Surveys for Money in Australia: The Honest Guide
Thousands of Australians earn extra cash doing online surveys every month. We break down which platforms actually pay, how much survey money you can realistically earn, and the fastest way to get your first payout.
Honest Expectation: Surveys Are a Side Income, Not a Salary
Before we go any further: surveys for money will not replace your job. Realistic monthly earnings for an average Australian sit between $15 and $150, depending on how much time you put in and which platforms you use. Anyone promising $500 per week from surveys alone is misleading you. That said, the right platforms make a genuine difference to what you actually earn.
$15-150
Realistic Monthly Earnings
5-20 min
Average Survey Length
$10
Lowest Min. Payout (AU)
3-5
Platforms to Join for Best Results
Can You Really Make Money from Surveys in Australia?
Yes — with some important caveats. Doing surveys for money is a legitimate way to earn extra income, and thousands of Australians do it consistently. The research industry pays real money for consumer opinions because that data is genuinely valuable to brands, government agencies, and product developers.
The gap between expectation and reality is where most people get frustrated. If you go in expecting to earn $50 from a few hours on a Sunday afternoon, you'll likely be disappointed. But if you treat paid surveys Australia as a regular side habit — something you chip away at for 20-30 minutes a day — the earnings add up to something genuinely useful.
What Surveys for Money CAN Do
- Cover a regular grocery shop or fuel bill each month
- Earn gift cards for retailers you already shop at
- Build a useful emergency fund over several months
- Be done during commutes, ad breaks, or lunch breaks
- Scale up meaningfully with the right platforms and strategy
What Surveys WON'T Do
- Replace a full-time or part-time income
- Generate hundreds of dollars a week from a few minutes
- Pay out reliably without consistent effort
- Always match you to surveys — screen-outs are normal
- Grow at the same rate indefinitely without platform strategy
The Right Mindset
Think of survey money the same way you'd think of a cashback credit card or a savings interest rate. It won't change your life overnight, but it quietly accumulates value while you do things you'd already be doing. The people who earn the most from online surveys for money treat it as a low-effort background habit, not an active hustle.
Best Survey Sites That Pay Real Money
Ranked by total value, payout speed, and bonus rewards
Competitions.com.au
Surveys + Wheel Spins + Guessing Games — Australian, since 2012
Most platforms give you one thing when you get paid for surveys: points. Competitions.com.au gives you three. Every survey you complete earns 150-200 CompBux (redeemable as gift cards worth $1.50-$2.00), plus 5 Wheel Spin entries and 5 Daily Guessing Game entries. That triple reward structure sets it apart from every other platform on this list.
What You Earn Per Survey
150-200
CompBux
= $1.50-$2.00 in gift cards
+5
Wheel Spin Entries
Win extra CompBux or gift cards
+5
Guessing Game Entries
Daily $10-$50 cash prizes
Minimum Payout
$10
Just 1,000 CompBux
Payout Speed
Instant
Via GiftPay delivery
Retailers
100+
Woolworths, Coles, Amazon...
Why it ranks #1: The combination of the lowest payout threshold in Australia ($10), instant gift card delivery, and triple rewards per survey makes this the best all-round platform for Australians who want to earn money doing surveys without the usual frustrations of high minimum payouts or long waits.
Octopus Group
Highest Per-Survey Cash Rate in Australia
For those who want cash for surveys paid directly to a bank account, Octopus Group offers the best rate in the country at $0.28 per minute, which equals $16.80 per hour. They even pay 10c if you get screened out, which is uncommon. The downside is survey volume: most members receive just 2-4 invites per month, and screen-out rates are high.
Pay rate: $0.28/min ($2-5/survey)
Direct bank transfer
$20 minimum payout
Limited survey availability
Pureprofile
Australian-Owned — 2.1M+ Members — Best for Survey Volume
Pureprofile is Sydney-based and one of the most active platforms for paid surveys Australia. You can expect several invites per week, with pay ranging from $0.80 to $5 per survey. Payments go to your bank account, PayPal, or as gift cards. The $20-25 minimum payout and 14-30 business day processing time are the main drawbacks.
$0.80-$5 per survey
Bank, PayPal, and gift cards
$20-25 minimum payout
Up to 30 days to receive payment
Toluna
Global Platform with Product Testing Opportunities
Toluna operates a points-based system that can be confusing to convert back to dollar values, but it pays out via PayPal or gift cards with a $10 minimum. Survey topics tend to be engaging and it occasionally offers product testing opportunities. The complex points conversion is the main friction point when you want to know exactly how much money for surveys you're actually earning.
$10 minimum payout
PayPal and gift card options
Confusing points-to-dollar rate
3-7 days for payment processing
Swagbucks
GPT Platform — Surveys, Cashback, Videos
Swagbucks has a $5 minimum payout, the lowest cash threshold of any platform on this list. Beyond surveys it also offers cashback, video watching, and shopping rewards. The survey pay rates per minute are lower than competitors, and screen-out rates are high, but the variety of earning methods and the low payout floor make it a decent complement to the platforms above.
