11 Ways to Get Paid to Surf the Web

By Holly Reisem Hanna

Getting paid to surf the web sounds like a dream, right?

Well, surprisingly, there are a quite a few companies that will pay you for doing this sort of work online!

These work-at-home opportunities range from beginner (payouts in gift cards and sweepstake entries) to intermediate and full-time gigs. Some jobs require only basic web skills like being able to click and answer simple questions. Others require more in-depth experience, research skills, and tech savvy.

Most of us spend plenty of time on the computer: reading, checking social media and playing games. Since you’re already online, you might as well get paid to surf the web, right?

If you’re looking for a way to earn some extra money while you’re at home on the computer, consider these options for getting paid to surf the web.

1. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a popular site where you can earn points called SB for performing basic tasks like playing games, taking surveys, or watching videos. Your SB can be redeemed for rewards like Amazon, Starbucks, and PayPal gift cards (in $5 increments). In addition to earning money by doing tasks, you can earn by registering Swagbucks as your primary search engine. Every time you search using the Swagbucks search bar you earn more SB. Users report they can earn between $50-100 a month, but some users earn even more.

2. Microsoft Rewards

Microsoft users can register their account to earn points for surfing the web simply by signing in. Users can also earn points for buying Windows and Microsoft products and using their preferred search engine, Bing. Microsoft rewards points can be redeemed for gift cards for movies, apps, games and retail stores. Depending on your level of use, you can earn points for completing 10-50 searches per day. Earn 5,000 points and you can redeem them for a gift card worth about $5. So, while you won’t earn a huge income off Microsoft Rewards, you certainly earn a little money for something you’d probably be doing anyway.

3. Nielson Digital Voice

Nielson has been performing market research to analyze the preferences of television viewers for years. Nowadays, with Nielson Digital Voice, you can share your opinions by downloading an app to your phone. Watching videos, playing games, and posting on social media is counted as demographic research, so you can earn points for nearly everything you do online. The points are then redeemed for sweepstakes entries into $10,000 monthly giveaways, plus several chances to win $1,000 every month. You can also be invited to take other surveys for chances to win even more sweepstakes entries and extra prizes.

4. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is also a popular program in which you can engage with other players in friendly competitions to earn cash prizes. You can earn points for using your phone’s GPS to check in at partner stores and also earn discounts and coupons. InboxDollars pays you to watch your favorite TV networks and shop online, where you can also earn members-only discounts and free samples. Offers and deals result in earn-outs of 10 cents per completed item up to $6. Higher paying rewards often require an additional purchase.

5. Qmee 

Qmee runs in conjunction with search engines like Google or Bing. When you search for sites, Qmee shows relevant results in a sidebar on your screen. If you click on those results, you can earn points to be traded in for cash or gift cards. You can receive additional points for more engagement with brands and you can also receive money saving offers. You can take surveys and earn rewards for each survey you complete. Payouts are available through PayPal or you can exchange points for gift cards (and there’s no minimum point requirement).

6. Leapforce

If you’re internet-savvy and you have a background or familiarity with research, you can get paid an hourly rate to perform searches and tasks to help improve the quality of Internet search engine results. This position offers Independent Home Agents a chance to conduct Internet research and provide evaluations for companies on how well they’re meeting the needs of customers and their performance results. To be a Leapforce agent, you must be 18 years of age or older and own a computer with high-speed internet and anti-virus software. Agents must complete a qualification exam before they start. According to Glassdoor, Leapforce Agents earn an average of $13.88 per hour.

7. Appen 

Appen is also a web search evaluation company. Agents complete projects to gauge how well search engines and websites are performing. Appen also offers opportunities to become a Social Media Evaluator. Researchers should have a computer that’s less than three years old, high-speed internet, and a strong understanding of technology, social media, and search engines. There are an initial screening process and a qualification exam. Appen Agents can expect an average workload of four hours a day, plus there are bilingual work opportunities. According to Glassdoor, Appen pays between $12.90 and $13.72 per hour.

8. UserTesting

User-testers evaluate websites and give their opinions via a recording. Testers’ voices and screens are recorded as they complete a given task and evaluate their experience out loud. Each test takes between 10-20 minutes and user-testers earn $10 per video or task. One great thing about UserTesting is that you can set your own hours and complete them on your own timeframe. The number of opportunities varies based on factors like your demographics, skills, and quality rating. The money you earn is transferred through PayPal within one week of completing tests.

9. Ask Wonder

If you’re good at Internet research and you enjoy learning about a variety of subjects, Ask Wonder might be a great opportunity for you. Active Researchers can make up to $2,000 per month by answering questions with credible, researched answers and providing references. Questions are proposed on a central dashboard and researchers can pick and choose which ones to answer. Qualified Researchers must demonstrate that they are able to research a topic thoroughly and provide succinct, well-researched answers.

10. Clickworker

Clickworkers create texts and documents; they proofread and make corrections, take surveys or categorize data. The work is research-driven and you set your own schedule. Many of the tasks can be completed from a laptop or mobile phone, and your earning potential can grow based on the size and difficulty of the task. The average worker earns around $9/hour. There’s an initial screening process, which includes an evaluation of language and writing skills. Clickworker is based in Germany, but many projects are in English.

11. CrowdFlower

CrowdFlower offers research positions where tasks are geared toward technology, search relevance, and user experience. CrowdFlower offers micro-tasking opportunities with a flexible schedule, so it’s perfect for workers who can only complete tasks in small pockets of time. Researchers are given more tasks and higher-level tasks as they successfully complete projects. Pay also varies by task with higher-level research and projects offering more compensation.

Working online and performing Internet research can be great ways to earn money from home, especially if you’re looking for work that’s intellectually stimulating and offers a flexible schedule. Try some of these great ways to get paid today!

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