Anyone who’s spent even a little time looking into making money online has probably come across paid survey sites. It feels like one of the first things people suggest, right? And honestly, it can be a way to earn a bit extra.
There are so many out there, and it’s tough to figure out which ones are actually worth your time and will actually pay out. That’s where platforms like SurveyCompare pop up – they promise to simplify things, acting as a kind of directory for survey opportunities. It sounds helpful on the surface, but is SurveyCompare genuinely legit, or is it just another layer to navigate?
I’ve spent a good chunk of time testing survey sites over the years, and I decided to take a closer look at SurveyCompare. In this review, I’ll share what I found – how it works, what’s good about it, what’s not so great, and whether it’s actually a useful tool for finding those elusive, good survey panels.
Before we dive in..
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Key Takeaways (If you’re in a hurry)
- SurveyCompare isn’t a survey site—it’s a free directory that connects you to legit paid survey and GPT platforms like Swagbucks, Branded Surveys, and Toluna.
- You won’t earn money directly on SurveyCompare. All earnings happen on the third-party platforms you sign up for after being redirected.
- It simplifies the search for paid survey sites, especially for beginners who don’t know where to start.
- Signing up is quick and gives you a personalized list of recommended survey panels based on basic demographic info.
- It’s legit as a referral hub, not as an income source. The platform earns commissions when users join sites through its links.
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What is Survey Compare
Survey Compare might look like your typical paid survey site at first glance, but it’s actually something a bit different. Rather than being one of the many paid survey companies out there offering cash or gift cards directly, Survey Compare functions more like a referral hub or directory.
In simple terms, it’s a UK-based platform that connects people to legit survey sites and Get-Paid-To (GPT) platforms.
It’s not a place where you take online surveys and earn rewards directly—instead, it introduces you to other survey companies that do. Think of it like a matchmaking service, but instead of matching you with people, it connects you to survey panels that offer paid surveys.
The platform is operated by Marketing VF Ltd, a UK-based company. While Survey Compare started in the UK, it’s now available in countries like the US and Canada, with slightly different versions depending on your location. Regardless of which version you use, the functionality remains the same—it’s there to help you find survey sites worth joining.
When you land on the site, it often gives the impression that you can start taking paid surveys right away. But in reality, Survey Compare doesn’t run surveys itself. Instead, it compiles and suggests some of the more rewarding paid survey companies out there—ones that are known for timely payments and legit offers.
So if you’re new to the world of market research companies and unsure which platforms are worth your time, Survey Compare could save you a bit of guesswork. It acts as a filter, pointing you to survey sites that are relatively trustworthy based on your location and demographic profile.
To sum it all up: Survey Compare is a middleman. It’s free to use and doesn’t offer direct earning opportunities, but it can be a helpful starting point if you’re just beginning to explore all the survey companies out there offering paid surveys through online panels.
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So, How Does SurveyCompare Actually Work?
Alright, now that we know SurveyCompare isn’t a place where you directly earn money by taking surveys on their site, how does the whole process actually play out? Well, it’s pretty straightforward, and the folks at SurveyCompare break it down into three basic steps on their end.
1. Sign Up
First off, you sign up. This is super easy, just like signing up for most things online.
You head over to their website (you might see a URL like join.surveycompare.net depending on your country) and fill in some basic info about yourself – the usual stuff like your name, gender, birthday, and email address. Quick, painless, takes maybe a couple of minutes. Once you confirm your email, you’re in.
2. Find Paid survey sites to join
After creating your account and logging in, the next step is to browse through a list of available survey panels and Get-Paid-To sites. This is essentially what SurveyCompare offers—connecting you to other platforms where you can earn by taking paid surveys.
While they mention that panel suggestions are based on your demographics, in reality, most of the listings are just well-known survey companies. You’ll probably see familiar names like Branded Surveys, LifePoints, Swagbucks, and Toluna.
