Prolific. The more than academic research site.

If anyone were to ask me what my favourite survey site is, then I'd have to say, without hesitation, that it's Prolific.

Granted, it could be argued that it's not really a survey site. It's more a research site on which academics and those learning to be academics can conduct various studies as part of their research. The great thing about it is that, because it's not serving the needs of the usual market research companies, the studies it offers are usually far more interesting - and often better paid. It's also not unknown for researchers to pay you bonuses. My best ever day on Prolific saw me pick up £24.

Granted, that total was freakish but it's not unknown to make several pounds in a day and to enjoy it while I'm doing it.

You should be prepared, however. Mysterious droughts, in which you can go for a week or so at a time without being offered a study, are not unknown. When the drought finally ends, you often get a whole bunch of studies in quick succession. It also dies off outside of term time, as the people conducting the studies go off for their holidays.

My one complaint is that studies fill up quickly and it's easy to miss them. Therefore, it's wise to install a browser extension called Prolific Assistant which alerts you whenever a study is available. Set it to check the site every thirty seconds or so, to be on the safe side.

This site is definitely my Number One Tip for survey users and you can sign up to it by clicking on this referral link.

Payment method: Paypal, Circle. Minimum cash-out: £5. Time for payout to be processed: 2-5 days. My earnings last week: £11.25. My rating: 9/10. JOIN PROLIFIC.

PaidViewpoint. A genuinely unique survey site.

I was alerted to the existence of PaidViewpoint by various other sites that all seemed to be highly enthusiastic about it.

I don't know if there's something wrong with my demographic - possibly survey sites have little demand for economic failures - but it's been a total flop for me. While its surveys are extremely simple, easy and undemanding to do, I hardly ever get offered any - and most of the ones I have been offered since I signed up have only paid 3 cents. As a result, it's taken me just over a year to accumulate $11.

As a member, you have a thing called a Trait Score and the claim is that, once it reaches 10,000 points, you receive higher value surveys. I have to say that I hit that mark several months ago and am still getting almost nothing but 3 cent offers. Regardless, I shall stick with it until I finally reach the minimum cash-out level of $15 and then delete my account, happy to trouser the money and move on to better things.

If you fancy that your chances of making money with PaidViewpoint may be higher than mine - because you're a classier person than me - you can sign up for it with this here referral link.

I do have to say that, while the rewards are feeble, actually doing the surveys is a lot less annoying than some other sites I've tried. So, at least that's something it has going for it.

Payment method: Paypal. Minimum cash-out: $15. Claimed time for payout to be processed: 72 hours. My earnings last week: $0.03. My rating: 2/10. JOIN PAIDVIEWPOINT.