
Swagbucks vs MyPoints
Summary
Comparing Swagbucks vs MyPoints: Swagbucks is better for most people. It has lower PayPal cashout ($5), a simple 100 SB = $1 value, more earning options, and wider country support. MyPoints shines for U.S./Canada shoppers who like cash‑back portals, BonusMail, and an airline miles option. If you want fast, flexible cashouts and daily goals, choose Swagbucks. If you mainly shop online and chase store bonuses, MyPoints can win for you.
Pros
Swagbucks — Pros
- Low PayPal minimum ($5) and very low gift card options (from $1–$3)
- Daily Goal + streak bonuses keep you on track
- Great SwagBtton extension (coupons + cash back alerts)
- Simple point math (100 SB = $1)
- Broader country availability than MyPoints
- Frequent gift card sales/discounts in the Rewards Store
MyPoints — Pros
- Large retailer list and smooth Score! extension
- BonusMail is easy “extra” points just for opening emails
- Can redeem for United MileagePlus miles
- Clear How‑It‑Works hub with ways to redeem
Cons
Swagbucks — Cons
- Not every task credits instantly; PayPal can take 3–10 business days
- Choices and promos vary by country; some “big” offers need careful reading
MyPoints — Cons
- PayPal minimum often $10, so first cashout can take longer
- Mostly U.S./Canada
- Points value changes by reward; you must compare before redeeming
If you’re comparing Swagbucks vs MyPoints to decide where to spend your time, you’re not alone. Both are long‑running, legitimate rewards programs where you earn points for things like taking surveys, shopping with cash back, uploading receipts, and more. They’re also sibling brands: both are owned by Prodege, LLC (Swagbucks launched in 2008; Prodege acquired MyPoints in 2016).
Below, I’ll give you a clear, simple breakdown—what they do, how they pay, where they differ, and who should pick which. You’ll also find a MyPoints comparison table to scan the big differences at a glance.
The quick verdict
- Pick Swagbucks if you want more ways to earn in more countries, lower minimum cashout (PayPal from $5), a strong browser extension, and fun extras like daily goals and a built‑in search engine.
- Pick MyPoints if you’re in the U.S. or Canada and you mostly shop through portals, like earning small points from BonusMail emails, and you want options like airline miles (United MileagePlus) on top of gift cards and PayPal.
If you have the time, use both and redeem wherever the math works best for you.
Swagbucks vs MyPoints — MyPoints Comparison Table
Data points can change by region and time. Always check in‑app before redeeming. Sources cited in sections below.
Category | Swagbucks | MyPoints |
---|---|---|
Ownership | Both brands are owned by Prodege, LLC | Both brands are owned by Prodege, LLC |
Availability | Many countries across the Americas, Europe, and Asia | Primarily U.S. and Canada |
Ways to earn | Surveys, shopping cash back, “Magic Receipts” grocery uploads, games, videos, Yahoo‑powered web search, offers, daily goals | Surveys, shopping cash back, “Magic Receipts,” BonusMail emails, To‑Do List/Daily 5, offers, videos |
Browser extension | SwagButton (coupon auto‑apply + cash back alerts) | Score! (coupon auto‑apply + cash back alerts) |
Minimum cash out | PayPal from $5; gift cards often from $1–$3 | PayPal typically from $10; gift cards as low as $5 (sometimes lower for promos) |
Points value | 100 SB = $1 (1 SB ≈ 1¢) | Varies; ~0.6¢ per point on average depending on redemption |
Shopping network | “1,500+ retailers” | “Over 1,900 retailers” |
PayPal processing | Typically 3–10 business days | Typically up to ~5 business days |
Referral program | 10% of your referrals’ eligible earnings for life (+ possible one‑time bonus) | 10% of eligible earnings for life (+ bonus when referrals hit activity/spend goals) |
Mobile apps | iOS & Android survey/games apps + Daily Trivia | iOS & Android (MyPoints Mobile) |
Unique perks | Daily Goal & streak bonuses; built‑in search engine (Yahoo results); frequent gift card sales/discounts | BonusMail (earn for opening emails); option to redeem United MileagePlus miles |
What both reward sites do well
Both Swagbucks and MyPoints let you earn by:
- Taking surveys (they both run large survey walls and one‑off higher‑paying studies).
