TL;DR
- Microsoft Rewards is a free loyalty programme — earn points through Bing searches, Xbox gaming, Daily Sets, and Microsoft Store purchases.
- Points convert at roughly 1,000 points = $1 USD in value.
- Redeem points for Xbox Gift Cards, Microsoft Store credit, sweepstakes entries, and more.
- A consistent Level 2 user can realistically earn $9–$10 per month (~$108–$120 per year) in free credit.
- Game Pass Ultimate members earn more — up to 4x more points through Xbox quests and store bonuses.
- Microsoft Rewards is one of the few legitimate ways to offset the cost of an Xbox Game Pass subscription for free.
Microsoft Rewards Xbox Guide: Earn Points and Get Free Games in 2026
Microsoft Rewards is a free loyalty programme that lets you earn points for things you may already do every day — searching on Bing, playing games on Xbox, completing quick daily tasks, and shopping in the Microsoft Store. Those points can be redeemed for Xbox Gift Cards, Microsoft Store credit, sweepstakes entries, and more.
If you play on Xbox or use Game Pass, Microsoft Rewards is one of the most reliable ways to consistently earn free gaming credit. This guide covers exactly how it works in 2026, how to earn points efficiently, and how to redeem them for the best value.
What Is Microsoft Rewards?
Microsoft Rewards (previously called Bing Rewards) is a free points programme tied to your Microsoft account. It is available across Xbox consoles, Windows PCs, mobile devices, and in the Bing and Edge browsers. You do not pay anything to join — you just use it alongside your normal Microsoft and Xbox activity.
The core idea is straightforward: use Microsoft products, earn points, spend those points on rewards. The main ways to earn are Bing searches, Xbox gaming activity, Daily Set tasks on the rewards dashboard, and qualifying purchases in the Microsoft Store. Points do not have cash value directly, but they convert to real purchasing power through gift cards and store credit.
The standard conversion rate is approximately 1,000 points = $1 USD. So 5,000 points gets you around $5 in store credit, and 10,000 points gets you around $10.
How to Earn Microsoft Rewards Points on Xbox
Playing Games on Xbox Console
Simply playing games on Xbox earns you Microsoft Rewards points. The key activity is the Weekly Console Bonus — you earn points for playing games on your Xbox console for five consecutive days per week.
In 2026, how many points you earn from the Weekly Console Bonus depends on your Game Pass tier:
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members: up to 260 points per week from the console bonus
- Everyone else: up to 130 points per week
There is also a matching Weekly PC Bonus for playing games through the Xbox app on Windows PC, which works the same way and can add another chunk of points per month.
Xbox Game Pass Quests
Game Pass Premium and Ultimate members get access to exclusive monthly quests. These are tasks like playing a specific Game Pass title for a set amount of time, completing in-game actions, or simply launching games. Completing the available monthly packs can add hundreds of extra points per month on top of the base console activity rewards.
These quests refresh regularly — check the Rewards hub on your Xbox console or at rewards.bing.com to see what is currently available and claim your points. Points must be claimed manually in many cases — they do not always credit automatically.
Xbox Store Purchases
Buying eligible games, add-ons, movies, and apps from the Microsoft Store on Xbox earns points on qualifying purchases. Subscriptions and gift cards do not count toward Store purchase points — only game and content purchases qualify. Game Pass Ultimate members can also earn up to 10% back in points on select Game Pass library game purchases.
How to Earn Microsoft Rewards Points on Bing
Bing searches are the biggest single source of Microsoft Rewards points for most users — and this is where the Bing and Xbox ecosystems connect directly. If you use Bing as your search engine (which is already natural if you are a Windows user or looking to maximise rewards), every qualifying search earns points up to a daily cap.
The Level System (US and Most Regions)
Microsoft Rewards uses a two-tier system in the US and some other markets — Level 1 and Level 2. In 2026, some regions including the UK, Canada, and Australia are transitioning to a new three-tier Member / Silver / Gold structure. The US still uses Level 1 and Level 2 as of mid-2026.
- Level 1 (default): Basic earning rates. Up to 5 points per day from PC searches — low cap.
- Level 2: Significantly higher earning. Up to 150 points per day from PC searches (30 searches at 5 points each), plus up to 100 points from mobile searches.
