I recently stumbled across a viral YouTube video claiming you could earn $2.80 per minute just by watching videos online. Sounds too good to be true, right?
Let’s do the math real quick:
$2.80 x 60 minutes = $168/hour — just for doing… basically nothing.
That video had over 17,000 likes, so I figured people must be pretty excited about it. I decided to try it out myself and see if it’s legit. Here’s what I found.
What’s the Site Called?
The YouTuber I watched kept the actual name of the site a secret until the end of his video. 🙄 But I’ll save you the time and tell you right now — the platform is Rewardy.io.
According to its Trustpilot page, it has a 4.5-star rating and claims you can earn money by:
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Watching your favorite streamers
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Completing tasks
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Taking surveys
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Earning exclusive bonuses
Signing Up: Quick & Easy
Creating an account took me just about 3 minutes. Once you’re in, you’ll see an “Earn” tab on the left with multiple ways to make money:
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Listening to music
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Watching streams
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Watching clips
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Playing games
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Completing tasks
I went for the “Watch Streams” option — since that’s where the video promised the big bucks.
Watching Streams: Reality Check
The video claimed you’d earn $2 per minute, so I left a Twitch stream running while I spent time with my daughter who just got home from kindergarten.
But here’s the truth…
🕒 After an hour, the stream had stopped, and I earned 90 yellow credits — which, according to the platform, equals $0.09 USD.
Yes, just 9 cents for one full hour of “earning.”
And it gets worse — you’re capped at 1 hour of watch time unless you complete offers to get more. Here’s the actual message I saw:
“To continue earning while watching, you need to acquire more Watch Time by completing offers and quizzes.”
Completing Offers: Is It Worth It?
I clicked on one of the “Featured Offers.” It asked me to:
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Install an app on my phone
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Use Facebook and Twitch via mobile
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Earn between 1–10 points
But now I understood their point system — 10 points = $0.01. 😬
So essentially, I’d be risking my device’s security and privacy for pennies.
🔐 Pro Tip: Always be cautious about installing unknown apps from “make money” platforms. Learn more about protecting your data with this guide from Norton.
The Red Flags of Side Hustle Hype
If you’ve been exploring the side hustle scene on YouTube for a while, you’ve probably seen this pattern:
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Big promises
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Vague details
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Suspicious sites
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Shady apps
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Delayed withdrawal proofs
In this case, the video didn’t even clarify that you earn credits, not dollars, and that you need 100 credits for just $0.10. They even said they’d only post withdrawal proof after getting 2,000 likes — when they already had over 17,000. 🤨
Is It Really Passive Income?
Sure, you’re not “doing” anything other than leaving a stream open. But here’s what you are doing:
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Using your computer’s processing power
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Consuming electricity
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Taking up bandwidth and screen time
So I asked ChatGPT to estimate the cost of streaming on a laptop for an hour, and the results were eye-opening:
💡 Depending on your device and country, it could cost anywhere from $0.03 to $5/hour!
Even if we take the lowest estimate ($0.03/hour), your real earnings are:
$0.09 – $0.03 = $0.06/hour
Final Thoughts: Worth Your Time?
In fairness, Rewardy.io does technically pay you — but the rate is insultingly low. If you’re happy earning 6 cents an hour, go ahead. But it’s definitely not the $168/hour fantasy the video hyped up.
🛑 If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Want Real Online Income?
Instead of wasting time on platforms that pay in cents, why not explore actual proven ways to make money online?
✅ Here are some better options:
And if you’re curious about how I made over $100K online by the age of 35, check out this video where I explain everything in detail!
What Do You Think?
Have you tried Rewardy.io or similar sites?
Let me know in the comments below — I’d love to hear your experiences.
And if you’d like me to test out more viral “make money online” methods, be sure to like this post and drop a comment! 💬
Thanks for reading and supporting the journey! ❤️
