InboxDollars is one of the longest-running rewards platforms, but if you're wondering whether it's still worth using, the short answer is: it depends. In this review, I'll walk through what has changed, what still works, and how to avoid wasting your time.
From my experience, things have gotten tougher. Surveys are harder to qualify for, payouts take longer, and support can be slow to respond. Still, I keep an eye on the platform because once in a while, a great offer pops up. One recent example is a $540 Chime deal just for opening an account and setting up direct deposit.
Below is a quick summary of what you need to know. After that, I'll break down when InboxDollars is worth using, how to make the most of it, and which tasks to skip.
InboxDollars is still legit and pays in cash, not points, but it's no longer worth using every day.
The platform is backed by Prodege, the company behind Swagbucks and MyPoints. It still pays, but earning consistently has become much harder. Surveys often disqualify after 5 to 15 minutes. Search & Earn has been officially removed, and PaidEmails are so rare now that many users don't see them at all.
Game offers on InboxDollars come with serious risks. Some involve mobile games that reward you for reaching certain milestones, but these often push in-app purchases and make it easy to overspend chasing a payout that may never come due to unreliable tracking. Others are play-to-win apps that function more like gambling — requiring real money to enter tournaments with no guaranteed return. Both types can lead to financial loss and are not a reliable way to earn.
Most power users no longer treat InboxDollars as a daily-use platform. A better strategy is to track rare, high-paying deals.
Pros:
- Pays real cash, not points
- Offers a $5 sign-up bonus.
- Occasionally features high-paying offers worth your time
Cons:
- Has a minimum cash-out of $15.
- A $3 processing fee is deducted from your withdrawal amount.
- Limited cash-back shopping opportunities.
- Accounts can be deactivated after 10 days of inactivity.
What Is InboxDollars?
InboxDollars is a website and app that pays users for completing a variety of online tasks.
These range from quick activities like taking surveys to higher-paying offers like signing up for a new bank account. A full breakdown of the available earning methods is included below.
The platform is owned by Prodege, the same company behind Swagbucks and MyPoints. It has been around since 2000 and has paid out tens of millions of dollars to users over the years.
Companies use InboxDollars to promote their products, get customer feedback, or drive signups for services. InboxDollars earns money from these brands and shares a portion of it with you when you complete a task.
Quick Facts:
- You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority) and a U.S. resident.
- Users earn actual money (not points) by completing online tasks.
- The minimum payout amount is $15.
- There's a $3 “processing fee” when you request payment.
- InboxDollars may deactivate your account after 10 days of inactivity. Reactivation may be possible by contacting support, but it's not guaranteed.
Ways to Make Money With InboxDollars
Below is a breakdown of the main ways to earn, based on what you'll see during sign-up and in the main navigation menu.
#1. Sign-Up Bonus
With InboxDollars, you'll get $5 cash added to your account balance as soon as you join, confirm your email address, and complete a brief profile survey (which covers basic demographic info and takes about five minutes).
However, keep in mind that you won't have access to that bonus until you've accumulated $15 in rewards, which is the minimum withdrawal amount.
#2. Paid Emails
InboxDollars used to pay users directly for reading promotional emails. Today, that feature is mostly gone. While Paid Emails technically still exist, they've become extremely rare.
You might receive one occasionally, but many users report not getting a single Paid Email for weeks—even with regular activity. This Reddit thread confirms the change, with multiple longtime members saying they no longer see them in their inbox at all.
When they do appear, Paid Emails don't pay in cash. Instead, you earn progress toward unlocking a Scratch & Win card. These cards offer small bonus payouts—often 1 to 5 cents—and are triggered by general site activity, including surveys, games, and offer completions.
The problem is transparency. InboxDollars doesn't tell you how much each action moves the progress meter or what your chances are of winning anything meaningful. In our testing, most Scratch & Win payouts were just a penny or two, even on the “Win up to $10” and “Win up to $25” tiers.
Bottom line: Paid Emails are no longer a reliable way to earn, and Scratch & Win is mostly a bonus system with very low payouts.
Related reading: Get paid to read emails — the only three ways that actually work.
#3. Offers
InboxDollars continues to offer dozens of promotions across banking, fintech, retail, and mobile apps. And while not every offer is worth doing, this remains the platform's best shot at earning real money.
Some of the current top offers include:
- Chime, up to $360 for opening an account and receiving a direct deposit
- SoFi Checking and Savings, up to $325
- Discover, Axos, and M1 accounts, typically paying between $40 and $100
- Apps like Cash App, Gemini, DoorDash, and Greenlight, with payouts ranging from $10 to $90
These offers can be worth hundreds of dollars each. That's especially meaningful when you consider that even on one of the highest paying survey sites, committing to surveys every day typically earns just $30 to $40 a month. In other words, one financial offer can be worth as much as a year of committed survey-taking.
Some free trial and subscription offers also pay decent rewards. If you manage them carefully and avoid getting charged, they can be an easy way to earn a few extra dollars without spending much.
