Looking to earn some money with your smartphone? The landscape has changed dramatically since the original version of this post. Most of the “install apps for points” platforms from the mid-2010s have shut down as advertiser payouts dried up, and a few high-profile apps have been kicked off the app stores entirely.
Quick Takeaways (2026)
Every entry below is verified as active on the App Store or Google Play as of August 2026 based on real user review data from Trustpilot, the BBB, Reddit, and app store ratings.
- Overall Best All-Rounder: Swagbucks (#1) — Most earning options and $650M+ total payouts.
- Best for Fast/Instant Cash-outs: JustPlay (#16) ($0 min, 3-hr payouts) & AttaPoll (#17) ($3 min).
- Best Passive / Low-Effort Savings: Ibotta (#2) for groceries and Rakuten (#3) for online shopping.
- Key Safety Warning: Always cash out in small increments ($5–$10) frequently rather than hoarding large balances.
17 Best Smartphone Apps That Pay You Money
17) AttaPoll
Category: Mobile Surveys | Platforms: iOS, Android
What it does: On-the-go paid mobile surveys. It connects users directly with market research firms with a streamlined, mobile-first interface.
Payouts: Very low threshold starting at $3 via PayPal, Revolut, or direct gift card redemptions.
User Reviews: 4.5/5 on the App Store (75K+ ratings), 4.3/5 on Google Play (600K+ reviews), 4.2/5 on Trustpilot.
What users actually say: Appreciated for its clean mobile UI and low cash-out limit. However, like most pure survey apps, disqualification rates can be high depending on demographic demand.
Verdict: A reliable, simple survey option for quick payouts, though daily earning caps are relatively low.
16) JustPlay
Category: Play-to-Earn Games | Platforms: iOS, Android
What it does: Loyalty reward app for playing casual mobile games. Automatically tallies coins based on gameplay duration and offers daily payout cycles.
Payouts: Cash out every 3 hours with no strict minimum threshold via PayPal, Amazon gift cards, or direct charity donations.
User Reviews: 4.3/5 on Google Play (400K+ reviews), 4.4/5 on the App Store.
What users actually say: Users love the 3-hour instant cash-out window and lack of a minimum balance requirement. The trade-off is diminishing returns per hour on longer gaming sessions.
Verdict: Great for casual gamers who want immediate micro-payouts rather than waiting weeks to hit high thresholds.
15) American Consumer Opinion (ACOP)
Category: Surveys & Focus Groups | Platforms: Web, Mobile
What it does: Paid surveys, product testing, and occasional focus groups. ACOP has been around for decades and is one of the older panels still operating.
Payouts: $10 minimum via PayPal. Also offers sweepstakes entries.
User Reviews: Very polarized. On SurveyPolice, 55.6% of reviews are 1-star, though recent 2026 Trustpilot reviews include genuine 5-star payouts: “I REALLY ACTUALLY GOT PAID. First time it wasn’t a scam. I’m still in shock.”
What users actually say: The biggest complaint is brutal qualification rates. “ACOP sends plenty of surveys daily but they seem to be so picky about who they’re looking for with each survey that it’s almost impossible to ever qualify.” Some users also report payment disputes for product tests.
Verdict: Legit, but frustrating. Only worth it if you have the patience to screen out of 80%+ of surveys.
14) Receipt Hog
Category: Receipt Scanning & Gamified Rewards | Platforms: iOS, Android
What it does: Upload receipts from any grocery store, supermarket, restaurant, or retail store to earn coins. Includes a slot-machine mini-game (“Hog Slots”) for bonus point multipliers.
Payouts: Cash out starting at 1,000 coins (~$5) via PayPal, Visa prepaid cards, or Amazon gift cards.
User Reviews: 4.7/5 on the App Store (180K+ ratings), 4.4/5 on Google Play (250K+ reviews).
What users actually say: Users love that it accepts virtually any printed paper receipt regardless of what you bought. The main downside is that point values accumulate slower compared to offer-specific apps like Ibotta.
Verdict: A reliable, zero-effort companion to Fetch Rewards. Keep it installed to double-dip by scanning your everyday receipts on both apps.
