With over 15 million users, Swagbucks is one of the top apps for getting cash and gift cards. In fact, the app has already paid out over $500 million in gift cards and prizes, meaning there’s a real opportunity to make money through this app. The app tracks your activity and awards you “Swagbucks” (hence the name) for all of your activities. Solitaire is the only card game app where you can MAKE REAL MONEY PLAYING FREE VIDEO GAMES! SwagBucks is one of the top known money making apps that actually pays users through PayPal. They have endless surveys to take and you can also earn money by playing games, shopping online, weekly contests and more.
- FeaturePoints is so far the best app in this niche where you play games for real money. This company is in business since 2012 and had made payout in thousands of dollars. In this app, you have several tasks that you can do to earn free PayPal money. This includes the following.
- Sending money abroad made easy. All you need is an email address or mobile number to transfer money. Your friends can set up a PayPal account for free, and the money goes right into it. More about Send Money.
Do you want to make money by playing games on your phone?
That sounds like it would be too good to be true, but there are actually a lot of apps out there that let you do it! In this post, we will be showing you the best apps that pay you to play games.
What’s the Catch?
Before you download any of these apps, you might be wondering a company would ever do anything like this or what the catch might be. I mean, why would any company pay you to play free games on your phone?
There are three common reasons that you would get paid to play games.
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- First, companies pay money for people to use their apps to boost their player base and appear more popular on an app store. Because there are millions of apps out there, they need help from people like you to get higher rankings.
- The second reason is that free apps often want people to play so they can get “hooked” on a game and buy in-app currency. They’re hoping that the few cents you earn from downloading the app will go directly back into their pocket. Obviously, the best way to avoid this happening is to ignore any purchase opportunities!
- The final reason — and in my opinion, the sketchiest reason — is gambling. Some gambling apps will give you free tickets to play to win money. Then they’ll give you some “great deal” where you pay money on more tickets to gamble. The best approach to these apps is to accept the free tickets but never pay for anything they offer you.
Now, with that out of the way, here are the apps!
Earn Money by Playing Games on Android
Let’s start with apps that pay you to play game son Android.
1. Verydice
- Available on: iOS and Google Play
The premise is simple enough: you roll the virtual dice, win tickets based on what you roll, then redeem your tickets for prizes! You have a limited number of rolls per day, and they make their money by selling additional dice rolls.
2. InboxDollars
- Available on: iOS and Google Play
In addition to being a paid survey site, Inboxdollars has a whole section of games that you can play and get paid for! Basically, companies pay InboxDollars to find people to play their games, and the site passes a little of that money on to you.
Read our detailed review of InboxDollars for details and other ways to earn, plus a few tips on how to make the most money with InboxDollars.
3. Coin Pop
- Available on: Google Play
Coin Pop is a free app that rewards you in coins for every second you play games from their list. You can exchange the coins for gift cards or cash prizes.
4. CashPirate
- Available on: Google Play
This app offers a variety of ways to make money by downloading new apps, completing surveys watching videos and, yes, playing games.
5. Fitplay
- Available on: Google Play
Offering an experience with no deposits or in-app purchases, Fitplay is just here to reward you for trying new games. Just choose one off their list and start earning rewards.
6. AppStation
- Available on: Google Play
AppStation offers a variety of genres to choose from and get paid to play, like casual, action, strategy, puzzle or arcade. The games are all free to play, and your rewards are given by the amount of time you spend playing.
7. Lucky Miner
- Available on: Google Play
Featuring a cute user interface and a wide range of rewards, up to and beyond a $50 PayPal cash payout, Lucky Miner pays you by the minute to try new games.
8. Cash Alarm
- Available on: Google Play
Cash Alarm offers to give you your first gift card a few hours after you start playing one of their games, which is a big plus. You and your friends can also get bonuses for referring them to the app.
9. Golden Farmery
- Available on: Google Play
With new apps on offer every day, Golden Farmery will pay by the minute for you to play a variety of mobile games across all genres. Win rewards and cash out the next day.
10. Mistplay
- Available on: Google Play
Bored with your current game library? Mistplay offers mobile users recommendations for new games and even rewards you for playing them! The app also has a chat function to stay in touch with other players!
11. Cashout Rewards
- Available on: Google Play
This app lets you earn points by:
- Installing free apps
- Playing games
- Completing surveys
- Watching videos
You also get a guaranteed 10 points every day you log on. Once you have enough points, you can redeem them for PayPal cash and gift cards.
