Home » UpMarket

Paid Surveys | Make Money Taking Online Surveys | Reality Check!

Squidster by Squidster
Last updated: 08/02/12

An Honest View of Survey Income Opportunities

Companies around the globe rely on consumer feedback to develop products that sell. Retailers need to measure customer satisfaction to improve their margins and defend or increase their market share. And they are willing to pay for it.

If you have a bit of time to spare, have a computer with internet access, and are comfortable with sharing and expressing your opinion, then taking paid surveys online may be a fun, easy and rewarding source of (extra) income.

I have been filling out surveys for a number of years and am ready to share my experience with you and help you steer clear of scams and time thieves. Anybody interested in this approach to make some extra cash on the web with market research is invited to exchange ideas and experiences here.

What's Here?

  1. Taking Surveys - Will I get Rich?
  2. Recognize who you're dealing with!
  3. Try - Don't Buy!
  4. Top Online Survey Sites for Cash
  5. The Most Important Thing:
  6. So, how much cash can I realistically make from surveys?
  7. More Reputable Survey Companies
  8. Membership Survey Directories
  9. Even More Survey Companies
  10. Basic Tips to Maximize Your Survey Earnings
  11. 6 Easy Tips To Maximize Your Survey Success
  12. France | Fr. Canada | Take Surveys In French
  13. Deutschland | Meinungsumfragen auf Deutsch
  14. Other International Survey Opportunities
  15. About The Referral Of Friends
  16. Are you supplementing your income with online surveys?

Taking Surveys - Will I get Rich?

Hint: Don't quit you day job just yet

Although I realize that everyone might have a different perception of rich-ness it's safe to say - you won't get rich overnight by filling out surveys. But with the right information and mindset you WILL make some decent money.

A lot of survey companies "compensate" you by entering you in their monthly, quarterly, or whenever drawing of varying cash or points prizes. They commonly range from $10 to $100, in some cases even $5,000 to $10,000. The odds of winning depend on the number of entries, but it's safe to say don't expect to win something on a regular basis. If you like the thrill of sweepstakes for BIG money and have lots of spare time, by all means, give it a try.

For the purpose of this lens however, I shall focus more on those companies where you will definitely make some cash, not just lottery tickets, "chances" or alarm clocks.

Bookmark and ShareImportant Tip: Before we dig in please make sure to bookmark this page so you will always find your way back.

Recognize who you're dealing with!

A little caution saves you from tons of SPAM and waste of time and money

If you want to venture out on your own and do some research you will come across a myriad of sites promising you fabulous rewards (like $1,000 gift cards, 60-inch Plasma TVs, Caribbean Luxury Cruises for 4, and the like). You get the idea, if it sounds too good, there's probably a catch.

Once you sign up you will find out that in order to get the promised reward you must first complete a certain number of tasks like applying for credit cards, subscribing to download services, ordering free samples, and the like. Only if you complete all demanded steps, and have them reported back to the marketing site within the alloted time frame, you may be able to receive the reward.

Even if you are willing to do what it takes, it is important to know that these sites are not genuine market researchers. They are marketers who receive commissions from the companies they promote.

Important tip: Always read "the fine print", Terms and Conditions, or whatever it's called, to see what you're dealing with.

Try - Don't Buy!

Join a few sites and test the waters

OK, now that you know who are not real or paying research companies, I will show you some of the genuine market research companies that compensate you adequately for your valuable insight.

Sign up with all of these for starters, submit your profile and take a couple of surveys. This will cost you nothing but a few minutes your time. Membership is always free.

If nothing else, register with my favorite and recommended panels and see what it's all about. To receive survey invitations, you will need to submit one or more profiling questionnaires so that the surveying company can pre-select you for their client's specific requirements.

You may have to wait a few days before a suitable survey opportunity comes along. Monitor your email inbox and jump at every invitation sent your way.

