What apps can you win money on

These legit game apps pay real money and can be played on the go. See which one might make the most sense for you.

Last updated Dec. 15, 2022 | By Ben Walker, CEPF , Kate Daugherty | Edited By Melinda Sineriz

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If you want a simple way to earn extra cash on the side from your phone, look no further than the best game apps that pay real money. These are typically apps that offer opportunities, but no guarantees, to win actual cash by playing different types of fun games, including bingo, Solitaire, and virtual pool.

Playing games on your phone is often fun, but it could be one of the best side hustles as well.

Here are legit money-making game apps that are typically available on iOS or Android devices on the App Store or Google Play Store. Browse the selection to find the ones most suited to your preferences.

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Bingo Clash: Best bingo game on non-Skillz platform

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App Store ratings: Over 73,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Bingo enthusiasts who prefer the Pocket7Games platform over Skillz

Bingo Clash is a popular app from AviaGames that can be played on the Pocket7Games platform. This platform has loads of different games available, including Fruit Frenzy, Solitaire Clash, and Bubble Shot. Having access to more games on the same platform could make it easier to combine in-game rewards and virtual currency to exchange for prizes.

You’re likely to be familiar with how Bingo Clash works if you’ve ever played bingo. Get matched up against other players of a similar skill level and see who has the better bingo skills in a competitive game.

Check out our Bingo Clash review for more information about this game app.

Solitaire Cash: Best Solitaire game from Papaya Gaming

App Store ratings: Over 146,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Solitaire enthusiasts who enjoy apps from Papaya Gaming

Is Solitaire one of your preferred ways to have some fun and pass the time? If so, Solitaire Cash might be an ideal way to do the same thing with the added bonus of possibly earning real money at the same time.

Gameplay includes Klondike Solitaire elements and is likely familiar to any Solitaire players, including if you’ve played Spider, Freecell, Pyramid, or others.

If you have the skills and knowledge to quickly form card stacks and clear your board, you could be well rewarded.

Read our Solitaire Cash review for more information about this game.

Bingo Tour: Best for bingo lovers

App Store ratings: More than 66,000 rankings and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Bingo lovers

The classic bingo game is upgraded to the mobile world. To play Bingo Tour, watch and listen to the numbers called out and tap, or daub, the corresponding number on your colorful card. Get as many bingos as possible within the given time frame, or go for a complete blackout.

Power-ups include the "Gimme More," "Daub It," and "Earn Double" features that help players bump up their earned points and qualify for bigger prizes.

Players can enter contests with 5 to 10 others, and the top three will be awarded prizes. As your skills grow and you compete against higher-skill players, your ranking will increase, as will your opportunity to earn more. Play for free, or download money into your app wallet to enter the higher-level games.

Check out Bingo Tour. 

Bubble Cash: Best bubble shooter game

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App Store ratings: Over 62,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Bubble shooter enthusiasts who want to compete for prizes

Bubble Cash is a bubble shooter game, which is a type of game where you shoot bubbles at other bubbles in an attempt to pop them and clear your board. Bubbles are typically popped when you connect at least three of the same color.

This game has you compete against other players to see who can get the highest score when using the same board layout. The winner could be up for valuable prizes, including cash.

Bubble Cash is brought to you by game developers Papaya Gaming, which has also released 21 Cash, Bingo Cash, and Solitaire Cash.

Check out our Bubble Cash review to learn more about this bubble shooter game.

Solitaire Clash: Best for solitaire lovers

App Store ratings: More than 71,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Solitaire lovers, this one's for you!

The classic card game Klondike solitaire is reimagined into a digital format you can keep on your phone. With Solitaire Clash, you sort the 52-card deck by tapping cards to move them from your stock to one of seven columns. Compete against the clock as you arrange all four suits in ascending order and earn cash or gems that can be used as entry tokens into cash competitions.

Like other games on the AviaGames platform, mini-games of scratchers or dice offer players a chance at extra money or bonus prizes in addition to winning at solitaire. Players can compete in multiplayer games where the top three players win various prize pools or play for free against themselves.

Download Solitaire Clash. 

21 Cash: Best for blackjack lovers

App Store ratings: More than 10,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.7 out of 5

Who it’s best for: People who love classic card games

21 Cash offers a digital version of the classic card game blackjack and can help you earn real cash and rewards. Players must compete against a clock to create stacks of cards that equal 21 or as close as they can get to 21 before the clock runs out. The more sequences of 21 a player can create in the least amount of time, the higher the score and the bigger the prize.

Users can play free games against themselves or enter cash prize tournaments to play against others if they reside in a state that allows cash games. The app says there are no ads, and daily gifts and bonuses are available to help you increase your winnings.

Check out 21 Cash. 

