Get Paid to Watch Videos: How to Earn Money Online from Your Couch
Binge-watching your favorite shows usually doesn‘t pay the bills. But with the rise of "paid-to-watch" platforms, you actually can start earning extra cash from indulging your video addiction.
These platforms incentivize users to watch videos, commercials, and sometimes even play mobile games. They earn money by charging brands and businesses to show you relevant ads or gain insights into consumer preferences. Then they share the profits with you.
It won‘t make you rich – most pay just a few cents or dollars per video. But it‘s an easy, legitimate way to earn some spare money from home.
And it sure beats sitting through all those ads for free!
Curious how it works? This guide covers everything you need to start earning from online videos.
Overview: How "Get Paid to Watch" Platforms Work
Here‘s a quick rundown of how these platforms operate:
Companies sign up for an analytics or advertising service. The platforms offer useful consumer insights or ad targeting solutions.
You watch videos or ads to provide data. By watching, you give information on viewer preferences and engagement.
The platforms pay you a share of the fees. You get cash rewards for your time and attention.
It‘s a mutually beneficial arrangement. You earn money for time you‘d likely waste anyway. And brands get valuable intel on consumer response.
The key is finding legit platforms that provide enough earning potential to be worthwhile.
15 Legit Ways to Get Paid for Watching Videos
Here are 15 of the top websites and apps that will actually pay you to indulge your video habit:
1. Swagbucks
One of the largest "paid to" platforms around, Swagbucks rewards users for watching videos, taking surveys, playing games, and more.
How it works: You can earn Swagbucks (SB) points from dozens of activities. Watching videos earns 0.5 to 3 SB per video. You can cash out rewards starting at just $5.
Video options: Swagbucks offers a mix of clips from news, entertainment, lifestyle, and comedy to keep it interesting.
Potential earnings: Depends heavily on your level of activity. $10 to $20 per month is reasonable. Top performers bring in much more.
2. Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel
Best known for TV ratings, Nielsen also has digital consumer panels. Members install tracking software on computers/mobiles to share data.
How it works: Nielsen collects data on internet usage, including video streaming. They reward you with points redeemable for gift cards. You’re paid for sharing your usage data, not watching specific videos.
What you’ll view: Whatever you normally watch! No need to change habits.
Potential earnings: Up to $50 per year. Limited rewards, but also very little work required.
3. InboxDollars
InboxDollars functions like an aggregator. You earn for web searches, surveys, games, videos, and more – all in one dashboard.
How it works: Sign up for an account to access their full suite of money-making tools. Watch ads and videos to generate a few cents up to $1 per each.
Video options: Options tend to focus on commercials, entertainment trailers/clips, and sponsored videos. Plenty of variety.
Potential earnings: Active users earn an average of $25 to $40 per month. Savvy members can squeeze more.
4. Perk
Perk focuses specifically on rewarding video activity. They work directly with brands and publishers.
How it works: Download the Perk phone app. Watch brand videos and ads to earn Perk Points. Accumulate and redeem towards gift cards or PayPal cash.
What you‘ll view: Expect ads, movie trailers, news clips, sponsored content and the usual commercial fare.
Potential earnings: $1 to $5 per week is realistic depending on your device usage. For perspective, 5 devices could generate up to $100 per year.
5. PrizeRebel
Similar to Swagbucks, PrizeRebel offers multiple money-making streams. But we‘ll focus on their video options.
How it Works: Sign in and browse the video channel. Each clip watched earns Points towards redemptions. Length and category affects rates.
What you‘ll view: News, entertainment, commercials, brand videos. All the typical internet fodder.
Potential earnings: The equivalent of $5 to $20 per month. More Points for referrals and surveys.
6. GrabPoints
Another multi-faceted platform, GrabPoints includes a decent video channel among redemption options.
How it works: As always – watch videos to earn Points. Rates depend on the category and length. Then redeem said Points towards gift cards or cash rewards.
What you‘ll view: GrabPoints serves the usual mix of news clips, funny viral videos, commercials and sponsored content. At least it‘s better than regular TV commercial breaks!
Potential earnings: Active users report $10 to $15 monthly. But top performers pull much higher sums.
