Earn rewards (Swagbucks) for things you are already doing. Reward sites can be hit or miss, with many feeling like scams. Don’t worry — Swagbucks is legitimate and if you’re willing to put in some time, you can earn great gift cards to retailers like Amazon and Target. My personal experience may not always be sufficient to convince you that Swagbucks is real. Heck, you might think this review is one of those biased reviews. Swagbucks – a great rewards program – has an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with 13 years of doing business under the head company Protege, LLC.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure for more information.

Swagbucks is one of the oldest methods of earning some extra cash online with very little effort. Established in 2008, the company has now paid users over $500,000,000 and counting!

Still, you may be wondering, is Swagbucks legit? As someone who personally uses the platform and has gotten paid several times over, here’s my review to answer your questions and fill you in on how it works.

Is Swagbucks Safe and Legit?

So, is Swagbucks legit? Absolutely! But don’t just take my word for it. It’s easy to verify the payouts the platform has made thus far. Plus, you can visit both Trustpilot and the BBB profile of their parent company, Prodege, LLC, to determine their legitimacy.

There are so many get-rich-quick and pyramid schemes online now that it’s hard to tell what’s genuine and which programs are just more scams filling up the search engines. Because of all this clutter, it’s understandable that you might have some reservations about Swagbucks.

Rest assured that this program is 100% legitimate and a safe way to earn money on the web in your free time.

Like every business, there are complaints out there but if you look through them most have been resolved by the company.

I personally have contacted them a few times when some of my receipts did not pick up in-store purchases and they responded and gave me credit without any issues. Below is an example of one of those emails.

Is Swagbucks a Pyramid Scheme?

Is Swagbucks Fake

Swagbucks is the furthest thing from a pyramid scheme. Here’s why:

According to the New York State Attorney General, a definitive pyramid scheme is a “fraudulent system” designed to generate an income solely by recruiting an infinite number of “investors.”

In other words, it’s an endless cycle of promising people that they’ll get a specific result or benefit, as long as they continue to dish out their money based on your or your organization’s word alone. Swagbucks does not do that, nor do they sell members a specific product or service with continual fees or dues.

Instead, signup is completely free, and you can take advantage of as many or as few earning opportunities as you like. No recruiting is required although they will give you some extra Swagbucks when you refer your friends but it’s totally optional.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU MAKE WITH SWAGBUCKS?

In terms of individual earnings, Swagbucks has claimed that some members earned up to $12,000! Now, don’t get your hopes up too much – that amount of cash is highly uncommon. Members’ earnings usually stay within the range of $50 to several hundred dollars annually. Although, there are the lucky few that break the $1,000 mark.

So far, in my experience with Swagbucks, I’ve earned $586 (the equivalent of 58,644 Swagbucks).

It’s effortless to use and available whenever you need to make a few extra bucks here and there. My earnings come mainly from doing quick polls and taking advantage of their awesome in-store offers (more on that later). So I could definitely be earning a lot more if I took advantage of all they have to offer.

Here are some tips on what to expect from this program and how I earned over $580 dollars and counting.

HOW DOES SWAGBUCKS WORK?

There are several different ways to make money on the Swagbucks site or app. I only do a few of them but you can do as many as you want. Below is an overview of each option:

Shop In-Store

I love their in-store deals which are now called “Magic Receipts”, in the app, because you’re basically uploading your grocery receipts and earning Swagbucks for certain purchases. I love to make money with my receipts and Swagbucks has some of the best receipt earning opportunities out there.

Basically you just check what offers are available, read the instructions carefully to make sure you’re buying the right products and at the right store (as there are some restrictions) and upload your receipt after to get your Swagbucks.

This is where the majority of my earning come from. I’ve earned up to $20 in one shopping trip doing some of these offers so definitely check them out!

You May Also Like: How to Turn Your Grocery Receipts into Money

Shop Online

You can also earn money shopping online through Swagbucks, similarly to a cashback website. Simply start your shopping through the Swagbucks website or app.

Just hop online and shop as you normally do on sites like Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, or hundreds of other major stores, and earn cashback with each purchase. The amount of cashback will be listed on the website so you will know ahead of time what to expect.

To make it even easier be sure to install their money saving Google Chrome browser extension, called theSwagButton, to get your SBs and a bonus of 25 SBs just for installing it. You can get that here.

