As a college student (or any kind of student), it can be great to earn some extra money, but it has to fit into your schedule and should not cost you anything. Paid surveys for students are a great, legit and easy way to make some money on the side while studying, if you do it with the right expectations.
There are, however, many scams out there that end up costing you money instead of making you any. I have, therefore, put together the best paid survey sites for students, so you can easily find the ones that fit your needs the best. They are all legit and free to join.
My top 3 survey sites for students
-
#1 Freecash
Best for: Surveys plus paid offers
A great GPT site with a decent number of paid surveys and paid offers for students, and many payouts are instant after approval.
- Cash out from
- $5first cash-out $5 to $20, by country
- Paid via
- PayPal · Crypto · Gift cards +3 more
-
#2 Branded Surveys
Best for: Students in the US, UK and Canada
An easy-to-use survey site with quite a lot of surveys. Stay active and you reach a higher level, with up to 19% bonus on every survey.
- Cash out from
- $5
- Paid via
- PayPal · Bank transfer · Gift cards
-
#3 PrizeRebel
Best for: Many ways to earn, from age 13
Surveys, offers, free promo codes and contests. You can join more or less wherever you live, from age 13 with consent from your parents.
- Cash out from
- $2 gift cards$5 PayPal
- Paid via
- PayPal · Crypto · Prepaid Visa +2 more
Many of these sites also let you earn with offers, videos and apps, which is great on days with few surveys. Sites have different offers, so join several of them. I suggest you start with 6 to 8 sites and add more once you are used to how it works.
On this page8 sections
Compare all 33 survey sites for students
| Site | What you do | Cash out from | Paid via | Join or read review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surveys, paid offers and games | $5first cash-out $5 to $20, by country | PayPal · Crypto · Gift cards +3 more | |
| Surveys, with a level bonus of up to 19% | $5 | PayPal · Bank transfer · Gift cards | ||
| Surveys, offers, promo codes, contests · from age 13 | $2 gift cards$5 PayPal | PayPal · Crypto · Prepaid Visa +2 more | |
| Surveys, search, videos, games, cashback · from age 13 | $1 gift cards$5 PayPal | PayPal · Gift cards | |
| Surveys and offers · Android and iPhone app | $5some methods from $1 | PayPal · Revolut · Venmo (US only) +3 more | |
| Surveys on the website or in the app | $5or $10PayPal, depending on your country | PayPal · Venmo · Bank transfer +2 more | |
| Games, offers, surveys | $0.50 crypto$6 PayPal | Crypto · PayPal · Gift cards | |
| Surveys, sometimes focus groups and product tests | $5 | PayPal · Gift cards · Bank transfer (US) | ||
| Surveys and games, plus internet sharing on a computer | $5 | PayPal · USDC · USDT +3 more | |
| Surveys with fewer screen-outs · app | $5 | PayPal · Bank transfer · Prepaid Visa +1 more | |
| Games, plus surveys · Android and iPhone app | $5the first cash-out can be higher by country | PayPal · Bank transfers · Venmo (US only) +1 more | ||
| Surveys on interesting topics · wants more people aged 18-34 | Depends on your country€10 when I tested | PayPal · Bank transfer · Prepaid Visa +2 more | |
| Surveys in your language, product tests · from age 14 | Around $8$7 to $10, by country and reward | PayPal · Gift cards · Products | |
| Surveys, offers, daily bonus · from age 16 | $5 gift cards$10 PayPal | PayPal · Payoneer · Skrill +2 more | |
| Surveys; no invitation needed anymore | $10 | Gift cards · Prepaid VISA cards | ||
| Surveys | $5to $15depends on your country | PayPal · GCodes · Amazon gift cards +2 more | |
| Short surveys you always qualify for · from age 18 | $15first cash-out; then $10, then $5 | PayPal | ||
| Passive appAn app collects data anonymously | Depends on your devices | Gift cards · Products · PayPal (some countries) +1 more | ||
| Mobile games, some surveys | $1 gift cards$3 PayPal | PayPal · Gift cards | |
| Surveys, videos, content, social media tasks · from age 16 | $3 | PayPal · Visa · Crypto +4 more | |
| Surveys by email invitation | $10up to $50 for some rewards | PayPal · Amazon gift cards | |
| Surveys, videos, apps, offers | $3cash | PayPal · Gift cards · Bank transfer (some countries) +1 more | |
| Surveys, videos, offers | $5game codes from $1.25 | PayPal · Gift cards | |
| Surveys by email, contests | $5or around $10depends on your country | PayPal · Gift cards · Products | |
| Surveys, ads, videos, offers, contests | $3 | PayPal · Skrill · Gift cards | |
| Apps, videos, contests, some surveys · app | $5 | PayPal · Gift cards · Cash App (US) +1 more | |
| Scan the barcodes of products you buy | Depends on the rewardno general threshold | Products · Gift cards | ||
| Surveys, videos, emails, games · US only | $10$15 the first time | PayPal · Prepaid Visa · Gift cards | ||
| Surveys, promo codes, offers, cashback | $15PayPal and gift cards | PayPal · Gift cards | ||
| Surveys, videos, emails · UK only | £15 | PayPal · Prepaid Mastercard · Gift cards | ||
| Surveys, plus a quarterly prize draw | $5 | PayPal · Gift cards | ||
| Surveys, mostly in the app | Around $5varies by country | Gift vouchers · Coupons · Digital rewards | |
| Surveys, with up to 100% bonus | $20 | PayPal · Prepaid Visa · Gift cards |
No site on this list matches these filters.
33 Awesome survey sites for students
Whether you are a college student or any other kind of student, the survey sites below are some of the best to join. So, find the ones that fit you the best and join them to start earning today.
Remember that to get the most opportunities and earn the most, you should join several sites, as they all have different opportunities, so it is great to combine them.
#1 Freecash

