5 game apps that pay real money in Canada

Earn money just by playing fun games on your phone (yes, really!)

Picture not described

Getting paid to play games might sound too good to be true, but it isn’t. There are plenty of legit game apps that pay real money to play, so you can earn some extra money (and have fun too) in your spare time. Here are five popular game apps to make money in Canada.

1. Freecash

Freecash homepage banner

Earning potential: up to $1,000 per offer.

How it works: Gaming companies partner with Freecash to offer financial incentives and attract more people to play their games. You can find available games by logging in to your account or using the Freecash app.

Cash-out minimum: $5 - $20

How to get paid:

  • PayPal
  • Prepaid Visa cards
  • Cryptocurrency withdrawal to a wallet (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin or Ethereum)
  • Cryptocurrency withdrawal to Stake.com

Go to site

Pros

  • 4.7/5 based on over 172,000 Trustpilot reviews
  • User-friendly app
  • Fast cash-out
  • Multiple ways to access your funds
  • Also offers other ways to make real money

Cons

  • No iOS app
  • 5% fee for PayPal withdrawals
  • You’ll have access to fewer offers if your account starts on Lite Mode
  • High cash-out minimum if you’re just starting out

App ratings

PlatformDetails
iOS
N/A
Android
4.4/5 based on over 157,000 reviews

Games available

Popular games available on Freecash include:

  • Animals & Coins. Build islands, raid other lands and collect coins in this animal adventure game.
  • The Grand Mafia. Take on the role of a mafia boss in this strategy game as you battle to become the city’s crime overlord.
  • Bingo Aloha. Craft your own bingo experience in this popular free game.
  • Mafia City. A strategy game that sees you fight, steal and build alliances to become the Godfather of the city.
  • Star Trek Fleet Command. Take control of the fleet and conquer the universe in this intergalactic strategy game.

App preview

2. Swagbucks

Earning potential: Approximately 100 to 25,000 SB (100 SB = $1)

How it works: Swagbucks offers an online library of games that you can also access via the Swagbucks app on your Android or iOS device. These are game apps that pay real money, and you’ll earn Swagbucks points (SB) for playing games and completing tasks.

Cash-out minimum: $3 gift card or $25 minimum for PayPal

How to get paid:

  • PayPal
  • Gift cards

Go to site

Pros

  • 4/5 stars based on over 39,000 Trustpilot reviews
  • User-friendly app
  • Multiple ways to earn real money
  • Low minimum cash-out

Cons

  • 1 SB is worth only 1 cent
  • Not going to make you rich

App ratings

PlatformDetails
iOS
4.3/5 based on over 19,600 reviews
Android
4.4/5 based on over 379,000 reviews

Games available

Popular games available on Swagbucks include:

  • June’s Journey. A 1920s mystery adventure where you play detective, solve puzzles and find hidden objects.
  • Match Masters. This multiplayer game offers a turn-based match-three competition.
  • Dice Dreams. Roll the dice and build your kingdom to win prizes.
  • Battle Night. An idle gameplay cyberpunk RPG set in the year 2077.
  • Sliding Match. A pair matching puzzle game where you connect tiles to clear the board.

App preview

3. HeyCash

Earning potential: $0.50 to $120 per game

How it works: If you download and play games on your smartphone and complete in-game challenges, you can earn rewards. Simply find available games from your account dashboard, and check out what in-game tasks you need to complete and in what time frame.

Cash-out minimum: US$5 for the first withdrawal, but subsequent withdrawals are available from $2 or US$1.00.

How to get paid:

  • PayPal
  • Gift cards

Go to site

Pros

  • Low minimum cash-out
  • Quick and easy signup
  • Multiple ways to earn
  • Multiple cash-out options

Cons

  • 1,000 points only = US$1
  • Points expire after 1 year
  • Not a replacement for a regular income

App ratings

PlatformDetails
iOS
4.6/5 based on over 2,100 reviews
Android
4.3/5 based on over 135,000 reviews

Games available

Popular games available on HeyCash include:

  • Idle Bank Tycoon. Build a banking empire to earn rewards and increase your wealth.
  • Zombie Waves. This 3D shooter sees you navigate a post-apocalyptic world in a battle to survive a zombie invasion.
  • Puzzles & Chaos: Frozen Castle. A match-3 fantasy strategy game set in an ancient frozen land.
  • Phase 10. Tackle the classic card game of rummy but with an exciting twist.
  • Raid: Shadow Legends. Summon over 800 heroes to do battle in this dark fantasy RPG.

App preview

4. Prime Opinion

Earning potential: Rewards commonly range from 100 to 90,000 points per offer (1 point = US$0.01).

