Let’s be honest. Most of us have scrolled past those “earn money from your phone” posts and rolled our eyes. I did too. But then I actually tried a few of these apps, and yeah… some of them genuinely pay. Not “quit your job” money, but real, deposited-in-your-account money. The kind that covers your Spotify bill or chips away at a grocery run.
So I tested them. Used them personally, got paid (or didn’t), and here’s what I actually think.
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks has been around forever, and there’s a reason it’s still kicking. You earn “SB points” by taking surveys, watching videos, playing games, or searching the web. Points convert to gift cards or PayPal cash.
- Rewards: 1 SB = $0.01; surveys pay 40–200 SB; average user earns $50–$100/year
- User Base: 20+ million members
- Payout: PayPal or 1500+ gift card options (minimum $3 worth of points)
- Best For: People with spare time who enjoy passive tasks
- Rating: 4.2/5
Fair warning, surveys can be slow, and sometimes you get screened out halfway through. Annoying? Very. But the variety of earning options makes up for it. I usually run video content in the background while doing other things. It’s easy, low-effort money once you get a routine going.
Join Swagbucks for free and start earning today.
2. Rakuten
Okay, Rakuten was my first real win. You shop at stores you already visit (Target, Nike, Sephora) and Rakuten pays you cashback just for clicking through their link first. That’s it. No surveys, no tasks. Just shop like normal.
- Rewards: 1% to 40% cashback depending on the store
- User Base: Over 17 million members
- Payout: Via PayPal or check every quarter (they literally call it a “Big Fat Check”)
- Best For: Online shoppers who want passive savings
- Rating: 4.5/5
It seems to me this is the easiest app on this list. The signup bonus alone ($30 when you spend $30) makes it worth installing in under five minutes. If you shop online at all, there’s zero reason not to have this running.
Sign up for Rakuten here and grab your $30 bonus.
3. Ibotta
Ibotta is the one I recommend to literally everyone who grocery shops. You browse cash-back offers before heading to the store, buy those items, scan your receipt, and boom, money added. Simple.
- Rewards: $0.25 to $5+ per offer; average user earns $10–$20/month
- User Base: 50+ million downloads
- Payout: PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards (minimum $20 withdrawal)
- Best For: Families, frequent grocery shoppers
- Rating: 4.6/5
What I mean is, it’s not going to make you rich. But I’ve earned over $80 in a single month during double-reward weeks. That’s a real number. Try it on your next grocery run and see how fast the cashback stacks up.
Download Ibotta and start saving today.
3. Upside
Gas prices are painful. Upside takes a little of that sting away. You check the app for nearby gas stations offering cashback, claim the offer, fill up, and snap a photo of your receipt.
- Rewards: 2¢ to 25¢ per gallon on gas; up to 35% back at restaurants and grocery stores
- User Base: 35+ million users
- Payout: PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards (minimum $1)
- Best For: Commuters, road trippers, frequent drivers
- Rating: 4.4/5
The app works. Genuinely. I’ve saved close to $40 in one month just on gas alone. It’s not glamorous, but the math adds up fast if you drive a lot. If you fill up more than once a week, this one pays for itself pretty quickly.
Get the Upside app and start saving on every fill-up.
5. Prolific
This one’s different from the rest. Prolific connects you with actual academic researchers who need real human responses. You complete studies (psychology experiments, decision tasks, short questionnaires) and get paid properly for your time.
- Rewards: Average $6–$8/hour; some studies pay up to $15/hour
- User Base: 300,000+ active participants
- Payout: PayPal or Circle (minimum £5, roughly $6)
- Best For: Thoughtful people who want fair compensation for their opinions
- Rating: ⭐ 4.7/5
Honestly? This is my favorite on the list. The pay rate is the highest per hour of any survey-style app I’ve tried. Studies are short, interesting, and you feel like you’re actually contributing something real, not just clicking ads. Seriously worth signing up for if you want your time valued fairly.
Create your Prolific account and get started here.
6. Gigwalk
Gigwalk pays you to complete small local tasks like checking store displays, verifying product placements, and taking photos of signage. It’s gig work, but the kind you can do during a regular errand run.
- Rewards: $3 to $100 per gig, depending on complexity
- User Base: 1+ million registered gigwalkers
- Payout: PayPal within 5 business days of gig approval
- Best For: Active people who are already out and about
- Rating: ⭐ 3.9/5
The catch? Gig availability varies a lot by location. If you’re in a major city, you’ll find tasks regularly. Rural areas? Not so much. Still worth downloading just to check what’s available near you. Some gigs take under 10 minutes and pay more than a coffee run costs.
Download Gigwalk and check available gigs in your area.
7. Mistplay
For gamers, Mistplay is low-key fun. You download games through the app, play them, earn units, and cash those units out for gift cards. The longer you play, the more you earn.
- Rewards: Gift cards starting at $1; active players earn $10–$30/month
- User Base: 20+ million downloads (Android only)
- Payout: Google Play, Amazon, Visa gift cards
- Best For: Casual mobile gamers (Android users only, no iOS version yet)
- Rating: ⭐ 4.1/5
It’s slow at first. The rewards feel tiny until you hit a rhythm with a game you actually enjoy. But if you’re going to play mobile games anyway, you might as well get something back. Treat it as a bonus, not a main hustle, and it delivers.
Get Mistplay on Android and turn your game time into gift cards.
So Which One Should You Start With?
If you only download one, make it Rakuten or Ibotta. They slot into things you’re already doing. Shopping and groceries. No extra effort, real returns.
If you want to actually sit down and earn, Prolific pays the best per hour. Not even close.
And for the driver in your life? Upside should already be on your phone.
None of these are get-rich schemes. But stack two or three of them together, use them consistently for a few months, and you’ll be surprised what quietly builds up in your PayPal account.