Surveys can be a great way to make a few extra bucks on the side online. In this article, we look at the top Paid Survey Sites in the country to help you generate that extra cash flow. Whether you put it in your investment portfolio, towards renovations, or buy a coffee, the decision is ultimately up to you.
There are a myriad of ways to make money from the comfort of your own home these days. While these earnings were modest at best in the past, the opportunities have evolved to such an extent that the average person can make a livable income through digital sources alone.
One particularly lucrative avenue for certain Canadians has been online surveys. With low sign-up requirements, many opportunities for participation, and even the potential to earn a bonus on specific sites, it's clear why so many individuals are adding this avenue to their income stream for some extra money.
In this article, I'll go over everything there is to know about paid Survey Sites in Canada, along with the twelve best options to consider.
What are paid survey sites?
For those who have never heard of paid survey sites before, it's worth going over the basics of these websites and what they offer.
As indicated by the name, a paid survey site is a specialty website that allows people to sign up and offers surveys at random intervals based on that person's interests, occupation, and various other factors.
When the person takes the survey, they are compensated for their time at the very end. Most paid survey sites have cash-out minimums, though, meaning a person must hit a certain amount in their earnings account before transferring or redeeming the funds.
How do paid survey sites work?
Each paid survey site works slightly differently, though there is an overarching method behind them all:
- You sign up for the survey website and input basic information such as where you are from, what you do for work, your various interests, and more.
- Once the survey site understands which surveys would be most relevant, they will start sending you targeted surveys regularly (the frequency varies from site to site.)
- You can complete surveys at your own pace, with the number of questions ranging from a couple up to one hundred.
- You will be compensated for your time on the survey once all answers have been submitted.
While the above makes the entire process sound straightforward, it's worth noting that many survey sites require you to submit a couple of "qualification questions" before starting the survey.
Suppose you answer those questions inaccurately as compared to what the site wants. In that case, you may not be eligible to take that specific survey.
How much can be earned from paid survey sites?
Naturally, the million-dollar question regarding paid survey websites is how much you can earn from taking these polls and answering these questions. This question, unfortunately, doesn't have a straightforward answer as the amount a person can earn varies wildly from site to site.
Generally speaking, the best-paid survey sites will award you anywhere from $0.50 to $10 per survey, with the average survey taking 5-30 minutes.
Most survey sites offer more than just the standard surveys as a method for earning, though. It's common to see a platform provide users with random polls, marketing research opportunities, sweepstake entries, and other ways.
How are funds paid out on survey sites?
Once you meet the minimum payout threshold outlined by the survey site you are using, you will notice that there are likely multiple redemption options for your funds. Survey sites will often allow you to redeem your earnings in the form of PayPal cash or a direct deposit, though the latter is rarer.
Many survey sites also allow users to redeem their earnings not only for cash but for gift cards as well. It's not uncommon to see redemption options such as Visa, Starbucks, Walmart, and Amazon gift cards, among others. In certain situations, a site may allow you to redeem your funds by cheque, but this is extremely uncommon and typically requires a higher minimum payout amount.
Spotting the signs of a fake Canadian survey site
The last thing anyone wants when trying to earn some extra cash is to fall victim to a scam when they thought they were signing up for the best survey site in the country.
That's why learning to spot the signs of a fake survey site is so important. The most notable clues to keep an eye out for include:
- The website requires you to make a payment to join their site
- The website requires you to submit personal identifying information such as your SIN
- The website promises you that you can earn thousands of dollars in just a few surveys
- The website lists a minimum payout amount that seems incredibly difficult to achieve
- The website offers a highly lengthy pre-qualification process that seems impossible to pass
- The website has no data privacy protection policy whatsoever
Paid survey sites in Canada that are legitimate are entirely free to sign up for and tend to have a minimum payment amount starting as low as $5. They also make an effort to protect your data at all costs and will never ask you for private information such as your SIN.
What are some of the best paid survey sites in Canada?
- Branded Surveys
- Survey Junkie
- Swagbucks
- LifePoints
- Leger Opinion
- Opinion Outpost
- American Consumer Opinion
- Harris Poll Online
- Ipsos i-Say
- Daily Rewards
- Pinecone Research
- MyPoints
Branded Surveys
Starting with one of the most well-known survey sites in the country, Branded Surveys was formerly known to many as MintVine.
This website is a market research panel collecting information on behalf of many Fortune 500 companies.
They work together with other famous market research companies, including J.D. Power, Harris Interactive, and more.
Founded in 2012, this website has awarded its users an astounding $20 million+ in cash, which shows the site's reliability. Most surveys from this website pay between $1-3, with the site having a low minimum payout of $5. Funds can be redeemed via PayPal or gift cards.
Survey Junkie
Another famous website in Canada for paid surveys is Survey Junkie. Founded in 2011, this site has grown to have over 20 million users, with over $1 million being paid out monthly to those users collectively. One downside of this site is that you must be 18 years of age in order to sign up.
However, this is offset by the fact you can earn more money on average, with your earnings beingbased on the number of surveys you complete.
With a range of $5-$100 per completed survey, and a minimum payout of only $5, with payout in the form of PayPal, gift cards, and direct deposit, Survey Junkie is one of the best names to consider.
Click the button below to sign up with Survey Junkie and start making money today.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks became popular primarily due to their mobile applications, but their paid survey website is actually where it all began.
