App Games That Make Money
Did you know that you can make money right from your android smartphone? It’s true, and you can even start earning today.
I have played various ‘money-making’ phone app games – I figured out was a scam – got to $98.03 – but then my ‘congrats was you get $.0 x 4, etc. – so I only played a minute or so then stopped playing. Spin to Win is one of the apps that offer a huge amount of money within a snap. You will get spinning to haggle and then it ends up with a random number. The number you get turns into a coin at that point.
If you have ever dreamed of getting paid to watch TV, exercise, or even take photos, then you’re in the right place. There are so many ways to make money using your phone, but none of them will allow you to get rich quick.
Read on to discover twenty awesome Android apps that pay you money.
Table of Contents
- 1 Twenty Best Android Apps to Make Money
- 2 Additional Android Apps to Try
- 3 The Bottom Line
- 3.1 Android Apps That Pay You Money FAQ
Twenty Best Android Apps to Make Money
1. Mistplay
It is always helpful to have a passive stream of income, and while Mistplay won’t make you rich, it can be a great way to earn some extra cash. Mistplay began as an app in 2017 and is a video gaming platform. Specifically, it is a loyalty program built specifically for gamers.
Gamers use the Mistplay platform to earn points that they can redeem for prizes in the future. The prizes include gift cards, Steam credit, and more. The longer gamers play from the list of games provided, the more points they earn. The platform is entirely free, which means that all prizes earned are pure profit.
To earn points, you must either download or play video games in the app. You must sign in to the app using Google or Facebook, and you will receive 15 points just for signing up. Then, all you must do is follow the instructions on the platform to start earning points. Some games require a certain number of minutes played per game, and others have more specific rules to earn points.
Playing games usually will pay out between 20 and 200 points each. For every 1500 points, you will earn $5. Users can also refer friends to the program can earn 50 points per friend referred. What makes this referral program unique is that you can also use an affiliate link, so if you have a strong Twitch or another gaming following, you can earn passive income from the referral program.
2. Lucktastic
Lucktastic is like a virtual scratch-off ticket. Just download the app, and you'll get free tickets to play every day.
You can use your tickets to try to win huge cash prizes, like $5,000, $10,000, or more! If you win anything between $1 and $100, you can redeem it with a Dwolla account.
The best thing about this app is that you still earn points every time you play, even if you don't win a cash prize.
Those points can later be redeemed for gift cards to Amazon, Restaurant.com, and more.
3. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a rewards and loyalty-program operator and one of the most popular survey sites available. They give users $5 just for signing up and have a high reward-per-survey ratio. Users must download the app and can take surveys in their spare time.
The average survey pays between $0.25 and $0.50, but some surveys will earn users a few dollars. If you spend a lot of time dabbling on your phone while watching TV or commuting, you might be able to turn that time into a profit!
4. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is a free grocery savings app that rewards you just for snapping pictures of your receipts. That’s really it.
Fetch Rewards works anywhere you buy groceries. Scan receipts from big box stores, mom and pop corner shops, drugstores, liquor stores, and hardware stores – it’s all fair game. This cashback app lets you earn on purchases made anywhere.
Best of all, there are no hoops to jump through. No pre-selecting offers, no scanning barcodes, no surveys, no ads – you scan your receipts, and you’ll earn points!
5. InboxDollars
Inbox Dollars is a cash-based online rewards club—InboxDollars, an established and well-known company that pays for easy online activities.
These include taking online paid surveys, reading advertising emails, watching videos, searching the web, completing offers, playing games, printing coupons, etc.
The app is well-organized and easy-to-use, so it's a handy partner to the site to help you make money on the go.
Join now if you're not a member yet and get $5 free!
InboxDollars pays by check or VISA prepaid cards.
6. MyPoints
MyPoints is considered as one of the longest standing small task sites in the industry. You get money when you play games, shop online, watch videos, and complete surveys.
Members can also earn points for each purchase made from their favorite brands. Cash-out your points whenever you want for your favorite gift card or get a transfer to your PayPal account.
