Get Paid to Search the Web (UK): What Actually Works
Did you know you can get paid to search the web?
It sounds too easy to be true — and in fairness, it mostly is. You’re not going to replace your income by typing words into Google.
However, there are legitimate ways to earn money from search engines. Some platforms reward you for clicking sponsored search results, while others pay you to complete specific search tasks.
The money is small, but if you’re already online, it can be very low effort.
In this guide, I’ll show you:
👉 Which search engines that pay you actually exist
👉 The best paid search sites available in the UK
👉 How much you can realistically earn
👉 Which methods are barely worth bothering with
Can you really get paid to search the internet?
Yes, but the earnings are tiny.
Most platforms that claim you can get paid to search the internet work in one of three ways:
• You click sponsored results in search engines
• You complete specific search tasks for advertisers
• You earn points for using a particular search engine
In reality, most users earn between £5 and £20 per month at best.
Paid search should be treated as background pocket money, not a serious side hustle.
Best sites that pay you to search the web
Here are the main platforms that currently allow users to earn money with search engines.
Site | How you earn | Typical monthly earnings | Worth using? |
|---|---|---|---|
Complete Google search tasks | £8–£20 | ✔ Yes | |
Search tasks for advertisers | £5–£10 | ✔ Maybe | |
Points for using Bing | £3–£5 | ✔ Casual use | |
Random search rewards | £1–£3 | ⚠ Only if you already use it | |
1p per 4 searches | £1-£2 | ⚠ Only if already using |
Site | How you earn | Typical monthly earnings |
|---|---|---|
Complete Google search tasks | £8–£20 | |
Search tasks for advertisers | £5–£10 | |
Points for using Bing | £3–£5 | |
Random search rewards | £1–£3 | |
1p per 4 searches | £1-£2 |
As you can see, search alone rarely pays much. Most users combine it with surveys or other small online earning methods.
Let’s take a look at each option in more detail.
Sites that pay you to search the internet
SerpClix – the best site that pays you to search
If you want to earn money with search, SerpClix is probably the most reliable option.
SerpClix pays users to perform real Google searches and click specific results. Businesses use the platform to increase visibility for certain pages in search results.
Here’s how it works:
- You receive a search phrase
- Search for it on Google
- Click the highlighted result
- Stay on the page until the timer finishes
Each task usually pays $0.05–$0.10.
That doesn’t sound like much, but if tasks are available you can earn $10–$20 per month with very little effort.
To use SerpClix you need:
• Microsoft Edge browser
• The SerpClix browser extension
Once installed, tasks appear quietly in the background.
Also worth reading
Have a look at these passive income ideas if you want to make money with minimal effort.
ClicksPaid – another paid search site
ClicksPaid works almost exactly like SerpClix.
You receive a search phrase, perform the Google search, and stay on the page for a set amount of time.
Pay per task is similar, but there are fewer tasks available.
Most users earn around $5–$10 per month.
It’s worth joining if you want multiple paid search sites running in the background.
Microsoft Rewards – a search engine that pays you
Microsoft Rewards is one of the few search engines that pays you directly.
Instead of cash, you earn points for using Bing.
Typical rewards include:
• 3 points per search
• Up to 30 searches per day
• Around 7,600 points needed for a £5 gift card
Searching alone is extremely slow.
However, rewards build faster if you combine it with:
• daily quizzes
• Xbox rewards
• Microsoft purchases
If you already use Bing, it’s an easy way to earn money from a search engine you were using anyway.
Swagbucks – random search rewards
Swagbucks also lets users get paid for searching the web, but the system works differently.
Searches are performed through Bing and rewards are random rather than guaranteed.
Most searches won’t pay anything.
When rewards do appear, they’re usually worth a few SB points.
Because of this, searching on Swagbucks only really makes sense if you already use the platform for:
• surveys
• cashback
• sign-up offers
InboxPounds – technically pays you to search
InboxPounds is another platform that lets users get paid for searching the web, although the rewards are extremely small.
Instead of paying per search, InboxPounds allows you to perform searches through its site and earn 1p for every four searches, with a daily cap of around 7p.
That means even if you hit the maximum every day, you’d only earn about £2 per month.
Because of this, searching on InboxPounds only really makes sense if you’re already using the platform for other activities like:
• surveys
• cashback offers
• paid sign-up deals
If you’re using InboxPounds anyway, the search feature is an easy way to earn a few extra pennies. But it’s not something worth going out of your way for.
Swagbucks – random search rewards
Swagbucks also lets users get paid for searching the web, but the system works differently.
Searches are performed through Bing and rewards are random rather than guaranteed.
Most searches won’t pay anything.
When rewards do appear, they’re usually worth a few SB points.
Because of this, searching on Swagbucks only really makes sense if you already use the platform for:
• surveys
• cashback
• sign-up offers
Qmee – previously paid for search results
Qmee is often mentioned when people search for “get paid to search Google.”
Originally, Qmee offered a browser extension that displayed sponsored results alongside Google searches. Clicking these could earn a few pence.
However, the search feature is much less visible today and the extension is difficult to find.
Most users now earn money from surveys instead.
Because of this, Qmee works better as a survey app rather than a paid search tool.
Qmee search keywords – the truth
People often search for “Qmee search keywords” hoping there’s a secret list that triggers paid results.
Unfortunately, that’s not how it works.
Qmee does not use fixed keywords.
Paid search results depend entirely on advertisers and can change based on:
• location
• time of day
• browsing behaviour
• advertiser demand
From my own experience, paid results used to appear more often for searches related to:
• insurance quotes
• broadband deals
• mobile contracts
• credit cards
• large retailers
Repeating the same phrase repeatedly usually stops paid results appearing.
The best approach is simply searching normally and treating paid clicks as a bonus.
Swagbucks search keywords – do they work?
You’ll also see a lot of advice online about “Swagbucks search keywords.”
Most of it is misleading.
Swagbucks does not publish a list of guaranteed search terms.
Rewards are random and usually limited to one or two wins per day.
Spacing searches out and using Bing through Swagbucks may help slightly, but there’s no reliable way to trigger rewards.
Can you actually make money searching the web?
Let’s be honest.
If you’re just getting paid to search the internet, you’ll earn pennies rather than pounds.
Even the best platforms usually top out around £10–£20 per month.
SerpClix works because it provides real value to advertisers, but availability depends on demand.
Platforms like Microsoft Rewards and Swagbucks offer rewards, but they are very slow earners.
If you want something that pays properly, you’re far better off using:
👉 paid survey sites
👉 focus groups
👉 user testing platforms
👉 cashback offers
FAQs
How can I get paid to search the web?
Sites like SerpClix pay you when you click sponsored search results. Microsoft Rewards and Swagbucks offer points for using their search engines, but earnings are very slow.
Is there a search engine that pays you?
Yes. Microsoft Rewards pays users points for using Bing, which can be exchanged for gift cards.
Can you get paid to search Google?
Some platforms pay users to perform Google search tasks for advertisers. SerpClix and ClicksPaid are the most common examples.
Is there a list of Qmee search keywords?
No. Qmee search rewards depend on advertisers and there is no fixed list of keywords that trigger paid results.
