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Survey Club pays members can earn as much as $115 per survey for quick surveys or focus groups. Survey Junkie is just the one-click setup site known for its payout (transparency on payouts). Out of more than thousands of best paid survey apps, I chose 17 sites to include. These are based on the criteria (below). They have a great online community from all around the world and hold some of the best prize draws I’ve seen. Plus they have survey apps that pay through PayPal too. The first surveys for money PayPal payment is available when you reach $30 in your account – or 95,000 points.

In my years spent taking online surveys, I’ve seen some great survey panels and some not-so-great survey panels.

How do I distinguish between the good and the bad? Here are some of my criteria for a good survey panel:

• Pays fairly per survey
• Pays on time
• Low disqualifications/screen-outs
• Frequent survey opportunities
• Legitimate market research company with years in the industry
• Helpful customer service
• Low payout amounts

The last one I mentioned is actually one of the most important factors in my consideration of whether or not I stick with a survey panel.

Why does it matter how high the payout amount is as long as you get paid?

I can understand why some people might question that.

Everyone is different. Some people won’t mind having a high amount needed in their accounts to get their cash.

Personally, I do mind. I like having consistent payments every month from taking surveys.

It helps me have a regular flow of extra cash, which makes me feel like I’m actually getting rewarded for my time.

Some survey panels require you to have $25 or more in your account to get a payment, while sites like Survey Junkie only require $10 or less to cash out.

What site would you rather be a member of?

The truth is that you can make money with PayPal, no minimum cashout required, if you find the right survey site.

This post will show you where to go so that you can stop waiting around to get rewarded for your time and start making more from surveys every month.

Why Do Some Sites Have Such High Minimum Payout Amounts?

If you’ve been taking online surveys for some time now, you’ll notice that each panel creates its own rules.

That’s fine – they’re entitled to do so.

One of the rules each panel has to make is how much members are required to have in their accounts before they can redeem their cash or points for a reward.

Each panel can set a different number.

I’ve seen panels let members cash out with just $1 or more, and I’ve seen others that require $100 (seriously!) before a member can get a gift card or cash.

Some panels choose to make their minimum cash out amounts higher than others to ensure that members stick around and keep participating.

They believe that if they set a high goal for members to work toward, they’ll be more likely to keep taking surveys to reach that minimum payment threshold.

That’s good for the survey panel, but it’s not a great way to reward panelists for participating in its surveys.

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Honestly, I think the panels that set their minimum payments high don’t have the best interests of their panelists at heart.

The Problem with High Payouts

Aside from being inconvenient to panelists who don’t want to wait forever to get their first payment, there are some other cons to joining a panel that has a minimum payout amount higher than $10.

Inconsistency

One of the reasons I love taking surveys online is that I get consistent payouts.

Since I take surveys actively and as much as possible, I rack up a decent amount of points and cash with the panels that I participate in.

The problem with high payouts is that you can’t rely as much on a consistent payout schedule.

With a low payment threshold, like $5 or $10, it’s more likely for you to earn enough from surveys to cash out every month, or even every couple of weeks.

At the same time every month, I go into each of my accounts and hit the cash out button so that I can get payments right around the same time every month from all my survey panels.

It’s easier for me to keep track of everything I make this way instead of having to wait until I earn $25 from one panel and $30 from a different site.

I’m almost guaranteed to hit $5 to $10 with the sites I participate in, so this gives me an easy way to make some consistent side income.

Rewards Might Expire Before You Use Them

Some panels have expirations on the points or cash you receive from surveys.

When they couple an expiration time with a high cash out amount, you’re almost guaranteed not to receive your payments before your points expire.

Most sites that have an expired points clause make your rewards expire 12 months after you get them.

That may seem like a long time, but if you rarely get survey invitations from that site, you may never reach the $25 or more minimum payout the site requires.

The points you earn will expire, forcing you to start all over again.

You’ll Get Bored

When I first started out with survey sites and didn’t realize that low minimum payouts existed, I was a member of several panels with high minimum cash out amounts.

What I found was that I got incredibly bored with taking surveys with that panel quickly because I never felt like I was rewarded for my time.

It’s human nature to want to be rewarded for the time and effort it takes to do something.

No one wants to work for free, and online surveys shouldn’t make us feel like we are.

But if we’re constantly taking surveys and not reaping the benefits, that’s basically what we’re doing.

Even though the balance in your account keeps going up with every survey, if you rarely get the cash sent to PayPal or a gift card emailed to you because you need $50 in your account before you can get it, you’ll start feeling like you’re not appreciated.

If you’re like me, you’ll get bored long before you ever receive your first payment and stop using that panel, wasting all the time you took taking surveys.

Potential Scam

The worst-case scenario with survey panels that have high minimum payouts (like $50 or more) is that they could be scams.

Just to be clear, I’m not saying that they all are scams just because they have a high cash out amount.

There are several panels out there with $30 or higher payout requirements that have plenty of payment proofs floating around, and I’ve even successfully used some.

But the ones that turn out to be scams often are the ones with difficult-to-attain payouts.

