Haven’t you always wished you could make extra cash without leaving the comfort of your own home – or even getting off of your couch?

Completing paid online surveys is not only a great way of making side money, but also a fabulous way to influence brands, recipes, and political action.

Of course, online surveys aren’t some type of get-rich-quick scheme, or everyone would be completing them. But with some spare time and patience, you easily can earn some extra money filling out surveys while you’re otherwise wasting time in front of the television. In fact, filling out online forms can add up to pay for vacations, Christmas shopping or home improvements.

What’s the catch, you might be wondering? Companies and organizations care about the opinions of average consumers. Your feedback helps them determine better business strategies in the future.

Of course, the more paid online survey sites you sign up for, the more opportunities to increase your earnings. Fortunately, there are scads of sites and apps offering cash rewards for completing surveys.

But which survey sites are the best? To save you some time, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite 12 best paid survey sites:

Survey Junkie

One of the easiest ways to get paid for completing online surveys is to sign up for Survey Junkie. The site uses a series of short questionnaires to match you with exclusive surveys you based on your background. Because you are an invited match to the survey criteria, you’ll often earn more rewards than you would completing a generic survey.

Once matched, you can complete surveys from practically any device and from any location. How great would it be to earn extra money while you’re waiting for the bus or during your train ride home?

When earning cash with Survey Junkie, each paid survey completed is worth points. Once you’ve earned at least 1,000 point – equivalent to $10 – you can redeem them for cash or e-gift cards. Cash out your rewards as you go or save them up toward a major purchase!

InboxDollars ($5 bonus)

Tired of filling out the same predictable paid online surveys? InboxDollars pays its users cash for performing an assortment of online activities – from watching videos and playing games to reading emails, completing surveys and even shopping! The site has paid its members over $57 million in cash rewards.

InboxDollars offers cash rewards to members just for taking online surveys, watching videos or playing free and competitive games. The site offers practically anyone the chance to earn extra money on the side.

Not only do users earn a $5 just for signing up for InboxDollars, but in addition to earning cash, they gain access to an assortment of cashback deals, coupons, and free samples.

Swagbucks ($5 bonus)

One of the most popular sites to offer users gift cards and cash for online activities, Swagbucks offers a variety of ways to earn rewards. The site gives out 7,000 free gift cards every day. Users can watch videos, complete surveys, play online games and even just surf the web at large to earn extra money.

Swagbucks users can perform online activities from their desktop or mobile devices, so they can earn from anywhere they have an internet connection. Points earned from activities can then be redeemed for gift cards to Amazon, Wal-Mart an assortment of other retailers — or even Paypal cash.

Not only does Swagbucks offer users a wide variety of ways to earn, the program even offers $5 just for signing up!

MyPoints ($10 bonus)

By offering gift cards or PayPal cash transfers to its users, MyPoints is another simple way to earn money online. The platform offers traditional paid surveys, but it also offers rewards to users who play games, watch videos and shop at their favorite online retailers.

Online shoppers love earning money with MyPoints. Since the site is partnered with more than 1,900 online retailers, users get cash rewards for making purchases they would have completed anyway – as many as 25 points per dollar spent. Points earned from shopping, filling out surveys, playing games, reading emails and watching videos can be redeemed for gift cards to more than 75 online retailers.

MyPoints is confident its users will recognize the value in their memberships. So confident, in fact, that the program offers new members a $10 Amazon Card when they make their first $20 purchase through the platform. MyPoints has paid out over $236 million in gift cards and Paypal cash to its members.

Vindale Research ($1 bonus)

Looking for a way to complete paid online surveys to earn money across a wide variety of topics? Vindale Research pays users to fill out surveys related to health and beauty, food, politics and so much more. Earnings are sent to users as cash through PayPal transfers or even checks in the mail.

Vindale Research has partnered with some of the world’s most trusted brands, including companies such as Disney, Amazon, Netflix, and Starbucks. The site prides itself on paying users cash money for surveys, not points or gift cards. Vindale Research has already paid out about $7 million to members. New members earn their first $1 just for signing up.

PointClub ($5 bonus)

Looking to make some quick money on the side? PointClub pays users to take online surveys.

Point Club members are paid points for taking surveys – the longer the survey, the more points it’s worth. Points can be redeemed for a variety of gift cards.

While the average paid survey through PointClub pays points valued anywhere from a few cents to a couple of dollars, the program is fairly generous to new users. Just for signing up, Point Club users earn 500 points, they earn another 500 points for completing their registrations and another 1,000 points for confirming their email addresses!

Start earning your first 2,000 points by signing up for PointClub.

One Opinion

Leading market research companies count on One Opinion to gauge consumer opinions. Market research is big business, and One Opinion members, therefore, earn points toward some amazing cash rewards.

Signing up for One Opinion is simple, and users receive emailed invitations to take online surveys, worth varying numbers of points. Accumulated points can be redeemed for cash rewards like VISA gift cards.

Opinion Square

Do you want to earn cash by taking paid online surveys but want to avoid the endless tide of offers hitting your Inbox? Opinion Square sends users just three or four surveys each month.

Opinion Square surveys are targeted to your specific interests based on your web searches. New members install tracking software that collects data based on your demographic and interests, so you’ll receive surveys only about matters on which you actually hold an opinion.

Surveys completed with Opinion Square award points to users, which can be exchanged for a list of gifts totally almost 25,000.

Pinecone Research

Want to earn a steady cash payout for taking online surveys? Pinecone Research awards users $3 for every survey completed.

A trusted market-research firm, Pinecone Research partners with companies seeking consumer input on new and improved products. For participating in the research, users not only earn cash rewards, but also learn about innovative products before they hit the market and influence which ones make it onto store shelves.

MySoapBox

Do you pride yourself on your opinions? You aren’t the only one! Because brands want to know what you think, MySoapBox will pay you cash rewards to let them know.

The online research community gathers consumer feedback on products, services, and members’ experiences. Users earn rewards for completing paid surveys, and they can redeem them for gift cards to popular retailers like Walmart.

E-Poll Surveys

Tired of taking the same boring online surveys asking your opinions on products you don’t use? E-Poll Surveys users earn rewards for taking surveys about movies, music, shopping and a variety of other interesting topics.

Users can earn cash rewards from E-Poll Surveys from anywhere since they can take surveys in their spare time with practically any type of computer or mobile device. After signing up, they receive surveys by email, offering 500-1,000 points each that can be redeemed for cash or gift cards.

Plus, E-Poll Surveys holds a monthly drawing, awarding an extra $1,000 to one lucky member and $20 each to 50 more.

VIP Voice

Earn VIP points for every survey taken with VIP Voice and use them to win significant cash prizes.

Survey takers aren’t just nameless numbers with VIP Voice. Members’ opinions are valuable, and so they are awarded exciting prizes – including vacations, electronics, gift cards and more – each and every day.

VIP Voice members simply take paid online surveys about their favorite companies and earn points that can be redeemed toward sweepstakes entries and auction bids. The more surveys completed, the more extravagant sweepstakes prizes available.

Complete 5 surveys in your first 30 days with VIP Voice and earn 25,000 bonus points.