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Do you find yourself spending hours scrolling through videos online? What if you could turn that hobby into a way to earn money by watching videos? It's a real possibility. Specific websites and apps will actually pay you for the time you spend watching their content.
Before we dive in, it's important to set realistic expectations. This is a simple and fun way to earn money by watching videos—enough for a Netflix subscription or a meal out. It is not a replacement for a full-time job.
This guide will walk you through exactly how it works, explore the best platforms available in 2026, and provide practical tips to help you maximize your earnings. Let’s get started.
The business model behind getting paid to watch videos is straightforward. Companies and content creators have specific goals, and your attention is a valuable resource for achieving them.
Companies pay to understand how users interact with their ads and video content. By paying people to watch, they gather crucial data on what keeps viewers interested, what makes them click, and how to hold their attention. This information helps them learn about user preferences and improve their marketing strategies.
For YouTube creators, monetization is a key goal. To start earning from ads, they must reach specific thresholds for both total view time and the number of subscribers on their channel. YouTube's system is designed to verify that these views come from real people, not bots. This makes authentic viewers like you essential for helping creators grow their channels and increase their ad revenue.
Getting started is simple and doesn't require any special skills. Follow these steps to begin earning money.
Before you sign up, make sure you meet the basic criteria required by most platforms:
It's also important to stay informed about any platform policy updates for 2026.
Your first step is to create an account on websites that pay for watching videos. The good news is that most of these platforms are free to join, and the sign-up process is usually quick and easy.
Once your account is set up, you can browse the list of available videos. The content varies widely and can include ads, movie trailers, product reviews, or short films. To earn your reward, you typically need to watch each video from start to finish.
Platforms use two primary models to compensate you for your time. Most use a point-based system where you earn points for each video you watch. These points can then be exchanged for rewards. Other sites pay you directly in cash for each completed task.
When you've accumulated enough points or cash to meet the platform's minimum threshold, you can cash out. Common payout methods include:
Here are some of the most popular and reliable platforms that pay users to watch videos.
Swagbucks is a well-known rewards site where you can earn points, called "SB," for completing simple online tasks. In addition to watching videos like movie trailers and news, you can earn by taking surveys, shopping online, playing games, and searching the web. You can redeem your SB for PayPal cash or gift cards. New users receive a $10 sign-up bonus.
Founded in 2000, InboxDollars pays you to watch up to 30 videos daily on topics like news, food, and entertainment. Most videos pay between 5 and 25 cents, though some can pay up to $25, but this is rare. You can also earn by reading emails, taking surveys, and playing games. Payouts are sent every Wednesday via PayPal or gift cards, but you must earn a minimum of $30 before you can cash out.
Operated by the same company as Swagbucks, MyPoints has been around since 1996. You can earn points by watching videos, taking surveys, shopping online, and playing games. These points are redeemable for PayPal cash or gift cards to major retailers. While watching videos may earn points more slowly than other tasks, MyPoints is a flexible and reliable option with a good referral program.
Nielsen, a well-known market research company with over 90 years of experience, pays you simply for using the internet as you normally would. After installing its app on your computer or phone, it runs quietly in the background, monitoring your online activity, including the videos you watch. You earn points for sharing this data, which can be exchanged for gift cards or contest entries.
PrizeRebel is a popular platform where you can earn money by watching videos, taking surveys, trying offers, and referring friends. You can earn up to 10 cents per video. The platform is known for its fast payouts, with most rewards processed within 24 hours. You can redeem your points for PayPal cash or a wide selection of gift cards.
QuickRewards has been operating since 2002 and has paid out over $7 million to its users. You can earn points by watching videos, taking surveys, and shopping. The platform is notable for its fast payments (often within a day) and an exceptionally low payout threshold of just one cent, making it easy to access your earnings quickly.
Earnably is an app that pays you to watch videos, complete surveys, and check out special offers. Its key feature is a low payout threshold of just $1, which is less than many competitors. You can receive your earnings through PayPal, gift cards, or codes for digital wallets.
