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You know that you want to make extra income, but where is the best place to start?
We recommend starting out with taking online surveys. Today we are going to check out a popular survey site called Opinion Outpost.
Before I get into my Opinion Outpost review, let me start by saying that taking surveys online is not exactly the most lucrative side hustle. However, if you are looking for effortless ways to make money online, then you may want to join Opinion Outpost.
Think about it; you can pay for that Netflix and Disney Plus subscription just by answering a few questions in your spare time.
That sounds good, but do they really pay you?
After trying Opinion Outpost, I decided to share my results and compare it to some of the other survey sites I have tried.
Here is a quick summary of Opinion Outpost key points…
Read my full review below to see if Opinion Outpost is legit, get survey taking tips, and see my earnings results.
Let's get started:
In This Guide:
What is Opinion Outpost?
Opinion Outpost is a market research site that pays its members to take online surveys. It is owned and managed by Dynata, LLC, a market research firm with a reach of 60+ million consumers worldwide.
Dynata's origin resulted from a rebranding after Research Now and Survey Sampling International, two heavyweights in the market research arena merged. Dynata also operates OneOpinion, which is another online survey site I highly recommend.
Is Opinion Outpost Legit?
According to Opinion Outpost they have over 2 million members world-wide and currently has a 4.0 (Excellent) rating on Trustpilot. While there is a mix of reviews on the site, most are positive and report having earned payments from Opinion Outpost.
In addition, as an active member I can vouch that Opinion Outpost is definitely legit and pays their members.
How does Opinion Outpost work?
Opinion Outpost works with companies to connect your views with their latest products and services. Opinion Outpost gets paid for this market research. They then pass on some of that revenue to their members in the form of cash and gift card rewards in exchange for completing online surveys.
Who is eligible to join Opinion Outpost?
You must be 18 years old to join Opinion Outpost. My specific review is for the US panel; however, they also operate online survey sites in Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and France.
How to join Opinion Outpost?
So, is Opinion Outpost free?
Opinion Outpost is indeed free to join, and it takes less than 10 minutes total to complete the entire sign up process.
Follow these steps to get started:
- Sign up here: Opinion Outpost (will redirect to your country sign-up page)
- For US Site Version: Complete the sign-up form by entering your:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Gender
- Zip Code
- Age
- Email
- You then must choose an 8 character password with at least one letter and one number.
- Then click on the link in the confirmation email you receive and complete your first survey which involves adding additional details to your profile.
- That is it! You are now a member, and you get a 5 point bonus for activating your account.
How do I take Surveys with Opinion Outpost?
Once you register, you will have access to the Opinion Outpost dashboard. Here your will find a dashboard that will give you links to complete your profile, view your accumulated ports, available surveys, and a section to view rewards.
The first order of business is to complete your profile surveys. Click the Surveys tab to see the profiles section.
You will find profile surveys related to your shopping preferences, home & family, healthcare, and more. Completing your profile surveys is the key to getting more surveys.
Be to check your email regularly to complete the surveys you reach via email. Click the “Take a Survey” link, and you will get directed to a survey to take. Most of the studies have quotas, so being early ensures a better of a chance of success.
Also, you can always go to the member's area to find available surveys. Each survey will start with some pre-qualifier questions to see if you are a fit for the study.
If you do qualify, you will usually get a message like the one below. It will let you know the survey topic, length of time, and the incentive offered.
If the time and payment seem reasonable, you can continue with the survey or choose not to continue.
One gripe I did have is that the survey invites via email do not usually show you the survey length and point award before you take the pre-qualifying questions. That is one area that could be improved.
The great thing about checking out which surveys are available on the website is that it tells you how long it will take to complete the surveys.
Managing Your Survey Email Invites
Something that we noticed that is important to point out, is that you are not able to unsubscribe from the emails being sent.
If you unsubscribe from the emails, this will close your account. You can ask for it to be reopened if you do this by mistake however (speaking from experience here!).
If you are not a fan of frequent survey emails, something that you may want to consider is setting up a separate email account specifically for it and other survey sites.
Tips to earn more
- Be sure to complete your profile surveys. These will cover topics like products you use, job category, household size, etc.
- Do not rush through a survey. Read carefully, and answer the questions honestly. They include trick questions here and there, to ensure you are just not clicking through it quickly.
