11 Apps to Make Money in Canada

If you’re looking for ways to supplement your regular income, there are several legit get-paid-to apps in Canada that pay real cash.

In this guide, we’ll compare free money apps, how they work and what you need to do to start earning a little extra on the side.

Play Games & Take Surveys

Freecash

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• Access a variety of tasks
• Earn up to $300 per offer
• $10 CAD sign-up bonus when you start your first offer

Best for Mobile

Testerup

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• Earn up to $800 through offers
• No limit on how much you play games or complete surveys
• Earn money while playing games

Paid Surveys

LEO (Leger Opinion)

Go to site

• Earn up to $100 per month in rewards
• Finder readers receive 2,000 LEO welcome bonus points
• Free, user-friendly, and secure app and website

1. Freecash

How it works

Freecash is a get-paid-to app and online platform that offers several ways to make money online. Once you create a free account, you can access special offers from third-party companies known as Offerwalls. You’ll then earn coins when you complete an offer, such as playing a mobile game, completing an in-game task or filling out a survey. 1,000 coins are equivalent to $1, and you can redeem your coins for a wide range of rewards.

Site and app ratings

2. Testerup

How it works

Testerup is a get-paid-to platform where you can make money by completing offers. These offers include activities such as playing games and testing apps, and there’s typically a wide range of options to choose from. The rewards you earn can then be easily redeemed for cash via PayPal, making Testerup one of the best money-making apps in Canada.

Site and app ratings

3. Leger Opinion

How it works

Leger Opinion, also known as LEO, is an online survey platform where you can earn rewards by sharing your opinions on products, services and social topics. Once you create a free account and complete your profile, you’ll receive survey invitations you can take on a phone, tablet or computer with LEO’s mobile app or web platform. For each survey you complete, you earn points that can be redeemed for rewards like PayPal deposits, gift cards or charitable donations.

Site and app ratings

4. Branded Surveys

How it works

Branded Surveys is a website and mobile app where you can get paid to complete surveys and questionnaires. Once you sign up and create a Branded Surveys profile, you’ll be matched with suitable surveys. Complete them and you’ll earn reward points, with 1 point equivalent to US$0.01, and you can redeem those points for cash and a huge selection of gift cards.

Site and app ratings

5. SurveyLion

How it works

SurveyLion is a legit money-making platform that pays everyday Canadians real money for completing online surveys. All you have to do is create an account and fill out your profile, and SurveyLion will then email you an invitation when you qualify for a survey. Complete the survey and you’ll earn money just for providing your feedback.

Site and app ratings

6. Survey Junkie

How it works

Survey Junkie is an online market research platform where you can earn points for completing surveys and participating in studies. You can also get rewarded for downloading the Surf to Earn browser extension and sharing your digital browsing activity, with 1 point equal to US$0.01. Survey Junkie is also one of the most popular free get-paid-to apps, with thousands of five-star ratings across the App Store and Google Play.

Site and app ratings

7. Swagbucks

How it works

Swagbucks is a consumer rewards and loyalty app and website that offers several ways to make money. You can get paid to play games, answer surveys, search the internet and more. You’ll earn Swagbucks points, known as SB, for every task you complete, and these points can be redeemed for cash via PayPal or a wide selection of gift cards.

Site and app ratings

8. HeyCash

How it works

HeyCash pays you reward points for filling out surveys, playing games and completing offers. It’s one of the most popular free money apps because it offers multiple ways to earn, a wide range of reward options and user-friendly mobile apps. 1,000 HeyCash points = $1, and you can redeem your points for cash via PayPal or dozens of gift cards.

Site and app ratings

9. Prime Opinion

How it works

If you’ve ever compared apps that make you money in Canada, you’ve probably come across Prime Opinion. This online survey site and app pays reward points when you complete surveys and questionnaires, while you can also earn points by completing offers such as playing games or opening accounts on investing or trading platforms. 100 points equals US$1, and you can turn your points into cash, gift cards or charitable donations.

