If you’ve been looking around for genuine ways to make money online, you’ll likely have heard of the name Pinecone Research, a company who offers opportunities to earn by completing surveys and giving your opinions.
So, far, so enticing, but how does Pinecone Research stack up to the countless other survey sites out there? Is Pinecone Research really legitimate? And what’s it like in terms of making payouts?
It’s these questions, and more, that we’ll answer in this comprehensive review.
Pinecone Research Review
Contents
How do You Get Invited to Pinecone Research?
Head to the Pinecone Research website and one of the first things you’ll notice is that there’s no way to actually sign up.
That’s because the platform is invite-only, which means you can typically only get an account with them in one of two ways:
- Know someone who’s already a member and get an invite from them
- Search for Pinecone Research invites to find a website with a signup link.
What is the Pinecone Research Sign Up Process Like?
Once you’ve received your invite, you’ll need to complete the sign-up process, which is done in two key stages:
1.Registration
Much as you would with any other site, you need to register an account with your email and a password.
2. Sign-Up Survey
A common feature of survey sites is the getting-to-know-you sign-up survey in which you’ll tell Pinecone Research about you and your household so that they can send you relevant surveys.
We did the process ourselves and found that it took no more than ten minutes to go from the sign-up page to complete the last question on the survey.
How do You Make Money With Pinecone Research?
All in all, Pinecone Research offers three key ways to make extra money online. These are:
1. Surveys
Paid surveys are really what Pinecone Research all about and this is the main way that you’ll make the majority of your money with this platform.
Most surveys take around 10-20 minutes to complete and are on a broad range of subjects typically related to consumer products that have yet to be released.
The good news is that Pinecone Research has some of the highest paid surveys online, paying a minimum of $3 per survey. Some will pay more.
On the flip side, the bad news is that the number of surveys you get is fairly limited compared to other platforms, so don’t expect to be presented with daily opportunities. According to some regular Pinecone Research users, the average amount of surveys is around 1-5 per month.
2. Product Testing
Though opportunities for product testing are by no means as frequent as surveys, they do exist with Pinecone Research.
Occasionally, you’ll be invited to try out new products or food items and then complete a follow-up survey which again pays around $3 per time, similar to the kind of process you’d see in online focus groups.
This is even more rare than getting a survey, so don’t count on it being a big earner, but definitely take up the opportunities as they arise as you can get sent some really cool stuff.
3. Sweepstakes
Pinecone Research runs regular monthly and quarterly sweepstakes with prizes ranging from $500 to $4,000+.
Obviously, there are no guarantees here, but it’s a nice little bonus if you happen to win.
How Does Pinecone Research Pay?
The company pays out in points, with 1 point equaling 1 cent. In other words, if a survey pays 300 points, you get $3. If it pays 450 points, you get $4.50 and so on.
After you complete your first survey, the payment is sent directly to your bank account. This is good for you as it means you’ll get the cash to spend, but it’s also a useful way for Pinecone Research to verify that you are who you say you are.
After that, you can choose to continue accepting money directly into your bank account, or you can choose to accept your earnings in a variety of eCards and gift cards for brands such as:
- Amazon
- Starbucks
- Walmart
- iTunes.
More Frequently Asked Questions About Pinecone Research
Is Pinecone Research US Only?
No. Though it used to be, Pinecone Research is also available in the UK, Canada, and Europe.
Is Pinecone Research Safe?
Yes, Pinecone Research is safe as long as you only access it via the official website or app. There have been instances of scammers trying to use the company's name to trick people into handing over bank account details via Facebook. You should know that Pinecone Research doesn’t have a Facebook presence, so anything you see isn’t from them.
Can You Use Pinecone Research on Mobile?
Yes. The company has official apps for both Apple and Android devices, making it a great way to earn extra money while on the move.
Is Pinecone Research a Legitimate Way to Make Money Online? Our Verdict
So, can you really make real money online by doing surveys with Pinecone Research?
The short answer is yes, you can. The minimum $3 per survey is one of the highest survey payout rates we’ve seen, and since most surveys take less than 15-20 minutes to complete, it’s a great way to pick up a little extra cash.
The downside, however, is that Pinecone Research isn’t exactly known for their large selection of surveys. Days, if not weeks, could go by without you being presented with anything new. So, while registering an account will definitely help to bolster your income from time to time, you might want to also consider other money-making ideas such as starting a virtual assistant business or even getting paid to grocery shops.