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Join Opinion Outpost, one of the few faithful and honest survey panels and earn cash and gift cards for your opinion. Stack your points and redeem them: Simple! No hidden fees and completely free!

Imagine spending months taking surveys, working your way toward a $50 payout.

You finally reach it six months later and cash out for your chosen reward.

A few days later, you check on your payment, only to be told that your account has been closed without warning.

This happens. I’ve seen it happen to others!

It’s almost impossible to keep scams off the internet, and the online survey industry gets hit hard with new ones all the time.

If you come across a survey site with a high cash out amount, it’s a good idea to research that site.

Look for proofs of payment by panelists and search for online reviews from people who have used the site.

The Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and Reddit are all good sources for finding out more about a site and whether or not it pays.

Read more: Stop the Scams: Recognizing and Avoiding Fake Surveys Online

No Minimum Payout Survey Sites

The following sites either have a super low payment that you can get right after taking just one survey (making them just about as good as a no-minimum site!) or they have no minimum payments at all!

Pinecone Research

Pinecone Research is not only, in my opinion, one of the best survey panels on the web, but it’s also one of the most reliable in terms of payment.

You’ll get $3, at least, for most surveys on this site.

You can cash out with at least $3 in your account for a check or PayPal cash, which you’ll make from just one survey.

So, technically, you don’t have to wait at all to request your payment!

Your first $3 will automatically come as a check to verify your mailing address, but after that, you can choose your reward type.

Read more: Pinecone Research Review: Why It’s the Best or Is It?

Consumer Opinion Institute

Surveys with this panel take about 10 to 20 minutes to complete, on average, and usually, pay you $1 or more.

This panel is a little different in that it sends your surveys via snail mail instead of through its website.

The benefit is that you’ll also receive your money for each survey through the mail when it sends your survey!

You won’t have to wait at all to get your money.

If you decide you don’t want to complete a survey, you can keep the money, and Consumer Opinion Institute will just deduct that reward from your next survey’s payout amount.

Darwin’s Data

Darwin’s Data is a survey site that pays for each survey with a $25 Tango gift card.

Tango gift cards are one of my favorite rewards because you can turn them in for a different gift card to your store or restaurant of choice.

Every survey will pay the same amount, and you should receive your gift card via email within three business days of successful completion of the survey.

DollaPal

DollaPal is a website I recently came across and haven’t yet tried it, so do your due diligence with this one!

Still, I thought I’d mention it because it’s one that has no minimum payout.

It might be worth it for you to take a survey or two, try to cash out, and see what happens.

According to the site, DollaPal pays via PayPal within a week after cashing out.

Mindswarms

Mindswarms is a unique type of survey site because it requires its members to take video surveys rather than online surveys.

When you complete a full survey of 7 questions, you’ll get $50 paid automatically via PayPal within 24 hours after your survey is accepted.

There are no minimum payouts, and you don’t even have to request a payment. Mindswarms takes care of it all for you!

Low Payout Survey Websites

When I think of a low payout survey website, I think of one that lets you cash out with $10 or less in your account.

The following sites have minimums that range from $1 to $10!

InstaGC – $1

InstaGC is more of a rewards site than a survey site, but it does offer surveys as a form of making money.

The site has over 350 gift card options to choose from, and many of them let you cash out with as little as $1 in your account.

Read more: InstaGC Review: Can You Really Earn Like They Say?

SurveySavvy – $1

This survey website only requires you to have $1 in your account, which you can make from just one survey here.

You can also sign up for SavvyConnect, the mobile app that collects data about your phone and internet usage for market research purposes, for an extra $5 a month!

Read more: SurveySavvy Review: Is It One Of The Best Survey Panels?

PrizeRebel – $2

PrizeRebel has offers PayPal, Dwolla, iTunes, Amazon, and other rewards for as little as $2 in your account.

There are over 500 gift cards to choose from here, so you’ll definitely be able to find something you love.

Toluna – $5

I’ve used Toluna for years now, and one of the things I love most about it is that I can get my reward with as little as $5 in my account.

You can choose from PayPal cash or emailed gift certificates.

Read more: An In-Depth Toluna Review: Should You Believe the Hype?

E-Poll – $5

E-Poll has frequent, fun surveys on a variety of topics, like pop culture, politics, and household shopping.

Most surveys give you 500 to 1,000 points each, and you’ll need 3,750 ($5) to cash out.

Prizes include Amazon gift cards, Walmart gift cards, and PayPal cash.

Read more: Epoll Review: Fun Entertainment Surveys or Big Scam?

Opinion Outpost – $5

This survey site has Amazon, iTunes, and PayPal rewards with as little as $5 needed in your account to snatch them up.

You’ll also receive an entry into quarterly cash prize drawings every time you take a survey successfully.

Read more: Opinion Outpost Review: Is it a Great Ride or a Bandit in Disguise?

Consumer Village – $5

Consumer Village pays in tokens for surveys.

When you reach 500 tokens, you can cash out $5 with a check or an Amazon gift card.

The site also has charity donations available as a reward, or you can redeem points for sweepstakes entries for other prizes.

Read more: Consumer Village Review: A Great Company To Work With?

