Survey Junkie Review – The Definitive Australian Guide

Updated 22 July 2023

We reveal how much you can earn from working for Survey Junkie’s platform, who they’re looking for and what’s involved.

Our review covers the following:

• What is Survey Junkie, and is it Legitimate?
• Earning and Redeeming Rewards
• Must-Know Facts
• Pros and Cons
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

What is Survey Junkie, and is it Legitimate?

• Survey Junkie is a popular and widely used online survey rewards platform. Unlike other platforms like Ipsos iSay and Opinion World, which have operated for decades, Survey Junkie launched around 2013 and came to Australia in 2014.
• Survey Junkie describes itself as an “online market research community” wholly owned by consumer insights platform DISQO, which describes itself as delivering “data and analytics to the market research industry”.
• Despite not being as well known as local-themed survey sites, thousands of Australians sign up to Survey Junkie every year, and its members participate in online surveys on various topics and receive points for the time and effort invested. This is the standard process with any legitimate survey site, and Survey Junkie is no exception.
• Survey Junkie’s parent company DISQO is privately owned and operates out of California. For background, the company raised over AU$100 million in 2021, which suggests it is growth focused.
• While there are some negative reviews online about the Survey Junkie platform, this is typical of any survey site and our users rarely report any issues with the platform. We have listed these in our Pros and Cons section below.

How Do I Sign Up?

Signing up for Survey Junkie is a straightforward process:

1. Visit the Survey Junkie website and click on the “Sign Up” button.
2. You’ll be prompted to provide some basic information, such as your name, email address, and date of birth.
3. You’ll need to double-check your name and all other personal details, and once you sign up you’ll receive 25 points. 1 point = 1 cent.
4. Next, you’ll fill out a more detailed profile survey which asks your marital status, living situation, household size, income level, number of pets etc. This survey collects demographic information that Survey Junkie uses to match you with relevant surveys. It’s important to provide accurate and complete information here to increase your chances of qualifying for surveys.
5. Please note some of the style is American, so you’ll need to find the closest fit. Once completed, you’ll receive 50 points (e.g. 50 cents).
6. Once completed, you’ll be able to see the dashboard and the surveys available. 

MoneyHub Head of Research Christopher Walsh walks through Survey Junkie’s sign-up process in the video below:

Earning and Redeeming Rewards

Each survey on Survey Junkie has an associated point value, which can vary depending on the survey’s length and complexity. After completing a survey, points are added to your account. As stated above, 1 point = 1 cent, and each survey offers a set amount of points (55, 65, 75 etc) which will be credited to your account when you complete it. 

Know This: Some survey sites can be sluggish or even elusive when crediting points to your account. Our research suggests Survey Junkie is a no-nonsense operator who credits promptly and accurately. If you have any comments on this matter (or anything else to do with the platform), please contact our research team.

What Can I Earn?

• Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem them them for cash via PayPal transfers. The minimum reward cost is 500 points, which is worth $5, and if you choose this reward the money will be sent to you in 1-3 days.
• Each survey will take around 10-25 minutes to complete, roughly earning 10-15 points for every minute (based on Survey Junkie‘s estimates).
• We estimate you’ll earn around $6+ an hour if you continuously complete surveys, however this is near-impossible so Survey Junkie will, for most people, serve as something you access every few days for 10-30 minutes.

Must-Know Facts

Before signing up, be aware of the following:

1. Your demographic profile determines your survey eligibility. Therefore, updating your profile regularly can help you qualify for more surveys. However, if you’re over a certain age and single, it’s realistic you’ll be less ‘in demand’ for surveys than someone with young children aged between 25 and 45. This is because Survey Junkie, like any survey company, is paid to do research for brands that mass consumers buy. If you’re not spending regularly, you’ll be less relevant to Survey Junkie (and arguably many other survey sites). 
2. Survey Junkie is committed to data privacy and security. They follow strict procedures to ensure that your personal information is secure and used appropriately for research purposes. Their website summarises how insights are shared “the personal information you choose to share with Survey Junkie is always protected; our parent company, DISQO, packages data for its clients in a privacy-compliant way for market research purposes”. This means that while every question you answer is recorded, the integrity of Survey Junkie’s business relies on privacy, and your details are carefully guarded. 
3. Survey Junkie’s rewards system is straightforward. However, it may take time to accumulate enough points for substantial rewards – how many surveys you do will directly influence how much you earn. 

Pros and Cons

Survey Junkie is a popular survey site across Australia, but before signing up it’s important to understand its limitations alongside its benefits:

Pros:

• Global trust: The platform operates in the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia and has operated for 10+ years and has 10,000+ positive reviews from customers from these countries. Survey Junkie has 8+ years of experience in Australia.  
• Continuous opportunities: There are a wide variety of surveys on different topics, with numerous surveys appearing weekly.
• Clear and straightforward points system: There are no tricks or complexity; every time you complete a survey, your points are promptly credited.
• Simple earning: 1 point = 1 cent. Each survey states upfront how many points will be rewarded so you can pick the most relevant and lucrative options and easily see the dollar (or cent) value.
• Low threshold for pay outs: 500 points is the minimum, whereby you’ll be sent $5 via PayPal. 

