Did you know that you can actually make money playing mobile games?
There are now over 700,000 mobile games available for iPhone and Android users to enjoy! These games are a fun way to relax and often give us something to do on our phones while we’re waiting for an appointment or sitting on a plane.
But if you aren’t getting paid to play, you’re missing out.
It’s true! In this list, you’ll find the highest-rated and most popular game apps that let you earn money simply by playing on your phone.
For each game, I’ve included:
- the relevant app store rating
- comments from real reviewers
- a brief description of how to the app works
Ready? Let’s do it!
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Most Ways to Earn
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A Strong Newcomer
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An Android Fave
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4.4
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4.1
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4.3
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Swagbucks has paid out over $550 million to users over the last 10+ years. |
Get paid to test new games, complete offers, and answer short surveys. |
Discover games, earn "gems", and cash out for gift cards. |
Swagbucks has paid out over $550 million to users over the last 10+ years.
Apps That Pay You To Try Out New Games
| App Name | App Rating | Estimated Annual Earnings* |
| Swagbucks | 4.4 ⭐ | $730 to $1,825 |
| KashKick | 4.5 ⭐ | $200 to $600 |
| Cash Giraffe | 4.3 ⭐ | $300 to $500 |
| Freecash | 4.3 ⭐ | $150 to $500 |
| TesterUp | 4.1 ⭐ | $100 to $200 |
*Note: Few of these apps publish the actual, average earnings of their users. These general estimates are based on our independent research.
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is an online survey app that enables you to take surveys and play new games to earn cash.
Swagbucks has paid out over $650 million to users over the last 10+ years.
- Quick and easy to use
- Lots of ways to earn
- $10 sign-up bonus
- Surveys don't pay much
At press time, the app has a 4.4-star rating with over 140,000 reviews on the Apple App Store.
Reviewers appreciate the variety of ways to make money with Swagbucks, including:
- surveys
- mobile games
- cash back for online shopping
- receipt scanning
- and more
However, there are complaints that some of the tasks can be difficult or time-consuming to complete compared to the expected rewards.
Swagbucks awards you “SB” points for completing different tasks. SB can be converted into gift cards, starting at 300 points for a $3 gift card.
Some tasks are as simple as clicking through a few screens and signing up for a game. Other offers will require you to reach a certain level within 7-30 days.
More difficult tasks can take longer but pay better.
For example, if you reach level 18 in Rise of Kingdoms within 21 days, you can earn $100!
As part of her $100/day challenge, Jackie Mitchell mentioned earning as much as $218 playing games through Swagbucks.
2. KashKick
KashKick is another great resource to get paid to play mobile games.
At press time, KashKick holds a 4.5-star rating on the App Store from more than 18,000 reviews.
KashKick gives you cash for playing certain games. Basically, you pick a game you like, and then you play that game until you reach the level you need to earn the reward.
One reviewer described how they earned around $200 “playing the easier games with smaller rewards.” Another reviewer described how they earned $600 over the course of a year.
In terms of cons, some reviewers complain that it can be hard to find good offers on the platform. Another downside is that the tasks sometimes require you to pay money in order to complete them.
Once you’ve earned $10, you can cash out via PayPal. Check out my full KashKick review to learn more.
3. Freecash
Out of over 10M users, Freecash has garnered an impressive 4.3-star rating on the Google Play Store.
As with the other apps in this list, the app is designed to pay you real money to try out new casual games. You can cash out through Bitcoin, Amazon gift cards, and more.
One user described the offers available on the platform as “better than any of the other similar apps I use.” Another reviewer called Freecash “an absolute game-changer.”
According to the app, a typical user can expect to earn around $17.53 per day just playing games. Freecash has game offers for iOS, Android, and PC, with some paying out hundreds of dollars. (But the app itself is only available on Android and web.)
At press, the app had over 2,700 different games to choose from, offering plenty of variety for players.
As is common, you’ll earn more the more you play in each game, and reaching the highest tier may require some in-game purchases.
(But even if you don’t reach the highest level, you should still earn milestone payouts for however far you do get.)
4. Cash Giraffe
Cash Giraffe is an Android-only mobile app that allows users to earn money playing some of their favorite mobile games.
Discover games, earn "gems", and cash out for gift cards.
- Get paid to discover new games.
- Low payout minimums.
- Wide variety of games to try.
- Confusing gem currency.
- Low hourly earning power.
- Android only.
Cashouts are provided in a number of ways, including:
- coupons from top brands
- gift cards
- PayPal
The app has a 4.3-star rating from a whopping 400K reviews! One user said that the app is in their “top 3 for earning money for playing games.”
Users appreciate the ease of the offers and that there aren’t too many ads. One user was able to earn $75 in two months, casually playing games.
On the downside, it can also be difficult to get the payout process to work properly. Based on reviews, you may need to back out of the app and restart it occasionally to get your cash rewards.
5. TesterUp
TesterUp is available on both Google Play and the App Store and boasts an above 4-star rating on both platforms.
If you enjoy playing mobile games, Testerup is a legit way to monetize your hobby.
- Lots of games and varieties to choose from.
- Competitive payouts.
- Available on iOS and Android.
- Clunky interface.
- High minimum before you can cash out.
Described by several users as “a pleasure to use” and “the best,” TesterUp has earned a good reputation by providing legitimate rewards for people who already enjoy playing mobile games.
One of the biggest attractions of TesterUp, when compared to other apps that pay you to test games, is the amount of money you can earn per task.
For example, I found an opportunity to make $227 playing Raid: Shadow Legends!
Of course, you’ll need to play several hours in order to earn the full amount. Still, if that’s what you were going to do anyway, why not monetize your hobby?
One drawback? You’ll need to earn at least $70 before you can actually cash out. This is higher than most of the apps on this list.
The app also loses points for a somewhat clunky and confusing interface.
To learn more, check out my full TesterUp review.
Can You Really Make Money Playing Games On Your Phone?
There are two main categories of play-to-earn mobile games:
- Get paid to download and try new games
- “Real money” gaming
Getting Paid to Try New Games
For the apps that reward you for downloading and trying out new games, you’ll usually be required to play the new game long enough to reach certain milestones within a specified period of time.
Where does the money come from? These apps get paid by game developers who want to get new users to play their games. The apps then share a portion of that money with you, the user.
“Real Money” Gaming
With real money gaming, you compete against other players to win real cash prizes. I haven’t included any on this list for one main reason: you can actually lose money!
While legal in most states, some of these games aren’t permitted on the basis that they could be considered a form of gambling.
The app developers argue that these games are skill-based instead of chance-based and, therefore, shouldn’t be thought of as gambling. Either way, one key difference with real money gaming is that you’ll likely have to put your own money at risk in order to win.
Serious About Making Extra Money?
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