Want to play games AND make real money? Here are 10 apps that pay you to play games online.

Sometimes you just want to play. But your wallet and your friends are telling you that you've got to hustle.

It can start feel like life is all about money.

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Good news is, fun time doesn't have to be wasted time.

While there are scams out there, and some games that pay so little as to not be worth your time, we've found the ones that will give you the most bang for your buck. Here's a list of the best online games that pay you to play.

• Swagbucks - Best Online Games
  
• Inboxdollars - Earn with Paypal
  
• Mistplay - On Android Only
  
• Long Game - iOS Games
  
• Lucktastic - Play Free
  
• Bingo Mania - Play on PC
  
• Swagbucks Live - Mobile Play
  
• Brain Battle - Google Play and iTunes Store Games
  
• Bananatic - For STEAM Gamers
  
• GSN Cash Games - Play On Your Phone

1. Swagbucks - Best Online Games

Earn Swagbucks for things you already do: shopping, watching videos, answering surveys—and, of course, games.

You can buy tokens to play lots of well-known titles like Angry Birds, Bejeweled, and Scrabble Cubes.

Redeem your earnings in gift cards to well-known retailers or cash. Games aren't the highest paying activity on Swagbucks, but if you were going to play anyway, you might as well get paid for it.

Swagbucks is free to play, and open to anyone age 13 and up, which makes it a great option for teens to make money online. Plus, there's a good chance that you can play even if you live outside of North America. Earn an easy bonus Swagbuck each day by answering their daily poll.

What You Can Earn

• Earnings average out around $1 per hour.
  
• Payout: Paypal, Gift Cards, and e-Gift Cards

2. Inboxdollars - Earn with Paypal

Want your earnings deposited directly into your checking or savings? Check out Inboxdollars. They've got over 30 free arcade games, like solitaire and sudoku, which you were already doing when your boss's back was turned.

They're connected to the GSN (Game Show Network) as well, which means you can play in tournaments and get cash back through your Inboxdollars account.

You must be at least 18 years old and have a valid email address to use Inboxdollars. While it does have a relatively high minimum to request payment at $30, the company has an A Rating from the Better Business Bureau, so you can be confident that your money and your time are in good hands.

Play free online slot machines. What You Can Earn

• Earn $10 a day to start, or between 25 cents and $5 per activity.
  
• Payouts: Paypal or Check

Learn More: Review of Inboxdollars

3. Mistplay - On Android Only

Play games and chat with friends on your Android with Mistplay. They have super popular titles like Rise of Kingdoms and Coin Master.

Get paid in gift cards for Amazon, Visa, or the Google Play Store, among others, and enter to win larger prizes like legit game consoles.

Sadly, Mistplay isn't available in the iOS App Store just yet, but you can sign the waitlist on their website.

Anyone over 18 years old can use Mistplay, but if they find out you're younger and have lied about your age, your rewards will be rescinded.

What You Can Earn

• Between $10-$20 per week
  
• Payouts: Gift Cards, Google Play Store Credit, iTunes Credit

4. Long Game - iOS Games

This innovative app is designed to reward you for saving money. As it says on their site: 'Save more to play more.'

Connect your bank account to the app, deposit funds into your savings, and earn tokens to play games like Spin to Win, Lucky Slots, and Scratchers, where you can earn real money.

Earn coins by meeting savings goals and use them to enter for prizes in cash, crypto, and free game play. What's more, your Long Game savings earn interest at 0.1% APY.

Like a real savings account, Long Game funds are FDIC insured, so you can feel safe about using the app. Due to the direct deposits, you'll need an active bank account to sign up.

What You Can Earn

• The 0.1% return on savings that the App offers is better than many traditional savings accounts
  
• Payouts: Bank Deposits

5. Lucktastic - Play Free

Used all your quarters for laundry, but still want to scratch-and-win? Lucktastic has you covered. Win gift cards, cash, and other prizes, up to $1 Million. Lucktastic is free to play, with no in-app purchases.

