Survey Sites

Willing to give your view on the Labour Party, answer questions about your sex life, or test out the latest moisturiser? If so, it’s possible to earn £100s a year, without any special skill or talent. It’s all about stashing cash from filling in online surveys or taking part in focus groups, and this is a detailed guide, including the best survey sites to try.

Why they pay.

Marketing is big business. By learning to target products at the right people, companies cut advertising spend and increase sales. Add to that the focus group world of politics and the media, and it’s clear why business will pay for your time and opinions.

Better still, because the whole point is focusing on different types of people, you don’t need to be qualified: you just need to be you. And most of us can manage that!

There are three main ways to take part:

	Online survey sites. Simply sign up, and you’ll be sent questionnaires to do online. You have to do quite a few to make serious money, but it’s easy, involves no travel and can be done in your own time. See the Survey Sites section.
	Focus groups. Here you need to go in person or to an online chat forum at a specified time. The interviewer will spend a few hours getting your views, reactions or opinions on a product tested. The pay’s good: often £50 per two-hour session. See the Focus Groups section.
	Paid reviews. Here you test products, and either get them free or get paid. It can be a great way to grab freebies. See the Paid to Review section.

Survey sites: earn £100s from home

Online surveys pay cash for your opinions. All you have to do is sign up, wait for survey alerts to land in your inbox, then zip through the questions. The survey site’ll then add cash to your account. It’s an easy way to get extra pin money on the side.

The polls are often fun. You get to vent about everything video games to your sex life – and get paid for doing it.

How much do they pay?

It’s between 10p and £3 a survey. Yet sites don't handover cash there and then, you first need hit the payout threshold, eg, £30. Only then can you withdraw the loot, generally via Paypal or in high street gift vouchers.

One downer is you’ve no control over how many surveys you’re picked for, so it can take a while to hit the threshold. And if you give up, it means the surveys were done for nowt. For this reason, it’s important to understand:

It’s not quick cash, but it’s nice extra income, provided you consistently fill out the surveys, and have a little patience.

Dedicated survey stashers can make c. £200 a year in cash and vouchers. Many tuck away the cash or vouchers for Christmas, lopping a handy chunk off their pressie bill.

Here are a few examples from the Forum:

MoneySaver evab: “I must have earned between £200 and £300 in vouchers and cash over the last 18 months. As long as you're patient, then it's well worth it.”

MoneySaver Homeworkeruk: “I tend to earn £50-£100 from surveys in an average month.”

Moneysaver tsharp: “I just got £270 worth of stuff from Amazon, and used £80+ of vouchers from surveys. Plus I'd already used loads over the course of the year for Xmas presents.”

Tips before you begin

Before you become a survey stasher, there are a few things worth knowing. First get a spare email account; as well as being a quick way to check the surveys you’ve been allotted, this means less spam to other email addresses. As a powerful free option, Gmail is among the best.

• Never pay to become a member!

  There’s a glut of survey sites on the internet charging up to £80 to register, promising to pay £100s after you’ve coughed up. Never, ever pay to register with a survey site. All the good ones are free, and it means you can’t lose anything.

• Sign up to a number of different sites.

  This both gives both a range of surveys, and should mean you hit payout thresholds regularly, producing a steady income stream.

• Cash in as soon as you reach the threshold.

  Don’t store £100s up in survey accounts. Survey companies are not banks; there’s no protection if one closes, taking your cash with it. When a previous survey firm closed down, many lost money. So cash in the points the second the threshold’s hit.

• Beware the ‘screenout’.

  Some survey companies have a cheeky habit of asking several questions, then suddenly announcing that you don’t qualify. Fine if it’s only a few secs, but frustrating if 10 mins’ time’s donated for nowt. The list of top survey sites below notes the worst offenders, but in the long run, most people qualify for enough other polls to make up for it.

This isn’t about joining every single survey site and filling in as many as possible. It’s about focusing on those with decent payouts, low thresholds, and a reliable volume of surveys.

To find these, we put 30-plus survey sites through their paces, analysing MoneySavers’ reviews from the Up your income forum. Huge thanks to all the MoneySavers whose feedback went into the guide. Here are the top picks:

• Valued Opinions. Reliable player, paying in high street vouchers

  One of the most highly rated sites is Valued Opinions, which has been around for yonks. While the site pays in vouchers, not cash, they are for popular stores, including Tesco, Amazon, Marks & Spencer and Topshop, so it’s not limiting. Vouchers take 28 days to arrive after point redemption.

  The only downside is it sometimes asks a few questions only to say you’re unsuitable, and doesn't pay for the survey. Yet the high payment rates of £1-£5 more than make up for that.

