In this Swagbucks review, I’ll share my experience of testing the earning potential of this popular rewards site that offers cash for various activities such as taking surveys, shopping online and in-store, and browsing the web.
Over the course of five hours, I focused on completing surveys and also tried shopping online and redeeming receipts from in-store purchases to determine how much one can realistically earn using Swagbucks.
During the five hours of taking surveys, I earned a total of $7.45. The hourly breakdown was as follows: $1.36 in the first hour, $0.48 in the second, $0.33 in the third, $0.24 in the fourth, and $5.04 in the fifth hour.
On average, I earned approximately $1.49 per hour solely from surveys. However, I also managed to qualify for about six surveys, even though I attempted many more. When I didn’t qualify for a survey, I still earned 1 to 10 Swagbucks per attempt.
Is Swagbucks worth a try?
Here is what you need to know:
Is Swagbucks Legit?
Yes, Swagbucks is a legitimate company and website that has been in operation since 2008. It is owned and operated by Prodege, LLC, a well-established rewards and loyalty program provider. Over the years, Swagbucks has paid out over $500 million in rewards to its users.
| Review Website | Swagbucks Review |
|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.1 out of 5 stars |
| Better Business Bureau | B |
| Google Play | 4 out of 5 stars |
Most platform users praise it for having a wide selection of activities you can complete earning money. However, some customers have complained that they keep getting disqualified from surveys.
| Positive Feedback | Common Complaints |
|---|---|
| Variety of earning methods | Frequent survey disqualifications |
| Wide selection of rewards | Technical glitches and crediting issues |
| Referral program to earn more | Unexplained account deactivations |
| Legitimate payouts | $15 minimum payout threshold for first-time redemption |
How Much Can You Make?
On average, the surveys on Swagbucks generally pay between $0.10 to $2.50 and take around ten minutes to complete.
If you spend 30 minutes answering surveys on Swagbucks daily, you can earn more than $30 in extra monthly income.
How to Make Money on Swagbucks?
Online surveys
To make money with Swagbucks online surveys, start by regularly checking the “Answer” section on the Swagbucks website or mobile app. This is where you’ll find available surveys that you can take to earn Swagbucks (SB), which can later be redeemed for cash or gift cards.
Click on a survey that interests you and answer the qualifying questions honestly. These questions help determine if you fit the target demographic for the survey. If you qualify, complete the survey in full, providing thoughtful and accurate responses. The length of the survey and the amount of SB you can earn will be displayed beforehand.
If you don’t qualify for a survey, don’t get discouraged. You’ll still earn a small amount of SB (usually 1 to 10) for attempting the survey. Keep trying new surveys regularly, as your eligibility may vary depending on the survey’s target audience.
Consistency is key when it comes to earning money with Swagbucks surveys. Set aside a specific time each day to complete surveys, and aim to participate in as many as possible. The more surveys you take, the more SB you’ll accumulate, which can then be redeemed for cash via PayPal or for a wide variety of gift cards.
Discover deals
Swagbucks works with other popular retailers to provide users with online offers.
Some of the different offers you can complete to earn money include:
- Featured Offers
- Offers from Our Trusted Partners
- Explore Web Content and Earn
- Sign Up and Earn
- Popular Offers
- Most Recent Offers
Most of these offers are simple online tasks requiring you to visit another retailer or website to complete them. For example, an activity may require you to sign up for an account with another website like Airbnb and complete a booking.
Your earnings will vary depending on the complexity of the task, although you could potentially earn up to $50 from a single activity.
Shop online
If you shop online regularly, you can also earn money on Swagbucks by doing so. The platform partners with various online stores and enables you to earn cash rewards by providing cashback on your purchases.
The amount of cashback you earn may vary depending on the online store you shop at. Some stores may offer up to 10% cashback on your purchases.
Install browser extension
Another way that you can earn money on Swagbucks is by installing the platform’s browser extension called the SwagButton. You can earn $0.50 just by completing this simple task.
Swagbucks offers its browser extension on all major browsers, including:
In addition, there are also additional benefits to downloading this browser extension. The extension will help you search the web for coupons whenever you shop online. Thus, it can help you save money and enjoy discounts on your online spending.
Invite friends
Swagbucks also has a general referral program, and you can earn money by inviting your friends to join the platform. You will receive $3 for every person you refer who joins Swagbucks. You will also get an additional $1 bonus if your referral installs the SwagButton on their browser.
