Microsoft Rewards: Earning Points and Redeeming Prizes

Want to earn free gift cards, games, and subscriptions? Microsoft Rewards lets you do exactly that by using Microsoft services you probably use every day. My personal experience has helped me earn hundreds of dollars in rewards over the last several years.

Microsoft Rewards gives you multiple ways to collect points. You can earn them through simple tasks like searching with Bing, shopping at the Microsoft Store, or completing quick daily activities. Your regular internet usage and gaming habits can help you save money when you know how to encourage engagement to maximize your Microsoft Rewards points.

This complete guide will show you everything about Microsoft Rewards. You’ll learn the simple point-earning methods and advanced strategies that turn your daily activities into valuable rewards.

Understanding Microsoft Rewards Basics

Here’s my guide to Microsoft Rewards, a program that has given me great value. Microsoft Rewards comes free with your Microsoft account, without any fees or commitments.

What is Microsoft Rewards and how it works

Microsoft created this program to thank users who engage in daily online activities. Users earn points by searching on Bing, shopping at the Microsoft Store, and completing daily tasks. These points can be exchanged for gift cards, sweepstakes entries, or donated to charity.

Program availability by country

Microsoft Rewards has expanded substantially over time. The program now reaches 58 countries, with major regions like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Recent growth added 38 new regions, including Vatican City and several European countries. Users worldwide can now take advantage of this program’s benefits.

Different membership levels explained

The program uses a two-tier system that’s easy to understand:

• Level 1: Everyone begins here
  • Points earned for up to 10 searches daily
  • Simple point earning rate for Microsoft Store purchases
• Level 2: Better benefits unlock after earning 500 points in one month
  • Points earned for up to 30 searches per day
  • 5x more points on Bing searches
  • 10% savings on Microsoft product rewards
  • Access to exclusive offers

Level 2 status is easy to maintain – you just need 500 points each month to keep these improved benefits. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers who maintain Level 2 get an extra status called “Level 2 + Xbox Game Pass Ultimate”.

Note that your points will expire after 18 months without earning activity. Regular use makes it easy to keep your account active with the many ways to earn points.

Essential Point-Earning Methods

My experience shows that daily activities are the quickest way to build up your Microsoft Rewards points. Here are the three best ways I use to earn points that work really well.

Daily Bing search rewards

Bing searches form the core of my point-earning strategy. Level 1 members can earn points for up to 10 searches each day. Level 2 members get points for up to 30 searches daily. These searches fit naturally into my regular browsing habits.

Microsoft Edge bonus points

Microsoft Edge helps me boost my points significantly. Level 1 members earn up to 5 points daily (150 points monthly). Level 2 members collect up to 20 points per day, with a maximum of 600 points monthly. Regular browsing on Edge helps me rack up these bonus points naturally.

Xbox and gaming activities

Xbox provides some of the most fun ways to earn points, especially when you have gaming interests like mine. Here’s what I focus on:

• Game Pass Activities: Game Pass Ultimate members earn points by playing games from the Game Pass catalog
• Purchase Rewards: Every dollar spent on games and add-ons earns you points – Level 1 members get one point per dollar. Level 2 members earn up to 20 points per dollar on qualifying digital purchases
• Gaming Quests: Xbox Game Pass Quests through the Xbox mobile app or console add up quickly

The gaming rewards blend naturally with my regular gaming habits. Points keep adding up while I browse the Microsoft Store for new games or enjoy my Game Pass subscription. The system tracks everything automatically – points from searches, gaming, and Microsoft Store purchases all go into your single Microsoft Rewards balance.

These three methods – Bing searches, Edge browsing, and Xbox activities – create a steady flow of points without much extra work. Making these activities part of your daily routine works better than treating them as separate tasks.

Maximizing Points Through Shopping

Shopping at the Microsoft Store has become my favorite way to stack up rewards points. I found some clever tricks to maximize my earnings, and I’d love to share how I make every purchase count.

Microsoft Store purchase rewards

The Microsoft Store offers great point-earning rates. You’ll benefit from knowing these different earning tiers:

• Level 1 members earn 1 point per dollar spent
• Level 2 members earn 10 points per dollar
• Level 2 members with Game Pass Ultimate get 20 points per dollar

These points work on many digital purchases. You can earn them on games, game add-ons, movies, and TV shows. But subscriptions and gift card purchases don’t qualify for points.

Special promotional events

Special events are gold mines for extra points. Microsoft runs promotional codes that can boost your point balance substantially. My experience shows that purchases qualify for only one rewards offer at a time. This means if an item is part of a featured promotion, you’ll only get those promotional points.

Bonus point opportunities

The real fun starts when you mix shopping with daily activities. Daily streaks can lead to big bonuses. You can earn 45 points for a 3-day streak. The rewards get even better with longer streaks – up to 150 points for every 10 days after reaching 54 days.