Some of its gift card options are Amazon, Starbucks, and Walmart!
It is available both on Android and iOS, plus you get a $10 bonus when you earn your first $20 in prizes!
7. Ibotta
Ibotta is a great app that helps you save on your groceries, which is a substantial monthly expense for most people!
Not only can you save money on your purchases, but you can also make money by completing bonuses!
It's so easy to make money with Ibotta, especially when you team up with your friends.
You and your team can earn money together and qualify for more bonuses when you meet specific goals each month.
You only need $20 in your Ibotta account to redeem it for PayPal cash or your choice of gift cards.
App Games That Make Money
Download Ibotta on the App Store or Google Play. If you're a new member, you can get a free $10 just for signing up!
Additional Android Apps to Try
8. S’more
S’more is an app made specifically for Android devices that helps advertisers get the word out about products and services. They pay users to see the ads. When you download the app, you will allow the company to place a lock screen over yours with ads that might interest you. You don’t have to do anything with the ad but continue to use your phone as usual.
Users earn 10 cents a day for having the app installed. Users also earn 50 points for installing the app, and the points value is one cent per point. Users only need 500 points to cash out and must wait at least ten days before redeeming their points. You can earn more points by taking surveys in the app, interacting with the lock screen, completing offers, watching videos, and more. If you refer friends to use the app, you’ll earn 25 points.
Users can redeem points for gift cards. Several vendors are available, but some of the most popular are Amazon, CVS, Google Play, and GameStop.
9. MobileXpression
Earn Money Playing Games Apps
MobileXpression is a market research panel. The app is designed to understand people's trends and behaviors using their phones, specifically when browsing the internet.
To use MobileXpression, users must download the app. The app monitors the user’s activity, and occasionally invites them to take surveys, fill out questionnaires, or other small tasks.
Users are paid $5 for merely signing up, although this is in the form of an Amazon gift card, and users must stay active for one week. Then, users continue to earn points over time. These points are redeemable for Amazon gift cards, donations to charity, and sweepstakes entries.
Additionally, there are weekly prize drawings for popular electronics and appliances. Users are automatically entered into the sweepstakes each month and can purchase additional entries.
10. Toluna
The famous survey site, Toluna, is on both Google Play and the App Store.
You can join the Toluna community to participate in polls and online surveys where you'll get to share your opinions on various subjects.
Toluna gives you points for participating, which you can then redeem for cash or a variety of gift cards, including Redbox, Banana Republic, Overstock, and Groupon.
Toluna also has daily sweepstakes that give you a chance to win cash or prizes!
11. Verasity Gamestore
The attention-focused tech company Verasity has launched a new game store that rewards its users for playing games. For every minute of gaming, players will receive digital tokens that are exchangeable for Amazon vouchers and many other rewards.
There are already thousands of games available from more than 550 game publishers, ensuring a wide variety of genres.
The platform is part of the Verasity. Tv online portal, which also hosts a Watch&Earn program and several B2B tools. Publishers use Verasity's rewarding-technology to improve aspects such as engagement and monetization.
With the Verasity GameStore, you can play as a single-player, try a PVP game, or even create your tournaments and challenge your friends worldwide, right from your living room. Now I a perfect time to try something new and check out Verasity from home's comfort and safety.
12. Cash Crate
Cash Crate is one of the longest-running rewards sites.
It's now getting with the times by offering an Android app that lets you earn rewards in various ways.
The app is much like the website but gives you a way to earn rewards easily on the go.
Take surveys, play games, search the web, and complete offers to earn points that you can redeem for gift cards.
You need $20 in your account to cash out, and you'll be able to redeem your rewards the following month.
Currently, Cash Crate's app is only available for Android.
13. CheckPoints
CheckPoints is similar to other rewards apps that give you the option of gift cards as rewards.
You can take quizzes, watch videos, search the web, complete paid offers, and do other tasks with the app to earn rewards.
