Top 22 online survey sites

How online survey sites work

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

Better still, because the whole point is focusing on different types of people, you don't need special qualifications. You just need to be you.

There are two ways to take part and start earning cash

• Online surveys. All you have to do is sign up, wait for survey alerts to land in your inbox, then zip through the questions. Survey sites then add the cash or other rewards to your account. Polls are often fun – you get to vent about everything from video games to your sex life. This is the main focus of this guide, so for a full how-to, see Survey Sites below.

• Focus groups. Traditional market research focus groups pay much more per session, but you're limited to a few a year. All it involves is giving opinions on the chosen subject (often online via Zoom these days), and you can walk away with anything from £40 to £200. See Focus Groups below for more.

It's possible to make £100s a year – here's some inspiration...

Survey sites: The DOs & DON'Ts

Before you become a survey stasher, there are a few things worth knowing. Remember, patience and consistency are key virtues.

❌ DON'T pay to join. You may come across survey sites charging up to £80 to register, promising to pay £100s after you've coughed up. Never pay to register with a survey site.

✅ DO set up a dedicated email address, and check it often so you don't miss out. Use your normal email address and it'll be immediately flooded. Instead, set up a dedicated one. This is also a quick way to check which surveys you've been given, and you'll need to log in often because surveys close once enough people have responded.

❌ DON'T expect to be instantly rolling in it. One downer is you've no control over how many surveys you're picked for, so it can take a while to earn enough to hit survey sites' payout thresholds. It's important to understand it's not quick cash, and if you give up, it means the surveys were done for nowt. Yet it's nice extra income, provided you consistently fill out the surveys, and have a little patience.

✅ DO spend gift vouchers ASAP. If you have a choice, opt to get paid in cash. If you do get paid in gift vouchers, spend them quickly. If the retailer goes bust, it'll likely invalidate cards. You could also lose them or forget them until after they expire. See full info in Gift Voucher Warning.

❌ DON'T store cash in survey accounts. They aren't banks. There's no protection if one closes, taking your cash with it. So withdraw your cash as soon as you reach the payment threshold. When a previous survey firm closed down, many lost money.

✅ DO keep a log as some sites are better than others at tracking which surveys you've completed. To avoid wasting 20 minutes, keep a record of all surveys filled out, jotting down the title and the promised payment. Take a screenshot and make a note of any reference numbers. If you're missing cash, chase the sites up and ask for the correct points – they're often happy to add them to your account. If you've complained about problems to no avail, MoneySavers report survey sites are swift to respond on their social media, as they want to manage their reputation.

❌ DON'T tell porkies. When a survey pops up that's clearly aimed at a certain group, it's tempting 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. Sites often corroborate previous answers, and will uncover any fibs. A few Forumites have amassed £40 over a year, only for the site 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.

✅ DO refer a friend to get you closer to the payout threshold. Most survey sites require you to earn a certain amount before you can withdraw your cash, for example £25. Trouble is, people often find themselves stuck 20p below the threshold, waiting for that one survey email to push them over. If you're left in limbo, try referring friends. Many pay you 50p for referring a mate – handy if your survey emails mysteriously dry up with a few pence to go.

❌ DON'T worry too much about 'screenouts'. 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 seconds, but frustrating if you've donated 10 minutes of your time 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.

22 of the top online survey sites

This isn't about joining every single survey site you find on Google. It's about focusing on those with decent payouts, low payment thresholds and a reliable volume of surveys.

We tested and analysed MoneySavers' reviews to help compile this list. Huge thanks to all those whose feedback went into the guide. If you've found a top survey site we're missing, add it in the Survey Sites discussion.

1. i-Say

   Top payer, £10 Amazon vchs/mth typical

   

   A must-join, Ipsos iSay is probably the best-paying survey site. Its surveys are plentiful, and many folks rack up £10 or more of Amazon vouchers every month.

   You earn points for taking surveys – between five and 250 points for each – which can then be redeemed for vouchers. It varies by retailer, but you need 500 points to get a £5 Amazon voucher, and most members average about four surveys a month.

