Get Paid to Read & Send Emails: How to Get Started, Earnings, etc Shown

Thanks to the internet, you can earn money simply by opening emails. Numerous websites provide the chance to make money by reading sponsored messages from companies, which you can do from virtually anywhere. Making money through these sites won’t earn you a living, but it is a simple way to put a little extra money in your pocket with very little work. Members of these sites simply sign up to receive emails and earn a little cash by opening them.

Be aware, however, there is no shortage of scammers in this business. We’ve created this guide to provide you with what you need to know about getting paid to read emails and the various reputable websites that offer this opportunity. And, to help you earn a little bit more, we have even listed the other ways these websites allow you to make money, including taking surveys, watching videos, or even simply running internet searches.

What We Recommend

For a site with the best reputation for steady earnings, transparent practices, and a wide variety of earning options, consider signing up with FusionCash. While compensation amounts vary by the project you’re completing, FusionCash is the only site that gives you the option to request payment via direct deposit, which is the most convenient way to get access to your earnings.

Two other popular sites are Swagbucks and Inbox Dollars. In general, Swagbucks pays more per action and has more ways to earn money, but you will be earning points that you will then need to convert to PayPal or gift cards to cash out. Inbox Dollars, on the other hand, offers payment via check.

Websites That Pay You to Read Emails

Below, we list the most reputable sites that pay you to read emails. Every site is free to join, so you do not need to invest anything before you can start earning. We’ve ordered the list starting with the best overall options in terms of compensation structure, Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, and other earning options.

FusionCash

• Compensation: Payment amounts vary by offer; there is an automatic $5 bonus for a valid registration. FusionCash is known for paying more than most competitor sites.
• Payment methods: PayPal, direct deposit, or check
• Minimum payout threshold: $25 (payments are distributed on or before the 20th of the month after cash-out is requested)
• Restrictions: Account credits expire if not cashed out within 180 days of being credited. At least $15 of each cash-out must come from non-bonus credits.
• Other opportunities to earn: Referrals, surveys, paid videos, paid radio, pay to call, pay to click, tasks, cash-back shopping, and pay to search
• BBB Rating: A+
• How to get started: Register for an account online and confirm your email. Then, log in and click on the “Earn Cash” link at the top of the homepage to choose a way to start earning.
• Find out more or register

Swagbucks

• Compensation: 60 points (or $0.60) for each email (plus a $5 signup bonus)
• Payment methods: PayPal or retail gift cards. Every 100 points earned equals $1 in Swagbucks that can be exchanged for PayPal credit or gift cards. Participating gift card vendors include Amazon, Walmart, and many others.
• Minimum payout threshold: $5
• Restrictions: SwagBucks points expire after two years if not redeemed
• Other opportunities to earn: Surveys, using Swagbucks’ search engine (powered by Google), paid videos, special offers, games, cash-back shopping, and taking a daily poll
• BBB Rating: A+
• How to get started: Register for an account on the Swagbucks homepage and verify your email address. Sign up to receive daily emails; then, just open them and confirm that you read them.
• Find out more or register

Inbox Dollars

• Compensation: $0.01 to $0.03 per email (plus a $5 signup bonus)
• Payment methods: Check
• Minimum payout threshold: $30
• Restrictions: Participants will receive a maximum of two emails per day
• Other opportunities to earn: Surveys, promotional offers, paid internet searches, paid videos, and games
• BBB Rating: A+
• How to get started: Create an account with Inbox Dollars on the homepage and confirm your email. Once you log in, sign up to receive emails. Open these emails and react according to the emails’ instructions.
• Find out more or register

Unique Rewards

• Compensation: $0.01 for confirming an email is read, plus a higher payout when the advertiser’s offer is completed. This additional payout will be between $0.25 and $50, depending on the offer. Members receive $5 for signing up and earn 10% more on any offers completed within the two days following registration.
• Payment methods: PayPal or check
• Minimum payout threshold: $20; payment is issued each Monday
• Restrictions: Participants will receive between one and three emails per day.
• Other opportunities to earn: Referrals, surveys, cash-back shopping, watching videos, and listening to the radio
• BBB Rating: F (but with positive user reviews)
• How to get started: Create an account on Unique Rewards’ homepage and confirm your email. Log in and sign up to receive emails and complete other offers, if desired.
• Find out more or register

UniqPaid

• Compensation: $0.05 to $1.50 or more for taking an action prescribed by the advertiser’s email. Members earn 10% more on offers completed within the first two days following signup.
• Payment methods: PayPal or check
• Minimum payout threshold: None, if payment is made through PayPal. Check payments must exceed $5. Payments are automatically distributed on the 20th of each month.
• Other opportunities to earn: Referrals, surveys, mailing list subscriptions, and website registration
• BBB Rating: Unrated
• How to get started: Create an account on UniqPaid’s website and confirm your email. Log in and go to the Member’s Area page using the menu on the left-hand side; then, sign up for paid emails. Points are added to members’ accounts when tasks are completed. Points automatically convert into money every month. The rate of exchange for points to money changes monthly.
• Find out more or register

InBoxPays

• Compensation: Amount varies by offer; members earn a $5 sign up bonus
• Payment methods: PayPal or check
• Minimum payout threshold: $50 — all payments are made in multiples of $50. For any given payment request, only $25 can be from Cash Mails. Cash Mail credits beyond this amount will roll over and be eligible for future payment requests. Payments are made through PayPal on the first or 15th of every month after the mandatory 30-day waiting period from the day you request payment.
• Restrictions: Cash Mail credits cannot be earned from a mobile device. InBoxPays members can receive up to three emails per day.
• Other opportunities to earn: Referrals, games, surveys, online shopping, and signing up for free trials
• BBB Rating: F (but with positive user reviews)
• How to get started: Register for an account on the InBoxPays homepage and verify your email address. Sign up for Cash Mail Credits. Open emails sent by [email protected] and either click on the image or link provided in the email.
• Find out more or register

Can You Make Money Sending Emails?

Jobs that pay you to send emails — also known as “email processing” jobs — sound like an easy way to make cash. Unfortunately, though, virtually all of them are scams. Typically, users must pay a fee (usually $25 to $150) to create an account. These companies then either ask you to pay more money to access additional services, or the work is nothing like it is described before signup. Many “email processing” jobs are pyramid schemes, meaning that you will have to convince other people to sign up and pay the registration fee in order for you to get paid.

We could not find any trustworthy email processing sites to recommend to you that did not come with poor reviews, suspicious practices, and bad ratings from the BBB. If you decide to go this route, we encourage you to do your research before you put down any money. Be skeptical of any company that requires you to pay upfront before you can start earning, or that promises you outrageous pay.

In Summary

There are several legitimate sites that pay you to simply open emails. Typically, FusionCash offers the best compensation structure, variety of tasks, and user-friendly experience. Furthermore, Swagbucks and Inbox Dollars also have reputations of steady earnings and a variety of ways to earn. If you take advantage of the other opportunities offered by these websites, such as taking surveys or watching video clips, you can easily supplement your income from the convenience of your home. In general, be skeptical of sites that require you to pay to join or that promise unreasonably large payouts — scammers are unfortunately common in this line of work.

Not into reading emails? Check out our article on the most popular ways to make money texting. Don’t feel like texting either? You may want to check out our article on even more ways to make money on the side.