Online surveys are an easy way to make some extra money. However, many survey sites are notorious for low payouts and requiring several survey attempts before you finally qualify for one that earns points.

For each completed survey, Vindale Research can pay as low as 25 cents or as high $50. However, if a product is sent to a member, Vindale Research will pay up to $75 for it. Keep in mind that surveys are not the only way to make money from Vindale Research. They have a referral system implemented which allows members to make even more money. The surveys tend to be very short — Google says they usually take 20 seconds or less to complete — which makes this a great choice if you’re looking for a way to make a little bit of money in your random moments of spare time.

Anyone who wants to make money online with surveys should consider Pinecone Research as each survey earns $3 with a time investment of 20 minutes. The platform can be a good option for enthusiastic survey takers looking to boost their side hustle income too.

Learn more about this exciting opportunity and find out what to expect in this Pinecone review.

What is Pinecone Research?

Pinecone Research is part of the ubiquitous Nielsen market research company that partners with consumer brands to offer short online surveys to evaluate consumer opinions and potentially test new products.

While it’s not possible to take unlimited surveys each day, panelists automatically prequalify for the surveys they receive invitations for and each survey takes up to 20 minutes. In addition, these surveys pay $3 making Pinecone one of the highest payouts for a survey site.

Unlike other platforms, Pinecone is a very exclusive platform and panelists must meet specific demographics to qualify. Therefore, you may need to join a waitlist if there are no current openings.

Who Can Join Pinecone Research?

The basic qualifications to join Pinecone are similar to other survey sites. One difference is that minors cannot become panelists.

Here are the minimum qualifications:

At least 18 years old
Only one person per household can be a member
You nor anyone in your household work for a consumer packaged goods company, marketing researcher or in the advertising industry

The platform is available in the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.

In the past, Pinecone required aspiring applicants to apply through a special invite link instead of on the platform website to help find the most interested panelists. However, as of June 2021, you can apply directly through the website as well.

Pinecone Research Application Process

Unlike other sites where membership is essentially a guarantee, Pinecone doesn’t accept every application. The platform only accepts a limited number of panelists from each demographic background to help maintain the high payouts.

Thankfully, the application process is relatively effortless and takes less than two minutes.

You can find out immediately if there’s a spot for you after providing these basic details:

Name
Email address
Birthdate
Gender
Highest education level
Race or ethnicity

If you don’t qualify right now, Pinecone states they will keep your application on file for a few weeks if an opening appears. Otherwise, you will need to periodically re-apply.

When you qualify to be a panelist, you can complete your membership profile and begin receiving paid surveys. Also, congratulations, as you belong to one of the most exclusive and highest-paying survey sites.

Can You Get Kicked Off Pinecone Research?

As qualifying to take Pinecone Research surveys is like finding a “golden ticket,” you will want to abide by the membership agreement to avoid losing your membership.

The platform can cancel your membership for several reasons, including:

Another person from your immediate household becomes a member
You share confidential information about products
Your account is inactive for at least 12 months
The platform needs fewer panelists

You will have the opportunity to provide input on unreleased products and services. Pinecone requires influencers to not share details or images about the product concept.

For example, you won't share your experience with the product on social media unless you have permission. This essence of confidentiality is one reason these surveys pay more.

Another potential downside is that you may not have a lifetime membership. The platform periodically adjusts its membership base (i.e., panel composition maintenance) as population trends change. As a result, you may receive fewer survey invitations if the platform doesn’t need input from your demographic background and the service may deactivate your account.

How to Make Money on Pinecone Research

There are two primary ways to make money as a Pinecone member. You can earn money with similar effort as some of the other platforms you participate on already.

Online Surveys

Each online survey pays $3 and takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.

This completion time is average for online surveys. However, most survey sites are likely to pay a fraction of the income for the same time commitment.

It’s worth seeing if you qualify for Pinecone to make more money for the same effort.

How Many Surveys Can You Take?

While you earn more per survey, you must wait to receive survey invitations. There isn’t a dashboard with multiple open opportunities like most panels.

How many surveys you can receive each month depends on your background and the desired survey population. You may receive as few as one invite each month or as many as one per week.

Don’t expect to receive daily invitations like other platforms.

Typically, only answering a handful of surveys each month means it can take months or years to cash out. Thankfully, you can request payment after each completion. Earning $3 per survey offsets not being able to answer as many at a time. You can work smarter instead of harder.

If you need to make more money from surveys, you will need to continue using other platforms to earn consistent income. Here are some other survey sites to check out.

Product Testing

Manufacturers may also mail you products to test and leave a review. Depending on the study, you may be able to keep the item. In other instances, you may have to send the product back.

These opportunities can be less common than online surveys. You might be able to earn more if these tests require more time than the standard 20-minute survey.

Household Questions

Panelists will periodically answer short household questions. This activity doesn’t earn award points but helps the platform match you with relevant surveys and product tests.

How Does Pinecone Research Pay?

The panel has a $3 redemption minimum making it possible to request payment after each survey you successfully complete. You will receive rewards points for completed activities (300 points=$1)

Here are your payment options.

Bank Deposit

You can transfer your earnings to a linked bank account. The transfer can take between 3-5 business days to complete.

Your first prize redemption may have to be a bank transfer to verify your account. Waiting at least 30 days after joining to redeem your prize lets you request the other prizes from the gift catalog.

PayPal Cash

You can also request cash payments by PayPal. There are no PayPal fees to erode your income.

Prepaid Debit Cards

Another cash-like payment option is a prepaid debit card. You can use the card online or for in-store purchases at merchants accepting Mastercard.

Gift Cards

Another popular option can be retail and restaurant gift cards. It’s possible to earn Amazon gift cards among other favorite brands.

Merchandise

A final redemption option is physical merchandise. Pricier items can require a higher minimum redemption.

Do Pinecone Research Points Expire?

Does swagbucks pay real money. Your Pinecone Research points won’t expire unless your account becomes inactive. You must complete a survey at least once every 12 months to keep your account active.

As there isn’t a redemption minimum, requesting small

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