InstaGC, short for Instant Gift Cards, pays you $0.01 for every 20 videos you watch, with a daily limit of 100 videos. You can use multiple devices at once to increase efficiency. To join, you must be 18 or older (or 13 with a parent's permission), and you can sign up using your PayPal, Facebook, Google, or Twitter account. While you can redeem points for gift cards starting at 100 points, you must first redeem $50 in other rewards before you can cash out via PayPal.
FusionCash has been in operation for over 10 years and has paid its users over $3 million. You typically earn one or two cents for each video you watch. The platform offers a $5 bonus just for signing up, and you can also earn $8 for every friend you invite to join.
Vindale Research is a market research site that pays you for your opinions. In addition to its primary focus on surveys, you can earn money by watching videos. Video opportunities are listed under the "Videos" tab on your Survey Page. New members receive a $1 bonus upon signing up.
This side hustle offers several compelling advantages, especially for those looking for a low-commitment way to earn.
You have complete freedom to choose when and how often you work. There are no strict schedules, and the amount you earn is directly proportional to the time you decide to invest.
This type of work fits easily into almost any daily routine. Because you can do it anytime you have a device and an internet connection, it's a perfect option for people with full-time jobs, students, or anyone with a busy schedule.
Many people already spend their free time watching videos for entertainment. This opportunity turns a common leisure activity into a simple way to make extra cash.
There is no barrier to entry. You don't need any special experience, training, or skills to get started. Anyone can sign up and begin earning right away, and some platforms even offer sign-up bonuses to new members.
While earnings are modest, a few simple strategies can help you boost your results and make the most of your time.
Turn spare moments into earning opportunities. Use the time you spend commuting on a bus or train, waiting in line, or taking a break to watch a few videos. This allows you to earn extra cash without setting aside dedicated time.
Most of these sites are comprehensive rewards platforms. To increase your income, take advantage of the other earning opportunities they offer, such as taking surveys, completing product offers, or using cashback shopping portals.
Almost every platform has a referral program. By sharing your unique referral link with friends, you can earn a percentage of their earnings as a bonus. This is an easy and passive way to increase your income without any additional work.
To truly maximize your income potential, it's essential to use multiple platforms. However, managing this can be tricky. This is where a tool like DICloak comes in.
The core strategy for increasing your earnings is to sign up for several different platforms. This provides you with more video-watching opportunities at any given time and significantly increases your overall income potential.
DICloak is an antidetect browser designed to help you manage multiple accounts securely from a single device. It works by customizing your browser fingerprint (like your operating system, screen resolution, and fonts) and using proxy networks to simulate different locations. This gives each of your accounts a unique and authentic browser profile, which helps prevent them from being flagged or blocked when you're watching videos across different platforms.
DICloak includes a powerful automation tool, known as an RPA (Robotic Process Automation) feature, that can browse YouTube videos for you automatically. By selecting the accounts you want to use and activating the function, you can have the tool watch videos on multiple accounts at the same time. You can even schedule these tasks to run at specific times, making the entire process streamlined and highly efficient.
Watching videos for money is a legitimate and simple side hustle that almost anyone can do. It won't replace a full-time job or make you rich, but it is a fun, low-effort way to earn money by watching videos in your spare time.
By managing your expectations and using smart strategies—like signing up for multiple platforms and leveraging tools like DICloak to manage them safely and efficiently—you can make the most of this opportunity to earn money by watching videos.
Most of the well-known platforms, such as Swagbucks and InboxDollars, are trustworthy and have been paying users for years. However, it's always wise to be cautious. Avoid any site that asks you to pay a fee to join, and be wary of sharing sensitive personal information. Always read user reviews before signing up for a new platform to earn money by watching videos.
This is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Realistically, you can earn money by watching videos enough for small expenses, like a Netflix subscription or a meal out. Earnings per video are often just a few cents, so your total income depends on how much time you dedicate to earn money by watching videos.
Most platforms offer several convenient payout options. You can typically choose from:
No special skills are needed. All you require is a personal computer, laptop, or smartphone with a stable internet connection to earn money by watching videos.
Yes, and you should! Signing up for multiple platforms is the best strategy to maximize your earnings. A tool like DICloak is highly recommended to help you manage these different accounts safely and efficiently from a single device while you earn money by watching videos.
