How to Make Money on Swagbucks in 2025: 08 Proven Methods

Want to know how to make money on Swagbucks in just a few minutes a day? This easy-to-use rewards platform offers multiple ways to earn extra cash from your phone or laptop.

In this complete guide, you’ll learn every proven way to make money on Swagbucks — from surveys to referrals — and how to build up to $100–$200 a month in real rewards.

After reading this, you’ll know how to start, optimize your routine, and possibly hit your first $50+ in just one week.

Key Takeaways

• Earn $50–$60 quickly – New users can earn their first $50 within a few days using welcome offers and Discover deals.
• Over 10+ ways to earn – Surveys, app downloads, receipt scanning, web searches, and referrals all pay in Swagbucks points (SB).
• Get paid in real money – 100 SB = $1 in PayPal cash, gift cards, or direct payouts.
• Not a full-time job—but a great side income – Most users earn $100–$200/month with just 10–20 minutes per day.
• Real-world proven methods – With over $700 million paid out, Swagbucks is one of the most legit ways to earn online in 2025.

Is It Easy to Make Money on Swagbucks?

Making money on Swagbucks is easy once you understand how the platform works. New users often earn $5–$10 in their first hour through welcome tasks and small offers. Once you get used to it, you can build a simple daily routine and consistently earn over time.

The most common ways to earn include taking surveys, shopping online through cashback links, scanning grocery receipts, watching videos, or completing special offers. Each task pays in Swagbucks points, which can be converted into real money.

You don’t need to be tech-savvy or spend hours online. Just a few focused minutes a day can add up to hundreds of dollars per year. It’s also one of the safest platforms around, with millions of users and a solid payout history.

What do you need to get started?

To get started with Swagbucks, you’ll need a valid email, an internet connection, and a device — either a smartphone or computer. Sign up for free on Swagbucks.com, complete your profile, and confirm your email. Then, begin earning by accessing surveys, offers, the SwagButton browser extension, or the Swagbucks mobile app. No upfront costs required.

How much money you can make on Swagbucks?

Most users earn $2–$5 per day by spending just 10–25 minutes on the platform. That means you could earn $60–$150/month doing everyday tasks. Some power users, especially those completing high-value offers or referrals, have earned over $20,000 total. For example, a UK-based college student featured in Save The Student earned over £50/month (~$65) just using surveys and cashback offers during study breaks.

1. Take Paid Surveys

Surveys are one of the easiest and most consistent ways to make money on Swagbucks. You’re paid in “SB” (Swagbucks points) to share your opinions on various topics, brands, or current events. Even if you’re disqualified, you’ll often still earn a few SB just for trying.

Most surveys pay between 50 and 300 SB (about $0.50 to $3), with occasional ones offering $5 or more. The length usually ranges from 5 to 30 minutes. These are available daily and constantly refreshed, so there’s almost always something to do.

It’s a great choice for people with free time during lunch, TV commercials, or long commutes. Just answer honestly and consistently, and the site will begin to show better-paying, more relevant surveys.

Unique Requirements: Profile must be filled out completely. Must live in an eligible country.

How to take surveys on Swagbucks:

• Sign in and click “Answer” in the top menu
• Complete your profile to unlock survey matches
• Choose a survey with a time/reward combo you like
• Read each question carefully and answer honestly
• Don’t skip or rush – that may cause disqualification
• If disqualified, you still earn 1–5 SB as a bonus
• Repeat daily for consistent income
• Prioritize “Gold Surveys” and ones marked “High Success Rate”
• Stack surveys with other tasks for compound earnings

Quick tip: Aim to complete 2–3 surveys each morning to build consistency and avoid disqualification fatigue.

2. Complete Discover Offers

Swagbucks’ Discover section includes offers like app downloads, free trials, email sign-ups, and purchases — many of which pay hundreds or even thousands of SB. This is one of the fastest ways to make money on Swagbucks, especially for new users.

Most offers are risk-free, such as signing up for a newsletter or registering with a rewards platform. Others include trials for services like Hulu or Disney+, or financial tools like SoFi or Credit Karma. You can earn $5–$30+ in a single click.

The key is to follow instructions exactly and take screenshots when needed. Stick to free or low-cost offers unless you’re confident about cancellations.

