Pinecone Research Canada Review 2024: Get Paid for Surveys

Pinecone Research is one of the highest-paying consumer survey sites available to Canadians. Members can get paid to complete surveys, test products, and even earn money for entering sweepstakes.

The only problem is that it can be a bit difficult to join, compared to other paid survey sites in Canada.

Wondering if Pinecone Research Canada is right for you?

Below, I’ll give you a comprehensive Pinecone Research review, explain how it works, how to get paid with the platform, and take a look at how it stacks up to other paid survey sites.

Let’s take a look!

Pinecone Research Canada Review Summary

Before we jump into the details, here’s a quick overview of my review of Pinecone Research Canada.

What Is Pinecone Research Canada?

Pinecone Research is one of the oldest paid survey platforms in North America. The research panel was established in 1998 with the goal of providing accurate, high-quality consumer data to large companies throughout North America.

Currently, Pinecone Research is available to both Canadian and US residents.

Essentially, Pinecone Research enlists members to complete surveys and questionnaires, test products, and enter into sweepstakes to review the process. “Panelists” (survey-takers) are paid piecework style, based on the market research surveys that they participate in.

Panelists aren’t required to work at any specific times. Instead, they can log into their account at any time, check for available survey opportunities, and complete whatever work is available.

Overall, Pinecone Research is a great way to earn some side money. However, the work is a bit sporadic, so I wouldn’t rely on it for full-time income.

It’s a great way for teens, moms, or students who want to make money online. The work is flexible, and the surveys are matched to your demographic profile to ensure that they’re relatable.

How Do You Earn Money With Pinecone Research In Canada?

Pinecone Research is a professional panel. Compared to sites like Swagbucks, for example, that offer a plethora of opportunities to earn extra cash, Pinecone Research is a bit more focused.

Panelists will be able to earn money by:

• Completing paid research studies and questionnaires
• Reviewing physical or digital products
• Entering sweepstakes offers

Now, let’s take a closer look at what each of these money-making opportunities looks like.

1. Completing Surveys

Paid surveys are the bread and butter of Pinecone Research. More often than not, you’ll receive far more opportunities to complete surveys than you will to test products or enter sweepstakes.

Surveys are also the easiest way to make money with Pinecone Research. All you have to do is click multiple-choice answer bubbles and occasionally write a brief response paragraph.

When panelists first sign up for Pinecone Research, they’ll be given an initial survey where they’ll be asked to enter specific demographic data about themselves, their interests, and various products/services that they use.

Pinecone Research will then give eligible panelists the opportunity to compete surveys that are directly matched to their user profile.

For example, it’s unlikely that an 18-year-old male college student in Manitoba would be asked to complete a survey about a makeup brand in Toronto.

Instead, that individual may be asked to complete a survey related to entertainment products, sports, or other young adult interests.

Here is where Pinecone Research really stands out compared to its competitors, though. Pinecone Research offers far more money, on average, per survey than any other paid survey platform that I’ve seen. This is why you must be referred to the website to sign up, in the first place. 

2. Testing Products

Occasionally, panelists may be asked to test products. These products are usually inexpensive gadgets, health/beauty products, or even kitchen gadgets.

In some cases, the product you’ll be testing is a digital piece of software that you’ll be asked to install and try out (don’t worry – you can delete the program from your device afterwards).

Once you test the physical or digital product, you’ll be asked to provide feedback on your experience with it. You’ll typically fill out a brief questionnaire and be asked to write a paragraph or two detailing your personal opinion. In most cases, you can keep the product as well, which is a nice plus.

3. Sweepstakes

Periodically, Pinecone Research offers members the opportunity to apply to win money through sweepstakes. Some of the sweepstakes you may be offered to enter include:

• Winning a vacation
• Winning a high-value gift card
• Winning a large amount of cash (often up to $4,500)

Realistically, there’s a very low chance of you actually winning the sweepstakes offer. These offers can also take quite a bit of time to sign up for, as they generally require a significant amount of personal information.

However, it’s still nice to see that the platform offers panelists an opportunity to win big.

How Much Money Can You Make With Pinecone Research Canada?

The real question that most of my readers are probably wondering is, “How much money can I make with Pinecone Research paid surveys?”

The amount you can earn as a Pinecone Research panelist really depends on how many surveys you’re asked to participate in and how quickly you can complete them. The more surveys you complete, the more you can earn.

The only drawback is that Pinecone Research doesn’t provide panelists with an unlimited number of surveys. If this were the case, then some panelists would be earning a full-time living from the platform.

On average, panelists can expect to be given a handful of survey opportunities per day. This includes questionnaire surveys, sweepstakes, and product testing offers.

Like I mentioned at the beginning of the post, though, Pinecone Research is one of the highest-paying consumer research platforms in Canada.

