I have used Swagbucks for several years and have been paid by it many times. Below is my payment proof, the ways to earn that are worth your time, and the countries where it works best.
Legit, and one of the biggest GPT sites
Many daily ways to earn and great rewards. Limited options outside a handful of countries.
$5 joining bonus through this link in 8 countries, $3 in all other countries. Terms are below.
On this page
The short answer
Swagbucks is legit and it actually does pay. I have used it for several years and have been paid by it many times. It is owned by Prodege and has millions of members.
It has many ways to earn, and good rewards in cash or gift cards. But in many countries it has limited options. To get all the opportunities, you have to live in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or Germany. And it will not make you rich.
- Reliable and experienced company behind it
- Great joining bonus
- Pays out through PayPal and has many other great rewards
- Many different opportunities
- A great app that makes it easy to earn on the go
- Chrome extension makes it easy to earn while surfing the web
- In some countries, there are limited options
- Sometimes it can take patience to find the surveys you qualify for
- Your points can expire
- It can take a bit of time to find your way around
My experience with Swagbucks
I have used Swagbucks for several years myself. This is what I did, and what I did not test.
- Member since
- May 2017Review first published May 26, 2017
- Latest retest
- Checked: earning methods, payouts, bonus
- Paid out
- Many timesPayment proof is in my videos
- How I use it
- Mostly surveysOften in the app, when I have a few minutes to spare
- Survey screen-outs
- Within the first minuteI usually find out that fast if I do not qualify
- Support
- Excellent and very fastI contacted them several times
- Paid surveys and the daily poll
- Deals and offers in the Discover section
- The app
- Redeeming rewards, shown step by step in my video
- The support
- The Diamond membership level. It needs 2,000,000 SB.
- The options in every country. They differ a lot.
Payment proof
I have been paid by Swagbucks many times. The first video shows my payment proof and exactly how to redeem, step by step. The second video gives you a full guided tour of how Swagbucks works.
Watch my full Swagbucks review
Screenshots from my account
Swagbucks has paid me many times. You get a joining bonus when you sign up through my link.
Join Swagbucks freeSwagbucks at a glance
| What it is | Survey and Get-Paid-To (GPT) site and app |
|---|---|
| Company | Prodege |
| Cost to join | Free |
| Minimum age | 13. It can vary per country, and under 18 you may need a guardian’s consent. |
| Joining bonus | $5 after your first 2,500 SB in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Germany, France and Spain. $3 in other countries. |
| Ways to earn | Surveys, cashback shopping, search, videos, games, deals and offers, receipts, referrals, daily bonuses, Swag codes, contests |
| Point value | 100 SB = $1 |
| Minimum cashout | PayPal around $5, £5 or €5, depending on your country. Some gift cards from 100 SB. |
| Payout methods | PayPal and many gift cards, such as Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Target and Starbucks |
| Points expire | Yes. SB expire 2 years after you earn them. The account goes inactive after 6 months without activity. |
| Apps | Android and iOS. In some countries only a limited survey app (SB Answer). |
| Where it works best | United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and Germany |
| Support | Support ticket on the website, or a message on the Facebook page |
Is Swagbucks legit and safe?
Yes. It is clear that Swagbucks is not a scam. It has been around for many years, has millions of members, and I have been paid by it many times myself. But it is not a site for everyone. Here is what you should know.
- Limited options in many countries
You can join from more or less all countries. But unless you live in one of the 6 countries it was originally available in, you will get more options on other sites in your country.
- You will not qualify for every survey
That is just how it is with survey sites. After a while, you figure out what type of surveys you most often qualify for, and then you focus on those.
- Your points can expire
If you have not logged in, earned or redeemed for 6 months, your account becomes inactive. The SB you earn expire 2 years from the day you earn them.
- Some ways to earn cost money
Cashback, some deals and the external games only pay when you spend money. With Swagstakes, you pay SB for a chance to win. Only use these for things you would have bought anyway.
- Verification and one account each
More or less all survey and GPT sites ask for verification at some point. Several people in one household can join, but each needs their own account. Several accounts under a fake name will get you banned.
- Never use a VPN
Using a VPN to change your location is fraud and will get you banned.
My takeMy overall impression of Swagbucks is very positive. It has many ways to earn money, and the rewards you can choose from are very good, whether you want cash or gift cards. The downside is that it has quite limited options in some countries. Especially if you live in the US, the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Germany or France, it is a great site to join and one that I would highly recommend.
How you earn on Swagbucks
Swagbucks has many ways to earn. Not all of them are available in all countries. Surveys are one of the best ways, in my experience. Tap one to read more.
Paid surveysOne of the best ways
You find the surveys in the section called “Answer”. There are usually many daily opportunities. Each survey shows the reward and the estimated time. The daily poll is there too and takes a few seconds.
