ATM is a US rewards app that pays you for surveys, offers, reading about brands and visiting locations. I tested it to see if it is worth your time. It is legit, but the rewards are very low, and it permanently locks the first $20 you earn. Below is what I found, and which apps I recommend instead.
Tested by Mikael (EarnWithMike)Founder and lead testerMikael founded PaidFromSurveys in 2016 and has personally tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites since then. He shows his tests and payment proof to 555K+ subscribers on his YouTube channel, EarnWithMike. He tested ATM himself and does not earn a commission from it.Learn more about Mikael
Last retested · First published
Legit, but very low rewards and your first $20 is locked
Surveys pay around $0.20 to $0.50, most offers need a purchase, and you can only withdraw what you earn above $20. US only.
On this page
The short answer
ATM is legit, because you can really get paid to answer surveys, read about brands, visit locations and shop. It pays in cash to your bank account.
But the rewards are very low, and most offers that pay well require a purchase. The first $20 you earn is permanently locked, so you can only withdraw what you earn above it. In my opinion, it is not worth your time.
- Offers a passive form of earning
- Offers a convenient payment method: direct bank transfer
- Easy to use
- Decent support through a contact form
- Offers very low rewards
- The first $20 you earn is permanently locked
- Most offers that pay well require a purchase
- Only available in the US
- Bank transfers take 4 to 6 business days
My experience with ATM
I installed ATM and tried its surveys, offers, brand matching and location rewards. This is what I did myself, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- March 2024Review first published Mar 25, 2024
- Latest retest
- Checked: earning methods, payouts, support
- Pay per survey
- Around $0.20 to $0.50And there were not a lot of surveys
- Payout
- Not reachedI never earned more than the locked $20
- Paid surveys
- Cashback offers and brand matching
- Location rewards
- The sign-up and the app
- The FAQ and the contact form
- A withdrawal. I never earned more than $20, so I could not withdraw.
- Investing my earnings in stocks.
ATM at a glance
| What it is | Rewards app that pays you for surveys, offers and sharing your data |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free |
| Ways to earn | Paid surveys, cashback offers, brand matching and location rewards |
| Pay per survey | Usually around $0.20 to $0.50 |
| Locked earnings | The first $20 you earn is permanently locked, to protect ATM from fraud |
| Payout method | Direct bank transfer, or invest your earnings in stocks |
| Minimum cashout | Any amount above the locked $20 |
| Payout speed | 4 to 6 business days |
| Apps | Android and iOS only |
| Who can join | Only people who live in the US |
| Support | FAQ on the website, and a contact form through its Contact Us link |
Is ATM legit and safe?
Yes, ATM is legit, because you can really get paid. But that does not make it worth your time. Here is what you should know before you install it.
- Your first $20 is locked forever
ATM permanently locks the first $20 you earn and says it is a way to protect itself from fraud. You can only withdraw what you earn above it. I have never seen another app or site do this in my years of testing.
- Very low rewards
Surveys pay around $0.20 to $0.50, and there are not a lot of them. Brand matching pays a few cents per brand. It takes a long time just to earn past the locked $20.
- Most good offers need a purchase
Cashback offers and brand offers pay well, but you usually have to buy something, often for hundreds of dollars. They are only worth it if you wanted the product anyway.
- Location rewards need constant tracking
To earn location rewards, you have to let the app always see your location and turn on push notifications.
- Investing can lose money
You can invest your earnings in stocks through a separate app. Stocks can go up, but they can also go down, so you can lose money. Make sure you know what you are doing.
My takeIn my opinion, ATM is not an app worth your time, because it offers very low rewards and has a very low earning potential. You have to invest a lot of time just to earn a decent amount. I am also not a fan of it locking your first $20 of earnings. If you want to earn extra cash, there are much better apps and sites.
ATM pays very little and locks your first $20. The top sites in your country pay a lot more.
See the best alternativesHow you earn on ATM
There are 4 ways to earn. None of them pays much without a purchase. Tap one to read more.
Paid surveysAround $0.20 to $0.50
Go to the surveys section of the app to see the surveys you can answer. You first answer qualifying questions. If you qualify, you take the survey and get the promised reward in cash. If not, you move on to the next survey.
