InboxDollars Review 2024: Is Inbox Dollars Legit?
While this does raise a few concerns regarding legitimacy, we can assure you that InboxDollars is a legitimate way to earn extra cash. We tested the app and explored the earning opportunities ourselves — and even made $5.50 in the process.
Key Points
- Launched in 2000, InboxDollars is one of the most prominent paid survey companies on the market. With over 5 million downloads, the platform has paid out tens of millions of dollars in cash rewards to users.
- Most survey opportunities on InboxDollars take 3 to 25 minutes to complete and pay out $0.50 to $5.00. There are, however, occasional surveys that pay $10, $20, or even more, but these require you to meet specific criteria. This is comparable to other paid survey apps.
- All earnings on InboxDollars are real cash, not points. You can cashout via direct deposit, PayPal, or gift card.
Our InboxDollars Review: 4.3 Stars
The InboxDollars website isn’t the most sophisticated, per se, and it’s got several grammatical errors and incomplete sentences, which isn’t the best look. In fact, one page says they’ve paid out $59 million, while another says $80 million — huh?
While this does raise a few concerns regarding legitimacy, we can assure you that Inbox Dollars is a legitimate way to earn extra cash. We tested the app and explored the earning opportunities ourselves — and even made $5.50 in the process.
What is InboxDollars?
Launched in 2000, InboxDollars is one of the most prominent paid survey companies on the market. With over 5 million downloads, the platform has paid out tens of millions of dollars in cash rewards to users.
The platform allows you to earn real cash from taking paid surveys, playing virtual games, and scanning receipts from supermarket purchases. The data obtained from these activities is given to brands interested in learning about consumer behavior.
What We Love
InboxDollars is completely free to use. You can or via their mobile app, which is available in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
Earnings on Inbox Dollars are real cash; no useless points here. Plus, they’re easy to redeem via direct deposit, PayPal, or gift card.
What We Don’t Love
Like most paid survey platforms, you won’t earn a ton with Inbox Dollars. While there are a few higher-paid opportunities, you’ll need to meet incredibly niche criteria to qualify.
You’ll also need to earn at least $15 to cash out, which is higher than some competitors like Swagbucks
Pros and Cons:
Here’s a section highlighting InboxDollars’ competitors, which you can include in your article:
InboxDollars Competitors
While InboxDollar is a well-established platform for earning extra cash, there are several other popular alternatives that offer similar opportunities. Here's a look at some key competitors:
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the most well-known competitors to InboxDollar, offering users multiple ways to earn, including taking surveys, watching videos, shopping online, and even using their search engine. Swagbucks rewards users with points (called SB), which can be redeemed for PayPal cash or gift cards to major retailers. It’s known for having more frequent earning opportunities, though the points system can feel less straightforward than earning cash directly.
Pros:
- Wide range of earning methods.
- Lower payout threshold than InboxDollars ($3 for some gift cards).
- PayPal and gift card redemption options.
Cons:
- Points system (SB) can be less clear than cash rewards.
- Surveys may disqualify users frequently based on demographic criteria.
2. KashKick
KashKick offers similar features to InboxDollar but focuses heavily on cash payouts. Users can earn by completing surveys, watching videos, and taking advantage of promotional offers. One of the key advantages of KashKick is its low minimum withdrawal threshold of just $10, allowing users to cash out faster than on some other platforms.
Pros:
- Simple and intuitive interface.
- Low minimum cashout threshold ($10).
- Direct cash payouts via PayPal.
Cons:
- Fewer earning opportunities compared to Inbox Dollars or Swagbucks.
- Survey availability may vary based on user profile.
3. MyPoints
MyPoints is another long-standing rewards platform that offers users points for shopping online, completing surveys, and more. Much like Inbox Dollars, it’s owned by Prodege and has a strong reputation. MyPoints offers points for shopping at major retailers and lets users redeem them for PayPal cash or gift cards. Its shopping rewards and frequent offers make it a popular option for online shoppers.
Pros:
- Great for cashback and online shopping.
- Large selection of gift card options.
- PayPal cashouts available.
Cons:
- Points system can be confusing compared to direct cash.
- Higher minimum cashout threshold for PayPal ($25).
4. PrizeRebel
PrizeRebel is another versatile platform that allows users to earn points through paid surveys, offers, and even daily challenges. Like Swagbucks, users redeem their points for PayPal cash or gift cards. PrizeRebel stands out due to its lower payout thresholds and more frequent survey availability, but it also uses a points system rather than direct cash.