Keep an eye on “Swag Ups” in the side menu. These bonuses give you a percentage extra on the surveys you take for a certain period.
Cashback when shopping1%–50%
You earn SB when you shop online through the Swagbucks portal at thousands of stores, such as Gap, Nike, Amazon and Walmart. In some countries you can also link a card and earn cashback in selected physical stores.
In some countries there are very few cashback offers, and in others a lot.
Searching the web1–1,000 SB, random
With the Swagbucks search engine, you get a chance to win SB every time you search. The winners are picked randomly.
Deals and offersCan pay very well
In the “Discover” section you get SB for signing up for a service, downloading an app and more. One example I found: deposit $5 in an investment app and get 1,000 SB, which is $10. Another: donate $20 to a charity and get $25 in your account.
The selection used to be really good, but it has since been significantly reduced. Offers come and go all the time.
Receipts and in-store dealsCashback
You get coupons for physical stores, and you can upload a receipt to earn cashback on items like coffee, cereals and bread. You can even earn a little by uploading any grocery or fast food receipt. Not available in all countries.
GamesUp to 10 SB
Swagbucks has a few free games where you can win up to 10 SB. On the external games, you only earn SB if you make in-game purchases. So that is more of a cashback option.
Watch videosVery low
The separate video section is gone, but you can still find videos on the offerwalls in the “Discover” section. The rewards are very low. Only do it if you find the videos interesting anyway.
Daily bonuses and Swag codesSmall, easy
Reach the daily goal several days in a row and you get a streak bonus: 25 SB for 7 days, 100 SB for 14 days, 200 SB for 21 days and 300 SB for 31 days. The daily to-do list has 8 items. Complete 6 for a 4 SB bonus, and all 8 for more.
Swag codes on Swagbucks’ social media give a few free SB in seconds. On your birthday you get 55 SB as a rebate if you redeem a reward within 30 days.
Invite friends10% commission
You get a 10% commission on everything your friends earn. Swagbucks pays it. It is not taken from their rewards.
Contests, Swagstakes and TriviaLuck only
Most contests are free to join. Swagstakes cost SB to enter, for a chance to win things like PayPal cash. The separate Swagbucks Trivia for Money app has daily quizzes with cash prizes. It needs its own account and is not available in all countries.
Click to Join Swagbucks and Get Your joining bonus
The Swagbutton and membership levels
The Swagbutton is Swagbucks’ Chrome extension. It alerts you when a site you visit has a coupon code or cashback offer, and it gives you exclusive Swag codes. When you make your first purchase and get cashback through the Swagbutton, you get a $10 bonus.
Swagbucks also has 10 membership levels, from Pearl up to Diamond. You can apply once you have earned 250 SB. Each level gives benefits, like free points, more rewards for surveys and rebates on rewards. Diamond needs a total of 2,000,000 SB and gives a one-time bonus of $250.
The membership program is currently only available in the US, Canada, England and Australia.
How much can you make?
It is impossible to give a specific answer. It depends on how much time you spend, which opportunities you use, and where you live.
A general thing about survey sites and sites like Swagbucks is that they will not make you rich. So you should not join with that as the goal.
Swagbucks does give very good opportunities to make some nice extra cash or get some extra rewards. It has good earning potential compared to many similar sites. If you shop online, it can also give you some big savings.
Payout methods and minimums
| Reward | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal cash | Around $5, £5 or €5 | The threshold varies from country to country. A reader reported a small fee of 30 SB. |
| Gift cards | From 100 SB ($1) in some countries | Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Target, Starbucks, iTunes and many more. Some have a discount, for example a $25 card for 1,900 SB. |
| Swagstakes | A small number of SB | Entries into sweepstakes for a chance at a bigger prize |
In general, 100 SB is worth $1. Compared to many other survey sites, Swagbucks has a really good selection of gift cards. The exact rewards depend on the country you live in.
Joining bonus terms: the $5 bonus comes once you have earned your first 2,500 SB. In other countries the bonus is $3, after you have earned your first $3 within 30 days of joining. The extra $10 shopping bonus is usually only for the UK and the US.
Is Swagbucks worth it in your country?
You can join Swagbucks from more or less all countries, but in many of them it has limited options. Pick your country to see where Swagbucks stands on my list of the best sites there.
What 168 readers told me
This review has 168 comments since 2017: 84 from readers and 84 replies from me. These are the four things readers write about most.
By far the most asked question. Readers from Nigeria, Zambia, Pakistan, Kenya and Indonesia, among others. You can often join, but with limited options.
The PayPal minimum, how to get paid, and when the joining bonus arrives.
Readers who are screened out a lot, often because of their demographic group.
Readers who have used it for years and got paid.
