If you are looking for free ways to earn some extra cash online, there are plenty of methods.
One method that is, however, not so well-known, but can help you earn by doing what you are probably already doing every day anyway, is to search the web.
Yes, you read that right. You can get paid to search the web.
Many people do not know where to look for this earning opportunity, but it is a valid option if you want to earn extra cash online if you just know where to look and which platforms to join.
I, therefore, decided to make a step-by-step guide and show some legit ways to get paid to search the web.
That way, you’ll know more about this kind of earning opportunity, and you can determine if it is a good fit for you or not. So, let’s get this guide going.
How much can you earn?
Before we discuss the ways to get paid to search the web, we have to talk about the earning potential of this kind of earning opportunity. That way, you will do it with the right expectations if you decide it is for you.
Just like with survey and Get-Paid-To (GPT) sites, the money you can earn from most “searching the web” opportunities won’t compare to what you can earn from a full-time job. I can’t stress it enough. It’s not something you can make a living of. It's just an easy way to earn some extra cash.
However, there are search engine evaluation jobs that can let you earn good money. This opportunity isn't quite common, but it is definitely an option. These job opportunities can also be a full-time option, just so you know.
Plus, some of the options listed in this guide don't directly offer opportunities to earn by searching the web. Instead, they'll gather the data you collect when you search the web. In return, they'll pay you a small amount. Again, it's way to earn small rewards passively.
That being said, you can still earn a decent amount from this opportunity. You just need a little bit of patience and willingness to put in some time and effort. Of course, this goes without saying that you can only earn from legit sites.
Now, to put it into perspective, you can maybe earn around $5 to $10 in a couple of weeks or so for the common web search opportunities – but this will vary from country to country and will depend on the options you use.
If you see an article or a video that claims you can earn hundreds of dollars per day by just searching the web, that’s just click-bait.
I can tell with absolute certainty that they are lying to you. No online rewards site offers that kind of earnings in such a short period. I’m not saying you can’t earn that amount from these sites.
What I’m saying is that you can’t earn that amount in just a matter of days by using the search option. And it is important to remember this so you will not be disappointed.
Top 8 ways to get paid to search the web
Now that we’ve cleared up the amount of money you can expect to earn from this kind of opportunity, it’s time we talk about the ways you can get paid by just searching the web. Take note that this is not a complete list of sites that offer this kind of opportunity.
Instead, it’s a list of sites that are worth joining – and there are not many, to be honest. I’ll provide a short summary of what these sites have to offer, and I’ll also include a link to the individual reviews I made for them, so you can see more and see how to join.
I will keep updating this list, so make sure to bookmark this page and check back from time to time for new opportunities.
#1 – Swagbucks
Swagbucks is also a GPT site and a very popular one as well. The reason why it is very popular is that it also offers multiple ways for you to earn. Of course, you can earn by searching the web. But aside from that, you can also earn by answering surveys, completing offers, watching videos, uploading receipts, and more.
The thing about searching with Swagbucks is that you can search after logging into the website. However, it also has an extension for Google Chrome browsers, and if you install and use this, you will increase your chances of earning when searching.
So, if you want to use Swagbucks, it is a good idea to install it on your Google Chrome and perform searches that way.
Now, when you search, you will get a chance to win rewards every time you do a search. If you win, you will see it immediately on the screen. You can win between 1-1000 Swagbucks points from this, which means you can win up to $10 for one search. You can search as many times as you like, but you will not win every time.
So, it’s not exactly a guaranteed earning opportunity, but if you get lucky, you can win a pretty decent amount. As for redeeming rewards, you will only need to earn $5 (which can vary from country to country) in order to withdraw your earnings. That will be worth 500 Swagbucks points.
When you reach the threshold, you can withdraw your earnings via PayPal, or convert them to gift cards or a prepaid Visa card. To know more about Swagbucks, I would recommend you read my Swagbucks review.
#2 – Pawns
Pawns is a site that will pay you for sharing your internet connection with its clients. It doesn’t directly offer opportunities to earn by searching the web. However, when you do a web search while its software is running in the background, it will collect the data, and you’ll earn a small reward.
So, in essence, you’ll still be earning by searching the web. You can also earn by answering surveys and inviting other people to join the site through its referral program. You can withdraw your earnings via PayPal or convert them to virtual gift cards or Bitcoin once you’ve earned at least $5.
Plus, it is available globally, so you should be able to sign up as a member regardless of where you live. If you want to know more about this website, you can read my Pawns review.
#3 – Datavio.ai
Datavio.ai (previously Teemwork.ai) is a micro job site that will allow you to earn by completing IT-related jobs and tasks. Some of the jobs and tasks it offers are permanent jobs, while most are just a one-time thing.
So, if you are looking for a full-time or part-time gig, this can potentially be a good option. Now, when you look for a job on Datavio.ai, you can filter the jobs listed according to your preference. To look for searching jobs, you have to select “Search Engine Evaluation”.
Once you’ve filtered the jobs, you will see a list of all the jobs available for that category. Search engine evaluation jobs will be listed according to country and language required. If you see a job you are interested in, just click it to view the details.
