Best Surveys That Pay Cash Instantly & Why I Like Them

Surveys may not be the most lucrative side hustle—but they’re one of the easiest ways to make money online.

When looking for surveys that pay cash instantly, we recommend sticking to reputable sites with steady opportunities.

Most surveys pay a few cents, meaning you must complete several questionnaires to achieve the minimum cashout amount.

Use our guide below to select a few of the best survey apps or sites that can give you quick extra cash to supplement your income.

Our Top Picks for Surveys That Pay Cash Instantly

We’ve included an overview of our top picks below. For detailed information on each pick, scroll down.

1. Pawns.app – Sponsored
2. Branded Surveys – Our Pick
3. Survey Junkie – Runner Up
4. InboxDollars – Also Great
5. Swagbucks – Best for an All-Round Rewards Website
6. Ipsos iSay – Best for a Survey-Only Focused Site
7. MyPoints Surveys – Best for No Minimum Cashout Threshold
8. Opinion Outpost – Best for Fun Daily Surveys
9. Pinecone Research – Best for Quick PayPal Cashout Without Minimum Requirements
10. LifePoints – Best for Daily List of Surveys
11. Respondent – Best for Highest Paying Surveys
12. SurveySavvy – Best for Check Payouts
13. Panel Opinion – Best for Online Focus Groups

An Overview of the Best Paid Online Surveys

Survey websites give companies and brands a platform to collect information and opinions from consumers.

Participants get paid for their input in shaping brands, products, and services.

However, even the best survey websites won’t literally pay out immediately.

Instead, instant pay surveys process cashout requests within the shortest time possible when you achieve the minimum threshold.

That could be within 24 hours or a few days for most companies.

What Is a Paid Online Survey?

A paid online survey is a market research activity.

Various brands offer monetary rewards to collect opinions and feedback through an online questionnaire.

Why Are Surveys That Pay Cash Instantly Important?

Surveys that pay cash instantly are important because they can help supplement your income without waiting for lengthy payout processes.

Getting instant cash rewards also ensures you control how you use your money—instead of being forced to take gift cards or other non-cash rewards.

Do I Need a Survey That Pays Cash Instantly?

Do you need quick cash or flexibility in managing your earnings?

Surveys that pay cash instantly can give you a convenient and efficient way to fulfill your financial requirements.

The Best Instant Payout Surveys at a Glance

Are you ready to take advantage of paid survey opportunities?

Consider the best options from our handpicked sites.

What Is the Best Survey That Pays Cash Instantly?

The best instantly paid survey site is Branded Surveys.

It has a high volume of well-paid surveys, a low minimum cashout of $5, and an excellent 4.2 rating on Trustpilot.

The longest your payment can take after the request is three business days.

What Is the Best Free Online Survey Site?

The best free online survey site is Survey Junkie.

It’s a popular survey website that’s easy to join and earn up to $3 per survey.

While Survey Junkie is our best pick for this category, all the sites shared in this guide are free to join and use.

Features to Look For in Paid Online Surveys

Not all sites that promise cash and free gift cards for Amazon are worth your time.

And don’t fall for survey scams.

Here are some key factors you should consider to find the best paid online survey that pays instantly:

1. Legitimacy and Reputation

What do current and previous users of the platform say about it?

No market research company will have positive reviews only.

But you should weigh the pros and cons to determine if it’s worth your time.

Generally, a 4-star rating from thousands of reviews on a platform like Trustpilot is a green headlight.

Choose survey platforms with a proven track record of legitimacy.

Limit yourself to reliable survey sites that have been around for a while and have a history of processing payments on time.

2. Average Survey Earnings

Checking the average earnings of the survey websites you are considering helps set the right expectations about how much money you can make by filling out surveys.

The average pay per survey and the number of surveys available determine how quickly you can reach the minimum payout threshold.

Don’t have high hopes of making a living answering surveys.

They work best as a source of extra cash.

3. Sign-up or Subscription Fees

Legit survey websites are free.

Most survey companies that charge sign-up or subscription fees make empty promises, for instance, more tasks, priority orders, exclusive higher-paying surveys, and higher payouts.

While tempting, it’s best to avoid such apps.

4. Cashout Options

A legit survey site offers multiple cashout options.

While the most common option is a PayPal account and gift cards, some sites offer additional methods, including bank transfer and crypto.

Beware, some sites don’t offer cash payouts, for instance, Harris Poll.

5. Eligibility and Survey Availability

Consider platforms that have a steady number of surveys available for your demographics.

Higher survey availability increases your chances of qualifying for several questionnaires and earning potential.