- Do not get discouraged. While Opinion Outpost tries to match you up with your demographics, you will find that you will not always qualify. For instance, while they may know from the profile surveys that you enjoy watching TV, the survey may be about a specific program you do not watch.
Opinion Outpost Badges
Opinion Outpost have five achievement levels referred to as badges. The five levels are Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. You can move up in levels (“referred to as Leveling Up”) by completing surveys, profiles, and activities on the site.
You can view your achievements on the Badges Tab of the Opinion Outpost survey site. Rewards earned from unlocking achievements can be found on the survey history page.
How do survey rewards work?
Every time you complete a survey, you will earn points. You can see the reward value when you check your email or on the ‘Surveys' tab. When answering each question, make sure you answer it fully to progress and complete the study.
Your reward will be automatically credited to your account when you finish the survey. Certain rewards (such as for diary studies and focus groups) may take up to 6 weeks to arrive. You can find points earned from all previous surveys from the past 180 days by selecting account –> Survey History.
How Does Opinion Outpost Pay You?
Opinion Outpost pays you either with PayPal, Gift Cards, or a Virtual Visa Prepaid Card. Regardless of which method you choose, each point is worth 10 cents. Here are the details on the current options to redeem your earnings.
PayPal
If you primary interest is earning cash, you are in luck. Opinion Outpost has an easy PayPal payment option. You can initiate a request to have your money delivered to your PayPal account once you have earned at least 1000 points = $10. PayPal payments are normally delivered within 24 hours of your request.
Gift Cards
You can redeem your points balance from a wide variety of gift cards from retailers like Apple, Chili's, CVS, GameStop, Domino's, Nike, Macy's, Home Depot and Target. 50 Points is the minimum for a $5 Amazon Gift Card. Other gift cards have a minimum of 100 points = $10.
Virtual Visa Prepaid Card
If you do not want to redeem for PayPal or get a gift card, they also offer Visa Prepaid card option. The Visa PrePaid Card also has a 100 point minimum = $10. The information you need to use your Visa PrePaid card is delivered to you via email.
If you choose the Visa option, take note of the fact that the card must be used within 3 months of being issued.
How Much Does Opinion Outpost Pay?
While Opinion Outpost states you can earn up to $5 per survey, from my experience most surveys pay anywhere from $1 to $3. In addition, surveys typically take 15 to 30 minutes to complete. That works out to about $6 per hour.
So no it will not replace your day job, but not a bad way to earn some extra cash in your spare time. With a little dedication, you can easily earn enough points to redeem your points for a gift card or cash via PayPal.
Pros & Cons
Opinion Outpost FAQ
Is Opinion Outpost Free to Join?
Yes, like all the survey sites we review, Opinion Outpost is completely free to join.
How do I receive more surveys?
The best way to qualify for more surveys is to complete your profile. Make sure all the information is accurate and up to date to improve your chances of matching more studies.
Does Opinion Outpost have a Referral Program?
In addition to receiving awards for completing surveys, some survey sites offer cash rewards for referrals.
While Opinion Outpost used to have a referral program that paid $1 per referral up to 5 friends, it seems to have been discontinued. The refer a friend tab has been removed from the Opinion Outpost dashboard.
Is there an Opinion Outpost App?
Unfortunately, Opinion Outpost does not currently have a mobile app.
However, I did not have any difficulty taking their surveys from my phone. Most of the surveys worked well from a mobile browser.
Is Opinion Outpost safe?
Opinion Outpost states that your personal information is safe and private. They are members of all the major market research governing bodies like ESOMAR, The Marketing Research Association, and The Market Research Society.
They state they will never use it for marketing purposes. For more information, please see their Privacy Policy.
Is Opinion Outpost Worth It?
Alternatives to Opinion Outpost
Opinion Outpost isn't the only legitimate survey site out there. Here are several other good options to choose from:
Share Your Opinion Outpost Review or Comments
Have your tried Opinion outpost? If so, leave your own review below.
Or if you just have questions or comments we would love to hear from you. Thanks for your feedback!
This survey panel sounds good but I am curious will I be getting a spam emails after joining?
Good question. I did not have any issues with getting spam or anything like that. They just use your email to send you surveys. However, a good tip may be to create a second email account just for taking surveys. This also is a good way to make sure you are getting to the surveys quicker without having to filter through your day to day email. They have a pretty comprehensive privacy policy that covers how they ensure your data is safe.