How To? Online Surveys? Wasting Time Or Money?
Introduction
Paid internet surveys will be today’s theme. In particular, I will spend the next few minutes trying to dissuade you from taking paid internet surveys because many people are unaware of the reality about them. There’s a lot of information floating around out there about how to make money online with the suggestion of doing paid online surveys because there are a number of different websites you can sign up on, and you basically just answer the questions they have for you, and you can cash out the same day.
I myself would never do this for a variety of reasons. In order to help you avoid the typical mistakes that many people make when attempting to earn money online, I’m going to share that with you in this material.
My experience with making money online
Before we get into this content For those new to the site, welcome. My name is Mohammed Raza and I’ve been trying to make money online as a full-time income for over seven years. During the first part of the journey I also receive paid surveys. and thought it might be a useful extra income But something didn’t feel right. Especially the idea of giving away my personal information for such a low return. In these articles on Google, I try to publish content that will help those starting this journey to make money online. And it helps them avoid the pitfalls I personally encountered.
The Data Privacy Problem with Surveys
Let’s get started with paid online surveys. There are two things to say here. The first is what happens to the information you enter in these surveys.
Since the data is something that many people don’t discuss, let’s start by discussing it. First things first: You have the option to establish a profile when you register for one of these survey websites. Now, when you create a profile, You will answer specific questions about yourself, such as how old you are. Where you live, what your occupation is, all of this can identify you. Basically what happens is these websites match you up with companies that need information from those types of people. You are telling all these websites exactly who you are and all the specifics about you.
Why I Chose to Avoid Paid Surveys
Now, the website that’s actually giving you the surveys has all of the information about you. Now, it gets worse from there. Every time that you answer a survey from a company, you’re then giving even more information to that specific company. Now, what happens with that data? Nobody really knows. You’re volunteering to give up personal information. This is something that a lot of people who truly understand data and security are very afraid of: voluntarily giving up all of this information to people who you have no idea who they are or what they’re doing with that data. That data could simply just be sold on the black market—all of your information you just voluntarily gave to them, all in the hopes of making a couple of dollars.
How Much Can You Actually Earn?
That brings us into the second point, which is how much you can actually earn from these paid survey sites. So, I’m not someone who will give up my information like this. It’s not worth it. So, for me personally, I won’t be doing this to figure out how much I can earn to give you that information. Rather, I’ve done research and found a credible source that showed how much they earned after 50 hours of doing paid online surveys, split among three different people.
So, this is the source here. It’s an article from NerdWallet, and essentially, they had three different writers go do these paid surveys and give up personal information. Their total time spent responding to paid surveys was fifty hours, and they recorded their earnings from each survey website. Speaking specifically of the money made from these websites, if you read the article all the way through, you will notice that they listed every website and broke it down by the amount of money each one made on an hourly basis.
The Shocking Earning Stats
So, as you look at this list:
OneOpinion, they earned $2.03 per hour on average.
Survey Junkie, which is a huge name in the space, they earned $1.57 per hour.
Opinion Outpost, $1.50 per hour.
i-Say, $1.01 per hour. The same thing for MyPoints. That’s $1.01 per hour.
Swagbucks, which is another really big name that you find in a lot of YouTube videos saying how to make money online with paid surveys, only 89 cents per hour.
Toluna, 71 cents per hour.
Worst on the list is InboxDollars at only 41 cents per hour.
And something that’s really ironic is that InboxDollars is one of the ones that offers new users $5 for signing up. Even after signing up and getting the $5, from doing the surveys, they still only averaged 41 cents per hour.
International Impact on Earnings
So, when it comes to the earnings for paid online surveys, it’s simply not worth it. Something important to note, too, is that in most cases, these rates that you see here—the earnings—are for people that are based in the U.S. As you go to other countries around the world, sometimes the amount that you are paid is cut in half or even less. So even if you see this as a low hourly rate, but you’re expecting it to be higher because in your country or region that might be multiplied in the conversion rate, you still may sign up on the website and earn even less than this amount.
The Risks of Scams
Paid surveys are often promoted as an easy way to make money online, but not all websites are legitimate. Here’s an overview of the some websites you can see:
Legitimacy: Seems questionable
SurveyLama advertises itself as a platform where users can earn money by completing surveys. While it does appear to pay out in some cases, there are numerous user complaints about delayed payments and account suspensions right before payout. This kind of behavior often raises red flags and suggests that while it may pay a small percentage of users, the overall operation may not be fully reliable.
