How to Earn Money by Watching Ads

You don't need a lot of stuff to make money by watching ads. Just an internet connection, smartphone or laptop, and you're good to go. Whether you want to start earning money by just watching video ads, watch video ads to support environmental and social causes (and get paid for that), or try out other video ad watching gigs, then this post is for you! Most of the payouts are done via PayPal and ad-watching is not just a money making opportunity but also a way to contribute positively to society and other worldwide projects. Now let's get started. We will also cover the best platforms to earn money by watching ads in this guide.

How Does Earning Money by Watching Ads Work?

Here is how earning money by watching ads works:

• You watch short ads presented by brands that are meant to increase their visibility. No special skills or lengthy sign-ups are needed. These ads are videos that can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.
• Trusted brands partner with companies to bring you these ads. They reward you fairly for your time.  You can choose how many ads you want to watch and how much time you want to spend watching them.
• Besides ads, you also get access to games, surveys, quick micro-tasks, and other activities that can help you boost your earnings substantially. 
• You can earn money by watching ads anytime, anywhere, and on any device. You will be shown ads based on your interests to keep you engaged.
• You will get paid for watching each ad. It will add to your bank balance. Watching a single ad won't make you rich but as you keep watching more and more ads, your earnings will slowly compound. 
• You can build passive income at your own pace that way. You will receive your earnings through secure payouts and these platforms are based on transparency and trustworthiness.

Top Platforms to Earn Money by Watching Ads

If you're looking to earn money by watching ads, several reputable platforms can help you get started. These platforms are simple to use and offer various ways to earn rewards for watching advertisements. Below, we’ll dive into some of the most widely-used and trusted platforms in this space, detailing how they work, the potential earnings, and the payment methods they offer.

1. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is one of the leading platforms in this space. It rewards users for watching videos, completing surveys, and even playing games. Over the years, it has built a solid reputation for being a reliable way to earn extra cash in your spare time. InboxDollars lets you earn money by watching real TV ads. You can also win free gift cards and the platform offers a $5 signup bonus.

How It Works

After signing up, you can start earning money by watching video ads, playing games, completing surveys, and even shopping online. The platform offers various ways to accumulate rewards, which makes it a great option for those looking to earn in different ways.

Earning Potential

Once you reach a minimum of $30, you can request a payout. You can choose to receive your earnings via PayPal, check, or gift cards, making it convenient for everyone.

2. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is another popular platform that rewards users for a variety of activities, including watching video ads, taking surveys, and even shopping online. It's known for its ease of use and variety of earning opportunities, making it a go-to option for many users. Swagbucks has paid out over $300M till date to its users. You can also make a lot of money on the app by completing online surveys. Swagbucks pays between $0.05 to $2.50 per survey and this can go up to $25 to $35 sometimes!

How It Works

By watching video ads on the platform, you earn SB points. These points can then be redeemed for PayPal cash or a variety of gift cards, including popular retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target. The more ads you watch, the more points you earn.

Earning Potential

To cash out, you need to accumulate at least 500 SB points, which equals about $5. You can then withdraw your earnings through PayPal or exchange them for gift cards. Swagbucks also lets you earn cash by trying out their awesome services like the Dollar Shave Club, Hulu, and BlueHost. These services offer new trails through the Swagbucks app.

3. Honeygain

Honeygain offers a unique twist on earning money. It allows you to make money not only by watching ads but also by sharing your internet connection. This makes it an excellent option for those with reliable internet who are looking for a passive way to earn money. What's cool about Honeygain is that you can use your internet bandwidth to earn extra cash. If you join now, you can get a $2 starting gift!

How It Works

Honeygain turns your unused data into real cash automatically. It's one of the best passive sources of passive income. You don't have to do any tedious tasks. Just install the app and go about your day. Daily task can pay up to +100000 credits. Just share 15MB of traffic daily and you'll start accumulating rewards. If you refer to your friends, you will earn $5 every time they hit the $20 payout threshold. You can also unlock various achievements and claim rewards. Choose Content Delivery to make money by the hour. Honeygain lets you earn money on all devices, including Android, Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

Earning Potential

You can withdraw your earnings through PayPal once you reach a minimum of $20. The amount you can earn depends on how much you share your internet connection and how actively you engage with ads.