Do Surveys

Surveys are another way to earn Swagbucks. To find survey’s select “Earn Your SB” from the toolbar on the screen’s left side after login, and choose “Answer” to navigate to the available surveys, or if you’re using the app just go to the “answer” tab.

There are many categories to choose from (brands, products, etc.). They range between 10-23 minutes long and offer an average of 20-70 SB per survey but sometimes they will offer higher-value ones.

While surveys aren’t going to make you rich it’s a good way to earn some extra Swagbucks. I’ll do one here and there on my phone when I’m bored. It’s also a great way to boost your SB’s when you’re close to cashing out.

Watch Videos

Like watching or even listening to videos? Short clips usually yield about 1 SB each, but hey, it’s fun and incredibly easy. These also vary in genre, from travel to home decor and related topics. The best way to take advantage of this option is to play the videos in the background and relax or do some chores while you earn up to $90 monthly.

Surf The Web

You’re searching the web anyway so why not start from Swagbucks? Just by searching through the Swagbucks search engine (an alternative to Google or Bing), you can earn SBs. Each search earns you 1 SB, no matter the inquiry. Just enter a search term, and boom, you’ve got money.

Print & Redeem Coupons

Yes, you can make money by saving money! Swagbucks pays you for printing and using coupons. This is another one of my favorite ways to earn.

To get to the coupons, just select “Shop” in the left toolbar and then “Grocery Coupons.” They have coupons for – grocery, pet, healthcare, beauty, entertainment, etc. – you can earn 1 SB for each printed coupon and 25 SB for each one redeemed! The maximum is 50 coupons daily.

Make In-Game Purchases on Mobile Games

This is one of the “cashback” opportunities from Swagbucks. If you’ve already got some games downloaded on your phone, you’ve got a head start! Just open up Bejeweled, Angry Birds, or another popular game and earn an average of 4 SB per $1 spent. All you have to do is make sure you open the game from within Swagbucks first so that it tracks your purchases.

If you usually make in-app purchases then this is a great option but I wouldn’t recommend making them just to earn Swagbucks as that would be silly and defeat the making and saving money goal.

Enter Swag Codes

This one is a fun sort of scavenger hunt. If you search around the web from within Swagbucks, you might come across a Swag Code, a short string of numbers and words. They’ll yield instant SBs, but they only last a short time, typically between a few hours or several days. Make sure to get the app. It’ll notify you of each new Code. You can also check their Facebook page or other social media platforms for codes.

Refer Others to Swagbucks

Referring other users to the platform is an easy way to earn cash. If the individual you referred earns at least 300 SBs within the first month of signing up, both of you will receive a bonus of 300 SBs. Plus, you’ll earn 10% of their SB income as long as they’re a member.

If you’re ready to sign up and want to use my referral link to get a 300 SB bonus to start then you can do that here.

Does Swagbucks Give You Real Money?

Members who complete paid activities, such as watching videos and participating in surveys (all described above), earn real money from Swagbucks. Keep in mind that the payments don’t come in the form of direct deposits but are initially distributed as redeemable points, known as – you guessed it – “Swagbucks” or “SB” for short which then can be redeemed for cash or gift cards.

How much are Swagbucks worth?

A single SB is worth approximately one cent. This means that, for every 100 SBs you earn, you’ll have made one full dollar. With this in mind, a good rule of thumb is to set your initial earning goal at $5 and work up from there.

Once you’ve earned enough SBs (at least $3 or more), you can initiate your payout.

I love that I can turn my Swagbucks into cash! I usually will cash out right to my PayPal account. You also have the choice to cash out for gift cards which in some cases can get you a better deal because they often go on sale.

Redeem your points as often as you need to because there’s no advantage to “saving up.” It doesn’t accumulate any interest or collect positive benefits for your total income, so delaying your payments serves no real purpose.

Is Swagbucks Worth the Time?

This is all sounds great but is Swagbucks is really worth your time? This depends on what you mean and how much time you have.

For example, for a teenager who’s just looking to make a few hundred dollars over the summer, Swagbucks is definitely worth the time. It’s a low-stress, low-energy “job” that allows you to earn money whenever, wherever.

However, suppose you’re someone who’s looking to make a full-time job online by taking surveys and watching videos. In that case, you’ll have a hard time making Swagbucks feel like it’s truly “worth it.” Remember that you have to earn up to 100 SBs for every dollar you make. That turnover might not be ideal for someone who’s banking their entire income on online earning opportunities.

Still, Swagbucks is a fantastic platform that gives you the ultimate freedom in filling any small financial gaps throughout the year.

