23 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Search the Web in 2024

Wanna know how to boil eggs? Google it!

Wanna learn how to tie a tie? Google it!

You probably also typed in “how to get paid to search” on Google and landed on this page!

According to stats, the average person searches online 3 to 4 times a day! That adds up to about 8.5 billion searches per day or around 99,000 searches every second!

Of course, search engines make millions of dollars from all that data. And since Google has 83.49% share of the global market, in order to compete, Bing, its biggest competitor, pays users to search on Bing.

That’s good news for you and me. We can make some extra cash by performing our everyday searches on Bing instead of Google.

But that’s not the only way…

There are also GPT and rewards sites that pay you to surf and search through their site, as well as apps and browser extensions.

Before we get to them all, let’s answer the biggest question you have!

How do you get paid for Google searches?

So does Google actually pay you to search?

Unfortunately, no!

Google doesn’t have any reward programs like the one Microsoft has. Although there are many ways to make money with Google, like legit Google work at home jobs. There is also an indirect way to make money from Google search by fixing its mistakes. More on that later!

For now, let’s start with search sites and Get Paid To programs that reward you for searching.

Sites that Pay You to Search Online

Here are a few examples of legit websites and programs that reward you simply for using their search engine:

1. Microsoft Rewards – $0.001 per search

Bing, from Microsoft, likes to think of itself as the major competitor to Google.

It has about 20% of all search volume, compared to Google’s 60% plus, but that still makes it number 2 in the industry.

To encourage users it has created a reward program known as Microsoft Rewards (formerly known as Bing Rewards) which is very simple to use.

To start earning, sign up for a free Microsoft Rewards account here. Then do your searches through Bing. For every search you perform, you earn points that can be redeemed for rewards like gift cards, sweepstakes entries, nonprofit donations, and more.

How much can you make with Microsoft Rewards?

I earn 5 points per search when I use Microsoft Rewards, but I am a level two member.

When you first sign up for Microsoft Rewards, you’ll be a level one member. At level one you can earn up to 5 points a day or 150 points a month. As you search, you’ll earn points and progress to Level 2.

At Level 2, you can earn up to 20 points a day or 600 points a month.

To get a $5 gift card, you need about 5,000 points. This means that one Microsoft point is worth $0.001.

How do you get paid?

Your credits can be paid out in 3 different ways.

1. The main one is as gift cards, which you can choose for Amazon, Starbucks, Burger King, and other places.
2. Secondly, there are a limited number of subscriptions you can get for credits, for example, Skype or Hulu.
3. Or third, if you fancy your chances you can use your credits to enter sweepstakes. Bing runs sweepstakes for various things such as a Surface Pro or Xbox, charging a different number of credits for the different entries.

Pro tip: To make sure you never miss any earning opportunity, change your default search engine to Bing on your web browser so that you do not have to remember to go to Bing for your searches.

Or you can install the Bing search as a browser toolbar. You can even link in your smartphone, so you get credits from using that too.

2. Swagbucks – $0.03 – $0.39 per search.

I recently wrote about making money with Swagbucks and shared a few ways to make an easy $758,25 a year with it.

This is one of the major rewards sites, rewarding you for doing many things that you already do online, such as playing games, completing surveys, as well as searches. You can check out the whole list online.

You get rewarded with SwagBucks, which is just another term for points, as SwagBucks are nowhere near worth a buck! But over time, they build up, and you can use them to get free gift cards, cash from PayPal, or to enter contests.

1 SB is worth about $0.01. So to redeem a $5 gift card or PayPal payment, you’d need 500 Swag Bucks.

3. InboxDollars  – Earn $0.05 to $0.25 for searches per day

Inbox Dollars is a more comprehensive program, which allows you to gain points or credits in other ways, as well as searching.

For instance, you might take a survey for additional points.

Each day, you can earn about 2 to 3 scratch cards by using InboxDollars Search. This works out at $0.05 to $0.25 in earnings or an extra $1.50 to $7.50 a month.

And once you have earned $30, you can request to be paid.

You can get your earnings through:

• PayPal
• Check
• Gift cards for places like Amazon

Here’s where you can get the InboxDollars app:

• Download InboxDollars for iOS devices here.
• Download InboxDollars for Android devices here.

By the way, they are currently giving a free $5 sign up bonus for new users.

4. Qmee – Earn $0.05 – $1 per search with Qmee.

Qmee is one of several other search reward programs listed here. It is a browser extension and allows you to search with other search engines.

It simply provides additional results on a sidebar. Each result has a value shown, and if you click on the result, your account is credited with the value.

Qmee has no minimum cash-out amount either so you can withdraw your earnings at any time.

You can get your earnings sent to your PayPal account within minutes. Or you can get an Amazon gift card.

5. iRazoo – Earn $0.0016 – $0.04 per search.

Update: iRazoo has shut down!

Irazoo.com pays you for doing searches.

You’ll earn 1 to 25 points for each search you make using the site’s search engine, iRazoo Search.