  Quick Stats: Payment method: High street vouchers. Typical £ per survey: £1 - £5. Payout threshold: £10. Typical survey time: 10 to 30 mins. Feedback/Discuss: Valued Opinions
  
  

• OnePoll. Cash paid for lots of little fun surveys

  Mega-popular for its speedy surveys, Onepoll runs polls for the press, meaning fun questions about celebs and shopping. It works slightly differently to other survey sites: rather than sending alerts, you need to log on daily, and click on ‘surveys available for you’.

  The payment per survey is tiny, so, while hitting the £40 withdrawal target takes ages, it’s still worth it, because questions are super-quick.

  Quick Stats: Payment method: Cash (cheque, BACs or Paypal). Typical £ per survey: 5p to 20p. Payout threshold: £40. Typical survey time: 10 secs to 2 mins. Feedback/Discuss: Onepoll
  
  

• Lightspeed. Easy to hit the payout threshold

  The advantage of Lightspeed is its low £1 payment threshold and regular surveys. Polls are quick-ish, generally 20 mins or less, plus it credits accounts with points instantly.

  Rather than pounds, you collect points. Every 100 points can be converted into 87p or, for slightly better value, 97p worth of gift vouchers at places like Amazon, HMV and House of Fraser. Again though, Lightspeed screens people out of some surveys after asking a few questions, which can be frustrating.
  
  There is no sign up link on Lightspeed's homepage, but you can sign up through specialist cashback websites, such as Topcashback*. (Plus you earn 90p this way!) See Top Cashback Sites for a full explanation.

  Quick Stats. Payment method: Cash (via Paypal) or high street gift vouchers. Typical £ per survey: 87p in cash or 97p in vouchers. Payout threshold: 110 points (£1). Typical survey time: 5 to 30 mins. Feedback/Discuss: Lightspeed

• GlobalTestMarket. Reliable US site which sends cheques in ££s

  US survey site GlobalTestMarket pays by cheque sent from the States. MoneySavers report that this doesn’t cause any problems. In fact, it means when the pound’s weak against the dollar, the cheques go up.

  It often screens you out after a few questions, but usually bungs a few points even if you’re disqualified.

  Quick Stats. Payment method: Cash (cheque). Typical ££ per survey: £2-ish. Payout threshold: 1000 points (£32). Typical survey time: 15 to 30 minutes. Feedback/Discuss: GlobalTestMarket
  
  

• YouGov. Interesting surveys, but high payout threshold

  People either love or hate YouGov. On one hand, the surveys are short ‘n’ snappy, and it’s commissioned by everyone from academics to charities, so you get to put in your tuppence on serious subjects, such as the economy.

  The problem is surveys are very infrequent (about one per month), and you can’t cash in until you hit £50. At 50p per survey, this can take years.

  Quick Stats. You get paid in: Cash. Typical payment per survey: 50p to £1. Payout threshold: £50. Typical time to complete: 10 to 20 mins. Feedback/Discuss: YouGov
  
  

• MyTNS. Pays Amazon and Nectar vouchers

  Also known as MyTNS, MySurvey.com dishes out Nectar Points, Amazon vouchers or Capital Bonds (valid at 140 retailers). Currently, the only way to sign up is via a cashback website, such as Topcashback*, which pays you £1.50 to join; read Top Cashback Sites for a full how to.

  You need 500 points to get 500 Nectar Points. The other option’s to cash in for Amazon vouchers or Capital Bonds; here you need 1,000 points to get a £5 voucher. According to the Loyalty Checker, 1,000 Nectar points are worth an average £5.40, so Nectar’s worth slightly more.

  Quick Stats. How do you get paid? Nectar, Amazon vouchers or Capital Bonds. Typical payment per survey: 150. Payout threshold: £10. Typical time to complete: 30 mins. Feedback/Discuss: MyTNS
  
  

• QNA. Up to £10 Amazon vouchers per survey, BUT IT workers only!

  For anyone who works in the IT sector QNA is a must-join. It pays hugely generous £5 or £10 in Amazon or Virgin Megastore vouchers per survey. People usually receive the electronic voucher just a few hours after completing the survey. Plus it awards £5 vouchers for referring mates.

  Quick Stats. Payment method: Amazon/Virgin vouchers. Typical ££ per survey: £5 to £10. Payout threshold: None. Typical survey time: 20 mins. Feedback/Discuss: QNA
  
  

• PanelBase. Low, £10 payout threshold, but irregular surveys

  You get £3 just for registering with Panel Base, and only need to earn £10 to cash in. The site also pays 20p per friend you sign up. Yet, with infrequent surveys, MoneySavers report it can take about a year to reach the £10 target, so it’s only for the patient.