Site and app ratings

10. Toluna

How it works

Toluna is an online survey platform and free money app. It pays you points for every survey you complete—3,000 points is equivalent to $1—while you can also earn by playing simple online games. When you’re ready to cash out, you can redeem your points for cash via PayPal, a gift card or a charitable donation.

Site and app ratings

11. Five Surveys

How it works

Five Surveys offers a website and free money apps on Android and iOS where you can get paid to answer surveys. You’ll receive $1 per survey, and you’ll need to complete five surveys before you can cash out. When you do make a withdrawal, there’s a wide selection of options to choose from.

Site and app ratings

What are the best apps to make money fast?

If you’re searching for the best money-making apps, here are a few options that received high Finder Scores based on our get-paid-to platform ratings methodology:

• Swagbucks impresses with the sheer range of money-making opportunities available. It also offers gift cards for $15 or less, so you don’t need to build a big rewards balance in order to cash out your earnings. Finder Score: 8.8.
• Branded Surveys is another popular option and offers a simple way to make money by sharing your opinion. It offers a variety of paid surveys. Finder Score: 8.8.

Tips to maximize success on money-making apps

• Use multiple apps. You don’t have to limit yourself to a single app. Create accounts with several free money apps to increase your money-making opportunities.
• Make the most of sign-up bonuses. Look for apps that reward you simply for signing up. It’s free money and will help you reach the minimum cash-out limit sooner.
• Look for high-paying offers. Shop around to find app offers that provide the highest reward for the least amount of time and effort required. If the offer seems like too much of a time-consuming grind, avoid it and look for something better.
• Understand the points structure. If an app pays you reward points, check how much 1 point is worth in CAD. This will make it easy to work out if a particular survey or offer is actually worth the time and effort involved.
• Check the minimum cash-out and withdrawal time. The best money-making apps offer low minimum cash-outs and instant withdrawals. Check the FAQs or terms and conditions before deciding if an app is right for you.
• Watch out for withdrawal fees. You don’t want withdrawal fees eating away at your earnings, so check the fine print for fee details before cashing out.

"I’ve used many of these apps, including Prime Opinion, Five Surveys, Testerup and Swagbucks. They’re free to use and offer legitimate ways to earn extra money, but you have to be patient and persistent. I found the most success on Testerup, as it offered some of the highest-paying tasks, but it was mostly for playing games rather than answering surveys. I enjoyed the game-based tasks more, but they typically required a much larger time commitment than surveys and some required in-app purchases to progress faster. You won’t get rich from these platforms, but if you’re playing mobile games anyway or have extra time to answer some surveys, they may be worth it."

Rebecca Low

Writer

How to be sure you’re downloading and using legit money-making apps

• Only use official app stores. Make sure you only ever download apps from Apple’s App Store or Google Play.
• Do your research. Read app store ratings and reviews on sites like Trustpilot to make sure you’re dealing with a legit money-making app.
• Know the signs of a scam. Watch out for any warning signs that could indicate a scam, such as requiring you to pay money upfront or requesting sensitive personal or financial information. If something doesn’t seem quite right, walk away.
• Update your software. Keep your smartphone updated to the latest operating system to ensure that you have the latest protection against malware and other security threats.

Frequently asked questions

• What are some free apps that pay real money instantly?

  There are several money-making apps that pay real money instantly. Some popular options you might want to check out include Prime Opinion, HeyCash, Branded Surveys and Swagbucks.

• Are there any legit money-making apps that pay real money?

  Yes, there are many legit money-making apps in Canada that pay real money. Some popular examples include survey platforms like Prime Opinion and Survey Junkie, and apps that provide a wider range of money-making opportunities like HeyCash and Swagbucks.

• Are there apps that actually pay you for playing games?

  Yes, there are legit free money apps that pay you for playing games on your smartphone. Some popular options include HeyCash, Swagbucks and Testerup. Learn more in our guide to game apps that pay money.

• Do I have to pay taxes on money earned from these apps?

  Yes, you must report any income you earn from money-making apps like Leger Opinion and Branded Surveys as it's considered taxable income. Keep records of your earnings and include them when filing your annual tax return.

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

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

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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

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Rebecca Low

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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