Legitimacy: Likely a scam
This website is rather vague and has very little reliable information about its operation. A website that lacks transparency Limited user reviews And there are no clear details about how the survey or payments work. This should be done with caution. It is reported that Mr-Survey.com Use aggressive advertising strategies and may ask for too much personal information without Guaranteed clear payment
Legitimacy: Trusted but limited
Gaddin.com is a French survey platform that appears to be legit. But there are mixed reviews. By taking part in surveys and other activities, users can get paid. However, the earnings per survey are quite low. And many users find it difficult to reach the minimum payout threshold. Gaddin may be legit. But it might not be worth your time if you’re looking for a lot of income.
Legitimacy: Seems legitimate but with concerns
Surveoo claims to offer surveys for money. And like many survey sites, it appears to work with real users. Income is generally low. Some users have reported slow payments or problems with withdrawals. Although this may not be an outright scam. But it’s important to read user reviews and approach with caution if you decide to try it.
Legitimacy: Not a Paid Survey Platform
Unlike other paid survey websites, SurveyHeart is unique. It is intended to empower clients to make and disperse studies, surveys, tests, and structures, similar to SurveyMonkey or Google Structures. Instead of paying participants, it is mainly utilized by individuals or organizations to gather data. Complete a Survey Despite being a valid tool for survey creation, SurveyHeart is not made to compensate survey respondents.
General Advice for Paid Surveys
Low Earnings: Even legitimate sites usually pay very little per survey. Many users report earning just a few cents to a few dollars per hour.
Privacy risks: Sharing your personal information with survey sites may expose you to privacy risks. Some websites may sell your information to third parties without your explicit consent.
Payment Issues: Many survey sites have high payment limits. This means that a large balance needs to be accumulated before you can withdraw funds. In some cases, the account may be frozen before you can withdraw funds.
In summary, although some of these sites can be paid, the return on investment The time (in terms of time) is usually very low, and the risk to personal data and the chances of late payment and non-payment are high. Always read reviews and research carefully first. Sign up for a paid survey site.
Here’s a list of some popular paid survey websites, including a description of whether they are legitimate and the typical user experience:
1. Swagbucks
Legitimacy: Trusted
Swagbucks is popular and trusted among many survey sites. It doesn’t just offer surveys. But it also helps users earn money by watching videos. Online shopping and Swagbox games are paid via gift cards or PayPal, but survey payouts are relatively low. Users typically earn between $0.40 and $2 per survey, and some surveys can disqualify users after asking a few questions. Which can be frustrating…
Advantages: There are many different ways to earn money. Trusted by users There are a variety of activities.
Cons: Low income per survey. Continuously disqualified.
2. Survey Junkie
Legitimacy: Trusted
Survey Junkie is a legal platform that rewards users for sharing their opinions. Users can redeem points for cash or PayPal gift cards, although the surveys are simple. But the income is low. Most surveys cost between $1 and $3 depending on length. It is not a platform for those who want to make serious money. But reliable for changing a little extra money.
Pros: Easy to use, simple surveys. Very reliable
Cons: Low earning potential. Not everyone qualifies for the survey.
3. InboxDollars
Legitimacy: Trusted but Low-Paying
Similar to Swagbucks, InboxDollars offers a number of revenue-generating activities, such as watching videos, reading emails, and finishing surveys. Users can also get a $5 sign-up bonus, although there is a threshold on the platform, and the bonus is usually less than $1 for each survey. The withdrawal is quite substantial at $30 and can take a while to process.
Advantages: There are many ways to earn. Registration Bonus famous platform
Cons: low survey earnings, high withdrawal criteria, slow earnings.
4. Toluna
Legitimacy: Trusted but Slow Payout
Customers can earn points on the popular survey platform Toluna by filling out surveys and evaluating products. Even while Toluna surveys can take a lot of time and pay out little, you can exchange your points for PayPal money or gift cards. As a result, earning enough points to make a timely payment is difficult. Some customers complain that it takes too long to receive substantial awards.
Pros: Has a wide variety of surveys. Product testing is available.
Cons: Slow earnings, long surveys.
5. Pinecone Research
Legitimacy: Highly Trusted
One of the most reputable survey platforms is Pinecone Research. This is due to the consistent payout and high availability of surveys. Unlike many survey sites, Pinecone Research usually costs around $3 per survey. This is above average. However, this forum is open to invitees only. Therefore, it is difficult to participate. And the number of surveys may be limited.
