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Scrambly offers a combination of task-based earning opportunities and get-paid-to-play games, which makes it a popular choice for earning a little extra money. However, it's not for everyone, and you might want to look for alternatives if you have an iPhone or want higher earnings for the time you invest.
We researched some of the best Scrambly alternatives for taking surveys, watching videos, playing games, and more. We found that Freecash, Swagbucks, and InboxDollars are the best choices for most users since they offer enough variety to keep you from getting bored.
Featured partner
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- Get paid for testing apps, games, and surveys
- Payouts can go as high as $225 per offer
- “Excellent” Trustpilot Rating (54,000+ reviews, 4.6/5 stars)
- Cash out instantly with PayPal starting at only $5
How we rate products
The companies we chose for our Best Apps Like Scrambly list may be current or past FinanceBuzz partners. We did not review all get-paid-to-play or survey apps on the market. When evaluating these companies, we considered earning potential, ease of use, pricing, app store ratings and reviews, and user experience.
Compare apps like Scrambly
| Best for | Available platforms | Ways to earn money | |
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Web browsers |
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Gift cards |
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Casual gamers |
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Word nerds |
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Online shoppers |
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Sign-up bonus |
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Freecash
Like many of the apps covered here that pay, Freecash offers a variety of ways to earn, including playing games, taking surveys, and completing tasks. When you start out, Freecash will assign you to one of two modes (Lite or Advanced), which will determine your earning potential. You can play your way from Lite to Advanced and start earning more, but it will take a while.
While the Freecash mobile app is only available to Android users, you can access Freecash via a web browser on any connected device. I like this flexibility because I'm likely to use an app more often (and make more money) if I'm not limited to a small phone screen
- Diverse ways to earn money with games, surveys, and more
- Multiple cash-out options
- High ratings on Trustpilot and Google Play
- No Apple app
- Limited earning potential with Lite Mode
- 5% fee to withdraw money via PayPal or bank transfer
Visit Freecash | Learn more in our Freecash review.
Rewarded Play
Rewarded Play is an Android-only app that offers the chance to earn rewards for installing and playing a variety of games, from Monopoly to matching and casino games. Not all Scrambly alternatives require installing games on your device, so if you're wary of cluttering your home screen, consider other options.
This app is great if you want to earn gift cards from over two dozen retailers, including Amazon and Walmart. Rewarded Play also advertises a short 48-hour turnaround time for redemptions, which is nice if you're like me and hate waiting around for your rewards.
I think this app could be useful for gradually accumulating gift cards for your family or friends.
- New-user promotions to help you boost your initial earnings.
- Large selection of gift cards
- Gift cards can arrive within 48 hours.
- No other redemption options
- No Apple app
- Limited long-term earning potential without in-game purchases
Learn more in our Rewarded Play review.
Cash Giraffe
Cash Giraffe is notable among the other apps covered here for the variety of games it offers and its unique structure, which lets you earn gems based on the time you spend playing featured games rather than by winning them. It's a great pick for casual gamers, as you don't have to be good at the games to get paid.
I also like that you can earn money through non-game tasks, like taking surveys and testing products, to keep from getting bored. Plus, this Android app lets you redeem your gems for either PayPal deposits, coupons, or gift cards to traditional retailers and digital stores. However, you'll need upward of 45,000 gems to get a $5 gift card, so expect to use the app for a while.
- Easy to download and use
- Multiple redemption options
- PayPal cash outs in as little as two days
- May require in-app purchases to reach higher levels
- May take a while to reach the cash-out minimum
- No Apple app
Visit Cash Giraffe | Learn more in our Cash Giraffe review.
WorldWinner
WorldWinner offers the opportunity to earn money from cash tournaments. While the app will give you the chance to test out games for a round or two to get the hang of things, you'll eventually need to deposit cash to enter tournaments and continue using the app, so it's not ideal if you prefer free options.
With games like Scrabble, Boggle, and Wheel of Fortune, alongside classics like Yahtzee! and dominoes, Worldwinner's selection is likely to appeal to you if you enjoy word games and digital versions of more traditional offerings. It's also nice that you don't have to download third-party apps to play these games and that you can access WorldWinner through your browser if you don't have an iPhone.
- Simple withdrawal process with a $1.75 minimum
- No ads to disrupt your playing
- Doesn't require third-party apps to play games
- Relatively low earnings potential with many tournaments
- More limited and challenging game options
- Requires a deposit to enter cash games
Learn more in our WorldWinner review.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the most popular rewards apps, with over 20 million active members. This blows the user bases of many apps, including Scrambly, out of the water. I also like that Swagbucks pays you real money for shopping online, which is what the platform was originally built around. On top of this, you can get paid to play games, watch ads, sign up for deals, and take surveys.
