Can You Really Make Money With Surveys?

I love exploring new ways to generate extra income and this time I wanted to try a side hustle that I have always been curious about: taking surveys.

So, can you really make money with surveys? In this article, we’ll navigate through the pros, the cons, and the often-overlooked time investment required. I would also talk about my own experience with two different survey platforms.

Pros of Survey-Taking as a Side Hustle

Accessibility and Ease of Participation

We cannot deny that taking surveys is accessible for anyone with a phone or laptop and internet connection. With just a few clicks, you can become a participant in market research, offering your insights on a plethora of topics. The ease of entry is undoubtedly appealing, making it an accessible option for individuals seeking a simple way to supplement their income.

Very Low effort

If you are looking for a side hustle that is really low effort, taking surveys is a great option. It does not require great focus, you can be answering surveys while watching TV or cooking dinner. Although, you do need to provide coherent answers for your survey response to be validated and paid.

Cons of Survey-Taking as a Side Hustle

Low Earning Potential

While the accessibility of surveys is a positive aspect, the financial rewards often fall short of expectations. The compensation for one survey may range from mere cents to a few dollars. While it is possible to make a few dollars a day, accumulating a substantial income solely through survey-taking can be challenging.

Time-Consuming Nature of Surveys

The completion of surveys demands a significant investment of time, and the return on that investment may not always align with the effort. More on this later.

Limited Availability of High-Paying Surveys

While a multitude of surveys may be available, high-paying opportunities are often scarce. In my experience, when I tried to take one of the higher paying surveys they were already filled up or I couldn’t qualify as they are often looking for specific profiles. Securing those coveted high-dollar surveys requires persistence and luck, which makes me question whether the pursuit is truly worth the effort.

My Personal Experience With Surveys

In my process of finding out if I could really make money with surveys, I tried two different survey sites: SurveyJunkie and Swagbucks. I made $5 with SurveyJunkie and $15 dollars with Swagbucks. But what really matters is the time invested to get to this pay off.

How do these sites work?

They are both pretty similar. You create an account and start taking surveys. You will get paid for each survey with points which translate to real money. With SurveyJunkie you need to get to $5 to be able to claim the money, while with Swagbucks, you need to get to $15.

How much money did I make?

My first impression was that all surveys pay just a few cents, so I quickly realized I was going to go through quite a few surveys to get some money. In the end, the pay off relative to the time investment was worse than I was expecting.

With Survey Junkie, I must have spent 2 hours total to get to $5. Then, I switched to Swagbucks, where I spent about 4 hours to get to $15. This translates to $2.5 per hour for SurveyJunkie and $3.75 per hour for Swagbucks.

Therefore, my first recommendation is, if you are looking to try a survey site, go for Swagbucks over SurveyJunkie. However, $3.75 per hour is still low considering you can make at least $10 per hour working in retail, fast food or a coffee shop (at least in my area).

One important thing to consider is that all of these hours I “spent” doing surveys were actually during hours when I was watching TV at home. If you consider I would not have been making money in any other way during that time, then $3.75 per hours is still better than $0

Realistic Expectations: Can You Make Money With Surveys?

I’d say it depends. It’s essential to approach survey-taking with a realistic mindset. While surveys offer a straightforward method of earning, relying solely on survey-taking is not going to make you rich or replace your full-time income.

I think it is a good idea to take some surveys if you have a lot of down time. If you spend a lot of time watching TV, commuting on the bus, or watching your kids, then it could be a great idea to take some surveys during this time. However, if you have free time that you want to fully dedicate towards a side hustle project, I don’t think taking surveys is going to be the best use of your time.

Alternatives Side Hustles

While survey-taking can generate a few dollars an hour with low effort, I think it is a better idea to dedicate your free time to building a side hustle with a much higher upside. These are some alternative side hustles to consider:

Start an Etsy store: Choose a niche you are interested in and create a product around it. While it may take a few weeks or even months to start seeing sales, it can become a good source of passive income.
Sell clothes on Poshmark: Declutter your house and closet, take pictures, list your items and wait for sales to come.
Online tutoring: Whether you’re a math whiz, a language enthusiast, a fitness guru, or a life coach, you could offer your knowledge online and connect with people interested in 1:1 sessions.
Blogging: Blogging is not a side hustle to make money fast. In the beginning you are just putting in a lot of hours without seeing results, but once it picks up, you can have a consistent source of income.

Here are some articles you can read if you are interested in learning about other side hustles.

10 Remote Side Hustles: Earn Money Anytime, Anywhere

10 Side Hustles that Pay Weekly

20 Lucrative Side Hustles for Introverts

Final Thoughts

After exploring survey-taking as a side hustle, it’s evident that the allure of easy money comes with its own set of complexities. While surveys offer accessibility and a simple entry point, the reality of low earning potential and time constraints cannot be overlooked.

In comparing survey-taking to other side hustles, it becomes clear that diversification is key. Understanding the realistic expectations of survey income and strategically combining survey earnings with alternative pursuits can lead to a more robust and rewarding financial strategy.

Table of Contents