- Available in
- Most countries
- What you do
- Surveys, paid offers and games
- Cash out from
- $5first cash-out $5 to $20, by country
- Paid via
- PayPal · Crypto · Gift cards +3 more
Freecash is a great GPT site, and it offers a decent number of paid surveys and paid offers for students.
It has great payout methods, and if you like playing CS:GO when not studying, then this can be a great way to get free skins. You can also get paid in Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies, via PayPal, or choose between different gift cards. In some countries, you can even get paid via bank transfer.
If you join through the invitation link below, you will get a free case you can use to redeem a great joining bonus in your account right away (in some countries, you get a $10 bonus instead of a case). You can take your earnings out via PayPal, crypto or gift cards once you have earned $5.
#2 Branded Surveys

- Available in
- US, UK, Canada
- What you do
- Surveys, with a level bonus of up to 19%
- Cash out from
- $5
- Paid via
- PayPal · Bank transfer · Gift cards
Branded Surveys is a great and easy-to-use survey site with quite a lot of available surveys for students in the US, UK, and Canada.
And if you keep staying active on the platform, you will automatically get a higher membership level and can get up to 19% bonus on all surveys you take, which means you can get some quite high-paying surveys.
Once you have reached the payout threshold of $5, you can get your earnings out in cash via PayPal, bank transfer, or choose between many different gift cards.
#3 PrizeRebel

- Available in
- Most countries
- What you do
- Surveys, offers, promo codes, contests · from age 13
- Cash out from
- $2 gift cards$5 PayPal
- Paid via
- PayPal · Crypto · Prepaid Visa +2 more
PrizeRebel is one of my overall favorite survey sites, and as a student, you will like that you can cash out to PayPal from just $5.
It has a lot of different opportunities to earn. You can earn by taking surveys, taking online offers, it regularly has free promo codes, and has some great free contests.
You can join PrizeRebel more or less no matter where you live, but there will be most opportunities for English-speaking countries, but it can definitely still be worth joining for other countries as well. You can join when you are 13 years old, but if you are between 13-18 years old, you need consent from your parents or guardians. You can get paid through PayPal, crypto, or choose from a big selection of gift cards.
#4 SwagBucks

- Available in
- Most countries
- What you do
- Surveys, search, videos, games, cashback · from age 13
- Cash out from
- $1 gift cards$5 PayPal
- Paid via
- PayPal · Gift cards
SwagBucks is one of the biggest and most popular survey sites and online rewards portals. If you are at college or are a student in general, you will for sure have some interesting ways to earn.
SwagBucks has its own app that makes it easy to earn whenever it fits you. You can earn by doing surveys, searching online, watching videos, taking online offers, playing games, inviting friends, and it has a great shopping portal, where you can get some great discounts and cashback offers if you like shopping online.
You can join from all countries, but SwagBucks has the most opportunities in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Germany, and you can join as a member even if you are 13 years old, so basically any student can join. You can get paid through PayPal or choose from a big selection of gift cards.
If you join through the join button below, you get a joining bonus. The amount depends on your country, and you see it on the page before you join.
#5 HeyCash

