22 Legit Games That Pay Real Money [November 2024]

These legit game apps pay real money and can be played on the go. Which one should you download?

Updated Oct. 9, 2024

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

I love mobile games. I can play them while I’m waiting for a doctor’s appointment, watching a reality TV show, or when I’m putting off doing something useful like vacuuming.

So what could make a mobile game even better? Winning some money. The games on this list are legit, and they offer real money games. And they’re fun, which is the most important thing.

So check out this list of game apps and download a game or two (or more).

How we evaluate products

Best online platforms to find games to play for real money

I like variety, and I’ll often play one game for a while, then get a little bored and start wanting a new challenge. These online platforms pay you for doing exactly that. You download games, play them for a set amount of levels, and get paid. Then you download another game and do the same thing.

Plus these platforms sometimes have other offers, like signing up for a streaming service.

You can’t go wrong with any of these. I’m a bit partial to Mistplay, but Freecash pays in bitcoin, if that’s something you’re into. And Cash Giraffe was easy to install and get started with.

Cash Giraffe: Best for playing various games

A collection of images of the Cash Giraffe game, screenshotted from an app store listing.

App Store ratings	More than 308,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 on Google Play Store, not available on the App Store
Free to play?	Yes
How do payouts work?	PayPal, or gift cards for Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, and more

Cash Giraffe is a platform that pays you for playing games or scrolling apps like TikTok.

I like that Cash Giraffe offers a lot of variety with its available games and apps. If you see an offer you like, be sure to download it right away, as the offers on Cash Giraffe change. You also earn fewer gems the longer you have an app, which encourages you to download new ones.

What our team had to say

"Cash Giraffe was easy to install and use, and it was a fun way for me to earn cash at home with next to no effort. After about five hours of playing, I earned 49,047 gems, which was enough to redeem for a $5 Amazon gift card." —Rebecca Neubauer, FinanceBuzz writer

Read our Cash Giraffe review

Freecash: Best for casual games and surveys

A collection of images of the Freecash game, screenshotted from an app store listing.

App Store ratings	More than 81,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 on Google Play, not available on the App Store
Free to play?	Yes
How do payouts work?	PayPal, bitcoin, gift cards, and more

I really like the variety that Freecash offers — it pays you for testing different apps and games, as well as taking surveys. Right now, I have offers to play Sunshine Island, Domino Dreams, and Bingo Blitz.

I also really like that you can cash out in bitcoin. That’s unique to Freecash.

Freecash also rewards you for signing up for certain services like Netflix, TikTok, or Postmates. To date, more than $50 million has been earned by Freecash users.

Sign up for Freecash

Mistplay: Best for game variety

App Store ratings	More than 554,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.6 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

Mistplay 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. I like the wide variety of games available — I can download what actually sounds fun rather than just choosing from a couple of options, like my experience with Freecash.

What our team had to say

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.

Read our Mistplay review

Best bingo games

No longer do you have to hang out in church halls with sub-par snacks for hours at a time to play bingo. These bingo games have timed rounds and take a little bit of skill as well as luck.

For example, Bingo Cash has some fun boosters that you can use in your gameplay, if you time things right. Bingo Clash is a good choice if you like one-on-one games, while Bingo Tour is best for tournaments.

Bingo Cash: Best overall bingo game

Our rating	4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	More than 155,500 ratings and an average rating of 4.7 out of 5
Free to play?	Yes
How do payouts work?	PayPal and Apple Pay

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.

What our team had to say

"Bingo Cash games only take a minute and a half, so I can basically play whenever I have a spare moment. It helps that the game is fun (who doesn’t like bingo?) and has great graphics." —Ben Walker, writer and gaming enthusiast

Download Bingo Cash | Read our Bingo Cash review

Bingo Clash: Best for one-on-one games

Our rating	4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	102,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5
Free to play?	Yes
How do payouts work?	PayPal, minimum $5 (any withdrawal under $10 subject to a $1 processing fee)

Bingo Clash is a popular game from AviaGames that can be played on the Pocket7Games platform. This platform has loads of different games available, including Fruit Frenzy and Solitaire Clash. 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.

I like the one-on-one matches — it can feel less intimidating than entering a tournament. Bingo Clash also has power-ups, and it can take some practice to get the hang of how they work.

