Playing games on your phone can be as addictive as social media. I know this firsthand, having downloaded several games on my phone to keep from doom-scrolling.
While this is a smart plan in itself, it would be better if I could make a few extra bucks playing games like solitaire and Candy Crush. And with the right sites, I can. Platforms such as Freecash, Swagbucks, and Cash Giraffe let you get paid to test apps and games. You won't make bank, but you can make your spare time more profitable than it would otherwise be.
It's important to note that most platforms that pay you to test apps and games require you to allow them to track your activity. You also can't use most of these platforms with a VPN.
How we rate products
To choose the best platforms for testing apps and games, we primarily looked at companies that let people sign up and use them for free. While many of these platforms claim to have “no hidden fees,” you may be required to deposit cash in the games you play to earn the maximum payouts. Each platform was evaluated based on ease of use, payout methods and fees, and overall earning potential. Platforms were also compared by device compatibility, the variety of tasks offered, user reviews, and how long it typically takes to reach a payout.
Compare the best places to get paid to test apps and games
| Best for… | How to make money | How to access | |
Testerup |
Large payouts |
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Freecash |
Earning cryptocurrency |
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| Test IO | Tech-savvy people |
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Swagbucks
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Getting paid to shop |
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| PlaytestCloud | Playing games with your kids |
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Playing games for longer |
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International users |
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Mistplay |
Testing games often |
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Rewarded Play
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Getting paid in gift cards |
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Testerup
Testerup is a legit get-paid-to (GPT) app that lets you earn money by playing games, testing products, and taking surveys. Testerup's potential payouts are higher than those of many similar platforms. For instance, many of the games I saw in the app paid up to $200 or $350. You typically earn money as you reach different levels in a game, and you get a pretty reasonable amount of time to complete these offers. For example, I downloaded two games with deadlines of 60 and 90 days. Within the first hour of playing, I already earned $1.
Payouts can be made once you reach the "minimum payout threshold," which for me was $20 but varies and can be up to $70 for many. You can cash out up to $250 per transaction via PayPal.
Visit Testerup | Learn more in our Testerup review.
Freecash
Freecash is an app and website that lets you make money from your phone by testing games, taking surveys, trying products, downloading apps, watching videos and ads, and completing other tasks. The Freecash app is available for Android devices, and everyone else (including iOS users) can access it via Freecash.com.
You earn rewards as coins and need 1000 coins to earn $1. Most tasks, called "offers," take less than 10 minutes to complete. However, offers with higher payouts may take you more than a month to earn, but you can get paid by milestone. We'll also note that some offers require you to deposit money into a game to earn, but you don't have to pay cash to earn with Freecash.
Freecash claims that its top earners make between $5,000 and $6,000 per month. The platform offers more ways to cash out than many testing apps, including cash, gift cards, and even cryptocurrency. Freecash is one of the best game apps if you want to make money trying out games, especially if you'd prefer to get paid for reaching levels rather than your time played.
Visit Freecash | Learn more in our Freecash review.
Test IO
If you're tech-savvy, check out Test IO. It's a crowd-testing platform that recruits freelance testers, primarily for software programs and apps. This side hustle is a little more complicated than other online money-making platforms. Before you can receive test invitations and get started on customer tasks, you have to complete a six-module onboarding process.
You can test products on a number of devices, including smartphones, computers, smart TVs, tablets, streaming platforms, and even wearables (like your Apple Watch). The amount you're paid to test products with Test IO varies because you earn based on how many bugs you find in the products you're testing. One tester claims to have earned about $600 in a month, with some bugs paying as much as $50 each.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks offers a plethora of ways for you to make money online, including by shopping online, playing games, taking surveys, watching videos, or just searching the web. While earning rewards when you shop isn't quite the same as getting paid to test apps and games, Swagbucks could reward you for trying a product or brand you wouldn't try otherwise. For each offer you complete, you earn SB points that you can redeem for gift cards or PayPal transfers. Each SB point is worth a penny, so you will need 100 to equal $1.
Swagbucks also lets you earn cash back on grocery purchases by simply taking a photo of your receipts. This is unique and sets Swagbucks apart from many rewards platforms.
Learn more in our Swagbucks review.
PlaytestCloud
If you want to play phone games with your kids and earn a little money doing so, consider checking out PlaytestCloud. This game-testing platform seeks input on games from players at all stages of development. Your kids can play, but you'll need to be with them when they do.
