Bubble Buzz Review [2024]: Is Paying To Play Worth It?

What is Bubble Buzz?

Bubble Buzz is a game app available for download on the App Store for iOS devices, including compatible iPhones, iPads, and iPods. I couldn’t find any availability for an Android app on Google Play, but Bubble Buzz is available on the Galaxy Store.

Bubble Buzz was created by AviaGames, Inc. and has an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 on the Apple App Store, with over 53,000 ratings and reviews.

How much can you earn with Bubble Buzz?

The good news is that you can play Bubble Buzz without depositing any money. I personally don’t like to pay to play games, so I play to earn “gems.” I use these gems to keep playing, and if I run out of gems, I stop playing.

But if you like to pay to play, you may earn money for playing. This is one of the few online games that requires skill rather than luck. I'll leave that to the pros since I’ve never been super skilled at arcade games.

However, even without depositing funds, I still earned a little bit of cash (less than $1), as you see in the image above.

Here’s how it works if you do want to play cash games, though. All Bubble Buzz cash games have a prize pool that’s typically split between the top three players of each match. The largest prize pool I saw was $55. With this prize pool, first place would receive $27, second would receive $16, and third would receive $12. The entry fee for this game mode was $9.

After you account for the entry fee, first place would win $18, second place would win $7, and third place would win $3. Everyone else in this nine-player game would receive nothing.

Considering each game has a three-minute timer, you could potentially play 20 games per hour. If you placed first in every single one of those games, you would profit $360.

But the chances of winning every game, especially if you’re new to bubble shooting games, are low.

Knowing this, Bubble Buzz isn’t a way to earn tons of money in your free time unless you’re very good at the game. Still, it’s a fun game and one of many ways to learn how to make money if you don’t have much time to spare.

Withdrawals and deposits

You can’t deposit money or make withdrawals unless you register for a Bubble Buzz account. This can be slightly confusing because you can play the game for free without actually creating an account.

For instance, I was able to download and install the app and start playing free games using gems (the in-game currency) without linking an email address or creating a password.

But if I try to select the “Withdrawal” option from the menu, I’m prompted to register my account and verify my email.

If you do want to withdraw funds, it doesn’t take more than a few minutes and involves providing an email address and password.

I share the full steps on how to get started with Bubble Buzz below.

You can request a payout at any time if you have at least $10 in your available account balance. Withdrawal requests can take up to 15 days to process, and Bubble Buzz uses PayPal for secure withdrawals.

Cash deposits can be made using Apple Pay, Visa, and Venmo.

How to make more money with Bubble Buzz

While I don’t play for money, I can tell from my experience playing the free games what it takes to excel at this game and potentially make money:

1. Practice

Bubble Buzz is a skill-based game, which means you’re matched against other players of a similar skill level. Bubble Buzz doesn’t share how they determine ‘skill level,’ but the more you play, the better you’ll get. Even after playing a few games, I got better and even cleared an entire board on my third attempt at the game.

As you play more, you’ll better understand how the different power-ups and the scoring system work. If you’re like me, you’ll also get better at predicting your moves and learning the mechanics of aiming the shooter.

2. Use power-ups and bonuses

Bubble Buzz provides many fun features that work as power-ups and bonuses that you can strategically use to increase your points:

• Rainbow Bubble: Clears two or more bubbles of different colors at once.
• Bomb: Clears all bubbles within a certain area.
• Rocket: Clears all bubbles that it touches.
• Lightning: Clears up to nine bubbles in the same row.
• 2X points: Provides double points for a certain amount of time.

Power-ups can easily clear large portions of your board and help you quickly earn more points. But don’t get hasty, like I did. You want to use them strategically for them to be more effective. When used right, you can wipe out a big section of bubbles.

Note that the 2X points bonus appears as a bubble with a “2X” icon on it. If you pop that bubble, you’ll earn double points for a short period of time. You can tell the 2X bonus is active because your screen will glow, and there will be a 2X icon next to your total points. It doesn’t last long, though, so watch the timer and make the most of your bonus.

3. Play quickly

The faster you play, the more time bonuses you get. You earn a time bonus if you clear the board with time still remaining on the clock. The bonus is bigger the more time that’s left.

4. Aim for big combos

It’s tempting to aim for just three bubbles, but you miss out on potential bonuses. Instead, clear larger groups of bubbles that clear a larger section of the board and earn more points.

You can also clear groups of bubbles behind bubbles of a different color; you just have to get used to using the aiming tool (it took me a few tries). This strategy can help you clear not only the bubbles of the color you shoot at but also any bubbles attached to them in front of that group.

5. Bank your shots

You can bank your shots off the sides of the board to allow for more strategic placements. For example, a banked shot might allow you to hit a group of bubbles in a hard-to-reach location.

6. Swap your bubble

You can always see the bubble you’re about to shoot and the next bubble in line. If you select the refresh circle, you’ll swap to the bubble that’s next up. This strategy helped me clear my first board.

7. Clear the board

You’ll receive 1,500 extra bonus points for clearing the board. You can see this added to your score at the end of the game.

How to get started

You must be at least 18 to register an account to play Bubble Buzz. Cash tournaments aren’t allowed in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, or U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico.

Setting up and registering a Bubble Buzz account is simple and straightforward. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Download Bubble Buzz from the App Store.
2. Open the app and choose a username and avatar.
3. Play the tutorial to learn the controls.
4. Play a real match against other players.
5. Select “Save Account” from the in-game menu.
6. Register your account by entering an email address and creating a password.
7. Turn on location services to see if you can participate in cash tournaments.

Alternatives: Bingo Clash and Solitaire Cash

Bubble Buzz is a skill-based game that’s not for everyone. While I enjoy playing it to unwind, I know it wouldn’t help me earn money because I’m not an expert at playing it. Fortunately, there are other mobile games to play that help you earn money.

Bingo Clash

Bingo Clash is a skill-based mobile game that uses elements of classic bingo to create a fun gaming environment. You can play against other real players in a variety of game modes and decide whether you want to play in free or fair skill-based cash games. 

While Bingo doesn’t sound like a skill-based game, winning requires speed and a solid strategy.

Solitaire Cash

Solitaire Cash brings the fun of classic Klondike Solitaire game elements to your mobile device with engaging multiplayer tournaments and the chance to earn real money. 

Even better, you’re matched with other players of a similar skill level, so there’s a fair chance of winning. This is one of my favorite games because I grew up playing Solitaire and have some strategies up my sleeve that help me win.

FAQs

Bottom line

Bubble Buzz is a fun mobile game you can play for free, or you can deposit cash to compete in paid games for real money. I like how Bubble Buzz pits you against other players of a similar skill level because it gives you a chance to learn the game without constantly losing to better players.

Like many similar games, Bubble Buzz doesn’t guarantee that you’ll win cash prizes for playing. But it could be fun to play and try to earn some extra money in your free time, especially if you like bubble shooters. I recommend playing for free and seeing how good you can get at the game to earn free money.

However, if games aren’t your favorite way to increase your income, check out our best side hustles.