Is Octopus Group a Good Online Survey Site? Here’s my Review

Updated 9 August 2026.

We’ve used Octopus Group since January 2017 and regularly check they are still going well and paying as they always have.

They are the highest paying online survey site at $16.80 per hour and a few times we have been offered surveys that are longer than an hour although most are 5 to 20mins.

Bonus offers every month, getting paid to read the newsletter and $45+ per hour for market research are more ways you can make money with Octopus Group.

When you do a survey with Octopus Group you know exactly how much you will make, how long it will take and can decide if it’s worth it for you.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

This review is based on our experience over years and feedback from readers.

Check the comments at the end for more.

Here is our full review and tips to make more with Octopus Group.

Is Octopus Group Really the Highest Paying Australian Online Survey Site?

We’ve been doing other online surveys since 2010 and can verify, Octopus Group pay the most.

Even if you get screened out you still get paid 10c for your time.

Recently, we were eligible for a few and only got screened out of one so they are fairly consistent.

The key is your profile needs to be accurate and kept up to date plus you need to respond to the offers quickly.

Most other online survey sites have different rates for different surveys. Octopus Group has a system with a set rate per time so you know that whether a survey is 1 minute, 5 minutes or 20 minutes, the per-minute value is the same.

Meaning, just like your hourly wage, Octopus Group pays surveys properly in a set time per dollar manner ($0.28 per minute which is $16.80 per hour).

The amount of time for their surveys is quite accurate too.

However, if you get screened out, you spend a lot of time doing the start of a survey then getting screened out and only getting 10 cents.

Here are some recent examples:

How Much Will You Make?

This depends on how many surveys you get offered and completed as well as how many referrals you have or get who actively do surveys.

With the surveys, you make $0.28 per minute or $16.80 per hour (yes, you can get long surveys sometimes).

Since most online survey sites have a bad reputation for low pay, you can see how Octopus Group is different.

But they are the same as other survey sites in every other way.

A few surveys a month could easily add up to a few hundred or even over $1,000 a year.

Market research is paid at $45 to $120hr but you need to activate your profile with Octoqual within Octopus Group.

Activating the bonus each month can mean you get higher rates for surveys and other perks. Make sure you do it at the start of every month.

How Do I Join?

It’s easy to join Octopus Group here and start making money with online surveys.

Simply fill in your details and be sure to do it accurately to get all the surveys relevant to you.

When you have an incomplete or incorrect profile, you don’t get as many surveys and can potentially be screened out which means you don’t make as much money.

Be honest and as detailed as you can so you get accurate surveys.

How is Octopus Group with Customer Service?

We had mixed experiences with Octopus Group customer service.

In general, they have been condescending but we eventually get things sorted and the error is theirs each time so far.

Hopefully, you don’t have to deal with their customer service.

How do I make Money with Octopus Group?

There are a few ways to make money with Octopus Group.

Firstly, do online surveys, provided you aren’t screened out. They can email you whenever there is a new survey relevant to you.

Also, you can log in regularly to check if you want to.

Secondly, market research which is more involved than surveys and not as common but pays much higher for you time.

Thirdly, referrals. Octopus Group pay you $2 for every referral after they have completed their first survey and then another $1 for each survey the referral completes, up to a total of $25 per referral.

And always activate the montly perk or bonus. This month (August 2026) I was offered a higher payment for every survey I did this month. It was for 30 to 44 year olds.

How long do Surveys take?

Surveys can be under a minute or I have seen surveys over an hour. You get to choose which ones you do though so if you prefer the shorter ones, only do those ones.

If you want to make more in one hit, do the longer ones.

Getting Screened Out

Online surveys have always had the issue of potentially getting screened out due to quotas being met etc.

On 26 Jan 2026, we logged in and a warning about potential long screen out came out which has never happened before.

Many have complained that at times they spend a few minutes answering only to get screened out.

Octopus Group appears to be addressing this with a warning and additional incentive. That incentive is only paid after the survey is completely closed and your data is validated.

It is better than getting nothing though.

See screenshot below:

How do I get paid?

Choose between cash or gift cards. Cash is deposited directly into the account of your choosing.

Cash out by Sunday for payments the following Monday..

We usually cash out on a Sunday afternoon but you can cash out any time and get paid the next day (Monday).

You simply log in, click on redemptions then choose if you want cash or a gift card.

Fill in the details, confirm by sending YES to their mobile number then it will be processed.

You can choose to let the money build up throughout the year then cash out for Christmas or school holidays or travel for the family.

There is a monthly cash-out limit though.

For gift cards, you can cash out $100 per day and it arrives immediately. By per day, they mean 24 hours.

If you cash out at 10am one day, you have to wait until after 10am the next day to do it again.

The value of gift cards is higher though because when you cash out $100, they only take $96.

Meaning you get a little extra rather than when you cash out with cash.

Stores including Woolworths are available with the gift cards too.

Note: You will need to verify your identity now to be able to cash out. There were too many scams so this is a way to protect you.

What are the cons?

The biggest issues for readers is getting screened out of surveys, thus wasting time.

Slow or condescending customer service is an issue for most we know as well.

Needing to validate your ID is a new addition to the site and something that bothers many people.

Before you can cash out, you need to go through a process to verify you are who you say you are.

Travel and Surveys

Octopus Group are strict about ensuring you are a resident or in the country if doing surveys.

So if you are travelling, do not log into your account at all unless you want to be suspended and have to prove what you are doing.

Leave it until you get back and cash out then.

Overall View of Octopus Group

It is the highest paying, cash out is done on time and the gift cards are instant.

There are numerous surveys on offer and they are clear about how long they take and what you get paid.

Many readers say they get screened out regularly by Octopus Group. We get screened out of about 1/4 of them despite an accurate profile.

Overall, they are one of the better ones. No online survey site is amazing in our view and they won’t make you rich but this one has made many readers more than most online survey sites.

Sign up to Octopus Group for free here

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