Top Online Survey Sites for Cash

Proven and trustworthy

These are real research sites that are 100% free to join. They send meaningful surveys on a regular basis and I can personally attest that they pay up as promised. I have actually received checks or PayPal for cash and tons of neat stuff to test. If you are serious about giving online surveys a try, you should definitely start with these companies before anything else!

Knowing what a real company looks like will also help you avoid the hordes of look-alikes who are only after your email addresses to spam you.
  1. Ipsos i-Say
    Ipsos is one of the largest and most respected survey-based research companies in the world. In addition to your monetary survey compensation there are several very interesting prizes to be won, like gift cards or even a car! Well, I've not won a car (yet) but I'm not waiting for it either. For responding to survey invitation, you usually get a few points even if you don't qualify for the entire survey. At the end of each survey is a fun little game where you can win some cool prizes. Earned points can be redeemed for gift cards to any retailer you can think of. From Amazon to Walmart, hundreds of different merchants and services. This makes it as good as cash.
  2. Toluna (USA)
    Toluna was formerly known as Greenfield Online. They send by far the most number of survey invitations, sometimes multiple times a day. Most surveys pay only pennies, but if you respond to a lot of surveys (and qualify) then this can eventually add up. Toluna also has survey panels in several other countries. See below in the International Survey Sites section.
  3. Survey Savvy
    SurveySavvy sends well targeted surveys, infrequently at first until you complete your profile. They offer cash rewards, not points, lottery tickets or other gimmicks. I receive more $20+ surveys from SurveySavvy than any other research panel. You can request a check of your earnings anytime you like, no need to rack up a threshold amount. This is just one reason why SurveySavvy is at the top of my favorites list. They also have the most generous referral bonus which compensates you for every friend you refer, as long as you are an active member. I believe every family should have at least one SurveySavvy member!
  4. MySurvey
    This is another reputable market research company with a rewards program. You receive points for every survey, even short screeners. If you qualify for the entire survey you might be offered a higher reward. Points can be converted to cash after reaching a certain threshold. You also have the choice of charity donations, merchandise or raffle tickets.
  5. Opinion Outpost
    Whoa! Opinion Outpost adds a bit of Western fun to the serious survey business. Their bounty is real though, generally between $2 and $5 for regular surveys. US and Canada residents only.
  6. American Consumer Opinion
    ACOP rewards its survey panelists with cash for every survey taken, and also offers monthly member cash draws. Accepts participants from around the world. Available in most major languages.
Important!

The Most Important Thing:


  • You never need to pay a reputable research company to join!

  • Trust your instinct!

  • If it sounds too good to be true, it usually most certainly is!

So, how much cash can I realistically make from surveys?

Where's the money? Show me the money!

Some survey sites actually pay cash for a completed survey, commonly between $1 and $5. Survey length ranges generally from a few minutes to about 30 minutes. You may have heard claims that a 5 minute survey earns you $25 or more, and that you can take as many of these surveys as you like on any given day... well, I don't know about that. I'm not saying that's impossible, but it's not realistic either in my opinion.

Few companies pay out your reward immediately, either by mailing you a check or for smaller amounts commonly via PayPal. If you don't already have an account with PayPal, you should definitely sign up for one before registering with the survey sites. It's free, fast and easy to join.

The majority however, reward you with their own currency or "points", which you can accumulate and upon reaching a certain threshold, exchange for cash, gift cards, merchandise, lottery tickets, or a donation to your favorite charity.

Bottomline: The average person will not earn enough to quit a regular job. Depending on your profile, how many companies you join, and how much time you devote each day, you can expect to make at least $500 realistically. That's not including any sweepstakes or lottery winnings, which depend purely on your luck, of course. So for most, it's a nice and very easy extra money.

So far, so good. You have access to a computer and the internet, you're eager to share your opinions and help shape the future of new products and services, and you have plenty of time on your hands. So why will you not get rich overnight?

The main reasons are that you will have to fit a certain, sometimes very narrow, profile for a particular survey, and you will only get a limited number of survey invitations sent your way. So again, sign up with as much survey companies as you can find.

