21 Best Ways to Earn Money by Playing Games Online (2026 List)

Mikael, founder of PaidFromSurveys

Tested by

I tested every site on this list

Game offers pay in different ways: most pay when you reach a level or play for a set time, some pay per minute you play, and a few pay you to test games. Below I show how each site pays and on which device it works, so you can pick the ones that fit how you play.

My top 3 sites to earn by playing games

  1. #1 Freecash

    Best for: Lots of game offers

    Its offer walls have a lot of games you get paid to download, and you can cash out in gift cards for popular games, PayPal or crypto.

    How it pays
    Game offers on offer walls · Browser, Android, iPhone
    Cash out from
    $5first cash-out $5 to $20, by country
    Join FreecashRead full review

  2. #2 Swagbucks

    Best for: Games plus many other daily tasks

    Next to games, you earn with surveys, paid offers, app downloads and more, so you can earn every day.

    How it pays
    Few free games; others pay only after in-game purchases · Browser, Android, iPhone
    Cash out from
    $1 gift cards$5 PayPal
    Join SwagbucksRead full review

  3. #3 Gemsloot

    Best for: Cashing out small amounts

    Cash out from $6 to PayPal or $0.50 in crypto, with game offers, surveys and more, more or less worldwide.

    How it pays
    Game offers
    Cash out from
    $0.50 crypto$6 PayPal
    Join GemslootRead full review

Expect some extra cash on the side, not a full-time income.

On this page7 sections
  1. Compare all 21 sites that pay you to play games
  2. 21 best ways to earn money by playing games online
  3. Why can you get paid to play games online, and how does it work?
  4. How much can you earn?
  5. How I choose the sites on this list
  6. What readers ask in the comments
  7. Frequently asked questions

Compare all 21 sites that pay you to play games

SiteHow it paysCash out fromPaid viaJoin or read review
#1 Freecash
Game offers on offer walls · Browser, Android, iPhone$5first cash-out $5 to $20, by countryPayPal · Bitcoin · Ethereum +3 more
JoinReview
#2 Swagbucks
Few free games; others pay only after in-game purchases · Browser, Android, iPhone$1 gift cards$5 PayPalPayPal · Gift cards · AirTM +1 more
JoinReview
#3 Gemsloot
Game offers$0.50 crypto$6 PayPalPayPal · Crypto · Gift cards
JoinReview
#4 EarnStar
Game offers (its main option)$5first cash-out: $20PayPal · Bank transfer · Venmo +2 more
JoinReview
#5 Pawns
Paid per minute you play · Android, iPhone$5PayPal · Payoneer · Bitcoin +1 more
JoinReview
#6 HeyCash
Paid offers · Android, iPhone app$5PayPalPayPal · Gift cards · Prepaid Visa cards +1 more
JoinReview
#7 SolPulseMore or less worldwide
Offers, many to play mobile games$0.08fee for a new or empty Solana walletSOL
JoinReview
#8 Branded Surveys
Games, a newer option next to surveys$5PayPal · Direct bank transfer · Gift cards +1 more
JoinReview
#9 InboxDollarsUSA
InboxDollars games$15(for first-time withdrawals), $10 for succeeding withdrawalsPayPal · Prepaid Visa · InboxDollars e-card +1 more
JoinReview
#10 appKarma
Reach a level, or paid per minute · Android app; iPhone via Safari$1 gift cards$3 PayPalPayPal · Gift cards
JoinReview
#11 Cointiply
Games, paid in crypto$3Dogecoin, Dash, Litecoin; $5 for BitcoinCryptocurrency
JoinReview
#12 SnakzyMany countries
Featured mobile games · Android onlyDepends on your locationPayPal · PaysafeCard · Gift cards
JoinReview
#13 ySense
Paid per minute you play · ySense app only$5 gift cards$10 PayPalPayPal · Payoneer · Skrill +1 more
JoinReview
#14 Reward XP
Games; can pay in gaming platform points$5PayPal · Bitcoin · Gift cards +1 more
JoinReview
#15 GrabPoints
Games, next to surveys and videos$3PayPal · Skrill · Gift cards
JoinReview
#16 FeaturePoints
Paid per minute you play · app only$5PayPal · Gift cards
JoinReview
#17 PlaytestCloudUS, UK, Canada
Paid per test, for your feedbackNonePayPal
JoinReview
#18 Ember Fund
Phone games, plus daily Bitcoin mining$50around 50K satsBitcoin
JoinReview
#19 BananaticWorldwide
Play games; pays low$20PayPal · Gaming platform currency · Prepaid Visa cards +1 more
JoinReview
#20 MistPlayUS, Canada, Europe, Singapore
The more you play, the more you earn · Mobile$5Prepaid Visa · Gift cards
JoinReview
#21 Game TesterWorldwide
Test unreleased games; complicated rewards$25Site currency
JoinReview

