Pssst! Hey Buddy, want to earn some free gift cards?
You’ve all seen the adverts asking us to take a short online survey and earn free gifts from some of the world’s top brands.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the easy step-by-step process of working with legitimate companies, taking a gift card survey whenever you’re up for it, and earning free gift cards from companies like iTunes, Starbucks, Walmart, Apple, PayPal, Target, Tesco, Amazon, Sephora, Adidas, and hundreds of others. It really couldn’t be easier.
How to find legit survey sites
Listen up. Despite what you might have heard, legitimate survey sites offering gift cards really do exist. But you need a little help finding them.
Just in case you don’t want to read any further and you want to earn a free gift card immediately, here are a few legit survey sites to get you started.
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Branded Surveys
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Opinion Outpost
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E-rewards
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Survey Club
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Ipsos iSay
The very first step to earning free gift cards from paid online surveys is finding legitimate survey sites that aren’t going to rip you off.
Legitimate survey sites usually work with market research companies to gather information on existing or new products and services. In return, the companies use the feedback to help them develop new products, gauge reactions to product changes, or test the current market trends.
Unfortunately, scam survey sites often take advantage of legitimate sites by imitating them or making false claims that are literally too good to be true.
Beware
Scam survey sites will usually claim that you can live a life of luxury in exchange for a couple of hours of work. They’ll also claim that if you pay a small direct deposit to their account, they’ll give you a list of ‘secret sites’ where you can earn tax-free cash beyond your wildest dreams. They’ll offer you holidays in exotic destinations, new cars, a new iPhone, or the promise of a life without financial worries.
Stop right there unless, of course, you want your bank account emptied or your identity stolen.
Legitimate survey sites will never ask for payment debit card details or to divulge intimate personal details. Armed with your personal information, scam site operators can apply for loans or credit cards in your name and make you liable for sums of up to tens of thousands of dollars.
12 ways to identify scam survey sites
- Unrealistic earning claims
- Asking you to pay a sign-up fee
- No contact information
- Bad reviews and feedback
- No privacy policy
- Sending unsolicited emails or spam
- No proof of payment testimonials
- Bad website address
- New domain names
- No ‘about’ page or company info
- Emails come from a ‘free’ account
- The information requested is too personal
Common online survey scams
Identity theft – Scammers will collect your personal details and sell them on the dark web to the highest bidder. Trust us, they won’t be using your information to make the world a better place.
Money theft – This type of scam is simply designed to part you from your hard-earned money. These scams usually promise you that for a fee, they’ll make sure that you can call shotgun on the best-paid surveys out there. They might even fool you with a false payment and then ask you to send a percentage to them – guess what? The initial payment was fake, and you’re emptying your private savings account.
Personality theft – What was your mother’s maiden name? What was the address of your first home? What was your first pet’s name? If those questions sound familiar, it’s because they’re the type of questions you might be asked to verify your email address or access other secure sites. Once the scammers have gotten access to your email, they can then reset your password and get you involved in all kinds of mischief.
Company access – Believe it or not, some free gift card scammers will use your information to access company websites and carry out fraud of one kind or another using the employee’s personal information.
How to sign up for a legit survey site
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OK, you’ve done all the background checks, and you’ve found a legitimate survey site that will allow you to get free gift cards in exchange for taking surveys online. What do you do next?
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Sign up for the survey site online or download a free app and fill in the sign up information. Some reputable sites will even offer you reward points just for signing up.
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Fill in your information accurately and honestly. The more honest your answers, the more likely you are to be selected as a preferred survey partner.
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Check your email or the company’s app regularly for notifications about the latest surveys, allowing you to earn free gift cards.
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Accumulate shopping credits with every survey.
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These points can then be exchanged for gift cards from a range of companies.
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Enjoy your free gift card!
Start taking surveys for gift cards
Once you’ve created your profile with the online survey company, you’ll receive invitations via email or directly through the app. The company’s app or website will have a survey dashboard where you’ll be notified of the latest surveys for gift cards and your level of suitability for the task.
If you’re suitable for a survey, be sure to read the questions carefully and answer them honestly.
Some surveys may take no more than a couple of minutes, while other market research questionnaires may take up to an hour or even longer to fill. However, the longer surveys are usually better rewarded and grant you a better free gift card.
If you want to know more about the best gift card deals in 2024, you can check them out here.
What to expect in return for filling in surveys for gift cards
Of course, every legitimate survey site is different and offers its own unique ways to earn gift cards. Some rewards come in the form of PayPal cash or other payment options, and some rewards come in the form of free stuff, vouchers, or other incentives.
