With so many online survey companies, how do you know which are worth the effort and which should be avoided? After trialling 70 of them over the years, I can reveal the best-paid sites and apps for you to join. Plus, I’ll share with you how much I make and, as an added bonus, you’ll get to see me looking daft on the BBC. Awesome!
| Rating | Payment options | Minimum cashout | |
| Branded Surveys | 4.3 | PayPal/gift cards | $5 |
| Prolific | 4.2 | PayPal | £6 |
| Ipsos iSay | 4.0 | PayPal/gift cards | £5 |
| YouGov | 4.0 | PayPal/gift cards | £50 |
| Qmee | 3.9 | PayPal/gift cards | £0.01 |
| Y Live | 3.8 | Bank transfer | £50 |
| Prime Opinion | 3.8 | PayPal/gift cards | $1/£1 |
| Swagbucks | 3.8 | PayPal/gift cards | £1 |
| Apple Users | 3.5 | PayPal | $20 |
| OnePoll | 3.3 | PayPal | £25 |
Which is the best-paid survey site in the UK?
Branded Surveys take the number one spot, thanks to their constant supply of surveys, decent rates of pay and loyalty bonuses… although Prolific is a close second. But, with survey sites, the more you belong to, the more you can earn. Branded Surveys is certainly not the only site to consider, with plenty more offering the chance to earn money from your phone, test products and take part in very well-paid interviews. Take a look through the pros and cons of the survey sites for money.
The best online surveys to make money
I know many of us think about it, but how do you go about earning extra money in your spare time? Well, one great way is by completing online surveys. Okay, so it won’t make you rich, but in 2020, they contributed to me making an extra £8,500. At today’s prices, that pays for about one month’s heating…
So, here are the top sites. And, unlike other sites that claim to tell you the best-paid survey sites, mine is genuine. You see, some people only recommend a survey site because they are paid a commission. And a lot of sites pay a big commission because, quite frankly, they’re terrible. 4 of the sites I list below will earn me nothing if you join (2, 6, 9, and 10, in case you’re wondering).
My interview on BBC Morning Live, talking about my income from online surveys. Please excuse the sound at the beginning. And my face…
The best-paid survey sites
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at my top 10 for all serious survey takers. Remember, the more sites you join, the better your chance to earn. But you probably don’t want to sign up for all of them straight off because it takes some time, so why not join the first few and bookmark this page to visit later?
1. Branded Surveys
This site makes my number one spot for a few reasons. There are far more surveys here than nearly every other site, giving you plenty of opportunities to earn. And unlike many other sites offering surveys, these pay quite well.
Not only that, but complete more surveys and you can be awarded bonus points for finishing top of the leaderboard. This can considerably boost how much you earn.
And my favourite benefit is that you receive a small compensation if you are screened out of a survey. Few survey sites offer this, and it’s nice to know your time isn’t wasted.
You can withdraw your money through gift cards or choose PayPal if you fancy cash. It’s important to note that Branded Surveys is a site that pays into your PayPal in $, but this will be converted when you withdraw to your bank.
Use the link below to get 100 points ($1) just for joining!
2. Prolific
This used to be my number one choice. It’s probably the best-paid survey site out there. However, as it has become more popular over the years and spaces are limited for surveys, you can go weeks without earning anything. And in March 2022, Prolific became so popular that they introduced a waitlist for new participants.
The surveys here are usually created by lecturers and students at universities. The great thing is that they often receive grants to write these surveys. This means the money they pay you isn’t theirs, often making them more generous.
The minimum pay for this site is £6 per hour, but most surveys pay far more than this. Some will even pay you a bonus if you perform well or extra if you complete a set number of surveys over several weeks. I even had one survey that paid over £80 per hour, although that is quite rare.
The money you make will be paid into your PayPal account. There’s a minimum withdrawal limit of £5 and it takes a few days to reach your account if you’re a new member. If you’re a more established Prolific user, it will reach you instantly.
3. Ipsos iSay
Another must-have site. This survey site isn’t quite as well paid as the above two, but it comes with a big advantage – the chance to test products. Although this isn’t a weekly thing, I have had the chance to test all manner of products, such as chocolate, alcohol, biscuits and fabric conditioner. And, I get paid on top too.
