Getting Paid to Watch Netflix or Videos: Legit or Not?

Get paid to watch Netflix. Is there a sweeter sentence in the English language?

TikTok ads have been doing the rounds recently promoting the enticing prospect of making money by watching Netflix or other videos. The “work” sounds easy and the juicy hourly pay rate is the icing on the cake—but is it actually real or just a scam?

Is getting paid to watch Netflix seriously legit?

Typically, no, because 9 times out of 10, anything claiming that you can get paid to watch Netflix is a big fat scam.

If you see an ad on social media promising that you can get a real job getting paid to watch Netflix, proceed with caution. Often, it will simply be a ruse for scammers to trick you into providing your sensitive personal information, to request an upfront payment to process your application, or to redirect you to a host of other sketchy platforms.

But there are a few legit ways you can make money by watching Netflix or videos, which we break down below.

Legit companies that pay you to watch Netflix or videos

Want to get paid to watch videos? There are a few legit options available.

• Get a job at Netflix. Netflix employs content analysts who are tasked with tagging programs with relevant keywords, which in turn helps generate Netflix’s content recommendations based on what you’ve previously watched. However, these sorts of roles aren’t available to just anyone, and there are only a limited number of positions. And if you want to work for the streaming giant, you’ll need to look for open positions on its official jobs page.
• Start your own review site. If you’re a film and TV buff, turn your passion for the screen into a side hustle by launching your own review blog or YouTube channel. Watch Netflix and other streaming content, build a following for your reviews, and then make money from your review site or channel from ad revenue.
• Use a get-paid-to (GPT) platform. GPT platforms like Freecash and Swagbucks allow you to get paid to watch video content from partners online or via a mobile app. Swagbucks claims committed users can make up to $5 per day watching videos on Swagbucks, so this is not a super-lucrative side hustle but more a way to get a little extra pocket money.
• Participate in focus groups or surveys. Market research panels and survey sites may also present opportunities to get paid to watch videos. You could get paid to give your thoughts on the pilot episode of a new show, for example, or provide feedback on a company’s new TV advertisement.

Alternatives to getting paid to watch Netflix or videos

Take online surveys

In addition to watching videos, GPT sites and apps pay you to answer surveys. They connect you with market research companies who want your feedback. By answering questions and sharing your opinions, you can earn between $0.50 to $5 per survey.

Play Games, Take Surveys & Test Apps

Go to site

• Access a variety of tasks
• Make an average of $300 per offer
• Get a $5 CAD sign-up bonus when you start your first offer

Best for Mobile

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• Earn up to $120 per test
• No limit on how much you play games or complete surveys
• Earn money while playing games

Survey Variety

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• Earn between $5 and $100 per month
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• 300+ rewards

Test platforms

Alternatively, user testing is another legit side hustle. Essentially, you get paid to use companies’ websites and apps and then provide feedback on the user experience. You can earn $3 to $5 per five-minute test or $30 to $100+ for longer and more involved testing sessions. You don’t need any experience in design.

Join a focus group

Market research firms don’t just offer quick online surveys—they also run focus groups to get detailed consumer feedback. Sometimes these focus groups require you to physically attend a meeting with a room full of people, but on other occasions, they’re conducted completely online.

In a focus group session, a moderator will encourage you and other participants to provide detailed thoughts and feedback on a particular topic, such as a product or company. And as a general guide, you could get paid anywhere from $50 to $200 for each focus group session you attend.

What other easy, beginner-friendly tasks can you consider?

If you’re looking for completely online side hustles, there are several other easy and legit options to check out. One of the simplest ways to earn some extra cash is to sign up for a new bank account and get a cash welcome bonus. All you have to do is open an account and sometimes perform certain transactions, and in return you will get paid between $150 and $700.

You can also sign up on cashback websites and apps like Swagbucks, Rakuten and Great Canadian Rebates. You can then earn rewards simply by doing your regular shopping.

Offline, there are stacks of other easy side hustles to try. For example, you could sell or rent out your unused possessions, work as a dog walker or pet sitter, deliver takeout food, or make money doing yard work for your neighbours.

How to protect yourself from money-making scams

Use these simple tips to protect yourself from get-paid-to-watch-Netflix scams and other threats:

• Think critically. When you see an offer that almost sounds too good to be true, stop and take a moment to think. How likely is it really that you’ll get paid thousands of dollars just to watch Netflix? Use your common sense and critical thinking skills to sort the scams from the legit money-making options.
• Be wary of social media ads. Social media ads and videos are a common target for scammers, so be wary of any offers that promise fast money or great deals.
• Check Reddit. Reddit is an extremely useful tool for checking whether an offer you’ve seen is a scam. If you’re not sure whether something is legit, there’s a good chance someone has already shared similar concerns on Reddit. If you can’t find an answer for your particular situation, you can post on r/scams to get feedback.
• Use legit platforms. Research any GPT site on Reddit and independent review sites like Trustpilot to make sure it’s legit.
• Download official apps. If you’re downloading a mobile app you can use to make money online, be sure that you only download it from the official iOS and Android app stores.
• Update your software. Keep the antivirus software on your PC and mobile device up to date to ensure that you’re protected against malware and other online threats.

Bottom line

If you’ve seen an ad on social media claiming that you can get paid to watch Netflix, remember this old cliché: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are plenty of scams out there claiming that you can get paid to watch Netflix, so make sure you can spot the warning signs of a sketchy offer. And if you’re looking for ways to make some extra money, check out legit GPT platforms or try your hand at a range of other side hustles.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Leanne Escobal as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

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