21 best ways to earn money by playing games online

Take note that the sites/apps I will include on this list will not be all the sites you can join to earn by playing games online. Instead, I will only be including the sites that offer the most efficient ways to earn.

In short, these are the sites that offer a good time-to-money ratio. I will keep updating this list if there are any new good sites to join. So make sure to bookmark this page.

#1 Freecash

Available in
How it pays
Game offers on offer walls · Browser, Android, iPhone
Cash out from
$5first cash-out $5 to $20, by country
Paid via
PayPal · Bitcoin · Ethereum +3 more

Freecash is a Get-Paid-To site where you can find a lot of surveys you can earn by taking. But it also has quite a lot of offerwalls where you can find games you can get paid to download.

In addition, it is a very interesting website to join if you like playing, as it offers a lot of gift cards for popular games as rewards when withdrawing. Overall, it is one of the absolute best free ways to earn money playing games online, in my opinion and experience.

You can also choose to get your earnings out as cash via PayPal or get paid in cryptocurrencies or other gift cards. If you join through the invitation link below, you will also get a great joining bonus.

Join FreecashRead my full Freecash review

#2 Swagbucks

Available in
How it pays
Few free games; others pay only after in-game purchases · Browser, Android, iPhone
Cash out from
$1 gift cards$5 PayPal
Paid via
PayPal · Gift cards · AirTM +1 more

Swagbucks is basically one of the best sites you can join overall if you want to earn extra cash online. This is because there are plenty of ways you can earn. Aside from playing games, you can earn by answering surveys, completing paid offers, downloading apps, and a lot more.

It has a low payout threshold of $5 (depending on the country and reward), so you will be able to receive your earnings rather quickly. It also offers a convenient payment method (PayPal). Plus, it has a wide variety of gift card rewards you can choose from.

All in all, what makes Swagbucks an ideal choice is the multiple ways you can earn, which will allow you to earn rewards daily.

Join SwagbucksRead my full Swagbucks review

#3 Gemsloot

Available in
How it pays
Game offers
Cash out from
$0.50 crypto$6 PayPal
Paid via
PayPal · Crypto · Gift cards

Gemsloot is a GPT site that lets you earn rewards by playing games, completing offers, answering surveys, and more. It offers a good number of earning opportunities at any given time, so you can earn rewards regularly.

It offers convenient payout options such as PayPal and various gift cards. You can also convert your earnings into various cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Litecoin, or Solana. The threshold you must reach to withdraw your earnings will depend on the reward you choose. For PayPal withdrawals, the threshold is only $3.

It is available more or less worldwide, so signing up won’t be an issue.

Join GemslootRead my full Gemsloot review

#4 EarnStar

Available in
How it pays
Game offers (its main option)
Cash out from
$5first cash-out: $20
Paid via
PayPal · Bank transfer · Venmo +2 more

EarnStar is a relatively new Get-Paid-To (GPT) platform that lets you earn by playing games, but you can also find surveys there. It has a good number of earning opportunities available at any given time, especially games, so you can earn a decent amount quickly.

