Sites that pay you to read emails are legit, but each email pays very little and you only get a few a day, so plan to use their other tasks too. Many of these sites only work in one country, so check where each one is available below.
My top 3 sites that pay to read emails
-
#1 Swagbucks
Best for: Paid emails plus many other tasks
It has a decent number of emails to read: look for emails marked “Click & Earn” in your Swagbucks inbox. When you run out, you can take surveys, play games, complete offers and more.
- Available in
- Swagbucks is on my list for 20 countriesWorldwide but most opportunities in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Spain, France.
Australia
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Czech Republic
France
Germany
Greece
India
Ireland
Malaysia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Philippines
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
- Cash out from
- $1 gift cards$5 PayPal
-
#2 InboxDollars
Best for: Paid emails in the US
You get up to 3 paid emails a day, and you can also earn with surveys, games, videos and more.
- Available in
- US
- Cash out from
- $10first cash-out $15
-
#3 MyPoints
Best for: Bonus mails in the US and Canada
You earn by reading bonus mails, plus surveys, videos and cash back when you shop online. To get more emails, choose the email categories that interest you.
- Available in
- US and Canada
- Cash out from
- $15
Not in the US or Canada? Swagbucks, InboxDone, Paid-To-Read-Email.com and Quick Pay Survey are open more or less worldwide.
On this page8 sections
Compare all 10 sites that pay to read emails
| Site | Available in | Cash out from | Paid via | Join or read review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Swagbucks is on my list for 20 countriesWorldwide but most opportunities in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Spain, France.
| $1 gift cards$5 PayPal | PayPal · Gift cards | ||
| US | $10first cash-out $15 | PayPal · Prepaid Visa card · Check +1 more | ||
| US and Canada | $15 | PayPal · Gift cards | ||
| Canada | $30 | PayPal | ||
| UK | £15higher for some rewards | PayPal · Prepaid MasterCard · Gift cards | ||
| Worldwide | Not clear yetyou work as a virtual assistant | Not clear yet | ||
| US | $50$25 from offers and $25 from emails | PayPal | ||
| US | $20takes around 6 to 10 weeks | MasterCard gift card | ||
| Worldwide | $15 | PayPal · Amazon gift cards | ||
| Worldwide | $15 | PayPal · Amazon gift cards |
No site on this list matches these filters.
10 top sites that pay you to read emails
The list below is a list focused on the best legit sites you can join to get paid to read emails. While I do admit that a few of the sites at the bottom of this list aren’t exactly what you might say is the best of the best, they are still valid options and are legit.
You just have to go in with the right expectations so you won’t be disappointed. And with a little bit of effort, you will be able to earn a decent amount from these sites.
I will keep updating this list, so make sure to bookmark this page and check back from time to time for new opportunities.
#1 Swagbucks

- Available in
- Swagbucks is on my list for 20 countriesWorldwide but most opportunities in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Spain, France.
Australia
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Czech Republic
France
Germany
Greece
India
Ireland
Malaysia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Philippines
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
- Cash out from
- $1 gift cards$5 PayPal
- Paid via
- PayPal · Gift cards
Swagbucks is one of the most popular GPT sites around. The reason for this is, it offers plenty of ways for you to earn. It has a decent number of emails you can read as well.
However, be aware that to earn by reading emails on Swagbucks, you need to go to your inbox inside your Swagbucks account. And here you can sometimes find emails marked “Click & Earn” – these are the emails you will get paid for.
If you run out of emails to read, you can answer surveys, play games, complete offers, and a lot more. What makes this site a good option is, it has a low payout threshold of $5 (depending on your country). And once you hit it, you can either withdraw it via PayPal or exchange it for a gift card of your choice (which they have a lot of).
It is available more or less worldwide, but some countries offer more opportunities than others. So, the earning potential will really depend on where you live.
#2 InboxDollars

- Available in
- US
- Cash out from
- $10first cash-out $15
- Paid via
- PayPal · Prepaid Visa card · Check +1 more
InboxDollars is a GPT site that is only available in the US. And since it is a GPT site, there are several ways to earn rewards apart from reading emails. You can answer surveys, play games, watch videos, and do a lot more.
You can only receive a maximum of 3 emails per day, but since the site offers multiple ways to earn, you won’t have a hard time earning rewards, so you can reach their slightly high payout threshold of $30. However, after the first cashout, the threshold will only be $10.
Once you hit the threshold, there are several ways you can withdraw your earnings. You can withdraw it via PayPal or convert your earnings to a prepaid Visa card or other gift cards. You will also receive a $5 sign-up bonus by clicking the join button below.
#3 MyPoints

