Get Paid To Watch Videos: 11 Easy Ways

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Did you know that you can actually earn money watching videos? If you find yourself wasting hours a day online scrolling TikTok or YouTube or binge-watching your favorite shows on Netflix, you may as well make money watching videos.

11 Ways To Earn Money Watching Videos

Keep in mind that not all of these ways are easy — some of them require putting in more work than just watching videos. Tasks might include basic writing and grammar abilities, along with a touch of creativity. However, there are apps that will pay you simply for watching videos. Typically, the more effort you invest, the higher your potential earnings.

Here are 11 ways to get paid to watch videos — online, in movie theaters or even on your TV at home in your free time:

1. Swagbucks
2. KashKick
3. InboxDollars
4. Nielson Computer and Mobile Panel
5. Watch WeAre8
6. Start a blog
7. Write movie or TV show reviews for other websites
8. Write recaps of shows and movies
9. Use Slicethepie
10. Be a mystery shopper
11. Transcript subtitles for video content

1. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is not just a platform for earning cash-back rewards for online shopping. By engaging with Swagbucks, you can also earn points, known as Swagbucks, through activities such as surveys and get paid to watch videos. These points can then be exchanged for real cash or gift cards.

You can earn the most cash from Swagbucks by shopping online at their 1,500 partner websites, including Amazon, especially during bonus SB deals. However, if you find yourself mindlessly scrolling through TikTok, you can use your time more productively by using the Swagbucks app to get paid to watch videos.

According to the site, members have already cashed out $595,886,454, and it has a 4.1 rating out of 5 stars from nearly 37,000 reviewers on Trustpilot. While you won’t be rich using Swagbucks, you can earn $2 to $5 a day and up to $1,825 yearly.

2. KashKick

Like Swagbucks, Kashkick lets you earn money by watching videos, completing surveys or doing other tasks online, such as downloading specific apps to receive cash back. You can receive your money through PayPal. Here are some key takeaways:

• You can sign up and log in via PayPal, Facebook, Google or email, which makes it easy to create an account. 
• To earn money, you’ll need to confirm or verify your account via email.
• Most Kashkick offers have to do with playing games, downloading apps, shopping online or taking advantage of special offers. 
• Clicking the “Games” tab reveals opportunities to watch educational videos.

And it’s simple. “As users complete tasks, earnings are directly credited to their account balance, which accumulates until it reaches the minimum payout threshold of $10,” per LinkedIn.

3. InboxDollars

InboxDollars offers another excellent avenue for earning cash by engaging in a variety of online activities like watching videos. Similar to Swagbucks, InboxDollars rewards its users for activities beyond just shopping online. Here are some details about InboxDollars:

• Members can earn cash for completing surveys, watching videos and even reading emails.
• Unlike some platforms that reward points, InboxDollars credits real cash, making it straightforward to track your earnings.
• InboxDollars is offering new members a welcome bonus of $5.

According to their site, many Gold members make $30 or more a month. They pay via PayPal or gift cards.

4. Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel

While cash-back apps require you to put in some effort watching videos that may not be your first choice for entertainment, the Nielson Computer and Mobile Panel provides a unique opportunity to earn money for watching the shows you normally watch. Here are some key factors: 

• According to the Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel website, you can earn up to $60 in points for gift cards. 
• You can also choose to receive money deposited into your PayPal account. 
• Nielsen also runs a monthly sweepstakes with $10,000 in prizes.
• To take advantage of the cash back and potential prizes, you’ll need to create an account and answer a questionnaire about your family’s devices and viewing habits. 
• You can download the Nielsen app on your mobile or desktop device where you watch videos and TV. That may also include your home’s smart TV.
• You may remember Nielsen as the company that determined whether your favorite network television shows stayed on the air for another season.
• The consumer insight company has been in business for 90 years and is quite reputable if you are looking to earn extra money online.

5. Watch WeAre8

If you’re looking for an easy way to give back or add some positivity to your day, you can watch videos on WeAre8. This app is focused on social and environmental causes and gives you the option of keeping your earnings or donating them to a charity. You won’t make much money, but it’s for a good cause.

According to the site, “Users earn between 6p and 20p (just a few cents) for each ad watched. Out of each pound a brand spends on ads, 50% is distributed to users, 5% goes to a charity of the brand’s choice and 1% goes to Ecologi – a carbon reduction company.”