- Available in
- Many countries
- What you do
- Surveys and offers · Android and iPhone app
- Cash out from
- $5some methods from $1
- Paid via
- PayPal · Revolut · Venmo (US only) +3 more
HeyCash is a GPT site that will let you earn by completing surveys and offers. You can fit its surveys in between lectures, but it can take a few tries to find one you qualify for.
You can cash out via PayPal, Revolut, or even Venmo (if you live in the US). It also offers gift cards and prepaid Visa cards as other payout options, or you can donate your earnings to charity. There is also an app, so you can earn on your phone when you are away from your laptop.
HeyCash is available in many countries, and you can see in the table above which of my country lists include it.
#6 Prime Opinion

- Available in
- More than 70 countries
- What you do
- Surveys on the website or in the app
- Cash out from
- $5or $10PayPal, depending on your country
- Paid via
- PayPal · Venmo · Bank transfer +2 more
Prime Opinion is a very user-friendly survey site.
If you are looking for student surveys for money, this can be a great option, as it has many surveys, and you can take them both on the website or through the app. You also get a small $1 joining bonus once you complete your profile survey, and it is available in more than 70 countries.
Once you request a payout, they usually process it within 30 minutes, so it is one of the fastest paying sites.
#7 Gemsloot

- Available in
- Worldwide
- What you do
- Games, offers, surveys
- Cash out from
- $0.50 crypto$6 PayPal
- Paid via
- Crypto · PayPal · Gift cards
Gemsloot is a site that transitioned from a Roblox‑focused site to a broader GPT (Get-Paid-To) site that lets users earn rewards by playing games, completing offers, answering surveys, and more. It works best as an extra site if you like games, but skip the featured games that ask you to make a purchase.
If you want to convert your earnings to Dogecoin, you’ll only need to earn $0.50 to do so. The same goes for other cryptocurrencies. But if you want to convert your earnings to cash, you’ll need to earn at least $6 to withdraw your earnings via PayPal.
The good thing, though, is that it is available globally.
#8 Survey Junkie

- Available in
- US, Canada, Australia, UK
- What you do
- Surveys, sometimes focus groups and product tests
- Cash out from
- $5
- Paid via
- PayPal · Gift cards · Bank transfer (US)
Survey Junkie is available in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, and it is very easy to use. Once you join, you can log in and see what surveys are available.
In addition to this, you can, at times, get access to focus groups, phone interviews, and product testing. These options are a great way to make some extra cash as a student, as they do not require much work and pay quite well for the time. So, if you get some of these extra options offered, you should definitely consider them.
You can get paid in cash through PayPal or gift cards on Survey Junkie, and you can get your earnings once you have earned $5.
#9 Pawns

- Available in
- Worldwide
- What you do
- Surveys and games, plus internet sharing on a computer
- Cash out from
- $5
- Paid via
- PayPal · USDC · USDT +3 more
Pawns can be a great way to earn some extra money as a student, as you can take paid surveys and play games in its app.
On a computer, you can also earn in the background by sharing your unused internet.
Once you have earned $5, you can take your earnings out. If you join through the invitation link below, you get a $1 bonus right away, plus $1 on each of your first two cash-outs.
#10 TopSurveys

- Available in
- Many countries
- What you do
- Surveys with fewer screen-outs · app
- Cash out from
- $5
- Paid via
- PayPal · Bank transfer · Prepaid Visa +1 more
TopSurveys is a user-friendly survey site. Plus, it also has an app, so you can easily take surveys from your phone.
It has a good number of paid surveys available, and best of all, it has a unique system that is good at matching you with the right surveys. This will result in fewer disqualifications than on many other survey platforms.
You only need to earn $5 to get paid, and once you redeem, you will usually get paid within a few minutes.
#11 EarnStar

- Available in
- Many countries
- What you do
- Games, plus surveys · Android and iPhone app
- Cash out from
- $5the first cash-out can be higher by country
- Paid via
- PayPal · Bank transfers · Venmo (US only) +1 more
EarnStar is a GPT app that lets you earn by playing games. You can also earn by answering surveys.
What’s great about EarnStar is that it offers multiple payout options like PayPal, Venmo (US only), bank transfer, and gift cards. The game offers are on your phone, so it is a good fit if you already play mobile games in your free time.
Payouts usually arrive within a few minutes, which is handy when you are short on cash before the end of the month.
#12 YouGov