13) KashKick
Category: Multi-Task (GPT) | Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
What it does: Games, surveys, brand offers, and a cashback browser extension. Pays in real dollars, not points.
Payouts: $10 flat minimum. PayPal and gift cards available.
User Reviews: 4.7/5 on the App Store (83K ratings), 4.4/5 on Google Play (119K reviews), 3.9/5 on Trustpilot (~7K reviews).
What users actually say: Users like the flat $10 minimum and the fact that it pays in dollars rather than confusing point systems. However, game and offer rewards can pend for 1–31 days (averaging ~14 days) before they’re available to cash out, and some users report systematic payment disputes.
Verdict: Decent variety, but the pending periods and occasional payment disputes keep it out of the top tier.
12) Freecash
Category: High-Reward GPT | Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
What it does: A GPT (Get-Paid-To) platform with high-paying game offers, surveys, and app downloads. Some offers pay $100+ for reaching in-game milestones.
Payouts: From $5 via PayPal, bank transfer, crypto, gift cards, or Venmo. A 5% fee applies to PayPal and bank transfer withdrawals; crypto and gift card cash-outs are fee-free.
User Reviews: 4.8/5 App Store (92K ratings), 4.2/5 Google Play (424K reviews), 4.7/5 Trustpilot (297K reviews). But the BBB rating is 1.14/5 with a “Pattern of Complaints” alert.
What users actually say: Positive reviews praise fast payouts and game variety. Negative reviews consistently report account restrictions before large withdrawals and offer tracking failures on higher-value milestones. One Reddit user described having ~$297 clawed back after completing two high-value game milestones.
Major Red Flag: Apple and Google both removed Freecash in April 2026 over data-harvesting and misleading-marketing allegations, reinstating it by mid-June 2026.
Verdict: High earning potential, but the store removal history and clawback reports mean you should cash out early and often.
11) Scrambly
Category: Micro-Task Rewards | Platforms: Web, Mobile
What it does: Game offers, app trials, and surveys. Launched in 2022 and has grown to 10M+ users.
Payouts: Withdraw from just $1 — one of the lowest floors in the industry.
User Reviews: Generally positive for ease of use. Claims of “up to $500/month” are likely inflated — realistic earnings are a few dollars here and there for casual users.
What users actually say: Users appreciate the low cash-out threshold and small milestone rewards. The app is straightforward compared to cluttered competitors.
Verdict: Good for beginners who want to test the waters without committing to a high minimum. Only available in the US, Japan, and Korea.
10) App Karma
Category: Mobile Gaming Rewards | Platforms: Android, iOS (Web App)
What it does: Rewards for playing mobile games, completing offers, and daily check-ins. Over 5M users worldwide.
Payouts: Gift cards and PayPal. Codes are locked for 24 hours after redemption for fraud prevention; PayPal is paid in 24–48 hours.
User Reviews: Still updated as of 2025/2026. Available on Google Play for Android; iOS users access a web app at appkarma.io.
What users actually say: The “Karma Plays” feature is a standout — you earn daily rewards for keeping and playing apps you’ve already installed. Users also like the 5% redemption bonus each time you cash out and the 30% referral commission.
Verdict: A solid survivor from the “install apps for points” era that has pivoted successfully to gaming rewards.
9) Mistplay
Category: Gaming Rewards | Platforms: Android, iOS
What it does: Earn “units” for playing mobile games launched through the app. No surveys, no purchases required — just playtime.
Payouts: Gift cards and PayPal cash. Processing takes up to 48 hours.
User Reviews: 4.5/5 on Google Play (955K reviews), 4.5/5 on the App Store (45K ratings) — the iOS app launched in 2025 as a separate build from Android.
What users actually say: “Its own site confirms earnings are highest in your first week or two on any new game, then drop off.” Users recommend rotating through new games regularly to maximize earnings.
Verdict: Best dedicated gaming app. Great for people who already play mobile games in their downtime.
8) Google Opinion Rewards
Category: Micro Surveys | Platforms: iOS, Android
What it does: Short 1–3 question surveys about places you’ve visited or searches you’ve made. Run by Google’s own survey team.
