Is Swagbucks Legit? 

If you’re looking for ways to make a few extra bucks online, you’ve probably come across Swagbucks. The premise is simple: Get rewarded for taking surveys, cash back shopping and playing games.

But is Swagbucks legit, and is it actually worth your time?

This guide deep dives into the rewards platform. Learn how it works, read reviews and explore alternatives to Swagbucks, including KashKick.

Is Swagbucks legit?

Yes, Swagbucks is legitimate. The rewards platform has been around since 2008. Its parent company, Prodege, is an online marketing company based in California that also owns MyPoints, InboxDollars and more.

Let’s break down Swagbucks’ ratings:

• Trustpilot: 4.0 stars out of 43K+ reviews
• Apple App Store: 4.4 stars out of 148K+ reviews
• Google Play: 4.2 stars out of 450K+ reviews

In short, Swagbucks is legitimate, but let’s see how it works and what real users have to say.

Is Swagbucks safe?

Swagbucks is safe to use, but it helps to know what you’re signing up for.

The platform collects profile information like your age, household size and shopping habits. That’s how it matches you with surveys you’ll actually qualify for. The more complete your profile, the fewer times you’ll get screened out halfway through a survey.

Payouts run through PayPal or gift cards, so Swagbucks never needs direct access to your bank account. Some members do hit an identity verification step before their first cash out, which can feel jarring but is a standard fraud check.

A few basics keep your account secure:

• Use a unique password you don’t use anywhere else.
• Turn on two-factor authentication if it’s offered.
• Check your activity ledger if a reward doesn’t credit.
• Never pay to join a rewards platform. Legitimate ones are always free.

If you’re weighing up any earning app, it’s worth knowing how to avoid financial scams before you hand over your details.

How does Swagbucks work?

Swagbucks works similarly to other get-paid-to (GPT) rewards platforms. You complete small tasks, earn points (SBs) and redeem them for rewards.

SBs convert at roughly 100 SBs to $1. You can redeem SBs through PayPal or for a gift card. How many SBs you need to cash out varies based on payout method.

So how much can you actually make? Most casual members report somewhere between $10 and $50 a month. People who use it daily across surveys, cash back and games tend to land closer to $50 to $100. It’s spending money, not a paycheck.

Here’s how you can start collecting SBs.

Take Surveys

On Swagbucks, you can participate in everything from single-question polls to in-depth studies. The site says most surveys pay about 25 to 500 SB points.

As with all paid surveys, it’s important to temper your expectations. This income won’t replace your full-time job, but if you’ve got time to spare, they’re easy to complete from home.

Play Games

In addition to surveys, you can also earn SBs for playing mobile games through Swagbucks.

Game offers pay out in staged milestones. Early levels might be worth a few cents each, while completing a full offer on a bigger title can run past $100. The exact games and payouts rotate, so check what’s live before you commit.

Earn Cash Back

You can also find online and in-store deals through Swagbucks. You’ll find rates in the low single digits at most major retailers, and the lineup rotates regularly. Just make sure you review the fine print of each deal.

It’s also worth noting you’ll receive cash back in the form of SBs, which you’ll then exchange for actual cash through PayPal or a gift card.

Refer Your Friends

Invite your friends to Swagbucks and get 10% of whatever they earn.

Complete Daily Goals

Swagbucks also has a Daily Goal Meter. When you complete a certain number of SB tasks or goals, you can earn bonus SBs. An example of a daily goal is “Earn 40 SBs to get 3 SBs.”

Watch Videos

Swagbucks previously paid users to watch videos, but this feature was removed in 2022.

Review of Swagbucks

When evaluating any rewards platform, it’s important to look at reviews. Here’s an overview of real user feedback.

👍 What Users Like

• Offers a variety of easy ways to earn extra cash or gift cards
• Easy to use

The reviews:

• From Trustpilot: “I love everything about Swagbucks. The app is easy to navigate, the surveys are easy to understand and I love being able to earn points by playing games. I also like that when you redeem points for a gift card, I always get it within 3 days.”
• From Google Play: “I love this app! It’s very easy to use, fun and helps me make some extra money. What’s not to like?”
• From the App Store: “I really love this app! It not only allows you to make extra money doing surveys, but it also provides different offers for tasks to complete or games to play to earn more rewards. … It’s definitely worth using on a daily basis!”