- Available in
- Most of the world
- What you do
- Surveys on interesting topics · wants more people aged 18-34
- Cash out from
- Depends on your country€10 when I tested
- Paid via
- PayPal · Bank transfer · Prepaid Visa +2 more
YouGov is a great survey panel that is easy to use. You will receive an email whenever there is a new survey available, and it also has an app that makes it easy to take surveys on the go.
YouGov is especially looking for more young people between 18-34 to join, and therefore, there are good chances to earn some money on YouGov if you are a student. The surveys are about interesting topics, and you can even see the results of the surveys they are conducting on their websites, which is not possible on many survey sites.
The exact reward you can get depends on the country you live in, but in general, it offers rewards like cash, PayPal, Amazon, gift cards, products, and prepaid visa cards. Definitely a site worth joining.
#13 Toluna Influencers

- Available in
- 60+ countries
- What you do
- Surveys in your language, product tests · from age 14
- Cash out from
- Around $8$7 to $10, by country and reward
- Paid via
- PayPal · Gift cards · Products
Toluna is a site that offers a good number of surveys. Other than doing surveys, you can also, at times, get free products you can test, and there is a community where you can interact with other members and earn by creating content. A site that is definitely worth considering to join as a student.
It works in many countries and has surveys in the local language. But it can be slow to pay out in some countries, so do not count on it when you need money fast.
You can get paid through PayPal or gift cards. You can join when you are 14 years old, but if you are below 18, your rewards might have to be paid out to a parent or guardian.
#14 ySense

- Available in
- Most countries
- What you do
- Surveys, offers, daily bonus · from age 16
- Cash out from
- $5 gift cards$10 PayPal
- Paid via
- PayPal · Payoneer · Skrill +2 more
ySense used to be called ClixSense, so if you have heard about ClixSense, it is the same panel. It is another of my overall favorite survey sites and a great option for any student, more or less, no matter where in the world you live.
The main way to earn is through surveys, but it also has a lot of online offers with great rewards. It also has a daily bonus you can get if you have a certain activity in a day.
You can join ySense from most countries once you are 16, and since the surveys pay well for your time, it is worth a try even with a busy schedule. You can get paid through PayPal, Payoneer, Skrill, or gift cards.
#15 PineCone Research

- Available in
- US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy
- What you do
- Surveys; no invitation needed anymore
- Cash out from
- $10
- Paid via
- Gift cards · Prepaid VISA cards
PineCone is a site that lets you earn by answering surveys. The reason it is not higher on this list is that it doesn’t pay that well anymore. Plus, it only offers gift cards and prepaid Visa cards as rewards.
The threshold will be slightly higher at $10. The upside is that now, you don’t need an invitation link to join. So, signing up as a member will be very easy.
#16 Triaba Survey Panel

- Available in
- Around 115 countries
- What you do
- Surveys
- Cash out from
- $5to $15depends on your country
- Paid via
- PayPal · GCodes · Amazon gift cards +2 more
Triaba is a survey site with panels in the local language in around 115 countries, so it is also a good option for college students. It is very easy to use, and it pays quite well for the time you spend.
Surveys are the only way to earn, and the earning opportunities are limited, so it works best as an extra site next to other survey sites on this list.
The payout threshold is low, around $5 to $15 depending on your country. You can get paid via PayPal, or choose gift cards like GCodes and Amazon gift cards. In some countries, you can also choose crypto or a virtual Visa card.
#17 PaidViewpoint

- Available in
- Worldwide
- What you do
- Short surveys you always qualify for · from age 18
- Cash out from
- $15first cash-out; then $10, then $5
- Paid via
- PayPal
PaidViewpoint is unique, as it is a site where you will always qualify for the surveys you are offered. At the same time, the surveys are quite short and very easy to answer. In the beginning, it takes a bit of patience, as you have to build up your trust, so at first, you will not get very high rewards. As you build trust, you will start being offered more and better-paid surveys.
It only has decent opportunities for students in the US, Canada, the UK, and, to some extent, Australia. If you live in one of these countries, it is definitely worth joining, even though it does not give very many surveys compared to the other sites, but the ones you get are very short and give good rewards. If you do not live in one of the mentioned countries, you will not get any real opportunities on PaidViewpoint and should, therefore, join other sites instead.
You can join when you are 18 years old, and you will get paid through PayPal.
#18 Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel

