I’ll be honest.

When I first started looking at paid survey apps, I had the same question most people have.

Do these things actually pay?

I went through the biggest survey apps and websites and looked at them from the perspective that actually matters: how easy are they to use, what can you realistically earn, how difficult is it to qualify, and how easy is it to get your money out? I personally tested the best surveys websites and apps for a whole week to see how much I could earn and what the best survey site was.

Prolific stands out because researchers must meet a minimum participant payment rate, while traditional platforms such as Qmee, Ipsos iSay, YouGov and LifePoints can provide a wider variety of consumer surveys.

Here are the 13 best survey apps and websites in the UK that actually pay in 2026.

The 13 Best Survey Apps That Pay in the UK

1. Prolific

If you’ve spent any time researching paid surveys, you’ve probably come across Prolific.

And there’s a reason.

Prolific is slightly different from the traditional survey apps because a large part of the platform is built around academic and research studies rather than endless consumer questionnaires.

That makes a noticeable difference.

The studies tend to tell you how long they’re expected to take and how much you’ll receive before you start.

However Getting onto Prolific isn’t always immediate.

There can be a waitlist, and once you’re accepted, the number of studies available to you depends on your profile and what researchers are looking for.

The cash-out process is also straightforward. Once you have £6/$6 in approved earnings, you can withdraw to PayPal.

How much I earned

I didn’t dedicate many hours to this but on average it worked out at about 2 hours per day. Over the week I earned £31.14.

The biggest attraction is transparency.

You can see what a study pays and how long it’s expected to take.

That’s exactly how paid research should work.

The only down side is there isn’t an endless stream of studies for everyone. You may log in expecting a wall of opportunities and find only a handful. And getting accepted isn’t necessarily instant.

2. Qmee

Qmee has one feature that immediately makes it stand out.

There is no minimum PayPal cash-out.

That sounds like a small detail.

It isn’t.

Most survey platforms make you build up a balance before you can withdraw anything. Sometimes that’s £5. Sometimes £10. Sometimes considerably more.

Qmee lets you withdraw whenever you want.

How much I earned

The pay works out to be around £2 per hour but the only thing with Qmee is you sometimes won’t get continuous surveys to do. With that being said in a week I ended up earning £16.63. The only thing with Qmee is some surveys are not worth the time you spend so check how much reward you would be getting before starting.

With no minimum payment thereshold If you hate waiting weeks to reach a payout threshold, Qmee is worth having on your phone.

3. YouGov

YouGov is one of the better-known names in the UK survey world.

And unlike some obscure survey websites you’ve never heard of, YouGov has a long-established presence in market research.

The basic concept is simple.

You answer questions.

You earn points.

You eventually exchange those points for rewards.

The surveys tend to cover a huge range of subjects, including consumer behaviour, brands, entertainment, current affairs and everyday life.

One thing I like about YouGov is that the surveys can feel more like actual opinion research than some of the generic “which toothpaste would you buy?” questionnaires you find elsewhere.

But there’s a trade-off.

You shouldn’t expect YouGov to be a constant source of instant cash.

It’s more of a slow-and-steady platform.

You build your balance over time.

That can actually work well if you treat it as something running quietly in the background rather than an app you expect to make you money every day.

How much I earned

First when I connected my bank account and share data, I was able to earn £13 as they pay £13 per month for this. It is all safe and secure so there is nothing to worry about. Also after doing some surveys over the week I was able to a grand total of £18.

It can take patience to build up enough points for rewards and there is a minimum payout of 5000 points which works out to be £50.

4. Ipsos iSay

Ipsos iSay is another platform I would keep in the rotation.

It’s operated by Ipsos, a major global market research company, and the UK rewards catalogue currently includes options such as PayPal, Amazon, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Argos, Morrisons and others.

That’s useful because sometimes I don’t actually want cash.

If I can turn survey points into £10 of Tesco credit, that’s £10 less coming out of my grocery budget.

And that makes survey rewards feel considerably more useful. Ipsos iSay also has a mobile app, so you can complete surveys away from your computer. Another interesting feature is product testing.

How much I earned

With Ipsos iSay I wasn’t getting many opportunities. I’m not sure if it was the way I filled in my profile or something else but I made around £5.62.

The number of surveys available depends heavily on your profile. And some surveys can still be quite long for the points offered.

But if you like shopping vouchers instead of cash maybe this is for you.

