Swagbucks is the cream of the crop when it comes to sites that pay you for completing tasks like taking surveys, playing games.
It’s one of the biggest names in the space and has paid out more than $450 in rewards to its members.
And it has very few downsides.
But it’s not the only site of its kind, and it may not always be the best option.
For this article, we’ve compiled a list of sites like Swagbucks with a few comments about when and why you might want to consider using them.
The list is broken down into categories based on the type of tasks that each one offers.
First, let’s briefly run down why we think Swagbucks is the best overall “get-paid-to” website.
Why We Love Swagbucks
Our view is that Swagbucks is the best online rewards site. It has the longest list of ways to earn money, consistently offers top-of-class pay rates, and has one of the lowest minimum redemptions in the industry.
You’re unlikely to find a site that pays better, pays faster, or is easier to use. So if you’re still on the fence about the site, we encourage you to read through our comprehensive Swagbucks guide to learn how to get the most out of the platform.
- It’s 100% legit and hassle-free. We’ve tested Swagbucks extensively and have never had trouble getting credited for the tasks we completed or getting paid after redeeming points for gift cards.
- It has a super-low minimum cash-out. There’s technically no minimum withdrawal, although the lowest-priced gift cards are usually around $3. In contrast, many sites have minimums of $25 or higher.
- Points credit to your account quickly. Points usually credit to your account instantly (or within 24 hours), even when the offer terms say they may take longer to appear in your balance.
- Rewards are delivered quickly. In our testing, virtual gift cards usually arrive within a couple of days. We’ve never had to wait more than four days, even though the official delivery window is up to 10 days.
- There are over 20 different ways to earn. No other site offers as many options.
See also: The best Swagbucks hacks the best ways to earn SBs fast.
Reasons to Look for Swagbucks Alternatives
There are a handful of legitimate reasons to search for Swagbucks alternatives. Here are the cases where it might make sense to consider other sites.
- You only want to complete one type of activity. Swagbucks is a massive site with a wide array of ways to earn and it’s best-suited for people who are interested in doing a mix of get-paid-to activities. On the other hand, if you’re only interested in earning cash-back for online shopping, or if you only want to complete surveys, then you might be able to earn better rates by choosing a more dedicated site.
- You consistently max-out your earnings. If you’re already a Swagbucks user and find that you’re running out of offers to complete, you may be able to earn more extra money by signing up for an additional site.
- You live in a country where Swagbucks isn’t available. In some places, Swagbucks doesn’t work at all. In others, only some features are available.
- You’ve been banned from using the site. If you’ve been suspended for either purposely or inadvertently violating the company’s terms of service, you won’t be able to sign up for a new account.
Sites Owned by Prodege
Prodege is the online marketing and market research company that owns and operates Swagbucks, as well as a few sites like Swagbucks.
And while the offers tend to be the same, some may pay more for a particular type of activity. For example, one site might pay better on surveys while another offers better rates for cash-back shopping.
#1. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is one of Prodege’s oldest and most popular Swagbucks alternatives. It offers many of the same earning opportunities as well as the ability to get paid to open and read promotional emails.
InboxDollars pays raw cash, and the minimum withdrawal threshold is $15. Learn more about how to use the site in our comprehensive InboxDollars review.
#2. MyPoints
Acquired by Prodege in 2016, MyPoints is another long-running and widely-used alternative to Swagbucks.
The earning methods are the same as Swagbucks and InboxDollars, but the payout threshold is quite low a, equating to a $3 gift card in most cases.
Some deals let you use your earnings immediately, and MyPoints gives you the option of redeeming your points for cash or United MileagePlus award miles.
Learn more in our MyPoints review.
#3. ySense
ySense adds microtasks and weekly contests to the typical mix of earning methods. Top microtaskers can win up to $50 per week in these contests. Plus, ySense hands out bonuses for “Daily Task” checklists and “Extras.”
You can cash out on PayPal ($10), Payoneer ($52) or Skrill ($5.05). You can also opt for Amazon gift cards.
#4. Shoply
Shoply rewards you for shopping. Just select offers from the app, buy those items in-store or online, then upload your receipt to earn. You can sign up by connecting your existing Swagbucks account or creating a new one.
#5. Tada
Tada helps you save on shopping at nearly 3,000 stores by offering coupons, deals and cash-back rewards. All you have to do is click through ShopAtHome’s link to your favorite stores to score these savings. Earn enough cash-back rewards and you can cash out via check, gift card or PayPal.
Learn more in our Tada review.
Get-Paid-To Rewards Sites
There are many sites like Swagbucks that pay you for completing a variety of small online tasks. Here are some of the most popular.
