SurveyLion is a survey site owned by Canadian Viewpoint. I tested it myself and compared it with the hundreds of survey sites I have tested. It is legit and its surveys pay fairly well, but there are few of them and it only pays by check. Below is what I found, and which sites 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 SurveyLion himself and does not earn a commission from it.Learn more about Mikael
Legit, but few surveys and check payments only
No minimum payout, but you are only paid by check, and in practice it only makes sense in Canada.
On this page
The short answer
SurveyLion is a legit site, and it is safe to join. It is owned by Canadian Viewpoint, one of Canada’s largest opinion data collection companies, and its surveys pay fairly well for your time.
But it does not offer many surveys, and it only pays by check. The website says anyone from 16 can join, but registration asks for a Canadian address and phone number. In practice, it only makes sense if you live in Canada, and even there, better survey sites exist.
- Owned by a reputable company
- Pretty good rewards for the time spent
- No minimum payout
- Email invitations when a survey is available
- Not many surveys, and sometimes none
- Only pays by check, once a month
- Unclear who can join
- Not well optimized for mobile
- Referral bonus only for friends in Canada
My experience with SurveyLion
I first tested SurveyLion in 2018 and looked at it again after its big redesign. This is what I did myself, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- May 2018Review first published May 7, 2018
- Latest retest
- Checked: surveys, payouts, who can join
- Surveys available
- Few, sometimes noneFewer than similar sites
- Payout method
- Check onlyNo minimum payout
- Signing up and the registration form
- The survey dashboard, before and after the redesign
- The referral program
- The payout options
- The site on a mobile phone
- A cashout by check. My review does not show a payout from SurveyLion.
What SurveyLion looks like
These screenshots are from my test: the survey dashboard, the referral program, the payout option and the registration form.
Screenshots from the site
SurveyLion at a glance
| What it is | Consumer panel (paid survey site) |
|---|---|
| Company | Canadian Viewpoint, one of Canada’s largest opinion data collection companies |
| Cost to join | Free |
| Minimum age | 16 |
| Ways to earn | Paid surveys and referrals |
| Referral reward | $3 per friend in Canada who becomes an active member. Email invites only, up to 15 per 7 days. |
| Payout method | Check only |
| Minimum cashout | None |
| Payout speed | Request before the 1st of the month, and the check is sent on the 15th |
| Who can join | The website says anyone from 16, but registration asks for a Canadian address and phone number. In practice: Canada. |
| Mobile | No app. The site is not well optimized for phones. |
Is SurveyLion legit and safe?
Yes, SurveyLion is legit and safe to join. It has a very reputable company behind it. But for many people, it is not worth the time. Here is what you should know.
- Few surveys
SurveyLion does not offer a large number of surveys compared to similar sites, and sometimes there are none at all. You will not get many invitations.
- Only paid by check
There is no PayPal or other electronic option. Checks are sent once a month, so it is not a quick-paying site. Outside Canada, bank fees and waiting time make a check not worth the trouble.
- Unclear who can join
The website says you can join from anywhere at 16, but registration asks for a Canadian address and phone number. Joining with a Canadian address when you do not live there can lead to problems when you request your check.
- An old report of a missing check
In October 2018, a reader reported that a check they requested in August had not arrived, and that support did not answer two emails. It is one report, from years ago.
My takeI like SurveyLion has no minimum payout and the rewards are pretty good in relation to the time spent on each survey. However, that does not matter in my opinion, as the overall user experience is poor, you can only get paid by check, and there is a quite limited number of opportunities. It might be a site worth joining as an extra platform if you live in Canada, but overall it is not a survey site I think is really worth the time.
SurveyLion has few surveys and pays by check only. The top sites in your country give you more.
See the best alternativesHow you earn on SurveyLion
There are 2 ways to earn. Paid surveys are the main one. Tap one to read more.
Paid surveysFair pay, few surveys
SurveyLion is a pure survey site, so it is easy to figure out. When you log in, you see the list of surveys available to you. The design got a big update, but it is still less modern and usable than many other survey sites.
The surveys pay fairly well for your time, but there are not many, and sometimes there are none. You get an email invitation when a new survey is available, so you do not have to keep logging in.
Referral program$3 per active friend
You get $3 for each friend who becomes an active member. It used to be $5. An active member has completed at least one survey, or tried at least 3 surveys without qualifying.
There are many limits: you can only invite by email, not with a link you share. You only get paid for friends who live in Canada, and you can refer up to 15 people per 7 days.
How much can you make?
To be honest, you should not expect to make a lot of money on SurveyLion. It is legit, so you can make a little extra cash, but it gives few opportunities compared to many other survey sites.
On a site like Swagbucks, you have many daily ways to earn. If you want to earn a good amount on the side, see my list of the best survey sites.
Payout method, minimum and speed
| Method | Minimum | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Check | None | Request before the 1st of the month. The check is sent on the 15th, then you wait for the mail. |
You earn dollars, which collect in your SurveyLion account. With no minimum, you could cash out after your first survey, but a check for $1 does not make much sense.
I prefer survey sites that pay through PayPal, because it is more flexible and faster. See the best survey sites that pay through PayPal, or the quick-paying survey sites.