More Reputable Survey Companies

Sign up for as many as you can

If you have taken a couple of surveys and think you could handle more then here's a handy link list for you. Not all of them pay cash; some pay with points, raffle tickets, or other commodities. They may not promise you a fortune, but they are honest and free of scams. (At least the last time I checked.)

This list keeps on growing as I find the time, so please come back once in a while for more scam-free survey opportunities.

Bookmark and SharePlease make sure to bookmark this page so you will always find your way back to work your way through the list.
SurveySpot.com
Survey Spot usually pays $1 to $5 per survey plus has an instant slot-machine type game for a chance of more prizes. Minimum payment threshold is $5, to request a check from them. That's very nice.
Harris Poll Online
Global research company that almost anyone anywhere in the world can join (exceptions: Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria.) Supports several languages: English (US and UK), French, German, Spanish, Italian.
ePoll Surveys
Members accumulate points they can exchange for gift certificates like Amazon.com or McDonalds, or donate to charity. US residents only.
ZoomPanel
Presently, the ZoomPanel program is open to legal residents of the US, Canada, United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
Socratic Forum
Surveys mostly about new technologies and software, e-commerce innovations, business-to-business products and services. Good for people who have a business.

Note: If you register through my link we'll both be entered for a $5,000 drawing.
Surveys.com
EDIT: They seem to "award" sweepstakes entries now instead of points or cash :( Be sure to read their terms thoroughly before signing up. A multi-national market research organization with languages available: English (US and UK), Espanol (Spanish), Francais (French), Nederlands (Dutch) and Italiano (Italian). Other languages coming soon!
Pinecone Research
PineCone Research is a great company to do surveys for IF you manage to get on their panel. You can't just go to their site and sign up. You can only get invited by a current member. The only other way you can become a member is by spotting one of their banners, which appear sporadically on all sorts of websites. After years of keeping an eye out I finally came across one on a totally unrelated site. So, if you see a banner for PineCone Research be sure to jump on it!

Membership Survey Directories

Are they a Scam?


Survey ScoutAs a general rule, you do not need to pay anything to join a bona fide survey panel! Yet in your quest for online survey companies you undoubtedly came across sites that claim to provide you with unlimited surveys that will earn you tons of money. To join, they will charge a fee of anywhere from $29 to $49.

Once you join you will find that they provide you with lists of survey companies, similar to those I have listed here for free. You will still need to go and sign up with those companies, the people who sold you the information WILL NOT do that for you. They will also NOT provide you with paid surveys! Not all of their links are to reputable market research companies. Some will just send you off into a web of affiliate businesses, which will cost you enormous amounts of time and privacy, at best. In the end you will have made them a nice sum of affiliate revenue, if you click on everything they encourage you to.

So, are they a scam? I wouldn't go so far to claim this, but some of them are borderline for trying to delude you into thinking that they will provide you with surveys, and that you can earn $150 or more per hour. In any case, if you don't have the time, persistance and perseverance to locate lucrative survey companies and other work from home opportunities yourself, I can suggest you give Survey Scout a try. They have been around for a long time and offer a money back guarantee. In addition to survey companies, they also feature lists of other sites that pay you to shop (mystery shopper), eat, and do other stuff.

Just realize that YOU are paying THEM to provide you with information. Nothing more and nothing less. If it doesn't work for you, you can take them up on their satisfaction guarantee.

Even More Survey Companies

Can't get enough of doing surveys?

Here are some more companies that provide survey opportunities. They are all proper market research panels, but they're just not my favorites for various reasons. This doesn't mean that you will necessarily feel the same way about them; they're ok if you have no other survey choices for that day.
Mindfield Online
MindField Online is the online data collection child of McMillion Research. They have been in business almost 30 years now and have a worldwide clientele. A very reputable research company, which pays cash for every survey you participate in! Minimum payment threshold is $10.