7. RewardXP
Lesser known than SwagBucks but similar setup. RewardXP provides multiple online money-making streams.
How it works: Open a free account to access offers. Pick videos from categories like comedy, entertainment, fashion, music or gaming. More Points for longer videos.
What you‘ll view: All types of internet video fare. Great for indulging your specific interests!
Potential earnings: $10 to $15 per month is reasonable depending on activity level.
8. AppTrailers
As you might guess from the name, AppTrailers focuses specifically on videos for mobile apps.
How it works: Download the app and watch trailers for the latest games and mobile apps. Like what you see? Click their link to download or purchase for more rewards!
What you‘ll view: Mostly mobile game commercials and app demo videos showcasing features.
Potential earning: Roughly $5 to $10 per month in reliable passive income.
9. VolKno
VolKno takes an academic spin. Users review educational and informational videos for pay.
How it works: VolKno clients are typically content creators and educators looking for feedback. You watch their video then complete a survey detailing your reactions.
What you‘ll view: Expect lectures, tutorials, webinars, and other educational videos. Resist the urge to fall asleep in class!
Potential earnings: $1 to $3 per video review is standard. Weekly payouts directly to Paypal.
10. Survey Junkie
Another popular survey community, Survey Junkie provides some video watching opportunities. Just be sure to vet the source carefully when it comes to downloading free software or games!
We‘ve covered the main platforms specifically dedicated to video rewards. But you can also find video offers on "gig economy" websites – players like Swagbucks and InboxDollars thrive because they aggregate multiple earning streams in one spot.
Here are a few other reputable websites with video and ad viewing offers in the mix:
11. Amazon Mechanical Turk
Amazon‘s crowdsourcing job site lets individuals and businesses hire you for quick tasks – an odd mix of activities like transcription, data entry, surveys and more. While frequent video watching gigs would be unusual, they do pop up occasionally.
What you‘ll view: Could be commercials, game footage, news clips – almost anything. Weird randomness is part of the MTurk experience!
Potential earnings: Usually a few cents per task, but available jobs are inconsistent. Don‘t rely on MTurk as your sole income source!
12. Branded Surveys
Focused survey community with cash rewards. Look in their paid ads section for occasional opportunities to watch and react to video ads.
What you‘ll view: Typically commercials, trailers and promotional content.
Potential earnings: Up to $2 per ad you review. But limited volume. Treat as a supplemental income source.
13. Quick Rewards
Another "rewards club" website in the SwagBucks mold. Features an entire video watching channel with cash incentives.
What you‘ll view: Familiar mix of entertainment, fashion, music, news and commercials. At least you can pick categories to match your interests!
Potential earnings: $5 to $10 per month for regular viewers. Consistent daily participation drives the highest returns.
14. Product Report Card
Shares consumer review offers for physical products – electronics, home items, health and beauty, groceries, and more. Manufacturers need video reviews in addition to written feedback, especially for tech devices or hair/makeup tutorials.
What you‘ll view: Product demos and tutorial videos to provide detailed reactions. For tech reviews you may film yourself interacting with devices.
Potential earnings: $5 to $30 per review based on detail required. Reach the higher end for video reviews showcasing product usage.
15. UserTesting
Popular website testing service also partners with many video content creators. You‘re paid for reviewing video elements on their landing pages and apps.
What you‘ll view: Educational videos, commercials, branding clips, website demos, and promotional footage. Interest and quality varies widely between tests.
Potential earnings: $10 per test is standard. Experts can qualify for higher-paying specific client projects. Volume ranges from daily tests to occasional opportunities.
This covers a majority of the legitimate platforms providing cash rewards for online video viewing. But new sites continue to emerge, so it never hurts to research options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let‘s quickly review answers to some common consumer questions:
Are these methods legitimate and safe?
The platforms listed above do offer genuine rewards for watching videos. However, some sites still push deceptive gimmicks and scams – downloading suspect software for promised "easy money" that never materializes. Be prudent, do your homework, and don‘t believe inflated claims.
As with any side income source, don‘t provide sensitive personal details like SSNs without vetting legitimacy.
