Just a few years ago, one of the top ways I earned extra money was by taking part in free online survey sites.
I didn’t make millions from taking online surveys, but I did earn a good side income by doing some relatively easy work.
Back then, I signed up for as many survey sites as I could (you can read more about why you should too below) and due to that I was able to complete at least a few surveys each week.
Like I said, it wasn’t enough to make me rich, but there were many times where I would receive an easy $100 check in the mail from completing surveys in a one-month period. The work is easy and it can all be done from home on your own schedule and timeline, so it’s a win-win!
Below are some of my tips for making online surveys a side hustle of yours. Plus, I have listed six of the best online survey sites for you to join.
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Best online survey sites.
Sign up for as many free online survey sites as you can.
I recommend signing up for all of the free online survey companies below if this is a side hustle you are interested in.
This is because each survey company may only send a few surveys your way each month, so the more you sign up for then the more money you may be able to make. You can sign up for all six easily and quickly, so why not?
All six of the free online survey companies below are legitimate and can be a great way to earn money. These include:
- American Consumer Opinion
- InboxDollars
- Swagbucks
- Pinecone Research
- Survey Junkie
- OneOpinion
- Opinion Outpost
- Prize Rebel
Always be honest when signing up for the below best online survey sites.
When filling out the survey forms, you will be asked many personal questions.
You should always be honest when answering these because the survey companies want people who actually fit what they are looking for.
Plus, you don’t know what they’re looking for anyways so by lying you may actually be hurting yourself.
Make sure an online survey site is legitimate.
The free online survey sites below are all legitimate and some of the best online survey sites
out there, but there are many not-so-legitimate ones out there. I am often sent emails from readers asking whether so-and-so is real and what I would do.
Below are some warning signs that a survey site may not be legitimate:
- Are they promising you the world? It would be very hard to earn a full-time income just from answering surveys from one website. They are meant more as a way to earn side income so any get rich quick schemes are usually fake.
- Do they require an upfront fee? I have taken many paid surveys over the past several years and I have never had to pay a penny to take any of them. If they ask you to pay them, they are most likely a scam.
- Do you remember signing up? Some scam websites are just there to take your information. If you don’t remember signing up for the company, definitely ignore their emails and don’t click on anything!
Related articles:
- 75+ Ways To Make Extra Money
- 10 Ways To Make Money Online From The Comfort of Your Home
- 10 Things I’ve Done To Make Extra Money
- Ways To Make An Extra $1,000 A Month
- American Consumer Opinion Review
- Survey Junkie Review
- 21 Best Surveys With Instant Cash Payout
Below are five of the best online survey sites where you can take free online surveys so that you can start earning money! Like I said, everything below is free to join, so it doesn’t hurt to sign up.
1. American Consumer Opinion
American Consumer Opinion is one free online survey company I highly recommend. They pay you for each survey you complete.
You can sign up for American Consumer Opinion here.
2. Inbox Dollars
InboxDollars is an online rewards website I recommend. You can earn cash by taking surveys, playing games, shopping online, searching the web, redeeming grocery coupons, and more. Also, by signing up through my link, you will receive $5.00 for free just for signing up!
You can sign up for InboxDollars here.
3. Swagbucks – one of the best paid survey sites
Swagbucks is something I don’t use as much as I used to, but I do occasionally earn Amazon gift cards every month with very little work. They have surveys you can take and there are countless other ways to earn points.
You can sign up for Swagbucks here and you’ll receive a free $5 bonus just for signing up through my link.
Another one you may be interested in related to this one is Nielsen Digital Voice. Digital Voice is a part of Nielsen, which I’m sure you’ve heard of. All you have to do is surf the web and you may be able to start earning money.
4. Pinecone Research
Pinecone Research is a company I use to complete surveys and I believe they are one of the best online survey sites. I have personally used them several times, so I can honestly say that they are a legitimate company to use. They pay you for each survey you complete and they also occasionally send free products to review!
You can sign up for Pinecone Research here to learn how to make money for online surveys.
Well, there you go! Above are the best online survey sites for free online surveys so that you can start earning money
Related: The 9 Best Paid Survey Sites in Canada – Make Easy Money This Month
Are you a member of any free online survey sites? Why or why not? What do you think are the best online survey sites?
Leave a Reply
Another online survey sites to try. I wonder how much money again I can make out of these. Thanks Michelle!
Welcome!
This is a side hustle I’ve always thought about but never done. I’m seriously considering it now. I always thought of them as scammy. I’ll also add this to my top side hustle post that’s pretty popular (http://www.thefinancegirl.com/side-hustle-blog-posts/)
Thanks for adding it to your site! 🙂
I use Swagbucks and InBox Dollars, as well as MyPoints, Ipsos I-Say, Valued Opinions, and eRewards. I’m going to check out a couple of the other ones you mentioned…
I’ll have to check out the ones you mentioned!
I have never taken surveys through any of these sites! I barely have time to keep my life together as it is! Maybe one day =)
If you need extra money, it’s not too bad 🙂
This is a great resource! I don’t do many surveys anymore, but I do use Swagbucks quite a bit and it’s so easy to earn on there.
Yes, love Swagbucks!
Thanks Steve!
I LOVE Swagbucks! That’s how I fulfill my Starbucks semi-addiction without actually paying for it 😉 I love the Sbux gifts cards I get from using Swagbucks.
Awesome! Great idea!
I lost interest in Swagbux and Inbox Dollars. Maybe I’ll go back to them one day. I do love eRewards, though. It won’t make you rich, but I’d say I probably do 2-3 surveys a week, and I’ll have earned at least 8,000 Southwest Rewards points by the end of the year.
I’ll have to look into eRewards!
Interesting. I’ve done several market research studies in person, but never tried the online surveys.
What’s your average hourly rate when you’re really focused on doing as many as possible? Can you beat minimum wage, or is it more just to pick up a few dollars when you have time?
I think you could beat minimum wage if you were able to find enough surveys to do. That’s why it’s so important to sign up for as many sites as possible.
I used to use Swagbucks all the time a couple years ago. They are definitely legit. It does take some time to make decent money though.
I think the key is to have referrals 🙂
Yeah, my favorite part is when you occasionally are given free items. I love free stuff! haha
I didn’t know about proopinion .. thanks Michelle.
Welcome!
Interesting post and something I had not considered, primarily because these opportunities aren’t really available in Thailand, where I am from and currently live.
I will take a look at the sites of course, but any ideas whether non-U.S.-based survey takers are needed and whether they offer a PayPal payment solution?
Good lists of websites. They are all good to make money from and also pay. I have joined and work with a lot of them from here and they pay me.
I use the UserReport survey tool. It is free and you can customize it as you please. It has a built in NPS feature and a feedback forum where your customers can post ideas and others can vote for them. You also get detailed demographics of your visitors.
It is a great free tool.