Octopus Group Review 2024: Paid Online Surveys

There are plenty of ways to make money on the side, and taking online surveys is an easy side hustle. But with plenty of scammy sites around, it can be hard to separate genuine earning opportunities from the rest.

When it comes to online surveys, Octopus Group is my number one site. With high survey earning rates and a user-friendly interface, I’ve found it easy to rack up rewards. It’s fair to say that many other users agree!

Read my full review to learn how Aussie-owned survey site Octopus Group works, how to maximise your earnings, and discover why you should join right now (for free, of course).

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Octopus Group Australia

Right now, if you join Octopus Group and start taking paid online surveys, you can earn the equivalent of $16/hour and get paid in cash directly to your bank account. 

What is Octopus Group?

If you’ve been dabbling in online surveys, you may be familiar with OctopusGroup.com.au – here are the key reasons why it’s at the top of my list for paid online surveys:

  • Octopus Group is a legit, 100% Australian-owned survey panel. It works with trusted brands and pays members for taking online surveys
  • Complete surveys anywhere you like: Laptop, PC, tablet, or smartphone.
  • Redeem actual cash directly into your bank account. Or, choose discounted gift cards for popular brands
  • Joining Octopus Group is quick, easy, and 100% free right here

As one of Australia’s leading online survey panels for consumers, Octopus Group provides frequent opportunities to have your say. If you’re prepared to invest some time on the site, there’s potential to rack up earnings fast. Plus, you can earn even more money by referring friends to the platform.

What Makes Octopus Group the Highest Paying Survey Site in Australia?

When I take surveys online, I’m only interested in sites that compensate me fairly for my time and effort. That means, I only sign up for survey sites that offer a high rewards payout for the time that I put in.

Octopus Group is one of the fastest-growing online survey panels for Australian consumers. But here’s the thing: It boldly claims to pay out more than any other online survey site, compensating users generously for having their say.

So does this claim really stack up?

Yes! Octopus Group pays out an average of 28 cents per minute you spend completing their surveys. This works out to be over $16 AUD per hour.

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Compare this with other sites (think Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, and Toluna) and it’s fair to say that Octopus Group payout rates really are substantially higher than what you can expect to find elsewhere. That means, when you complete surveys via octopusgroup.com, you can be reassured that you will receive fair compensation for your time.

Some surveys come with additional incentives. Plus, there’s a generous refer-a-friend program to help you rack up even more cash.

But why does Octopus Group pay more to their members and keep less of the profit for themselves? Essentially, this approach is the key way the company is successfully carving out significant growth in the online panel space in Australia. They do this by choosing to put their marketing budget towards incentivising frequent users.

How does Octopus Group actually work?

So how does the process to complete online surveys via Octopus Group work? In a nutshell, organisations (usually market research companies, but also trusted brands) pay Octopus Group a fee to collect responses to their surveys. A large portion of that money is passed back on to you, the respondent.

All you need to do is join Octopus Group and start completing online questionnaires. Simply qualify for a survey, complete the requested information accurately, and get paid for your time. Here are the key facts to know:

Cost to join:Free
Ways to earn:Online Surveys
Cashout options:Bank Account, Gift Card, Charity
Redemption threshold (AUD):$20

Of course, you won’t always meet all the requirements to complete a specific survey. This can happen because you don’t meet the qualifying demographics, or it might occur when a quota group has already been filled. While it might seem frustrating, this issue is common to all online survey sites. When this happens, you will still be compensated a small token fee, simply for attempting the survey.

Octopus Group: What I love

I’ve been taking paid online surveys with Octopus Group for several years, so I’ve had time to consider where it really shines. Let’s take a look at all the ways Octopus Group stands out from other online survey sites:

Make real money (yes, you’ll earn actual cash)

When you provide your opinion online, many survey sites reward you with a points-based system. At best, many of these schemes can be murky. At worst, they can be a scam. That’s because there’s not a great deal of transparency about the equivalent cashout rate.

