Google Opinion Rewards is a rewards-based program developed by Google. It was initially launched as a survey mobile app for Android and iOS developed by Google. The app allows users to answer surveys and earn rewards. On Android, users earn Google Play credits which can be redeemed by buying paid apps from Google Play. On iOS, users are paid via PayPal. Users in the available countries who are over 18 years old are eligible. Google Opinion Rewards works with Google Surveys, market researchers make the survey through Google Surveys and answers are received through Google Opinion Rewards by app users. This process provides surveyors with a large pool of surveyees quickly. This "fast and easy" surveying process has been criticized due to contention over the validity of results as well as concern over the privacy and security of the app users' data.
History
In April 2014, the app was made available in Australia, Canada and the UK. The first time the app has been available outside the US.
In December 2016, Google made the app available in Switzerland.
In May 2017, Google extended the app's availability to India, Singapore, and Turkey.
In May 2018, Google announced it would incorporate Cross Media Panel, another one of its rewards-based programs, into the Google Opinion Rewards program.
In December 2019, Google made the app available to Taiwan.
In January 2020, Google made the app available to Poland, Chile, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden and United Arab Emirates.
In November 2020, the app was made available in Thailand.
The app is currently available for download in 34 countries.
User interface
The Google Opinion Rewards app is composed of one main page, displaying the balance and available tasks, leading users to the survey and back to the main page once submitted. The drop-down menu navigates users to their Reward history, Google Play account, or Settings.
Each task consists of multiple pages, with the first explaining what the survey is about, followed by a series of multiple-choice questions, and finally one displaying the value of Google Play credits earned.
Functionality
The application provides a surveyor with a large group of people to answer market research questions. Surveyors purchase this service from Google through Google Consumer Surveys, providing researchers the ability to create an online survey with the survey question they want answered and publish it to one of Google's platforms, including Google Opinion Rewards.
When users take a survey using Google Opinion Rewards, their answers are combined with the large pool of other respondents and shared with the market researcher. The respondents' demographics including age, gender and geographic location are inferred based on "anonymous browsing history and IP address" or taken from the demographics questions asked when setting up user account.
App monetization
Users can earn from $0.10 to $1 for each survey. A minimum of $2 must be earned to be eligible to receive rewards. Apple users can cash out the value of their earnings to their PayPal account. Android users can transfer the value of their earnings into Google Play credits to purchase other apps from the Google Play Store. These apps include digital books, TV shows, movies, games, and apps. Credits can also be used to make in-app purchases. If Android users want to exchange Google Play credits to cash, they can do so externally through third party apps that can exchange the Google Play credits to PayPal for a percentage of their earnings.
The rewards must be redeemed within one year from the date received, or else they will expire.
Criticism
Google Opinion Rewards offers benefits to both the surveyor and surveyee. The surveyor benefits from the large pool of surveyees achieved through the financial incentive and the wide demographic available online, in addition to the fast return of results, cost effective price and convenient surveying methodology. The surveyee benefits from the rewards offered in exchange for their time and opinion. However, online surveys have also sparked criticism due to highlighted concerns. The two common concerns regarding Google Opinion Rewards include the privacy and security of surveyee information and the validity of results.