If you’re looking for easy ways to earn money online, you might have heard of InboxDollars already. It’s a popular paid survey site that has gained a ton of recognition in recent years. It offers multiple ways to earn, and a $5 bonus just for signing up.

But is this survey site really worth all the hype?

I looked into InboxDollars to see how it stacks up against the other top survey sites on the market. Here’s everything you need to know, so you can decide for yourself whether or not InboxDollars is worth your time in 2023.

What is InboxDollars?

Before I get into my InboxDollars review, let’s go over the basics of this website.

InboxDollars is a cash rewards and survey site. If you’ve never heard of such a thing before, a survey site is a website that pays people to take surveys online. The whole point of survey sites is market feedback: brands can get a better idea of what consumers are looking for, and consumers (like you!) can get paid for their effort.

Like a lot of the most popular survey sites out there, InboxDollars pays users to complete surveys relevant to their demographic. Those surveys range from in-depth market research to quick and easy opinion questionnaires.

On top of that, there are a few other ways to earn through the website or mobile app – which I’ll get into later on in this post. There are also features that can help you save money on your shopping. That’s a benefit that not all survey sites offer, and part of what has made this site so appealing.

Founded in 2000, InboxDollars is one of the oldest survey sites around. Today, they have millions of members all over the globe. They’re now owned by the same company that manages a few other popular survey sites, including SwagBucks and MyPoints. The features of all those sites are pretty different, despite being owned by the same umbrella company.

Is it legit?

I’m always suspicious of websites that offer free ways to earn money online. So, naturally, the first question I had when looking into InboxDollars was: is this legit, or just another scam?

I can say in full confidence that InboxDollars is not a scam. Users really do earn money on this site, and there is no way to lose money – signup is free and there are no secret, hidden fees.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to make a fortune on InboxDollars, but it does mean that they’re a legitimate company, and this is a safe way to earn money online.

How does it work?

InboxDollars offers multiple ways to earn money.

To get started, all you have to do is make a free account. Just set up your password and confirm your email to do that. It’s pretty fast — plus, you’ll earn a $5 bonus just for signing up!

At this stage, you’ll take an initial survey to answer some questions about your age, location, etc. That’s so the site knows what kinds of surveys and market research you’re eligible for. After that, you’re good to start earning! You can download the mobile app to access your account and complete tasks on the go.

Here are all the ways users earn money with InboxDollars:

1. Surveys

Taking surveys is probably the most popular way to earn with InboxDollars.

The first survey you’ll take is a quick profile survey right when you set up your account. You’ll earn $0.50, and it will tell the site what kinds of surveys you’re eligible to take in the future – based on your age, shopping habits, etc.

After that, you’ll see a list of surveys that are available to you every time you log into your account. Every survey is posted with a description and the dollar amount you’ll earn.  

What’s really cool about InboxDollars, compared to other survey sites, is that you earn payment for each survey or task in dollar value. Other sites often pay you in points, which then get converted to cash or other prizes (and those conversion rates can be a little sketchy and unpredictable at best).

Your earnings will collect in your account, and once you have more than $30, you can make a transfer via PayPal or direct deposit.

2. Games

You can also earn cash by playing games through InboxDollars.

Just log onto your account, and head to the “paid games” portal. You’ll see tons of new games and apps that developers need people to test. In some cases, you will have to download an app or software to play.

You can earn cash for playing games just like taking surveys. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to win gift cards and other prizes.

3. Videos

The easiest way to earn money through InboxDollars is by watching videos. All you have to do is watch sponsored content on the website, and you’ll earn cash in your account.

The payment per video isn’t super high (less than $1) – but all you’re doing is watching, so why not?

4. Paid shopping

InboxDollars also doubles as a cashback website.

If you like to shop online, you can look for deals through the InboxDollars “paid shopping” portal. You’ll see links to retailers like Walmart, the Gap, and more. Each time you buy a product through one of those links, you’ll earn a little cashback on your account.

This isn’t really a way to earn money, but it is a great way to save on products you would be buying anyway.

5. Coupons

Another easy way to save: InboxDollars offers downloadable coupons for in-store and online shopping. Those coupons are promotions for their partner retailers, which include tons of top grocery, clothing, and home goods brands.

Not only can you use the coupons to save with top brands, but you’ll also earn some money in your account every time you download and print one.

6. Paid emails

Finally, you can earn cash in your account just by opening and reading email content.

To do this, you’ll have to opt in to the “PaidEmails” service on InboxDollars. Then you’ll start getting emails straight to your inbox. Each time you open and read an email, you’ll earn a small payment.

If you ever get annoyed with those emails (nobody likes spam), you can opt out of the service at any time.

How much can you earn with InboxDollars?

The first thing everyone needs to know about survey sites like InboxDollars is that they are not a replacement for a full-time, part-time, or freelance job. You will not earn enough money taking surveys to support yourself – it’s just an easy way to make some spare cash.

