InboxDollars Review [2024]: Here’s How Much I Earned

InboxDollars pays you real cash for taking surveys, playing games, and more.

By Sarah Li Cain
and Gabriela Walsh

Edited by Jess Ullrich

Updated May 31, 2024

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

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Inbox Dollars

OUR VIEW

I spent some time testing InboxDollars to see if it pays out as advertised. What I liked most was the variety of ways to earn money beyond taking surveys. I could get paid to play games, read emails, search the web, and refer friends. The $5 bonus just for signing up was a nice incentive, too.

After a few hours of playing games, taking surveys, and completing other activities, I earned $11.63. The time and effort I put in were similar to what I’ve experienced with other survey platforms, but the $15 cash-out minimum means it can take a bit to actually get paid.

Even though InboxDollars doesn't pay huge amounts on its own, it’s a solid get-paid-to (GPT) site, especially if you combine it with other similar sites and apps that allow you to make some extra pocket money quickly online or from your phone.

Jump to full review

Pros

Get a $5 bonus just for signing up

Variety of ways to earn beyond just taking surveys

User-friendly website and mobile app

Cons

$15 minimum payout threshold can take a while to reach

Earning potential is relatively low for casual users

Payouts may be subject to fees

How we evaluate products

How does InboxDollars work?

Getting started with InboxDollars is straightforward. All you have to do is go to their website, provide your email address and password, and create an account.

From there, you can access their earning opportunities through their website or the mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android. The activities include:

Paid surveys on a variety of topics
Playing mobile games for cash prizes
Using the InboxDollars search engine powered by Bing
Reading InboxDollars paid emails with offers
Earning entries into cash sweepstakes by completing activities
Getting a percentage of your referrals' earnings

The desktop and mobile experiences are user-friendly, making it easy to knock out shorter tasks during pockets of free time throughout the day.

The surveys can be tedious, but the activities, such as searching the web, playing games, and reading emails, are all pretty simple.

My experience with InboxDollars

When I first signed up with InboxDollars, I was a bit skeptical about whether it would pay out. The $5 bonus I received for signing up helped motivate me to get started. I answered a few demographic questions that helped InboxDollars determine what surveys to recommend.

From there, I explored the different earning opportunities on the desktop site. There were a few opening tasks that I quickly completed for $0.50, which was another incentive to start my first survey.

InboxDollars says that only some surveys will be a great fit, and you might work on one for a few minutes and then find yourself redirected to the home page. Even though I knew this was possible, I found it frustrating to go through a lengthy screening process, not qualify for the survey, and have nothing to show for my efforts.

For example, I started an 18-minute survey with a $1.50 payout. However, after answering demographic questions for about five minutes, I didn’t meet the right criteria. I immediately received an offer for a different survey, but it only paid $0.75 and took 25 minutes to finish.

This happens fairly frequently until InboxDollars collects enough data about you to determine the best surveys, so initially, it can be a little discouraging.

While no single activity I tried paid much, the variety of options kept things more interesting than taking survey after survey.

How much can you earn with InboxDollars?

Over the course of a few days, I earned $11.63 by consistently completing surveys, reading PaidEmails, playing Scratch & Win, and playing various games during my free time. While it did take some patience, I can see how these earnings can add up over time if I keep up with it.

InboxDollars doesn't provide specific figures on how much the average member earns. However, they do share payout ranges for some of the core activities:

Surveys pay between $0.25 to $5 each, with higher-paying options occasionally available.
Most Scratch & Win opportunities from web searches pay $0.05 to $0.25 but can go up to $100. I’ve made it to the highest scratcher available three times, and the most I’ve made is $0.15.
Other activities like reading emails and getting referrals earn smaller amounts.

Your overall earnings will depend on how active you are across the different opportunities. From my experience, Survey Junkie paid better for just taking surveys. But InboxDollars has the advantage of being more varied.

For example, if I focused solely on taking higher-paying surveys, around $2.50 each, and could complete three per hour, I could theoretically earn $7.50 an hour. But that's an optimistic scenario requiring consistently qualifying for and grinding through those better-paying options, which didn’t happen when I sat down and took some surveys.

