9 Best Ways to Get Paid to Search the Web (Legit Apps)

Legit Ways to Get Paid to Search the Web

Before diving into specific platforms, you should understand that search rewards won’t replace your regular income.

These programs essentially pay you for your search data, which means earnings are modest but can add up over time when combined with other features these platforms offer.

Swagbucks

This platform offers one Swagbuck per search, with our testing period yielding 65 Swagbucks (worth about 65 cents).

The real value comes from combining searches with other activities like surveys and shopping cashback, which could potentially earn you over $50 monthly.

Swagbucks Summary

• DollarBreak’s test earnings – $7.45 for 5 hours of surveys
• $5 sign up bonus
• Up to 10% cashback when shopping online
• 18 ways to earn money and e-gift cards
• Watch videos and play games for $
• Legit platform – paid $500 mil to users

Survey Junkie Surf

Survey Junkie’s search monitoring program starts with a $1 activation bonus.

After that, you can expect around 50 cents monthly from their background monitoring program, which tracks your regular browsing behavior without requiring specific search activities.

Survey Junkie Summary

• DollarBreak’s test earnings – $7.34 for 5 hours of surveys
• Extra points if you screened out of survey
• Additional ways to earn up to $150
• Install Survey Junkie extension for bonus
• Low payout threshold of $5
• Variety of surveys

Nielsen Research

Nielsen’s approach differs from traditional search rewards.

While immediate search earnings are minimal, you can earn up to $60 annually ($30 each for mobile and desktop) just by keeping their app installed and letting it monitor your internet usage patterns.

Nielsen Summary

• Earn up to $60/year by installing an app
• Earn up to $1000 from sweepstakes
• 15 different types of rewards
• Win up to $500 by downloading PC app

KashKick

KashKick offers 2 cents per search offer click, with a 24-hour cooldown period between clicks on the same offer.

While daily search earnings cap at around 10 cents, the platform provides additional earning opportunities through game offers and promotional deals.

KashKick Summary

• Minimum withdrawal threshold of $10
• Earn 25% of all your referral’s earnings
• Get paid to play games
• Earn $0.1 – $2 per survey
• Many offers that pay $10+ per action
• $35.62 for 5 hours of testing

MyPoints

Similar to Swagbucks, MyPoints rewards you for searching and other online activities.

The platform stands out by offering additional points for shopping at partner retailers, making it particularly valuable if you frequently shop online.

While search rewards are modest, combining them with shopping rewards can significantly increase your earnings.

MyPoints Summary

• DollarBreak’s test earnings – $12.48 for 5 hours of surveys
• $5 sign-up bonus upon email confirmation
• Over 10 different ways to earn money
• Pays by gift cards and PayPal
• Cash out with gift cards starting at $3
• MyPoints mobile apps: iOS and Android

Honeygain

Though not strictly a search rewards platform, Honeygain pays you for sharing your internet bandwidth.

You can earn passive income while browsing, making it a complementary tool to use alongside dedicated search reward programs. In 3 months, we earned $20.

Honeygain Summary

• Earn $1 for every 10GB of data shared
• Get $5 for each person you refer
• Maximize earnings with more IP addresses
• 2 payment options – PayPal and Bitcoin

Brave Rewards

Brave browser’s rewards program offers a unique approach by paying you in Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) cryptocurrency.

During testing, earnings were minimal (about 0.28-0.35 BAT, worth less than a penny), but the browser’s built-in ad blocking and privacy features provide additional value beyond monetary rewards.

CrowdGen by Appen

While CrowdGen occasionally offers search evaluation projects that can pay significantly better than traditional search rewards, these opportunities aren’t consistently available.

When available, these projects typically require more active participation and attention to detail compared to passive search rewards.

Microsoft Rewards

Microsoft’s search rewards program offers points for using Bing as your search engine.

During testing, searches generated about 120 points, converting to approximately 9 cents.

While this might seem small, the program has a daily search limit, making it a predictable, if modest, earning opportunity.

Maximizing Your Search Rewards

To make the most of these opportunities, consider these strategies:

• Use multiple platforms simultaneously to increase your overall earnings
• Don’t change your natural search behavior just to earn rewards
• Focus on platforms that offer additional earning methods beyond searches
• Keep apps running in the background while you perform your regular online activities

Understanding Search Reward Limitations

It’s important to maintain realistic expectations about search rewards.

Companies offer these programs to gather data about search patterns and user behavior.

Since individual search data has limited value, the payments reflect this reality.

Consider these earnings as a small bonus for activities you’d do anyway, rather than a primary income source.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I realistically earn from search rewards?

Most platforms offer modest earnings ranging from a few cents to a few dollars per month. The highest-paying combination of platforms might net you $5-10 monthly from searches alone.

Are search reward programs safe to use?

Yes, legitimate programs like Microsoft Rewards and Swagbucks are safe, but they do collect data about your search behavior. Always read privacy policies and use reputable platforms.

Can I earn more by searching more often?

Generally no. Most platforms have daily limits or diminishing returns. Natural search behavior is best for maintaining consistent earnings.

Do I need to use specific browsers to earn rewards?

Some programs, like Microsoft Rewards and Brave, require their specific browsers or search engines. Others work with your preferred browser through extensions or apps.

Can I use multiple search reward programs simultaneously?

Yes, you can use several programs together to maximize earnings, but make sure to follow each platform’s terms of service to avoid account issues.

Remember, while search rewards won’t make you rich, they can provide a small passive income stream when used alongside your regular online activities. Focus on platforms that align with your natural browsing habits and offer additional earning opportunities beyond just searches.