22 Legit Game Apps That Pay Real Money [2023]

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

These real cash games are typically available on iOS or Android devices on the App Store or Google Play Store. Browse this selection of online games to find the ones most suited to your preferences.

App Store ratings: Over 86,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? PayPal, minimum $2 (any withdrawal under $10 subject to a $1 processing fee)

How does the game work? 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 (and there was a time we just played bingo on paper). Get matched up against other players of a similar skill level and see who has the better bingo skills in a competitive game.

Download Bingo Clash
Read our Bingo Clash review

App Store ratings: More than 96,000 rankings and an average rating of 4.7 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? PayPal and Apple Pay

How does the game work? With Bingo Cash, the goal is to daub matching numbers on your digital bingo card quickly. The faster you daub, the more points you earn and the faster your booster bar charges. Your booster bar gives you a variety of different boosters.

When you get a bingo, hit the bingo button. Just be careful not to hit that button when you don’t have a bingo because that could earn you a penalty! The person with the most points at the end of a match wins the most prizes, which could be gems or cash.

Download Bingo Cash
Read our Bingo Cash review

App Store ratings: Over 240,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? PayPal

How does the game work? Is Solitaire one of your preferred ways to have some fun and pass the time? If so, the Solitaire Cash app 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, and you enjoy playing other players head-to-head, you could be well rewarded.

Download Solitaire Cash
Review Solitaire Cash

App Store ratings: More than 115,000 rankings and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? PayPal, electronic check, Visa, Mastercard, or debit card, minimum $2 (any withdrawal under $10 has a $1 fee)

How does the game work? With this app, 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.

Download Bingo Tour
Read our Bingo Tour review

App Store ratings: More than 114,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? PayPal, Check ($2 minimum withdrawal)

How does the game work? In this game, 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 to play solitaire 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
Read our Solitaire Clash review

App Store ratings: Over 92,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? PayPal 

How does the game work? 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. It's a puzzle game, and 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.

Download Bubble Cash
Read our Bubble Cash review

App Store ratings: More than 381,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 on Google Play, not available on the Apple App store

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? Redeem points (called units) for gift cards, Visa or Mastercard prepaid cards, and PayPal

How does the game work? 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.

Download Mistplay
Read our Mistplay review

App Store ratings: More than 13,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.7 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? PayPal

How does the game work? 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.

Download 21 Cash
Read our 21 Cash review

App Store ratings: Over 88,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? You can withdraw up to the amount you originally deposited using the same form of payment as your deposit. Any additional amounts will be sent by check, or you can redeem them for gift cards.

How does the game work? Blackout Bingo 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.

Download Blackout Bingo
Read our Blackout Bingo review

App Store ratings: Over 28,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? You can withdraw up to the amount you originally deposited using the same form of payment as your deposit. Any additional amounts will be sent by check if you’re in the U.S. or PayPal in other locations.

How does the game work? 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.

Download 21 Blitz
Read our 21 Blitz review

App Store ratings: Over 26,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? You can withdraw up to the amount you originally deposited using the same form of payment as your deposit. Any additional amounts will be sent by check if you’re in the U.S. or PayPal in other locations.

How does the game work? 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.

Download Dominoes Gold
Read our Dominoes Gold review

App Store ratings: Over 91,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? You can withdraw up to the amount you originally deposited using the same form of payment as your deposit. Any additional amounts will be sent by check if you’re in the U.S. or PayPal in other locations.

How does the game work? 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.

Download Solitaire Cube
Read our Solitaire Cube game review

App Store ratings: More than 8.900 ratings and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? PayPal ($2 minimum and $1 processing fee for any withdrawal under $10)

How does the game work? 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.

Download 8 Ball Strike
Read our 8 Ball Strike review

App Store ratings: 19,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.8 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? PayPal ($10 minimum)

How does the game work? 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.

Download Bubble Buzz
Read our Bubble Buzz review

App Store ratings: Over 80,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? You can withdraw up to the amount you originally deposited using the same form of payment as your deposit. Any additional amounts will be sent by check if you’re in the U.S. or PayPal in other locations.

How does the game work? 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.

Download Pool Payday
Read our Pool Payday game review

App Store ratings: Over 77,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 (for Poket7Games)

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? Check or PayPal (minimum of $2 and any withdrawals under $10 is subject to a $1 processing fee)

How does the game work? Fruit Frenzy is a game available from AviaGames through their Pocket7Games app (it doesn’t have its own app). 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.

Download Fruit Frenzy
Read our Fruit Frenzy game review

App Store ratings: Over 11,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? You can withdraw up to the amount you originally deposited using the same form of payment as your deposit. Any additional amounts will be sent by check if you’re in the U.S. or PayPal in other locations.

How does the game work? 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.

