Swagbucks vs. MyPoints: Which Rewards Site is Right for You?
In today’s digital economy, rewards sites have become a popular way for savvy internet users to earn a little extra cash or gift cards in their spare time. Among the most established players in this space are Swagbucks and MyPoints, two platforms that offer various ways to earn rewards through everyday online activities.
But how do they compare, and which one might be the better fit for your needs? This comprehensive comparison will help you decide between Swagbucks vs. MyPoints based on earning opportunities, reward options, user experience, and more.
Introduction to Rewards Sites
Both Swagbucks and MyPoints operate on a similar premise: they reward users for completing certain online activities. These platforms partner with advertisers and market research companies, sharing a portion of their revenue with users who engage with sponsored content or provide valuable consumer insights.
Swagbucks, launched in 2008, has established itself as one of the most recognized names in the rewards site industry. With over 20 million members worldwide, it offers a diverse range of earning opportunities and a well-developed rewards system.
MyPoints, which has been around even longer (since 1996), is another veteran in the space. Acquired by Prodege LLC (the same parent company that owns Swagbucks) in 2016, MyPoints continues to operate as a separate platform with its unique features and benefits.
While these sites share some similarities, they also differ in significant ways that might make one more suitable for you than the other. Let’s dive deeper into the Swagbucks vs. MyPoints comparison to help you determine which rewards site deserves your time and attention.
Earning Opportunities
Swagbucks Earning Methods
Swagbucks offers a wide variety of ways to earn their virtual currency called “SB”:
- Surveys: Complete market research surveys that typically pay between 40-300 SB depending on length and complexity
- Shopping Cashback: Earn rebates when shopping online through their portal (typically 1-10% of purchase value)
- Searching the Web: Use the Swagbucks search engine (powered by Yahoo) to earn random SB rewards
- Watching Videos: Earn small amounts of SB by watching sponsored content and advertisements
- Playing Games: Earn while playing casual games on the platform
- Special Offers: Complete offers like signing up for services or downloading apps
- Daily Poll: Answer a simple daily question for a small SB reward
- Swag Codes: Enter special promotional codes found on their social media channels
- Referral Program: Earn 10% of whatever your referrals earn for life
MyPoints Earning Methods
MyPoints uses “Points” as its virtual currency and offers these earning opportunities:
- Surveys: Complete market research surveys for Points (typically 50-500 Points per survey)
- Shopping Cashback: Earn rebates through their shopping portal (often 1-25% of the purchase value)
- BonusMail: Open emails from MyPoints partners and earn Points
- Videos: Watch short video content for small Point rewards
- Games: Play games to earn Points
- Deals and Offers: Complete special offers from advertisers
- Print Coupons: Earn Points for printing and redeeming grocery coupons
- Travel Booking: Earn substantial Points when booking travel through their partners
- Referral Program: Earn when friends join and become active
Key Differences in Earning Opportunities
While both platforms offer similar earning methods, there are some notable differences:
Shopping Rewards: MyPoints typically offers higher cashback rates for online shopping compared to Swagbucks, making it potentially more lucrative for frequent shoppers. Some users report cashback rates of up to 25% at certain retailers through MyPoints, while Swagbucks rarely exceeds 10%.
Search Engine: Swagbucks offers points for using their search engine, while MyPoints doesn’t have this feature.
BonusMail: MyPoints has a unique email program where users earn just for opening sponsored emails, a feature not available on Swagbucks.
Survey Availability: Swagbucks generally offers a higher volume of surveys, increasing the chances of qualifying for more opportunities.
Daily Engagement: Swagbucks has more daily activities (like the daily poll, daily goal bonuses, and Swag Codes) that encourage regular engagement.
Reward Options
Swagbucks Rewards
Swagbucks offers a variety of redemption options for your SB points:
- PayPal Cash: Starting at 500 SB for $5
- Visa Gift Cards: Various denominations available
- Gift Cards: Wide selection including Amazon, Walmart, Target, Starbucks, and many more
- Charity Donations: Convert your SB to charitable donations
- Sweepstakes Entries: Use SB to enter prize drawings
The conversion rate is typically 100 SB = $1, though there are occasionally discounted gift cards that offer slightly better value.
