Free money? Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch? Every year businesses (and the government) give away thousands of dollars in free money and free PayPal money as a way of promoting their websites or products.
It’s true and I’ve put together a list of my favorites that will give you more than $3,700 in free cash right now. Some of them only require filling out a form or downloading a free money app. Some of them take a bit more effort, but you can easily knock out all of these in a weekend to get free money online.
How to Get Free Money
Is free money really free? I know you’re probably skeptical but there are a ton of ways to get free money. Here are some ideas for you…
1. Get Help Paying Off Your Debt
Drowning in high interest credit card debt can feel like your money is working against you. But what if part of that balance could simply disappear?
National Debt Relief helps people with at least $15,000 in unsecured debt potentially settle for less than what they owe. That means instead of paying back every dollar plus interest, their team negotiates with creditors to reduce the total amount. In many cases, that reduction can feel like getting free money because it is debt you no longer have to repay.
There is no cost to see if you qualify. It takes about a minute to sign up and check your eligibility, then you complete a short assessment and speak with a specialist to review your options. If you are approved, you could move toward becoming debt free in as little as 12 to 48 months while paying back less than your original balance.
2. Turn Your Home’s Equity Into Tax Free Cash
If you own a home, you may be sitting on a hidden source of money.
As home values have risen, millions of homeowners have built significant equity without even realizing it. Tapping into that equity can feel like unlocking “free money” because it is value you already own.
Traditional options like a cash out refinance or home equity loan require monthly payments and interest. A HELOC works more like a credit line, letting you access funds when needed and only pay back what you use.
Another option is Hometap, which offers a home equity investment instead of a loan. That means no monthly payments and no added debt. Hometap gives you a lump sum of cash in exchange for a share of your home’s future value, and you settle when you sell or refinance.
If you have strong equity, your home could be one of the fastest ways to access serious cash without taking on high interest credit card debt.
If you’re interested, you can get more information from Hometap here
3. Claim Free Money with Apps
When you’re looking for free money fast it’s important to consider free money offers. There are so many apps and websites offering cash rewards for signing up or using their service. You can start making money by claiming app bonuses and bank offers.
For example, Fundrise gives you a $10 bonus upon account approval. Testing this offer, I got the bonus after opening account and investing as little as $10.
4. Earn Free Cash with Game Apps
Are you good at solitaire and want to monetize your smarts? Then you will want to learn about this new solitaire game for your phone.
Solitaire Cash is a legitimate offering both free and paid bingo gaming options, comes from Papaya Gaming, a creator of several renowned real-money games. This app is accessible on a variety of platforms, including iOS, Android, and Samsung devices.
Just download the app here to play
5. Get Rewarded for Testing Apps
Yes, you can even get free cash for playing games. There are a number of apps that will award you points for downloading and playing games. While this is simply fun and games for you, it provides feedback for game developers to work out any bugs before it is officially launched to the public.
A great example of these types of apps is Branded and Bigcash. These platforms allow you to choose games from a list and earn rewards for completing specific tasks such as downloading, playing and testing games. Bigcash is completely free, and they’ll give new users a $15 welcome bonus to start out.
6. Take Some Surveys
Online surveys are a way for companies to get honest feedback on their products and services, and you’ll be rewarded for your time with free money. Most of these platforms and apps allow you to accumulate points that can be exchanged for a free gift card or PayPal payment. Some of the most popular survey apps include:
Survey Junkie: After you sign up for your free account, you can start to make money immediately. The surveys are matched to your demographics and you’ll be informed of how many points each survey is worth before you start. Every 100 points is worth $1 and you can cash out with a gift card or PayPal payment.
InboxDollars: This market research company works with large organizations and corporations and by completing surveys you’ll be helping to influence important decisions. InboxDollars is open to American citizens living in the U.S and you need to be aged 13 or over.
Swagbucks: You can take Swagbucks surveys on any device and the company has paid out almost $593 million to members just for taking surveys. Surveys are matched to your demographic information and you can browse available surveys or be notified by email as each qualifying survey becomes available.
7. Enjoy Retailer Rebates
According to CNBC, Black Friday 2019 generated $7.4 billion in sales, so you can imagine the retail sales figures that are accumulated through the rest of the year. Most of us contribute to these impressive figures, but you could also generate some free cash with retailer rebates.
Fortunately, you don’t need to search for special rebate offers as there are some great apps that can allow you to earn cash back on your regular purchases. These apps allow you to accumulate cash back at your favorite stores, so you can get free cash just for doing your regular shopping activities.