Payouts: Google Play credit on Android; PayPal on iOS (where available). Surveys arrive roughly once per week.
User Reviews: 4.6/5 on Google Play, 4.7/5 on the App Store. Extremely low-effort.
What users actually say: “It’s not going to make you a millionaire; it’s one of those apps where the income adds up over time. It doesn’t take long, so it can be a time filler on your daily commute or when you’re bored.”
Verdict: The lowest-effort app on this list. Android users are limited to Play Store credit, but iOS users can get PayPal cash. Don’t expect more than $1–$5 per month.
7) Upside
Category: Fuel & Retail Cashback | Platforms: iOS, Android
What it does: Cashback on gas, groceries, and restaurants. You claim offers before you buy, then pay as normal.
Payouts: Bank transfer or PayPal.
User Reviews: 4.8/5 on the App Store, 4.6/5 on Google Play. Very popular among commuters.
What users actually say: Users consistently report saving $0.10–$0.25 per gallon on gas. The app works best when stacked with a gas station’s loyalty program and a cashback credit card.
Verdict: Essential if you drive regularly. Passive savings that require almost no behavior change.
6) InboxDollars
Category: Multi-Task (GPT) | Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
What it does: Surveys, paid emails, games, offers, and cashback shopping. Part of the Prodege network (same parent company as Swagbucks).
Payouts: Real dollars, not points. $15 for your first cash-out, $10 for subsequent ones.
User Reviews: 4.5/5 on the App Store (224K ratings), 4.0/5 on Google Play (156K reviews), 4.0/5 on Trustpilot (47.5K reviews).
What users actually say: Long track record (operating since 2000). Users like the $5 sign-up bonus and the referral program that pays 30% of friends’ earnings for life. The biggest complaints center on a $3 processing fee for balances under $40 and occasional account terminations without clear explanation.
Verdict: A reliable workhorse with a $5 head start. Best for users who want variety rather than focusing on one task.
5) Fetch Rewards
Category: Receipt Scanning | Platforms: iOS, Android
What it does: Scan ANY receipt — grocery, gas, restaurant, retail — for points. No need to pre-select offers or scan barcodes.
Payouts: 3,000 points (~$3) minimum for gift cards. No PayPal — gift cards only, including Visa prepaid cards. Points expire after 90 days of inactivity.
User Reviews: 4.9/5 on the App Store (7.4M ratings), 4.7/5 on Google Play (1.53M reviews).
What users actually say: “No store restrictions — you can scan receipts from anywhere.” Users love that it takes 10 seconds to snap a photo and move on. The 90-day expiration policy is the main gripe.
Verdict: The easiest receipt scanner on the market. If you shop, you should have this app.
4) Survey Junkie
Category: Paid Surveys | Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
What it does: Pure paid surveys plus an opt-in passive browsing data feature called “Surf to Earn.” Owned by DISQO.
Payouts: $5 minimum (500 points) via PayPal or gift cards.
User Reviews: 4.6/5 on the App Store (86K ratings), 4.3/5 on Google Play (104K reviews), 3.5/5 on Trustpilot (44K reviews).
What users actually say: Reddit users confirm it’s “legit, boring, and predictable. If you like surveys, it’s solid.” The $40/month figure (for ~3 surveys/day) comes from Survey Junkie’s own data. Disqualifications happen, but you get a few consolation points unlike some competitors.
Verdict: The best dedicated survey app. Transparent, low cash-out, and backed by a real market research company.
3) Rakuten (formerly Ebates)
Category: Shopping Cashback | Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
What it does: Cashback on online purchases across thousands of retailers. Ebates rebranded to Rakuten in 2019 but works exactly the same way.
Payouts: “Big Fat Checks” quarterly via PayPal or physical check. No minimum balance required.
User Reviews: 25+ years in business. One of the most trusted names in cashback.
What users actually say: Users love the simplicity — just click through the Rakuten app or browser extension before buying. The $30 referral bonus is popular. Best stacked with credit card rewards for double-dipping.
Verdict: If you shop online even occasionally, this is free money. The quarterly payout schedule is the only downside.