  Quick Stats. How do you get paid? Cash (cheque or BACS) or high street vouchers inc Boots, HMV and River Island. Typical payment per survey: 50p to £2. Payout threshold: £10. Typical time to complete: 30 mins. Feedback/Discuss: Panelbase
  
  

• Itsyourview. Short surveys, but high £50 payout threshold

  The jury’s split on Itsyourview: some MoneySavers like the short surveys and rack up £50 cheques quickly. Yet many argue it’s getting more difficult, and surveys are so few and far between that reaching the £50 threshold’s nigh on impossible.

  Quick Stats. Payment method: Cash (cheque). Typical ££ per survey: £2 - £5. Payout threshold: £50. Typical survey time: 15 mins. Feedback/Discuss: Itsyourview
  
  

• Pureprofile. Good looking site, but infrequent surveys

  Only for very dedicated survey stashers, Pureprofile has fun, flashy graphics, but surveys are scarce. With around one survey a one month, so you can grow old waiting to reach the £25 target. Once your balance does reach £25, the cash is paid into your bank account.

  span class="bold">Quick Stats. Payment method: Cash (BACs). Typical ££ per survey: 10p - £2. Payout threshold: £25. Typical survey time: 20 mins. Feedback/Discuss: Pureprofile

By invitation only...

There are survey sites that people can’t just sign up to, they need to wait to be asked. Why have we included them? While the recruitment process is shrouded in mystery, you’ll know which ones to jump at if an invite appears.

The reason sites keep them discreet is that some marketing companies are very picky about their demographics. They might want to recruit the type of person who wouldn’t normally seek out a survey site, or, for example, are only looking for mums who look at certain websites.

• Pinecone. Secret but generous but secret survey site paying £3 per survey

  The holy grail of survey sites, Pinecone pays megabucks: £3 for every survey (it used to be £4, but now it's £3 for new members). Sadly, the recruitment process is more secretive than MI6; you have to wait until you’re invited or spot a web banner advert on another site to sign up.

  If you are lucky enough to be recruited, you get paid cash via PayPal or by Luncheon Vouchers, which aren’t just for food; they can be used at Boots, Starbucks, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

  Yet it’s tough to join, as the first rule of Pinecone is you do not talk about Pinecone.

  Quick Stats. Payment method: Cash via PayPal or Luncheon Vouchers. Typical ££ per survey: £3. Payout threshold: £3. Typical time to complete: 15 to 20 minutes. How to sign up: Look for banner adverts on websites (often mums & baby sites).




• Consumer Pulse. Get paid 50p for entering barcodes

  Market research scheme Consumer Pulse is a great way to give your finances a boost, but it’s invite-only.

  The idea’s that each time a member buys something, they log on and plug in the receipt barcode and shop. Consumer Pulse pays 50p per barcode, and allows up to 20 entries/mnth, so that’s a least £10 a month. You can then cash in for high street vouchers.

  How to join: Invite-only. To be in with a chance, sign up at Volunteer4Panels.com. This is the website for its owner, TNS surveys, and lucky ones might be selected.

Survey sites that aren’t worth it

There are hundreds of survey sites out there, but only a few big ones. And with a few of them, according to survey stashing regular MoneySavers in the forum, the time-money equation isn’t good enough.

• Opinion World.

  Many of its surveys don’t pay cash; they just enter you into competitions. Several MoneySavers have reported earning very little.

• CIAO.

  The issue here is simply a very low payout rate, typically 10p for a 30 minute survey.

• Toluna.

  There are comments that it takes far too long to earn anything, coupled with survey tracking difficulties, and a need to chase up to get paid.

Maximise your survey returns

Now you’re signed up, it’s time to ensure that the money comes in. Remember, patience and consistency are the key virtues. After signing up, wait for the survey alerts to roll in. The key’s is logging as often as poss, because surveys shut once enough people have responded. If your boss doesn’t mind, check surveys at lunch hour with a nice cuppa.

• What if I don’t get any surveys?

  Surveys can be sporadic. Often there’s a burst of several emails, then a quiet week. Certain folks may get more than others. As a rule though, mums with young ’uns make popular targets, as do business people who buy office supplies. Car drivers can get regular motoring surveys.

  The absolute pits though is for media and advertising workers who are frequently disqualified. Yet different sites want different demographics; sign up for as many as possible, and hopefully you’ll get lucky.

• Be honest!