It also offers various convenient payout options like PayPal, bank transfer, Venmo, Revolut, and gift cards. Just take note that the payout options will depend on your location, so some of the options won’t be available in certain countries.

Once you redeem, you will usually get paid more or less immediately.

Join EarnStarRead my full EarnStar review

#5 Pawns

Available in
How it pays
Paid per minute you play · Android, iPhone
Cash out from
$5
Paid via
PayPal · Payoneer · Bitcoin +1 more

Pawns offers a couple of ways to earn by playing games.

On the app, there is a section where you can download games, and you will then get paid per minute you play these games. There are a lot of games to choose from. You can also earn passively in the background at the same time by sharing your unused internet bandwidth, and if you want to boost your earnings further, you can take paid surveys.

You only need to earn $5 to redeem, and if you join through the link below, you will get a $1 joining bonus right away, plus $1 on each of your first two withdrawals.

Join PawnsRead my full Pawns review

#6 HeyCash

Available in
How it pays
Paid offers · Android, iPhone app
Cash out from
$5PayPal
Paid via
PayPal · Gift cards · Prepaid Visa cards +1 more

HeyCash is a GPT site that gives great opportunities to earn some extra money online. You can find many paid surveys and paid offers here, and the rewards are above average compared to many other sites.

It also has an app so you can easily earn from your phone (works on Android and iOS devices). You can cash out to PayPal from $5. Once you request a payout, you will get paid more or less immediately.

Plus, it is available in many countries as well.

Join HeyCashRead my full HeyCash review

#7 SolPulse

Available in
More or less worldwide
How it pays
Offers, many to play mobile games
Cash out from
$0.08fee for a new or empty Solana wallet
Paid via
SOL

SolPulse is a crypto-earning platform. You can earn by completing offers, taking surveys, and more, and many of the offers will ask you to play mobile games.

You can get paid in SOL (Solana), and you don’t need to reach a threshold to withdraw your earnings, and you will get paid instantly to your SOL wallet. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to earn at least $0.08 worth of SOL before you receive your earnings.

It is available worldwide, or at least in countries where crypto is not banned.

Join SolPulseRead my full SolPulse review

#8 Branded Surveys

Available in
How it pays
Games, a newer option next to surveys
Cash out from
$5
Paid via
PayPal · Direct bank transfer · Gift cards +1 more

Branded Surveys is a survey site that lets you earn rewards by answering surveys. However, they have also recently introduced new earning opportunities, including playing games. There are a good number of earning opportunities available, so you can quickly earn a decent amount.

You can get paid via PayPal, direct bank transfer, or gift cards. You can also donate your earnings to charities that they support. The threshold is only $5, which is relatively low.

It is only available for people who live in the US, UK, and Canada.

Join Branded SurveysRead my full Branded Surveys review

#9 InboxDollars

Available in
USA
How it pays
InboxDollars games
Cash out from
$15(for first-time withdrawals), $10 for succeeding withdrawals
Paid via
PayPal · Prepaid Visa · InboxDollars e-card +1 more

InboxDollars is a Get-Paid-To (GPT) site that will pay you for answering surveys, watching videos, reading emails, playing InboxDollars games, and a lot more. You basically won’t run out of things to do, which is the nature of GPT sites.

It has a slightly high threshold ($15) the first time you cash out, but after the first withdrawal, it goes down to $10, and you won’t have a hard time reaching it because there are plenty of ways to earn daily. You can get paid via PayPal or prepaid Visa cards. You also have the option to redeem InboxDollars e-cards.

Plus, you will get a $5 bonus when you join through the link provided below. This will help you get to the threshold a lot sooner.

Join InboxDollarsRead my full InboxDollars review

#10 appKarma

Available in
How it pays
Reach a level, or paid per minute · Android app; iPhone via Safari
Cash out from
$1 gift cards$3 PayPal
Paid via
PayPal · Gift cards

AppKarma is a mobile-only platform you can join to earn rewards. It’s basically a get-paid-to-download app, and most of the apps it will ask you to download are mobile games. It pays quite well, and in my experience, it is one of the best legit apps to make money playing games.

