Swagbucks pays 100 SB per $1 with cashouts from 300 SB (about $3), but alternatives differ widely on earning methods, payout options and cashout minimums.
Only Freecash publishes an earnings figure — typical users make a few dollars up to around $50 a month, per its own FAQ. The other rewards apps don’t list an overall rate.
Need cash, not gift cards? Cash advance apps like EarnIn and Brigit advance money you’ve already earned instead of paying you for surveys or games.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain errors or omissions.
Swagbucks is a free rewards platform (iOS, Android and desktop) that pays you in points called SB for shopping, searching the web, surveys, offers, games, videos and grocery receipts, per help.swagbucks.com. On Swagbucks, 100 SB equals $1.00, and you can redeem SB for cash or gift cards starting at 300 SB (about $3).
Below, we compare six apps like Swagbucks plus two cash advance apps, each with an “earning potential” note sourced only from that company’s own site.
Apps like Swagbucks
Freecash — best for multiple ways to earn beyond surveys
Mistplay — best for pure gaming rewards with no surveys
JustPlay — best for fast, frequent cashouts
InboxDollars — best for cash rewards instead of a points system
Survey Junkie — best for survey-focused earners
KashKick — best for one flat cashout minimum across every payout method
Not gaming or survey apps, but a different kind of quick-cash alternative:
EarnIn — best for accessing wages you’ve already earned
Brigit — best for small instant cash advances with no interest
1. Freecash: Best for multiple ways to earn beyond surveys
Freecash is a get-paid-to app for iOS and Android where you earn coins for playing games, testing apps and completing surveys, then redeem them for cash, gift cards or crypto. Freecash’s own site puts its user base at more than 80 million and its lifetime payouts at more than $400 million.
Note: Freecash’s iOS app was temporarily removed from the App Store in April 2026 and reinstated on June 17, 2026, according to Freecash‘s own announcement. It’s confirmed live on iOS again as of this page’s last check.
How it’s similar to Swagbucks
A mix of earning methods. Games, surveys and offers all show up on Freecash’s site as ways to earn, the same broad approach Swagbucks takes.
Free membership. Freecash’s own FAQ confirms there’s never a cost to join or play, with no subscription tiers.
iOS and Android coverage. Live on both the App Store and Google Play, per current listings.
How it’s different
Wider redemption menu. Freecash’s site lists PayPal, Venmo, more than 100 gift card brands and cryptocurrency as cashout options, while Swagbucks’ help center only confirms cash or gift card redemption.
No cashback shopping angle. Freecash doesn’t advertise a shopping cashback feature the way Swagbucks does.
No published dollar floor. Where Swagbucks sets a clear 300 SB (about $3) minimum, Freecash’s FAQ says reward values simply vary by offer rather than naming a fixed cashout threshold.
Earning potential
Freecash’s own FAQ puts typical earnings at “a few dollars up to around $50” a month. A smaller group of especially active users report earning more, though that comes with a bigger time and effort commitment. Freecash doesn’t publish a per-hour or per-game rate.
Bottom line
Use Freecash if: You’d rather have flexible cashout options — PayPal, Venmo or crypto — layered on top of games and surveys. Stick with Swagbucks if: Cashback shopping and a built-in search engine matter to you as earning methods.
2. Mistplay: Best for pure gaming rewards with no surveys
Mistplay pays you points for playing mobile games, redeemable for gift cards to brands like Amazon, Visa, Walmart and Starbucks. It’s confirmed live on iOS and Android, per mistplay.com, with 50 million-plus players and a library of 350-plus games. Mistplay’s own numbers show an average time to first reward of about three hours and $205 million-plus paid out to date, though it doesn’t break that down into a per-user rate.
How it’s similar to Swagbucks
Game-based earning. Playing mobile games earns you rewards on both platforms.
Retail gift cards. Mistplay’s redemption catalog mirrors Swagbucks’ rewards store, drawing from major retail brands.
No membership cost. Joining and playing are both free, per mistplay.com.
How it’s different
Single earning path. Mistplay sticks to gameplay as its only way to earn, while Swagbucks spreads across surveys, shopping, search and receipt scanning.
Gift cards, not cash. Mistplay’s official site confirms gift card redemption only, with no PayPal option listed, Swagbucks’ help center does confirm PayPal as a choice.
No survey feature. Surveys don’t appear anywhere on Mistplay’s site as an earning method.
Earning potential
Not listed. Mistplay publishes an average time-to-first-reward figure (about three hours) and a lifetime payout total ($205 million-plus), but nothing broken out per user or per hour.
Bottom line
Use Mistplay if: Games alone are what you’re after, without surveys or shopping folded into the experience. Stick with Swagbucks if: You’d rather have surveys and cashback shopping alongside gaming as ways to earn.
3. JustPlay: Best for fast, frequent cashouts
JustPlay is a gaming rewards app for iOS and Android that pays loyalty coins for playing games, which convert to PayPal cash, gift cards or a matched charity donation. JustPlay’s own site puts its downloads at more than 25 million, its daily active users at more than 500,000 and its game library at more than 35 titles.
How it’s similar to Swagbucks
Rewards tied to gameplay. JustPlay’s earning model runs entirely on playing games, echoing Swagbucks’ own game offerings.
Cash via PayPal. Confirmed on JustPlay’s app store listing, matching one of the redemption paths Swagbucks also offers.
No paywalls. JustPlay’s Google Play listing states there’s no subscription required to play.
How it’s different
Cashout speed. JustPlay’s app store listing states PayPal cashouts are available every three hours, much faster than any cadence Swagbucks publishes.
