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-savviness.
Most of us spend a lot of time on the computer: reading, checking email, and sharing pics on social media; you may as well get paid for your time; right?
Get 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. Oh, and did I mention new users get a $5 bonus just for signing up?!
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.
11. Figure Eight
Figure Eight offers research positions where tasks are geared toward technology, search relevance, and user experience. Figure Eight 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.
Conclusion
Working online and performing Internet research can be great a way to earn money from home, especially if you’re looking for work that’s fun and offers a flexible schedule. Try some of these great ways to get paid today!
This post includes affiliate links. Please be aware that we only promote advertising from companies that we can legitimately recommend to our readers. See our disclosure policy for further information.
i need extra money since my job is horrible and doesn’t pay that great…
these recommendations seem to be what i need so i don’t have to go back to crazy horse.
thank you!!!!
-April Sabol
PCL Scheduler
VWR, part of Avantor
Stay strong April! With enough determination you will perish that debt you have, and make more disposable income to have fun with!
best of luck,
Diane Campbell
AdPin.io just launched browser extensions that allow you to earn money by promoting your AdPin bookmarked content throughout your social networks with one click. Have a look!
Hi
I am Alexander from India and working as HR in IBM, really this extra income projects will work.
I am looking for geniune work from home work, please help.
Regards
Alex
Hi Alexander,
The Work at Home Woman is geared for U.S. residents.
Take a look at FlexJobs for international work-at-home jobs:
http://flexjobsrocks.go2cloud.org/SHPF (affiliate link)
Good luck!
I am interested in surfing the web, however, these websites are not available in my country. I now live in Vietnam and I want to earn extra cash so much. Could you give me some advice? Thank you so much.
The Work at Home Woman is geared for U.S. residents.
Take a look at FlexJobs for international work-at-home jobs:
http://flexjobsrocks.go2cloud.org/SHPF (affiliate link)
Good luck!
I remember back in the internet early 2000’s when you got paid for downloading a bar that sat at the bottom of your computer screen and it would show different ads and they said you got paid for surfing the web. I guess those days are long gone by now.
I don’t remember that. But back in 2000, I was in nursing school and waiting tables.
i should try one of the work from home of earning extra cash so that i can be productive in other areas.. thank you for sharing this insights and have a great day..
luna
Glad you enjoyed the list of ideas, Luna. Good luck and keep us posted.
Hi Holly,
I was just talking to someone who knows that I work from home. She was wanting to know if it’s possible to get paid to surf the web.
I had no clue that there were companies that actually pay people to surf.
I’ll have to be sure to send her to this blog post so she can join some of these companies.
Thanks for sharing these companies with us, have a great day :)
Susan
Hi Susan, Appreciate you sharing this post with your friend! It’s crazy the ways in which you can earn money these days! Thanks for stopping by!
Susan velez what kind of work at home do you do I have had my hand in several be your own boss things and haven’t found anything to help me bc these were mostly selling stuff things I were doing.i need help
Finding something to do working at home legit.
Hi Dawn, Susan is a WordPress coach and blogger. If you click on her name, it will take you to her website.
These articles will give you a great place to start your WAH job search:
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/best-work-from-home-jobs/
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/right-job/
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/work-home-jobs-location/
Great list Holly!
These are great and easy ways to make some money. Most of us already surf the web anyway. We should go ahead and make money doing it. :)
Passing this along! Hope you’re having a great week!
Cori
Glad you enjoyed the list, Cori. Thanks for stopping by =)
Thank you for the information, its really work good? i will try this, its paid one or free website.
Some weeks ago I heard from Microsoft Rewards but I didn’t test it since then.