“It’s not the same anymore, swagbucks will kick you out.”
Mikael: I have not had any issues with it. But thanks for sharing your experiences.
“My personal demographics appear to disqualify me from most surveys.”
Mikael: Sometimes it can take a bit of patience to find the surveys you qualify for depending on your demographic group
“sometimes problem cashout PayPal gift card have fees with 30 SB but its okay”
Mikael: True, would be great if there was no fee, but if you accumulate a bigger amount, the fee does not mean much
Swagbucks alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| PrizeRebel | Surveys, tasks and offers, with a very low threshold | $5 PayPal; some gift cards from $2 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Prime Opinion | Surveys only, payouts usually within 30 minutes | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| Freecash | Highest pay for offers and games | $5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| InboxDollars | US only. Many daily ways to earn and a $5 joining bonus | $15 first time, then $10 | 3.9 / 5 |
If Swagbucks has few options where you live, see the best survey sites in your country. These sites give better options in other countries.
How I scored Swagbucks
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
Swagbucks scores 86 out of 100. I highly recommend it if you live in one of its main countries.
Join Swagbucks freeSwagbucks FAQ
Is Swagbucks a scam?
No. Swagbucks is legit and it actually does pay. I have been paid by it many times, and I show payment proof in my videos.
How much is 1 SB worth?
In general, 100 SB is worth $1.
What is the minimum PayPal payout?
In general around $5, £5 or €5. It varies from country to country.
Can my Swagbucks points expire?
Yes. Your account becomes inactive after 6 months without activity, and SB expire 2 years after you earn them.
How old do you have to be?
You can join from 13 years old, but this can vary from country to country. Under 18, you need the consent of your guardians in some countries.
Can more people in one household join?
Yes, as long as each person makes an individual account.
Does Swagbucks pay real money or only gift cards?
Both. Swagbucks pays out in cash through PayPal and in gift cards. The exact rewards depend on your country.
Can I use a VPN?
No. That is fraud and will get you banned.
How to sign up for Swagbucks and get your joining bonus
- Click my invitation link to go to the Swagbucks sign-up page.
- Register with your email or your Facebook account. It only takes a minute.
- Start earning. The joining bonus comes once you have earned your first 2,500 SB, or your first $3 within 30 days in other countries.
- Install the app and the Swagbutton if you want to earn on the go and while shopping online.
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Swagbucks, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
Thanks for legit this site swagbucks its makes easier gpt site are good sometimes problem cashout PayPal gift card have fees with 30 SB but its okay
True, would be great if there was no fee, but if you accumulate a bigger amount, the fee does not mean much and it is still fairly low compared to the fee some other GPT sites charge.
Thanks Mikael! I missed 2016-2018 swagbucks gpt site oldest they removed Swagit app and SB Watch this is very sad and disappointed most people like features using a lot of them also collector bills have been removed they don’t using anymore and banned no reason from swagbucks a lot people getting upset about they want ID verification when using contact support it’s happened on 2023 because downfall 2024 and 2025 this is problem for daily goal so good luck for earning!
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Just one thing I want to make you aware: more or less all survey and GPT sites will ask for verification or ID at some point, If they do not do this, scammers would cheat them all the time and they would quickly go out of business.
Hello! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I truly enjoy reading your posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that cover the same topics? Many thanks!
Thank you very much. Happy to hear that. I cannot really suggest any other blogs to be honest, as most websites do not really do proper testing, in my experience.
Hello there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
Sure, feel free to share a link to my website. Thanks.
Most of us received our favorite gamers for that cause why not get a jersey along with your favored player number plus name?
Sorry, but I do not understand what you mean?
I just joined – I joined from your link, but did not $5.00 bonus. I am in the U.S.
I got 200SB for the below, only (I copied and pasted)
5/10/2025 9:38AM
Phone Verification
Bonus SB
+ 100 SB
Expand
5/10/2025 9:36AM
Mobile Web iOS – PMR296-204635399 – Profiler
Answer
+ 100 SB
As I explain in the review above, you will not get the joining bonus until your reach $35 in earnings.
It’s not the same anymore, swagbucks will kick you out. They don’t care about honestly or dishonestly, swagbucks will stall awards and they won’t do anything to fix it. I’ll be grabbing my $10 and leaving.
I have not had any issues with it. But thanks for sharing your experiences.
Hi I am from Morocco can I have it?
Yes, you can join but you will not find that many opportunities there from your country. You can check out the best sites for Morocco here instead.
This site is most definitely legit!! Was one of the firstI ever used and I admit I’ve not used it for a while, but I made a minimum £25 amazon gift card each month just from daily’s and streaks. I’ll use it again and re post my opinion afterwards. pc/ android and ios
Great to hear. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Wonderful platform but unfortunately l am not able to join in my country in Zambia (Lusaka)
No, there are some countries where you can not earn from.