Moreover, you will also earn 10% of your referees’ earnings for life. This sum is a bonus that the company will pay you, and it does not affect the earnings of the person you refer. Thus, you can convert your Swagbucks account into a source of passive income if you manage to invite enough people.
Print grocery Swagbucks coupons
Swagbucks also partners with coupons.com to offer coupons that help you save money at the grocery store and other stores. In addition to saving money, you can also earn $0.25 for every coupon you redeem in-store.
Moreover, you will also get $0.01 for each coupon you print, up to $0.50 per day. Thus, just by printing 50 coupons daily, you can earn $15 monthly.
Claim Loyalty Points
Swagbucks rewards you for being a member and earning SBs.
| Achievement Level | Lifetime SB Earned |
|---|---|
| Pearl | 250 |
| Opal | 1000 |
| Onyx | 5000 |
| Amethyst | 10,000 |
| Jade | 50,000 |
| Topaz | 100,000 |
| Sapphire | 250,000 |
| Emerald | 500,000 |
| Ruby | 1,000,000 |
| Diamond | 2000000 |
You can enjoy different additional rewards depending on the level you achieve. You can find a list of the benefits awarded for each level on the Swagbucks member recognition program FAQ page.
At the highest level, you will enjoy:
- A 25,000 SB one-time bonus
- Double SB on your next three survey completions.
- Two additional hours to redeem any Swag Code
- Four gift cards up to $25 in value each month
Answer questions
SwagIQ, also known as Swagbucks Live, is a trivia game show that you can play every weekday. The game tests your knowledge and allows you to win cash prizes of up to $1000.
During the game, you will be asked multiple-choice questions and have 10 seconds to select your answer. You get eliminated if you answer a question incorrectly or don’t answer within 10 seconds. Nonetheless, even if you do not make it to the end, you can earn between $0.02 to $0.10.
If you answer ten questions correctly in a row, you will win a Grand Prize.
Play games
You can also earn money on the platform by playing games. Swagbucks partners with various websites that enable you to earn money for playing games.
The platform features a variety of different games that you can play for money, including:
- Popular Games
- Casino Games
- Cash Games
On average, you can earn up to $0.10 for every game you play.
Search online
Swagbucks features a search engine that you can earn money for using. The search engine is located conveniently at the top of the Swagbucks website.
The rewards you can earn with Swagbucks vary, and you can earn anything between $0.01 to $10 for every search you make.
You can also add the Swagbucks search extension to your browser and make it your default search engine. This will increase your chances of earning an extra $0.05 for every 20 to 50 searches you make.
Complete microtasks
Another way that you can earn cash rewards on Swagbucks is by completing simple microtasks. These tasks are a to-do list on the side of your Swagbucks home page.
On average, you can earn around $0.01 for every task you complete. Most users receive eight microtasks that they can do each day to make some additional cash. In addition, completing at least six tasks each day can get a bonus of $0.01 to $0.04.
Achieve daily goals
Swagbucks also has a daily goal regarding how many points you should earn daily. Any time you achieve it, you will then receive bonus points.
However, the more frequently you reach your goal, your daily goal may increase.
In addition, you also receive extra SBs if you achieve your goals consistently for a certain number of days.
Here is the number of bonus points you would receive depending on the number of days you consistently hit your daily goals:
- 7 days: 25 SB
- 14 days: 100 SB
- 21 days: 200 SB
- 1 month: 300 SB
Find bonus points
Swagbucks also occasionally shares bonus codes via their social media channels and newsletters. These codes usually accompany an offer from one of the Swagbucks partners. Below the offer, you will see a SWAG CODE ALERT with the code. Also, these codes have a time limit, so you need to redeem them rapidly.
To earn cash rewards from Swag Codes, enter the code in the Swag Code box on the Swagbucks home page. You will earn between $0.02 to $0.05 for every code you enter.
Read paid emails
The platform also enables you to earn money by reading paid emails. You can do so using the Swagbucks Inbox, which is found at the top right corner of your homepage.
You can earn cash rewards by clicking on offers within these emails. On average, you can earn between $0.02 to $0.04 for every offer that you click on. You can receive up to 60 offers per week.
Try your luck
You can also participate in sweepstakes on Swagbucks to stand a chance to win huge rewards. A sweepstake is like a lottery, and you can participate in these by paying a specified amount of SBs.
