Branded Surveys is one of the most popular paid survey sites in the US, Canada and the UK, with a $5 minimum cash-out and more than 100,000 reviews on Trustpilot. It also screens people out of surveys, asks some members for photo ID before paying them, and has fine print that doesn't always match its help center. So is Branded Surveys legit?
This review covers who runs Branded Surveys, how you earn and get paid, the rules that trip members up, and what members say on Reddit. Details come from Branded Surveys' own website, help center, terms of service and privacy policy, which we checked on October 7, 2026.
Is Branded Surveys Legit?
Yes. Branded Surveys is a real paid survey panel that has been paying members since 2012. It was founded in San Diego as Branded Research and was called MintVine until a 2017 rebrand. Since 2022, it has been owned by Dynata, one of the world's largest market research companies. Its terms of service say the panel is "owned and operated by Dynata, LLC."
Dynata went through a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024, a restructuring that cut its debt, and emerged that July with new owners led by Bain Capital. Branded Research was one of the companies included in the filing, but we found no reports of members going unpaid.
Branded Surveys says it has paid its community more than $93 million and has over 3 million members. Its ratings are strong:
- Trustpilot: 4.2 out of 5 from about 124,000 reviews.
- App Store: 4.5 out of 5 from about 15,000 ratings.
- Google Play: 4.4 out of 5 from about 15,000 reviews.
- BBB: Branded Surveys doesn't have its own accredited profile. Its parent company, Dynata, has an A+ rating but isn't BBB accredited. One of Branded Surveys' own pages says it's "BBB Accredited," but we couldn't find a current accredited listing.
How You Earn on Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys pays in points: 100 points equals $1, and new members get a 100-point welcome bonus. Ways to earn include:
- Paid surveys. Branded Surveys says most take 5 to 20 minutes and pay $1 to $3, with some paying as little as 50 points and longer ones paying several hundred.
- Daily poll: 5 points for one question a day.
- Quick Questions: 5 points each.
- Offers: games, app sign-ups and purchases. Some require spending money, and credit can take up to 30 days.
- Tap Offers: up to five short offers a day, with a bonus for completing all five.
- Location Rewards (app only): points for viewing ads near participating stores, which requires always-on location access.
- Weekly leaderboard: small prizes for the top 100 members, from 3 points up to 100 points for first place.
Branded Elite bonuses
Branded Elite rewards members who take surveys regularly. Your badge depends on how many surveys you complete in a calendar month:
- Bronze: 2 surveys a month
- Silver: 10 surveys a month
- Gold: 25 surveys a month
Each week, members who complete at least 12 surveys earn a bonus of 5% to 19% of their approved survey points, depending on their badge and how many surveys they take. Silver and Gold members also get instant payout approval.
Referral program
Branded Surveys says you and a friend can each earn up to 500 bonus points. The bonus is paid when your friend first reaches Silver, and the amount depends on both of your badge levels.
How Much Can You Make on Branded Surveys?
Branded Surveys' help center says members typically earn $5 to $100 a month. That fits what members report: one long-time Reddit user said they'd made almost $1,000 over a few years, at up to about $5 a day. At $1 to $3 per survey, with frequent screen-outs, it's a way to earn small amounts in spare time, not an income.
Branded SurveysEarn points for paid surveys, a daily poll and offers. Cash out from $5 to PayPal, bank transfer (US) or gift cards. US, Canada and UK only.Join Branded Surveys
How Branded Surveys Pays You
You can cash out once you have 500 approved points ($5). Payout options are:
- PayPal
- Bank transfer (US only, through Plaid)
- Gift cards, including Amazon and Visa, in $5 increments
- Charity donations
Branded Surveys says payouts are usually approved within one to two business days, or instantly for Silver and Gold members, and payments aren't processed on weekends or holidays. It doesn't list any cash-out fees.
Two security steps can surprise new members:
- A phone number is required. Every payout request needs a four-digit code sent by text.
- You may be asked for ID. The terms say you may need to verify your identity through a third-party service before redeeming rewards. Since early 2025, many Reddit users report being asked for a photo ID at cash-out, while others have never been asked.
The Fine Print: Points, Inactivity and Rejections
Branded Surveys' help center and its legal terms don't always agree, so it pays to know both:
- Points expiration. The help center says points never expire, but the terms of service say points expire one year after they're posted. Cash out regularly instead of saving up points for a year.
