Ways to Make Extra Money Online in Australia: Bonuses, Paid Surveys & Apps
Bank bonuses, paid survey sites, referral offers and money-saving apps • updated May 2026
✓ Free accounts ✓ No credit checks ✓ Beginner-friendly ways to earn or save
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Most people think making extra money online means starting a business, becoming an influencer, or spending months building a proper side hustle.
But there are also easier wins: bank sign-up bonuses, referral offers, paid survey sites, cashback-style promos, and apps that help you save money when you spend, travel or send money overseas.
This guide pulls together the realistic options I’d actually start with in Australia. Some are quick one-off bonuses. Some are ongoing earners, like survey sites. Others are money-saving tools that can be worth using if you travel, shop online, or deal with different currencies.
The idea isn’t that every single one will make you rich. It’s that a few small wins can add up quickly, especially when you combine the easiest bank bonuses with survey platforms and apps you might use anyway.
If you want to go deeper by category, I also keep separate guides for bank bonuses in Australia, paid survey sites, travel money cards, and free bank accounts.
Disclosure: This post contains referral and affiliate links. If you sign up through them, I may receive a bonus or commission at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t change what I recommend — I’ve included the limitations and requirements clearly below.
How This Works
Companies spend money to win new customers. Banks and fintech apps often do this through referral bonuses. Survey companies pay you because brands want consumer opinions. Travel and money apps compete by offering better exchange rates, lower fees, cashback promos or cheaper tools.
Most people ignore these offers because they seem small on their own. A $21 bank bonus or a $30 referral code doesn’t sound life-changing. But when you combine a few of them with paid survey sites and sensible money-saving apps, the first-month value can be surprisingly decent.
💡 The Simple Strategy
Start with the easy one-off bonuses first, then add the survey sites you’ll actually use. After that, keep the money-saving apps that make sense for your lifestyle. You don’t need to do everything at once, but the more useful accounts you set up, the more earning and saving opportunities you’ll have.
Here’s the full breakdown of the best options I’d start with right now.
Best Ways to Make Extra Money Online in Australia (May 2026)
| Platform | Category | Bonus / Value | What You Need to Do | Setup Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ubank | Bank bonus | $30 | Enter code AFWLLL7 + make 5 settled card purchases within 30 days | 5 min |
| Up Bank | Bank bonus | $21 | Sign up with referral code SCONS + pass ID verification | 5 min |
| YouTrip | Travel card bonus | $10 | Sign up + complete first top-up | 5 min |
| Octopus Group | Surveys | Strong survey rates | Sign up + complete profile and surveys | 3 min |
| AttaPoll | Surveys | Quick mobile surveys | Download app + complete surveys | 2 min |
| Survey Village | Surveys | Paid surveys | Sign up through referral | 2 min |
| Purple Patch | Surveys | GiftPay eGift cards | Sign up + complete surveys | 3 min |
| PureProfile | Surveys | Paid surveys | Sign up through referral | 2 min |
| Purkle | Surveys | Paid surveys | Sign up through referral | 2 min |
| SaySo | Surveys | Paid surveys | Sign up through referral | 2 min |
| Influence | Surveys | Market research | Sign up through referral | 2 min |
| Wise | Money transfer | Fee-free first transfer | Sign up + use for an international transfer | 5 min |
| Revolut | Money app | Currency tools | Use for spending, budgeting or holding currencies | 5 min |
| Saily eSIM | Travel saving | Cheaper data abroad | Buy an eSIM before travelling | 5 min |
| NordVPN | Travel/security | Security + access | Subscribe if you need a VPN | 5 min |
| SafetyWing | Travel insurance | Monthly cover option | Use if it suits your trip | 5 min |
💰 What These Offers Are Actually Worth
Realistic first-month value breakdown:
$61
$5–$15
$50–$200+
$20–$100+
$130–$375+
Survey earnings depend on your profile, available studies and time spent. Travel savings only matter if you actually travel or spend in foreign currencies. Bonus amounts and eligibility can change, so always check the current terms before signing up.
Total setup time: around 40–50 minutes if you work through the main offers and survey accounts. The bank bonuses are the quick wins, while the surveys are the ongoing earning option.
Let’s walk through each section.
Step 1: Easy Sign-Up Bonuses
These are the quickest wins because they’re simple to set up: download the app, verify your ID, follow the referral steps, and collect the bonus if you’re eligible. These are transaction accounts or prepaid-style products, not credit cards, so they shouldn’t involve credit checks.