A more realistic case for a fairly active but not super-focused user might be earning $20-$40 per month by taking a few surveys per week, searching the web, playing some games during downtime, and getting a couple of friend referrals.

The key with InboxDollars is having reasonable expectations and putting in consistent effort across multiple activities.

How to get paid

You need at least $15 in your InboxDollars account to request payment. You can be paid via PayPal, a gift card to a popular retailer like Amazon, or an e-payment to a prepaid Visa card. There's no processing fee if you choose a gift card or a prepaid Visa card.

To receive your cash, log into your account and request a payout. Your payment can take up to ten days to process after your request. Payments are processed on Wednesdays.

I haven’t made it to the $15 threshold yet, but several reviews of InboxDollars mention frustration with how long rewards are pending before you can redeem them and that payments take longer to process than other similar sites.

Ways to earn with InboxDollars

Since there are so many ways to earn or save money with InboxDollars, I’ll only cover the methods that don’t require you to spend your own money (like discounts by shopping through its shopping portals).

Complete surveys

The types of market research surveys InboxDollars offers vary. Topics include everything from diapers, politics, and advertising to electronics and sports. The company tries to match you to surveys that you’ll most likely qualify for and that are relevant to you.

Warning

It's important to note that, like many get-paid-to platforms, InboxDollars collects data on you based on the activities you complete and your personal information. If you aren’t comfortable with this, you’re better off choosing a different side hustle.

The pay will differ depending on the survey, and you’ll be able to see how much you earn before you start.

Use InboxDollars’ search engine

If you’re not in love with Google, you can switch to InboxDollars’ search engine. It’s partnered with Bing, so you get the same results as searching through Bing’s homepage.

With every four searches via the InboxDollars search engine, you’ll earn the chance to get Scratch & Win prizes. Think about how often you search for things online — that’s how many opportunities you’ll have to win cash or scratch-off prizes. There is a daily limit that varies day to day, and your winning opportunities go down after you reach it.

Play games

There are many games to choose from on InboxDollars, including action games, word games, strategy games, and more. You can also choose from a selection of Game Show Network games, including Wheel of Fortune and Poker. Earnings vary, but some payouts are quite high if you can complete all the required goals.

My experience with games

When I first tried downloading a game, I kept receiving a message saying the offer had expired. I tried six games with the text link and three more with the QR code but ran into the same problem each time. I tried again after a few days, and the QR code worked for one game I downloaded but not another.

It seems like it’s probably a temporary glitch since the games are a newer feature on the site, but it was frustrating to see the potential money I could make and not be able to access it.

I successfully downloaded Klondike, played for a few hours, and earned $5 by reaching Level 13. If I make it to Level 31 in the next 30 days, I’ll earn a total of $111. I’d have to put in a lot of hours to get there, but it’s a fun game, and I’m curious to see how far I can make it in a month.

Get paid to read emails

Once you join, you’ll receive regular emails from InboxDollars. It sends notes about paid surveys and PaidEmails, which are messages that highlight exclusive partner deals. All you have to do is click the “Confirm this PaidEmail” link at the end of the message.

Earnings vary and are usually only a few cents, but you might as well get paid for reading emails.

Grab WinIt deals

Think of InboxDollars WinIt deals like playing hide-and-seek. But instead of looking for a cleverly hidden person, you’re looking for extra cash and sweepstakes entries.

Here’s what to do:

InboxDollars occasionally posts a unique code on its social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter), so you need to follow InboxDollars on social media to get the codes.
Once you have the code, you must enter it on your member profile page by 11:59 CST.
You can find the box to enter the code in the header next to your name, or by clicking the "More” tab.
Enter the WinIt in the box exactly as it was on social media and press "Redeem." You will then receive a message that tells you what you won.
Each code has a unique reward. You may win sweepstakes entries, cash, or a contest entry.

Get referral bonuses

InboxDollars pays you for referring people, which is a great way to help your friends and family earn some side hustle income.

For every person who signs up using your referral link, you get $3. Once they earn $3 within 30 days, you can earn 10% of their qualified earnings for every month they remain active. So far, there isn’t a limit to how many people you can refer or how much you can earn. This residual income can help boost your earnings over time.

