If you’re anything like me, you would love to find ways to make money while you’re just sitting around.
Now you can.
When I learned how to earn money by watching ads, it was a total game-changer for me. I now have a way to make money when I have free time. I love to do this when I’m sitting around watching TV or while waiting at the doctor’s office.
You won’t pay your mortgage or even your phone bill with it, but extra change here and there adds up fast.
How do you earn money by watching ads?
First, please note that you aren’t going to make a lot of money doing this. At first, it will feel like peanuts, but once you get going and diversify your efforts with the many platforms you can use to watch ads for money, the money adds up.
Every platform works a little differently, but in general, you take a few minutes to watch some ads and earn money. Some platforms also offer other options, such as taking surveys, getting paid cash back for shopping, or even playing video games.
Why would companies pay you to watch ads?
It’s a form of marketing for companies, and it’s cheaper than other marketing efforts. Companies pay apps that run advertisements to run their ads and share them with people like you. The apps then share the proceeds they earn with you.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Ways To Watch Ads for Money
Here are some of the best ways that you can watch ads for money, including my #1 recommendation.
1. InboxDollars
Well, the cat’s out of the bag!
Now you know my favorite option for making money by watching ads.
InboxDollars is one of the original ways to earn money by watching ads. While they offer other ways to earn money, watching ads is probably the easiest. When you watch an ad, they give you digital scratch-off cards that you scratch off to see your earnings.
Earnings start at $0.025, which isn’t much, but you also get $5 when you sign up. The more consistent you are watching ads, the more money you’ll earn.
InboxDollars pays you for:
- Taking surveys
- Redeeming coupons
- Reading emails
- Surfing the internet
- Playing games
Pros
- Easy to use, and anyone qualifies
- Credits post in as little as 24 hours
- You earn money, not points
Cons
- You can’t cash out until you earn $30
- You have to pay a $3 service fee for a mailed check or prepaid Visa card
2. Swagbucks
Ready for another recommendation?
The next app you can check out is Swagbucks for free gift cards and cash.
Swagbucks is known as a cash back app, but you can also earn money by watching ads on this platform. Users can earn up to $90 a month watching ads, but it takes a lot of ads to get to that point.
New users can earn a $10 welcome bonus by using their cash back features and spending at least $25 through Swagbucks. The $10 welcome bonus helps increase your earnings quickly.
Swagbucks also pays you for:
- Paid surveys
- Cashback for shopping
- Playing games
- Surfing the internet
- Signing up for paid offers
Pros
- You only need to reach $3 to cash out
- Swagbucks offers the largest variety of ways to earn money
- The app is easy to use
Cons
- Swagbucks pays in “Swagbucks” not dollars
- Surveys are hard to qualify for
3. PrizeRebel
One of my favorite ways to earn money by watching ads is through PrizeRebel!
They send PayPal money directly to your account when you redeem points.
PrizeRebel has been around since 2007 and is another legit site to earn money by watching ads. You can cash out your earnings for PayPal cash or gift cards to your favorite stores, and it only takes a few seconds to sign up. You can even join using your Facebook account.
In addition to watching ads for money, PrizeRebel pays you to:
- Answer surveys
- Sign up for trial offers
- Refer friends
Pros
- You can cash out after earning just $2
- Rewards are uploaded within 24 hours
- You can earn a percentage of the points any friends you refer earn
Cons
- Videos pay pennies to watch
- The surveys are hard to qualify for
4. Ibotta
Did you know you can earn REAL cash back on everyday purchases?
Well, now you do! Save at local grocery stores, Amazon, eBay, and more.
You may know Ibotta for its cash back at grocery stores, but did you know you can increase your rebates by watching videos too?
I love this way to earn money by watching ads because it helps me save on my ever growing grocery bill too. Some of the offers are rather high, such as $3 off a specific type of bread or coffee. It’s not often we come across such high value grocery coupons, so I like to take advantage of this opportunity.
It’s not your traditional watch ads for money platform, but you can also earn money by:
- Linking your store loyalty card to track purchases
- Shopping online
Pros
- You can save money at the grocery store
- The ads are usually short
- Ibotta has a great sign up bonus of up to $20
Cons
- You only earn money back on groceries
- You must upload your receipt after shopping to get your cashback credit
5. MyPoints
Are you a fan of scouring the web for coupon codes?
Your efforts can be further rewarded with MyPoints.
MyPoints is known for its paid surveys, but they offer other opportunities too, including the option to earn money by watching ads.