Crowdology – $8

This site pays up to $10 per survey, depending on length, and you only need $8 to cash out with PayPal!

You can also choose an Amazon gift code or a reward from GCodes, but you’ll need $10 to get one of them.

MySurvey (LifePoints) – $10

MySurvey has a huge catalog of gift cards to choose from, and you only need $10 in your account to get them.

Download the app for iOS or Android to take surveys on the go and make more money!

Read more: MySurvey Review: Can I Make Real Money Online?

Survey Junkie – $10

Survey Junkie has been around for a while and continues to be one of the most popular panels on the web.

With just $10 from surveys, you can choose to redeem your rewards for PayPal cash or an electronic gift card.

Read more: A Complete Survey Junkie Review: Do You Know the Truth?

BrandedSurveys – $10

Choose from VISA, Amazon, PayPal, or bPay rewards with only $10 in your account.

This site partners with several other top survey panels, too, so there’s usually never a shortage of surveys to go around.

Read more: Branded Surveys (MintVine) Review: Does It Live Up to The Hype?

Clear Voice Surveys – $10

Clear Voice Surveys isn’t one of the most active panels, but with a low payout amount of $10, you can’t really go wrong.

The site has Amazon.com gift codes, or you can also get your cash sent to your Payoneer account.

Paid Survey FAQs

Are they free to join?

Yes! Any legitimate survey site is going to be free to join. You should never have to pay to take free paid surveys. You should get paid for your opinions, not pay others to take them.

Do not ever join a survey site that asks you for money or your credit card information.

Why should I start paid surveys?

Why not?! If you have any spare time at all, why not use it to get paid to do surveys. Take that extra few minutes here and there to get paid for your opinion. If you have a lot of time on your hands to do surveys for cash, you can make even more.

It is easy work, only takes a little bit of time, and can make you a nice little bit of extra income.

Who can take surveys for money?

Pretty much anyone can take surveys for money. Different sites have different requirements for who they let do surveys for cash, but you can find sites for pretty much any age, country, or demographic. See these posts for more information:

What kind of questions can I expect to answer?

When you know you are about to get paid to answer questions online, you begin to wonder what kind of questions to expect. Questions can be about all sorts of things, from politics to television.

The most common topics though include products. They usually revolve around the products you use, where you shop for them, and your opinion of them.

Are survey websites safe?

Some are, some are not. If you are wondering if certain survey websites are safe, you will need to do some research.

Come here, we have done most of the hard work for you: 13 Crucial Tips for Staying Protected When Taking Online Surveys

How to Start Making Money Taking Surveys

There is a method to the madness when it comes to taking surveys for money. You could just start, but if you take a little time to set things up and create a method and routine, you will be much more profitable.

Generally speaking, sign up for as many sites as you can, set up a separate email account for surveys, and set aside time each day to take surveys.

We have a solid, comprehensive quick start guide for you here: 9 Steps to Making Money with Online Surveys the Right Way – Quick Start Guide

How to Make the Best Profile for Survey Websites

Filling out your profile is a time consuming but very important first step when signing up for any survey site. The number one rule for creating the best profile for online surveys is to be honest.

Do not try to lie about demographics in an effort to get more surveys. It will not work.

Just be honest and answer all of the questions. The more questions you answer, the less time you will spend taking surveys that you do not qualify to complete.

Find out more at How to Make the Best Profile for Online Surveys & Why It’s Important

How to Get Through Online Surveys

The greatest drawback to taking surveys for money is that surveys can be time-consuming, especially compared to the amount of money you make per survey.

You will figure out very quickly that the faster you can complete surveys the more money you can make. You will start to wonder how to get through surveys more quickly.

There is only so much you can do, but a few little tweaks, such as increasing typing and reading speed, can really help.

We have a lot more tips on this post: 9 Useful Tips for Getting Through Online Surveys More Quickly

How to Avoid Getting Disqualified from Paid Surveys

One of the most frustrating things about taking paid surveys is spending time on a survey and then being disqualified.

Sometimes it just happens, but if you want to avoid it as much as possible, there are a few things you can do.

First, fill out those profiles honestly and completely. Next, answer the survey questions honest. Last, pay attention! Don’t go into autopilot mode when taking surveys. You are sure to get tripped up.

We go into more detail here Stop Getting Screened Out! Helpful Tips to Qualify for Online Surveys

and here How to Avoid Getting Disqualified (AGAIN!) from Online Surveys – Updated for 2020

How Do Survey Sites Pay?

Most survey sites pay in points for surveys. Then, you can cash in your points for a survey for gift cards, cash, or some other incentive. Some people only like to take surveys that pay cash.

Some are okay with surveys for PayPal, while others prefer surveys that pay cash through the mail. Sites like CashCrate and iPoll are a good place to start.

These posts offer more information about the various ways survey sites pay:

Which Companies Pay Cash Only?

There are very few survey sites that pay in cash only, but of the highest paying sites listed in this article, there are two. Pinecone Research and Vindale both only offer cash payouts.

There are, however, many that do not offer cash at all. It is helpful then to know which ones do offer cash payouts, even if there are other options. The following offer a cash payout option:

How Much Do They Pay?

