Paid online surveys have become one of the most popular “work from home” niches these days.
For many people, online surveys are a great way to spend downtime at the office and earn a little extra cash.
However, everybody seems to have an opinion about taking online surveys for money and it is very difficult to say who is correct.
Some people claim that they are legit, while others say that they are just scams.
If you are thinking of taking online surveys for money and are confused about whether you should pay to join survey sites, this article is for you.
In this article, we’ll be looking at so-called paid surveys and find out whether they are worth it?
What are Paid Surveys?
Online paid surveys are questionnaires that consist of a series of questions around a specific topic and you can access through the internet or are often delivered to you via phone or email.
The purpose of these surveys is to collect huge volumes of quantitative data about the participant’s personal and economic habits set against their specific demographic and gain a deeper understanding of their opinions and preferences.
Survey websites usually ask respondents to complete a series of profiling and screening questions to determine if they are suitable for the survey including their personal information.
Also Read: How Long Does It Take To Complete A Survey?
How Much Do They Pay?
The rewards for the paid surveys can range from a dollar to $10 to $20. The minimum wage is $7.25 per hour and hourly income ranges from 41 cents to $2.03.
Most survey sites require you to have a minimum number of points before you could redeem them for the rewards.
Is it Worth it to Pay to Join the Survey Sites?
Never sign up for any survey site that requires you to pay a fee to access a paid online survey.
Survey sites that ask you to pay money before doing anything are probably a scam, and by taking those surveys, you not only give up your personal information to the survey sites but also waste your valuable time that could be spent on other things that will actually make you money.
Paid surveys are only worth it if you have realistic expectations, but if you expect to earn a full-time income from taking surveys, you will be disappointed. It is a lot less lucrative than many companies would have you believe.
The money you make by taking paid online surveys is meager and there are much better ways to make money out there.
Reg Flags To Look For in a Paid Survey Site
There are many survey sites on the internet to safeguard yourself against scams. Here are some red flags to look for in a paid survey site:
- Asking for your Credentials: All survey sites will require some amount of your personal information. However, if you are being asked to provide your credit card details, bank account details, Social security number, etc., then never give away such information, as it is definitely a scam.
- Vague information: The information on the survey site regarding payout should be clear and understandable. If the reward or payout structure isn’t clear, then you should avoid such sites.
- Offering too good to be true payouts: Survey sites cannot make you rich even if you take a really long survey. So if an online survey site is offering you very large payouts, it is most likely a scam and is just a tactic to lure you in.
- You are asked to pay fees: Some survey websites might ask you to pay a fee in return for a weekly list of surveys that you can take. But a legit survey site will never ask you to pay anything and websites asking for fees for taking a survey are scams.
Things to Know Before Taking Paid Surveys
Even with a lot of drawbacks, paid surveys are still an attractive option for some folks to kill time and make some bar money.
Here are some things you must keep in mind if you take online surveys to guard yourself against online scams:
- Sign With a Separate Email
Even if the survey site seems legitimate, never sign up with your private email account. Always register with a separate email account from free webmail sites like Hotmail or Yahoo!
- Look for the Privacy Policy
Fraudulent survey sites usually don’t have a privacy policy as their main intention is to steal the unsuspecting participant’s personal information.
Make sure to read all the privacy statements and disclaimers carefully before signing up.
- Don’t Overshare
Never share too much of your personal information like your social security number, bank account details, passwords, and driver’s license number. Answering normal questions is fine, but never overshare your details.
- Install Anti-malware Software
Many paid survey sites redirect you to spammy third-party websites that could harm your computer. To keep yourself secure, make sure to install reliable anti-malware software.
- Look for Reviews
Before signing up on any survey platform, look for online reviews on sites such as TrustPilot, Google reviews, etc. This will help you to determine if the site is good or not based on what users are saying about the platform.
Also Read: What Is A Product Testing Program?
10 Highest Paying Survey Sites
Wrapping Up
The crux of the matter is no online survey sites should ask to pay a fee. And if you stumble upon a site that asks you to do this, then you are on the verge of being scammed.
In this article on should you pay to join money-making survey sites, we shared the red flags, tips, and tricks to avoid getting into the trap of these scam websites. We hope this was useful.
FAQ
Are survey sites for money legit?
There are plenthy of survey sites that promise to pay money and other rewards, but not all of them are legit.
Some survey sites will simply lure you in and will offer nothing after you finish the survey.
Make sure to follow the tips shared in the article above to safeguard yourself against fake survey-for-money websites.
Why do some companies pay you for taking surveys?
The feedback from the consumer helps companies to determine the flaws in their products and helps them in making the necessary changes before launching the product in the market.
This is the reason why companies pay you for taking surveys and for giving your time.
Which are the best legit survey sites for money?
These are some of the best survey sites for money:
Amit Gupta is the founder of National Planning Cycles, a company that helps startups, individuals, and small businesses with their financial planning. He has a vast amount of experience in the finance sector, having managed Google Play accounts for some of the world’s most successful unicorns. Amit is an expert in his field, and he uses his knowledge to help others achieve their individual goals.