Swagbucks vs Survey Junkie: Why You Should Really Use BOTH

Swagbucks and Survey Junkie, two of the big names in the world of paid survey sites, are often the go-to platforms for folks looking to convert some spare time into extra cash. No, they won’t make you a millionaire overnight, but they’re a great way to monetize your downtime.

In this piece, we’re going to delve into the Swagbucks vs. Survey Junkie comparison, giving you the lowdown on how to earn money on both platforms, the areas where each platform truly stands out, as well as where they might be lacking a little. So, if you’re ready to take a deep dive, keep reading!

Swagbucks Overview

Swagbucks, a titan in the paid survey landscape since 2008, pays you in its own bespoke currency—aptly named Swagbucks, or SBs. But here’s the kicker—it’s not just surveys that can fill up your SB kitty. Watching ads and diving into games can also add to your SB stash.

Swagbucks gifts you a $20 sign-up bonus. Now, there’s a small catch—your bonus will only make its way to your account after you’ve made a purchase of $25 or more through one of Swagbucks’ partner merchants. But, considering it’s like getting most of your money back, it’s a decent deal.

Earning Money on Swagbucks

The Best Methods Accumulating Swagbucks, or SBs, is your key to earning on this platform. You can then trade these SBs for gift cards or hard cash in your PayPal account. The conversion is pretty straightforward—one SB is equivalent to a penny.

Different activities promise different payouts, with some being more rewarding than others. Here’s a rundown of the top ways you can rake in the SBs on Swagbucks:

Online Surveys

It all comes down to your opinion! Market research firms pay Swagbucks to gather consumer insights, and Swagbucks, in turn, pays you to complete surveys.

Browser Extension

Swagbucks’ Chrome-compatible browser extension, the SwagButton, nets you an instant 25 SBs upon installation. This handy tool alerts you about cashback opportunities on sites you’re shopping on and even applies any available coupon codes at checkout—no more hunting for discount codes.

Online Shopping

Swagbucks is buddies with a multitude of retailers. Each of these partnerships offers a varying cashback percentage—generally between 1 and 8 percent. Log into Swagbucks, pick your shopping destination, and watch your SBs roll in post-checkout.

Videos and Games

Earning SBs doesn’t have to be hard work. Sit back, watch video ads or play games, and collect your SBs. While not the highest earners, these options require minimal effort and are arguably the most enjoyable.

Videos typically last a few minutes and are mostly ads for consumer goods and entertainment. The games are mostly mobile-based, with points earned through in-game purchases or by downloading free, ad-supported games.

Referrals

Spread the Swagbucks love! Refer friends to the platform, and once they sign up, you both receive a bonus of 300 SBs. Plus, you’ll earn 10% of your referred friend’s lifetime earnings on the site, providing a steady stream of SBs as long as they remain active.

Cashing out on Swagbucks

Once your balance hits 300 SBs ($3), you can start thinking about cashing out. However, some rewards demand a higher payout threshold.

PayPal Cash

If cold, hard cash is your preference, your best option is to cash out through your PayPal account. To do so, you’ll need at least 1,000 SBs ($10), and your Swagbucks and PayPal email addresses must match. Keep in mind that transferring these funds to a bank account may incur a fee.

Gift Cards

For a faster payout, consider trading your SBs for free gift cards to popular retailers like Amazon, Walmart, or Target. You can redeem gift cards as low as $1 and have hundreds of choices. Even Visa and American Express gift cards are on the table.

Survey Junkie Overview

Survey Junkie is a prominent player in the online market research domain. It’s entirely free to join and caters to residents in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

Touted as one of the most recognized survey sites globally, Survey Junkie hosts over 10 million members and provides paid opportunities through surveys, focus groups, and shared browsing data, linking its members to consumer brands.

Top Ways to Earn Money on Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie’s earning avenues are more streamlined compared to Swagbucks. Upon survey completion, you earn points redeemable for cash or gift cards, with a conversion rate of one point equating to one cent.

Signing up to the platform earns you an instant 25 points, while completing your initial survey profile adds another 50 points.

You can enrich your profile by answering questionnaires on topics like health, technology use, and shopping habits. This detailed profiling assists the site in matching you with suitable opportunities, and you earn an additional 10 points for each questionnaire completed.

Online Surveys

After crafting your member profile, Survey Junkie pairs you with relevant surveys. The typical payout for completed surveys ranges between forty and 200 points, averaging around 15 minutes to complete.

Like other survey sites, disqualifications are part and parcel of the experience; not every survey will match your demographic profile. However, the more comprehensive your profile, the higher your chances of being matched with suitable surveys.

Browser Extension

Survey Junkie also features a browser extension dubbed SJ Pulse. Unlike SwagButton, which alerts you to shopping deals, SJ Pulse operates quietly in the background, tracking your online habits. This includes the websites you frequent, your searches, shopping activity, and your engagement with content.

Opting for SJ Pulse is entirely voluntary. You can install it on your browser or enable it through the mobile app. The concept of Survey Junkie monitoring your online behavior might seem invasive, but rest assured, the data is solely used by market research companies to comprehend consumer trends. The company safeguards sensitive data like credit card numbers and passwords using encryption.

Choosing to be part of SJ Pulse lands you 150 bonus points after thirty days. Plus, SJ Pulse membership grants access to exclusive surveys and other benefits.

Survey Junkie Payout Options

To cash out on Survey Junkie, you need to accumulate a minimum of 500 points ($5). Once you reach this threshold, visit the My Points page and select your preferred reward.

Bank Transfer

Setting Survey Junkie apart from most rewards sites, it offers direct bank transfers. Simply link your bank account to your Survey Junkie profile to avail of this feature.

PayPal Cash

If you’re uncomfortable sharing your banking information, you can opt to cash out through PayPal. This is the only option for Survey Junkie members residing in Canada and Australia.

Gift Cards

Lastly, you can opt to receive payment via electronic gift cards. Survey Junkie offers a wide array of choices, including gift cards from Amazon, Walmart, Target, and iTunes.

Swagbucks Vs Survey Junkie: Just Use Both!

Both Swagbucks and Survey Junkie offer easy means to earn some extra cash online. If you’re looking to earn some extra cash doing quick surveys, both are platforms are the among the highest rated and trusted survey sites in the industry.

Keep in mind the actual earning potential these sites present. While they’re legitimate platforms and not scams, they’re not designed to replace a full-time income or pay your bills. They’re better considered as low-effort side gigs that you can take up in your spare time.

If the prospect of earning money through surveys still excites you, consider signing up for multiple survey apps. This approach allows you to find the one that suits you best while also increasing your overall survey income.

The key takeaway, irrespective of the side gig you opt for, is the gradual growth of your account balances. This will enable you to pay off any existing debts and invest your earnings, moving you a step closer to achieving financial independence.