For example, the Monetha website and free downloadable app is an online shopping rewards program where, along with taking surveys, members can also earn and save money from every online purchase they make with one of Monetha’s over 1,200 online partner shops and all your favorite stores.
The rewards for shopping, taking surveys, and other daily tasks come in the form of cumulative points. These points can then be exchanged for gift card rewards from a massive range of the world’s top brands and other retailers. The points can also be used to invest in cryptocurrencies or to donate to a range of charities.
Redeem your points for gift cards
When you have accumulated enough points, you can redeem them for gift cards. Survey sites like Monetha, InboxDollars, and Swagbucks offer vouchers from various retailers, such as Amazon, Target, Applebees, Barnes and Noble, American Airlines, Spotify, Xbox, Starbucks, Walmart gift cards, and hundreds of other popular brands.
The number of surveys you’ve taken and the time you’ve invested will determine the number of reward points you earn. However, it’s fair to say that if you have some spare time, survey sites are a great way to earn money and rewards and save on your clothes, beauty, and grocery shopping.
Once you’ve earned enough points, choose the gift card you want and cash in. And don’t forget; some survey sites will offer you bonus points for a range of additional tasks like referring your family and friends, watching videos, playing games, or simply signing up for their service.
Increase the number of gift cards you earn
If you want to increase your earning potential, you can try signing up for multiple legitimate survey sites. After all, nobody says you can’t take as many surveys as you like! If you have a lot of time on your hands, by signing up for multiple sites, you’ll increase the number of surveys for gift cards that are available to you.
This also has the knock-on effect of you becoming a reliable and trustworthy survey respondent that the survey site operators value. Valued respondents tend to get the pick of the online surveys and the ones paying the highest rewards.
Additionally, some survey users, depending on their demographics, have the potential to earn even greater rewards for online purchases. For example, medical companies often look for answers from people who have a particular condition, or from those who have undergone a particular medical procedure and are willing to pay handsomely for the information provided.
Or, your particular demographic might be something as simple as owning two cocker spaniels of a certain age and answering surveys from pet food companies about their health and their habits.
10 popular survey sites for earning gift cards and rewards
Swagbucks
When you take surveys or online polls with Swagbucks, you’ll earn points that can be exchanged for a gift card from Amazon, Xbox Live, Starbucks, and many others. Plus, Swagbucks offers a $10 bonus when you activate your account and spend $25 using cashback links on their site within the first 30 days. Swagbucks is only open to residents of the U.S. or Canada.
Monetha
Primarily, Monetha is an online shopping rewards app where you can complete surveys for gift cards and get cash back on your online purchases. This means that when you shop with any of the company’s online partners – there are currently over 1,200 shopping partners – your points accrue and can be exchanged for gift cards from a huge range of the world’s top brands. Alternatively, accumulated points can be used to invest in cryptocurrencies or to make a donation to charity. Monetha also offers a series of daily online activities, including surveys, that help members earn even more points, which means even greater rewards.
InboxDollars
InboxDollars, as an online rewards club and marketing company, rewards users for taking surveys and polls. Depending on how much time you’re willing to invest in surveys, you can cash out your rewards in the form of free gift cards from major retailers like Amazon, Target, and many others. Some of the short surveys for gift cards pay only a few cents, as little as $0.05, but longer surveys can pay as much as $10 or even $20. Residents of the U.S. over 18 years of age can simply download the app, fill in their information, and start earning today.
Branded Surveys
When you sign up with Branded Surveys, the information you provide will help match you directly to the best surveys. That’s why honesty is paramount when signing up for Branded Surveys. Survey takers will earn points for every completed survey; when the points add up, they will be ‘cashed out’ in the form of gift cards from Walmart, Ulta, Target, Old Navy, and many others. Account owners must be over 18 and are residents of the U.S., Canada, or the UK. Minors aged 16 and 17 may participate with the consent of a parent or guardian.
Survey Junkie
If you want to earn rewards and get free gift cards for sharing your opinions about brands and products, testing products, and taking surveys, Survey Junkie helps brands improve their product range while delivering great rewards to their users. Users can cash in their points for a range of e-gift cards from companies like Walmart, Amazon, and Target. To sign up and get free gift cards, users must be at least 16 or older.
Opinion Outpost
With surveys paying between $0.05 and $5 each, Opinion Outpost pays users for their opinions on brands and products the user has had experience using. Users are rewarded with credits for every survey completed. The credits can then be cashed out once you hit a minimum of $10 and can be redeemed through PayPal cash or through gift cards from favorite stores. Users must be over 17 and live in the USA.
e-Rewards
e-Rewards is an online survey platform that operates on an invitation-only basis – you’ll need to follow them on Facebook to learn how to join. Once you’ve joined up, you’ll discover that you can earn reward points for taking online surveys, quick polls, product tests, and local tasks. The surveys are usually about trending news stories, well-known brands, or popular TV shows. Rewards are paid in the form of a gift card, magazines, and even airline rewards.