Basic Tips to Maximize Your Survey Earnings

General stuff you should consider

You won't get a lot of targeted survey invitations that pay handsome rewards right from the start. But there are some pointers that will help you maximize the earning potential and lay the ground work for a successful relationship with your market research company:
  • Once you register with a panel make sure you fill out all available initial profiling surveys. These come either in the form of an "about me" survey or can consist of several short profile quick matches. These are a prerequisite to receive relevant survey invitations.
  • Provide accurate contact information. You want to make sure that you'll receive your checks, samples, gift or merchandise.
  • Be truthful in your answers. At the very least, be consistent, especially when it comes to personal questions about you. The survey companies will sometimes cross-check your information and might disqualify you if your answers don't measure up.
  • Respond promptly to survey invitations. Especially to those with a financial compensation. The survey companies usually need only a certain number of respondents and available spots fill up very fast. Sometimes in a matter of a few hours.
  • Don't get discouraged if, after a few screening questions, you don't qualify for the whole survey. The more you respond promptly to invitations the more chances you will get in the long run.
  • Product tests are a fun respite from tedious survey business. Often not readily recognizable at the start, you will receive full-size product samples, commonly of personal care items, household stuff or novelty foods.

    No, contrary to what you may have heard, Plasma TVs and digital cameras get tested elsewhere...

    However, you usually get to keep the products, even if only a small portion is used for the test. They are generally ready to market so you don't need to feel like a lab rat. In addition, you often get a financial incentive for submitting an evaluation of the product(s). Sometimes even multiple times if follow-up surveys are required.
  • Important Reminder: In my experience, survey invitations often get stuck in Spam filters. It is important to add their email address to your whitelist. Check your Spam folders occasionally if something was not delivered to you. It's really upsetting to miss out on a big paying survey!

6 Easy Tips To Maximize Your Survey Success

Advanced tips for long-term success

OK, so you've taken a couple of surveys, had enough fun to keep you going, lost the "get-rich-overnight-without-any-effort" illusion, and want to crank your earnings up a notch. Here's some advice that might be helpful to reach that goal:
  1. Sign up with any and all survey companies, market research institutes, or whatever they call themselves. Get on as many panels as you possibly can. Every site sends infrequent invitations, and you won't pass each and every qualifying screener. Your only recourse to keep busy is to have as many sources for paid surveys as possible.
  2. If you want to make serious cash you have to treat this as a business, or like a real job. Taking one survey every now and then is not going to line your pockets wth gold. You have to invest regular hours just like with most other jobs. The bonus part is that you can more or less choose your own hours and work as much or as little as you like.
  3. Don't wait for $100 surveys. In the beginning, take every survey that you get invited to, even if it doesn't offer a king's ransom. Normal, everyday surveys pay between $1 and $5. Not much, it seems. The money is in the volume, so take 10 or more surveys a day if you can.
  4. Sometimes the gems reveal themselves only to the faithful. Meaning, in some cases the reward will be much greater than initially announced. The survey companies want to insure that they have the right person for the job and so will reveal the reward during the course of the survey if you fit into the profile. This prevents dishonest panelists from trying to guess the desired anwers only to collect the reward.
  5. Be on the lookout for invitations to focus groups. These are either online or offline sessions of approximately 60 to 90 minutes duration with an interviewer or moderator. Here is also where the famed $150 compensations are to be found, occasionally. Online sessions commonly pay $20 to $30. You can imagine that these gigs are high in demand, so if you're lucky enough to be invited to one you should respond as quickly as possible, mark your calendar and show up early.
  6. Make use of the friend referral bonus! Many survey companies credit you with extra points or a small reward (typically around $1 - $2) for any referrals that join the panel. You'll be doing your friends a valuable service and make an extra buck here and there.

France | Fr. Canada | Take Surveys In French

The following survey companies offer panel memberships in French, either for panelists living in France or Canada.

TNS, through NFO MySurvey

Global Test Market accepts members in France only (not Canada):

www.GlobalTestMarket.com

Deutschland | Meinungsumfragen auf Deutsch

Germany | Take Surveys In German

1. Toluna Deutschland. Anmeldung muss per Post bestaetigt werden.

2.

