Your phone isn’t just for scrolling through social media anymore. Many apps now pay you actual money for doing simple activities on your phone, from answering questions to scanning receipts.
The cash comes fast too. Most apps transfer funds straight to PayPal once you hit the minimum payout amount. Some hand out gift cards to major retailers instead – perfect for buying what you need anyway.
I didn’t believe it at first, but these apps surprised me. The rewards build up faster than expected. Between playing around on game apps, answering some questions, and snapping photos of my store receipts, the dollars started adding up. I do all this while hanging out at home or waiting for the bus.
The money shows up instantly in my PayPal account, or I grab gift cards from my favorite stores. It’s like getting paid to do what I already do on my phone.
These 5 apps might help add some extra dollars to your budget too.
10 Apps that pay you Real Money without investment for FREE
These 10 rewarding apps send cash to your account when you start using them – no experience needed, no upfront costs:
EarnApp
EarnApp makes you money from internet data you aren’t using. Pretty clever way to earn while doing nothing.
Your internet has spare bandwidth most of the time. This app shares that extra space with businesses and pays you for it. Think of it like having an empty guest room and renting it out – except it’s your digital space.
Got Windows, Mac, Linux or Android? You’re good to go. After downloading, the app sits by your clock. Click it once, link your account (this bit matters!), and that’s it. You can make it start with your computer if you want to be extra lazy like me.
They pay per gigabyte you share. Rates aren’t anything special – similar to Honeygain and ByteLixir – but money for nothing is still money, right?
Will your internet slow down? Barely. You might notice if you’re gaming or downloading massive files, but for normal browsing? Nah. If you need full speed, just pause the app and turn it back on later.
Once you hit $2.50, grab your cash through PayPal, Wise, or swap it for Amazon gift cards. You can even set it to pay out automatically when you reach that amount.
Oh, and if you know people who’d like free money (who doesn’t?), share your link. When they sign up and start sharing bandwidth, you get 10% of what they earn. EarnApp pays this bonus, not your friends.
I’m all about making money while I sleep. This fits right into my lazy girl financial plan.
FreeCash
Freecash is this rewards site where you make money playing games, filling out surveys, and downloading apps. They claim you can earn around $100 monthly – sounds nice, right?
Surveys bring in the most cash on Freecash. Not surprising since most sites work that way. Your homepage shows partners like CPX Research, BitLabs, and Pollfish. Don’t worry if options seem limited at first. After picking a partner and answering a few questions, you’ll see all their available surveys. They usually pay between $0.25 and $1 each, sometimes a few dollars if you’re lucky.
How much you make depends on what offers you do. Some people earn just a couple dollars daily, others make hundreds monthly. I’ve found with a bit of effort, you can get $2-5 daily – that’s $50-150 monthly. Go all in and you might earn more. Put in minimal effort and… well, you know how that goes.
When you finish offers or surveys, you get coins in your account. Then you can trade those coins for PayPal money or different cryptocurrencies if that’s your thing.
Might give this a try on a rainy day – I do love finding new ways to fund my art supplies!
Pawns app
The Pawns app runs on your phone or computer and pays you for doing little jobs. You can fill out surveys, share your internet, test apps, and play games to earn cash.
You can grab the app on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, or even Docker. And here’s what’s amazing – it works in loads of countries, not just America!
When it comes to making real money, sharing your internet is the easiest part. You just let Pawns borrow your extra internet space for market research, and they pay you while you do other stuff. They give you $0.20 for each gigabyte you share, and you’ll earn based on how fast your internet is and where you live.
A quick heads-up from my experience – laptops work better than phones for sharing internet. My phone kept turning off the connection whenever it went to sleep. Oh, and you can only share from one device per internet connection.
I checked out the “Earn” section too. It’s full of different games to play and apps to try. Each one gives you money when you finish.
Something I learned: start small. Pick the quick tasks first to see some money coming in fast. The bigger paying ones take forever, and that’s no fun when you’re just starting.
By day four, I jumped into surveys. They pay about what you’d expect – I made $1 doing two surveys in 30 minutes while walking on my treadmill. At least Pawns tells you right away if you don’t match a survey instead of wasting your time.