- Available in
- US, UK, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Germany
- What you do
- Passive appAn app collects data anonymously
- Cash out from
- Depends on your devices
- Paid via
- Gift cards · Products · PayPal (some countries) +1 more
Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel is an easy way to give feedback as a student and earn a bit of extra money this way. It is a panel that collects research about internet behavior and uses this to improve online services and products. And the best thing is that you can participate without doing anything actively.
You just need to install an app. It is a safe app, and you will remain anonymous, and it can be a great way to earn a bit extra while contributing to important research. You earn points for gift cards or products (in some countries also PayPal or other cash), and you get the chance to win prizes. It recruits regularly in the US, the UK, Australia, Italy, New Zealand and Germany, but this changes regularly.
#19 appKarma

- Available in
- Worldwide
- What you do
- Mobile games, some surveys
- Cash out from
- $1 gift cards$3 PayPal
- Paid via
- PayPal · Gift cards
It can be very convenient to earn from your phone as a student, and appKarma can be a fun and easy way to do this.
You can find some paid surveys for students inside the app, but it specializes in games. So if you like playing games on your phone, this app is a great way to earn a bit extra at the same time.
You can get paid already when you have earned $1, and if you join through the invitation link below, you will get a 500-point bonus into your account immediately.
#20 TimeBucks

- Available in
- Worldwide
- What you do
- Surveys, videos, content, social media tasks · from age 16
- Cash out from
- $3
- Paid via
- PayPal · Visa · Crypto +4 more
TimeBucks is an interesting site that has some quite unusual offers. You can, of course, earn by doing surveys, but you can also earn by viewing online content, watching videos, doing social media tasks, and more.
As a student, it might not be the site that has the biggest rewards, and it can take a bit of patience, but because of its unusual and varied offers, you will always find something you can make money on there.
TimeBucks is available for all countries. You can join when you are 16 years old, and you can get paid through crypto, Skrill, AirTM, Bank Transfer, or prepaid Visa cards.
#21 Surveyeah

- Available in
- 123 countries
- What you do
- Surveys by email invitation
- Cash out from
- $10up to $50 for some rewards
- Paid via
- PayPal · Amazon gift cards
If you want to take student surveys for money, Surveyeah is honestly not the site with the most available surveys. But it can definitely still be worth joining as an extra site, as it does not require much extra effort.
Once you have signed up, you will just have to wait until you receive an occasional survey invitation via email, so you do not have to log in to the site to check yourself.
It offers great payout methods, as you can get paid through PayPal or Amazon gift cards, and the payout threshold starts at $10.
#22 GrabPoints

- Available in
- Worldwide
- What you do
- Surveys, videos, apps, offers
- Cash out from
- $3cash
- Paid via
- PayPal · Gift cards · Bank transfer (some countries) +1 more
GrabPoints is a great GPT site with plenty of different ways to earn a bit of extra cash while studying – and it pays quite well compared to many other sites.
You can earn by taking surveys, watching videos, downloading apps, making offers, and more. Sometimes it can take a bit of patience to find the surveys you qualify for, but if that is the case, you will always find other ways to earn here while waiting for the surveys.
GrabPoints pays out very quickly, as you can get your earnings out as cash through PayPal already when you have earned $3, and you can also choose between many gift cards if you prefer this.
#23 Rewards1

- Available in
- Worldwide
- What you do
- Surveys, videos, offers
- Cash out from
- $5game codes from $1.25
- Paid via
- PayPal · Gift cards
Rewards1 is a fairly unknown GPT site, but it actually offers quite a lot of ways to earn once you get used to how it works.
You can earn by taking surveys, watching videos, and taking offers, and the more active you are, the more benefits you get as a member.
Rewards1 is probably the site on this list with the biggest selection of rewards, and it has a huge selection of gift cards and game codes you can choose from. Or you can choose to get paid in cash through PayPal once you have reached $5.
#24 LifePoints Panel

- Available in
- Around 45 countries
- What you do
- Surveys by email, contests
- Cash out from
- $5or around $10depends on your country
- Paid via
- PayPal · Gift cards · Products
LifePoints is a very user-friendly survey panel. All you have to do is sign up, and then you will start receiving regular survey invitations via email – and there are a decent number of surveys for students there.
In addition to taking paid surveys, you can also regularly participate in free contests on the platform, and you will get a small joining bonus of 10 points just for signing up.
The payout threshold depends on your chosen reward, but it starts at around $10, and you can get your earnings out as cash through PayPal or get gift cards or products.
#25 Superpay.me