The biggest draw with MyPoints is its cash back opportunities. Some offers are as high as 40% cash back, but as far as videos go, they have quite a few and pay users well. Like most platforms, MyPoints offers a welcome bonus to entice new users to sign up and to encourage current users to refer friends.
You can earn PayPal cash or gift cards to your favorite stores using MyPoints.
In addition to watching videos for money, you can earn with MyPoints with the following:
- Taking paid surveys
- Playing games
- Shopping online
- Booking travel
- Taking daily polls
Pros
- You can redeem earnings starting at $3
- Offers a generous refer-a-friend program
- Has a mobile app so you can watch ads for money on the go
Cons
- The points awarded per activity is low
- Lacks good customer service
6. AdWallet
AdWallet strictly pays you to watch ads for money. They offer one of the highest rates for watching videos, with a minimum payment of $0.50 per video, but they can go as high as $3.00. You’ll receive a text alert whenever videos are available for you to watch. You just login and start earning.
You can also earn money by referring friends or downloading offers from your favorite brands.
Pros
- High-paying ads
- You can cash out at $10
- You can get a prepaid Mastercard, gift cards to your favorite stores, or a charitable donation
Cons
- There’s no guarantee you’ll have ads to watch
- $10 can be a high amount to cash out if you don’t get many ads
7. AppNana
AppNana pays you to watch ads, but they pay you in Nanas (points). It’s an Android-only app, which can be a downside for iPhone users, but it’s easy to use and kills some free time while making money.
You can redeem your points for paid apps or an Amazon gift card. In addition to watching ads to earn money, AppNana pays you for the following:
- Downloading free apps
- Opening the AppNana app every day
- Referring friends
Pros
- It’s easy to log into the app and check for ads
- It can be a great way to get extra Amazon money
- It takes only seconds to watch an ad
Cons
- You need 30,000 Nanas to earn $1
- You can only redeem your points for apps or an Amazon gift card
8. InstaGC
InstaGC pays you in gift cards for watching ads. It’s a great way to get a little spending cash just for filling your free time with quick ads. I like that you get your gift card right away when you redeem your points since everything is electronic.
You can also earn money on InstaGC by doing the following:
- Taking surveys
- Shopping online
- Surfing the web
Pros
- You only need to earn $1 to cash out
- InstaGC has 330+ gift cards to choose from
- It’s easy to use
Cons
- There’s a limited number of ads to watch
- The pay is low
9. QuickRewards
QuickRewards offers fast rewards for doing things like watching ads. They’ve been in business since 2002, and have paid out over $7 million to date. They have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and are a great platform to add to your list to earn money by watching ads.
In addition to watching videos, you can make money by:
- Taking surveys
- Playing games
- Completing offers
- Shopping
- Surfing the web
- Referring friends
Pros
- You can cash out with as little as one cent
- They process earnings fast
- You can earn $3 for every friend you refer
Cons
- You must remain active or you lose your points
- The options for paid ads are limited
10. Creation Rewards
Creation Rewards is a great way to earn money by watching ads. They also pay a $5 welcome bonus if you earn 50,000 points in the first 60 days you are a member.
You can redeem your earnings for PayPal cash or gift cards and they offer many other ways to earn money too including:
- Taking surveys
- Surfing the web
- Online shopping
- Completing special offers
Pros
- Been in business for 22 years
- It’s free to use
- Offers many other ways to earn money
Cons
- The rewards each have a different points requirement
- It takes a while to receive your rewards once you redeem your points
Final Thoughts – Earn Money by Watching Ads
It’s possible to earn money by watching ads and when you combine it with other efforts, it can add up. I like to use this option when I have free time to fill — why not make a few bucks when I can, right?
Play around with these platforms and see how much money you can earn watching ads.
FAQs
It seems too good to be true to earn money by watching ads, right? It is legit, though. When you watch ads, you are helping a company’s bottom line. You’re more likely to either go buy a product or tell someone about it if you’ve seen the ad. Do your research and make sure the companies you use are legit, but when you use the right companies, it’s a great way to make money.
You won’t get rich when you watch ads for money, but I like it because it’s another income stream. You should aim to have several income streams, so even when they’re small, like earning money by watching ads, it adds up.
Each platform pays differently. Some pay in PayPal cash, others give you a prepaid Visa or Mastercard or gift cards. Most platforms provide a few options. Look at the redemption value of each option, though, because some platforms pay more for certain redemption options.