If you have ever searched for Bing rewards and landed on a program called Microsoft Rewards, you are not lost — it is the same loyalty scheme, simply renamed. Microsoft Rewards (formerly Bing Rewards) pays you in points for things you may already do online: searching the web, shopping, taking quizzes and playing on Xbox. This guide explains exactly what the program is in 2026, how to sign up, every legitimate way to earn points, what those points are worth, and whether the rewards are actually worth your time.
What is Microsoft Rewards (formerly Bing Rewards)?
Microsoft Rewards is a free loyalty program that gives you points for searching with Bing, shopping in the Microsoft Store, completing daily quizzes and gaming on Xbox. You redeem those points for gift cards, sweepstakes entries, Xbox content or charity donations. It was launched as Bing Rewards in 2010 and rebranded to Microsoft Rewards in 2017.
The rebrand was more than a name change. Bing Rewards rewarded one activity — Bing search — while Microsoft Rewards stretches across the whole Microsoft ecosystem: Bing, the Microsoft Edge browser, MSN, the Microsoft Store, and Xbox. If you held a Bing Rewards account, it was migrated automatically, so old members never had to re-register. Today the program runs from a single dashboard at rewards.bing.com and inside the Bing and Edge apps.
Bing Rewards vs. Microsoft Rewards: what changed
Because so many people still type "Bing rewards" into search, it helps to see the old and new programs side by side. The core idea — earn points, redeem rewards — is unchanged, but the scope, tiers and currency name are different.
| Feature | Bing Rewards (2010–2017) | Microsoft Rewards (2017–2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Currency name | Credits | Points |
| Where you earn | Bing search only | Bing, Edge, MSN, Microsoft Store, Xbox |
| Sign-in | Microsoft account | Microsoft account (same) |
| Tiers | Member, Silver, Gold | Member, Silver, Gold (Level 1 / Level 2 caps) |
| Dashboard | bing.com/rewards | rewards.bing.com / Bing & Edge apps |
| Redemptions | Gift cards, donations, sweepstakes | Gift cards, Xbox content, donations, sweepstakes, cashback |
How does Microsoft Rewards work?
The mechanics are simple. You sign in to a free Microsoft account, then you earn points for qualifying activities. Points accumulate in your balance, and once you have enough, you trade them for a reward. As a rough guide, about 5,000 points equals roughly $5 in Microsoft gift-card value, though the exact rate varies by reward and region.
Your earning ceiling depends on your tier. New members start as Level 1, which caps how many points your daily searches can earn. Hit Level 2 (typically 500 points in a calendar month) and your daily search cap roughly triples, plus you unlock a streak multiplier and access to the best sweepstakes. Microsoft also runs Member, Silver and Gold status tiers that mirror these levels.
How to sign up for Microsoft Rewards
Getting started takes a couple of minutes and costs nothing. Here is the step-by-step:
- Create or sign in to a Microsoft account. Any free account (Outlook, Hotmail, Xbox or Microsoft 365) works.
- Go to the Rewards dashboard. Visit rewards.bing.com or open the Rewards panel inside Microsoft Edge or the Bing mobile app.
- Confirm your country/region. Available activities and redemptions differ by market — the program runs in dozens of countries including the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
- Join the program. Accept the terms and your account is live. Former Bing Rewards members are already enrolled.
- Start a daily streak. Complete the daily set on day one to begin building a streak multiplier.
Eligibility: you must be 13 or older (with a parental Microsoft Family account if younger), use a valid non-VoIP phone number for verification, and stay within one account per person. Using a VPN can flag your account, so earn on your normal connection.
How to earn Microsoft Rewards points
There are far more earning routes than the old Bing-search-only model. These are the main ones in 2026, from the everyday to the high-value:
1. Search with Bing (PC and mobile)
- Desktop: sign in to Bing and run normal searches. Most regions cap PC search points (commonly 90–150 points/day at Level 2; roughly half at Level 1).
- Mobile: the Bing app, Microsoft Edge mobile or Microsoft Launcher (Android) earn an additional separate mobile cap (commonly 60–100 points/day).
- 2026 rule of thumb: only about three searches every 15 minutes count toward points, so spread searches through the day rather than firing 30 in a row.
2. Complete daily sets, quizzes and punch cards
- The Daily Set on your dashboard offers three quick tiles (a poll, a "this or that" quiz, and a trivia/news tile) worth points each.
- Quizzes and trivia rotate daily — supersize, lightning and warp-speed quizzes can be worth 30–50 points apiece.
- Punch cards are multi-step challenges that pay a bonus when fully completed.
3. Build a daily streak
Earning at least one point every day grows a streak. Longer streaks apply a bonus multiplier to your daily set earnings, so consistency beats intensity.
4. Shop in the Microsoft Store
Buying apps, games, devices or subscriptions while signed in earns points per dollar spent. Watch for limited-time "earn extra points" promotions on Store purchases.
5. Xbox and Game Pass quests
- Launch the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox to find daily, weekly and monthly gaming quests.
- Game Pass Ultimate members unlock extra "Ultimate" punch cards and bonus quests each month.
- Quests range from "play any game for an hour" to "spend points in the Store" and can be worth hundreds of points.
6. Edge browser bonuses and cashback
Browsing with Microsoft Edge unlocks extra activities, and in 36 supported countries Edge offers Bing cashback — a real rebate on eligible purchases that you can withdraw to PayPal. This is separate from points and can be the program's most lucrative feature.