MyPoints Rewards
MyPoints offers these redemption options for Points:
- PayPal Cash: Starting at approximately 1,550 Points for $10
- Visa Prepaid Cards: Various denominations are available
- Gift Cards: Large selection including Amazon, Best Buy, iTunes, and many restaurant chains
- Travel Miles: Convert Points to United MileagePlus miles
- Charity Donations: Support various charitable organizations
The conversion rate varies by reward type but generally ranges from 1,550-1,800 Points for $10 (about 155-180 Points = $1).
Key Differences in Rewards
Redemption Thresholds: Swagbucks has a lower minimum cashout threshold ($5 vs. $10 for MyPoints), allowing you to access your earnings sooner.
Conversion Value: Swagbucks generally offers a slightly better point-to-dollar ratio, making each point you earn worth marginally more.
Special Reward Sales: Swagbucks frequently offers discounted gift cards (e.g., a $25 gift card for 2,200 SB instead of 2,500 SB), which can increase the value of your earnings.
Travel Rewards: MyPoints offers the unique option to convert points to airline miles, which might appeal to frequent travelers.
Reward Variety: Both platforms offer dozens of gift card options, but Swagbucks tends to have a slightly larger selection, especially for international users.
User Interface and Experience
Swagbucks Interface
Swagbucks features a colorful, feature-rich interface with:
- A dashboard showing available activities and earnings
- Mobile apps for both iOS and Android
- Browser extension to alert you to shopping opportunities
- Daily goal tracking to encourage consistent engagement
- “To-Do List” feature that recommends daily activities
- Gamification elements like levels and badges
The platform is comprehensive but can feel somewhat cluttered to new users due to the abundance of features and promotional content.
MyPoints Interface
MyPoints offers a cleaner, more straightforward interface with:
- A simpler dashboard layout focusing on key earning categories
- Mobile apps for both major platforms
- Browser extension for shopping alerts
- Scoreboard showing recent point earnings
- Less aggressive promotional content
MyPoints has a more traditional, less gamified approach that some users find easier to navigate, especially for beginners.
User Experience Comparison
| Feature | Swagbucks | MyPoints |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation | Feature-rich but potentially overwhelming | Cleaner and more straightforward |
| Mobile Experience | Fully-featured app | Slightly more limited app functionality |
| Site Speed | Sometimes slower due to heavier features | Generally faster loading times |
| Learning Curve | Steeper due to more features | More beginner-friendly |
| Notifications | More frequent (can be adjusted) | Less intrusive |
Payout Threshold and Processing
Swagbucks Payout Details
- Minimum Threshold: As low as 300 SB ($3) for some gift cards, 500 SB ($5) for PayPal
- Processing Time: Gift cards typically delivered within 10 business days, often within 24 hours
- PayPal Verification: Requires verified PayPal account
- Fees: No redemption fees
- Expiration: SB points do not expire as long as there is account activity every 12 months
MyPoints Payout Details
- Minimum Threshold: 1,550 Points ($10) for most reward options
- Processing Time: Gift cards are typically processed within 5 business days
- PayPal Verification: Requires verified PayPal account matching MyPoints account name
- Fees: No redemption fees
- Expiration: Points expire after 12 months of account inactivity
Key Differences in Payouts
The most significant difference is Swagbucks’ lower minimum payout threshold, allowing users to access rewards sooner. Both sites have relatively quick processing times, though many users report that Swagbucks often delivers rewards even faster than their stated timeframe, sometimes within hours of redemption.
Neither platform charges fees for redemption, which is a positive compared to some other rewards sites that may take a percentage of cashouts.
