You probably wonder if Swagbucks actually pays you or just wastes your time. Let me tell you what it's all about.
This site won't replace your job – that's for sure. But you can earn a few bucks doing simple things in your free time. Fill out surveys, play basic games, watch some videos... and you get points for it.
No special skills needed here. Anyone can do it. You also get cash back when you buy stuff online through their site. Nice little bonus.
I checked out everything about Swagbucks for this review. You'll learn what to expect, how much you might make, and if it's even worth your time. Some people love it, others don't think it's worth the effort.
Oh... and there's a free bonus when you sign up. I'll show you how to grab those extra points if you decide to try it.
What is Swagbucks?
You trade your time for cash and gift cards on Swagbucks. You take surveys, watch short clips, search the web, play games – and they pay you for it. Simple as that.
It actually works. Millions of people got paid already. The site has given out millions of dollars... and they keep paying.
Not gonna lie – you won't quit your job from this. Think extra pizza money or helping with your phone bill, not making rent.
Prodege runs Swagbucks and other similar sites like ySense, Pollfish, CouponCause, MyPoints and InboxDollars. They're big in the get-paid-to-do-stuff world.
One thing to watch out – what you can do to earn varies by where you live. Some countries get all the good stuff, others don't. You gotta check what's open for you.
The system is pretty easy. Do stuff, get points. Trade points for money or gift cards. No crazy math or weird rules.
People stick with Swagbucks cuz it's real. They pay what they say they will. Just set your hopes right – this is small money that builds up over time if you stay with it.
Make Money With Your Opinions
Getting paid to share what you think? Yeah, that's a thing with Swagbucks. I've made extra cash this way myself.
Finding surveys isn't obvious at first. Don't look for a "Surveys" button – they hide them under "Answer" instead. Weird choice, but that's where the money is.
You'll see a bunch of options when you click "Answer." Each shows how much you'll earn and how long it'll take. Pick the ones that give you more money for less time... makes sense, right?
The daily poll is super quick money. One question, a few seconds, and boom – you get paid. Do this every day (I never miss it) and it adds up.
Not every survey will accept you. That's normal. Don't give up after a few nos. The system is picky about who fits what survey.
After a while, you'll notice patterns. Some surveys always seem to let you in, others never do. Stick with what works for you.
Check for "Swag Ups" in the side menu too. They're like bonus multipliers. Turn these on and you'll earn extra percentages on everything for a while.
So many people use Swagbucks that companies put their surveys there. More companies = more chances for you to earn.
I think the survey section is worth checking out. It's how I earn most of my Swagbucks cash.
Earn Money While You Shop? Yes Please!
Link your card to Swagbucks and bam – you get money back when you buy stuff at certain stores. This is their in-store rewards thing, and it's super easy cuz it happens automatically. Not many websites do this yet... which makes it pretty cool. But just so you know, some countries have way more store options than others.
The online part is even better. Swagbucks gives you points (they call 'em SB) when you buy things through their site. These stores were gonna get your money anyway, right? So why not grab some coins back?
The amount you get varies – anywhere from tiny 1% returns to huge 50% kickbacks. Most places give more than the bare minimum, so you can actually see some real money coming back to you.
eBay, Best Buy, Amazon, Gap, Nike, Walmart – yep, they're all there. Thousands of places you probably already shop at. Plus you can find deals on services and local stuff happening near you.
Forgot to check Swagbucks before shopping? That's where their Chrome add-on (the Swagbutton) comes in handy. It reminds you when you're on a site with rebates available. I've found this super helpful since the offers change constantly.
If you buy lots of stuff online, this adds up fast. Even if you don't shop much, it's still free money for something you were doing already. The deals you see today might disappear tomorrow... but new ones always pop up.
Should you join Swagbucks just for this feature? If you ever shop online, then yeah – absolutely worth it. You spend the cash no matter what, so getting some back is a no-brainer.
Make Money Just By Searching Online
Win up to 1000 SB just by looking stuff up online with Swagbucks. Yep, they pay you to browse the web – something you do anyway.
You can use their website or add their tool to Chrome. Just type what you need to find, and you might get lucky. Winners pop up at random and see their prize right on screen.
How often do people win? They don't say. But Swagbucks won't take your personal data or sell your info to anyone. Nothing to lose, right? Just switch up where you type your questions and maybe earn some cash along the way.
Make Money From Watching Stuff on Swagbucks
Swagbucks pays you small amounts of cash for watching clips. Don't expect much money - we're talking pennies, not dollars.
Many people think this feature disappeared. It didn't. They just hid it in a different spot on the website.
To find these paid clips, go to the "Discover" section. Then look for something called "offerwalls" - these are just pages with different tasks you can do. Adscend Media usually has watching options.
What's an offerwall? Just a page with mini-jobs from outside companies. Each one gives you different ways to earn points.