Pros:
- Low minimum cashout threshold ($5 for PayPal).
- Frequent survey availability.
- Variety of gift card options.
Cons:
- Uses a points system, which can complicate tracking earnings.
- Higher-paying surveys can be difficult to qualify for.
Which Competitor is Best for You?
Choosing the right competitor to InboxDollars depends on what you’re looking for:
- If you prefer a straightforward experience with cash rewards, KashKick might be your best bet.
- If you want flexibility in how you earn and redeem rewards, Swagbucks offers the widest range of activities.
- For frequent online shoppers, MyPoints is a great option for maximizing cashback.
- PrizeRebel might be ideal for users seeking fast payouts with a variety of ways to earn.
How to Make Money on Inbox Dollars
First, sign up for a free account. You’ll earn a $5 sign up bonus for inputting your email, along with a $0.50 bonus after completing the demographic questionnaire. Once you’re in, you’ll have a few other ways to earn money:
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Paid Surveys
Most survey opportunities on Inbox Dollars take 3 to 25 minutes to complete and pay out $0.50 to $5.00. There are, however, occasional surveys that pay $10, $20, or even more, but these require you to meet specific criteria. This is comparable to other paid survey apps.
Playing Games
InboxDollars offers several free games like Solitaire, Money Bubble Shooter, and Candy Jam. While these games don’t guarantee payment, you’ll earn Scratch & Win progress, allowing you to scratch a virtual lottery ticket for the chance to win real cash.
They also partner with GSN casino to offer hundreds of GSN games within the platform. For every dollar you spend on GSN games, you’ll earn 18% cashback with InboxDollars. Keep in mind, playing paid casino games can be addictive. If your goal is to earn money, stay away from this aspect of the platform or explore other paid gaming platforms.
Cashback for Online Shopping
Similar to platforms like Rakuten and Honey, InboxDollars offers a cashback portal for online shopping. Before you make a purchase, simply navigate to this part of the platform and click on the store you’d like to order from. Complete your order as usual, and once the order has gone through, cashback will deposit into your account.
We stacked InboxDollars against Honey and, to our surprise, InboxDollars offered higher cashback rates at several stores.
The cashback portal will also alert you of saving opportunities and available free samples, when applicable.
Read Emails
InboxDollars offers a free email that users get paid to read. The newsletter contains information on sales, promotions, and new products from a variety of brands. To earn cash here, you’ll need to sign up for one of the items recommended in the newsletter.
If the recommended items aren’t of interest, you’ll earn virtual scratch tickets instead. These allow you to unlock prizes and potential cash-earning opportunities.
How Does InboxDollars Make Money From This?
Large companies want consumers to read about the products and services, but finding an engaged audience can be challenging. So, they pay InboxDollars to promote their product or service in their email. InboxDollars shares some of this revenue with you, allowing you to earn money from the transaction.
It also allows brands to gather insights on their offers. If the insert in the email doesn’t perform well, it lets the brand know that perhaps the product doesn’t resonate in the way they thought. These insights are incredibly valuable to companies.
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Scanning Receipts
By scanning receipts into the platform, you can earn additional cashback on supermarket products. Like all receipt scanning apps, the amount you earn will vary depending on the store you shopped at and the item you purchased.
When stacked up against its competitor Fetch, the potential earnings appeared comparable. If you're an avid receipt scanner, InboxDollars is a good app to add to your stack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does InboxDollars Pay Real Cash?
All earnings on InboxDollars are real cash, not points. You can cashout via direct deposit, PayPal, or gift card.
Is InboxDollars Legit? Is it Safe?
Yes. InboxDollars is a legitimate, safe platform for earning additional income. It’s owned by a larger company, Prodege, which owns other cashback apps like Swagbucks. The company has a B rating from the Better Business Bureau and responds or resolves all complaints.
How Does InboxDollars Make Money?
According to InboxDollars, brands pay them for consumer input. Then, they create paid opportunities to collect data from you (the consumer). They relay this data back to the brand.
This is a common exchange for paid survey companies. They are, in essence, selling your data.
How Much Can You Make on InboxDollars in a Day?
According to an avid InboxDollars user, she makes around $60 per month. This would equate to roughly $2 per day. It’s unclear how much time goes into earning this amount, however.