Here’s a useful tip: the monthly cap stands at 20,000 points on qualifying purchases. I plan my bigger purchases carefully to avoid hitting this limit and missing out on points. You should always check that you’re signed into your Microsoft Rewards account before buying anything.

This system rewards loyal customers well. Level 2 membership comes with higher earning rates, exclusive offers, and savings on reward redemptions. My points add up faster when I time my purchases during special promotions and keep my Level 2 status active.

These shopping rewards work best as part of a bigger strategy. I combine them with daily searches and other activities to earn points faster. Your points will expire after 18 months of inactivity, so regular activity keeps your rewards balance healthy.

Advanced Point-Earning Strategies

My journey with Microsoft Rewards started with the simple stuff, but I found that there was a way to boost my point earnings by a lot. These strategies help me earn more rewards without spending too much time.

Streak bonuses and multipliers

The rewards you get from being consistent are amazing. The streak bonus system guides you toward impressive rewards:

• 45 points bonus when you manage to keep a 3-day streak
• 150 points bonus every 10 days after hitting 54 days

The Streak Restore feature is one of my favorite new additions. Missing a day isn’t a big deal anymore since you can restore your streak once every 60 days. The system rewards loyalty too – your streak can be restored monthly after crossing 100 days. Streak protection stays on my account because it doesn’t affect your restoration allowance.

Mobile app rewards optimization

Both the Bing app and Microsoft Launcher for Android help me maximize mobile earnings. My daily routine includes twenty mobile searches and ten news articles through the launcher. Microsoft Edge mobile app gives me extra bonus points, so it’s now my preferred browser.

The mobile strategy works great because it’s quick. All mobile tasks get done during my morning coffee break. Just remember to log into your Microsoft account on every device to track points properly.

Quiz and poll completion techniques

A smart approach to quizzes and polls saves time. Points come your way regardless of wrong answers – you get multiple tries until you pick the right one. These quizzes pop up 1-3 times daily and are a steady source of points.

The Microsoft Rewards dashboard needs regular checks since new quizzes and trivia games appear daily. Most daily tasks take about 10 minutes. This routine fits perfectly with my morning email check.

Here’s a useful tip: connect your business account to your personal Microsoft account. Work searches will earn you points automatically. This simple change helps maximize daily earnings without extra effort.

Smart Redemption Strategies

My experience with Microsoft Rewards points has taught me that smart redemption choices can boost the value you get by a lot. Let me share what I’ve learned about making the most of these rewards.

Best value redemption options

I found that one Microsoft Rewards point is worth between 0.066 pence and 0.22 pence. The best returns come from these high-value options:

• Microsoft and Xbox Gift Cards (best for Microsoft products)
• 3-Month Game Pass vouchers (quickest way for GPU conversion)
• Hot Deal promotions (offering higher point values)

Here’s something useful: 5,000 points equals about BRL 29.00 in redemption value. Microsoft gives the best rates to users who redeem points within their ecosystem.

Timing your rewards redemption

The right timing is vital to get maximum value. Hot Deals on the redemption page often give better point values. Gift cards aren’t always accessible, so I check the offerings regularly.

My approach involves saving points for bigger items and redeeming smaller rewards occasionally. The system tracks your progress automatically, which helps plan redemptions better.

Converting points to gift cards

This process works well for converting points to gift cards:

1. Go to the Microsoft Rewards dashboard
2. Check available deals
3. Select the reward once you have enough points
4. Follow the on-screen instructions for redemption

It’s worth mentioning that you need a mobile or landline phone number to verify – VoIP numbers don’t work. Each phone number can link to up to 6 accounts per household.

Points must be redeemed in your Microsoft account’s region. Using a VPN during redemption can cause problems. Also, points expire after 18 months of inactivity. Regular account activity keeps your points safe.

For gamers, here’s a valuable tip: A 3-Month Game Pass voucher (17,000 points) converts to 60 days of GPU. This gives you the best conversion rate at 283 points per GPU day.

Conclusion

Microsoft Rewards stands out as a valuable program that rewards activities we do daily. Over the last several years, my experience shows that consistent participation through Bing searches, Microsoft Edge usage, and strategic shopping leads to substantial rewards.

Smart point management makes a difference. You can save points to get bigger items like Game Pass subscriptions or redeem gift cards regularly. Your account stays active when you participate consistently, and Level 2 status helps maximize your earning potential.

Note that Microsoft Rewards’ success doesn’t need major routine changes. Simple, consistent actions build up fast, especially with streak bonuses and special promotions. Here’s a tip – start with daily searches and simple activities. Then expand into advanced strategies as you get comfortable with the program.