I have even been invited to join market research focus groups. These pay far more than usual surveys and can earn you up to £60 per hour, just for taking part in a video call.
You’ll usually receive several surveys per day, which will reward you with points. These points can then be swapped for rewards such as Amazon vouchers or PayPal cash.
4. YouGov
This is a survey site with a little difference. Many of the questions relate to current affairs and answers are used in national papers for news articles.
Surveys don’t come along as often as I like, but they appear more regularly than PopulusLive. Again, you will be paid by bank transfer once you reach £50, usually within a few days.
You can earn extra each week by allowing the YouGov site to have access to the programmes you have watched on streaming services like Netflix and see what you have browsed on the internet. But this is completely voluntary.
YouGov also has an app that gives you another way to earn. The ‘Direct’ part of the app (separate from the main YouGov site) offers short surveys from major brands. Once you reach £1, you can withdraw directly to your bank.
I’ve never received any products to test, but I occasionally get paid to watch a TV show, which can be a lot of fun.
5. Qmee
This is a site where you can earn from your computer or a survey app on your phone. Pay for each survey varies greatly, so make sure you’re picky. However, complete surveys six days in a row, and you receive 10% extra.
Another site that gives you a choice between gift cards and cash. If you opt for cash, you can withdraw money to your PayPal account anytime.
And you’ll get 50 pence just for joining.
My Qmee earnings:
6. Y Live
This site is actually better paying than the other sites on this list but only makes it to sixth spot.
What stops Y Live (formerly known as PopulusLive) from ranking higher? The infrequency of surveys. Some months, I have made just a few pounds, whilst others I have made well over £30. Y Live will send you a link to a survey when they think you meet the right demographic. Apart from that, it’s just a case of sitting and waiting.
And even if you are sent a survey, you’re not guaranteed to qualify. In some cases, you can still be screened out – even after 5 minutes. And there’s nothing more frustrating in the survey world than being thrown out of a survey after answering a load of questions.
In real terms, the pay works out at around £12 per hour and most of the surveys can be completed from your phone or on a computer.
Once you reach £50, you will be paid the following month by bank transfer. You can opt for a cheque, although that is a lot slower.
7. Prime Opinion
This is another site that provides lots of surveys, so there are plenty of chances to earn. Plus, some of them can pay quite generously too. There’s a weekly draw and a leaderboard for the chance to earn extra.
You may be screened out of some surveys, but you will receive some compensation for your efforts.
Its main downside is that you may be bounced around from site to site before you find a survey you qualify for.
8. Swagbucks
Possibly one of the biggest sites out there. There are lots of positive reviews out there, but this is partly because Swagbucks has quite a generous referral scheme, and people want you to join, so they get paid!
Swagbucks isn’t just a survey site – there are plenty of other ways to earn too. In fact, you need to be selective in the surveys you complete, as some pay quite badly. But once you come to terms with the site and take advantage of its special offers and games, you can earn a decent amount. And convince your friends to join and you earn 10% of all their future earnings!
There are lots of gift cards to choose from to withdraw your earnings, or you can choose PayPal. It usually takes around five working days to receive your earnings, depending on your payout method.
9. OnePulse
This is only available through an app on your phone. OnePulse offers two types of surveys, those that pay cash and those that reward you with XP. And as your XP increases, you receive more cash when you complete a paid survey.
Although the pay is relatively low (around 25 pence), surveys usually have only three questions and only take a few seconds. This is a good little earner for very little effort.
You can withdraw your earnings to PayPal once you reach $20 (you are actually paid in $). Your money should arrive instantly, but you can only withdraw once per month.
10. OnePoll
Not as well paid as some sites above, but I love OnePoll. Generally, the surveys only pay between 10-30p. That may sound a little hard going, but some surveys take just seconds to complete. This site is great for people who are short on time or those on the constant move as you can complete surveys from your phone too.
You will sometimes be invited to take part in in-person interviews or videos. These are quite short and can pay up to £100. The downside is that many of them take place in London, so you must be willing to travel.
Your earnings are paid straight into your bank account but can take around a month to arrive.
The best-paid survey apps
If you fancy making some extra money from your phone, these survey apps are also worth downloading.