Unique Requirements: Must follow all offer terms and confirm email or credit use if required.

How to complete Discover offers:

• Go to the “Discover” tab in your Swagbucks dashboard
• Browse by category: App, Finance, Shopping, Entertainment
• Choose a free or high-reward offer with good user reviews
• Read the conditions (email confirm, purchase amount, etc.)
• Complete all actions required — use real information
• Wait 24–72 hours for SB to credit (track in “My Activity”)
• Use a dedicated email for offers to avoid inbox clutter
• Cancel trials on time to avoid charges
• Combine with cashback if it’s a shopping-based offer

Quick tip: Use Swagbucks’ mobile app to double-dip offers with in-app bonuses for higher SB payouts.

3. Use Swagbucks Search

Swagbucks has its own built-in search engine that rewards users randomly just for browsing the web. While it’s not as powerful as Google, it’s surprisingly decent and lets you make money on Swagbucks without changing your habits much.

You earn small SB rewards — usually 5–20 SB — for every few unique searches throughout the day. There’s no pattern, but consistent use increases your chance of earning. Search wins happen 1–4 times daily.

Just make Swagbucks your default search engine and treat it like Google. It’s perfect for students, researchers, or anyone who Googles often.

Unique Requirements: None — just use Swagbucks Search from their site or browser extension.

How to earn with Swagbucks Search:

• Go to swagbucks.com and log in
• Use the top search bar to look up anything
• Do 5–10 genuine searches every few hours
• Avoid spammy or repeated searches — they won’t count
• Use it like Google for maps, trivia, shopping, etc.
• Enable the SwagButton for easier access
• Look for “Search Win!” popups with SB rewards
• Get a bonus for using search several days in a row
• Combine with other methods to build SB faster

Quick tip: Bookmark Swagbucks as your home page to passively earn while browsing normally.

4. Shop Online With Cashback

Swagbucks partners with over 7,000+ stores to give you cashback when shopping through their portal. If you’re already buying online, this is a low-effort way to make money on Swagbucks.

You’ll earn up to 10% or more in SB (depending on the store and item) when you click through Swagbucks first. Big-name partners include Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and more.

Many stores also offer first-time bonuses like $10 SB back on your first $25+ purchase. You can stack Swagbucks cashback with coupons, gift cards, and even credit card rewards.

Unique Requirements: You must start your shopping session through Swagbucks.

How to earn cashback on Swagbucks:

• Log into Swagbucks and click the “Shop” tab
• Search for the store you want (or browse categories)
• Click through to activate tracking and shop as normal
• Complete your purchase without switching tabs
• Wait 1–10 days for SB to appear in your account
• Use coupon codes from Swagbucks for extra savings
• Some stores offer “Featured Cashback Offers” with boosts
• Track pending cashback under “My Shop Activity”
• Redeem once cashback hits your account

Quick tip: Always check Swagbucks before any online checkout — even for small purchases.

5. Scan Grocery Receipts

Swagbucks offers a program called “Magic Receipts” that rewards users for uploading their grocery receipts. If you buy participating products, you’ll earn extra SB.

This is one of the most passive ways to make money on Swagbucks — especially for families or frequent shoppers. Even basic receipts from Walmart, Kroger, Costco, and other chains count if you match the right products.

The app lists eligible products each week. Just buy one or more, scan your receipt, and SBs will be credited within 1–3 days.

Unique Requirements: Must buy eligible items listed on Swagbucks before uploading.

How to earn with Magic Receipts:

• Open the Swagbucks app or website
• Go to “Magic Receipts” under the Shop tab
• Select offers you plan to redeem BEFORE shopping
• Purchase the exact items listed in the offer
• Upload a clear photo of your full receipt
• Submit within 7 days of purchase
• Match brand, size, and quantity as listed
• Earn bonus SBs for multi-buy or combo offers
• Track earnings under “My Magic Receipts”

Quick tip: Stack Magic Receipts with store deals and coupons to profit off routine shopping.

6. Watch Videos

While not the highest-paying activity, watching sponsored content and short clips can still help you make money on Swagbucks. You’ll find trailers, entertainment news, food tips, and lifestyle content.

Earnings are small — around 1–4 SB per playlist — but they add up over time. Some users put these on mute in the background while working or studying. It’s easy, passive income.