$5 minimum payout
Multiple earning methods beyond surveys
Lower per-minute survey pay
High screen-out rates
Platform Comparison: Top 5 at a Glance
| Platform | Pay Rate | Min. Payout | Payment Method | Payout Speed | Bonus Rewards | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competitions.com.au BEST | 150-200 CB ($1.50-$2) | $10 | Gift Cards (100+ stores) | Instant | Spins + Games + Comps | 4.5/5 |
| Octopus Group | $2-5/survey ($0.28/min) | $20 | Bank Transfer | 3-5 business days | None | 4.0/5 |
| Pureprofile | $0.80-$5/survey | $20-25 | Bank/PayPal/Gift Cards | 14-30 business days | None | 4.0/5 |
| Toluna | Points ($0.50-$3 est.) | $10 | PayPal/Gift Cards | 3-7 business days | Product testing | 3.5/5 |
| Swagbucks | SB points ($0.40-$2 est.) | $5 | PayPal/Gift Cards | 5-10 business days | Cashback, videos | 3.0/5 |
CB = CompBux (100 CompBux = $1.00 AUD). Survey pay rates vary by length, topic, and your demographic profile. Estimated dollar values shown for points systems.
How Much Survey Money Can You Actually Make?
Your realistic earnings depend on three things: how much time you invest, which platforms you use, and how well your demographic profile matches available surveys. Here is an honest breakdown based on real usage patterns.
| Effort Level | Time Per Week | Surveys Per Month | Platforms Used | Est. Monthly Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casual | 1-2 hours | 10-15 surveys | 1-2 platforms | $15-30/month |
| Regular | 3-5 hours | 25-40 surveys | 2-3 platforms | $40-70/month |
| Power User | 7-10 hours | 60-80 surveys | 3-5 platforms | $80-150/month |
*Estimates based on a mix of platforms including bonus rewards where applicable. Individual results vary based on demographics, survey availability, and qualification rates.
Bonus Rewards Can Add Significant Value
The earnings table above shows survey-only income. On Competitions.com.au, each survey also gives you 5 Wheel Spin entries and 5 Guessing Game entries. Power users who complete 70+ surveys a month accumulate hundreds of bonus entries, adding an estimated $15-$50 in extra prize value per month on top of their CompBux earnings.
How to Maximise Your Survey Money
Set Yourself Up Right
- 1 Complete your profile fully — platforms match surveys based on demographics, employment, household, and lifestyle. A 100% complete profile can triple the surveys you receive.
- 2 Join 3-5 platforms — the most consistent earners spread across multiple sites to maximise the total number of available surveys.
- 3 Enable notifications — high-value surveys fill quota fast. Being among the first to respond increases your qualification rate significantly.
Day-to-Day Habits
- 4 Check mornings first — new surveys on most Australian platforms release between 7-9am AEST. Checking early means fewer screen-outs from full quotas.
- 5 Answer consistently — quality control systems flag contradictory answers. Consistent, honest responses protect your account standing and survey access.
- 6 Prioritise by value-per-minute — on Competitions.com.au, aim for surveys offering at least 10 CompBux per minute of estimated time for the best return on your time.
Want the Full Playbook?
Read our detailed guide: 10 Tips to Maximise Your Survey Earnings in Australia — covering everything from redemption tier strategy to the best times of day to check for surveys.
Cash for Surveys vs Points Systems: What's the Difference?
Not all survey rewards are equal. Some platforms pay in straightforward cash — a dollar amount credited to your account. Others use points systems that need to be converted. Understanding the difference helps you avoid the frustration of earning "a lot of points" that turn out to be worth less than you expected.
Direct Cash
Bank transfer or PayPal. What you see is what you get. No conversion needed.
Octopus Group, Pureprofile
Most transparent
Gift Card Credits
Points that convert to gift cards. Best when the conversion rate is clear and the retailer selection is broad.
Competitions.com.au (CompBux)
Transparent 100:1 rate
Complex Points
Large point numbers that convert at confusing rates. Requires research to understand actual dollar value.
Toluna, Swagbucks
Less transparent
Why Gift Cards Can Beat Direct Cash
The instinctive preference for "real money" in a bank account is understandable, but gift cards delivered instantly are often more practical than waiting weeks for a bank transfer. If you'd spend $50 at Woolworths or Coles this week regardless, a $50 gift card delivered instantly from Competitions.com.au is functionally identical to $50 cash in your pocket — without the wait.