🏦 ubank — $30 Sign-Up Bonus
ubank is the easiest place to start because the offer is straightforward: enter the referral code at signup, open your Spend account, and make 5 settled card purchases within 30 days.
The $30 bonus lands in your ubank Spend account a few days later, which makes this a clean bonus to tick off using normal small purchases like coffee, groceries, transport or anything else you were already going to buy.
How to get your ubank bonus:
- Download the ubank app and start the signup process
- Enter code AFWLLL7 at signup
- Open your ubank Spend account and complete ID verification
- Make 5 settled card purchases within 30 days
- Your $30 bonus lands in your Spend account a few days later
Note: New customers only. You usually won’t be eligible if you’ve had a ubank account in the last 24 months.
Why keep it after the bonus: ubank is handy as a second everyday account, a separate savings/bills account, or a backup card. Even if you use another bank as your main account, having a free second account can be useful for organising money.
🌱 Up Bank — $21 Sign-Up Bonus
Up Bank is a full Australian bank account with a clean app, instant spending notifications, zero international transaction fees, and useful savings features. I’ve used it as a travel and everyday spending card for years because it’s simple and easy to manage from your phone.
Up operates under Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s licence, so deposits are covered under the Australian Government’s Financial Claims Scheme up to the applicable limit.
How to get your Up Bank bonus:
- Use referral code SCONS or tap this link
- Download the Up app from the App Store or Google Play
- Complete the signup and verify your ID
- Pass ID verification/KYC
- The $21 bonus is credited automatically once your signup is verified
Important: The 5-purchase requirement is for ubank, not Up Bank. For Up, the key step is signing up through the referral and passing ID verification.
Why keep it after the bonus: Up is genuinely useful after the referral bonus. It has no international transaction fees, real-time notifications, savings tools, round-ups, multiple Savers, and one of the better banking apps in Australia.
Read my full review: Up Bank Review 2026
💳 YouTrip — $10 Bonus
YouTrip is a prepaid travel wallet that can be useful for overseas spending and online purchases in foreign currencies. The current offer gives you a $10 bonus after signing up and completing your first top-up.
It isn’t a full bank account like Up or ubank. You load money onto it, then spend from the card. That makes it more of a travel spending tool than a main everyday account.
How to get your YouTrip bonus:
- Sign up through this link
- Complete verification
- Top up your account
- Your $10 bonus is credited after meeting the offer terms
Why keep it after the bonus: It can be useful as a backup travel card or a separate spending card for online purchases and foreign currency transactions.
Direct bonus total: $61 from ubank, Up Bank and YouTrip if you’re eligible and complete each offer’s requirements. This is the quickest part of the guide because the actions are simple and the accounts are free to open.
Step 2: Paid Survey Sites & Research Panels
Surveys won’t make you rich, but they’re one of the simplest ways to earn small amounts online. You can do them while watching TV, waiting for appointments, sitting on public transport, or killing time on your phone.
The trick is signing up for multiple platforms. One survey site won’t send you enough opportunities by itself. A few together gives you a much better chance of having surveys available when you feel like doing them.
Best Places to Start
🦑 Octopus Group — Best Overall Survey Platform
Octopus Group is one of the first survey platforms I’d try in Australia. It tends to pay better than many generic survey apps and often has more interesting studies, including product feedback, consumer research, and higher-paying research sessions when they’re available.
Payout: Bank transfer or gift cards, depending on the study and payout option.
Read my full review: Octopus Group Review
📱 AttaPoll — Best Mobile Survey App
AttaPoll is useful because it’s quick and mobile-first. Surveys are usually short, the app is easy to check, and the low cash-out threshold makes it feel more rewarding than platforms where you have to wait ages to withdraw.
The best approach is to be selective. Skip long surveys with tiny rewards and focus on shorter ones that are actually worth your time.
Payout: PayPal, bank transfer, or charity donation, depending on your location and options available in the app.
More Survey Sites to Add
Once you’ve signed up for the main two, add a few extra platforms. More accounts means more survey invitations and a better chance of qualifying for something when you have spare time.
🏠 Survey Village — Australian-Focused Surveys
Survey Village is an Australian survey platform that can be useful as a secondary option. It won’t always be your top earner, but it gives you another place to pick up extra surveys.
Read my full review: Survey Village Review
🎁 Purple Patch — Gift Card Rewards
Purple Patch pays in GiftPay eGift cards rather than cash. That’s less flexible than a bank transfer, but still useful if you shop at major Australian retailers anyway.
Read my full review: Purple Patch Review
PureProfile — A long-running survey platform that can be worth adding to your rotation for extra survey volume.
