Answering online surveys is a great way to earn a bit of extra cash for free.
The reason for this is that it’s a very dependable source of income (if, of course, you make sure to join great survey sites).
It’s also a very easy way to earn. You can do it at home or basically just about anywhere as long as you have an internet connection and you do not need any specific skills or training.
But have you ever wondered if it is even legal and safe to take surveys for money?
This is a question many people tend not to think about for their own convenience, but it is, in fact, a very important question and one I have often been asked here on my website.
Also, there are some ethical aspects you need to consider.
I have taken thousands of online surveys and tested hundreds of paid survey sites, and in this guide, I will share my experiences and tackle those questions and also address other important things you need to know about survey sites.
So, let’s get started.
Why can you get paid to take surveys?
Before we answer the legality and safety questions, we first have to understand how survey sites work.
In case you don’t know, when you answer surveys from paid survey sites, you are basically getting paid to provide your thoughts on a certain matter.
There are companies that pay survey sites to gather data to help them with their market research. These companies use the data gathered by survey sites to help improve a certain aspect of their product or service.
Sometimes it can also be media agencies that need to do polls to use for their stories, politicians that need to hear the public opinion about certain matters, and more.
So, not only will you earn a bit of money by answering surveys, but you will actually have your opinion heard and will, for example, help companies improve their products and services.
Of course, you have to be honest when answering surveys in order to be a part of potential positive change. That’s why survey sites always encourage their members to be as honest as possible when answering surveys.
And taking the time is also the most ethical thing to do, in my opinion, since you are getting paid. Also, most sites have systems in place to detect fraud, as they know not all people are honest.
But if you want to earn by taking surveys, you should make sure to do everything honestly to get the most out of it, and then your opinion will actually also be heard.
Is it legal to take paid surveys?
The answer is YES. Answering surveys for money is a legal activity. As mentioned above, it is a way to conduct market research. Some surveys are even used to help launch products and services.
This is actually not a new concept. It has been around for more than a couple of decades now. Before the rise of the Internet, these surveys were usually conducted over the phone.
But since online surveys offer more convenience for both the participant and the conductor, it is the preferred method to do market research nowadays. There’s a faster turnaround, and it has a wider reach.
It will only become illegal if the survey site sells your information to 3rd party entities without your consent. Now, if you’ve joined a legit survey site, you won’t have to worry about this happening because they will never do that since that’s part of the agreement when you become a member of their site.
Only malicious and scam sites do this kind of thing, and in the next section, I will share a few tips on how you can identify such sites.
Is it safe?
As mentioned above, you shouldn’t worry about all the information you share with survey sites provided, of course, that the site is legit. These sites always have privacy policies they have to follow, and these policies are designed to safeguard the data you share with them.
And if ever they break those policies, they are liable for damages if somebody takes legal action. But if you somehow join a scam, then, more often than not, you won’t be able to hold them accountable. That’s why it is important to identify which sites are legit and which sites are just scams.
The best way to do that is to look for clues on the website itself. For example, if a site claims you can earn hundreds of dollars by simply answering a survey, then it would be safe to say it’s a scam site. No legit survey site will claim to pay you hundreds of dollars just for answering one survey.
I’m not saying you can’t earn that kind of amount from survey sites, but in my experience, legit survey sites won’t pay that much for just one survey. And as with anything, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
In order to earn hundreds of dollars, you also have to answer hundreds of surveys. That’s because you will typically earn around $1 to $5 for every survey you complete. That’s the baseline rate for paid surveys from legit survey sites. You can go as high as $10 to $20, but in my experience, these surveys usually take a significant amount of time to finish.
Always remember that with these sites, the time it takes to answer a survey is usually proportional to the reward you will get. The longer it takes to complete a survey, the more money you will earn.
Another red flag you need to watch out for is the payout threshold of the survey site. In my experience, legit survey sites don’t set a ridiculously high payout threshold (like $100 or more). The reason for this is really simple.
Legit survey sites will not make it hard for their members to cash out their earnings. If a survey site sets a very high payout threshold, it’s more or less the same as saying you will never be able to cash out.
But there are also other scam sites that promise a low payout threshold, but when it’s time to cash out, they always have an excuse not to pay. You have to be wary of these sites because these are harder to spot right away. If you encounter this kind of scenario, it would be best not to continue using the site.
And the best way to determine if a site is legit or not is to read honest reviews about it. I would recommend you click the link below to see all the best legit survey sites I’ve tested and are still using.
Recommended: Check Out the Top Survey Sites in Your Country
Is it worth taking paid surveys?
The answer to this question is that it depends. Overall, it is worth taking paid surveys if you are paid a decent amount. The whole goal is to be able to earn extra cash efficiently while having your opinion heard.
That’s why it is very important to only join sites with good earning potential, so you don’t have to invest a lot of time to earn a decent amount. Plus, it is important that you join with the right expectations. The money you will earn from these sites will not compare to what you can earn from a full-time job.
That being said, you can still earn a decent amount of “spending money”. Plus, it’s an excellent way to have your opinion heard because, as I’ve explained earlier, when you answer these surveys, you are essentially helping companies, agencies, and more improve their products and/or services.
Now, if you are already a member of a survey site, I would recommend you check out this guide on the mistakes you need to avoid when answering surveys. This guide will help you maximize your earnings from survey sites so you can become an efficient earner.
If you want to find some great survey sites, you can check out the best paid surveys in your country here.
I hope this article helped to clarify if it is legal and safe to take surveys for money. If you have any comments or questions, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.