12. Bananatic
- Available on: Google Play
This app is specially made for people who are already into online games. Offering rewards like gaming mice and video games, this one’s perfect if you’re a gamer yourself or are looking to get a gift for one in your life.
Apps that Pay You to Play Games on iPhone
While there are many game apps that pay you real money for both Android and iOS devices, there are a few that are exclusive to iOS devices.
Some of the best include:
13. HQ Trivia
- Available on: iOS
Play a new quiz with word games and trivia every day with HQ Trivia! It’s actually a very popular app to play trivia and win cash. This app has had guest celebrities like The Rock, Robert De Niro, and more drop in, so keep your eyes peeled.
14. Toy Town Cash Money
- Available on: iOS
This app takes an interesting approach to earning cash by playing games. There are no in-app purchases or pay to win scenarios. All you have to do is play their games and earn tickets. The tickets let you enter into one of their many cash prize draws. If you win, you get the money paid to your PayPal. Pretty simple, right?
Best Apps that Pay You to Play Games
Here are applications that pay you for playing games.
15. Toluna
- Available on: iOS and Google Play
Toluna is a survey site with a hip modern twist, aiming itself at young would-be “influencers.” In addition to surveys, it offers a series of its own games which users can play and get rewarded for.
16. Swagbucks Live
- Available on: iOS and Google Play
From the popular online rewards site Swagbucks comes a trivia game that can earn you cash prizes! Answer all the questions quickly and correctly to qualify for a grand prize of up to $500!
17. Play and Win
- Available on: iOS and Google Play
Offering a grand prize of $50,000, Play and Win is a trivia game that offers cash prizes for its most knowledgeable players. A new game starts every hour, with players competing against each other.
18. Lucky Day
- Available on: iOS and Google Play
Love casino games but don’t like the crowds? Then Lucky Day is the app for you. Featuring scratch-offs, blackjack, and more coming soon, you can play to win real money!
19. Big Time
- Available on: iOS and Google Play
From WINR Games, Big Time offers real money to play their games. The money is handed out through a raffle, so the more tickets you earn playing games, the better your chances of winning big!
20. Lucktastic
- Available on: iOS and Google Play
Featuring a new contest to pay for your grocery trips, Lucktastic also offers Lucky Trivia Live, a trivia show that you the audience can participate in and win from!
21. Long Game
- Available on: iOS and Google Play
Long Game is a banking app that features a gamified rewards system. Every day, you can use points you’ve earned for using their card to play games and compete for up to a million dollars!
Apps That Make You Money
22. Wealth Words
- Available on: iOS and Google Play
Apps To Earn Money
Like puzzles? Wealth Words has crosswords, poem and story puzzles you can play to win 30, 200, even 700 dollars! The app offers secure instant withdrawal through PayPal for your winnings.
23. Brain Battle
- Available on: iOS and Google Play
Brain Battle offers players a chance to earn tickets by playing games. One ticket is all it takes to be entered to win cash prizes. Plus, the more people play, the bigger the rewards will be.
24. Appnana
- Available on: iOS and Google Play
Appnana says that it has paid over $10 million to its members over the years it’s been open. You play games they offer you, then you redeem your rewards for gift cards for places such as:
- Amazon
- iTunes
- Google Play
- Xbox
Final Thoughts
There are lots of apps that pay you to play games out there, you just need to install them and get playing! Just make sure you don’t fall into the trap of paying for in-app purchases while you’re having fun.
Have you used any of these apps before? Do you know of any other app that pays you to play games? Let us know if you liked any of them!
Whether you’re answering some survey questions or mystery shopping in your spare time, we’ve broken down 45 ways to make money online with apps that will pay you for your participation.
2020 was a tough one for many of us, each of us facing hardship in different ways. But if there’s a constant thread through a lot of the stories I’ve heard and it’s this: we’ve got more time on our hands, but less money in our bank account.
So who doesn’t want to make money online in a quick and easy way?
The world is a weird and wonderful place there are now hundreds of ways to make money online - some as easy as a few taps on your smartphone.
Whether you’re answering a few questions in a survey, mystery shopping in your spare time, or even watching videos, we’ve broken down 45 ways to make money online with apps that pay you for your participation.
