Tired of doom scrolling for ways to make money and finding nothing but scams and time-wasters?
I spent the last few months testing every “make money from your phone” app I could find. Most were garbage. Some paid pennies for hours of work. A few were outright scams.
But I found 11 apps that actually paid out real money: $200-$400/month when used consistently. Not life-changing income, but legitimate side money that hits your bank account.
Here's every app that actually put money in my account. No affiliate BS, no fake screenshots, just honest results from real testing.
The Apps That Actually Paid Me
Quick context: I used each of these for at least 2-3 weeks before adding them to this list. If it didn't pay out or felt sketchy, it's not here. Everything below is legit and I've cashed out real money from all of them.
1. Arrived
Get Rent ChecksPut in $100. Get rent checks from tenants. That's it. Arrived buys rental houses, you chip in $100, and when people pay their rent, you get paid too. No dealing with tenants, no fixing toilets, no property management. Just pick a house you like, invest $100, and collect rent money every 3 months. The average person makes 10-20% per year from rent payments plus the house going up in value. Need your money back? Sell your piece of the house in 2-3 days.
2. Bigcash
⭐ $15 Sign-Up BonusBigcash has over 3,000 app testing offers live right now, with new ones dropping daily. Download a shopping app, play a mobile game to level 10, test a fitness tracker. The standard offers pay $3 to $15, but the premium tasks hit $50 to $170 when you complete bigger milestones. You get the $15 bonus immediately after your first cashout, and the $1 minimum means you can withdraw within 30 minutes of starting. What separates this from every other testing app is their support team actually responds in under 12 hours when offers don't track.
3. Branded (Seen on CBS)
$100+ Per TaskBranded pays you real money to test new games, apps, and complete simple tasks on your phone. Sign up, choose from available offers (like testing a game to level 5), and get paid when you complete them. The more you use it, the more high-paying tasks unlock.
4. Testerup
$50+ Per TaskTesterup lets you earn real money as an online tester. Get paid to test new games, apps, and complete simple tasks on your phone. Sign up, choose from available offers (like downloading the free Tik Tok app), and get paid when you complete them. The more you use it, the more high-paying tasks unlock.
5. AppFree
U.S. OnlyMost reward apps make you grind to $10 or $20 minimums. MyAppFree lets you cash out at $1. Download an app, play to level 5, get paid. The missions are simple: test a budgeting app for 5 minutes, play a puzzle game to level 3, try a meditation app. Each pays $1 to $5, with high-value offers hitting $20 to $40. When tracking fails, support actually fixes it in under an hour instead of ghosting you. This is the only testing app where you can see real money in your account within an hour of signing up.
6. Fundrise
Passive IncomeInvest $10 in real estate and watch it grow on autopilot. Takes 2 minutes to set up. Your money goes into actual real estate that pay you dividends. No grinding, no surveys, no games. Just passive income while you sleep.
7. Freecash
Free $5Freecash has some of the highest paying offers (up to $5k!) so it pays to check the site everyday. But anyone can join, for the lazy, the minimum cashout is only $0.50 via PayPal, Bitcoin, or gift cards, which means you can literally cash out every single day. You can complete your first task today and get paid.
8. Survey Junkie
$40M Paid OutSurvey Junkie has paid out over $40 million because they do one thing other survey sites don't: match you with surveys you'll actually qualify for. Most survey sites waste 30 minutes screening you out. Survey Junkie's profile system means you qualify for 80% of surveys you start, not 20%. Each survey pays $1 to $5 and takes 5 to 15 minutes.
9. Surveoo
Worldwide AccessFinally, a survey site that works in over 120 countries. If you're outside the US and constantly getting blocked from other apps on this list, Surveoo is built for you. Based in France with 5 million members globally, it pays $0.50 to $9 per survey with PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards. The $20 minimum cashout is higher than most, but when you're in Brazil, India, Philippines, or anywhere else with limited options, it's worth the wait. Surveys take 5 to 15 minutes and you can stack 4 to 8 per day if you stay active.
10. Bigcash
Best Welcome BonusMost app testing platforms cap you at $10-$20 minimums before you can cash out. Bigcash lets you withdraw at $1, which means you can literally test one offer and get paid the same day. Over 3,000 offers available right now—some quick $3-$5 tasks, others that pay $50-$170 for bigger commitments. The $15 bonus hits after your first cashout, and their support actually fixes tracking issues instead of ignoring you.
11. Branded Offers
$100+ Per TaskListing this again in case you missed it earlier. Some tasks pay over $100, and unlike most apps, the payouts actually hit your account. Takes time to complete the higher-paying offers, but it's worth it.
Before You Start: If You're Carrying Debt
Real talk: if you're grinding for an extra $200-$400/month while carrying $10k in credit card debt at 24% APR, you're bailing water out of a sinking boat. I get it—I've been there. Here's what actually worked for me:
National Debt Relief
Free ConsultationIf you're carrying $10,000+ in credit card debt, National Debt Relief negotiates with creditors to cut what you owe by 30-50%. You make one monthly payment instead of juggling 5 cards, and they handle the creditor calls. No upfront fees—they only get paid when your debt is settled. Takes 24-48 months and yes, it dings your credit temporarily. But if you're drowning in minimum payments, your credit is tanking anyway.
TL;DR: Start With These 3
If you're trying to use a few apps for the highest earning potential start with Branded for high-value app testing offers, and Bigcash to cash out your first dollar today and claim a $15 welcome bonus.
Look, this won't replace your income. But if you actually download 4 to 5 of these apps and use them during your commute, lunch breaks, or while watching TV, you're looking at an extra $200 to $400/month. That's groceries. That's your car payment. That's a weekend trip you couldn't afford before.
I've been running these apps for 6 months and the money just keeps hitting my PayPal. No boss, no schedule, just phone games and quick tasks that actually pay out.
One more thing: I keep a running list of all the best ways to make money from your phone – apps I've actually used and recommend. Check out the full list here.
