Online surveys are one of the first side hustles most people try when they want to make some extra money from home. But can you really make decent money from them?

Over the years I've tried lots of survey sites, paid research studies and website testing platforms, and I've used some of them again this year.

Running my own businesses means I have far less time for surveys than I used to, but I still dip in and out when I have a spare few minutes.

Every site below is one I've used at some point, and all of them were still running at the time of writing.

Here's what I've actually earned, which sites have been worth my time, and what you can realistically expect.

The short answer

Yes, you can make money from online surveys, but it won't replace a wage. Most surveys pay somewhere between a few pence and a couple of pounds, and some sites pay in points or vouchers rather than cash.

Where surveys work well is as a bit of extra pocket money for very little effort. You can do them on your phone while watching TV, waiting for the kids or on your lunch break.

Paid research studies and website testing tend to pay much better per task, so they're worth adding to your mix.

There are lots of best survey sites roundups out there, but the key is knowing which platforms are legitimate and which are actually worth your time.

What I've actually earned and how long it takes

Here's a snapshot of what I've earned on some of the sites I've used, not the totals, but a look at what sort of amounts they pay or how long it took me to first cash out:

• Prolific: £10 from 10 studies across two days (they take 5-15 minutes each)
• YouGov: £50 cash out in my first year, paid straight to my bank account
• UserTesting: £44.47 from my first six website tests
• Cashback.co.uk: £50 profit in about three hours
• UserCrowd: $10.50 (about £8.29) from 55 quick design tasks (usually one-click tasks)
• Qmee: surveys paying 34p to 77p each, cashed out instantly to PayPal, approx 5 minutes each

None of these will make you rich on their own. But sign up to a few, and they add up to a nice bit of extra cash over a year.

Also, some I spent time on, whereas others I barely used.  There's no set amount for how much you can earn.  It depends on how much time you put in and how many surveys you qualify for. 

My favourite: Prolific

Prolific has always been my favourite. It's the best-paying and by far the most enjoyable of all the survey sites I've tried, and it's one I've still used this year.

Instead of market research, you take part in academic studies for universities and researchers. They're a mix of questionnaires, polls and games, and most of the ones I've done took 5 to 15 minutes.

After installing a notifier so I didn't miss new studies, I completed 10 studies in a couple of days and had over £10 in my account!

Studies are sporadic, with none some days and lots on others, and there's a fee for cashing out small amounts to PayPal. But if you only sign up to one site on this list, make it Prolific. 

Read my full Prolific review.

My Prolific earnings dashboard showing £458.47 earned from 554 approved submissions

Survey sites I've used

YouGov

YouGov is probably the best-known survey site in the UK. Standard surveys pay 50 points and take about 14 minutes, and quicker ones pay 25 points.

The standard cash out is 5,000 points (£50), which you can take as a bank transfer, usually paid within the next working day, or as gift cards.

New for 2026, YouGov has launched Verified membership. If you complete ID verification from your dashboard, which only takes a few minutes, you can cash out a £25 reward at just 2,500 points.

Verified members also get more surveys in each session, so you earn points faster, plus seasonal perks and bonuses. It's optional, so if you'd rather not upload your ID, your account carries on as normal with the £50 cash out.

It took me around a year to reach my first £50, but I wasn't completing every survey I was sent, and the new £25 option means you can get paid much sooner.

It's a legitimate company that pays, and a great way to make some extra cash for minimal effort. Just log in at least once a year, as accounts inactive for 12 months can lose their points.

Sign up to YouGov here and start earning for your opinions.

Read my full YouGov review.

Qmee

Qmee is great for quick, easy money. There's no minimum cash out and no PayPal fees, and my cash outs have been instant.

Surveys have paid me between 34p and 77p for 10 to 15 minutes, and there are tiny pop quiz questions too, like one that paid 3p for about five seconds.

You do sometimes get screened out of surveys, which is frustrating. But it's perfect for doing while watching TV.

Sign up to Qmee here to start earning.

Read my full Qmee review.

LifePoints

LifePoints is a big global survey site that pays in points, which you can swap for rewards. I used it for a while, but I found the surveys quite long and tedious, often around 15 minutes each, paying aprox £3.

When I used it, rewards were loaded onto a prepaid debit card, which was a bit of a faff to spend such a small amount online, so I stopped. These days LifePoints offers other reward options too, like PayPal and gift cards.

It's still a legitimate site, though, and plenty of people get on well with it.

If you have more time than I do, or you're happy to save up your points and cash out a bigger amount in one go, it could suit you better.

It's one of the sites in my guide to the best apps to earn free gift cards.

Paid research interviews

Respondent

Respondent isn't an online survey site in the usual sense. Instead of answering questions online or in an app, you take part in research interviews over a video call, answering a researcher's questions face to face.

It's one of the best paying options I've come across, with studies often paying much more than a typical survey, especially if you have a specialist job or background.

Join Respondent here to find paid research studies.