Gift card options include Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more.
CheckPoints is available on iOS and Android.
14. FeaturePoints
The FeaturePoints app helps you learn about new apps you might like to use on your iOS or Android device.
You can earn points just for downloading partnered apps, but you'll make even more if you try them out for a bit.
This app rewards you with various gift cards to places like Amazon, PayPal, and Xbox. You can also choose to use your points to get paid games for free!
The referral program here is excellent, so be sure to invite your friends.
You'll earn 50% of everything they make after signing up using your code.
15. InstaGC
InstaGC will give you points for shopping online, searching the web, and watching videos!
Instead of a traditional smartphone app, they have an excellent mobile version of their website, which will automatically load when you open the page using one of your portable devices.
InstaGC's selection of gift cards is massive. The list is more than ten pages long and includes popular brands like Walmart, 1-800-Flowers, and Advance Auto Parts, to name a few.
The redeem rate is exactly 100 points per dollar.
16. FreeMyApps
Here's an app that will reward you with gift cards for downloading other apps!
FreeMyApps partners with other sponsored apps and acts as an advertising platform.
So, when you download a sponsor's app, FreeMyApps rewards you with a set number of points.
There are over 50 types of gift cards to choose from when you redeem your points, so you have plenty of options!
You can also earn more points by referring your friends to use the app, entering contests, and completing other offers on the web.
This app is available for IOS and Android devices.
17. Symposium
Symposium is a worldwide marketplace that connects people via video chats and pay-per-view broadcasts. The app is unique because it allows anyone the opportunity to monetize their expertise.
People who want to sell a service on the app can download it for free. Consumers can then connect with service providers, influencers, celebrities, and more.
The earning potential varies based on your audience, but individuals with small audiences can advertise and earn on this app. For example, if you have expertise in accounting, you may be able to charge for consultations on the app. If you are an influencer, people can pay for time to connect with you via Symposium.
18. Pact
Do you enjoy working out? Well, you can earn money for exercising! When you download Pact, you are asked to enter a fitness goal and your debit or credit card information. When you create a goal, you assign a dollar amount to your goal as a commitment to achieving it.
For example, if you want to commit to running a mile a day for a week, you can assign a dollar amount to earn each day you complete your mile run. Let’s say that you want to earn $2 for every time you run a mile. You’ll then be taken to a page that tells you the stakes if you do not complete your goal. Let’s say that you will owe $5 for every time you do not achieve your goal.
This app is great for people committed to a workout goal and understands that they could also lose money. However, if you are ready and able to complete your fitness goals, this is a great app for you!
Game Apps For Real Money
19. Viggle
If you love watching TV, then Viggle might be a great way to monetize your habit. This Android app was released in 2012 and is publicly traded under its parent company (NYSE: FCNZ).
When you download the app, all you have to do to earn points is to check in when you start watching shows or streaming online. The app also has a daily feature show, which allows users to earn four times the usual amount of points. Users can also earn points by taking trivia quizzes, doing quests, or other small tasks.
The point system for Viggle is 1000 points to $1, and users can cash out through gift cards, merchandise, or PayPal cash.
20. Scoopshot
Scoopshot is a free app that will pay users to upload their photos. You can upload your photos and a brief description of them, and users can choose to pay you in exchange for the use of the picture. Therefore, the pay with Scoopshot is not consistent, but if you take high-quality photos, you can get paid for them when individuals and companies purchase them from the application.
The app will help you to earn money by giving suggestions called tasks. These tasks are taking specific photos and videos based on what users are currently searching for. This will help your photos to be more applicable, and therefore help you to maximize your earnings.
The Bottom Line
There are several ways to earn money online and from your smartphone. Learning how to make money in your spare time has never been easier. We've outlined several easy ways to build your bank account and make extra money.
If you are interested in more smartphone apps that let you earn money, there are plenty of ways for you to earn cash. Depending on your skill sets and how you choose to use your smartphone, you can generate plenty of extra money per month.
