Pinecone Research Survey Review (Legit or Not!)

Pinecone Research Survey Review

Intro.

Pinecone research is primarily a survey company that will reward its members for filling out these surveys, along with taking part in sweepstakes or testing various products. So it’s more or less a GPT site (get paid to), which promotes the products or services of companies that have an alliance with Pinecone Research.

In this review, I’ll discuss how you can make money with Pinecone Research, and indicate whether they are a scam or legit site.

I must admit, I’m not a huge fan of survey or GPT sites, as I don’t believe they reward their members as well as they should. You can waste a lot of time filling out surveys and only earn a few dollars for your valuable time.

By this, I’m comparing it to other more productive opportunities online. These other options can include setting up your own dropshipping store, or starting an affiliate marketing website. While these opportunities may not make you money in your initial few weeks, they can be big income earners down the track.

That’s not to say Pinecone Research isn’t a money earner either, you’ll just be earning pocket change by persisting with sites like this.

So, let’s check out Pinecone Research and see what they can offer.

Quick Navigation

What is Pinecone Research
Who Would Use Pinecone Research?
Joining Up To Pinecone Research
Making Money With Pinecone Research
Getting Paid From Pinecone Research?
Pros
Cons
Is Pinecone Research a Scam
Final Thoughts

What is Pinecone Research​

To collect international research, companies like, and including Pinecone Research, leverage surveys to gather this information. If you’re interested in taking part in completing surveys to be rewarded, then I can highly recommend Pinecone Research surveys.

I do find that Pinecone Research has one of the higher paying rates around, with a standard rate of $3 USD for each completed survey.

I understand that Pinecone Research has been around since the year 2000, so they have 20 years of experience behind them. Having researched many reviews on this company, most are quite accepting of how they operate.

The only consistent complaint I could really find was the payment system that changed in 2013. Although payments are still $3 per survey, internally they now work on a points based system. It’s not a big change, but some don’t like it.

Who Would Use Pinecone Research?

Anyone looking to make a few bucks. Actually, it’s not only survey takers who use Pinecone Research. Of course you need the advertisers to also use the program.

The advertisers get to promote and gather important information from completed surveys, and members get to earn a few dollars for their time spent.

Joining Up To Pinecone Research

To have the ability to sign up to Pinecone Research, you will require an invitation. This can either be via an acquaintance through an email link, or you  may see recruitment opportunities posted through banner ads on various unsolicited websites.

I did find it quite extraordinary when I first visited their website. I searched around for the signup button, but there isn’t one. The only way to join is through the invitation.

Once you use this unique link to sign up, just fill out the required membership information. Be aware that only you are supposed to fill out the surveys, not other family members. These surveys are tailored to your experiences, not others in your household.

Because of this exclusivity of being invited to join, you will receive better rates than other survey sites. Still not the best way to make money online, but you should have the ability to make more than surveys on other sites like SwagBucks.

Currently, Pinecone Research operates in 6 countries.

• United States
• Canada
• France
• Germany
• United Kingdom

I’d imagine they will not stop at just these countries, with the popularity ever increasing for their service.

Making Money With Pinecone Research

Unlike other GPT sites, there are not as many different offerings to make money. The main point of joining Pinecone Research is to complete their surveys to help out advertisers. In return, you’ll be rewarded for your efforts.

#1- Surveys

Pinecone Research is an exclusive panel with only invited members. This means places are limited, and so are the surveys. While this is a good thing, it also means you need to consistently complete the surveys, or they will have you removed.

It doesn’t mean you need to fill out surveys everyday, as they may not have some available for you. However, when you are emailed about a survey that may interest you, it’s advisable you complete it.

The surveys are as good as any going around, and so are the payments. At $3 per survey, this is hard to beat. Other sites generally pay less, and have longer surveys.

#2- Testing Products

On rare occasions you may discover the opportunity to test products. This can be a very rewarding task for several reasons. Firstly, you’ll get to see new products that may be released onto the market before others see it.

You can also keep the product on most occasions, once you leave relative feedback or comments in regards to the product.

An email will be dropped in your inbox to indicate there is a product to test, and it’s advisable to do so. You don’t know when the opportunity will arise again, and this is another great way to keep in with the Pinecone Research family.

#3- Bonus Sweepstakes

From time to time you will be able to join in the sweepstakes that are promoted at Pinecone Research. These in my opinion, are an added bonus should you win. With draws offering up to $500 for a single win, they are certainly nothing to turn your nose up at.

They run bi-weekly and quarterly sweepstakes, and each have their own rules and conditions you will need to abide by. As an active Pinecone Research member, you’ll be added automatically into the sweepstakes pool, giving you every chance to win the $500 bi-weekly offering, or the big $4,500 quarterly pool.

Although Pinecone do have loads of active members to compete against, this is one big incentive to join their program.