4. MyPoints

MyPoints has been around for many years and is a trusted platform for earning rewards. You can earn points by watching video ads, taking surveys, and completing other tasks, such as shopping online. It's a flexible platform that allows you to engage with various activities to maximize earnings.

How It Works

After signing up, you can start watching video ads and completing other tasks. Each activity earns you points, which can be redeemed for PayPal cash or gift cards to major retailers.

Earning Potential

To redeem your points, you need to accumulate at least 700 points, which is equivalent to a $5 reward. Payments are typically processed through PayPal, or you can opt for gift cards from a wide range of brands.

5. AdWallet

AdWallet is a platform that allows users to get paid directly for watching short video ads. Unlike many other platforms, AdWallet offers direct payment for watching ads, and you can be sure that your time is being compensated for each view.

How It Works

After signing up, you’ll be asked to watch short ads. Once you’ve watched an ad, you’ll answer a simple question to confirm you viewed the entire content. This helps ensure that you're engaged and paying attention to the ads.

Earning Potential

AdWallet pays users directly via PayPal once you accumulate at least $10. The platform also allows you to earn up to $3 per ad, with the possibility of earning additional bonuses based on engagement.

6. WeAre8

WeAre8 is a great app that lets you make cash by watching videos. However, there's an upside to it. You get a chance to contribute to charity and it focuses on making a positive impact on your society and environment. 

How It Works

You can get paid via PayPal or you can transfer the bank balance or desired withdrawal amount to a charity of your choice. Whenever you watch ads on WeAre8, a small donation is also made to charities as an added bonus.

Earning Potential

WeAre8 users get paid to watch ads ranging from 6p to 25p per ad. Users can also earn more by uploading content to the "8Stage" and also apply to the "Golden Halo" program to boost rewards.

7. App Trailers

App Trailers can help you earn money by watching ads related to movie trailers, DIY videos, and celebrity gossip.  You can get the app on Google Play Store or download the iOS version from Apple app store.

How It Works

These ads can last anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes. You earn up to 1 cent for every 10 points and can redeem points for Amazon, eBay, and Groupon gift cards.

Earning Potential

Earnings can depend on how much you use the app, the types of videos you watch. They also depend on what kind of rewards you opt for.

8. Pocket Money

Pocket Money is another great app that you can use to make money by watching ads on it. You can also earn money by playing games, installing apps, via referrals, and also make cash by clicking on links within the app.

How It Works

You can transfer your earnings to your Paytm wallet. Whatever you earn on the app, you can use your money for mobile recharges, online shopping, and get discount vouchers.

Earning Potential 

You can earn up to $6 to $7 a day. The amount you earn will change depending on how much you engage with the app.

9. Netflix

While Netflix isn't a job board, you can find that the platform hires taggers to tag shows and movies. These taggers work to provide better movie recommendations to subscribers. You have to keep an eye out on the job board for these gigs. 

How It Works

If you love binge-watching TV shows and movies, then this platform is a great way to make money. You can earn money by watching movie ads.

Earning Potential

Netflix taggers can get paid anywhere from USD 55,000 to USD 70,000 per year. How much money they make will also vary based on factors like tagging experience, location, and other specific responsibilities. This is one of the highest paying gigs out there when it comes to watching film ads.

10. YouTube

YouTube is one of the best places to earn money by watching ads online. You can watch ads on any topic and enjoy high-quality content.

How It Works

Paid2YouTube program lets you earn money by rating, commenting, and subscribing. When you hit the $10 threshold, you can cash out via PayPal.

Earning Potential

YouTube says you can earn up to $0.02 per video watched. Keep in mind that you have to become well-versed with the platform's guidelines and conditions before you engage with its ad-watching or other earning activities.

