When people search for ways to earn money online, they often encounter two types of platforms: pure survey sites (like Survey Junkie and Prolific) and GPT sites (Get-Paid-To sites like Swagbucks and InboxDollars). Both pay you for your time, but they work very differently.
We ran a 4-week head-to-head test spending equal time on each type to determine which is actually more profitable.
What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Pure Survey Sites | GPT Sites |
|---|---|---|
| Earning methods | Surveys only | Surveys + videos + games + cashback + offers |
| Hourly rate (surveys) | Higher ($4–$12/hr) | Lower ($2–$6/hr) |
| Passive earning | None | Yes (videos, cashback) |
| Best examples | Prolific, Survey Junkie | Swagbucks, InboxDollars |
| Min. payout | $5–$10 | $3–$15 |
Our 4-Week Test Results
We spent 1 hour per day on each type of platform for 4 weeks (28 hours total each):
| Platform Type | Time Invested | Total Earned | Effective Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pure Survey Sites (Prolific + Survey Junkie) | 28 hours | $224 | $8.00/hr |
| GPT Sites (Swagbucks + InboxDollars) | 28 hours | $156 | $5.57/hr |
Analysis: When to Use Each Type
Use Pure Survey Sites When:
- You want to maximise your hourly rate
- You have limited time and want the highest return per minute
- You prefer focused, purposeful tasks over passive multi-tasking
Use GPT Sites When:
- You want to earn passively (videos in background, cashback on purchases)
- You are already shopping online and want to add cashback
- You want more variety and lower survey volume is acceptable
- You want the lowest possible minimum payout threshold
The Best Strategy: Use Both
The most profitable approach is not choosing one or the other — it is using both strategically. Spend your active survey time on Prolific and Survey Junkie for the highest hourly rate, then let Swagbucks run passively in the background for cashback and video earnings.
In our extended 8-week test using this combined strategy, we earned an average of $187/month from approximately 90 minutes of daily effort — an effective rate of $6.23/hour across all activities combined.
We've personally tested 40+ survey platforms across the US, UK, and Australia so you don't have to. Our goal is to help you find the highest-paying, most legitimate opportunities.