I am interested in the program but, I wonder if it works in my country ( Namibia) ?
You will not get many options from your country on Swagbucks, to be honest.
Am in fiji within the Pacific country will it be to work here?
You can check out this list of the best international sites which are the ones you should go for.
hey I am in uganda east Africa which one should I join please help us sir
thank you.
You can check out this list of the best international sites which are the ones you should go for.
What’s your sign up code
You can find my invitation link in the review above. Joining through that will give you the opportuity to get a joining bonus, as I also explain in the review above.
They also have the opportunity for you to earn by buying certain items in physical stores and then uploading a receipt to Swagbucks and earning cashback rewards like this.
True – in some countries that is also an option.
how can i apply sir?
I explain everything in the review above.
what is the minimum withdrawal limit for Swagbucks. Swagbucks to PayPal withdraw
I explain this in the review above.
M willing to join sir
I explain how to join in the review above.
I want to join
I explain how to join in the article above.
Is this app available in Pakistan or not?
I explain which countries it is available in, in the review above.
Hello sir, your article explained it very well. I just have one question and that is ‘Some people have had their bank account hacked as a result of redeeming PayPal and transferring the funds to their bank account, is this true?
I have never heard of anything like this.
Hi.. mike. Can I VPN to just switch my current location to be available everywhere.
Not that is fraud and will get you banned.
Hello Mike, it seems the Swagbucks search option isn’t available here in Nigeria.
Perfect review by the way, found it useful.
There will be limited options on Swagbucks in some countries.
Hello Mike, it seems the Swagbucks search option isn’t available here in Bangladesh
Many options will, unfortunately, not be available in some countries as I also explain in the review above.
Hello Mike, I have watched every video of yours, the introduction is really detailed!
Can I share your article on my personal blog? I will indicate the source and attach your URL in the article.
You are welcome to link to my article but you are not allowed to copy and use the full article.
Hi, i am really impressed by your knowledge about these GPT sites. 2 days ago I have watched your video for the first time and i feel so good that there is someone on the internet who is helping people earn money. I trust your words now.
I want to ask you question
I am living in Pakistan country. In your survey sites list” my country name is not mentioned. Can you please tell me if i can get work in Swagbucks or prizerebel ?? It’s my first day of your email course qnd i am currently reading your article about these two sites.
Secondly, i don’t have paypal account. But i have Payoneer account. Can i withdraw my earnings in Payoneer ? Or can i use my USA national friend’s PAYPAL account to withdraw my earnings ? And that Friend later send me this amount in my Payoneer account .
You will not find a lot of options on Swagbucks and PrizeRebel from Pakistan. But the course will show you options that are worldwide where you will also find some options.
Some sites also offer other payment methods than PayPal so just use some of those instead. Using a friend’s PayPal might give you issues on some platforms so this is not something I would recommend.
Can I use Swagbucks in Zambia?
And please I really want to learn how to make money here in Zambia ??
Your help
I explain in the review above which countries Swagbucks can be used from.
What is meant by “qualify the survey”
Is it any terms exist to do any survey
You can check out this article about qualifying for surveys.
Well I’ll be coming to the USA after things settle..just want to know my opinion because i cant register two paypals.I have a uk paypali dont know if i will be able to use it there
I am not sure – it might raise a red flag if you use a PayPal registered in a different country. You need to contact their support about this to make sure.
Are there swag opportunities in Kenya ?
You can in theory join from Kenya, but you will find very limited options there.
Is it possible to use a PayPal registered to uk or any other country on a usa swagbucks?
It seems like you are not living in any of those countries?
Because if you are using VPN to fake your country it is fraud and they will detect this and ban you and you will lose your earnings.
tôi không giả mạo vì tôi sống ở Việt Nam và sử dụng số đt VNP và Viettel. Số đt nào tôi cũng đang sử dụng và chính chủ là tôi
@Thanh: Sorry, but I do not understand and Google translate does not do a proper translation.
Can you ask in English?
Dear Mikael. I want to explain when you think I am doing fraud with Swagbucks because of the VPN. What VPN is I don’t even care how can I use it …! I am Vietnamese, I use Viettel and Vinaphone mobile networks. In the survey, swabucks survey allows only one selection (this is omitted by the content of swagbucks). In the questionnaire I ticked viettel but later on I use vinaphone with swagbucks also works for me. I think your website is too messy, it takes my time. I may not work with it anymore.
Thanks!
@Thanh:
I do not think you commit fraud. I think you misunderstood.
But Swagbucks does not have a lot of opportunities in Vietnam. So I would advise you to use other sites instead. You can check out the best sites in Vietnam here.
