I tested Microsoft Rewards to see if it is worth your time. It is legit and safe, but the rewards are low, and you can only use your points in the Microsoft Store. Below is what I found, and which sites I recommend instead.
Legit, but only worth it if you already use Microsoft
Earn small rewards for Bing searches, Microsoft Store purchases and Xbox. No cash payouts.
On this page
The short answer
Microsoft Rewards is legit and not a scam. It is owned by Microsoft, and it is a safe way to earn a bit extra. But this does not mean it will be worth it for you.
The rewards are low, and you can only use your points to buy products from the Microsoft Store. If you already use Bing, the Microsoft Store or Xbox, you earn by doing what you already do. If you want to earn extra cash online, there are many better sites.
- Free to join
- If you use Microsoft, you earn by doing what you already do
- Has a reputable company behind it
- Available in 200+ countries
- Support replies within 24 hours
- You cannot get points out as cash or rewards outside Microsoft
- Limited earning potential
- Low rewards
- Daily limits on searches
My experience with Microsoft Rewards
I signed up for Microsoft Rewards, went through the earning methods, the membership levels and the reward options, and made a video about it. This is what I looked at, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- April 2019Review first published Apr 4, 2019
- Latest retest
- Checked: earning methods, levels, rewards
- Points per search
- 5Only when you search with Bing, logged in
- Typical reward
- Around 5,000 points ($5)Spent in the Microsoft Store
- Searching with Bing to earn
- The rewards page with quizzes and daily offers
- The membership levels and the daily search limits
- The reward options and the Redemption Center
- The Bing app on mobile
- A redemption. My review does not show a reward I received from Microsoft Rewards.
- Earning through Xbox purchases.
An inside look at Microsoft Rewards
In the video below, I give you an inside look and show exactly how you can earn from Microsoft Rewards.
Screenshots from my test
Want to earn real cash instead of Microsoft Store points? The top sites in your country pay more.
See the best sites in your countryMicrosoft Rewards at a glance
| What it is | Rewards program from Microsoft. It used to be called Bing Rewards. |
|---|---|
| Company | Microsoft |
| Cost to join | Free. You need a Microsoft account. |
| Ways to earn | Bing searches, Microsoft Store purchases, quizzes and daily offers, Xbox purchases |
| Point value | 1 point is around $0.001 |
| Rewards | Products from the Microsoft Store. No cash, and you cannot transfer points. |
| Typical reward | Around 5,000 points ($5) |
| Levels | Level 1 and level 2. Earn 500 points a month to reach and keep level 2. |
| App | The Bing app for earning on mobile |
| Where you can join | 200+ countries. Earning methods and rewards vary by country. |
| Support | Support center with tickets. Replies within 24 hours. |
Is Microsoft Rewards legit and safe?
Yes, Microsoft Rewards is legit and safe. It has Microsoft behind it. But whether it is worth it depends on why you want to join. Here is what you should know.
- No cash rewards
You can only use your points to buy products from the Microsoft Store. The points have no cash value, and you cannot transfer them to another person.
- Very low rewards
A search gives 5 points, around $0.005. A purchase in the Microsoft Store gives 1 point per dollar. You need to do a lot to earn anything real.
- Daily and household limits
Level 1 members earn for 10 searches a day, level 2 members for up to 50. Microsoft may also limit the number of credits or rewards per person or household.
- Only with Bing and a Microsoft account
Searches only count when you are logged in to your Microsoft account and use Bing. If you do not use Bing, this way to earn is not relevant for you.
My takeI think the main thing in deciding whether Microsoft Rewards is for you is whether you already use some of Microsoft’s services. If you already use its store, Bing or Xbox, why not earn some bonus points, even though the rewards are low? But if you do not use these services and want a way to earn some extra cash online, there are many sites that are better.
How you earn on Microsoft Rewards
There are 4 ways to earn. None of them pays a lot. Tap one to read more.
Search with Bing5 points per search
Every time you search on Bing.com while logged in to your Microsoft account, you earn a small reward: 5 points, which is around $0.005. There is a daily limit on how many searches count.
With “Give with Bing”, your searches earn points that go straight to a charity cause instead. If you often use Bing and want to donate to charity, this is a nice and easy way to do so.
Shop in the Microsoft Store1 point per dollar
You earn on items you buy in the Microsoft Store, like movie rentals, computers, software and games. It is not a big cashback, so do not shop just to earn.
For cashback in other stores, see the best cashback websites.
Quizzes, daily offers and moreSmall
On the rewards page, you sometimes find quizzes, daily offers and more. The options change all the time and depend on your country. Do not expect to earn a lot from them.
Xbox purchases1–20 points per dollar
If you use an Xbox and spend money on content, you earn bonus points on eligible purchases. Level 1 members get 1 point per dollar, level 2 members 10 points, and level 2 members with an active Xbox Live Gold 20 points.
Microsoft Rewards membership levels
There are two status levels. If you earn 500 points in a month, you move to level 2. You stay there as long as you earn 500 points every month. It does not matter how you earn them.
As a level 2 member, you earn more for some earning methods, you can earn for up to 50 searches a day instead of 10, and you get up to 10% discount on rewards.
How much can you make?
