Make money from watching videos

 If you've ever wished you could get paid to watch videos on the internet, we've got some great news for you: you can. Here's how to do it:

It's a LOT easier than you would think to make money by watching videos. And, given that you'll almost certainly be spending a lot of your free time online watching movies, clips, and commercials anyway, it's a simple way to supplement your income.

It's a great way to supplement other income streams, such as running a YouTube channel. Plus, all of your video-related work experience could help you land a job in the film, television, or digital media industries.

There are several options for watching videos for money, and we'll go through the best ones here.

1. Watch videos for cash on Swagbucks

We highly recommend signing up for Swagbucks to begin earning rewards for watching videos, browsing the web, and completing surveys if you haven't already.

Swagbucks can show you a variety of videos, but you should expect a lot of short clips like commercials, news material, and viral videos.

Although you won't make a lot of money or 'Swagbuck points' (a.k.a. SB) by watching videos on the web, we think it's worth a shot because it's so simple.

Plus, combining Swagbucks with the other tips on this list would easily add up to a significant amount of money.

For a free sign-up bonus, go here. Also, read our in-depth guide to earning Swagbucks rewards for more detail.

2. Write subtitles for films as a freelancer

It's definitely worth thinking about writing subtitles for videos online on a freelance basis, particularly if you're looking to beef up your CV with film-related experience.

Video content creators often seek out freelancers to write subtitles for their films, likely to make them more available to people with hearing loss, or to upload transcripts when uploading YouTube videos.

Since writing subtitles and transcripts can be time-consuming, video producers can turn to freelancers for help – which is where you come in.

You will find freelancers who will write video subtitles for a fee on sites like Fiverr. Look at what other freelancers charge to get a sense of costs, and make sure to post rates that you feel are both fair and competitive.

However, we've seen freelancers on Fiverr starting their rates at £4.16 for writing subtitles as a guideline.

Bonus: If you know a second language, this is even better because you can charge extra to freelance translate videos. Not to mention the fact that it would undoubtedly impress potential employers...

3. Make money watching videos on InboxPounds

InboxPounds is similar to Swagbucks in that it helps you to win money for doing things as easy as watching videos and taking surveys.

Again, you won't make a lot of money here, but the more tasks you complete in addition to watching videos, the more money you'll make.

Even reading InboxPounds' deal emails or using their search page to search the internet will earn you money.

You can signup from InboxPounds website.

4. Become a film and TV reviewer

If you want to make a living watching movies and TV shows, being a film or TV critic is perhaps the easiest and most well-known way to do so.

It's not easy to make writing about videos a full-time job, but you can do it with hard work, determination, and a good command of the written word.

Since film and television criticism is a highly competitive area, you should begin by charging lower rates to represent your level of experience, particularly if you choose to work freelance.

But bear in mind that you deserve to be paid for your work, so don't settle for less than you deserve just because you're starting out.

It's worth looking at internships to help you train for a full-time career as a film or television critic. Unfortunately, not all journalism internships pay well (or even pay at all in some cases), but PressPad can help with housing during internship placements.

If you do end up on an unpaid internship, our guide to financially supporting yourself during the placement will help.

Once you've built a reputation and a portfolio of ratings, you can steadily boost your rates and take on larger commissions.

Editors are being pitched article suggestions about movies and TV shows.

Setting up a blog to highlight your writing style and talent can help you get commissioned for film or TV reviews as a freelancer.

Then, find commissioning editors for related publications and contact them directly (using their names in emails) to pitch your proposal. Link to your blog or portfolio page at the end of your pitch so they can see what you're capable of.

Don't be discouraged by rejections; be assured in your article proposals, keep pitches short, and don't be discouraged by rejections. If you keep going, you might end up being the next Mark Kermode.

5. Watch ads, movie trailers and more for money on iRazoo

iRazoo is another rewards platform where you can gain points for doing things as simple as watching fun videos, playing games, and taking surveys.

Short films, cooking lessons, movie trailers, smartphone advertisements, and more are among the videos available. To gain iRazoo Points, all you have to do is watch them.

After that, once you've received over 3,000 points, you can collect your first reward, which includes a number of coupons as well as cash paid via PayPal.