The Ibotta cash back app allows you to earn free cash with lots of different retailers. You can claim offers, link the app to loyalty cards or scan receipts to receive your cash back. You can even earn cash back by slightly modifying your grocery shopping, so you may claim $1 for buying a six pack of Coke or a couple of dollars for a specific brand of dog food.
8. Complete Microtasks
There are lots of apps that allow you to earn points for completing microtasks, such as watching videos, giving opinions and even surf the internet. Some of the best apps include:
MyPoints: This website offers points for completing surveys, watching videos and doing online shopping. You can get cash back and gift cards for a variety of popular stores including Amazon.com. You can sign up for a free account and start working towards getting your hands on free cash.
Swagbucks: You can sign up for free and start developing a decent side gig to earn PayPal cash or Amazon gift cards. Plus they are offering a $10 sign up bonus for new users that you can claim here.
9. Automatically Save Money With Rocket Money
The Rocket Money app lets you easily cancel unwanted subscriptions. Once linked to your accounts, Rocket Money can help you to cut any recurring charges for the service that you no longer use and can negotiate better deals.
This app will act as a financial assistant to save you money, strategically cut your spending and tackle any debt. If you want to easily track your spending then give Rocket Money a try.
10. Take Advantage of Your Employer’s 401(k) Match
401(k)s are like savings accounts for when you retire, meaning you can’t use the money until you’re older. But putting money into a 401(k) can save you money right now. This is because the money you add to your 401(k) isn’t counted as part of your income when taxes are calculated, so you pay less in taxes during the years you’re adding to your account.
What’s more, the government has rules that encourage companies to add money to your 401(k) too. For instance, your job might offer to match what you put in, up to 5% of what you earn. So if you put in $1, they’ll also add $1, up to that 5% limit. This is like getting extra money for free. If you don’t take part in a 401(k), you’re basically missing out on this free money.
11. Get a Rewards Credit Card
A rewards credit card can offer you something for nothing if you meet the specific lender requirements. You can usually enjoy a sign up bonus or cashback on your spending, which can be worth hundreds of dollars. Additionally, if you choose a card that doesn’t charge an annual fee, you could get free cash and save money.
It is important that you choose a card that fits with your typical spending habits and rewards you for your regular purchases. So, there is no point in choosing a card that rewards you in AirMiles, if you like to stick close to home. You should also aim to clear your balance within any interest-free period, so you can ensure that your free money is genuinely free.
12. Earn Free Cash for Buying Gas and Food
One of the best ways to get free money now is simply by getting cash back on things you’re already buying, like gas and food.
You may be thrilled to learn about Upside which lets you earn money back on your gas purchases. It’s really that simple.
13. Get Paid for Your Selfies
This is a fun one; Pay Your Selfie pays users for taking selfies in various locations. The information is used to help companies marketing in different areas of the country based on demographic data. There is a list of selfie tasks waiting for users, so you can make a little side money for taking fun selfies.
14. Book Your Reservations with Seated
With the Seated app, you can enjoy up to 30% on your meals with practically no effort. The app is easy to use; once you’ve downloaded it, you just need to book any dinner reservations with one of the partner restaurants. Every time you book a table, you’ll enjoy 30% of your bill back in the form of a gift card.
The only potential downside is that Seated is only available in limited locations. Currently, there are only restaurant partners in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Boston. However, the app is set to expand to other areas of the country.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Free money is possible in 2026. You can obtain free money and extra cash by signing up for apps, doing microtasks, survey sites, sharing your internet usage, watch videos or ads for money, using referral codes, or get rewarded for playing games.
You can’t simply just get handed free money or extra money — you will have to put in the work. Sometimes the work is as simple as claiming sign up bonuses or answering surveys online. Or you can try your luck with game apps that pay real money.
You can get free money by downloading money making apps, claiming credit card bonuses, or doing quick side hustles.
You can find ways to earn free PayPal money instantly by taking online surveys, sign up for cash back apps, or use gig economy apps. You can see a good list of 19 ways to get free PayPal money instantly here.
So, Can You Really Score Free Money in 2026?
As you can see, there are some great ways to get free money in 2026. In most cases, all you need to do is sign up and complete some simple tasks, such as answering survey questions, playing games or opening up a new bank account. However, you can also earn cash for doing the things that you enjoy including shopping and dining out.
The internet and mobile devices have made it easy to find great opportunities including getting your hands on free money. All you need to do is sign up and seize your share.
Got some more time? I recently released our list of secret ways to make money fast today.
Hi I need the money for school clothes and supplies