   Forumites report i-Say is refreshingly upfront about payment and survey length before you start. It pays in retail gift cards, including Amazon, Argos and 'Global Gift Cards', which can be used at a number of high street shops such as M&S and John Lewis. Once you cash in, vouchers take two to three weeks to arrive.

   i-Say quick stats

   • Payment method: Vouchers for high street retailers incl Amazon or cash via Paypal

   • Typical ££ per survey: Between 5p and £1.80

   • Payout threshold: £5

   • Typical survey time: 15 mins

   • Feed back: Ipsos i-Say

2. Swagbucks

   Mega-popular with Forumites*

   

   With a cult following in the MSE Forum, Swagbucks* rewards you for answering daily polls. You can also mix it up by getting paid to watch videos, search via its page instead of Google and even play free online games. Points can be spent on rewards in its Rewards Store – for example, 375 points equals a £3 Amazon voucher.
   
   Swagbucks only lets you earn points once a day on certain types of poll – answer a second poll and you won't get paid. So always read terms and conditions carefully. 

   We've previously had reports of some people being charged after completing tasks to receive Swagbucks. Please make sure you do not sign up to any third-party, as by leaving the Swagbucks site, you may sign up to platforms which charge. We're looking into this, but to prevent it happening to you, please don't sign up to any third-party platforms.

   Swagbucks quick stats

   • Payment method: Cash via PayPal, Amazon vouchers and more

   • Typical ££ per survey: From 70 Swagbucks (50p)

   • Payout threshold: Depends on reward

   • Typical survey time: 10-20 minutes

   • Feed back: Swagbucks

3. YouGov

   Reliable, but a long slog to hit target

   

   Many MoneySavers rate YouGov's short 'n' snappy surveys. The site is commissioned by everyone from academics to charities, so you get to put in your tuppence on meaty subjects. It also has a handy app, available on Apple  and Google Play.
   
   Yet MoneySavers say it typically takes one to two years to hit the payout threshold, as you can't cash in until you hit £50. At 50p per survey, this takes years. The £50's paid via bank transfer or gift cards such as Asda or John Lewis.

   YouGov quick stats

   • Payment method: Cash via bank transfer or gift card

   • Typical ££ per survey: 50p

   • Payout threshold: 5,000 points (£50)

   • Typical time to complete: 5 to 10 mins

   • Feed back: YouGov

4. Y Live

   Infrequent surveys but pays well

   

   Formerly known as PopulusLive, Y Live specialises in business, culture and politics research. It's popular with Forumites as it pays pretty well at around £1 for every five minutes you spend on there.

   On the downside, some say you don't get invites to surveys as often as with other sites (and quotas fill up sharpish so you have to be quick).

   You get varying numbers of points for each survey, with a conversion value of £1 per point. The payout threshold is quite high at £50, so it'll probably be a while before you're cashing in.

   Y Live quick stats

   • Payment method: Bank transfer or cheque

   • Typical ££ per survey: £1 per five minutes

   • Payout threshold: £50

   • Typical survey time: 15-20 mins

   • Feed back: Y Live

5. Google Opinion Rewards

   Quick way to collect Google Play credit

   

   The free Google Opinion Rewards app for Android and iPhone is an easy way to earn credit redeemable on apps, games, books, music and movies on the Google Play store.

   The beauty of this is its speed – surveys take seconds (former MSE Nick was once paid 36p for answering two questions), and can be done anywhere you're online. Earnings are relatively small but can quickly add up, with Forumites reporting they've raked in as much as £48.

   I've got several 'free' movies by spending the credit you get from them. By far the easiest surveys and cleanest, simplest app I've tried.
   - beansOnToast

   I've earned £33.50 since starting – I don't remember the last time I actually paid for an app. Surveys rarely take more than 30 seconds and they can be quite fun.
   - Lexy

   • What sort of surveys are they? Surveys might come from academic researchers, businesses or Google itself, and cover everything from whether you're a movie lover to how romantic the restaurant you ate at last night was.

   • How do I do it? You'll need to download the app and grant it access to your location, then provide some basic info about yourself. You'll get a notification whenever a survey becomes available.

   • How does the credit work? It's applied to your account immediately after you complete a survey, and expires after one year. It can be used to buy any item on the Google Play store (except subscriptions), though you'll need enough to cover the entire payment, as you can't pay part-cash, part-credit.

   Google Opinion Rewards quick stats

   • Payment method: Google Play store credit

   • Typical ££ per survey: Between 7p and 70p

   • Payout threshold: £2

   • Typical survey time: 15-30 seconds

   • Feed back: Google Opinion Rewards

6. Qmee

   You only need to earn 1p before it pays out*

   

   You may have heard us mention Qmee* for its browser add-on that pays you to Google. It's now better known for its surveys for cash, and you can take part online or via its app. (Download the app on Google Play or App Store.)

