How Do BBB Ratings Work?
BBB or the Better Business Bureau is a non profit that has been operating since 1912. This organization ranks more than 4 million businesses and deals with consumer complaints each year, acting as a neutral third party.
The BBB offers businesses accreditation if they pledge to adhere to its Code of Business Practices. However, all businesses can receive a rating.
The organization creates a score using factors including:
- Age of business
- Number of total complaints
- Transparency of business practices
- Number of unanswered complaints
- Amount of unresolved complaints.
BBB uses these scores to generate a rating from A+ down to F. Examples of score percentages include:
| Percentage Score | Rating |
|---|---|
| 97+ | A+ |
| 87 to 89.99 | B+ |
| 59.99 | F |
However, some businesses have no rating, so feature a NR on their profile.
The Best BBB Approved Survey Sites
Swagbucks
Swagbucks Summary
- 18 ways to earn money and e-gift cards
- $5 sign up bonus
- Up to 10% cashback when shopping online
- $1 minimum e-gift card withdrawal
Swagbucks is one of the most popular BBB approved survey sites. It has an A+ rating and has been accredited since 2010.
You can earn points or SBs for completing surveys or other tasks such as watching videos, playing games, and online shopping.
The platform is open to members around the world. During sign up, you’ll need to provide some basic demographic details, so Swagbucks can match you with appropriate tasks.
You can then redeem your earnings as a gift card or PayPal credit.
InboxDollars
InboxDollars Summary
- $5 sign up bonus
- Referral program – 30% that referral makes
- Most of the surveys pay $0.01 to $2.50
- 13 different ways to earn money
InboxDollars is another A+ rated site that has had accreditation since 2012. You can earn cash with tasks such as:
- Completing surveys
- Watching videos
- Using the InboxDollars search engine
Like Swagbucks, InboxDollars will use your demographic information to tailor the tasks to your preferences and interests.
Once you accumulate $10, you can redeem your earnings via PayPal, bank deposit or gift card.
PrizeRebel
PrizeRebel Summary
- Up to $1 on average earnings per survey
- Earn as much as a few hundred each month
- Rewards are sent in 24 hours
- Up to 30% for referred user earnings
PrizeRebel offers surveys and other activities to earn points. Each task displays the available points before beginning, so you can plan your time efficiently.
There are also referral bonuses if you introduce family and friends to Prize Rebel. You can earn a 30% commission on your referral’s earnings.
Each point is worth one cent and after you accumulate $2 you can request a PayPal payment or choose a gift card.
Unfortunately, PrizeRebel’s BBB rating has recently dropped to F, so you will need to tread carefully.
MyPoints
MyPoints Summary
- $5 sign-up bonus upon email confirmation
- $0.27 to $2.13 on average per survey
- Over 10 different ways to earn money
- Pays by gift cards and PayPal
- Cash out with gift cards starting at $3
- MyPoints mobile apps: iOS and Android
MyPoints has been around for 25 years and to date, has paid out more than $200 million to its users. This platform has a B+ rating and offers surveys and other tasks such as watching videos and playing games.
You can also earn points in the form of cash back on your shopping. There are different rates of cash back according to the partner retailer.
For example, Amazon purchases attract a rate of 15 points per dollar. You can also earn cash back with popular retailers such as Walmart and eBay.
When you’re ready to cash out, you can opt for a PayPal payment, prepaid Visa card or gift card.
Ipsos i-Say
i-Say Summary
- You can earn as much as $50 each month
- Earn $1 for each friend you invite
- Low minimum cash out threshold of $5
- Instant cash out for e-gift cards
i-Say has an A+ BBB rating and allows you to share your personal opinions to earn free gift cards. All the company asks is that you provide your honest thoughts.
You’ll earn points by taking part in surveys and completing polls. There are even chances to participate in prize draws and regular contests. There are also points for screening out of a survey and loyalty bonuses. So, the more you participate, the more you can earn.
You can redeem your rewards once you reach 500 points or $5 via gift card or PayPal.
ACOP
American Consumer Opinion Summary
- Easy to understand point system
- Longer surveys can pay up to $50, but most of them pay $0.50 to $2.50 on average
- Product reviews pay up to $200
- Low minimum payout threshold of $10
ACOP has over 7 million members and has been BBB accredited since 2004 with an A+ rating. You can join via its website or app. The short surveys offer up to 50 points, but there is the potential to earn up to 5,000 points with longer surveys.
The company also has a referral program, so you can boost your earnings by introducing people to the platform.
Boost your earnings by introducing people to the platform
Each point is worth one cent and you can cash out when you reach 1,000 points or $10. You can request a PayPal payment or exchange your points for sweepstake draw entries.
Tellwut
Tellwut Summary
- USA and Canada users only
- Earn up to $5 per survey you answer
- Low minimum payout threshold of $10
- Get a $0.75 bonus for signing up
Tellwut offers three types of surveys; external, internal, and surveys you create for yourself. You’ll earn points for each type of survey, with external surveys offering up to 2,000 points each.
Survey availability will vary according to your demographics.
You can also accumulate points by interacting with other Tellwut members and referring people to the platform.
100 points are worth approximately $0.25, and you can redeem your earnings via an e-gift card from a list of popular brands or a prepaid Visa card.
This platform has been accredited since 2013 and has an A+ rating.