- Shopping online for cash back through partner stores (click through their portals or use the browser extensions).
- Uploading receipts via “Magic Receipts” to turn grocery/retail purchases into points.
- Watching videos and completing offers when available.
- Redeeming for PayPal and gift cards from many brands.
Because both are under Prodege, the overall “feel” is similar, but the details—countries, thresholds, and small perks—can make one a better fit for you.
Where they differ (and why it matters)
1) Availability (who can join)
- Swagbucks: open in many countries across the Americas, Europe, and Asia (and expanding). Exact opportunities vary by location.
- MyPoints: primarily U.S. and Canada, according to current reviews and help content. If you’re outside these, earning options are limited or unavailable.
Bottom line: If you’re outside the U.S./Canada, Swagbucks is the safer pick.
2) Payout options and minimums
- Swagbucks: You can cash out to PayPal starting at $5, and many gift cards start even lower (e.g., $1–$3 denominations). Swagbucks’ own Rewards Store page for PayPal explicitly states the minimum withdrawal for PayPal is $5, and it notes you can choose small gift cards if you’re under $5. Typical PayPal delivery window is 3–10 business days.
- MyPoints: PayPal redemptions are usually available from $10 (e.g., 1,590 points for $10), while gift cards can start lower (some as low as $5, occasionally $3 during promos). Expect PayPal to arrive in up to ~5 business days.
Bottom line: If you want faster access to cash, Swagbucks’ lower PayPal minimum is a plus.
3) Points value and redemption math
- Swagbucks uses the simple rule: 100 SB = $1 (so 1 SB ≈ 1¢). That transparency makes it easy to compare tasks.
- MyPoints varies by reward. Independent reviews put the average around ~0.6¢ per point (≈165 points per $1), with better or worse deals depending on the gift card or PayPal denomination you pick.
Bottom line: Swagbucks is simpler to value; MyPoints requires double‑checking the rate on each reward.
4) Shopping networks and browser extensions
- Swagbucks lists “1,500+” retailers and strong portal coverage. Its SwagButton extension auto‑applies coupons and pops up cash back reminders so you don’t miss earnings.
- MyPoints advertises “1,900+” retailers and its Score! extension similarly auto‑applies coupons and flags cash back. (mypoints.com)
Bottom line: For pure store count, MyPoints has a slight edge on paper; in practice both extensions make “clip and earn” shopping easy.
5) Receipt uploads (Magic Receipts)
Both have receipts programs; mechanics differ slightly:
- Swagbucks Magic Receipts supports both paper and certain e‑receipts, with weekly limits and a clear handbook on qualifying items.
- MyPoints Magic Receipts/In‑Store Deals focuses on paper receipts tied to weekly offers; the Help Center lists eligible stores (1,100+) and timelines for uploads.
Bottom line: If you regularly upload receipts, both work; check each app’s offer list before shopping.
6) Daily bonuses & email earnings
- Swagbucks has a Daily Goal meter with streak bonuses (e.g., 7/14/21‑day streak badges and monthly bonuses). It’s a simple “earn more for being active” loop.
- MyPoints offers a Daily 5 / To‑Do List and BonusMail emails—open/click to earn small points, then more if you shop or complete the featured offer.
Bottom line: Want a daily gamified push? Swagbucks’ goal/streaks are great. Prefer “open email, get points”? MyPoints’ BonusMail is handy.
7) Referral programs
- Swagbucks pays you 10% of your referrals’ eligible earnings for life (with a potential one‑time bonus if they earn 300 SB quickly; varies by country).
- MyPoints also pays 10% for life and runs extra referral bonuses (e.g., if your referral hits 300 points early or spends $20+).
