UPDATED: October 13, 2022

“Money makes the world go round,” so they told you but did they tell you to have the potential to become a millionaire playing games on your phone? It may seem outrageous, but it is the reality of some who have played mobile games.  

Everyone has got their luck; if you won’t be the next millionaire, at least there is cash to be earned playing your favorite games. Success in the game industry depends on the games you will play and the differences in their payouts.

There are hundreds of apps that offer the chance to play games and earn money. The differences in the amount earned depend on the types of games played and the companies that run the apps. Making it to the millions of dollars playing games online takes dedication to the craft, hard work, and a little bit of luck. Most successful gamers do not just earn from playing the games on their phones or laptops but try to have a massive following on social media platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook.

 While there is a possibility to make a lot of cash playing games, most people earn just some pocket change. But an extra buck in your pockets is worth more than just playing games for free. Let's look at the most popular, legitimate game apps to make money and a few strategies to have a large share of the pie. 

Best Money Making Game Apps

1. Mistplay

Here is an Android first game that pays you to play games. There are no sign-on fees or downloading costs to start earning money on the app. The mobile game creators claim to have paid out more than 9 million USD in rewards since 2016.

The app has great reviews with a 4.2-star rating out of the possible five. Some players brag about earning more than $100 in the first week of playing the game. Here are some of the rules to win on Mistplay:

  • You earn a reward for playing mobile games
  • You compete for badges which increase your rewards
  • A daily streak earns you weekly bonus points
  • You redeem the points for rewards
  • The more games you play to increase your points and number of rewards
  • You can chat with your friends on the app

2. Swagbucks

 Swagbucks is a money-making app that allows you to make money through several activities such as taking paid surveys, watching videos, and playing games on the site. Therefore, it is one of the most reputable and most recommended apps. Nonetheless, you have to part with a $5 to  $10 registration fee depending on how you access the app.

Despite the hefty registration fee, Swagbucks has 15 million users and a 4.2 rating on the Google play store. In addition, the app has paid out at least 15 million dollars in reward to users. S Swagbucks tracks all your activities playing games and prizes you.


3. Drop

The Drop was initially started as a shopping rewards app giving clients cash back for shopping on sponsored links.  Currently, you can play games and get rewarded on the app. You have to sign up and download supported games and earn money while playing.  You have to add your credit card to play.

The pay depends on the game that you play.  Leveling up attracts some rewards that may depend on the game you are playing. Typically, the reward for leveling up can range from $10 to $20.You can also earn gifts from Drop; adding different tips and the bonus can earn you some decent cash at the end of the year.


4. Gamehag

Gamehag is a full-feature game you can play on IOS and Mac devices to help you earn a decent amount of money. The multi-device support means you can keep playing games long after continuously on your favorite device.

There are games for everyone, such as Rise of Kingdoms, WarFrame, Guild War 2; the prizes are also as varied as the games allowing players to get free games, gift cards, prepaid visa cash, and counter strike skin. So rather than spend money to play a new paid game, you can play free games to access the paid game.


5. Skillz games

Skillz games are only available to the US audience. It has a haven where you compete with fellow players over the US with your hard-earned cash. You can choose games that you are better at and keep playing.

Your skillset is the most important weapon you have in your arsenal as each of the players is playing their best to win. Some players have complained that your winning includes the wager amount. With patience and skill, you can be among the 100 million won on the app per month. Android users can sideload the game as it is unavailable in the Google play store.


6. InboxDollars

InboxDollars has been one of the most resilient money-making platforms, having opened shop in 2000 to the US and Canadian Market. One of those platforms allows you to earn $15 to $55 a month with a good playing streak. In addition, the cash-out value is low at only $30, meaning you can start making your cash faster. 

Earning money on the site depends on how active you are, but there are plenty of avenues to make money, such as the InboxDollars search toolbar, which earns you a dollar. The games can be played across devices on IOS, Android, or PC. It has a good money guarantee promising $50 for 5 to 10 extra minutes a day.


7. Rewardia

Rewardia includes the option to play games, watch videos, vote, survey, and take surveys. You get a registration bonus of 100 points when you join the app. Loyalty points are not only available for lying but also for referring friends. You will get at least 10% of your referrals’ earnings without reducing their earnings.

I know you already have ideas of recruiting a few thousand people and earning from their earnings without playing. However, the games are interesting that you will find it irresistible not to play. The minimum cash out is $5, which can be withdrawn from the bank or redeemed as a gift card.


9. Flash Rewards

Sit back on your couch and start earning from Flash rewards today. You have to play games and get rewarded with a coin per minute. The rate may go lower as you play the same game. Changing games increases your winning odds and the fun on Flash Rewards. As you play, you advance in level, which prepares you to have higher rewards per task or game.

