I used Money SMS for more than a year to see if you can really earn by receiving text messages. It is legit, but I never reached the €2 payout threshold and deleted the app. Below is how it works, and which apps I recommend instead.
Tested by Mikael (EarnWithMike)Founder and lead testerMikael founded PaidFromSurveys in 2016 and has personally tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites since then. He shows his tests and payment proof to 555K+ subscribers on his YouTube channel, EarnWithMike. He used Money SMS himself for more than a year and does not earn a commission from it.Learn more about Mikael
Last retested · First published
Legit and passive, but it pays too little to be worth it
€0.02 per SMS you receive and a €2 threshold. In some countries it can take years to reach it.
On this page
The short answer
Money SMS is legit. It is a Get-Paid-To (GPT) app that pays you €0.02 for every SMS message you receive. You do not have to do anything else, so it is a passive way to earn.
But €0.02 is a very small amount, and in some countries you only get a couple of messages per week or less. I tested it for more than a year and still had not reached the €2 payout threshold, so I deleted the app. The app is Android only, and you have to install it from an APK file.
- A very simple, passive way to earn
- Low payout threshold of €2
- PayPal, WebMoney and Bitcoin payouts
- A 30% referral commission, paid by Money SMS
- User-friendly app
- Low rewards: €0.02 per message
- Few messages in some countries
- Android only
- Not on Google Play: you install it from an APK file
- You need to give your phone number
My experience with Money SMS
I installed Money SMS and kept it on my phone for more than a year. This is what I did myself, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- 2020Review first published Dec 8, 2020
- Latest retest
- Checked: earning methods, payouts, support
- How long I used it
- More than a yearThen I deleted the app
- Payout threshold
- Not reachedI still had not reached €2 after more than a year
- Installing the app from the APK file and registering with my phone number
- Receiving paid SMS messages over more than a year
- The referral program and the payout options in the app
- The FAQ and the support ticket form
- A payout. I never reached the €2 threshold.
- The app on iOS. Money SMS is Android only.
My video about Money SMS
In the video below, I give you an inside look at the Money SMS app and explain exactly how it works.
Screenshots from my test
Money SMS at a glance
| What it is | Get-Paid-To (GPT) app that pays you for receiving SMS messages |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free |
| Ways to earn | Receiving SMS messages, and a referral program |
| Pay per message | €0.02 |
| Sign-up bonus | €0.25, plus €0.25 more when you use a referral code |
| Minimum cashout | €2 |
| Payout methods | PayPal, WebMoney and Bitcoin |
| App | Android only. Not on Google Play: you download the APK installer from the Money SMS website. |
| Desktop | No. It is mobile only. |
| Where you can join | A lot of countries. The app checks your phone number to see if you can earn. |
| Privacy | Money SMS says the app does not read your private messages or use any other data |
| Support | FAQ and a support ticket form |
Is Money SMS legit and safe?
Yes, Money SMS is legit. But being legit does not make it worth having on your phone. Here is what you should know.
- It can take years to reach €2
In some countries, you might only receive a couple of text messages per week or less. At €0.02 per message, it could take you years to reach the €2 threshold. After more than a year, I still had not reached it.
- You install it outside Google Play
Money SMS is no longer on Google Play, because Google has a very strict policy on apps that read your SMS. You have to download and install the APK file yourself. The website has clear instructions.
- Think about your privacy
You have to give your phone number, and the app handles your text messages. Money SMS guarantees that it does not read your private messages or use any other data. Whether you are comfortable with this is your own choice.
- Only for Android
There is no iOS app, and you cannot use it on a desktop.
My takeIf you do not mind receiving random SMS messages from time to time, Money SMS can be worth considering. You just need to set your expectations properly. You will not be able to earn a significant amount from it, since the rewards are quite low. Personally, I deleted it after more than a year, because it was simply not worth having on my phone.
Money SMS pays very little. These passive income apps earn you more for the same effort.
See the best passive income appsHow you earn on Money SMS
There are 2 ways to earn. Receiving messages is the main one. Tap one to read more.
Receiving SMS messages€0.02 each
Once you have installed the app and registered, you receive SMS messages sent by the Money SMS system or its customers. You earn €0.02 for every message.
You do not have to reply. You can delete the messages once you have confirmed you were paid for them.
Referral program30% commission
Share your referral code. When your referral withdraws, you get a 30% commission, paid by Money SMS. Your referral gets a €0.25 bonus for using your code.
The rate is quite good, so it can add up once you have a lot of referrals. I no longer have a referral code to give you, because I deleted the app.
How much can you make?
€0.02 is a very small amount. You need hundreds of messages to earn a decent amount, so objectively, Money SMS does not have good earning potential.
What makes it worth considering is that you do not have to do anything. Set it, leave it, and check your balance from time to time.
But how many messages you get varies a lot by country. In some countries it is a couple per week or less. No matter where you live, do not expect to earn a lot.
