Best Survey and Reward Apps That Actually Pay (And Which to Skip)
Disclosure: I may earn a commission if you sign up through links on this page, at no cost to you. I only link to services that pay, and I list the downsides and free options too.
Updated October 30, 2026
Research verified: based on published company terms, not independently tested by us.
Let’s be honest: most survey apps pay about the same as finding change in your couch. A few are worth your time. Here’s which.
The bottom line: surveys can earn small amounts, usually a few dollars at a time, and some companies don’t pay at all. The best options are free, show you the pay up front, and cash out through PayPal or gift cards. The ones to skip charge fees or ask for private information.
What survey and reward apps are, and who they’re for
These services pay you for your time or opinions: surveys, research studies, interviews and website tests. Pay comes as cash, points or gift cards.
They’re best for people with spare minutes who want pocket money and don’t mind answering questions. They’re a poor fit if you need steady income or you don’t want to share personal details.
How I judged them
I looked for five things, using each company’s own pages:
- It’s free to join.
- It publishes its cash-out minimum.
- It pays by a method you can use, like PayPal or a bank.
- It says what it does with your data.
- Its pay rules are clear before you start.
I don’t give “average monthly earnings” for any of them, because none of these companies publish one, and I won’t invent a number. Where a company shows a pay rule, I quote it. Everything else is labeled as my estimate.
Quick comparison
| Service | Cash-out minimum | Paid via | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prolific | $6 or £6 | PayPal | Research studies with a stated pay floor |
| Swagbucks | $5 (530 SB) | PayPal, gift cards | Casual earning across many tasks |
| Survey Junkie | $5 (500 points) | PayPal, bank, gift cards | Plain surveys, low effort |
| Google Opinion Rewards | $2 balance | PayPal, per Google’s help page | Quick, short surveys |
| Respondent | None listed | Tremendous | Paid interviews, higher pay |
| UserTesting | Not published | PayPal | Recorded website and app tests |
Each service below carries a short scorecard. The scores are our editorial assessment, not verified facts, and 5 is always best for you.
Prolific: best for research studies
Research verified: based on published company terms, not independently tested by us.
What it pays: Prolific says researchers must pay participants at least $8 an hour, and it recommends $12. The study page shows the pay and time before you start, so you can judge it. Your actual hourly rate depends on how fast you work and how many studies you qualify for.
Time to first dollar: not immediate. You join a waitlist first, then verify your ID. Once you finish a study, pending pay moves to available after a researcher approves it, which can take up to 22 days.
What it costs: nothing. You can cash out by PayPal once your balance is $6 or £6. In general you can cash out once every 24 hours, but there’s a 72-hour wait for your first four cash-outs. U.S. residents need a U.S.-based PayPal account.
Pros: a stated pay floor, and studies show their pay up front.
Cons: the waitlist, uneven study supply, and rejected submissions don’t pay.
Skip this if… you want to start earning today, or you can’t wait weeks for approval.
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of getting started | 2 / 5 | A waitlist and an ID check come before your first study. |
| Earning potential | 3 / 5 | Researchers must pay at least $8 an hour, but study supply is uneven. |
| Time investment | 3 / 5 | You pick studies, but they come and go. |
| Payment reliability | 3 / 5 | PayPal cash-out at $6, but pending pay can take up to 22 days to be approved. |
| Fees and restrictions | 4 / 5 | Free, with a $6 minimum. Rejected submissions don’t pay. |
| Privacy | 3 / 5 | ID verification is required, and U.S. residents need a U.S.-based PayPal account. |
Swagbucks: best for casual earning
Research verified: based on published company terms, not independently tested by us.
What it pays: points called SB. Swagbucks lists $5 PayPal for 530 SB and $10 for 1,030 SB, so roughly 100 SB equals $1, with an extra 30 SB per PayPal reward to cover fees. It pays for surveys, shopping, receipts, games and other tasks. It doesn’t publish a typical hourly rate, and apps that mix lots of small tasks tend to pay low per hour (my estimate).
Time to first dollar: days to weeks. PayPal rewards can take up to 10 business days. Your PayPal must be verified and your name must match.
What it costs: nothing. Swagbucks lists a bonus of 1,000 SB (about $10) for spending $25 at a featured store within 30 days of signing up, if you activate it first. Terms can change. Members who refer friends get 10% of those friends’ eligible earnings.
Pros: a $5 cash-out, and many ways to earn.
Cons: lots of small tasks, and survey disqualifications happen on most panels.
Skip this if… you’d rather use cashback for shopping. See my best cashback apps guide.