That’s not the case with Octopus Group, where your balance tallies up transparently as a currency of real cash. Simply earn money then opt to have the cash transferred directly to your Aussie bank account. You can request payment whenever you reach a minimum balance of $20 AUD. There is no limit to how often you can request a payout.

Alternatively, if you prefer, you can choose to redeem your rewards for discounted gift cards. Many major Australian brands and retailers are supported by the Octopus Group rewards platform, including Woolworths, Myer, David Jones, Bunnings, and more.

Get plenty of online survey invites

Even with an excellent pay rate, you won’t get ahead if you don’t get offered many surveys to complete. As one of Australia’s leading online panels, Octopus Group works with plenty of brands, giving users access many chances to have a say. By offering frequent online surveys, Octopus Group users can rack up earnings fast.

octopus group review available surveys

Of course, that doesn’t mean Octopus Group gets access to all online survey opportunities for Aussie consumers, even if this is stressed in their messaging. This is particularly the case for global survey companies who might only release survey opportunities via their own portals. So, while Octopus Group puts the hard word on members to stay exclusive, many users – myself included – find value in joining multiple sites.

You’ll get notified about any new surveys as soon as they come up via the Octopus Group survey app or via email. You can complete each on your laptop or desktop, or use the dedicated Octopus Group app on your Android or Apple device to take online surveys ‘on-the-go’.

Get paid when you screen out

If you’ve tried completing surveys online with other companies, you’ll know that you will usually need to complete pre-questionnaire screeners. These screeners can be extremely frustrating. After all, they take a lot of time and you typically don’t get compensated on other sites. With Octopus Group, you’ll receive a token payment for your time, even when you don’t qualify for the survey.

This payment is 5 cents. Even though that isn’t a lot, it is still more than what you receive on other sites. It’s just one of the ways that Octopus Group values its members.

Is Octopus Group a legitimate site?

Yes, Octopus Group is a time-tested, legit and trustworthy site. The company is registered in Australia and has over five years of history of paying out to survey takers and using credible business practices. Here are some other ways we can tell they are legit:

Octopus Group abides by industry guidelines: The company is ISO certified (ISO 20252:2019 Market, Opinion and Social Research), and they hold membership in Australia’s industry research body, The Research Society (formerly AMSRS). These accreditations hold them to industry codes of conduct, which means they work to greater accountability when compared with many other online survey sites.

Privacy legislation is taken seriously: Octopus Group pledges to abide by the Australian Privacy Act, which is a must for any company handling sensitive data.

They look after members: Octopus Group’s payment practices are fair and decent. Not only do they offer the highest online survey payments in Australia, but they also pay users for screenouts and even reading the monthly newsletter! These actions show management respect for their members and demonstrate they are trying to build up a quality online panel for the long haul.

Multiple layers of site security: While mobile number registration and regular validations may seem like a pain, this functionality helps to secure your Octopus Group account and protect your account from unauthorised activity.

Verified payouts: When it comes to cashing out rewards, Octopus Group pays out each time, just like they say they will. This is backed up by my own experience, but don’t just take my word for it – check out the numerous Octopus Group reviews around the web.

All of this indicates that Octopus Group is a safe and legitimate site to use for online surveys.

How much can you earn with Octopus Group online surveys?

Octopus Group pays out up to four or even five times what you can earn on other survey sites. As an example, they pay much higher than global survey sites like Survey Junkie and Swagbucks. And while Australian panels like Toluna, OpinionWorld, and YouGov pay quite well, they can’t match the rates you’ll find with Octopus Group.

The Octopus Group payment model rewards users for each minute spent providing an opinion. Survey respondents are paid out a flat fee – a rate of 28 cents AUD per minute, multiplied by the estimated survey completion time. That means, that if you complete a 10-minute survey, you’ll earn $2.80. An hour of surveys? You can make up to $16.80. While it’s not quite the Australian minimum rate of pay, it’s decent compensation for a side hustle that can be undertaken in your free time.

Set Rate

In addition to paying the highest survey rates, Octopus Group offers one thing that other survey sites lack – a set, minimum payout rate per minute for all surveys.