- Available in
- US and Canada
- Cash out from
- $15
- Paid via
- PayPal · Gift cards
MyPoints is a GPT site that is available in the US and Canada. Nevertheless, you will be able to earn from this site by reading emails (called bonus mails), answering surveys, watching videos, getting cashback when shopping online, and a lot more.
MyPoints will allow you to withdraw your earnings via PayPal once you’ve earned $10. If you prefer to withdraw your earnings a lot quicker, you can choose to convert it to a gift card from their catalog. Some of their gift cards will only require you to earn $3.
The number of emails you can receive from this site will mostly depend on your settings and interests. So, if you do not receive many, you can log in and edit your email subscriptions and choose the categories that interest you.
#4 DailyRewards

- Available in
- Canada
- Cash out from
- $30
- Paid via
- PayPal
DailyRewards is a GPT site that is only available in Canada. This site offers multiple ways for you to earn. You can earn by reading emails, answering surveys, playing games, and inviting other people to join the site.
You will also receive rewards by completing their daily to-do list. This can help you reach their slightly high payout threshold of $30 a bit quicker. Once you hit their threshold, you can withdraw your earnings via PayPal. This is the only payment method they offer, so before you join, make sure you have a verified PayPal account.
And if you join through the link below, you will receive a $5 joining bonus, which is a good head start.
#5 InboxPounds

- Available in
- UK
- Cash out from
- £15higher for some rewards
- Paid via
- PayPal · Prepaid MasterCard · Gift cards
InboxPounds, as the name suggests, is another site where you can earn by reading emails. This GPT site is only available in the UK. It offers several ways for you to earn aside from reading emails. You can earn by completing offers, answering surveys, browsing the web, and a lot more.
The number of paid emails you will receive will depend on your activity level on InboxPounds. The more active you are, the more paid emails you will receive. The maximum number you can receive is 3 emails per day.
It has a relatively high payout threshold of £20. If you want to redeem cash, you will have to withdraw your earnings via check or convert it to a prepaid MasterCard. You also have the option to convert it to a gift card instead.
#6 InboxDone

- Available in
- Worldwide
- Cash out from
- Not clear yetyou work as a virtual assistant
- Paid via
- Not clear yet
InboxDone is a website that is quite different than the other option on this list, as you can potentially make a living from this.
It specializes in providing virtual assistant services to its clients. For you to earn, you have to work as one of their virtual assistants, called Inbox Manager. So, you can expect that reading emails will be one of the main tasks that you’ll have to do.
Since you’ll be working as a virtual assistant, expect that you’ll have to invest quite some time in it. But the earnings will then also be significantly higher than for any of the other options on this list.
It is available worldwide, so you can apply as a virtual assistant anywhere in the world.
#7 InboxPays

- Available in
- US
- Cash out from
- $50$25 from offers and $25 from emails
- Paid via
- PayPal
InboxPays is another GPT site with a high payout threshold ($50). This is the main reason why it’s not ranked higher on this list. But since it is a GPT site, you will be able to earn in many different ways. You can read emails, complete offers, play their spin the wheel game, answer surveys, and invite other people to join the site.
It can take some time to reach their payout threshold, but once you reach it, you can withdraw your earnings only via PayPal. Take note though that you have to earn at least $25 through the paid offers and spin the wheel and $25 in paid emails before you can request a payout.
Their payment system is a bit more complicated so it requires a bit of patience but you can earn a decent amount from it if you are eligible to join.
#8 Small Business Knowledge Center