2) Ibotta
Category: Grocery Cashback | Platforms: iOS, Android
What it does: Cashback on specific grocery and retail items at Walmart, Target, Kroger, Costco, and hundreds more. Also offers loyalty card linking for automatic cashback without receipt scanning.
Payouts: $20 minimum via bank transfer, PayPal, or gift cards.
User Reviews: 4.8/5 on the App Store (1.9M ratings), 4.6/5 on Google Play (706K reviews). BBB profile is not accredited and sits at 3.35/5.
What users actually say: Heavy users earn $130–$256/year. The loyalty card linking is praised as a time-saver. The biggest complaints are brand-specific offers (not generic discounts), scanning issues at warehouse clubs, and inactivity fees that drain your balance.
Verdict: The king of grocery cashback. If you do the household shopping, this app pays for itself many times over.
1) Swagbucks
Category: All-in-One GPT | Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
What it does: Surveys, cashback shopping, game offers, video watching, web search rewards, and grocery receipt scanning (Magic Receipts). The most versatile GPT platform available.
Payouts: Gift cards from $1; PayPal from $5 (500 SB). Has paid out over $650 million since launch.
User Reviews: 4.4/5 on the App Store (148K ratings), 4.2/5 on Google Play (440K reviews), 4.0/5 on Trustpilot (43K+ reviews).
What users actually say: Casual users earning $30–$60/month for 30–45 minutes/day call it “worth it for spare time.” The biggest complaint across Reddit and Trustpilot is survey disqualification — users report being booted from 60–80% of surveys, often after investing significant time.
Red flag to know: Some users report account suspensions right before large redemptions. The consensus advice is to cash out frequently in small amounts rather than letting a big balance accumulate.
Verdict: The best all-rounder in 2026. No single app offers more ways to earn, and the $650M+ payout history proves it’s not going anywhere.
What Happened to the Original Best Apps List?
If you read the older version of this article, you may notice 12 of the original apps are gone. Here’s the quick summary:
| Original App | 2026 Status |
|---|---|
| Cash For Apps | 🔴 Dead — no app store presence |
| cashKarma | 🔴 Dead — “install apps for points” model collapsed |
| App Bounty | 🔴 Dead |
| Tapporo | 🔴 Dead |
| Storm Play | 🔴 Dead (was already declining in 2018) |
| Survey Mini | 🔴 Abandoned — last updated 2020 |
| GiftPanda | 🔴 Dead |
| Make Money Earn Free Cash | 🔴 No trace |
| Make Money And Free Gift Cards | 🔴 No trace |
| Ebates | 🟢 Rebranded to Rakuten |
| Mintos | ⚠️ Still operating, but it’s a high-risk P2P investment platform — not a casual money-making app. It has €130M+ in unresolved legacy defaults and buyback guarantees that failed during COVID-19. |
The “install apps for points” business model that powered Cash For Apps, App Bounty, and cashKarma simply doesn’t pay advertisers enough anymore. The apps that survived are the ones that diversified into surveys, cashback shopping, and gaming offers.
Quick Comparison Table
| App | Best For | Min. Payout | Avg. Monthly Earnings | Trustpilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swagbucks | All-rounder | $1 (gift card) / $5 (PayPal) | $30–$60 | 4.0/5 |
| Ibotta | Grocery cashback | $20 | $20–$100 | N/A (BBB: 3.35/5) |
| Rakuten | Online shopping | None (quarterly) | $20–$50 | N/A |
| Survey Junkie | Surveys only | $5 | $30–$40 | 3.5/5 |
| Fetch Rewards | Receipt scanning | $3 | $5–$15 | N/A |
| InboxDollars | Variety | $10–$15 | $30–$50 | 4.0/5 |
| Upside | Gas & dining | None stated | $10–$30 | N/A |
| Google Opinion Rewards | Zero effort | Varies | $1–$5 | N/A |
| Mistplay | Gaming | Varies | $5–$20 | N/A |
| App Karma | Gaming/offers | Varies | $5–$15 | N/A |
| Scrambly | Low cash-out test | $1 | $5–$20 | N/A |
| Freecash | High game offers | $5 | $20–$100+ | 4.7/5 (BBB: 1.14/5) |
| KashKick | Games + surveys | $10 | $20–$50 | 3.9/5 |
| Receipt Hog | Receipt scanning | $5 | $5–$15 | 4.2/5 |
| ACOP | Product testing | $10 | $5–$20 | Mixed |
| JustPlay | Casual gaming / Instant cash-out | None ($0) | $5–$20 | 4.1/5 |
| AttaPoll | Quick surveys | $3 | $5–$15 | 4.2/5 |
Safety Rules for 2026
- Never pay to join. Every app on this list is free. If an app asks for a membership fee, it’s a scam.
