I’ve been using rewards sites to earn extra cash and Amazon gift codes since probably 2007 — when my oldest was just a baby. This was also when I first began to seriously look for ways to make money from home.
Of course, it didn’t take long for me to realize that these rewards sites were in no way going to replace my income, but I still found them to be a bit addictive.
I got in the habit of logging in to a few of them every day to earn redeemable points or cash.
What is a rewards site?
Rewards sites offer multiple ways to earn a little money or rewards (gift codes to popular retailers, merchandise, etc.).
Once your account is created, you can log in as often as you want and do simple little tasks like searching the web, filling out surveys, watching videos, playing games, doing short tasks, printing out coupons, doing offers, shopping, referring your friends, and all kinds of other things.
Everything you do earns you points or cash. All of these sites will have a threshold you have to meet before you can redeem for your earnings or whatever gift cards you want.
Once you’ve earned enough money or gotten enough points, then you can cash out.
I like to let these small amounts build up, and then cash out around Christmas to help me buy gifts. You’d be surprised how fast it will add up if you use them daily!
Which reward sites are most popular?
There are many sites like these, but the following five are some of the best. They are popular, have many members, and have great track records when it comes to payments.
1 – Swagbucks – [Read Swagbucks Review]
This is one of the most well-known rewards sites and still one of my favorites. They pay in virtual “Swagbucks” (SB), which you can redeem for Amazon gift cards, PayPal cash, and other rewards.
- 500 SB = $5 Amazon gift card
- 2,500 SB = $25 PayPal cash
Swagbucks used to have slower payout times, sometimes taking up to a few weeks. However, they have since improved processing times, and many redemptions—especially PayPal and popular gift cards—are now sent much faster.
They’ve been around since 2008, making them one of the longest-running rewards sites.
2 – MyPoints – [Read MyPoints Review]
MyPoints started in 1996 as a rewards program focused on cashback shopping, similar to Rakuten. Over the years, they have expanded to include surveys, watching videos, playing games, and other ways to earn points.
You can redeem your points for gift cards and PayPal cash. Redemption rates vary, but here are a couple of examples:
- 1,700 points = $10 Amazon gift card
- 4,550 points = $25 PayPal cash
MyPoints is owned by the same company as Swagbucks (Prodege), which means it follows a similar payment structure and redemption process.
3 – InboxDollars
InboxDollars is a well-established site that rewards users with cash for various online activities, including taking surveys, watching videos, reading emails, and shopping online.
Unlike some rewards sites that use a points system, InboxDollars pays in actual dollars! This makes it a lot easier to understand how much you made.
- Payment Options: Cash payments via check or PayPal, with a minimum payout threshold of $30. Note it can take a long time to reach the $30 minimum (one major downside).
- Sign-Up Bonus: New users receive a $5 bonus when joining.
InboxDollars has been operating since 2000 and has paid out over $60 million in cash rewards to its members. They are known for sending payments as they are supposed to, but again, the high cash out threshold is problematic.
4 – Rakuten (formerly Ebates)
Rakuten is a popular cashback site that partners with thousands of retailers to offer users a percentage of their purchase amount back as cash.
By shopping through Rakuten’s links, you can earn cashback on everyday purchases, both online and in-store.
- Payment Options: Quarterly payments via check or PayPal, with no minimum payout threshold.
- Sign-Up Bonus: New users can earn a $10 welcome bonus after making qualifying purchases.
Founded in 1998 as Ebates, they were acquired by Rakuten in 2014 and rebranded in 2019.
I’ll be honest, I’ve never quite gotten used to the “Rakuten” re-branding! But it’s still the same company.
5 – PrizeRebel
PrizeRebel is a reputable rewards site that offers lots of ways to earn, including completing surveys, watching videos, playing games, and signing up for partner websites.
They are often praised for their low cash-out threshold and multiple reward options.
- Payment Options: PayPal cash, gift cards, and cryptocurrency.
- Minimum Payout Threshold: $5.
- Reward Processing Time: Typically within 24 hours.
Most users say it’s possible to earn $10 a week if you’re consistent and use the site daily. They also have a tiered loyalty system, which will reward you with bonus points if you use the site often.
A Few Other Perks!
Most of these sites now have mobile apps, so you can tinker around with them even when you’re not at home.
A great time to do this would be when you’re in “wait” mode — waiting at the doctor’s office, or waiting in line somewhere.
Rewards sites also have referral programs and allow you to share on social media when you’ve earned points or redeemed for something.
This is a very effective way to get a few of your friends signed up under you, and you’ll reach your cash out thresholds much faster this way because you’ll always earn when your referrals do.
Final Thoughts
The small amounts add up with these sites. Definitely don’t look at this as a “job” because if you were to calculate it per hour, you for sure won’t be paid even minimum wage.
I would also not recommend spending all day on these sites, like you would with a real job.
Just logging on here and there once a day for maybe 10-15 minutes at a time will equal progress and extra money earned.
Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 14 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.