Hi, Mikael
Does this swagbucks really work in Nigeria?.Can I get my cash in PayPal and as well transfer it to my bank account?, I want to be sure of what I’m about to join.
Yes, Swagbucks does work in Nigeria but it does not have a lot of opportunities there. It does not pay into your bank account directly. But it does offer PayPal if you have a PayPal account that can receive payments which I know can be a bit tricky in Nigeria. But other than that, you can see on their website after logging in exactly which rewards it offers in your country.
Greetings from Russia. I registered here a long time ago, but there are no polls suitable for me. And I just have nothing to make purchases through the site and it is not clear how things are with international delivery. Browser installed, but does not display search results. Games and videos for making money are also not available.
Swagbucks will not have a lot of options in Russia.
But you can check out this list of the best sites in Russia.
Hope that helps.
High Mike,Jacob here from Zambia.I have tried signing up for Swagbucks but nothing is happening,the system is not responding after I click the button.
have you tried contacting their support? There are open in more or less all countries but there are a few countries they are not available in. So best if you contact them to find out if that is the reason or if it is just a technical error.
Let me know how it goes.
mi Heard swagbucks is now in Africa
Yes, Swagbucks is now available in more or less all countries. You can see all the details in the review above.
I want to know and at the same time to earn money
what do you mean?
Hey, do you know if Swagbucks offers the Your-Surveys surveys through a portal?
yes, all sites that offer Your-Surveys offer them through a portal/third-party.
I can’t locate Your- Surveys or any other on their site. Where can you find it?
You can sometimes find them on one of the offerwalls.
I can’t seem to find Your-Surveys portal or others as well on their site.
do you mean you cannot find any surveys at all or what do you mean? And which country do you live in?
Is it available for sri lanka?
yes, it is. But it can take some patience to find the ways to earn from Sri Lanka.
Can anyone give a rough guide as to what they have earned say, in a month just doing surveys?
Do you mean just on Swagbucks or in general? And a lot of it also comes down to the country you live in?
Is Swagbucks works in Bangladesh ?
Swagbucks recently opened so it is available in more or less all countries with few exceptions. So as far as I know, you can also join from Bangladesh. but you will find limited opportunities there from Bangladesh though. If you decide to join, let me know how it goes.
So it’s payed on gift cards, not real money, right ?
No, that is not correct. Swagbucks also pays out in cash. The exact rewards will depend on the country you live in. But in many countries, it offers PayPal as one of the reward methods.
Thank you
you are welcome
Hi Mikael:
I just found out yesterday that you can get a PayPal payout when you reach $5. I was under the impression that you had to have $25 to get PayPal. I have waited until I reached $25 several times. Just thought I would pass it along. Thanks again for all you do for the community.
Thanks for letting me know Robert. I had noticed that the threshold seems to be different from country to country but just checked and it does look like they have actually now made it possible to take the earnings out via PayPal in most countries so that is great.
Thanks again and I will update the review with this info right away.
I clearly understand the explanation and discussion
Glad to hear that. thanks for the feedback.
what type of savings account would i need to store the money
If you want to get paid in cash from Swagbucks, you can just get paid into your PayPal account. Then from there you can transfer them into any bank account or use them when you shop online.
Is this available in the Philippines? Thank you.
Swagbucks is not available in PH. But you can see a list of the best sites in PH here.
Hope that helps.
I signed up, and i don’t know how to reedem my 15 $
As mentioned in the review, you will get the $5 cash bonus when you reach your first $25 earnings. The extra $10 bonus is a special bonus for the cashback offers – so the first time you take a cashback offer you will get that bonus.
Hope that helps and explains everything. And just let me know if you have other questions.
I might want to be a member of Swag Bucks but do they care or not if you use every way to earn on their site or can you use just the ones you want like the surveys or micro tasks.
Hi Pam,
They do not care how many of the different options you use. You can just use one of the earning methods if you want to or use as many as you want to.
Hope this helps and let me know if you have other questions.
Some says it’s available in the Philippines. Is it?
No, Swagbucks is not available in the Philippines. You can check out a list of the best sites in PH here instead.
Hope that helps.
actually im here in the philippines i logged in today and i answered those surveys until i reached todays limit. now u have 54 SB points so after how much i can withdraw from my account
You go to the reward section and there you can see the minimum threshold you need for the different rewards available in PH. Once you have that amount, you just choose the reward you want.
Hi Mikael. I just wanted to thank you for suggesting Swagbucks. It can be frustrating trying to qualify for surveys like other sites but I really like it so far and it pays out in two days to me into PayPal. Your site is very informative. Keep up the good work.
Great to hear Robert. Thanks for sharing your experiences about it.
And very glad to hear you, in general, find the info on my site helpful – appreciate you taking the time to give this feedback.
