Get Paid to Watch Videos: Best Apps & Websites That Actually Pay in 2026

A 2024 survey by Side Hustle Nation found that 68% of people trying video-watching apps quit within the first month, and the reason is simple: most platforms pay between $0.50 and $3.00 per hour. Before you download your first app, you need to know which platforms actually deliver on their promises, what you can realistically earn, and whether your time is better spent elsewhere.

This guide breaks down the 10 best apps and websites that genuinely pay users to watch videos, reveals the actual hourly rates you can expect from each platform, and shows you how to maximize earnings if you decide this side hustle fits your goals. You'll also discover why platforms like EarnLab offer substantially higher returns for the same time investment.

Quick Platform Comparison

How Does Getting Paid to Watch Videos Work?

Video rewards sites make a profit off advertisers who require audience data and engagement metrics. Advertisers spend between $0.01 and $0.50 per view on the platform when you watch their sponsored content, depending on the category and the target audience. The platform then forwards 10-30% of that income to you, which is the reason why the earnings are so small.

These sites monitor your consumption habits keenly since advertisers will not be able to pay unless they have been used in a real way. The majority of them need to be interacted with periodically, such as clicking a button, responding to a question regarding the content, or ensuring that you are still active. Others are more advanced in their tracking, so they keep track of whether the video window is open or not, and whether you have muted the sound, so that you cannot even leave the videos running without watching them in the background.

Payments vary across the platforms, and most of them operate with a points-based system where you earn credits that can be exchanged into cash or gift cards when you accumulate a specific amount, usually 100 points earn you one dollar. Other sites charge directly in cents per video, which gives more clarity but tends to tell just how small the payout is per view.

10 Best Apps & Websites That Pay You to Watch Videos

Swagbucks – Watch Videos and Earn Points

Swagbucks has one of the longest-running and most trustworthy video reward schemes, having given out more than $600 million to its users since it started in 2008, according to their 2023 annual report. The platform provides various video playlists with each category having its own diverse video content, such as entertainment, news, cooking, and lifestyle content, with each video lasting between 30 seconds and 3 minutes. Each video viewed earns you between 1-4 Swagbucks (approximately $0.01-0.04).

The video-sharing system automatically adds videos to continuous playlists so that you can leave it running and periodically check the playlists. Nevertheless, Swagbucks offers occasional attention checks in which you have to click to ensure that you are watching, and missing more than a certain number halts the playlist completely. Gift cards have the lowest redemption rate of 300 Swagbucks ($3), but PayPal cashouts need 2,500 Swagbucks ($25).

The difference between Swagbucks and other platforms where video earning is possible is the diversity of other ways to earn. Adding video viewing to surveys, cashbacks on shopping, and web searches can assist you in achieving payout levels quicker than using video views alone.

InboxDollars – Get Paid for Video Playlists

InboxDollars is another approach because it does not use points to compensate but does this directly in cash, so the confusion can be cleared on the conversion rates. The platform also collaborates with large brands to provide video content in the news, entertainment, and product segments, and the published price rates are around $0.01-0.03 per video. Most videos run 2-5 minutes.

It has a minimum balance of $30 before you can request payment, which is a big investment of time, considering that videos only earn pennies per video. InboxDollars also applies a processing fee of $3 to the majority of cashout options, which effectively adds a minimum earning requirement of $33 to your own. In a 2023 Better Business Bureau review, users stated that it took 2-4 months of daily use to earn the initial payment goal.

The platform has been rated A+ with the BBB despite qualitative complaints that the minimum payout is high, as the platform has continued to pay its users who fulfil the requirements. The payment processing time is normally 10-14 business days after the request.

iRazoo – Video Rewards Made Simple

iRazoo is a video content-based rewards program that does not offer as many features as larger platforms. It provides a simple interface on which you pick the video categories and begin to earn the points right away, with the majority of videos giving 3-7 points and 1,000 points depending on the approximate value of about $5 in rewards.

The minimum redemption with the platform begins at 3,000 points ($15) to redeem Amazon gift cards, which is relatively high when compared to some of its competitors. But video availability is not always regular and when it is not your high season, you may have only 10-20 videos available daily. This restriction is better suited to the platform when used in conjunction with their other income streams such as surveys and offer completions.

The Trustpilot user reviews of 2024 have an average rating of 3.2 stars, which can be described as mixed. The primary grievances revolve around the technical problem of videos failing to credit, and the users must request accommodations to be credited manually.

MyPoints – Watch, Shop, and Earn

MyPoints operates under the same parent company as Swagbucks and offers a similar video watching experience with comparable payout rates. Videos earn 1-5 points each, with 1,000 points equaling approximately $6.25, depending on the redemption option. The platform particularly excels at integrating video watching with shopping cashback opportunities, creating a comprehensive rewards ecosystem.

