Jessie Moore has been writing professionally for nearly two decades; for the past seven years, she's focused on writing, ghostwriting, and editing in the finance space. She is a Today Show and Publisher's Weekly-featured author who has written or ghostwritten 10+ books on a wide variety of topics, ranging from day trading to unicorns to plant care.
Looking to make some extra cash without working too hard? InboxDollars offers a novel yet safe opportunity to earn by reading sponsored emails.
Beyond sponsored emails, you can also make money on InboxDollars with surveys, coupons, and games galore.
But is there a catch? Is InboxDollars legit?
Keep reading for an InboxDollars review to learn everything you need to know before signing up for this famous free survey site.
Is InboxDollars Legit? The Bottom Line
Overall rating: 4/5
InboxDollars is a legitimate get-paid-to website to earn side cash. In fact, InboxDollars is one of the OGs in this category, dating back to 2000.
Over its long history, InboxDollars has given an estimated $80 million to millions of members, and it has positive ratings on TrustPilot, the App Store, and Google Play.
Although you probably won’t earn boatloads of money using this site, InboxDollars is a safe platform to make extra money online.
What is InboxDollars?
InboxDollars is a get-paid-to website offering multiple ways to earn money online, including surveys, games, and paid emails.
InboxDollars’ founder Daren Cotter may not be as mainstream as metaverse master Mark Zuckerberg, but his backstory is equally deserving of a blockbuster film.
Like the Zuck, Cotter created his game-changing website in a college dorm.
InboxDollars continued to grow following its 2000 launch, and Cotter maintains a leading role at the company. However, the California firm Prodege bought InboxDollars in 2019 to supercharge its scalability.
Fun fact: Prodege owns many other popular survey sites, including Swagbucks and CouponCause.
In addition to InboxDollars’ desktop platform, it offers convenient mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.
How to Sign Up for InboxDollars
InboxDollars has two straightforward requirements to join its website: be over 18 and American.
If you tick both of these boxes, you can create an account on InboxDollars’ website by sharing an email and creating a password.
InboxDollars also lets you link an Apple or Google account if you prefer these methods.
After you confirm your email, you should have access to your InboxDollars profile page.
How InboxDollars Works
It’s common to feel overwhelmed by all the alluring options when first browsing your InboxDollars account. Don’t worry, I’ll guide you through it.
To help orient yourself, I’d recommend focusing on the tabs underneath the top search tab.
Moving from left to right, here are the main tabs you could click on to earn side cash on InboxDollars:
- Offers: InboxDollars has numerous partnerships with companies, apps, and games, and you can take advantage of cash rewards or coupon codes by sifting through these offers and following the instructions.
- Surveys: Although InboxDollars isn’t solely known as a survey site, it has many opportunities to voice your opinions for cash rewards.
- Games: If you enjoy spending your spare time playing Solitaire or Scrabble, InboxDollars has plenty of fun ways to while away the hours (and earn cash!). You could also check out InboxDollars’ partnerships with third-party mobile apps for an earnings boost.
- Shop: Before you go on an eCommerce shopping spree, double-check InboxDollars’ “Shop” page to see if there are any discounts. InboxDollars has partnerships with many big brands, including Walmart, eBay, and Home Depot, so chances are you could get a sweet deal on your online cart.
- Magic Receipts: Did you know your receipts have magical powers? That’s right, with an InboxDollars account, you can scan your receipts to get a little money back on everyday purchases. Check out featured items and brands on this page for extra “ca-ching” from your weekly spending.
- Search: InboxDollars Search isn’t going to take over Google anytime soon. However, this is a legit Web search portal, and you can earn some extra cash simply by using it to browse the Net.
- Refer Friends: InboxDollars rewards you for every successful referral with an instant $3 bonus to your account. Not only that, you get to collect passive income with 10% of your referee’s earnings for life.
- More: This final tab includes a few zany offerings like Bingo, Sweepstakes, and “WinIt codes” to enhance your earnings on InboxDollars. You can also add InboxDollars’ beloved dollar bill mascot (aka “Billy”) to your Internet browser using the Billy Button extension. After you download Billy Button, you’ll get alerts to new surveys and coupons while on the Web.