Download Big Buck Hunter: Marksman
Read our Big Buck Hunter: Marksman review

App Store ratings: 500 ratings and an average rating of 4.8 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? PayPal, Apple Pay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express Venmo

How does the game work? 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.

App Store ratings: 77,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 (for Pocket7Games)

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? Check or PayPal (minimum of $2 and any withdrawals under $10 is subject to a $1 processing fee)

How does the game work? 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 game is a part of the Pocket7Games app.

Download Word Search

App Store ratings: 156 ratings and an average rating of 4.3 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? PayPal, or you can redeem your winnings for prizes like Airpods, an iPad, or small appliances.

How does the game work? 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.

Download Match n Flip

App Store ratings: 4,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? PayPal, Apple Pay, Visa, Venmo

How does the game work? 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.

Download Blockolot

App Store ratings: More than 92,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 on the Google Play Store, not available on the Apple App store

Free to play? Yes

How do payouts work? Minimum of $150 to withdraw funds, can be withdrawn to PayPal, CashApp, Coinbase, and Alipay

How does the game work? 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.

Read our Dozer Mania review

Using game apps safely

Game apps are an enjoyable way to spend your free time, and you may win money while playing depending on what games you play.

If you can, use PayPal or gift cards for any cash games you play rather than directly linking your bank account. This provides a measure of financial protection.

Is it legal where you live?

Although these games are not gambling apps, some games, such as dice, slots, or bingo, some states may limit access to cash games. The best way to find out whether a game is available in your state is by attempting to download the game.

Managing your earnings

If you play cash games, decide ahead of time how much you play to spend playing. In-app purchases and entering cash games can be tempting, but when you reach your limit, stop playing. Make playing these games a part of your budget if it’s something that you enjoy.

When you win, decide what to do with your winnings, and be sure to keep track of them.

Don’t forget about taxes

Depending on the amount you win, you may be required to report your earnings to the IRS and pay taxes on them. If you have any concerns, consult a tax professional.

There are many games to discover that allow you to win real money Whether you have an Android device or iOS device also impacts what games you have access to. In addition to the ones listed above, you could play: Bubble Cube 2, Jackpocket, Long Game, and Lucktastic, an app with scratch games and sweepstakes. 

Rewarded Play is another popular Android app with games, and QuickRewards is an app that has surveys and games such as Match-3 and Mahjong. 

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

InboxDollars

InboxDollars is actually another way to earn real money playing games. But it does a lot more than that. It also offers users the opportunity to make money by completing online surveys, watching videos and TV, 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.

Sign up for InboxDollars | Read our InboxDollars review

Earn Cash By Going Online

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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.

Sign up for Survey Junkie | Check out our Survey Junkie review

Earn Cash Taking Surveys

Join a community of 20M+ lifetime members who have been paid $76 million to date.

Sign up today

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is an app that allows you to earn free gift cards and cash rewards for shopping, participating in surveys, and signing up for deals at places like Target. You can also earn cash with Swagbucks Live, which is another app that offers live trivia games.

Swagbucks and Swagbucks Live are both available on the App Store and Google Play.

Sign up for Swagbucks | Read our Swagbucks review

Jackpocket

Jackpocket is a lottery app for mobile devices 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. But there’s a service fee to help cover app costs.

Download Jackpocket | Read our Jackpocket review

Another option to consider

Play Games. Take Surveys. Earn Cash.

It’s That Easy!

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If you're looking to make money playing games, the best money-making apps depend on your lifestyle and personal finance goals.

Options could include mobile apps like cashback apps, savings apps, and more. Our top recommendations include Capital One Shopping, Digit, DoorDash, Dosh, Drop app, Fetch Rewards, GetUpside, Ibotta, MyPoints, Rakuten, Rover, Stash, Thumbtack, Trim, and Rocket Money.

Are game apps for winning money legit?

Game apps for winning money are legit. There’s no guarantee that you will win money playing, but the opportunity is certainly there in real money games. Before you play cash games, make sure you’ve played free games and that you completely understand the rules and build up your skills. This gives you the best chance of succeeding at winning cash games.

How do game apps pay you?

Game apps typically pay you by PayPal or by check. There may be a minimum amount required to withdraw. To find out the rules for a specific game app, go to the withdrawal section and see what the requirements are.

Are there any games that actually pay real money?

Yes, there are many apps that 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.

Skillz games include: Yatzy Cash, Blackout Bingo, Solitaire Cube, Dominoes Gold, Pool Payday, Cube Cube, Play 21,21 Blitz, Bubble Cube 2, Bingo Cash, Big Buck Hunter, and Hurry Upwords.

The opportunity to get paid to play games is tempting. Gaming apps could provide a fun way to make extra money online and potentially win cash prizes, but it’s important to vet these types of apps before using them, even if they're popular games. 

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 pay 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. And once you start playing, consider how to make the most of your winnings. For example, you could put your winnings in a high-yield savings account. 

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.