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Playing mobile games has become a great way to relax and, in some cases, to make money. While you likely won't be able to replace your job with playing games, you can still earn some extra cash while you also have fun.
I tested out some of the best cash games for the iPhone. Everyone has their personal preferences, of course, but my favorites on this list are Solitaire Cash, Pool Payday, and Bubble Cash. They are easy to learn, help you earn money without a lot of pressure, and have withdrawal rules that aren't as painful as some other platforms.
However, it's important to understand how the rules of each platform can significantly impact your earnings, especially when you're withdrawing funds.
Bingo Cash
| Game |
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4.8
|
| Game developer | Papaya Gaming |
| Apple's App Store rating | 4.7 out of 5 (188K+ reviews) |
| Minimum entry fee (for cash tournaments) | $1 |
| Minimum cash deposit | $5 |
| Minimum withdrawal amount | $5 |
| Withdrawal processing fee | $1 |
| Payout options | Refund to your original payment method and then PayPal or Venmo for additional balances |
| Prohibited states | Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, South Carolina |
| Download Bingo Cash |
Bingo Cash is a fun, colorful bingo game that moves quickly but is still easy to learn.
Playing bingo on my phone isn't my favorite thing because you need to turn up the volume to hear the numbers called while keeping your eyes on your card. But I did like playing Bingo Cash because it's quick to learn and a good entry into playing cash games.
To start playing, use tutorials to learn about the game's score booster and develop a rhythm. Playing standard games will earn you bonus cash and gems. You can use bonus cash to enter cash tournaments if you have enough to cover the entry fee, but you can't withdraw bonus cash.
If you're over 18 and live in a state that permits cash games, you can deposit money to help you enter higher-stakes games. Depositing money isn't required, but it does allow you to enter bigger games faster.
The app accepts deposits via PayPal, Apple Pay, or credit/debit card. It also offers extra gems and bonus cash as incentives for depositing higher amounts.
Entry fees for Bingo Cash tournaments start at $1 with a prize pool of $5. The biggest entry fee is $5 to have a shot at a prize of $30. Since these are low stakes compared to some other games, Bingo Cash is an excellent way to learn how to play in tournaments effectively.
Since downloading the app, I've played in four tournaments and won $2.00 in bonus cash and about 360 gems.
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Bingo Cash splits the prize pool among the top four winners, so even though I came in third place in a tournament, I won 20 gems from the 110 prize pool. First place earned 50, second place got 30, and fourth place received 10. While this is nice for people who come in second or third, remember that even if you come in first place, you won't receive the full prize pool.
When you have at least $5 in earnings, you can request a withdrawal, which comes with a $1 processing fee. Like many legit apps that pay money, Bingo Cash can take up to 14 days to process a refund to your original deposit method (i.e., your credit card). If you have an additional balance, it will send it to you via PayPal or Venmo.
- Bingo Cash is easy to learn and use.
- Multiple boosters help you increase your score and bonus winnings.
- It is fun to play and interact with.
- Bingo Cash has low-stakes games where you won't earn much.
- You must play for a long time or deposit cash to enter bigger games.
- Winners split the prize pools among the top four players.
Download Bingo Cash | Check out our full Bingo Cash review
Solitaire Cash
| Game |
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4.6
|
| Game developer | Papaya Gaming |
| Apple's App Store rating | 4.6 out of 5 (380K+ reviews) |
| Minimum entry fee (for cash tournaments) | $1 |
| Minimum cash deposit | $5 |
| Minimum withdrawal amount | $5 |
| Withdrawal processing fee | $1 |
| Payout options | Refund to your original payment method and PayPal |
| Prohibited states | Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, South Carolina, and Washington |
| Download Solitaire Cash |
Solitaire Cash is one of my favorites. It's easy to start playing and has many of the same rules and fees as Bingo Cash. You can play for gems and bonus cash or enter cash games faster by making a deposit. Entry fees range from $1 to $5, with prizes ranging from $5 to $30.
These low entry ranges make the games more accessible to all players, but the prize pools are smaller than you might find with other games – especially since you split the pool among the top four winners.
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As you climb higher in Solitaire Cash, you'll unlock new features and opportunities. Clubs (level 8) and Cards (level 15) connect you with other players and ways to make extra cash. Solitaire Cash is especially easy to play if you're already familiar with the rules of traditional Klondike Solitaire.
However, earning bonus cash is more difficult than in Bingo Cash. There are no boosters or hints to help you in Solitaire Cash, so you can win only by entering and being one of the top players in tournaments. Building up enough bonus cash without depositing funds can take a long time.
Solitaire Cash can take up to 14 days to process withdrawals. The app first refunds money to your original payment method and then sends the remaining balance to your PayPal account.
- Solitaire Cash is an easy way to play Klondike Solitaire.
- Reaching higher game levels unlocks other ways to earn.
- It refunds winnings using your original deposit method and PayPal.
- Withdrawals take up to 14 business days.
- You must split the prize pool, limiting how much you earn from one tournament.