You only need $5 to cash out, and you can get paid through PayPal, Venmo, Bitcoin, or gift cards.
Remember – this app won’t replace a job, but it’s a simple way to make a bit of extra cash while doing your normal everyday stuff.
AttaPoll
Money for your thoughts? Literally! AttaPoll slips cash into your account just for answering quick surveys on your phone. I fancy how you can withdraw with just $3 in your PayPal – none of that nonsense where apps make you save up $10 first. Works a treat when you’re a bit skint before payday.
Got Android or iPhone? You’re sorted either way. The app works on both, and anyone over 13 can join from anywhere – yes, anywhere! They match you with surveys based on a few questions about yourself. Bit cheeky, but fair enough – they need to know who they’re asking.
You’ve got options when cashing out – PayPal if you want actual money (my choice), gift cards starting at just $2.50, or even donate to charity if you’re feeling generous. The money hits your account within 3 days. Not instant, but I can live with it.
Between sketching and hiding from British weather, I’ve earned enough for small luxuries. Nothing revolutionary, mind you, but every little bit helps. Give it a go if you’ve got opinions and moments to spare? You might just find it worth your time.
CashYeah
CashYeah pays you for finishing small tasks online. They don’t make you wait forever for your money. Rare find, that.
You earn by picking these “offerwalls” – wait, let me back up. Offerwalls are just screens full of ads asking you to try apps or visit sites. You do what they want, they give you gems. You trade gems for actual money later.
If you’re in the US, UK or Canada, you’ll see way more offers than the rest of us. Not ideal if you’re elsewhere, but I’ve seen worse setups.
For cashing out, PayPal or gift cards need 5,000 gems ($5). Into crypto? Lucky you – Bitcoin and others only need 1,000 gems ($1). Smart move on their part, actually.
Getting paid is straightforward. Head to the payout area, pick your method, type in your details. First-timers need to verify – bit of a pain in the bum but keeps the system clean.
After that? Your money shows up almost right away. I’ve wasted days waiting on other sites. Perfect when you need a little extra for whatever tickles your fancy… a nice dinner perhaps? Just saying.
Poll Pay
Poll Pay gives you money for doing surveys, signing up for stuff, joining gift card contests, playing games and other activities. You can use it on your computer or phone, so you can make money wherever you go.
Getting started with Poll Pay costs nothing. Just sign in with your Google, Facebook or Apple account.
Then you’ll see some surveys about you – like what you enjoy doing, what you buy, and if you have a job. Answering these helps Poll Pay find surveys you’ll actually qualify for.
Once you finish those first questions, Poll Pay will show you regular surveys on your main page. You’ll also find different ways to earn on their offer walls. These have tasks that pay you for trying new services, buying products, or playing games.
As you make money, you move up on their monthly ranking board. End the month in the top 100 spots and you get a prize between $1 and $30.
You can also earn by playing mobile games they suggest. You’ll find these in the Games section. But you must install games using their QR code or email link – that’s how Poll Pay tracks what you do in the game so you get paid.
Another way to make money is by telling your friends about Poll Pay. When someone joins using your link, you get 15%-25% of what they earn forever.
Once you’ve earned enough, you can get your money through PayPal or as Amazon gift cards.
For PayPal in US Dollars, you need at least $25 (2,500 coins) – which is quite high if I’m honest. For Euros or Amazon gift cards, it’s €15.
They do charge a fee when you cash out. The amount changes based on how you want your money, but they show you the fee before you confirm anything.
ySense
ySense pays you for your opinions. Big companies want to know what regular people think about their products and shopping habits, so they give money for those thoughts. No fancy skills required, just your honest opinions.
You’ll pocket about 50p to £2 (or 50 cents to $3) for each survey. Takes around 5 to 20 minutes to complete one. Some people make up to $100 weekly! More cash? Check often for new surveys and grab them quickly. Fill out your profile properly – with actual true info, mind you – more details means more survey matches.
Surveys aren’t the only money-maker on ySense. They pay you to download apps, try free services, watch videos (quite dull sometimes but easy money), or shop online for cashback. Daily task bonuses too – finish more tasks, get more extra cash. Pretty straightforward.