Read more about how to make money with Respondent.

Get paid to sites with surveys

Some sites offer surveys alongside lots of other ways to earn. These are the ones I still use, even when I don't have time for the surveys themselves.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks pays you in SB points for surveys, as well as for games, videos, searching the web and shopping online. These days I rarely use it due to lack of time, but the surveys are there whenever you want them.

You can swap your points for gift cards from places like Amazon, or for PayPal cash. Payouts take a few days, but it's a legitimate rewards platform and a good starting point if you're new to surveys.

Sign up to Swagbucks here to start earning SB points.

Read more about how to get free gift cards with Swagbucks.

My Swagbucks 7,984 SB lifetime total is worth roughly £70 to £80. In the UK, Swagbucks points are worth about 1p each, but the exact value depends on what you cash out for. Gift cards are often cheaper in points than PayPal cash, and Swagbucks sometimes discounts certain cards.

Cashback.co.uk

Cashback.co.uk is a get paid to site, where you earn by completing tasks and offers. Some of these are survey options, which you complete as a way to earn the cashback.

I made £50 profit in about three hours, and it's one I trust.

Join Cashback.co.uk here and claim your £10 welcome bonus.

Read my full Cashback.co.uk review here to see how this site works as it's very different as a Get Paid To site than others.

Pawns.app

Pawns.app pays you for sharing your unused internet bandwidth through its mobile or PC app, so you can earn in the background with very little effort. If you use the mobile app, there are surveys to complete for extra cash too.

The minimum cash out is just $5, paid by PayPal, Bitcoin or gift cards.

Sign up to Pawns.app here to start earning.

Paid website and app testing sites

If you want better pay per task, website and app testing sites are worth a look. You test a website or app and give your feedback, usually by talking through what you're doing while your screen is recorded.

UserTesting

UserTesting paid me $10 per website or app test, which worked out at about £7.42 each, for around 15 to 20 minutes. I earned £44.47 from my first six tests, paid to PayPal about a week after each one.

Tests are first come, first served, and some days there are lots you don't qualify for, which can be frustrating. I kept a tab open with a sound alert so I didn't miss new ones.

Read my full UserTesting review.

IntelliZoom

IntelliZoom tests paid me between $5 and $8 each, taking anywhere from five to 20 minutes, paid to PayPal around 21 days later.

Tests can fill up quickly, and some need a specific device, but I had several payments from it. IntelliZoom is now part of UserTesting.

Read my IntelliZoom review.

UserCrowd

UserCrowd pays for tiny design feedback tasks, many of which take just a few seconds and one click. Each credit is worth 20 cents, so it's a slow earner.

It took me about six months and 55 tasks to cash out $10.50 (about £8.29) to PayPal, which arrived the next day. It's not a get rich scheme, but it's a handy little side earner.

UserCrowd used to be desktop only, but it has now launched an app for iPhone and Android.

You use the same account, balance and profile, and there are some studies that are only available to app users, so it's worth downloading if you want more tasks.

Read my full UserCrowd review.

For more testing sites, see how to make money testing online games.

My UserCrowd earnings list showing payments of 20 to 80 cents for each design test I took part in.  Many of these took one or two clicks and a few seconds to complete.  They are not usually long. It's usually graphic designers wanting feedback on which design you like best.

What about mystery shopping apps?

Apps like Roamler also ask you questions, but they're really mystery shopping, where brands pay you to check things for them in stores. So I've kept them out of this list.

If you'd rather earn while you're out and about, my best month on Roamler earned me £200. You need an invite code to join in the UK, and you can use mine: LyliaRose.

Read my full Roamler review.

My tips for making money from online surveys

• Start with Prolific. In my experience, it's the best paying and most enjoyable.
• Join several sites. You'll get more surveys and reach pay outs faster, and you can compare which pay best for your time.
• Check the pay out threshold before you start. A low or no minimum cash out, like Qmee, means you see your money much sooner.
• Never pay to join. Legitimate survey sites are always free. If a site asks for a fee, avoid it.
• Sign up directly with the survey site. Avoid anyone selling lists of survey sites, as they're all free to find.
• Check the privacy policy. You'll be sharing personal details, so make sure you're happy with how they're used.
• Fill in your profile fully. The more the site knows about you, the more surveys you'll be matched with, and the fewer you'll be screened out of.
• Use an alert or notifier. The best paying studies and tests go quickly.

So, can you really make decent money from online surveys?

Not a living, but definitely some useful extra cash. Doing a few surveys a week across several sites can easily earn you enough for a few treats, a voucher towards Christmas shopping or some extra pocket money each year.

Paid studies and website testing pay more per task if you want to boost your earnings further.

They're a great side hustle for stay at home parents, students or anyone with a few spare minutes here and there, and one of the easiest ways to make money as a UK stay at home mum.

For more ways to earn, see my list of 60 ways to make money online at home in the UK, 4 ways to make extra money from home and how to make money in one hour.