The minimum redemption starts at just $3 for select gift cards, making it easier to cash out compared to many alternatives. Payment processing is reliable, typically completing within 5-10 business days for gift cards and 10-14 days for PayPal transfers. The platform has operated since 1996 and maintains strong user trust ratings.

One practical advantage is the variety of gift card options, including major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, plus restaurant chains and entertainment services. This flexibility means you can convert earnings into items you'd purchase anyway, maximizing practical value.

Perk TV – Passive Video Watching

Perk TV gained popularity by allowing truly passive video watching on mobile devices. You can install the app on Android or iOS, select a video category, and let the content play continuously with minimal interaction required. The app earns approximately 3-4 points per hour of passive viewing, with 1,000 points equaling $1.

The major drawback is the extremely low earning rate. Even running the app 8 hours daily only generates about $0.96-$1.28 per day, or $28-$38 monthly. A 2024 analysis by Penny Hoarder calculated that users would need to run Perk TV continuously for 13 days to earn enough for a $5 Amazon gift card.

Perk has also become more restrictive over time, now limiting how many devices you can run simultaneously and frequently changing video availability. Technical issues are common, with videos stopping unexpectedly or the app freezing and requiring manual restarts that undermine the passive income promise.

Viggle – Earn While Watching TV Shows

Viggle attempts to monetize your existing TV watching habits by rewarding you for checking into shows you're already watching. The app uses audio recognition technology to verify you're actually watching specific programs, then awards points based on viewing duration with most shows earning 20-100 points per hour, depending on promotional bonuses.

The concept works well in theory, but implementation problems plague the platform. Audio recognition frequently fails and requires multiple check-in attempts, while the app drains phone batteries significantly due to constant audio monitoring. Redemption requires 3,750 points for a $5 gift card, representing approximately 40-50 hours of verified viewing time.

User reviews from late 2024 indicate declining satisfaction, with many reporting that the app crashes frequently and customer service responses take weeks. The platform seems to be reducing bonus opportunities compared to previous years, further decreasing earning potential.

Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel – Passive Viewing Rewards

Nielsen operates differently from typical video watching apps. Instead of watching specific advertiser content, you install monitoring software that tracks your overall internet and app usage behavior. Nielsen collects this data for market research purposes and compensates you with $50-$60 annually in rewards.

This represents the truest form of passive income since you don't change your behavior at all. The software runs quietly in the background on your computer or mobile device, requiring zero active participation after installation. Nielsen is a legitimate, established market research company with decades of credibility, making privacy concerns less significant than with unknown platforms.

The tradeoff is minimal earnings at about $0.14 per day. However, since it requires literally no effort or time investment, some users install it on multiple devices to increase earnings. Nielsen does limit participation to one account per household and restricts how many devices you can register.

Slidejoy – Watch Ads on Your Lock Screen

Slidejoy uses a different strategy since it shows you advertisements on the lock screen of your Android device. Whenever you open your phone, you watch an advertisement and get credits whether or not you interact with the advertisement. The app pays about $0.10-$0.15 a day based on the frequency with which you unlock your phone.

This will translate to about $3-4/month for the majority of the users, with the lowest case being $2. This is the passive quality that renders it so desirable because you are opening your phone regardless of the time of day. Nevertheless, the advertisements may be annoying, especially when you have to do some urgent tasks and have to use your device fast, and a bit of delay when opening an advertisement and entering your lock screen is present.

The privacy issue is also important in this case since Slidejoy gathers information on your activities in the apps and demographic details to serve you with the relevant advertisements. This collection is described in the privacy policy of the company, but part of some users are not at ease with the level of tracking that is needed to be part of the company.

AppTrailers – Short Videos, Quick Rewards

The AppTrailers presents 30-60 second trailer video of mobile apps, where every view will win 5 to 10 points. The platform offers you to receive bonus points by downloading featured apps, but you do not need to install anything to receive the benefit of video views only. The most common users make between $0.50-1.50 an hour of active viewing.

The short video format is also such that you must interact regularly in order to get at the next video, and this is not conducive to passive income. Redemption requires only 5,000 points (PayPal or gift cards $5) or 7-10 business days after you request it to be processed.

The experience of the users is different, as some individuals report stable incomes and redemptions, whereas others complain about videos that cannot be opened or credited. These inconsistencies are reflected in the rating of the platform, as it has a 3.1-star rating on the Google Play Store.

Hideout.tv – Stream Videos for Points

Hideout.tv collaborates with numerous rewarding websites and games to offer an option of video services that earn points within those platforms. You view brief video clips, mostly games and tech reviews, getting credits, which can be transferred to partner sites. The average rate of earning is usually $0.30-0.60 per hour, based on the availability of a video and prevailing charges.