Android Apps That Pay You Money FAQ
What Apps Pay You Instantly?
Ibotta offers a $10 bonus instantly just for signing up. Many of the money-making apps outlined in our article allow you to earn extra money from home. You can make money fast and receive a payout as soon as you meet the required minimum amount, depending on the app.
What is the Best App to Get Free Money?
Determining the best money making app really comes down to how you want to earn the free money. Swagbucks is a great app if you want to play games to make money online. If you want to try online surveys, we recommend you check out Swagbucks! These two are the highest paying apps to snag on your android phone.
What App Gives You Money?
Check out the entirety of our post to see a comprehensive list of apps that give you money! Some pay via PayPal; others allow you to earn rewards that can be redeemed for gift cards. All of these money-making mobile app offerings do pay real money.
Do you have an idea for a free mobile application but you doubt whether it's worth investing? How do free apps make money?
Your doubts are quite clear: the development of a top-notch mobile app requires a lot of time (typically, several months) and, more importantly, money. Before kicking off the development process, you should clearly understand how you’ll recoup your investments and how to make money with apps in 2020.
We’ve decided to help you get your idea off the ground and show how exactly you can make money on free apps.
Free Apps Grossing Big Bucks
According to Sensotower, the App Store and Google Play users spent a total of $39.7 billion on mobile apps and games during the first half of 2019. This is a huge market you don’t want to miss out on
If you think that it’s the paid apps that bring the lion’s share of this huge revenue, you’re wrong. In fact, if you check the list of the top grossing mobile applications (including games) in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, you’ll notice they’re all free.
The vast majority of users on all continents prefer free mobile applications. In fact, the number of free app downloads is constantly rising. Statistics provided by Sensotower show that in the first half of 2019, free mobile apps downloads in Google Play increased by 16,4 percent and made up $41,9 billion. Whilst the App Store lost 1,4 percent in downloads. However, the overall tendency remains positive.
Developing a free mobile app is definitely the right business strategy.
Before shedding light on how to make money with apps, we’d like to draw your attention to another matter: correct app presentation. Remember that users must be able to quickly find your app and understand what it’s designed for.
Incite User Interest Through Accurate App Packaging
As of the second quarter of 2019, there were 2.46 million apps (of all types) in the Google Play Store and 1.96 million in the Apple App Store. The competition is really strong!
How many users will find your free mobile app? How many of them will download it? No matter how good your app is and what monetization methods you use, you may still fail to attract customers without a clear app packaging.
Potential users of your app should be able to quickly find it through search in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. To make your mobile app visible and easy to find, you should provide it with an attention-grabbing name, an informative description, and screenshots
Want to get the first ranks on mobile app stores? Check these effective pre-launch marketing strategies.
Here are tips that will help you create a top-class app description:
Choose a Clear and Catchy App Name
Your mobile app should have a snappy name that reflects its major functions. Though many applications have names that convey nothing about their functionality, your app is likely to attract a lot more users if it has a name that hints at what it does. It’s particularly useful to include keywords in the app name.
For example, let’s look at LINE, one of the most popular non-gaming Android apps on the Google Play Store. As you can see, the full title contains an explanation of what this app does (i.e. it offers free calls and messages):
Amazon Play Games Earn Money
Here’s another example: Hulu for iOS. The full name of this app is “Hulu: Watch TV Shows & Stream the Latest Movies.” With this title, any user can easily see what Hulu is for, namely for watching TV shows and movies:
In general, the name of your app shouldn’t be too long – 100 characters at most. Think carefully about the name, as it’s the first thing people see and pay attention to when they’re considering whether your application is worth downloading.
Come up With an Informative App Description
The next step is to provide your app with a meaningful and informative description.
The first several sentences (up to the “Read More” or “More” buttons) of an app description should give general information and illustrate the app’s main idea. This part mustn’t be long – up to 225 characters. Few people read further, so make sure to tailor this part of the app description to perfection.