Pinecone Research
Pinecone Research is an exclusive A+-rated platform. You need to receive an invite to join. You can register your interest on the official website, complete an eligibility application, or get a referral from an existing member.
Upon joining, you can earn $3 per survey or $6 for product testing.
What makes this platform very special is that it offers loyalty bonuses. The more tasks you complete, the more you can increase your earnings.
The minimum redemption is just $3 and you can request a PayPal payment, check or gift card.
Toluna
Toluna has millions of members and has been operating with BBB accreditation for more than 20 years, carrying an A+ rating. You can earn points by participating in surveys, answering polls, testing products, and even helping other members of the community. The company also operates sweepstake draws where you can win cash and other prizes.
This platform also has a fantastic referral scheme. You can earn 500 points for every person you refer.
The minimum redemption is $10 and you can claim a PayPal payment or gift card.
Nielsen
Nielsen Summary
- Earn up to $60/year by installing an app
- Earn up to $1000 from sweepstakes
- 15 different types of rewards
- Win up to $500 by downloading PC app
The Nielsen group is a familiar name in market research, but the research is not limited to TV habits. Nielsen also conducts research on internet habits. When you sign up and download the app onto your device.
You can then just use your internet as usual and Nielsen will monitor your usage without compromising your privacy.
Nielsen will monitor your internet usage without compromising your privacy
Providing the device remains active, you can earn up to $60 per device each year. Nielsen also has a monthly sweepstakes draw offering a prize pot of $10,000, which is split among 400 winners.
This company has been accredited since 2010 and has an A+ rating.
Survey Savvy
Survey Savvy is one of the oldest survey sites as it has been operating since 1977. It has an A+ rating and has had BBB accreditation since 1993.
This platform typically pays a little more than other survey panels. You can earn an average of $1 per survey, but you can also find surveys that offer up to $20.
You can redeem your earnings from just $1 via check.
Harris Poll Online
Harris Poll Online is an A rated BBB business that allows you to complete surveys and influence important decisions in large organizations and corporations.
There are restrictions to who can become a Harris Poll Online member. These include:
- Being an American Citizen
- Resident in America
- At least 13 years old
You can accumulate rewards that you can redeem for Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, and other gift cards. Each survey is worth up to 150 points and you need 1,250 to claim a $10 gift card.
However, there are also sweepstake draws each quarter with a top prize of $10,000.
YouGov
YouGov Summary
- $0.50 on average per survey
- Expect up to 7 surveys per week
- $2.85 for each referred friend
- Redeem rewards in gift cards or PayPal
YouGov is a global research company with 6 million members. When you sign up, you will need to provide some basic information. This will allow YouGov to match you with appropriate surveys.
Surveys typically take up to 15 minutes and can pay up to 2,000 points. You’ll need approximately 1,400 points to earn $1. Once you reach 35,000 points or $25, you can claim your earnings via PayPal, gift card, prepaid Visa card, or sweepstakes entry.
While the platform did have a solid reputation, it recently lost its accreditation and its rating dropped to F. However, it may still be worth investigating if you’re in a popular demographic group.
Pointclub
Point Club is an A+ BBB business that has been accredited since 2019.
It has a straightforward two step sign up process. You can earn points for participating in surveys, but you can earn additional points by confirming your email and linking your social media account.
You can earn an average of $1 to $2 per survey, which you can redeem for gift cards. There are a variety of gift card options for popular retailers including Walmart.
e-Poll
e-Poll allows you to earn points by taking short form surveys. You can take the surveys on your computer or mobile device.
You can earn up to 1,000 points per survey and once you reach 3,750 points or $5, you can claim your earnings. There are a number of payout options including charity donations, PayPal payments, or gift cards.
This platform has had BBB accreditation since 2000 and has an A+ rating.
How to Avoid Survey Scams
While you can rely on this list of BBB approved survey sites, you still need to be aware of how to avoid survey scams. Fortunately, there are some tips to help you.
Don’t Pay:
Legit and BBB-approved survey sites don’t require payment to join or process your application. This is a common scam tactic, to get you to pay to access “great opportunities,” so don’t fall for it.
Check the Rewards:
Before you join a program, make sure you understand the rewards offered. Some of the sites on this list offer cash via PayPal or prepaid Visa cards, while others offer gift cards or other rewards.
Just be wary of sites promising massive rewards. Most survey sites pay $5 or less per survey. So, take care if a survey site offers far more basic surveys.
Does the Site Disclose the Survey Value?
If you don’t want to waste your time, only use sites that disclose the survey value before you begin.
Read Privacy Policies:
Most platforms provide their privacy policy and other terms and conditions. So, don’t just tick the box when signing up and reading the documents. Scam companies often include clauses in the terms and conditions that may violate your privacy or compromise your sensitive personal information.
Investigate BBB Records:
The BBB uses customer reviews and complaints to generate a rating, which can change. Therefore, it is well worth investigating BBB records on any company before you sign up. This will help you evaluate whether the company is legit or if you should look elsewhere.
If the company has BBB accreditation and a good rating, it is a very positive sign.
Look Out for Red Flags:
To better protect yourself, look out for any other red flags. If a company leaves you with a bad feeling, go with your gut and move on. There are many survey platforms, so you will find ones that appeal to you.