Other Apps

ProMoney is an app that lets you earn by watching ads. You can earn by watching short video ads, inviting friends, and completing small business tasks. It's fair, simple, and you are rewarded for your time and activity.

You can also try Lootup.me. They have been around for a while. You can earn points for watching video ads and other things. 1000 points = $1. If you make up to 300 points a day, you can withdraw as crypto, PayPal, or gift card. No referrals are needed. Another great option is Hideout.tv. As for Lootupme, be sure to keep an eye out on X. Every few days, you will be able to find promo codes posted there which can boost your earnings. There are no country restrictions for these apps.

How to Earn Money by Doing Film and TV Reviews

Film and TV criticism are very competitive lines of work. So if you're thinking about writing on a freelance basis, you'll need to start by charging lower rates to reflect your level of experience. To start getting commissioned for film or TV reviews as a freelancer, it's worth setting up a blog. There, you can showcase your writing style and talent. You can get paid to watch films and movies and write reviews about them. Being a film critic is a pretty good gig. You can review movie scripts and participate in paid focus groups and theatre mystery shops. Content taggers are constantly hired for streaming services in the movie industry.

To start off, you can set up a YouTube channel. Make a name for yourself as a creator by sharing your opinions on different movies. Once you establish enough credibility, you can become a voice in the film community. You can also set up a Fiverr profile where you can offer to do paid reviews once your YouTube channel goes viral and gets enough engagement. Your voice will carry a lot of weight and matter more that way. Once you build up a portfolio of reviews and make a name for yourself, you can increase your rates and take on bigger commissions. 

To prepare for a full-time job as a film or TV critic, it's worth looking into internships to boost your CV. Check out the Writers Market book by Writers Digest. It has a section on how much to charge and different ranges for different types of film and movie reviews.

Freelance Subtitle Writing Opportunities

There are also many freelance subtitle writing opportunities on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. They're a great way to earn money by watching ads and videos and writing subtitles for them. If you can speak multiple languages, then you can carve out your own niche. Rev is another great platform where you can get these kinds of jobs.

Concerns about Getting Paid for Watching Ads

There are some concerns about watching ads: 

• Some of them are the low hourly rates and for every ad that rate can vary. You also have to invest quite a bit of time into watching these ads. If you travel a lot outdoors or you're on your feet, some of these ads can be a bit sensitive and you can't play them in public maybe depending on which platform you're using. and more. 
• There is a minimum payout threshold needed before you can withdraw any money. You also need to have realistic expectations when it comes to making money by watching ads. These are not a substitute for a full-time job. Some platforms can also scam you if you are not careful because ads can be fraudulent in nature. and many more. 
• They may not have a direct connection with advertisers and some platforms will not let you withdraw money by preventing you from reaching the minimum payout threshold which means you'll keep re-watching ads again and again. 
• Watching ads can also be a waste of time for some people because some ads can pay you in cents instead of dollars. So you'll have to watch a ton of ads to make a few bucks a month or week. 
• There are also some privacy concerns when it comes to using these platforms. For example, you don't know how your personal data or opinions will be used or collected. The terms of service may be unfavorable for you and that may be another growing concern.

How Much Can I Make By Watching Ads?

How much money you can make by watching ads will depend on the type of app or platform that you use. Klover pays 10 points per video while Justplay can give you up to 2000 points per video with a 2 minute cooldown. There is also Cashwalk that pays up to 3 times a day with daily mystery box videos for additional coins. 

You also have Sweatcoins that will offer you bonuses for watching videos daily. Up to 3 times a day. How much points get converted to cash will depend on the type of app that you are using. CashWalk can pay you a $5 gift card for 3000 points. The daily videos can make about 2 to 15 points. And you can easily earn around 10,000 points in a go. Smores is also another great app you can try out. With LootUp.Me you can get $1 for 1000 points. 