- Staying active. The terms define an active member as someone who takes a survey or updates their profile at least once every six months. Inactive accounts can be deactivated, with 30 days to redeem.
- Rejected points. Points are approved right away, but survey partners can review your answers and take points back within two weeks for low-quality, inconsistent or rushed answers.
- One account per person. Multiple accounts, bots, speeding through surveys or hiding your identity can get your account closed and your unredeemed points forfeited.
- No VPNs. Branded Surveys tells members to turn off VPNs and take surveys from the location in their profile.
- Deleting your account forfeits your balance, so cash out first.
Screen-Outs: Will You Get Paid If You Don't Qualify?
Usually a little. Branded Surveys says it tries to give 1 to 3 points when you're screened out of a survey, and aims to do so within the first one to three minutes. Some surveys don't pay anything when you don't qualify.
The bigger frustration on Reddit is being disqualified late, after 15 or 20 minutes. Branded Surveys has a Report Issue button for this, and members say reports often get them the full reward within a few days, as long as you include details and a screenshot. You only have 24 hours after starting a survey to report it.
Do You Pay Taxes on Branded Surveys Earnings?
Survey rewards are taxable income. Branded Surveys' US terms say it requests a W-9 from members who redeem $2,000 or more in a tax year and files a 1099-NEC. Accounts approaching that amount may be suspended until a W-9 is provided. Report your earnings either way. If you earn from several gig and survey sites, our free 1099 tax calculator can help you estimate what you'll owe.
What About Your Data?
Branded Surveys runs on Dynata's privacy policy, which is worth reading before you join. It says Dynata may sell personal information, including sensitive information you choose to share, to third parties like data brokers. It also says Dynata may transfer your information to a data broker six months after your account goes inactive. Depending on your state, you can opt out of the sale of your data through the privacy request page linked in the policy.
What Members Say on Reddit
We reviewed about 330 posts and comments about Branded Surveys from r/beermoney and r/brandedsurveys between January 2025 and October 2026. The main themes, roughly:
- "It's legit, I've been paid" (about 18%). The most common sentiment. Members report cashing out many times to PayPal, bank transfer and gift cards.
- ID checks at cash-out (about 12%). The biggest new worry since early 2025. One member who didn't want to share ID was offered another way to verify, with a photo of their mail.
- Account locks (about 11%). Some members report accounts locked or limited after a failed quality check or a suspected VPN. A common tip is to cash out small amounts regularly.
- Late disqualifications (about 9%). Spending 15 to 20 minutes on a survey before being screened out, often fixed by reporting it.
- Fewer, lower-paying surveys (about 7%). Some long-time members say survey values have fallen.
The overall picture: Branded Surveys pays reliably, but expect screen-outs, cash out often, and be ready to verify your identity.
Branded Surveys Pros and Cons
Pros
- Low $5 minimum with PayPal, bank transfer and gift cards.
- Fast payouts, with instant approval for Silver and Gold members.
- Weekly bonuses of up to 19% for active members.
- Small screen-out rewards and a Report Issue button that often works.
- Strong ratings and a large, established owner in Dynata.
Cons
- Low pay per survey, typically $1 to $3.
- Frequent and sometimes late screen-outs.
- ID and phone verification at cash-out.
- Points can be taken back for two weeks after a survey.
- Only available in the US, Canada and the UK.
- Broad data sharing under Dynata's privacy policy.
Common Questions About Branded Surveys
Does Branded Surveys really pay?
Yes. Members regularly report cashing out to PayPal, bank transfer and gift cards, and Branded Surveys says it has paid out more than $93 million.
How long does Branded Surveys take to pay?
Payouts are usually approved within one to two business days, or instantly for Silver and Gold members. Bank transfers can take longer depending on your bank.
Why does Branded Surveys want my ID?
Its terms allow identity checks through a third-party verification service before you redeem rewards. Many members report being asked for a photo ID at cash-out, usually to prevent fraud.
Is Branded Surveys available outside the US?
Only in Canada and the UK. Members must live in the US, Canada or the UK to redeem rewards.
Is Branded Surveys Worth It?
Branded Surveys is a legitimate survey site with a low cash-out minimum, quick payouts and real bonuses for regular members. It's best for people who want to earn small amounts in spare time and don't mind screen-outs, phone and ID verification, and broad data sharing. Cash out often, report late disqualifications, and don't expect more than a little extra money each month.
For more ways to earn, see our guides to the best survey sites, paid research studies and InboxDollars, or browse survey companies on GigFish.
