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Apps That Pay You to Play Games: An Honest Comparison

· 4 min read

Apps that pay you to play games reward you for time or skill in a game, usually with points, gift cards or cash. They suit players who want a little extra money from time they'd spend gaming anyway, and they work in very different ways. This comparison covers each type honestly, including the catches.

No app turns casual play into a wage. Most pay small amounts, and the ones that promise big money are the ones to be most careful with. If you're more interested in paid work that uses your game skill, see our guide to AI training jobs for gamers.

The main types of apps that pay you to play games

Fig. 01Apps that pay you to play games, by type
  • Rewards apps
    You earn for
    Installs, milestones, time
    Paid in
    Points, gift cards
    Catch
    Low value per hour
  • Cash tournaments
    You earn for
    Beating other players
    Paid in
    Cash prizes
    Catch
    Entry fees or deposits
  • Survey and offer sites
    You earn for
    Offers, surveys, installs
    Paid in
    Points, gift cards
    Catch
    Small, uneven earnings
  • Game testing
    You earn for
    Feedback on new games
    Paid in
    Cash per session
    Catch
    Sessions come and go
  • Skill data platforms
    You earn for
    Skill that trains robots
    Paid in
    Cash per task
    Catch
    Work depends on lab demand

Rewards apps

Rewards apps pay you points for installing games and reaching milestones, like getting to level 10, or simply for minutes played. You trade the points for gift cards or, sometimes, cash. They're easy to start and work on most phones.

The catch is value. Milestones tend to get slower and harder, and points often work out to very little per hour. Many apps also need ads, tracking or a long list of installs. They're best for players who would play those games anyway.

Cash tournament apps

Cash tournament apps let you play skill games, like puzzles, card games or arcade games, against other players for prizes. Most of them need an entry fee or a deposit. That makes them closer to betting on yourself than to earning, and many players end up losing more than they win.

We don't recommend deposit-based apps. If you try one, check its rules and where it's legal to play, and set a strict limit.

Survey and offer sites with games

Many survey sites include game offers: install a game, reach a goal, earn points. They work much like rewards apps, mixed with surveys and shopping offers. Earnings are small, and offers vary by country.

Game testing platforms

Playtest and user research platforms pay you to try unreleased games and give structured feedback, often by recording your screen and voice. Sessions usually pay in cash, but they come and go, and you need to fit the studio's target player profile. Our guide to testing games for money covers this in detail.

Skill data platforms

Skill data platforms pay you for the skill in your play, because robotics companies and AI labs learn from it. Metagaming is one. You don't earn for time spent; you earn per task, for work that passes a quality check.

Where Metagaming fits

Metagaming isn't a rewards app: there are no coins, points or gift cards. You claim a free Access Pass (18+, about a minute), prove your skills in free arenas like the reaction time test, and take missions that robotics companies and AI labs post. Get your Access Pass to start, and read how Metagaming works for the details.

Pay is per task, and every task shows its pay before you accept it. Drops start at $1 and go up to $500+ for Genius-rank missions, but most missions are Common and Uncommon. Rates are estimates, and we don't promise income. See pay per task.

For missions in PC games, our desktop recorder logs inputs, timestamps and game state only. It never records your webcam, your microphone or anything outside the game.

How to choose an app that pays you to play games

  • Check how you get paid. Cash and gift cards with low thresholds are better than points that expire.
  • Read what it tracks. Rewards apps often track app usage across your phone. Know what you're agreeing to.
  • Never pay to join. A legitimate earning app doesn't charge you a fee to start.
  • Be wary of big promises. Fixed monthly earnings for casual play are a red flag.
  • Look for a real company. A named company, a privacy policy and a support address you can reach.
Fig. 02Red flags vs. good signs

4Red flags

  • A fee or deposit to start
  • Fixed monthly earnings for casual play
  • Points that expire before you can cash out
  • No company details or privacy policy

4Good signs

  • Free to join
  • Pay shown before you start a task
  • Says what it tracks or records
  • A named company you can contact

FAQ

Do apps that pay you to play games really pay?

Many do, but usually small amounts. The useful question isn't whether an app pays, but how much your time is worth there and whether the payout threshold is realistic.

Which app pays the most to play games?

It depends on what you're good at. Points-based apps reward time, testing platforms reward feedback, and skill data platforms like Metagaming reward measurable skill. Apps that promise the most are often the riskiest.

Are cash game apps gambling?

Apps that take a deposit or entry fee and pay prizes to winners can work a lot like gambling, and rules differ by place. We don't recommend them.

Can I earn from games I already play?

Sometimes. On Metagaming, Pro-rank trainers can take Record missions in games they already play on PC, using our desktop recorder. Missions depend on what labs need, so we can't promise which games will have them.