These Apps Pay You Money Instantly Just for Signing Up
Wouldn’t it be great if an app paid you just to sign up? It’s not as unlikely as it seems. Several apps and services incentivize new users to sign up, which could mean free cash in your wallet.
We’ve combed through apps and services that claim to pay you for signing up, selecting only those that follow through. Here’s a plentiful selection of apps that pay you to sign up, from investing options to free money in your bank account.
What Is a Sign-Up Incentive (Bonus)?
Sign-up incentives, or sign-up bonuses, are when an app or service provides you with something for free in exchange for signing up for their platform. The most well-known incentives have generally come from banks, which sometimes offer free money to open an account.
Back in your mom and pop’s day, a common incentive was for a bank to provide a free appliance, such as a brand-new toaster, upon opening a checking or savings account. Luckily, incentives today have become a bit more interesting.
The apps we have selected all provide sign-up bonuses or incentives. Many of the paid survey apps we chose to include offer you free money, such as a $10 sign-up bonus, just for joining the platform. Other apps may provide free money to help you begin investing.
Sign-up bonuses are designed to hook you into a platform, and while some apps may use them in unethical ways, we’ve ensured that our selection showcases only apps that deliver on their promise of free money.
12 Apps That Pay You Money to Sign Up
Our selection of apps that pay you money to sign up showcases various services so that you can find the option that works best for you. Some selections on our list focus on providing you with coupon discounts, while others are investment tools. Either way, you’ll earn sign-up bonuses with these apps and services.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a service that offers free cash and free gift cards for shopping online, playing video games, searching the web or answering surveys. Swagbucks has been a popular option for earning free cash and gift cards; it has built a solid reputation over the years. For those who sign up for the platform and shop, a $10 sign-up bonus is included.
Rakuten
Anyone looking to save money or earn free money has likely heard of Rakuten. A major Japanese technology company, Rakuten offers free cash back for shopping online at your favorite stores. Users can shop at Rakuten.com, on the Rakuten app or via the free browser extension. New users who sign up and shop receive a $10 sign-up bonus.
Survey Junkie
Taking surveys is a great way to earn free money. While binge-watching your favorite TV show, you can answer questions on your smartphone and get paid. Survey Junkie is likely one of the most well-known survey platforms and offers PayPal cash, which you can transfer to your bank account, or e-gift cards in exchange for your time. Sign up via a referral link to get $30 free.
Fetch
It’s easy to retrieve some cash with Fetch. Snap photos of your receipts, physical or digital, or earn points, then cash out by selecting from hundreds of gift cards. A social element even allows you to save money with friends while increasing your own bank account balance. Sign up with a referral code for 2,000 bonus points.
Robinhood
Robinhood has a robust financial services app offering stock investments, crypto trading and retirement accounts. We’ve reviewed Robinhood before and were impressed, but today we’re focused on the company’s sign-up bonus. Join today and Robinhood will provide you with free stock to get started — that’s free money.
MyPoints
Do you want to earn free money by shopping, taking surveys and playing games? If those options sound appealing to you, check out MyPoints. Using MyPoints, you can earn up to 20 points (aka cash back) on purchases when you shop online, up to 2,200 points per survey and up to four points per game you play. Get started today and MyPoints will throw in a $5 welcome bonus.
InboxDollars
Like MyPoints, InboxDollars offers you cash to take surveys, shop online and play games. Its business model works by having brands pay it for consumer input, then you earn cash in exchange for your input — bam, free money. Sometimes earning cash can be as easy as reading a simple email and providing feedback. New users receive a $5 sign-up bonus.
BeFrugal
Has anyone referred to you as frugal? Take advantage of that prestigious title and try out the BeFrugal service. Shop on the BeFrugal website or mobile app or use the company’s browser extension to earn cash back when you shop online. Money is delivered via check, PayPal, direct deposit to your bank account, Venmo, Zelle or gift cards. Users who join today receive a $10 sign-up bonus.
Fundrise
Have you ever considered investing your money in real estate? If it’s crossed your mind, you might want to consider Fundrise. Sign up to Fundrise to receive a $10 investment credit and see how you can scale your money. Last year Fundrise provided an annual return rate of 1.5% with its portfolio.
Branded Surveys
Survey lovers can rejoice with Branded Surveys. Sign up for Branded Surveys, verify your identity and take surveys from global brands to earn cash. Earn a 100-point bonus for signing up and beginning your survey-taking journey. When it’s time to cash out, receive your money in the form of a gift card or cash via PayPal or Branded Pay.
Shopkick
The Shopkick app makes it easy to earn gift cards whether sitting at home on your couch or shopping in-store. Earn kicks (aka points) by walking into stores and scanning bar codes on select products or by making purchases. You’ll also earn points when shopping online through chosen partners or watching provided videos. Use a promo code upon signing up to Shopkick to receive free kicks to get you started.
Stash
Those interested in investing are likely familiar with the Stash app. Using Stash on your iOS or Android device, you can begin investing using a diversified portfolio managed by finance experts. In addition to investing on your own, Stash offers a debit card that earns you up to 1% in stock every time you spend — that’s not bad. Best of all, the company is known for offering sign-up bonuses, with the most recent campaign providing $20 for new users.
Michael Archambault is a senior writer with The Penny Hoarder specializing in technology.