What our team had to say

“Part of what made Bingo Clash enjoyable was the app's presentation and variety of game modes. I had the option to play free games or pay entry fees and compete in cash tournaments for a chance to win real money.” —Ben Walker, writer and gaming enthusiast

Download Bingo Clash | Read our Bingo Clash review

Bingo Tour: Best for bingo tournaments

Our rating	4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	More than 184,000 rankings and an average rating of 4.8 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)

Like Bingo Cash and Bingo Clash, Bingo Tour, has some fun power-ups like "Gimme More," "Daub It," and "Earn Double." If you time things right, they can help you bump up your points and qualify for bigger prizes.

You 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.

Obviously, you need to be comfortable playing in a tournament with more players, and the graphics and music are a little cheezy. I do like that there aren’t as many pop-ups with this game.

What our team had to say

“I made $10.54 in just one hour of playing low-entry cash tournaments on Bingo Tour. That’s a pretty good rate for a gaming app, although it doesn’t account for my initial deposit, entry fees, and bonus cash (a form of in-game currency).” —Mindy Woodall, writer and mobile game expert

Read our Bingo Tour review

Blackout Bingo: Best advanced bingo game

Our rating	5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	Over 92,000 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.

Have you gotten bored with other bingo game apps? This one should be the next on your list. The gameplay is more advanced, offering a wider variety of tournaments than other apps and unique boosters.

It’s also on the Skillz platform, which is a plus because Skillz is a leader in mobile games, and it 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.

What our team had to say

"I like Blackout Bingo because it's a fun spin on the classic game. You can play for free, but the paid levels include faster gameplay, interesting features like time boosts, and higher ticket payouts which can be exchanged for in-game cash or prizes. For me, though, it's mostly about playing against other real people instead of just a computer." —Mary James, writer and long-time mobile gaming lover

Read our Blackout Bingo review

Best Solitaire games

Solitaire is a classic card and computer game, but I don’t think anyone would call it exciting. These apps make it an entirely different experience. You’re competing against other players, your play might be timed, there might be mini-games to play, and you could win real money. These are our favorite Solitaire apps.

Solitaire Cash: Best Solitaire game for newbies

Our rating	4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	Over 350,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5
Free to play?	Yes
How do payouts work?	PayPal

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.

I like its well-designed interface and the fact that I can play for free or for cash. The main downside? It has a lot of pop-ups, which are very annoying.

What our team had to say

"I like how easy it was to get started, especially because I’ve never been much of a Solitaire player. But I was able to quickly learn how to play and start competing against other players of similar skill levels." —Ben Walker, writer and gaming enthusiast

Download Solitaire Cash | Read our Solitaire Cash review

Solitaire Clash: Best for fewer pop-ups

Our rating	4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	More than 243,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.8 out of 5
Free to play?	Yes
How do payouts work?	PayPal, Check ($2 minimum withdrawal)

Solitaire Clash allows you to play for free or for cash. I like that it has fewer pop-ups so you can make the most of your time playing the game. I don’t love the dated graphics and occasional lag time.

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.

What our team had to say

"Solitaire Clash doesn’t have the slickest graphics I’ve ever seen, but it’s fun to play and it was easier for me to win money than with some other gaming apps."—Mindy Woodall, writer and mobile game expert

Download Solitaire Clash | Read our Solitaire Clash review

Solitaire Cube: Best Solitaire game on the Skillz platform

Our rating	4.5 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	Over 93,000 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.

Solitaire Cube is an app that uses the Skillz platform to offer cash tournaments (where available) to its players. I like the intuitive game controls and that you can play for free to get the hang of the game before you try a cash game.

One big downside? If you withdraw your winnings and you’re in the U.S., you’re paid by paper check.

Download Solitaire Cube | Read our Solitaire Cube game review

Best blackjack games

Blackjack is a simple game, but it can be difficult to win. With these apps, you can play blackjack with your phone instead of trekking to a casino. The time limit makes the game more exciting, as does the competitive elements against other players.

Ready to try your luck? These are our favorite blackjack games.

21 Cash: Best for new blackjack players

Our rating	4.3 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	More than 15,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.7 out of 5
Free to play?	Yes
How do payouts work?	PayPal

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.