The big question for many considering taking surveys for money is “How much do online surveys pay?” The answer is, it depends.

The first thing you should know is that no one is going to get rich or even make a living taking online surveys. Most individual surveys pay very little even.

However, if you do it right, in an organized, methodical manner, you can make some very nice side money taking paid surveys.

Find out more in our detailed post here: How Much Do Online Surveys Pay? The Truth, Revealed!

What’s the Minimum Payout and When Will I Get Money?

Everyone wants instant pay. While there are no known surveys that pay instantly, there are those that pay faster than others.

Almost all of them, with the exception of Pinecone Research, require a minimum earnings balance before you can cash out.

Check out these links to find out more about fast payout surveys:

How to Spot a Scam and Find Legitimate Surveys for Money

The world of paid surveys is replete with scams. It is very easy to fall into the trap of losing money in an effort to make money, and even easier to give out your information and receive nothing in return but a ton of spam.

While nothing is guaranteed, there are some tried and true ways to spot a survey scam. Look for these red flags:

• A website that is incomplete or poorly put together
• Spelling and grammar errors
• No contact information listed on the site
• No terms and conditions or privacy policy link
• A request for payment
• A request for credit card information for any reason

Remember that a site can look completely legit, real in every way, and still be a scam. That is why it is vitally important that when you are looking for online surveys that pay, you do your own research.

Look for reviews from others who have used the site, and look for their file on the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) website.

The BBB is always my first stop when researching the best sites to take legitimate surveys for money. Some sites do not have a file, but if they do, you can find out a lot of information.

There is more information about how to recognize fake surveys at this link.

Can I Use Survey Apps to Earn Cash?

There are some sites that offer online survey tools such as paid survey apps. These can be loaded onto your mobile device and make it easy to earn a few bucks while you are out and about.

I like to use survey apps to earn cash while I wait in line at the grocery store or when waiting for my kids to get out of practice.

Survey money apps are not offered by all survey sites, in fact, there are not a ton out there. They are becoming more and more popular, however.

Find out more at 22 Best Paid Survey Apps to Make Money on the Go (Earn $100 or More per Month)

What are Video Surveys?

Some find that taking video surveys for money is more fun than traditional surveys. Video surveys are kind of rare right now, but as the technology becomes better, they will gain popularity I believe.

They are more interactive, and many find them to be more fun that redundant text surveys. You use your computer’s camera and microphone to answer questions orally.

Then, your answers can be analyzed based not only on what you say, but also on your facial expressions and voice tone and inflection.

More on video surveys can be found here: Simple Guide to Online Video Surveys – Make Surveys Fun Again!

Should I take Telephone Surveys?

These are not very popular either, but they do exist. If you are offered a telephone survey, be certain it is with a company you are comfortable with.

Most of the sites we recommend, if they offer telephone surveys, will let you know that the call is coming beforehand.

If it is a site you are well acquainted with and you have the time to do it, there is no reason not to.

I would not, however, recommend just giving anyone who calls you with a survey any information. You never know what their true intentions are.

We go into more detail about telephone surveys in this post Top 10 Companies That Pay Cash to Take Surveys on Your Phone.

What are the Highest Paying Online Surveys?

There is a wide range in the amounts paid per survey between sites and even from survey to survey on the same site sometimes. Mindswarms and Swagbucks are two of the highest paying. Find out more about these and other high paying survey sites here:

How We Rate Paid Surveys

We have spent hours scouring the internet to find the very best survey sites out there. We do this for two reasons. In the beginning, it was in an effort to maximize our own earnings.

We quickly realized, however, that everyone could benefit from what we had learned.

We came up with a set of core traits that we consider when we rate paid survey sites. They are as follows:

Trust

Can we trust the site to keep our information private? Are we going to get a ton of spam as soon as we sign up? More importantly, do they actually pay you the money they say you are earning as you take surveys?

These are all huge issues, and unfortunately not every survey site meets our standards. Trust is key when choosing which sites to sign up with.

When trying to determine if a company is trustworthy, I always head to the Better Business Bureau first. If they have a good standing there, that is a very good sign. I also check out their online reputation by trying to get a feel for the opinions of their current customers.

If panelists are happy, that is also a good sign of course. I do try to remember that no company is perfect. You cannot judge a survey site solely on the experience of a few.

Sometimes a problem is the fault of the panelist and not the site. Maybe they did not read the terms thoroughly, or maybe their expectations were unrealistic.

All of this is taken into consideration. The point is, we try to make an informed decision about whether a survey site can be trusted, or not.

Convenience and Accessibility

This is another really big deal. Are surveys easy to access? Do they hang up while loading or require special software?

The easier a survey site is to use the more money you are going to be able to make. If you cannot access the site or if it frequently locks up, you are going to be wasting a lot of time.

Number of Opportunities

The more surveys the site has available, the more money you can make. Some sites only have a few surveys available every day, and once they are gone, you are out of luck.

Some sites do not even have available surveys daily. It could be as little as two or three a month. These are not really worth your time, as it could take forever to reach the minimum payout.

Return Time

How long does it take to get payment after you finish a survey? If you have to wait weeks for just a few dollars, it is time to move on to a different site.