5. AttaPoll

AttaPoll is designed primarily around mobile use.

And that matters.

The whole experience is built around the idea that you have a few minutes to kill.

You open the app.

You see the available surveys.

You choose one.

You get paid for successfully completing it.

The platform also includes games and app-based offers, which gives you more ways to earn than simply answering questionnaires.

One of the first things I’d look at with any survey app is whether it tells me how long something is expected to take.

That’s important because I don’t want to spend 20 minutes on something for a reward that works out to pocket change.

AttaPoll is useful precisely because you can quickly browse what’s available and decide whether it’s worth your time.

How much I earned

AttaPoll have some screening questions before their surveys and if you don’t qualify they can disqualify you from the surveys which can be frustrating and waste some time.

But I digress, for the week I earned £7.

6. Prime Opinion

Prime Opinion has become increasingly visible in the paid-survey space, largely because it puts a lot of emphasis on fast rewards.

The platform says users can potentially reach their first withdrawal very quickly, and it offers cash and gift-card options including PayPal.

The platform also says there is no fixed limit on how many surveys you can complete in a day.

How much I earned

The platform is straightforward and heavily focused on rewards. With a week on this platform I earn £21.02 which isn’t too bad and is one of the better platforms on this list.

7. Toluna

Toluna has been around for years, and it takes a slightly broader approach to online rewards.

You can complete surveys and earn points that can be exchanged for rewards such as PayPal, Amazon and Tesco vouchers.

How much I earned

I earned £4 for the week with Toluna.

8. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is technically a survey platform, but calling it only a survey app would be selling it short.

You can earn through surveys, cashback, games, offers and other activities.

That’s useful because sometimes there simply aren’t any surveys worth taking.

Instead of closing the app, you can look at the other earning opportunities.

The UK version also offers PayPal rewards.

One thing I would watch carefully is the conversion between SB points and pounds.

How much I earned

Swagbucks is one of the better sites on this list as they do more than just surveys. Using Swagbucks for the week I made £10.50

9. LifePoints

LifePoints is another established survey community.

The UK platform offers PayPal and a range of gift-card options including Amazon, Sainsbury’s, Costa, M&S, ASDA and others.

The platform says surveys typically take around 10 to 20 minutes, although individual studies vary.

LifePoints also has a dedicated mobile app, which makes it easier to check for new studies without constantly opening a browser.

How much I earned

I didn’t get many surveys offered to me with here and only earned 63p!

10. MOBROG

MOBROG is one of the platforms I’d put into the “check it when you’ve got five minutes” category.

The company says completed surveys typically pay around £0.50 to £3, although individual rewards vary.

That range tells you something important.

You shouldn’t expect every questionnaire to pay £3.

Some will pay considerably less.

The interesting part is the withdrawal system.

MOBROG says users can cash out once they reach the equivalent of €5, with payment options depending on the country. Options can include PayPal, Skrill, bank transfer and gift cards.

That makes it relatively flexible.

How much I earned

With this platform I earned £3.50

11. OnePoll

OnePoll is another name you’ll often see in UK paid-survey discussions.

Its biggest attraction is that the surveys are generally aimed at quick consumer research rather than long academic questionnaires.

That’s important because survey income is ultimately a numbers game.

If you can complete three short questionnaires during otherwise wasted time, that’s often more appealing than committing half an hour to one enormous survey.

The downside is that you shouldn’t expect a constant stream of high-value opportunities.

How much I earned

It’s a straightforward option for people who prefer shorter consumer surveys. You do get a £5 bonus when you sign up and earn £25. However there is a £25 minimum payout and on average surveys pay around 10p to 50p.

Over the week I ended up earning £2 from OnePoll. Availability can be inconsistent and some others online have complained about their accounts being shut down with money earned suspended.

12. Valued Opinions

Valued Opinions is another long-running name in the UK survey market.

The concept is straightforward.

Complete research.

Earn rewards.

Redeem those rewards for vouchers.

And this is where I think survey sites can actually become useful for ordinary household budgeting.

How much I earned

Over the week with Valued Opinions I earned £10. I hit the minimum payout rate of £10 (lucky for me!). However bare in mind Valued Opinions don’t pay out cash and only vouchers or charity donations.

13. Google Opinion Rewards

The surveys are generally short and delivered through the Google ecosystem.

The key is to treat it as passive-ish pocket money rather than a serious survey income source.