How to reach Level 2: Earn 500 points in a single calendar month through any combination of searches, Daily Sets, and other activities. At Level 2 search rates, you can hit 500 points in three to four days. Once you reach Level 2, you stay there as long as you earn 500+ points each month — easy to maintain with daily searches alone.
Daily Bing Search Caps at Level 2
- PC searches (Microsoft Edge): up to 150 points per day (30 searches)
- Mobile searches: up to 100 points per day (20 searches)
- Edge browsing bonus: up to 20 additional points per day
Bing Copilot AI conversations also count toward your daily search earning limit — each Copilot chat counts the same as a standard Bing search. This is confirmed by Microsoft officially.
The Bing STAR Bonus (New in 2026)
In 2026, Microsoft introduced a new feature called the Bing STAR Bonus in regions rolling out the new tier system. Instead of paying you per search instantly, the system reserves a monthly allocation of up to 2,100 points and credits them at the start of the following month based on consistent, authentic daily Bing usage. This rewards natural daily use rather than doing all searches in one session.
How to Earn Points Through Daily Sets
The Daily Set is a group of three quick tasks available every day on the Microsoft Rewards dashboard at rewards.bing.com. It typically includes:
- A trivia quiz
- A “This or That” poll
- A short informational click task
All three together take under three minutes to complete. Despite a reduction in Daily Set points in March 2026 across several regions, Daily Sets remain one of the most reliable daily point sources — completing them every day can add several hundred to over a thousand points per month depending on your region.
The dashboard also features streak bonuses (for consecutive days of activity), punch cards, and monthly quest offers that add extra earning on top of the daily routine.
How Much Can You Realistically Earn Per Month?
Here is an honest picture of what consistent Microsoft Rewards use actually produces:
- Casual user (Level 1, occasional searches): 500–1,500 points per month (~$0.50–$1.50)
- Consistent user (Level 2, daily searches + Daily Sets): 8,000–10,000 points per month (~$8–$10)
- Power user (Level 2 + Game Pass Ultimate quests + Xbox gaming): 12,000–15,000+ points per month (~$12–$15+)
A fully optimised Level 2 account running through the daily routine in under 10 minutes per day is realistically worth around $108–$120 per year in Microsoft and Xbox credit. Game Pass Ultimate members who complete Xbox quests consistently can push that closer to $150–$200 per year.
That is not life-changing money, but it is real, free credit that can offset a significant chunk of a Game Pass Essential subscription ($9.99/month) with minimal effort.
How to Redeem Microsoft Rewards Points
You redeem points through the Microsoft Rewards dashboard at rewards.bing.com or through the Xbox Rewards hub on your console. Once you have enough points, the available rewards show up on your dashboard.
Best Redemption Options for Xbox Players
- Xbox Gift Cards — deposit directly to your Microsoft account balance and can be used on any store purchase, game, or add-on. This is the most flexible option for Xbox players.
- Microsoft Store Credit — same as above, deposited to your account.
- Sweepstakes entries — entries from as low as 200 points. The Microsoft Rewards Total Prize Drop sweepstakes (active as of mid-2026) accepts entries at 200 points each with prizes including Xbox hardware.
- Nonprofit donations — redeem from 1,000 points via Give with Bing.
- Third-party gift cards — available from 5,000 points (Amazon, etc.).
Important: Game Pass Direct Redemption Is Gone
Up until October 2025, you could redeem Microsoft Rewards points directly for a month of Game Pass Ultimate at a set point cost. That option was removed in October 2025. You now have to redeem points for an Xbox or Microsoft Gift Card first, then use that gift card balance toward a Game Pass subscription.
This adds an extra step but it still works — redeem for an Xbox Gift Card, then use the balance to pay for your next Game Pass billing cycle. The conversion rate is slightly less favourable than the old direct redemption, but it is still the most popular way to use rewards points for Game Pass.
Note that a feature to spend points directly on the Xbox/Microsoft Store without redeeming a gift card first is listed as “coming soon” on the Xbox rewards page as of mid-2026, allowing single-item purchases directly with points on console. This will not apply to subscriptions.