You can earn up to $250 if you win a sweepstake; some sweepstakes also enable you to purchase multiple entries. Some sweepstakes also allow you to win physical prizes.
Celebrate your birthday
You will also earn an additional 55 SB bonus on your birthday each year. However, note that those points do not go straight into your account. Instead, you can claim them when you cash in for a gift card within 30 days of your birthday.
Get gift cards
If you opt to exchange the points that you earn on Swagbucks for gift cards instead of withdrawing them in cash, you will get a bonus on the exchange rate. As such, you can enjoy discounts of up to 12% on your gift card exchanges.
How to Redeem Points With Swagbucks?
To redeem my Swagbucks for an Amazon gift card, I navigated to the Swagbucks website and clicked on the “Redeem” button. Upon clicking “Redeem,” I was prompted to verify my identity. Swagbucks sent a four-digit code to my cell phone, which I then entered on the website to confirm my identity.
After confirming my identity, I had to select the Amazon gift card as my desired reward and click “Confirm” to finalize the redemption process. The entire process was straightforward, and I only needed to complete these few steps to successfully redeem my Swagbucks for an Amazon gift card.
It’s important to note that there is a minimum balance requirement for redeeming rewards on Swagbucks. The first time you cash out, you need to have accumulated at least $15 worth of Swagbucks (equal to 1500 SB). However, for subsequent redemptions, the minimum cash-out amount is lowered to $1 (or 110 SB) for certain rewards, such as Amazon gift cards.
Some of the retailers you can redeem a gift card for include:
- Amazon
- Walmart
- Visa
- Target
- Google Play
Also, you can withdraw money to your PayPal account from $25.
Is Swagbucks Worth it?
Based on my experience, Swagbucks can be a legitimate way to earn some extra money in your spare time, but it’s important to have realistic expectations. During my five hours of taking surveys, I earned a total of $7.45, averaging $1.49 per hour. While this may not seem like much, Swagbucks offers a variety of ways to earn rewards, such as shopping online, watching videos, and playing games.
The amount you can earn depends on factors like your demographics, time invested, and available surveys and offers. Despite some drawbacks, such as occasional survey disqualifications and a $15 minimum redemption for first-time cashouts, Swagbucks remains a reputable platform for those looking to earn a little extra money online.
How to Sign Up With Swagbucks?
You can sign up for Swagbucks by visiting the Swagbucks website. When signing up for an account, you will need to fill in some basic demographic information about yourself. The company uses this information to match you with the most appropriate surveys.
Swagbucks is also offering a $5 sign-up bonus (occasionally Swagbucks increase bonus to $10) for new users. To qualify for this bonus, you will only need to earn $25 within the first 60 days of your membership.
Swagbucks Hacks
Here are some hacks that can help you can maximize your earnings on Swagbucks:
- Attempt every survey: Even if you don’t qualify for a survey, you’ll still earn a small amount of Swagbucks (usually 1 to 10 SB) for your efforts. These small amounts can add up over time.
- Take advantage of all earning opportunities: Swagbucks offers multiple ways to earn, such as shopping online, watching videos, searching the web, and playing games. Engage with these activities to boost your earnings.
- Download the Swagbucks mobile app: By using the app, you can earn SB on the go and receive exclusive mobile offers.
- Check for Swag Codes: Swagbucks occasionally releases Swag Codes on their social media pages, website, or newsletter. These codes can be redeemed for quick SB.
- Complete daily goals: Swagbucks sets daily earning goals for users. If you meet these goals consistently, you can earn bonus SB at the end of the month.
- Refer friends and family: Swagbucks offers a referral program where you can earn a percentage of your referrals’ Swagbucks earnings. Share your referral link with friends and family to potentially earn more.
- Install the SwagButton browser extension: This extension alerts you to available surveys and deals while you browse the web, making it easier to earn SB.
- Participate in Swago: Swago is a bingo-like game that appears periodically on Swagbucks. Complete the activities on your Swago board to earn bonus SB.
- Watch for special promotions: Swagbucks frequently offers special promotions, such as increased cash back on online purchases or bonus SB for completing certain activities. Stay informed about these promotions to maximize your earnings.
- Be consistent: Regularly engage with Swagbucks activities to ensure a steady flow of earnings. Set aside a specific time each day to complete surveys and other tasks.