It also has a low threshold of $3, and you will be able to withdraw your earnings via PayPal. It doesn’t have as many gift card choices compared to other sites/apps on this list, but you do have a decent number of options.

If you want to earn using only your mobile device, this is an app you should definitely download and install. If you join through the button below, you will also get an exclusive 500 points joining bonus.

Join appKarmaRead my full appKarma review

#11 Cointiply

Available in
How it pays
Games, paid in crypto
Cash out from
$3Dogecoin, Dash, Litecoin; $5 for Bitcoin
Paid via
Cryptocurrency

If you would like to earn Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies by playing games, Cointiply is a good site to join. It is a GPT site that will reward you for playing games as well as answering surveys. You can also complete offers, watch videos and ads, and a lot more.

The payout threshold depends on the payment method you prefer. It starts at $3 for Dogecoin, Dash and Litecoin ($5 for Bitcoin), and in general, the threshold is low and fast to reach. You can get paid in Bitcoin, Doge, Litecoin, and more.

Overall, Cointiply offers many ways to earn, and you can join from all countries. But again, this is only a good option if you want to earn cryptocurrency.

Join CointiplyRead my full Cointiply review

#12 Snakzy

Available in
Many countries
How it pays
Featured mobile games · Android only
Cash out from
Depends on your location
Paid via
PayPal · PaysafeCard · Gift cards

Snakzy is a platform that will reward you for playing mobile games. There are a decent number of featured mobile games available, so you have plenty of options to earn.

It pays via PayPal, but you must keep in mind that the payout threshold will depend on where you are located. It also offers gift cards and PaysafeCard as payout options.

The app only works on Android devices, but it is available in more or less 34 countries.

Join SnakzyRead my full Snakzy review

#13 ySense

Available in
How it pays
Paid per minute you play · ySense app only
Cash out from
$5 gift cards$10 PayPal
Paid via
PayPal · Payoneer · Skrill +1 more

ySense is a GPT site with a lot of paid surveys and paid offers. What many, however, do not know is that you can also earn by playing games.

To get access to this option, you need to download the ySense app. Here, you can find an option to download games, and you will then earn every minute you play the games.

It can be a great way to boost your earnings on ySense if you like playing mobile games.

Join ySenseRead my full ySense review

#14 Reward XP

Available in
How it pays
Games; can pay in gaming platform points
Cash out from
$5
Paid via
PayPal · Bitcoin · Gift cards +1 more

Reward XP was originally meant for gamers as it offers gaming platform points as rewards, which you can’t find on most GPT sites. Aside from playing games, you will be able to earn by answering surveys, downloading apps, completing offers, watching videos, and inviting other people to join the site.

It has a low payout threshold of $5 and offers several payment options. You can get paid via PayPal or convert your rewards to Bitcoin or gift cards. And as mentioned, you can choose to receive gaming platform points as well.

Overall, its unique reward options and decent earning potential are what make this site a good option.

Join Reward XPRead my full Reward XP review

#15 GrabPoints

Available in
How it pays
Games, next to surveys and videos
Cash out from
$3
Paid via
PayPal · Skrill · Gift cards

If you are looking to earn rewards aside from playing games online, joining GrabPoints is another great option. You can earn by answering surveys, watching videos, taking online offers, and even inviting people to join the site (aside from playing games, of course).

It has a low payout threshold of $3, and you have the option to withdraw your earnings via PayPal or Skrill. You can also redeem gift cards, but their gift card catalog is a bit limited. Best of all, it is available in most countries.

What makes this site an ideal option is that it has decent earning potential, and you will be able to earn regularly because there are plenty of things you can do to earn rewards.

Join GrabPointsRead my full GrabPoints review

#16 FeaturePoints

Available in
How it pays
Paid per minute you play · app only
Cash out from
$5
Paid via
PayPal · Gift cards

FeaturePoints has both a website and an app. If you want to earn by playing games, you can only do this through the app.