Hello sir
i wanna ask does it work in indonesia?
thank you
No, Swagbucks is not available in Indonesia but you can check out the best sites in Indonesia here for some great alternatives there.
thanks for the answer sir, I had registered in some of your recommendation from that link, but may i ask again sir, what about survey junkie, is it available in Indonesia ?
thank you
No, Survey Junkie is not available in Indonesia, unfortunately.
Huft so sad., Those two survey platform is not available In Indonesia,., Because I think surveyjunkie and swagbucks is the real deal sir, but anyway thank you sir…
Those two sites are definitely good. But luckily there are also many other great sites that are also available in Indonesia.
Sir why My account banned when i withdraw my coin?can i back my account again? Please help me
it is difficult for me to say why you have been banned without more information. But have you used a VPN to make it look like you are in another country than where you live? because that is fraud and then you will, of course, be banned and not get your earnings.
Have you used a VPN or have they given you any reason when you were banned?
does it work in india
Yes, Swagbucks actually works in India – but it has quite limited opportunities. You can check out this list of the best sites in India if you want ideas for sites that gives you more options.
Mikael
is this money taxable, and do they send you a 1099
Hi Glenn,
Taxes depend on the exact tax laws in your country. I believe that in the US, you do not have to pay taxes for earnings on get-paid-to sites if it is less than $600 per year you earn. But other than that you have to pay taxes. But I am not a tax expert – I have an accountant to help me with my taxes. And as mentioned, it varies from country to country so the best is to check with your local tax authorities.
Mikael
Mikael I had a question. When we join one or more survey company’s from the top ten u recommended for payments through pay pal or anything do we give bank details or they are sorted out automatically? I was thinking of joining for bit of extra cash
ranjit uk
Hi Ranjit,
No, you do not need to give your bank details to the survey sites to get paid through PayPal.
Mikael
hi mike im so disappointed now im from SOUTH AFRICA and you say only people from the countrys you mentioned can take part. Are there any other legit sites in SOUTH AFRICA I can sign up for? please let me know
Hi Desiree,
yes, there are quite a lot of other good sites that are available in ZA. I have created a list of the best sites in South Africa here, you can check out.
Hope that helps.
Mikael
I did use swagbucks from Ghana once but didn’t have the chance to cash out because I didn’t have a number or address to verify.
Hi Caleb,
Unfortunately, Swagbucks is only available in limited countries and Ghana is not one of them. Hopefully, it will open up to more countries in the future.
Hope you will find other options for you instead.
Mikael
LET ME ALSO COMMEND YOU FOR REVIEW MOSTLY ON (PRICEREBEL AND SWAGBUCKS SITES, BUT AS I AM CURRENTLY IN NIGERIA, WHAT SITES DO YOU SUGGEST TO ME?
Thanks for the feedback. Glad to hear you like the info and reviews on my site.
I am actually just planning to post a list of the best sites in Nigeria here within the next couple of weeks as many people have asked me about this. So keep an eye on the site.
But for now, I would suggest you to check out Surveytime, ClixSense, Mobrog, and Hiving surveys.
Hope this helps.
Mikael
I joined Swagbucks in October. I have mostly tried Surveys. My personal demographics appear to disqualify me from most surveys. For those other areas of the site, is there anything that would disqualify me, or are they much more open to applicants? Perhaps I would see a much better return on my time in those other areas.
Sometimes it can take a bit of patience to find the surveys you qualify for depending on your demographic group
For most of the other earning methods you do not as such have to qualify for and they can be done by most. So it can be a really good idea to also use some of the other earning methods Swagbucks offers.
Mikael
Thanks for all the information. I have joined Swagbucks before. I spent quite some time on surveys and it seemed that I didn’t earn much. I guess the biggest problem was that I would pick the surveys that offer the biggest earnings, and it could get frustrating spending quite a bit of time answering questions to find out that I didn’t qualify for the survey. When I first started, it seemed I qualified for more surveys, but it got harder and harder to find ones that I qualified for.
I was not aware of all the other opportunities for earning on Swagbucks though. I did a few of the videos and answered the daily question, but I didn’t realize that there were many other areas that I could have earned more Swagbucks. I will have to take a look at it again to find the other areas you mention and see if it can work better this time around.
Is this something that you check daily to help with your earnings, or just when you have some extra time?
How many surveys you qualify for will depend on your demographic group. But what then makes Swagbucks really great if you do not have many survey opportunities is that it has so many other ways to earn.
If you take a look around and get familiar with the methods I have mentioned in the review, you can find some really good opportunities.
