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Want to earn some extra money in your downtime? If you like giving opinions online or doing short tasks, we’ve got some legitimate platforms to recommend.
We’ll focus on Inbox Dollars and Swagbucks, two of the best survey sites that give their members many opportunities to earn.
Learn more about each site’s offerings so you can choose which to start with to make some fun money!
What is Inbox Dollars?
Founded in 2000, Inbox Dollars has paid over $80 million to its members for completing surveys, polls, quizzes, and other activities. It’s free to join, and upon activating the account, you’ll receive a $5 cash bonus!
Reputable magazines and news outlets like Forbes, Mashable, and Bustle have also featured this popular platform to their readers.
How to Make Money on Inbox Dollars
Surveys are the main money maker on Inbox Dollars, but there are plenty of other options, so you won’t get bored. Depending on the task, you could earn from $0.50 to $5, varying time commitments from a few minutes to thirty. If your profile matches what some of their brand partners want, earnings could be $10-$20+ per survey!
Completing your profile is the most important thing you can do after signing up, as it’ll help them match you with the right surveys. Plus, you’ll get $0.50 just for filling it out.
Expect these other ways to make money on the site:
- Trying out new-to-you games
- Watching videos
- Online shopping
- Reading emails
- Grocery shopping
- Trying out interesting apps
- And more
“This company is LEGITIMATE, a great way to make a few extra bucks or gift cards in your spare time. Many different ways to earn, AND they do pay. I’ve been a member for over 6 years longer than any other app like this.” – Danny
How to Cash Out on Inbox Dollars
When completing surveys and tasks, you earn cash, not reward points. So it’s clear how much you’re earning!
Once you’ve reached the minimum $15 threshold, you can cash out your earnings on PayPal, a prepaid Visa card, or one of their e-gift card options.
How to Get Started on Inbox Dollars
It’s simple and free to get started!
- Head to Inbox Dollars and register
- You’ll get a $5 cash bonus for activating your account
- Complete your profile. It’ll only take a few minutes, and you’ll be eligible to take more surveys. Plus, you earn $0.50 just for doing it!
- Complete the “to-do list” to get a feel for how the platform works and earn another $0.50
- Explore the site and pick tasks that interest you to earn more money
What is Swagbucks?
Founded in 2008, Swagbucks is another popular online rewards program by parent company, Prodege, LLC. that has paid out over $604 million in cash and gift cards to its members so far. Over 7,000 gift cards are redeemed daily!
It’s free to join and you’ll get a $10 cash bonus equivalent when you spend at least $25 in their store with featured brand partners. Start with other free opportunities to make money if you don’t want to shop!
How to Make Money on Swagbucks
Users can earn $50 to $250 a month, depending on the time spent. There are also “super users” who’ve earned at least $20,000 just by using Swagbucks!
Similar to Inbox Dollars, you’ll utilize your phone or laptop for different ways to earn money on Swagbucks:
- Answering surveys
- Shopping online (cash back rebates at over 10K stores)
- Playing games
- Redeeming Swag codes
- Scanning receipts
- Trying free samples
- Watching short videos
- Discovering new products and services
On Swagbucks, you’ll earn a currency called SB (aka Swagbucks points) for completing tasks.
Every 100 SB is worth $1.00, so it’s an easy conversion of moving over two decimal places.
How to Cash Out on Swagbucks
You can cash out as little as 100 SB ($1 worth), and $1.00 gift card options are available.
Popular options include redeeming your SB into Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Starbucks gift cards. You can also redeem it for PayPal cash, which gives you more flexibility on where to use the money. Another option is to receive a check, but that takes the longest to receive, and it needs to be made and mailed out. You can also donate to charity if you wish.
We suggest either PayPal cash or an e-gift card, as it can take 1-3 days to receive or even earlier!
How to Get Started on Swagbucks
- Sign up for Swagbucks for free (it takes less than a minute!)
- Complete the profile quiz, which takes a few minutes
- Verify your email to earn 30 SB
- Explore the top and free offers to earn some money
- Complete surveys to earn more
“The points add up quickly. I have redeemed $30 worth of gift cards for doing things I love. (Such as answering surveys and polls…) Also, with virtual gift cards, you receive them quickly, & they are simple to use online.” – Wendy M.
Inbox Dollars vs. Swagbucks
Both platforms offer similar ways to earn money, such as taking surveys, playing games, watching videos, using their search engine, etc.
However, Inbox Dollars will show your earnings in dollars and cents, while Swagbucks will show them in SB points that you’ll need to convert. Inbox Dollars also has a higher $15 threshold payout, while Swagbucks lets you cash out with 100 SB ($1).
And while Inbox Dollars launched 8 years earlier than Swagbucks, Swagbucks has paid out more money to its members over the years.
If you like the more straightforward approach to cash rewards and don’t mind accruing until you get to the $15 payout, go for Inbox Dollars.
However, you might prefer Swagbucks because it offers lower minimum payouts ($1) and more flexibility with rewards and earning options.
The Bottom Line
It’s important to understand that NEITHER of these platforms is an income replacement. You will still need a full-time job or another primary source of income.
These platforms are good for earning some extra money to help out the household or fund your pick-me-ups (coffee?) and other small vices.
You may choose one over the other depending on how you prefer your rewards to be shown and how fast you want to cash out. However, if you want to maximize your earnings, there’s no rule saying you can’t sign up for BOTH to see which you prefer!
*Swagbucks $10 Bonus is given in the form of points. Applicable when you spend at least $25 at a store featured in Swagbucks.com/Shop within 30 days of signing up.
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