What can you redeem Microsoft Rewards points for?
Once your balance is high enough, eligible items appear on the Redeem page. Microsoft-branded rewards almost always cost fewer points than third-party options, so they offer the best value. The table below shows typical US point costs — exact prices vary by region and stock.
| Reward | Approx. point cost (US) | Approx. value |
|---|---|---|
| $1 Microsoft gift card | ~1,000 points | $1 |
| $5 Microsoft / Xbox gift card | ~5,000 points | $5 |
| $5 third-party gift card (Amazon, Starbucks) | ~5,500–6,500 points | $5 |
| 1 month Game Pass Ultimate (varies) | ~12,000–35,000 points | ~$15–20 |
| Sweepstakes entry | 10–100 points each | chance to win |
| Charity donation | from ~1,000 points | $1+ donated |
You can also donate points to nonprofits through the Donate page, enter sweepstakes for prizes, or convert points to Microsoft account credit. Just like an effective paid-search campaign measures return on ad spend, smart redeemers measure points-per-dollar — and Microsoft gift cards win on that metric almost every time.
Microsoft Rewards on mobile and in Microsoft Edge
Mobile and Edge each carry their own daily caps, so using them stacks on top of desktop earning:
- Bing mobile app (iOS/Android): search on the go for a separate mobile point cap, plus app-only daily offers.
- Microsoft Edge mobile: set Bing as the default search engine and sign in to earn while browsing.
- Microsoft Launcher (Android): earns mobile search points directly from your home screen.
- Edge on desktop: a dedicated Rewards panel surfaces extra activities and the cashback feature.
If you manage a brand's discoverability, understanding how users move between Bing, Edge and mobile is the same muscle you flex in multi-channel social media marketing — meet people on every surface they already use.
Tips to maximize your Microsoft Rewards points
- Do the daily set every day. It is the fastest, lowest-effort points and protects your streak multiplier.
- Reach Level 2 fast. 500 points in a month roughly triples your daily search caps for the rest of your membership.
- Spread searches out. With the three-searches-per-15-minutes rule, a handful of searches across the day beats a burst.
- Search across devices. Desktop, mobile and Edge have independent caps — use all three.
- Stack Game Pass quests. If you already subscribe, the Ultimate punch cards are high-value and easy.
- Redeem for Microsoft gift cards. They cost the fewest points per dollar of value.
- Stay active monthly. Points expire after 12 months of no earning activity, so a single search keeps your balance alive.
- Use Edge cashback for real purchases. Where available, the PayPal rebate can dwarf your point earnings.
Is Microsoft Rewards legit and worth it in 2026?
Yes, Microsoft Rewards is a legitimate, official Microsoft program — gift cards and donations are real, not a scam. The honest question is whether the time is worth it. A casual user earns roughly 150–300 points a day; an active user stacking quizzes, Game Pass and multi-device search can hit 400–800. At that pace, a $5 gift card takes a casual user a few weeks and an engaged user a week or two.
The verdict: Microsoft Rewards is best treated as a small bonus on top of activity you already do, not a side income. If you already search with Bing, browse in Edge or play on Xbox, the points are essentially free. If you would have to change all your habits to chase them, the return on time is thin. Recent changes — tighter search rate limits and trimmed redemption catalogs — have lowered the ceiling, which is why disciplined redemption (Microsoft cards, Edge cashback) matters more than ever. Tracking that kind of return is exactly what good marketing analytics is for.
Why Bing and Microsoft Rewards matter for marketers
Microsoft Rewards exists to grow Bing's market share — and Bing now powers a meaningful slice of global search, plus Copilot and ChatGPT-style results. For businesses, that means Bing is a real audience worth optimizing for, not just Google. The same search-engine optimisation fundamentals apply, and a balanced strategy pairs organic visibility with Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising. If you are not sure where Bing fits in your funnel, our content marketing team can help you build assets that rank across every major engine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bing Rewards the same as Microsoft Rewards?
Yes. Bing Rewards was renamed Microsoft Rewards in 2017 and expanded to cover Bing, Edge, the Microsoft Store and Xbox. Old Bing Rewards accounts were migrated automatically, so it is the same program with a broader scope.
How many points do you need for a $5 gift card?
Roughly 5,000 points buys a $5 Microsoft or Xbox gift card. Third-party gift cards usually cost a few hundred to a thousand more points for the same dollar value.
Is Microsoft Rewards free?
Completely free. You only need a free Microsoft account. You never pay to join or to redeem points.
Do Microsoft Rewards points expire?
Points expire after 12 months with no earning activity. Earning even a single point — for example, one Bing search — resets the clock and keeps your full balance active.
Can you earn Microsoft Rewards on your phone?
Yes. Search with the Bing app, Microsoft Edge mobile or Microsoft Launcher on Android to earn a separate mobile points cap on top of your desktop earnings.
Is Microsoft Rewards worth it?
It is worth it as a free bonus if you already use Bing, Edge or Xbox. A casual user earns a $5 card every few weeks; an active user can earn one in a week or two. It is not a reliable income source.
Grow your visibility on Bing and beyond
Whether you are stacking Microsoft Rewards points or trying to win Bing's search results for your business, the principles overlap: show up consistently, on every device, where your audience already is. At D'Marketing Agency we help brands rank, advertise and convert across Google, Bing and social. Ready to turn search visibility into customers? Use the quote form on this page to start a conversation with our team.