I personally check in on my favorite survey and GPT sites more or less every day as new opportunities come and go all the time. But it is completely up to you to decide how active you want to be.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Mikael
I must say that I am very satisfied with your review Mikael. Although I heard some people talking about how they can not earn money with Swagbucks, I actually succeed in that. It is definitely legit and trusted platform but hard work is needed. Anyone who expect to earn big cash by just clicking on ads is wrong but earning some extra cash is very possible.
Thanks for sharing your experience Daniel.
One of the big reason people sometimes complaint about survey and get-paid-to sites in general is that they go into it with the wrong expectations. It is definitely a legit way to make some extra money, and there is no risk involved. But as you mention, it will not be a way to for example make a living. If people expect this, they will for sure be disappointed.
But great to hear you also like Swagbucks and are earning there.
Mikael
Thank you for sharing with us this great review on Swagbucks.There are many online programs which help people to earn money online.Some are real others are scams.
Swagbucks is not a scam and it is helping many people to earn money even if it is not much money but at least it is real.
You are welcome Julienne. Glad to hear you like the review.
Mikael
Swagbucks has caught my eye before, but I was a little wary of it. Sounds too good to be true at first glance, you know? I still had it in the back of my mind and I appreciate your article helping alleviate some of my fears. There’s nothing worse than putting a bunch of work in and then finding out you are never going to get paid. I will give them a try based on your recommendation.
Glad I could help alleviate some of your fears. Definitely not cool ending up joining the poor survey and get-paid-to sites and end up wasting a lot of time. I have wasted a lot of time on certain other sites myself:-)
But Swagbucks is definitely one of the legit ones, and it has great opportunities.
Feel free to let me know how it goes and how you like it, if you join.
Mikael
Great review! If people sign up for this, does there personal info get spread around? That’s a problem we’ve had when we’ve tried doing a survey. We then receive calls from unknown numbers trying to sell or scam us for days. If it doesn’t do that, then this sounds like a great opportunity!
Hi Nicole,
Your private info will be safe with Swagbucks. There are unfortunately some survey and get-paid-to sites that losely share info, but not this one.
If you take paid offers on any site, it is however always a good idea to make sure to check the conditions for each offer. Especially the free contests will often have in the terms that they can contact you – so make sure to check this.
But SB is definitely one of the legit and safe sites.
Mikael
Hi I was with Swagbucks previously and I can vouch that they are indeed legitimate but unfortunately like all surveys you are relying on them being available and they are just so time consuming. Still the best survey site by far in my opinion. I like how it can be an alternative to make money online. Kenny
Hi Kenny,
Thanks for sharing you experiences about Swagbucks. Great to hear you can also vouch for it and think it is one of the best.
Mikael
Hello I have been able to create an account but am not from the available countries. How can I verify the account to redeem PayPal?
Hi Luke,
If you are not from one of the countries where Swagbucks is officially available, I think it will be hard for you to verify your account. I am pretty sure it will go against their terms and conditions, so cannot help with a way around it – sorry.
But if you tell me which country you are from, I will be happy to come with some suggestions for sites, you can join in your country instead.
Mikael
Am from Ghana.
Unfortunately not the country with the most survey opportunities.
You should however be able to join sites like ClixSense, GrabPoints, and Superpay.me.
I am not sure how many opportunities they offer there, but they should be available in your country. So try to check them out, and feel free to come back and let me know how the opportunities are on them for you.
Thanks,
Mikael
I can’t sign up on swagbucks guide me out on how to register THANKS!
Hi Oladips,
Can I ask which country you are from? Because Swagbucks is not available in all countries.
Mikael
I completely agree that being a big company is not always a sign of quality. I think getting cash back for doing shopping you would have done anyway is a no brainer. I like the fact that you can use it on a mobile, so that I can earn while I’m on the go. I think the fact that the pros outweigh the cons is a great thing, and as you say you won’t get rich from it, but you can earn a little bit of extra cash to do whatever you please with.
Yes it is definitely a great option to get some cash back on shopping your are doing anyways.
I definitely also think it is great to have access on a mobile – it makes it very convenient to earn a little extra whenever it fits in during the day.
Hope you will enjoy Swagbucks, if you decide to join.
Mikael
Fantastic well written review. I was in the market about earning some extra money or gift cards and had heard about swagbucks. I started researching the web and came across your article and glad I did. Do you get a choice on either cash or gift cards or is it what they are offering during the survey your taking? They sound very legit and looks like a way I could at least get some gift cards and money to help with the Christmas holidays. I really like the Idea that you have different ways you can do this such as games or watching videos not like the standard sitting and answering questions. Thank you so much for the great review and I will be giving them a try.
David
Thanks for the feedback David.
The points you earn can be used for the rewards you prefer. So you choose yourself, and it is not dependent on the specific surveys or tasks you take.
Hope you will enjoy Swagbucks.
Mikael
Hi Mikael,
I like sites like Swagbucks and surveys. They can offer a supplement to one’s income by doing what they always do online.
