3 Ways to Get Paid for Searching the Web

Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links on our site, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend.

Creativa Images / Shutterstock.com

What if you could get paid for activities you already do anyway?

My favorite example is getting paid to go shopping. But searching the web is another activity that can put profits in your pocket.

Here are a few examples of websites and programs that reward you simply for using a search engine:

1. Swagbucks

Swagbucks’ mission is “to get you free gift cards by rewarding you points (called SB) for things you do online.” Those things include searching the web.

Swagbucks offers two ways to search, both of which are powered by Yahoo:

  • Visit Swagbucks’ search page. Also note that you can find the Swagbucks search bar at the top of most other pages of the website.
  • Make Swagbucks the default search engine for your browser. Swagbucks offers directions on how to do this for Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer.

To learn about other ways you can make money with Swagbucks, check out “Earn Up to $2,700 a Year Watching Videos, Answering Surveys.”

2. Bing Rewards

Bing is Microsoft’s search engine, a Google competitor.

Bing Rewards is a program Microsoft describes as enabling you to “earn credits for searching on Bing or trying new features from Bing or other Microsoft products and services.” Those credits can be redeemed for rewards such as gift cards.

For directions on how to join Bing Rewards, visit its “Help” page.

To start earning credits, just sign in and use Bing to search the web. Microsoft also offers a Chrome browser extension.

3. Qmee

Qmee describes itself as “an online shopping companion that helps shoppers search for what they want, compare prices, secure discounts and offer their opinions while earning cash.”

When it comes to searching the web, the website explains:

Qmee works in the background to show you relevant results on the left hand side of your screen. Simply click on the result that interests you and you’ll earn cash or save money by just doing what you usually do online.

Qmee also lets you search and shop online as you usually do, as it does not limit you to a single search engine. It’s compatible with Bing, Google and Yahoo. It also works when you search retailer websites such as Amazon.

Have you ever used a website or program that compensated you for searching the web? Let us know which one and whether you’d recommend it — comment below or over on our Facebook page.

Get smarter with your money!

Want the best money-news and tips to help you make more and spend less? Then sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter to receive daily updates of personal finance news and advice, delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free newsletter today.