To make money on PlaytestCloud, you first need to complete an unpaid qualification test. If you pass, you're eligible to earn cash testing games on the platform. The platform claims that you can earn about $9 for a 15-minute "playtest." There are no minimums required to access your earnings, which is unusual for a platform that pays you real money to play games. You can get paid in virtual Visa cards, gift cards, PayPal transfers, or charitable donations.
Cash Giraffe
While some game-testing platforms only award you when you reach certain levels within a game, with Cash Giraffe, you earn rewards (gems) just for your activity or play time. You can also earn gems by completing levels and tasks in mobile games, if you so choose, as well as completing surveys and other offers. The platform offers an edge over other rewards platforms by providing many boosts and time-limited bonuses, rewarding you for playing often.
Cash Giraffe uses a level system to determine payouts for the most committed players. As a new user, you start at the Bronze Level, and you can progress to the Silver Level and Gold Level the more you play and complete tasks. The higher your level, the larger your payouts will be, thanks to redemption discounts. For example, at the Bronze level, you need 8,000 gems to cash out $1. But at the Gold Level, you only need 5,600 gems.
Visit Cash Giraffe | Learn more in our Cash Giraffe review.
Test'em All
Test'em All is an app available on both Android and iOS that lets you play games to make money. Some testing platforms offer only Android apps, but Test'em All provides a highly rated Apple app. For playing mobile games, taking surveys, and completing other tasks, you'll earn points that can be converted to cash payouts via PayPal, gift cards, or exclusive discounts.
The points you earn with Test'em All are relatively low value, with 1000 points equaling $0.10. You will need to earn at least 5000 points ($0.50) to receive a payout. Note that Test'em All pays out in euros, so you'll need to convert your earnings to USD when you withdraw to PayPal. While you aren't going to get rich with this app, it could be a good option to add to your arsenal if you like playing games.
Mistplay
Mistplay is another free app for Android and iOS that lets you earn rewards for testing games. The platform claims to have paid out over $214 million to its users, who are assigned a "Loyalty Status" based on their activity. The higher your Loyalty Status, the more you can earn (similar to how levels work with Cash Giraffe). This is why we would recommend Mistplay to you if you plan to try out mobile games often. The rewards you win can be redeemed for gift cards in the Mistplay Shop from brands like Amazon, Xbox, Starbucks, PayPal, and more.
Mistplay also offers Sweepstakes events that let you win larger prizes. You can join these sweepstakes through the app if you complete the requirements for the sweepstakes.
Learn more in our Mistplay review.
Rewarded Play
Rewarded Play is a gaming platform that pays you in gift cards to play games and take surveys. The app is currently only available to Android users. If you have an iPhone, you may see an app called "Rewarded Play" in the App Store, but it's not the same platform.
Rewarded Play by Influence Mobile enables you to earn points for playing games recommended in the app. Often, you have to reach a higher level in a game to make money, and some require in-app purchases to complete offers. The points you earn can be redeemed for gift cards to popular brands like Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, Target, Uber, and more. The platform also holds contests where you can win even more points. To participate, you must complete surveys.
Learn more in our Rewarded Play review.
FAQs
Is testing games for money legit?
Yes, testing games for money can be a legit side hustle, depending on the platform. Reputable companies pay testers to find bugs, give feedback, or just log time using a platform. Avoid sites that require payment to join or promise huge rewards, as these may be signs of a scam.
How do I become a paid game tester?
Becoming a paid game tester can be as easy as signing up with reputable testing platforms and downloading games. These platforms usually don't charge you to participate. While they won't make you rich, game-testing apps can help you earn a little extra money or gift cards for your time.
Where can I get paid to test apps?
You can get paid to test apps and games through platforms like Testerup, Freecash, Test IO, Swagbucks, PlaytestCloud, and Mistplay. These sites and many others pay you for trying apps, playing games, completing tasks, and taking surveys. Often, you can redeem rewards for gift cards, PayPal transfers, or bank transfers.
Bottom line
Testing apps and games is one of the best side hustles to earn a little extra money, especially if you spend a lot of time on your phone. While payouts can vary by platform and task, reputable sites like Swagbucks, Testerup, and Freecash offer real opportunities to earn rewards, gift cards, and even cash in your spare time.
If you want to make your downtime more productive, these app-testing sites can be a fun, flexible way to do it.
Testerup
Freecash
Swagbucks
Mistplay
Rewarded Play