Compared to most of the platforms, the platform has fewer technical problems and more regular crediting of the videos. Nevertheless, the wages are still very low in comparison with other sources of video watching. There is also an additional level of complexity in having to connect Hideout.tv with one of the partner sites, such as Earnably or GrabPoints, to redeem rewards.

Videos play one after another without the need to interact with them, only to be checked occasionally. It is therefore appropriate to play in a background browser tab as you do your daily chores, even though technically the videos are supposed to be actively viewed as required by the advertisers.

How Much Can You Realistically Earn Watching Videos?

It is estimated that you will make $15-40 a month under the condition that you spend 1-2 hours a day watching videos on several platforms. This amounts to an hourly union of $0.50-1.33, which is below the minimum wage in any advanced country.

In a study conducted by DollarSprout in 2024, actual earnings of video reward apps were tracked in three months where testers used five different apps for an average of 90 minutes every day. The average monthly income of all the participants was $23.47, with a range of $18-31. The most active earner spent 3 hours daily on seven platforms and made $47 in their best month.

Video pricing varies drastically depending on the budgets of advertisers, the season of the year and where you are located. The opportunities and per-video rates are generally more favorable to users in the United States than they are to users in other countries and the payout rates of a platform often drop as they age and obtain more users fighting over the same video inventory. Technical problems, such as videos that cannot give credit correctly, programs that crash and playlists that interrupt without a warning, also diminish real income.

The opportunity cost calculation is quite simple, and that is 2 hours a day will earn you $1, you will be earning $0.50 per hour. Nearly any other multi-income or part-time job pays more than this.

Tips to Maximize Your Video Watching Earnings

Having several platforms at a time enhances income without adding the time value of active participation. Install Swagbucks on your computer, open Perk TV on an old smartphone, and install Slidejoy on your main phone to cross-platform stack earnings.

Invest in the platforms that have the highest rates per video instead of evenly distributing your time. Generally, InboxDollars and Swagbucks have higher rates than those of Perk TV or Hideout.tv and, therefore, watch videos on sites that can pay a lot better when you are busy.

Use bonuses and promotional periods, since most platforms provide higher pay during certain periods of the day, or on special occasions. Swagbucks also has "2x points" days, often when video earnings are doubled, greatly improving hourly rates in those periods.

Integrate other income generation strategies on the same sites with video viewing. Surveys, shopping cashback and search rewards are much better paid at Swagbucks and MyPoints, so watch videos as an addition to other activities to meet payout levels sooner.

Why EarnLab Is the Smarter Alternative

The very basic issue about video-watching apps is that the payoff is very low. EarnLab solves this by providing jobs that are much more profitable in terms of hourly payment and that are open to everyone who can access the internet.

Rather than confining you to one, low-paying action, EarnLab offers you variety in the way you can earn and do so according to the level of skill and time. Surveying, data entry, user testing projects, and micro-tasks are all rated higher since they are more participatory tasks and provide more useful data to customers. Video watching sites charge $0.50 to $1.50 per hour, whereas EarnLab tasks normally attract a pay of $5 to $15 per hour according to your level of skills and choice of work.

The site also has a minimum withdrawal of $5 against the $25-30 minimums found on video sites and payment is made within 24-48 hours instead of the usual 10-14 business days. Flexibility in payment will be provided through PayPal directly in cash, gift cards to cover daily shopping needs, and crypto to create a digital asset collection. There are no processing fees when withdrawing money, so you get your entire earned money instead of losing $3 to administration.

FAQs About Getting Paid to Watch Videos

Is getting paid to watch videos legit?

Yes, established platforms like Swagbucks and InboxDollars are legitimate businesses that genuinely pay users. However, legitimacy doesn't mean good earnings since most users earn less than $1 per hour even on reputable platforms.

How much money can I make watching videos?

Realistic expectations should be $15-$40 monthly with 1-2 hours daily across multiple platforms, translating to $0.50-$1.50 per hour on average. Heavy users running videos constantly on several devices might reach $50-$75 monthly.

What's the best app to watch videos for money?

Swagbucks offers the best combination of reliability, variety, and reasonable payout thresholds at $3 for gift cards. For truly passive earnings, Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel pays the most relative to effort since you install monitoring software and do nothing else.

Can I watch videos for money on my phone?

Yes, most major platforms offer mobile apps for Android and iOS. Mobile earnings typically match desktop rates at $0.50-$1.50 per hour, though phone battery drain becomes significant when running video apps for extended periods.

Is EarnLab better than video watching apps?

EarnLab provides substantially higher earnings per hour at $5-$15 versus $0.50-$1.50 for video watching apps. The platform requires more active participation but the 5-10x increase in earnings justifies the additional engagement, with faster payout processing and a lower $5 minimum withdrawal.