For full details on Game Pass pricing and tiers, see our Xbox Game Pass price guide for 2026 and Xbox Live Gold vs Game Pass guide.
Daily Routine to Maximise Microsoft Rewards (Under 10 Minutes)
If you want to hit the maximum realistic earning rate, this is the daily routine that works:
- Step 1 (2–3 minutes): Go to rewards.bing.com and complete all three Daily Set tasks — trivia, poll, and click task.
- Step 2 (2 minutes): Open Microsoft Edge and run 30 Bing searches if you are Level 2 (10 if Level 1). Use genuine queries — news, games, sports, topics you actually want to look up.
- Step 3 (2 minutes): Do 20 Bing searches on the Bing mobile app on your phone for the mobile search cap.
- Step 4 (1 minute): Check the Xbox Rewards hub on your console or the Xbox app and claim any available quest points.
That is the full routine. Ten minutes or less, every day. The points stack up faster than most people expect when done consistently.
Microsoft Rewards and Bing: Why It Matters for Xbox Users
The connection between Bing and Xbox through Microsoft Rewards is not accidental. Microsoft designed the programme to reward users who stay within the Microsoft ecosystem — Windows, Edge, Bing, Xbox, and Game Pass all feed into the same points account.
For players already on Xbox and using Windows, the friction to earn is very low. You are playing games anyway. Bing is already available on Windows. The only habit to build is doing Daily Sets each morning and using Bing instead of another search engine for your daily queries.
This also makes Microsoft Rewards one of the best-aligned loyalty programmes for Bing users specifically — the more you use Bing as your primary search engine, the more you earn, and those earnings go directly back into your Xbox and gaming budget.
Microsoft Rewards Availability
Microsoft Rewards is available in a limited number of markets. As of 2026, it is available in: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
If you are in India or another region not on that list, Microsoft Rewards is not currently available. Points earning through Xbox and Bing may not apply in unsupported markets — check your Microsoft account dashboard to confirm availability in your region.
Points Expiry
Microsoft Rewards points expire if there are no earning or redeeming activities within 12 months. As long as you do something — complete a Daily Set, run a Bing search, earn any points at all — your balance stays active. This is easy to maintain with even minimal use, but worth knowing if you plan to save up a large balance over time.
Connecting Microsoft Rewards to Your Xbox Setup
Once you are earning rewards, it is worth making sure your Xbox setup is optimised so you are spending that credit on the best gaming experience. Our Xbox Game Pass Ultimate guide covers everything included in the top tier. Our best games on Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass games list help you find what to play once you have your subscription sorted.
If you are looking to get more from your Xbox hardware as well, see our Xbox Series X guide, display settings guide, and best Xbox Series X games roundup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Microsoft Rewards free?
Yes. Microsoft Rewards is completely free to join and use. There is no subscription fee or credit card required. You earn points through normal use of Bing, Xbox, and Microsoft products.
How many Microsoft Rewards points do I need for a free game?
It depends on the game price. The standard conversion is approximately 1,000 points = $1 USD. A $10 game would require around 10,000 points redeemed as an Xbox Gift Card. A Level 2 user doing the daily routine can reach 10,000 points in roughly one month.
Can you get Game Pass for free with Microsoft Rewards?
You can use Microsoft Rewards points to offset the cost of Game Pass, but not get it entirely for free. Redeem your points for an Xbox Gift Card, then apply the balance to your Game Pass subscription. A consistent Level 2 user earns roughly $9–$10 per month, which can cover most or all of a Game Pass Essential subscription ($9.99/month).
Do Bing searches on Xbox count for Microsoft Rewards?
Bing searches made through the Edge browser on PC and mobile count toward your daily search earning cap. Xbox gaming activity earns through the Xbox console and PC bonuses and Game Pass quests — these are separate from Bing search points but all go into the same rewards balance.
Do Microsoft Rewards points expire?
Yes. Points expire if your account has no earning or redeeming activity for 12 consecutive months. Any activity — including completing a single Daily Set — resets the expiry clock.
Is Microsoft Rewards available in India?
As of mid-2026, Microsoft Rewards is not available in India. The programme is currently limited to a list of supported markets including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and several European and Asia-Pacific countries. Check your Microsoft account dashboard to confirm availability.
