Google Opinion Rewards is Google's own survey app, so it's as legit as they come. The catch is the reward: Android users get Google Play credit rather than cash, iPhone users get PayPal money, and each survey pays a small, varying amount. Some surveys, like the setup questions, pay nothing at all.
If a survey app was ever going to be safe, it would be the one made by Google. Even so, I get asked about it a lot, mostly by people who want to know whether the pennies are worth the taps. I've read Google's own help pages, plus Wikipedia's summary for the details Google doesn't spell out, so here's what holds up.
Who makes Google Opinion Rewards
Google makes it, which settles the question of whether a real company is behind the app. Google's help centre describes Google Surveys as a tool for market researchers, and says you answer their questions either inside the Opinion Rewards app or through Google's network of online publishers. Wikipedia says the app was released in 2013 for Android users in the US, with an iOS version following in 2017.
Because a business pays researchers' costs, you're not the customer. The researchers are. Your answers are the product, and the reward is Google's thank-you for them.
What you get for answering
Here's the first thing to understand: it's a reward system, not a wage. Google's help pages say the Android app gives credits to use in the Google Play store, while the iOS app pays cash into your PayPal account. Those two balances stay separate. Google says there's no cumulative total across platforms, and credit or cash from one can't be moved to the other.
So an Android user is topping up an app-store balance. That's useful if you buy apps, games, films or music, and much less useful if you were hoping to pay a bill.
How much each survey is worth
Google doesn't publish a price list. Its help centre says Google Play credits and PayPal payments are of varying amounts, and that the payout depends on the number of questions and the time a survey takes. Wikipedia puts the usual range at between 0.10 and 2 US dollars per survey, and says you need to accumulate at least 2 US dollars to be eligible for rewards.
I'd treat those as outer limits rather than expectations. Plenty of surveys will sit near the bottom, and none of it arrives on a schedule you can plan around.
The surveys that pay nothing
Google's help pages say some surveys, such as the setup questions, don't pay out at all, and that Google uses them to measure respondent quality. If your first few surveys earn nothing, that isn't a fault with your account. It's part of how the app works out who you are as a respondent.
Wikipedia notes that Google uses attention checks, and that accounts which fail them receive fewer surveys. Rushing through with random answers is therefore a poor strategy. Careful, honest replies are what bring more invitations.
| Question | Answer from Google and Wikipedia |
|---|---|
| Who runs it? | |
| Android reward | Credit to use in the Google Play store |
| iOS reward | Cash paid to PayPal |
| Typical range per survey | 0.10 to 2 US dollars, per Wikipedia |
| Minimum before rewards | 2 US dollars, per Wikipedia |
| Age rule | Over 18, per Wikipedia |
| Missing credit | Report it in the app if nothing shows after 7 days |
Waiting for credit to appear
Google says credits could take a few days to be applied. If you see a completion screen but there's still no credit after 7 days, it tells you to use the feedback option in the app menu. Keep a note of the date you finished, because that's what support will ask about.
Wikipedia also says rewards expire one year after you receive them, so don't let an Android balance sit unused for ages. I couldn't find that expiry rule on the Google pages I read, so check the app's terms if it matters to you.
Where your answers go
Google's help centre says answers are aggregated and shared with the market researcher who wrote the survey, and may also be temporarily connected to your Google Account. It also says Google watches for spammy behaviour. The app asks for personal details such as your age and location, which is how surveys get matched to you.
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Getting more surveys over time
Google's help pages say answering honestly tends to bring more surveys. Keep your app up to date, leave notifications switched on so you see a survey while it's still open, and make sure your profile details are right, since surveys are matched to who you are. It also helps to answer when you've got a minute to read each question fully, because rushed answers can trip the attention checks Wikipedia mentions.
Who can use it
Wikipedia says you need to be over 18 and live in a country where the app is available. Availability is the stumbling block for many readers, because the list of countries changes and Google's help centre has a separate page on it. Check the app store in your own country rather than assuming.
Is Google Opinion Rewards worth it?
For a few minutes of idle time, yes, it's an easy, trustworthy way to collect a little store credit. For serious income, no. If you want more variety, my guide to paid survey sites in the UK lists others, and what Prolific pays shows a research site that publishes a minimum hourly rate.
For something even lighter, see apps that pay you to watch videos. Just keep an eye out for fakes: nobody from Google will ask you to pay to receive survey rewards.
Frequently asked questions
Is Google Opinion Rewards legit?
Yes. It's made by Google, and Google's help centre describes how surveys from market researchers are answered in the app and rewarded.
Does Google Opinion Rewards pay cash?
On iPhone, Google says it pays cash to PayPal. On Android, it pays credit to use in the Google Play store.
How much does a survey pay?
Google says amounts vary with the number of questions and time taken. Wikipedia gives a range of 0.10 to 2 US dollars per survey.
Why haven't I received my credit?
Google says credit could take a few days. If there's nothing after 7 days, use the feedback option in the app menu.
Who can use Google Opinion Rewards?
Wikipedia says you must be over 18 and live in a country where the app is available.
