Best Apps That Pay You to Play Games in 2026

You're already spending hours on mobile games anyway. What if that time actually paid you?

Gaming reward apps promise to pay you real money for activities such as downloading games, reaching milestones, or playing against other players. Yet, what most guides don't disclose is the fact that the payout difference between platforms is huge. For the same game, we are talking about a difference of $3 versus $30. Some applications offer less than a dollar per hour, while the rate can go up to $10-15/hour if you select the right offers.

This guide clarifies the situation regarding which mobile apps really offer good rates, which ones are just a waste of your time, and how much you can actually earn without the typical hype. Additionally, you will discover the reasons why EarnLab is almost always able to pay 3-5 times more than its rivals for the same games.

Quick Comparison: Top Gaming Reward Apps

*Skill-based apps involve financial risk. Earnings vary based on win rate.

How Do Gaming Reward Apps Work?

Gaming reward apps make money from game developers who need players. When you download a game through a reward app, developers pay for that user acquisition. The reward platform takes a cut and passes some of it to you.

Three main models determine how you get paid:

Milestone-based rewards pay you for reaching specific levels or achievements. Hit level 100 in a mobile RPG, get $20. Complete the tutorial, get $2. These are the most common and usually the safest bet for consistent earnings.

Time-based rewards pay for consecutive login days or total hours played. These typically pay less per hour but require less focused gameplay. You can literally just have the game open while doing something else.

Competitive play involves entry fees where you compete against other players for prize pools. You can earn more per hour here, but you're risking your own money. Win rates matter a lot.

Payment options usually include PayPal, bank transfer, gift cards, or crypto. Most apps have minimum cashout thresholds between $5 and $25. If you quit before hitting that threshold, you've worked for nothing, so pick apps where you're confident you'll reach the minimum.

EarnLab: The Best Platform for Gaming Rewards

EarnLab focuses on quality over quantity. Instead of listing 500 garbage offers that pay $0.50, they only show games where you're making at least $8-12 per hour of actual gameplay.

Higher Payouts Than Competitors

The statistics are clear. Mistplay could be spending $3-5 to get to level 100 in a mobile RPG. EarnLab would pay $15-30 for the exact same game and milestone. Over three months in late 2024, as a result of this experiment, players earned an average of $180 via EarnLab and around $65 via Mistplay for a similar time investment.

The reason for this difference is that EarnLab negotiates directly with game publishers while Mistplay uses middleman networks that take hefty cuts. They're careful about the games they list, rejecting those with low-paying offers that would bring down their average rates drastically.

Step-by-Step Guides for Every Game Offer

On EarnLab, each game is accompanied by a strategy guide that is written by the players, who have already completed it. These walkthroughs give you the exact information of the levels that are payment-triggered, how to use your resources most efficiently, and quite accurate time estimates depending on your gaming experience.

In case of games such as Raid: Shadow Legends or King of Avalon, which require 30-60 hours for completion, having such a guide is like saving your effort. Besides, the guides also show the deal-breakers that are waiting for you at the very beginning. If you make an in-app purchase by accident or if you miss a milestone deadline, most apps will not pay you anything, however, EarnLab's documentation gives these rules so that they are understood even by a novice that it is prohibited before you start.

Instant Cashouts: PayPal, Gift Cards, Crypto

EarnLab processes withdrawals in 24-48 hours once you hit the $10 minimum. Compare that to the 7-14 day wait on most competing platforms. You can cash out via PayPal (no fees), Visa gift cards, Amazon credit, or crypto through Coinbase.

They added instant PayPal cashouts in September 2024 for users who've completed at least three offers. That means zero wait time versus the typical 48-hour processing window.

5 Other Apps That Pay You to Play Games

Mistplay – Android Gaming Rewards

Mistplay is the largest gaming rewards brand with more than 20 million downloads as of the beginning of 2026. In general, these are very casual types of games, such as puzzles, merge games, and simple RPGs, so from their curated selection, you play games to earn points.

The catch? It is a very low rate of $0.40-0.80 per hour of active play. However, if you happen to be playing mobile games just for fun, then it is essentially money that comes to you for free. The platform is actually quite good for new game discoveries that you might really like because their recommendations get better based on what you play. Gift cards to Amazon, Visa, iTunes, and other retailers are the ways in which cashouts starting at $5 can be made.

