Can You Really Make Money With Swagbucks?

By Kimi Clark

It can be tough to weed through all the noise online to find actual sites that can help you make money. And since I'm guessing your time is valuable (am I right?), it's our pleasure to do the research for you so you can move on to doing the tasks that will actually make you money.

Maybe you've heard of Swagbucks; maybe you haven't. Either way, we're going to answer the question: ‘Can you really make money with Swagbucks? And is it legit?'

To start off, Swagbucks is free to join so that you won't be spending any money right out of the gate.

The website is clear and straightforward. You're shown exactly what you will earn (in Swagbucks) for each task you complete.

You might be thinking, “Hey, I want to make money, not earn Swagbucks!”

Swagbucks can be redeemed for money (you get cash back straight to your PayPal account) but also for gift cards to use at your favorite stores (which is just like getting money). You can choose from more than 140 brands including Amazon, Target, Starbucks, and Walmart.

Here are five ways you can make money with Swagbucks (SB for short):

1. Shop Online

Earn Swagbucks on your online purchases. The great thing about this is that if you were already going to do some shopping online, then you're not really doing anything extra to earn this way, other than using Swagbucks' website. You must start your purchase at their website to earn the SB credits unless you use the SB browser extension. It tells you when a store you're visiting offers Swagbucks, and you just click the button to activate the rewards. Easy peasy!

I like that they have categories for every possible item you might be looking for, so instead of spending tons of time searching if you're looking for a pair of earrings, you just go to jewelry, and it takes you to the stores that have jewelry.

2. Watch Videos

You can watch videos from dozens of partners like Hulu, Reuters, and the Food Network. It will show you exactly what you will earn when you watch a group of videos. Typical earnings are from 1-3 SB per task (Note that multiple videos can be included in one task).

3. Answer Surveys

Earn gift cards for answering surveys and influencing brands. Most surveys take between 10 and 20 minutes to complete; the estimated time will be listed along with each survey. While an average survey pays about 75 Swagbucks, the amount will be listed as well. Note that you can get disqualified for a survey based on your answers, and if you don't fit the criteria the company is looking for, but Swagbucks will still give you one SB for your trouble and make sure you get better matches next time. You also have to promise (yes, promise!) to answer questions honestly, or you have the possibility of your account being deactivated.

4. Search the Web

You can also earn just by searching for whatever you were going to look for anyway using the SB search engine. Either type your search term into the search bar on their site or download the Chrome Extension that will produce a search bar for you to use no matter what website you're using.

5. Sign up for Offers

Get rewarded by discovering special offers from Swagbucks and other partners. The rules and rewards for each offer vary, so you'll want to be sure to read the special terms for all the details.

You can also look for Swag Codes. Swag Codes are strings of text that you can apply for instant Swagbucks. They are only available within a specific time frame and are worth a certain number of points.

You can find Swag Codes when you download the Google Chrome Extension. This will alert you to new Swag Codes and tell you exactly where to find it (for example Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or their blog). Once you find the code, you can log into your account and redeem it for Swagbucks.

How Much Can You Earn with Swagbucks? 

The breakdown of how much a Swagbuck is actually worth varies as different partners have different offers. But from looking at the big brands such as Amazon, Target, and Walmart, it appears that 100 Swagbucks equals one dollar so that you can get a $5 Gift Card for 500 SB, or a $25 Gift Card for 2,500 SB, and so on.

One cool thing about Swagbucks is that you can refer your friends and earn 10 percent of their earnings for life! So if your friend earns 500 SB, you'll earn an additional 50 – which isn't too shabby for just one referral, right?! You can refer people via email or on your social media profiles; the same principle applies. Someone signs up through your link; you earn.

Although Swagbucks isn't going to earn you a full-time income, it's a site that you can legitimately make money with, depending on how much shopping and searching you do online or how much time you're willing to spend watching videos and completing surveys.

Here are a few noteworthy facts about Swagbucks: 

• They have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
• They offer a $5 sign-up bonus
• They are a California-based company
• Since their inception, they've paid out over $247 million in cash and free gift cards to members

Be sure to read Holly's post here, on how she earns free Starbucks Gift Cards using Swagbucks and other survey sites!

Have you tried to make money with Swagbucks? If so, what did you think?

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Kimi Clark is a career stay at home mom turned writer and blogger for hire with a passion for business. She specializes in posts about writing, blogging and entrepreneurship, as well as all things parenting and motherhood. Owner & Founder of The Mom Shopping Network, you’ll find her there writing, hosting giveaways, and supporting moms in both their business and motherhood journey. She’s also a devoted wife and mother of four who loves the beach and her early morning coffee.

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