I recommend playing several free games against yourself before you enter any cash tournaments. Once you’re gotten the hang of the game and started playing strategically, then it’s time to enter a cash tournament (if that’s available in your state).

Tip

“The best tip I have for scoring points is improving your mental math abilities. The faster you can mentally calculate what numbers add up to 21, the more successful you’ll be at this game. But you can play even if you’re not a math whiz (I’m certainly not). The game board shows you the total number at the top of every column.” —Ben Walker, writer and gaming enthusiast

Read our 21 Cash review

21 Blitz: Best Solitaire and 21 game

Our rating	4.3 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
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.

21 Blitz is another game 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 twist.

I like that it’s easy to learn and that the game states up front that it’s “bot-free,” so you’ll always be playing against real players. The graphics aren’t spectacular, though, and this is another game where you have to wait to be paid by check.

Download 21 Blitz | Read our 21 Blitz review

Best bubble shooter games

I’ve spent what some might describe as an unhealthy amount of time playing bubble shooters. They’re easy, fun, and kind of addictive. These apps add the element of cash games for those who want to win money. Just take the time to line up your shots so you don’t waste any bubbles.

Bubble Cash: Best bubble shooter game

Our rating	4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	Over 128,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5
Free to play?	Yes
How do payouts work?	PayPal

Bubble Cash is a lot of fun to play. The graphics are colorful, and the gameplay is simple, making it a good choice for unwinding after a long day.

I don’t love the frequent pop-up promos that try to convince me to deposit more cash, though. I'm also not a fan of the $1 handling fee on each withdrawal. That's unusual compared to other games on this list.

What our team had to say

"Even after roughly 20 hours of total gameplay, I’ve never won #1 in a tournament without both clearing the board and finishing before the time runs out. You’ll need both of those bonuses to be at all competitive with other players on the leaderboard." —Ben Walker, writer and gaming enthusiast

Download Bubble Cash | Read our Bubble Cash review

Bubble Buzz: Best for bubble game enthusiasts

Our rating	4.3 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	Over 54,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.8 out of 5
Free to play?	Yes
How do payouts work?	PayPal ($10 minimum)

Bubble Buzz is easy to learn. In particular, its power-ups add some variety to the gameplay (and improve your chances of winning). I also like that prizes are typically split between the top three players in a tournament, which improves your chances of winning.

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.

Overall, 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.

Read our Bubble Buzz review

Best tournament games

Do you like competition? These are competitive games that require unique skills. Pool games have a steeper learning curve than other games on this list, but they’re really fun to play. And Big Buck Hunter: Marksman is a classic arcade game that you can now enjoy on your phone.

8 Ball Strike: Best for pool game fans who want a challenge

Our rating	4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	More than 29,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.8 out of 5
Free to play?	Yes
How do payouts work?	PayPal ($2 minimum and $1 processing fee for any withdrawal under $10)

I like that 8 Ball Strike follows a skill-based rule system that ensures matches are consistently fair and accurate. It’s no fun winning or losing by a landslide.

The game mechanics are interesting on this one. 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.

You can pass the time and play free billiards on your phone 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.

Tip

Instead of a game that may not take much forethought, 8 Ball Strike requires aiming accurately and calculating possible angles, just like a real pool game. It may take time to get good enough at the game to earn more than a few dollars.

Read our 8 Ball Strike review

Pool Payday: Best pool game on the Skillz platform

Our rating	4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	Over 90,000 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.

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.

I like the variety of gameplay options. You can just practice to learn the game, and there’s an offline mode so you don’t need to wait for an opponent, which is a tedious part of tournament play.

Download Pool Payday | Read our Pool Payday game review

Big Buck Hunter: Best hunting game

Our rating	4.5 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	Over 12,000 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.

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.

In particular, I like the variety of game modes, especially events, that give the opportunity to earn cash and prizes.

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

Best casual games

After a long work day, my brain is fried. While more complicated games like pool sound fun, they require more thinking than I want to do.

These are top casual games that maximize fun and minimize stress.

Fruit Frenzy: Best matching game

Our rating	4.4 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	Over 89,000 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 are subject to a $1 processing fee)

Fruit Frenzy is available from AviaGames through its Pocket7Games app.

I like that this game is 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. Easy peasy.