It is easy to cash out your rewards for some excellent vouchers and cash. The accepted methods are prepaid visa cards, Nintendo, Amazon, Nike vouchers. Unfortunately, Flash Reward restricts players from playing on a single phone, so you have difficulty upgrading your phone.


10. Rewarded Play

Rewarded play gives you a chance to earn a voucher for your favorite stores such as Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart by simply playing games. There are multiple games to choose from and have fun playing. The checkout process is quick, with rewards being received within 48 hours.

The games are free, with no registration fees necessary. Points are earned for playing games, reaching specific levels, and watching the in-app reward videos in the game. Solitaire, Yahtzee, Wheel of fortune, and Mahjongg are the most popular games in the app. The more hours you play, the more points you get.


11. My Points Mobile

Join the millions of users in the US who have earned a collective $300 million in gift cards by playing games on My points mobile. As it has other options such as surveys, shopping online, and watching videos, you can quickly stack up against your wins and smile your way to the bank.

You are encouraged to play as you will receive a $10 welcome bonus on earning your first $20. You will also receive a $5 gift card when you hit the first 700 points. You can cash out immediately with multiple cash-out options at your disposal. You cash out to PayPal or prepaid card, get some airline mileage in the US, and sharp at participating stores like target.


12. Coin Pop App

Do you have some free time you would love to convert into cash by playing games? Once you download the game, it is a rollercoaster ride as you begin by receiving 4444 coins in your wallet. There are many game scenarios in the app, such as building the city of your dreams.

You are guaranteed to have so much fun, and the actual risk of addiction exists. You can play up to three different games every day. Each referral is rewarded with 250 coins and 25% of your friend’s bonus. You can cash out at 4,999 p0int, which is easy to attain by registering and inviting three friends.


13. Point Club

 Point club is also another app that specializes in surveys and games. Each player receives a $5 joining bonus by registering with the point club. The app has several games you can play and earn cash. The advantage you’ve got playing the rounds is that most of them are short-riding your screen time and improving your earnings.

It has an easy winning curve as it increases your earning by 10 % each time you log in. It has got a low cash-out threshold of $25. You can choose between cashing out on PayPal or getting a gift card for your hassle.


14. Make Money & Earn Cash Rewards: Play Music & Games

With over two million players worldwide, Make Money & Earn Cash Rewards: Play Music & Games is one of the most accessible apps where you can make money. It has an easy game interface and addictive games to take the boredom away as you make money on the app.

When you get exhausted playing games, you can listen to music on the app and still get paid. The reward is not that much, but the app developer claims you can earn up to $600 per month.


15. Ready Games

Ready games are all about taking the challenge to compete against other IOS and Android players for a chance to win money. It has straightforward rules. Each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, a new game is released on the platform. Each player is to compete for the highest score.

The top prize is split between the winners who can cash out on Wednesday. The Pot cash is usually 1000 dollars, and currently, Ready Games has distributed at least $140 000 to the winners. The competitive factor raises adrenaline levels and makes it one of the most heart-racing games.


16. Bananatic

Do you want to begin your journey as a professional app tester? Well, Banana tic is an entry-level app testing app. All you have to do is log in and choose a genre of games. Then, you will get a massive list of games to start playing.

As you play, you eat bananas, with each banana being equivalent to $0.002, you need at least 10,000 bananas to earn $10. You can use the earnings as gift cards, other games or get free steam codes. Most games will make at least $100 for just trying out. Earn more bananas for reviewing games on the app. The total payout is at the upward of $450,000.


17. PLAYTESTCLOUD GAMES

Playtest games are the highest-paying game app for game app testers. The app is linked with the parent website Playtest cloud, so you can test the same games online and earn cash. After playing and trying the app, you must provide feedback and make some money.

The feedback deals with functionality, features, and the overall enjoyment of the game. Playtestcloud Games have great rates of $9 per 15-minute session. $9 is just the base figure, and the numbers can rise depending on some other tasks in the game and the length of the test. Playing on Playtest Cloud is a full-time job, so you must create an in-depth review with audio commentary.


18. AppStation

Another great option is to try selected mobile games and earn money playing. One of the cons is that App station is only available on Android. The app has a hefty welcome bonus of 4,444 like the Coin Pop App, meaning you have higher odds of cashing in immediately after installing the app. The app download is completely free.

You are paid by the time you stay on the app, with 50,000 coins equivalent to 5 dollars. The large number of coins needed to cash out has stressed some players. However, it is a large app with over 5 million users and 100,000 reviews with a 4.3-star rating. You can redeem the point for Amazon, Groupon, Walmart gift cards, Google Play credit, and PayPal cash.


19. 21 Blitz

21 Blitz offers classic Casino games with a bit of twist. The two games available are solitaire and Blackjack. You have a chance to break your high score and compete against other players to get to the leadership board.