Get Paid to Turn Off Your Lights with OhmConnect
1. Sign up for OhmConnect Here
California residents can earn hundreds of dollars each year (depending on how much energy you can save) by syncing their utility accounts to a energy-sharing program called OhmConnect and agreeing to help reduce energy usage by around one hour per week.
Here’s how it works:
- Sign up for a free, secure OhmConnect account and sync it with your online utility account.
- You must have an online account with one of these three utility companies to participate: Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric or Southern California Edison.
- OhmConnect will send you regular payments for reducing your electricity consumption for around one hour per week during events they call #OhmHours. They do this because you’re helping to not contribute to the high demand that prompts unclean power sources to turn on. You have the chance to earn hundreds of dollars per year, plus you’re helping save the planet!
Plus, with OhmConnect’s new referral program, you can get paid up to $20 to help a friend save money and energy.
Get Paid to Take Surveys
2. iPoll
Android and iOS users can earn gift cards, airline miles, magazine subscriptions and more for completing 15- to 20-minute surveys. After downloading the app, you’ll tell the app a little about yourself to help iPoll match you to future surveys. Complete as few or as many questionnaires as you like, but the more you participate, the more you earn.
Most surveys pay $1 each, according to IveTriedThat.com. But you can earn up to $10 on some. You can request a payout when you have $35 in your account.
Lots of companies are looking for input on their products and services and are willing to pay you for your time and opinion.
Love taking surveys? Here are 10 more apps that pay you for your opinion:
3. i-Say
4. Surveys on the Go
5. Google Opinion Rewards
6. Survey.com
7. The Panel Station
8. Quick Thoughts
9. 1Q
10. Toluna
11. My Points
12. InboxDollars
Get Paid To Take Photos
Handy with a lens? Here are a few apps that pay you to take photos:
13. Foap
14. Snapwire
Get Paid to Watch Videos
15. CheckPoints
Watch videos and scan barcodes to earn points. Redeem your points for free rewards like Amazon and Walmart gift cards, American Airlines miles, tablets and gaming systems or even a donation to a charity!
Get Paid to Mystery Shop
16. Mobee
Get paid to mystery shop at businesses in your area. Simply download the app for your iOS or Android device and search for a mission that interests you. It only takes a few minutes to answer the five to 10 questions you’ll be asked, and within 24 hours you’ll be eligible to receive quality and credit points.
Expect to earn between 150 points ($1.50) and 3,000 points ($30) for each completed mission, according to the book “Easy & Quick Money.”
17. Gigwalk is another in-person, task-based app. You make money by performing activities in your community. You may be visiting a store to see if a brand display is up or something more involved like checking inventory. Your pay will be determined by the involvement and ranges from $3 up to $100 per gig. Once you have completed the gig and it’s been approved by the client, you will be paid by PayPal.
Love a good mystery shop? Here are two more apps that pay for your sleuthing:
These apps will all pay you to visit stores and do things like take photos of displays, answer surveys about what you see, etc.
18. Field Agent
19. Observa
Get Paid to Unlock Your Phone
20. Slidejoy
Get paid an average of $5 to $15 per month, according to CNET, for putting ads on your Android device. Every time you check your phone, you’ll see a card with a news story or promotion. You can slide left to learn more about it, slide up to see another card or slide right to use your phone as normal. You don’t receive any more or less money for engaging with the content, so you essentially do nothing to get paid.
Get Paid for Purchases You Already Make
21. Ibotta
Shop for your regular brands and products and earn cash for it! Ibotta pays real cash for buying your favourite products at more than 40 stores including Target, Walmart, Kroger, Whole Foods, Safeway and more. Before shopping online, head to Ibotta to unlock cash rewards by completing simple tasks. After shopping at a store, simply scan your product barcodes and send a photo of your receipt to have your purchase verified. Get $10 just for trying it out.
22. Ebates (now called Rakuten)
This is another cashback opportunity that can earn you quite a bit over the course of a year. While we traditionally think ofRakuten as being a website, they also have an app that provides in-store coupons and allows you to check prices. You can even connect your favorite credit card, or apply for an Ebates card, to earn cash back on in-store purchases. Ebates pays quarterly by check with a $5.01 minimum.
23. Shopkick
This iOS and Android app shows you popular products and rewards at popular retailers and gives you kicks (points) for walking in the door, more for scanning items and even more for making purchases. Most rewards are worth 250 kicks, and 500 kicks equals $2. Create an account to set up your profile and then you’re ready to start.
