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Microsoft Rewards is a free loyalty program tied to a Microsoft account. In participating markets, you can earn promotional points through qualifying Bing searches, Microsoft activities, Microsoft Store purchases, and Xbox quests, then exchange those points for rewards shown in your account’s catalog.
It is best viewed as a modest, variable rebate for activities you already do—not as income. Point limits, qualifying offers, reward prices, Xbox eligibility, and catalog availability vary by country, account, level, and date. Program details were checked August 18, 2026; your live dashboard is the final authority.
What Microsoft Rewards is
Microsoft Rewards connects earning opportunities across Bing, Edge, MSN, Microsoft Store, Xbox and related Microsoft services. Points are promotional units: Microsoft says they have no cash value, cannot be purchased, and are not the same thing as money in your Microsoft account balance. Participation is free, but you need a Microsoft account in a participating region.
Microsoft formerly presented similar offers under Bing Rewards. The current program is broader, with separate activities and rules for web searches, shopping, mobile use and Xbox gameplay.
#1 Best Overall
- Gift Card is redeemable towards millions of items storewide at Amazon.com
- Gift Card has no fees and no expiration date
- Gift Card is nested inside a specialty gift box
- Free One-Day Shipping (where available)
- Scan and redeem any Gift Card with a mobile or tablet device via the Amazon App
Who can join
- You need a valid Microsoft account and must live in a supported country or region.
- Microsoft’s Services Agreement allows one Rewards account per person and up to six Rewards accounts in a household.
- Use is personal and noncommercial; creating duplicate accounts or coordinated farming can breach the rules.
- Age and activity requirements differ. Xbox gameplay Rewards are described as available to people 18 and older in select markets, while other activities may have different eligibility rules.
Work or school accounts may show Rewards opportunities, but availability should be confirmed in that account’s dashboard rather than assumed.
Is Microsoft Rewards free and legitimate?
Yes. It is an official Microsoft program with no membership fee. Legitimate earning starts at the official Rewards dashboard or Rewards site.
Free does not mean risk-free. Third-party “unlimited points” tools, automated search generators, account-selling schemes and VPN workarounds can lead to forfeited points or suspension. Microsoft’s Services Agreement permits cancellation, disqualification, point removal or suspension when it believes a member tampered with, abused or defrauded the program.
How to join and activate Rewards
- Sign in to your Microsoft account.
- Open the Rewards dashboard (or Rewards site).
- Review the earning activities, status level and redemption catalog shown for your region.
- Complete any requested account or phone verification.
- Use the dashboard’s current labels; Microsoft changes menu layouts and offer names.
There is no activation charge. Before doing an activity, check that it appears for the same account you intend to redeem with.
How to earn points
Bing searches
Search while signed in to the correct account. Microsoft defines a qualifying search as a manually entered, good-faith search for your own research. Automated, repetitive, bot-like, macro-generated or fraudulent searches are excluded. Search limits and whether searches earn points at all vary by region and level, so do not rely on a universal daily number.
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- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
Daily sets, quizzes and dashboard offers
Your dashboard may include quizzes, polls, reading tasks, streaks and limited-time promotions. Some tasks require a separate claim after completion, and an offer can expire or change value. Microsoft’s terms say points may be forfeited when an offer is not claimed within its stated period.
Edge and mobile activities
Eligible accounts may see points for using the Edge app, Bing’s mobile app, Microsoft Launcher on Android or other mobile and browser activities. These offers are not universal; follow the activities displayed in your own dashboard.
Microsoft Store purchases
Only qualifying purchases count. Microsoft’s current US overview lists earning rates of 1, 10 or 20 points per dollar, depending on Rewards status and the applicable offer, with qualifying purchase earning capped at 20,000 points per month. Those figures are US-specific and can change. The overview excludes subscriptions and gift-card purchases from the cited Store earning offer, and a featured promotion may replace the normal rate. A purchase may qualify for only one Rewards offer at a time.
Xbox gameplay and quests
In eligible markets, the Xbox Rewards hub offers daily, weekly and monthly quests through an Xbox console, the Xbox mobile app or the Xbox PC app. Minimum playtime and other conditions apply. Game Pass Premium and Ultimate members receive exclusive quests; Xbox says Ultimate members may receive enhanced points on eligible gameplay and Store purchases. Xbox gameplay availability and age rules are market-specific, so check the current Xbox Rewards page and your hub.
Rewards levels
Microsoft generally presents Level 1 and Level 2. Xbox currently states that earning 500 Microsoft Rewards points in a month reaches and retains Level 2, regardless of how the points were earned. Level can affect search or Store rates and redemption benefits, but thresholds and benefits are changeable.
Rank #3
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
Check the current status page for your account instead of relying on an old guide.
How many points can you earn?
There is no dependable program-wide maximum. Caps and offers can be daily, monthly, account-specific or promotional. Build an estimate from the categories your dashboard actually shows:
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- Search activities
- Daily sets, quizzes and streaks
- Edge or mobile offers
- Qualifying Store purchases
- Xbox quests and gameplay
- Limited-time bonuses
Do not treat a published “maximum monthly total” as current unless it is tied to your country, account, date and offer terms.
What points are worth
There is no fixed conversion rate. Microsoft Support says it usually takes about 5,000 points for something worth $5; that is a rough example, not a guaranteed US rate. The effective value changes with reward type, denomination, region, level, promotions and inventory. Sweepstakes entries and donations should not be valued like cash or a gift card.
