Microsoft really wants you to use Bing.com and the Microsoft Edge web browser to the point that the company will pay you to use them. You won’t be getting a check in the mail for using these products, but you can earn points and redeem them for an Amazon gift card using the Microsoft Rewards program, which it’s as good as cash if you shop at Amazon regularly.
This isn’t a new program, it was previously known as Bing Rewards, but the company changed its name to “Microsoft Rewards”. This allows the company to expand the programs to other products, such as Microsoft Edge.
The Microsoft Rewards program is only available in the United States. You can earn points in a number of ways, which then you can redeem for an Amazon, Starbucks, GameStop or Xbox Digital gift card, or you can also redeem them to try and win some interesting gadgets too.
- How the Microsoft Rewards program works?
- How to redeem your Microsoft Rewards points
- How to add the gift card to your Amazon account
- How many Microsoft Rewards points can I get per month?
- Is the Microsoft Rewards program worth the time and effort?
How the Microsoft Rewards program works?
Getting rewarded with the program is a straightforward and automatic process. If you’re using Bing and Microsoft Edge, and you’re signed in with your Microsoft account, you’re all set and already earning points.
If you’re not, make sure to start using Microsoft Edge and sign in to Bing using your Microsoft account. Then just use the internet as you always do. You will earn point by searching the web, buying stuff in the Windows Store, Microsoft Store, and you’ll even get points exploring the Microsoft Rewards page.
Once you have earned enough, you can redeem your points for goods. For example, you can purchase sweepstakes tickets for a chance to win an Xbox One S or Surface Book. You can get a Windows Store or Xbox Digital gift card, which you can use to buy apps, games, movies & TV shows, and music, or you can even get Skype credits.
There other rewards you can pick, including from Starbucks, GameStop, and Hulu gift cards, Xbox Live Gold membership, Groove Music Pass, discounts and much more.
Perhaps the most interesting rewards are the $5 gift cards that you can get to shop on Amazon, Starbucks, and GameStop.
The $5 Amazon gift card is your best option if you’re a regular shopper on Amazon.com.
How to redeem your Microsoft Rewards points
Materializing your points is very simple. Once you have enough points, do the following:
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Go to the Microsoft Rewards redeem page.
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Click Redeem Reward on the reward you like (the Amazon gift card is the last option at the bottom of the page).
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Check that the reward will be sent to the correct email address, and click Confirm order.
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You’ll be asked to enter the phone number that Microsoft will use to send the verification code, enter your phone number and click Send.
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Enter the verification code that you have received on your phone, and confirm your order.
Keep in mind that it could take up to 24 hours for you to receive a confirmation with your gift card reward in your inbox.
How to add the gift card to your Amazon account
After redeeming your points, you’ll get an email with the gift card link, at which point you’ll do the following:
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Open your web browser and log in to your Amazon account.
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Open the email and click the Apply to account button.
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The link will open the Amazon redeem gift card page, you’ll see the claim code already filled in, click the Apply to your balance button to complete the task.
The best part is that you can use your Amazon gift card for virtually anything. You can use the credit toward electronics, games, music, movies, books — you name it.
How many Microsoft Rewards points can I get per month?
You’ll need to earn 5250 points to get a $5 Amazon gift card, and if you’re a regular user, but focus on getting the points, you’ll probably be able to get 2 gift cards per month.
You can earn up to 150 points per day searching the web with Bing.com using your PC, and 100 points if you search using your smartphone, which is a total of 250 points per day — just for searching the web. You actually get 5 points per search.
In addition, you can get 150 points per month by using Microsoft Edge around 15 hours.
You can also explore the Microsoft Rewards page for opportunities to earn more points. For example, you can earn points by taking a quiz, learning how to use the rewards program, taking a tour of products, and more. You have to check this page in a regular basis, as it’s always changing with new opportunities.
Microsoft will even give you 1 point for each $1 you spend in the Microsoft Store, plus additional offers exclusive to Level 2 users.
At the beginning, you’ll be in Level 1, which means that you can only earn 50 points using Bing. However, after earning 500 points, you’ll become a Level 2 user, which then you can earn up to 250 points using Bing for search (150 points on PC and 100 points on Mobile).
Is the Microsoft Rewards program worth the time and effort?
It’s a no-brainer if you’re already a Bing and Microsoft Edge user. It’s basically easy money. On the other hand, if you’re hard-core Chrome and Google user, it could probably be a difficult task and the rewards may not be enough for you to switch, but it doesn’t hurt to give it a try, you’ll probably end up switching for good.
You can even try to use both, you can use Edge with Bing and Chrome with Google. In addition, you should also consider that Microsoft Edge isn’t necessarily a requirement to earn points. You can easily change your settings to Bing instead of Google while using Chrome or Firefox.
… And Microsoft indeed pays you. I just cashed in my first $5 Amazon gift card and successfully added the credit to my account.