Completing paid online surveys is an easy way to pick up some extra cash, but many of the best-paying survey sites are only available in certain countries, and they won’t let you participate if you live elsewhere.
There’s an easy way to get onto a location-restricted survey site from anywhere in the world, though! All you need is a high-quality virtual private network (VPN) which sets up your virtual location in another country and tricks the online survey site into thinking it is your actual location so you won’t get blocked!
Figuring out which VPN technology is the best for your needs can be an overwhelming task, given how many options there are on the market.
Here are some guidelines and recommendations to get you started!
In a hurry? Here are best VPNs for survey sites
Why you need a VPN for survey websites
There are a couple of reasons you need to find the best VPN for survey sites. The first is that many of the online surveys are only available in certain countries, and the website for the survey site will block participants from other locations.
A quality VPN service can link you to a server in a country where the survey is available while hiding your real IP address so you can participate.
In addition, online survey sites are a common target for cyber criminals since private information and money are involved. A good VPN for survey sites uses high-level encryption and other security features to protect you from any threats from online trackers.
How to choose the best VPN for survey sites
Not all VPNs work well for survey sites, and with so many on the market how do you know which one to choose? Here’s a list of the most important things to consider when selecting your VPN for survey sites.
- Server Network: In order to access a geo-restricted survey, the VPN needs to have a server in the country of that survey site, so you want a VPN with lots of servers located all over the world to keep your options open.
- Unblocking capability: Make sure your VPN has a good track record for unblocking geo-restricted websites. If the VPN can’t make your virtual location look like it is your real one, you won’t be able to unblock survey sites.
- Security: Survey companies often ask for private information, and you want to be sure that information can’t get into the hands of hackers, especially if you are using public Wi-Fi where your data is most vulnerable. Features to look for are high-end encryption, DNS and IP leak protection, and a Kill Switch to protect you from data leaks if your VPN connection drops.
- Privacy: Not only do you want your information to be secure from prying eyes, but you also want to ensure it stays private. VPN companies that maintain a strict no-logs policy won’t have any data to hand over to third parties so your privacy is guaranteed. The most private VPN companies are based in countries outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, an agreement among select governments that allows for online surveillance and data sharing for security purposes.
- Speed: A slow connection speed leads to frustrating lags, interruptions, and poor connectivity, which gets in the way of your earnings.
- Device compatibility: Make sure the VPN is compatible with all the home devices you use to complete online surveys.
- Customer support: While VPNs are typically easy to use, as with any technology you may need some help getting it up and running smoothly, and if you have to wait too long for help, that’s lost income, so sign up for a VPN that comes with 24/7 live-chat support.
- Trial period: The best value with any VPN service comes with a longer 1-2 year contract, and you can take advantage of the savings with peace of mind as long as it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Best VPNs for survey sites
Based on our tests, here are the most dependable VPNs for accessing survey sites:
1. ExpressVPN
When you use the premium VPN ExpressVPN, you’ll have no problem unblocking paid survey websites all over the world. With over 3,000 servers in more than 94 countries, you’ll have plenty of server options from which to choose.
If you’re completing online surveys for money, you want to make sure your personal and financial information is secure. That’s where a VPN comes in handy, and ExpressVPN is at the top of the list of the best VPN for survey sites.
ExpressVPN offers military-grade encryption, IP and DNS leak protection, and an automatic Kill Switch to ensure your real IP address isn’t revealed if your VPN connection drops and the Perfect Forward Secrecy feature changes your encryption key every time you log onto the VPN app.
ExpressVPN has a strict no-logs policy and is based in the British Virgin Islands, outside the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance.
ExpressVPN is also incredibly fast, especially when using its ultra-fast Lightway protocol.
The split tunneling feature lets you choose what internet traffic you want to route through your VPN tunnel so you can use your VPN for survey sites while using your ISP for other tasks. You should have no problem using ExpressVPN on all of your home and mobile devices so you can access online survey sites no matter where you are. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Nvidia Shield, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, routers, and more and you can connect simultaneously up to five of them!
If you’re not sure if ExpressVPN is right for you, it offers a 30-day trial period with a full refund if you’re not satisfied. Plus, its 24/7 live-chat support is always available to help you.
- Excellent security and privacy protection
- Fast speeds
- Large server network
- Compatible with most devices
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 live-chat support
- Higher cost
- Limited to 5 simultaneous connections
2. NordVPN
NordVPN is a premium VPN provider with reliable, secure, and private VPN service and great features that place it as one of the top choices on the list of the best VPN for survey sites.
