Tired of scrolling through “make money gaming” lists that are 90% garbage?
I spent the last few months downloading, testing, and actually withdrawing money from every gaming app that claims to pay real cash. Most were trash. Some paid pennies after hours of grinding. A few were straight-up scams.
But I found 8 apps that actually paid out real money to my PayPal account. Not “points” or “coins”—actual cash that hits your bank.
Here’s every game app that put money in my pocket, ranked by how much I earned and how fast I got paid. No BS, just honest results from real testing.
The Game Apps That Actually Paid Me
Quick context: I used each of these for at least 2-3 weeks before adding them to this list. If it didn’t pay out or felt sketchy, it’s not here. Everything below is legit and I’ve cashed out real money from all of them.
1. Bigcash
⭐ $15 Sign-Up BonusBigcash has over 3,000 app testing offers live right now, with new ones dropping daily. Download a shopping app, play a mobile game to level 10, test a fitness tracker. The standard offers pay $3 to $15, but the premium tasks hit $50 to $170 when you complete bigger milestones. You get the $15 bonus immediately after your first cashout, and the $1 minimum means you can withdraw within 30 minutes of starting. What separates this from every other testing app is their support team actually responds in under 12 hours when offers don’t track.
2. Branded (Seen on CBS)
$100+ Per TaskBranded pays you real money to test new games, apps, and complete simple tasks on your phone. Sign up, choose from available offers (like testing a game to level 5), and get paid when you complete them. The more you use it, the more high-paying tasks unlock.
3. MyAppFree
High PayoutsMyAppFree pays you to test new games and apps by completing specific milestones. Download a game, play to level 10, get paid. The offers are straightforward and the payouts are higher than most competitors. Some tasks pay $50-$100+ for a few hours of gameplay. No deposit required—you’re literally just getting paid to try apps and games.
4. Solitaire Cash
Best for Solitaire LoversIf you’re already playing Solitaire on your phone (be honest, we all do), you might as well get paid for it. Classic Klondike Solitaire turned into competitive cash games. Everyone gets the same deck, whoever finishes fastest with the highest score wins the pot.
5. Mistplay
No-Risk Option (Android)Mistplay is the safest option on this list because you never deposit a cent. No cash tournaments, no wagering. Just download games through the app, play them, and earn points that convert to real gift cards or PayPal cash. It’s as legitimate as it gets for passive gaming income.
6. VYBS
Passive Earning (Android)VYBS works like Mistplay—earn points by playing games, redeem for real rewards. No deposits, no gambling, just play-to-earn. Earning milestones are clearly laid out so you know exactly what you need to do to earn points.
7. InboxDollars
$5 Free BonusInboxDollars has been around forever and there’s a reason it’s still popular—it actually pays. The platform combines games with surveys, watching videos, and other small tasks. Game selection is solid—everything from puzzle games to casino-style slots (no real gambling, just earning points).
8. Swagbucks
$10 Welcome BonusSwagbucks is the heavyweight champion of rewards sites. Been around since 2008, paid out hundreds of millions, and offers more ways to earn than any other platform. Games are just one piece—you can also earn by searching the web, shopping online, taking surveys, watching videos, and completing offers.
The Bottom Line
You’re already spending time on your phone. Might as well get paid for it.
After testing all these apps, here’s my honest recommendation:
Want the highest payouts? Start with BigCash and you can score a $15 welcome bonus right now.
Don’t want to risk any money? Go with MyAppFree, Branded, or Swagbucks (any device).
Already love Solitaire? Solitaire Cash is a no-brainer.
These apps won’t replace your day job, but an extra $50-200 per month from games you’d play anyway? That’s real money in your pocket.
Ready to start earning? Pick one app, download it, and give it a week. You might be surprised how quickly it adds up.
BigCash is our #1 pick — 3000+ live offers now for real games, fast PayPal payouts
Claim $15 bonus at Bigcash →
I’ve played a lot of games. They are supposed to let you win real money. They start out good. Then, you can’t seem to add anything to what you have won.
I like playing games but I need money too. When I play games to win real money, I get frustrated when I can’t seem to add anything to what I have won. After all, if you’re playing games for real money, who doesn’t get frustrated when you’re not adding anything to what you’ve won? They set the cash out so high that you can’t get it.
Initially, I was very skeptical about being able to earn real money or gift cards of my choice. I’m happy to say, that Mistplay truly does reward you for playing games. I’ve been playing for about a month and a half, and just turned in my earned units for a $25 dollar gift card at Amazon. It took two days for my reward to be successfully processed.
It used to take sooo long to accumulate points and money that I never won anything after constantly playing apps like Lucktastic so I uninstalled it months ago. I decided to re-install these gaming apps after months of uninstalling it and it seems to allow users to receive points for gift cards etc much faster that that the difference was instantly noticeable! I would suggest to give them another go.
So true or you win so much that you can not get the rest to cash out
I’ve played Lucktastic and Lucky Day off and on for 3 or 4 years and NEVER won more then 3 or 4 dollars. A far cry from cash out.
I know a guy who was shocked when he won a $5,000 Lucktastic prize — it’s just really random if you win money (as it should be).
The comments about winning & withdrawing are not encouraging at all
Initially, i was very skeptical about being able to earn real money or gift cards of my choice. I’m happy to say, that Mistplay truly does reward you for playing games. I’ve been playing for about a month and a half, and just turned in my earned units for a $25 dollar gift card at Amazon. It took two days for my reward to be successfully processed.
Mistplay. Earned 25.00 in 1 week it paid Amazon in 5 min
That’s pretty solid! Thanks for sharing.