CashCrate: Take Online Surveys & Tasks
If you’ve ever searched online for ways to make money from home, chances are you’ve stumbled upon CashCrate.
Once one of the biggest “get-paid-to” (GPT) sites on the web, Cash Crate promised users cash rewards for completing surveys, offers, and small online tasks.
In this extensive guide — packed with comparisons, honest opinions, tables, and practical insights — we’ll explore how CashCrate worked, who could use it, what users said, and which alternatives are worth your time today.
What Is Cash Crate?
Cash Crate was an online rewards platform launched in the mid-2000s. The concept was simple:
you earned money by completing surveys, free-trial offers, product sign-ups, and shopping through affiliate links.
The system rewarded members with points or cash that could later be withdrawn via PayPal or check once they reached a $20 minimum payout.
✨ How It Worked
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Sign up — create a free account.
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Complete offers — from surveys to games or product tests.
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Accumulate rewards — each action added a few cents to your balance.
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Cash out — reach the threshold and request your payment.
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Refer friends — earn commissions from your referrals’ activity.
The site was known for its large user base (millions of members at its peak) and its social elements — people could share earnings, compete in leaderboards, and comment on each other’s activities.
Countries Accepted
Historically, Cash Crate accepted users from most parts of the world. However, the best-paid offers were mainly targeted to the following countries:
| Region | ✅ Accepted Countries | Offer Availability |
|---|---|---|
| North America | United States , Canada | Excellent |
| Europe | United Kingdom , Ireland , Germany , France , Spain | Moderate |
| Oceania | Australia , New Zealand | Good |
| Latin America | Mexico , Argentina , Chile , Colombia | Limited |
| Asia & Others | Philippines , India , South Africa | Limited but accepted |
Note: While the site was open globally, payment methods and survey opportunities varied by location — users in the US and UK usually earned the most.
Why People Loved Cash Crate
Before its GPT program shut down, Cash Crate had several advantages that made it stand out:
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Free membership — zero investment required.
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Multiple earning options — surveys, games, offers, shopping, and referrals.
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Friendly community — users could chat and compare results.
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Loyalty bonuses — extra cash for consistent activity.
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Real payments — thousands of users shared screenshots of actual payouts.
It was an easy, accessible entry point into online micro-earning — perfect for students, stay-at-home parents, or people with extra time.
⚠️ What Happened to CashCrate?
In 2019, Cash Crate officially closed its GPT program. The website was later transformed into a survey directory and affiliate content site — meaning it no longer hosted its own paid offers.
Today, if you visit the site, you’ll likely find recommendations for other survey companies instead of internal earning opportunities.
Many long-term users were disappointed, but this shift reflected a broader trend — running a GPT platform became expensive, and competition from newer apps made it difficult to sustain.
How It Compared to Other GPT Sites
Here’s a comparison of how Cash Crate stacked up against popular competitors before it closed:
| Platform | Payout Threshold | Countries Supported | Average Task Time | ⭐ User Rating (historical) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Crate | $20 | Global (best in US, UK, CA, AU) | 5–20 min | 3.5/5 | Closed |
| PrizeRebel | $5–$10 | 150+ countries | 5–15 min | 4.2/5 | Active |
| Branded Surveys | $5 | US, UK, CA, AU | 10–20 min | 4.1/5 | Active |
| Swagbucks | $3 | 200+ countries | Variable | 4.4/5 | Active |
| InboxDollars | $15 | US only | 5–30 min | 4.0/5 | Active |
User Opinions & Experiences
Positive Experiences
Many users praised CashCrate for its simple setup and consistent payouts (especially between 2010–2017).
Typical comments included:
“I made over $8000 total over the years. It wasn’t fast, but they paid every month.”
“Good way to earn beer money or gift cards. Nothing life-changing but reliable.”
Users in the United States, Canada, and Australia tended to report the best experiences, thanks to a higher number of offers and better survey qualification rates.
Negative Experiences
However, not everyone was happy. Frequent complaints included:
“Takes forever to reach $20.”
“Disqualified for 9 out of 10 surveys.”
“Customer service stopped replying when the site began winding down.”
As the site declined, payments became slower and some users reported unpaid balances after the closure.
How Much Could You Earn?
Let’s break down realistic expectations (based on user averages before 2019):
| Activity Type | ⏱ Time Required | Average Reward | ⚡ Earnings per Hour (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Survey | 5 min | $0.30 | $3.60/hr |
| Long Survey | 20 min | $1.00 | $3.00/hr |
| Free Trial Offer | 10 min | $1.50 | $9.00/hr (if tracked) |
| Referral Bonus | Ongoing | Variable | Passive income |
Conclusion: the platform was never designed for full-time work. At best, diligent users earned $20–$50 per month in their spare time.
Is Cash Crate a Scam?
Technically, no — it wasn’t a scam. For over a decade, Cash Crate did pay users. However, because the program is now defunct, any new registration links or “earn money” promises on unofficial sites should be treated with caution.
If you see anyone claiming “Cash Crate is back!” or “make $100 per day instantly,” be skeptical. Those pages often redirect to unrelated affiliate offers.
✅ Verdict:
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Legit in its time.
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Closed now.
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No longer a way to earn directly.