   MoneySavers report that surveys are frequent but on the lower-paying side. However, one huge advantage is there’s no minimum amount you need to earn before it pays.

   Qmee quick stats

   • Payment method: Cash via PayPal or gift cards

   • Typical ££ per survey: 70p

   • Payout threshold: No minimum

   • Typical survey time: 5-20 mins

   • Feed back: Qmee

7. OnePoll

   Best for fun, quick polls

   

   Mega-popular for its speedy surveys, OnePoll runs polls for the press, meaning fun questions about celebs and your love life.
   
   You can access surveys online or via the free OnePoll app for iPhone and Android. Enable notifications, and you’ll get a ping every time a new survey becomes available.

   The payment per survey is tiny, often 20p. But while hitting the £25 withdrawal target takes ages, it's still worth it, as surveys are super-quick and there are plenty of them.

   OnePoll quick stats

   • Payment method: Cash (bank transfer or PayPal)

   • Typical ££ per survey: 20p

   • Payout threshold: £25

   • Typical survey time: 2-3 mins

   • Feed back: OnePoll

8. Panel Opinion

   Pays in hard cash, up to £5 per survey

   

   Paying in cold hard cash, Panel Opinion has a low payout threshold of £10. MoneySavers have made up to £5 for one survey and say the site's a reliable payer. If you prefer to complete surveys by mobile, check out its app on the Apple Store or Google Play.

   Forumite Marteebies says:

   This is my favourite survey website. It's simple but effective and I have made a lot of cash on here. It doesn't take that long to build up a good amount.

   Panel Opinion quick stats

   • Payment method: Bank transfer, PayPal or cheque

   • Typical ££ per survey: 50p

   • Payout threshold: £10

   • Typical survey time: 10 mins

   • Feed back: Panel Opinion

9. Opinium

   Good for current affairs fans

   

   Another decent site to add to your arsenal is Opinium. The consensus among MoneySavers is that surveys are short and the site rarely screens people out after making them answer questions.

   It usually takes around six months to a year to reach the £25 needed to withdraw, as it doesn’t send invites as often as some other sites. But surveys are interesting, delving into topics such as if leaving the EU helped your finances and your spending habits at festivals.

   Opinium quick stats

   • Payment method: Cash via bank transfer or gift vouchers 

   • Typical ££ per survey: 50p

   • Payout threshold: £25

   • Typical survey time: 5 minutes

   • Feed back: Opinium

10. Pinecone

    Established favourite, though rates have dropped

    

    Pinecone pays £1 a survey (it was previously £3 or £4). You used to have to wait until you were invited or spotted a web banner advert on another site to sign up. However, at the time of writing, it was letting people sign up via its homepage.

    You get paid cash via bank transfer or PayPal. On the downside, we've heard of people having their accounts closed when they miss one or two surveys.

    Pinecone quick stats

    • Payment method: Cash via bank transfer or PayPal

    • Typical ££ per survey: £1 

    • Payout threshold: £1

    • Typical time to complete: 15-20 mins

    • Feed back: Pinecone

11. Newvistalive

    Lucrative, but must earn £50 before it pays

    

    While Newvistalive has a high 5,000 points (£50) payout threshold, many MoneySavers have racked up £50 cheques fairly quickly. It usually pays £1 per survey – some Forumites have made £50 in six months.

    It's especially important to read questions carefully and answer truthfully. Newvistalive adds in 'quality control' questions to weed out members who fib to get more surveys.

    Newvistalive quick stats

    • Payment method: Amazon, Argos and other gift vouchers

    • Typical ££ per survey: £1

    • Payout threshold: £50

    • Typical survey time: 15 mins

    • Feed back: Newvistalive

12. YourSayPays

    Doesn't pay much but surveys are quick

    

    Though rewards aren't staggering, YourSayPays has been praised for its quick and simple surveys. Fortunately it has a relatively low payment threshold of £20.

    Many have reported that they don't receive email invites to surveys, though if you log in most say there's usually a few available at any given time.

    It also runs competitions from time to time, with prizes awarded in Amazon vouchers.

