I tested Unlock Surveys, the survey panel that used to be called Springboard America, to see if it is worth your time. It is legit, but it sends few surveys and has a high $25 threshold. Below is what I found, and which 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 tested Unlock Surveys himself and does not earn a commission from it.Learn more about Mikael
Legit, but few surveys and a high $25 threshold
The former Springboard America. US only, around 1 to 4 survey invites a month, and not everyone is accepted.
On this page
The short answer
Unlock Surveys is legit. It really does let you earn by answering surveys. It used to be called Springboard America, and it is still owned and operated by the same company, Maru.
But it is no different from its predecessor: it offers very limited earning opportunities. You get around 1 to 4 survey invites a month, most surveys pay $0.50 to $2, and you need 2,500 points ($25) before you can redeem anything. If you want to earn extra cash, you are better off joining sites with better earning potential.
- Offers a simple way to earn
- Offers a convenient payment method: PayPal
- Sweepstakes entries when you do not qualify for a survey
- Mobile-friendly website
- Limited earning opportunities
- High payout threshold of $25
- Doesn’t accept every person who tries to sign up as a member
- Only available in the US
- No mobile app
My experience with Unlock Surveys
I signed up and checked out the surveys, the member dashboard, the rewards and the support options. This is what I looked at, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- April 2024Review first published Apr 19, 2024
- Latest retest
- Checked: surveys, rewards, support
- Survey invites
- Around 1 to 4 a monthQuite a low number
- Pay per survey
- Around $0.50 to $2Some surveys pay more, but they are few
- The five-step registration
- The surveys, the qualifying questions and the member dashboard
- The rewards page with PayPal, gift cards and charity
- The website on a mobile phone
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from Unlock Surveys.
- The referral program. I was not chosen for a referral campaign while I was testing.
Unlock Surveys at a glance
| What it is | Survey site, formerly called Springboard America |
|---|---|
| Company | Maru, the same company that ran Springboard America |
| Ways to earn | Paid surveys, sweepstakes, and a referral program for invited members only |
| Survey invites | Around 1 to 4 a month, by email and in the member dashboard |
| Pay per survey | Mostly around $0.50 to $2 |
| If you do not qualify | You get entries to the sweepstakes |
| Minimum cashout | 2,500 points ($25) |
| Payout methods | PayPal, gift cards (Amazon, Target, Google Play, Starbucks and more), or a donation to charity |
| App | No app. The website is mobile-friendly. |
| Who can join | Only people who live in the US. Not everyone who signs up is accepted. |
| Support | FAQ page, and email: [email protected] |
Is Unlock Surveys legit and safe?
Yes, Unlock Surveys is legit, because it really does let you earn by answering surveys. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it is worth your time. Here is what you should know before you sign up.
- Very few surveys
On average, you are invited to surveys around 1 to 4 times a month. That is quite a low number. Some surveys are only in the member dashboard, so log in from time to time to check.
- A high $25 threshold
You need 2,500 points ($25) to redeem a reward. With most surveys paying $0.50 to $2, it takes a lot of time to get there.
- You may not be accepted
Even if you complete the five-step registration, you may not be accepted. Unlock only accepts people who fit the demographic it is looking for, and the site does not say what those categories are.
- A reader waited for a payout
In June 2026, one reader wrote that he had been waiting almost 10 days to redeem. After he could redeem, the site said the payment could take 2 to 4 days. He later confirmed that the reward arrived in his PayPal.
- Little information about earning
The FAQ covers the basics, but it is not as comprehensive as you might hope. There is not much information about the sweepstakes or the referral program on the website.
My takeIn my opinion, Unlock is no different from its predecessor, Springboard America. It still doesn’t offer good earning potential because of the limited earning opportunities. The only value it offers, in my opinion, is that you get to share your opinion about relevant topics. If you are looking to earn extra cash, you are better off joining sites with better earning potential.
Unlock Surveys sends few surveys and pays out from $25. These sites have better earning potential where you live.
See the best alternativesHow you earn on Unlock Surveys
There are 3 ways to earn. Surveys are the only one you can count on. Tap one to read more.
Paid surveysAround $0.50 to $2
You are invited to surveys by email, and you can also log in to the member dashboard to see the surveys available to you. Some surveys are only in the dashboard, so log in from time to time. Each survey tells you the reward in points before you start.
First you answer a set of qualifying questions. If you fit the group the survey is meant for, you get to answer it and earn the points. If you do not qualify, you get entries to the sweepstakes instead.
On average, you are invited around 1 to 4 times a month, which is quite a low number.
SweepstakesLuck only
Unlock holds sweepstakes from time to time. One of them is only for new members, with a prize of $1,000. Other draws have smaller prizes. You see the active prize draws and their draw dates when you log in.
This is not guaranteed money. It is just a chance to win something by being an active member, since you earn entries when you answer surveys.
Referral programInvite only
This is not always available. Only some members are chosen for a referral campaign, and they get an invite by email with the instructions. Campaigns only run for a limited period. I was not chosen while I was testing Unlock, so I cannot tell you more about it.
