I checked out Rakuten Insight to see if its paid surveys are worth your time. It is legit and has a low PayPal threshold, but you only earn when it sends you a survey invite. Below is what I found, and which survey sites I recommend instead.
Tested by Mikael (EarnWithMike)Founder and lead testerMikael founded PaidFromSurveys in 2016 and has personally tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites since then. He shows his tests and payment proof to 555K+ subscribers on his YouTube channel, EarnWithMike. He checked out Rakuten Insight himself and does not earn a commission from it.Learn more about Mikael
Last retested · First published
Legit survey site, but few ways to earn
Surveys by invite in 15 countries, paid in Epoints. PayPal from $5 in the US. Without survey invites, you earn nothing.
On this page
The short answer
Rakuten Insight is legit. It is the survey site of Rakuten, a Japanese e-commerce company based in Tokyo, and you can earn as a member. It has a low payout threshold and pays through PayPal in most countries.
But the earning opportunities are limited. If there are no surveys available, you cannot earn anything, unless you invite people, and the referral program is not available in every country. It can be a decent secondary site, but don’t expect to earn a lot from it.
- Low payout threshold
- Offers payment via PayPal
- Their site is mobile-friendly
- App for Android and iOS
- A reputable company behind it
- Limited earning opportunities
- Completing your profile takes a bit of time, and you won’t get paid for it
- Only available in 15 countries
- The referral program pays for 10 people a month at most, and not in every country
My experience with Rakuten Insight
I checked out Rakuten Insight: the sign-up, the profile, the survey system, the payout options, the mobile site and the support. I made a short video that gives you an inside look. This is what I looked at, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- January 2021Review first published Jan 22, 2021
- Latest retest
- Checked: surveys, payouts, support
- Profile
- Seven sectionsSet aside up to an hour, unpaid
- Minimum cashout
- $5 to PayPal in the USVaries by country
- Signing up and completing my profile
- The survey system and the survey invites
- The payout options for the US
- The website on a mobile phone
- The FAQ and the chatbot
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from Rakuten Insight.
- The referral program.
An inside look at Rakuten Insight
In the short video below, I give you an inside look and show exactly how you can earn from Rakuten Insight. My review does not show a payout.
Screenshots from my test
Rakuten Insight at a glance
| What it is | Survey site owned by Rakuten, a Japanese e-commerce company based in Tokyo. Formerly AIP Online Surveys. |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free |
| Minimum age | 16 |
| Ways to earn | Paid surveys by invite, and a referral program in some countries |
| Currency | Epoints. The conversion rate depends on your country and is shown when you redeem. |
| Minimum cashout | $5 to PayPal in the US. Varies by country. |
| Payout methods | Depend on your country. In the US: PayPal or Amazon gift cards. In most countries: PayPal and local gift cards. |
| Apps | Android and iOS. The website is mobile-friendly. |
| Where you can join | 15 countries, each with a panel in the local language |
| Support | FAQ page, and a chatbot that can send your question to the support team |
Is Rakuten Insight legit and safe?
Yes, Rakuten Insight is legit. It has a reputable company behind it and has proven itself for many years. But that does not mean it is worth your time. Here is what you should know.
- No surveys, no earnings
You earn when Rakuten Insight sends you a survey invite. If there are no surveys available, you cannot earn anything, unless you invite people to join.
- An unpaid profile first
You only receive survey invites after you complete your profile. It has seven sections, so set aside up to an hour. You are not paid for it.
- A limited referral program
The referral program is not available in every country. In most countries, you must take at least one survey a month to use it, and you are usually paid for 10 referrals a month at most.
- Account and login problems
In 2022, readers reported a closed account for a member agreement violation, and a login that would not connect after changes to the site. If this happens to you, contact Rakuten Insight support.
- 15 countries only
Rakuten Insight has panels in 15 countries, mostly in Asia, plus the US, France and the UK. Elsewhere, you cannot join.
My takeIn my opinion, Rakuten Insight can be a decent secondary site to earn from. It offers a fairly simple way of earning rewards, a low payout threshold and a convenient payment method. You do not have to spend a lot of time on it: just log in when there are surveys you can answer. But don’t expect to earn a lot, because its earning opportunities are fairly limited.
Rakuten Insight only pays when it has a survey for you. The top survey and GPT sites in your country give you more ways to earn.
See the best sites in your countryHow you earn on Rakuten Insight
There are 2 ways to earn. Paid surveys are the main one. Tap one to read more.
Paid surveysMain earner
Once you are a member of the panel, you receive invites to answer surveys from time to time. First complete your profile, or you will not receive invites. It has seven sections and takes up to an hour. You are not paid for it, but do not skip it.
