Is Branded Surveys Legit or a Scam? Our Guide

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Last Updated Date:

Oct 10, 2023
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✔ Fact Checked and Written by Steven Hillman FCA Chartered Accountant

Steven is the Editor-in-Chief of Sidehustles.co.uk. He is a Chartered Accountant (FCA) and ICAEW Business and Financial Professional (BFP) and has spent years advising clients on different side hustles and taxation.

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Is Branded Surveys Legit or a Scam? A Comprehensive UK Review

Those with some spare time and looking for a side hustle may have already considered Branded Surveys. This website offers rewards like cash and gift cards in exchange for you answering surveys. However, you may be hesitating because you aren’t sure if it’s legal. You may also be wondering how it fares compared to other survey sites.


Before everything else, we want to assure you that Branded Surveys is perfectly legal. It’s a trustworthy site that has been paying members for many years. Still, this doesn’t mean that Branded Surveys is the best option for you.


In this post, we will dive deeper into this platform and discuss its features, strengths, and weaknesses. By the end of the article, you should hopefully be able to decide if this is a worthy side hustle. Keep reading to learn more! 

key takeaways

Key Point Categories Summary
Is Branded Surveys Legit? Confirmed as a legitimate and legal platform for earning money through surveys, operating since 2012.
Branded Surveys in the UK Available in the UK, US and Canada, offering two payment options for British users: PayPal and gift cards.
Earning Potential Approximate earnings of £8 for up to two hours of survey-taking, falling below the U.K.'s national minimum wage.
Multiple Earning Methods Besides surveys, points can be earned through Daily Polls, leaderboards, and a tiered bonus system known as Branded Elite.
Branded Elite Bonus Program Tiered badges (Bronze, Silver, Gold) offer percentage-based bonuses on earned points.
Mobile Accessibility A dedicated mobile app lets you earn on the go, available for both Android and iOS devices.
Customer Support Robust customer service includes a comprehensive Knowledge Base for quick issue resolution.
Pros and Cons Free to join, user-friendly interface, but points earned from surveys alone are average and there are reports of slow interface.

About Branded Surveys

Image of branded surveys logo

Branded Surveys is a survey website that pays you for answering their surveys, among other methods. It’s similar to other “get-paid-to” sites, but this platform focuses on surveys and surveys alone. The company has been around since 2012 as Mintvine, but it has since rebranded as Branded Surveys in 2017.


You earn points by answering surveys, reaching a high ranking in the leaderboard, and a few other methods. Once you reach a minimum amount of 500 points, you can begin exchanging them for cash or gift cards. You need 1,000 points to redeem $10, which is around £8. Surveys can give you anything from 100 to 1,000 points, each taking five to 20 minutes. On average, you may need to finish three to four surveys to earn 1,000 points. This is around two hours of work, at most.

Earning Money on Branded Surveys

Image of branded surveys home page

As we mentioned, the surveys aren’t the sole method to earn points on the Branded Surveys website. The following are the ways you can accumulate points.


Answering Paid Surveys


Before you get any surveys, Branded Surveys will first ask you a few questions during your application. This step will help the company determine the types of questionnaires that best fit you. Then, Branded Surveys will send surveys every day. These will vary in points, with the length of the survey the highest determining factor for points. In other words, the longer you need to take the survey, the more points you earn. 


Your dashboard will have a list of all the surveys you get for that day. Branded Surveys has designed the page to allow you to easily see which surveys earn you the most points. This is a plus in our books since the feature allows users to know what to prioritise.


Daily Poll Streaks


Another way to earn points is by answering the website’s Daily Poll. This comes as a single question with a set of choices. By answering the Daily Poll, you earn five points. While this may not be a substantial source for points, the Daily Poll is relatively quick and easy. In addition, by answering the Daily Poll for 10 days in a row, you can earn a 25-point bonus or more!


Reaching the Top Stop of the Leaderboard


Active members of Branded Surveys have a chance to join the leaderboard. You will need to answer as many surveys as you can to reach the top 10. When you do, you receive extra bonus points. Branded Surveys determine the winners daily, weekly, and monthly. Plus, you get a chance to win a random prize in the regular draws.


This earning method is an advantage in our opinion. You are earning more by answering more surveys, and you’re getting payment for simply being a top earner.