At the time of writing, Octopus Group guarantees a minimum rate of 28 cents per minute. In real terms, if you complete an hour of surveys, you can make $16.80. Some surveys offer even more per minute, so you can start making real money to provide your opinion.

The set rate helps you know how much you can make for every survey you take. It is an excellent way to guarantee that you will earn a decent amount of money for your efforts.

Average Payout Per Survey

Speaking from my own experience, the survey times available via Octopus Group can vary, but you will make 28 cents or more per minute for any survey you choose. That means if you take a thirty-minute survey, you will make a minimum of $8.40. If the survey only takes two minutes (which is rare), you will earn a minimum of 56 cents.

The time each survey takes to complete is based on an average time determined by Octopus Group and their client. Sometimes you may finish quicker, and sometimes it may take longer.

Occasionally, you may spend significantly longer completing a survey than the expected duration. This has happened to me several times. Where this happens, it’s worth getting in touch with Octopus Group customer support to let them know.

Most users agree that the approximate time investment is usually pretty accurate, so you can expect the price to be fair. Your pay will depend on how many surveys you complete, so there will be a lot of fluctuation in your overall earnings.

How to Join Octopus Group

It’s quick and easy to join Octopus Group – and it won’t cost you a cent.

To sign up for Octopus Group, you will need to provide an email and a phone number. Your number needs to be registered in Australia or New Zealand.

During the signup process, you will need to register your email and phone number by clicking on links and entering validation codes. This functionality adds an additional layer of security to your account.

Once you have signed up to the platform, read the Octopus Group terms of service and privacy policy. Then, you are ready to start working on completing your profile.

Fill Out Your Profile for More Opportunities

Once you create an account, you’ll need to fill out your profile by answering questions about yourself.

Having your profile information complete and up to date helps increase the chances of receiving surveys, especially surveys that are relevant to you. It also ensures that you can cash in on maximum rewards by earning more cash faster.

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Profiling information is only used by the company to match you with appropriate surveys and to minimise the number of likely screenouts you’ll encounter. You can find out more about how Octopus Group safeguards this data in its privacy policy.

What to Expect Once You Join

Once you join, confirm your information, and answer the profiling questions, you are ready to start taking surveys.

Most survey opportunities are served during the week, Monday through Friday and they will appear on your dashboard. Once you get selected for a survey, you may have to answer a few more questions to make sure you qualify.

If you qualify, you can take the survey and answer all the questions. The average survey completion time and the amount you’ll get paid for the survey will be listed on the dashboard. Once Octopus Group’s client approves your survey response, the money gets credited to your account.

If you don’t qualify, you will not be able to complete the survey and you will receive a nominal 5-cent payment for your time.

New surveys will always show up on your dashboard on the site and in the mobile app. If you choose to receive notifications, you can get updates from your phone or via email when a new opportunity is available. Responding to surveys quickly makes it more likely you will qualify before quota groups are filled.

How Does the Octopus Group Rewards System Work?

Octopus Group offers a straightforward rewards system, with no murky or dodgy redemption options. At the heart of it is the ability to exchange your earnings for real cash in your bank account.

How to Cashout Rewards

Unlike other survey sites, Octopus Group offers the ability to request cash directly into your bank account. If you prefer, you can also request to redeem your survey earnings for discounted gift cards.

Requesting Cash into Your Bank Account

Once you have earned at least $20 AUD, you can request a payout directly into your Australian bank account. To validate the request, Octopus Group requires you to send approval from your registered phone number.

The SMS response protects your Octopus Group account from any unauthorized activity. For this reason, it’s important to keep your mobile number up to date.

Octopus Group runs a payment run each Monday, and they claim to payout within a week of any redemption request. It should be noted that your bank can take longer to clear the payment. For some banks, it can take up to a month to get credited, which is very slow.

Redeeming for eGift Cards

If you prefer, you can also opt to redeem discounted egift cards from your account. Gift card denominations start from just $5, and you can redeem a maximum of $100 in gift cards per day.

