Viewing online ads and taking surveys are good ways to make some additional income. Depending on how much time you can devote to viewing ads and filling out surveys, then adhering to their conditions, you can realistically make up to $100/month (or even more).

Why would someone want to pay you to fill out a survey? Because online survey sites are looking for one of two things: your opinion about a particular product, or your experience with a particular product. For example, let’s say the company Sprockets, Inc. is surveying people about the new Sprocket 3000. The company could do one of two things: have people fill out a survey about the product, whether they like it, what they would change about it, etc., or it could entice them to try/buy the product.

In the first scenario, people fill out a survey which asks if they’ve tried the Sprocket 3000, what their experience with the Sprocket 3000 was, and so forth. Arguably, this kind of survey is much easier to do, since there is no purchase required in order to be credited with some cash. In the second scenario, people are asked to try or buy the Sprocket 3000, which involves first shelling out personal funds, and then either obtaining a cash bonus for their efforts or sending the product back for a refund. 

How much time will you need to devote to filing out surveys before you can start collecting money? Speaking from personal experience, the only time I made a significant chunk of change when filling out surveys was when I was unemployed. Back in that day, I’d spend about an hour or two filling out all the free surveys, making about $5-$10 for my efforts. I’d then head over to the more lucrative surveys- essentially, the ones where you order a free-trial product or service, get credited for your efforts, and then send the product right back to the company or cancel the service before getting charged. After another hour or two of ordering/canceling products and services, I’d have made another $15-$30.

In the course of a month, assuming I could find enough survey sites and not do repeat business with any one company, I would receive a check in the amount of $50-$150. Most survey sites did not pay right away, though, so I was usually tapping my toes for a good 60 days before seeing my money. Still, money is money, and I was happy to see anything while unemployed.

During my online survey career, I located a few really good survey sites. Some of these sites have paid me more than once, and even now I look forward to their checks. These sites are the following:

• Ciao! With this site, you are paid up to $3 to review any product of your choosing from the site’s immense catalog of items. Your review is then judged by the Ciao! community for usefullness. Depending on how many individuals click and view your review, you make more money.

• InboxDollars and SendEarnings. Both of these sites use the same layout and affiliates so it’s hard to tell them apart. Both sites also work on the same premise: you get paid 2 cents for e-mails that are sent to your inbox and are then opened and viewed by you. Product offers that are filled out are paid much more, from 25 cents to even $30. Both sites also require that your account contain a minimum of $30 before your request payment.

• Lightspeed Panel pays on a points basis for surveys that are successfully completed. Most surveys earn about 75-100 points, which translates to $0.75-$1.00 (1 point equals 1 cent). However, there are more involved surveys and even take-home surveys., which of course pay much more.  I’ve heard of people making $50 for for completing surveys which tracked diet plans or product usage over several weeks. Should you not qualify for a survey after starting one, you are entered into a $5,000 monthly drawing.

• MyPoints This site awards you points for viewing e-mailed ads that are sent to your inbox. MyPoints also pays you points for offers that you fill out on the site. Additionally, you may apply for and receive a credit card from MyPoints, which will then tack on further points whenever you make a purchase in the "real world" (or online). The points can later be redeemed for gifts cards.

• My View This site pays you about $2 for every survey you successfully fill out. Your eligibility to complete a survey is determined by the demographic infomation you fill out on your account and profile pages. After submitting your stats, My View will e-mail you 2-3 survey notifications per week.

• SurveySpot This site is a lot like My View. You get paid a certain number of dollars ($1-$5) for successfully qualifying for and completing a survey. Survey notifications are rather frequent; I typically get 1-3 survey e-mails per day. If you do not qualify for a survey, you get entered into a sweepstakes. 

• YouData YouData is a relatively new site and pays quite well for simply viewing banner ads and other advertisements. Generally, viewing an ad will make you between 5-25 cents. Payout is almost immediate, with no minumum amount required in your account. If you’d like to check out YouData (and make some money for me in the process), please click on my referral link here. Thank you in advance! 

• Your2Cents. Your2Cents pays survey participants from $1 to $5 for each survey successfully filled out. The minimum payout is set at $10, and it is not hard to reach this limit. In a typical week, Your2Cents sends out 2-3 surveys for you to fill out. Your2Cents also enters you into a $5,000 drawing every time you fill out a survey. The only caveat: you have to be quick to fill out the survey when notice of its availability is sent to your inbox. Otherwise, the site will inform you that the survey has expired.

So, in the end, are online survey survey sites worth it? The answer to that depends on several factors, the biggest one being just how much time you can devote to filling out surveys. If you have nothing better to do, surveys are a great way to make some additional money. However, even a part-time job quickly outweighs the pay scale of survey sites.

Another big factor is just how organized you are regarding forms and deadlines. Remember that, in order to make the big bucks with online survey sites, you will need to buy products and services and cancel them before the membership dues accrue. If you are sloppy about which item you ordered and when, your survey career will quickly descend into impulse buying. You will actually lose more money than you make.

A final factor to consider is if you are already in the market to make legitimate purchases and benefit from them. If so, then by filling out surveys and buying products and services, you may not make a ton of money (since you will be keeping your items), but at least you will save considerably on the purchases made. This is itself is still money in your pocket, since you were going to buy these things anyway. 

In summary, don’t expect to retire on your earnings from online surveys. However, do expect to make a nice amount of spare change and learn about a lot of new and interesting products.