Payout methods and minimum
| Method | Minimum |
|---|---|
| PayPal | €2 |
| WebMoney | €2 |
| Bitcoin | €2 |
Your earnings go to your Money SMS balance. Once you have €2, you can request a payout. These are the only payout options, and Money SMS does not plan to add others. I like that it offers PayPal and Bitcoin, and the threshold is very low. See also the fastest paying sites.
What 24 readers told me
This review has 24 comments since 2022: 12 from readers and 12 replies from me. These are the things readers ask about most.
Readers from Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Angola and Georgia asked for other apps. See the best international sites, or the best sites in your country.
The review explains where to find the website. I do not link to it, because I do not recommend the app.
You do not have to reply to the messages. For questions about your own account, contact Money SMS support.
“Hi can I get a link to download – moneysmsapp”
Mikael: I only share links to platforms I truly recommend. But I explain where you can find the website in the review above.
“Do I have to open the text message an read it or click on any links within the text message or am I able to just ignore the texts that come in an just delete them…”
Mikael: I explain everything in the article about – and mainly I explain why it is not worth it and why I do not use it myself anymore after having tested it.
“I also need other paying app”
Mikael: You can check the best sites in NG here.
Money SMS alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pawns | Passive earning by sharing internet, plus surveys and games | $5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Honeygain | Completely passive: share your unused internet | $20 PayPal; $0.50 through JumpTask | 3.7 / 5 |
| PacketStream | Passive earning from your bandwidth, paid through PayPal | $5 | 3.3 / 5 |
| EarnApp | Passive earning from your unused internet, PayPal and Wise | $2.50 PayPal and Wise | 3.1 / 5 |
See also the best passive income apps. If you want to earn a decent amount, see the top survey and GPT sites in your country. You will find a site you can join wherever you live.
How I scored Money SMS
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
Money SMS scores 44 out of 100. I recommend these passive income apps instead.
See the best passive income appsMoney SMS FAQ
Is Money SMS a scam?
No. Money SMS is a legit app that pays you for receiving SMS messages. But the pay is so low that it is not worth it for most people.
How much does Money SMS pay?
€0.02 per SMS message you receive. You also get a €0.25 sign-up bonus.
What is the minimum payout?
€2, through PayPal, WebMoney or Bitcoin.
Do I have to reply to the messages?
No. You can delete them once you have confirmed you were paid for them.
Why is Money SMS not on Google Play?
Google has a very strict policy on apps that read your SMS. You install Money SMS from the APK installer on its website.
Is Money SMS on iPhone?
No. The app is only for Android, and you cannot use it on a desktop.
Which countries can join Money SMS?
A lot of countries. Install the app and enter your phone number to find out if you can earn in yours.
How do I contact Money SMS?
Check the FAQ page. At the bottom, click “Submit Inquiry” to open a support ticket.
Who tested Money SMS for this review
Founder of PaidFromSurveys.com since 2016. Mikael has tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites and shares his tests with 555K+ subscribers on YouTube (October 2026).
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Money SMS, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
I am from Georgia please tell me best app
You can check out this list of the best international sites which are the ones you should go for.
Good
Thanks for reading.
Hi can I get a link to download – moneysmsapp
I only share links to platforms I truly recommend. But I explain where you can find the website in the review above.
I also need other paying app
I lived in Nigeria
Thanks
You can check the best sites in NG here.
Please i need others paying apps
Which country do you live in?
Kenya
You can check out this list of the best international sites which are the ones you should go for.
Angola
You can check out this list of the best international sites which are the ones you should go for.
THANK YOU
You are welcome.
I appreciate the content sir.
Can you help me and give me some of the easiest ways to make a living. I’m from Nigeria. Looking forward to hearing from you
What I would suggest depends on what your expectations are when you say you want to make a living online. There definitely options but to make a living you need to be willing to put in a lot of effort and time to build it up. And you need at least a small budget to get started. So please let me know a bit more about this and then I can say what I would suggest.
Thanks for the content sir.
Can you help me and give me some of the easiest ways to make a living. Remember am 19yrs old living in uganda
You can check out this list of the best international sites which are the ones you should go for.
Do I have to open the text message an read it or click on any links within the text message or am I able to just ignore the texts that come in an just delete them at the end of the year or every few months after seeing I got paid, also can I accept this app with the payment in pounds on my PayPal if I’m traveling between France, Egypt & the USA ? Or does this app only work if it’s scanning my location an it has to show I’m in only one location (meaning they won’t pay me if I travel often) also your review didn’t mention anything about a VoIP if the app allows users with it or not, so I was wondering if you would know about that?!
I explain everything in the article about – and mainly I explain why it is not worth it and why I do not use it myself anymore after having tested it. If you have technical questions about your exact account and how you travel, you need to contact their support about it.
How should I join
I explain everything in the review above.