Lockscreen apps are an incredible way to make extra cash. Since your phone is usually glued to your hip almost all the time, why not earn passive income every time you unlock your screen? Yes, these apps can actually boost your income.
Advertising companies are taking advantage of lockscreen advertising to promote their products by allowing you to download apps, participate in surveys, and unlock your screen.
To make the most out of these apps, you will be required to interact with the apps to earn points or cash, which you can redeem for gift cards or cash via PayPal. Below are some of the best lockscreen apps that will allow you to make money when using your phone.
Best Money Lockscreen Apps That Pay
- Earn $60 a year just by installing an app
- Earn up to $1000 from sweepstakes
- 15 different types of rewards, including TVs
- Win up to $500 by downloading PC app
ScreenLift Rewards App
- iPhone: N/A
- Android: 3.3 – 5,111+ reviews
- Payment methods: You earn points that you can redeem for gift cards.
- Quick summary: With ScreenLift you’ll earn points for just using its lockscreen that you can redeem for gift cards. You can also earn points for reading news articles.
Over 100,000 people worldwide use ScreenLift to earn money for using their phones. ScreenLift is a rewards app that will allow you to customize your first screen and earn money every time you open your new first screen.
How is how this lockscreen app let you earn money:
- Once you sign up, you can customize your first screen with different themes and features to make your phone stand out
- ScreenLift will reward you with points or “Lifts” for having ScreenLift as your first screen and guess what!? You don’t have to open or read the news articles to earn money
- Keep using your phone to accumulate Lifts, which you can redeem for real cash or a gift card of your choice
- Refer a friend and the money lockscreen app will give you Lifts every time they earn Lifts
Not a bad deal, right? It’s just that simple! ScreenLift will give you money for using your first screen which is something you already do several times a day. So, why not get paid for it? If you love free money, then this app is for you!
Overall, ScreenLift is slightly different than the other money lockscreen apps in that it allows you to customize your first screen and earn points. One of the greatest features of ScreenLift is that it is not invasive and you do not need to read the news articles to earn rewards once you unlock your phone.
How much can I make from ScreenLift? The amount of your income will depend on your level of integration with the app. You need a minimum of 1,500 points, which is equivalent to $1 for PayPal deposits to PayPal, Google Play gift cards, and Amazon cards. The app is currently available to Android users in the US.
S’More
- iPhone: N/A
- Android: 3.3 – 25,511+ reviews
- Payment methods: You earn points that you can redeem for gift cards.
- Quick summary: With S’more you’ll earn points for just using its lockscreen that you can redeem for gift cards. You can also earn points for taking surveys and completing offers.
S’More is one of the newest and one of the highest paying lockscreen apps in the market and is available for those living in the US who are using Android devices (sorry iPhone users).
S’Mores is a lot different from other lockscreen apps since it acts as a reward website (psst.. you can see the top reward sites here) that partners with advertisers to market their products to their members through lockscreen adverts and product surveys.
Besides earning money by having ads on the lockscreen, S’Mores also allows you to participate in surveys, watch videos, and interact with advertisers on the platform. In addition, you can choose to ignore the ads and you are still eligible to earn points that you can redeem for gift cards.
How much can I make from S’Mores? While everyone is bound to use their phone differently, the amount you earn from this app is dependent on the number of successful referrals, the amount of time spent watching the videos, and surveys for which you qualify to participate. Furthermore, your location also matters since some surveys will only be available for people in specific states. The minimum threshold for payout is $1 in a day redeemable through Amazon gift cards or other popular retailers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make money by unlocking my phone?
Short answer: yes, you can get paid for unlocking your phone. These best lockscreen apps that pay are an awesome way to make extra money passively. They will not make you rich, but they can supplement income when you need money fast. The best part is that earning money lockscreen reward apps doesn’t require any effort.
However, you couldn’t make a living through lockscreen ad apps. If you’re looking to develop a more sustainable, truly wealth-building side hustle, then check out our article on the best side hustles.
What app pays you to unlock your phone?
Many of the best lockscreen apps to earn money have been removed from the Google Play store as of June 2020. The only lockscreen apps that pay left are S’more and ScreenLift. SlideJoy, a popular app like S’more is still in the Google Play store but the developers have abandoned it and you won’t get paid for using it.
What apps pay you instantly?
If you are looking for apps that pay you instantly, you’ll want to check out apps like Ibotta, Survey Junkie, InboxDollars, and Swagbucks.
You can see the full list of money making apps here.
Final Thoughts on Making Money from Lockscreen Apps
Lockscreen apps are a credible way to make a passive income each month to clear your bills.
Since a vast majority of these lockscreen apps are compatible with each other, you can download all of them to make an estimated $60 passive monthly income for unlocking your phone.
The only limitation of lockscreen apps is that they are only available for Android devices.
So if you are up for the task then sign up for these money lockscreen apps and create a stream of passive online income.