Swagbucks is one of the most popular rewards platforms out there, but is it actually worth it? While it won't make you rich, it can help you earn extra cash, PayPal money, or free gift cards each month just by doing simple tasks online.
You collect points (called Swagbucks or "SB") for everyday activities like online shopping, scanning grocery receipts and playing games. Want to earn more? Complete surveys, try partner offers, or answer the daily poll for bonus points.
In this Swagbucks review, we'll walk you through how the platform works, how you get paid, who can join, and the best tips to earn rewards without wasting time.
What is Swagbucks?
Swagbucks is a free rewards platform available as both a website and a mobile app for iPhone and Android. Once you sign up, you can start earning Swagbucks points (known as SB) by completing simple online activities. Every 100 SB is worth about $1 in gift cards.
Swagbucks says it has paid more than $700 million to members and that over 7,000 gift cards are redeemed every day. You can earn from surveys, cashback shopping, mobile games, receipts and more.
Is Swagbucks a Scam?
Swagbucks is not a scam. It's a legitimate rewards platform that has been around for years, run by Prodege, LLC.
It might seem too good to be true. After all, you're earning free gift cards or PayPal cash just for shopping online, playing games, or taking surveys. But Swagbucks really does pay out. While you won't make a full-time income, it's a simple and legit way to earn a little extra spending money.
How Does Swagbucks Work?
Getting started with Swagbucks is easy and completely free. Just sign up at Swagbucks.com or download the mobile app.
New members can claim a $10 welcome bonus (1,000 SB), but it isn't free money for signing up. You have to activate it in the Swag Ups section of your account, then spend at least $25 at a store featured in Swagbucks Shop within 30 days of registering. The purchase must earn at least 25 SB, and travel and MyGiftCardsPlus purchases don't count.
Once you've created your account, you can start earning SB by completing tasks like taking surveys, shopping online, scanning receipts, or playing games.
How Swagbucks Pays You
You redeem your SB in the Rewards Store in two main ways:
- Gift Cards: Exchange your points for gift cards to retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Starbucks, Home Depot, Apple and Google Play, or a Virtual Prepaid Mastercard. Most popular cards start at $5 (500 SB).
- PayPal Cash: PayPal rewards range from $5 (530 SB) to $100 (10,030 SB). The extra 30 SB covers the fees PayPal charges Swagbucks to send the payment. Your PayPal account must be verified, and your name must match your Swagbucks account exactly.
Swagbucks says rewards can take up to 10 business days to arrive, although they usually arrive much sooner.
Who Can Join
Residents of the United States (and its territories), Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and India can redeem rewards. You must be 13 or older.
You'll need to confirm your email before you can redeem rewards. Swagbucks may also ask some members to complete an identity check through its partner Persona, which usually means uploading a photo of a government ID and a selfie. Swagbucks says this usually takes a few minutes but can take up to 10 business days to review.
Sign up here to get started.
SwagBucksSwagbucks is an online rewards platform that allows users to earn money by completing various tasks.Sign up
How To Earn on Swagbucks
Swagbucks isn't meant to replace a job, but it's a smart way to earn extra money online by turning your everyday activities into rewards. Instead of changing your routine, you can get paid for things you're already doing, like shopping, grocery runs, or playing games on your phone.
Here are the main ways to earn SB:
1. Take Surveys
Swagbucks offers paid surveys similar to platforms like Survey Junkie. Your dashboard shows a list of available surveys you can take in exchange for SB points.
Each survey lists an estimated completion time and the number of SB you'll earn before you start, so you can decide if it's worth it. Payouts vary by survey and by how well you match the target audience. While the rewards per survey aren't huge, surveys are a quick way to earn a little extra when you have free time.
2. Use the Swagbucks Mobile App
The Swagbucks app is available for both iOS and Android and gives you full access to the platform from your phone. You can take surveys, track your SB, and redeem them for gift cards or PayPal cash, all from the app.
The app also has some extras, like Swagbucks Daily Trivia, where you answer trivia questions for SB.
3. Answer the Daily Poll and Daily Goal
Swagbucks posts a quick Daily Poll you can answer for a small amount of SB. There's also a Daily Goal Meter: hit your daily SB target and you can earn bonus points and streak badges. Neither pays much on its own, but they add up if you log in regularly.
4. Shop Online with Swagbucks
Swagbucks offers a cashback program that can give you a solid return, especially if you already shop online. It works similarly to Rakuten. When you start your shopping trip from Swagbucks Shop and buy from a partner retailer, Swagbucks earns a commission and shares part of it with you as SB points.
