18 Ways To Get Paid To Read Emails

Did you know that you can get paid to read emails? Yes, you may be able to make extra money by reading emails that are sent to your email inbox. Getting paid to read email sites won’t make you rich, as you may only get paid a few cents per email that you read. If…

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Last Updated: January 16, 2024

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

Did you know that you can get paid to read emails?

Yes, you may be able to make extra money by reading emails that are sent to your email inbox.

Getting paid to read email sites won’t make you rich, as you may only get paid a few cents per email that you read. If you click on links in the emails or buy something, then you may earn a few dollars more.

There are other ways to get paid to read emails online as well, though, such as by getting a job where your main work responsibilities include sending or receiving emails – and there are actually quite a few jobs that fit this.

In today’s article, I’m going to talk about how to make money by doing what most of us do all the time – check our email. From legitimate get-paid-to-read-email sites to real full-time jobs, there are many different ways to get paid to read emails.

Why do companies pay you to read emails?

Getting paid to read emails might sound too good to be true, but it is a real way to earn a little extra cash.

Companies pay you to read emails as a form of marketing so that people will click on their sales emails. Paying you a little bit of money is a way to get your attention.

The companies hope that you’ll pay more attention and maybe even buy something after you read their email. Plus, by seeing what emails you like or don’t like, companies learn more about what their customers want, which helps them improve their marketing.

The amount you can make is different from site to site, but you could earn around $0.10 per email, or more in some cases. It definitely won’t make you rich, but put together with other tasks on rewards sites, it can earn you some extra money without much work.

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Top Websites To Get Paid To Read Emails

There are three main sites that I recommend that pay you to read emails.

With these sites, not only can you earn money by reading emails, but they also have other ways to earn rewards, like taking surveys, watching videos, and more.

This can be easily done during your spare time, such as while you’re watching Netflix or on your lunch break.

get paid to read emails on swagbucks
This is a screenshot I took of some of the ways I can currently get paid to read emails on Swagbucks. It says there are $20.10 worth of messages I can read right now.

1. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is one of the most popular rewards websites, and it has many ways for you to earn, including getting paid to read emails. They have paid their members over $936,000,000 since 2008 and pay out over 10,000 gift cards and PayPal cash deposits every single day. I have personally earned over 110 gift cards from Swagbucks.

To earn money by reading emails through Swagbucks, you need to log in to your account and go to your dashboard. Then, look for the section that says “Click and Earn.” You’ll only receive payment for these messages here, and not for any emails sent to your personal inbox from Swagbucks.

To make the most earnings on Swagbucks for reading emails, be sure to check your inbox daily for new paid email opportunities. Also, there are many other ways to earn points on Swagbucks, such as completing surveys, watching videos, and even shopping online.

Note: This site is only available to those in the USA and Canada.

Payout methods: PayPal cash, Visa gift cards, and gift cards to retailers such as Apple, Target, Macy’s, Amazon, and Walmart.

Minimum balance needed to cash out: $3

Sign up for Swagbucks here (and earn signup bonus points).

This is a screenshot I took of one of the emails I received from Inboxdollars to get paid to read emails.
This is a screenshot I took of one of the emails I received from InboxDollars to get paid to read emails.

2. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is another popular site that pays you to read emails. Once you sign up and opt in to receive paid emails (they are called PaidEmails), you’ll get promotional emails from time to time that will pay you simply for opening and reading them.

The kinds of emails that you will get from InboxDollars varies. For example, parents of newborns may get emails about diapers and formula. Someone who owns a home may see emails about solar panels or a free TV streaming trial.

InboxDollars has been around since 2000, and they have paid over $80,000,000 in cash and gift cards.

Apart from reading emails, InboxDollars also has other ways to earn money, such as by taking surveys and watching videos.

Payout methods: PayPal cash, as well as gift cards to Amazon, Apple, Dunkin’ Donuts, Lowe’s, Gap, and Barnes & Noble.

