You likely search online each day without a second thought. What you may not know is that there are so many ways to get paid for searching the web.
Yes, you can earn money by doing something you normally do all the time for free.
If you’re wondering if this is a legit way to work from home, first you’ll need to understand why a company would pay you to use a search engine.
To start, there are more search engines out there than Google. Companies pay to advertise on search engines and get their results at the top of the first page.
As a result, some search engines are more than happy to pay people to use them. That way, they can see the ads.
Some companies may also be interested in learning more about what people are interested in (i.e. your search history).
As a result, paying people to use a search engine is a form of market research.
If you’re looking for a simple way to make money without a job or to start an easy side hustle, here’s how you can get paid to browse the internet.
10 Websites That Pay You To Search The Internet
The average person spends each day online. Whether you’re searching online for work, recipes, or general information, consider using one of these 10 websites to help you make money searching the web.
1. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is another site you can use to get paid to search the internet. They pay you to perform short tasks like watching videos, taking surveys, and more.
Inbox Dollars performs market research for other companies, and one of the things they will pay you to do is search and shop online.
Over the years, they’ve paid out over $59 million in cash rewards and you get paid a $5 bonus just for signing up.
Try InboxDollars Today!Related: Best International Paid Survey Sites
2. Survey Junkie Pulse
Survey Junkie is a popular website that pays you to take online surveys. In addition to taking surveys, users can also download their browser extension called Pulse.
As a Pulse member, you’ll receive push notifications about the newest and highest-paying survey offers available so you can access them first.
The survey notifications you’ll receive are easier to qualify for as well.
Picture you’re just browsing online or scrolling through social media and a notification to take a quick survey pops up.
This is an easier way to get paid for browsing the internet instead of having to log into the survey site to manually check for survey offers.
Try Survey Junkie Pulse!3. Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel
Nielsen is a popular research company that has been around for decades. They have a program called the Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel that pays you up to $50 per year just for using the internet.
How it works is you must be 18 years old and have a laptop or mobile device to download their monitoring software.
Nielsen will then give you points each month that can be redeemed for cash and use your search data to provide reports and analyses of internet user demographics.
Keep in mind, you’ll remain anonymous and your information won’t be sold to 3rd parties for their personal use.
If you simply browse the internet as you normally do, you’ll earn 800 points each month which can be redeemed for a $5 gift card. Keep it up the entire year and you’ll earn around $50.
Nielsen also gives away $10,000 each month in their regular sweepstakes so you’ll be entered to win here as well.
Try Nielsen Mobile Panel Today!4. MobileXpression
MobileXpression is a market research community that is similar to Nielsen only they are dedicated solely to reporting trends and behaviors of people using the internet.
First, you’ll need to check here to see if you qualify to join. Then, you can download their software and earn your first gift card after just one week of browsing the internet on your device.
If you keep MobileXpression’s software on your device, you’ll earn more credits each week which can be redeemed for gift cards.
Try MobileXpression Today!5. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a loyalty rewards site that pays you for a variety of tasks. Some of those include taking surveys, trying out offers, shopping online, playing games, and searching the web.
Sites like Swagbucks have their own search engine that you can set as your default search engine.
That way, when you search for anything you’ll automatically be using Swagbucks and earning points. You can redeem your Swagbucks points for gift cards to your favorite retailers or cash via PayPal. Around 2,500 points will get you a $25 gift card.
Related: Swagbucks Review: Everything You Need to Know
6. SavvyConnect
SavvyConnect is a survey site that will also help you get paid for searching the web.
With their VIP program, you can earn up to $15 per month $5 per device to install SavvyConnect to your device and keep it active.
7. Qmee
Qmee is similar to Swagbucks and pays you real rewards to shop, search online, and take surveys. Qmee has a browser extension that works on search engines like Google, Bing, Amazon, Walmart, and more.
You’ll get paid to search the web and shop online and cash out your earnings through PayPal.
Related: 12 Apps for Doing Odd Jobs
8. FusionCash
With FusionCash, you can get paid to take surveys, shop online, watch videos, and more. This site has been around for a while and you get a $5 bonus just for signing up.
9. Wonder
Wonder is a little different from other sites on this list. It helps people find answers to their questions quickly by doing the research for them.
You can sign up to become a researcher and answer questions that people may not have the time to look up to provide a quick and thorough answer.
To become a researcher, you must pass an online quiz and complete a trial assignment.
10. Microsoft Rewards
Another way to earn money by searching the internet is to use a different search engine.
With Microsoft Rewards, you can get paid to search the web using Bing. You’ll earn 5 points for search and these points can be redeemed for gift cards, sweepstakes, non-profit donations, and more.
Related: Get Paid to Watch Videos
Become a Search Engine Evaluator
If you’re looking to earn more money by searching online, consider becoming a search engine evaluator.
This is a non-phone work-from-home job where you assess the search engine’s results to make sure it’s presenting the most relevant information to users.
No one wants to dig for the answers to their question online or go all the way to the 10th page of the search results.
This is why search engine evaluators are an important part of double-checking search algorithms to make sure the user experience is positive.
This is an entry-level job where you can expect to earn $12 to $15 per hour. Find search engine evaluator jobs with Lionbridge and Appen.
Related: 21 of the Best Online Paying Jobs Paying $20 Per Hour or More
4 Tips to Help You Earn More When Searching The Web
As with all flexible and trusted online money-making opportunities, you can always develop your own unique strategies to help increase your earnings. Here are a few clever ways you can get paid to browse the internet.
1) Sign Up With Multiple Websites
Using just one site won’t help you earn much money. You have at least 10 different options to choose from right off the bat so try a few out at once.
Doing this will naturally increase your earnings without much effort. If you have one internet browser set to a search engine line Swagbucks for example, you can always use another internet browser like Internet Explorer for Microsoft Rewards.
Plus, remember, you can use Qmee on multiple different sites to search.
2) Perform the Maximum Searches Daily
Some websites have daily earnings caps. Find out what the daily earning cap is the for site you’re using and set a goal to hit it each day. If you’re performing a lot of internet searches each day for work, you shouldn’t have a problem doing this naturally.
3) Get Your Friends and Family on Board
Some websites have refer-a-friend programs where you can earn a bonus for each person you refer to become a new member. You can also have your partner sign up for some of these sites so they can earn rewards too.
4) Use Multiple Devices
Don’t just use your laptop or desktop computer to earn money by searching the internet. Odds are, you’re looking things up on your phone too so download some of the apps mentioned above to increase your overall earnings.
For example, Savvy Connect pays you more when you connect more devices and the average person has access to a laptop, cell phone and/or tablet at home.
Related: Apps that Give You Free Money
Browsing the Internet Pays in Dividends
You’re already spending time online each day so you might as well explore some of these legitimate ways to get paid for searching Google and the web in general.
You don’t have to spend a ton of time and browsing the internet is such a passive way to make extra money online. Get started with one of the sites listed above and start earning while searching the web.