- Available in
- Worldwide
- What you do
- Surveys, ads, videos, offers, contests
- Cash out from
- $3
- Paid via
- PayPal · Skrill · Gift cards
Superpay.me can, in the beginning, be a bit confusing to use, but once you get used to it, it gives really good opportunities to earn some extra cash as a student.
In addition to earning money by taking surveys, you can also earn by clicking ads, watching videos, taking online offers, and it regularly runs free contests with really big cash rewards. Superpay.me works best in English-speaking countries, and it blocks accounts that log in from another country, so be careful if you study abroad.
What is really great about Superpay.me is the very low payout threshold, and you can get paid already when you have earned $3, which you can do very fast. You can get paid through PayPal or Skrill, or redeem Visa gift cards.
#26 FeaturePoints

- Available in
- Worldwide
- What you do
- Apps, videos, contests, some surveys · app
- Cash out from
- $5
- Paid via
- PayPal · Gift cards · Cash App (US) +1 more
FeaturePoints is very easy to use on the go, as it has a very user-friendly app, which makes it a perfect site to earn a bit of extra money as a busy student.
It offers some surveys, but you should also use some of its other earning options to get the most out of it. You can, for example, earn some nice rewards by downloading apps, watching videos, participating in free contests, and in the US and Canada, you can also get cashback when you shop online.
It is very quick to reach the payout threshold on FeaturePoints, as you can get paid already when you have earned $5. If you join through the link below, you will get 50 points as a welcome bonus.
#27 NielsenIQ Homescan

- Available in
- Australia, Canada, EU countries, Thailand, UAE and others
- What you do
- Scan the barcodes of products you buy
- Cash out from
- Depends on the rewardno general threshold
- Paid via
- Products · Gift cards
NielsenIQ Homescan is a different way to earn a bit extra by giving feedback as a college student than regular survey sites, and it can be a fun way to do it.
Once you sign up, you have to scan the barcodes of products you buy, and this will be used for research about shopping habits. It is available in several countries, but in the US, you just have to be aware that it is instead called National Consumer Panel, but it works the same way.
Every time you scan a product, you earn points. These points can then be exchanged for electronics, watches & jewelry, fashion accessories, pet accessories, travel ware, and more.
#28 InboxDollars

- Available in
- US only
- What you do
- Surveys, videos, emails, games · US only
- Cash out from
- $10$15 the first time
- Paid via
- PayPal · Prepaid Visa · Gift cards
If you are a student in the US, InboxDollars can be a good site to join, as you can always find a way to earn here.
You can take paid surveys, watch videos, surf online, read emails, play games, and more. Some of the earning methods do not give high rewards, but if you choose wisely, they can give some nice extra cash, and they also have an app, so you can earn on the go.
The payout threshold is a little high at $15 the first time, but you will get a $5 joining bonus just for signing up, which will give you a great start.
#29 MyPoints

- Available in
- US, Canada
- What you do
- Surveys, promo codes, offers, cashback
- Cash out from
- $15PayPal and gift cards
- Paid via
- PayPal · Gift cards
MyPoints is a GPT site with quite a lot of different ways to earn – you can earn by taking surveys, getting promo codes, taking offers, and more.
It is especially interesting if you ever shop online, as it gives great cashback offers for thousands of online stores in the US and Canada. So if you are looking for some great savings as a student and sometimes shop online, this is definitely a site you should check out.
You can get your earnings out through PayPal or as gift cards once you have earned $15.
#30 InboxPounds

- Available in
- UK only
- What you do
- Surveys, videos, emails · UK only
- Cash out from
- £15
- Paid via
- PayPal · Prepaid Mastercard · Gift cards
Where InboxDollars is for the US, InboxPounds can be a good option if you are a student in the UK.
You can take paid surveys, watch videos, surf online, read emails, invite friends, and more. With a bit of patience, it gives some quite good opportunities.
The payout threshold is £15, and you get a £1 joining bonus just for signing up. Once you reach it, you can get your earnings out via PayPal, as a prepaid Mastercard or as gift cards.
#31 Opinion Outpost

- Available in
- US, UK, Canada
- What you do
- Surveys, plus a quarterly prize draw
- Cash out from
- $5
- Paid via
- PayPal · Gift cards
Opinion Outpost is a survey panel that is very easy to use, as you just sign up and then you will receive a survey invitation when there is a new survey available.
In addition to taking surveys, you will also automatically participate in the quarterly prize draw as an active member. Here you can win some great prizes if you are lucky. You can, for example, in the US, win prizes of $10,000 every quarter and in the UK, it will be £5,000.
The payout threshold is low, as you can get your earnings out already when you have earned $5. You can choose to get paid in cash or gift cards.
#32 The Panel Station