How it works: Though it’s best known as a paid survey platform, Prime Opinion also lets you make real money by playing games and achieving in-game milestones. Find games in the offers section of your account.

Cash-out minimum: $5.00

How to get paid:

  • Cash via Paypal
  • Cash via Revolut
  • Charitable donations
  • Gift cards

Go to site

Pros

  • Quick and easy to get started
  • Low minimum cash-out
  • Fast payouts
  • Choose from over 65 gift cards
  • 4.3/5 based on over 19,000 Trustpilot reviews

Cons

  • Uses a points system rather than cash
  • Points expire after 1 year

App ratings

PlatformDetails
iOS
4.6/5 based on over 2,500 reviews
Android
4.4/5 based on over 163,000 reviews

Games available

Popular games available on Prime Opinion include:

  • Lords Mobile: Last Rise of Qin. An epic real-time strategy game that sees you build an army and clash with players from around the world.
  • Traffic Escape! Take control of busy streets to help cars escape traffic jams.
  • Doomsday x Pacific Rim. A fast-paced strategy game set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies.
  • Word Connect – Words of Nature. Complete crossword puzzles to challenge your brain and improve your word skills.
  • Survivor Idle Run. Battle hordes of zombies, complete quests and earn rewards in this action-packed RPG.

App preview

5. Mistplay

Earning potential: maximum rewards of US$550 per year.

How it works: Mistplay is an Android mobile gaming platform where you can make real money playing games. You can redeem the rewards you earn for gift cards from Amazon, PayPal, Visa and more.

Cash-out minimum: $5 gift card.

How to get paid:

  • Paypal
  • Gift cards

Pros

  • Good variety of games to choose from
  • Wide range of gift cards
  • Low cash-out minimum

Cons

  • Not available on iPhone
  • Not going to make you rich
  • Some mixed reviews on Trustpilot

App ratings

App typeDetails
iOS
N/A
Android
4.4/5 based on over 807,000 reviews

Games available

Popular games available on Mistplay include:

  • Family Island. This farming game sets you on a desert island, where a modern Stone Age family can explore new territory, solve puzzles and build a city.
  • Merge Gardens. A free merge game where you can solve puzzles and combine unique objects to discover the hidden secrets of Myrtlegrove Estate.
  • Travel Town. Combine items into other more useful items as you travel the world.
  • Doomsday: Last Survivors. A zombie survival game with real-time strategy features set in the near future.
  • Lords Mobile: Kingdom Wars. The emperor has fallen, so it’s your job to create an army and build your empire.

App preview

What are the best games and game apps to make money?

If you’re searching for legit game apps that pay real money, apps like Freecash, Swagbucks and HeyCash are well worth checking out. All three offer a huge range of games to choose from, low minimum cash-outs and a variety of rewards to choose from. And if you check the latest game offers in your account, it’s easy to find ways to maximize your earning potential.

As for individual game apps that pay you real money, Reddit users mention a diverse range of titles worth considering. These include Solitaire Cash, Bubble Cash, Animals & Coins, Atlas Earth and Bingo Cash. However, it’s worth noting that some of these games require you to deposit money to play or pay an entry fee, so be very wary of spending any real cash in-game.

The best free real money game apps will also vary depending on what offers are available at any given time, so check the offers section of your account to find the most lucrative games.

Tips to make real money-making game apps worth your time

  • Check for the latest offers. From Swagbucks to Freecash and all other game apps that pay you real money in Canada, check your account to find out about current game offers available.
  • Look for low minimum cash-outs. Find apps with low minimum withdrawal limits so you can cash out quickly, and withdraw funds regularly in case your reward points expire after a certain amount of time.
  • Watch out for withdrawal fees. Check the fine print to find out whether the app charges a withdrawal fee when you cash out.
  • Find games you enjoy. It’s a lot easier to make money playing games when you find games that you actually enjoy. If a particular game is too much of a time-consuming grind, look for other options instead.

Watch out for games that are more like gambling

Search the most popular game apps that pay real money and you’ll find that many of them seem a lot more like gambling than gaming. These games often require you to pay to play, and some feature the types of activities you’d find in a Vegas casino—slots, blackjack and the like.

Be very wary of any game that requires you to fork out cash to play. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement and spend more than you want to, and some games can be highly addictive. Instead, look for free games that don’t require any investment from you.

Frequently asked questions

Leanne Escobal's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Leanne Escobal as part of our fact-checking process.
Tim Falk's headshot
Written by

Writer

Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

Tim's expertise
Tim has written 452 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Banking
  • Personal Loans
  • Car Loans
  • Stock Trading
  • Cryptocurrency

More guides on Finder

Go to site