Sponsored Pick: Pawns.app

Pawns.app is one of the few survey platforms available everywhere in the world.

The surveys are short and one of the highest-paying out there. There’s no point system, so you know exactly how much you’ve earned, and the payout threshold is only $5.

Plus, it gives you multiple ways to boost your earnings. It’s a great source of passive income for anyone.

Key Features of Pawns.app

• Global: The app is available in over 240 countries and regions worldwide.
• Multiple payment options: You can cash out via PayPal, Visa gift cards, Amazon gift cards, and Bitcoin, depending on your location.
• Multiple earning options: You can share your unused bandwidth with others, refer friends to the platform, and participate in different contests to boost your earnings.
• No point system: Pawns.app doesn’t use a complex point system. After completing each survey, your payments are automatically added to your balance.

Pros of Pawns.app

• Short, high-paid surveys: Completing a survey on Pawns.app takes only a few minutes and pays $1 on average, making the app one of the highest-paying survey platforms on the market.
• Quick payouts: Pawns.app offers instant payouts, so you don’t have to wait to enjoy your rewards.
• More ways to maximize income: The app allows you to increase your earnings by selling your unused data, referring people to the platform, and participating in frequent contests and giveaways on social media.
• No points to convert: With Pawns.app, you won’t have to convert points to know how much you’ve earned. What you see is what you get.
• Available everywhere: With over 240 countries and regions supported, you can use Pawns.app to make passive income from any corner of the world.

Cons of Pawns.app

• Limited survey availability in certain locations: There might be fewer surveys available in some countries than in others.
• A $5 payout minimum: Although this is one of the lowest payout minimums, reaching this amount can be challenging for users in certain countries, depending on available surveys and internet sharing demand.

Pawns.app Income

The average survey payout on Pawns.app is $1. Your earning potential depends on how many surveys you take, how much traffic you share, and how many friends you refer to the platform.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Pawns.app

If you are looking to earn money fast with online surveys, Pawns.app is one of the best options to consider. The surveys are highly paid and short, so they would be well worth your time.

The app is global, easy to use, and gives more options to boost your earnings, making it a reliable passive income source for anyone, anywhere.

Best Instant Pay Surveys: Our Top 3 Options [Ranked & Reviewed]

Here are the surveys that made the podium:

Branded Surveys – Our Pick

If you want a site that’s dedicated to paid surveys and no other online tasks, Branded Surveys might impress you.

It offers some of the most highly paid surveys with fast payouts.

You can also find several options to earn more points, like referrals and leaderboards that highlight the highest earners.

Key Features of Branded Surveys

• Multiple payment options: You can cash out via PayPal, direct deposit, or gift cards.
• Tiered loyalty program: Branded Elite (the site’s loyalty program) offers three options requiring you to complete a specific number of surveys monthly and earn guaranteed bonus points.
• Low minimum cashout requirements: You can cash out as low as 500 points ($5) which is attainable on this site.
• 100 points starting bonus: The site offers a 100 points welcome bonus ($1) once you sign up and fill out your profile.

Pros of Branded Surveys

• Fast payouts: Branded processes your withdrawal requests between one and three business days. That is the average timeline for instant payout surveys.
• Tiered system: The tiered system gives you bonus cash for completing more surveys. The amount of bonus cash you’ll receive depends on your current badge. You’ll get a 5% bonus under bronze, 10% for silver level, and a 15% bonus under gold if you complete 12+ surveys in a week.
• Higher paid surveys than other sites: The average survey rate for most sites is a few cents. Branded average pay per survey is $1, making attaining the minimum cashout requirement easier.

Cons of Branded Surveys

• Disqualification: You might get disqualified halfway through surveys after investing your time.
• No rewards for attempts: If you fail the pre-qualification assessment, you don’t get any points.
• Surveys-only site: Unlike other reward sites, Branded has limited ways of making money beyond surveys.

Branded Surveys Income

The typical rate for surveys on the Branded Surveys site is $1 to $3.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Branded Surveys

If you have spare time to participate in surveys, Branded Surveys is one of the best-paid survey sites that might be worth your time.

It offers highly paid surveys with extra options to earn more points without doing other non-survey tasks.

Survey Junkie – Runner Up

Survey Junkie is one of the few survey sites that reward you when you’re disqualified.

Other sites will have you spend up to ten minutes answering survey screening questions only to kick you out without any compensation.

Survey Junkie’s payout threshold is also one of the lowest, at 500 points ($5).

And it has an excellent 4.3-star rating on TrustPilot, meaning most people are satisfied with the company.

It’s a great side-hustle to generate extra income.