6. Start a Blog

If you have a passion for movies and TV shows, you might start a blog and share your views with other readers who love movies and TV like you do. You probably won’t earn money with your blog immediately, but if you continue producing high-quality content that people enjoy and promote it through social media, you may build a solid readership in these ways:

• You can monetize your blog by running or selling ads to companies who pay you directly.
• Try to score sponsorship deals to collaborate with companies for branded content that fits your blog’s niche. For 100,000 readers, you can charge $500 per sponsored post.
• With affiliate marketing, you can recommend products or services you trust, earning a commission for each sale made through your referral.
• Encourage supporter contributions through platforms like Patreon, offering exclusive content or perks in return.
• You can sell merchandise, from t-shirts to mugs, turning your logo into a wearable advertisement.

7. Write Movie or TV Show Reviews for Other Websites

If publishing your own movie and TV blog sounds like a lot of work, you can try becoming a freelance writer and writing movie and TV show reviews for other websites. Many websites are currently hiring freelance writers, including Taste of Cinema, Cineaste and ScreenRant. On these sites, you can make money in the following ways:

• According to its writer’s guidelines, Cineaste pays $36 for DVD reviews, $45 for Film Reviews and $90 for feature articles and interviews related to the film industry.
• Taste of Cinema doesn’t share its rates online but says that writers will get paid per click.
• You can also check your favorite movie review sites for job listings or writer’s guidelines. Read carefully, as some sites don’t pay at all. 
• You might find gigs writing movie reviews on websites like Fivver and Upwork, as well.

8. Write Recaps of Shows and Movies

Often, sites that list writing jobs will be looking for writers to produce recaps of top movies and TV shows. For instance, Soaps.com publishes recaps of top soap operas. While the website doesn’t indicate they are hiring, many other similar sites exist that may hire freelancers or even staff writers.

A past search on Indeed revealed that Rhodes Creative Group was looking for a writer to write original blog posts to accompany YouTube videos. This is a way to watch fun content and get paid for it. The advertised pay was $30 to $40 an hour, which makes this a lucrative position.

9. Watch Fashion and Music Videos on Slicethepie

Discover new music, fashion items and accessories by watching videos on Slicethepice, a platform that sends unsigned artists and fashion designers your reviews to give them feedback. Most reviews pay anywhere from $0.02 to $0.10, but it’s an interesting way to find new artists.

10. Mystery Shopper

You may have heard that becoming a secret shopper or mystery shopper is a good way to earn money in your spare time. Some mystery shoppers can earn $18 an hour, on average, according to ZipRecruiter. Here are some things to know about being a mystery shopper:

• Market Force is hailed as one of the industry leaders in secret shopping, with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and membership in the Mystery Shopping Providers Association. 
• If you keep your eyes open, and use the mobile app, Eyes On, to keep track of available shops near you, you may get lucky and land a few gigs watching movies.
• You won’t be reviewing the movie, but you will be evaluating the theater. As a bonus, you may get to enjoy some great flicks and get paid.

11. Transcript Subtitles for Video Content

It’s a good idea for online content creators to add subtitles to every video they produce. Some artificial intelligence, or AI, programs can do this automatically, but they aren’t always accurate. As more websites and social media platforms strive to be more inclusive to those with disabilities, subtitles are important for viewers who are hard of hearing. Here are some other key takeaways:

• People with the sound turned down on their devices, or listening in noisy environments, also appreciate subtitles on videos.
• Freelancers often can perform the task of creating these subtitles for brands and content creators. 
• To make money writing subtitles, you’ll want to have fast typing skills. 
• If you can also translate content into multiple languages, you can make even more money.
• LogicalDollar says you can expect to earn between $1.50 and $3.50 per audio minute. You may be able to find these types of jobs on Fiverr or Upwork.

Final Take To GO

You can earn anywhere from $100 per month to $100 per day or more watching videos, as long as you have some additional skills. If you can watch movies and TV shows and also write about them, you have a chance to earn a solid part-time income.

Becoming a successful movie reviewer requires discipline, talent and the ability to network and find opportunities, but it is doable. If you aren’t into that much work and just want to earn money for watching videos, consider apps like Swagbucks that pay you just to watch videos.

Dawn Allcot and Heather Altamirano contributed to the reporting for this article.

Information is accurate as of July 10, 2024.