Alternatives to CashCrate
If you liked the idea of Cash Crate, here are five modern alternatives that are safe, active, and pay real cash or gift cards.
1. Swagbucks
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Over $700 million paid out to users.
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Earn by watching videos, answering surveys, shopping, or searching online.
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Minimum payout: $3 for PayPal or gift cards.
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Available in US, UK, Canada, Australia, and more.
2. PrizeRebel
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One of the closest modern equivalents.
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Low payout threshold ($5).
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Offers daily bonuses for consistent users.
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Operates in 150+ countries, including US, UK, India, Philippines.
3. Branded Surveys ️
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Focused exclusively on surveys.
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Pays via PayPal or direct deposit.
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Users from US, Canada, UK, Australia eligible.
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Known for steady, simple payouts.
4. InboxDollars / InboxPounds / DailyRewards
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Same parent company, localized for different regions.
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Offers videos, games, and cashback shopping.
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US, UK, and Canada only.
5. ySense (formerly ClixSense)
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Very similar GPT model.
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International user base, including Europe, Asia, and Africa.
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Reliable PayPal and Payoneer payments.
| Platform | Min. Payout | Avg. Task Duration | Best For | ⭐ Reputation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swagbucks | $3 | 5–15 min | Beginners | Excellent |
| PrizeRebel | $5 | 10 min | Consistent earners | Great |
| Branded Surveys | $5 | 15–20 min | Survey lovers | Great |
| InboxDollars | $15 | 10–30 min | US users | Good |
| ySense | $10 | 10–25 min | Global audience | Very good |
Tips for Maximizing GPT Earnings
Even though Cash Crate is gone, these tips apply to nearly every rewards site today:
Complete your profile carefully. The more details you provide, the more survey matches you get.
Use a separate email. Offer sites often generate lots of promotional emails.
Track your tasks. Keep a list of what you complete in case a credit doesn’t appear.
Check offer conditions. Some “free trials” require cancellation before the billing date.
Use referral programs. Passive income can multiply your small efforts.
Diversify. Don’t rely on one site; use 3–4 at a time.
Community Opinions – Then and Now
| Year | User Sentiment | Typical Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2010–2014 | Very Positive | “Reliable and pays every month.” |
| 2015–2017 | Mixed | “Good side cash, but fewer surveys.” |
| 2018–2019 | Declining | “Offers disappearing. Payout delayed.” |
| After 2019 | N/A (program closed) | “Wish they’d come back!” |
These trends show that Cash Crate was once highly trusted but gradually lost relevance as newer, faster apps emerged.
Honest Comparison: Old Cash Crate vs Modern Apps
| Feature | Cash Crate (Old) | Modern GPT Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Basic website | Mobile-friendly, gamified |
| Payment | Check, PayPal | Instant PayPal, gift cards, crypto |
| Tasks | Surveys, offers, referrals | Surveys, mobile games, AI tests |
| Minimum Payout | $20 | $1–$10 |
| Global Access | Yes (limited offers) | Broad (200+ countries) |
| Active Support | Minimal | 24/7 chat support |
| User Trust | Low (inactive) | Moderate to high |
Insight: Cash Crate paved the way for the GPT industry. Its simplicity inspired platforms like Swagbucks and PrizeRebel, which evolved the model with modern tools.
Should You Use Cash Crate Today?
If you’re hoping to earn real cash now, the honest answer is no — the GPT portion of Cash Crate is gone.
However, the legacy of Cash Crate lives on through newer, more efficient apps that took the same idea and made it faster, mobile-friendly, and more transparent.
That said, visiting the old site can still be useful: it now acts as a hub of survey recommendations, guiding you toward other legitimate programs.
Lessons Learned from the Cash Crate Era
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Transparency matters. Always research how a site pays and when.
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Time ≠ money online. Micro-tasks rarely deliver high income.
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Read reviews early. Community feedback exposes changes before they hit.
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Diversify earnings. Combine multiple GPT sites for better returns.
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Skepticism saves you. If something promises $100/day for surveys, it’s likely false.
Final Verdict — Is Cash Crate Worth It?
CashCrate played a historic role in the evolution of online earning.
It proved that anyone, anywhere — from the US to India, from Australia to South Africa — could make a few extra dollars online without investing anything.
But the digital economy moves fast. The platform that once dominated the GPT world now serves mainly as a nostalgic reference.
✨ Pros (historically)
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Free and legitimate
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Multiple earning methods
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Global accessibility
Cons (today)
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No longer functional as a GPT site
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Limited earning potential
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Competing platforms offer better value
✅ Final Recommendation
If you want to earn through small online tasks, skip the nostalgia and use modern GPT sites such as:
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Swagbucks
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PrizeRebel
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ySense
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Branded Surveys
These provide faster payouts, mobile apps, and ongoing support — all while maintaining the original Cash Crate spirit.
Conclusion
Cash Crate will always be remembered as one of the pioneers of online survey income. For over a decade, it allowed users across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, India, Philippines, and many others to earn a little extra spending money with nothing more than an internet connection.
Today, while the original platform no longer pays, its influence continues in the dozens of GPT sites that followed.
If you’re starting out online, remember: small, consistent effort beats overnight promises.
Final Thought:
Cash Crate showed that even a few minutes a day can make a difference — not by making you rich, but by proving that opportunity online is real.