Best Survey Apps to Make Extra Money in Your Downtime

Sitting around without any rides to pick up can be frustrating, but you can fill your time with other money-making opportunities like taking surveys.

Rideshare drivers can access most of the best survey apps listed here from their car or anywhere else with an internet connection to fill the gaps between rides and make more money.

Are Survey Apps Legitimate?

Survey apps can definitely be legit and a fun way to make extra money in your downtime between rides. The key is to know the best survey apps that pay well, have many surveys available, and pay within a reasonable time after redeeming your points or rewards.

Additionally, some survey apps are available worldwide, and others operate only in certain countries. Read the app’s fine print before signing up to determine if you’ll qualify.

10 Best Survey Apps to Make Money in Your Downtime

Here’s our list of the top 10 survey apps that you can use to maximize your earnings in your downtime:

• Swagbucks
• Kashkick
• MyPoints
• Prime Opinion
• Opinion Outpost
• Toluna Inflencers
• InboxDollars
• Pinecone Research
• Survey Junkie
• Shopkick

1. Swagbucks

Trustpilot Rating: 4.2 out of 5

Swagbucks is a survey app, but so much more. You can also earn SBs by shopping online, trying new games, and watching videos.

It all sounds too good to be true, but Swagbucks has paid over $5 million to members so far. When you answer surveys or participate in other Swagbucks activities, you earn ‘SBs or Swagbucks.’ Each SB is worth one cent to help you understand how much you’ll earn for each survey.

When you want to redeem your points, you can get cash via PayPal or a prepaid debit card. You also have the option to redeem points for hundreds of different retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Starbucks.

Swagbucks has many surveys available, but if you don’t pass the screener, you won’t earn any points, which can be slightly disappointing. Still, there are usually plenty of surveys to make qualifying at some point possible.

To make it even better, you can earn a $10 sign-up bonus, but to earn it, you must spend at least $25 in a Swagbucks store within 30 days of registering.

Start taking surveys with Swagbucks

2. Kashkick

Trustpilot Rating: 3.8 out of 5

Kashkick is an online platform for members to earn money with surveys, games, and by trying new apps. The difference between Kashkick and others on this list is the large number of offers they’ll present. You can sift through them to determine which is best for you.

You’ll need $10 to cash out on KashKick, and you can mix and match your opportunities to earn cash rather than only answering surveys. A large part of their cash-earning opportunities involve taking advantage of offers. Just be careful, though, as these offers typically cost money after the free trial, so be sure you’re ready to cancel if the offer doesn’t appeal to you. When you’re ready to cash out, they pay via PayPal, usually fairly quickly.

Start taking surveys with Kashkick

3. MyPoints

Trustpilot Rating: 4.4 out of 5

MyPoints is another get-paid-to site, like Swagbucks. They offer many ways to earn money and are one of the best survey apps. You can also earn points on MyPoints when you shop online, play games, and participate in daily challenges.

MyPoints also earned its reputation by paying members for accepting certain offers. While you might have to use a credit card or pay for an offer, there are usually great deals that pay you cash back to try.

As the name suggests, they pay in points. However, you can turn your points in for gift cards to local or online favorites.

As a bonus, MyPoints pays new members $5, giving you more incentive to try it.

4. Prime Opinion

Trustpilot Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Prime Opinion is a newcomer to the survey app world, quickly making a name for itself. They have over 1,000 surveys available in the United States, and the surveys pay up to $5 each.

The cash-out threshold starts at $5, and you can cash out via Venmo, PayPal, or many gift cards; they have 169 rewards in total.

Prime Opinion also pays a $5 welcome bonus to new members, so you can cash out almost instantly.

5. Opinion Outpost

Trustpilot Rating: 4.3 out of 5

Opinion Outpost has over 2 million members, paying them for their opinion. They offer surveys across many categories, allowing you to influence even the biggest brands with your opinions.

Opinion Outpost pays its members around $390,000 a month, with over 3 million surveys available monthly. Like most survey companies, they pay you in points that you can turn into gift cards to your favorite stores and restaurants. If you prefer cash, you can cash out via PayPal.

6. Toluna Influencers

Trustpilot Rating: 4.1 out of 5

Toluna Influencers provides a community where members can share their opinions and be rewarded. They have over 21 million members in 50 countries.

Like most survey sites, you must create a profile. This allows them to match you with surveys that require people from your demographic, and they pay you in points. Toluna offers PayPal cash or gift cards to cash out, and as a bonus, they pay 500 points to sign up for an account.

7. InboxDollars

Trustpilot Rating: 4.2 out of 5

InboxDollars is another one of the best survey apps, but like Swagbucks, it offers other ways to make money, too.

The downside is you must have $30 accumulated before you can cash out, but new members get a $5 bonus to get started. You can also earn money on InboxDollars by shopping online, reading emails, and playing games.