Each listing includes basic details, such as estimated payment per survey, survey minimum payout ave, and sometimes whether there’s a referral bonus. Occasionally, you might even get a heads-up on survey length, which can be handy if you’re trying to make the most of your time.
When you find a panel that interests you, you just click on it. SurveyCompare will then redirect you to the survey site’s sign-up page. From there, you’ll go through another quick registration process, including email confirmation.
Keep in mind, SurveyCompare doesn’t host or pay for surveys—it simply connects you to other survey companies. But it does make it easier to compare options from various paid survey panels in one place. You could think of it as a basic survey comparison page that brings together links to some of the more trusted market research companies.
If you’re looking to join as many survey panels as possible and increase your chances of receiving regular paid surveys, this setup helps streamline that process. While it might not always show the absolute best survey companies, it’s a decent place to start—especially if you’re not sure which available survey companies are worth trying.
And although SurveyCompare doesn’t directly hire survey companies, it does point you toward platforms others are already using to earn some extra cash.
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3. Complete Surveys and Get paid
The third step, answering surveys and getting paid, happens entirely on the websites you’ve signed up for through SurveyCompare.
Once you’re a member of those individual survey panels, they will start sending you survey invitations directly via email or you’ll find them within their own dashboards. You’ll take the surveys on their platforms, and you’ll earn points or cash with them.
So, to really drill it home: SurveyCompare facilitates the introduction, but all the actual earning activity – taking surveys, accumulating points or cash, and cashing out – happens on the separate survey sites you join afterward.
SurveyCompare doesn’t host the surveys or manage your earnings; it’s purely the starting point to find other places that do.
Survey Compare potential earnings
Let’s clear up one of the most common misconceptions about SurveyCompare right away.
When you land on the site and see PayPal logos, Amazon gift cards, and mentions of earning money, it’s easy to assume that SurveyCompare itself is going to pay you for taking surveys.
But that’s not how it works.
SurveyCompare doesn’t pay you directly. You won’t earn cash, points, or rewards from using their website alone.
What the platform actually does is connect you to other paid survey companies. It’s more of a referral hub or directory than an earning platform. So, when you sign up and browse through their list of survey panels, you’re being guided to other sites—like Branded Surveys, LifePoints, Swagbucks, and similar platforms—where the real opportunities to earn begin.
Any PayPal cash or gift cards you see mentioned? Those rewards come from the individual survey panels you join after leaving SurveyCompare, not from SurveyCompare itself.
That’s why some of the claims you might see—like making $300 or more per month—can be a little misleading. Those figures reflect what you might earn if you actively participate on multiple panels they recommend, not from SurveyCompare itself.
To be fair, they do mention this in the fine print, but it could definitely be made more obvious. So if you’re expecting SurveyCompare to be a source of direct income, it’s important to reset that expectation. The platform’s role ends once it points you to survey companies that actually handle the surveys and the payouts.
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Is Survey Compare Legit?
So now that we’ve covered what SurveyCompare actually does—and more importantly, what it doesn’t do—the big question is: Can you trust it?
The short answer is yes—SurveyCompare is legit. But maybe not in the exact way you’d expect.
It’s legit in the sense that it delivers on its promise: it connects users to real, functioning survey sites and GPT platforms where you can earn money. It’s not some scam site pretending to pay you or collecting your data for shady reasons. What you see is basically what you get—an organized directory of survey panels to check out.
If you’re completely new to online surveys and not sure where to begin, SurveyCompare can be a useful starting point. It puts several paid survey companies in one place, so you’re not out there Googling and hoping to stumble onto something real.
But—and this is important—SurveyCompare is only legit as a referral service, not as a place to make money itself. You won’t earn anything on their site. Every reward, whether it’s PayPal cash or a gift card, comes from the individual survey companies you sign up for after clicking through.
Also worth noting: you don’t have to go through SurveyCompare. Every site it recommends—Swagbucks, Branded Surveys, etc.—can be joined directly. Personally, I often skip the middleman and just sign up with trusted market research companies on my own.
