Play Free Online Games to Earn Money

Play games, get paid. Lots of mobile apps make this promise.

How can these apps pay you to play games? In lots of cases, you’re making them money when you complete surveys, watch videos and ads and play games.

Payouts are generally made once you earn a minimum amount, like $5. Even that can take quite a while, according to some app reviews.

Which game apps pay money?

Solitaire Cube, Swagbucks, InboxDollars Cash Giraffe and KashKick are just a few of many apps that advertise that they pay cash for play. Although reviews are mixed, the aforementioned apps all have ratings of 4 stars or higher in both Google Play and the App Store.

Some apps, such as Mistplay, let you earn “units” redeemable for gift cards while playing various games, including slots, cards and battles.

You may find a chat function allowing a social connection to fellow players. Solitaire Cube, for example, lets you play games with others.

If you’re expecting to play games uninterrupted, though, you might be disappointed.

What do users say about pay-to-play apps?

There are a lot of opinions.

An App Store reviewer of Swagbucks says, “I used this app on and off for years but … the surveys were always garbage and always say they’ll only take a few minutes but take ages and rarely reward what they say because they’ll disqualify you after you spend 20+ minutes answering questions and then grant you pennies (if anything) for your time.”

Others are fans despite some frustrations.

Another Swagbucks App Store reviewer says it is “chock full of gimmicks and ways to earn enough points to get gift cards. They run the gamut from ridiculously easy to almost impossible, but overall it’s worth it.”

Other reviews are more polarizing.

InboxDollars reviews range from more than one Google Play user saying the app is a “Total scam,” to others rating the app five stars.

One Google Play InboxDollars user says: “This app is actually pretty cool I made $103 in 10 days, so there’s always tons of offers and games and other cool added earners like surveys, search web, win it, arcade and more to earn money!”

Pros and cons of game apps, according to Reddit users

We sifted through Reddit forums to get a pulse check on how users feel about pay-to-play apps. We used an AI tool to help analyze the feedback. Here are the pros and cons that rose to the top of our analysis. People post anonymously, so we cannot confirm their individual experiences or circumstances.

Pros

• Some apps, such as Playtime and Fetch Games, offer relatively quick initial earnings.
• Multiple apps can be used simultaneously to maximize earnings.
• Apps are a generally easy/passive way to earn while playing games you might enjoy.
• No special skills are required to get started.

Cons

• Many apps have raised minimum cashout thresholds.
• Low overall earning potential (most users report $10-25 per month per app).
• Time investment required can be significant for relatively small payouts.
• Some apps have limited game selection or only offer certain types of games.

The general consensus on Reddit was, if you have the time, energy and interest and want to earn extra money, you can consider one of these apps. But, if you think you’ll be too impatient, there are better ways to make fast cash.

What else should I know before I play?

Game apps that pay money can seem too good to be true. And sometimes they are.

Some unscrupulous providers can postpone payoffs by preventing you from reaching your payout target. Some high-profile game apps have shut down with little notice, leaving users wondering about their prizes.

Do your research and read reviews. Protect yourself and don’t provide personal information beyond what the apps require to monitor your playing activity.

Look for payments issued by email, such as gift cards, or PayPal, so that you can safeguard your financial information.

Most importantly: Make sure monetary payouts are legal where you live. Read the app’s fine print and look up your state laws online.

If you’re looking for a fun way to make extra cash, game apps that pay real money might be worth exploring. While these apps won’t replace your day job anytime soon, you can earn some extra cash in your free time. Understanding how these apps work can help you set realistic expectations for potential earnings.

How do you make money with game apps?

Game apps generate revenue in several ways, enabling them to share earnings with players. Here’s a breakdown of how they work:

Advertisements: Many game apps are ad-supported, which means players might watch short videos or see banner ads to earn points or cash. Every time you watch or click an ad, the app earns money from advertisers and shares a part of this revenue with you. According to a 2024 Statista report, in-game ad revenue is expected to reach $145 billion worldwide by 2027.

In-app purchases: Some apps encourage optional purchases for virtual currency, power-ups or exclusive features that enhance gameplay. While these aren’t necessary for earning cash, they help fund rewards for users who choose to play for free.

Sponsorships and partnerships: Many game apps partner with brands to fund reward programs. For example, Swagbucks and Mistplay partner with major retailers to offer players gift cards and other rewards. These partnerships support player payouts while providing brands with exposure.

Skill-based tournaments: Skill-based game apps allow players to enter competitions for cash prizes. These competitions usually charge an entry fee, which is added to a prize pool and distributed among winners.

Most apps offer payments through PayPal, direct deposit or gift cards, typically requiring minimum balances to cash out. Now, let’s look at some of the best money-making game apps.