Pros: High payout per survey, reliable payments.
Cons: Limited survey opportunities, invite-only.
6. Vindale Research
Legitimacy: Trusted but Recently Shut Down
Vindale Research: There was once a popular platform that paid users to take surveys and watch videos. It pays more than most other survey sites, with some surveys costing as much as $50. However, the platform requires users to have a withdrawal amount of up to $50, and Windell’s research can take time to accumulate. Unfortunately, Vindale Research closed in 2021 and users had to move to another platform.
Pros: High paying surveys (before closing)
Cons: Not currently available.
7. PrizeRebel
Legitimacy: Trusted
PrizeRebel is a long-standing survey platform that provides points for surveys. It can be exchanged for PayPal or gift cards. With consistent payouts and a relatively low minimum limit ($5 for PayPal), PrizeRebel is a great option for users who want to win lots of small prizes. However, the disqualification is Surveying can be a problem. Like most forums
Advantages: low payout threshold, fast rewards, many ways to earn.
Cons: frequent disqualifications, too little survey compensation.
8. LifePoints
Legitimacy: Trusted
LifePoints is another well-known service that allows users to accrue points for finishing questionnaires. After that, these points can be exchanged for money or gift cards. This forum has been in existence for a long time and has a good reputation. Like any other survey website, though. There is a very modest fee for each survey. It could also take some time to meet the minimal requirement.
Pros: Reputable, easy to use.
Cons: Low earnings, some surveys take a long time to pay.
9. YouGov
Legitimacy: Trusted but Slow
YouGov is a survey site famous for its political opinion surveys. In general, the survey is interesting. And large enterprises use this platform to collect information about consumer and public opinions. But YouGov’s rewards system is slow, with many users reporting that it takes too long to accumulate enough points to pay.
Pros: Interesting surveys, trusted platform.
Cons: Low payout per survey, slow to reach cash-out threshold.
10. Branded Surveys
Legitimacy: Trusted
Users that complete surveys on the well-known website Brand Surveys earn points that may be exchanged for cash or PayPal gift cards. Branded surveys offer a loyalty program that rewards users who regularly complete surveys. Despite the fact that the amount is fair Users may be disqualified, as is the case with most survey platforms. Point collection may get frustrating as a result.
Benefits include a loyalty program and frequent surveys. as well as numerous withdrawal choices.
Pros: Regular surveys, loyalty program, multiple cash-out options.
Cons: Disqualification from the survey. average salary.
Websites to Avoid:
Survey4Bucks.com: Many users report never receiving payments after completing surveys and facing difficulty with account suspensions.
QuickRewards.net: Although this site has some positive reviews, users often report extremely low earnings and long waiting times for payouts.
CashCrate: This platform was once popular but has received numerous negative reviews regarding payouts and survey disqualifications before shutting down its survey service.
Conclusion
Now I hope this material can help you. And I hope you take that into consideration and help you avoid some of the common mistakes people encounter when trying to make money online. There are other online businesses. There are many more you can start that are legal. And you will make money without giving up your valuable data.
Alternatives I Recommend
Instead of giving up your time for minimal survey earnings, I found much greater success in building an online business through methods like freelancing, affiliate marketing, and especially in my field of link building, which offers far more potential without risking personal privacy.
Although there are legitimate survey sites, the earnings are generally very low and users should be careful about sharing personal information. If you’re looking for a small reward, reliable platforms like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and Pinecone Research are worth taking surveys. However, keep in mind that survey sites are not a reliable source of sufficient income. Furthermore, the time speculation may not generally merit the work. It’s generally really smart to explore overview destinations and check surveys prior to joining to ensure you’re managing a genuine organization.
That’s it for this article. I know it’s short But I hope it’s useful. If you have specific questions Please let us know in the comments, and as always, if you enjoyed this friendly tidbit. Kindly respond in the space provided for comments. Having said all of this, we’ll meet again in the next content.
Call to Action:
If you found this article helpful. Don’t forget to share with others who may benefit! I’d like to hear your opinion. Have you ever tried taking a paid survey? Or are you considering finding one of the alternative online businesses I mentioned? Drop your experiences or questions in the comments below and let’s get the conversation started. If you are looking for more tips on how to make money online or want to know more about my journey in link building. Please stay tuned for my upcoming content! Remember to follow me on social media for the most recent updates as well as subscribe.