Plus, when you sign up for iRazoo via this page, you'll get an extra 500 points. Thank you so much.

SIGNUP on iRazoo websites.

6. Take part in paid psychological studies

This may be a smart way to make money by viewing videos if you're interested in participating in psychological and behavioral research.

The sum you will be compensated for participating in psychological trials varies greatly depending on the type of trial and how long it lasts, but you may be paid up to £100+ for your time!

However, please bear in mind that we suggest only enrolling in studies if you really want to participate, not just to make money. Depending on the nature of the research, it can be emotionally or mentally taxing, so just participate in those that you are comfortable with.

How to find psychological trials

When enrolling in psychiatric research, as in all clinical trials, it's important to stick with reputable organizations.

We suggest concentrating on university research when searching for valid paid psychology trials.

To begin, contact your university's psychology department to see if there are any upcoming studies you might participate in. This would be the simplest and most convenient way to participate in one.

If that isn't practical, you might look at other universities' programs. To narrow down the search, type '[university name] psychological trials' into Google, which should bring up the appropriate page on the university's website.

There are call-outs for research trial participants as well as instructions on how to apply.

You may also contact a university's psychology department directly to learn more about their upcoming research, either by phone or email.

Universities will often announce that they are recruiting "volunteers" for research, but these opportunities will almost always provide a form of reimbursement (in the form of cash or vouchers) for your time and expenses.

On the University of Cambridge's website, for example, you can register as a participant in research studies. Despite the fact that they are seeking volunteers, they give "modest monetary rewards" to those who participate.

Videos aren't often included in studies, so keep an eye out for ones that suit you and your interests.

7. Watch adverts for PayPal money on SuccessBux

SuccessBux is a Pay-To-Click platform that allows you to earn money by watching advertisements – it's almost like getting free money.

You can request the money you've received via the platform very easily after you begin performing the tasks – the minimum payment for Standard and Premium members is only $1 (roughly 80p), and you can collect it through PayPal.

The more you branch out on SuccessBux, like the other recommended sites on this list that pay you to watch videos, the more you receive. So, in addition to watching videos, you can check out the other money-making options available, such as answering surveys and referring friends.

8. Earn crypto by watching videos on TV-TWO app

You are not alone in being interested in cryptocurrency but unsure how to get started earning it. Is there a way out? TWO is a television channel.

TV-TWO is a cryptocurrency-earning app that helps you to gain cryptocurrency through watching videos. It functions similarly to places like Swagbucks in that you can watch videos and win points (in this case, TTV tokens), but the key difference is how you get paid.

You will request a payout after you've won 50,000 credits in the app.

You'll need to include your email address as well as your Ethereum wallet address in order to receive your payout. Ethereum is a cryptocurrency network, and TV-TWO suggests receiving your payout through Trust Crypto Wallet.

TTV Ethereum tokens are a form of cryptocurrency that can be traded on cryptocurrency exchanges for more commonly used cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin or Ether.

Then, using sites like Coinbase or Kraken, you can trade your cryptocurrency for cash and receive the equivalent sum in GBP (£) through PayPal.

This isn't the most clear choice on our list, but it might be a good place to start if you're interested in earning cryptocurrency.

9. Promote videos for companies online

You might also charge businesses to advertise their videos online as a slightly simpler way to make money to finish on (we swear there's no crypto involved in this one).

Sponsored posts are a popular way for online influencers to make money. Although you don't need a massive online audience to do this, having a fair number of followers on social media and/or your blog would be helpful.

You will charge businesses more to distribute their content if you have a broad audience.

Of course, it's important to ensure that the videos you're promoting are of high quality and meaningful to your target audience, as posting material that your followers don't connect with can have a huge negative effect on your online brand.

It's worth contacting the influencer marketing departments of brands you like and want to collaborate with to see if they'd be interested in partnering on a sponsored video message.

You could also use freelance sites like Fiverr to find companies willing to pay you a small fee to share their video content online, particularly if you have a smaller online following.

Note: If you are paying to share a promotional post online, make it clear that it is a paid advertisement or supported post. The ASA's Influencer Guide has more detail and recommendations.