Participate in Learn & Earn

InboxDollars also offers a daily Learn & Earn question. Expect trivia-style multiple-choice questions, like what the fastest animal or length of the Nile is. If you answer correctly, you can earn a few cents or Scratch & Win opportunities.

Earn Cash By Going Online

Inbox Dollars Benefits

Get a $5 bonus when you register with your email
You could earn money by taking surveys or making online searches
Over $80 million paid to members so far - how much can you earn?

Visit Inbox Dollars

Who can use InboxDollars?

InboxDollars is for anyone who wants to earn a bit of side income. You’re probably not going to net thousands of dollars a month, but it’s a great opportunity to earn a few dollars here and there to pay for guilty pleasures (think manicures or extra butter on your popcorn).

Since InboxDollars rewards you for everyday tasks like online searches, it’s a good option for people who do these things frequently. For example, if you need to do a bunch of online searches, use the InboxDollars search engine instead of Google.

It’s also great for people on the go, as InboxDollars has an Android and iOS app you can use to earn rewards. Not all features — such as InboxDollars’ search engine option — are available via the mobile app, but there’s plenty to keep you occupied.

Maximizing your earnings with InboxDollars

There are a bunch of strategies for maximizing your earnings with InboxDollars. Here’s how to make money with this platform:

Pay attention to how much time it takes to complete a task relative to the money you earn. If your hourly rate is low, that activity might not be worthwhile.
Get as many friend referrals as possible to benefit from that 10% commission.
Completing tasks on your phone can help you take advantage of the time you spend doing mundane things like waiting in line.
Make InboxDollars’ search engine your homepage.
Complete all your profile surveys and any that InboxDollars labels the “best survey.”
Set daily goals for yourself, like qualifying for one survey. The key is to make this target manageable so you don’t get discouraged.
Participate in as many of the various earning methods as possible for more chances.
Opt for low-paying surveys to start since there’s a higher chance you’ll qualify for them.
Download the mobile apps to earn on-the-go during downtime.

FAQs about InboxDollars

Is InboxDollars legit?

Yes, InboxDollars is a legitimate company. It’s a solid way to make a little side income if you’re willing to dedicate some time and effort to it. The earnings can seem small at first, but they add up over time, especially if you develop a routine of doing tasks here and there throughout the day when you have downtime.

I earned $11.63 in a few days by consistently completing surveys, playing Scratch & Win, and playing games during my spare moments. While it took some patience, seeing the cash accumulate helped motivate me to keep going.

How long does it take to get paid with InboxDollars?

Once you reach the $15 minimum cash-out threshold, you’ll need to wait for InboxDollars to process your payment request.

This processing period can take as long as ten days, plus whatever time it takes to receive your payment in the mail (if you’re not being paid via PayPal).

How do I get the most out of InboxDollars?

The best way to get the most out of InboxDollars is to choose simple options and commit to earning money consistently.

For example, if you already use Bing as your search engine, switching to the InboxDollars search engine is easy since Bing powers it. Or, if you tend to shop a lot through Groupon, you can use InboxDollars to help you earn cash back.

Does InboxDollars pay through PayPal?

Yes, InboxDollars pays through PayPal. You need to register for a PayPal account and link it to your InboxDollars account to receive payment.

Other side hustles to consider

If InboxDollars doesn’t sound like one of the best side hustles for you, there are plenty of other options out there.

Survey Junkie or Kashkick

There are many places that pay you for your opinion. If taking surveys is your main interest, a dedicated survey site like Survey Junkie or Kashkick could offer higher payouts with less clutter.

Uber Eats

If you’re looking to maximize your earnings, a more actively engaged side hustle, such as gig work through apps like Uber Eats, may make more sense than InboxDollars' relatively low payouts.

You can get paid to deliver food in your spare time with your car, bike, or scooter. You can make your own schedule, and you can also get paid up to five times per day if you qualify.

Learn more in our Uber Eats review.

Bottom line

Overall, I found InboxDollars easy to use but not particularly exciting or lucrative. Signing up was straightforward, and I got my $5 bonus without any issues. Earning money by completing surveys was simple enough, although many had lengthy screening processes that disqualified me.

I liked that there were a variety of ways to earn money outside of taking surveys. If you’re interested in making some extra pocket change, InboxDollars is a good option.