Purkle — Australian consumer surveys and research opportunities. Another simple one to add for more invitations.
SaySo — A consumer opinion platform with quick surveys and a simple interface.
Influence — Market research studies and surveys from different brands and research partners.
My honest take on surveys: They’re not passive income and they’re not going to replace your job. But if you check a few platforms consistently, cash out regularly, and ignore the low-paying time-wasters, they can be a simple way to earn small amounts online.
Read my full guide: Best Survey Sites Australia 2026
Step 3: Money-Saving Apps for Travel, Transfers & Spending
These aren’t all direct “make money” offers. They’re tools that can save you money if you travel, spend overseas, send money internationally, or need mobile data abroad. If you don’t travel or deal with foreign currencies, you can skip this section.
🌎 Where These Fit In
Think of these as money-saving tools rather than guaranteed bonuses. They can be worth more than a small sign-up bonus if they help you avoid international transaction fees, poor exchange rates, expensive roaming, or overpriced travel insurance.
💸 Wise — Fee-Free First Transfer
Wise is useful if you send money overseas, get paid in another currency, pay international invoices, or travel long-term. The main value isn’t a flashy cash bonus — it’s the exchange rate and transparent fees.
If you need to make an international transfer, the fee-free first transfer offer can save you a small amount immediately, and the ongoing rates can be better than using a traditional bank.
How to use Wise:
- Sign up to Wise here
- Complete verification
- Use it for your next international transfer
- Compare the total cost against your normal bank before sending
Why keep it: It’s useful for international transfers, multi-currency balances, receiving overseas payments, and avoiding poor bank exchange rates.
🌐 Revolut — Useful Money App, Not a Guaranteed Bonus
Revolut is worth mentioning as a money app, but I wouldn’t treat it as a guaranteed sign-up bonus. Its value is more in the multi-currency features, spending tools, budgeting features and the ability to hold and exchange different currencies.
This is better for travellers, freelancers, online sellers, or anyone who deals with USD, GBP, EUR or other currencies. If you only want direct free cash, prioritise ubank, Up Bank and YouTrip first.
How to use Revolut:
- Sign up through this link
- Complete identity verification
- Use it only if the features suit you — don’t sign up expecting a guaranteed cash bonus
- Compare the fees and limits against your existing bank or travel card
Why keep it: It can be useful for currency balances, international spending, budgeting and separating travel money from your everyday bank account.
Read my full comparison: Wise vs Revolut vs Up Bank
The tools in this section are affiliate links and are best viewed as money-saving options rather than guaranteed income. Only use them if they suit your actual travel or money needs.
How to Maximise Your Earnings
Signing up is the easy part. Here’s how to get the most value without wasting time.
🏦 Start With the Direct Bonuses
Do ubank, Up Bank and YouTrip first because they have the clearest upfront value. For ubank, make sure the 5 card purchases actually settle within 30 days. For Up, make sure you use the referral and complete ID verification.
📈 Use Multiple Survey Sites
Survey income is a volume game. Sign up to a few platforms, turn on notifications for the ones you like, and skip surveys that clearly aren’t worth your time.
📧 Use a Separate Email Address
A separate email address makes it easier to track survey invitations, referral offers and bonus requirements without cluttering your main inbox.
💰 Cash Out Regularly
Don’t leave large balances sitting in survey accounts. Cash out as soon as you hit the minimum threshold so the money is actually in your bank account.
🔄 Refer Others After You’ve Tested Them
Many of these platforms have their own referral programs. Once you’ve signed up and know which ones are actually useful, you can share your own links with friends, family or your audience.
Quick-Start Checklist
Start with the simple bonuses, then add the survey platforms if you want ongoing small earnings.
⏱ Your Action Plan:
Direct Bonuses (15–20 minutes):
- ubank — Enter code AFWLLL7, make 5 settled card purchases within 30 days, collect $30
- Up Bank — Sign up with code SCONS, complete ID verification, collect $21
- YouTrip — Sign up, complete your first top-up, collect $10 if eligible
Paid Surveys (20 minutes):
- Octopus Group — Register, complete profile, watch for higher-paying studies
- AttaPoll — Download app, complete profile, do short surveys
- Survey Village — Register through link
- Purple Patch — Register through link
- PureProfile — Register through link
- Purkle — Register through link
- SaySo — Register through link
- Influence — Register through link
Money-Saving Tools (use when relevant):
- Wise — Use for international transfers or overseas payments
- Revolut — Use only if the currency and money tools suit you
- Saily eSIM — Get data before travelling overseas
- NordVPN — Use for public WiFi and travel security if needed
- SafetyWing — Compare if you need flexible travel insurance
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these online money-making offers actually legit?