What our team had to say

“I’m not a big fan of timed games, especially those that require strategy like Fruit Frenzy. It adds to the pressure of the game, but for some it makes it a bit more exciting. I suggest playing as many free practice games as you can to shake out the nervousness before playing for money.” —Samantha Hawrylack, writer and gaming enthusiast

Download Fruit Frenzy | Read our Fruit Frenzy game review

Dominoes Gold: Best dominoes game

Our rating	4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	Over 29,000 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.

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.

I like the seamless gameplay, integration with the Skillz platform, and generous prize pools.

What our team had to say

“Dominoes Gold gives you only one human opponent to worry about (and beat). So that might make this game feel easier to win than those with bigger player pools.” —Ben Walker, writer and gaming enthusiast

Download Dominoes Gold | Read our Dominoes Gold review

Match n Flip: Best for Uno fans

Our rating	4.1 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	89,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 (for Pocket7Games)
Free to play?	Yes
How do payouts work?	PayPal, or you can redeem your winnings for prizes like Airpods, an iPad, or small appliances.

I’m a little partial to Match ‘n Flip because it’s like Uno, a game I’ve played with my family for years. It’s easy to learn — 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.

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. You can play for free against yourself 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.

This game is a part of the Pocket7Games app.

Download Match n Flip

Word Search: Best for word game lovers

Our rating	4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	89,000 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)

In surprising news for a writer, I also enjoy a word search. And with this app, instead of hauling around bulky puzzle books or waiting for games to download online, I can take word searches wherever I go and potentially earn a little extra cash.

In terms of play, 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 multiplayer 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

Blockolot: Best for logic game fans

Our rating	4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
App Store ratings	Over 15,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.8 out of 5
Free to play?	Yes
How do payouts work?	PayPal, Apple Pay, Visa, Venmo

This digital puzzle board combines a classic block puzzle with a sudoku-type grid. Playing involves clearing 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

Advice for making money with game apps

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, may have limited access to cash games in some states. 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 for Android or iOS, decide ahead of time how much you plan 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.

Our favorite cash game apps

Game	Best for	App Store rating	Our rating
Cash Giraffe	Best for playing various games	4.4/5
Freecash	Best for casual games and surveys	4.1/5
Mistplay	Best for game variety	4.6/5
Bingo Cash	Best overall bingo game	4.7/5	4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Bingo Clash	Best bingo game on non-Skillz platform	4.5/5	4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Bingo Tour	Best for bingo lovers	4.8/5	4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Blackout Bingo	Best bingo game on Skillz platform	4.5/5	5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Solitaire Cash	Best Solitaire game from Papaya Gaming	4.6/5	4.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Solitaire Clash	Best for solitaire lovers	4.8/5	4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Solitaire Cube	Best Solitaire game from Tether Studios	4.6/5	4.5 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
21 Cash	Best for blackjack lovers	4.7/5	4.3 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
21 Blitz	Best Solitaire and 21 game	4.6/5	4.3 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Bubble Cash	Best bubble shooter game	4.6/5	4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Bubble Buzz	Best for bubble game enthusiasts	4.8/5	4.3 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
8 Ball Strike	Best for pool game fans	4.8/5	4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Pool Payday	Best pool game	4.6/5	4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Big Buck Hunter	Best hunting game	4.7/5	4.5 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Fruit Frenzy	Best fruit matching game	4.5/5	4.4 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Dominoes Gold	Best dominoes game	4.7/5	4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Match n Flip	Best for match game enthusiasts	4.5/5	4.1 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Word Search	Best for word game lovers	4.5/5	4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Blockolot	Best for logic game fans	4.8/5	4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Additional games to win real money

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, or use an app like Jackpocket to buy lottery tickets.

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.

FAQs

Are game apps for winning money legit?

Game apps for winning money are legit. There’s no guarantee that you will win money playing games, 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.

Can you really make money playing games?

You can make money playing games. The games on this list are a good place to get started. Winning money is not a guarantee, though, so be sure to choose games you genuinely enjoy so you make the most of your time and effort.

Bottom line

Gaming apps could provide a fun way to 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, try 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.

Check out our list of other legit ways to make money for more opportunities to pad your income on the side.

More from FinanceBuzz: