I tried Mindswarms myself. It is legit and pays well per survey, straight to PayPal. The catch: you answer on video, you have to apply first, and there are not many surveys. Below is what I found, and which sites I recommend for steadier earnings.
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 tried Mindswarms himself and does not earn a commission from it.Learn more about Mikael
Last retested · First published
Legit and pays well, but few video surveys
$10 to $50 per video survey, paid to PayPal with no threshold. Low invite frequency and you must be accepted first.
On this page
The short answer
Mindswarms is legit. It rewards you with real money for sharing your opinions, paid straight to PayPal. The reward per survey is one of the highest of all the survey sites I have encountered.
But you answer the surveys through a video, and the survey invite frequency is quite low. You also have to apply first, and you are not paid for that part. It is a decent site for extra income, but you have to be patient.
- Open to members globally
- High rewards for each survey
- No payment threshold is required
- Payment is done via PayPal
- Low survey invite frequency
- Requires you to apply for a survey first
- The acceptance rate for surveys is low
- You have to answer on video
My experience with Mindswarms
I tried Mindswarms myself and made a short video about it. This is what I looked at, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- June 2019Review first published Jun 4, 2019
- Latest retest
- Checked: surveys, payouts, support
- Survey invites
- Quite lowWhat I observed while testing
- Pay per survey
- $10 or $50One question, or up to seven questions
- The registration and the profile set-up
- The member dashboard and the available surveys
- The app on a mobile device
- The payment details in the FAQ
- The contact form and the other ways to reach support
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from Mindswarms.
- The referral program. Mindswarms does not say how much it pays.
An inside look at Mindswarms
In the short video below, I give you an inside look and explain exactly how Mindswarms works.
Screenshots from my test
Mindswarms has few surveys. The top sites in your country let you earn more steadily.
See the best sites in your countryMindswarms at a glance
| What it is | Survey site where you answer the questions on video |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free |
| Ways to earn | Video surveys and a referral program |
| Pay per survey | $10 for a one-question survey, $50 for a survey with up to seven questions |
| Minimum cashout | None. You are paid per survey. |
| Payout method | PayPal, paid automatically 24 hours after you post your answers, according to its FAQ |
| Minimum age | 18, or 13 to 17 with permission from a parent or guardian |
| What you need | A webcam and microphone on a computer, or your phone; an internet connection of at least 384 kb/s |
| Apps | Android and iOS |
| Where you can join | All over the world, but invites are few in many countries |
| Support | Contact form, mailing address, phone number, and messages on Facebook |
Is Mindswarms legit and safe?
Yes, Mindswarms is legit. But there is a catch, and it is not as easy to earn as it first sounds. Here is what you should know before you join.
- Few survey invites
The surveys pay well, but the frequency of the invites is quite low, based on what I observed while testing it. Do not expect to earn a constant amount every month.
- You apply first, and you are not paid for that
You answer a few multiple-choice questions, and a researcher reviews them, typically within 24 hours. You can only apply for a survey once. Most members say the acceptance rate is quite low. You only get paid if you are chosen for the actual survey.
- You have to be on camera
You answer every survey by recording a video, and your profile is a video too. It can be fun and different, but it might be intimidating if you do not like to be on camera.
- Few opportunities in some countries
You can join from all countries, but you should not expect to find many opportunities everywhere. Readers from Indonesia, India and Papua New Guinea asked about this.
- You need PayPal
All payments are made via PayPal. If you do not have an active PayPal account, sign up for one before you join Mindswarms.
My takeMindswarms is a global platform with a very convenient payment method, and the reward for each survey is quite high. The only problem is that the survey invite frequency is quite low, and you have to be screened before you can take a survey. This significantly decreases the possible income you will earn. Overall, though, it is a decent survey site to earn extra income. You just have to be patient.
How you earn on Mindswarms
There are 2 ways to earn. The video surveys are the main one. Tap one to read more.
Video surveys$10 or $50 each
Complete your profile first. Your profile is also a video, so include pertinent information to qualify for as many surveys as possible. Then you get access to the member dashboard.
There are two types of surveys: a one-question survey and a multiple-question survey with up to seven questions, which pays more. Every survey in your dashboard is one you already qualify for, so you simply apply to the one you like.
When you apply, you answer a few multiple-choice questions, and a researcher reviews them, typically within 24 hours. You can only apply once per survey. If you are accepted, you record your video answers. Read the questions carefully, and keep the product at hand when a survey asks you to talk about one.
When your video checks out, you get the promised reward. You are not paid for the application or the time you spend on it.
Referral programAmount not published
You invite a friend to become a member, and once they sign up, you get a reward. Mindswarms does not say on its website how much the reward is.
How much can you make?
A one-question survey pays $10, and a multiple-question survey pays $50. That is a pretty high reward for one survey.
But the frequency of the invites is quite low, based on what I observed while testing it. You also have to be accepted for a survey first, and most members say the acceptance rate is quite low.
So even though the earning potential for one survey is quite high, the overall earning potential on the site is not impressive. Do not expect a constant amount every month, and do not get discouraged if you are turned down.