That said, I can tell you how InboxDollars compares to other sites in terms of earning potential. This survey site is right in the middle of the pack. There are some sites that pay a little more, and plenty that pay much less.

In fact, it shouldn’t really be considered work at all! You can answer questions, play games, or open emails while you’re watching TV at the end of the day.

It’s also important to note that InboxDollars makes it a little easier to earn by taking out the middle step. Other sites pay in points that then have to be exchanged for cash, but InboxDollars pays cash directly. There’s no time wasted making exchanges, and no mystery about how much you’re earning on a given task.

Who is InboxDollars for?

InboxDollars is a website for anyone who has a little time on their hands, and wants to use that time to make some easy cash.

For example, if you have a long commute to work on a bus or train, you might be looking for an easy way to fill that time. InboxDollars is perfect – just answer a few surveys, play a game, and stream a couple videos. You’ll end up a dollar or two richer just for killing some time.

On the flipside, InboxDollars is not for someone who is searching for a profitable side hustle. It’s a fun way to earn, but you won’t earn enough to support yourself or your family. If you need quick cash now, or if you are looking for a freelance job to fill your time, a survey site like InboxDollars is not for you.

But if you’re bored and like the idea of collecting cash for easy tasks, you should check it out!

InboxDollars pros and cons

Every survey site has its upsides and downsides. If you ask me, InboxDollars is more up than down – but it’s still important to consider all aspects.

Here are a few of the key pros and cons that users have found with InboxDollars.

Pros

All the factors InboxDollars users love:

1. Multiple ways to earn

You aren’t limited to taking surveys if you want to earn money with InboxDollars. You can also play games, read emails, watch videos, or even save money on your regular shopping through affiliate links and coupons.

Compared to other survey sites, InboxDollars offers more variety to keep you entertained and earning.

2. Payments directly in cash

One feature of survey sites that always makes me suspicious is a points “rewards” system. When you’re getting paid in points, you never know exactly how much your earning. In some cases, you may have to redeem those points for gift cards or other non-monetary prizes.

With InboxDollars, you get paid directly in cash. You’ll always know how much you’re earning for each task, and there are no extra steps involved.

3. Dollar values posted with each survey

Another awesome feature is that you’ll see exactly how much you can earn with a survey before you start taking it. That way, you’ll never waste your time on something that’s not worth the payout.

4. Easy to use

The website and mobile app are incredibly intuitive and easy to use.

As soon as you log on, you’ll see your available surveys and the dollar amount you’ve collected in your account. Then you can easily click on one of the other “paid” portals to find other ways to earn.

The high-quality platform is another sign that InboxDollars is a well-established survey site.

Cons

Before you sign up for InboxDollars, you should consider these downsides:

1. $30 payment threshold

One factor users have complained about is that you have to earn $30 on your InboxDollars account before you get paid.

The amount of time it takes to reach that $30 threshold can vary for each user, depending on how much time you spend on the site. That means this is not a good solution if you’re looking for a fast cash payout.

2. Slow payment processing

Once you do have more than $30 to withdraw from your account, it may take up to 2 weeks for that money to transfer into your bank or PayPal account.

This is a snag InboxDollars is working on, which will hopefully improve in the future.

3. Lower earning potential than some other sites

You’ll always know how much you’re earning with InboxDollars, but unfortunately, you won’t be earning very much.

Other survey sites out there have higher earning potential. However, those platforms tend to be less predictable and don’t offer as much variety as InboxDollars.

InboxDollars Alternatives

InboxDollars is one of the oldest survey sites around, but it’s far from the only one. If you’re not a fan of this site, you can try some of these alternatives:

• Swagbucks: An engaging survey site where you can earn points, or “swagbucks,” to exchange for gift cards, PayPal cash, and other prizes.
• PrizeRebel: A site to earn points for a variety of tasks, including surveys. Points can be redeemed for cash or gift cards.
• MyPoints: A survey and cashback site that is partnered with tons of retailers, to help you get the best deals and prizes when you’re shopping online.

Each of these sites is just as reputable as InboxDollars, but comes with additional features and fun ways to earn. They’re all free to sign up, so there’s no harm in trying them all out!

Is InboxDollars worth it in 2023?

To sum it up: InboxDollars is a fun survey site that offers a variety of tasks and features for you to earn – and save – money. It’s safe, legitimate, and has been around for years. But is it really worth it?

I’ll be honest: you’re not going to earn very much money with InboxDollars. This is not something you should treat as a second job or side hustle. At most, if you spend quite a bit of time on the site, you could make about $30 in a month.

That being said, the tasks you have to complete to earn with InboxDollars are incredibly easy. You can do this on your daily commute or while you’re sitting around the house. The paid games are fun to play, and watching sponsored content takes no time at all. Plus, with the paid shopping and coupons features, you can use InboxDollars to save on your regular shopping.

Considering all that, InboxDollars is definitely worth it.