There are hundreds of reward apps fighting for space on your phone right now.
Most of them aren’t worth the download.
I’ve been testing online earning methods for over a decade, and the reward app space has exploded in the last few years. For every app that legitimately puts money in your pocket, there are ten that waste your time with broken tracking, impossible cashout thresholds, and “rewards” that never actually materialize.
So I went through the noise. I tested, tracked, and compared the best reward apps available in 2026 — not just which ones pay, but which ones pay enough to justify the storage space on your phone. The list below covers GPT platforms, cashback apps, receipt scanners, survey-focused apps, and passive earners. Each one has been verified as legitimate, and I’ll tell you exactly what to expect in realistic earnings.
But before we get into the rankings, I want to be upfront about something.
First — This Is Important
If you’re exploring reward apps because you want to earn extra money in your spare time, I respect that. But I also want you to know that the ceiling on reward apps is low — we’re talking $50 to $200 per month for most people, even using multiple apps.
What actually changed my income wasn’t an app. It was learning to build simple two-page websites that rank in Google for local businesses. Think “plumber in Dallas” or “roofer in Phoenix.” Each site generates $500 to $1,500 per month, and I have multiple running right now. The income comes in whether I’m scanning receipts, sleeping, or on holiday. No inventory, no tech headaches, no clients breathing down my neck.
Go here to see the exact system I use.
Now let’s get into the apps.
What Are Reward Apps and How Do They Work?
Reward apps pay you for activities you’re likely already doing — shopping, browsing, answering questions, scanning receipts, or just having the app installed on your phone. The business model is straightforward: companies want consumer data and attention, and they’re willing to pay for it through these platforms.
There are five main types of reward apps you’ll encounter.
GPT (Get-Paid-To) platforms are the most versatile. They bundle multiple earning methods into one app — surveys, game offers, video watching, app downloads, and promotional tasks. Think Swagbucks, Freecash, and InboxDollars.
Cashback apps return a percentage of what you spend on purchases you’d make anyway. Ibotta, Rakuten, and Upside fall into this category.
Receipt scanning apps pay you small amounts for uploading photos of your shopping receipts. Fetch Rewards and Receipt Hog are the main players here.
Survey apps focus specifically on paid market research. Survey Junkie and Branded Surveys dominate this space.
Passive earning apps pay you simply for having the app installed and sharing anonymous usage data or keeping the app running in the background. These pay the least but require virtually zero effort.
Understanding these categories matters because the right combination depends entirely on your habits and how much active time you’re willing to invest. Someone who shops frequently will earn more from cashback apps than someone who rarely leaves the house. A person with free time during commutes will benefit more from survey apps.
The 15 Best Reward Apps in 2026
GPT Platforms (Best for Versatility)
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks has been around since 2008, and there’s a reason it keeps topping these lists — it works. The platform offers surveys, video watching, web browsing, cashback shopping, game offers, and receipt scanning all in one place.
You earn SB points (1 SB = roughly $0.01), and once you hit $5 worth, you can cash out via PayPal or choose from dozens of gift card options. The variety of earning methods means there’s almost always something available, which isn’t true for platforms that rely solely on surveys.
Realistic earnings: $30 to $100 per month for active users. Power users who chase high-value game offers and combine multiple earning methods can push past $150, but that requires significant daily time investment.
Best feature: The ShopKick integration and Magic Receipts feature have made Swagbucks one of the better hybrid platforms. You’re not limited to just one type of task.
Drawback: Some offers track inconsistently. If you complete a game offer and it doesn’t credit, the support process can be slow.
Available: Worldwide, with most opportunities concentrated in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
If you want more detail on Swagbucks specifically, I’ve done a full breakdown in my Swagbucks review.
2. Freecash
Freecash has rapidly become one of the best GPT platforms thanks to its low cashout threshold ($5 for PayPal, $0.25 for crypto) and consistently high-paying offers. The platform aggregates tasks from multiple offer walls, so you get access to a broader range of earning opportunities than most single-source apps.
Game offers are where Freecash really shines. You’ll find mobile game milestones that pay $5 to $50+ for reaching specific in-game levels. These take time, but the payout per offer is significantly higher than clicking through surveys at $0.50 each.