3. TNS, ueber NFO MySurvey

4. Testraum.de. Betreibt Marktforschungs-Panels in Deutschland, Oesterreich und der Schweiz.

Other International Survey Opportunities

Parlez vous survey?

Just as the large corporations do global business, many survey companies maintain panels in different countries around the globe.

Some key players even have national websites for their local target markets. I have just started to look into this so hopefully this list will continue to grow.
  • --------------------------------------------------------
    Italy / Italia / Italiano:
    --------------------------------------------------------


    test new products



    TNS, through NFO MySurvey

  • --------------------------------------------------------
    Spain / Spanish / Español:
    --------------------------------------------------------



    TNS, through NFO MySurvey

  • --------------------------------------------------------
    GREECE / Greek:
    --------------------------------------------------------

    Test & Vote Greece. Must confirm membership by mail!

  • --------------------------------------------------------
    United Kingdom / UK:
    --------------------------------------------------------

    1.


    2.

    3. TNS, through NFO MySurvey
  • --------------------------------------------------------
    Portuguese:
    --------------------------------------------------------

About The Referral Of Friends

Share your success with friends and family

As mentioned earlier, many survey companies pay you a small token of appreciation to refer others to their panels. This is a nice way to spruce up your survey earnings.

If you've had success with a particular survey company chances are that someone you know would welcome your invitation to make some extra money.

Most people looking for an honest and easy income opportunity on the internet are grateful for a personal referral of an opportunity that really works.

Are you supplementing your income with online surveys?

Let me know what you think

I hope you have enjoyed this lens and found some useful information. There really are legitimate survey companies and is definitely possible to supplement your income by filling out surveys.

But there are so many predators out to make a quick buck off of people looking for ways to make money on the Internet. Please don't be one of them!

I would also suggest that you bookmark this page so you can always refer back to it. If you have friends who are also looking for some extra income from home please feel free to forward this page to them.

Thanks for visiting, and good luck with your survey success!