Videos are often grouped into themed playlists, and you must watch the full playlist to earn.

Unique Requirements: Use the Swagbucks Watch section. Must let videos play in full.

How to earn with Swagbucks Videos:

• Go to the “Watch” tab in your Swagbucks dashboard
• Choose a playlist (e.g., Health, Food, Travel)
• Let each video play to completion — don’t skip
• Complete full playlist to receive SBs
• Use desktop or app version for autoplay mode
• Mute if needed — just don’t minimize or pause
• Combine with tasks like surveys to multitask
• Watch 3–5 playlists daily for passive points
• Use Wi-Fi to avoid mobile data use

Quick tip: Watch playlists while doing chores or studying to earn without wasting time.

7. Refer Friends

Referral earnings are one of the most powerful ways to make money on Swagbucks long-term. Every time someone signs up using your link, you earn 300 SB ($3) once they hit certain milestones, plus 10% of everything they earn — for life.

This strategy works best if you share your link on social media, blogs, or with friends and family. You’re helping others make extra money, while earning passive income.

Some influencers have built thousands in referral commissions over time, especially with large online followings.

Unique Requirements: Must use your custom referral link. Referral must be new and verified.

How to earn with Swagbucks Referrals:

• Go to the “Refer & Earn” page in your account
• Copy your custom referral URL
• Share via text, email, or social media
• Encourage friends to complete their profile and start earning
• You get 300 SB when they earn their first 300 SB
• You also earn 10% of their lifetime SB earnings
• Use blogs, videos, or forums to boost sign-ups
• Track each referral’s progress in your dashboard
• Celebrate milestones with your referral group

Quick tip: Add your referral link to your email signature or Linktree for constant passive leads.

8. Install and Use SwagButton

SwagButton is a free browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. It alerts you to cashback deals, Swag Codes, and quick earning tasks, so you never miss out.

It’s especially helpful for users who shop online or forget to check the site daily. You’ll get bonus SB just for installing it, plus passive earnings when browsing or searching.

This is one of the most “set-it-and-forget-it” ways to make money on Swagbucks.

Unique Requirements: Must be on desktop browser (Chrome/Firefox/Edge)

How to use SwagButton:

• Go to swagbucks.com/swagbuckstoolbar
• Click “Install Now” for your browser
• Sign in through the extension after installation
• Use it to search the web or get notified of Swag Codes
• Click cashback alerts while browsing stores
• Auto-activate offers when available
• Use built-in pop-ups to complete tasks
• Get 25 SB just for installing (for new users)
• Leave it on for daily tips and earnings

Quick tip: Enable notifications so you never miss limited-time Swag Codes or deals.

Step-by-Step Guide to Make Money on Swagbucks

If you’re starting from zero, follow this step-by-step roadmap to build your Swagbucks income gradually and consistently. Whether your goal is an extra $100 per month or just a few free gift cards, this plan gets you earning in the fastest and most sustainable way.

Step 1: Create Your Swagbucks Account

Head to Swagbucks.com and sign up with a valid email address. The process takes less than a minute. Once you register, verify your email and log in to access your dashboard. You’ll immediately earn a few SB for profile setup and get access to exclusive beginner bonuses.

Step 2: Complete Your Profile and Preferences

Filling out your account profile is critical for unlocking surveys and relevant offers. Under the “Answer” tab, you’ll find short profile quizzes. Completing these helps Swagbucks match you with high-paying tasks, especially surveys and product trials. This also unlocks “Gold Surveys,” which are more lucrative.

Step 3: Install the SwagButton Extension

If you’re on a computer, install the SwagButton browser extension. This gives you quick access to cashback alerts, Swag Codes, and reminders when shopping online. It also enables Swagbucks Search — a passive way to earn points every time you browse. This is a must-do for automation.

Step 4: Start With Beginner Offers and Daily Tasks

New users can easily earn their first $5–$10 within a few minutes. Complete offers like email signups, app downloads, or reward club trials through the “Discover” tab. Don’t forget to verify your phone number, complete the daily poll, and try your first search to rack up quick SBs.

Step 5: Focus on Surveys, Shopping & Referrals

Once familiar with the platform, focus on 2–3 core earning strategies. For most users, this means daily surveys, online shopping through Swagbucks, and referring friends using your custom link. Each method builds recurring income. Surveys can earn $2–$5/day; referrals scale passively.