What Game App Pays Real Money

Like the name suggests, Lucktastic is all about luck. Your chances of winning depend on how many other people are playing or entering contests. But since it costs nothing, there's no harm in trying your luck.

Lucktastic is mobile only, which means you'll need an Apple or Android device to play. Users must be US citizens of at least 13 years of age, with GPS location services enabled on their phone or tablet.

What You Can Earn

• $5 - $10 a month
  
• Payouts: Cash, Gift Card, or Check

Learn More: Review of Lucktastic

7. Bingo Mania - Play on PC

Bingo Mania is one of the first real money Bingo sites on the net.

They've got slots, video poker, table games, lottery games too. The site, available on desktop and mobile, offers card prices from $.01 to $5, with reported winnings as high as $27,000.

Their games aren't free to play, but as of writing they offer a $100 sign up bonus.

Remember: this is gambling, so you must be over 18, and you should never risk more than you can afford.

What You Can Earn

• Payouts start at a minimum of $100 and go up to $2500 a week, but your actual winnings are up to chance
  
• Payouts: Check

8. Swagbucks LIVE - Mobile Play

Formerly known as Swag IQ, Swagbucks LIVE is another gameshow-style app. Take advantage of your knowledge of trivia to earn real money rewards. You have 10 seconds each to answer 10 multiple choice questions.

Compete for prizes of (typically) $500-$1,000, but sometimes more, and earn Swagbucks in the process. It's worth noting that even if you win, the prize is split between all of the other winners, too.

What You Can Earn

• Earn around 5 Swagbucks per game, in addition to your cut of the prize money if you win.
  
• Payouts: Gift Cards and Paypal Cash

9. Brain Battle - Google Play and iTunes Store Games

Lots of free-to-play games make their money in advertising. Play Brain Battle and you have a chance to take a cut. (You don't even have to win.)

All you have to do is play any of their free games to earn tickets, which you can enter into drawings for cash prizes.

Just download their app on the Google Play Store or the iOS App Store, play, and enter to win.

What You Can Earn

• 10k are worth 10 cents, as well as entering for cash prizes, which can go as high as $10,000
  
• Payouts: Paypal

10. Bananatic - For STEAM Gamers

Get access to new games before anyone else with Bananatic. Play, and provide helpful feedback to developers who then use your insights to make their games better.

Earn 'Bananas' as you play and exchange them for game keys on STEAM, game hardware, gift cards, and more.

The range of games available is quite impressive, with dozens, if not hundreds of titles to choose from, many of which you've heard of.

What You Can Earn

• Most activities will earn you 100 bananas. A $5 Amazon gift card costs 2500
  
• Payouts: Paypal, Gift Cards, STEAM Wallet

11. GSN Cash Games - Play On Your Phone

With GSN Cash Games, play games against other players to win real money.

Now, these games aren't free to play, but when you make a deposit you can earn Bonus Bucks (not redeemable for cash), which can be used to enter into cash tournaments.

Thanks to their 'matchmaking' algorithm, you're matched against players of comparable skill, so you always have a chance of winning. Choose from games like Solitaire Rush, Bejeweled 2, and Wheel of Fortune, to name a few.

What You Can Earn

• Don't expect any sort of consistent income from GSN Cash Games. There's always the chance you'll win a large prize, but as with all gambling, you'll probably lose more often than you win.
  
• Payouts: Bank Deposit

Other Gaming Apps to Consider

If even this extensive list wasn't enough to quench your thirst for games that pay to play, here are some other fun options to try.

