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The monetization gap in survey apps
Survey apps using an offerwall: 3 examples
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Survey apps already have a solid foundation, being a proven way to engage users and generate revenue. But what if there was a way to take that model even further?
That’s where offerwalls come in.
By adding engaging alternatives like rewarded game tasks, app trials, or sign-up bonuses, survey apps can create an additional revenue stream while improving the user experience. Instead of replacing surveys, offerwalls expand the app ecosystem, giving users more ways to earn and apps publishers more ways to monetize.
In this guide, you’ll see why offerwalls are such a strong fit for survey apps, and how an offerwall survey pairing can boost retention, user satisfaction, and generate incremental revenue.
👀 New to offerwall monetization? Read our guide: Offerwalls explained: A proven monetization model for mobile apps
Survey apps already provide valuable earning opportunities for users and have built strong monetization models around this format. For many people, they are a trusted and easy way to earn some extra money, which is exactly why these apps attract such an engaged audience. At the same time, a survey-only app ecosystem comes with natural limitations.
Survey availability can vary, and not all users will qualify every time, which can lead to a disappointing user experience. This means that even highly motivated users may sometimes leave the app without completing a task, which can affect session length and engagement.
For app publishers, this can translate into:
In other words, relying only on surveys creates a monetization gap: users want to earn more, but the app has nothing else to offer.
The good news: alternative revenue streams can step in to fill this gap.
Think of offerwalls as a marketplace of tasks. Users can browse a list of opportunities, pick the ones they like, and earn rewards once they complete them.
The offers can take many forms: playing a game until reaching a certain level, signing up for a new service, or starting a free trial. Rewards are usually delivered instantly in the app’s virtual currency, which can later be redeemed for cash, gift cards, or other prizes.
When paired with a survey app, this offerwall survey model gives users a way to keep earning even when survey supply runs dry – and gives you a second, complementary revenue stream.
First, offerwalls don’t replace surveys, but complement them, by adding new opportunities for revenue without interfering with the app’s core survey model.
When surveys run out, users can switch to offers, ensuring they always have a way to keep earning. As a result, users engage longer with the app, increasing retention and revenue.
For long-time survey takers, the experience can occasionally feel repetitive.
That’s where offerwall tasks provide a refreshing change, as they’re often perceived as more rewarding.
After all, reaching level 10 in a game can feel more enjoyable than answering questions about spending habits.
Moreover, offerwalls often include a variety of offers, from games to e-commerce, streaming services, fintech, and more.
This has two effects:
One of the downsides of surveys is that not all users qualify.
Sometimes surveys only require a certain demographic, and the rest of the user base is left out.
Offerwalls solve this. They come with no demographic limitations, and offers are automatically tailored to each user’s location. That way, everyone has access to tasks they can complete and rewards they can earn.
For publishers, that means broader participation, higher engagement, and ultimately, more consistent revenue growth.
With stronger retention and engagement, offerwalls naturally drive better payouts for both users and publishers. For users, rewards are more consistent because tasks like game progression or app trials typically come with larger rewards than surveys.
Let’s take a look at PollApp, a survey app that has integrated Mistplay’s offerwall, LoyaltyPlay.
On average, the app pays around $0.17 for each completed survey, and each survey takes more or less 7 minutes to complete.
On the other hand, in the offerwall section, we can find offers that go up to $20 (1000 coins of in-app currency equal $0.98). And if users don’t want to commit to the whole trial, they will still get a reward for each challenge completed.
For publishers, the steady activity translates into improved eCPMs and ARPDAUs, maximizing the value of every session.
Now that we’ve gone over the benefits, let’s see how real survey apps have already integrated an offerwall and how it’s performing for them.
PollApp, created by PollFlow, is a survey app that recently partnered with Mistplay to integrate our rewarded gaming hub, LoyaltyPlay.
On the home screen, users are greeted with the usual list of available surveys for their location, but right below it is something new: a Play Games section. This is where the LoyaltyPlay can be found.
Users can browse through a variety of games and challenges, each rewarding them with PollApp’s in-app currency that can later be converted into a real cash prize.
What makes PollApp’s offerwall stand out is how seamlessly it fits into the app’s design. It feels native, interactive, and gives users plenty of choice. Some may pick a quick one-step challenge, while others prefer earning bigger rewards for playing a game over multiple days.
This flexibility is key, because it allows you to cast a wider net to different user types. Casual players, committed gamers, and everyone in between can find something that matches their style.
Like many survey apps, PollApp initially struggled with retention, as users engaged strongly at first but dropped off over time.
However, just one month after adding LoyaltyPlay, PollFlow saw its revenue double and retention climb by +35%. And what is more surprising is that many users now mainly engage with the Play Games section instead of surveys!
"We couldn't be happier with our integration with LoyaltyPlay. Their experienced and professional team made the process smooth and straightforward.
Our users have also praised the LoyaltyPlay experience, particularly for offering high-quality and well-paying rewards. What's even more exciting is that we're still seeing continuous growth in our monthly revenue with LoyaltyPlay along with improved eCPMs and ARPDAU." –– Oliver Weitman, Founder & Developer at Pollflow
Part of the Prodege family (the same company behind Swagbucks, MyPoints, and InboxDollars), ySense keeps things simple. The app’s home screen is a straightforward list of surveys, focused on its core value.
Looking more closely at the bottom-left corner, though, there's a "Discover" button. Tap it, and you're redirected to a browser-based offerwall. There, users find a wide mix of opportunities – mostly games, but also shopping offers, trial subscriptions, and more. Rewards are earned in ySense's in-app currency and redeemed later, staying consistent with ySense's overall model.
The redirect to a browser may feel less seamless compared to a fully in-app offerwall, but the results are still there. Prodege has reported a 5x increase in EPC and +40% ad revenue after rolling out offerwalls across its portfolio.
It’s a strong case for how survey apps can improve their monetization by layering in additional earning options for their users.
Owned by Dynata, a market research panel operator, Zap Surveys is a smaller survey app with a growing audience.
On the home screen, right at the bottom, sits an offerwall icon, making it easy for users to discover additional earning options. Here, the offerwall features a smaller selection that mixes games and services, and instead of paying out in virtual coins or tokens, Zap Surveys goes straight to the point: users receive their rewards in cash.
It’s a simple setup, but an effective one.
Zap Surveys shows that even smaller survey apps can use offerwalls to diversify revenue streams and keep users engaged, proving you don’t need a massive offerwall integration to see the benefits.
The right approach depends on placement, branding, and reward consistency. Here's where to start:
In general, if you don’t know where to start, it’s a good thing to have someone to guide you through the implementation, so you don’t miss any monetization opportunity.
Today, adding an offerwall to a survey app is almost a standard practice. The majority of survey apps have integrated a second stream of revenue, and the results are promising: higher retention, user satisfaction and greater revenue.Not taking advantage of this opportunity means leaving money on the table. At Mistplay, we’ve supported over 50 survey apps worldwide, including PollFlow, in integrating offerwalls into their monetization strategy with LoyaltyPlay. Each has seen incremental revenue growth and improved user engagement.
Get in touch to explore how we can help your survey app unlock the same potential.