I wouldn't sit through boring clips just for the money. The pay is too small. But if you'd watch certain clips anyway (maybe about topics you like), getting paid a few cents is a nice bonus.
Play games - The Swagbucks Way
Like spending cash on online games? Get some of that money back through Swagbucks. When you buy stuff in games like slots, poker, Bejeweled, or Angry Birds, you earn SB points (that's Swagbucks currency).
It works kinda like a refund on what you'd spend anyway. You don't get points for just playing these outside games - only when you put money in them.
Swagbucks also has their own free stuff right on their site. These are simple things - memory challenges and small fun activities that don't take much time. You can score up to 10 SB without spending a dime.
Cash in with Swagbucks Deals
You get paid to do simple stuff on Swagbucks. Just look in their "Discover" section.
What kind of stuff? Signing up for websites, checking out pages, getting apps, grabbing free samples, or joining email lists. You do these things, you earn points.
I checked out Swagbucks against other point sites. They've got way more options. Most sites show the same boring offers, but Swagbucks has extras you won't see anywhere else.
Let me show you what I mean...
I found an investment thing where I put in $5 and they matched it with another $5. Then Swagbucks gave me 1000 points ($10) just for signing up. So my $5 turned into $15. Not bad at all.
Another time, I saw a charity offer. I gave $20 to help people, and Swagbucks put $25 worth of points in my account. So I made $5 while doing something nice. That feels pretty great.
These specific offers might be gone now. They change fast. But new ones pop up all the time.
Hit the offers section often. The best deals go quick. You snooze, you lose.
Shopping Receipts = Free Money!
Snap a pic of your grocery receipts. That's it. You get money back through Swagbucks.
Doesn't matter what you bought. Any receipt from food shopping or even fast food works.
Wanna earn more? Buy specific items they list – basic stuff like coffee, bread or cereal. Things you'd grab anyway. These special items pay higher rewards.
Swagbucks also has actual coupons you can use in real stores. Most money apps don't offer this. Use their coupons when shopping and cash flows back to your account.
The good deals change all the time. Check the app before you shop... you might find ways to save on things already on your list.
Money back on everyday shopping trips adds up fast. It's free cash for stuff you're buying anyway.
Just a heads up – this money-making trick doesn't work in every country. Check if yours is covered.
Make Money When Friends Use Swagbucks
Swagbucks gives you extra cash when friends join through you. You get 10% of whatever they earn... and they don't lose anything.
Your friends still get their full rewards. The 10% bonus comes from Swagbucks themselves, not your friends' earnings. It's just their way of saying thanks for spreading the word.
Want Free Cash Just For Signing Up With Swagbucks?
I found a special link that gives you free money when you join Swagbucks. You get this bonus right away... no tricks needed.
This works no matter where you live – the amount just changes based on your country.
Live in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Italy, France or Spain? You'll get $5 after earning your first 2500 points. These countries have more ways for you to earn on the site.
From somewhere else? No problem! You still get $3 after earning your first $3. Just make sure you earn it within 30 days after signing up.
Want EVEN MORE free money? If you shop through Swagbucks (this mostly works in the US and UK), they'll put an extra $10 in your account after your first purchase.
And yeah – Swagbucks is totally free to join, just like other good survey sites.
What is Swagbutton?
Swagbutton is just a free Chrome add-on from Swagbucks that puts money in your pocket. Install it once and forget it – it works while you browse.
Get this: they give you a $10 bonus just for making your first purchase through it. That's FREE money for buying something you were gonna buy anyway.
The button sits in your browser and pops up when you visit shopping sites. It says "Hey! There's a deal here!" You click it and save cash. That simple.
It shows you all the coupons for the site you're on. No more searching for codes that don't work.
You can earn extra points by watching small videos through the button too. Just click and watch... and get paid. Nice little break during your day.
The button also gives you special Swag Codes with free points. These codes aren't available to regular users – only for people with the button.
Setting it up? Super easy. Sign up on Swagbucks first. Then find their extension in the Chrome store. Click "Add" and turn it on. Done.
Can You Level Up On Swagbucks?
Free points. Bigger survey rewards. Cash back. These are some of the perks you get from Swagbucks membership levels.
You don't need to do anything extra to level up – just use the site like normal. The system rewards you for sticking around.
To join this program, you gotta have at least 250 SB and apply after logging in. It's that simple.
The levels start at Pearl and go up to Diamond. Each step gives you better stuff than the last.
The highest level (Diamond) is... pretty hard to reach. You need 2,000,000 SB total! But if you get there, you'll grab a $250 bonus and double points for 3 surveys – pretty sweet deal.
Lower levels are way easier to hit. You'll climb up just by doing your normal Swagbucks tasks.
This program only works in the US, Canada, England, and Australia for now. The rest of you gotta wait – sorry!
I think these levels make using Swagbucks more fun. You're getting paid AND working toward bigger rewards at the same time.
Can You Use Swagbucks On Your Phone?