Each survey starts with qualifying questions. If you qualify, you answer the actual survey and earn the promised reward. If not, move on to the next survey. Most surveys have a maximum number of respondents, so answer as soon as you get the invite.
Referral programVaries by country
Invite people with your invite link. When they sign up, they become your referral. Whether the referral program is available, and what it pays, depends on your country.
In most countries, you must take at least one survey a month to use it. You are usually paid for 10 referrals a month at most, which is a strangely low limit, in my opinion.
How much can you make?
In my opinion, the earning potential of Rakuten Insight is right in the middle. It is not that bad, but it is not that good either. They pay a decent amount for their surveys.
The problem, based on what I observed in my test, is that if there are no surveys available, you really cannot earn any Epoints unless you invite people. And the referral program is not available in all countries. So don’t expect to earn a lot from this site.
How you get paid
| Method | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | The US and most other countries | From $5 in the US. The threshold can vary by country. |
| Amazon gift cards | US | Redeemed from your Epoints |
| Local gift cards | Most countries | Different gift cards per country |
Every survey you complete earns you Epoints. You convert them to a reward to withdraw your earnings. The conversion rate depends on your country, and you see it when you redeem. Rakuten Insight used to offer Venmo in the US, but it removed that option.
Overall, the payment system is straightforward, and the low threshold means you do not have to wait long to withdraw. For more sites like this, see the fastest paying sites.
Who can join Rakuten Insight?
Rakuten Insight has a panel in the local language in 15 countries: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, the USA, France and the United Kingdom. You must be at least 16 years old.
To join, fill out the registration form and click the confirmation link in your email. Then complete your basic profile to start receiving surveys.
Rakuten also runs a cashback platform, which is a different service. See my Rakuten review.
What 4 readers told me
This review has 4 comments since 2022: 2 from readers and 2 replies from me. These are the two things readers wrote about.
A reader’s account was closed for a member agreement violation they could not find. Contact support if this happens to you.
A long-time member could not log in after changes to the site. Contact support if this happens to you.
“They’re claiming that I violated a member agreement, and closed my account. And I just took about six surveys last week.”
Mikael: You need to contact their support about this.
“I have been a member for years but since changes rakuten insight I cannot even log on .”
Mikael: You should contact their support about this.
Rakuten Insight alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | High pay per survey and fast payouts, in more than 70 countries | $5 or $10 for PayPal, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| YouGov | Regular surveys, with an email for every new survey | Varies by country | 4.3 / 5 |
| Swagbucks | Many daily ways to earn, one of the biggest GPT sites | About $5 PayPal | 4.3 / 5 |
| Toluna | Surveys in the local language, in more than 60 countries | About $7 to $10 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Freecash | Games and offers that pay well, best in Tier 1 countries | $5 for PayPal, gift cards and crypto | 4.2 / 5 |
Want to earn on a consistent basis? See the top survey and GPT sites in your country. You will find a site you can join wherever you live.
How I scored Rakuten Insight
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
Rakuten Insight scores 48 out of 100. If you want to earn on a consistent basis, see these sites first.
See the best sites in your countryRakuten Insight FAQ
Is Rakuten Insight a scam?
No. Rakuten Insight is a legit survey site owned by Rakuten, and you can earn as a member. But its earning opportunities are limited.
What is the minimum payout?
$5 to PayPal in the US. The threshold can vary by country.
How does Rakuten Insight pay?
In Epoints, which you convert to a reward. In the US, you can choose PayPal or Amazon gift cards. In most countries, PayPal and local gift cards. Venmo is no longer offered.
Who can join Rakuten Insight?
People 16 or older in its 15 countries: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, the USA, France and the United Kingdom.
Is there a Rakuten Insight app?
Yes, for Android and iOS. If it is not available in your country, the website is mobile-friendly.
Was Rakuten Insight called something else?
Yes. It used to be called AIP Online Surveys, and was rebranded when Rakuten bought the company.
How do I contact Rakuten Insight support?
Check the FAQ page first. Otherwise, ask the Rakuten Insight chatbot. If it cannot answer your question, use its option to send your question to the support team.
Who tested Rakuten Insight for this review
Founder of PaidFromSurveys.com since 2016. Mikael has tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites and shares his tests with 555K+ subscribers on YouTube (October 2026).
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Rakuten Insight, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
They’re claiming that I violated a member agreement, and closed my account. And I just took about six surveys last week. I think they confused me with someone else, because I couldn’t find anything that I violated.
You need to contact their support about this.
absolutely disappointed. I have been a member for years but since changes rakuten insight I cannot even log on . The symbol for logging just keeps going round and round without connecting.
You should contact their support about this.