Eureka
This money-making app offers lots of short surveys plus a fairly low cashout rate of £4. During certain parts of the day, you’ll be notified of a bonus period, where you can earn an extra 25% for 30 minutes.
Payment is made by cash through PayPal, or you could choose a gift card instead.
When you join, use the code X9KPEF to unlock a short survey worth 80 pence.
AttaPoll
Another app that has plenty of surveys on offer. Each survey is given a star rating before you enter, so you know what others think of it and how likely you will not be screened out of it.
You can cash out through PayPal, Revolut or in the form of a gift card. AttaPoll also has a referral scheme and you can earn 20 pence plus 10% of all future earnings for every friend that joins.
Click on the button below and use the code dqcni when you join and you’ll get a 40 pence bonus.
MOBROG
MOBROG allows you to earn either from the app or from their main website. There are several surveys each day, but not quite so many as you’ll find on the AttaPoll or Qmee apps. The majority of surveys are around the 15-minute mark, but they pay quite well.
You can also refer friends for a (rather exact) 64 pence bonus.
MSR
Also known as the Measure Protocol app, MSR offers short surveys in return for points. These points can then be redeemed for PayPal or gift cards worth £10, £25 and £50.
MSR also offers a referral scheme and you can earn 20% of your friend’s future earnings.
Streetbees
I would call Streetbees a semi-survey site if that is actually a thing. The majority of paid opportunities come from you completing stories. You’ll be asked about products around your home or about your lifestyle. In some cases, you might be required to share a photo or two.
You may also be asked to share your experiences when you’re out in a restaurant or a pub or even be set mystery shopping tasks.
Once you complete a story, you’ll receive PayPal payment within a couple of days.
Use the code 7850SP when you join.
Vypr
This is an app with a bit of a difference. You’ll be sent a selection of ‘steers’, which are usually images of a product and you simply choose which you prefer. You’ll then be rewarded with points which can then be exchanged for money through PayPal. Although this won’t earn you a large amount, each steer takes a couple of seconds to complete.
Can you actually make money from surveys?
Yes, you can. You will struggle to make a full-time income, but you can easily earn several hundred pounds per month without too much effort. It’s just a case of finding the right survey sites for you. If you take a look at my income reports, you can see that I often make over £500 per month.
My total earnings from Prolific over the years.
How much do the best survey sites pay?
The best sites pay in the region of £10 – £15 per hour, but there’s no hard and fast rule. How much you can earn from a survey depends on various factors, such as how long the survey takes, which company is paying you, and how unique your opinion is. For example, a survey looking for answers from females aged 18-60 who brush their teeth won’t pay as much as a survey looking for female engineers aged 30.
Some sites pay you as little as 10 pence for each survey. This might not sound great, but it usually takes a few seconds. At the other end of the scale, I have been invited to online focus groups after a short survey that pays £100 for 2 hours.
A few tips to make more from online paid surveys
Join multiple sites. The best-paying survey providers don’t usually have a long list for you to complete, so being able to check different sites gives you better earning potential.
Some sites above will send you an email invite to inform you when a new paid online survey is available. Many have limited space, so try to complete them as soon as possible.
Keep your profile up-to-date as much as you can. This reduces the chance of you being sent surveys that you won’t qualify for.
Don’t spend ages trawling sites for a survey opportunity to complete. If there aren’t any decent ones there, you’ll end up working for less than you should.
Keep going. Because everybody’s profile is different, it will take you a while to find your preferred sites and which ones pay you the most. Don’t think that within the first week, you will be earning £100’s. But give it some time, and you should be on your way to making a decent extra income.
Are paid surveys safe?
As long as you keep to the established and genuine survey sites, you should never have an issue. And remember, it’s your information. If you don’t feel comfortable with sharing some personal data, don’t. I rarely share my postcode, address or name – only if it’s for a long-term project that pays well.
If in doubt, create a new email account. You can pop over to Outlook and create an email address in minutes. If you’re worried about spam, it will be kept away from your main account. However, I am a member of all the sites below and never had any issues.
Do you have to declare the income?
You can make up to £1,000 online annually as an extra income without declaring it to HMRC. Any more than this, and you will need to fill out a self-assessment each year.