Earnings are capped at 25 points a day.

To qualify for any $5 reward, you’ll need to have 3,000 points in your account.

3,000 iRazoo points are worth $5, which means that one point is worth about $0.0016.

You can withdraw your earnings to your PayPal account.

Or you can get your money on a gift card for retailers, like:

• Amazon
• Best Buy
• AMC Theatres
• Xbox One
• Target
• GameStop
• PlayStation
• Walmart
• Barnes & Noble

A quick note, iRazoo.com has long been a popular site. And when you look up anything about getting paid to search the internet, iRazoo is mentioned. I reviewed iRazoo recently, and it seems that the site may not be as good as it used to be. Please do read my iRazoo review to learn more.

6. PCH Search & Win – Earn prizes for searching

In case you don’t recognize it, PCH stands for Publishers Clearing House, which runs a regular huge sweepstakes for millions of dollars.

But with PCH Search, you can earn points to enter other contests, and you automatically get entered in a daily sweepstakes every day you log in.

While it’s worth checking in to be entered, the points can’t be translated into cash but only buy contest entries, so you can’t look at this one for a regular income.

7. instaGC – Pay per search varies.

Get paid to search the internet with InstaGC. It’s like Swagbucks where you can get paid for doing lots of different tasks online.

In addition to getting paid to search the internet, you can also get paid for:

• Completing surveys
• Watching videos
• Shopping online

Redeem your earnings for a gift card. There are more than 340 options to choose from.

You can get gift cards for places, like:

• Amazon
• Olive Garden
• Petco
• Pizza Hut
• iTunes
• Kohl’s
• Marriot
• Marshalls
• Walmart
• Target
• Netflix

So there are plenty of rewards available.

Get Paid for Browsing the Internet

Okay, so the sites above pay you for using their search engine. It’s super simple. But, searching online isn’t the only way we spend time searching the web.

We surf the internet while shopping, checking out the app store or playing games.

And there are websites out there that’ll pay you for doing all of that!

Here are even more websites that pay you for surfing the web.

8. Zap Surveys

Do you often share your opinion on the products and services you use on social media or in reviews?

Well, why not get paid for your opinion?

Yes, with survey sites you can make money sharing your opinion on a range of topics.

One survey site to check out is Zap Surveys. This site will pay you for taking surveys. But that’s not all. It also pays you for shopping. You can get up to 40% cashback when you shop with more than 50 retailers that the site’s partnered with.

There are a few ways to redeem your earnings:

• Money to your PayPal account.
• Amazon gift certificates.
• Visa eGift cards

Here’s where you can get the Zap Surveys app:

• Download Zap Surveys for iOS devices here.
• Download Zap Surveys for Android devices here.

9. 1Q

Get paid just for answering questions with 1Q. You get $0.25 each time you answer a simple question. You get your money to your PayPal account or you can donate it to charity if you want.

Here’s where you can get the app:

• Download 1Q for iOS devices here.
• Download 1Q for Android devices here.

10. Capital One Shopping (former Wikibuy)

While you’re searching the internet for that new TV or looking to buy some clothes, Capital One Shopping works in the background to earn you free gift cards!

Awesome, right?

It’s a browser extension that finds coupon codes and applies the best ones at the checkout. This means you save money automatically.

And when you buy stuff online, you’ll earn Capital One Shopping credits that you can redeem for gift cards!

You can also install the Capital One Shopping browser extension or their app for Android or iOS devices.

11. Honey

Like Capital One Shopping, Honey will find coupon codes and apply them at the checkout for you. So while you’re shopping online, the browser extension finds you all the best deals, promo codes and savings, even helping you to get discounts for Amazon!

12. Rakuten (Formerly eBates)

Make money right to your PayPal account just for shopping online as you normally would with Rakuten. This site gives you up to 40% cashback at more than 2,500 stores.

There are even coupons, promo codes, and daily deals available. Aside from PayPal payments, Rakuten also allows you to get your money by check or on a gift card to retailers like Walmart.

In fact, just for signing up for the site, you’ll get a $10 bonus!

13. Extrabux

Extrabux is another awesome browser extension that’ll pay you for shopping online – something you do already, right?

You can get up to 30% cashback at more than 9,000 stores!

14. FeaturePoints

FeaturePoints gives you money for doing activities, like trying out free apps and shopping online. So stuff you likely do already when you surf the web.

You can earn points for taking surveys as well. You can redeem points for money right to your PayPal account or get a gift card for places like

• Amazon
• Xbox
• GameStop
• Target
• Walmart

15. Dabbl

Dabbl pays you for your opinion, for playing fun games and quizzes and for watching videos.

You can get your earnings on a gift card for places, like:

• Walmart
• Amazon
• Disney
• Target
• Spotify
• Best Buy
• Marshalls

16. AppTrailers

You probably see a lot of trailers online anyway, so why not get paid for watching them?

With AppTrailers you earn money when you watch video trailers of apps, celebrity gossip, DIY videos and more. You can even make money playing trivia games.