Realistic earnings: $40 to $200 per month. The variance is wide because high-paying game offers come and go.
Best feature: Cryptocurrency payouts. If you’re interested in accumulating Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Litecoin in small amounts, Freecash makes it easy.
Drawback: The highest-paying offers often require substantial time investment (sometimes 10-20 hours for a single game milestone). Calculate your effective hourly rate before committing.
Available: Worldwide.
3. InboxDollars
InboxDollars takes a simpler approach than Swagbucks. You earn cash (not points) for surveys, watching videos, reading emails, and completing offers. The $5 sign-up bonus helps you get started, though the $30 minimum cashout means you’ll need to put in some work before your first payout.
Realistic earnings: $20 to $80 per month. The email reading feature is nearly effortless but pays very little — it’s best used as a supplement to surveys and offers.
Best feature: The cash-based system (no confusing point conversions) makes it very clear what you’re earning.
Drawback: The $30 cashout threshold is higher than most competitors. If you’re not regularly active, it can take weeks to reach your first withdrawal.
Available: Primarily US.
Cashback Apps (Best for Shoppers)
4. Ibotta
If you buy groceries — and you do — Ibotta should be on your phone. The app offers cashback on specific products at major retailers including Walmart, Target, Kroger, and hundreds more. You either scan your receipt after shopping or link your store loyalty card for automatic tracking.
What sets Ibotta apart from other cashback apps is the size of individual offers. While most receipt scanners give you pennies per scan, Ibotta regularly features offers worth $1 to $5 on products you’d buy anyway. Brand-specific offers on things like cereal, snacks, cleaning supplies, and beverages add up quickly.
Realistic earnings: $15 to $40 per month for regular grocery shoppers. Heavy couponers who plan purchases around available offers can push past $50.
Best feature: The “Any Brand” offers that give cashback regardless of which product you buy in a category. Free money on things you’re already purchasing.
Drawback: Offer availability varies by region, and some weeks the selection is thin.
Available: US only.
5. Rakuten
Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is the heavyweight of online cashback. Install the browser extension, and anytime you shop at one of their 3,500+ partner stores, you automatically earn cashback — typically 1% to 12%, though flash sales can push rates much higher.
The key difference between Rakuten and other cashback apps is that it works on online purchases. If you already shop on Amazon, eBay, Walmart.com, or basically any major retailer, Rakuten quietly stacks savings in the background.
Realistic earnings: $10 to $50 per month for regular online shoppers. People who make larger purchases (electronics, clothing, travel bookings) during high-cashback promotions can earn significantly more.
Best feature: The browser extension is genuinely set-and-forget. Once installed, it activates automatically when you visit partner stores.
Drawback: Payments are made quarterly (every three months), not on demand. You need patience.
Available: US, Canada, and several other countries.
6. Upside
Upside focuses on cashback for gas, groceries, and restaurant purchases. The gas cashback feature is particularly strong — you can earn 5 to 25 cents back per gallon at participating stations.
Open the app before you fill up, claim the offer for the nearest station, pay with a debit or credit card, and the cashback hits your account. It’s one of the simplest reward app concepts, and for people who drive regularly, the savings compound quickly.
Realistic earnings: $10 to $30 per month depending on how much you drive and eat out. Commuters and road warriors will see the highest returns.
Best feature: Actual cash, not points. You can transfer earnings to your bank, PayPal, or redeem gift cards at any time with no minimum threshold.
Drawback: You must pay with card, not cash. And participating locations vary by area.
Available: US only.
For people interested in more passive ways to earn while you’re out and about, I’ve also covered getting paid to walk — a different angle but similar concept.
Receipt Scanning Apps (Best for Passive Earning)
7. Fetch Rewards
Fetch is the simplest receipt scanning app available. Take a photo of any receipt — grocery, gas, restaurant, online order — and earn points. Every receipt earns a minimum of 25 points, with bonus points for purchasing featured brands. Points convert to gift cards (roughly 1,000 points = $1).
What makes Fetch work is its universal acceptance. Unlike Ibotta where you need specific product offers, Fetch rewards every single receipt regardless of what you bought or where you shopped.
Realistic earnings: $3 to $15 per month. The per-receipt value is small, but the zero-effort nature means it’s pure bonus money for something that takes 5 seconds.
