Microsoft Rewards Review: How It Works, Points Value and Is It Worth It?
If you’re already searching the web, you’re essentially leaving free Starbucks money on the table. With Microsoft Rewards, you can earn points for everyday online activities, including web searching. This free program allows you to redeem your points for gift cards and other perks, but the earnings are small and should be treated as a bonus, not income.
Microsoft Rewards at a glance:
- Cost: Free
- Earning potential: ~$5–$10/month
- Points value: ~0.1¢ each
- Best for: Existing Microsoft users
- Worth it? Yes for passive rewards, not for real income
What Is Microsoft Rewards?
Microsoft Rewards is a free loyalty program that gives you points for using Bing, shopping, and completing simple online tasks.
You sign up with a Microsoft account and earn points by doing things you may already do online, like searching the web or browsing in Microsoft Edge. It’s designed to reward users for staying within Microsoft’s ecosystem, including Bing, Xbox and the Microsoft Store.
While it’s easy to use, the program is best suited for earning small perks over time, not income.
How Microsoft Rewards Works (Step-by-Step)
Microsoft Rewards works by letting you complete simple online activities to earn points, which you can later redeem for rewards.
Here’s how it works:
- Sign up for a Microsoft account: Create a free account or log into an existing one.
- Earn points through activities, including:
- Searching using Bing
- Completing quizzes and daily sets
- Shopping through Microsoft
- Using Edge or Xbox
- Track your progress: Your dashboard shows your total points, streaks and available offers.
- Redeem your points: Exchange points for gift cards, sweepstakes entries or gaming perks.
The steps are easy, but don’t expect a windfall unless you’re willing to make it a part of your daily coffee-and-scrolling routine.
How to Earn Microsoft Rewards Points
You can earn points through Bing searches, daily tasks, shopping, and using Microsoft products.
Search With Bing
Searching the web with Bing earns you points per search, with separate limits for desktop and mobile.
Most users can earn roughly 150–300 points per day from searches depending on their region and activity caps, making this the primary way to accumulate points.
Complete Daily Sets and Quizzes
Completing daily quizzes, polls and tasks gives small point bonuses and helps build streaks.
Daily sets typically offer around 30–80 points per day, and maintaining streaks can slightly increase long-term earnings.
Shop in Microsoft Store
Shopping through Microsoft earns points on eligible purchases like apps, games or devices.
This can increase your total earnings, but it only adds value if you were already planning to spend money.
Use Microsoft Edge or Xbox
Using Microsoft Edge and playing games on Xbox unlocks additional bonus opportunities.
These bonuses are relatively small, but they can help you reach daily limits faster if you’re already using those platforms.
How Much Are Microsoft Rewards Points Worth?
Microsoft Rewards points are typically worth about $0.001 each, though value varies depending on how you redeem them.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
Value of Microsoft Rewards Points
| Points | Approximate Value |
|---|---|
1,000 |
$1 |
5000 |
$5 |
10,000 |
$10 |
Think of these points like arcade tickets: The price of that Amazon gift card might shift depending on current deals or your member level.
Gift cards usually provide the most consistent value compared to sweepstakes or other options.
How Microsoft Rewards Daily Limits Work
Microsoft Rewards daily limits cap how many points you can earn, which keeps total monthly earnings relatively low.
Here’s how limits typically apply:
- Search limits: Separate caps for desktop and mobile searches
- Daily sets: Fixed number of tasks per day
- Bonus activities: Occasional but limited
Once you hit your daily caps — especially for searches — you won’t earn additional points until the next day.
This is why earnings plateau even with extra effort, making consistency more important than volume.
How Much Can You Earn With Microsoft Rewards?
Most users earn around $5 to $10 per month without spending money, depending on activity level.
Here’s a realistic breakdown:
- Casual user: $3–$5/month
- Consistent daily user: $5–$10/month
- Highly active user: Up to ~$15/month in ideal conditions
For example, completing daily searches and tasks might earn you enough points to reach a $5 gift card in a few weeks.
Because of daily limits, even heavy users won’t scale earnings significantly beyond this range.
What Can You Redeem Microsoft Rewards Points For?
Microsoft Rewards points can be redeemed for gift cards, gaming rewards, sweepstakes, or charitable donations.
Common redemption options include:
- Gift cards: Amazon, Target, Starbucks and more
- Xbox and Game Pass: Subscriptions or in-game content
- Sweepstakes entries: Chance-based prizes
- Donations: Support nonprofit organizations
Gift cards tend to offer the most reliable and straightforward value.
Microsoft Rewards Pros and Cons
Microsoft Rewards is easy and free to use, but the earning potential is limited.
Pros
- Free to join and use
- Simple, low-effort tasks
- Can earn passively during normal browsing
- No special skills required
Cons
- Very low payouts
- Requires using Bing instead of Google
- Daily limits cap earnings
- Time investment can outweigh rewards
Is Microsoft Rewards Worth It?
Microsoft Rewards won’t pay your rent, but it could cover your Netflix sub or a couple of burritos every month just for doing what you already do.
It works best for:
- People who already use Bing or Microsoft Edge
- Xbox or Game Pass users
- Anyone looking for small, passive perks
It may not be worth it for:
- Users who prefer Google and don’t want to switch
- People looking for side income
Compared to platforms like Swagbucks or InboxDollars, Microsoft Rewards is simpler and more passive, but typically pays less overall.
Tips to Maximize Microsoft Rewards Points
You can earn more points by focusing on consistency, maximizing daily limits, and avoiding low-value tasks.
Here are practical ways to increase your earnings:
- Complete daily sets every day to build streak bonuses
- Use both mobile and desktop searches to reach caps faster
- Do searches in batches to save time
- Focus on streaks over one-time bonuses
- Skip low-value or time-consuming tasks that don’t add much
- Check your dashboard regularly for limited-time offers
Building a simple daily routine is the easiest way to make the program more efficient.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Microsoft Rewards is a legitimate program run by Microsoft that gives users points for completing simple activities. It’s widely used and reliable, but the rewards are relatively small.
Most users earn between $5 and $10 per month depending on how consistently they complete tasks. Higher earnings are possible but require daily activity and maximizing all available opportunities.
Microsoft Rewards points can expire if your account is inactive for a long period. Staying active by earning or redeeming points helps prevent expiration.
You can redeem points for gift cards, Xbox rewards, sweepstakes entries or charitable donations. Gift cards usually offer the best value.
Microsoft Rewards has daily earning limits, especially for searches and tasks. Once you reach those caps, you’ll need to wait until the next day to earn more.
It typically takes a few weeks to earn $10 with consistent daily use. The exact timing depends on how many tasks and searches you complete each day.
Microsoft Rewards is safe to use because it’s operated by Microsoft and doesn’t require sensitive financial information. As with any account, it’s still important to use strong passwords and basic security practices.
Final Verdict
Microsoft Rewards is a simple way to earn small rewards for activities you may already be doing, but it’s not a significant income source.
If you’re already using Microsoft products, it’s an easy way to pick up a few extra dollars in gift cards each month. But if you’re changing your habits just to earn points, the return likely won’t justify the time.
Rewards, earning rates and redemption values can change over time, so it’s best to treat this as a small bonus, not a reliable way to make money.