Love getting paid to shop? Here are three more apps that will give you cash back when you buy certain items:
24. Receipt Hog
25. FetchRewards
26. Receipt Pal
Get Paid to Lose Weight
27. GymPact
Got fitness in your schedule anyways? Download GymPact, make a weeklong pact to work out, get paid for every day you go and pay a penalty for every workout you miss. You’ll earn between $0.50 and $0.75 for every workout of 30 minutes or more.
28. HealthyWage
If you are trying to lose weight and need some motivation and accountability, check out HealthyWage. This app allows people to place “bets” on their weight loss and earn up to $10,000 for meeting their goals. Additional prizes are available for keeping those pounds off long-term.
Get Paid to Try New Apps (or even just watch the trailer for one!)
29. AppTrailers
Watch trailers of new apps of usually 30 seconds or less on your iOS or Android device and get paid for it. Earnings start at 500 points (50 cents) and can be redeemed for gift cards or cash via PayPal, according to Dailybucks.info. Another way to earn cash with this app: Upload videos and get likes.
30. Feature Points
31. AppKarma
Get Paid To Sell Your Stuff
32. BookScouter
Got old books lying around the house taking up space? Earn money by selling them online. This iOS and Android app allows you to scan or enter the barcode number to instantly compare buyback prices from leading book-buying websites. Choose the buyer offering the highest price and ship your book for free.
Registration is easy. Simply use your email address to create an account or log in through a host of eligible social networks.
Didn’t find a buyer? Check out seven more apps you can use to quickly and easily list your stuff for sale.
33. Poshmark
34. Carousell
35. Vinted
36. Mercari
37. Gone
38. Tradesy
Other Apps That Pay You, But Didn’t Fit In A Category
39. SwagBucks
Accumulate points called SB by searching the Web, completing surveys, watching videos, referring your friends, shopping in the app’s mall, completing special offers, voting in daily polls, finding swag codes and entering fun contests via social media and the Swagbucks blog. These points can be redeemed for gift cards from stores like Amazon, Target and Walmart or for PayPal cash. At time of writing, Swagbucks has given out $97,751,668 in distributed rewards. Download the app on your iOS or Android device.
40. UberEATS
Did you know you can earn money with Uber by simply doing deliveries?
What’s great about it:
- You set your own schedule, and earn when you want to.
- You don’t even necessarily need a car – depending on the laws of your city of residence, you may be able to make deliveries using your bike or scooter.
- Deliver with Uber also lets you make deliveries using a wider variety of cars than permitted with UberX – 2-door and 4-door vehicles are both accepted and just need to be model year 1997 or newer.
- You can deliver packages, flowers, or even food for Uber, and listen to whatever music you wish during the ride!
You still must be over 19, have a valid driver’s license and insurance, and pass background screening. Uber advertises that most deliveries are door-to-door, meaning you’ll walk into the restaurant or other business, pick up the items for delivery, and then take that delivery right up to the customer’s door. Peak times – meaning the best times to make money! – tend to be around lunch (11 AM – 2 PM), dinner (5 PM – 9 PM), and late night (after 12 AM). Fees are calculated based on a pickup fee, drop-off fee, and a per-mile fee, and reportedly there’s a $10 minimum.
42. ESPN Streak for the Cash
Users have to predict the result for each game and try to get the longest winning streak of the month. The longest winning streak for a team or player will win a monthly grand prize of $50,000.
43. Trim
Trim automates saving money, which is awesome. The service analyzes your spending and looks for ways to save you money – it’ll keep you up-to-date on what active subscriptions you have (such as your gym membership or Netflix) and even negotiate with your cable or Internet provider to lower your bill! It also activates relevant cashback deals for you, and flags your recent Amazon purchases for price drops in case price protection applies and you can get the difference credited back to your account. Their services are mostly free, though they’ll take a small percentage of the money they save you if they successfully lower any of your bills (like your cable bill).
44 and 45. Make money with your car and drive for Uber or Lyft
Driving with Uber or Lyft are easy ways to earn extra money anytime. And with more riders and trips than ever before, there’s more money around every corner. Where a traditional job might limit your hours and pay substantially, driving for Uber or Lyft makes it possible to work when you want.
And that’s it! Know of other apps that will pay you? Drop them in the comments!