Let’s have a look at a great example of a brief yet informative description for Scrummer, a handy planning poker app for Scrum development teams that’s available in the Apple App Store:
Learn more about Scrummer’s endearing features and its lively interface.
In the main body of the description, you should mention what problems your mobile app helps to solve as well as go over its most important functions. Take a look at the description of Google Drive (in the Google Play Store). As you can see, it effectively explains to users what they can do with the help of Google Drive:
Make Eye-Catching App Screenshots
An app’s name and description are important, but users want to know how your app will look on their mobile devices. That’s why you should include several screenshots – and make sure you pick the best.
We recommend that you add some text to your screenshots, describing some functions of your application. Take a look at a screenshot for the LINE app on Google Play:
As you can see, this screenshot shows that the app can work on smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches.
Here are screenshots for the Uber app for iOS:
Note that Uber uses verbs in their screenshot descriptions, which is the correct approach. Verbs are the parts of speech used to describe actions.
People are more likely to act (i.e. to download your free mobile app) if they see verbs.
How to make money with free apps?
Now that you know how to package a five-star app, we can move on to explaining the strategies you can leverage to make money on free apps.
Strategy #1: In-App Purchases
In-app purchases is an extremely popular strategy used by thousands of apps in both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. In-app purchases allow users to buy something right in the app.
There are three major types of in-app purchases:
- Consumable. Consumables are products that a user can use only once: for example, virtual money or health points. Such in-app purchases are usually used in mobile games.
- Non-consumable. Non-consumables are features that users buy for permanent use: for example, additional functions or ad blocking (this is how free apps make money without ads).
- Subscriptions. Your mobile application may offer subscriptions that unlock some content or functions for a certain period of time. Subscriptions can be either non-renewing or automatically renewing.
Are you considering to implement in-app purchases in your app? We have a great guide on how to build a mobile payment app like Starbucks.
Strategy #2: In-App Ads
Ads are a driving force of the global market. They’re literally everywhere, and mobile apps aren’t an exception. In-app ads are actually tools of affiliate marketing. With in-app ads, you advertise your affiliates’ products (apps, games, etc.) inside your app and get paid if your users interact with those ads.
There are several types of campaigns used in affiliate marketing, so let’s mention the most popular:
- Cost per click (CPC). This model means that you get paid for each click on ads displayed in your mobile application. Typically, a single click is nearly worthless, so revenue is calculated on a cost per mille basis (mille is Latin for thousand).
- Cost per view (CPV). These campaigns are usually applied to video ads. The more times users of your app watch video ads, the higher payout you get.
- Cost per install (CPI). With this model, you get paid whenever a user of your app installs an advertised application.
If you wish to monetize your application through ads, there are many networks to work with, such as AdMob and Flurry. Most ad networks support apps on iOS and Android, as well as on some other mobile platforms. Also, don’t forget to check what kinds of campaigns they offer, since you need to understand what exactly you’ll be paid for.
There are several ways to display ads in your mobile app:
- Banners. Banner ads usually appear at the top or at the bottom of a screen and have some text and graphics. Banners are considered to be relatively unobtrusive, as users are able to keep using your mobile app even if a banner is active. However, banners have low click-through rates (CTR) and heavily depend on brand recognition (users are far more likely to click if a banner advertises some well-known brand).
- Native. Most people don’t like ads and try to block them completely. How can you reach out to the users of your mobile application, then? Use native ads that don’t really look like ads. Native ads are seamlessly integrated into mobile applications, making them subtle but quite efficient.
- Videos. According to an article by Invesp, the CTR of video ads is 1.84%, so they’re quite effective. Typically, video ads appear automatically when users interact with apps.
- Interstitial. These ads take a whole screen and typically appear when users launch or close an application. However, interstitial ads may also look like pop-ups appearing from time to time.
- Rich media. If you’re wondering what type of in-app ads is the most efficient, here’s the answer: rich media ads that, according to the previously mentioned eMarketer article, show a CTR of 0.44%. Rich media ads use multiple methods to reach out to users, including audio, video, text, and more.
