Google, Stanford University and AI Safety Institute. Unlike other survey sites, Prolific requires researchers to pay at least £6 or $8 an hour. After you cash out four times, Prolific will start paying you automatically.

Payout: PayPal

14. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is a classic in the paid survey space. Users earn points when they complete surveys. Earn 500 points and exchange them for $5. A nice thing about Survey Junkie is it’ll give you a few points even if you get disqualified from a survey. It also has a Surf to Earn program that’ll pay you 100 points to install and 50 points a month as a bonus. It also says you’ll get 50% more high-paying surveys.

You can read a full Survey Junkie review here.

Payout: PayPal, gift cards, bank transfers

15. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a rewards app that pays users to complete microtasks, like surveys, games and online shopping. You’ll earn “SB” points—the site says surveys pay approximately 25 to 500 SB per survey—which you can cash out. The points system on this one is a little tricky; right now, you’ll need 2,530 SB for $25 through PayPal.

Here’s a full write-up on whether Swagbucks is legit or not.

Payout: PayPal, gift cards

16. Toluna Influencers

Influence brands when you take surveys through Toluna. According to the site, you can earn anywhere from 15 to 500,000 points per survey. Expect for surveys that pay more to be longer and more involved. Currently, 3,000 points equals $1, but it’s unclear how many points you need to cash out.

Payout: PayPal or gift cards

17. Valued Opinions

Valued Opinions, owned by market research company Dynata, serves up paid online surveys that pay up to $7 per pop, according to the site. However, the terms page states the minimum points required is the equivalent of $50, which is quite high. You’ll also notice this option doesn’t offer cash rewards.

Payout: Gift cards, Southwest Rapid Rewards points, charity donation

18. YouGov

YouGov rewards users points when they complete surveys and other research opportunities. Once you reach the required point minimum, which seems to vary based on participant (the site says to check on your Account page), then you can cash out your earnings.

Payout: Cash, gift certificates

How to Choose the Best Online Survey Site

As you can see, survey sites can vary widely. Choosing the best one for you can save your time and increase your earnings. Here’s what to keep an eye out for:

Fast Payouts

It’s important to read the fine print and understand how long it’ll take to process your payment. Also, you’ll want to check to see how long it takes to earn rewards upon survey completion. Sometimes, this can take days—or even weeks.

With KashKick, you get instant kash when you complete a survey, and once you request a payout, you’ll receive your reward within 1-3 days.

Compare Minimum Cash-Out Thresholds

Again, minimum cash out thresholds are important, especially if you’re looking for quick cash. KashKick only requires you to earn $10 to cash out—and you’ll get $1 just for completing your profile survey!

Avoid Survey Scams

Legitimate survey sites are transparent about earnings, never charge fees and clearly explain how payouts work—something KashKick does well. You’ll also be able to find plenty of online reviews,Trustpilot ratings and app store reviews.

Tips to Make More Money with Online Surveys

Want to maximize your earnings on paid survey sites? Follow these tips and tricks.

Fill Out Your Profile Completely

The best survey sites will have you fill out a profile with some basic information about yourself. This information is used to help match you to the most relevant surveys—and prevent too many disqualifications.

The profile survey for KashKick takes just a couple of minutes, and you’ll earn $1.

Check for Daily Bonuses and Streaks

Some sites offer daily bonuses and streaks if you check in or complete surveys regularly, which can help increase your earnings.

With KashKick, you’ll start a streak when you open your app or log in. For each subsequent day, you’ll build that streak—and gain more entries into the daily kash giveaways.

Use Multiple Legit Apps

There’s no harm in using a couple of survey apps at once. For example, you could combine KashKick with Google Opinion Rewards. KashKick is a fun and easy-to-use app that lets you earn in several different ways, and Google Opinion Rewards is more straightforward and will notify you when there’s an opportunity available. These two together will ensure you don’t feel too overwhelmed.

Mix in Higher-Paying Tasks

Look for rewards platforms that offer more ways to earn than just surveys. (Because, let’s be real, surveys can get boring!) KashKick makes it easy to jump from surveys to games to deals all in one spot.

And don’t forget to refer your friends! Some sites have referral programs—and KashKick has one of the most lucrative. When you refer friends, you can earn 25% of their earnings for life.

Ready to Get Started with Online Surveys?

Online surveys can be a great way to earn some money while you’re hanging out at home or even from your phone. No, they won’t replace your day job, but we could all use some extra spending money these days.

If you’re looking for a site that offers fast payouts, clear earnings and multiple ways to earn, then start with KashKick. You’ll find it’s super easy to use—and even fun!

👉 Join KashKick to start earning today.

Want to learn more? Explore the KashKick blog.