Inside the app, you can find different games you can download, and you will get paid per minute you play. It does not give huge earnings, so you should make sure to also use some of the other earning methods FeaturePoints offers.

Once you have earned $5, you can get paid. You can choose between PayPal payments and gift cards.

Join FeaturePointsRead my full FeaturePoints review

#17 PlaytestCloud

Available in
US, UK, Canada
How it pays
Paid per test, for your feedback
Cash out from
None
Paid via
PayPal

PlaytestCloud is a bit different than most of the other options here on this list. This is a platform you can sign up for to test games before they are released and then earn by giving feedback about them.

It can definitely be a good platform to join, as it can be fun, and you will usually earn $9 for a 15-minute test. However, it does not offer many tests, and you need to take an unpaid test to qualify to become a member. So it can take a bit more patience to earn.

But if you live in the US, UK, or Canada, it can be a fun way to earn a bit extra once in a while by testing new games.

Join PlaytestCloudRead my full PlaytestCloud review

#18 Ember Fund

Available in
How it pays
Phone games, plus daily Bitcoin mining
Cash out from
$50around 50K sats
Paid via
Bitcoin

Ember Fund app is mainly known for its free mining option, where you just have to click a button once per day to mine free Bitcoin, and this is definitely an option you should make sure to use if you join.

But it has also started offering other earning methods, including getting paid to download and play games on your phone.

If you join through the invitation link below, you will also get a boost to your base mining rate so you can earn faster passively in the background.

Join Ember FundRead my full Ember Fund review

#19 Bananatic

Available in
Worldwide
How it pays
Play games; pays low
Cash out from
$20
Paid via
PayPal · Gaming platform currency · Prepaid Visa cards +1 more

If you are a gamer and are looking for ways to earn a bit of extra cash, Bananatic is definitely a good site to join. It is a GPT site that is available globally. You can play games to earn. You can also complete offers, watch videos, invite other people to join, or even avail yourself of cashback offers.

It has different reward options like gift cards, gaming platform currency (Steam, etc.), or prepaid Visa cards. You can also withdraw your earnings via PayPal. The threshold you need to reach will, however, depend on the type of reward you want to claim.

The one main disadvantage of Bananatic is that it doesn’t pay that well. So, you will need to be a bit more patient with this site if you want to earn a significant amount.

Join BananaticRead my full Bananatic review

#20 MistPlay

Available in
US, Canada, Europe, Singapore
How it pays
The more you play, the more you earn · Mobile
Cash out from
$5
Paid via
Prepaid Visa · Gift cards

If you want to earn by playing games on your mobile, then MistPlay gives great opportunities.

It has many games to choose from, and the more you play, the more you earn. The rewards are not huge, so it will take some patience to earn. But if you are going to play anyway, then why not get paid for it?

MistPlay is not clear about exactly which countries it is available in. But it is for sure available in the countries listed above. However, the only way to know for sure if it is available in your country or not is to see if it is available where you download apps.

Join MistPlayRead my full MistPlay review

#21 Game Tester

Available in
Worldwide
How it pays
Test unreleased games; complicated rewards
Cash out from
$25
Paid via
Site currency

If you want to test games that haven’t been released yet, Game Tester is one of the sites offering this unique opportunity. This is actually the greatest value the site has to offer. If you are purely looking for a site to earn a few extra bucks, Game Tester is not the ideal choice.

You won’t earn a lot from this site. But, as I’ve said, you get to test games that haven’t been released yet. But just be aware that its reward options are a bit complicated.

If testing unreleased games sounds appealing to you, then this is the site for you. But if your focus is to make money while playing games, the other sites/apps on this list will be a better fit.

Join Game TesterRead my full Game Tester review

Why can you get paid to play games online, and how does it work?

Game companies pay these sites and apps to promote their games and get more players. In turn, the sites pay you to play these games. That is how both you and the site earn money.