Reaching Higher Tiers in the Branded Elite Bonus Program


When you start answering surveys, you will automatically become a member of the Branded Elite bonus program. The default for new members is the Bronze Badge, and you will stay here if you complete two or more surveys a month. When you finish 10+ surveys monthly, you earn a Silver Badge. Those who accomplish 25 or more surveys monthly belong to the Gold Badge. Here are the perks you’ll enjoy:


  • Bonus on approved points after completing 12 surveys in seven days:
  • Bronze Badge: 5%
  • Silver Badge: 10%
  • Gold Badge: 15%
  • Bonus on approved points after completing 20 surveys in seven days:
  • Bronze Badge: 5%
  • Silver Badge: 12%
  • Gold Badge: 17%
  • Bonus on approved points after completing 30 surveys in seven days:
  • Bronze Badge: 5%
  • Silver Badge: 14%
  • Gold Badge: 19%


All badges will also earn 50 points once a referred friend reaches the Silver Badge tier. 

Compared to other survey websites, this tiered program offers the highest bonus rates. The 19% addition for Gold Badge members is significant, and you can easily achieve this by answering at least one survey daily.


Referrals


Branded Surveys also offers a referral program. If you invite someone you know, and they reach the Silver Badge, you will earn 50 bonus points.

Getting Paid in Branded Surveys

Image of a piggy bank

One great thing we found when trying Branded Surveys is how they offer plenty of payment options. Thanks to these choices, you can receive payment in the form most convenient to you. Still, there is a catch. According to the website, only those in the U.S. can have their points directly deposited into a bank account.


For us in the UK, there are two ways you can get paid. The first method is through PayPal. You can link your PayPal to your Branded Surveys account. Once you earn the 500-point minimum, you can cash out and deposit the amount to the online money management platform.


The second option is redeeming your points for gift cards. Branded Surveys has partnered with online retail platforms and major brands like Amazon, Adidas, and Apple. The type of gift cards you can exchange will depend from country to country.


According to the official list, you can get a gift card from the following and more:


  • Marks & Spencer
  • Tesco
  • Starbucks
  • The Great British Pub
  • Uber
  • Adidas
  • Apple
  • Cineworld

How Much Can You Earn With Branded Surveys?

Image of smartphone and cash

The short answer is that your earnings potential is largely dependent on the amount of time and effort you invest in completing surveys.


Remember that you get points for the surveys you finish. This means that you can theoretically earn a huge amount of points if you answer surveys all day. Of course, this is not realistic. In addition, you may run out of surveys if you have limited qualifications. 


If you’re looking for a precise amount, you may earn around £8 for every 1,000 points you achieve. How long does it take to achieve 1,000 points? Well, we found that a 400-point survey takes around 27 minutes to complete. Reaching 800 points would take under an hour. Still, 400-point surveys are not the usual fare, so we estimate that you need around two hours of work on average to reach 1,000 points. In addition, Branded Surveys need to approve your survey answers before they award you the points. 


You can still increase your points through the other methods we mentioned. If you have a Silver or Gold Badge, the additional bonuses can go a long way. 


That said, £8 for around an hour and a half to two hours of work is not sustainable as a main source of income. This amount is below the national minimum wage, which is £10.42 an hour. Set your expectations before you try this as a side hustle.

key takeaway

Branded Surveys is a legitimate way to earn money, but we’d only treat it as a side hustle and not a main source of income.

Does Branded Surveys Work on Mobile?

Image of person using a smart phone

Yes. You can access the Branded Surveys website on your phone. Better yet, the Branded Surveys app is dedicated for use on mobile screens. You can download the app on the Android Play Store and iOS App Store.


The best thing about the Branded Surveys mobile app is how it lets you take surveys wherever you are. Are you waiting for your order at the restaurant? Standing in a queue? Riding the Tube during your commute? You can answer surveys whenever and wherever thanks to the app. In addition, the app sends notifications for new surveys so you won’t miss any.

Who Can Become a Member of Branded Surveys?

Image of world map

Branded Surveys is currently only available to those in the UK, US and Canada. You can try using a VPN if you’re not from these locations, but those who’ve done this method have reported having their accounts deactivated. You must also be at least 13 years old to sign up.


To register, simply visit the website or download the app. You will need to answer a few questions before you can start answering surveys. These questions will help the app determine the best types of surveys to give to you. After finishing these questions and completing your profile, you’ll earn 100 points! Now, you can begin answering the surveys assigned to you.

Does Branded Surveys Offer Customer Support?

Image of a customer support assistant

Yes. We found that Branded Surveys has a robust customer support system. However, the more distinct feature that’s not found in most other survey sites is their Knowledge Base. It’s a sort of FAQ section — but so much more comprehensive.


This resource has all the information you need to get started, troubleshoot issues, and resolve any problems you may encounter. The articles are also in an FAQ format with straightforward answers. You can easily find the information you’re looking for just by scrolling.

Our Final Verdict: Is Branded Surveys Worth It?

Image of text final thoughts

As we mentioned earlier, Branded Surveys is not a scam. It is a legitimate survey site where you can earn extra cash after you answer surveys. 


