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Freebie alert: Apps that pay you to play
There are plenty of apps that reward you for doing things you probably already do. I’m sure you’ve seen ads for them. You’re not going to pay your rent from the rewards you earn, but you might get enough perks to make your otherwise pointless scrolling worth it.
A quick word to the wise: These freebies aren’t totally free. Depending on the reward programs’ rules and privacy policies, you’re handing over a lot of your data just to make a few bucks.
Cash me if you can
You’ll notice a lot of the advertised freebie apps didn’t make my list below. Anything with seriously sketchy privacy policies didn’t pass muster.
Again, I want to stress these apps collect info, so always — always — check the privacy policy and terms and conditions before you download. You might be able to opt out of having your data sold to third parties in the app’s settings or by submitting a request form. Now, on to the list!
- Shopkick: Shop at places like Best Buy and Target to earn points in the form of “kicks.” Every 250 kicks equals $1 in gift card value, and you can get extra kicks by scanning barcodes and uploading receipts.
- P&G Good Everyday: Procter & Gamble’s program pays out digital rewards for scanning receipts, answering surveys and quizzes, and more. You’ll also get access to coupons and free samples. Rewards vary, but right now, 750 points will get you $5 off any P&G product.
- MISTPLAY: This one has a whole slew of games you can play to earn rewards. Redeem your earnings in the form of gift cards or a payout via PayPal. Expect to make around $15 for 3.5 hours of gameplay.
- InboxDollars: Get cash for completing online surveys. Earn anywhere from $0.10 to $5.00 per survey.
- Microsoft Rewards: Get paid to surf the internet. Microsoft Rewards gives points when you search, shop or play through your Microsoft account. Redeem for gift cards, sweepstakes entries or nonprofit donations. Around 5,000 points equals $5.
This idea is mint
Use an Android? Google Play Rewards gives you points for anything you buy in the Google Play Store, like apps, in-app items, movies, books and subscriptions. Open the Play Store app > tap your profile icon > Play Points > Join.
The Google Play Rewards program has four spending tiers. The more you spend on the platform, the higher you’ll rank and the better your weekly rewards will be. Higher tiers also get access to new mobile games before they’re released.
💰 And, finally, the Google Opinion Rewards program gives you Google Play or PayPal credit for answering surveys. Take a few in your spare time and earn a little extra pocket change. Cha-ching! Hopefully, I helped you make cents of it all.
Don’t get left behind – Stay tech ahead
Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.
- National radio show: Find your local station or listen to the podcast
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