Bottom line: Both are strong if you refer friends.
8) Mobile apps & extras
- Swagbucks has polished iOS/Android apps plus a Daily Trivia app, and a built‑in Yahoo‑powered search engine (earn for searching).
- MyPoints offers the MyPoints Mobile app for surveys and shopping.
Bottom line: Swagbucks leans a bit more “feature‑rich” on mobile and search; MyPoints keeps it straightforward.
9) Trust and reviews
- Swagbucks and MyPoints both have long histories, active communities, and solid Trustpilot ratings (hovering around “Great”), with the usual mix of happy redemptions and occasional missing‑credit complaints typical of rewards portals.
Safety, age, and legit checks
- Both accept users 13+ (under 18 should have a guardian’s permission).
- Both are legitimate brands under Prodege with years of operation and mainstream press coverage.
How fast can you actually earn?
It depends on your habits. If you shop often, do a few surveys most days, and upload receipts, you’ll cash out more often. Many users report modest monthly cash is realistic on Swagbucks (think tens of dollars, not a full-time income). The $20–$100+/mo range is a common benchmark in independent reviews; your results will vary with time and region.
For MyPoints, earning can be similar if you lean into shopping + BonusMail + Magic Receipts, but note the higher PayPal minimum may slow your first cashout compared to Swagbucks.
So… which is better?
Choose Swagbucks if you:
- Want more ways to earn (search, games, daily goals)
- Prefer lower thresholds (PayPal from $5; $1–$3 gift cards)
- Like coupon auto‑apply and cash back reminders while you shop
- Live outside the U.S./Canada
Choose MyPoints if you:
- Live in the U.S. or Canada and plan to shop through a portal a lot
- Enjoy earning from BonusMail and simple daily checklists
- Want the option to convert points to airline miles (United MileagePlus)
Best of both?
Plenty of people keep both accounts and use the site that pays more for a specific store, survey, or offer. Since both pay to PayPal and gift cards, you can funnel your redemptions to the same end goal.
Important details and sources (quick references)
- Ownership: Prodege owns both; MyPoints acquired in 2016.
- Swagbucks PayPal minimum & timing: $5 minimum, 3–10 business days typical.
- MyPoints PayPal thresholds & timing: commonly $10 entry (1,590 pts) and up to 5 days delivery; larger denominations cost more points (e.g., $25 ~3,970 pts in many reviews).
- Point values: Swagbucks 100 SB = $1; MyPoints averages about 0.6¢/pt depending on redemption.
- Retailer counts: Swagbucks claims 1,500+ retailers; MyPoints says 1,900+.
- Extensions: Swagbucks SwagButton; MyPoints Score!.
- Magic Receipts (receipts upload programs): both offer them; see respective help pages.
- Referrals: both offer 10% lifetime of eligible earnings with extra bonuses for early activity.
- Availability: Swagbucks in many countries; MyPoints largely U.S./Canada.
- Unique perk: Swagbucks Yahoo‑powered search engine; MyPoints United MileagePlus miles redemptions.
Final take: “Swagbucks vs MyPoints” in one sentence
- If you want lower cashout thresholds, more countries, and lots of daily earners, go with Swagbucks; if you do most of your earning via shopping in the U.S./Canada and like BonusMail (and possibly airline miles), go with MyPoints—or stack both and let each one do what it does best.
Quick bullet summary
- Swagbucks pros: lower PayPal minimum ($5), $1–$3 gift cards, daily goal bonuses, strong extension, simple 1¢ per SB, wider availability.
- Swagbucks cons: payouts can take several business days; read offer fine print.
- MyPoints pros: big retailer list, BonusMail, airline miles option, steady shopping‑centric earning.
- MyPoints cons: PayPal typically starts at $10; mostly U.S./Canada; variable point values.
If you want, tell me where you live and how you plan to earn (surveys vs shopping vs receipts), and I’ll tailor a simple “do this first” checklist for either Swagbucks or MyPoints.