- Available in
- 60+ countries
- What you do
- Surveys, mostly in the app
- Cash out from
- Around $5varies by country
- Paid via
- Gift vouchers · Coupons · Digital rewards
The Panel Station is actually mostly a survey app, so it is another of the survey panels that make it easy to earn on the go.
You can sign up on the website, but to get access to most of the surveys, you will need their app as well. It will not give you surveys every day, but as an extra survey site, it can be great to join.
You get paid in gift vouchers, coupons or other digital rewards, depending on your country. It does not pay in cash or via PayPal.
#33 PointClub

- Available in
- Open worldwide, mainly worth it in the US
- What you do
- Surveys, with up to 100% bonus
- Cash out from
- $20
- Paid via
- PayPal · Prepaid Visa · Gift cards
PointClub is a fun and engaging survey site with a decent amount of surveys for college students.
It is not the site with the most opportunities, but it is easy to use, and the surveys you get there give quite good rewards in relation to the time spent. Especially if you log in regularly as you can then get up to 100% bonus on every survey.
The payout threshold is a little higher than on many of the other sites on this list, but you also get a $5 joining bonus which will give you a great start. You can choose to get paid in cash or choose between more than 80 gift cards.
Why paid student surveys are a great way to make extra money!
If you want to make money online as a student for free, paid surveys and Get-Paid-To sites are the fastest way to get started, as you can start earning right away. These are the main reasons:
- No training neededIt does not take any training or special skills. Anybody can do it.
- No investment neededMost ways to make money online take some kind of investment or high risk. Paid surveys never cost you anything, as long as you stay away from scam sites.
- Do it whenever you wantYou choose which surveys you take, and when. Some sites email you when a survey is ready, and some have apps, so you can take surveys on the go.
- No riskYou make a profit from day one. That is unique compared to other ways of making money online.
- Have your opinion heardYou can influence important topics, and products and services from companies.
- Students are in demandMany companies and organizations want to hear what students think, so there are quite a lot of surveys for you.
Stay away from scams
There are many scams out there that end up costing you money instead of making you any. All the sites on this list are legit and free to join.
How does it work?
- Sign upJoin the survey sites on the list that are available in your country.
- Take surveysStart taking the surveys. Many sites also have other ways to earn.
- Cash outOnce you reach the minimum, take your earnings out. The comparison shows the minimum and payout methods of each site.
Sites that offer several ways to earn by doing small online tasks are called GPT sites (Get-Paid-To). Using these other options is a great way to boost your earnings:
- Watching videos
- Clicking ads
- Searching the internet
- Downloading apps
- Playing games
- Cash back when shopping
- Free contests
- Micro-tasks
- Social media tasks
Start with 6 to 8 sites
Survey sites have different offers, so join several. If you join all of them from the beginning, it can be overwhelming. Once you are used to how it works, you can add more sites.
How much money can you make?
It is hard to give precise numbers, as it depends on where you live, the sites you join, your interests and the time you spend.
What you can expect
Some really nice money on the side while you study, especially if you also use the other ways to earn on the sites.
What you should not expect
Paid surveys and GPT sites will not make you rich or give you a full-time income. If you want survey jobs to make a living, you will likely be disappointed.
Do it with the right expectations.
Then paid surveys are a great, legit and easy way to make some money on the side while studying.
How I choose the sites on this list