How much I earned

I didn’t need to spend much time on this however I didn’t get many surveys compared to the other websites and apps on this list. I earned £1.05 on this app.

With this if you have a Android device you can only use the money you earn to redeem Google Play Store apps, games and movies. But if you have a Apple device you can make cash withdrawals.

I don’t think it’s worth spending time on this.

My Strategy for Making Survey Apps Worthwhile

Here’s the approach I’d use.

Don’t open every survey app every morning and spend an hour clicking around.

That’s how you end up earning 73p and wondering where your life went.

Instead, I’d create accounts with a handful of the better platforms.

I’d prioritise Prolific, Qmee, YouGov, Ipsos iSay, AttaPoll and one or two others.

Then I’d check them when I genuinely have spare time.

Waiting for a train?

Check.

Sitting in a waiting room?

Check.

Watching something on television that doesn’t require your full attention?

Check.

Five or ten minutes before bed?

Check.

The moment a survey starts taking too long for the reward, leave it.

Your time is worth something.

The Biggest Mistake People Make With Survey Apps

It’s not signing up for the wrong app.

It’s spending too much time on the wrong survey.

This is the calculation I’d make every time.

If a survey pays £1 and takes 5 minutes, that’s roughly £12 an hour.

If a survey pays £1.50 and takes 20 minutes, that’s £4.50 an hour.

Same basic activity.

Completely different value.

That’s why I wouldn’t blindly chase the biggest reward displayed on your screen.

Look at the reward and the estimated completion time.

Your goal isn’t to collect the most points.

It’s to get the best return for your time.

How much did I earn in total?

For the whole week on the 14 websites and apps I used, I earned £131.09 in total. While this sounds decent, it was a lot of work managing everything between these platforms. While I never kept record of the amount of time it took, I estimate it must of taken me around 30 – 35 hours for the week. This is not including the time it took for me to fill in profile details and make the actual profiles.

So if you’re asking is it worth it to use survey platforms to earn an income then I would say a hard no. It cannot replace a full time job and the amount of time I spent, would have been better starting a side hustle, looking for a remote job or even a part time job.

But if you have some time free or down time. If you are waiting for someone or just watching TV, then I would say go for it.

With that being said, if you want to start earning with survey sites its always good to use the best and most highest paying ones. If I wanted to build a survey routine, I’d start with Prolific, Qmee, YouGov, Ipsos iSay and AttaPoll.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which survey app lets you cash out the fastest?

Qmee is particularly useful if you want very small withdrawals because it currently has no minimum PayPal cash-out.

Prime Opinion also focuses heavily on quick rewards.

Can you make £100 a month doing surveys?

It’s possible for some people, but I wouldn’t treat £100 as guaranteed.

Survey availability varies considerably.

A better approach is to use several legitimate platforms and treat surveys as a way to monetise spare time.

Is Prolific better than survey apps?

Prolific is different rather than simply “better.”

It focuses heavily on research studies and provides clearer information about study pay and estimated duration.

Traditional survey apps can provide more consumer-focused questionnaires and sometimes more frequent opportunities.

Which survey app pays directly to PayPal?

Several platforms offer PayPal rewards, including Prolific, Qmee, Ipsos iSay, LifePoints, MOBROG and others.

Always check the current reward catalogue before signing up because payment options can change.

Are survey apps worth it?

They can be if you’re using them during genuinely spare time.

They become much less attractive if you’re spending hours completing low-paying surveys.

The key is to track your effective hourly rate.

How many survey apps should I use?

I’d start with around five rather than signing up for 20 immediately.

That gives you enough variety without filling your inbox with notifications and turning survey-taking into another full-time job.

What is the easiest survey app for beginners?

Qmee and AttaPoll are both relatively straightforward places to start because the experience is designed around quick mobile surveys.

Google Opinion Rewards is even simpler if you’re happy with small, occasional rewards.

Can you really get paid for answering questions?

Yes.

The legitimate platforms are effectively paying you for providing consumer or research data that companies and researchers use.

The important distinction is between legitimate market research and websites making unrealistic promises about enormous earnings.

What should I do if a survey takes too long?

Quit it.

Seriously.

If you realise five minutes into a survey that the reward doesn’t justify another 20 minutes of your time, there’s no prize for finishing it.

Your objective is not to complete every survey.

It’s to earn efficiently.