• Twitch
  Become a Twitch affiliate to live stream your gameplay with fans and subscribers. Once you build a successful channel with a reliable audience, you can turn this hobby into ad revenue.
• Pogo
  Earn pre-paid credit cards and merchandise prizes while playing over 50 casual games like Solitaire and Monopoly. Pogo used to offer Jackpot prizes, but the practice was discontinued.
• Gamesville
  Play a variety of Bingo, card games, and more on Gamesville, one of the longest running gaming sites online. Earn gift cards or cash prizes ranging from $5 - $100.
• Paid Game Player
  Paid Game Player offers puzzles, arcade, word & trivia, and casino-style games. It's unlikely you'll make a lot of money playing here, but you can earn for taking surveys, completing offers, or clicking on ads.
• Second Life
  Second Life is more of an online sandbox than a game. There is no specific goal, other than to have fun. It's not the first place you should look if you want to make money playing games, but it is possible to turn your creativity into real money.
• Big Time Cash
  Play from over 600 games and earn tickets to enter drawings for cash prizes. The more tickets you get, the more chances you have to win.
• Clip2Play
  Take part in daily tournaments where the winners earn prizes at the end of the day. You can also earn points by referring friends. Get enough and you can exchange them for cash.

What apps should you avoid?

Not all promises that you can earn money playing games are legitimate, and some apps and games are actual scams that you ought to avoid. Here's a list of apps and games that you might want to give a wide berth.

Givling
While Givling, another rapid-fire trivia game, appears to be a legitimate place to win money on first glance, the path to success may be more costly than the developers would have you believe.

Winning with Givling requires being at the top of their queue every two weeks when the jackpot is awarded, and while there are free ways to move up--like playing games and watching ads--it seems that much of your chances depend on spending money on the app or with Givling's sponsors, sometimes to the tune of thousands of dollars, and even that's no guarantee.

Any app that incentivizes you to pay to win is gambling at best, and should not be considered a viable way to earn money.

Lucky Day
While Lucky Day appears popular when you search online, the app appears to be employing suspicious practices in order to prevent users from reaching the $10 minimum required to cash out.

Some users have reported getting stuck at the $9.90 mark with no way to advance, and even asked to spend money in order to increase their chances of earning. Further, according to reviews, users who do manage to achieve the $10 minimum may suddenly find all of the gift cards out of stock in the online store.

When in doubt, follow the reviews of other users. If they are overly rosy, but seem like they weren't written by real people, or all five-star, but full of criticism, it is likely because the apps are attempting to cheat the system. And remember, any game that asks you to pay to win is either a casino in disguise, or an outright scam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your questions answered about earning money playing games online. Not all games are the same, and not all are transparent about their policies, but based on some common metrics and best practices, you should be able to judge for yourself whether a game is worth your valuable time.

How long does it take to get paid?

• Swagbucks - 10 Days
  
• Inboxdollars - 10 Days
  
• Mistplay - 48 Hours
  
• Long Game - 3-5 Business Days
  
• Lucktastic - 2-4 Weeks
  
• Bingo Mania - Payouts are processed every Monday

How do I know if a game is legit?

If you're wondering whether a game or site is legit, there are a number of clues to look for.

Do reviews sound like they were written by real people?
Positive reviews on the App Store, the Google Play Store, or the product website are obviously a good sign, but make sure they sound like they were written by actual users—and be sure to check the text. Some sites will incentivize their users to give 5-star ratings, but the reviews themselves may be negative.

How many downloads are there?
If the number of downloads is very low, there's a good chance that the game isn't legit. When in doubt, trust your peers. If other people are staying away from a site, you should too.

Are there complaints about payment?
Some sites seem legit, but make it difficult to receive the money you've earned. For example, if the payout minimum is $10, but you hit a mysterious run of bad luck once you've earned $9.90, there's a good chance the game is a scam.

Are there high payout minimums?
If the most you can earn in a day is a couple of dollars, but the minimum payout requirement is excessively high, there is a good chance the site is trying to get your time for free. Their hope may be that you play long enough to earn twenty or thirty dollars, but not enough to cash out—which would mean they get your time and effort at no cost.

Are there hidden subscription costs?
Some apps are free to start, with frequent or expensive subscription fees that you are intended not to notice on download. Pay attention to your monthly bills from Apple and Google for unexpected charges, and look carefully at the pricing, even when an app purports to be free.