Getting Paid From Pinecone Research?

There’s two ways to be rewarded from Pinecone Research.

• Cash Out (PayPal)
• Gift card Rewards

Many people are happy to exchange their points for gifts or products. To do this, simply go to the “Redeem” section to find the “Rewards” page. Then it’s just a matter of browsing the rewards and adding them to your shopping cart. You will need to make sure you have enough points to afford the rewards though.

Alternatively, cashing out in dollars is why most people complete surveys. This seems to be a bit more tricky for claiming your earnings. Follow this path to get to the cash out page.
Redeem > Rewards > SHOP > Browser Catalog > Featured Awards > Cash Out. Once you’ve reached this area, select the quantity of $3, $5 or $15 amounts you wish to redeem and add it to your cart.

Either way, you can then complete your order to finalize your reward process.

It seems to me that Pinecone Research would rather you take the gift rewards that are on offer as opposed to cashing out. It seems a long-winded process to navigate to cash out.

Pros:

Decent Comparison Earnings

When you compare what each survey will pay you from other survey sites, Pinecone Research does pay better in comparison. At $3 per survey (although in points format), this does work out much better than their competitors.

Good Sweepstakes Prizes

I really like the idea of automatically being entered into sweepstakes. With decent monetary incentives, it can be enough to encourage members to sign up. If you’re sitting on the fence between other survey sites and Pinecone research, this may tip the scales in favour.

Mobile App

Mobile friendly websites are good, but an app is even better when it comes to tasks or surveys on the go. This can give you the option to take a survey on the train, or any other public transport option. Maybe while waiting in a park or on the beach. An app for this kind of program is ideal.

Keep Tested Products

After you’ve tested products (if you’re ever offering this luxury), you often get to keep the products in question. That’s a really cool benefit, and one that many will like.

Cons:

Earning Potential

If you are so keen on earning a side income, I wouldn’t really suggest filling out surveys for a living. Yes, Pinecone research does pay better than most, but the earning potential is still quite small.

They will tell you the surveys can take 15-20 minutes to complete. I’ve done this in the past, and those surveys take more like 30-40 minutes. That’s because you should be thinking about the questions, not just ticking them off.

In reality, I believe you’ll be lucky to earn $6 per hour. That’s not a very good rate compared to a typical job, and I know that my time is worth more than that.

Surveys Are Boring

Have you ever tried this before? If not, then I can almost guarantee you that you’ll be bored in no time. It may sound like a simple way to earn a few dollars, and it is. But it’s also tedious, time consuming and repetitive.

After a couple of surveys, you may be having second thoughts. But hey, then again, you may enjoy the monotonous nature of surveys, so go for it.

No Other Tasks

Often sites similar to Pinecone research will offer more than just surveys. Maybe completing tasks, entering competitions or clicking adverts. There’s loads of ‘get paid to click’ sites, many I wouldn’t recommend like CashTravel PTC, but they do offer various ways to earn.

In a way, I do like that Pinecone only offers surveys in general, as it defines them as a brand. It also doesn’t tie them in with lesser quality sites which are more scam like. However, it does limit the ways in which you can earn.

Only Invitees

Because you require an invite to join, it means you either need to know somebody, or find an affiliate to Pinecone Research. This is a bit of a bummer should you intend joining directly through their homepage.

Again, I like the exclusivity of this type of membership, but you may feel excluded if you can’t find a way in.

Waiting For Surveys

The number of members inside of Pinecone research is still large enough, so having surveys to complete everyday may not always be an option. This also limits your earning potential, because you cannot take survey after survey.

You will be alerted that a survey is ready for you, but you could be waiting for them to become available.

Is Pinecone Research a Scam

Definitely not. Pinecone research surveys have been around for approximately 20 years, maybe more by the time you read this review. They pay more than most, so they are certainly not a scam.

Some people may consider these kinds of money making opportunities as taking advantage of others. This may be the case, as they don’t pay well for the investment of time you allocate. That doesn’t mean they are a scam, just low paying.

Final Thoughts

In my opinion, I like Pinecone research as a survey site. Does this mean I’d recommend them as a way to earn money online? No. There are better options around.

I’ve been through this in the past, filling out surveys, wasting my precious time. I think I lasted 2 days completing surveys before I realized that it wasn’t for me.

Instead, I wanted something more tangible. Something I could do online that would bring me in money for years down the track. An opportunity that would pay me over and over again, even if I decided not to do anything for a day.

This was how I discovered affiliate marketing. I now promote other people’s products online, and earn commissions when somebody buys. This has been a hugely successful change for me, and a move I’m so glad I took before this pandemic hit. I don’t have to worry about losing my job, there’s plenty of people buying online!

Here’s where you can learn to start an affiliate marketing website from scratch should you want to follow in my footsteps.