Kashkick – Milestone-Based Payouts

Kashkick decided to take a different route when they added games to their platform in mid-2024 by offering less number of games but higher payouts. For instance, they give $10-50 per completed offer instead of small change. The most of their games are state-building games, casino apps, and strategy games that require a lot of time for progression.

They give the money within 72 hours after they confirm the milestone, and you can get your money through PayPal starting from $10. User reports from Reddit's r/beermoney from 2024 suggest that out of 100 people who start offers, around 60-70 actually complete them. The remaining 30% who drop out are those who cannot manage the time requirements or difficulty spikes.

Blackout Bingo – Competitive Cash Games

Blackout Bingo is a completely different kind of game. In order to take part in tournaments, you need to deposit some money. In these tournaments, you will be facing real players in timed bingo matches. The rankings determine the payouts. Those who perform the best will be able to get 2-3 times their entry fee as a reward while those who finish in the bottom half will lose their stake.

This is a group of people for which the competitive players who are okay with taking risks operate. Your income will be dependent on your skills, not on just grinding for time. The prize pools can be as low as $1 for casual matches and can go up to more than $100 for tournament brackets. Papaya Gaming (the company behind it) states in their 2024 impact report that they have paid out more than $70 million in tournament prizes since the launch, however, that number is the sum of all their gaming apps combined.

Solitaire Clash – Card Games That Pay

Blackout Bingo's concept is the same as this one but for solitaire. You can play against one opponent or participate in tournaments where entry fees range from $0.60 to $30. Usually, after the platform deducts its commission of about 17%, winners get 1.5-2x their entries back.

Skill is important here because the game involves speed and card sequencing strategy rather than pure luck. Some regular players claim that they can make $5-15 per hour if they keep their win rate above 55%. Beginners are most likely to lose money at the beginning while figuring out the best strategies. The withdrawals are done via PayPal or ACH and the minimum is $10.

JustPlay – Passive Gaming Earnings

JustPlay might be the most laid-back method and that could actually be positive. Simply by having the games installed and somewhat opening them, you get loyalty points. There are no performance requirements, no progression targets. Just play whatever.

The trade-off? You are earning $0.15-0.30 per hour because the barrier is very low. It is mainly suitable as a side option which you can run while using other apps or in case you are gaming for fun. Gift card redemptions start at $5, but getting there normally takes 2-3 weeks of regular casual play.

How Much Can You Realistically Earn?

Let's cut through the hype. Your earnings depend entirely on how much time you put in and which games you pick.

Casual players who treat this as a side thing while watching Netflix might pull $20-40 per month across multiple apps. You're not getting rich, but it's beer money for time you'd waste anyway.

Dedicated grinders who focus on high-value offers and complete them efficiently can hit $150-300 monthly. This requires actually researching which games offer the best hourly rates and powering through them strategically.

The ceiling is around $400-500 per month even if you go hard. Why? Because you'll run out of good offers on any platform within 4-6 weeks. After you complete the high-paying games, you're stuck with the low-tier stuff that tanks your hourly rate. Also, if you're outside the U.S., expect 40-60% fewer available offers based on comparisons across reward app communities.

Here's the reality check: a $30 offer requiring 25 hours of gameplay pays $1.20 per hour. That's garbage if you think of it as a job. But if you're playing mobile games anyway, you're just getting paid for entertainment time you'd spend regardless. The mental shift matters.

FAQs About Gaming Apps That Pay

Are gaming reward apps legit?

Yes, established platforms like EarnLab, Mistplay, and Kashkick are legitimate businesses that make money by charging game developers for user acquisition. Red flags for scams include promises of "$500 per day," upfront fees, and withdrawal minimums above $50.

Which app pays the most?

EarnLab consistently pays the most for milestone-based games at $15-60 per offer versus $3-20 elsewhere. For competitive play, Blackout Bingo and Solitaire Clash can hit $10-20/hour if you're winning, but you risk your own money.

Why does EarnLab pay better?

EarnLab negotiates directly with game publishers instead of using middleman networks that take 30-50% cuts, allowing them to pass 40-70% of payments to users versus the typical 15-30%.