One more thing to be aware of: SurveyCompare earns a commission when you join a survey site through their link. This is standard affiliate marketing—it doesn’t make the site dishonest, but it does mean they have a financial incentive to promote certain surveys.
That might influence which platforms they highlight most. So while their suggestions are real and generally safe, it’s always smart to do a bit of your own research before signing up based purely on their list.
In the end, SurveyCompare is a legit directory of paid survey panels—a kind of shortcut for beginners. Just don’t confuse that with being an actual paid survey platform, because that’s not what it is. And as with anything online, it helps to know who benefits from the clicks.
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What Are Other Users Saying About SurveyCompare?
Hearing from real users who’ve tried a platform can offer a clearer picture—and in SurveyCompare’s case, the feedback is pretty mixed. Which, honestly, makes sense once you understand what the site is (and isn’t).
On sites like Trustpilot, SurveyCompare tends to hover around a mid-range rating—something like 3.7 stars. Some users have had decent experiences, especially those who are new to paid surveys. They like the convenience of being handed a list of options instead of having to search for legit survey sites on their own.
For example, one reviewer, Nikita Kursov, shared that after discovering panels through SurveyCompare, they were able to earn a little extra cash. They acknowledged it’s not a big income, but said, “it does help a little plus you get to voice your opinion on relevant topics.”
Another user, Stanley1, appreciated that the site helped them avoid potential scams, saying it offered “lots of useful information.” So in that sense, SurveyCompare seems to serve its purpose as a basic guide or springboard.
But not everyone walks away satisfied.
A common frustration—one I definitely share—is that SurveyCompare doesn’t make it obvious enough that you won’t actually be taking surveys or earning money on their site. A lot of users go in thinking it’s a paying platform, only to realize it’s just a referral hub. That disconnect leads to disappointment.
Then there’s the issue of the survey panels they recommend. Some users feel that the sites suggested by SurveyCompare aren’t always the strongest options out there. This ties into how SurveyCompare makes money—through referral commissions.
It’s not a shady model, but it does mean their suggestions might be influenced by which partners pay the best, rather than which platforms are actually the most rewarding for users. As one reviewer put it, “you shouldn’t fully trust its recommendations since it’s mostly interested in referral bonuses.”
So, bottom line? User reviews reflect what SurveyCompare really is: a legit but limited directory. It’s not a scam, but it’s also not a place where you’ll earn money directly. If you’re totally new to online surveys, it might give you a decent starting point. But once you get the hang of how things work, a lot of people end up skipping the middleman and going straight to survey sites they’ve researched themselves.
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SurveyCompare: Quick Pros and Cons
Here’s a fast rundown of what’s good and not-so-good about using SurveyCompare:
Pros:
- Free to Join: Costs absolutely nothing to sign up and see their recommendations.
- Easy Start for Beginners: Can quickly show new users a list of popular, real survey sites.
Cons:
- Doesn’t Pay You Directly: You earn only on the survey sites it links you to, not on SurveyCompare itself.
- Website Can Be Confusing: Looks like an earning site (showing rewards), but isn’t.
- Recommendations May Be Biased: They get paid for referrals, so their list might not be the absolute best for you.
- Might Send Extra Emails: Signing up can lead to more promotional emails.
Final Verdict
SurveyCompare isn’t a scam—but it’s also not an earning platform. It’s essentially a referral directory that points you toward other survey sites where the real earning happens.
For total beginners, it can serve as a helpful jumping-off point, especially if you’re unsure where to start in the world of paid surveys. But if you’re expecting to sign up and start earning directly on their site, you’ll be disappointed.
The key thing to keep in mind is that SurveyCompare makes money by referring you to other platforms. That means their recommendations may lean more toward what benefits them, not necessarily what pays you best. So while it’s a legit tool, it’s best used with a bit of caution—and a willingness to do some research of your own.
In short, if you treat SurveyCompare as a directory and nothing more, you’ll avoid most of the confusion and frustration.
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