Don’t let your earnings sit in your account
If you’re saving up for something, leaving any money you earn in your survey account is very tempting. That way, you’re less likely to spend it. But, there is no protection and if something happens to the survey company, you will lose all your earnings.
And some survey companies have a habit of freezing accounts if they think you aren’t completing their surveys honestly (none on this list though). The moment you hit that payout threshold, go for it.
Surveys for money UK
Well, that’s a list of my top 10 best-paid survey sites and apps. I’m forever joining new sites, so I will update this page occasionally if I find something better.
My advice would be not to sign up for just one survey site. The more you belong to, the better your chance of earning money. And if you think a survey is too long for the amount they pay you… don’t do it!
Look at how I earned over £1,000 worth of free Amazon gift cards over a year.
FAQs
How do online surveys pay?
This depends on the survey site. Most pay either through PayPal or by bank transfer. Some will offer the option of gift cards instead.
Are online surveys worth doing?
Yes. They are a great way to boost your income.
Do online surveys actually pay?
Yes, they do. It may seem like a little too good to be true. But you can earn from the comfort of your own home or from your phone when you’re out and about.
Do surveys for money work?
They certainly do. As long as you choose the survey sites you work for wisely, you will be able to make a steady income.
Will survey sites send me spam?
I have been a member of all of the sites above for over three years and none of them has sent me spam emails. Yet. But I would suggest that you create a 2nd email address which you use just for online money-making.
Which paid survey sites are legitimate in the UK?
Branded Surveys
Prolific Academic
Prime Opinion
Y Live
YouGov
OnePoll
Ipsos iSay
OnePulse
Swagbucks
Qmee
steve williams
Sunday 17th of March 2024
very helpful pete , keep up the good work cheers
Pete Chatfield
Wednesday 20th of March 2024
Thanks very much Steve!
Zuzana N
Wednesday 25th of January 2023
Hi, I'm considering signing up for the surveys but when I started filling in my info for Branded Surveys, they require my consent to collect my data in categories like my political views, religious leanings, sex life, biometric data etc. Is this normal and is this safe to do it? What do they do with such info and is what all the survey sites require?
Money Saver Pete
Thursday 26th of January 2023
Hi Zuzuna. This is perfectly normal for survey sites to ask. Most of this information gives companies a better idea of the customers they need to target. But, if there's anything you feel uncomfortable sharing, then don't. Some sites do allow you the option of 'prefer not to say', but not all. We're not talking large amounts of money here, so it's not worth sharing if it leaves you feeling awkward.
Brian
Tuesday 25th of October 2022
What about Inbox Pounds? They've been around for ages and I have withdrawn a fair bit from them, but it is slow going. They have since added Paypal as an option so I might try harder with them to reach the next £10. Otherwise it's just Prolific (simply the best!) and Swagbucks I use. I'll take a look at Branded Surveys and OnePoll thanks.
Money Saver Pete
Tuesday 25th of October 2022
Hi Brian. I did review Inbox Pounds and although I thought it was ok as a GPT site, the surveys were poorly paid compared to others.
K.c
Saturday 13th of August 2022
Hi, I've been doing these surveys for the last week. I've been using mostly branded surveys. I've done around 27 surveys and earned just under £19. How many surveys have you been doing to earn £5/600 a month. I've done 27 at £19 which averages about 70p a survey. To earn £500 I'd have to do around 715 surveys a week. Which frankly is unfeasible.
Money Saver Pete
Saturday 13th of August 2022
Hi K.c. So, it's really a case of being choosy. I'm a member of all of these sites and it's a case of just picking the better-paid surveys. Some days, that might mean none, and other days I can spend most of my day doing them. Branded Surveys is a great site to fall back on, but you need to check the likes of Prolific, Qmee and OnePoll regularly too.
Geoffey Newman
Sunday 9th of January 2022
Your list at bottom says 7 Testable minds, but I cannot find it in your list at top? Cheers
Money Saver Pete
Sunday 9th of January 2022
Hi. Sorry, it was a case of the post not updating properly. Although I still use Testable Minds, I haven't found it as good over the last year, so I moved it out of my top 10.