With Google Opinion Rewards I Don’t Have to Buy Games on Google Play
I rarely spend any money from my bank account on Google Play. But I still buy and pay for apps semi-often. How do I do this?
I bought most of the games I own on Google Play by taking surveys with Google Opinion Rewards.
In this post, I will explain what Google Opinion Rewards is. I will also explain how to earn gift card funds using it.
I have been using Google Opinion Rewards since 2014, and I love it!
Disclaimers
Don’t Take Surveys if You Want Privacy!
First, if you value privacy above everything else, stay away!
Google Opinion Rewards works by giving data to Google. If the thought of this makes you uncomfortable, then you will not like this app!
Some people may value their privacy more than dollars to spend on apps. I long ago lost any thoughts of caring about this sort of thing.
Google Opinion Rewards Might Not Be Available in Your Country
If the app is not available in your country, I can’t help. Sorry.
iOS Users Get Paid via PayPal Instead of Google Play Gift Cards
I feel iOS users get a better deal. I like gift cards, but money has more uses.
It is a shame Google won’t give Android users the option. This only fuels the fire of the Google makes better iOS apps than it does for Android sentiment.
How Google Opinion Rewards Works
You answer surveys and respond to questions. There is only one rule that matters. Never lie!
You earn gift cards (or money if you have iOS) after completing most surveys.
The reward you get from surveys varies. The highest reward I ever got from a survey was $1 (USD).
Don’t expect to get Google Play rich using this app. But with enough time, you should earn enough gift funds to buy several apps.
The Kinds of Surveys You Get
Demographic Surveys
First, you will need to answer some demographic surveys. Doing all of them will lead to you getting reward surveys.
Shopping Related Questions
Often I am asked about places I went to and how I paid for things. Sometimes the app asks to see a receipt.
I often say no as I throw all of mine away. As far I can tell there, is no difference in earnings between saying no or yes.
Location Surveys
I frequently get surveys asking if I have been somewhere.
According to Reddit user pmmucsd, Google uses these types of surveys to test and improve location data.
We use many of these location based surveys to improve our maps products.
pmmucsd on Reddit.
Other Surveys
I sometimes get surveys asking me things about Google Search, YouTube, and other Google related products.
Other Useful Google Opinion Rewards Information
There Will Be Trick and Test Questions
Some questions won’t make any sense. Some questions will be repeated multiple times.
As long as you pay attention and answer honestly, you should be fine.
The Google Play Gift Card Rewards Expire After a Year
One of the most annoying things about the Google Opinion Rewards app is that each reward counts as a separate gift card.
Each of these micro gift cards expires after a year of you earning them.
Any accrued rewards expire 1 year from the date of credit.
Google Opinion Rewards Terms of Servicehttps://clients4.google.com/survey/gor/tos
So while you can save gift card funds for a while, you will need to buy something before the funds expire!
I find this to be quite disappointing. You can save Amazon gift cards forever! These gift card funds never expire.
The portion of your Amazon.com Balance made up of Gift Cards issued after October 1, 2005 does not expire and may be applied to your Amazon.com account and applied to eligible purchases despite any stated expiration date.
Amazon Gift Card Terms and Conditions
You can check the next date your oldest Google Play gift card funds expire in two places.
- On the Google Opinion Rewards app on the main screen.
- Go to the payment options in Google Play and see your gift card information
Screenshot of Google Opinion Rewards app Android app. 
Screenshot of the Google Play Android app.
How to Earn the Most Google Play Gift Funds From Google Opinion Rewards
- Take as many surveys as possible.
- Pay attention to the questions and answer honestly.
- Complete your profile.
- Allow location services.
- Take your phone with when you go to stores.
- Use Google apps and programs often.
A screenshot of the Android mobile operating system. This specifically is Android running on my personal LG V20 Android phone. I am using Android Oreo. 
Screenshot of Google Opinion Rewards app Android app.
The Amount of Google Play Gift Cards I Earned With Google Opinion Rewards
Since I have started using the app, I have completed 362 surveys and earned $83.69 (USD) in Google Play gift card funds.
Not a lot of money. But seeing how I often used the funds for in-app purchases in games, I would say it was worth it.
At the time of writing this blog post, I had $7.93 (USD) gift card funds. I am trying to decide what to buy next.
The Things I Buy Play Store Gift Cards
- Games – I have bought a few paid games this way. I plan on buying more for AndroidGamingFox.
- Icon packs – I just think they are neat.
- Apps – I will pay for an app if I feel it is worth it.
- In-app purchases – I often pay to remove ads in apps. I sometimes buy coins, diamonds, gems, crystals, etc.
- I once paid for a month of YouTube Premium.
- I rented a few movies on Play Video.
- I bought an ebook on Play Books once.
Screenshot of the Google Play Android app.
My Favorite Google Play Gift Card Purchases
The most valuable thing I purchased was Nova Launcher Prime. I use this app on every Android device since buying it.
The Materialistik icon pack is a close second. This icon pack is still one of my favorites, and I use it often.