    YourSayPays quick stats

    • Payment method: Cash via PayPal or Amazon vouchers

    • Typical ££ per survey: 50p

    • Payout threshold: £20

    • Typical survey time: 2 mins

    • Feed back: YourSayPays

13. Survey Friends

    Earn Amazon and other vouchers

    

    This site works a little differently to the others. As well as spending Survey Friends points on retail vouchers, you can use them to bid on rewards such as Kindles and gift vouchers.

    You can exchange survey points for £10 cash via Paypal or Love2Shop vouchers, when you earn 20,000.

    The other option is to use points to bid on its auctions for items such as Amazon vouchers. The more points you bid, the more chance you have of winning the prize. (If you don't win, points are refunded.)

    The prizes are very winnable, and several MoneySavers have got lucky. Forumite stardaylily says:

    I won a cool prize of a flat screen TV. I received my prize very quickly. Fab site.

    Survey Friends quick stats

    • Payment method: PayPal, Love2Shop, Amazon vouchers and other rewards

    • Typical ££ per survey: 400-3,000 points (2p-£1.50)

    • Payout threshold: 20,000 points (£10)

    • Typical survey time: 5 mins or less

    • Feed back: Survey Friends

14. Vanson Bourne Community

    Top payer, must work in IT/business

    

    For anyone who works in IT or business, Vanson Bourne Community is a must-join. It typically pays £5 - £10 in Amazon vouchers per survey. People usually receive the voucher by email just a few hours after completing a poll.

    Only certain IT and business professionals qualify. Fill in your job details on the application form and it will let you know.

    To verify that members are business professionals, it asks for details of the business you work for. It says it will only use this data to verify your eligibility and will never pass it on.

    Vanson Bourne quick stats

    • Payment method: Amazon vouchers

    • Typical ££ per survey: £5 - £10

    • Payout threshold: None

    • Typical survey time: 20 mins

    • Feed back: Vanson Bourne Community

15. Toluna

    Earn paypal payments or gift cards

    

    Another survey site to try is Toluna, where you can earn rewards in the form of e-vouchers or a PayPal payment.

    Once you earn enough points, you can redeem for cash via Paypal or Tesco or Amazon gift cards.
    
    On the downside, some MoneySavers have commented recently that earning the amount you need to get a voucher takes ages, as they've been offered so few surveys.

    Toluna quick stats

    • Payment method: Cash via PayPal or Amazon and Tesco gift cards

    • Typical ££ per survey: 15 to 50,000 points

    • Payout threshold: £5

    • Typical survey time: 15-30 mins

    • Feed back: Toluna

16. Branded Surveys

    Points rack up swiftly for regular payouts

    

    Forumites say that Branded Surveys is easy to earn points with – some reach payout levels in as little as two days. It'll pay once you reach $5 (about £4).

    It runs a daily poll and 'Quick Survey' to help you nab points, with extra bonuses available for completing these on consecutive days.

    Be aware MoneySavers have reported they've had completed surveys rejected or points deducted for unclear reasons.

    Branded Surveys quick stats

    • Payment method: Cash via PayPal, or high street vouchers

    • Typical ££ per survey: $0.50 (35p)

    • Payout threshold: $5 (£4-ish)

    • Typical survey time: 10-20 mins

    • Feed back: Branded Surveys

17. Pureprofile

    Established site, but screenouts are common

    

    One for dedicated survey stashers, Pureprofile is a reliable player with a low £10 payout threshold. However, we've seen feedback saying it can be frustrating when people answer several questions, only to get screened out of a survey. 

    You usually have to log on to check for new surveys rather than getting alerts. 

    Pureprofile quick stats

    • Payment method: Bank transfer or PayPal

    • Typical ££ per survey: 10p-£3

    • Payout threshold: £10

    • Typical survey time: 15 mins

    • Feed back: Pureprofile

18. Opinion Outpost

    One to join for belt and braces*

    

    Opinion Outpost* pays Amazon and other vouchers, or cash via PayPal. Forumites initially reported surveys were sporadic, but they appear to have picked up in recent years. 

    Other surveys enter you into prize draws rather than giving cash – obviously far from a sure bet.

    Opinion Outpost quick stats

    • Payment method: Amazon and other vouchers or cash via PayPal

    • Typical ££ per survey: 50p

    • Payout threshold: Varies depending on reward

    • Typical survey time: 15 mins

    • Feed back: Opinion Outpost

19. Answerpoints

    Slow burner, only for keen survey fans

    

    Rewards at Answerpoints start at a mere 50 answerpoints. With 50 points you can buy one entry for the quarterly prize draw and you can enter as many times as you want.

