If you spend a lot of time each day on your phone, you may as well put that time to good use and start earning money through mobile apps. Whether you want to get paid for shopping, walking, watching videos or even playing games, you can find an app that pays in real money.

                By                    Dawn Allcot
  • Swagbucks
  • Rakuten
  • Ibotta
  • MyPoints
  • Fetch
  • Blackout Bingo
  • Toluna Influencers
  • Opinion Outpost
  • Dscout
  • Mode Earn
  • Solitaire Cube
  • InboxDollars
  • Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel

You can also find games that pay in cryptocurrency or NFTs, which you can resell for crypto or U.S. dollars. But if you are looking to put actual dollars into your PayPal account, which you can transfer to your bank account or use for online shopping, you’ll find more than you might imagine.

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1. Swagbucks

Earn even more SB by sharing your referrer code, completing surveys, or shopping at retailers like Kohl’s and Home Depot. Add the SwagButton extension to your Chrome browser to earn even more.

2. Rakuten

Rakuten, formerly Ebates, also pays you cash back for sharing your referral code, shopping at many e-commerce retailers, and shopping in-store with a linked card. With Rakuten, you earn actual cash deposited into your PayPal account every three months.  Some of the biggest payouts come from travel purchases booked through Expedia, and referrals, which earn you $30 per person. Add the Rakuten browser extension to find the best deals when you shop, too.

3. Ibotta

Along with Swagbucks and Rakuten, Ibotta is one of the more well-known shopping rewards apps that pays you cash back. Use the app when you shop in stores or online at any of thousands of retailers to earn cash back. You can also add the Ibotta extension to your Chrome browser so you can intentionally choose the retailers that give you cash back and activate each offer with one click. Redeem your rewards for gift cards or cash back through PayPal. You must have at least $20 in your account to withdraw your earnings to PayPal.

4. MyPoints

5. Fetch

6. Blackout Bingo

Blackout Bingo is a mobile game developed by Skillz and available on the App Store and Galaxy Store. With a 4.5-star average rating on both platforms, this twist on Bingo gives you an opportunity to win cash prizes.

Blackout Bingo is one of the most popular Skillz games, but when you open an account, you gain access to 400-plus games where you can win real cash prizes. Your deposits and rewards are available across all games, so you’ll never get bored.

7. Toluna Influencers

8. Opinion Outpost

9. Dscout

Dscout is a market research app that goes beyond stories to recorded and live video interviews with scouts, who share information about their daily lives, product feedback, and complete other fun missions. If you’re comfortable on camera and like sharing your opinions, you’ll love getting paid for it. Some of the surveys that are open have rewards of $75 to $100. You can download the app via the App Store or Google Play and upload your responses, videos and photos through your phone. The app pays through PayPal.

10. Mode Earn

Mode Earn is a unique concept in earning money on your phone. First, the company provides you with a phone for just $9.99 a month. The Mode Earn Phone compares favorably to iPhones and Samsung Galaxy models, and it runs on the Android operating system. The Mode Earn Phone is compatible with many major carriers, including T-Mobile and Mint Mobile. You can also earn $50 when you refer friends.

11. Solitaire Cube

Solitaire Cube is a mobile game where you can earn cash, and it’s easy to learn and play. After all, most people have already spent hours of their lives playing the classic Klondike Solitaire game. Play head-to-head against other players and enter tournaments for cash prizes. It’s available on the App Store and Galaxy Store.

12. InboxDollars

Some apps pay you to take surveys. Others pay you to shop. Many let you earn money playing games. InboxDollars combines them all to help you ramp up your rewards. You can earn a fast $5 in real cash just for signing up and clicking the confirmation email, and another 50 cents for completing a quick demographics survey. You can cash out in gift cards or cash directly to PayPal when you have $15 in your account.

13. Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel

If you want to get paid for watching YouTube on your phone, consider joining the Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel. When you download the Nielsen app on your computer or mobile device, you can earn up to $60 per year. Redeem the points for PayPal credits or gift cards. You can also earn game tokens for a chance to win instant prizes, and Nielsen holds a $10,000 monthly sweepstakes for its participants.

Information is accurate as of Nov. 15, 2022, and is subject to change.

Takeaway

There are many apps that allow you to earn real money in your spare time. Make sure to read the rules and instructions carefully to maximize your earnings.

  • Swagbucks delivers an instant bonus when you sign up or reactivate your account. Other apps also offer sign-up bonuses, but some require that you complete an activity first to earn your bonus points.