Yes, these are standard referral programs, sign-up bonuses, survey platforms and affiliate offers. The important thing is to read the terms, use the correct referral links or codes, and avoid anything that asks for suspicious upfront payments.
Will signing up for multiple bank accounts affect my credit score?
Opening transaction accounts or prepaid-style accounts is different from applying for credit cards or loans. The accounts in this guide are not listed as credit products, so they should not affect your credit score in the same way a credit application would.
How much can I realistically make?
The clearest direct bonuses here are $61 from ubank, Up Bank and YouTrip if you’re eligible and complete the steps. Survey earnings vary a lot, but a realistic first-month range for casual use is $50–$200+. Money-saving tools like Wise, Saily or Up Bank’s travel features only add value if you actually use them.
Can I do this if I already have one of these accounts?
You usually won’t receive a new-customer sign-up bonus for a platform you already have or recently had. But you can still use the other offers, survey sites and money-saving tools that you haven’t tried yet.
Do I need to keep all these accounts open?
No. Keep the accounts and apps you actually find useful. For me, the best long-term value comes from the accounts that save money on spending or transfers, and the survey platforms that continue to send worthwhile opportunities.
Are survey sites worth the time?
They can be, but only if you’re selective. Surveys are best for spare-time earning, not serious income. If a survey is too long for the reward, skip it. Focus on platforms with better rates, lower cash-out thresholds and studies that match your profile.
Is there an age requirement?
Most banking products require you to be 18+. Survey platforms generally require 16+ or 18+ depending on the platform. Always check each platform’s terms before signing up.
What if a platform stops paying or changes its terms?
This is why I recommend cashing out survey earnings regularly and never leaving large balances sitting in survey accounts. Bonus amounts, eligibility rules and referral programs can change at any time.
Can I share my own referral links after signing up?
Yes. Once you’ve joined and tested a platform, many of them let you share your own referral code or link. That can turn a one-time sign-up bonus into an ongoing referral opportunity.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t going to replace your income. But it is a realistic way to pick up a few easy bonuses, earn small amounts online, and save money with tools you might actually use.
The bank and fintech offers are the quickest wins. The survey platforms are better for ongoing small earnings. The travel and money tools are only worth it if they match your actual spending or travel habits.
The smartest move? Start with ubank, Up Bank and YouTrip, then add the survey platforms you’ll actually use. You don’t need to do everything at once, but the more useful options you set up, the more chances you have to earn or save.
✓ Why This Works
- The main accounts and survey platforms are free to join
- The direct bonuses are simple if you follow the steps
- Survey sites provide ongoing opportunities, not just one-off value
- Money apps can save you fees if you travel or send money overseas
- You can keep only the accounts you actually use
- You can refer others after you’ve tested the platforms yourself
⚠️ Realistic Expectations
- Survey income requires effort and consistency
- Bank bonuses are usually one-time only per customer
- Some offers require actions like purchases, top-ups or transfers
- Survey earnings vary by profile and available studies
- Travel savings only matter if you actually travel or spend overseas
- Referral terms and bonus amounts can change without notice
Start With the Easy Wins
Begin with the fastest direct bonuses, then add survey sites for ongoing small earnings
ubank ($30 Bonus) →
Up Bank ($21 Bonus) →
YouTrip ($10 Bonus) →
✓ Free to open ✓ Beginner-friendly ✓ Start with the offers you’ll actually use
About the Author
Lee runs Money Hack HQ and tests banking apps, survey platforms, travel cards and money-saving tools from an Australian perspective. The goal is simple: show what actually works, what is worth skipping, and how to avoid wasting time on offers that sound better than they are.
Important Information & Disclaimers
- Sign-up bonuses, referral terms, interest rates, eligibility rules and payout conditions can change at any time. Always check the current offer directly before signing up.
- Survey earnings vary based on your demographic profile, location, available studies and the time you invest. The figures quoted are general examples, not guaranteed income.
- Some offers require actions such as identity verification, top-ups, card purchases, international transfers or purchases. Make sure the required action is worth it for you before signing up.
- Money Hack HQ may earn a bonus or commission if you sign up through referral or affiliate links in this article at no extra cost to you.
- This content is general information only and should not be considered personal financial advice. Consider your own circumstances before making financial decisions.
- All information updated as of May 2026. Offers may have changed since publication.
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