MyPoints is a long-running rewards site that, by its own account, was founded in 1996 and has belonged to Prodege since 2016. You earn points from shopping, surveys, receipts and more, then redeem for PayPal cash or gift cards. The catches are slow-posting points, a two-year expiry rule and plenty of low-value tasks.
MyPoints is old enough to remember dial-up, which is a rare thing for a rewards site. That history is a point in its favour, but longevity alone doesn't tell you whether it's worth your evenings. I've gone through MyPoints' own blog and help pages, and the terms that sit behind its card-linked offers, to see what it says about earning, redeeming and getting stuck.
A rewards site with some history
MyPoints' blog says the company was founded in Delaware in 1996 and that Prodege acquired it in 2016. So it's a long-standing brand now run as part of a bigger rewards group, rather than a new app that could vanish overnight. I couldn't read the main terms page myself, so I can't give you the full legal entity details from it.
Ways to collect MyPoints
The company's own blog lists several routes to points. Here's the line-up as it describes it:
- Cash back on purchases from thousands of popular stores.
- Surveys, worth the point equivalent of 50 cents to 5 US dollars each.
- Scanning receipts through a feature called Magic Receipts.
- Trying products, such as free samples or trial periods.
- Cash tournament games through WorldWinner.
- Watching videos, which may add a few cents here and there.
Read that list as a menu of small things, not a salary. Surveys at 50 cents to 5 US dollars each reward patience, and videos that add a few cents are the company's own words for how little they're worth.
What the points turn into
The blog says rewards are PayPal cash or gift cards to retailers including Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy and Starbucks. It also says about 150 points are generally worth 1 US dollar, which lets you sanity-check any task before you start. A survey that offers a few points for ten minutes of your time works out to very little.
The help centre adds that you can redeem points for gift cards and e-certificates from a wide range of partners, and that only your available, non-pending points can be redeemed. That second part is easy to miss. Points from a purchase may sit as pending before they become available to spend.
Waiting for shopping points to post
A help article about the new-member shopping bonus is a good illustration. It says to allow up to 32 days for points to post. To qualify you have to spend 20 US dollars or more within the first 30 days of membership, and purchases at Amazon, eBay, Home Depot and travel bookings are excluded.
Whatever the offer, the sensible approach is to treat cash back as a bonus on shopping you'd do anyway, and to check the exclusions before you buy. Never buy something you don't need just to chase points.
Points that can disappear
A MyPoints blog post, citing the Terms of Service, says points in its Rewards Programs that haven't been redeemed for two years from the time they were earned or awarded may be deemed expired and removed from your account. In other words, there's a long but real clock on every point.
The easy defence is to redeem when you reach a reward you want, rather than hoarding towards a bigger one.
Card linking and what it shares
If you link a card for in-store cash back, the card-linked offers terms say enrollment is limited to people who are 18 years of age or older. They also say transaction data such as merchant name, location, date and amount is collected, along with the last four digits of the card, and that the company may modify or discontinue the service at any time.
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That's a normal arrangement for card-linked rewards, but it's your spending history, so only switch it on if the trade feels right to you.
MyPoints at a glance
| Question | What MyPoints' pages say |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996, in Delaware |
| Owner | Prodege, since 2016 |
| Survey value | 50 cents to 5 US dollars each |
| Rewards | PayPal cash or gift cards |
| Points value | About 150 points to 1 US dollar, generally |
| Expiry | Unredeemed for two years can expire |
| Card-linked offers | 18 or older; transaction data collected |
The cash tournament games
Because one way to earn is cash tournament games through WorldWinner, a quick warning. Those are games where you may pay to enter. If you play them, set a firm limit and remember that entry money isn't the same as earning points.
Telling real MyPoints from fakes
Don't pay anyone to claim points, and don't share your password or card details by email or message. The real site and help centre never ask you to buy gift cards for them. If a message mentions MyPoints and offers an unrealistic return, delete it.
My view
MyPoints looks like a legitimate rewards site with a long track record, and the biggest risks are time spent for very little and points that sit pending or expire. Use it for shopping you'd do anyway, redeem regularly and don't expect more than pocket money. My guide to easy ways to earn money using your phone puts it alongside other options, and my list of legitimate ways to make money online shows where the better returns are.
And if you're counting these rewards as income, read whether side hustles are taxed, then check with an accountant for your own situation.
Frequently asked questions
Is MyPoints legit?
MyPoints says it was founded in 1996 and has been owned by Prodege since 2016. It pays through PayPal cash or gift cards, but the amounts per task are small and points can expire.
How do you cash out of MyPoints?
MyPoints' blog says rewards are PayPal cash or gift cards to retailers such as Amazon, Target and Walmart. Only available, non-pending points can be redeemed.
Do MyPoints expire?
MyPoints' blog, citing its Terms of Service, says points not redeemed for two years from when they were earned may be deemed expired and removed.
How long do MyPoints take to post?
A help article on the new-member shopping bonus says to allow up to 32 days for points to post.
How much are MyPoints worth?
The blog says about 150 points are generally worth 1 US dollar, and that surveys are worth the equivalent of 50 cents to 5 US dollars each.
