Key Takeaways
- Google Opinion Rewards lets you earn Play Store credit by answering simple questions.
- You can get more surveys and, in turn, earn more money by keeping location services on and answering questions promptly.
- I don’t recommend scanning your receipts, as Google’s payout is not worth your time and privacy.
I’m always reluctant to spend real money on digital goods since there’s no guarantee I’ll have them after 5-6 years. However, when it comes to Play Store purchases, I haven’t had to spend any real money in years, thanks to Google Opinion Rewards. Here’s why you should try it.
Google Opinion Rewards Is a Great Way to Earn Play Store Credit
Google Opinion Rewards is an app you can download on your Android device that regularly serves up questions for you to answer. It’s also available for iOS devices, but you won’t get as many questions, making it less lucrative. Questions include “Did you just visit Walgreens?” or “Is this video interesting to you?”
After answering each question, you’ll get a few cents depending on how much time you spend on it; tasks asking you to look at different Google search result layouts might pay as much as $1, though this is rare. Usually, I net $0.50 or $0.60, but it adds up quickly. Right now, I have about $40 saved up, which I dole out on in-app purchases.
I spend my Google Opinion Rewards balance on games—like Railroad Ink (each DLC is $2)—and cheaper subscriptions like Shonen Jump ($3 per month).
Download:Google Opinion Rewards (Free)
The Best Ways to Earn More Credit With Opinion Rewards
We’ve published a detailed guide on how to get more out of Google Opinion Rewards, but one basic tip is to keep your location services on so that it bugs you every time you go anywhere near a shopping center. You still get credit for answering “no,” so don’t be afraid to be honest.
Each survey is time-sensitive, so you can’t ignore them for long. When you get the notification, it’s usually best to do it before you forget. I usually do them while waiting in line or as soon as I get home right before I throw my phone back on the charger.
The surveys are short, so you can easily do them in those in-between moments and make those idle periods a money-earning opportunity.
What You Shouldn’t Do in Google Opinion Rewards
Sometimes, the app may ask you to scan a receipt from a recent visit, like from a supermarket. It’ll first ask if you actually went to that store, and then it’ll ask if you bought anything. If you answer “yes,” you’ll get a prompt to scan the receipt. It even gets its own section on the app’s home screen to remind you to do so at your convenience.
The amount you earn in Google Opinion Rewards tends to be in proportion to how much time you spend on each question. So, when the app asks you to scan a receipt, you think you’d get a lot of money for doing it, right? You don’t. I’ve scanned my receipt numerous times, only to discover the app only pays out a measly $0.10 for doing so.
Honestly, don’t do it. It may not be a tough task, but your time and privacy are worth far more than the ten cents Google pays out. I might reconsider doing it if Google raised the reward amount to $1.
Aside from that hiccup, I’ve found Google Opinion Rewards to be a handy tool in my daily life. I don’t feel like I’m giving up privacy since the questions are often based on things Google already knows about me, and I like having an “allowance” for purchasing digital content from the Play Store.