Founded in 2008, users can earn funds by taking surveys, answering polls, completing small tasks, playing games, and even just browsing the internet through a dedicated portal.
Collectively, they have paid their members over $631 million and give out over 7,000 free gift cards daily. The minimum payment threshold is only $5 and can be redeemed via direct deposit or gift cards.
LifePoints
LifePoints is a lesser-known site, but that doesn't mean it is less effective. It has slowly been growing to be one of the best sites in Canada for earning money through surveys. It even offers ten free LifePoints when someone signs up for a new account.
The surveys on this site take longer than on others, with the average time to complete falling between 10-20 minutes, but this also results in a higher payout. Additionally, the minimum redemption amount is only $5.
Leger Opinion
Leger Opinion (LEO), like Branded Surveys, is a market research opinion company in Canada that specifically pays members to share their opinions on various products or services. In addition, a person can earn points by inviting their friends to the site via referral or submitting polls online.
On top of sweepstake entries and access to test products, a person can redeem what they earn in the form of PayPal cash or gift cards to stores including Sephora, Home Depot, Uber Eats, Amazon, and more.
Opinion Outpost
As you can likely infer by the name, Opinion Outpost is a specialty site in Canada that pays members to offer their, you guessed it, opinions on market research.
Whether it's product testing, submitting surveys, cash giveaways, or even referring your friends, there are several additional ways to earn on this platform.
Unfortunately, the minimum payout for this site is slightly higher at $10, but access to different prizes offsets this potential downside.
American Consumer Opinion
Despite the name 'American' being in the title, the American Consumer Opinion site is uniquely Canadian. There are over six million members of this site spread across the world, going to show its reliability as a brand, and members are awarded for answering survey questions and evaluating products as well.
Naturally, given the time commitment, the latter provides users with more funds than the former.
Unfortunately, the earnings on this site are lower, with the average survey pay falling between $0.50 and $2.50. However, the minimum payout is still arguably low at just $10. Points can be redeemed directly for cash on your profile.
Harris Poll Online
Harris Poll Online is one of Canada's oldest paid survey sites that is still operating, having been founded in 1963. Given its age, this website has become a part of notorious market research organizations such as the National Council of Public Polls and the Council of American Survey Research Organizations.
Users earn their rewards by answering survey questions but be aware that users will only receive an average of three to five surveys per month at an average pay of only $1-$2 per survey.
With a minimum payout of $10, it may be two months before you can redeem within their loyalty program suite of rewards. These rewards include cash payouts and gift cards such as iTunes, Amazon, etc.
Ipsos i-Say
Rather than submitting survey answers that seemingly have no impact on anything, Ipsos iSay allows users to cast opinions on major brands in Canada, meaning you can make your voice heard.
With over 25 million market research surveys conducted and millions of users worldwide, this is one of the most established companies on this list.
Cash can be earned via PayPal or converted to gift cards at top places such as Amazon, Starbucks, Cineplex, and more. Still, the real standout feature of this site is that you can donate your earnings to prominent organizations if you so choose.
Daily Rewards
With over $65 million paid out to members throughout their lengthy history, Daily Rewards is undoubtedly one of the best sites in Canada. Smaller brands and businesses pay Daily Rewards for the users' opinions on their sites, which means your opinion can make a difference in the brand you use.
Users can earn by taking surveys, reading emails, making referrals, watching videos, and more. One unique feature of this site is that there is no minimum payout amount, meaning you can redeem the smallest of earnings immediately.
Pinecone Research
At an earnings rate of $3 to $5 per survey, Pinecone Research offers users one of the most stable earnings potentials out of all the sites on this list. Users can also test products for the brand to earn additional cash.
Users can enjoy their earnings quickly with a low minimum payout of just $3. Bank transfers and gift card conversions are the primary methods by which users are paid.
MyPoints
Finally, the last of Canada's top paid survey sites, though certainly not least, is MyPoints.
Founded in 2006 under its former name, Angus Reid Forum, MyPoints evolved in recent years and now pays Canadians to give their thoughts on local and prominent businesses in the area.
With a rewards rate of somewhere between $0.50 and $5 per survey or offering, the earnings potential is more than fair.
In addition, a person can earn $2 for every friend they refer, which is a far higher referral rate than most other sites.
Rewards can be redeemed as cash via PayPal, as a gift card, or as a prepaid Visa card.
Key factors to consider when choosing a free survey site
After considering the above options for the best online survey sites in Canada, you're likely wondering how to determine which is the best for you. Fortunately, there are several key factors which can help you make this decision:
- Does the survey site offer additional earning opportunities, such as submitting poll answers or referring friends?
- What is the earning potential for the site based on reviews from those who used the site previously?
- Does the website have a reliable background, such as being a market research company, or is it an unverifiable site?
- How often are surveys released to those who use the platform?
- How relevant are surveys to your interests?
- Do you meet the pre-qualification requirements easily?
Two people may prefer different survey sites, which is perfectly acceptable. Ultimately, all that really matters is that you choose a paid survey site that provides ample opportunity to earn a little extra cash on the side.
Are these paid surveys worth it?
Regardless of whether you are self-employed or in a full-time salaried role, there's no harm in earning some extra cash. Paid survey sites are not a get-rich-quick scheme, but they can become a fair side hustle with the right dedication and interest. Evaluate each of the popular sites above, including their reward potential, to determine which is the best for your personal situation.