Unlike many of the other apps on this list, Swagbucks is also easier to access. I like that you can download the app for Android or iOS, use it from your browser, or even install a browser extension to search for offers in the background. Plus, you can cash out your Swagbucks for gift cards or PayPal deposits.
- Free to sign up and use
- Multiple ways to access and earn
- Includes shopping offers, which are less common
- Potentially lower payouts for similar tasks than alternatives
- Not as much game variety as other rewards apps
- Can take 32 to 75 days to get shopping rewards
Visit Swagbucks | Learn more in our Swagbucks review.
InboxDollars
InboxDollars offers an interesting variety of ways to earn cash, including taking surveys, playing games, watching videos, using the app's search engine, and even reading emails. You earn real cash (rather than rewards) that you can withdraw via PayPal, Visa, or gift cards. You'll also get a $5 bonus just for signing up, giving you a head start toward reaching the $15 minimum required to cash out.
The variety of ways to earn makes InboxDollars great for anyone who isn't a huge fan of addictive or mindless mobile gaming. Many tasks require a little more focus, but you can avoid the bells and whistles that other apps covered here add between you and cashing out.
- $5 just sign-up bonus
- More ways to earn than games and surveys
- User-friendly website and mobile app
- High minimum payout threshold
- Relatively low earning potential for casual users
Visit InboxDollars | Learn more in our InboxDollars review.
How to make the most of these platforms
As I've learned from trying many money-making apps over the years, you're not going to get rich. Instead, approach them as a way to make extra money to supplement your main job and side gig in your spare time.
Ideally, you can use these apps to earn as passively as possible. Pull up a video on InboxDollars and let it run while you're prepping coffee in the morning. Need to kill some time while you wait for the bus? Get a quick round of Solitaire in.
If you squeeze in some activity during those little bits of downtime throughout the day, your winnings will eventually add up, even if they're not a lot. I recommend my favorite strategy of using multiple apps daily to maximize your earnings.
Make sure you're using an app that fits your desired outcome, though. If you're looking to have a little spare cash on hand for incidental expenses, an app that only lets you cash out with gift cards from specific retailers isn't going to be much use. But if you're a regular Starbucks patron, using an app that lets you redeem winnings for Starbucks gift cards could be the way to go.
How to stay safe on platforms like these
A quick look at web forums and app review pages shows that many people are asking whether apps like these are actually legit. In general, they are. Scrambly and the apps covered here are all legitimate ways to earn money online.
But that doesn't mean every app that promises real cash for playing games or taking surveys is trustworthy or worth your time. Follow these tips:
- Always search for reviews: Get independent accounts of user experiences to gauge whether you stand to earn any cash, or if an app is just after your data and offering little in return.
- Protect your personal information: With survey apps in particular, be mindful of the information you're being asked to provide. Share only as much personal information as you feel comfortable sharing.
- Use a dedicated email account: You may want to create an email account just for apps like Scrambly to avoid spam in your primary account. I've signed up for popular game apps before and quickly gotten annoyed with promotional emails in my main inbox.
FAQs
What is the highest-paying game app?
The amount you can earn from any given app will vary widely based on which games you play, how much you play them, and the earning structure of the app you're playing on. Some other legit pay-for-play options include Mistplay, Bingo Cash, and Solitaire Cash.
Which apps pay real money instantly?
In this case, "instant" is a bit subjective. Any legitimate app that offers to pay you real cash is going to require something in return. Whether that's taking surveys or downloading and playing games, you're going to have to invest some time before you can cash out.
Once you reach your chosen app's cash-out threshold, the time it takes to actually receive money can vary widely. Some apps with quicker cash-out timelines include Survey Spin and Cash'em All. Both allow you to cash out via PayPal, which tends to work relatively seamlessly, but again, your experience may vary. Always check user reviews before downloading an app.
Is Freecash legit?
Freecash is a legit get-paid-to (GPT) site that pays you for playing games, answering surveys, downloading apps, and much more. It offers a wide variety of payout options, including PayPal, gift cards, and bank transfers. Freecash won't replace your main income, but it can be a fun, passive way to earn extra money.
Bottom line
Scrambly is popular for a reason, which you can read all about in our Scrambly review. Its combination of one-time and ongoing earning opportunities makes it a flexible way to earn some cash for a wide range of users. The apps that we covered here all offer similar ways to earn, whether playing games or taking surveys, but each has its own quirks, perks, and drawbacks.
The best survey sites offer a slightly more mindful earning experience that, though tedious at times, requires a little more attention and thought and may be more enjoyable for users who want to exercise their brain a bit. But if you're a touchscreen warrior ready to tap your way to mobile gaming success, try one of the best legit gaming apps to earn a little extra on the side.