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of getting started | 4 / 5 | Free, with a $5 PayPal cash-out (530 SB). |
| Earning potential | 2 / 5 | About 100 SB equals $1, and no hourly rate is published. |
| Time investment | 2 / 5 | Many small tasks, and many people end up on low-paying ones (my estimate). |
| Payment reliability | 3 / 5 | PayPal rewards can take up to 10 business days. Your PayPal must be verified and the names must match. |
| Fees and restrictions | 4 / 5 | Free. The extra 30 SB per PayPal reward covers processing fees. |
| Privacy | 3 / 5 | Read the privacy policy before you share profile answers or connect accounts. |
Survey Junkie: best for plain surveys
Research verified: based on published company terms, not independently tested by us.
What it pays: points. Survey Junkie says members can cash out starting at $5 (500 points) for PayPal, bank transfer or gift cards. It also says plainly that “you won’t get rich taking surveys” and that it can supplement income.
Time to first dollar: days to weeks (my estimate). Before your first redemption you may have to verify your identity by text, email, phone or photo ID.
What it costs: nothing, but there’s a data trade-off. A feature called Surf to Earn rewards you for sharing browsing and app activity. Survey Junkie says it blocks financial, medical and government sites and never collects passwords. It’s optional, and you should think hard before you opt in.
Pros: low cash-out minimum and several payout choices.
Cons: you won’t qualify for every survey. The company notes that speeding or answering inconsistently can get you disqualified.
Skip this if… you don’t want to share your online activity. You can use the app without Surf to Earn, but you’ll earn less.
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of getting started | 4 / 5 | Free to join, with an identity check before your first redemption. |
| Earning potential | 2 / 5 | The company itself says you won’t get rich taking surveys. |
| Time investment | 3 / 5 | Plain surveys, but you won’t qualify for all of them. |
| Payment reliability | 3 / 5 | PayPal, bank or gift card from $5. Days to weeks to first payout (my estimate). |
| Fees and restrictions | 4 / 5 | Free, with a $5 minimum. |
| Privacy | 3 / 5 | The optional Surf to Earn feature shares browsing and app activity. Skipping it protects more privacy but earns less. |
Google Opinion Rewards: best for quick surveys
Research verified: based on published company terms, not independently tested by us.
What it pays: small amounts per short survey. Google’s help page says each time you accrue $2.00, it sends a payment through PayPal. I couldn’t find a published pay-per-survey figure. Older guides mention Google Play credit, and I couldn’t confirm which applies to your account, so check the app.
Time to first dollar: it depends on how often surveys appear. Google says survey frequency varies.
What it costs: nothing. One catch: if you don’t reach $2.00, you get no payment, and Google says the balance expires one year after your last survey. If your PayPal email differs from your Google one, accept the first payment within 30 days.
Pros: short surveys, backed by a large company.
Cons: Google says survey frequency varies, so you may go a while without one, and a small balance can expire.
Skip this if… you’d rather not tie another app to your Google account.
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of getting started | 5 / 5 | Free, and tied to the Google account you already have. |
| Earning potential | 1 / 5 | No published pay per survey. You’re paid each time you accrue $2.00. |
| Time investment | 4 / 5 | Surveys are short, but frequency varies, so you wait for them. |
| Payment reliability | 3 / 5 | PayPal at each $2.00. The balance expires one year after your last survey. |
| Fees and restrictions | 4 / 5 | Free, but a balance under $2.00 isn’t paid. |
| Privacy | 3 / 5 | It ties another app to your Google account. |
Respondent: best for paid interviews
Research verified: based on published company terms, not independently tested by us.
What it pays: more per session, but less often. Respondent says short interviews and surveys usually pay $50 to $150, and online focus groups $75 to $200. It also says most people get 1 to 3 invites a month. Those are the company’s claims. I haven’t verified them.
Time to first dollar: after you match a study. Payment goes out through Tremendous, and Respondent says most people are paid within 5 to 7 business days of a session.
What it costs: nothing. Respondent says you’ll never be asked to pay to take part.
Pros: hourly pay can be far higher than survey apps.
Cons: invitations depend on your job and background. You can wait a while between studies.
Skip this if… you need income you can plan around. It’s occasional, not steady.
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of getting started | 2 / 5 | You have to match a study, and invitations depend on your job and background. |
| Earning potential | 4 / 5 | The company says short sessions usually pay $50 to $150. That’s its claim, not something we verified. |
| Time investment | 3 / 5 | Sessions take real time, and the company says most people get 1 to 3 invites a month. |
| Payment reliability | 3 / 5 | Paid through Tremendous. The company says most people are paid within 5 to 7 business days. |
| Fees and restrictions | 5 / 5 | Free. No minimum is listed, and Respondent says you’ll never be asked to pay. |
| Privacy | 3 / 5 | You share job and background details so studies can match you. |
UserTesting: best for recorded tests
Research verified: based on published company terms, not independently tested by us.
What it pays: varies. UserTesting says reward amounts depend on test type, length and demand, and your dashboard shows the pay before you take a test. Payment is PayPal only, usually about 14 days after the test.
Time to first dollar: after the application, a practice test, and your first accepted test, plus the 14-day wait.