A survey usually pays around $0.20 to $0.50, which is quite a low rate, in my opinion. There are also not a lot of surveys, so it is hard to earn a good amount. For better options, see the best paid survey apps.
Cashback offersNeeds a purchase
The Rewards section shows offers from popular brands. ATM calls them offers, but in essence they are cashback offers, because most of them require a purchase.
The purchase is often a significant amount. So even though most offers pay well, you only benefit if it is something you actually want.
Brand matchingA few cents per brand
ATM introduces you to brands. You earn a small reward just for reading the company description of a brand.
After that, you see an offer that pays a significant amount, but it usually requires a purchase. From what I observed, the only profitable part is the free reward, and that is only a few cents each time.
Location rewardsSmall, passive
Turn on location rewards and you earn a small reward every time you go to certain locations, mostly stores, gas stations and supermarkets. You have to let the app always see your location and turn on push notifications.
When I tested the app, there were not a lot of these locations, so it is hard to earn a lot this way.
How much can you make?
You will not earn a lot from ATM. The earning methods that do not need a purchase do not pay well, and making purchases just to earn the reward is counterproductive, unless you really want the product.
Most offers I saw while testing were not worth it, because you would have to spend hundreds of dollars. On top of that, your first $20 is locked, so you need to earn even more before you can withdraw anything. Overall, I consider the earning potential very low.
Payout methods and minimum
| Method | Minimum | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Direct bank transfer | Any amount above the locked $20 | 4 to 6 business days |
| Invest in stocks | Through a separate app | Not tested |
All your earnings go to ATM’s wallet in cash. The first $20 you earn is permanently locked. After that, you can withdraw any amount to your bank account, and it arrives within 4 to 6 business days, which is a bit long, in my opinion.
You can also invest your earnings in stocks. You install a different app, and ATM guides you through the setup. I never earned more than $20 while testing, so I did not test this.
If you want to withdraw your full earnings, see the top sites that pay via direct bank transfer.
Devices, joining and support
ATM is mobile only, on Android and iOS. The app is easy to use, which, in my opinion, is its only saving grace.
ATM is only available to people who live in the US. Install the app and register with your email address, a password, your phone number and other profile information. The registration is fairly simple.
The FAQ section on the website covers the basics. For anything else, click the Contact Us link in the FAQ section, pick the topic of your question and fill out the form. That is decent support, in my opinion.
Apps and sites I recommend instead of ATM
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | Surveys only, fast payouts | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| Swagbucks | Many daily ways to earn, one of the biggest GPT sites | About $5 PayPal; gift cards from 100 SB | 4.3 / 5 |
| InboxDollars | US only. Many daily ways to earn and a $5 joining bonus | $15 first time, then $10 | 3.9 / 5 |
| KashKick | US only. Earnings shown in dollars, not points | $10 | 3.6 / 5 |
For more options, see the best paid survey apps, or the top survey and GPT sites in your country. They all have good earning potential, and you can find one wherever you live.
How I scored ATM
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
ATM scores 34 out of 100. These apps and sites are far better options.
See the best alternativesATM FAQ
Is the ATM app a scam?
No. ATM is legit, because you can really get paid. But the rewards are very low, and the first $20 you earn is permanently locked.
Why does ATM lock my first $20?
ATM says it is a way to protect itself from fraud. You can only withdraw what you earn above the first $20.
How does ATM pay?
By direct bank transfer, within 4 to 6 business days. You can also invest your earnings in stocks through a separate app.
How much does ATM pay per survey?
Usually around $0.20 to $0.50, and there are not a lot of surveys.
Who can join ATM?
Only people who live in the US.
Can I use ATM on a computer?
No. ATM is a mobile app for Android and iOS.
How do I contact ATM?
Go to the FAQ section of the website, click the Contact Us link, pick your topic and fill out the form.
Who tested ATM for this review
Founder of PaidFromSurveys.com since 2016. Mikael has tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites and shares his tests with 555K+ subscribers on YouTube (October 2026).
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with ATM, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.