Key Features of Survey Junkie

• Bonus point promos: These monthly promotions award bonus points for completing a certain number of surveys daily within a specific time window.
• Data sharing via Survey Junkie Pulse: If you share your online data (online searches, site visits, app usage, shopping behavior, and ad views), you can earn guaranteed monthly points and exclusive surveys.
• Multiple cashout options: Once you achieve the 500 points threshold, you can redeem them for PayPal, gift cards, or bank transfers.
• User-friendly interface: The browser extension and mobile app dashboard are easy to navigate.
• Low redemption minimum: You can redeem your points starting at 500 points.

Pros of Survey Junkie

• Awards attempt: Survey Junkie gives one to three points for attempting a survey but failing to qualify.
• Multiple ways to earn: The site offers additional ways to increase your earning potential, for instance, by sharing your online data.
• Good user interface: You can easily understand and navigate the dashboard once you log in for the first time.

Cons of Survey Junkie

• Surveys fill out quickly: Some surveys end or reach the maximum number of required participants before you can start.
• Disqualification: Even if you get a few points after disqualification, it still minimizes your earning potential.
• Lengthy screening time: Some surveys have a longer screening time to disqualify you. Others are too long for the compensation

Survey Junkie Income

The average survey payout on Survey Junkie is $0.05 to $3.

Survey Junkie says you can make about $40 monthly if you take three surveys daily.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is a good platform to make extra cash if you have free time daily to complete surveys as they become available.

InboxDollars – Also Great

InboxDollars is a legit rewards and survey company that has a history dating to 2000.

It has paid out over $80 million to users.

One thing that makes InboxDollars stand out is that it tracks your earnings in dollars and cents—not points like most survey sites.

And they offer several good paid surveys frequently.

Key Features of InboxDollars

• FREE $5 sign-up bonus: New users get a $5 bonus after signing up and completing a profile.
• About a dozen ways to earn: InboxDollars offers multiple ways to earn cash besides answering surveys. These include playing games, reading emails, watching videos, and shopping online.
• Pays in cash, not points: Getting paid in dollars and cents makes it easier to track when you’re getting close to the cashing-out threshold.
• Ongoing promos and contests: The site offers promos and tips to help users maximize their earnings.

Pros of InboxDollars

• Pays to complete your profile: InboxDollars will pay you $0.50 for taking a short questionnaire to set up your profile and get matched with relevant surveys.
• Offers practical guides: InboxDollars offers practical suggestions to make your first $30 on the site.
• Generous referral bonus: You can earn $1.00 per referral and an additional 30% on your referrals’ earnings.

Cons of InboxDollars

• Higher initial payout: The initial $15 payout threshold is higher than most survey sites.
• Disqualification: Some surveys kick you out mid-way, which can be time-wasting.

InboxDollars Income

You can earn between $0.25-$5.00 per survey and a few cents for other small online activities.

Conclusion: Should You Choose InboxDollars

If you have a flexible schedule to take advantage of available daily surveys, InboxDollars can help you earn a few extra dollars hassle-free.

Notable Mentions: Other Instantly Paid Surveys To Check Out

Swagbucks – Best for an All-Round Rewards Website

Swagbucks is a legitimate online rewards program.

It has over 20 million users, a 4.3 Trustpilot rating, and over $855 million paid out in cash back to its users.

The popular survey site has a minimum payout limit of $5, with PayPal cashouts made within 24 hours.

Why Swagbucks is a great option

Swagbucks has various ways to earn more points by watching videos, reading articles, playing games, trying new services, shopping online, and more.

Its user-friendly interface provides a well-designed survey platform that’s easy to navigate, complete surveys efficiently, and track your earnings.

It also has a low minimum payout threshold, as you only need to accumulate 500 points to cash out instantly.

And once you create your account, you’ll even get a $5 sign-up bonus as a new member.

Lastly, Swagbucks is upfront with their survey details.

You can see the estimated time to answer surveys and the pay rates before jumping in.

Cons of Swagbucks

• You might not qualify for most surveys
• The first payout can take up to ten days

SWAGBUCKS Income

Most surveys on Swagbucks pay $0.05 to $2.5. Your monthly payout will depend on the available surveys and how many you complete successfully.

Ipsos iSay – Best for a Survey-Only Focused Site

Ipsos is a well-established and reputable market research company with a long history of conducting surveys.

You can earn points redeemable for cash or gift cards by completing surveys and referring people to the app.

Why Ipsos iSay is a great option

Most survey sites offer other low-paying tasks to help you accumulate more points, but Ipsos doesn’t.

This makes it a great option if you want to focus your extra time this side-hustle and do surveys only.