Check Out the Top Survey Sites in Your Country
How much can you make?
It mostly depends on how many surveys you can complete. And Unlock does not offer a lot of surveys, so it is no different from Springboard America in my opinion.
Most surveys reward you around $0.50 to $2 at most. Some surveys are worth more, but they are few and far between. With the $25 threshold, it takes quite a while before you can withdraw.
This is why I would say the earning potential of Unlock is very low.
How you get paid
You earn points from the surveys you answer. You can redeem them once you have 2,500 points, which is worth $25.
| Reward | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | 2,500 points ($25) | Cash to your PayPal account |
| Gift cards: Amazon, Target, Google Play, Starbucks and more | 2,500 points ($25) | Choose the gift card you want |
| Charity donation | 2,500 points ($25) | Donate your points to a charity the site supports |
The payout system is relatively straightforward, but $25 is quite a high payout threshold for a survey site, so you must be patient. A reader reported in June 2026 that the site said a PayPal payment could take 2 to 4 days to arrive.
If you prefer a low threshold, see the fastest paying survey sites with a low minimum payout.
Who can join, and how
Unlock Surveys is only available to people who live in the US. To register, you fill out a registration form with five steps.
Even if you complete the registration, you may not be accepted as a member of the panel. Unlock only accepts people who fit the demographic it is looking for, and the site does not say what those categories are.
There is no mobile app, but the website is mobile-friendly. You can answer surveys on your phone in a mobile browser, and the overall user experience is generally pleasant.
For questions, check the FAQ page first. If you cannot find the answer there, email the support team at [email protected].
What readers told me
This review has 8 comments so far: 4 from one reader and 4 replies from me. They are all about one payout.
A reader in June 2026 waited almost 10 days to redeem, then 2 to 4 more days for PayPal. The reward did arrive.
The same reader prefers sites with a lower threshold and faster PayPal payouts.
“Been waiting almost 10 days, but still nothing.”
Mikael: Thanks for sharing your experiences. Keep me updated if anything changes.
“Just to let you know that the reward hit my PayPal around 9 this morning. Still have my doubts about future use of this site.”
Mikael: That is great to hear. Thanks for the update.
Unlock Surveys alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | High pay per survey and fast payouts | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| Branded Surveys | Surveys that pay well and a bonus program for active members | $5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Survey Junkie | A good survey site if you live in the US | 500 points ($5) | 4.4 / 5 |
| InboxDollars | US only. Many daily ways to earn and a $5 joining bonus | $15 first time, then $10 | 3.9 / 5 |
See the top survey sites in your country. The sites on that list all have good earning potential, and you will find a site you can join wherever you live.
How I scored Unlock Surveys
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
Unlock Surveys scores 48 out of 100. If you want to earn extra cash, start with these sites instead.
See the best alternativesUnlock Surveys FAQ
Is Unlock Surveys a scam?
No. Unlock Surveys is legit and really lets you earn by answering surveys. But it offers few surveys and has a high $25 threshold.
Is Unlock Surveys the same as Springboard America?
Yes. Unlock used to be called Springboard America, and it is still owned and operated by the same company, Maru.
How much does Unlock Surveys pay?
Most surveys pay around $0.50 to $2. Some pay more, but they are few and far between.
What is the minimum payout?
2,500 points, which is worth $25. You can redeem for PayPal, gift cards such as Amazon, Target, Google Play and Starbucks, or donate to charity.
Who can join Unlock Surveys?
Only people who live in the US. Even then, Unlock only accepts people who fit the demographic it is looking for.
Is there an Unlock Surveys app?
No. But the website is mobile-friendly, so you can answer surveys in a mobile browser.
How do I contact Unlock Surveys support?
Check the FAQ page first. Otherwise, email [email protected].
Who tested Unlock Surveys 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 Unlock Surveys, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
Just to let you know that the reward hit my PayPal around 9 this morning. Still have my doubts about future use of this site.
That is great to hear. Thanks for the update.
I’ll let you know. And for now I think I’ll stick to branded surveys. Low threshold, only need 500 points to redeem and it hits my PayPal within 20 minutes. I also use YouGov. Takes a while to get points, higher threshold, less frequency if surveys, but they payout fairly quick as well
Thanks.
And yes, Branded Surveys is also a good option.
Something else that should be added to the cons list above. They find anyway possible to avoid payout. Been waiting almost 10 days, but still nothing. Read reviews on survey police and trustpilot to get a full picture of how they avoid payout.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Keep me updated if anything changes.
Finally got to redeem reward late Sunday night. But it tells me that it could take 2-4 days for it to post toy paypal. Seems they do all possible to hold onto my money as long as possible. Still not going to use their site until I get my reward, and even then it’s an iffy proposition.
Thanks for the update. Let me know when the money hopefully arrive.
And I completely understand you do not want to use it anymore if you had a bad experience. There are so many options so no need to stick to one you do not have good experiences with.
I have a list of the fastest paying survey sites here, if you are interested in that.