My Swagbucks Review

Take it from me: I’ve earned just shy of $586 so far just by shopping in-store by taking advantage of their in-store deals and taking a quick poll every now and then. Swagbucks is a trustworthy site that gives you full control over how much you earn and when you “work.” It’s one of the easiest methods I’ve ever encountered for generating some extra income.

It is super easy to sign up with Swagbucks, it’s free and takes seconds. If you use my referral link here you can get a 300 SB bonus ($3 VALUE).

Are you already a member of Swagbucks or a similar platform? Tell me about your experience in the comments below!

This has been my top survey site for a really long time and I’m going to explain why within this Swagbucks review.

6 years later and I am still a member and that says a lot about a company, especially when it comes to survey sites.

Maybe it’s because of the $10 bonus you receive just for joining?

Maybe it’s the better overall pay?

There are actually several reasons why I personally like this survey site and I want to show them within this Swagbucks review.

I want to show you exactly how things work as there are so many questions that need answers.

Is Swagbucks a scam?

Is it really free to join?

And most especially, is it even worth my time?

Having tried, used, and made money with different cash back type sites, I must say that this is my absolute favorite of them all.

One, it is completely free to join and two, they actually pay.

There are many other reasons why I like these guys but I will be covering that a little further into this Swagbucks review.

But before you go running off into survey land, let me give you the lowdown of what you can expect with something like Swagbucks.

Sometimes joining something without knowing much will leave you disappointed, so I’m sure you will want to read further into things anyways.

Swagbucks Review – Product Overview

Name: Swagbucks

Website: www.swagbucks.com

Type of Business: Get Paid To (GPT)

Price: Free

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Swagbucks continues to be one of our top recommended GPT sites. With the fact that it is free to join and you can still make money is already a huge plus.

They are also the highest paying GPT site and they have been around for over a decade. Definitely recommended, as long as you know you aren’t going to get rich with this.

What is Swagbucks?

Swagbucks is what we refer to online as a GPT (get paid to) type of site.

They pay you through gift cards and even cash, just for doing things you normally do anyways, minus taking surveys.

Unless of course you actually do that, then I guess that would be normal for you too.

With most GPT sites, they usually only come with taking surveys but with Swagbucks, there are many ways that you can earn money.

• Take surveys
• Watching Videos
• Shopping online
• Search the web
• Finding deals

I mean, if getting paid to find a way to save is a problem then I really don’t know what to tell you but I think that’s really awesome.

The site was started back in 2008 and within that decade they were able to pay its members without any problems.

It is ran by Prodege (digital service provider), which also owns other products.

But today, we will be going over their main product to see if it is worth even a second of your time.

Is Swagbucks Safe?

Before you even start using the app, it is only normal to want/need to know if this will be a problem.

Especially with the many scams out there.

I mean, no one wants to fall for Ponzi schemes, let alone something that will flat out take your money

To answer that questions, yes, Swagbucks is absolutely safe.

I have been using them for 5 years now and I have not had anything happen to any of my personal accounts.

Is Swagbucks Really Free?

It might sound too good to be true to some of you but it is actually completely free to join Swagbucks.

There is no need to pay anything and it is possible to make money through their partnerships with the merchants on their site.

Now can you really get $10 just for joining?

Is Swagbucks Good

You sure can!

Swagbucks is free and you will get your $10 signup bonus…

Once you purchase something through their partners and reach the $25 threshold.

This is fairly easy to reach and can be done with just one purchase online.

How Swagbucks Works

It is really simple actually but not many Swagbucks reviews will tell you exactly how it works.

The only other site that can explain such a thing would be on Quora but that’s about it.

Being that I have been doing this whole make money online thing for quite some time now, I can gladly explain that here.

When you take a survey, make a purchase, or do any of the other simple tasks available in your back office, Swagbucks gets paid.

Very much how you would if you were to do affiliate marketing, they make money through the promotion of other people’s products.

By referring you to these other sites, they are then able to make money and then share the profits with you.

I know for a fact they aren’t making a whole lot of money, so you can tell they are giving you a generous percentage.

Thanks Swagbucks!

Who Swagbucks is For

Swagbucks is for anyone who is looking to make a little extra cash.

You will not get rich and hitting $500/month is also not likely.

For a much better chance at hitting a nicer income, you can always see what I think is the best way to make money online.

Besides that, don’t expect to become the next overnight millionaire.

