Survey sites and “micro task” sites are a great way to earn what is commonly referred to online as “beer money.” The money you earn by answering surveys and completing simple tasks won’t cover your mortgage or car payments, but it it’s still good to have a few extra bucks in your pocket. People call these earnings beer money because, well, it’s enough to buy beer. Of course, you don’t have to literally use the money for beer. (I use mine for a weekly breakfast at my favorite diner)
Earning money on these sites is a great way to supplement your income and pay for small expenses. Another great thing about survey and micro task sites is the tasks are really easy to do. And you can do ‘em in your spare time, too. I usually try to complete surveys and tasks while in the subway or waiting in line in the grocery - times that would normally be considered idle and non-income generating.
I recommend having memberships in multiple sites at one time. That’s because some sites won’t have tasks for you at all times. This is because surveys and sometimes tasks are matched with your demographic. So it’s to be expected that there will be times when a site won’t have a stuff for you to do. When that happens, I immediately check another site… then another, then another, until I find one that has a task for me.
I’m writing these reviews to help you decide which survey and micro tasks sites to keep in regular rotation. This week, I’ll be weighing-in on Spare5. If you’re looking for another site to add to your rotation, check out my Spare5 review!
What is Spare5?
Spare5 is a mobile and desktop app that helps companies train their respective programs and algorithms. The tasks conducted by Spare5’s community of members (which it refers to as “Fives”) are keyed towards training said programs and algorithms.
Spare5 has worked with some pretty big names in tech, including GoPro, Getty Images, IBM, Sentient Technologies, Pinterest, and Expedia. So, judging by the companies Spare5 has worked with, they’ve got to be legit.
How do You Earn on Spare5?
Training computer programs sounds pretty intimidating, but don’t worry, no advanced computer skills are needed. The tasks you’ll be doing are actually quite simple. They including:
1. Assessing Language - Listen to an audio voice recording, and tell them about the tone, content, meaning, and attitude of the speaker - you know, thinks a computer might not be able to deduce on its own.
2. Annotating Images - Draw bounding boxes around a photograph and label the different elements in the image. (For example, in an image of a cityscape, you can put boxes around the buildings, the billboards, and maybe the mountains on the horizon, then label them accordingly)
3. Isolating Elements - This one is similar to the previous item, but you’ll have to draw around the edges of a specific element to help the computer “see” what you see.
4. Provide Keywords - This is the simplest way to earn on Spare5. Simply tag photos with the appropriate keywords. This is to help computers learn how to interpret images.
The tasks are a few degrees more complicated than answering surveys on survey sites, but they’re still easy enough to do in your free time. So no biggie there.
In addition to those tasks you can also earn through these methods:
Referring Friends
You will get a $2 bonus when your friend earns his or her first $10. (Your friend will also get a $1 bonus) You’ll keep earning from them until they’ve earned $100 or have been a Five for 180 days, whichever comes first.
Maximum earnings for referrals is capped at $20.
Level Up!
Spare5 has an experience point (XP) program. Gamers will be familiar with this concept. The more you do, the more XP points you earn. You can level up as you earn XPS.
On Spare5, you earn XPs by finishing tasks. The higher your XP level, the more chances you’ll have for taking higher-paying tasks. Also, when you earn most of your XPs doing a specific task (for example, providing keywords) Spare5’s system will provide you with more of the same tasks.
Earning Potential on Spare5
Each task, which only takes a couple of minutes to complete, will earn you a set amount of dollars - around 20 cents per task. Keep doing tasks, and you could earn up to $12 an hour!
Payout methods
The site has a $1 minimum payout amount, which is pretty easy to reach, and gives you lots of flexibility. Payouts are sent out automatically every Friday via PayPal. If you prefer to save your earnings for a larger payout, you can always do so by changing the settings in your Spare5 dashboard.
How to Join
Sounds pretty cool, huh? To become a member of Spare5, head over to their website, register, and download their iOS app:
Website: https://www.spare5.com
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/ph/app/spare5/id873499152?mt=8
Unfortunately, there is no Android version (yet). But don’t worry, if you don’t have an iOS device, you can always just do tasks on the desktop version of the site. The mobile app is convenient for doing tasks on the go, but it’s by no means a necessity.
Registering is free, which is pretty standard among legit sites.
The Verdict: Legit or Scam?
Spare5 is legit! I highly recommend this site. The tasks are pretty engaging, and payment gets sent out regularly and automatically! That’s such a welcome change from other sites, which sometimes make you wait weeks for your earnings.
Also, it’s great to know that you’re essentially helping bring the future closer. On Spare5, you are actually teaching computers how to learn and teach themselves. So, if you’re looking forward to the robot uprising and siding with our robotic, AI-driven overlords, this is the site for you! (On that note, if an army of T-800s come storming in from the future, please tell them I’m on your side)
Spare5 Screenshots
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Your Turn
These are my opinions about Spare5. Now it’s your turn to share! Have you tried out this site? What was your experience like?
Let’s hear your stories!
All hail Skynet!