Best Swagbucks Alternatives
Online Surveys Top Pick
$0.50 – $5 on average per survey
Surveys length up to 20 minutes
$5 minimum withdrawal
Best for Free Gift Cards
Redeem e-gift cards from $1
Free coupons and daily deals
100+ gift cards available
Great for Earning PayPal Cash
Withdraw to PayPal from $5
Take 3 surveys per day and earn $40 monthly
Bank transfer available
Best for Online Shopping
Up to 10% cashback for shopping
Rewards for playing games
$3 minimum withdrawal
Swagbucks Survey Site FAQ
What is Swagbucks?
Swagbucks is an online rewards platform that enables members to earn cash rewards for completing simple online tasks. The company has been around since 2008 and provides one of the widest ranges of activities that you can do to earn money.
If you want to earn extra cash from home in your free time, consider completing tasks on the platform. To date, the company has paid out over $700 million in rewards to its members.
How does Swagbucks work?
The most straightforward way to earn money on Swagbucks is by answering surveys. The platform conducts these surveys to gather market research data, which it then uses to help businesses improve their products and services.
You can get survey invites on a variety of different topics. You can find surveys on the Swagbucks homepage under the Answer category.
Before you can start each survey, you will need to answer several qualifying questions. If you qualify, you can then take the survey. If you do not qualify, you will receive $0.01 as compensation for your time.
Remember to be honest even when answering these qualification questions. You may be disqualified from future surveys if there are discrepancies between your answers in different surveys.
Is Swagbucks free?
Swagbucks is completely free to join. You can earn cash by participating in various money-earning opportunities on the website.
How to download the Swagbucks mobile app?
You can download the Swagbucks mobile app from the Apple or Google Play stores, whether your mobile device is an iPhone or Android.
Where is Swagbucks available?
Swagbucks is available in most countries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. If you live outside the US, you can visit the Swagbucks website to check if it is available in your country.
You can also sign up with your email even if Swagbucks is unavailable in your country. The company will then contact you if they expand their services to your country.
Is Swagbucks a scam?
Swagbucks is not a scam. It is a legit online rewards platform with millions of users worldwide. The company has received many positive reviews, and it has paid out millions of dollars in real cash to its users.
Is your information safe with Swagbucks?
Your information is safe when answering surveys and completing other simple tasks on Swagbucks. The company ensures that your data is properly encrypted and safely stored.
In addition, the company anonymizes data from market research tasks such as surveys and online searches, ensuring that your privacy is secure.
Who is Swagbucks for?
Swagbucks is for anyone trying to earn some extra income on the side. Although you can earn cash by answering paid online surveys on the platform, it is unlikely that you will earn enough to replace your day job.
Thus, the platform mainly caters to people looking for a simple way to make money fast from the comfort of their homes.
How much are Swagbucks points worth?
Whenever you complete a task on Swagbucks, you will earn SBs instead of cash. Nonetheless, these points have an equivalent cash value, and you can convert SBs to cash with each SB being worth $0.01.
How to contact Swagbucks customer service?
If you need help or have questions about any offer, you can contact Swagbucks customer support by creating a ticket on the Swagbucks support page.
The company will then review your support ticket and contact you with a response within 10 days.
Swagbucks Review
Swagbucks is a rewards program that gives you free e-gift cards and cash for the everyday things you already do online. Participate in surveys, watch videos, search the internet or shop online, and you will get a few $10-$20 gift cards each month. Plus, you will be awarded a $5 sign-up bonus once you reach 2,500 SB within the first 60 days of membership.
Pros
- 18 ways to earn money and gift cards – surveys, coupons, online shopping, games, micro-tasks, deals, bonus points, sweepstakes and online search.
- $5 sign up bonus – to qualify for the $5 sign-up bonus, you must earn 2,500 SB within the first 60 days of membership.
- Earn up to 10% cashback when shopping online through Swagbucks from top stores – Gap, Sam’s Club, Walmart, The Home Depot, Best Buy, HP, Disney+
- Available rewards – redeem e-gift cards from $1: Amazon, Walmart, Visa, Target, Google Play, or withdraw $5 minimum payment from PayPal.
Cons
- Low payout for videos – you will only get 2 SB (worth only $0.02) for every 30 videos you watch (each video can be between 1 to 4 minutes long).
- Hard to qualify for surveys – it is easy to get disqualified for higher-paying surveys. If disqualified, you will only get 1 SB (worth only $0.01).