Bubble Buzz: Best for bubble game enthusiasts

App Store ratings: 5,800 ratings and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5

Who it’s best for: People who want more bubble games

Bubble Buzz offers players a chance to earn real money for popping three or more of the same color bubbles. Carefully aim your bubble launcher at a group of like-colored bubbles to gain the highest scores and find various power-ups that help you earn more.

Players of like skills are matched against each other and compete to earn a cash prize. Be warned, however, that like the rest of the games on this platform, you must pay an entry fee to join the higher-stake games, which eats into any winnings you may see. Or if you’d rather just relax, play on your own and earn gems you can exchange for an entry into the cash tournaments.

Most ratings for this game are five stars, but be aware that you may need to download cash into the game wallet, which you cannot take back out again or use for anything other than game entries.

Check out Bubble Buzz.

Blackout Bingo: Best bingo game on Skillz platform

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App Store ratings: Over 80,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Bingo enthusiasts who want to put their bingo skills to the test against other players on the Skillz platform

After all, who would’ve thought playing bingo in your spare time might end up padding your bank account?

With Blackout Bingo, you could get exactly that opportunity. This app pairs beautiful graphics and fun boosts with the Skillz platform to offer competitive ways to earn real money — all while playing a classic and familiar bingo game.

Skillz is a leader in social competition in mobile games that distributes loads of prizes each month to its millions of players worldwide. You only need one Skillz account to play a variety of games on the Skillz platform, making it easy to earn in-app rewards across different games that could help you earn prizes quicker.

Read our Blackout Bingo review to learn more about this game.

Solitaire Cube: Best Solitaire game from Tether Studios

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App Store ratings: Over 88,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Solitaire enthusiasts who might also enjoy other games from Tether Studios, including 21 Blitz and Bubble Cube 2

Solitaire Cube is an app that uses the Skillz platform to offer cash tournaments (where available) to its players. If you’re familiar with Klondike Solitaire and other classic Solitaire games, you’ll likely be able to pick up how to play this game quickly.

Each round typically only takes a few minutes to play, but the intuitive controls and familiarity of the game could keep you coming back for more.

Check out our Solitaire Cube game review to see more about how it works.

21 Blitz: Best Solitaire and 21 game

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App Store ratings: Over 27,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Card game enthusiasts who find the mix of 21 and Solitaire fun and interesting

21 Blitz is another game from Tether Studios that uses the Skillz platform to offer multiplayer tournaments between users from different states and countries. This app takes elements from two classic card games — Solitaire and 21 (or blackjack) — to offer players a new game that ups the excitement levels.

Your goal is to get the highest score possible by using a deck of cards to create different stacks that add up to 21. You get four spaces for making stacks and a time limit for each game. Beat your opponent and you could win cash depending on the game mode.

Read our 21 Blitz review for more information about this app.

Dominoes Gold: Best dominoes game

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App Store ratings: Over 23,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Dominoes enthusiasts looking for some competitive fun

Dominoes Gold is a game app from Grey Square Games that offers multiplayer competition through the Skillz platform. This app puts a twist on the classic dominoes board game by pitting you against players from different parts of the world. But winning could mean you earn real cash prizes.

Rounds consist of playing against a computer and trying to achieve the highest score possible. Your score is then compared to another real player and the highest score wins. Each round is timed, so the quicker you make the right moves the better.

Check out our Dominoes Gold review to learn more about this game app.

Pool Payday: Best pool game

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App Store ratings: Over 76,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Pool enthusiasts who want to compete virtually

Fancy yourself a pool shark in real life? Consider playing Pool Payday and bring your pool skills to a virtual billiards hall. You get to avoid blue chalk stains but still get the excitement of pulling off an amazing trick shot.

Pool Payday pits you against real players in a competition to see who can score the most points. You could be a cash winner if you come out on top in cash games provided by the Skillz platform.

No pool knowledge is needed, but it doesn’t hurt. You can put existing knowledge to work when deciding how to make a shot and maximize your points.

Read our Pool Payday game review to learn more about this game.

Fruit Frenzy: Best fruit matching game

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App Store ratings: Over 66,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Mobile gamers who love playing games where you match fruit

Fruit Frenzy is a game available from AviaGames through their Pocket7Games app (it doesn’t have its own app like Bingo Clash does). This means you would have to download the Pocket7Games app and play Fruit Frenzy there.

This game is popular because it’s easy to understand and play. Your goal is to match different pieces of fruit together as quickly as possible to clear your board. The quicker you clear your board, the more points you get — and the higher your chances of winning prizes, potentially including cash.

Read our Fruit Frenzy game review to learn more about how it works.