Best feature: Snap and forget. No clipping offers, no selecting products. Just photograph the receipt and move on.
Drawback: The reward-to-dollar ratio is low. It takes a lot of receipts to accumulate meaningful value.
Available: US only.
8. Receipt Hog
Receipt Hog works similarly to Fetch but uses a slot machine mechanic to make receipt scanning more engaging. Each receipt earns you coins and spins, with the potential for bonus rewards. You can cash out via PayPal or Amazon gift cards once you hit the minimum threshold.
Realistic earnings: $2 to $10 per month. The gamification is fun but doesn’t fundamentally change the earning structure — receipt scanning is inherently low-value per scan.
Best feature: The slot machine spins add a small element of surprise that keeps you coming back.
Drawback: Slower accumulation than Fetch for most users. The gamification can mask the fact that you’re earning very little per receipt.
Available: US and UK.
The best strategy with receipt scanning apps is stacking — use both Fetch and Receipt Hog on the same receipt. Double the rewards for the same 10 seconds of effort.
Survey Apps (Best for Dedicated Time)
9. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is the cleanest, most focused survey platform available. No games, no videos, no complicated offer walls — just surveys. You complete your profile, get matched with relevant studies, and earn points (100 points = $1). The $5 cashout threshold via PayPal or bank transfer keeps the payout cycle fast.
What I appreciate about Survey Junkie is the transparency. Before you start each survey, you see the estimated time and point value. This lets you calculate your effective hourly rate and skip low-value surveys.
Realistic earnings: $20 to $60 per month for regular users. Consistent daily engagement (30-45 minutes) maximizes your availability for higher-paying studies.
Best feature: Low disqualification rates compared to competitors. Survey Junkie’s profile matching means you’re more likely to qualify for surveys you’re offered.
Drawback: Survey availability fluctuates. Some demographics receive more opportunities than others.
Available: US, Canada, Australia.
I’ve covered the survey space more broadly in my guide to the best survey sites that pay cash and which survey apps pay instantly.
10. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys competes directly with Survey Junkie and often wins on per-survey payout. The platform uses a tiered membership system — Bronze, Silver, and Gold — where more active users earn bonus points on every completed survey.
Gold-level members earn 19% bonus points on top of every survey’s base payout, which effectively pushes your hourly rate above what most other survey platforms offer.
Realistic earnings: $25 to $80 per month. Gold members who qualify for premium studies can push higher.
Best feature: The membership tier system genuinely rewards consistency. Unlike platforms that treat every user identically, Branded Surveys gives loyal users meaningfully better rates.
Drawback: You need to be in the US, UK, or Canada. And like all survey platforms, disqualifications happen.
Available: US, UK, Canada.
11. Prolific
Prolific is different from other survey platforms because it connects you with academic researchers rather than market research companies. The surveys tend to be more interesting (you’re contributing to actual scientific studies), the pay per survey is higher, and the disqualification rate is much lower.
Realistic earnings: $30 to $100 per month. Individual studies typically pay £5 to £12 per hour, which is significantly above the industry average.
Best feature: Respect for your time. Prolific has minimum pay requirements for researchers, so you won’t encounter the $0.25-for-20-minutes surveys common on other platforms.
Drawback: Study availability depends on your demographic profile. Some people get flooded with opportunities; others check daily and find nothing.
Available: US, UK, and most European countries.
Passive and Lifestyle Apps (Best for Zero Effort)
12. Dosh
Dosh is the closest thing to free money in the reward app world. Link your debit or credit card, shop at partner stores, and cashback appears automatically. No receipt scanning, no offer activation, no extra steps. If you shop at a Dosh partner (and their network includes hotels, restaurants, and retailers), you earn without thinking about it.
Realistic earnings: $3 to $15 per month. Heavily dependent on whether your regular spending overlaps with Dosh’s partner network.
Best feature: Truly automatic. After the initial card linking, you never interact with the app to earn.
Drawback: The partner network is smaller than Rakuten’s. You might go weeks without a qualifying purchase.
Available: US only.
13. Mistplay (Android Only)
Mistplay rewards you for playing mobile games. Install games through the app, play them, and earn units that convert to gift cards. It’s essentially a curated game discovery platform that pays you to try new titles.