Overall though, the top platforms can safely provide legitimate earnings.
How much can I earn watching videos online?
Income varies widely by site and activity level. Most venues pay rewards in points later converted to cash-equivalent gift cards or PayPal deposits. Here are typical earnings:
- Per Video – $0.01 to $1.00
- Daily – $0.25 to $5.00
- Monthly – $5 to $100+
Among platforms reviewed above, $30 per month serves as a reasonable median benchmark for consistent participation.
Dedicated users across multiple sites can potentially net a few hundred per month – enough to pay for minor expenses or entertainment costs. The key is persistence. Patience builds over time just like a savings account.
Is there an age restriction for earning rewards?
Yes – users must have reached the legal adult age to earn actual money. Requirements are usually 18 years old for PayPal cashouts. But younger teens can still earn gift card rewards on certain platforms – always check terms and conditions.
Can I do this full time as a job?
Unlikely. Even with dedication across multiple platforms, earnings may end up around minimum wage levels. Treat this as supplemental side income only.
Work this into your free time for some bonus cash, not primary employment.
How do I get paid? When can I withdraw earnings?
Most sites use a basic rewards structure:
- Watch Videos – Each video earns Points
- Convert Points – Accumulate enough for gift cards or cash
- Withdraw Rewards – Redeem gift cards or transfer cash to PayPal
Popular reward choices include Amazon, Target, Starbucks, Xbox, Playstation, and more.
Don‘t forget about lifetime point expiration policies! Always cash out before your accounts become inactive.
Tips to Maximize Your Video Viewing Income
Here are some pro tips to optimize rewards:
Combine multiple platforms – Add up earnings across sites rather than relying solely on one.
Install mobile apps to watch passively during commutes or whenever you have free minutes. This transforms wasted time into rewards.
Refer friends for bonus points on most platforms. Building a referral network boosts income.
Take surveys too for additional earnings. Combined incentives add up faster.
Maximize devices like old phones or tablets. Install apps and play videos simultaneously on multiple screens.
Bookmark video playlists on each platform to easily return and play more. This streamlines site navigation.
Activate auto-advance so that playlists cycle continuously rather than pausing. Every second counts!
Should You Watch Videos for Money? Pros vs Cons
Pros to earning from online videos:
- Zero cost, education or skill required. Anyone with a device can participate.
- Proof of legitimate rewards from reputable platforms ($5 to $100+ per month)
- Convenient to do anytime, anywhere
- Can earn passive income while multi-tasking other activities
- Scales earnings across multiple sites and devices
Cons to consider:
- Requires patience and grind for meaningful rewards
- Need to disable ad blockers and share data, sacrificing some privacy
- Mostly pays pennies per video, this won‘t build real wealth
- Risk of shady scam websites or apps stealing data/info
Getting paid to watch videos makes for a fun hobby that can earn some bonus cash on the side. Just set proper expectations – with the right approach, it beats watching cat videos for free!
Conclusion: Earn Spare Cash for Time You Already Waste
Can you generate a full-time living wage from watching videos? Probably not. As with most side hustles and beer money gigs, view this as supplementary income rather than highly lucrative work.
But these platforms do offer legitimate rewards for time you likely spend zoning out on videos anyway. By transforming this entertainment into small cash incentives of $5 to $100+ per month, it beats doing nothing.
Everyone wishes ideas like this provided easy fortunes just for sitting around. But they realistically serve more as passive income streams rather than highly profitable businesses. Treat them as such – fun sidelines to earn a bit extra, not fortune-building wealth hacks.
If you regularly watch shows online, give a few platforms a spin! Extra beer money feels great, and you might find yourself happily surprised at totals over time. Just don‘t buy into get-rich quick hype – the real value lies in consistently monetizing spare moments over years rather than expecting immediate windfalls overnight.
At best you‘ll fatten your wallet modestly. At worst you‘ll still enjoy the entertainment itself. It‘s a proven model allowing you to earn rewards for media time you‘re wasting anyway – all without any financial risk.
So grab your laptop, load up SwagBucks, and start profiting from your streaming addiction! Your wallet will thank you later.