LifePoints
Earning rewards like gift cards from LifePoints is as simple as signing up. Before you start earning by answering paid surveys about brands, you’ll receive 10 free LifePoints just for signing up. You can also earn extra points by following the company on social media outlets. You can also earn LifePoints by participating in games, daily polls, and competitions and entering free giveaways.
Survey Club
Companies and many favorite brands use Survey Club to discover what consumers think about their products and services. The initial information you provide will be used to match you with the right paid surveys and help you earn credits that can be exchanged for Amazon gift cards and coupon codes. Users must be 16 years old or older, and survey opportunities will be sent via email or text message.
Ipsos iSay
If you’re looking for a secure, free, and reliable survey site to earn gift cards, Ipsos iSay pays its members to provide feedback about a range of products. As soon as you sign up and your application is approved, users can start to earn points immediately. The length of time it takes to complete a survey will determine the user’s earnings, plus eligibility will depend on the demographics associated with their profile information. Points can be redeemed for cash via a PayPal account or for a range of gift cards from top brands. Users must be at least 18 years old.
Tips for gift card success
To maximize your reward potential, here are a few tips to help you earn gift cards.
Complete surveys consistently
This might sound pretty obvious, but the more surveys you complete, the easier it is to earn points. And the more points you earn, the more gift cards to your favorite store you’ll get.
Be honest
It would be easy to cheat on your survey answers, but the fact is, you’re being paid in gift cards for your honesty. Plus, just like any loyalty programs or subscription services, your honesty will make you a more reliable survey taker and more valuable to the survey company – that means more chances to earn gift cards for you.
Check-in regularly
Check your email or the survey site’s dashboard regularly – either on the app or online. Most surveys will be time-sensitive and will offer greater earning potential if they can be completed in a set timeframe.
Survey companies like flexible users are available when they’re most needed. In turn, this flexibility to answer surveys whenever they need it will make the user more attractive to the owner and more likely to be in contact with new surveys and new earning potential.
Create a separate email account
If survey taking is a free time occupation, it might be worth creating a specific email account to avoid cluttering your main account. It may not sound like much, but having one specific place to look for the next chance to earn gift cards means there is less chance of offers ending up in your spam account.
Redeem your points regularly
It is recommended that survey site members redeem their points, cash, or gift cards regularly to avoid losing their accumulated points or having their accounts suspended.
This doesn’t apply to all of them, but some survey sites have policies that may result in a member’s points being forfeited if they remain inactive for a certain period. Redeeming points regularly—the main reason we’re all here—allows members to enjoy the benefits of their hard work and receive rewards that can be used immediately.
Finally, by redeeming points regularly, survey site members can keep track of their earnings and stay motivated to continue completing offers to earn gift cards, cash, or any other rewards.
However, note that some survey sites only allow users to redeem their points once they reach a specified number. That should be something you consider when doing your initial research.
Conclusion
Completing surveys online is an easy and convenient way to earn gift cards from big brands. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can find legitimate survey sites, earn points, and redeem points for gift cards. Remember to be honest, check your email regularly, and redeem your points regularly to maximize your earnings.
FAQ
What are survey scams?
An online survey scam is a digital deception that solicits people to complete a survey by promising them a chance to earn gift cards. However, instead of receiving a reward, participants may fall prey to identity theft or even lose their money.
Are all online survey sites scams?
No, not all online gift card survey sites are scams. There are legitimate survey sites that offer rewards such as free gift cards or cash in exchange for completing surveys. However, it is important to be cautious and do research before signing up for any survey site. It is advisable to read reviews from other users, check the site’s policies and terms of service, and look out for any warnings, such as requests for payment or personal information that seems excessive or unnecessary. Legitimate survey sites work closely with market research companies, meaning they have to be transparent and up-front with everything.
Can I earn gift cards for taking surveys online?
Yes, you can earn a gift card (or as many as you want) for taking online surveys. Many legitimate online paid surveys offer rewards in the form of free gift cards, the chance to earn money, or other incentives for participating in surveys in multiple ways. To earn free gift cards through online surveys, you need to sign up for a reputable survey site, create a profile, and complete surveys honestly and regularly. You can accumulate points for each survey you complete, and once you reach a certain number of points, you can redeem them for an Amazon gift card, Walmart, Target, and plenty more popular retailers. Some gift card survey sites even reward their users with cash that can be redeemed through a PayPal account.