If you’re used to earning less than $2 per survey on sites like Survey Junkie, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see some of the $3+ surveys on Pinecone Research.

Occasionally, you may even be given the opportunity to complete lengthy, in-depth surveys for up to $50. This is very rare, and is only offered a couple of times per year. However, it really helps the platform stand out from its competitors.

Ultimately, if you complete all of your available offers, the average panelist can expect to earn around $9 per hour, if they’re able to complete three surveys in an hour.

This is far below minimum wage. If you’re looking for steady employment, I suggest finding a remote job or freelancing online. However, Pinecone Research is a great way to earn side money.

Does Pinecone Research Offer A Mobile App?

Survey sites that offer mobile apps are typically more accessible, as members will be able to complete surveys while they’re commuting, on their break at work or school, or other convenient times.

Unfortunately, Pinecone Research does NOT offer a mobile app at this time.

If you want to complete surveys, enter sweepstakes, or complete product testing offers, you’ll need to do so from a desktop or laptop computer. This, of course, limits how much extra money you can earn by imposing a cap on when you can work.

How To Sign Up For Pinecone Research Canada

Unlike most paid survey sites in Canada, Pinecone Research isn’t a free-for-fall platform. Panelists must be invited through affiliate links and invitation links. You can’t just visit the company’s website and create an account.

I’m not personally affiliated with Pinecone Research, so I can’t provide you with an invitation link.

However, I have seen invitation links posted on various other Canadian sites. So, you shouldn’t have a problem finding a link to sign up.

Does Pinecone Research Offer A Sign-Up Bonus?

Some of the paid survey sites I’ve seen offer a sign-up bonus to new members. This is a great way to jump start your profile and awards you with points that can help you cash-out quicker. Unfortunately, though, Pinecone Research does NOT offer a sign up bonus.

Since the platform considers itself a bit more exclusive, being accepted as a panelist is your reward. After all, Pinecone Research does offer higher pay than most other paid survey sites.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Sign Up For Pinecone Research?

Paid survey sites are especially popular with teens who are in secondary school. Pinecone Research panelists can apply as young as 13 years old. You won’t be able to find any other legit job in Canada that’s willing to hire somebody this young.

Does Pinecone Research Offer A Referral Program?

Affiliate programs are a great way to earn extra money with paid survey sites. Once you’re an established member, you can get your friends, family, and followers to sign up through your link in exchange for points that can be converted into cash.

Pinecone Research doesn’t offer any referral programs at this time.

If you recommend the platform to your friends and family, you’re not going to get extra points or cash. This immediately makes it a no-go for aspirin affiliate marketers.

How To Cash-Out With Pinecone Research

One of the best features of Pinecone Research is that the platform has a low cash-out limit. Unlike some other paid survey sites that require you to acquire $50+ worth of points before cashing out, Pinecone Research only requires users to have a balance of $3.

This means that panelists could complete a single survey and cash-out immediately afterwards. Personally, I recommend growing your balance to at least $20 before cashing out, though. Otherwise the transfer fees to send and receive the money simply won’t be worth it.

Pinecone Research offers several options when it comes to cashing out and getting paid:

• Cash transfer to your bank
• PayPal transfer
• Gift cards

Personally, I recommend using PayPal to receive your money, as you’ll get it quicker than resorting to a bank transfer.

Bank transfers from Pinecone Research typically take three to five days to process, while PayPal transfers can be completed in less than a day (in most cases).

Pinecone Research Canada: Pros & Cons

To wrap things up, let’s take a few minutes to go over some of the key pros and cons of using Pinecone Research Canada:

Pinecone Research Canada vs. Other Paid Survey Sites

Compared to other paid survey sites I’ve reviewed, Pinecone Research definitely offers higher-paying surveys. The average survey awards panelists with $3 or more, compared to sites like Survey Junkie, which may only offer $1 or $2 per survey.

However, the process of applying to Pinecone Research can be a bit tedious and can take some time. With this in mind, I wouldn’t recommend it as my first choice, especially if you’re just getting started.

Additionally, Pinecone Research doesn’t offer as many ways to earn money as larger sites.

For example, Swagbucks allows users to earn money by playing online games, watching video ads, and performing other fun tasks.

Pinecone Research only allows users to earn money by completing questionnaires, testing products, or applying to hard-to-win sweepstakes.

Conclusion – Is Pinecone Research Canada Legit?

Pinecone Research Canada is definitely a legitimate platform. The company has been around for over twenty years, has a proven track record, and is known for providing mainstream companies with accurate surveys.

That being said, the difficulty of applying and the limited opportunities to earn money are a bit of a drawback.

If you really want to start earning a full-time income online, then I recommend learning an in-demand skill and freelancing online.

To learn more about how to get started as an independent freelancer read my 4-step guide to freelancing next!