Realistic earnings: $10 to $30 per month for regular gamers. The pay per hour of gaming is low ($0.50 to $2), but if you’re playing mobile games anyway, it’s bonus money.
Best feature: You’re literally getting paid to do something you’d probably do for free. If mobile gaming is part of your routine, Mistplay turns dead time into small rewards.
Drawback: Android only. And the games offered rotate, so you might not always find titles you enjoy.
Available: US, Canada, and select other countries.
For a deeper look at gaming rewards, I’ve covered games that pay real money and the best money-making apps for Android separately.
14. MobileXpression
MobileXpression runs in the background of your phone and shares anonymous usage data with market researchers. In return, you earn weekly gift card credits. After the first week of having it installed, you can start redeeming.
Realistic earnings: $5 to $10 per month in gift cards. The earnings are modest but require literally zero active effort.
Best feature: Set it and forget it. Install once, and it earns passively until you uninstall.
Drawback: Some users report increased battery drain and data usage. If your phone is already struggling with battery life, this adds another background process.
Available: US.
15. Scrambly
Scrambly is a newer GPT platform that’s gained traction thanks to its $1 minimum cashout threshold — one of the lowest in the industry. Gift cards process within 3 minutes, and PayPal payouts arrive within 24 to 48 hours. The platform offers game offers, financial product signups, cashback deals, step tracking, and surveys.
Realistic earnings: $30 to $150 per month depending on effort. High-paying financial signups (like opening a new bank account or credit card through the app) can net $30 to $40 each.
Best feature: The near-instant cashout at $1 means you see rewards almost immediately. This is hugely motivating compared to apps that make you grind to $25 before your first payout.
Drawback: Financial product signups pay well but can affect your credit inquiries. Be selective about which offers you complete.
Available: US, Canada.
Earnings Comparison: All 15 Apps at a Glance
| App | Type | Realistic Monthly Earnings | Cashout Minimum | Effort Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swagbucks | GPT | $30–$100 | $5 | Medium | Variety seekers |
| Freecash | GPT | $40–$200 | $5 / $0.25 crypto | Medium-High | Gamers + crypto fans |
| InboxDollars | GPT | $20–$80 | $30 | Medium | Simple cash earners |
| Ibotta | Cashback | $15–$40 | $20 | Low | Grocery shoppers |
| Rakuten | Cashback | $10–$50 | $5 (quarterly) | Very Low | Online shoppers |
| Upside | Cashback | $10–$30 | None | Very Low | Drivers |
| Fetch Rewards | Receipt | $3–$15 | ~$3 in points | Very Low | Everyone |
| Receipt Hog | Receipt | $2–$10 | $5 | Very Low | Receipt stackers |
| Survey Junkie | Survey | $20–$60 | $5 | Medium | Survey enthusiasts |
| Branded Surveys | Survey | $25–$80 | $5 | Medium | Consistent earners |
| Prolific | Survey | $30–$100 | £5 | Medium | Higher-paying surveys |
| Dosh | Passive | $3–$15 | $25 | None | Automatic cashback |
| Mistplay | Gaming | $10–$30 | ~$5 | Low | Android gamers |
| MobileXpression | Passive | $5–$10 | Weekly | None | Passive data sharing |
| Scrambly | GPT | $30–$150 | $1 | Medium | Fast cashout fans |
How to Stack Reward Apps for Maximum Earnings
Using one app is fine. Using the right combination is where the real value lives.
Here’s a practical stacking strategy that maximizes your returns without consuming your entire day.
The passive layer (0 minutes daily). Install Dosh, MobileXpression, and Fetch Rewards. These earn in the background or require seconds of effort. Combined, they’ll quietly accumulate $10 to $40 per month without you thinking about them. Scan every receipt into Fetch (and Receipt Hog for double-dipping). Let Dosh and MobileXpression run passively.
The shopping layer (2 minutes per shopping trip). Before any online purchase, check Rakuten. Before filling up gas, check Upside. Before grocery shopping, check Ibotta for relevant offers. This adds maybe 5 minutes per week to your routine but captures $20 to $80 monthly in cashback you’d otherwise miss.