Minimum balance needed to cash out: $15 or 1,500 points

Sign up for InboxDollars here and get a free $5 bonus.

3. MyPoints

MyPoints is a rewards website that has many ways to earn points such as by getting paid to read emails. You can sign up, choose to receive promotional emails, and earn points by opening and engaging with them (such as by clicking on a link or installing an app).

Other ways to earn points on MyPoints include watching videos and playing games.

They’ve given out over $236,000,000 in gift cards and PayPal cash since they began in 1996.

Payout methods: PayPal cash, gift cards to places such as Amazon, Walmart, and Starbucks, and even travel miles.

Minimum balance needed to cash out: $5

Sign up for MyPoints by clicking here.

Other Sites To Get Paid To Read Emails

Sometimes, you may come across sites that are no longer active or not as popular as others. Many of the sites below have high minimum payout amounts (making it very hard to ever receive a payout) and/or low pay-per-email reads.

Despite this, I still wanted to mention them because people often ask about these get-paid-to-read email sites and search for them. Just remember to verify their legitimacy before signing up, and make sure the long payout time is worth it to you (for most people, it probably isn’t).

Here’s a list of less popular sites that claim to pay you for reading emails.

4. FusionCash

FusionCash is a rewards site that pays users for various tasks, including reading emails. By signing up, you’ll start receiving emails with offers that you can open, read, and get paid for.

The reviews for FusionCash on Trustpilot are not great, as you can see there. Due to that, I would be careful with this site and with spending too much time on it.

Payment options: PayPal, direct deposit, check

Minimum balance needed to cash out: $25

5. Cash4Offers

Cash4Offers is a site that pays you for reading emails, completing surveys, and more. Once you sign up, you can opt to receive promotional emails and start earning.

This site sends 1 to 2 paid emails per day usually. You only get paid $0.01 per email that you read, so it would take a very long time to reach the minimum payout. This means that it would take you years to earn enough to cash out.

Payout methods: Amazon gift card and PayPal cash

Minimum balance needed to cash out: $35

6. UniqueRewards

Unique Rewards is another site that gives people ways to get paid for reading emails. After signing up, you can choose to receive emails and earn rewards for clicking on links in them.

This site sends 1 to 2 emails per day usually, and you only get paid $0.01 per email read, so it would take a very long time to reach the minimum payout. If you do the calculation, this means that it would take you years to earn enough to cash out.

Payout methods: PayPal, Bitcoin

Minimum balance needed to cash out: $20

7. Paid To Read Email

Paid To Read Email is a site that pays people to read sales emails. After signing up, they send emails and you can get paid for opening, reading, and clicking on the links in them.

Paid To Read Email pays $0.01 to $0.10 for every paid email that you confirm and click on. It’s not much, and they have a high minimum payout amount, which can make it hard to eventually get paid, similar to the site above.

Payout methods: PayPal cash

Minimum payout amount: $15

8. CashCrate

CashCrate was a website that paid people for reading emails. It is no longer available but it was a popular choice back in the day.

9. Vindale Research

Vindale Research is a platform that closed its doors to new members in November of 2021, but it used to be a popular way to make money for reading emails.

There are many other websites that pay you to read emails as well, such as Inbox Pays, DailyRewards, UniqPaid, and RupeeInbox.

Jobs Where You Can Get Paid To Read Emails

If you are looking more for a part-time or full-time job, there are jobs that will pay you to read emails as a part of your work responsibilities. While it won’t be as simple as opening an email and reading it, email may be a large part of your work with the jobs listed below.

10. Virtual assistant

Virtual assistants (VAs) many times manage and organize their clients’ email inboxes. They sort through and respond to emails, making sure important messages are not missed as well as helping customers with their questions.

If you want to become a virtual assistant, I recommend watching the free workshop called Steps To Become a Virtual Assistant.