- There are fewer opportunities to earn bonus cash than in other games.
Download Solitaire Cash | Check out our full Solitaire Cash review.
21 Blitz
| Game |
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4.1
|
| Game developer | Tether Studios |
| Apple's App Store rating | 4.6 out of 5 (28K+ reviews) |
| Minimum entry fee (for cash tournaments) | $0.60 |
| Minimum cash deposit | $5 |
| Minimum withdrawal amount | No minimum listed |
| Withdrawal processing fee | $1.50 charge for all withdrawals under $10 |
| Payout options | A refund to your original payment method and additional balances sent by paper check (U.S.) or PayPal (international) |
| Prohibited states | Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee |
| Download 21 Blitz |
21 Blitz is a solitaire game offered through the Skillz platform. While Klondike Solitaire has you build piles of matching suits, in 21 Blitz, you create groups of cards that add up to 21. You have three minutes to make as many groups of 21 as possible.
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Like the other games, you can earn Z coins and some bonus cash for free. You can also earn tickets and exchange them for additional bonus cash or prizes. You can deposit money to cover higher entry fees via credit card, Apple Pay, or PayPal.
21 Blitz offers more entry fees and prize pool options than other game platforms. The lowest entry fee is $0.60 for a prize of $1, and the highest has a $120 entry fee for a $200 prize.
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Skillz doesn't make you split the prize pool with other players, so you could net $80 if you win the highest-stake game. However, there is a lot of competition for these bigger prizes, and you'll need to devote time (and probably deposit some cash) to start entering and winning the bigger games.
I liked playing 21 Blitz because it moves quickly, and the game will match you with competitors of corresponding skills. It also looks much more like a casino and doesn't have the same cartoonish design as the other games.
Like many of these apps, Skillz first refunds the payment method you used to make a deposit. Withdrawals may take up to six weeks to process. You can't make additional deposits until the withdrawal is complete.
- The Skillz platform looks more like a casino, which may appeal to some users.
- 21 Blitz is fast-paced and may help you earn more.
- The platform does not split prize pools among winners, helping you earn more if you win.
- You may wait up to six weeks for your withdrawals.
- Navigating the platform can be confusing.
- 21 Blitz has a relatively high withdrawal fee compared to other apps.
Download 21 Blitz | Check out our full 21 Blitz review.
Pool Payday
| Game |
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4.3
|
| Game developer | Hidden Pixel |
| Apple's App Store rating | 4.6 out of 5 (92K+ reviews) |
| Minimum entry fee (for cash tournaments) | $0.60 |
| Minimum cash deposit | $10 |
| Minimum withdrawal amount | No minimum listed |
| Withdrawal processing fee | $1.50 charge for all withdrawals under $10 |
| Payout options | A refund to your original payment method and paper check (U.S.) or PayPal (international) for additional balances |
| Prohibited states | Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee |
| Download Pool Payday |
I enjoyed the challenge of learning to play Pool Payday (offered on the Skillz platform), but it took several rounds for me to learn to coordinate the cue and make effective shots.
Pool Payday is like a regular pool game that has a table, cue, and rack of balls. You can rotate and aim the cue stick to line up your shot. You use the "power meter" to adjust the shot strength. The pockets on the table are worth points; every time you pocket a ball, you score points. The point values rotate around the table, and the number on the ball increases the point value (i.e., the 8 ball is worth more than the 2 ball). Trick shots, such as using a rail or ball to pocket a ball, earn more.
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Unlike other games on Skillz, Pool Payday allows you to unlock additional rewards and in-game features, like fancy tables or cues. The game also provides hints and alternate shots to assist you.
Pool Payday uses Z coins as in-app currency and awards tickets for referring friends or as a welcome bonus. You can use Z coins to enter games and exchange tickets for prizes like bonus cash, gift cards, or merchandise. If you deposit money, you can enter higher-stakes games.
Entry fees start at $0.60 for a prize of $1, and the largest entry fee is $25 for a $40 prize pool. You don't have to split the pool if you come in first, but it can be challenging to earn the top prize, and it may take a lot of time and money.
Winnings go to your original payment method first.
- Pool Payday has a broader range of prize pools than some other games.
- You don't have to split the prize if you win.
- Pool Payday offers hints and directions to help you play effectively.
- Pool Payday is challenging and requires a lot of practice.
- The platform can be confusing, with multiple poorly explained currencies.
- It can take four to six weeks to receive your winnings.
Download Pool Payday | Check out our full Pool Payday review
Bubble Cash
| Game |
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4.6
|
| Game developer | Papaya Gaming |
| Apple's App Store rating | 4.6 out of 5 (146K+ reviews) |
| Minimum entry fee (for cash tournaments) | $1 |
| Minimum cash deposit | $3 |
| Minimum withdrawal amount | $5 |
| Withdrawal processing fee | $1 |
| Payout options | Refund to your original payment method or PayPal |
| Prohibited states | Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland South Carolina |
| Download Bubble Cash |
Bubble Cash is much easier to play than Pool Payday. Papaya developed this app, which follows the same format and rules as two of its other games — Bingo Cash and Solitaire Cash.