For planning only, some US $5-class redemptions work out near 1,000 points per dollar. Use the live catalog rather than a permanent conversion chart.
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- Gift Card is redeemable towards millions of items storewide at Amazon.com
- Gift Card has no fees and no expiration date
- Gift Card is affixed inside a mini envelope
- Free One-Day Shipping (where available)
- Scan and redeem any Gift Card with a mobile or tablet device via the Amazon App
What you can redeem
Depending on your region and account, the catalog may include:
- Microsoft Store and Xbox gift cards
- Retailer gift cards, such as Amazon where offered
- Sweepstakes entries
- Charitable donations
- Games, apps, movies and other Microsoft-related rewards
The current US overview shows Microsoft/Xbox gift cards from 1,600 points and retailer gift cards from 5,000 points, subject to account availability and change. Rewards can be limited, first-come first-served, discontinued or temporarily out of stock.
How to redeem safely
- Open the Rewards dashboard and select Redeem.
- Choose a reward currently offered in your account’s region.
- Confirm the point cost, denomination and delivery method.
- Complete identity or phone verification if requested. Microsoft’s redemption guidance requires a mobile or landline number for certain checks; VoIP numbers are not accepted.
- Confirm the email address associated with the Microsoft account.
- Save the confirmation or gift-card code.
Redeem in the region where the account was registered. Do not use a VPN or proxy, and do not attempt redemption while appearing to be in another market. Orders are generally final and cannot be returned or exchanged, except in limited circumstances described in Microsoft’s refund and exchange policy. Microsoft may substitute a comparable reward or refund points in limited cases.
Do points expire?
Points expire after 12 consecutive months without earning or redeeming any points. Merely signing in does not necessarily reset that clock. Keep a record of your last qualifying activity, and redeem periodically if you will leave the account unused. This rule is separate from expiration terms that may apply to a redeemed gift card or promotional account balance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why points or rewards go missing
| Problem | Likely explanation | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Search points stop | Cap, wrong account, regional restriction or suspicious search pattern | Check the dashboard, account and current limits; use genuine searches. |
| Completed activity not credited | Separate claim required, offer expired or dashboard delay | Review the offer terms and activity history, then allow reasonable processing time. |
| Purchase earns nothing | Subscription, gift card, excluded item or conflicting offer | Read the purchase offer’s qualifying terms. |
| Reward unavailable | Catalog or stock varies by account and region | Check again later or choose another listed reward. |
| Redemption fails | Region mismatch, travel, VPN or phone verification problem | Return to the account’s home region and use an eligible mobile or landline number. |
| Streak breaks | Required task was not completed or claimed in time | Follow the current streak rules; old guides may describe a different system. |
If the activity clearly qualified, contact Microsoft Rewards Support after checking the history and offer terms. Avoid repeating suspicious searches while investigating.
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- Gift Card is redeemable towards millions of items storewide at Amazon.com
- Gift Card has no fees and no expiration date
- Gift Card is affixed inside a mini envelope
- Free One-Day Shipping (where available)
- Scan and redeem any Gift Card with a mobile or tablet device via the Amazon App
Behavior that can cost an account
- Automated searches, scripts, macros, bots or search farming
- VPNs or proxies used to access another market
- Multiple Rewards accounts for one person
- Reselling rewards or manipulating offers
- Commercial or coordinated point farming
- Redeeming while traveling in a way that makes the account appear outside its home region
Microsoft reserves broad enforcement rights under its Services Agreement. Support is the appropriate channel for an account dispute; do not assume every suspension is reversible.
Is Microsoft Rewards worth it?
Usually worthwhile
- You already use Bing, Edge or Microsoft services.
- You play Xbox or have Game Pass and would complete quests anyway.
- You want Microsoft or Xbox credit rather than cash.
- You can spend a few minutes checking offers without changing your routine.
Usually a poor fit
- You must change browsers or perform meaningless searches solely for points.
- You need predictable cash income.
- You dislike repetitive check-ins and quizzes.
- You would buy games, add-ons or Game Pass mainly to chase points.
- Your region has few earning or redemption options.
Measure the opportunity cost with estimated reward value ÷ minutes spent × 60. Include any purchase cost; “free” points still consume time, and buying something solely for points can produce a negative return.
Paid products and Rewards: a cautious view
Game Pass Premium or Ultimate can add quests and, for eligible Ultimate members, enhanced earning opportunities. Subscribe for the games and entertainment you will use, not solely for a projected Rewards return. Current plan pricing and benefits should be checked at Xbox’s official page.
The US-only Xbox Mastercard is a credit product, not a free points upgrade. Approval, APR, fees and rewards terms are separate from Microsoft Rewards; carrying a balance to earn points can erase their value.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I earn Microsoft Rewards points without an Xbox?
Yes. Eligible accounts can earn through Bing, Edge, dashboard activities, mobile offers and qualifying Microsoft Store purchases. Xbox quests are an additional channel, not a requirement.
Can I redeem Microsoft Rewards points for cash?
No. Points have no cash value. They can be exchanged only for rewards currently listed in your account’s catalog.
Can I use a VPN with Microsoft Rewards?
No. Microsoft warns against location masking and cross-region activity; VPN or proxy use can lead to failed redemption, point forfeiture or suspension.
Do Microsoft Store subscriptions earn Rewards points?
Microsoft’s current US overview says subscriptions and gift-card purchases do not qualify for the cited Store earning offer. Check the individual offer for your region.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
