The paid survey industry continues its remarkable expansion, with platforms like Pawns.app tapping into a lucrative intersection between market research and gaming culture.
As companies increasingly seek consumer insights in our data-driven economy, innovative reward structures are reshaping how participants engage with online surveys.
The numbers paint a compelling picture of growth. The survey software market size is expected to reach USD 3.86 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 12.58% to reach USD 6.98 billion by 2030.
The also surge reflects businesses’ growing appetite for real-time consumer data, particularly as over 6-in-10 (61.1%) survey responses worldwide were submitted from mobile devices in Q3 2024.
Pawns.app has positioned itself strategically within this expanding market by offering paid surveys with an appealing twist: participants can earn Steam USD gift cards for their time and opinions.
“We all know at least one hardcore gamer in our midst, and while we might not know the exact games they enjoy playing,” said Michelle Lee, copywriter for Pawns.app.
“Gifting a Steam gift card is a great way to show attention and care for that person’s preferences and it is perfect for gamers who want to buy games, in-game content, or software from the Steam platform.” said Lee
The statement reflects Pawns.app’s strategic focus on serving the gaming community through its paid survey platform, offering participants the opportunity to earn Steam gift cards in exchange for their market research participation.
Data Suggests Strong Retention & Repeat Engagement Among Gaming Gift Card Users
The gaming gift card market itself represents a significant opportunity. 32% of consumers bought online gaming gift cards in 2023.
Perhaps more tellingly for platforms like Pawns.app, of the 32% of consumers who bought their first online gaming gift card in 2023, 84% plan on purchasing more in 2024.
Within this massive market, gaming-focused rewards occupy an increasingly prominent position as the global gaming community surpassing 3.3 billion players in 2024 across PC, console, and mobile platforms.
What makes Pawns.app’s model particularly interesting is how it addresses a common pain point in survey participation: reward relevance.
Traditional survey platforms often offer generic cash payments or broad retail vouchers. By focusing on steam gift card rewards, Pawns.app speaks directly to a passionate, engaged community that values digital entertainment purchases.
The mobile-first trend in survey participation also favors platforms that understand their audience’s preferences. According to recent statistics, 58% of active mobile phone users are now interested in using their devices to redeem gift cards and pay for goods and services.
However, the competitive landscape in paid surveys remains intense. Success in this market requires more than just attractive rewards – it demands reliable survey flow, fair compensation rates, and transparent practices that build participant trust.
The industry has faced scrutiny over qualification processes and payout thresholds, making user experience a critical differentiator.
For market research companies, platforms like Pawns.app offer access to a valuable demographic: tech-savvy consumers who are comfortable with digital transactions and often early adopters of new products and services.
Gaming audiences, in particular, represent lucrative targets for technology, entertainment, and lifestyle brands seeking authentic consumer feedback.
The timing appears favorable for Pawns.app’s approach. As the survey software market continues its double-digit growth and gaming gift card adoption accelerates, platforms that successfully bridge these worlds may find themselves well-positioned for sustained expansion.
The key will be maintaining the delicate balance between participant satisfaction and research quality that defines successful survey platforms.
Looking ahead, the paid survey industry’s evolution toward more targeted, engaging reward structures suggests that Pawns.app’s gaming-focused approach may represent broader trends in how companies incentivise consumer participation in market research.