Recommended reading: Best Ways To Find Virtual Assistant Jobs

11. Email translator

Do you speak another language fluently? If you do, you might have the opportunity to find a remote job where you can earn money by reading emails and translating them into that language.

An email translator converts email content from one language to another. If you are fluent in multiple languages, this job can be an excellent way to earn money by reading and translating emails for clients. Many businesses require translation services to communicate effectively with international customers.

You can find translation jobs on Upwork, Guru, Babelcube, Today Translations, Fiverr, and more.

12. Proofreader

Proofreaders review and edit emails for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. This role is great for detail-oriented individuals with strong language skills. You’ll be checking emails to make sure they’re polished and error-free before sending them out.

This could be for marketing emails for large companies (they want to make sure there are no errors before they send out emails to thousands or even millions of people!), website owners with email lists, important company-wide emails going to employees, and more.

If you want to become a proofreader, I recommend watching this free 76-minute workshop all about how to get started proofreading.

Recommended reading: 20 Best Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners (Earn $40,000+ A Year).

13. Customer service representative

Many companies outsource their customer service departments to people who are working from home. This is a job where you can get paid to send and receive emails.

A customer service representative, or email support rep, handles customer questions and complaints via email. In this job, you’ll read emails and respond to customers.

14. Social media manager

Social media can be a great way to bring new customers to a business, which can help a business grow. Social media managers manage a company’s TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and so on.

Social media managers read and respond to direct messages or comments that are received through the company’s social media channels (such as Instagram). This includes reading and replying to emails from followers or potential customers.

15. Email freelance writer

Email writers write emails for businesses, such as for a newsletter. Their job includes reading and writing emails, such as making emails interesting and easy to read for advertisements.

Freelance writers write content for blogs, websites, magazines, newspapers, advertising companies, and so much more.

Recommended reading: 14 Places To Find Freelance Writing Jobs – (Start With No Experience!)

16. Technical support representative

Tech support reps help customers through email by reading their questions, identifying the issue, and helping solve problems.

You can find technical support representative jobs by looking at job search sites such as Indeed and Upwork and using keywords like “Technical Support Representative” or “Tech Support” to narrow down the results. Also, looking at the career pages of companies you’re interested in is a good idea, as many companies post job openings right on their websites.

17. Public relations specialist

Getting paid to read emails as a public relations (PR) worker is a common part of the job.

PR specialists talk with media outlets, clients, and partners through email to create and maintain a positive image for their company. This may include reading and replying to press inquiries, writing email pitches, and creating press releases.

18. Sales representative

Getting paid to read emails as a sales representative is a normal part of the job, as communication is important in sales.

Sales representatives read and write emails to possible clients, sharing information about the company’s products or services.

Get Paid To Read Emails Scams And How To Avoid

As you find ways to get paid to read emails, you need to be aware of scams. There are many, many scams out there that claim to pay you to read emails.

While there are legit sites that are known to actually pay for reading emails, it’s important to keep in mind the following tips to protect yourself from scams:

  • Research the “GetPaidTo” (GPT) site – Before signing up for a get-paid-to-read-emails program, research the site and its reputation. Look for reviews and testimonials from people who have already tried the service, such as on Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau in the United States.
  • Never pay to join – Legitimate sites that pay you to read emails should never ask for money up front. If a site requires payment or a subscription fee, it might be a scam.
  • Watch out for unrealistic earnings – If a site says that they will pay you thousands of dollars to read a few emails or complete simple tasks, then it’s probably a scam. You will not earn a lot of money by reading emails and clicking on links.
  • Protect your personal information – Do not share private information, like your bank account or Social Security number, with any site claiming to pay you for reading emails. While some real sites may pay you via direct deposit, I always recommend keeping that information private and safe.
  • Know the minimum payout limit – I recommend doing the math to see how long it would take you to reach the minimum payment amount. For some of the get-paid-to-read-email sites, it may take years. And, some of the scam sites know that you will never reach the minimum payout, and that is why they are a scam.