In-app ads allow you to make money off free apps, but this monetization strategy works well only for applications with big audiences. If your app is a startup, don’t expect it to bring big bucks this way.
Strategy #3: Freemium
To benefit from the freemium monetization strategy, you need a second, paid version of your application. If users like a free version, they’re likely to opt for a paid one that has some extra functions.
With a freemium model, users are typically offered to upgrade an app to a paid version, and if they agree, they’re directed to an app store.
For example, have a look at MX Player, a popular video player available on Google Play. This mobile app has a free version, but it contains ads:
Users are offered a paid version of this app, called MX Player Pro. It’s the same in terms of functionality, but comes without advertising:
This monetization option is quite efficient, but you shouldn’t provide too many functions in your free app; otherwise, few users will shell out for the paid one.
Strategy #4: Sponsorship
Finding a sponsor is a really lucrative monetization model. Usually, it works this way: you create a mobile app that gains quite a lot of users, after which you contact a sponsor company and offer to update the design of your app to match the sponsor’s brand.
There are two types of sponsorship deals: you can either split the revenue with your sponsor or receive a monthly sponsorship fee.
The main difficulty of sponsorship is finding a sponsor. Needless to say, your mobile app should be good enough to be interesting to potential funders.
Strategy #5: Email Marketing
Email marketing has always been and still is a powerful money-making strategy. You can leverage this method and ask the users of your mobile app to provide their emails and, later, send them messages.
Adding a Facebook login option to your free app is a great way to subtly collect user emails. However, give users a chance to cancel email notifications, as this will make your app more credible and people will know they won’t be receiving loads of spam.
Tips for Choosing the Best App Monetization Methods
As you can see, there are many ways you can make money from free apps. You can pick one or opt for several strategies at once. However, there are several handy tips that will help you monetize your free app in the most effective way possible.
Consider the Business Goals of Your Free App
Any application has a business goal, which means it helps its users solve their problems. Therefore, you should select a monetization strategy based on your app’s business purpose.
For example, let’s say you wish to create a cool audio player with lots of sound adjustments. Can in-app purchases be an effective profit generating method? Probably not. Instead, you can opt for ads or offer an ad-free version with a subscription.
Or imagine that you launch an educational app. It can offer in-app purchases, such as access to additional functions or paid tips. Needless to say, such apps can contain ads as well.
Define Your Target Audience
App Games That Make Money
You should clearly realize who you’re creating a mobile app for. Draw a user portrait and decide what functionality users need, how much time they’re likely to spend using your app, and so on. A clear picture of your target users allows you to create an app tailored to their needs.
Though your free app may boast large download numbers, the truth is that only a small part of your users (you may call them the money-spending core) will actually bring you profit by clicking on ads or making in-app purchases. The majority of users won’t spend a cent in your app. You may not like it, but that’s how it is in reality. Therefore, set a goal of attracting as many users as possible and do your best to succeed.
Research Your Competitors
If you’re thinking of launching a mobile application, you should carry out a competitor analysis. Explore the app stores you’re going to offer your free app in and search for similar apps. Next, find out what your competitors offer, what kind of designs they have and, more importantly, what monetization methods they use.
This information will help you learn from your competitors’ experiences and see what mistakes they’ve made so you can make your free app better and more helpful to customers. In the end, a better app means higher profits for you as its creator.
Make Money App Download
Don't Overuse App Monetization Methods
You shouldn’t make your free app inconvenient for users. If it’s full of ads or in-app purchases, your audience may stop using your app and install a similar one. App creators should always remember that their apps bring profits only as long as people use them.
What Game Apps Make The Most Money
Your users should feel comfortable when using your app, so be prudent and make all ads and offers in your app as subtle as possible.
Now that you know how free apps make money, you can give your idea a go and turn it into a real-life application.
Can’t handle the development process? Reach RubyGarage and our experts will help you build a successful and competitive mobile application.