  1. Sign up for freeOnce you are a member, you get access to game offers, among other things.
  2. Pick a game offerEach offer has instructions or requirements you need to follow to earn the reward.
  3. Install or playSome offers ask you to install the game. On other platforms, you play directly in your browser.
  4. Meet the requirementUsually you reach a certain level or play for a certain time. Then you get the reward.

How the game offers pay

Not every site pays the same way. These are the ways you find on the list:

  • Reach a levelThe most common requirement. You download a game and play it until you reach a certain level, like on appKarma.
  • Play for a certain timeSome offers pay when you have played for a certain duration.
  • Paid per minute you playOn Pawns, ySense, FeaturePoints and appKarma, you download games and earn for every minute you play.
  • The more you play, the more you earnOn some apps, like MistPlay, you keep earning more the more you play.
  • Test games and give feedbackPlaytestCloud and Game Tester let you test games before they are released.

Read the steps before you start

Every offer shows its reward and the steps. If you miss one step, you do not get paid. The comparison shows how each site pays.

Which device do you need?

There are both websites and apps that pay you to play, so you can earn from any device. Many offers are Android and iOS mobile games.

  • Browser
  • Android
  • iPhone

Only in the app

On ySense and FeaturePoints, you can only earn by playing games through their app. Snakzy only works on Android devices.

On an iPhone

appKarma has no iOS app, so on an iPhone you use it in the Safari browser. Freecash, Swagbucks, Pawns and HeyCash have apps for Android and iOS.

How much can you earn?

It is important to set your expectations. You can earn a decent amount from these sites, but it will not compare to what you earn from a full-time job. To earn that much playing games, you would need to become a professional gamer or find a full-time game tester job, and you cannot just get started with that easily.

Stay away from apps with crazy claims

Many scam apps and websites claim you can earn hundreds of dollars per day from playing for a few minutes. Any app or website that makes claims like this will end up scamming you. If you do not know what to look for, you can lose both time and money instead of earning.

The real value: fun extra cash

If you already love playing games online, the money you earn is just a bonus. In my opinion, it is one of the best ways to earn extra cash online without getting bored quickly.

Anyone can do it

You need no special background or skills, and you can start earning from day 1.

To get the most out of it:

  • Join around 5 to 7 sitesThis is the perfect number without getting too overwhelmed. You can always join more later if you want access to more games.
  • Play games you likeThese options are mainly worth it if you like playing games anyway. Then you earn a bit at the same time.
  • Use the other ways to earnMost of these sites also pay for surveys, offers and videos, so you can add to what you earn from games.
How the 21 sites pay youNumber of sites that offer each payout method. Many sites offer more than one.
  • PayPal16 of 21
  • Gift cards15 of 21
  • Crypto7 of 21
  • Gaming rewards3 of 21

How I choose the sites on this list

Mikael

I only put a site on this list when I have tested it myself. I test hundreds of sites every year, and I keep this list updated.

Mikael, founder of PaidFromSurveys

What I look at

  • How efficient the ways to earn are
  • A good time-to-money ratio
  • Free to join and legit
  • Realistic about what you can earn

How I test and rate earning platforms · Editorial policy

What readers ask in the comments

This page has 92 comments since 2021, and I answered 45 of them. These are the questions that come up most, with my answers.

Which of these works best in my country?Asked about 12 times

My answer: It varies a lot by country, and new game offers are added all the time. Some options on the list work in all countries, and the list shows where each one is available. If you have few options, check my lists for your country.

Is this other game app I found legit?Asked about 9 times

My answer: If you want to earn by playing games, the options on this list are your best options, in my experience. I have full reviews of some other apps, and I do not recommend all of them. Apps I do not know, I add to my list to test.

Why do some sites ask for verification or block my account?Asked about 7 times

My answer: Sites like this see a lot of fraud, so most of them ask for some kind of verification before they pay you. Many also block you if you log in from a country where you do not live. If that happens, contact their support.

Which site pays the most in the least time?Asked about 4 times

My answer: In general, you will not earn a lot by playing games. It is some extra money on the side. My favorites are at the top of the list, but the best ones also depend on your country and the types of games you like.

