Get Paid from Your Couch: How to Make Money Watching Videos and Ads
How would you feel about getting paid to sit on your couch and make money while you watch videos and ads? Several Canadian fintech apps allow you to do just that. While watching videos as a side hustle won’t make you rich, it’s something you can do in your spare time. Ready for a closer look? Let’s dive in.
1. Daily Rewards
Daily Rewards is an online survey site that also allows users to earn rewards by playing games online. One of the things I love about Daily Rewards is that they pay you with cash via PayPal, rather than with points. This way, you always know how much you are earning in real dollars. There’s a $5 sign-up bonus, and if you refer a friend, you get 10% of whatever they earn after they sign up.
2. MyPoints
MyPoints is an online survey company that’s been around for over 20 years. They’re based in the US, but Canadians can also sign up. One of the great things about MyPoints is that they give you so many ways to earn, including playing games and watching videos online.
According to their website, you can earn up to 500 points per day watching videos. That’s not bad, considering that 700 my points have a redemption value of $5, and you can get paid as soon as you reach $5 in earnings. As with most websites like MyPoints, you won’t get rich, but if you’re already chilling at home, it’s an easy way to make a few extra dollars.
3. Swagbucks
If you’re at all familiar with online survey sites, then you’ve heard of Swagbucks. In addition to getting paid for surveys, you can earn points via online search, shopping, and watching videos. Watching videos is even easier than answering surveys because you can run them in the background while you’re doing something else.
You can earn between 1 and 4 Swagbucks for every set of videos you watch. When you’re ready to redeem your points, Swagbucks can be converted into gift cards.
4. Caddle
Caddle is a cash rebate app for your iPhone or Android device. Caddle pays you money when you answer short surveys and watch video ads of less than a minute in length. The app is free to join, is well laid out, and easy to use, but the lack of videos means there isn’t much opportunity to earn money. Part of the problem is that the availability of videos depends on Caddle’s various partners’ advertising needs.
When you are presented with a video, it’s almost always less than a minute long. Once viewed, your earnings are credited to your Caddle account. You need to accumulate $20 before you can cash in your earnings, but you do get a $1 bonus whenever you refer a friend to Caddle. This can help you reach the threshold more quickly.
5. CashCrate
CashCrate is a rewards site that operates differently than the other websites and apps on our list. According to their website, they launched in 2006 and became one of the world’s largest loyalty rewards programs.
Somewhere along the way, they changed their strategy. Now they operate more like a loyalty rewards curation platform, where they cover “all the different legitimate ways to make money online. Their new site launched in 2019. In other words, they write reviews of all of the cashback websites out there today, including the ones on this list.
CashCrate is a great place to check out the many rewards programs available, all in one place. I highly recommend it!
Tips for Using Cash Back Apps and Websites
If you’re looking for ways to make money online, cash back apps and rewards sites like the ones on this list offer so many ways to earn. Most are free to join, and you can start getting paid for taking surveys, watching videos, and video ads, within minutes.
The downside is that the earning potential is minimal. If you’re looking to make money, there are far better ways to get paid. With that in mind, here are a few tips to maximize your earning potential with rewards sites.
- Pick rewards sites with low payout thresholds. You can’t collect your cash or gift cards with some rewards sites until you earn $20 or $30. This takes time when you’re earning a dollar or two, if you’re lucky, for completing an activity. Stick with the rewards sites that let you get paid in $3, $5, or $10 increments. This will also help you stay motivated.
- Don’t pay to join. The vast majority of these sites are free to join, so there’s no reason to have to pay a membership fee. If you stumble upon a program that does charge, move along to the next one.
- Join multiple rewards sites. One of the best ways to increase your rewards is by signing up for multiple rewards programs. One drawback to most of these sites is that the surveys and videos are few and far between. You can wait for days for an opportunity to watch a video or earn points. By stacking your rewards with multiple sites, you’ll earn points faster.
- Take advantage of referral bonuses. Often, the highest payouts come from signup bonuses and referring friends to the app. If you enjoy using an app, persuade your friends and family to sign up. There’s no cost to them, and you end up with a few extra bucks in your pocket.
Final Thoughts on Getting Paid to Watch Videos
If rewards sites aren’t cutting it and you’re serious about starting a side hustle that pays, here is a list of 60 ways to make money online in 2021. If your only goal is to make a few extra dollars while lying on the couch, then a loyalty rewards site might be the way to go.