9 Best money-making game apps

These are some of the top game apps that pay real money, with options for all types of gamers — from casual players to competitive enthusiasts.

Mistplay: Earn points playing new games

Mistplay is a popular loyalty program for gamers, specifically on Android. Users earn points by playing games within the app, which they can redeem for gift cards to major retailers like Amazon, Visa and Google Play. The longer you play, the more points you accumulate. Mistplay features a “loyalty program” structure, so you can build points faster the more consistently you play.

According to Mistplay’s website, users can earn “units” (Mistplay’s in-app currency) based on factors like time spent playing and achievements reached in each game. The app has partnered with over 100 mobile game developers, making it a great way for casual gamers to monetize their playtime.

Swagbucks Games: Earn Swagbucks points with each play

Swagbucks offers multiple ways to earn points (called “SB points”) for simple activities, including taking surveys, watching videos and shopping online. Its games section includes free-to-play games and trials of premium games. You earn SB points for each game played, which you can then convert into gift cards or PayPal cash. The diversity of game types available on Swagbucks makes it suitable for users with different preferences.

According to its website, Swagbucks has paid over $600 million in rewards to date. Users can get cash back from PayPal or redeem gift cards at retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

InboxDollars: Play casino games and earn cash

Operating since 2000, InboxDollars is a rewards platform that pays users to play games, complete surveys and watch videos. For gaming, you’ll find options like card games, puzzles and casino-style games. The app pays out in cash rather than points, with a minimum cash-out of $15. Games on InboxDollars include scratch-off cards and Spin to Win, allowing players to earn extra money while they play casually.

Skillz Games: Compete in tournaments with real cash prizes

Skillz Games is a competitive gaming platform where players can participate in tournaments and win real money. Game options include everything from puzzle games to strategy-based competitions, and players can enter tournaments by paying a small entry fee. Skillz offers both cash and free practice tournaments, so players can get comfortable before competing for money.

According to Skillz, the platform awards over $100 million in monthly prizes to players worldwide. Skillz games are played by over 27 million active players in over 4 million daily tournaments, making it one of the most widely used skill-based cash gaming platforms.

Bingo Clash: Play bingo for real money

Bingo Clash offers cash rewards through competitive bingo games. You can participate in real-time bingo rounds, competing against others for cash or tickets that you can redeem for larger prizes. The free app also offers practice rounds so new players can get the hang of the game before entering cash tournaments.

The app maintains a 4.5-star App Store rating and provides multiple secure payment options, including PayPal, Apple Pay, Visa, American Express and Venmo.

Solitaire Cube: Win cash prizes playing solitaire

Solitaire Cube allows fans of the classic card game to win real money in head-to-head and tournament-style play. Users pay entry fees for cash tournaments, and winnings are divided among top players. This app is ad-free and particularly popular among competitive solitaire players.

Solitaire Cube has a high rating on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. The app has a rigorous payout process, allowing users to cash out quickly.

Blackout Bingo: Compete in skill-based bingo for money

Blackout Bingo turns traditional bingo into a competitive, skill-based game. Players can participate in cash prize games, competing against others to score the most points. The app gives bingo a skill-based twist, appealing to those who enjoy a challenge. Like many other Skillz games, you can practice for free before playing in cash games.

Blackout Bingo is available on multiple platforms, allowing players to challenge friends, chat with other players and earn progressive prizes. The app has a reputation for fairness and uses anti-cheating measures to ensure a level playing field.

Toluna Games: Play for cash rewards through surveys and games

Toluna Games offers users a range of activities to earn rewards, from playing games to taking surveys. As a market research company, Toluna is known for its surveys, but the games section also allows users to earn points, which they can redeem for PayPal cash, gift cards or products from popular brands. The app provides a mix of casual games and trivia, appealing to users looking for low-stress ways to earn.

According to Toluna, the platform has over 21 million users worldwide. With its flexible rewards structure, Toluna Games provides a consistent, low-commitment way to earn rewards.

AppStation: Get rewarded for trying new games

AppStation allows players to earn gift cards and cash by playing and testing various mobile games. Unlike apps that reward for time played, AppStation focuses on specific achievements and level completions, so users earn bonuses as they progress through each game. The app is free to download and requires no in-app purchases to start earning. Also, there are no ads, so users can play undisturbed.

According to AppStation, users can earn gift cards from retailers like Amazon, Google Play, Nike, and Walmart or get a direct payout from PayPal. The app maintains a solid rating across Android platforms, making it a valuable choice for those looking to discover new games while earning rewards.

The bottom line

Game apps that pay real money provide a fun way to make extra cash. Though they’re not a replacement for full-time income, these apps allow you to monetize downtime.