Instant Gift Cards Win When:
- You need the value quickly (grocery shopping)
- The retailer range covers your regular spending
- The minimum payout is lower than cash platforms
Direct Cash Wins When:
- You specifically need liquid cash
- You want to consolidate earnings into one account
- The per-survey rate is significantly higher
Pro Tip: Use Both
The smartest approach is using Competitions.com.au for its instant gift card delivery and low $10 minimum alongside Octopus Group or Pureprofile for direct bank cash. This way you're never waiting long periods to access your survey money, regardless of which platform you're on.
Is Getting Paid for Surveys Actually Legit?
Yes — but with important distinctions. Legitimate paid survey platforms exist and pay real money. The market research industry is a multi-billion-dollar global business. Brands pay platforms like Pureprofile, Octopus Group, and Competitions.com.au real money to gather consumer insights, and those platforms pass a portion of that revenue on to participants.
The problem is that the keyword "surveys for money" also attracts scam operators who mimic legitimate sites. Knowing the difference between a real platform and a fake one protects your time, your data, and sometimes your money.
Red Flags That Signal a Scam
Promises $50+/hour or $500/week
Realistic survey pay is $5-20/hour at best. Anything higher is a lie designed to hook you.
Asks for payment to join
Legitimate online surveys for money are always free to join. No exceptions.
Requests your TFN or Medicare number
Survey platforms only need basic contact details and demographic information.
No privacy policy or ABN
Australian businesses must have an ABN. Legitimate survey sites also have clear privacy policies.
No verifiable reviews or online history
Established sites have trackable review histories on Google, Trustpilot, and Reddit.
Earnings never actually paid out
A common tactic: let you "earn" large amounts, then refuse payment with invented reasons.
How to Verify a Survey Site is Legitimate
- Search "[site name] review Australia Reddit" — real user experiences are the most reliable indicator
- Check the ABN on the ABN Lookup (free tool by the ATO)
- Look for a clear, detailed privacy policy that specifies how your data is used
- Test with a small amount before committing significant time
For a deeper dive into identifying legitimate platforms and protecting yourself from data-harvesting scams, read our full guide: How to Spot Legitimate Survey Sites in Australia.
Getting Started: Your First $10 in Survey Money
The fastest way to get paid for surveys in Australia is to start with Competitions.com.au and earn your first $10 gift card in as little as one week. Here is exactly how to do it.
Create a Free Account
Sign up at Competitions.com.au/register. It takes under two minutes and you receive a 100 CompBux welcome bonus immediately — that's $1 toward your first gift card before you've done a thing.
Complete Your Profile in Full
Before touching a single survey, spend 10-15 minutes filling in your full profile: age, location, employment, household, lifestyle, and shopping habits. This single step determines how many surveys you receive and how often you qualify. A partial profile means missed survey money.
Browse Available Surveys
Head to the Surveys page to see what's available. You'll see each survey's estimated time, CompBux reward, and the bonus spins and game entries that come with it. Prioritise surveys with the best CompBux-per-minute ratio first.
Complete 5-7 Surveys
At 150-200 CompBux per survey, completing 5-7 surveys gets you to 750-1,400 CompBux. That puts you at or past the 1,000 CB threshold ($10 gift card). Each survey also earns you 5 Wheel Spin entries and 5 Guessing Game entries, so your total value is higher than just the CompBux.
Time estimate: At 10-15 minutes per survey, that's 50-100 minutes of total survey time to reach your first $10 payout.
Redeem for an Instant Gift Card
Once you hit 1,000 CompBux, visit the redemption section and choose a gift card from 100+ retailers including Woolworths, Coles, Amazon, JB Hi-Fi, Uber Eats, Myer, Kmart, and BP. Your gift card is delivered instantly via GiftPay — no waiting, no processing delay.
Bonus: Use Your Spins and Game Entries
After completing those 5-7 surveys you'll also have 25-35 Wheel Spin entries and 25-35 Daily Guessing Game entries banked. Use them. The Spin Wheel can award extra CompBux, additional game entries, or gift cards outright. The Daily Guessing Game awards $10 to the closest guess and $50 for an exact match. This bonus activity stack is what makes earn money doing surveys on this platform meaningfully more valuable than other sites.
Ready to Earn Your First Survey Money?
Join Competitions.com.au free and start earning cash for surveys today. Get 100 CompBux just for signing up, then earn 150-200 per survey plus bonus spins and game entries. Redeem instantly for gift cards from 100+ Australian retailers.
Related Survey Guides
Best Survey Sites Australia 2026
Full review of the top 10 paid survey platforms with comparison table.
How Paid Surveys Work in Australia
Complete guide to the CompBux system, redemption tiers, and bonus rewards.
How to Spot Legitimate Survey Sites
Protect yourself from scams with our verification guide.
10 Tips to Maximise Survey Earnings
Proven strategies to earn more from every survey you complete.
Surveyz Review Australia
Is Surveyz worth joining? Honest review with pros, cons, and alternatives.