Are you in Australia looking for a way to earn extra cash, crypto, or gift cards? We have researched the top paid survey sites recruiting new participants in Australia.
Start earning by signing up to as many as you can. To increase your chances of being selected for more surveys, provide as much information about yourself as possible.
The Best Paid Survey Sites for Australians
Not all survey sites work in Australia. Some are US-only or don’t accept international members. You need sites that specifically accept Aussies and pay in Australian dollars or gift cards you can actually use.
Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel
FreeCash
Swagbucks
Survey Junkie
IRI Shopper Panel
HeyCash
Prime Opinion
Rewardia
Ipsos iSay
MOBROG Panel
Hintsters
iSurveyWorld
ZoomBucks
Surveoo
QuickThoughts
Opinion Bureau
How Much Money Can You Actually Make?
Let’s be real here. You won’t get rich doing surveys. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying.
Most surveys pay between $1 and $5 each. Some special surveys might pay $10, $20, or even more if they’re looking for specific people or detailed feedback. If you sign up with several survey sites and check them regularly, you could realistically earn $50 to $200 per month.
Think of it as beer money, not rent money. It’s perfect for paying for Netflix, grabbing takeout, or saving up for something special. Some people even use their survey earnings for Christmas shopping or small treats throughout the year.
The amount you earn depends on a few things. How many sites you join matters. How often you check for surveys matters too. And whether you fit the demographics companies are looking for makes a big difference.
How to Sign Up and Get Started
Getting started is super easy. Head to a survey site and click the signup button. You’ll need to provide your email address, create a password, and fill out a profile.
The profile part is really important. Don’t rush through it! Survey sites use your profile information to match you with surveys. Be honest about your age, gender, location, income, employment status, and interests. If you lie to get more surveys, you’ll just get screened out anyway when the survey questions don’t match your fake profile.
Most sites will ask you to confirm your email address. Check your inbox and click the confirmation link. This step is crucial—you won’t get survey invitations until you confirm.
After that, you might get a welcome survey or additional profile questions. Fill these out completely. The more the site knows about you, the better they can match you with relevant surveys.
Smart Tips for Earning More
Want to maximize your survey earnings? Here’s what works.
- Join multiple sites. This is the number one tip. If you only sign up for one survey site, you’ll get maybe three to five surveys per week. Join five or six sites and suddenly you have plenty of surveys to choose from.
- Check your email daily. Survey invitations often have quotas. The company might only need 100 people to complete the survey. If you wait three days to check your email, the survey might already be full.
- Create a separate email address just for surveys. This keeps your main inbox clean and makes it easy to see all your survey invitations in one place. You can quickly scan for new surveys without them getting lost among your regular emails.
- Fill out your profile completely and keep it updated. If you get a new job, move to a new area, or have a baby, update your profile. This helps you get matched with more relevant surveys.
- Be honest in your answers. Survey sites have quality checks built in. They’ll ask the same question in different ways to make sure you’re paying attention. If they catch you giving random answers, you might get banned.
- Don’t speed through surveys. Companies know roughly how long each question should take. If you finish a 15-minute survey in three minutes, they’ll know you didn’t read the questions properly.
Red Flags and Scams to Avoid
Unfortunately, not every survey site is legit. Some are scams designed to steal your information or waste your time.
Never pay to join a survey site. Real survey sites are always free. If a site asks for your credit card or wants you to pay a membership fee, run away. That’s a massive red flag.
Be careful with sites that promise huge earnings. If a site claims you’ll make $500 per day doing surveys, they’re lying. Remember, realistic earnings are more like $50 to $200 per month.
Watch out for sites that ask for weird personal information. Your social security number (or Tax File Number in Australia), bank account details, or driver’s license number are not needed to take surveys. Legit sites only need basic demographic info and maybe your PayPal email when you cash out.
Check reviews before joining. A quick Google search like “Is [site name] legit?” will show you what other users have experienced. Look for reviews on trustworthy sites like Trustpilot or Reddit.
If a site has terrible English or looks really unprofessional, that’s another warning sign. Established survey companies have decent websites that work properly.
Understanding Points, Payments, and Payouts
Different sites have different payment systems. Some pay in points, some in cash, some in gift cards. It can get confusing.
With point systems, you earn a certain number of points per survey. Each site has its own conversion rate. On one site, 100 points might equal $1. On another, 1000 points might equal $1. Always check the conversion rate so you know what you’re actually earning.
Most sites have minimum payout thresholds. You might need to earn $10, $20, or $25 before you can cash out. This prevents people from constantly requesting tiny payments that cost the company money to process.
PayPal is the most common payout method. It’s fast and convenient. Some sites also offer direct bank transfers, though these sometimes take longer to process.
Gift cards are another popular option. You might be able to get cards for Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Woolworths, Coles, JB Hi-Fi, and other popular Australian retailers. Sometimes gift cards offer better value—you might get a $25 gift card for fewer points than a $25 PayPal payment.
