Looking for a way to make some extra cash in your spare time? You’ve probably stumbled across Unlock Surveys in your search for legitimate ways to earn money online.
But is it worth your time, or just another overhyped survey site that promises more than it delivers?
This Unlock Surveys review will reveal what the platform is really about, how much you can actually earn, and whether it deserves a spot in your side hustle lineup.
What is Unlock Surveys?
Unlock Surveys is a paid survey platform that lets you share your opinions in exchange for rewards. Think of it as a digital focus group where companies pay you to share your thoughts about their products, services, and ideas.
Unlock Surveys isn’t actually a brand-new platform. It’s the rebranded version of Springboard America, which has been around since 2009.
The same company that ran Springboard America—Maru Group, now part of the Stagwell Marketing Cloud—operates Unlock Surveys. So you’re dealing with a company that has over a decade of experience in the survey game.
The platform connects you with brands, NGOs, media outlets, and even government bodies that want to hear what everyday people think. Your opinions help shape future products and services, which is pretty cool when you think about it.
Is Unlock Surveys Legit?
Yes, Unlock Surveys is legitimate. It’s not a scam, and it does pay out rewards to its members.
The platform is considered safe to use because it doesn’t ask for sensitive financial information like your credit card or bank account numbers. Your personal information and survey responses are kept confidential, which is what you’d expect from a reputable survey site.
How to Join Unlock Surveys
Getting started with Unlock Surveys is straightforward, but there are a few things you need to know before you sign up.
Who Can Join?
You need to be at least 18 years old to participate. The platform is primarily designed for U.S. residents, so if you’re outside the United States, you might not be able to join.
There’s one important restriction: You can’t join if you work in market research or a related industry. This makes sense because companies want opinions from regular consumers, not industry insiders.
The Sign-Up Process
Registration is free, which is always a good sign. During sign-up, you’ll need to complete a short profile questionnaire. This includes basic demographic information like your age, gender, education level, income, and background.
Here’s where things get interesting: Unlock Surveys doesn’t accept every applicant. Your demographic information determines whether you’re a good fit for their client base. This means you could start the sign-up process and get rejected partway through, which can be frustrating.
Welcome Perks
If you do get accepted, you’ll receive a $5 sign-up bonus. Even better, new members are automatically entered into a $1,000 cash sweepstakes. Not bad for just signing up!
How Much Can You Actually Earn?
Let’s talk numbers because this is probably what you’re most curious about.
Survey Earnings
Paid surveys are your main (and often only) way to make money with Unlock Surveys. Most surveys pay between $0.25 and $2, though some longer surveys can pay up to $5. In the platform’s point system, this translates to 50-500 points per survey.
The topics are pretty diverse. You might answer questions about healthcare, entertainment, politics, sports, new products, travel, or current social issues. The variety keeps things interesting, at least.
The Reality Check
You won’t get rich doing surveys on Unlock Surveys. The platform typically sends out surveys only 1-4 times per month, which is pretty infrequent compared to other survey sites.
Realistically, you can expect to earn about $10-$50 per month if you complete a couple of surveys each week. This is side money, not a replacement for your day job.
Other Ways to Earn
Occasionally, Unlock Surveys offers focus groups that pay significantly more—sometimes $100 or more—for participating in in-depth online discussions. These are rare but worth keeping an eye out for.
You also earn sweepstakes entries along with your survey points, giving you chances to win prizes, including that $1,000 cash draw.
There’s a referral program, but it’s not always available. It runs by invitation only for select members and only for limited periods.
The Qualification Game
Before you can complete any survey, you need to answer pre-qualification questions to make sure you fit the target demographic. This is standard practice in the survey world, but it can be frustrating.
You might spend 5-10 minutes answering screening questions only to be told you don’t qualify for the survey. While some platforms give you a small consolation prize for your time, disqualification can feel like a waste of effort.
The good news is that even if you don’t qualify for a survey, you might still earn sweepstakes entries for trying.
Cashing Out Your Rewards
The minimum cashout requirement is $25, which translates to 2,500 points. This is pretty high compared to many other survey sites that let you cash out at $5 or $10.
It means you’ll need to be patient and accumulate earnings over several weeks or months before you can withdraw anything.
You can redeem your points for PayPal cash and gift cards.
The gift card options include popular retailers like:
- Amazon
- Target
- Walmart
- Starbucks
- Best Buy
- Uber
- iTunes
- Google Play
- AMC Theaters
You can also get Virtual or Physical Mastercard gift cards or make charitable donations.
User Experience
Unlock Surveys doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app, but their website works well on smartphones. This means you can knock out surveys during your commute or while waiting in line somewhere.
If you run into problems, you can email their support team at [email protected]. They respond within 24 hours, and there’s also a helpful FAQ section on their website.
User reviews are generally positive when it comes to actually getting paid, though some people find the sign-up process confusing or complain about limited earning opportunities.
The Good and the Bad
What’s Great About Unlock Surveys
- It’s completely free to join with no hidden fees
- You get a sign-up bonus just for joining
- Multiple reward options
- Automatic entry into cash sweepstakes
- Mobile-friendly website for earning on the go
What’s Not So Great
- High minimum payout of $25 compared to competitors
- They don’t accept everyone who applies
- Limited to U.S. residents primarily
- Infrequent survey opportunities
How Does It Compare to Other Survey Sites?
Given Unlock Surveys’ limitations, you may want to consider other options or use it alongside other platforms.
Popular alternatives include Branded Surveys, Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, Freecash, and Kashkick. Many of these offer lower cashout minimums and more frequent survey opportunities.
The smart strategy is to sign up for multiple survey platforms. This gives you more opportunities to earn and helps you reach payout thresholds faster across different sites.
Is Unlock Surveys Worth Your Time?
Unlock Surveys is a legitimate platform that pays what it promises, and the per-survey rates are competitive.
However, the high payout threshold and infrequent survey opportunities are real drawbacks. If you’re looking for quick, consistent earnings, this probably isn’t your best bet.
That said, if you’re building a portfolio of survey sites and don’t mind waiting to reach the minimum payout, Unlock Surveys can be a valuable addition to your earning strategy. The $1,000 sweepstakes entry alone might make it worth signing up.
Just don’t expect it to replace your day job or provide substantial monthly income. Think of it as a way to earn a little extra spending money while sharing your opinions on topics you care about.
The key is managing your expectations and treating it as one piece of a larger side hustle puzzle rather than a standalone income source.
Final Thoughts
Unlock Surveys isn’t perfect, but it’s not terrible either. It’s a middle-of-the-road survey platform that does what it says it will do—pay you for your opinions, even if it’s not as much or as often as you might like.
If you’re curious about online surveys and want to test the waters with a legitimate platform, Unlock Surveys is worth trying. Just make sure you’re also exploring other options to maximize your earning potential.
Remember, the best approach to earning money through surveys is diversification. Sign up for multiple platforms, stay active on the ones that work best for you, and treat it as a fun way to earn a little extra cash rather than a serious income strategy.
Your opinions have value—platforms like Unlock Surveys prove that. The question is whether the value they offer in return is worth your time. For many people, the answer is yes, especially when it’s part of a broader approach to earning extra money online.
