How to Find Good Online Surveys

Life is expensive. Keeping up with the bills, paying the mortgage, and buying groceries and other necessities takes a lot of money, and many people have found that the paychecks from their jobs just aren’t enough. In response, many have started looking for ways to earn some extra cash online. While these side-gigs often don’t bring in enough money to replace wages from a regular job, they are a good way to pad your income and help you make ends meet.

There are all sorts of ways to earn a little extra money online, but one of the most popular is taking paid surveys. You’ve probably heard of taking online surveys as a means of earning extra cash, but you may not be sure where to get started. After all, there are plenty of legitimate opportunities out there, but there are also plenty of scams. As a newbie to the world of paid surveys, it can be difficult to distinguish which survey sites are trustworthy and which ones are not.

If you are struggling to figure out how to find good online surveys, keep reading to discover some helpful advice.

Avoid Websites That Charge Membership Fees

Some websites charge membership fees in exchange for access to lists of paid online surveys. They make it sound like their nominal fee allows you to access surveys that you wouldn’t be able to find otherwise, but don’t fall for it. Typically, these websites are little more than a “middleman” that is charging you to access information that you can find elsewhere for free.

These websites also tend to exaggerate how much you can earn by taking the surveys they give you access to. They do this, of course, to make it seem like paying for a membership is a worthwhile investment. Again, don’t fall for it. You should never have to pay to take a survey.

Be Wary of Offers That Seem Too Good to Be True

Have you ever heard the saying, “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.”? This is definitely something that applies to the world of paid surveys. Businesses are often willing to pay survey takers in the form of free products, giveaway entries, and small amounts of cash. While there are some surveys out there that pay big bucks, the vast majority pay under $20. If you find a website that promises surveys that pay hundreds of dollars for your opinions, proceed with caution. There is a good chance that the site you’re looking at is a scam.

Check Privacy Policies

Legitimate paid survey websites will never share your personal information without your consent. Before you join a site, check out the company’s privacy policy. If you are unable to find one or it doesn’t say anything concrete about not sharing your personal information, the site may not be legitimate. While you may not share the sort of information that leads to identity theft, you could be opening yourself up to all sorts of spam emails and phone calls from marketing partners. Save yourself a lot of frustration by only joining sites that respect the privacy of their users.

Check Online Reviews

When you find a survey site that seems legitimate, do a bit of research to learn about other peoples’ experiences. There are all sorts of websites and forums that are dedicated to paid surveys, and members are always willing to warn others about potential scams. A few minutes of research could prevent you from wasting a lot of time taking surveys that will never pay.

Ignore Spam Solicitations

If you open your email account’s spam folder, you’ll probably find at least a few messages promising to pay you for your input. Ignore them. You will never receive a legitimate offer to complete a paid survey in the form of a spam email. In most cases, these emails are trying to get your personal information. Any information you provide will likely be used for other purposes without your consent. Unless you are absolutely certain that an email is from a legitimate survey site or a trusted business, do not click through and submit any of your information.

The Best Paid Survey Sites

The web is filled with survey sites. There are thousands of them out there, and even when you do your due diligence, it’s often hard to separate the good from the bad. Here are a few trusted options that are definitely worth checking out.

Inbox Dollars

Inbox Dollars has been around since 2000 and has paid out more than $57 million. With a history like that, it’s easy to understand why it is one of the most trusted survey sites around. With Inbox Dollars, you can get paid for completing surveys, watching videos, and even playing games.

Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is another trusted source for paid surveys. You earn points for completing surveys, and those points can be converted into cash. The site is user-friendly, and its more than 3 million users agree that it is one of the best survey sites around.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is one of the most popular sites around for earning extra money, and for good reason. In addition to paid surveys, it offers rewards for things like playing games and watching videos. You can even earn cash back by using the Swagbucks search tool instead of a site like Google or Bing.

The sites listed above are all free to join, and you may even earn a bonus simply for signing up. They offer legitimate paid survey opportunities as well as other ways you can earn money. Check them out!

Conclusion

There are thousands of online survey sites, but not all are created equally. You should never have to pay to gain access to a survey, and it’s important to be mindful of how your personal information may be used or distributed. Always make sure to do your homework, or stick to well-known, trusted sites like the ones listed above and you can be on your way to earning extra cash with paid surveys.