Making money from your phone is so much easier than sitting at a computer all day. That's why I love apps like Swagbucks.
After you join Swagbucks, grab their app. It works on most phones and tablets that aren't super old... like less than 3 years old works fine.
I earn cash during those "wasted" minutes in my day. Waiting for a friend? Do a quick survey. Standing in line? Check for new offers. The app puts money-making chances right in your pocket.
One cool thing—the app shows you ways to earn when you shop or eat in your town.
Not all countries get the same app, though. Some places only get the survey part (called SB Answer), not the whole thing. Don't stress if you can't get the app where you live. The website still works fine for earning.
How do you get your money?
Each 100 SB equals about a dollar. That's the basic math you need to know.
You get these SB points by doing stuff on the site - taking surveys, watching videos, whatever they offer.
Wanna cash out? You got options. PayPal money is the most direct way. Most countries let you grab your cash once you hit $5 worth of points.
Gift cards are actually the better deal sometimes. They run specials where you might spend 1900 SB for a $25 card (that's a $5 bonus!). And in some places, you can get small gift cards with just 100 SB.
The gift card list is huge... Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Target, Zalando, Starbucks. Pretty much any big store you shop at.
Don't need money right now? Try their Swagstakes contests. You spend a few points to enter, and maybe win something bigger. Some don't last long or have few spots - check back often for the best chances to win extra.
How much can you really earn?
Let's get real – Swagbucks won't make you rich. Not even close. Anyone who tells you different is lying. But that doesn't mean it's not worth your time.
You can still make some nice extra cash. Maybe enough for a few bills or some fun stuff you want. It all depends on what you put in.
Some people earn more than others on Swagbucks. It comes down to a few things... How much time you spend, which tasks you like doing, and where you live matter a lot.
There's lots of ways to make money there. Surveys let you share what you think and get paid for it. I like those best – been doing them for ages now and they're pretty good. Sometimes I make enough for a nice dinner out (not fancy, but still). Shopping through their site saves you money on stuff you'd buy anyway. Some tasks are super easy and take almost no effort.
Swagbucks is one of the biggest reward sites out there for a reason. So many people use it because it works. They've got good bonuses that can add up fast, including points just for using the site daily.
If you shop online a lot... definitely try Swagbucks. The savings can be huge over time. It's not gonna change your life, but the extra money is real. I've used it for Christmas shopping and saved a bunch.
Want more options? Check out my articles about CashInStyle or Thrifty Pig. It's not perfect either but might be worth trying.
Can You Join Swagbucks?
You gotta be at least 13 years old to use Swagbucks. That's the basic rule. If you're between 13 and 18, your parents might need to say it's OK in some countries. Every place has its own rules.
Want the good news? Your whole family can join! Yup – everyone in your house can have their own account. Some sites don't let you do this... but Swagbucks does. Just don't try making fake accounts – they'll catch you and kick you out.
Swagbucks works in almost all countries now. That's pretty new – they didn't used to. But here's the thing – not all countries get the same chances to earn money.
You'll get all the best ways to earn if you live in:
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- Australia
- Germany
These six countries also get the biggest signup bonus when you join.
You can still use Swagbucks from places like India, Philippines, South Africa, and most European countries... but you won't have as many ways to make money. If that's you, you might find better sites for your country.
Almost everyone gets some kind of joining bonus though – no matter where you live.
Your Info on Swagbucks: What You Should Know
Most people don't read privacy policies. I get it. They're boring. But Swagbucks collects a lot of your personal stuff, so maybe take a quick look.
When you fill out surveys or upload receipts, you give Swagbucks info directly. That's pretty obvious. What's not so obvious? Their site also grabs data automatically through cookies and trackers. Your phone's GPS too.
The company takes basic things like your name and email. No surprise there. But Swagbucks doesn't stop there – they also collect where you go online, your location, money details, and sometimes even record your voice.
Your info gets passed around. Swagbucks shares it with partners, workers, ad companies, and government folks. Sometimes they sell it for ads that follow you around online.
You're not totally powerless though. The privacy rules say you can ask to see what they've collected about you. You can also tell them to fix mistakes, delete your info, or stop selling it.
Want to control your data? Go to their Consumer Rights page or just contact them directly. Simple as that.
Is Swagbucks Worth Your Time?
I got paid by Swagbucks many times. Not lying. Millions of people cash out rewards from it daily.
You can grab gift cards or real money from Swagbucks. There's lots of ways to earn – that's what I like most about it.
The app looks kinda messy when you first start. Takes a bit to learn where stuff is... but you'll figure it out quick.
Not everyone gets the same chances to earn. If you're in the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Germany, or France – you'll see way more offers. They just opened up to more countries though, which helps.
People outside those main countries might want to check out survey sites made for where they live. Often work better.
Want the sign-up bonus? Just click below and make an account with your email or Facebook. Takes a minute tops.
Got stories about using Swagbucks? Questions? Drop a comment below and tell me.
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