What Actually Works in 2025

At A Glance

It's possible to earn a little extra money online by searching the web, though the opportunities are limited and rarely consistent.

Here are a few of the more legitimate ways people are doing it today.

• AI and search evaluation jobs. These roles have shifted toward AI training and model improvement, where you rate results to help systems like Google or OpenAI perform better. They are legitimate and flexible, with pay typically ranging from $12 to $22 per hour, though positions can be competitive.
• Freelance research work. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr offer small research projects such as fact checking, data collection, and summarizing information that can be a flexible next step for people who enjoy searching and organizing information online.
• Data collection apps. Apps such as Nielsen, SavvyConnect, and MobileXpression collect anonymous usage data for market research. The companies are legitimate, but you are trading some privacy for small rewards, usually in the form of gift cards.
• Reward-based search sites. Platforms like Swagbucks and InboxDollars let you earn modest rewards for searching, shopping, or taking surveys. They are best for earning a few extra dollars, not as a full side hustle, but they remain among the more trusted options in this space.

If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to get paid for something as simple as searching online, the answer is yes—just with modest expectations. T

hese opportunities can be low-effort ways to earn a few extra dollars in your spare time, whether through quick searches, data sharing, or light research projects.

AI Data and Search Evaluation Work

The once-popular search engine evaluator job has mostly disappeared.

These were positions where people rated Google or Bing results for accuracy and usefulness.

The market contracted sharply after Appen lost its Google contract in early 2024, which represented about 30% of the company's total revenue.

Major tech firms now handle most of this work through internal teams or AI systems instead.

The remaining work has shifted toward broader AI data labeling and model evaluation roles.

Rather than ranking search results, these jobs involve reviewing and labeling AI-generated outputs. Common job titles include:

• AI data annotator
• AI trainer
• Model evaluator
• Chatbot response rater
• Data labeler
• Content moderator

The strongest opportunities today go to domain experts who can bring specialized knowledge to model training.

Examples include healthcare professionals helping evaluate medical AI responses, lawyers or finance specialists labeling industry-specific data, and educators or linguists reviewing language model outputs.

Platforms hiring in the space include:

Several factors shape the current job landscape for this work.

Many openings on LinkedIn or Indeed feature “Easy Apply” tags, which typically signals high competition and limited availability.

Most roles are remote, part-time, and project-based, usually offering 10 to 30 hours per week. Pay varies significantly: general annotation work pays around $15 to $25 per hour, while short-term expert projects can offer $50 to $80 per hour or more. if you have domain expertise.

The general consensus from actual workers is that while the pay and work are legitimate, project availability is highly inconsistent.

Freelance Research Assistant Work

If you enjoy searching the web and organizing information, a natural next step is freelancing as a research assistant.

These roles go beyond just browsing. They can involve collecting data, fact-checking, summarizing reports, or even using AI tools to organize information.

You don't need a master's degree or years of experience to get started. Many clients on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr hire freelancers for entry-level research tasks, especially if you can show attention to detail and reliability.

Most projects pay by the hour or per task and may involve:

• Searching the web for data or examples
• Reviewing articles, studies, or books for summaries
• Organizing information into spreadsheets or reports
• Using AI tools to speed up basic research

Pay can vary widely — often $15 to $40 an hour, depending on the client and complexity.

While this isn't the same as a full-time research analyst position, it's a legitimate way to build skills, earn side income, and transition into more advanced online work over time.

Best Data Collection Apps

Consumer data about ourselves and our internet habits — what we search for, what we like, and what we buy — is extremely valuable.

Companies compile this kind of information and use it for things like market research and targeted advertising. And some companies sell the data they collect to other companies for lots of money.

Why should you give this valuable information away for free?

You shouldn't. You should get paid for searching the web, for providing your email address, and for “liking” a post or a site.

Fortunately, there are data collection apps that do just that.

Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel

How it works: This app collects data on how people use the internet. The information is used to design and improve products and services that are sold online. Nielsen is one of our top passive income apps because it's entirely passive after registering, answering a few survey questions, and installing the app on your mobile devices and computer.

Pros: Your account will be credited on a monthly basis, and you can cash out your earnings as soon as your balance hits $5.

Cons: There is no way to earn rewards besides downloading the app.

Payment method: Nielsen does not offer a cash payout option — you have to choose from one of the 50+ gift cards offered. Options include Starbucks, Amazon, Target and other major retailers.

Visit the Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel website.

Learn more: See our Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel Review.

MobileXpression

How it works: MobileXpression collects data on trends in smartphone usage. To join, sign up and complete a short registration form on their website, where you'll be given access to their app. The app works in the background, and shouldn't impact your device speed or battery life. Users can also take surveys for additional rewards.

Pros: After the initial install, earnings are passive. However, MobileXpression offers the option to take surveys for rewards points, which can help you reach the $25 minimum withdrawal amount.