How You Get Paid on InboxDollars
You must hit $15 in your InboxDollars account before requesting your first payout.
However, all withdrawals on InboxDollars are really $10 because you get a $5 sign-up bonus. Plus, after you claim your first $15, all subsequent withdrawals are $10.
So, when you hit $15, you could either click your earnings on the top right-hand corner or select “Request Payment” in the “More” tab.
For a cash payout, you could either send the money to your PayPal account or request a prepaid Visa or AMEX card.
InboxDollars also offers dozens of e-gift cards for hot brands, including:
- Target
- Amazon
- Walmart
- Starbucks
- The Home Depot
- Apple
- Dunkin’
Just keep in mind some of InboxDollars’ gift cards start at a minimum threshold higher than $15, so you may need to rack up more points to get the card of your dreams.
Once you submit a cash request, it typically takes 3 – 19 business days to see it in your account. E-gift cards, however, should arrive in your inbox immediately.
InboxDollars Reviews: What Are People Saying?
There’s zero debate whether InboxDollars is a scam or real. All InboxDollar reviews clearly show this site is legit, and its longevity in the industry speaks volumes.
Check out these current average InboxDollars review rankings:
- Trustpilot: 4.2 stars out of 39,273 reviews
- Google Play: 4 stars out of 138K reviews
- Apple App Store: 4.5 stars out of 183.7K reviews
Although InboxDollars doesn’t have official Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation, its parent Prodege does. Not only is Prodege BBB certified, it has a respectable “B” ranking.
To sum it up: InboxDollars is legit, and most reviewers don’t have significant issues setting up an account and earning money.
Is InboxDollars a Scam?
Is InBoxDollars legit? Yep. InBoxDollars is safe, and it’s a legitimate way to earn money online.
Like other survey sites, you won’t make a fortune with an InboxDollars account, but you don’t have to wonder whether InboxDollars is a scam or real.
Rest assured, InBoxDollars is legit, and you can earn real money using this site.
How Much Can You Actually Make on InboxDollars?
Is InBoxDollars legit? Yes. But can you make bank? Let’s take a look.
How much you make on InboxDollars all depends on the time you put into this platform. However, you likely won’t earn more than $45 per month, even with a lot of effort.
Yes, InboxDollars is legitimate and offers ways to earn cash and gift cards, but you’ll probably spend more time making less than minimum wage on this site.
Pros and Cons of InboxDollars
Pros | Cons |
InboxDollars is legit, and it has a sterling reputation with a long history and mostly positive reviews. | The minimum payout on InboxDollars is higher than many competing sites like Branded Surveys, Swagbucks, and Survey Junkie. |
From surveys and games to coupons and sweepstakes, you’ll never get bored finding ways to earn money on InboxDollars. | InboxDollars is only open to American residents, so you’ll need to look elsewhere if you’re outside the USA. |
You get a $5 bonus just for signing up to InboxDollars. | Although InboxDollars has a dedicated FAQ help portal, it only offers ticketed support. |
InboxDollars has mobile apps for Android and iOS for on-the-go earning potential. | You don’t get paid if you don’t qualify for a survey, so you could waste a lot of time without getting a dime. |
InboxDollars Vs. the Competition
Just because InboxDollars is legit and well-reviewed doesn’t mean it’s the only option to earn side cash online.
Consider a few of InboxDollars’ competitors to find the survey site that jives with your lifestyle.
Branded Surveys
If you’re all about taking surveys for cash, you might prefer signing up for Branded Surveys versus InboxDollars.
Since 2012, Branded Surveys has been committed to connecting users with paid survey opportunities — nothing more, nothing less.
The thousands of positive reviews for Branded Surveys’ website and apps highlight its user-friendly interface, low minimum payout ($5), and wealth of survey options.
As a bonus, Branded Surveys has a loyalty reward program, so you get extra money the more surveys you take.
Whether Branded Surveys is “better” than InboxDollars totally depends on your preferences.