With military-grade encryption, leak protection, and an automatic Kill Switch that protects you even if your VPN connection drops, NordVPN provides the best security features. Bonus features include a built-in ad-blocker, malware protection, double VPN, Perfect Forward Secrecy, obfuscated servers, and Onion over Tor.
Since NordVPN is located in Panama, which is not part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, and maintains a strict no-logs policy, it is an excellent option for privacy-conscious individuals.
The speed on NordVPN is exceptional, which is great for quickly filling out surveys or watching movies on your favorite streaming services without interruption, especially when using its faster NordLynx protocol.
With over 5,400 VPN servers in more than 60 countries, including multiple servers throughout Europe and North America, accessing survey sites around the world is a breeze. You can even purchase your own dedicated IP address, that way you have the same server every time you log in, making it harder to detect your VPN use.
NordVPN also offers split tunneling on mobile devices, which means you can select which apps should go through the VPN tunnel and which should remain on your local ISP so you can unblock survey sites through your VPN tunnel and connect to your computer or home printer without it.
You can connect up to 6 devices simultaneously with NordVPN and it is compatible with most major operating systems, including Android, Windows, iOS, Firefox, Chrome, and routers.
The NordVPN service includes 24/7 live-chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you peace of mind when you subscribe.
- First-rate security and privacy features
- Excellent speed
- Large server network
- Compatible with most devices
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 live-chat support
- Narrower scope of server countries
3. Surfshark
Are you in search of a reliable, affordable VPN for survey sites? Surfshark might be the answer for which you’re looking.
This VPN service is budget-friendly and allows unlimited device connections simultaneously, making it an ideal option for large families.
You can use the Surfshark VPN services on all your home devices including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome, Linux, Firefox, Fire TV, Apple TV, and more!
Despite its low cost, Surfshark doesn’t compromise your online security and privacy. It uses the best encryption software, has a Kill Switch, and offers DNS and IP leak protection. It also has such extra features as double VPN, camouflage mode, malware protection, and an ad blocker.
Surfshark operates a strict no-logs policy and is based in the British Virgin Islands, where there are no data retention laws and it’s not part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance.
When it comes to unblocking survey sites, you can count on Surfshark’s excellent geo-spoofing capabilities. You can also easily unblock survey sites and all of your favorite streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.
Surfshark has an extensive network of 3,200+ servers in 95+ countries, ensuring access to survey sites and geo-restricted content worldwide.
Although Surfshark may not be the fastest VPN on the market, it offers decent speed and unlimited bandwidth, so you can conduct surveys and stream content without any interruptions. In order to maximize your connection speeds, use the Wireguard protocol.
Each Surfshark subscription comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
Additionally, it offers 24/7 live-chat support, making it easy to get help if you encounter any issues.
- First-rate security and privacy features
- Large server network
- Compatible with most devices
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Low cost
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 live-chat support
- Slower speeds
4. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is an easy-to-use, reasonably priced, and reliable VPN for unblocking survey sites. With its user-friendly interface, even those new to VPNs can quickly install and perform the setup, and if you ever need assistance, the 24/7 live-chat support is ready to help you.
With more than 9,500 servers in over 90 countries, CyberGhost offers the largest server network on this list, providing multiple options for connecting to an IP address in the country you need.
CyberGhost has all the necessary security and privacy features, such as military-grade 256-bit encryption, DNS and IP leak protection, and a Kill Switch.
This VPN provider is located in Romania, which is not part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, so you don’t have to worry about government agencies’ surveillance of your private affairs. Additionally, the company maintains zero logs.
Additionally, CyberGhost has some great bonus features, such as split tunneling and the option to purchase a dedicated IP address.
When it comes to speed, CyberGhost is fast enough for filling out paid surveys and smooth streaming on your favorite streaming sites. Plus, it has no problem unblocking most geo-restricted websites.
The VPN works with mobile and desktop devices, including Android, iOS, Mac OS, Smart TV, gaming consoles, Chrome, Firefox, Kodi, Linux, Raspberry Pi, and more, and you can connect up to 7 devices simultaneously.
With CyberGhost, you have a full 45 days to try it and see if it’s the VPN for you; and if you’re not satisfied, just cancel your subscription for a full refund.
With its 24/7 live-chat support, you’ll have all the help you need to learn how to set up and use your VPN. So why not give CyberGhost a try for your survey site needs?
- First-rate security and privacy features
- Reliable geo-spoofing
- Split tunneling
- Largest server network
- Up to 7 simultaneous devices
- 24/7 live-chat support
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- Can’t bypass the Great Firewall of China
- Slower than the premium VPNs for survey sites.