Step 6: Track Your Earnings and Optimize Your Routine

Use the “My SB Activity” tab to track points and pending rewards. Identify which methods earn the most for you. Some users find Discover offers more lucrative, while others earn more from Magic Receipts or searches. Build a custom daily 10-minute routine that combines 3–4 small tasks.

Step 7: Redeem and Reinvest

Once you hit the 300 SB ($3) threshold, redeem for PayPal cash or gift cards. Many users reinvest earnings into promotions, giveaways, or bonuses to earn even more. Take advantage of “sale redemptions,” where gift cards cost fewer SB. This stretch-your-dollar strategy increases your real ROI.

Tips to Increase Your Swagbucks Revenue

Once you’ve mastered the basics, there are smart ways to boost how much you make money on Swagbucks every month. First, develop a daily earning routine. Commit to 10–20 minutes per day completing your best-performing tasks—such as 2 surveys, a receipt scan, and a few Discover offers. Small, steady efforts lead to big results.

Next, optimize your referrals. Share your referral link in online groups, forums, or social bios. You’ll earn 10% of each referral’s lifetime SB—passive income that compounds over time.

Always check for Swag Codes and limited-time high-payout offers. The browser extension helps with alerts, so you never miss them. Use Magic Receipts during weekly shopping trips to earn while spending.

Finally, double-dip by combining Swagbucks with other savings tools, like Rakuten or Fetch. This multiplies your earnings without extra effort.

Best AI Tools for Making Money on Swagbucks

Using AI tools won’t directly earn you SB—but they’ll help you save time and boost productivity as you make money on Swagbucks. For example, use AI writing tools like ChatGPT to help you write smart referral messages or create short social posts to share your invite link.

AI browser extensions like Wordtune or Grammarly can help you speed through surveys with confidence by improving your writing, clarity, or grammar, especially for open-ended questions.

Automation tools like Zapier or IFTTT can track emails for completed Discover offers, so you never miss confirming a bonus.

If you run a blog or social channel, use AI design tools like Canva AI or Lumen5 to generate fast visuals or videos promoting Swagbucks offers.

These tools don’t earn SB, but they save time, reduce errors, and help you market smarter—especially for referral campaigns.

Best Affiliate Platforms for Swagbucks Referrals

Want to scale your Swagbucks referrals? Use affiliate-friendly platforms to share your invite link where it gets attention. The best platforms for this include YouTube, Reddit, Facebook Groups, Quora, and Medium. Each allows you to explain how you make money on Swagbucks while embedding your link.

Facebook mom groups, budgeting forums, and “earn money online” Reddit threads are goldmines. You can also post Swagbucks tutorials on YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels, linking your invite in the bio or comments.

If you have a blog, embed your link in a beginner’s guide. Affiliate tools like ThirstyAffiliates help track clicks and optimize performance. Use bit.ly to shorten your link for easier sharing.

Always disclose that it’s a referral. Being helpful and honest brings more trust—and ultimately, more long-term referrals.

Best Marketing Tools for Promoting Swagbucks

To earn more through referrals or blog monetization, you need smart marketing tools. First, use email marketing platforms like MailerLite or ConvertKit to send referral tips, bonus alerts, and codes to friends or followers. This keeps your link active and relevant.

Social schedulers like Buffer or Later help you post regular Swagbucks tips on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, and Pinterest. Canva templates can make your content look polished and shareable.

Use link tracking tools like Pretty Links or bit.ly to monitor referral clicks. These tools help you understand what’s working and where to improve. For YouTube or blog promotions, keyword research tools like Ubersuggest or RankIQ can help you rank for “best ways to make money online.”

Marketing doesn’t have to be hard—you just need to stay consistent and use tools that save time.

Conclusion

Swagbucks is one of the easiest and most trusted ways to earn extra cash in 2025. With just 10–20 minutes a day, you can realistically make money on Swagbucks—from surveys and receipt scanning to shopping cashback and referrals.

It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, but a sustainable side hustle that pays real money. If you follow the steps and strategies in this guide, you can confidently work toward $50, $100, or even $200 per month.

Now’s the perfect time to start building your Swagbucks income—one SB at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)