Big Buck Hunter: Best hunting game

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App Store ratings: Over 10,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Big Buck Hunter enthusiasts who want to play a mobile version

Big Buck Hunter games can be found all over, from grocery stores to restaurants and beyond. But no matter how many arcade game consoles there are, it likely can’t beat the accessibility of an iPhone or other device in your pocket.

With Big Buck Hunter: Marksman, you get this arcade classic as a mobile version. Compete against other players in real time with the Skillz platform to see who can land their shots and nab the most bucks. The better marksman takes home the bigger payout.

Check out our Big Buck Hunter review to learn more about how this game works.

Dozer Mania: Best for fans of coin-pusher games

App Store ratings: More than 81,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 on the Google Play Store, not available on the Apple App store

Who it’s best for: Fans of classic coin-pusher games

Dozer Mania is a free version of the famous coin pusher games in arcades. Players earn money and tokens by dropping green or gold coins off the edge of the screen, and the coins collect in columns that spell out S-L-O-T.

Dropping coins in each lettered column earns a different amount, and your total increases for every coin dropped. The game also features stacked coin towers, just like the actual arcade pushers, and getting those to go over the edge can help increase your score and earn additional prizes.

Several reviewers mentioned quickly earning money within Dozer Mania, but there are reports of frequent ad interruptions and difficulty accessing your money when you’re ready to withdraw your earnings.

Mistplay: Best for game variety

App Store ratings: More than 324,000 ratings and an average rating of 4 out of 5 on Google Play, not available on the Apple App store

Who it’s best for: People who like to switch between multiple games and earn points across a single platform

Launched in 2016, Mistplay is not a game. Instead, it's a mobile platform that curates games from multiple developers in one place based on the user's interests. It brands itself as a loyalty program for mobile gamers, and the more that players engage with the different games offered by Mistplay, the more opportunity they have to earn rewards.

Mistplay awards units for playing games like Panda Pop, Cookie Jam, Emoji Blitz, and Idle High School, which can be traded for gift cards at retailers like Amazon, the Google Play store, and others.

The platform has multiple good reviews, but there are reports from online reviews of the app crashing from insufficient memory, depending on your device's speed and available space.

Bubble Flow: Best for a relaxing bubble game experience

App Store ratings: 21 ratings and an average rating of 4.2 out of 5

Who it’s best for: People who like low-stress bubble shooter games for fun, with the potential for cash winnings

Bubble Flow lets players tap, aim, and shoot at colorful bubble strings. Matching three or more of the same color bubbles before the clock runs out earns you points, but the more of the same color bubbles you can string together, the more points you can score. Various power-up features in the game also let users earn even more points in less time.

Users can stick with free games that earn tickets or participate one-on-one against other players to win real money. Players will likely need to deposit their own money to enter some of the higher-stakes games, which will eat into any prizes or cash you make.

Wordcash Search: Best for word game lovers

App Store ratings: 15 ratings and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5

Who it’s best for: People who love word games

Relaxing with a word search is a familiar pastime for many. Instead of hauling around bulky puzzle books or waiting for games to download online, use this free app to take your word searches wherever you go and potentially earn a little extra cash.

As you find and highlight words, other areas of the board unlock and the game expands. Play for free against yourself or compete against others one-on-one or in multi-player contests. To enter the games with the biggest payouts, you may be required to add your own money to the game wallet.

This recently launched app doesn’t have any player reviews as of this writing but has a majority of five-star ratings.

8 Ball Strike: Best for pool game fans

App Store ratings: More than 1,400 ratings and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Pool lovers looking for a new way to play their favorite game

For those looking for a way to play billiards or pool while standing in line or waiting for a table, 8 Ball Strike might be the game for you. All games follow a skill-based rule system that ensures matches are consistently fair and accurate, no matter your skill level.

Players earn points by shooting the ball into a pocket, and each pocket has a multiplier that adds to your overall total. Players will shift clockwise along the virtual table after each ball is sunk. Trick shots, cleaning the table, and having time remaining in the game will earn players extra points that help boost scores.

People who want to pass the time and play free billiards on their phones can compete against themselves and earn diamonds, which can help to pay the entry fees on the higher level games with cash prizes. Or, enter 5- to 10-player matches that test your skills. The higher you rank, the more potential you have to earn cash rewards and bonuses.

Match n Flip: Best for match game enthusiasts

App Store ratings: 157 ratings and an average rating of 4.4 out of 5

Who it’s best for: People who love to match their socks and anything else

Like other games on the AviaGames platform, Match n Flip lets users play for fun or to compete in one-on-one matches for cash and prizes. Match top-level cards by number or color to reveal waiting cards underneath, and clear all the unmatched piles before the clock runs out to win. The more pairs you find, the more chances you have to earn cash.

New players can play for free against themselves for small payouts or to earn coins that can be traded for prizes or entry into games with higher stakes.