It is important to remember in this that it can take a while to get through some surveys. How long does it take to get through online surveys? Is it worth the time?

Sometimes yes, sometimes know. It depends on how much that particular survey pays, how long it will take because they are all different, and how much time you have to work on it.

These are questions you must ask yourself each time you work on surveys.

Income Potential

This really involves several factors. The most vital include the number of surveys available, how long they take, and how much they pay. Each of these factors works together.

If you have a ton of surveys available but they only pay pennies for 20 minutes worth of work, you aren’t getting much.

If there are only a few surveys available, but they pay a few dollars for 10 minutes of work, you are good to go! Of course, the best case scenario is a lot of available surveys that are high payin

Tips for Maximizing Your Online Survey Profit

There is a true method to the madness when it comes to taking surveys for money. You could just jump in, but if you take the time to set it up right, and then follow our tips, you will earn the most possible.

• Set up a dedicated email for surveys.

This will not only keep your regular inbox clean, but it will help you stay organized, so you do not miss out on survey opportunities.

• Sign up for as many sites as possible, making certain you research each one on our site first to ensure it is worth your time and to help you avoid scams.
• Remember that you should never have to pay to join a survey site. You are looking for sites that offer legit surveys for cash.
• Check your survey email account and your account on each site regularly so that you do not miss the best opportunities.
• Set aside time each day to work surveys. Look at what is available from each site, and work the ones that will pay the most in the least amount of time. Continue doing this until the time you set aside for surveys is over.
• Always answer profile and survey questions honestly. Lying will not help you make more money. In fact, it may get you kicked off of the site.
• Withdraw funds as soon as you reach the minimum cash out balance. It takes a while sometimes to receive your money, and by the time you get it, you may be getting close to cashing out again.
• If you get gift vouchers, spend them immediately.

If you follow these tips, you are going to make much more than if you just randomly take a survey here and there with no organization.

Conclusion: Survey Sites with No Minimum Payout

That’s not to say that panels with high cash out amounts aren’t worth your time, but I personally find them difficult to stick with.

It’s nice knowing that after a survey or two, you can get paid quickly for your time.

Low cash out amounts also make it less likely for you to lose out on points that expire or get caught up in a scam.

Hopefully, this list of sites with low or no minimum payouts gets you on the fast track to earning consistently from online survey panels.

Similar Posts:

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Looking for some free money hacks that actually work?

The best part about these hacks is that it’s easy money without requiring a lot of time or effort.

Since using the tips below, I’ve been able to make over $1000 in free money.

And now I want to share these tips and tricks so that you can do the same.

Table of Contents

• 25 Best Free Money Hacks That Actually Work
  • 7. Take Advantage of Sign Up Bonuses

25 Best Free Money Hacks That Actually Work

With all of that said, let’s get started.

Here’s our list of the 25 best free money hacks that work both online and offline.

1. Download Survey Apps

Survey apps and survey sites take the saying ‘penny for your thoughts’ literally. They’ll actually pay you to tell them your thoughts.

There are a bunch of them out there that you just need to download before you can start earning free money straight away.

Here are some of my favorites:

• Survey Junkie (among the highest paying survey sites)
• Swagbucks ($5 registration bonus with other tasks to earn)
• Pinecone Research (earn a flat $3 per survey)
• Vindale Research ($1 registration bonus)
• Inbox Dollars (this one pays you for reading emails)

Once you fill in some basic information about yourself, you can browse their list of surveys. If you’re eligible, fill them in for an easy, quick cash reward.

It’s not totally ‘free’ money as it does require a little bit of time investment, but the surveys aren’t very hard to complete and usually take around 10-15 minutes.

This is the perfect amount of time to fit them into your regular commute or while waiting in line.

Answering surveys is definitely my favorite way to earn free cash fast.

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of researching the which survey sites are the best, stick with Survey Junkie or Swagbucks. They’re the highest paying and they make it really easy to start earning.

2. Switch Bank Accounts (Or Open a New One)

Did you know that lots of different major banks will actually pay you to switch your current checking savings account over to them?

You can earn hundreds of dollars for what amounts to less than an hour’s work. All you have to do is sign up and start the switching process.

Why do banks offer this switching bonus? Because they’re absolutely crazy about acquiring new customers.

The banking market is competitive, and banks make a lot of money by investing the cash you deposit every month.

If they can attract a new, potentially lifelong client for a few hundred dollars, they will.

You can take advantage of this by accepting those bribes and ‘playing the field’ so to speak.

Just remember to consider other factors aside from the bonus too. It’s pointless switching for a $200 bonus if you end up paying out $300 in hidden fees on a savings account.

If you’re in the UK, switching is especially easy on account of the seven-day Current Account Switch Service (CASS). This has been been in place since September 2013 and puts the onus on banks to make it easier for customers to switch over painlessly.

Sign-up bonuses are similar to switching bonuses but they only require you to open a new account.

Keep in mind you don’t usually have to close your old one unless it’s in your new bank’s terms and conditions.

