Survey Junkie Review: How It Works and What You Can Expect

Need an easy way to make a few extra dollars this month? Here at The Penny Hoarder, we’re fans of paid survey sites. One of our favorite platforms is Survey Junkie — a well-known and popular site for easy side income. 

Not only are you getting paid for voicing your thoughts on your favorite brand of laundry detergent or if you like Pepsi more than Coke, you’re shaping the way certain brands make decisions. Your thoughts are valuable to market research companies, which is why they pay for them through platforms like Survey Junkie. Read our Survey Junkie review to learn how much money you could realistically make, the pros and cons, and if it’s legit.

What Is Survey Junkie?

Survey Junkie is a free online survey platform that allows users to earn money by sharing their opinions. Expect to take surveys related to food, technology, entertainment, personal care, travel and much more. Market researchers pay for this data, and Survey Junkie pays you. 

Market researchers are willing to pay for these insights because it helps them make their products and services more appealing to users. And the parent company, DISQO, distributes this data and information in a safe way, so your privacy is protected. 

Is It Legit?

Yes, it’s a legitimate and safe survey site that pays people for sharing their opinions. It won’t ask you for any type of payment. It has somewhat decent ratings on TrustPilot (3.8/5 stars) and the Better Business Bureau (2.5/5 stars). 

Some users say the payout is lower than they’d like and they had issues with cashing out. Others felt uncomfortable providing a photo ID as a part of the verification process for payment. However, many positive reviews acknowledge that, while you don’t make a ton of money, they appreciated getting paid for simply taking a survey. 

As for your data, Survey Junkie says that it “packages data for its clients in a privacy-compliant way.” In other words, it’s encrypted, which protects it from unauthorized access. You will have to verify your identity to receive payment, which could be in the form of a text, email or a photo ID. Survey Junkie says it does this to prevent fraud and your information is protected.  

How Does Survey Junkie Work?

First, you have to be at least 18 years old and live in the U.S., Canada, Australia or the United Kingdom. Once you sign up, you’ll build a profile so you can be matched with the surveys that are best suited for you. That’s why it’s important to fill out as many questionnaires as you can and build up your profile. You’re matched with surveys based on your interests and demographics. Your survey answers about certain products and services aren’t as valuable if you don’t use them. 

As you take more surveys, you accumulate points. Then you redeem those points for cash or gift cards. You’ll have to reach a minimum of 500 points to cash out, which equals about $5. 

How Much Can You Make on Survey Junkie?

It depends on how often you’re taking surveys. The more you take, the more points you accumulate and the more money you make (100 points equals about $1). But even if you’re taking as many surveys as you can, it’s not a way to make a ton of cash. Most surveys pay about 50 cents to a few dollars per survey, and each one can take about 5-20 minutes. So, think of it more as a way to make a few extra dollars while you sit in the waiting room at the dentist or take the bus home. 

It also depends on how often you get disqualified. This can happen while you’re taking a survey if your answers show you might not be the target demographic for it. Survey Junkie doesn’t determine disqualifications — the market research companies do. Building up your profile and checking for survey opportunities frequently can help with this. 

Pros and Cons of Using Survey Junkie

Tips for Maximizing Survey Junkie Earnings

There are several things you can do to up your payout potential with Survey Junkie. A very important one is completing your profile in full so you get matched with the best surveys for you. That could also decrease the chances of disqualification. 

Use a separate email for survey offers so they’re easier to find. You should also check for opportunities daily and do surveys whenever you have some spare time. 

It will also benefit you to be honest and thoughtful with your responses. There are systems in place to fish out bots and people giving random responses in order to take as many surveys as possible and make more money. So take your time and answer honestly.

Survey Junkie Review: Is It Worth Your Time?

Survey Junkie is a solid way to earn a bit of extra cash in your spare time. It shouldn’t be used as a primary, or even secondary source of income. It can, however, make you a few extra dollars with little effort. That makes it great for students, stay-at-home parents, gig workers or anyone who wants to maximize their free time. 

It’s also a good fit for you if you like the idea of influencing how some companies make decisions about their products and services. You aren’t just making extra money — you’re making your voice heard.   

If you want to combine Survey Junkie earnings with other paid survey sites, we compiled a list of some of our favorites. 

FAQs About Survey Junkie