What To Think About Before You Begin

Below are some things to think about before signing up for a get-paid-to-read-email site.

Set up a separate email address

Because you will be receiving so many emails after you sign up for the sites above, I highly recommend creating a new free email address just for this. This way, you can manage the emails and separate them from your normal personal emails, and this can help you be more organized and have less clutter.

Minimum payout threshold

Before signing up for any get-paid-to-read-email site, you should find out what the minimum payout threshold is. Different sites have different limits, which can range from just a few dollars to over thirty. This can make some sites near impossible to ever reach the minimum payout limit.

Market research company participation

Many paid-to-read-email sites have market research opportunities such as taking paid surveys or giving feedback on items. This can help you to earn more points and reach the minimum payout sooner.

If you’re looking for survey sites to sign up for, I recommend:

  1. Swagbucks
  2. Survey Junkie
  3. Branded Surveys
  4. American Consumer Opinion
  5. InboxDollars
  6. Pinecone Research
  7. PrizeRebel
  8. User Interviews

Getting paid to read emails FAQs

Below are answers to common questions about how to get paid to read emails online.

Can you get paid for reading emails?

Yes, you can get paid to read email. Some of the ways above are very much part time, whereas others may be a job (such as becoming a VA and managing someone’s email inbox).

Where can I read emails for money online? What are the best apps for earning money by reading emails?

Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and MyPoints are three websites I recommend to get paid to read emails. With these websites, all you need is your cell phone or computer and an internet connection to receive the paid mail to read.

What type of emails will I be reading?

The emails you’ll be reading are usually marketing emails from companies that pay these GPT sites (Get Paid To Read Email Sites) to send out a sales email. These emails might be related to products, services, or special offers that these companies want potential customers to know about.

How much can I earn from reading emails?

The amount that you can make from reading emails depends on many different things, but for the most part, it depends on how many emails you can read. The more you can read, then the more you can earn. Remember, you are most likely going to earn much less than $1 for each email read, so you would need to read a lot!

Are all “Get Paid To Read Emails” websites legitimate?

No, not all are real. While there are legitimate sites that pay you to read emails, there are also many scams that exist. This is why I recommend doing your own research and making sure the site is trustworthy before signing up.

Can you make $500 a day sending emails?

If you want to make $500 a day sending emails, then this will be a little different from the above. Instead, you may want to start an email list and send emails to your subscribers with affiliate links and sponsored content. You can learn more about affiliate marketing at Affiliate Marketing Tips For Bloggers – Free eBook.

Can you get paid to read?

Yes, you can get paid to read things other than emails. For example, you can get paid to read and review books, proofread content, and read aloud for audiobooks.

How much can I expect to earn with paid email programs?

The amount you can make with paid email sites depends on the site and the number of emails you read. On average, you might be paid up to $0.10 per email. However, rates can be higher with certain sites and if you engage with the emails, such as by installing an app or buying something.

Is it possible to earn a full-time income by reading and replying to emails?

While you can earn some money by reading and replying to emails, it’s unlikely that it would be enough to replace a full-time income. Paid email sites usually pay a small amount per email, and the number of available emails may be limited. But, there are jobs where some of your tasks may include reading and replying to emails. If you are looking to earn a full-time income, you may want to find a job such as by becoming a virtual assistant or freelance writer.

How To Get Paid To Read Emails Online – Summary

I hope you enjoyed this article on how to get paid to read emails.

As you can see, there are many different ways to make money doing this. Some may be a full-time income, whereas others may pay you just a few dollars a week.

There are many more jobs other than just this list as well. I hope you are able to find the best one for you!

Do you want to learn how to get paid to read emails?


Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Author: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Hey! I’m Michelle Schroeder-Gardner and I am the founder of Making Sense of Cents. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and online businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, CNBC, Time, and Business Insider. Learn more here.

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