The surveys on InboxDollars pay between $0.50 to $5.00 and take 25 minutes or less to complete. So far, InboxDollars has paid members over $80 million, and they don’t operate in points or any other currency. You’ll know exactly how much cash you’ll earn for each survey or activity.

When you’re ready to cash out, you can get cash via PayPal or gift cards to your favorite stores and restaurants.

8. Pinecone Research

Trustpilot Rating: 2.4 out of 5

Pinecone Research is one of the largest survey apps in the world. They are highly sought after and regularly remove ‘inactive’ members to make room for those who will actively take surveys, so be sure you stay active if you join them.

Like most survey sites in my list, you earn points for completing surveys. Unlike some other survey apps on my list, they don’t pay you for completing what they call ‘Household Questions,’ aka profile updates, but they help you access more surveys.

Another fun way to earn money on Pinecone Research is to try new products or services before they release them to the general public. These are hit or miss, and not everyone gets them, but it’s a fun opportunity if you’re eligible.

9. Survey Junkie

Trustpilot Rating: 4.2 out of 5

Survey Junkie is one of the most well know survey apps. They have millions of members and work with some of the world’s largest brands. Survey Junkie offers a couple of ways to make money.

The first is the standard market research survey. You complete a profile and get matched with surveys. If you qualify, you earn points for your time and can redeem the points for gift cards to your favorite stores and restaurants.

You also have the option to join the SJ Pulse Community, which is behavioral research. This means you give permission to share your browsing activity for SJ Pulse to use for other market research purposes.

To cash out on Survey Junkie, you must have at least 500 points or $5.

10. Shopkick

Trustpilot Rating: 2.4 out of 5

Shopkick is an unusual survey app that provides more variety for members. While you technically aren’t answering surveys, you get paid to take pictures, scan barcodes, and buy items from specific stores with the app. It’s like you’re doing market research for them in person, so they don’t have to.

They also offer ways to make money by shopping online and watching videos. When you’re ready to cash out, they offer many options, including PayPal and gift cards to major establishments. This can be a fun way to kill time if you’re hanging out in an area busier for rideshare driving but are in between rides.

How Taking Surveys Can Help You Earn Extra Cash

Even the best survey apps won’t pay your mortgage, but they can put extra cash in your pocket, supplementing your rideshare earnings! All you have to do is sign up for your favorite apps, create a detailed profile, and accept survey offers when they come. Survey apps are a much easier way to earn money than another side gig, but again, use it as a supplement, not a main source of income.

Most surveys take only a few minutes, but you must complete a screener to ensure you meet the company’s demographic requirements. Each survey is for a specific audience; if you fit the bill, you can take the survey and get paid.

You typically must earn a specific amount of money or points before you can redeem your rewards, but most companies have low thresholds, making it easy to earn extra cash in between rides.

Tips for Maximizing Your Earnings With Survey Apps

The best survey apps offer a fun way to make money in your downtime as a rideshare or delivery driver. They won’t make you rich, but they can be a fun way to earn some extra money.

Making money with  survey apps is as simple as signing up for the apps and answering surveys, but here are some ways to maximize your earnings.

• Set up a separate email account so you don’t miss opportunities; they fill up fast
• Complete surveys as much as possible for more opportunities to earn money
• Sign up for multiple apps; don’t rely on one to earn you extra cash
• Look for the highest-paying surveys to make the most of your time
• Check redemption requirements and cash out for the most rewarding prizes

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FAQs

Are There Any Upfront Costs or Fees Associated With Using Survey Apps?

If a survey app asks you to pay for it, don’t. They aren’t legit. Only sign up for apps that are 100% free and don’t ask for credit card information.

How Much Money Can I Make With Survey Apps?

Each app pays a different amount, but you can expect $1 – $5 for most surveys. The longer the survey, the more they pay. But always read the fine print to know what you can earn.

How Do I Receive Payments From Survey Apps?

Most survey apps pay in points that you redeem for gift cards or cash out. You usually don’t have to link your bank account if you want cash; they’ll pay you via PayPal or Venmo.

How Do I Avoid Survey Scams?

Don’t give out any more personal information than necessary. If a survey app asks for your Social Security number or credit card, it’s a scam. Legit apps only ask for basic information such as your name, address, and age. They aren’t trying to get your personal information, but instead, they are looking at your demographic information to see if you qualify for their surveys.

How Often Do Survey Opportunities Come In?

Every survey app has a different number of surveys, but you can expect to get opportunities several times a day from the busiest apps. This is why setting up a separate email account is important so you don’t miss the opportunities.

Is My Personal Information Safe With Survey Apps?

If you use legit survey apps, your information is safe. They don’t share your name, address, or any other personal information. They only use it to determine if you qualify for the demographic the company requires.