#1. InstaGC
InstaGC users can earn points for completing surveys, searching the web, shopping online and watching videos. You can only cash out your points for e-gift cards. However, your e-gift card is accessible immediately, and you can use it in-store or online.
Learn more (including how much we made after five hours of testing) in our InstaGC review.
#2. FusionCash
FusionCash has your typical surveys (on the site and occasionally through email), online shopping, video watching and internet browsing earning methods. However, you can also earn by signing up to receive phone calls, trying out products and testing software.
FusionCash has a $25 payment threshold, $15 of which must come from personal earnings (not referrals). You can receive payment via check, direct deposit or PayPal.
#3. ATM App
ATM App is built around the premise that people should get paid for their time and attention when interacting with a company’s marketing and advertising. App users can get paid for choosing to match with brands, and can then earn more for continuing to interact with those brands on the platform. The app also features an offer wall (similar to Swagbucks’ Discover section), where you can earn money by completing free and paid promotional offers. Lean more about how it works in our ATM App review.
Survey Sites
These sites focus primarily on offering paid online surveys. You can learn about more options in our guides to the best survey sites and the best survey apps.
#1. Survey Junkie
SurveyJunkie is one of the most reputable survey sites, with solid reviews and ratings across the major user feedback platforms.
What’s unique about SurveyJunkie is that it’ll pay you a few points even if you don’t qualify for a survey. Most sites don’t pay you for this. The payout threshold is low at $5.
Learn more in our Survey Junkie review.
Survey Junkie
One of the most well-known and highest-rated online survey sites, Survey Junkie lets you redeem your points for gift cards or PayPal cash starting at just $5.
#2. LifePoints
LifePoints is a survey website with a relatively small inventory that’s replenished daily.
You can cash out for gift cards or PayPal credit, or use the points you earn to donate to charity. LifePoints is available internationally and in over 26 languages, and you only need to be 14 to sign up.
Learn more about how it works in our LifePoints review.
#3. PrizeRebel
In addition to paid surveys, PrizeRebel pays you bonuses if you hit daily goals. Plus, they have a lucrative referral program where you can earn 15-30% of your referral’s lifetime earnings.
There is no minimum payout amount for cash, and you can redeem for gift cards starting at $2. You can even cash out for Bitcoin at $5.
Learn more in our PrizeRebel review.
#4. Prolific
Prolific’s surveys come from academic institutions, not companies. Thus, you contribute to scientific research rather than marketing research. It has a massive amount of prescreening questions to better tailor surveys to you.
As for the surveys themselves, many users report them to be more interesting than other survey sites. You need to earn $7 to cash out.
More Online Survey Site Options
Here are some survey sites that are less well-known but may still be worth a look.
- Branded Surveys: Offers many opportunities for surveys. You can cash out via direct deposit (in the U.S.), PayPal, gift cards and prepaid virtual credit cards. Learn more in our Branded Surveys review.
- Ipsos I-Say: Gives bonuses after hitting survey completion milestones, hosts prize drawings every four months, and offers same-day gift card redemption. It provides many of the same rewards as other survey sites, but you can also redeem for merchandise.
- Opinion Outpost: The pay tends to be low. You can cash out via PayPal, a variety of gift cards, prepaid visa cards and Red Cross donations.
- Pinecone Research: An excellent survey site option. Used to be invite-only, but now anyone can sign up. Has high-quality surveys and a wide range of cash-out methods available. It also boasts fast customer service.
- SurveySavvy: If SurveySavvy disqualifies you from a paid survey, it’ll give you an entry into a cash prize drawing. This site offers earning methods besides surveys, too. You only need $1 in earnings to request cash-out via check. Checks are the only payment method.
- Toluna: You can cash out once you reach $10 (30,000 rewards points) in earnings. Rewards can take a long time to deliver, though, and points expire in 12 months. Learn more in our Toluna review.
- YouGov: YouGov sends out a newsletter showing you studies that your answers are used in. You can also enter and win sweepstakes. Lastly, YouGov offers a place where you can share opinions on topics that interest you and discuss them with others. (Learn more in our YouGov review.)
Cash-Back Shopping Sites
Swagbucks holds its own in terms of cash-back rewards rates for online shopping, but sites dedicated solely to paying you for shopping sometimes have more stores and better payouts.
#1. Capital One Shopping
Capital One Shopping (formerly known as Wikibuy) is a multi-faceted rewards site that offers a variety of money-saving features. It’ll price compare across thousands of retailers, scan for coupon codes online, monitor for price drops and earn you “Credits” on eligible online purchases (which can be redeemed for gift cards).