As you gain confidence, play against like-skilled opponents and see who comes out the victor, or enter a contest of 5 to 10 other people in your bracket. Once you’ve earned a little money on the platform, you can withdraw funds via PayPal, or you can redeem your winnings for prizes like Airpods, an iPad, or small appliances.

Blockolot: Best for logic game fans

App Store ratings: 1,900 ratings and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5

Who it’s best for: Sudoku fans looking for a new way to play or people increasing their logic skills

This digital puzzle board combines a classic block puzzle with a sudoku-type grid. As you play, clear rows, columns, or squares by filling them with blocks and exposing more challenging parts of the board. If you clear columns or squares back-to-back, you’ll earn combo points or possibly trigger the Frenzy Multipliers scattered in the game to get more significant rewards.

Although the app calls this game easy to play, practicing your strategy and speed on the free games before trying to earn money through the multiplayer challenges is wise. While you won't earn cash on the free games, you will earn gems to help you enter the tournaments and compete for money.

FAQs

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What are the best money making apps?

The best money-making apps depend on your lifestyle and personal finance goals, but could include cashback apps, savings apps, and more. Here are some top recommendations:

• Capital One Shopping
• Digit
• DoorDash
• Dosh
• Drop app
• Fetch Rewards
• GetUpside
• Ibotta
• InboxDollars
• MyPoints
• Rakuten
• Rover
• Stash
• Survey Junkie
• Swagbucks
• Thumbtack
• Trim
• Rocket Money

What game apps pay you the most?

The game apps that pay you the most depend on multiple factors, including how much you bet and how much you play. Game apps that pay real money include:

• 21 Blitz
• Big Buck Hunter
• Bingo Clash
• Blackout Bingo
• Bubble Cash
• Bubble Cube 2
• Dominoes Gold
• Fruit Frenzy
• Jackpocket
• Long Game
• Lucktastic
• Mistplay
• Pool Payday
• Solitaire Cash
• Solitaire Cube

What apps pay you real money to play games?

Many apps pay you real money to play games, including apps that use the Skillz competitive gaming platform. If you’re wondering how to make money on the side, games that use the Skillz platform could be a good place to get started. Skillz hosts billions of tournaments for millions of worldwide players, providing millions of prizes each month.

Other side hustles to consider

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Video games aren’t the only way to potentially make money from your phone. For other mobile money-making opportunities, consider Jackpocket, Survey Junkie, and InboxDollars.

Jackpocket

Jackpocket is a lottery app that allows residents in certain locations the opportunity to play their state lottery games from a phone. This helps remove the inconvenience of purchasing tickets in person at a local convenience store or other authorized retailer.

Jackpocket is available on the App Store and Google Play. It has over 80,000 ratings on the App Store with an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. The app is free to download and Jackpocket doesn’t take any cut of winnings. Though, there’s a service fee to help cover app costs.

Users have won over $100 million on Jackpocket.

Read our Jackpocket review to learn more about how it works.

Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is a survey site that offers rewards for completing surveys. Earn enough points and you can cash out for deposits into a PayPal account or redeem them for digital gift cards. Potential redemptions could include Apple iTunes, Walmart, Visa, and Amazon gift cards.

The Survey Junkie app is available on the App Store and Google Play. It has over 50,000 ratings on the App Store with an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It’s also free to download and use.

Check out our Survey Junkie review to learn more about this app and join a community of over a million members.

InboxDollars

InboxDollars is similar to Survey Junkie in that it also offers users the opportunity to make money by completing online surveys. But it also offers ways to make money by watching videos and TV, playing games, using online scratch cards, making referrals, going on online shopping trips, and more. It also may offer a sign-up bonus.

You can redeem the funds you earn for free gift cards or withdraw them with a PayPal cash-out or by asking for a check.

The InboxDollars is a free app from the App Store and Google Play. It has over 150,000 ratings on the App Store with an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5.

To date, InboxDollars has paid its users over $80 million in cash rewards.

Read our InboxDollars review to see if it might be worth signing up for.

Bottom line

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Gaming apps could provide a fun way to make extra money online, but it’s important to vet these types of apps before using them. Read reviews to see how the experience has been for other users so you can avoid scams, and keep in mind that you typically need to deposit money and place bets to win cash in these games. In other words, they’re not free money.

Also, consider trying the free versions of games (many legit game apps offer free game modes) before investing any real money. This could help you see if you enjoy a game before using any money on it in paid game modes.

Keep in mind that cash tournaments aren’t available in all locations and playing these games for money typically requires you to be at least 18.

Check out our list of other legit ways to make money for more opportunities to pad your income on the side.

Our methodology

We looked at a variety of gaming apps that offered legitimate opportunities to win real money. We selected the above games based on their unique features and playability. We did not evaluate all available gaming apps in the market.

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