    If you don't fancy the risk, save up 500 points for a £5 Amazon voucher. Be warned, it can take ages to earn points on Answerpoints thanks to an incredibly slow trickle of surveys.

    This is only one for very dedicated survey stashers, as we've little feedback from Forumites who've managed to cash in.

    Answerpoints quick stats

    • Payment method: Amazon vouchers, donations to Macmillan Cancer Support

    • Typical ££ per survey: 50p-£1.50

    • Payout threshold: £5

    • Typical survey time: 10 mins

    • Feed back: Answerpoints

20. Mindmover

    Infrequent but interesting surveys

    

    Another slow-burner, Mindmover pays out cash via PayPal or Amazon vouchers when you reach £20. Surveys are infrequent – Forumites say it takes a while to clock up enough of them to get paid. On the upside, some find the surveys more interesting than ones on other sites. 
    
    One thing to watch out for: once you reach 2,000 points (£20), those points expire after one year, so cash them in asap.

    Mindmover quick stats

    • Payment method: PayPal or Amazon vouchers

    • Typical ££ per survey: 50p to £10

    • Payout threshold: £20

    • Typical survey time: 15 mins

    • Feed back: Mindmover

21. Prolific Academic

    Big payouts, but there's a waitlist

    

    Designed to support academics in need of high quality data, Prolific offers top dollar for taking part in survey studies with some paying as much as £10 (though often it's less). Unfortunately, there's currently a waitlist to join, but it's worth keeping an eye on. 

    Eligibility depends on a number of very specific factors though, so it's pretty hit and miss as to whether you'll get an invite.

    Everyone has a "Prolific Score", which drops if your submissions aren't considered up to scratch, meaning you'll get fewer invites to studies. We've heard that some academics can be a bit harsh with accepting or rejecting, so go in with a thick skin.

    Prolific Academic quick stats

    • Payment method: Cash via PayPal

    • Typical ££ per survey: £1-£10

    • Payout threshold: £6

    • Typical survey time: 30-45 mins

    • Feed back: Prolific Academic

22. Valued Opinions

    Established site, though feedback is patchy

    

    One of the more established survey sites is Valued Opinions, though MoneySavers have reported glitches in the past with tracking payments for surveys. It pays in retail vouchers, including M&S, John Lewis, TK Maxx and Amazon.

    Valued Opinions pays high amounts of £1-£5 per survey. Once you cash in your points, vouchers take four to six weeks to arrive.

    Valued Opinions quick stats

    • Payment method: Vouchers and gift cards for Amazon, Tesco, Sainsbury's and more

    • Typical ££ per survey: Varies according to reward

    • Payout threshold: £10

    • Typical survey time: 15 to 20 mins

    • Feed back: Valued Opinions

Do I need to pay tax on online survey income?

Before you start counting the dosh, there's a possibility some of it may belong to the taxman – though for most people this won't be the case, especially if you're just doing it as a hobby. But if you get serious with it, or already have income from self-employment, then you might need to pay tax.

Survey earnings are technically self-employed income, as you are being paid for a service you provide, even though that 'service' is in the form of providing data for the survey company.

The trading allowance essentially means you no longer have to report the first £1,000 you earn from self-employment or selling goods 'for profit'. Therefore if not already registered as self-employed, you won't need to do so if earning less than a grand from survey sites.

If you're earning over £1,000 from these income-boosters, you'll need to declare it to HMRC, regardless of whether you're self-employed or PAYE. It told us everyone must do this by registering for Self Assessment, if not already registered, and filling in a tax return. If PAYE, HMRC says it can collect your tax bill through a change to your tax code, providing you meet specific criteria.

If you're self-employed with total income over £1,000, if you earn just £1 from survey sites, HMRC appears to say you'll need to declare it. HMRC told us: "If an individual has combined gross income of more than £1,000 from their self-employment trades in a tax year, they must report this to HRMC."

Market research focus groups

Traditional market research can also be a banker. Companies pay cash for taking part in focus groups. Right now, many are done on the phone, via video conference, or online in a designated chat forum, though they can also take place at a pre-organised address or in your own home.

You could walk away with £40-£200 for taking part in a market research focus group. As many of these projects have moved online, you can often take part wherever you live in the UK.

We've rounded up the top agencies to join, based on which are the best payers and have the most projects available. See our How to earn £40-£200 in a couple of hours via focus groups for a full rundown.