Play Games & Take Surveys
- Access a variety of tasks
- Earn up to $300 per offer
- $10 CAD sign-up bonus when you start your first offer


By
Tim Falk&
Rebecca LowEdited by
Leanne EscobalUpdated
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 cash (and have fun too) in your spare time. Here are popular game apps to make money in Canada.
Play Games & Take Surveys
Best for Mobile
Variety of Rewards
Game apps frequently advertise payouts in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. Realistically, high earnings only happen if you reach advanced levels within a timeframe or make in-app purchases. Earning a few extra bucks is doable, but mobile games don’t replace a real income.
Earning potential: Earn from $50 to $1,000 per game
How it works: Gaming companies partner with Freecash to offer financial incentives and attract more people to play their games. You earn money every time you complete a milestone, such as downloading the game and spending a set amount of time playing.
Cash-out minimum: $5 - $20
How to get paid: PayPal, Amazon gift card, prepaid Visa card
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| iOS | 4.7/5 based on over 1,800 reviews |
| Android | 4.3/5 stars based on 173,000+ reviews |
Games available on Freecash include:
Earning potential: Earn up to $800 per offer
How it works: Testerup lets you earn money by playing games, testing apps and products, and completing online surveys. After signing up, you can browse available offers, choose the ones you like and earn rewards by reaching specific goals, such as installing an app and leveling up in a game.
Cash-out minimum: $60
How to get paid: PayPal
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| iOS | 4.3/5 stars based on 9,300+ reviews |
| Android | 4.2/5 stars based on 183,000+ reviews |
Games available on Testerup include:
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: $5 for gift cards or US$25 minimum for PayPal
How to get paid: PayPal, gift cards
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| iOS | 4.4/5 stars based on 147,000+ reviews |
| Android | 4.3/5 stars based on 446,000+ reviews |
Popular games available on Swagbucks include:
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$1 for the first withdrawal, but subsequent withdrawals are available from $2 or US$1.00.
How to get paid: PayPal, 80+ gift cards, Visa prepaid card, charity donation
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| iOS | 4.7/5 stars based on 44,000+ reviews |
| Android | 4.5/5 based on 187,000+ reviews |
Games available on HeyCash include:
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: $6
How to get paid: PayPal, 90+ gift cards or charitable donations
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| iOS | 4.6/5 stars based on 2,700+ reviews |
| Android | 4.3/5 stars based on 177,000+ reviews |
Games available on Prime Opinion include:
Earning potential: You can maximum rewards of US$550 per year.
How it works: Mistplay is a 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 card
| App type | Details |
|---|---|
| iOS | 4.5/5 stars based on over 1,900 reviews |
| Android | 4.5/5 stars based on over 994,000 reviews |
Games available on Mistplay include:
If you’re a new user and you’re searching for legit game apps that pay real money, check out Mistplay, Swagbucks and Prime Opinion. Each one offers 15+ games to choose from, even if you’re new.
As for individual game apps that pay you real money, a diverse range of titles is worth considering. These include Monopoly GO, Bubble Cash, Animals & Coins, Solitaire Cash and Bingo Island. 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.
"I’ve tested several of these game apps, including Prime Opinion, Testerup and Swagbucks. They offer a legitimate and fun way to make money online, but not a quick way. Completing game levels and reaching reward milestones often took me several hours when I was only earning a few dollars for each task. Many games also required in-app purchases to level up, which I avoided, meaning I wasn’t always able to complete every task and move on to higher-paying rewards. If you’re already playing the games offered on these platforms, these game apps can be a good way to make money. Otherwise, your time may be better spent elsewhere."
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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.
Yes, you can make money playing mobile games in Canada. There are plenty of legit game apps that pay real money — in many cases, you'll earn reward points for playing games, and those points can then be redeemed for a range of gift cards or cash via PayPal. Popular money-making apps include Swagbucks, Prime Opinion, Testerup, Mistplay and HeyCash.
Yes. There are lots of free apps that allow you to earn real money playing games. Apps like Mistplay, Testerup, Swagbucks and Prime Opinion are free to download and can help you find money-making offers from game developers.
Withdrawal methods vary depending on the game app you choose. Most will allow you to withdraw cash via PayPal or redeem your rewards for a range of gift cards. In some cases, you may be able to convert your rewards to cryptocurrency or use them to make a charitable donation.
There are many different ways to make an extra $100 in Canada. Some options include slow-earning methods with zero barriers to entry, such as playing online games or completing surveys. Others pay faster but require special skills, such as becoming an online tutor or working as a freelancer. There are plenty of other side hustles that can help you earn an extra buck, so check out our guide on how to earn $100 for more information.
Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 20-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
Rebecca Low is a writer for Finder. She has contributed to a range of digital publications, including Wise, income.ca and Indeed, writing on topics like personal finance, career development, and travel. See full bio
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