Now let cut to the real chase and be honest about how much can you really make when it comes to making money with these ads: 

• If you watch around 30 ads, click on a few surveys, and do everything, you can you might find yourself earning $0.54 for just tapping your screen for a few seconds. 
• Timebox can help you earn up to $1 with one of their watch and click offers. And if you play ads on autopilot mode, then you might be able to earn a bit more. 
• Overall, with around 10-12 hours of time spent watching on these ads, you can make about $5, and more. The more commercials you can get to watch and listen to, the more money you can make. 
• You can also make around $0.005 per video. And if your earning reaches the $10 threshold, then you can cash out via PayPal. That's pretty low per video but it's good for some pocket money.

Tips for Maximizing Your Earnings

While watching ads can be an easy and convenient way to earn money, there are several strategies you can use to maximize your earnings. By following these tips, you can make the most of your time and increase the amount of money you earn with minimal effort.

1. Be Consistent

To make the most money from watching ads, consistency is key. The more time you dedicate to watching ads each day, the more you’ll accumulate in rewards. Set aside a specific time each day to engage with your chosen platform. Whether it’s 10 minutes during your lunch break or 30 minutes before bed, sticking to a routine will help you earn more over time.

• Pro Tip: Set a reminder to check in every day so you don’t miss out on any opportunities to earn. Many platforms also offer daily bonuses for users who engage consistently.

2. Sign Up for Multiple Platforms

Don’t limit yourself to just one platform. While some platforms may offer a great experience, others might have different ad options or higher payouts. By signing up for multiple platforms, you’ll have more chances to earn money. Each platform has its own unique offerings and rewards, so diversifying your options can significantly increase your potential income.

• Pro Tip: Choose platforms with different payout structures and types of ads. For example, some platforms might offer better rates for video ads, while others may reward you for completing additional tasks like surveys or offers.

3. Watch Ads During Downtime

One of the easiest ways to maximize your earnings is by making use of your free time. Whether you’re on a coffee break, commuting, or just relaxing at home, you can watch ads and earn money passively. This is a perfect side hustle for busy individuals who want to make extra money without adding extra work to their schedule.

• Pro Tip: Keep your mobile device handy during any downtime and make it a habit to check your apps when you have a few free minutes. Apps like Swagbucks and InboxDollars allow you to watch ads on both mobile and desktop, making it easy to engage during any moment of the day.

4. Referral Programs

Many ad-watching platforms offer referral bonuses, allowing you to earn extra money by inviting friends or family to join. When someone signs up using your referral link and starts watching ads, you earn a percentage of their earnings. This creates an additional, passive stream of income, as you benefit from the activity of people you refer.

• Pro Tip: Share your referral link on social media, with friends, or through email. The more people you refer, the more you can earn without doing anything extra yourself.

5. Stay Active

Many platforms reward users who stay engaged consistently. By checking in regularly and watching ads every day, you not only earn money but may also qualify for special bonuses or higher payouts. Some platforms may offer daily, weekly, or monthly rewards to keep you coming back and to encourage continued activity.

• Pro Tip: Look out for special bonus days or promotions that offer higher rewards for watching a set number of ads. Some platforms may even offer "streak" bonuses for users who engage with ads for several consecutive days.

Is It Possible to Make a Full-Time Income from Watching Ads?

The simple truth is that watching ads won’t replace a full-time job. The earnings per ad are relatively small, and it takes a considerable amount of time to accumulate significant earnings. However, if you are looking for a way to make some extra cash in your spare time, this could be an excellent side hustle.

For example, if you’re diligent and consistently watch ads every day, you can earn up to $100 a month. While this may not replace a full-time income, it can help cover small expenses or contribute to larger financial goals.

Conclusion

Earning money by watching ads is a simple and accessible way to make extra cash in your spare time. While the income may not be substantial, it’s a straightforward method that doesn’t require much effort, making it perfect for those looking to make money passively. Platforms like InboxDollars, Swagbucks, Honeygain, and others offer a variety of ways to earn money, and with consistent effort, you can accumulate a respectable amount each month.

As a supplementary income source, watching ads is an excellent option to explore. By signing up for several platforms, staying consistent, and leveraging referral programs, you can easily start earning from the comfort of your home.