Cons: There is no cash payout option, and some users have complained about being locked out of their accounts and having to contact support to get them reactivated.

Payment method: Points can be redeemed for an Amazon gift card, exchanged for a charitable donation, or used for sweepstakes entries.

iPhone users: Sign up for MobileXpression.

SavvyConnect

How it works: SavvyConnect conducts market research by collecting data in the background when users download it to their devices, providing a way to make money from home with essentially zero effort. Users also have the option to complete surveys.

Pros: Users can earn $5 per month for each device the app is installed on (up to three devices) and an additional $1 to $3 for each completed survey.

Cons: Certain demographics are more valuable to the company, so if you're not in the preferred age group, you won't qualify for as many surveys.

Payment method: There is a $1 minimum payout. Payments are issued via paper check only.

Visit SavvyConnect.

HoneyGain

How it works: Install HoneyGain on your computer or iOS device (no Android version is available). HoneyGain works in the background and runs search queries. In turn, HoneyGain sells the data it collects to companies looking for information (i.e., a company that's interested in what search results show up in a specific location for a certain keyword term). 

Pros: You're not selling your own data. Instead, you're instead selling your device's capacity to run search queries. You're then paid $1 for every 10 GB of search data you provide. 

Cons: If you're using the app, make sure it runs only on WiFi, so that it's not using your data plan. The app also has a slight impact on battery life, and for those with older devices and/or operating systems, it could impact performance. 

Payment method: Gift cards to major retailers starting at $20. Doing the math, that's 200 GB of data. Users who run HoneyGain on two to three devices report reaching this minimum payout every three months.

Visit HoneyGain.com.

Learn more in our HoneyGain review.

Get Paid For Changing Your Search Engine

What is your favorite search engine? Google? Yeah, that's everyone else's favorite too.

Well, other search engines would like a slice of the pie for themselves. That's because when a search engine gets traffic, it generates income from advertisers. More traffic means more revenue.

But smaller search engines know that most people prefer Google. So, in order to attract new users, they're willing to pay a little bit to encourage activity on their platforms.

Here's how to get paid for searching the web.

Swagbucks

How it works: Swagbucks allows you to earn random amounts of points when searching, referred to as “Search Wins.” Not every search results in a Search Win, and the amounts you earn range from one cent to $10. To perform a search, you must use the Swagbucks extension or the search bar within the Swagbucks website.

Pros: Swagbucks provides several ways to earn extra cash, including cash-back shopping and paid trial offers.

Cons: The amounts you earn are random and there's no guarantee you'll earn upon every search. When you do get a Search Win, expect to earn between one and four cents. (Bigger amounts are very rare.) Taking advantage of the other earning methods offered on the platform will help you cash-out faster, and adding the browser extension will help you make sure to never miss a cash-back opportunity.

Payment method: Users can redeem their points for gift cards, or for cash deposited into a PayPal account starting at $2.

Microsoft Rewards 

How it works: Bing is a search engine owned by Microsoft, which created it to compete head-to-head with Google. It hasn't really achieved that goal, which is good news for you — because you can get paid to use it. Microsoft will reward you with five points per search, up to a total of 50 points per day. You can then redeem those points for gift cards.

And here's a fun fact: one of the most searched for terms on Bing is… “Google.”

Pros: Microsoft recently expanded its “get paid to” activities beyond just web searches. Users can now earn points for things like shopping at the Windows and Microsoft stores, playing trivia games and taking quizzes. The old version of Microsoft Rewards was search-only, which made it harder to earn enough to cash out.

Cons: There is no cash payout option.

Payment method: Gift cards for the Xbox and Windows stores (as well as other Microsoft products), major retailers like Amazon and Starbucks, charity donations, and Microsoft-operated sweepstakes. The minimum amount needed to redeem is $5.

Visit Microsoft Rewards.

See also: How to earn free Amazon gift cards (20+ Fast Ways).

InboxDollars

How it works: InboxDollars is one of the biggest and most well-known rewards sites, boasting more than 10 million members. Signing up is quick and easy: provide your email address, create a password, and then confirm via a link sent to your inbox. Then, just answer a few basic questions and you can get started earning. Using the InboxDollars search engine pays one cent per four searches.

Read our in-depth InboxDollars review.

Pros: There are several ways to earn cash through InboxDollars, including answering surveys, reading emails and signing up for special offers. The site offers cash options for payouts.

Cons: Users must have at least $15 in their accounts to cash out.

Payment method: InboxDollars members can request a paper check, a prepaid Visa card, or gift cards to several retailers.

Sign up for InboxDollars.

Get Paid for Searching the Web: Final Thoughts

Few people make a full-time living by searching the web, but it is possible to earn a little bit of extra cash.

If you're seeking a new career, explore our article on the best in-demand online jobs.

For more ways to make money from your phone, check out our related post on the best money making apps.