A range of brands is on offer, including Myer, Woolworths, Bunnings, Catch, Priceline Harvey Norman, and other popular retailers.

Simply log into the Octopus Group website, navigate to the redemption section and choose your preferred gift card value. Once you purchase a gift card, it will be sent to you instantly via email.

Since Octopus Group passes on their bulk purchasing discount of 4%, egift card redemptions can offer additional value of up to $4 per redemption. Here’s what you can save:

Gift card valueRedemption price
$20$19.20
$40$38.40
$60$57.60
$80$76.80
$100$96.00

So long as you remain an active Octopus Group member, the cash balance in your account will never expire.

Octopus Group Referral Program

One way to make even more money with Octopus Group is by referring friends to become members. You can invite as many friends as you wish.

How to Refer Friends

The refer-a-friend process works in two different ways. The first option is to enter a friend’s email on the mobile app and allow them to sign up from the message they receive. Alternatively, you can copy the ‘Tell a Friend’ link from your account dashboard and send this link across manually via email or social media.

What You Get For Every Friend

You’ll make $2 AUD for each friend that signs up and completes two surveys and $1 for each survey your friend completes for their next twenty-three assignments.

That means you can make up to $25 each time you refer a friend, and the best part is there is no limit to how many friends you can refer.

In case you’re worried about this being a Multi-level marketing plan, it’s not. Your survey rates are never affected by referrals. You’ll make the same price and get the same surveys no matter how few referrals you have. These are just a nice bonus.

At the end of the day, you will want to refer people who are motivated to sign up and complete surveys to get the most out of the program. That way, it’s a win-win for both of you.

Tips for Getting the Most from Octopus Group

While Octopus Group gives you a lot of opportunities to complete surveys and earn money, there are things you can do to ensure you’re getting the most from the platform. Here are our top tips:

Fill Out Your Profile

Having an accurate profile is essential. It’s used to assign you to survey opportunities, based on your demographics and behaviours. Invest the time in completing it accurately once you join Octopus Group, and always keep it up to date. This way, you’ll get more opportunities to earn money and fewer annoying screenouts.

Check for Survey Opportunities Frequently

Survey quotas fill up fast – so you need to be quick to take advantage of them. There is no set time that surveys drop on the system. Survey numbers and timing are usually driven by client deadlines. For the best chance of taking surveys, you should check for them as often as possible.

If you have the mobile app, you can opt to get a message every time a new survey opportunity comes up. You can also sign up to receive emails from Octopus Group. You control these emails, so you won’t get spammed with information or sales from the company. You only receive the updates you want to receive.

Complete Surveys Carefully

Like all online survey sites, Octopus Group questionnaires can be long, and you might be tempted to speed through and finish one in as little time as possible. However, if you aren’t answering correctly, you can lose the payment and lose out on future opportunities.

Octopus Group and its clients have sophisticated systems to look at the quality of your responses. Many clients also input ‘QA’ or ‘check’ questions to determine whether or not you’re paying attention. If it is determined that you have answered falsely, or if you answer too quickly, this impacts the quality of data collected. As a result, your data may be voided and you won’t receive a payout.

You should also be aware that Octopus Group has a ‘three strike’ policy for respondents who are flagged with QA issues. If your response is flagged multiple times, your Octopus Group Account may be closed permanently. Taking the time to answer a questionnaire slowly and carefully can avoid these headaches and ensure you have more chances to make money in the future.

Keep Your Account Active

Even if you are time-poor, it’s in your best interest to keep your Octopus Group account as active as possible. Taking surveys regularly will guarantee you continue to receive invites, whilst boosting your rewards further.

When you don’t have much time to invest, attempting one survey a week is enough to keep you active on the site. Since your cash rewards never expire, you can keep building up your account balance even when you’re busy.

What is Octopus Group Support Like?

From time to time, things can go wrong. If you become an active member of octopusgroup.com.au, chances are that you’ll need to contact Octopus Group support at some stage. There are a few different ways to contact support when you need it.

