Getting paid to read emails is actually a thing.
Rewards sites aka Get-Paid-To Sites (or GPT for short) send you emails from their partner companies, and you get paid a token to read and interact with its content.
While this gig does not pay much, reading emails for money is one of several other side hustles you can use to earn extra cash in your spare time.
Reading emails and getting paid is often part of a number of tasks you can do to make money when you join an online rewards community like Swagbucks, Daily Rewards, and InboxDollars.
You can also complete surveys, play games, watch videos, shop online, and refer friends to increase your earnings.
Read to learn about some popular legit sites that pay you to read emails.
Best Sites That Pay You To Read Emails
Swagbucks
$5 welcome bonus
10+ different ways to make money
Low payout threshold from $3
Cash-out with PayPal, gift cards, etc.
MyPoints
$10 welcome bonus
Offers several ways to make money
Low payout threshold from $5
Cash-out with PayPal, gift cards, etc.
Why Do Companies Pay You To Read Emails?
It sounds weird. Why would a company pay you to open and read an email they send you?
The answer simply goes back to marketing 101.
Similar to how brands and businesses pay to show you ads online and anywhere you visit online, they are also willing to pay you to read and view these adverts inside emails.
This is done in the hopes that you learn about new products and services and perhaps, even engage with offers and make a purchase.
Instead of swiping left and “thrashing” an email, the advertiser is incentivizing you to read it.
This strategy is similar to those used by companies that pay you to play games.
Legit Sites That Pay You To Read Emails
The seven websites below offer legit opportunities to get paid to receive and read emails. You can cash out your earnings as cash through PayPal or redeem them for gift cards.
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is easily the most popular rewards site for side hustlers.
It is a legitimate site with a 4.3/5 rating on Trustpilot and has paid its members over $875 million. As per its website, Swagbucks sends out 7,000+ gift cards in rewards every day.
To earn on this site, you can participate in activities including reading emails, surfing the web, watching entertaining videos, using coupons, and even buying gift cards.
Get started: Sign up here and receive a $5 to $10 bonus.
Payment options: You can redeem your Swagbucks points for cash through PayPal, gift cards, and Visa Prepaid Cards.
2. MyPoints
MyPoints has been around since 1996 and is one of the best sites for earning cash back when you shop online.
This site pays members to shop, digitally clip coupons, read emails, watch videos, answer surveys, play games, and more.
MyPoints also has mobile apps for iPhones and Android devices, so you can earn while on the go.
Get started: Join MyPoints here and get a $10 Amazon or Visa gift card.
Payment options: Easily cash out using gift cards (70+ types), cash through PayPal or Travel Miles.
This MyPoint review offers more details.
3. Inbox Pays
This cash rewards site pays you to read emails, play games, clip coupons, shop online, and refer friends.
Getting started: Sign up here and get a $5 welcome bonus.
Payment options: You can request payment through PayPal when your balance reaches $50.
4. InboxDollars
If you live in the U.S., InboxDollars is your equivalent of Daily Rewards in Canada and InboxPounds in the U.K.
The site works similarly to the others listed above. You get paid to read emails, complete surveys, watch video ads, and more.
Get started: Sign up here for a $5 sign-up bonus.
Payment options: You can withdraw your earnings using direct deposit or redeem them for a Prepaid Visa card.
5. Daily Rewards
Daily Rewards is a popular market research panel operated by Prodege, LLC.
It has an A rating with the Better Business Bureaus (BBB) and has paid its members millions of dollars over the years.
In addition to getting paid to read emails, you can also earn cash on this site when you answer surveys, watch videos, and play games.
Payment options: You can cash out via PayPal when your balance is $30 or more.
Find out more about Daily Rewards in this review.
6. Fusion Cash
Like the others, Fusion Cash rewards you for reading emails, testing apps, completing surveys, and referring friends.
Payment options: You can cash out when your earnings reach $25. Options include direct deposit and PayPal.
7. Unique Rewards
Vindale Research is a paid survey site operating in multiple countries, including the U.S. and Canada.
To get paid on this site, you can read emails, answer paid surveys, refer friends, watch videos, play games, and shop online.
Payment options: Cash out using PayPal or Bitcoin (starting at $20), check, or Visa and Mastercard (starting at $35).
How Much Money Can You Make Reading Emails?
You won’t make much money by reading emails, and any site that promises otherwise is a scam.
If you are looking to increase your income, there are many opportunities to do so by using work from home jobs and passive income strategies.
For alternative survey and market research panels that pay you small amounts of money for your time, you can check out:
You can also take a look at these iPhone and Android apps.
