These days many of us can’t go long without having our smartphones in our hands, spending a significant amount of time on our phones. What if you could transform some of that leisure time into tangible rewards and play games and earn money? You can get paid to play mobile games, and one game is even paying out a massive £291.
Play games and earn money
Getting paid to play mobile games sounds like the dream, and for me it has been a really fun and lucrative side hustle over the past few months.
It is something that I really enjoy doing, especially as I love playing games on my smartphone.
Here’s how it works:
These games don’t pay out in the game, rather you sign up to an earning platform such as Swagbucks and they reward you for completing certain milestones in game.
These milestones vary – some will pay you for reaching a high level and others will pay in tiers, earning you more rewards as you progress up the levels.
It is a great way to make money with your iPad or make money on your phone.
How much can you earn?
You can actually make a decent amount of money from playing games, and I’d say a monthly goal of £20–£50 is completely achievable for most people.
Your earnings will depend on a few different factors: the type of games you choose, how much time you spend playing, any bonuses from your platform, and whether you are happy to make a small in-game purchase. Sometimes spending £2–£5 can unlock bigger rewards and still leave you in profit.
For example, I earned £48 just from opening two games on Freecash every day. You can see these types of Freecash offers here. On the other end of the scale, I’ve seen single game offers pay out over £200 when you reach a certain level, although those take more time and effort.
This is not going to replace your full-time job, but it is a fun way to stack up Amazon vouchers for Christmas, cover the odd takeaway, or give your savings a little boost while doing something you enjoy.
Types of Games You Can Play and earn money
There are so many different games to play games and earn money.
There really is something for everyone with these games, from merge games to mafia games.
Even I completed the Star Trek game, knowing absolutely nothing and just clicking around.
The types of games include trivia games, arcade games, puzzle and strategy games, board game adaptations and bingo or casino style games.
Sign up to play games and earn cash
If you want to start playing games for cash, the first site I recommend above all others is Freecash. It often has some of the highest-paying offers, usually better rates than competing platforms for many of the same games. Freecash also provides fast cash-out options (PayPal, gift cards, crypto), which makes it super user-friendly and worth prioritising.
That said, payouts vary from game to game and platform to platform. It’s smart to compare offers — sometimes Site A might offer £20 for one game, while Site B offers £25 for the same thing. Checking first can get you more for the same effort.
Here are some other trusted platforms and bonuses to consider:
- Swagbucks – One of the most reputable “get paid to” sites. They give a £3 welcome bonus via links from this blog. They also let you redeem via PayPal, Amazon gift cards, and more.
- EarnStar – Decent mix of tasks/offers; sometimes useful for offers that other sites don’t have.
- RewardXP – Good variety of tasks and offers; useful as a backup when Freecash doesn’t have what you want.
- Zoombucks – Another good option with different offers, sometimes you’ll find better rates than on Swagbucks.
- Custard – UK-based; often nice because gift card redemptions are quick, which means you see results faster.
- HeyCash – Simple survey + game combo; worth checking when you have a bit of time.
- FiveSurveys – Newer platform; good for quick wins.
- Tester Buddy – You can try it out; just keep expectations moderate, as it tends to pay less compared to Freecash or Swagbucks.
If you prefer vouchers instead of cash, here is my guide to the best ways to earn Amazon gift cards in the UK: Free Amazon Gift Cards UK.
Play games and earn money tips and tricks
Here are some easy ways to maximise your earnings when playing games for money.
1. Compare payouts before you start
The same game can pay differently depending on the platform. Always check sites like Freecash first, as they often have the highest payouts. Signing up to multiple sites gives you the chance to compare and grab the best deal.
2. Prioritise high-paying offers
Most platforms let you sort games from highest to lowest payout. Go for the bigger rewards first to make your time count. On Freecash this is as simple as changing the filter settings, and it’s a great way to see which offers are worth your effort.
3. Learn from guides
Game-specific guides can give you shortcuts and strategies you might not have thought of. Check out our:
4. Keep track of deadlines
Each offer has its own rules. Make a note of the end date in your calendar so you don’t miss out on completing the requirements in time.
5. Consider small in-game purchases
For some high-paying offers, spending £2–£5 on an add-on can be the difference between completing the task and missing out. As long as the payout covers your spend and leaves you with profit, this can be a smart move.
6. Stay consistent
Many games reward daily logins. Even if you don’t have time to play properly, opening the app each day can keep bonuses ticking over. I earned £48 just by logging into two games every day on Freecash.
How to Get Your Earnings
How you get your earnings will depend on the platform that you use.
With Freecash, payouts are almost instant. You don’t have to wait weeks to see your money — most rewards hit your account within minutes. You can choose PayPal for cash, Amazon gift cards if you want to save on shopping, Google Play or Apple credit for apps, or even a prepaid Visa you can spend anywhere. Having so many options, all available at the click of a button, makes Freecash one of the fastest and most flexible ways to turn your gaming into real rewards.
For Swagbucks, 1,000SBs will give you £10 into your Paypal account or you can choose from a variety of other rewards. These include Amazon gift cards, a pre-paid Mastercard that can be spent virtually anywhere, Tesco gift cards to help with your grocery costs, M&S gift cards, Starbucks gift cards and many, many more.
Troubleshooting
Sometimes you reach the requirements within the given timeframe and the game doesn’t track.
It happens – don’t worry, all is not lost.
You can reach out to support on that platform, and they will ask for some further information to investigate for you.
From here they can look into things for you, and hopefully credit you with the rewards you should have earned.
If you’re ready to try it out, I’d recommend starting with Freecash as it usually has the best offers. Then sign up to a couple of others to compare and maximise your rewards.