Cons of Ipsos iSay

• Some users receive limited survey invitations monthly
• Sometimes the points of newly completed surveys can take a few days to reflect on your account balance
• Sometimes PayPal cash-outs experience delays of one to three weeks

Ipsos iSay Income

Ipsos iSay surveys pay between $0.25 and $1.00.

Due to survey availability limits, the maximum you can make on the platform daily is $10.

MyPoints Surveys – Best for No Minimum Cashout Threshold

MyPoints is another survey site that offers a host of ways to make money online doing small tasks.

However, it’s best known for its surveys and cashback portal.

It’s not the best-paying cashback site.

It suits better people who want to make extra cash by taking surveys and doing little online shopping and want to keep their earning opportunities in one place to collect more points.

Why MyPoints Surveys is a great option

MyPoints is operated by Prodege, which also runs Swagbucks and InboxDollars.

Its dashboard is more organized, and you can sort your available survey lists by “Featured,” “Highest Points,” and “Shortest Time.”

Cons of MyPoints Surveys

• Lengthy pre-qualification questions for some surveys
• PayPal and the Visa Prepaid Card require more points to cash out than gift cards (for the same dollar amount)

MyPoints Surveys Income

Most 10-minute surveys on MyPoints pay 50 to 500 points (about 35 to 75 cents).

MyPoints doesn’t have a minimum cashing out threshold, but the redemption method you opt for determines if you have enough points to cash out.

Opinion Outpost – Best for Fun Daily Surveys

Opinion Outpost is a paid survey site that boasts a partnership with some of the world’s biggest brands.

The site commissions more than three million surveys monthly, promising a high volume of tasks for its users.

Why Opinion Outpost is a great option

Opinion Outpost offers various survey types, such as product tests, ad reviews, focus groups, location-specific studies, diary studies, etc.

With all the options available, you can’t miss ones you’ll find fun to participate in.

And the best part is that it’s well-known for fast PayPal payouts.

Cons of Opinion Outpost

• Relatively low pay rate of about 50 points per survey
• Several unpaid profile survey questions for new users
• Possibility of running out of surveys after weeks of inactivity

Opinion Outpost Income

Most surveys on Opinion Outpost pay $0.50 to $5 (5 to 50 points).

These surveys typically take 15 to 20 minutes.

With a minimum cashout threshold of 50 points, you can quickly attain the target with a few surveys.

8. Pinecone Research – Best for Quick PayPal Cashout Without Minimum Requirements

Pinecone Research is undoubtedly ahead of its competitors in terms of compensation.

Each survey at Pinecone Research pays about $3 worth of points.

Most paid survey sites don’t offer anything close to that consistently.

You can redeem these points via PayPal or gift cards anytime.

What Makes Pinecone Research a Great Option

Pinecone is a great option for quick-paid surveys because there’s no minimum requirement to cash out.

Once you complete a survey, you can request your cash payout via PayPal.

Cons of Pinecone Research

• Not always open to new members
• Invite-only survey model
• No rewards points for completing the profile (household) questions for new users

Pinecone Research Income

Most of Pinecone Research’s online surveys pay $3-$5.

Your total income from taking surveys on this site will depend on the number of invites you’ll receive.

LifePoints – Best for Daily List of Surveys

LifePoints is a merger of MySurvey and Lightspeed, which were solid paid survey companies.

It lives up to its reputation and has a 4.1-star rating on Trustpilot and is currently a gig economy staple.

The minimum cash-out threshold is $5, which is easily attainable.

Why is LifePoints a great option?

LifePoints has a user-friendly interface.

You’ll get your daily list of available surveys on your dashboard hassle-free.

Besides taking surveys, you can earn more points by completing mini-polls, testing products, and participating in data collection activities.

Cons of LifePoints

• Surveys might not always be available
• Some surveys fill up quickly
• PayPal redemptions require more points than gift cards

LifePoints Income

Most surveys on LifePoints are worth 50 to 500 reward points (about $0.50 to $5.00).

Respondent – Best for Highest Paying Surveys

If you’re looking for quality and highest-paid surveys, Respondent is worth checking out.

It’s the only survey site where you can earn an average of $100 an hour answering surveys.

However, that also means their structure differs from survey sites that only pay a few cents.

It conducts one-on-one sessions and focus groups both in-person and online.

Why Respondent is a great option

Respondent has a business and formal approach to consumer research studies and focus groups.

You’ll find various projects on your dashboard, and you can filter them by relevance, most recent, payout, the time required, and profession.

The least pay for most surveys on the platform is $50 for a 30-minute survey.