To play Bubble Cash, aim your bubble shooter at groups of other bubbles. If you make groups of three or more of the same color, the bubbles pop, and you earn points. If you clear the board before the time is up, you win.
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Learning the game is fast, and after a couple of tutorial rounds where you earn gems, you'll be ready to start entering tournaments. If you want to join cash tournaments faster, depositing money via PayPal, Apple Pay, or debit/credit card will help you cover the entry fees.
An entry fee of $1 enters you into a $5.10 prize pool. Spending a combination of $1 and 600 gems has a prize pool of $10. Finally, the largest game requires an entry fee of $3, and the prize is $13.
You can also earn extra gems and bonus cash every time you reach a higher level, and that's where I earned the most. At the end of my testing, I played 14 games and earned 330 gems and $0.80 in bonus cash.
Since you have to split the prize pool with other players, Bubble Cash will not earn you much money quickly. However, playing it is meditative and repetitive, making it easy to play many games in a row.
Bubble Cash will refund money to your original deposit method and send any additional balances via PayPal.
- Bubble Cash is very simple to play.
- It was easier to earn gems and bonus cash than some other apps.
- It doesn't require special skills or previous game knowledge.
- It can take 14 days to receive your winnings.
- No player will earn the entire prize pool – if you win, you must split with other winners.
- You'll need to deposit cash to enter higher-fee games.
Download Bubble Cash | Check out our full Bubble Cash review
Cash Giraffe
| Game |
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|
| Game developer | justDice |
| Apple's App Store rating | 4.7 out of 5 (2K+ reviews) |
| Minimum entry fee (for cash tournaments) | N/A |
| Minimum cash deposit | $0 |
| Minimum withdrawal amount | $5 |
| Withdrawal processing fee | $0 |
| Payout options | PayPal, gift cards |
| Prohibited states | N/A |
| Download Cash Giraffe |
There's a lot I like about Cash Giraffe, but one of its greatest strengths is that it's not "one game" at all. Cash Giraffe is a rewards site that pays you just to test offers and try mobile game apps out, so you can make money no matter how skilled you are at any given game. You also don't have to pay to play games or compete, since it isn't based on tournaments. You get paid based on how long you play.
When I tried Cash Giraffe out, I was pleasantly surprised by how many games I could get paid to play. You have to be strategic about which game offers you take advantage of in order to maximize your earnings, but you might prefer getting paid for the amount of time you play or progress you make rather than only making money when you win a competition as you would with a game like Bingo Cash or Solitaire Cash.
- Doesn't require cash deposits
- Multiple ways to earn money
- Lower potential payouts than some tournament-style games
- Must earn at least $5 before you can cash out
Download Cash Giraffe | Check out our full Cash Giraffe review
FAQs
What should I look for in cash games for my iPhone?
Look for iPhone cash games with high rankings and good customer reviews. Be cautious if multiple reviews say that a game doesn't pay out or makes it difficult to access your winnings. You can also check the game's fee structure and withdrawal rules to better understand the process before you invest time in playing it.
Do any iPhone games pay instant cash?
Most games require you to verify your identity before you receive your winnings. The time and requirements of the verification process vary from platform to platform but can take up to a few weeks. Check your chosen cash game's terms of service and the platform's withdrawal rules to learn the requirements.
How can I tell if an iPhone game is a scam?
Be sure to take reasonable precautions before playing online games, including paying attention to spelling or grammar mistakes within the app or game description and any icons that seem too large or too small. Since many popular apps have millions of downloads, finding limited reviews posted on the game's platform may be a red flag of a scam.
Always read Apple's App Store reviews to see what others have said. Be suspicious if you're reading that the iPhone cash game doesn't pay out, uses unfair practices, or makes winning impossible.
Are iPhone cash games legal everywhere?
Some states limit or outlaw casino games or other games that pay cash. Many games that pay money will ask you to verify your location by entering your full address or ZIP code to confirm your eligibility to enter a cash game. Even if you aren't eligible, you can often still use the app to play for fun, collecting points and non-cash trophies.
Bottom line
Playing games on your iPhone can be fun and one of the easiest and best side hustles. I recommend Solitaire Cash, Bubble Cash, and Pool Payday to earn the most while having fun. Just remember that you'll probably need to make an upfront investment by depositing cash to cover entry fees and there aren't guarantees you'll win or make back your initial deposit.
Before downloading any apps, read the reviews and research the developer to ensure you're going to play a legit cash game that actually pays out. You might also want to try out multiple iPhone cash games to determine which you enjoy the most and get a better idea of your potential winnings.
Methodology
Our picks for the best cash games for iPhones are current or past FinanceBuzz partners. We didn't review all the available cash games on the App Store. To determine which games might suit specific users, we looked at factors such as payout potential, fees, ease of use, game features, and App Store ratings.
