140-plus Survey Sites Where you can Earn Cash

Christopher Mims | January 18, 2015 | Extra Money | 3 Comments

Survey networks and panels offer a simple way for individuals to earn cash online. Individuals sign up for a survey network or panel, fill out some demographic information and then are offered various types of surveys to complete.

It is possible to cash in with survey sites if you know how to approach them properly. Many folks that I talk to share the same frustrations when it comes to many survey sites: they don’t pay well, qualifying for surveys is difficult and there is no guarantee that my time is going to be rewarded.

I am a member of about a dozen survey panels and it’s true that some are better than others. After a few years of testing out survey sites, I have the following advice that I think will be beneficial for anyone who is trying to maximize their payout with these sites.

Determine how much your time is worth. Many survey sites will tell you how long a survey is going to take and what it is going to pay you if you qualify and complete the survey. The typical length for an average survey is about 20 minutes. So if the survey is going to take 20 minutes and it’s going to pay you $3.00 then your hourly rate is $9.00 an hour. Is that an acceptable pay rate for you? If it is then try and complete the surveys that fall within your acceptable range.

Read about how I make cash at Vindale Research!

Join survey panels with multiple ways to earn. Survey sites like Cashcrate and Branded Surveys not only offer surveys where you can earn cash, but they also pay you for daily polls, completing offers, shopping online, and more. Branded Surveys also pays you a nickel even if you don’t qualify for a survey you try to take (hey it is something).
Take advantage of survey site referral programs. Nearly every survey site out there has a referral program. Once you join a survey panel, you’ll have access to a referral link that is specific to you. Share it on Facebook, email it to friends or put a link on your blog, and for everyone who signs up using it, you’ll receive a commission.
Sign up for multiple survey panels. Every survey panel is a little bit different and can offer you something that another may not. What I’ve learned after doing this for a couple of years is which sites offer the highest paid surveys for me and which ones aren’t really worth the effort. Since every panel typically offers multiple ways to earn, I’d advise you to see what you enjoy the best.
Don’t attempt to complete surveys unless you know how long they are going to take and what they are going to pay. Skip over sites that offer surveys that say things like pay is “variable”. Believe me nothing is more frustrating than spending 30 minutes completing a survey for a quarter in payout.
Pay attention to the survey details and answer the questions honestly. Some sites closely monitor your survey taking activity. Sites tend to provide more higher paying surveys once you have built up the “trust factor” over a period of time.
Determine how much time is realistic for you to spend completing surveys. After you’ve determined how much your time is worth, you may want to set a goal as to how much time you want to spend completing surveys. My personal goal about $200 a month so I spend about 45 minutes a day completing surveys. Many people find it very monotonous, and believe me it can be, so find a good routine for you. Can you sit down and complete surveys on your laptop while you watch TV. How about during your lunch break at work?

Read about more survey sites here.

These survey panels are sites that I currently earn from consistently. Branded Surveys is probably my favorite because it has easy surveys, a low payout at $10 and multiple ways to earn. After you’ve checked out my select recommendations, across down to check out the entire list.