Cons of Respondent

• The site has stringent requirements for getting picked for surveys
• PayPal cashouts can take eight to ten days
• The highest-paying surveys are profession based and require expertise in certain areas

Respondent Income

The average payout for Respondent surveys is $100 to $700 an hour.

The more experienced you are in a certain field, the higher your chances of earning more per hour.

You can also add to your earnings by referring people for $25 to $50.

SurveySavvy – Best for Check Payouts

SurveySavvy is a paid survey site with questionnaires across different industries.

It pays in cash, has a low minimum cashout threshold, and pays by check.

One of the advantages of SurveySavvy over other popular paid survey sites is that it accepts users from the age of 14.

Why SurveySavvy is a great option

Most sites with instant PayPal payout surveys make it more painful to withdraw cash than gift cards.

That’s where SurveySavvy has a leg up.

It only offers cash surveys, no gift cards, products, or vouchers.

And you can cash out as low as $1.

Cons of SurveySavvy

• Pays by check mailed to your address which can take weeks to arrive
• No instant PayPal payout surveys option
• Limited earning opportunities
• Slow customer support response rate

SurveySavvy Income

Most of the surveys on SurveySavvy pay about $0.5 to $2.

Most people get around five monthly invites, which doesn’t add up to much.

You can increase your earning potential on the site by installing their software that collects your online data.

Panel Opinion – Best for Online Focus Groups

The survey payout rates on Panel Opinion are average, but it has a decent number of surveys.

This means you might qualify for more surveys and make a decent amount of extra cash answering surveys.

Why Panel Opinion is a great option

Panel Opinion often credits your earnings instantly, making it easier to track your progress.

You must reach $10 to request a PayPal or bank transfer payout.

If you’re screened out of a survey, Panel Opinion gives you five points for the attempt.

Cons of Panel Opinion

• Filling out your profile for the first time can be time-consuming
• Receiving email notifications for new surveys is not always guaranteed
• The pay rates are average

Panel Opinion income

Panel Opinion pays up to $4 per survey.

Some surveys could earn you less, and others more.

The site also offers online focus groups paying $30 to $60 on an invite-only basis which could boost your income.

Other Options Relevant to Surveys That Pay Cash Instantly

Are you interested in exploring other ways to make money quickly, streamline your business, or pay with cash? Consider the options below:

• Delivery that Takes Cash: Pay-with-cash deliveries aren’t always available. If you’re all about paying with cash, read this guide to discover the top online delivery services that can help you avoid credit.
• Package Delivery Apps: Do you run a small business? You can utilize reliable package delivery apps to streamline the process. This guide rounds up our handpicked delivery apps.
• Car Rental by Owner: Looking for smart car rental alternatives? Check out these car rental-by-owner options.
• Sign Up and Get Free Money: Make easy money by signing up to these sites.
• Banks That Pay You to Open an Account: Here’s a round-up of banks that pay users to open an account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have more questions about surveys that pay cash instantly? Here are our answers to the frequently asked questions about paid online surveys:

What Survey Site Pays the Fastest?

Branded Surveys is one of the best survey sites that pay the fastest.

Most reputable survey websites process your gift card payouts instantly but take a few days for cash withdrawals.

Other legitimate survey sites offering fast payments include Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, and InboxDollars.

Do Survey Sites Pay Instantly?

No legitimate survey site will pay you instantly.

Instead, surveys that pay cash instantly process your withdrawal requestions within 24 hours or a few days.

Can You Make $100 a Day From Surveys?

You can’t make $100 a day from surveys consistently.

Respondent is the highest paying survey site we have come across, with an average earning of $100 per hour, but there is no guarantee of getting questionnaires daily.

The other survey sites typically pay a few cents to a few dollars per task.

Which Surveys Actually Pay?

Some of the legitimate survey companies that actually pay include InboxDollars, Swagbucks, Panel Opinion, Respondent, SurveySavvy, Pinecone Research, LifePoints, Opinion Outpost, Survey Junkie, and Branded Surveys.

Do Paid Survey Sites Really Work?

Yes, there are several legit survey platforms that work.

Wrapping Up

Answering paid surveys can help you earn extra money to supplement your other income sources.

But don’t jump in with high hopes of replacing your day job with this side gig.

When you’re ready to participate in online surveys from the best market research companies, consider Branded Surveys.

It’s a survey-dedicated website offering higher paid opportunities and fast payouts with low minimum requirements.

You also get a 100-point sign-up bonus that can speed up your first payout.

If you want survey websites that also offer other small tasks for rewards, try Survey Junkie or InboxDollars.

All these are legitimate market research companies.

Select the ones that work best for you.