  Don’t tell porkies! When a survey pops up that’s clearly aimed at a certain group, it’s temping to say ‘yes I am a 41-year-old tobacco chewing dentist from North Manchester who was a middle child’. Yet, in the long run, you’ll lose out. Companies often corroborate previous answers, and will uncover any fibs.

  A few forum members have amassed £40 over a year, only for the website to accuse them of fraudulent answers and wipe the balance. Rare, but worth knowing.

  Likewise, don’t sign up with two different email addresses to double the income; sites kick people out for this too.

• Get cashback on top.

  It’s possible to earn extra cashback when signing up to a couple of survey sites, though the range is limited compared with prior days. To check, simply sign up via a specialist cashback website. See Top Cashback Sites for a full explanation.

• Keep a log.

  Some sites are better than others at tracking surveys completed. To avoid wasting 20 minutes, keep a record of all surveys filled out, jotting down title and promised payment. Some stashers buy a special note pad, others keep a spreadsheet. Chase the sites up, requesting the correct points are credited.

• A tip on tax.
  
  Before you start counting the dosh, don’t forget some of it belongs to the tax man. For most people it’ll be around a third. Survey earnings are unlikely to push non-taxpayers over the threshold, however, so they should stay tax-free.
  
  As any sources of extra income need to be declared; ensure you’re upfront with HM Revenue and Customs. Survey earnings are self employed income, which means registering with the HMRC Helpline for the Newly Self Employed on 08459 15 45 15 by the end of the third calendar month after starting – or facing an automatic £100 penalty. Don’t be overly worried about this though, it’s just a formality.
  
  For full information, read the HMRC's self-employment leaflet. There’s a full guide to this, including the top paying sites in the Survey Sites guide.

Market research focus groups

Traditional market research can also be a banker. Here, companies pay cash for taking part in focus groups. These take place at a pre-organised address, in your own home, on the phone, or online in a designated chat forum.

All it involves is giving opinions on the chosen subject, and you can walk away with anything from £30 to £150. This all sounds great, but agencies restrict the amount of focus groups a person can do, typically to one every six months.

The number of focus groups has also dwindled due to the rise of online survey companies. Yet they still pay a pretty penny for a couple of hours’ work.

To get started, sign up with the following agencies:

• Saros. Longstanding player, recruiting nationwide

  Established agency Saros, typically pays £30 to £100 for two hours work. You’re only allowed to take part in two discussions per year, but MoneySavers report it’s easy cash.

• Indiefield. Reliable nationwide agency

  Another big player is Indiefield. Be sure to update the profile section; the more details it has, the more likely you are to get picked. To become a premier member (it’s free), upload a photo and verify your postal address with a pin they sent to your house; premier members are top of the list for suitable surveys.

• Field Initiatives. Nationwide newbie

  Market research firm Field Initiatives covers the whole of the UK, and pays £30 to £80 for taking part in focus groups and telephone interviews. It also sends members links to online surveys, paying £1 to £6 a time.

• Focus4people. South East focus groups, but nationwide telephone interviews

  It’s possible to earn £40 to £100 a time with Focus4people. Most focus groups take place in London and the South East, but it also runs telephone and online sessions, so it’s worth everyone joining. Focus4people lists all focus groups online. To apply for one, just register, then click on ‘focus groups’.

• FocusForce. Good for Londoners

  A good bet for Londoners, FocusForce holds focus groups within the M25, mostly after work, typically paying £40 - £50 a survey. Keep an eye on the site’s ‘project applications’ section.

Get paid to review

As well as survey websites, other review sites and companies give cash for reviews too.

• ClixResearch. Get free cosmetics, food and household stuff

  Freebie fans will love ClixResearch. The site doles out free products, in exchange for feedback on whether they work. Products are all safe; it just wants to know how to improve them. MoneySavers have blagged everything from anti-aging creams to chocolate bars.

  Once you’ve signed up, ClixResearch emails invites. Respond at speed, as places fill up fast.

• Dooyoo. Get 50p for every review you write

  Consumer review site Dooyoo pays 50p for each product review you write, whether it’s an Mp3 player or Fairy Liquid. The review needs to be at least 150 words long, but the site also gives points for shorter reviews, if another user rates them 'very useful'.

  Once you’ve clocked up £10, it’s converted into a £10 Amazon voucher. Alternatively, wait till you hit £50 for a cash cheque. Dedicated reviewers make bundles of cash. For example, MoneySaver jenniewb says:

  “In two months, I have reviewed literally everything I have used bar one or two uninteresting items, and have so far earned myself £70.”

  Quick Stats. Payment method: Amazon vouchers/cash. Payment per review: 50p. Payout threshold: £10/£50. Typical time to complete: 15 mins.