Check the FAQs: As a first step, browse the extensive Octopus Group FAQ information on the website. You can find many answers to questions you may have, and you can use the search function if you are not sure where to start.

octopus group review faq

Lodge an online support ticket: If you can’t find an answer to your question, you can lodge a ticket for Octopus Group to seek help. The customer care team will respond to the ticket and help you resolve the issue as quickly as possible. The Octopus Group email address is [email protected]

Phone Octopus Group: If that still isn’t enough, there is an Octopus Group customer phone number you can call. The phone number is Octopus Group’s last option for direct support, but it’s unlikely you’ll need it.

Reach out on social media: For general questions, you can reach out to them on the Octopus Group Facebook page on social media.

Pros and Cons – Octopus Group

Octopus Group offers many positive things for anyone looking to make a little extra money. However, like any online survey site, there are a few noticeable drawbacks as well. Here are some of the best and worst features of the program:

Pros

  • Usually offers highest online survey payout rates in Australia
  • Cash payouts directly into your bank account
  • Use the survey app to take surveys on the go
  • Small payment even if you get screened out
  • Very generous refer-a-friend program

Cons

  • Only available in Australia and NZ
  • Quotas fill fast, so you need to be quick to qualify for a survey
  • High levels of screenouts are likely

Octopus Group reviews from the web

When looking for Octopus Group reviews, don’t just take our word for it. There’s plenty of chatter to be found online via Google reviews, Product Review, Trust Pilot, and further afield.

Overall, Octopus Group boasts favourable reviews on the web, as the majority of users appear to be satisfied with their experience. User Les From Fitzroy on Product Review says, “Easy and speedy signup, a good number of surveys offered, I have had over 80% successful completion rate, earnings of over $50 in the first week. Payout to bank account done once a week on a Tuesday, have already received $35. By far the best survey site I have come across. Highly recommended.”

On Trustpilot, user Kar Le didn’t seem happy about the screening process, stating, “Plenty of surveys, but you waste a lot of time answering questions and then halfway through you discover you’re not actually eligible for them.”

It’s pleasing to see Octopus Group management regularly respond to reviews and acknowledge pain points. This shows they are committed to continuously improving the user experience.

Survey sites like Octopus Group

There are many ways to get paid cash for opinion. Many survey sites operate the same way as Octopus Group. Although most don’t offer the same level of payment, it could be worthwhile to explore other platforms if you plan to complete online surveys frequently.

YouGov

Another major paid survey site with a global, as well as significant Australian footprint is YouGov. As the name implies, it focuses on the Governmental end of market research so you’re not only getting paid to answer surveys but also helping shape public policies in the process.

You can join here or read our full review here.

Conclusion: Octopus Group Review Australia

When you crunch the numbers, there’s no doubt that Octopus Group is the highest-paying online survey site for Australian and New Zealand consumers.

With an average earn rate of over $16 AUD per hour, the time investment vs payout ratio is very high – even when you take into consideration the lost opportunity cost of regular screenouts. Given many multi-national survey sites pay peanuts, these pay rates are definitely worth joining up for.

If you live in Australia and New Zealand, there’s nothing to be lost by testing this online survey site out risk-free. Give it a try for a month, and see if you can make some extra spending money from Octopus Group.

Sure, you won’t become independently wealthy when you join Octopus Group, but you will make some extra cash on the side. Add to this a user-friendly experience, and it’s worth giving a go.

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Octopus Group Australia

Right now, if you join Octopus Group and start taking paid online surveys, you can earn the equivalent of $16/hour and get paid in cash directly to your bank account. 

FAQ – Octopus Group

Is Octopus Group legitimate?

Octopus Group is a 100% Australian-owned legit survey panel that pays members for taking online surveys. Join for free right here.

How much can you earn on Octopus Group?

The Octopus Group payment model rewards users for each minute spent providing an opinion. Survey respondents are paid out a flat fee – a rate of 28 cents AUD per minute, multiplied by the estimated survey completion time.

How do I redeem my Octopus Group money?

Users can redeem Octopus Group credits for cash directly into their bank accounts. Alternatively, choose gift cards from popular brands.

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