The active layer (20-30 minutes daily). Choose one primary survey or GPT app — Survey Junkie, Branded Surveys, or Freecash — and spend your commute or downtime completing tasks. This is where the bulk of your reward app income comes from. Expect $30 to $100 per month from consistent daily use.
Total realistic monthly income from stacking: $60 to $220 depending on your shopping habits and available time. Not life-changing, but meaningful — and it takes zero special skills to start.
If you’re looking for more ideas beyond reward apps, I’ve put together a broader guide on ways to make extra money that covers higher-earning methods too.
Red Flags: Reward Apps to Avoid
The reward app space attracts scams like flies. Here’s what to watch for.
Apps requiring upfront payment. Legitimate reward apps are free. If an app charges you to “unlock” earning features, delete it immediately.
Unrealistic earning claims. Any app promising $500+ per month from casual use is lying. The highest realistic earner on this list (Freecash) maxes out around $200 per month with substantial daily effort. Most apps are in the $20 to $80 range.
Impossible cashout thresholds. If an app requires you to earn $100 before your first withdrawal, it’s designed so that most users give up before ever getting paid. The best apps have thresholds between $1 and $10.
Excessive permission requests. A receipt scanning app needs camera access. A survey app needs your email. An app that demands access to your contacts, messages, and phone call history is harvesting data it doesn’t need.
No verifiable reviews. Check the App Store or Google Play reviews, but also search Reddit and independent review sites. If the only positive reviews are on the app’s own website, be skeptical.
I’ve tested a lot of apps that didn’t make this list — not because they’re scams, but because the time-to-reward ratio simply isn’t worth it. For a broader look at which apps actually pay real money, I’ve gone deeper in a separate guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the highest-paying reward app overall?
For raw earning potential, Freecash and Branded Surveys consistently lead. Freecash has the highest ceiling due to game offers that pay $30 to $50 each. Branded Surveys offers the best pure-survey rates, especially for Gold-tier members. But “highest-paying” depends on how you want to earn — if you shop a lot, Ibotta and Rakuten might put more money in your pocket with less effort.
Can you actually make $100 per month from reward apps?
Yes, but it requires using multiple apps daily and treating it like a part-time commitment. Stacking a GPT platform with cashback apps and receipt scanners can realistically produce $100 to $200 per month. Relying on a single app makes this much harder.
Are reward app earnings taxable?
In the US, earnings from survey and GPT platforms are generally considered taxable income. Cashback from purchases is typically treated as a rebate (not taxable). If you earn more than $600 from a single platform in a year, they may issue a 1099 form. I’m not a tax professional, so consult one if you’re earning significant amounts.
Which reward apps work outside the US?
Swagbucks, Freecash, Prolific, and Survey Junkie all have international availability, though opportunities vary by country. Cashback apps like Ibotta and Upside are US-only. If you’re outside the US, GPT platforms and Prolific will be your best options.
Do reward apps sell your data?
Most reward apps collect and monetize user data in some form — that’s the business model. They share anonymized data with market research firms, advertisers, and brands. Read each app’s privacy policy to understand what’s collected. If data privacy is a major concern, cashback and receipt scanning apps generally collect less personal information than survey and GPT platforms.
The Honest Bottom Line on Reward Apps
Reward apps work. The 15 apps in this guide are all legitimate, and every one of them will put real money in your account if you use them consistently.
But let’s keep perspective. Even the best stacking strategy maxes out at $150 to $200 per month for most people. That’s solid pocket money — enough to cover streaming subscriptions, a phone bill, or a nice dinner out every month. It’s not enough to quit your job, pay rent, or build financial freedom.
The people who do best with reward apps treat them as one small piece of a larger income strategy. They stack apps passively while building something with a higher ceiling — freelancing, content creation, or a real side hustle that generates serious returns.
If you want to see what that looks like in practice — the business model that generates $500 to $1,500 per month from simple websites that take a few hours to build — go here to see the exact system I use.
Your phone can earn you extra cash. Your time can build you something much bigger.
Mark is the founder of MarksInsights and has spent 15+ years testing online business programs and tools. He focuses on honest, experience-based reviews that help people avoid scams and find real, sustainable ways to make money online.