Is Survey Junkie legit and worth your time? Yes, it is a real survey site that pays real cash, and it is worth it if you want a few extra dollars from spare minutes, but it will not replace a paycheck.
Survey Junkie is free to join and never charges a membership fee. You answer surveys, collect points, and trade them for PayPal cash, a bank transfer or gift cards once you reach $5 (500 points).
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This review covers how the site works, what it really pays, how cashing out works, the pros and cons, and who should skip it. If you want to compare it with other options first, start with my guide to paid surveys.
1. Survey Junkie
Cash Out at $5Survey Junkie is a survey panel owned by the consumer research company DISQO. Each survey card shows its point value and estimated time before you start, so you can pick the ones that suit you. Every 100 points equals $1. When your balance reaches $5, you can redeem it for PayPal cash, a bank transfer or a gift card.
What is Survey Junkie?
Survey Junkie is an online market research community. Brands pay for consumer opinions, and Survey Junkie passes part of that money to the members who answer the questions.
The company says it has had more than 20 million members to date, and that more than 30,000 members cash out each month. You can use it on a computer or on your phone.
Is Survey Junkie Legit?
I’m happy to report that Survey Junkie is legit, at least in my experience. It is wholly owned by DISQO, a consumer insights company, and the answers the Survey Junkie community shares power that research.
Survey Junkie reports a Trustpilot rating of 4.5 out of 5 from about 30,000 reviews. Its own website also says plainly that you will not get rich taking surveys and that it is not meant to replace a full-time job. I trust a survey site more when it is that honest up front.
It also holds the number one spot on my list of the highest-paying survey sites. A simple rule for any survey site: never register for one that asks you to pay. Survey Junkie does not.
How Does Survey Junkie Work?
You sign up, confirm your email and fill out a profile. Survey Junkie uses that profile to match you with surveys, which show up on your dashboard and by email. There are three ways to earn.
1. Take surveys
Surveys are the main event. Each one lists its points and estimated time, and topics run from food and technology to travel and healthcare. If you do not qualify for a survey, Survey Junkie still gives you a few points for the attempt.
2. Opt in to Surf to Earn (Survey Junkie Pulse)
Survey Junkie Pulse, which the site now lists as Surf to Earn, is optional. You install it on a Windows or Mac computer or an Android phone, and it shares your searches, site visits, app usage and shopping activity for research. In return you get monthly points, as long as you stay active with at least five online sessions a month.
Survey Junkie says it never collects passwords, payment methods or Social Security numbers, and that it blocks financial, medical, government, messaging and email sites. If sharing browsing data bothers you, skip this part. The surveys work fine without it.
3. Test products and join focus groups
Survey Junkie also runs product tests and focus groups, but it describes them as limited. Treat them as an occasional extra and not something you can plan around.
How Much Does Survey Junkie Pay?
Most surveys pay between $0.50 and $3, and many take less than 5 minutes. Points are simple: 100 points is $1, so a 75 point survey is worth $0.75.
What you earn in a month depends on how many surveys you match and how often you get screened out. Survey Junkie does not publish an hourly rate, and I will not guess one. Plan on pocket money. If you need a bigger amount, surveys are one piece of the puzzle, and my list of apps that pay you real money covers the rest.
Survey Junkie Rewards
How can you cash out your points?
You can redeem as soon as you have 500 points, which is $5. Your points total is shown on your dashboard at all times. Reward options are:
- Cash through PayPal
- A bank transfer
- Gift cards for Amazon, Target, Walmart, Sephora, Starbucks, Visa and iTunes
Two things to know before your first cashout. Survey Junkie asks you to verify your identity before you redeem, and the reward options you see can vary by country and verification status.
Pros and Cons of Survey Junkie
Pros
- Free to join, with no membership fee
- Low $5 cashout minimum
- Cash by PayPal or bank transfer, plus gift cards
- You see the points and time for each survey before you start
- You get a few points even when you do not qualify
Cons
- You will be screened out of some surveys after a few questions
- Only open to people 18 and older in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom
- Product tests and focus groups are limited
- You have to verify your identity before you can redeem
- It is pocket money, not income
Who Should Skip Survey Junkie?
Skip it if you need money today, if you want a real second income, or if getting screened out of a survey will make you quit. Skip it too if you live outside the four countries it serves.
It fits best if you have short gaps in your day and you would rather earn a little than scroll your phone.
Is Survey Junkie Worth Using?
If a quality survey site is what you’re looking for, then Survey Junkie is worth a shot. The interface is smooth and easy to follow, unlike a lot of survey sites, and it does one thing well.
If you want more than surveys, the closest alternative is Swagbucks, which adds shopping cash back, games and offers on top. My Swagbucks review covers how it works.
2. Swagbucks
$10 BonusSwagbucks is the alternative to look at if surveys alone feel too narrow. It pays for surveys too, and adds cash back when you shop through its portal. New members get a 1,000 SB bonus worth $10 after spending at least $25 on a qualifying purchase through the shopping portal within 30 days.
How Do You Join Survey Junkie?
Survey Junkie is free to join. You must be at least 18 years old and live in the United States, Canada, Australia or the United Kingdom. Create an account, confirm your email, and fill out your profile. It takes a couple of minutes.
Survey Junkie Hacks & Tips
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of Survey Junkie.
- Finish your profile first. Surveys are matched to it, so a complete, accurate profile means fewer screen-outs.
- Do not rush. Survey Junkie says speeding through a survey, or giving answers that do not match your profile, can get you disqualified.
- Use a separate email address. A Gmail or Yahoo account just for survey sites keeps the invitations out of your main inbox.
- Check in often. Surveys close once they have enough responses, so the good ones do not sit around.
Survey Junkie Promotions
Promotion: You earn your first points just for signing up, confirming your email and filling out your profile. Survey Junkie also runs monthly bonus point promotions for members. Sign up now
Ready to Start Earning with Survey Junkie?
It is possible to make money with Survey Junkie’s paid surveys. I tried it a few years ago and it was hard to earn even a few bucks. The short surveys have gotten better, and the low cashout minimum means you actually see the money.
If you want to try paid surveys, Survey Junkie and Swagbucks should be your bread and butter. Both are legit and both pay.
Survey Junkie is one of the more reputable survey companies out there, and I use it often to make $40 fast in my spare time. If surveys are not your thing, see my list of the best money making apps for other ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Survey Junkie is a real market research panel owned by DISQO, and it pays members in PayPal cash, bank transfers and gift cards. It is free to join and never asks you to pay anything.
Most surveys pay between $0.50 and $3, and many take less than 5 minutes. Your total depends on how many surveys you qualify for, so treat it as pocket money. Survey Junkie itself says you will not get rich taking surveys.
The minimum is $5, which is 500 points. Once you reach it you can redeem for PayPal cash, a bank transfer or a gift card. You need to verify your identity before you redeem.
You must be at least 18 years old and live in the United States, Canada, Australia or the United Kingdom. Some features vary by country.
Brands want specific types of people, and a survey closes once it has enough answers. Rushing or giving answers that do not match your profile can also end a survey early. You still get a few points for the attempt.
Skip the survey sites that waste your time
One short email every Friday with the survey and app sites worth your time right now, and the catch on each one.