- Available in
- US
- Cash out from
- $20takes around 6 to 10 weeks
- Paid via
- MasterCard gift card
I’d have to be honest, Small Business Knowledge Center (SBKC) isn’t really an excellent option, but it is a viable option nonetheless – and it offers a very different way of making money from your emails compared to other sites.
This market research site will allow you to earn by sending mails and emails. You will be asked to send direct mail and email communications with commercial content you receive to them. This is the primary earning opportunity, but you can also earn by answering mystery shopping surveys and inviting other people to join the site.
Their payout threshold is relatively low ($20) and once you reach it, they will send you a prepaid Visa card. It takes a bit of time to reach their threshold (typically around 6 to 10 weeks), so you’ll need to be patient with SBKC.
#9 Paid-To-Read-Email.com

- Available in
- Worldwide
- Cash out from
- $15
- Paid via
- PayPal · Amazon gift cards
Paid-To-Read-Email.com is technically a GPT site. But compared to the other GPT sites on this list, this one only offers a few earning opportunities. So, don’t expect to earn a lot from this site.
The bulk of your earnings from this site will come from reading emails but you can also earn by answering surveys from time to time. They also have cashback offers you can avail of, but it’s not as many as what full-fledged cashback sites offer.
Earning from this site is basically a balancing act because you will only be able to earn from paid emails while your GPE (guaranteed paid email) is more than zero. So, if you keep reading paid emails, then, naturally, your GPE will go down. When it reaches zero, you won’t earn anything. You will need to get your GPE back up.
To do that, you have to do the other earning opportunities the site offers. So, it definitely takes a bit of time to get used to.
#10 Quick Pay Survey

- Available in
- Worldwide
- Cash out from
- $15
- Paid via
- PayPal · Amazon gift cards
While you might think Quick Pay Survey is a survey site, it is actually a GPT site that offers multiple ways for you to earn including reading emails. It is available worldwide so anyone can join the site.
You can earn by (aside from reading emails) answering surveys, completing paid offers, inviting other people to join the site, and availing of cashback offers. Their threshold is relatively low $15 and you can withdraw your earnings via PayPal or redeem an Amazon gift card instead.
The site also uses the GPE system for their paid emails. So that means you also have to get the proper balance on how to utilize your GPE efficiently. It is available globally so anyone can register as a member.
Is reading emails a legit way to earn?
Yes. There are sites that will pay you to read emails. Most of them are Get-Paid-To (GPT) sites that offer reading emails as an extra way to earn.
Legit sites
Free to join, and they pay you for reading their emails next to other tasks. All the sites on this list are legit.
Scam sites
They charge you a fee to earn, or claim you can make a living just by reading emails. Stay away from them.
How much can you earn by reading emails?
You only earn a very small amount per email, just a few cents. And you only get a few emails a day, IF you are lucky.
It takes patience
You would have to read hundreds of emails to earn a real amount. Some sites also limit how much you can earn from emails. This is called the guaranteed paid email system, or GPE.
Fortunately, the sites that pay for emails usually also offer other ways to earn. Using them is the best way to boost your earnings:
- Taking surveys
- Watching videos
- Playing games
- Taking offers
- Clicking ads
- Social media tasks
Why would companies pay you to read emails?
It is just another form of advertising. GPT sites pay you to read specific emails they send you, not your personal ones.
- The site sends you an emailEvery email promotes a product, service or website with some form of offer.
- You get paid for reading itOften just for reading the email, or sometimes for clicking the ad in it.
- You can earn more from the offerYou usually earn more by completing the offer than by reading the email.
Read the conditions first
Spending some time on the offers can be worth it, but it depends on the offer. Always read the conditions before you take one, as not all of them are worth it.
How I choose the sites on this list