User Reviews and Ratings
Swagbucks User Sentiment
Swagbucks holds a 4.3/5 rating on Trustpilot based on over 25,000 reviews. Users particularly praise:
- Reliable payments and quick processing
- Variety of earning opportunities
- Responsive customer service
- Regular promotions and bonus opportunities
Common complaints include:
- Survey disqualifications after investing time
- Technical glitches occasionally affect earnings tracking
- Points are sometimes not credited for completed activities
MyPoints User Sentiment
MyPoints has a 4.1/5 rating on Trustpilot from approximately 13,000 reviews. Positive feedback highlights:
- Higher shopping rewards compared to competitors
- Long-standing reputation and reliability
- Simple interface that’s easy to navigate
- BonusMail program’s simplicity
Common complaints include:
- Higher payout thresholds
- Fewer daily earning opportunities
- Occasional delays in processing rewards
- Limited survey qualification rates
User Sentiment Comparison
“I’ve been using Swagbucks for three years now and have earned over $500 in Amazon gift cards. The key is consistency and taking advantage of their special promotions.”
– Swagbucks user review
“MyPoints has the best shopping rewards I’ve found. I do most of my online shopping through their portal and earned enough for a $100 gift card just from my regular Christmas shopping.”
– MyPoints user review
Both platforms are generally well-regarded in the rewards site industry, with Swagbucks having a slight edge in overall user satisfaction according to aggregate ratings.
Pros and Cons
Swagbucks Pros:
- Lower minimum payout threshold
- More daily earning opportunities
- Better for survey takers (higher volume)
- More gamification features to keep users engaged
- Search engine rewards
- Slightly better point-to-dollar conversion rate
Swagbucks Cons:
- An interface can be overwhelming for beginners
- Lower shopping cashback rates compared to MyPoints
- Surveys often have high disqualification rates
- Earning rates for passive activities (like watching videos) have decreased over time
MyPoints Pros:
- Superior shopping cashback rates
- Cleaner, more straightforward interface
- BonusMail program offers easy earnings
- Travel rewards options
- Better for online shoppers
- Longer-established company
MyPoints Cons:
- Higher minimum payout threshold
- Fewer daily earning opportunities
- Less gamification and engagement features
- A smaller selection of surveys
- Slower point accumulation for non-shoppers
Which One is Right for You?
Choose Swagbucks If:
- You want to cash out rewards quickly with the lower minimum threshold
- You enjoy completing multiple small tasks daily to earn rewards
- You take many online surveys and want more opportunities
- Do you prefer a gamified experience with goals and challenges
- You use search engines frequently and could earn from searches
- You’re motivated by setting and achieving daily goals
Choose MyPoints If:
- You do a lot of online shopping and want the best cashback rates
- Do you prefer a cleaner, less cluttered interface
- You want to convert rewards to travel miles
- You don’t mind waiting longer to reach payout thresholds
- You prefer opening emails to earn rather than completing tasks
- You find survey disqualifications particularly frustrating
Best Scenario: Use Both
Many experienced rewards site users maintain accounts on both platforms, strategically leveraging the strengths of each:
- Use MyPoints primarily for online shopping to maximize cashback
- Use Swagbucks for daily engagement, surveys, and search rewards
- Take advantage of special promotions on both platforms
- Redeem from whichever platform reaches the threshold first
Conclusion
In the Swagbucks vs. MyPoints comparison, there’s no universal winner as each platform excels in different areas. Swagbucks offers more diverse daily earning opportunities and lower redemption thresholds, making it ideal for users who want to engage regularly and cash out quickly. MyPoints provides superior shopping rewards and a cleaner interface, appealing to online shoppers and those who prefer simplicity.
Your online habits, shopping patterns, and reward preferences should guide your decision. Consider starting with the platform that aligns better with your primary online activities, whether that’s shopping (MyPoints) or daily engagement with various tasks (Swagbucks).
Remember that both platforms are free to join, so there’s no financial risk in trying both to determine which one works better for your specific situation. Regardless of which you choose, consistently using these rewards sites can provide a meaningful supplement to your gift card and cash needs over time.
Ready to start earning rewards for your online activities? Sign up for Swagbucks or join MyPoints today and begin turning your everyday internet usage into valuable rewards!
Looking for more ways to earn gift cards? Check out our comprehensive guide to Legitimate Ways to Earn a PlayStation Gift Card Free and our Beginner’s Guide to Survey Sites for more money-earning opportunities online.