Those who value low payouts and only care about surveys should start with Branded Surveys. However, for people who crave variety, InboxDollars is probably a better bet.
Kashkick
Kashkick is one of the newest kids on the survey site block. However, just because Kashkick doesn’t have a long reputation doesn’t mean it’s a sketchy option.
True, KashKick doesn’t have as many reviews as established get-paid-to platforms like InboxDollars, but it’s a legit site with multiple ways to earn money (including surveys, games, and special promotions).
KashKick also has a clean user interface on its desktop and Android mobile app.
However, when you compare Kashkick to InboxDollars, it doesn’t stack up in terms of longevity and earnings offers. Kashkick also has the same $10 minimum withdrawal as InboxDollars, so there’s no competitive advantage in that category.
Even though Kashkick has some attractive features, InboxDollars tends to be the better choice in most instances.
For more details on how Kashkick works, check out our KashKick Review.
Swagbucks
There are way more similarities than differences between Swagbucks and InboxDollars — which isn’t too surprising since Prodege owns both brands.
Like InboxDollars, Swagbucks is well-known for its wealth of earning options, including surveys, shopping discounts, and games.
In fact, you could copy-paste all of the ways to earn money on InboxDollars for Swagbucks.
So, do these sites have any distinguishing features (aside from the names, of course)?
Well, Swagbucks is younger than InboxDollars by eight years. Also, Swagbucks has a lower payout threshold of $5 for most cash and gift card rewards.
So, if InboxDollars’ $10 cutoff is a dealbreaker, take a closer look at what Swagbucks offers.
Looking For Other Ways to Earn Cash?
Although InboxDollars is legit, there are easier ways to put passive cash in your pocket.
Check out these alternatives to InboxDollars for simple ways to earn online without thinking about it.
Save Spare Change
Spare change can add up — maybe even faster than your survey earnings.
With Acorns’ “Round-Ups” feature, you can increase every purchase you make to the next highest dollar and send these nickels, dimes, and quarters to a savings account.
Or, you can route your funds into an auto-invest account, where Acorns will invest on your behalf into a diversified portfolio that’s determined through a quiz you fill out when setting up your account to determine your risk level.
Without even thinking about it, your pile of pennies becomes an impressive and investable stack of bills.
Learn more about installing “Round-Ups” on your phone with the link below.
Set up a High-Yield Savings Account
If you have a little cash and you want it to grow without doing much, open up a high-yield savings account.
At writing, some top-tier banks are offering interest rates in the 5% range — meaning if you invested $1,000 today, you’d make $50 in a year without doing anything at all. (Even more, when you factor in the power of compounding interest!)
If you’re looking for a high-quality, high-yield bank, check out Varo Bank. Currently, Varo Bank offers 5% APY on up to $5,000 and 3% on the rest of your savings.
The wealth management company Empower also offers attractive high-yield savings opportunities to its clients with no fees and no minimums. Plus, it offers a bunch of awesome FREE tools on its dashboard, including budgeting tools and more.
Final Word:
There’s no question InboxDollars is legit, but is it right for you?
If you want a safe website with many ways to get extra pocket change, sure, InboxDollars is worth a try.
As long as you don’t expect to quit your day job with an InboxDollars account, you could bump up your income by taking advantage of all the features on this site.
However, be sure to check out our 10 Best Ways to Make Money With Your Phone article for pro tips on supercharging your online earnings.
FAQs:
Is InboxDollars legit?
InboxDollars is a legit and safe website to earn pocket change online. With its long history and thousands of positive reviews, it’s clear InboxDollars is the real deal.
How much does it cost to cash out on InboxDollars?
Technically, you need $15 to cash out your first time, but you get a $5 bonus for signing up. Also, after this first withdrawal, you can cash out for $10 on InboxDollars.
How do you make money with InboxDollars?
InboxDollars has many ways to earn money, including taking surveys, playing games, scanning receipts, and using its search engine.
How much does InboxDollars pay to watch videos?
The amount you earn for watching videos through InboxDollars usually depends on advertiser revenue. However, even with a ton of ads in your videos, you probably won’t make more than a few dollars per hour of watch time.
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