I only put a site on this list when I have tested it myself. I test hundreds of sites every year, and I keep this list updated.
What I look at
- Legit and free to join
- Really pays you to read emails
- Other ways to earn on the same site
- A payout threshold you can reach
What readers ask in the comments
This page has 20 comments since 2021, and I answered 10 of them. These are the questions that come up most, with my answers.
Which sites work in my country?Asked about 6 times
My answer: Some of the sites are. You can see on the list which countries each platform is available in. If none fits, check out my list of the best international sites, or my list for your own country.
PayPal is hard to use where I live. Are there other options?Asked about 1 times
My answer: Most sites offer other payout methods than PayPal, so just use those instead.
Can I use a VPN to join US sites?Asked about 1 times
My answer: No. Using a VPN on survey and Get-Paid-To sites is fraud. Most sites will find out, block you, and you will lose your earnings. Stick to sites that are available in your country.
Read the comments or ask your own question below.
Ready to start?
All of these sites are free to join. To get access to more opportunities, you can join around 5 to 7 sites.
I keep this list updated, so bookmark this page. Know a site that belongs here, or have a question? Leave a comment below.
Frequently asked questions
How can I earn money by reading emails?
Join a GPT site that offers paid emails, like Swagbucks, InboxDollars or MyPoints. They send you emails with an offer, and you get paid for reading them, or sometimes for clicking the ad in them.
You often earn more by completing the offer in the email than by reading it. Always read the conditions first, as not every offer is worth it.
Does InboxDollars pay real money?
Yes. InboxDollars is legit and pays via PayPal, a prepaid Visa card or gift cards. Your first cash-out needs $15, and after that $10.
It is only available in the US, and you get a maximum of 3 paid emails a day. It also pays for surveys, games, videos and more.
Is paid to read emails.com legit?
Yes, it is legit, and it pays via PayPal or Amazon gift cards from $15. But it only offers a few ways to earn, so do not expect to earn a lot.
It also uses a GPE (guaranteed paid email) system, so you have to do other tasks to keep earning from emails. In my full review, I explain why there are many better options.
Which website pays real money?
All 10 sites on this list are legit and free to join. Most are GPT sites that also pay for surveys, games and offers. InboxDone is different: you work as a virtual assistant, so it takes more time, but it can pay significantly more.
Can I earn money from emails?
Yes, but not much. You only earn a few cents per email, and you only get a few emails a day, if you are lucky. Some sites also limit how much you can earn from emails.
Anyone who claims you can make a living just by reading emails is a scam.
Hi Mikael. I left a message on YouTube earlier to which you responded and provided the list of being paid by reading emails ect. I’m from South Africa and it’s difficult to earn cashouts for me via PayPal as I bank with another bank and need to actually join a specific bank just to be able to earn a few dollars or ZAR as that’s the currency we use. Do you have any alternatives by any chance?
Most sites offer other payout methods than PayPal, so just use other methods instead. You can see a list of some of the best free earning platforms in ZA here. On that list you can also see which payout options each of them offer.
Hello any website where Ghanaians can earn
You can check out this list of the best international sites which are the ones you should go for.
Hello Mikael.
Unfortunately, it seems that it is very difficult for me to find a good site that I should go for. I tried some sites that you suggested but often the result will be negative. I’m from Malta. Wish to find a good site that will allow me to get paid for some online work. Can you please advise?
Regards.
Carmel
You can check out this list of the best international sites which are the ones you should go for.
Hey i need vps of USA.can you provide me
Using VPN on survey and Get-Paid-To sites is fraud, and you hurt a lot of people and businesses by doing this, and you are basically stealing from the site owners and this can not be justified for any reason, in my opinion. Also, most sites have strict security so they will find out when you use VPN, and they will block you, and you will lose your earnings. So if you want to use these sites, you have to do it honestly and stick to sites that are available in your country.
Hey mikeel
First of all thanks for your time
The thing is i’m in egypt but i’m not egyptian i really need need to earn money from online can you give some web i can earn money but not scam
Thanks
You can check out this list of the best international sites which are the ones you should go for.
Hello Mike. Thanks for all your genuine and honest details. Please kindly check drojob. I have been doing their tasks.
I have a review coming up about this soon.
I m from India.U r perfect person to just earn money by doing annnything.
I m eager and really sorry but want a perfect way I can earn.
You can check the best sites in India here.
Salut Mike. Je suis romain du Cameroun, j’ai besoin d’un conseil de toi, je veux pouvoir faire 250 dollars par mois. est e possible avec les PTC. SINON donne mois ce que toi tu aurais fais en députant qui ne peut avoir la connexion que la nuit
Sorry, but I can only understand questions in English.
is it eligible for UGANDA?
Some of the sites are. You can see on the list above which countries each of the platforms are available in.
Heloo mike. I am abdul from nigeria. I have joined swag buxs, my points etc almost three to four sitea. But there are some offers that aren’t available in my country or i may say some are even restricted by amazon cloud front. Can you please help me find betters earning sites. I would appreciate your help .thanks
Swagbucks does not have good options in Nigeria. You can see a list of the best sites in Nigeria here.