By experimenting with different apps, you can find the ones that best fit your preferences. Maximize earnings by using multiple apps and watching for bonus rewards.

Frequently asked questions

Quick tips & what to watch out for

Don’t be tempted to spend money on in-app purchases. This is all about making money, NOT spending it. It’s possible to play games and earn money without any spending, but gaming apps are likely to tempt you to spend to try to boost your experience.

Withdraw your cash as soon as you can. These apps aren’t banks. There’s no protection if one goes under, taking your cash with it. So withdraw your cash as soon as you reach the payment threshold.

If you struggle with gambling or other addiction issues, give mobile games a miss. As we mention above, mobile games often try to tempt you to spend money, and can be addictive. Don’t try these apps if this is a risk for you. If you need help, visit Gambleaware.

Spend gift vouchers ASAP. If you’re given the choice, opt to get paid in cash. If you get paid in gift vouchers, spend them ASAP. This reduces your chances of being left with invalid vouchers should the retailer go bust. Plus it means you can’t lose them or forget about them until they go out of date. For more info on this, see our gift voucher warning.

Ignore adverts for gaming apps that claim you can make £1,000s. Using the apps below, you might earn £10 to £50 a month if you put some time in. Apps that claim you can earn £1,000s each month are scams and should be avoided at all costs. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Top ‘get paid to play’ apps & websites

It might sound like a dream scenario, but these apps really do pay you for playing games. They’re funded by adverts (so be prepared to sit through some terrible videos), and they pass on some of that money to you. They also take a cut of any in-app purchases you make, but as we say above, you should avoid these extra expenses. You can make money from all the below apps without forking out cash.

It’s worth noting, some are only available on Android phones.

Mistplay – Android only, huge range of games

To earn money with Mistplay, you need to download the free app either on iPhone or Android, then select games to install and play on your phone. You’ll only earn if you launch the game via Mistplay so it can track your time spent playing (a bit like using a cashback site).

How do I earn money?

Mistplay rewards you with units when you’ve played a game for a certain length of time. It splits these time periods into ‘levels’, and you earn points when you hit each one. When you’ve earned enough, you can then redeem your units for a gift card, or a payout (eg, via PayPal). Be aware that 1,900 units are worth £5 in gift cards. It took MSE Sarah less than a day to earn a £5 voucher.

You’ll earn points quite quickly when you first start playing a game, but the higher you go, the longer it takes to move between levels. This means it can be worth playing lots of different games, rather than sticking to just one. Bear in mind too that once you reach level 20, you’ll stop earning units for that game.

As well as playing games, you can earn units for a few other things:

• 100 units for inviting a friend
• 15 units for signing up to the newsletter
• Two units a day for maintaining a daily streak (play a game through the app for several days in a row)

Are the games any good?

Mistplay has one of the biggest selections of games we’ve seen, ranging from Solitaire to war strategy games such as Viking Rise. You’ll also find games based on popular TV shows, such as The Walking Dead: Survivors and Star Trek Fleet Command.

Some of the games are genuinely fun to play, as MSE Sarah found when she tried out the app:

“I’ve made £40 so far using Mistplay. I’ve enjoyed some of the games so much, I would happily play them even if I wasn’t getting paid. These are my top picks so far:

Woodoku. Tetris meets a Sudoku grid in a wooden block puzzle game.

Love & Pies. Help rebuild a café, and serve customers by merging items to make pies, cakes and more.

Royal Match. Match colourful items to solve puzzles.

Cooking Madness. Serve customers in real-time by cooking and combining ingredients to order. If you’ve played Overcooked on a PC or console, this game might feel familiar. It’s just as stressful (and fun).

Solitaire. You’re probably already familiar with this card game, but it’s a classic for a reason.”

A number of MoneySavers have also had success earning via Mistplay. Forumite SBarnard says:

“I’ve been using Mistplay for a few years, and use the Amazon voucher option. Build them up and that’s part of Christmas/birthday shopping… I get a £10 Amazon voucher every other month or so.”

And praisedlily says:

“Mistplay is my quickest way of earning £10 at a time currently, though I’m trying to reduce how much time I spend on my phone!”

Nectar Arcade – Android and iPhone, earn Nectar points

You can bag yourself bonus Nectar points by playing free mobile games via Nectar Arcade. While you’ll earn points rather than cash, this is a great way to boost your stash and they can be spent at several retailers, including Argos and Nectar. See our Boost your Nectar points guide for more info on how the scheme works.

How do I earn points?