For this list, I only include survey sites I have tested that are free to join and easy to fit around your classes. I rank them by how well they suit a student, which mostly comes down to how many surveys you can find and how easily they fit into a busy week.
What I look at
- Legit sites that pay their members
- Good opportunities for students
- Free to join, with no investment needed
- Easy to fit into your schedule
What readers ask in the comments
This page has 8 comments since 2017, and I answered 4 of them.
Are paid surveys worth it, or can they replace a job?Asked about 2 times
My answer: Surveys are not a way to make a living. But if you find the right survey sites, they can be a great way to make some nice extra cash on the side. What you make also depends a lot on where you live.
What if I do not finish a task, and how fast do sites pay?Asked once
My answer: If you do not complete a task, you will not get paid for it. How long payment takes depends on the platform. Some pay within hours, and others take several days. My full reviews show how long each site takes.
Is ySense (ClixSense) a good site?Asked once
My answer: ySense, which used to be ClixSense, is one of my favorite sites. I mainly do surveys on it, but some of the offers can be really great as well. The tasks take a bit of patience in the beginning.
Read the comments or ask your own question below.
Ready to start?
As a student, start with two or three of these sites, and add more once you know how much time you have next to your studies.
Know a site that belongs here, or have a question? Leave a comment below.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth it to do paid surveys?
Yes, if you do it with the right expectations. As a student, paid surveys are a legit and easy way to make some money on the side, with no training and no investment. They will not give you a full-time income or make you rich.
Are there any legit paid survey sites?
Yes. All the sites on this list are legit and free to join. My top 3 for students are Freecash, Branded Surveys and PrizeRebel.
There are also many scams that end up costing you money instead of making you any, so stick to sites you know are legit.
What are the risks of paid surveys?
The main risk is joining a scam site. A legit survey site never costs you anything, so you make a profit from day one. On legit sites, the only thing you risk is your time, so pick sites that fit you.
Where can I get paid instantly for online surveys?
On Freecash, many payouts are instant after approval. TopSurveys and EarnStar usually pay within a few minutes, and Prime Opinion usually processes a payout within 30 minutes.
Other sites can take several days. The comparison shows how much you need before you can cash out on each site.
Can a 12 year old do online surveys?
Not on the sites on this list. The youngest age is 13, on PrizeRebel and SwagBucks, and you need consent from your parents or guardians if you are under 18. Toluna is from 14, ySense and TimeBucks from 16, and sites like PaidViewpoint are from 18.
What is the best free survey site?
All the sites on this list are free to join. For students, I recommend Freecash for surveys plus paid offers, Branded Surveys if you live in the US, UK or Canada, and PrizeRebel for many ways to earn from age 13.
Hi Mikael,
I’m a person who feels that doing lots of surveys are a waste of my time that’s why I usually choose what I do. And these are usually free and voluntary.
But reading your post , I learned that there’s a lot of opportunities out there especially for students who need extra money. I’m sure this is really helpful for them to earn extra cash.
Nice post. Very thorough and helpful.
Marita
Thanks for your comment Marita.
If you find the right survey sites, they can be a really great way to make some nice extra cash on the side. But if you are looking for a full-time income, they are not the way to go. So whether they are worth it or not depends or lot on your motivation to take them.
All the best,
Mikael
Hi Mikael,
Make money with surveys is a good option if you have a lot of free time. In order to make good cash, you have to spend a lot of time and effort. I say this because I’ve been involved with this kind of income opportunities for the past 2 months and I only have earned 50 bucks, not to mention the amount of time I needed to earn that amount of money. I’m looking for a legit opportunity to make money online in the long-term, do you have any suggestion?
Thanks a lot for sharing this information.
Thanks for sharing your experiences Frank. The quality of survey sites really vary a lot, and how much you can make also depends a lot on where in the world you live, so sounds like you have not been too lucky with the sites you have joined, or that you live a place where there are not too many opportunities.
But no matter what, surveys are not a way to make a living. There are some legit opportunities to do this online. As I regularly get this question, I have written an article about how to start an online business that you can check out, if you want to know more.
Thanks again and all the best,
Mikael
I have to say that I have tried a lot of survey sites and pay to websites before and the one that I have stuck to for a number of years is Clixsense. I am not too keen on doing the tasks or offers but the surveys are good. There are usually a few available to complete every day.
Online surveys are a nice way to earn a little bit of extra income and it is nice that it is free. If you have the time available then you have nothing to lose.
I don’t usually have much spare time anymore otherwise I would spend more time completing surveys.
Thanks for the in-depth information on all of these companies.
Thanks for sharing your experiences Lynne. I definitely agree that ClixSense is a great and easy site. It is also one of my favorite sites. Like you, I mainly do surveys on it, but some of the offers can be really great as well. The tasks take a bit of patience in the beginning, but in the long run, they can make good money – especially because ClixSense has great bonuses for them.
All the best,
Mikael
what happen when we do not complete the task? and one more question- how long these websites take to give payment through paypal… great blog.. very helpful
If you do not complete a task you will not get paid for it. How long it takes to get your earnings depends on the platform. Some pay within hours and for others, it can take several days.
You can click the links to the full reviews on the list above and reach more about how long it takes for each of them to pay out.
Hope this helps.