Cons:

• You need to be ‘transactional’ to be surveyed: The number and type of surveys can be limited based on demographic profile; the more you spend and behave like a typical consumer, the more you’ll be invited to surveys.
• PayPal payout is the only reward option: While we like cash as a reward option, some Survey Junkie members may want gift cards or similar.
• The rewards can take some time to earn: The minimum reward is around $5 which requires 500 points; in most cases need to complete 8-12 surveys to earn enough to generate the reward.

User Testimonials

Over 90% of Survey Junkie’s online feedback is positive, but around 10% negative feedback is notable. However, while the vast majority of Survey Junkie’s members have no issues completing surveys and cashing out rewards, some common themes and issues are mentioned by a minority of users. Please note the reviews we inspected are international; we cannot isolate Australian-specific feedback but have not come across anything problematic in our research. The general negative experiences are as follows:

1. Technical Issues and System Glitches: Many users complained about technical problems, including getting kicked out from surveys multiple times without a resolution and receiving errors after completing surveys. Some users also experienced issues with the ID verification button, which didn’t work for months despite prior reports.
2. Poor Rewards System: Users have pointed out that they rarely get to complete a survey, and even when they do, they often encounter errors and receive no points. The time required to accumulate a minimal payout, such as $5, is also criticised. In some cases, users have reported spending hours on surveys and earning only a dollar or so, which they consider not worth the time and effort.
3. Issues with Account and Rewards Redemption: Some users have had issues with accessing their rewards, especially when their email accounts were no longer accessible. They claimed to be accused of having duplicate accounts, and their requests to delete existing accounts were not met. There were also complaints about rewards being denied use at certain platforms like Amazon.
4. Lack of Survey Qualifications and Low Point Compensation: Some users have pointed out that they often don’t qualify for surveys after spending time answering preliminary questions, only to receive a meagre 2 – 7 points. Also, users were disqualified halfway through a survey and received only a few points. Other users have expressed dissatisfaction with the low number of survey invitations they received and the meagre pay for each survey. This was especially true when they were close to the minimum payout threshold.
5. Concerns over Personal Data and Privacy: A few users expressed concerns about the company’s intentions, suspecting that Survey Junkie is more interested in collecting personal data than their opinions. They were also upset that there seemed to be no option to delete their accounts.
6. Unresponsive Customer Service: Despite the numerous issues faced by users, the responses from Survey Junkie were often seen as inadequate or non-existent, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction among the users.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often can I take surveys?

The number of surveys you can take depends on your demographic profile and the current research needs of Survey Junkie. It’s a good idea to check the platform regularly for new survey opportunities and promptly respond to email invitations. 

How long does it take to receive PayPal transfers? 

The processing time for PayPal can vary, but our research suggests you’ll receive payment within 1-3 days of requesting it.

What happens if I don’t qualify for a survey?

If you start a survey but don’t qualify to complete it, you’ll usually receive a small number of points to compensate you for your time. Always provide accurate and consistent responses to improve your chances of qualifying for future surveys – survey sites actively use fraud prevention and look for inconsistencies to ensure their data has integrity, so always be truthful. 

What types of surveys can I expect on Survey Junkie?

Survey Junkie offers a wide variety of surveys spanning various subjects. These can range from product and brand opinions to advertising effectiveness, political polling, and more. The types of surveys you receive will largely depend on your demographic profile.

How long does each survey typically take to complete?

This can vary widely; between 10 to 20 minutes is the average. Longer and more complex surveys typically offer more points.

How many points do I earn per survey?

The number of points you earn per survey depends on the survey’s length and complexity. While specific point allocations may vary, each survey’s point value is clearly stated upfront, so you’ll know how many points you’ll earn before you start. Each point roughly equates to A$0.01 (or 1 cent), so if a survey states you’ll earn 150 points, that’s worth around $1.50.

Can I participate in surveys on mobile devices?

Yes – Survey Junkie is accessible on multiple devices, including smartphones and tablets. This means you can take surveys at your convenience, whether at home or on the go.

I signed up and haven’t received any survey invitations. What’s going on?

The number of survey invitations you receive can depend on various factors, including your demographic profile and the current needs of Survey Junkie’s clients. If you’re not receiving many survey invites, consider updating your profile to ensure it’s accurate and complete.

How long do my points stay valid?

Per Survey Junkie’s website: “Your points will never expire as long as you are an active member. Your points will expire if you have not logged in and completed a survey within a 12-month period. After 12 months of no activity, all points will be forfeited”.

Conclusion

• Survey Junkie is a legitimate survey site that allows you to earn rewards for sharing your opinions and insights.
• While the income is $5 or $10 here and there, it can be a productive and rewarding way to utilise your spare time.
• We like the fact that the dashboard is simple to navigate, and the points system is transparent with 1 point cashing out as 1 cent.
• As with any survey site, it has pros and cons, and success requires understanding how the system works and being relevant to the research it wants to complete.
• Survey Junkie won’t be for everyone, but we see it as one of the best available, given its track record in Australia and straight-forward PayPal payment rewards.