Learn more: Our Capital One Shopping review.
#2. BeFrugal
BeFrugal is one of the largest cash-back shopping sites, working with over 5,000 stores. Simply head to the site, find your store, click through, and shop to earn cash-back. You can receive your reward payment via check, direct deposit, PayPal or gift card.
Learn more: Our BeFrugal review.
#3. Rakuten
Rakuten offers excellent cash-back rates at all your favorite brands online and in-store. It also offers a regular rotation of double and triple cash-back stores to supercharge your rewards.
Plus, Rakuten’s browser extension ensures you never miss an offer, even if you don’t shop through the site. Payment is made every quarter via check or PayPal deposit.
Learn more: Our Rakuten review.
#4. TopCashback
Unlike other cash-back sites, TopCashback supports itself solely with ads and promotions. Because of this, it pays you 100% of its commissions it earns for referring you to its 4,000+ partner stores.
According to our research, this consistently results in the highest cash-back rates online. In fact, the data in our review shows that TopCashback pays 2.6% more on average that Swagucks, Rakuten and BeFrugal.
Payout can occur via direct deposit, gift card or PayPal, and there’s no minimum payment threshold.
Learn more: Our TopCashback review.
#5. iBotta
iBotta pays you for your grocery shopping. You simply log into the app and select offers at your local grocer. Then, you buy those items, snap a picture of the receipt in the Ibotta app, and get paid for each offer you follow through on.
Learn more: Our iBotta review.
Watch Videos
It may seem odd that companies will pay you to watch videos, especially when you can just ignore them as they play in the background. However, these firms need this data to monitor overall user behavior online and to target consumers with advertising more efficiently.
#1. Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel
Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel gathers data about your Internet usage to construct a broader picture of overall internet user behavior. In exchange, it pays you. You can earn a reward of up to $50 per year by merely downloading the Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel app onto your smartphone and then watching videos/using your device as you normally do.
Learn more: Our Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel review.
Play Games
Most people’s idea of getting paid to play games involves becoming an e-sports pro or working in a game development role. But you don’t need to get that far into video games to earn some money playing. Instead, consider these apps that pay you to pass the time.
#1. Mistplay
Mistplay pays you to play and test mobile games curated to your tastes. You earn rewards points for each game you play, and you can boost your earnings by logging in every day and earning badges in the app. It’s only available for Android devices at the moment, but an iOS version is in development.
Mistplay lets you exchange your points for gift cards starting at $5.
Microtasking
Microtasking involves splitting a large, complicated job into small, simple parts for many people across the internet to complete. The people working on the tasks are the microtaskers.
#1. Mturk
Amazon’s Mturk is the most reputable microtasking platform. As an Mturk microtasker, you’ll do several tasks involving data verification/clean-up and processing, information gathering, and video/image processing.
#2. Clickworker
As a Clickworker microtasker, you perform tasks including creating/correcting text, searching and categorizing data, proofreading, copyediting and taking surveys. Clickworker uses the various microtasks you complete to train AI on how to perform different actions.
#3. Appen
As with Clickworker, Appen lets you help train AI systems by microtasking. You can complete microtasks and sign up for longer projects. Appen actually provides many of Swagbucks’ microtasking activities.
Swagbucks Alternatives FAQ
Swagbucks is the best overall rewards/get-paid-to website, but some of the options on this list outperform it in certain areas.
For example, you’ll have a hard time making more than spare change by playing games on Swagbucks, whereas Mistplay users have reported earning between $30 and $80 per month with consistent usage.
Similarly, while Swagbucks’ cash-back rates are solid, you can often earn two or three times as much by going through BeFrugal or Rakuten.
At the time this article was written, the cash-back rates on Nike.com were:
Swagbucks: 3%
BeFrugal: 8%
Rakuten: 12%
Yes, a few. Sites that pay faster than Swagbucks usually pay instantly via e-gift card. SurveyJunkie also pays to your PayPal account immediately upon request.
Swagbucks doesn’t offer full functionality in India. Two popular alternatives to Swagbucks in India include Opinion World and Your Surveys.
Sites Like Swagbucks: Wrap-Up
Swagbucks is excellent, but there are other good options out there. And depending on what you’re looking for, you can often mix and match these sites to maximize your earnings.
We think it’s always important to note that you won’t get rich with these sites. Go into them with realistic expectations, knowing that while you can use them to generate a little bit of extra income, they’re not an online job or a side hustle.
If you keep that in mind, they can be a decent way to get some easy PayPal cash or free gift cards by completing paid offers in your spare time.
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