5. Atlas VPN
This VPN is a newcomer to the market but it’s quickly rising in popularity, thanks to its low cost, great features, and reliable connections.
While Atlas has far fewer servers than the competition, with only 1,000 servers in 42 countries, it has IP addresses well distributed through North America and Europe, making it a great option as a survey-site VPN.
One of the best things about Atlas is that it’s incredibly affordable and allows for unlimited device connections at the same time, so it’s perfect for large families. It works well with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, and Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV.
Despite the low cost, Atlas offers robust security features, including military-grade 256-bit encryption, a Kill Switch, DNS and IP leak protection, SafeBrowse mode, Multi-hop mode, a data breach monitor, and split tunneling. It also offers a SafeSwap mode that will bypass VPN blocks.
One downside is that Atlas is based in the US, which is part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. and it does keep some minimal logs, but this is largely offset by the many security features to help protect your online privacy.
When it comes to speed, Atlas is fast enough for most online activities, including using your favorite survey sites and streaming platforms. It’s not as fast as the premium VPNs, but it gets the job done.
Atlas reliably bypasses geo-blocks so you should have no problem unblocking survey sites, as well as popular streaming services, like Netflix and Hulu.
Premium plan subscribers have access to 24/7 live-chat support, while everyone else can submit questions via email, with a response time of about a day.
If you’re hesitant about trying Atlas, don’t worry — you can try it risk-free for the first 30 days and get a full refund if you’re not satisfied with the service.
- Reliable geo-spoofing
- Very Low cost
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- 24/7 live-chat support (premium subscribers only)
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Slower speeds.
- Few servers
- Maintains some logs
- Based in USA
Can I use a free VPN for survey sites?
The answer is yes you can, but instead of using a free VPN, you are better off subscribing to an affordable VPN for a few reasons.
Even the best free VPN typically isn’t as secure or private as a paid subscription. Many make a profit by selling your browser history to the highest bidder, putting you at risk for hackers, malware, and phishing attempts.
Similarly, even on the best free VPN, the connection speeds tend to be slower since the VPNs invest less in infrastructure, and interruptions from pop-up ads aren’t unusual, interfering with your ability to quickly complete an online survey.
A free VPN will usually have servers in fewer locations and less reliable geo-spoofing capabilities, so you may not be able to unblock survey sites as easily.
If you decide to go with a no-cost VPN, make sure it’s the best free VPN to ensure your connection is secure and reliable.
How to use a VPN service with survey sites
All you need to do to complete paid online surveys in countries all over the world without leaving your home is to follow these steps!
- Select a high-quality VPN. Any of the ones listed in this article will work.
- Purchase a subscription and download the app onto your device.
- Use the VPN to connect to the country where the survey is being offered.
- Take the survey and start earning some extra cash!
What is the most reliable survey website?
With so many paid survey sites and scams out there, how do you know which ones you can trust?
You need to do a bit of research before you sign on, but to get you started, here are some survey sites that are known to be reliable.
The most reputable of the survey sites is Survey Monkey. It has a lot of survey options from basic polls to market research surveys, and they have safeguards to protect your data and privacy.
When you complete a survey you can be paid via PayPal or gift cards, and you can earn points for completing surveys that can be redeemed for gift cards or discounts.
No reason you can’t complete multiple surveys on different survey sites! Additional reputable paid survey sites with survey panels worldwide include Branded Surveys, Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, Newvistalive, Toluna, i-Say, OnePoll, Opinion Outpost, Triaba Panel, and InboxDollars.
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FAQs
Absolutely! In fact, it’s the best way to protect your privacy while you earn your rewards!
Plus, unless you live in one of the 11 counties where Swagbucks operates, you’ll need to connect to a VPN server in one of those countries before you log onto Swagbucks in order to unblock the site.
Swagbucks is available in the US, Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada, Spain, Portugal, and the UK.
Yes! In fact, depending on where you live, you will actually need to use a VPN to complete many of the geo-restricted Branded Surveys websites as you may not be in a location where the survey is being offered.
It’s also the best way to protect your privacy and security while completing online surveys.
Every VPN for survey sites in this article will work for unblocking survey sites, and is a great option, you just need to choose the one that best meets your personal needs and budget.
Not only can you, you should!
Not only will a VPN for survey sites provide online security through encryption and other security features, but it also opens up opportunities to participate and earn money on geo-restricted survey sites all over the world!
Conclusion
Filling out paid surveys is an easy way to bring in some extra income, but many of the premium survey sites are only available in certain countries; but don’t worry!
A high-quality VPN is great for unblocking survey sites, just choose one of the best VPNs for survey sites from this article and get started earning cash on survey sites all over the world!