- Cash out early and often. Multiple platforms — including Freecash and Swagbucks — have reports of account restrictions right before large redemptions.
- Check BBB, not just app store ratings. Freecash has 4.7/5 on Trustpilot but 1.14/5 on BBB with a “Pattern of Complaints” alert.
- Verify store presence. If an app was recently removed from the App Store or Google Play — even if reinstated — that’s a serious warning sign. Freecash was removed in April 2026 and reinstated in June 2026.
- Treat P2P investment apps as investments, not side hustles. Mintos and similar platforms can lose your principal. They don’t belong on a “apps that pay you” list alongside survey apps.
Great list, I was familiar with most of these but a few are new to me. I’m definitely going to have to check them out. Thanks!
I Used Cashpirate app & i got successfull deposits in my account. use the referral code: PYJWUS to get 500 points at signup.
why is inboxdollar not in the list? is it a scam? no good app?
We don’t recommend it.
Inbox pays is a good app. I use this app all the time. I had paid out a lot of times.
Use my CashPirate code please OFSPZL.
I’m trying out the PanelPlace and so far, it’s going pretty good. Thanks for sharing these apps as some are pretty scam, but these are pretty legit! 😀
Your Welcome mate! 🙂
appKarma is one of the Best way to Make Money from the App. BTW Thanks for sharing rest of the other apps.
Is tapporo scam?
No they do pay out.
Forgot Ibotta
They are known for unjustifiably deleting accounts without paying money, and are notoriously combative and rude to deal with. Dont recommend it unless younlike being accused of fraud for no reason.
Ditto
Thanks will definitely look into all these
Have you ever tried programming the smartphone search bar for money. I tried it with Facebook.
Thanks a lot for the eye opener on these apps with financial solutions.
Mine is a question, I am in Africa-Kenya, are all these apps accredited in my country?
Please guide me on the best apps I can use in my country.
Thanks in advance.
what about slidecoin ?
Theres a lock screen app called s’mores where you can earn points and them trade them in for Amazon gift cards. This is the fairest, most honest app of its kind, trust me I’ve tried them all. You earn 10 points or $0.10 a day just for renting ads on your phone so 30 days at $0.10 a day equals $3 a month and that’s before you complete any of the offers. Just think of it as earning a free $3 gift card every month. And the gift cards really do work. Especially the Amazon gift card. If you like my review use referral code C0ABCS and we both get an extra 25 points. Thanks for reading!
Does earn cash app. Really pay. They say they pay .02 cents every video you watch and have to earn a 100.00 dollars for them to pay you…. is it true
Refer mr in cash pirate PTVYNJ I also refer you
What do you think about the app EARN CASH PP? Scam or not?
Great app list. I found this app that has a very cool concept. It’s called “Flash Cards For Money” and is Android only. All you do is just click an image as it cycles through images. One of the reviews said they made money. I can’t beat their max score but if you do it looks like you could make a lot. Could you possibly check it out and find out if it actually pays?
There is another new app on market
Cashin Rewards , its good and fast payments on paypal, skrill
they also provide amazon gift cards
Moneyjojo, thanks for the article post.Really thank you! Great.
Thanks alot your contributions are great.
Moneyjojo, thanks a lot for the article post.Much thanks again. Fantastic.
My name is catherine iam in africa – kenya which app can i use that will pay me from my end
Thanks in advance
Check those above, if they appear for you on Google Play, they will work for you