Overall, the features, ease of use, and general transparency with the points you earn make Branded Surveys a great side hustle. You can also see the estimated time to answer each survey, which can help you budget your time. Of course, there are still a few issues you may face. No platform is perfect, so just temper your expectations to avoid too much disappointment. 


To summarise, here are the pros and cons we found after using the website. 


Pros


  • Free website, mobile app, and sign-up process
  • Branded Elite is a great bonus program that boosts your points
  • User-friendly app, website, and process
  • Leaderboard fosters healthy competition
  • Extensive Knowledge Base as a helpful resource


Cons


  • Points from the surveys alone are just average
  • Some reports of slow interface or lagging pages
  • Limited to only three countries
  • Two payment options only in the UK: cashing out through PayPal and gift cards


While the points you earn from the surveys are average, the app compensates for this disadvantage with the high frequency of surveys it assigns to you. If you have plenty of extra time, you can go beyond 1,000 points in a single day. Still, we recommend refraining from using Branded Surveys as a sole income source.

Joining Branded Surveys: Steps To Take

Image words 123 lets go

If you want to start earning cash through Branded Surveys, here’s what you need to do.


  1. Visit the website or download the app on your Android or iOS device. 
  2. Click the sign-up button and start supplying the information needed. This should take only a few minutes.
  3. Visit your dashboard and start answering surveys!


There you have it. Answer as much as you can to start earning points and reach the payout minimum immediately. 


For other questions about the survey site, you can check out their Knowledge Base or contact their support team.

FAQs

  • Is Branded Surveys a Legitimate Way to Earn Money Online?

    Absolutely, Branded Surveys is a legitimate online platform where you can earn rewards such as cash and gift cards by participating in surveys. It has been in operation since 2012, originally as Mintvine, and rebranded to Branded Surveys in 2017. The site is known for its transparency and has been paying its members for many years.

  • How Much Can I Earn on Branded Surveys?

    The amount you can earn on Branded Surveys varies based on your participation and the number of surveys you complete. On average, completing three to four surveys can earn you around 1,000 points, which is equivalent to £8. While it may not replace your full-time job, it's a decent way to earn some extra cash on the side.

  • What Are the Different Ways to Earn Points on Branded Surveys?

    In addition to answering paid surveys, Branded Surveys offers multiple avenues to earn points. You can participate in daily poll streaks, climb the leaderboard rankings, and even benefit from their tiered Branded Elite bonus program. They also offer a referral program to boost your earnings.





  • How Can I Cash Out My Points on Branded Surveys in the UK?

    For UK users, there are two primary ways to cash out your points on Branded Surveys: through PayPal or by redeeming for gift cards from major brands like Amazon, Marks & Spencer, and Tesco. The minimum points needed to cash out is 500 points.

BEFORE YOU GO...

Determining if Branded Surveys is legit or a scam is just the tip of the iceberg. Even the most lucrative survey platforms won't fill your pockets unless you know the ins and outs of paid surveys. Interested in maximising your earnings? Read our next article to become a pro at making money from paid surveys, not just from Branded Surveys but from a variety of reliable sources. Don't miss out on turning your opinions into cash!


Make Money From Paid Surveys

sidehustles.co.uk one-minute podcast

🎧 Listen Now: Sidehustles.co.uk One-Minute Podcast: Is Branded Surveys Legit or a Scam?

Welcome to the Sidehustles.co.uk One Minute Podcast. In the next 60 seconds, we're sharing a real-world insight from our network of seasoned side hustlers. This quick tip is designed to offer you practical advice that you can apply immediately in your side hustle journey.


Today, we're talking about making money from taking online surveys, which offer an appealing way to earn extra cash. One such platform is Branded Surveys, a U.K.-friendly service that's been around since 2012. While it's not a scam and is perfectly legal, its potential as a main source of income is limited. With a rate translating to around £8 for up to two hours of work, it's below the U.K.'s national minimum wage. However, the platform has features like a tiered bonus system and daily leaderboards that add a competitive edge and allow for additional earnings. And, thanks to their mobile app, you can fill out surveys on the go.


So, if you're looking for some pocket money and have time to spare, Branded Surveys can be a decent side hustle. But remember, it's best suited as a supplemental income stream rather than a primary one. That's your one-minute real-world insight. Stay tuned for more!

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✔ Fact Checked and Written by 

Steven Hillman FCA Chartered Accountant


Steven is the Editor-in-Chief of Sidehustles.co.uk. He is a Chartered Accountant (FCA) and ICAEW Business and Financial Professional (BFP) and has spent years advising clients on different side hustles and taxation.

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