Swagbucks says you can earn cash back at more than 1,500 retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Home Depot, Macy's and Nike. Cashback rates vary by store and change often, so check the rate before you buy.
To make things even easier, you can install the SwagButton, a browser extension that alerts you when a site offers cash back or coupon codes. It's a helpful way to make sure you never miss a chance to earn.
5. Use Swagbucks Search
Swagbucks still runs its own search engine. By using Swagbucks Search instead of Google, Bing, or Yahoo for some of your everyday searches, you can occasionally earn SB just for looking things up. Don't expect much from it, but it costs you nothing.
SwagBucksSwagbucks is an online rewards platform that allows users to earn money by completing various tasks.Sign up
6. Buy Gift Cards Through MyGiftCardsPlus
Swagbucks also runs MyGiftCardsPlus, a store where you buy gift cards and earn cash back paid in SB. Rates depend on the brand and are usually a few percent, with occasional promotions that pay more.
If you were going to spend money at that store anyway, buying a gift card first is an easy way to earn a little extra.
7. Play Games for SB Points
If you enjoy mobile games during your downtime, Swagbucks lets you earn SB points while playing. Partner games pay you for reaching milestones, such as hitting a certain level, and Swagbucks also runs game tournaments and its own Swago bingo-style game.
To make sure your points track correctly, install games from the Swagbucks link, disable any ad blockers, and stick with one device.
8. Try Offers Through Swagbucks Discover
Swagbucks Discover is one of the highest-paying features on the platform. This section includes special offers that reward you for signing up for services, testing products, or opening new accounts. Some of the bigger payouts come from trying meal delivery kits, subscription boxes, or financial products.
You should never sign up for something just to earn points, but if you were already planning to try one of these services, a single offer can be worth a few thousand SB. Read the terms carefully and cancel free trials you don't want to keep.
9. Enter Swag Codes for Bonus Points
Swag Codes are little bonus codes that Swagbucks shares on its site, app, and official social media channels. When you find a code, enter it in the Swag Code box to earn free SB. Only trust codes from Swagbucks itself, since other websites sometimes post fake ones.
10. Refer Friends
The Swagbucks referral program pays you 10% of the SB your friends earn in eligible categories like Answer, Shop, Magic Receipts, Discover and Play, for as long as they stay active. There's no cap.
In some countries, you also get a 300 SB bonus when a friend earns 300 SB within their first 30 days. Sign-up bonuses, Swag Codes and a few other categories don't count toward referral earnings.
Your friends must sign up using your unique referral link, which you can find in the Invite & Earn section of your account. Swagbucks prohibits spamming strangers or using paid ads with your link.
11. Upload Receipts with Magic Receipts
Swagbucks' Magic Receipts program lets you earn SB by buying specific everyday items and uploading a photo of your receipt. It's available in the US, Canada and the UK, and works with many major grocery stores and retailers.
Offer values vary from a few SB for small items to more for name-brand products. Check the offers before you shop, since they can run out before the expiration date. It's an easy way to earn rewards for things you already buy.
SwagBucksSwagbucks is an online rewards platform that allows users to earn money by completing various tasks.Sign up
Is Swagbucks Worth Your Time?
Swagbucks isn't a reliable source of steady income, and it's not meant to be. While you can earn a few dollars here and there, stringing together enough surveys or tasks to create a consistent cash flow is difficult.
Like many survey sites, Swagbucks can be time-consuming. You might spend several minutes on a survey's screening questions only to find out you don't qualify. Sometimes, even if you do qualify, the survey may close before you finish. These are common frustrations that can lead to wasted time without any payout.
Because of this, your effective hourly rate from surveys is often low. Swagbucks is most worth it if you use it casually: earn cash back on purchases you were already making, scan receipts after grocery runs, and take surveys during downtime. The low $5 PayPal minimum means you won't wait long to cash out.
Alternatives to Swagbucks
While Swagbucks is one of the most well-known rewards platforms, there are plenty of other paid survey apps and money-making websites that offer similar ways to earn extra cash. Some focus more on mobile games, like Freecash and Scrambly, while others focus on surveys.
Earning potential varies from app to app, so it's worth trying a few to see which ones fit your style best. Our best survey sites guide compares the top options, and you can read our Freecash review and Scrambly review for game-based alternatives.
If you're primarily interested in online surveys, be sure to check out our latest survey and gig opportunities to find new options updated regularly.