See also: KashKick is another site that offers money makers. Learn more in our KashKick review.
#4. Surveys
InboxDollars works as a survey aggregator. That means it pulls surveys from third-party providers like Dynata or Peanut Labs, instead of offering its own.
These surveys are not exclusive. You can find many of the same offers on other rewards platforms, sometimes with better tracking or higher payouts.
Because of this, the surveys on InboxDollars tend to be average at best. Pay varies widely, and disqualifications are common.
Even when they do work, the value is limited. In our testing and from user reports, most surveys pay between $0.50 and $2. Some can take 20 minutes or more and still disqualify at the end.
Additional options: If surveys are your main focus, better platforms exist. We break those down in our list of the best survey sites.
#5. Shopping
InboxDollars offers a basic cash-back shopping portal that rewards you for purchases made through its links. You click through to a listed retailer, shop as normal, and InboxDollars gives you a cut of the referral commission they earn. It's simple, but in my experience, this isn't where the platform shines.
Rates are often lower than those found on sites like Rakuten, Capital One Shopping, or Kudos. It also lacks helpful tools like browser extensions, alerts for better deals, and reliable tracking. You'll find fewer retailers, no stacking support, and little in the way of exclusive bonuses.
Worse, users frequently report slow or missing payouts (source). Add in the $3 cash-out fee and the fact that rewards can take weeks to post, and the portal becomes more of a backup than a go-to.
Still, it has a purpose. If you're close to the $15 payout threshold and want to push your balance over the line, grabbing a few percent back from a routine purchase can help. Just don't count on it as your main rewards strategy.
If you're serious about earning, start with our guide to the best cash-back apps.
#6. Magic Receipts
Magic Receipts is InboxDollars' in-store rebate program. It pays you small amounts of cash back when you buy specific items in-store and upload your receipt.
Here's how it works:
- Browse offers in the Magic Receipts section before you shop.
- Add items to your list by clicking “Add to List.”
- Buy those items at eligible stores like Walmart, Target, Costco, Kroger, CVS, or Walgreens.
- Upload your receipt within 14 days of purchase to earn cash back.
Here are some real offers that are live:
- $5.00 back on Advil Liqui-Gels®
- $8.00 back on Dove Deodorant 4-Pack at Costco
- $6.00 back on Jimmy Dean® Chicken Buttermilk Biscuit Egg & Cheese at Walmart
- $9.00 back on TruSkin Facial Serums (Walmart or Target)
- $0.25 back on bananas or eggs (any brand, any store)
- $0.01 back just for submitting any store receipt
These offers must be “activated” (added to your list) before purchase. Forgetting to do this is one of the most common mistakes that causes people to miss out on rewards.
Magic Receipts can be a decent way to earn a few bucks. But it's rarely the best option for grocery cash back. Based on our testing, apps like Ibotta and Fetch Rewards consistently offer better promotions, easier submissions, and more flexible item matching.
You can see a full comparison of all the top options in our guide to the best grocery cash-back apps.
#7. Games
InboxDollars offers two main ways to earn by playing games, but how much you make depends on the path you choose.
Option 1: Free Games (Low Earnings)
You can play simple browser-based games like Candy Jam and Monkey Bubble Shooter. These games don't pay cash directly. Instead, they help you fill up your Scratch & Win meter, which gives you a chance to earn small bonus rewards.
While playing, you're shown ads.
That's how InboxDollars earns revenue. You're not paid per ad, but your gameplay contributes to your scratch card progress. The payout is small, and it's not clear exactly how much each game contributes to the meter. If you enjoy casual games, this can be a light way to make slow progress, but most experienced users say the rewards are too low to justify the time.
Option 2: QuickPlay Game Offers (High-Paying but Time-Intensive)
The more serious earning potential comes from InboxDollars' mobile game offers. These are often listed under the QuickPlay section. You choose a game, download it, and complete specific in-game tasks to unlock rewards. Tasks might include reaching a certain level or completing a milestone within a deadline.
As of late July 2025, some of the top offers include:
- Solitaire Master – earn up to $847.80
- Monopoly Go! – earn up to $530.60
- Raid Shadow Legends – earn up to $406.05
InboxDollars pays you a portion of what the advertiser pays them, but you must follow the offer requirements exactly. Rewards are typically based on completing a series of tasks, not just installing the game.
Some games take days or even weeks to complete. If you fail to meet the requirement within the time limit, you may earn nothing. That's why it's best to only take on offers for games you would play anyway.
Given the time commitment and the risk of losing money in pay-to-play tournaments, these offers usually aren't worth it.
#8. Refer Friends
You'll earn $1 cash (applied to your account) per referral, as well as 30% of your referrals' lifetime earnings.
Search (Feature Discontinued)
InboxDollars used to offer rewards for using its built-in Yahoo!-powered search engine. Users could earn progress toward Scratch & Win cards by completing “qualified searches,” and a small bonus by searching consistently across multiple days.