The drawback of a site like that is that they are not available in all countries. And, living in a very small country, most of them aren’t. Even if they are, and one can register, the surveys and options given are less than in larger countries, making it not worth the time spent.
Is there an alternative site available in all countries?
Thanks for a great review!
Marios
Hi Marios,
It can be difficult to find good survey sites in smaller countries, but there are some in almost any country. But how good the opportunities are on each site depends a lot on the exact country you live in, so difficult to give exact advise without knowing your country.
But a few sites that are available more or less anywhere are ClixSense, YouGov, Superpay.me, and Toluna.
Hope one of these will be great for you since you at the moment cannot join Swagbucks from your country.
All the best,
Mikael
Very helpful article! Just wondered how long it takes to get paid via PayPal, between requesting payment to when it is available to you? (e.g., hours? days? weeks?). Thank you!
Thanks for your feedback Terri. Glad to hear you liked the article.
Swagbucks says that you should expect up to 10 days delivery time for your rewards from you have requested them. But that is the maximum. You might also receive your reward before.
All the best,
Mikael
Great post, This is the first time I hear about SwagBucks, I will definitely look into joining, see if I can make some extra bucks.
Thanks for the feedback Miguel.
Glad to hear you found my article interesting. And good luck on SwagBucks and feel free to keep me updated on how you like it.
All the best,
Mikael
I’ve been doing various paid surveys over the years and I have seen a nice benefit from doing them. Swagbucks was one of the reward schemes that I looked into but really wasn’t sure what to make of it. Thanks to your site I now have much more confidence in it and I’m going to look more into it and hopefully make some more money on the side!
Thanks again!
Thanks for your feedback Jack. I appreciate it. Glad you found the info useful. And if you live in one of the countries Swagbucks is available in, it is definitely worth giving a try.
All the best,
Mikael
Hi Mikael, I’d never heard about Swagbucks prior to reading your post. I think it’s a great idea that you can get paid for surfing the web, watching videos and playing games online. These are things that I already do so it wouldn’t be like I’d be going out of my way.
From what I’ve read it doesn’t look like Swagbucks would make me hundreds of thousands but its still a good way to make a few extra bucks. How many videos would I have to watch to earn a $25 voucher?
Thanks for your comment Cheryl.
If you want to make enough for a voucher just by watching the videos on Swagbucks, you have to wacth A LOT. I see the videos more as a side thing, and as you can see in the rewards example for the videos above, it is not what I would do to make money, but only watch them, if it is something I want to see anyways.
If you use the surveys and the cash back for online shopping, you will quickly be able to make enough for a voucher, but not if you want to earn it just by watching the videos, as that is probably the aspect on Swagbucks that has the lowest rewards. So I would recommend to use the other possibilities as well.
Mikael
Hi, Mikael.
I have to admit that I do like Swagbucks, though not as much as when I first joined. The main thing I like about it is that you can earn Swagbucks for doing things you were going to do anyway, like searching the web or shopping online. Sure, you won’t get rich using Swagbucks, but if you’re going t do it anyway, you might as well make a little money doing it.
I do like to take the surveys whenever I have a little spare time, like waiting for an oil change or at the doctor, but I do sometimes get frustrated when I spend 15 minutes on a survey, I’ve already been told I qualify, and then after answering 50 questions, they kick me out and say I don’t qualify. I don’t mind not qualifying, but they should be able to qualify us before we have to spend all that time. I know that’s not Swagbucks’ fault, but still…
Great review.
Thanks for sharing your experiences Andy.
Yes that can unfortunately happen at most survey sites that you end up not qualifying after having already answered quite a few questions. As you say, it is however not the fault of Swagbucks or the other survey sites where it happens, but because of the portals some of the surveys are offered through.
Luckily, I usually find out if I am not qualifying within the first minute. And I have found out that when it happens as you explain, it is usually through the same kind of surveys/offered through the same portal. And for others it never happens. So then it is easier to navigate and if it happens several times for me, I just do not try that kinds of surveys anymore, and just focus on the others.
All the best,
Mikael
Hey Mikael! You just said “I usually find out if I am not qualifying within the first minute”. So I just wanted to ask how do you know? Like in my case most of the time I either reach 50-70% of the survey completion & then they just screen me out. This has happened to me many times. There are times when they keep on asking me the same set of questions, then they screen me out & will redirect me to another survey, then again ask me the same questions & the whole process repeats.
I mean that most surveys will tell you very fast if you qualify or not. And by trying many surveys, you will quickly find out what type of surveys that will let you know fast and which ones that you have to complete a lot to find out if you qualify or not.
Once I figure out a certain type of survey/provider does not let you know until late in the process, I just focus on other surveys instead.