Are paid games worth it?

That entirely depends on what your goals are. The truth is, if you're just looking to supplement your income or get a little spending money in your free time, paid games are a fun way to do it. But if when it comes to replacing a proper job, the chances that you are going to be able to earn even close to a livable income are exceedingly small.

Bottom Line

Who doesn't want to earn money while doing something fun? Regardless of what games you're into, there's bound to be something on this list that will help you feel a little better about that downtime everybody says you're wasting.

Whether you want to earn bit by bit with Swagbucks or Inboxdollars, or try to go big with Lucktastic or Bingo Mania, there's something for everyone. Give the games a try, and then use the money to treat yourself.

After all, you've earned it.

Write to Jeremy H at jeremy.harshman@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.

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Do you want to make money by playing games on your phone?

That sounds like it would be too good to be true, but there are actually a lot of apps out there that let you do it! In this post, we will be showing you the best apps that pay you to play games.

What’s the Catch?

Before you download any of these apps, you might be wondering a company would ever do anything like this or what the catch might be. I mean, why would any company pay you to play free games on your phone?

There are three common reasons that you would get paid to play games.

1. First, companies pay money for people to use their apps to boost their player base and appear more popular on an app store. Because there are millions of apps out there, they need help from people like you to get higher rankings.
2. The second reason is that free apps often want people to play so they can get “hooked” on a game and buy in-app currency. They’re hoping that the few cents you earn from downloading the app will go directly back into their pocket. Obviously, the best way to avoid this happening is to ignore any purchase opportunities!
3. The final reason — and in my opinion, the sketchiest reason — is gambling. Some gambling apps will give you free tickets to play to win money. Then they’ll give you some “great deal” where you pay money on more tickets to gamble. The best approach to these apps is to accept the free tickets but never pay for anything they offer you.

Now, with that out of the way, here are the apps!

Earn Money by Playing Games on Android

Let’s start with apps that pay you to play game son Android.

1. Verydice

• Available on: iOS and Google Play

The premise is simple enough: you roll the virtual dice, win tickets based on what you roll, then redeem your tickets for prizes! You have a limited number of rolls per day, and they make their money by selling additional dice rolls.

2. InboxDollars

• Available on: iOS and Google Play

In addition to being a paid survey site, Inboxdollars has a whole section of games that you can play and get paid for! Basically, companies pay InboxDollars to find people to play their games, and the site passes a little of that money on to you.

Read our detailed review of InboxDollars for details and other ways to earn, plus a few tips on how to make the most money with InboxDollars.

3. Coin Pop

• Available on: Google Play

Coin Pop is a free app that rewards you in coins for every second you play games from their list. You can exchange the coins for gift cards or cash prizes.

4. CashPirate

• Available on: Google Play

This app offers a variety of ways to make money by downloading new apps, completing surveys watching videos and, yes, playing games.

5. Fitplay

• Available on: Google Play

Offering an experience with no deposits or in-app purchases, Fitplay is just here to reward you for trying new games. Just choose one off their list and start earning rewards.

6. AppStation

• Available on: Google Play

AppStation offers a variety of genres to choose from and get paid to play, like casual, action, strategy, puzzle or arcade. The games are all free to play, and your rewards are given by the amount of time you spend playing.

7. Lucky Miner

• Available on: Google Play

Featuring a cute user interface and a wide range of rewards, up to and beyond a $50 PayPal cash payout, Lucky Miner pays you by the minute to try new games.

8. Cash Alarm

• Available on: Google Play

Cash Alarm offers to give you your first gift card a few hours after you start playing one of their games, which is a big plus. You and your friends can also get bonuses for referring them to the app.

9. Golden Farmery

• Available on: Google Play

With new apps on offer every day, Golden Farmery will pay by the minute for you to play a variety of mobile games across all genres. Win rewards and cash out the next day.

10. Mistplay

• Available on: Google Play

Bored with your current game library? Mistplay offers mobile users recommendations for new games and even rewards you for playing them! The app also has a chat function to stay in touch with other players!