Why is the cash-out option or minimum different for me?Asked about 3 times

My answer: Payout options can depend on the country you live in. I just cashed out via PayPal on appKarma. On InboxDollars, the first cash-out is $15, and after that it is $10.

I only see surveys or few game offers. Is that normal?Asked about 3 times

My answer: The options above have plenty of game offers you can earn from without surveys. But how many there are depends a lot on your country. My full reviews show how each one works for me.

Read the comments or ask your own question below.

Ready to start?

All of these sites are free to join. I recommend you join around 5 to 7 sites for a start. You can always join more later if you want access to more games.

Join my #1 pick: FreecashBack to the comparison

I keep this list updated, so bookmark this page. Know a site that belongs here, or have a question? Leave a comment below.

Frequently asked questions

Which game gives you real money?

It is not one game. Sites and apps like the ones on this list get paid by game companies to find new players, and they pay you for playing those games. You get paid in real money through PayPal, crypto or gift cards.

My top 3 are Freecash, Swagbucks and Gemsloot. The comparison shows how each site pays you for games.

Can I earn $100 a day by playing games?

No, that is not realistic. You can earn some nice extra cash on the side, but it will not compare to a full-time job. To earn that much, you would need to become a professional gamer or find a full-time game tester job.

Many scam apps claim you can earn hundreds of dollars per day from playing for a few minutes. Stay away from any app that makes claims like this.

What are some games I can play to earn real money?

On these sites, you pick from game offers. Most are Android and iOS mobile games, and on some platforms you play directly in your browser. Which games you get changes all the time and depends on your country.

Most offers pay when you reach a certain level or play for a certain time. On Pawns, ySense, FeaturePoints and appKarma, some games pay per minute you play.

Which app pays real money instantly?

No app pays you the moment you play. You first finish the game offer and reach the cash-out minimum. After that, some are fast: SolPulse pays instantly to your SOL wallet, and on EarnStar and HeyCash you usually get paid more or less right after you redeem.

Turn on “Lowest cash-out first” in the comparison to see where you can cash out the smallest amount.

What are some good free apps for earning money?

All the sites and apps on this list are free to join. If you want to earn on your phone, appKarma, Pawns, Snakzy and MistPlay are apps made for mobile games. Snakzy only works on Android, and appKarma has no iOS app, so on an iPhone you use it in Safari.

How can beginners make money online?

Playing games is something everyone can do, no matter your background or skills, and you can start earning from day 1. Join around 5 to 7 sites if you are new to this. Once you get used to it, you can always join more.

Most of these sites also pay for surveys, offers and videos, so you can earn in more ways than games.

92 thoughts on “21 Best Ways to Earn Money by Playing Games Online (2026 List)”

  1. Blingz is a good and legit app. I earned over $2 in gift cards but then the minimum payout jumped to $5 for a gift card.

    Reply

  5. AppKarma must be the worst app I’ve tried, you only get the chance to do some very dubious tasks, no game offers at all and constantly you get error messages. It wasn’t worth the effort of installing it

    Reply

    • Sounds very strange. Are you sure you downloaded the right app? Because I have plenty of game offers and no error messages. You can click the link in the list above to see my full review where you can also find a video tutorial where I show how it works for me, and where I also show payment proof.

      Reply

    • It is available for me. I just cashed out via PayPal on AppKarma a few days ago. It might be because of the country you live in.

      Reply

        • I cannot say exactly which one is best for your country as the earning potential varies a lot depending on your country, and there are also all the time new gaming offers added to these platforms. And a lot of it also comes down to what types of games you like playing.

          But overall, these options are mainly worth it if you like playing games anyway, and then you can earn a bit at the same time. It is not a very effective way to earn if you just do it for the earnings – especially not in some countries (like NG) to be honest.

          Reply

  8. i have tried all of them some is hard to understand some is taking too long to update playtimes or vidtimes and yes am complaining cause i expected to really test games not do surveys that didnt have purpose for gaming

    Reply

    • All the options above have plenty of gaming surveys you can earn from without surveys. But how many there are depends a lot on the country you live in.