Payout method and speed
| Method | Minimum | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | None. You are paid per survey. | Automatically, 24 hours after you post your answers, according to its FAQ |
Mindswarms does not use points. It simply pays you the amount you earn for a survey, directly to your PayPal account. If the payment has not arrived by then, contact Mindswarms so they can look into it.
In my opinion, this is one of the better payment systems I have encountered, because you do not have to redeem anything.
What readers told me
This review has 10 comments since 2020: 5 from readers and 5 replies from me. These are the things readers asked about most.
Readers from Indonesia, India and Papua New Guinea asked. You can join from all countries, but you should not expect many opportunities in every country.
A reader in 2023 was paid to PayPal a few days after a video interview project, including a weekend.
A reader asked what to expect. The review above explains how it works and what you can expect to earn.
“Immediately after I sent the letter to you, I got an email from mindswarms, and an email from PayPal I had been paid for the job I done a couple days prior.”
Mikael: That is great to hear. Thanks for sharing.
“Can my country, Indonesia, participate in this survey?”
Mikael: You can join from all countries, as I explain in the review above. But you should not expect to find many opportunities there for you.
Mindswarms alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | High pay per survey and fast payouts | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| Userlytics | Usability tests that pay rather well | No threshold | 3.6 / 5 |
| UserTesting | Video feedback on sites and apps | Paid per test via PayPal | 3.4 / 5 |
| User Interviews | Paid research studies, mostly for US residents | No threshold; paid per study | 3.4 / 5 |
Looking for a steadier income? See the top survey sites in your country. There are plenty of sites there that let you earn more regularly.
How I scored Mindswarms
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
Mindswarms scores 54 out of 100. For steadier earnings, I recommend these sites first.
See the best sites in your countryMindswarms FAQ
Is Mindswarms a scam?
No. Mindswarms is a legit survey site that rewards you with real money. The catch is that you answer on video, and there are not many surveys.
How much does Mindswarms pay?
$10 for a one-question survey and $50 for a multiple-question survey with up to seven questions.
How does Mindswarms pay?
Only through PayPal. According to its FAQ, you are paid automatically 24 hours after you post your answers. There is no payment threshold.
Do I get paid for applying?
No. You only get paid if you are chosen for the actual survey and complete it.
Who can join Mindswarms?
People all over the world who are 18 or older. If you are between 13 and 17, you need permission from a parent or guardian, who must be at least 18.
Is there a Mindswarms app?
Yes, for Android and iOS. Mindswarms works better on a phone, because it has a built-in camera and microphone.
What do I need to answer surveys on a computer?
A webcam and a microphone, and an internet connection of at least 384 kb/s, because you send videos.
How do I contact Mindswarms?
Use the contact form on the contact page, or the mailing address or phone number listed there. You can also message Mindswarms on Facebook; they typically reply within a day.
Who tested Mindswarms 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 Mindswarms, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
Can my country, Indonesia, participate in this survey?
You can join from all countries, as I explain in the review above. But you should not expect to find many opportunities there for you. You can see a list of the best sites in Indonesia here.
Im interested to join mindswarms im curious of what i have read the good feedback comments of the individual people who experience the great ernings hope im one of them hopefully???
I explain exactly how it works and what you can expect to earn in the review above.
Have read through and thought of joining but couldn’t find a my country… and if it’s applicable for me to join.
I’m from Papua New Guinea ??
You can check out this list of the best international sites which are the ones you should go for.
Mikael,
I wrote yesterday asking for more information on mindswarms. Immediately after I sent the letter to you, I got an email from mindswarms, and an email from PayPal I had been paid for the job I done a couple days prior. I was told that job was going to pay $125. They were wrong. I was paid $150 so I wasn’t complaining too much. This was the second job I’ve done for mindswarm , and I’ve only been a member for 2 weeks. The first one was only like $5 or something like that but the second one yeah I look more than pleased. The test consisted of a 60 minute video interview with two ladies from whatever company they represented. This particular one was done on my phone some require laptop and webcam. But 60 minute interview right on the money I was out of there and I was paid in four days but that included the weekend.shoot me an email address and I’ll send you screenshots of payment.
That is great to hear. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Mikael! Nice detailed analysis of MindSwarms. I have few questions though. 1) Can 2 different people join from the same household (ie Same IP address)? 2) “So make sure you have that product at hand when you answer the survey”.
Let’s assume the Survey is about a laundry detergent (& that too a specific type). So my question was do I need to show them that I’m using that product while video recording? What if I had used that product before but I don’t have currently right now(since we are in a lockdown phase & very few essential things are available outside). 3) Do 3rd world countries would even get a survey? (Btw I’m from India)
Exactly how it works in relation to the survey will vary from task to task. So usually it will be enough to just have tired it but sometimes there might be other more specific tasks. You can see all this before applying for any tasks.
However, it will take some patience to find projects you can participate in from India, unfortunately. I am not saying that there never will be any but it will take some patience so you should not expect too much.
Hope this helps.