However, if you can do a couple of surveys here and there + sharing your affiliate link, you can make an even better income.

I will be covering that a little further into this Swagbucks review though, so stay tuned.

Making Money With Swagbucks

My most favorite thing about Swagbucks is the fact that you aren’t bound to just taking surveys.

They can get boring and the pay is not the best.

Being able to do more than just one task is not only fun but allows you the opportunity to earn more money.

Very similar to Opinion Outpost but just a tad better in my opinion.

Taking Surveys

Again, surveys are a very common way to make money online.

They are always free to do, so don’t fall for any sites that have you pay.

I’ve seen it done on National Consumer Center, so please don’t fall for them.

I have been with other GPT sites that give me a headache but I have also found some really good ones.

They deny me from doing a survey or flat out wait until I’m done to tell me I didn’t get any points.

Swagbucks is by far the best in this department as they don’t usually do such craziness.

Watching Videos

This might sound silly but it’s really not.

Swagbucks will pay you for doing exactly that.

Watching videos.

Some of you might have seen their “get paid for watching funny cat videos” ad and there is nothing false about it.

You can and will get paid for doing so.

Shopping Online

This is probably the easiest and fastest way to earn Swagbucks.

Is Swagbucks Real Reddit

So if you are one online shopaholic, you might as well get rewarded for doing it.

Swagbucks is partnered with a lot of the big names in the business, so always check your SB account before making any purchases.

Searching the Web

Every single grown adult (at least) has done a search on the web but no one ever knew that they could make money.

I mean, who do you know gets paid for Googling?

Probably no one.

How cool would it be to make money searching for things on the web like you are doing already?

Well download the plugin and you can make it happen.

Looking For Deals

This goes hand in hand with searching the web but there are special offers when you find these actual deals.

The points can be worth more and they are usually to other offers that have you join for free.

But just like the other simple tasks, looking for sweet deals is another one of the ways to make money with Swagbucks.

Sharing the Wealth

This is the part of this Swagbucks review that you should pay most attention to and it is the best reason anyone should join Swagbucks.

Ways To Get Swagbucks Fast

Remember that $10 bonus I mentioned earlier?

Is Swagbucks Legitimate

Imagine getting 10 people to join.

That is $100 for doing nothing more than introducing others to a site that is free to join and pays you for doing simple tasks.

Everyone and their mothers are online and I’m sure they won’t have any issues with getting paid for doing things you are most likely doing anyways.

Pros & Cons

Every program has the good and bad that naturally come with them but I am glad to say that at the very least, the pros heavily outweigh the cons with Swagbucks.

Now this Swagbucks review will not be complete if I didn’t share these things, so it’s only right that I do so now.

No company is perfect and Swagbucks isn’t the exception either.

Pros:

• Completely free to join
• They will pay
• More than one way to earn money
• Pays out almost instantly
• Gives 7,000 gift cards every single day
• Has paid out over $300 million to its members
• Offers a referral program

Cons:

• Can be time consuming
• Points are accumulated at a slow rate
• Will not allow you to fire your boss

Obviously the pros are pretty sweet and although there were some cons, I only felt it necessary to find some “dirt” on them.

Just to be transparent as that is how I am with all the reviews I do.

Besides what I just mentioned, there is really nothing wrong with this site and they are 100% legit.

And if being around for over a decade isn’t enough then I really don’t know what to tell you, besides get with the program and create a free Swagbucks account.

Getting Started

Signing up is beyond simple.

If you’ve ever landed on the Swagbucks homepage you will see that they ask for three simple things.

1. Your email address
2. A password

Okay, that was two but who cares.

At least they don’t have you filling out some crazy forms like other member sites do.

Once that is done, you are ready to start earning yourself some Swagbucks.

Swagbucks Real Or Scam

Swagbucks Review Complete – The Conclusion

The verdict is in and it’s great to say that Swagbucks is not a scam but rather a legit survey site that pays.

They have always been my favorite GPT site and for the many reasons stated above.

I make a nice chunk of change every month and I have never paid a single penny.

Put it this way.

I have to file my earnings from Swagbucks come tax time.

So if you do join, don’t forget to include this in the miscellaneous income section.

Swagbucks is as legit as it gets and they are currently my #1 free opportunity for making money online.

I hope this Swagbucks review has given you the best understanding about this site but if you do have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to checkout something like Wealthy Affiliate for those of you looking to make a little more than a couple bucks.

Cheers!