However, as of July 2025, this feature has been officially discontinued.
In-app notifications and multiple user reports on Reddit confirm that the search feature was removed as part of a broader platform update. The company stated it was “part of ongoing efforts to improve the overall experience on InboxDollars.”
If you're wondering where the search bar went or why your search streak bonus disappeared, you're not alone. Many longtime users relied on this low-effort earning option — but it's no longer part of the site.
Scratch and Win
Scratch & Win is a small rewards feature built into InboxDollars.
As you complete everyday tasks like surveys, games, and receipts, a progress bar fills up. Once you reach certain milestones, you get to scratch a virtual card for a chance to win a small cash prize. There are three card levels, with higher levels offering slightly better odds, though most prizes are just a cent or two.
While it's a nice perk for frequent users, it isn't a reliable way to earn. Many people report scratching dozens of cards without winning anything. Think of it like a digital punch card — a minor bonus that adds a bit of fun, but not something to focus on if you're looking to make real money.
InboxDollars vs. Swagbucks
Swagbucks and InboxDollars are often compared to each other. They're both popular reward sites that offer many ways to earn money, and since 2019 they've been owned by the same parent company.
However, they're very different in a number of key ways:
- Swagbucks features over two dozen different ways to earn, and they add more new ones all the time. InboxDollars has about half that, and the site's offerings change less frequently.
- Swagbucks pays you in points (called Swagbucks or SBs) rather than raw cash. You can then redeem your points for a variety of rewards, including gift cards. Sometimes, you can get those gift cards for discounts off their face value, making your points worth more.
- Swagbucks has no minimum withdrawal amount. You can cash out as soon as you have enough to redeem your points for a prize (which is typically $3).
In addition to these three points, it's worth noting that Swagbucks makes it much easier to earn money through cash-back shopping.
While completing small tasks can earn you a few cents here and there — pennies that no doubt add up over time with consistent use — earning 2% and up on almost everything you buy online can quickly make that look like loose change.
In general, Swagbucks offers better cash-back rates and has a wider selection of offers.
Though that's not always the case, so it can be a good idea to sign up for both sites. Then you can compare which one will give you a greater amount of money back for the purchase you're about to make when you're shopping online.
Further reading: We spent hours researching and testing Swagbucks for this comprehensive Swagbucks guide that explains all the different ways to make money on the site.
Payment Options
Once your InboxDollars balance hits $15, you can cash out your earnings. Available payment options include e-gift cards (Amazon, Walmart, etc.), prepaid Visa cards, PayPal, or even a paper check. Most payouts are subject to a $3 processing fee.
PayPal payments are processed once per week, typically on Wednesdays. For first-time withdrawals, processing may take 10 to 16 days.
Keep in mind that InboxDollars requires users to remain active. If you don't complete a qualifying task within a 10-day period, your account may be deactivated. If this happens while you have a pending payout, your payment could be delayed or canceled. To avoid issues, stay active until your reward is fully processed.
Gold Members Get Paid Faster
When you start out on the site, you'll be classified as a “non-Gold member.” Once you receive your first payment, you'll be automatically upgraded to Gold membership status. There's exactly one benefit of being a Gold member: your payments are issued in three to nine days instead of the usual “up to 16.”
Frequently Asked Questions About InboxDollars
If there's anything you've been searching for that isn't covered in this review, please let us know by leaving a comment below!
The most effective way to earn with InboxDollars is by completing just a few high‑paying offers each year—such as bank or fintech promotions that typically pay between $100 and $300—enabling savvy users to earn over $1,000 annually. Everyday tasks like surveys, emails, games, or shopping yield much smaller returns and have become less reliable as features like Paid Emails and Search have been reduced or eliminated. The platform still has active users, but many have moved on to sites offering faster payouts, more consistent offers, and better usability. InboxDollars works best as an occasional side‐tool to snag standout offers, not as a steady stream of daily income.
We're often asked if InboxDollars works in India, the Philippines, and other English-speaking countries. Unfortunately, the service is only available to residents of the United States.
InboxDollars Review Summary
InboxDollars is a legitimate platform that still pays, but it's not the standout it once was. The experience has become more frustrating, with frequent survey disqualifications, offer tracking issues, and slower customer support. While there are still ways to earn, the time it takes often outweighs the reward.
If you're using multiple platforms to maximize earnings, InboxDollars can still have a place. But if you're only going to use one rewards site, I'd recommend Swagbucks or Freecash instead. They offer more consistent payouts, better user experiences, and a wider range of tasks.
If earning cash back is your goal, you're likely to get more value from Rakuten, Kudos, or Capital One Shopping. These platforms typically have higher rates and more reliable tracking.
InboxDollars is not a scam, and some users do earn $10 to $50 per month. But it requires patience, persistence, and realistic expectations.
For a broader look at apps worth your time, check out our guide to the best money-making apps.