11. Cashout Rewards

• Available on: Google Play

This app lets you earn points by:

• Installing free apps
• Playing games
• Completing surveys
• Watching videos

You also get a guaranteed 10 points every day you log on. Once you have enough points, you can redeem them for PayPal cash and gift cards.

12. Bananatic

• Available on: Google Play

This app is specially made for people who are already into online games. Offering rewards like gaming mice and video games, this one’s perfect if you’re a gamer yourself or are looking to get a gift for one in your life.

Apps that Pay You to Play Games on iPhone

While there are many game apps that pay you real money for both Android and iOS devices, there are a few that are exclusive to iOS devices.

Free Money Earning Games

Some of the best include:

13. HQ Trivia

• Available on: iOS

Play a new quiz with word games and trivia every day with HQ Trivia! It’s actually a very popular app to play trivia and win cash. This app has had guest celebrities like The Rock, Robert De Niro, and more drop in, so keep your eyes peeled.

14. Toy Town Cash Money

• Available on: iOS

This app takes an interesting approach to earning cash by playing games. There are no in-app purchases or pay to win scenarios. All you have to do is play their games and earn tickets. The tickets let you enter into one of their many cash prize draws. If you win, you get the money paid to your PayPal. Pretty simple, right?

Best Apps that Pay You to Play Games

Here are applications that pay you for playing games.

15. Toluna

• Available on: iOS and Google Play

Toluna is a survey site with a hip modern twist, aiming itself at young would-be “influencers.” In addition to surveys, it offers a series of its own games which users can play and get rewarded for.

16. Swagbucks Live

• Available on: iOS and Google Play

From the popular online rewards site Swagbucks comes a trivia game that can earn you cash prizes! Answer all the questions quickly and correctly to qualify for a grand prize of up to $500!

17. Play and Win

• Available on: iOS and Google Play

Offering a grand prize of $50,000, Play and Win is a trivia game that offers cash prizes for its most knowledgeable players. A new game starts every hour, with players competing against each other.

18. Lucky Day

• Available on: iOS and Google Play

Love casino games but don’t like the crowds? Then Lucky Day is the app for you. Featuring scratch-offs, blackjack, and more coming soon, you can play to win real money!

19. Big Time

• Available on: iOS and Google Play

From WINR Games, Big Time offers real money to play their games. Luckios free slots. The money is handed out through a raffle, so the more tickets you earn playing games, the better your chances of winning big!

20. Lucktastic

• Available on: iOS and Google Play

Featuring a new contest to pay for your grocery trips, Lucktastic also offers Lucky Trivia Live, a trivia show that you the audience can participate in and win from!

21. Long Game

• Available on: iOS and Google Play

Long Game is a banking app that features a gamified rewards system. Every day, you can use points you’ve earned for using their card to play games and compete for up to a million dollars!

22. Wealth Words

• Available on: iOS and Google Play

Like puzzles? Wealth Words has crosswords, poem and story puzzles you can play to win 30, 200, even 700 dollars! The app offers secure instant withdrawal through PayPal for your winnings.

23. Brain Battle

• Available on: iOS and Google Play

Brain Battle offers players a chance to earn tickets by playing games. One ticket is all it takes to be entered to win cash prizes. Plus, the more people play, the bigger the rewards will be.

24. Appnana

Best Real Money Making Game Apps

• Available on: iOS and Google Play

Best Cash Earning Apps

Appnana says that it has paid over $10 million to its members over the years it’s been open. You play games they offer you, then you redeem your rewards for gift cards for places such as:

• Amazon
• iTunes
• Google Play
• Xbox

Final Thoughts

There are lots of apps that pay you to play games out there, you just need to install them and get playing! Just make sure you don’t fall into the trap of paying for in-app purchases while you’re having fun.

Real Money Making Game Apps 2020

Have you used any of these apps before? Do you know of any other app that pays you to play games? Let us know if you liked any of them!