The details page will show you the requirements for the job as well as the conditions you need to meet to potentially qualify. You will also see the compensation you will receive for completing the job.
Unlike the previous sites mentioned, Datavio.ai’s search jobs are more of a part-time gig. So, if you want to work on it, you have to be prepared to commit a certain number of hours to it, depending on the requirements of the job.
The earning potential of Datavio.ai is significantly higher, but it is also quite hard to get started. That’s because you will have to apply for the job. You have to fill out the application and wait for the employer to approve your application before you can begin working on it.
So, it takes some time before you can get started, and there is no guarantee you will be accepted. But as mentioned, you will earn more. And speaking of earnings, to withdraw your earnings, you have to first earn at least $20, which is quite high, in my opinion.
But you will easily reach it if you get hired to do the job since Datavio.ai pays relatively well. Once you reach the threshold, you can get paid either via PayPal or Payoneer.
To know more about Datavio.ai, I suggest you read this Datavio.ai review.
#4 – TimeBucks
TimeBucks is a GPT site that offers plenty of ways for you to earn rewards. Aside from searching the web, you can also earn by answering surveys, completing offers, working on micro-tasks, availing of cashback offers, inviting people to join the site, and more.
To access the search opportunity, you just have to log in to the site and click on the “Earn” option on the menu and click “Content”. Then, scroll down and click the “Search” option.
Now, when you search, you will have to use a real term. What I mean by “real” is that you can’t just type random letters and numbers and hit search. You have to search using real terms.
The amount you can earn per search will vary from country to country, but the maximum is $0.01 per search. But one thing stays the same no matter the country you live in: You can only earn from three searches per day, and each search must be done at least in a 30-minute interval.
So, you can’t just search for terms continuously. You have to take a break and come back to it after 30 minutes or more to earn. While waiting, the best thing you can do is to work on the other earning opportunities TimeBucks offers.
Once you’ve earned at least $5 from searching and doing the other earning opportunities, you can withdraw your earnings. TimeBucks offers multiple payment methods. You can withdraw your earnings via Payeer, PayPal, AirTM, Neteller, Skrill, crypto, or direct bank transfer via Wise.
If you want to learn more about this site or see how to join, I suggest you check out my TimeBucks review.
#5 – Honeygain
Just like Pawns, Honeygain doesn’t also directly offer opportunities to earn by searching the internet. Instead, it will pay you to share your internet bandwidth with its clients. Then, when you do a web search, Honeygain’s software will also collect the data. So, if you search the web frequently, you will help Honeygain collect more data, and in return, you’ll earn slightly more rewards.
Again, I have to reiterate that you won’t earn a lot from this method. The primary source of income from Honeygain will still come from sharing your unused internet bandwidth. You can also earn through its referral code, Content Delivery program, and from its joining bonus.
You’ll be able to withdraw your earnings via PayPal once you’ve earned at least $20. Plus, it has a mobile app you can download so you can earn using your mobile device. It is also available globally.
To know more about Honeygain, you can read my Honeygain review.
#6 – Microsoft Rewards
One of the ways you can earn through Microsoft Rewards is by searching online. So every time you search, you will earn a small reward. However, to get this reward, you need to have a Microsoft account, be logged into it, and use the search engine Bing.com.
You get 5 points per search, which is equivalent to $0.005. So, you need to do a lot of searches to earn anything real. You can also earn by shopping, answering quizzes, completing offers, and playing your Xbox.
Just be aware that the rewards you will earn from this site can’t be exchanged for cash like the other options on this list. Instead, you can use them to purchase products from the Microsoft store. It is available in over 200+ countries.
You can read more about Microsoft Rewards in my Microsoft Rewards review.
#7 – Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel
What the Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel is doing is gathering research and data about how people are using the internet. So, that includes searching the web, which is why you will, in essence, still be able to earn when doing a web search.
You will need to install an app or software on your device, and this will then gather data anonymously and send it to Nielsen, where it is combined with data from other panel members. You can do this on multiple devices using the same account.
The rewards you will earn can then be exchanged for gift cards or products. But there are also countries where you earn PayPal cash or other cash payments. Just be aware that the exact amount of the rewards you will earn depends on your country.
To know more about this site, you can read my Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel review.
#8 – Qmee
Qmee offers several ways to earn extra cash online. You can answer surveys, join contests, save money while shopping, and of course, by searching the web. For the latter, you need to install the Qmee extension for your browser. Once you have done this, you can, for example, earn by just using Google.
When you search, you might see some ads show up after you have searched. You’ll earn a small reward if you click the ad that shows up. Then, you will be able to withdraw your earnings via PayPal or donate them to charity. Alternatively, you can also convert your earnings to gift cards.
If you want to learn more about Qmee, I suggest you read my Qmee review.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are quite a few options to earn by searching the web. They are all very easy methods to earn. But just make sure to temper your expectations of how much you can earn from this opportunity.
As I’ve mentioned earlier, this is not something you can make a living of unless you land a search engine evaluation job. Most opportunities are just a good source of extra cash. You just have to be very patient when working on these sites since you won’t earn a lot from searching the web. But since most of these sites offer other ways of earning, you can also just work on some of the other methods as well to earn more, which I would definitely recommend.
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with this topic, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