Microsoft Rewards is not meant as a way to earn a lot of money online. It seems to be a way to reward people who already use Microsoft’s products. Even at level 2, you earn for 50 searches a day at most.
Most of the other earning methods give points for spending money. And Microsoft may limit the number of credits or rewards per person or household. Check the Redemption Center for the current limits.
So in my opinion, you should not join Microsoft Rewards to earn some extra money online. If you use Bing, the Microsoft Store or Xbox anyway, it can be a way to get a little extra.
Rewards and minimum
| Reward | Points needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Store products | Usually around 5,000 points ($5) for any reward | Level 2 members get up to 10% discount |
| Cash | Not available | Points have no cash value and cannot be transferred |
The reward options vary by country. If you prefer cash rewards, see the best sites that pay through PayPal or the best Get-Paid-To sites.
What 8 readers told me
This review has 8 comments since 2019: 4 from readers and 4 replies from me. This is what readers wrote.
Two readers do the daily searches, tasks and extras on several devices and like the rewards for the time.
One reader who uses Microsoft and Xbox every day found the rewards too low to keep going, especially outside the US.
One long-time member wrote that the program breaks down more than it works, and that the help site did not help.
“When bing works correctly, the rewards program is by far the best time to money investment.”
Mikael: Thanks for sharing your experiences.
“The rewards are so low for the time invested, it’s neither worth it or even an incentive to bother with (especially if you’re not in the US).”
Mikael: Thanks for sharing your experiences. I agree that it takes A LOT of patience to earn with Microsoft Rewards.
“It used to be fun to play, but recently it is broken down more than it works. I have tried writing to their help site to no avail.”
Mikael: Sorry to hear that. But thanks for sharing your experiences.
Microsoft Rewards alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| PrizeRebel | Surveys and offers, PayPal from $5 | 500 points ($5) for PayPal | 4.8 / 5 |
| ySense | Well-paid surveys, open in most countries | $10 for PayPal | 4.0 / 5 |
| Swagbucks | Many daily ways to earn, one of the biggest GPT sites | About $5 PayPal | 4.3 / 5 |
| Freecash | Games and offers, cash from $5 | $5 | 4.2 / 5 |
If you want to earn cash, see the top survey and GPT sites in your country. Most of them pay out in cash.
How I scored Microsoft Rewards
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
Microsoft Rewards scores 54 out of 100. For cash rewards, I recommend these sites instead.
See the best sites in your countryMicrosoft Rewards FAQ
Is Microsoft Rewards a scam?
No. Microsoft Rewards is legit, owned by Microsoft, and safe to use. But the rewards are low.
Is Bing Rewards the same as Microsoft Rewards?
Yes. It used to be called Bing Rewards. The official name is now Microsoft Rewards.
Can I get cash from Microsoft Rewards?
No. You can only use your points to buy products from the Microsoft Store. They cannot be exchanged for cash or transferred to another person.
How much is a Microsoft Rewards point worth?
Around $0.001. You usually need around 5,000 points ($5) for any reward.
How do I reach level 2?
Earn 500 points in a month. You stay at level 2 as long as you earn 500 points every month.
Can I use Microsoft Rewards on mobile?
Yes, with the Bing app, while logged in to your Microsoft account.
Which countries can join?
More than 200 countries. Some earning methods and rewards are not available in all of them.
How do I contact Microsoft Rewards?
Submit a ticket in the support center. You should get a reply within 24 hours.
Who tested Microsoft Rewards for this review
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Microsoft Rewards, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
When bing works correctly, the rewards program is by far the best time to money investment. You can easily expect $15 to $20 per month if you do the 50 searches, newsarticles, log in rewards, streaks, promo’s and extra’s. No survey site can compete to this, unless you have multiple, because they hardly give anything per survey. Considering the fact that each survey takes as long as ALL the daily tasks for bing rewards combined, makes the reward program much more valuable.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I have been a member and have earned many shopping cards over the years. It used to be fun to play, but recently it is broken down more than it works. I have tried writing to their help site to no avail. I am beginning to feel so much frustration and anxiety from all of this that it just is not worth it. I can no longer and recommend this site to anyone.
Sorry to hear that. But thanks for sharing your experiences.
I’m an active Microsoft and Xbox Gamer and I do the MS Rewards each day and have to agree that whilst it’s not a scam, it may as well be.
The rewards are so low for the time invested, it’s neither worth it or even an incentive to bother with (especially if you’re not in the US).
I’m putting my points towards an Xbox gift card presently and after that, I’m not bothering with this program anymore. Even as someone who uses MS Services regularly, it’s simply not even worth the effort to chase the clicks and do the surveys at all.
2.3 stars out of 5 is actually very generous if you ask me. I wouldn’t even give this a 1 star.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I agree that it takes A LOT of patience to earn with Microsoft Rewards.
You can check out this list of sites that give Xbox gift cards as rewards if you want ideas for sites where you can earn faster.
I search with my browser (30 searches), and tablet (20 searches), and complete the three daily things plus any Email stuff they send each day. Ends up being about 9-10 bucks a month. I redeem them for Amazon gift cards. 5260 points for a $5.00 gift card.
Great to hear Tom. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Mikael