What it costs: nothing, but you need a microphone and a decent device.
Skip this if… you’re uncomfortable talking out loud while someone watches your screen. Also read recent participant reviews before you invest a lot of hours.
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of getting started | 2 / 5 | Application, a practice test and your first accepted test come before any pay. |
| Earning potential | 3 / 5 | Rewards vary by test type, length and demand. Your dashboard shows the pay up front. |
| Time investment | 2 / 5 | Recorded sessions, and you need a microphone and a decent device. |
| Payment reliability | 3 / 5 | PayPal only, usually about 14 days after the test. |
| Fees and restrictions | 4 / 5 | Free. The minimum isn’t published. |
| Privacy | 2 / 5 | You talk out loud while someone watches your screen, so close sensitive tabs first. |
Grant’s take
Good for a few extra bucks a month. Not a second income. If I had to pick, I’d try Prolific if I could wait for the waitlist and Respondent if my job background fit. Swagbucks and Survey Junkie are fine for filling spare minutes. Treat all of them like loose change, and keep your time for things that pay better.
How to start
- Pick one service from the comparison table.
- Sign up with a separate email address.
- Fill in your profile honestly. Mismatched answers get you disqualified.
- Check the cash-out minimum and how long payment takes.
- Try it for a month and track how much you earn per hour.
How much time to plan for
None of these companies promise a time commitment or an hourly rate, except Prolific’s pay floor. These are my estimates:
- Prolific, Respondent, UserTesting: a wait before the first study or test, then sessions you choose to take.
- Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, Google Opinion Rewards: minutes at a time, with low pay per hour.
If your effective pay is low, stop. Your time is worth more than a few cents a minute.
Privacy and security
- Use a separate email address to keep survey spam away from your main inbox.
- Don’t share your Social Security number or bank login early. Real panels may verify identity later, but not before you’ve earned anything.
- Think hard before opting in to tracking. Survey Junkie’s Surf to Earn shares browsing and app activity. Skipping it earns less but protects more.
- Expect an ID check at some services, such as Prolific and Survey Junkie, before payout.
- Close sensitive tabs before a UserTesting session, since someone watches your screen.
- Read each privacy policy and use a unique password for each account.
Alternatives worth considering
- Cashback on purchases you already make. It can beat surveys per minute. See best cashback apps.
- Freelancing for higher pay. See how to start on Fiverr and Upwork vs Fiverr.
- Selling things you own. See how to flip on eBay.
- Other side hustles. My list of 25 legit side hustles shows what pays better.
Which ones to skip
I don’t name sites I haven’t researched, but I’ll tell you what to avoid:
- Anything that charges you to join. The BBB advises that legitimate survey companies don’t charge fees to take surveys.
- Sites that ask for your Social Security number or bank login up front. Real panels may verify identity later, but not before you’ve earned anything.
- Big promises. If a site claims hundreds of dollars a week, it’s not a survey site.
- “Training” or “certification” fees. The FTC’s job scam guidance says honest employers never ask you to pay to get a job. You can report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Apps that pay only in their own points that you can’t cash out. If the cash-out rules aren’t clear, move on.
Skip this if… a site asks for money before it pays you. That’s the whole test.
How to get the most from survey apps
- Use a separate email address. It keeps survey spam out of your main inbox.
- Complete your profile honestly. Mismatched answers get you disqualified.
- Cash out at the minimum. Points sitting in an account can expire or get lost if the company changes terms. Fetch, for example, says points expire after 90 days of inactivity.
- Limit your time. If the effective pay is low, stop.
- Pair with real income. Surveys don’t replace work. For methods that pay more, see 25 legit side hustles.
Prizes and survey payments can count as taxable income. Ask a tax professional how it applies to you. This is general information, not tax or financial advice.
FAQ
Do survey apps really pay?
Yes, the ones above do, in small amounts. They publish cash-out rules, and I link each one. Don’t expect more than pocket money.
What’s the best-paying survey site?
For stated pay, Prolific publishes a $8-an-hour minimum for researchers. For higher per-session pay, Respondent says interviews usually pay $50 and up, but you need to match a study. None of them promise a monthly total.
How long does it take to get paid?
It varies. Prolific pays within 24 hours after cash-out, once your pay is approved. Swagbucks can take up to 10 business days. UserTesting usually pays about 14 days after a test.
Is it safe to give out my information?
Only share what’s needed. Read the privacy policy, avoid sharing your Social Security number or bank login early, and be careful with features that track your browsing.
Are there better ways to earn small amounts?
Cashback on purchases you already make can beat surveys per minute. I compare them in best cashback apps. For bigger income, try freelancing, such as starting on Fiverr.
Your next step
Pick one service from this list, sign up with a separate email address, and spend 30 minutes on it. If you can’t get to the cash-out minimum in a month, move on to something that pays better. This is general information, not financial advice.