Here are some banks that will pay you to switch your current/checking account or open a new account with them:

Most of the above will pay you somewhere between $100 – $300 for signing up/switching. Not bad for a one-off cash injection.

The last piece of advice I’d give you is to always check the small print, as most of the bonus offers will require you to meet certain eligibility criteria, such as by making a certain minimum deposit within a given timeframe.

Once you’ve switched over and got your first few hundred dollars worth of free money.

But don’t go rushing out to spend it just yet! You could get more out of it with our next money hack…

3. Buy Gift Cards

Don’t you just hate it when you a gift card off a relative as a birthday gift for a store that you never visit?

Well, so do a lot of people. And what do they do with those gift cards? They sell them, of course! And usually at a significantly marked-down price.

All those re-sold gift cards mean that it’s possible for you to buy second-hand gift cards for your favorite stores at less-than-cost prices, and then use those gift cards against purchases you’d usually make with cash.

For example, let’s say you planned on spending $50 in Walmart for groceries. You could buy a $50 Walmart gift card for around $45 first, redeem it against your grocery purchase, and walk away with $5 spare.

It might not be much, but that’s $5 worth of free money that you wouldn’t have had without this neat little money hack.

Here are a couple of websites where you can buy a discounted gift card at up to 40% off retail value:

4. Invest Your Pennies

One of the easiest ways to get free money is to start investing the money you already have, sit back, and wait for the returns to come in.

I know what you’re thinking though – investing isn’t really a ‘money hack’. Hacks are supposed to be ways to take the work out of earning money and cheat the system, but investing is hard work. It requires time, knowledge, and lots of funds to be successful.

Or does it?

Well, there’s actually a neat little app you can use that takes all the hard work out of investing – an app called Acorns.

With Acorns, all you have to do is download the app, link up your credit card or debit card, and choose your investment strategy (conservative or aggressive). The app will take care of the rest.

It rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and adds the difference to an investment pot.

Because it works on spare change, you don’t need to a huge amount of savings to get started.

Also, it won’t feel like you’re taking a huge risk and you probably won’t even notice that spare change leaving your account.

Eventually, those acorns will start growing into money trees, and you can cash out your investment returns for essentially free money.

Speaking of apps that can help you to get free money…

5. Download Cashback Apps

One of my favorite free money hacks online is to claim cashback as many purchases as you can using cashback rewards apps.

Cashback shopping apps are apps which reward you with money and/or gift cards whenever you make purchases from select retailers.

Typically, all you have to do is browse the offers listed on the app, select one that you’re interested in, make a purchase, and scan/upload your receipt. Once your purchase has been validated, your account will be credited with a cashback reward.

Which Survey Sites Actually Pay You

Here are some of the most popular cashback apps available:

The cashback amounts you can earn vary between apps and retailers and could be anywhere from 1% to 20%.

Even the smaller amounts will add up over time. Eventually end up with a pretty large pot of money to withdraw.

Personally, I earned around $150 last year from cashback apps alone. It might not sound like much, but it’s completely free money with almost no effort required.

6. Resell Free Items

Sometimes, when people are moving homes or undergoing home improvements, they end up with furniture and appliances that they no longer need.

Getting rid of big items like this can be a hassle, so a lot of people will turn to sites like Craigslist to give them away for free, rather than take them to a skip.

But as that old saying goes, ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’.

In other words, that ‘junk’ that they’re giving away for free might not be junk at all. They might just not know what it’s worth.

The savvy entrepreneur out there can use this to their advantage by scouring sites like Craigslist for free items and then selling them on for a profit. The great thing about this is that there is no investment required – just a little bit of resourcefulness and a good eye for value!

We’ve written extensively about this specific free money hack in our post here, so check that out for more tips on how to get started flipping free items.

7. Take Advantage of Sign Up Bonuses

Lots of different websites, apps, and credit cards will pay you free money just to sign up. Most of the time, they do this because they expect to see returns on the money they pay out by locking you into recurring card payments or hooking you in so that you spend more money.

Best Survey Money Making Apps

However, if you’re smart about it, you can essentially hack the system to claim your sign up bonus and then walk away without spending a penny.

Online casinos and betting sites are notorious for offering lucrative sign-up bonuses, so you can start your hunt there.

Free cash!

If you plan to use this free money hack though, make sure you follow these tips:

Check the terms and conditions

Sometimes, sign up bonuses will come with hidden clauses and conditions that make it difficult for you to claim your money. For example, some online casinos will require you to gamble your bonus a certain number of times first.

Create a new email account

Most of the time, you’ll be required to input your email address to sign up and claim a bonus.

If you plan on doing this on many sites, make a new email address so that your personal email doesn’t end up flooded with spam.

Sign up for a credit card towards the end of the year

Credit card sign-up bonuses will usually require you to meet a minimum spending amount within a specific timeframe.

It’s easier to do this towards the end of the year as people tend to spend more in the holiday season on things like Christmas presents, Black Friday sales, and New Year celebrations.

8. Claim Your Unclaimed/Undelivered Tax Refund

Every single year, millions of dollars worth of tax refunds are left unclaimed or undelivered – and some of it could be yours.

