Swagbucks Sign Up Bonus: How to Actually Get the $10
Short answer: Swagbucks gives new members a $10 bonus (1,000 SB), but not just for signing up. You have to activate it in Swag Ups, then spend at least $25 at a store through Swagbucks Shop within 30 days of joining. Travel and MyGiftCardsPlus purchases don't count.
A lot of people join Swagbucks for the $10, then never see it. It's almost always one of the same few rules. Here's how the bonus works, as Swagbucks states it on its sign-up page (checked Nov 9, 2026).
What the Swagbucks sign up bonus is
Swagbucks pays in points called SB. The welcome bonus is 1,000 SB, which Swagbucks says is worth $10. On the rewards page, gift cards start at 500 SB for $5, so 1,000 SB is two $5 gift cards or one $10 card from stores like Amazon, Walmart or Target.
How to get the $10, step by step
- Join Swagbucks. Sign up free with email, Google or Apple.
- Activate the bonus. Open the Swag Ups section of your account and tap Activate on the welcome bonus. Swagbucks says you must do this, so do it first.
- Shop through Swagbucks within 30 days. Go to Swagbucks Shop, pick a featured store, click through, and spend $25 or more in one purchase.
- Make sure the purchase earns at least 25 SB. The cash back on that order has to be 25 SB or more on its own.
Swagbucks' help center calls the welcome bonus a $10 Swag Up that activates on a single purchase of at least $25 at an eligible store.
Why the Swagbucks bonus doesn't show up
- You didn't activate it. No activation in Swag Ups, no bonus.
- It's past 30 days. The clock starts when you register, not when you first shop.
- The store doesn't count. Travel purchases and MyGiftCardsPlus.com are left out. Our Swagbucks page lists the other stores that don't count.
- The order earned under 25 SB. A $25 order at a store paying 1% cash back only earns about 25 SB, so a store with a higher rate is safer.
- You split it into small orders. It has to be one purchase of $25 or more.
- The purchase didn't track. Click through Swagbucks right before you buy, in the same browser, and finish the order there.
Is the Swagbucks bonus worth it?
If you were going to spend $25 at one of its stores anyway, yes. You get the store's normal cash back plus $10 in gift cards for something you were buying already. If you'd only be buying something to get the bonus, it's not much of a deal.
Other cash back sites with a sign-up offer
If you're comparing, Rakuten and TopCashback both pay cash back on shopping too. Rakuten has its own welcome bonus, and TopCashback is free to join with no code. You can join more than one, but pick one per order: each site only pays when you click through it right before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get the Swagbucks $10 sign up bonus?
Join, activate the welcome bonus in Swag Ups, then spend $25 or more in one purchase at a store through Swagbucks Shop within 30 days of signing up. The purchase has to earn at least 25 SB.
Do you get the Swagbucks bonus just for signing up?
No. The $10 (1,000 SB) only pays after a qualifying $25+ purchase through Swagbucks within 30 days.
How much is 1,000 SB worth?
Swagbucks says 1,000 SB equals $10 in value. Gift cards start at 500 SB for $5.
Do travel purchases count for the Swagbucks bonus?
No. Swagbucks' terms say travel purchases and MyGiftCardsPlus.com purchases don't qualify.
Can I get the Swagbucks bonus twice?
No. It's a welcome bonus for new members, one per new account.
Bottom line
Activate the bonus first, then make one $25+ purchase you already needed through Swagbucks within 30 days. That's the whole trick.
Related deal
Earn points for shopping, surveys, games, and receipts, then trade them for gift cards or PayPal cash. New members can get a $10 welcome bonus.