Once you’ve got $10 saved up, you can transfer to PayPal, Skrill wallet, Payoneer, or swap for gift cards from major shops. Payments happen monthly. Take screenshots of everything you’ve done… bit of a faff but worth it if something goes wonky later.
This is a proper legit way to make extra money. Not going to make you rich, obviously, but brilliant for earning while you’re just lounging about anyway.
Pagazani
People who use Pagazani daily can earn about $100 or sometimes more. You answer questions and do small tasks online from your sofa.
Pagazani came to life in 2020 as an online survey site that works in over 90 countries. They pay you for sharing what you think about different products and services. Simple concept, really.
The first way to make money involves surveys. You sign in, go to the survey section, and pick ones that catch your eye. Each survey pays a different amount. Sometimes you won’t qualify for all of them… rather frustrating that, but it happens.
Your second option comes from “offerwalls” – they’re like digital boards filled with small jobs. You might download an app or try a new game. Just pick something you fancy and finish it to get paid.
Getting your cash is easy. You can use PayPal, get it sent straight to your bank, or receive it through Payoneer. If you prefer alternatives, you can swap your earnings for Amazon gift cards or even cryptocurrency.
You can join if you’re at least 18 and live where Pagazani operates. It costs nothing to start earning – absolutely free to sign up.
What works best? Show up daily, learn which surveys pay better, and figure out which offers give good money. Consistency makes all the difference with these things.
HeyCash
I found this app called HeyCash that pays you for doing stuff online. Tried it myself and, surprise! It actually works. You can cash out with just $1, and they pay right after. No waiting around forever.
They send money through PayPal, Venmo, or Revolut. Or get gift cards if you like shopping more. PayPal needs 1,000 points for one dollar, and gift cards need about 5,000 to 10,000 points. What you can pick depends on your country, so check what works where you are.
You start with surveys – do 5 before they unlock the rest. After that, play cash games, download apps, finish special tasks, or try new mobile games. Your screen shows what’s available for you.
Signing up? Just link your Apple or Google account. Takes seconds. They give you 1,000 points ($1) right away. Do their quick quiz for another 240 points and better matches.
HeyCash turns boring moments into money. The quick payments and low minimum make it worth a go. Won’t make you rich, but perfect for when you’re just faffing about on your phone anyway.
TimeBucks
TimeBucks pays people for small online tasks. Anyone worldwide can join this Australian company (Clearing Pty Ltd) without paying a penny.
Once you hit $5, they send money weekly. Get paid through PayPal, Wise transfers, apps like Skrill, virtual Visa cards, or Litecoin crypto. Quite nice having options, innit?
The platform has about 12 different task sections. You earn by answering surveys, watching videos, downloading apps, posting TikTok content, or signing up for websites.
Testing products pays more than just watching videos. No surprise there.
An hour or two daily builds steady earnings. Many do these tasks while relaxing at home instead of just scrolling social media. Clever use of downtime, if you ask me.
You won’t buy a mansion this way. But if you already enjoy surveys, games, and creating content… why not earn from it? Just remember earnings build slowly – keep at it.
What is my conclusion?
First off, these 10 money rewarding apps I shared actually work. I know because I tested each one myself. While some apps out there just waste your time collecting your data, these ones do pay out when they say they will.
Will these apps work for you? That depends on what you’re looking for. Some people do well with survey apps, others prefer playing games for cash, and some like getting paid to shop online.
The key is finding what fits into your schedule. You won’t get rich overnight, but you can earn some extra cash by:
- Taking surveys during your free time
- Playing games while watching TV
- Earning cashback on purchases you already make
Start with one app that interests you. Once you learn how it works, add another to increase your earnings. Keep an eye out for special bonuses – they can boost your income significantly.
Remember: PayPal payments and gift cards become available once you hit the minimum payout amount, which varies by app. Some let you cash out at just a few dollars, while others need you to earn more first.
I’d love to hear about your experiences. Which apps have worked best for you? Drop a comment below and share what you’ve learned.