Mobile use and who can join
SurveyLion has no app, and the site is not well optimized for phones. It is a lot better since the redesign, but it still does not give a great experience on your phone.
The website says you can join wherever you live from 16 years old. But registration asks for a Canadian address and phone number. So in theory anyone from 16 can join, but in practice it only makes sense in Canada. If you live in Canada, see the best survey sites in Canada, which are a better use of your time.
What 12 readers told me
This review has 12 comments since May 2018: 6 from readers and 6 replies from me. These are the things readers mention most.
Two readers wanted PayPal because cashing checks is a problem for them. One reader likes being paid by check.
In 2018, a reader did not receive a requested check and got no answer from support.
A reader agreed there are not many opportunities on SurveyLion.
“The banks in Europe can make a trouble when I bring a cheque. is there any alternative way for a guy, who lives in Europe?”
Mikael: In my opinion it is definitely not worth the trouble to join Survey Lion and get paid by check, if you live in Europe. The fees for that would be too high, and it would take too long.
“I requested a payment back in August from Surveylion … which I still haven’t received. I contacted their representative twice to no avail.”
Mikael: This definitely does not sound good. Sorry to hear this.
“It is great and I could have joined if they provided PayPal payment method since I have been having many issues with my bank when it comes to check.”
Mikael: I agree that having PayPal as a payment method would be a lot better. Luckily there are many sites that offer this.
Survey sites I recommend instead of SurveyLion
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | High pay per survey and fast payouts, open in Canada | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| ySense | Surveys, tasks and offers, available in many countries | $10 PayPal | 4.0 / 5 |
| Survey Junkie | Easy-to-use survey site in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK | $5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Swagbucks | Many daily ways to earn, one of the biggest GPT sites | About $5 PayPal; gift cards from 100 SB | 4.3 / 5 |
In Canada? See the best survey sites in Canada. Elsewhere, see the top survey sites in your country.
How I scored SurveyLion
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
SurveyLion scores 44 out of 100. These sites give you more surveys and faster payouts.
See the best alternativesSurveyLion FAQ
Is SurveyLion a scam?
No. SurveyLion is legit and safe to join. It is owned by Canadian Viewpoint. But it has few surveys and only pays by check.
How does SurveyLion pay?
Only by check. If you request a payout before the 1st of the month, the check is sent on the 15th.
What is the minimum payout?
There is none. But a check for a very small amount does not make much sense.
Does SurveyLion pay through PayPal?
No. For PayPal, see the best survey sites that pay through PayPal.
Who can join SurveyLion?
The website says anyone from 16, but registration asks for a Canadian address and phone number. In practice, it only makes sense in Canada.
How much is the referral bonus?
$3 for each friend in Canada who becomes an active member. You invite by email, up to 15 people per 7 days.
Can I use SurveyLion on my phone?
There is no app, and the site is not well optimized for phones.
Who tested SurveyLion 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 SurveyLion you would like to share, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
Hi,
Thank you so much for clearing out my concerns about surveylion.
Great information.
Glad it helped.
Thank you Mikael,
I will check out your list of survey sites that pay by check.
I agree, there are not many opportunities with SurveyLion.
Cheers, Ursula
Hope you find some sites there you will like on that list Ursula. If you like getting paid electronically, you can also check out the list of PayPal survey sites.
And let me know if you have any questions about any of the sites or any feedback for any of them.
Thanks,
Mikael
I requested a payment back in August from Surveylion in the amount of $20, which I still haven’t received. I contacted their representative twice to no avail. She has not responded to both emails. This seems like a scam.
Thanks for sharing your experience and warning others Aliza. This definitely does not sound good. Sorry to hear this. Hope you have instead found other sites that are better.
Mikael
I again love that they pay by check…I do not have to spend money to get money. I will for sure sign up
Great to hear Ursula. If you like getting paid by check, I have made a list of survey sites that pay by check you can check out. Several of them offers quite a lot more opportunities than SurveyLion.
Mikael
I heard about the company before, and I guess it has been around for a while. But as I understand it will not be a full time income. I wonder something. The banks in Europe can make a trouble when I bring a cheque. is there any alternative way for a guy, who lives in Europe?
In my opinion it is definitely not worth the trouble to join Survey Lion and get paid by check, if you live in Europe. The fees for that would be too high, and it would take too long.
Personally, I prefer survey sites that pay through PayPal, as it is a very fast way to get paid. I have made a list of the best PayPal survey sites you can check out for great alternatives.
All the best,
Mikael
Hey there,
I have been getting good feedback from many online money enthusiasts about this Survey Lion program, and I thought I should know more about it.
It is great and I could have joined if they provided PayPal payment method since I have been having many issues with my bank when it comes to check.
Do you know any similar programs with PayPal option?
Hi Dave,
Great to hear about your experiences and what you have heard about SurveyLion – thanks for sharing.
I agree that having PayPal as a payment method would be a lot better. Luckily there are many sites that offer this. I have made a list of the best survey sites that pay through PayPal, and you can check that out to seem some great options.
All the best,
Mikael