👎 What Users Don’t Like

• Time-consuming
• Issues with cashing out
• Frustrating experience with customer service

The most common frustration by far is getting screened out. Surveys target narrow demographic groups, so you can answer qualifying questions for 5 minutes and still get turned away. It’s worth saying this isn’t unique to Swagbucks. Screen-outs happen across every survey platform, and a fully completed profile is the best defense against them.

Reviews:

• From Google Play: “Swagbucks isn’t what it used to be. I’ve been using since 2010. It’s basically a big spam hole now.”
• From Trustpilot: “Takes forever to get a reward. Get bounced out of surveys after answering 5 minutes of qualifying questions.”
• From Trustpilot: “After years of being an active member I decided to change my password for additional security. Next thing I know I try to log in to my account and it’s saying my account has been deactivated. After submitting multiple tickets with customer service and still not getting a response after 3 months I’ve given up. I’ve used swagbucks for many years and made countless money and I’m really disappointed in the level of customer service. If you are new to swagbucks or looking to join — don’t waste your time.”

Best Alternatives to Swagbucks for Earning Money Online

If you’re looking for alternative or additional ways to earn, here are several platforms similar to Swagbucks.

1. KashKick

KashKick is a great alternative to Swagbucks. The rewards platform pays you to complete similar tasks, including taking surveys, playing games, claiming deals and earning cash back on shopping.

Unlike Swagbucks, KashKick doesn’t use a complicated points system. You’ll earn cash, so the math is easy. Plus, the minimum payout is $10. You can cash out via PayPal or Venmo, choose a gift card or donate to charity.

KashKick’s referral program also beats Swagbucks’, giving members 25% of each reward their friends earn from playing games and claiming deals (compared to Swagbucks’ 10%).

Still weighing your options? Here’s more on whether KashKick is legit. Ready to jump in and see how much you can earn? Sign up for free.

2. Survey Junkie 

If you love Swagbucks’ surveys, then Survey Junkie might be a solid alternative for you. You can earn rewards for taking surveys and sharing information about your online searches, site visits and more. But you won’t find games or cash back opportunities.

Once you earn 500 points (or $5), you can request a payout. Options include gift cards, PayPal and bank transfers.

We’ve dug into whether Survey Junkie is legit if you want the full breakdown.

3. Testerup

With Testerup, you can earn money as an online tester. That means you get rewarded for completing tasks like playing games, taking surveys and testing apps and websites. Each offer has a list of tasks you’ll need to complete to earn rewards.

You can get paid through PayPal. Testerup doesn’t publish its minimum withdrawal clearly, so check the current threshold before you start earning.

4. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is owned by the same company as Swagbucks, so you might notice some similarities between the two platforms.

With InboxDollars, you’ll earn dollars (not points) by taking surveys, playing games and shopping online. When you join, you can snag a $5 bonus, and once you’ve earned $15, you can cash out for PayPal cash or a gift card. The payout minimum drops to $10 after your first cash out.

Here’s our full InboxDollars review for more details.

Maximize Your Earnings With the Best Swagbucks Alternatives

Determining which rewards platforms you want to use can feel overwhelming; there are so many! But you’ll want to look for ones that:

• Offer a variety of ways to earn. When you get bored of surveys, for example, you can play some games. With more variety, you’ve got more opportunities to earn.
• Use clear points systems. When it comes to making money online, transparency is crucial. Points systems can make it difficult to figure out how much you’ve earned (and even mask the fact that you’re really not earning much at all).
• Have low payout thresholds. The lower the payout minimum, the better. Because tasks often aren’t super high-paying, even collecting $20 on some of these platforms can be a challenge.
• Pay cash. Collecting your rewards via PayPal, Venmo or a bank transfer is ideal. Gift cards can get lost in the shuffle and limit how you spend the money.
• Have good reviews. You can find negative reviews for anything these days, but the best rewards apps have higher average ratings and overall positive user experiences.

For these reasons, KashKick consistently comes out on top when it comes to Swagbucks alternatives. The easy-to-use platform offers members a variety of ways to earn, skips points entirely and pays out cash via PayPal or Venmo once you earn $10.

Start earning with KashKick.