Processing times vary. PayPal payments are usually pretty quick—anywhere from instant to a few days. Gift cards might take a few days to a week. Bank transfers can take up to two weeks.
What About Taxes?
You’re probably wondering if you need to report your survey earnings to the ATO. Here’s the straight answer.
Technically, any income should be reported on your tax return. That includes survey earnings. However, if you’re only making small amounts—like under $100 per year—it’s probably not going to make a significant difference to your tax situation.
If you’re earning more substantial amounts, you should definitely declare it. Keep records of your payments throughout the year. Most survey sites will show your payment history in your account.
The good news? If you’re earning small amounts from surveys, it’s unlikely to push you into a higher tax bracket or cause any issues. It’s just additional income that gets added to your total taxable income for the year.
When in doubt, ask a tax professional or check with the ATO. Better safe than sorry when it comes to taxes.
Product Testing and Focus Groups
Here’s something cool. Some survey sites also offer product testing and focus group opportunities. These usually pay more than regular surveys.
Product testing means companies send you free products to try at home. You use them for a few weeks, then provide detailed feedback through surveys or reviews. You usually get to keep the products. Imagine getting free beauty products, food items, electronics, or household goods just for sharing your opinion!
Focus groups are more involved. You might be invited to an in-person session (usually in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane) where you discuss products or ideas with a small group of people. These sessions typically last one to two hours and can pay $50 to $150 or even more.
Online focus groups are becoming more common too. You join a video call with other participants and a moderator. These are convenient because you can do them from home.
To get invited to product tests and focus groups, keep your profile updated and respond quickly to invitations. These opportunities fill up fast because everyone wants them.
Mobile Apps vs. Website Surveys
Many survey sites now have mobile apps. This is super convenient because you can do surveys anywhere—on your lunch break, while watching TV, or waiting for an appointment.
Apps usually send push notifications when new surveys are available. This means you can grab surveys before they fill up. You don’t have to keep checking your email.
The downside? Some surveys work better on computers with full keyboards and bigger screens. Typing long answers on your phone can be annoying. And some surveys with lots of images or videos might use up your mobile data.
My suggestion? Use both. Check the app regularly for quick surveys you can do on the go. Save longer, more complex surveys for when you’re at your computer.
Making It Worth Your Time
Let’s be honest. Surveys aren’t the highest-paying side hustle out there. So how do you make it actually worth your time?
First, only do surveys while you’re already doing something else. Watch TV and do surveys during the ads. Do surveys while listening to podcasts or music. Do them while waiting for dinner to cook.
Second, focus on the higher-paying opportunities. If a survey only pays $0.50 and takes 15 minutes, maybe skip it. Wait for the $3 to $5 surveys instead.
Third, treat it as free money for stuff you’d buy anyway. If you regularly shop at Woolworths, get Woolworths gift cards with your survey earnings. That’s money you would have spent anyway, so it’s like getting your groceries for free.
Fourth, make it a habit. Spend 15 minutes every morning checking your survey sites. You’ll be amazed at how quickly those small amounts add up.
Is It Really Worth It?
So here’s the million-dollar question. Are paid surveys in Australia actually worth your time?
That depends on your situation and expectations. If you’re hoping to quit your job and live off survey income, absolutely not. That’s not realistic.
But if you want a simple way to earn some extra spending money in your spare time, then yes, it’s worth it. Think about it. You’re probably already sitting on your phone scrolling through social media for 30 minutes a day. Why not spend that time earning $5 instead?
Surveys work best for people who have downtime they’re not doing anything productive with anyway. Stay-at-home parents, students, retirees, or anyone with spare time in their schedule can benefit.
The beauty of surveys is that there’s no commitment. You can do them when you want, stop when you want, and there’s zero pressure. If you have a busy week, you just ignore the survey invitations. No one cares.
Final Thoughts
Paid online surveys in Australia are a legitimate way to earn extra money. You won’t get rich, but you can definitely make enough for some nice treats or save up for something special.
The key is having realistic expectations. This is beer money, not a career. But for something you can do in your pajamas while watching Netflix, it’s pretty decent.
Start by joining a few reputable sites. Give it a month and see how you go. Track your earnings and decide if it’s worth continuing. Some people love it and make surveys part of their daily routine. Others try it and decide it’s not for them. That’s totally fine either way.
Remember to stay safe, avoid scams, and never pay to join a survey site. Stick with established companies that have good reviews from other Australian users.
Ready to get started? Pick a couple of sites from the list above, sign up, and start earning. Your first PayPal payment might be small, but there’s something pretty satisfying about getting paid for your opinions.
Plus, companies actually use your feedback to make better products, so you’re helping shape the stuff you buy. That’s kind of cool when you think about it.
Good luck with your survey journey! May your inbox be full of high-paying survey invitations.