Here are some reasons you might have missed out on your tax refund:

• You didn’t file a tax return
• You changed address and didn’t notify the IRS (US) or HMRC (UK)
• Your refund check was lost in the post

There’s nothing better than getting your hands on unexpected money out of the blue, so check to see if you’re owed an income tax refund that you haven’t yet received.

It’s really easy to do. For US citizens, you just need to visit the IRS ‘Where’s My Refund’ website and fill out some basic information. You never know, you might be owed a substantial amount and if so, that’s free money that you didn’t expect straight to your bank account.

If you forgot to file a tax return or chose not to because your wages didn’t meet the minimum filing requirement, you can still do so within 3 years of the deadline.

And that’s not the only way to get hold of unclaimed money either, which brings us to our next hack…

9. Find Unclaimed Money

Good Survey Apps For Money

Over the course of your life, you may have earned money that you didn’t even know about and that has ended up lost in the void somewhere, waiting for you to claim it.

It could be an old bank account that you had as a child or one that a parent or guardian opened for you without you realizing. It could be a check from a previous employer for unpaid work or a utility deposit on an account that you no longer have open.

The good news is that there are a few online tools and websites that can help you to find that lost money, like unclaimed.org and MissingMoney.com. You can visit them and search their databases to find and claim free money that’s rightfully yours.

10. Monetize Your Downtime

If you’re like most people, you probably spend a lot of your downtime on your phone, so why not monetize that downtime to get free money?

There are actually a bunch of smartphone reward apps that will pay you to mess around on your smartphone.

You can download the rewards apps below and get paid for playing games, watching videos, browsing the net, reading emails, shopping online, and more.

Each time you complete a task, you earn rewards points that can be exchanged for PayPal money or free gift cards.

Here’s some of my favorites:

They don’t pay much, but they can be a great way to get free money for things that you’d probably be doing anyway.

These apps are especially great for college students looking for money fast and easy.

11. Turn Your Phone’s Lock Screen Into a Money-Making Machine

If playing games, watching videos, and browsing the net seems like too much hard work for you, this next free money hack might be a little more appealing to you.

It’s possible to hack your smartphone to turn your lock screen into a money-making machine by downloading screensaver rewards apps.

These apps will change your lock screen into an advertisement which you have to view in order to unlock your phone. Viewing these ads generates a small amount of money or rewards points every time you unlock your phone.

Again, we’re talking minuscule amounts of money here, but it is free.

Two of my favorite screensaver apps are ScreenLift and Fronto, but we’ve also curated a list of 7 apps that pay you to unlock your phone screen.

12. Swap Your Damaged Money

Ever accidentally left a banknote in your jeans pocket and then washed them? Or maybe you left it too close to the fire and burnt it?

Well, you may have thought that the note was as good as useless. Yet it is possible to trade mutilated currency in through the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for a full redemption.

If you’ve kept hold of your damaged currency, this little-known free money hack can turn it legal tender again and provide a chunk of free money you never expected to be able to use.

It doesn’t matter whether the currency has been buried, damaged by explosives, chewed on by rats, or anything else. It can still be traded in, as long as:

• 50 percent or more of the note is present and clearly identifiable as US currency, sufficient remnants of relevant security features are visible, and at least one-half of the note is still intact.

Or

• 50 percent or less of the note is present and clearly identifiable as US currency and evidence is provided which demonstrates that the rest of the note has been completely destroyed.

13. Become A Freelance Writer

For those who have some extra time in their day to make some money, but do not want to go out and find a part time job, freelance writing can be a great alternative.

Freelance writing allows you to write articles and blogs for website owners or agencies and get paid for it.

Site like Upwork allow you to connect with clients who are looking for freelance writing to make finding work easier.

All you have to do is register, select a few preferences, and start applying for jobs that are being posted.

This can easily grow into a long term side hustle and some may even be able to make their own businesses out of it.

14. Sell Your Skill On Fiverr

Most people are usually skilled in at least one or two things. Did you know that you could be using this to make yourself some extra money?

There are many different online sites where you can sell your skill for extra money.

Fiverr, one of the most popular sites for skilled people, was designed around the idea of selling your skill in $5 increments.

We have seen people sell custom songs, spell checking, and many other skillsets on Fiverr.

With the growth in popularity, Fiverr has adapted to customer demands and have offered you to set the price of your skill to include prices above $5 such as hour long consulting and other timed tasks.

15. Wrap Your Car In An Advertising Wrap

If you have a car, there are many more ways for you to earn extra money.

A popular way that people have started to make money using their cars is having them wrapped in advertisements.

Many companies are actively looking for people who are willing to wrap their car in their company’s advertisements to be a mobile billboard.

If you don’t mind having decals on your car, this could be a great way for you to earn extra money with little effort.

Not the most aesthetically pleasing money hack, but an easy way to earn extra money.

16. Rent Out An Extra Room With AirBnB

For those who have second homes, beach condos, or even a spare bedroom, these are all opportunities for you to be making some serious cash.

With apps such as AirBnB, you can rent your living quarters out to those wanting to avoid hotels and stay in a more convenient space.

AirBnB connects property owners with people looking to rent out a living space for one night up to weeks.