submit
  • Reply
    robertbell Oct 31, 2011 @ 9:08 am | delete
    Great Lens. Looks like you a lot of the info you need to become a successful paid survey taker. Good Job
  • Reply
    kas188 Oct 27, 2011 @ 12:25 pm | delete
    Hi, I am new to surveys and live in Spain. Can somoene tell me which are the companies to register with which are asking for surveys in this part of the world.
    I found the website very helpful, truely an honest view which is hard to come by these days.
    Thanks
  • Reply
    Starving_Artist Oct 6, 2011 @ 9:18 am | delete
    I do well on survey making...it can be tedious but worth the time for sure...and your right never pay to get a list or join a site
  • Reply
    Mclure2 Oct 5, 2011 @ 10:33 pm | delete
    Very useful information. The way you convey your ideas to your audience is very articulate
  • Reply
    davespeed Sep 28, 2011 @ 8:38 am | delete
    Thank you so much! I wanted to learn more about paid surveys, but knew that there was a lot of garbage out there...I wanted to get info that I could trust, so I was delighted to find your lens on Squidoo. Thank you for sharing your experience. I have bookmarked your lens and plan on coming back. Thanks again!
  • Reply
    Tia2 Apr 1, 2011 @ 7:23 am | delete
    Nice list - definitely worth looking into. I remember researching this a few years ago and giving up in frustration but this guide should help - thanks.
  • Reply
    EllipticalTrainersGuide Mar 21, 2011 @ 11:06 pm | delete
    great information thanks for sharing
  • Reply
    fashionality Feb 6, 2011 @ 11:20 pm | delete
    Great!
  • Reply
    miaponzo Jan 27, 2011 @ 8:19 am | delete
    Very interesting! Thanks!
  • Reply
    george185 Jan 26, 2011 @ 7:35 pm | delete
    I make a good amount of money taking online surveys. Good information here for those who are thinking about it.
  • Reply
    KokoTravel Jan 9, 2011 @ 4:19 pm | delete
    Great Advice on getting paid for doing surveys... Thanks!
  • Reply
    dc64 Dec 30, 2010 @ 1:18 pm | delete
    Very nicely done. I've been doing surveys for some of the same companies in your favorites list, and they are truly legitimate.
  • Reply
    Dec 19, 2010 @ 3:25 am | delete
    Some great, honest info here. Thanks for taking the time to put this survey collection together.
  • Reply
    leesublime Nov 30, 2010 @ 4:09 pm | delete
    Do any of them pay minimum wage? Maybe it's just me but I look at the length of the survey for the money and think, "How do they get people to do that?"
  • Reply
    Squidster Dec 4, 2010 @ 5:40 pm | delete
    I agree especially in the beginning, that if you calculate hourly "wages" it seems like not a big amount. But for one, if you stick with it you will be able to pick and choose only the higher paying surveys. It does add up. Now I still wouldn't recommend quitting a regular job for this, but if you have spare time and need a bit of extra cash even "minimum wage" is better than nothing. Besides, it's all relative. :)
  • Reply
    Deeishere Nov 22, 2010 @ 10:22 am | delete
    Good information. I also have a online surveys lens. I have been doing surveys since 1997. I agree that when you are consistent and faithful, so many opportunities open up. I have done so many testers, special assignments that paid me $100 for a 2 week project. I have been in focus groups that paid $300. Not to mention that if you are doing surveys that pay 2-5 dollars per day and you have several companies that adds up.
  • Reply
    MICHELLE B Jan 12, 2012 @ 9:31 am | delete
    can you share what companys add up. PLEASE
  • Reply
    JoanneOtt Nov 19, 2010 @ 4:30 pm | delete
    This is really good information to have. Glad to know there are honest companies that do pay, and also appreciate your honesty that it's a good way to make extra money, but we shouldn't expect to become wealthy at it. The best thing is it's free money.
  • Reply
    Andrew_Pardi Nov 12, 2010 @ 2:37 pm | delete
    My favorite is surveyspot.com I tried a few but I always seem to be on surveyspot the most
  • Reply
    fargasch Oct 27, 2010 @ 8:07 am | delete
    I have been taking online surveys for the past 8 years, and the most rewarding part for me are the product tests. Not only do I enjoy getting all the product freebies, but it allows me to keep an open mind about products that I might not otherwise use. I swear I'll never have to buy shampoo and body lotion again! :-)
  • Reply
    Squidster Oct 27, 2010 @ 11:56 am | delete
    Yep, I love those, too. Getting free products and getting paid to answer a survey about them afterward - nice!
  • Reply
    javrsmith Oct 26, 2010 @ 6:14 pm | delete
    I also found that the surveys took too much time for the money offered. I didn't know about some of them that you mentioned, though.
  • Reply
    Squidster Oct 27, 2010 @ 12:04 pm | delete
    Yeah, I wouldn't quit a job to do surveys, but if you have nothing else to do it beats watching soap operas on TV. ;) Plus, it does add up eventually and if you stick with it you WILL get survey opportunities that pay much better. Focus groups, for example, but it may take some time before you get invited to those.
  • Reply
    CynzdaReveur Oct 23, 2010 @ 11:50 am | delete
    Hey, what an informative lens..thanks..;)
  • Reply
    kimark421 Oct 17, 2010 @ 8:23 am | delete
    Nice lens. I did the survey thing for awhile, but really couldn't justify the time spent with the money earned. But, hey, that's just me. I do think you have covered most of the legitimate companies on your lens, which should be a great service to those looking to get into taking surveys. Great job!!
  • Load More
Show All

This UpMarket page written by

Squidster

Hi, thanks for stopping by my lens about paid online surveys! 
I've wasted a lot of precious time and money when I first looked for survey opportunities... more »

Deluxe. Remarkable. Creative. Unusual. Successful. Upmarket businesses push the envelope -- does yours?

Connect with UpMarket