      Reply

  12. Am from Nigeria and most of the offer on your side are limited to me sir.
    Can I get a better money making side in my Country sir please.

    Reply

  14. Hay mikcel……thanks for the articles…..it’s very helpful your efforts…. actually what about swagbucks every time when I get surveys as I click on the paid survey the message shows that unfortunately the survey is not available at this time or it does not match….can I please help me…

    Reply

  15. Hello Mikael, please I live in Nigeria and the cost of living here is very very high here, I know you’re a very busy person but please all I need a a source of earning money online even if has investing options( little amount of money)

    Thank you very much…God bless

    Reply

    • In general, you will not earn a lot by playing games. As I explain in the article above, it will just be some extra money on the side. But overall, my favorites are the ones at the top of the list, but which ones are the best also depends on the country you live in. You can see info about this on the list above.

      Reply

  20. Wow thank you that i found this
    I was on the cash cards pro and I read the terms and conditions and you do have to register when you play the game before you can cash out. So thanks for the tips.

    Reply

  25. first thank you for all your content you are very detailed and gives us a walk through to prove whats legit and whats not and I really appreciate it. I have read your list of best sites. What would you consider your top 3 or do you list them from what you consider to be the best down?

    Reply

  27. hi im new here,i really need a good site or app i can be earning like a real legit cause ive tried so many and its all scam,please recomend a good legit app ,i dont need thousands of nairA 7hundred naira daily is enough for me ,and by the im in nigeria

    Reply

  28. Have you heard of “The lucky Miner” mobile app? How does it compare in terms of pay out compared to the list above.

    Reply

  30. Be careful of Mistplay. If they decide you’ve ‘broken’ their rules. They will drop you in a heartbeat. I innocently logged on in Vietnam whilst on holiday. Next thing I know I’m banned…no warning, no nothing.

    Reply

    • Many sites and apps will block you if you log in from a country where you do not live. They have a lot of fraud, so they have an automatic system that does this when something suspicious happens. You can try contacting their support and explain and maybe they will then give you your account back. Let me know how it goes.

      Reply

  31. Hi, as with the previous person, I too have used Mistplay and didn’t get paid. Something they don’t tell you is that when you come to claim a reward they ask you to take a photo to prove you aren’t a bot playing the games, and although this is no proof you weren’t using a bot (I wasn’t!) they won’t pay until you take a photo. This is just collecting data and should not be allowed!

    Do the other sites work in a similar way?

    Reply

    • Most sites will ask for some kind of verification before paying you. Apps and websites like this see a lot of fraud, and if they did not have a verification process, they would very quickly go out of business because of scammers. How they then choose to do the verification differs from platform to platform, but if you want to earn from free platforms like this, you should assume that most of them will ask for some kind of verification before you can get paid.

      Reply

      • It seems my reply to you didn’t get through, so I’ll try again.

        Do you know which sites ask for what verification? That would be useful information if you know it. I don’t have a problem with verification, but a photo is no proof one is not using a bot, so it is nothing more than data collection. Would like to know what other sites want for verification before I waste time using them, like I did with Mistplay!

        Reply

        • I do not have a list of that. In my experience, not many platforms will ask for a photo, but I cannot say exactly which platforms that will ask for what.

          Reply

      • I’m verified at mistplay but when I noticed that someone who had taken my phone cashed out 5.00 and in turn reported that there had been a change to my profile email I had no part in and about the 5.00 visa… they blocked my account rather than the other person.
        So far, mistplay support can not be bothered to respond.

        Reply

  39. Sir Mikael Good Day,

    How Are you
    . can i request make a video for APP name ( Lucky Fly catcher -Tap to catch the insects).
    i just want to know if it is legit many reviews i read to other site they paid and other are not paid.
    maybe they took long days to get paid for this app.
    but i want to know if it is legit or not.
    can you help me to know.
    thank you in advance.

    Reply

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