To get started, head to Nectar Arcade in the ‘Partners’ section of the app and agree to the T&Cs. You’ll then see a list of pre-selected games chosen by a recommendation system, so the games on offer may differ between users. Each game offers a set number of Nectar points for reaching specific milestones, usually within 90 days of installing.

The highest number of points we saw on offer for a single game was 13,400 (worth around £67). In reality, reaching all the milestones would take a significant amount of time, as they become more difficult the further you progress, and there’s no guarantee you’ll hit the maximum. That said, it is doable if you’re willing to put the time in.

Even setting aside around 30 minutes a day could earn you a decent number of points, depending on the game and whether milestones track correctly.

Both Android and iOS users earn points by hitting specific in-game milestones, but Android users can also earn points based on time spent playing games (this may require granting additional tracking permissions).

Nectar says points should be credited within five working days of completing a milestone, though in practice they often appear much sooner. It’s worth noting, Nectar Arcade is run by a third party, not Nectar itself, and points aren’t guaranteed if tracking doesn’t work correctly.

Are the games any good?

The games on offer are similar to Mistplay’s, but you will only see a limited selection on your first visit. It’s worth picking one, earning a few points, then checking back in a day or two to see what new games are available.

MSE Sarah has once again selflessly tested out the games, to give you an idea of whether they’re worth playing:

“I’ve earned 2,871 Nectar points (worth at least £14) since downloading the app a few weeks ago. However this has involved spending several hours playing each day, and I’ve taken advantage of bonus events, where you’re given extra points to play new games over a few days.

The games I was offered at first weren’t the best, but as I kept returning to the app, I found more games were added to my library and I’ve enjoyed playing Township and Royal Match the most.”

JustPlay – Android only, fast payout but limited selection of games

The JustPlay app is only available for Android and, like Mistplay, it rewards you when you download and play games.

How do I earn money?

JustPlay gives you loyalty coins based on how long you spend playing a game. The longer you play, the more coins you’ll earn. You can also boost your coin stash by watching YouTube videos (which are essentially just adverts).

JustPlay isn’t very clear on the conversion rate of coins to pounds, but suggests it’s based on time spent in games, achievements in games, and how much a company is paying it to show you adverts. MSE Sarah earned around £1 in a few hours, but more intense playing could earn more.

There’s a countdown in the app for when you can cash-out what you’ve earned. Withdrawal options include PayPal and Amazon. The good news is, the withdrawal threshold is pretty low (5p for Amazon gift cards, £2 for PayPal).

Are the games any good?

JustPlay has a much more limited selection of games than Mistplay. Adverts also appear randomly while you’re playing, which can be a bit frustrating.

Games include Treasure Master, Solitaire Verse, Ball Bounce and Trivia Madness.

Swagbucks – Android and iPhone, variety of ways to earn

Swagbucks* rewards you for online activity such as answering polls, completing surveys and watching videos. You can earn using the app on Android or iPhone devices or on desktop through the Swagbucks website.

You can also get rewarded for playing mobile games, and a major benefit here is that a number of them are available to both Android and iPhone users.

How do I earn money?

Swagbucks gives you points (called ‘SB’), which you can then cash in for gift cards, PayPal credit or other rewards.

To earn SB by playing games, you’ll usually need to be using Swagbucks on your phone, and install the game following the Swagbucks link (a few games can be played on a computer instead). Do note that you often need to be a new user of the game, so you won’t earn if you’ve downloaded it before.

You’re rewarded points once you reach a certain level in the game. So although the SB offered for playing games can be high, bear in mind it will take at least five hours (and sometimes weeks) to earn them. For example, playing Top Troops gets you ‘up to 2,359 SB’ if you reach a certain level within 14 days.

Are the games any good?

Swagbucks offers a decent selection of games, including Monopoly Go!, Puzzles and Survival and Game of Vampires.

See our Swagbucks deals page for more.

Cash’em All – Android only, fast payout but limited selection of games

Similar to Mistplay and JustPlay, Cash’em All rewards you when you download and play games via its app. It’s only available for Android.

How do I earn money?

Cash’em All gives you points based on the amount of time you spend playing games. This varies by game – when we checked, some gave you 181 coins a minute spent playing, others only 100 coins.

You can also earn by inviting friends to the app. You get 200 coins for every friend who joins, plus 25% of all coins they then earn.

Cash’em All is another app with a low withdrawal threshold, starting at 29p (3,999 coins) if you use PayPal. Other options include Amazon and Starbucks gift cards. MSE Sarah earned around 60p (8,000 coins) in less than an hour.

Are the games any good?

Games include Candy Crush Saga, Match Masters and Merge Dragons. The selection of games isn’t as good as Mistplay or Swagbucks, but you also don’t get bombarded by adverts which is a major advantage.