You can redeem your money to your PayPal account or get gift cards for places like Amazon and Target.

Here’s where you can get the AppTrailers app:

• Download AppTrailers for iOS devices here.
• Download AppTrailers for Android devices here.

17. MobileXpression

Market research app MobileXpression gives you credits just for having it installed. So basically you’re paid to use your phone and search the internet as you normally would.

It’s simple! Join the panel and you’ll earn rewards.

The panel is designed to study the trends and behaviors of people who are using the mobile internet. You can earn cash, gift cards, and merch.

18. ZoomBucks

ZoomBucks gives you cash for doing things like completing offers, watching videos and taking surveys. You can redeem your earnings for money in your PayPal account.

Or you can get a gift card for places like:

• Amazon
• Steam wallet (get even more free steam wallet codes here.)
• Robux

19. TopCashBack

TopCashback gives you money just for shopping online! You get cashback at more than 4,400 stores!

You can get your cash sent to your PayPal account or get an Amazon gift card.

20. GrabPoints

GrabPoints pays you for doing things you probably already do, like:

• Watching videos
• Downloading apps
• Completing offers
• Taking surveys

You’ll get your earnings sent to your PayPal account. Or you can get a gift card for places like Amazon.

The best part is that you get $5 just for signing up!

21. Mistplay

Mistplay will give you points for playing games! Yes, if you like playing games online anyway, you may as well get paid for it!

Select the game you want and start playing to earn points. The more you play, the more points you’ll earn.

You can redeem your points for gift cards like:

• Visa
• Amazon
• Google Play
• iTunes
• PlayStation

Here’s where you can get the app:

• Download Mistplay for Android devices here.

22. ShopAtHome

Again, if you’re shopping online you may as well get paid for it! So why not give ShopAtHome a try?

This app gives you cashback at more than 2,000 stores.

You can have your money sent to your PayPal account. Or get a gift card to retailers like Amazon.

Just for signing up, you’ll get a $10 welcome bonus! You can get this as PayPal cash or as an Amazon gift card.

23. Paribus 

Update: Paribus is now Capital One Shopping

When you buy something online and it later goes on sale, you miss out on some great savings. But with Paribus, you don’t have to!

Paribus will scour your inbox for receipts and if it finds an item there that’s recently dropped in price, it will get you a refund for the difference!

It monitors the prices of a lot of different stores, and when prices drop, you get a rebate. It’s so simple.

Making Money as a Search Engine Evaluator

As you can see, these sites are great for you can use these sites to earn extra money without working an actual job.

But they can’t replace your 9-5 job. But there are a few options if you are looking for full-time jobs that are related to searching and search engines.

How?

By becoming a search engine evaluator!

You know it’s incredible the way search engines work, giving you results from the billions of web pages that are available.

To stay on top of it, search companies have to continually improve, trying to give the user the best possible results so that they are happy to use that particular search engine.

This is where the job opportunity comes in.

You can become what is called a Search Engine Evaluator.

The position involves user-testing the search engines and providing feedback for improvements.

It’s a proper job, and reportedly you can earn between $12 and $15 per hour though some fast operators claim to earn up to $20 per hour.

You are employed as an independent contractor and can expect to be given a 1099 tax form at the end of the year for declaring your earnings.

The basic job involves looking at search results and reporting back which are the better ones, based on criteria that you are given. The company knows what it wants to see, and will give you clear guidelines so you can assess the results.

Although there is no real training for a job like this, the company that employs you will want to know that you can do a decent job, so you will go through some testing before they accept you. They may also want to interview you, although as it is an online job this doesn’t happen often.

Where to find Search Engine Evaluator jobs

The following companies are all involved with the Universal Human Relevance System (UHRS) service, which is what being a Search Engine Evaluator comes under.

They are micro-task sites, which means they have many different small tasks available for freelancers, with the UHRS work being one of them.

1. Appen Butler Hill
2. Leapforce
3. Lionbridge.

Update on a Few Other Paid Search Engines

When I originally wrote this post a few years back, many sites paid you to search as well. Unfortunately, since then, some of those sites have shut down.
I’m going to add them here in case you were wondering “what happened to CashCrate” or other sites like it.
They include:

• Google Screenwise (Now it seems to be a survey panel)
• SendEarnings (exiting members can transfer their earnings to SE’s sister site, InboxDollars)
• Scour.com
• GiftHulk
• CashCrate

As you can see from this post, the good news is that now there are many other search engines that pay to search and surf the web. So you still have a lot of options for making a little extra cash on the side for something you already do online anyway.

Search No More: Wrapping up How to Get Paid for Searching!

Congratulations on reaching the end of our list!

With these clever ways to get paid for searching, you can now turn every (well, maybe not every, but many)) click into cash.

Whether you’re browsing for fun or seeking answers, remember that your searches can now lead to earnings. So be sure to join a few of these sites or install a few of these apps and browser extensions so you can always get paid for searching, no matter how, when, where and on what device you “Google it“!