With hotels becoming more expensive and less reliable, staying in a home or room that is not in a large hotel could help you get some good sleep and better amenities.

17. Rent Out Your Car With Turo

Similar to AirBnB, you can also rent out your car to those looking to avoid the high price and hassle of car rental companies.

Apps such as Turo allow you to easily let your car be rented and returned to you for extra money.

Turo works similar to car rental companies in the realm of basic principles.

What Turo offers is a wider variety of vehicles based on who is renting their vehicles out in the city you are in.

By putting your vehicle up for rent and setting your own prices, you could be making money while you sleep or while you are at work.

18. Deliver Food With Postmates

We are in a time where people are becoming busier and busier by the day.

When it comes to grabbing food, sometimes, you just want to have food delivered. In the past, you were limited to basically pizza and Chinese depending on where you lived.

Now, with apps such as Postmates, you can get just about any type of food delivered, and you can even sign up to be a driver.

Postmates is an app that allows you to sign up as a driver or use as the one who is ordering food.

To earn money on Postmates, all you have to do is have a car and a valid license/insurance/registration. Simply log in to the app when you are available to deliver and start accepting deliveries.

You can make your own hours and earn money when you need it with Postmates.

19. Use Your Car As A Taxi With Uber Or Lyft

If renting out your vehicle isn’t something that you feel comfortable with, maybe you would be better off using your car as a taxi.

With apps like Uber and Lyft, you can sign up to be a driver and start picking up/dropping off people at the destination of their choice for extra money.

Similar to Postmates, these apps allow you to sign in when you want and make your own hours.

When you are ready to start driving, simply log into the app and wait for the requests to start coming in.

You are paid directly from Uber, and they’re very good about paying the right amount and on time.

20. Donate Plasma And Earn Up To $400/Month

What if we told you that you could be earning up to $400 month while saving lives?

By donating plasma, you can earn up to $400 a month for just a few hours of your time.

Donating plasma is similar to the process of donating blood.

Plasma donation sites bay upwards of $50-$100 for each session which lasts around 90 minutes.

If you are not afraid of needles, you can make this a habit to start making some serious money.

21. Start Your Own Website or Blog

Blogging is a word that gets tossed around a lot in the world of the internet, but the money people make from it can be a little confusing.

There are many different ways to earn an extra income with your own website or blog. Just keep in mind that it may take time to get started.

Creating a blog to jot down your feelings may not always be the best way to make money.

Recipes, how-to articles, guides, and other helpful information are great starting points.

Not sure on how to get started?

Check out our FREE 5-Day Money Making Blog Crash Course. We help with tips on affiliate marketing, setting up a blog, getting traffic via Google and social media, writing the perfect blog post and more.

If your blog gains a strong following, you can even make some passive income off of it.

22. Get Paid To Surf The Web

If you are reading this blog, it’s a safe bet that you are someone who surfs the web quite often. Wouldn’t it be nice to get paid to browse the internet? Well now you can with different programs that offer different types of payouts.

Bing Rewards is one of the more popular rewards programs that allows you to earn credits for using their search engine.

These credits are earned by daily tasks, searching through Bing, and even quick quizzes for bonus points. These credits can be redeemed for popular gift cards such as Target and Amazon.

23. Earn Money By Reviewing Websites And Apps

They say opinions are like..well you know the rest. What if we told you that you could get paid for your opinion? Now, with businesses looking for reviews of their sites and apps, you can get paid by telling them what you think.

Using a site such as UserTesting, you can connect with businesses who are looking for your opinions.

Getting started is easy and you can easily start making money fast.

24. Write & Publish A Kindle eBook

Everyone has a story to tell, so why not get paid to tell the world? Writing and publishing Kindle eBooks are a great way to generate a residual income stream.

Even if your story isn’t interesting, you can always write a book on a specific skill that you have or even create a totally fictional story that is entertaining.

Selling copies of your book online can net you some pretty good cash. And if it becomes popular enough, your ebook could turn into a passive income stream.

25. Become A Mystery Shopper With Field Agent

Mystery shopping has always been a popular talk among those wanting to earn some extra money or get free meals. However, many people do not know how easy it can be to get started using simple smartphone apps.

FieldAgent, an app designed for smartphones, allows you to connect with companies who are looking for mystery shoppers. This app features a simple dashboard that has each job in a designated mile radius to make selecting jobs easy.

Are There Any Real Survey Sites That Pay

You can choose from jobs that pay cash, pay you back for meals, or even get free stuff. Payment usually comes within 1-5 days of completing the job.

Other Ways to Get Free Cash

That concludes our tips and tricks of 25 best free money hacks online and offline that actually work.

These are super easy ways for saving money, reaching your personal finance goals or to make money fast and easy.

And we all know that everyone loves getting money for free.

We find these hacks to save money especially useful for college students and stay at home moms.

Real Paid Survey Apps

The best part? It’s easy money and brings you that much closer to financial freedom.

Real Money Survey Sites

Do you know of another free money hack that you’d like to share and we didn’t?

Let us know in the comments below. Don’t forget to also let us know how well the free money hacks above work for you.