The App has both free trials and those you play to win money, giving you a chance to hone your skill before competing with everyone. You can withdraw your earnings from PayPal, Visa, and Apple Pay. Moreover, you have the magic undo button if you make a wrong move with the option to maximize your score with streaks and lane bonus.


20. AppNana

App nana has partnerships with other game developers who give sponsored links to download and play different games for rewards. When you play on an App, you receive nanas. Not Bananas! The nanas are the points you will redeem for the gift card or downloading paid apps for free.

Most apps will reward you with 2,000 nanas for playing. It would help if you had a bit of hard work to withdraw $20, equivalent to 280 nanas. It will take a bit of time to accumulate so many nanas, so you need patience. Overall, the game experience is excellent, and you won’t notice how slow you get the Nanas. The Nana also gets slower the longer you play.


21. AppFlame

AppFlame is a paid-to-play video games app that matches gamers and new popular apps on the Android play store. As you play the games, you are rewarded with points. You accumulate points depending on the number of games you play and the number of games available.

Once you have accumulated 9898 points, you can redeem your points for gift cards or cash out on PayPal. The app has a healthy genre of game variety to enjoy playing the games. You have to earn any reasonable amount similar to other apps.


22. Lucktastic

Lucktastic is a unique game that gives you 100% free scratch games for a chance to in-app app rewards and gift cards. Scratch the card, collect tokens, and see how high you rank. You can enter sweepstakes, contests for opportunities to win actual money prizes.

The scratch cards with themes include Diggin, Lucky 77, and more. Use the tickets to win $5,000, 1000, and much more money. You keep on earning points even if you do not win cash prizes. The points can be used to redeem gifts from Amazon and other online shops.


23. Swagbucks Live

Do you enjoy trivia games? Get your thinking caps on because Swagbucks Live will pay you for your knowledge. The app entails a Livestream that gives you a chance to win $1,000 weekly. There is a bonus for everyone participating, with each receiving SB points.

There are a minimum of 10 trivia questions to test your knowledge and earn you cash. You have to be witty and quick, as each question should be answered in 10 seconds. Do some research because each question is slightly more challenging than the previous. All winners are paid in SB points redeemable for gift cards or PayPal cash. 

Earning Potential

If you start playing mobile games, you should be aware that most of them will offer you peanuts to play the games.  In addition, most of the apps will offer you points that take almost an eternity before you can redeem for cash. You may even take a whole month before earning $5. In some rare circumstances, you can have an app that will pay at least $9 per game.

On the other hand, Desktop games have a different side as they have professional players who meet once in a while for global events. Most games have a meager payout as one needs to rake in an insane number of points over a day or month to withdraw. Only one app reviewed has a great pay that could be considered a living wage, Playtest cloud games. Even then, it would help if you played a free test game before being vetted to play.

Very successful professional gamers like Johan Sunstein, who plays Dota 2. At the age of 28, he is the wealthiest esports gamer listed by Forbes, worth 1.5 million dollars. Since he is a professional with a high work ethic has clocked 20 000 hours playing Dota 2.

The tide changes the amount of money you can earn playing games like Axie. Families in cash-strapped nations like Venezuela have turned to the Axie to help feed themselves. The game is inspired by Pokémon, where players buy Axies and trade among themselves. Even a player with just three axies can earn a sum equivalent to $20 a day.

 Unfortunately, the best paying game app is not on the play store for now, but you can sideload it on Android and PC. Players must buy at least three axies to start playing the game. The game uses Axie Infinity Shards (AXS) and Smooth Love Potion (SLP). Once you have the pets, you can earn money by:

  • Investing in Lunacia Land
  • Starting your scholarship
  • Trading SLP and AXS
  • Farming SLP and selling them for real money
  • Breeding and selling Axies

How to avoid scams 

The play store is full of many play games for money apps, but some are dubious apps. You never know which one is legit and offers fair games for earning.  Some of the games require investing in your cash before acquiring anything. Read through the review so you can detect anything fishy. Also, make sure the payout is worth the trouble. Whenever possible, use apple pay to make payment rather than giving out your credit card details.

Some of the games you play are casino games. Casino games are not legal in some jurisdictions. Please stay on the right side; it counts for nothing to earn cash you cannot use. Go through state laws and read the app’s fine print, so you only play legitimate game apps to make money. 

The Bottom Line

We all know that playing mobile games can be a great way to get rid of boredom, but why nothave fun and earn a few cents while playing them?!. Different apps have different payouts amounts, payout sums, and cash-out times. I would recommend Swagbucks Live and Playtest cloud Games as you have a chance to win more money per single game. They made it into the “Best money-making game apps” list due to their easy-to-use interface and clear earning. If you are a fan of games playing why not start from here, and try our two recommendations.