Swagbucks vs InboxDollars: Which Pays Better in 2026?

Every figure below comes from our reviews of Swagbucks and InboxDollars, where each one links to its source.

 
Swagbucks
InboxDollars
Our rating
3.6 / 5
2.6 / 5
Earning potential
3 / 5
3 / 5
Payment reliability
4 / 5
3 / 5
Hourly pay
About $1.49 an hour over five hours of surveys (DollarBreak, October 2026)
Surveys averaged $1.16 an hour in a 5-hour DollarBreak test
Survey length
Not published
Most take 3 to 25 minutes
Minimum cash-out
$5 by PayPal or gift card
$15 first cash out, then $10
Payout time
PayPal in 2 to 5 business days
About 3 business days, up to 10
Before your first cash-out
PayPal from $5 (530 SB); the first PayPal redemption needs a name match and a bank-confirmed PayPal account
$15 for the first cash out, then $10; Persona photo ID and selfie check when asked
Cash-out methods
PayPal, Gift Cards, Charity
PayPal, Gift Cards, Prepaid Card, Charity
When screened out
1 to 10 SB per screen-out in one five-hour test
Not paid
Ways to earn
Surveys, Cashback, Receipts, Games, Offers, Search, Polls, Referrals
Surveys, Offers, Cashback, Receipts, Games, Paid emails
Apps
App Store 4.4, Google Play 4.2
App Store 4.5, Google Play 4.0
Minimum age
13 or older; Swagbucks encourages under-18s to get a parent or guardian's permission
18 in InboxDollars' help centre (Prodege's shared terms allow 13+ with a parent's approval)
Trustpilot
4.0 from 43,360 Trustpilot reviews
Rating withheld by Trustpilot after it removed fake reviews; 47,577 reviews
Running since
Launched in 2008 (Swagbucks)
Running since 2000; now owned by Prodege
Joining
Open sign-up
Open sign-up

Swagbucks

Pros

  • ✓ Many ways to earn beyond surveys
  • ✓ PayPal and gift cards from $5
  • ✓ Available from age 13

Cons

  • × Frequent survey disqualifications
  • × Strict PayPal and phone verification
  • × Slow support tickets

InboxDollars

Pros

  • ✓ $15 first cash out, then $10
  • ✓ No fee on gift cards
  • ✓ Surveys, offers, shopping and receipts in one place

Cons

  • × US residents only, one account per household
  • × Payment removed if you go inactive before it is processed
  • × PaidEmails no longer pay cash to new members

The Verdict

Overall, Swagbucks comes out ahead of InboxDollars in our reviews. Swagbucks scores 3.6 out of 5 in our review, InboxDollars 2.6. InboxDollars also pays by Prepaid Card, which Swagbucks does not offer. The two are not exclusive: where both accept members in your country, running them side by side means fewer days with nothing to do.

Join Swagbucks →Join InboxDollars →

Swagbucks vs InboxDollars FAQ

Which pays better, Swagbucks or InboxDollars?

Both score 3 out of 5 for earning potential in our reviews. Swagbucks: About $1.49 an hour over five hours of surveys (DollarBreak, October 2026). InboxDollars: Surveys averaged $1.16 an hour in a 5-hour DollarBreak test.

Which has the lower minimum cash-out, Swagbucks or InboxDollars?

Swagbucks: $5 by PayPal or gift card. InboxDollars: $15 first cash out, then $10.

Which pays out faster, Swagbucks or InboxDollars?

Swagbucks: PayPal in 2 to 5 business days. InboxDollars: About 3 business days, up to 10.

What happens when Swagbucks or InboxDollars screens you out of a survey?

Swagbucks: 1 to 10 SB per screen-out in one five-hour test. InboxDollars: Not paid.

Can I use both Swagbucks and InboxDollars?

Yes. Joining one does not stop you joining the other, as long as both accept members in your country and you keep to each platform's own account rules.

Both platforms appear in

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