2024 Paid Survey Program Reviews

Survey Junkie

Earn points through taking surveys, doing product testing, participating in focus groups, and connecting your online activity data
Points redeemable for digital gift cards or cash via PayPal once you reach 500 points ($5)
Over 25,000 five-star reviews
Accredited by the BBB

With over 10 million members who complete more than 50,000 surveys every day, Survey Junkie is one of the biggest paid survey platforms out there. Survey-takers have improved over 3,000 brands and products by providing their input here; these include automotive brands, restaurants, personal care products, financial services, food items, and many more.

Get points even when you don't qualify

Anyone that's ever done paid surveys online knows the frustration of spending time answering questions, only to be disqualified and get nothing for it. Survey Junkie actually gives you a few points even if you do not qualify. We love that. This survey platform estimates that if you do three surveys a day, you'll average about $40/month: nothing that's going to change your life, but still a nice bit of extra change. And, you can redeem your points as soon as you hit 500 (about $5). That's a big perk compared with some paid survey companies we evaluated, that make you wait until you've reached $10 or even $25.

Earning opportunities besides taking surveys

You have a few other ways to get points through Survey Junkie. Sometimes there will be opportunities to do product testing or participate in a focus group. Bonus points are often offered by doing a certain number of surveys in a specified promotional period. Finally, you can connect your online data through Survey Junkie's Pulse program; that's a separate opt-in that doesn't happen automatically when you sign up here.

Identity verification may be required

You can redeem your points for money via PayPal or for gift cards. Be aware that you may need to verify your identity before your redemption is processed: that could be via text, email, or phone call, and you may be asked to provide a photo ID. That rubs some survey-takers the wrong way, but Survey Junkie is trying to prevent fraud and maintain the integrity of their platform.

Lots of complaints - but they're handled well

Survey Junkie's reputation is a little mixed. They've got accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, which is usually a fantastic indicator of reliability - but their letter grade was a somewhat mediocre "B" , due to more than 1,000 complaints filed against the company in the last three years. On the other hand, we saw appropriate responses to all of them (at least, the ones we scrolled through, because who has time to read a thousand complaints?), and the complaints most often related to members not understanding how the program works.

Plenty of praise from Survey Junkie members

And, all it takes is a quick look at the reviews (as opposed to the complaints) left on the BBB site and in other places to see why Survey Junkie continues to be one of our highest-ranked options for paid surveys. Over 25,000 people have given Survey Junkie a perfect five-star review, and more than 85% of people rate this paid survey platform as "great" or "excellent" . Most users say it's easy and fun to use, and getting paid is no problem.

Getting disqualified is normal

Like any survey company, there can be frustrations with going through a long, higher point value opportunity and then being disqualified after spending a long time answering questions. But, there's nothing scammy about that; it's just what happens as you're meeting criteria (or not) with your answers, or other people are taking the same survey at the same time and fill up the demographic profile that you also match. And, remember, you still get points here when you make the attempt.

Definitely a survey platform to try

Although Survey Junkie has been ever-so-slightly edged out of first place by another paid survey company, it's still one of the best in the industry (and there's nothing saying you can't sign up for this platform and that one too). It's easy to earn points and cash them out, and you've got some additional ways to get them that aren't offered by most of the rival paid survey companies we evaluated. Don't hesitate to try Survey Junkie and see for yourself.

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The 12 Best Paid Survey Programs

Which Paid Survey Companies Are the Best?

It's no secret that businesses want to know what consumers think. Focus groups have been around for decades, and you may even remember taking a survey at the mall way back when. But, as the world went digital, so did market research - and that's good news for you if you'd like to do paid surveys from home (or from anywhere that you have an internet connection).

How does it work? That depends on the survey company you choose. Some just give you basic surveys that match your profile. Others, however, take it to another level and have you watch video clips of ads, give you points back when you use their link to shop online, or even reward you for playing games.

Continue reading below

Paid Survey Program FAQ

Can I really get paid for taking surveys?

Do I need to pay to join a survey company?

What kinds of questions will I be asked?

How will I be paid?

When will I be paid?

How often will there be surveys to fill out?

Are companies offering paid surveys trustworthy?

Paid Surveys sound great. What's the catch?

Continued from above...

What you can earn by doing paid surveys also depends on the platform. One of the most common payment methods is PayPal: today's way of getting good old-fashioned cash... but digitally. Or, you may get more for your rewards by choosing to redeem them for a gift card or towards a big discount on something you've been wanting to buy.

You should be realistic, though: you're not going to replace your full-time income by doing paid surveys. They often pay out at a rate that's less than a few dollars per hour, and sometimes you'll get almost finished with a survey only to find out you've been rejected (because one of your answers didn't fit the demographic they were looking for). However, if you can tolerate a bit of frustration, paid survey platforms can be a fun way to get some gift cards or money in your free time. After all, when has Netflix ever paid you for spending time online?

There are lots of websites offering paid surveys, and you might get overwhelmed trying to choose one (or several). What should you look for? Here are some criteria to get you started:

Free to sign up. This is the most important factor. You should never have to pay to use a paid survey site. If you're asked for payment, it's probably a scam. Run away!
Reward type. Are you looking specifically for cash? Make sure the survey platform offers that; it'll usually be via PayPal, though we've seen some companies going completely high-tech and offering payment in Bitcoin. Most survey platforms offer a choice between money and gift cards; you may be given more for your points if you choose the gift card over cash.
Other ways of earning. Surveys sometimes pay pretty little, and if you don't have many that you qualify for, it could take a long time to cash out any rewards. Many paid survey companies also include other ways of making money, like using their link to make online purchases and getting a percentage of points back, playing games, or taking advantage of offers from their partners.
Reputation. What have other members of the survey platform said about the experience? Is it easy to redeem your points? Will you spend a lot of time filling out surveys only to be disqualified near the end? How responsive is the support team?

So that you don't waste time with a survey company that won't deliver, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the most popular options out there. Check out our highest-ranked sites and start earning gift cards, merchandise, and cash today!

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2024 Paid Survey Program Reviews