Charity matching. JustPlay will match your donation dollar-for-dollar if you send your earnings to charity instead of cashing out, per its own site.
No other earning categories. JustPlay’s site frames the app as games-only, without the surveys, search or shopping features Swagbucks offers.
Earning potential
Not listed — and JustPlay says so directly. Its Terms state “Users have no legal entitlement to any specific Coin earnings or rewards,” and its Loyalty Program Rules tie coin-to-cash conversion to ad-auction bidding, meaning payout rates move and aren’t fixed.
Bottom line
Use JustPlay if: Quick, frequent cashouts and a charity-donation option matter to you. Stick with Swagbucks if: You want earning options beyond gaming, like surveys and shopping.
4. InboxDollars: Best for cash rewards instead of a points system
InboxDollars is a rewards platform available on iOS and Android, owned by Prodege — the same company behind Swagbucks — that pays you in actual dollars and cents rather than points for surveys, watching videos, playing games, reading paid emails and shopping online. Its own inboxdollars.com blog cites more than $80 million in lifetime payouts.
How it’s similar to Swagbucks
Same parent company. Prodege owns both InboxDollars and Swagbucks, per both apps’ official store listings.
Surveys, games and shopping. InboxDollars’ Google Play listing lists surveys, games, emails and online shopping as earning methods, and its own blog adds web search — largely mirroring Swagbucks.
Grocery receipt cash back. Both apps’ official listings mention scanning grocery receipts for cash back.
How it’s different
Cash instead of points. InboxDollars’ own site pays in dollars and cents directly rather than converting SB-style points, unlike Swagbucks.
Cashout minimum is inconsistent across its own properties. InboxDollars’ Google Play listing states a $30 minimum before you can cash out, while its own inboxdollars.com blog states $15 for a first payout and $10 for every request after that, a real discrepancy on the company’s own site.
Redemption options differ by listing. InboxDollars’ Google Play listing states cashout via check or gift card only, while its App Store listing and its own blog separately list PayPal cash, prepaid Visa and gift cards as redemption options, another inconsistency across its own properties.
Earning potential
Not listed as an overall figure. Neither InboxDollars’ Google Play listing, its App Store listing, nor its own blog publishes a per-survey, per-hour or typical monthly earnings figure — its blog describes most surveys as paying “$0.25 to a few dollars” and says earnings vary based on activity level.
Bottom line
Use InboxDollars if: You’d rather see your balance in real dollars instead of a points system. Stick with Swagbucks if: You want a lower cashout minimum and more redemption flexibility.
5. Survey Junkie: Best for survey-focused earners
Survey Junkie is a survey rewards platform available on iOS and Android, run by Disqo, Inc., where you earn points for completing surveys and sharing opinions. Survey Junkie gives inconsistent member counts and eligibility, its Google Play listing and surveyjunkie.com both cite more than 25 million members open to residents of the US, Canada, Australia or the UK, while its App Store listing describes “over 11 million members” and states eligibility is US residents only.
How it’s similar to Swagbucks
Points for surveys. Like Swagbucks’ survey option, Survey Junkie rewards you with points for completing surveys.
Gift card and cash rewards. Survey Junkie’s site confirms redemption for PayPal cash, bank transfer or gift cards from brands like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Starbucks.
Free to join. No cost to create an account, per surveyjunkie.com.
How it’s different
Surveys only. Survey Junkie’s site describes a single earning method (surveys and related research activities), unlike Swagbucks’ games, shopping, search and receipts.
Bank transfer option. Survey Junkie’s site states US members can cash out via direct bank transfer, an option not confirmed on Swagbucks’ site.
Lower cashout floor. Survey Junkie’s site and app confirm a $5 (500-point) minimum, lower than Swagbucks’ 300 SB (about $3) — note this is a higher dollar figure despite a lower point count, since the two apps convert points to dollars differently.
Earning potential
Not listed as a fixed rate. Survey Junkie’s site doesn’t publish a per-survey dollar range or typical monthly earnings figure, it states only that survey point values are shown before you start and that “the more surveys you take, the more you can earn.”
Bottom line
Use Survey Junkie if: You want to focus purely on surveys with a straightforward $5 cashout floor. Stick with Swagbucks if: You want more ways to earn beyond surveys, like games and shopping.
6. KashKick: Best for one flat cashout minimum across every payout method
KashKick is a get-paid-to platform available on iOS and Android that pays you in actual dollars (not points) for surveys, games, shopping and other offers, with $1 Kash equal to $1 USD. Both app store listings state more than 2 million members, though kashkick.com’s own homepage separately claims more than 3 million active members. KashKick is available to US residents 18 and older.
How it’s similar to Swagbucks
Multiple earning methods. Like Swagbucks, KashKick’s site lists surveys, games, shopping and other offers as ways to earn.
Gift card and cash rewards. KashKick’s site confirms cashout via PayPal, Venmo, gift cards or a charity donation.
Free to join. No cost to sign up, per kashkick.com.
How it’s different
Cash instead of points. KashKick’s site pays directly in dollars, with no SB-style point conversion.
Flat cashout minimum. KashKick’s site states a single $10 minimum across every payout method, compared with Swagbucks’ 300 SB (about $3) floor for cash or gift cards.
Venmo option. KashKick’s site lists Venmo as a redemption choice, which isn’t confirmed on Swagbucks’ site.
Earning potential
Not listed as a fixed rate. KashKick’s site doesn’t publish a typical monthly or per-task earnings figure, payouts vary by survey, game and offer, and the site states payment requests typically process in one to three business days.
Bottom line
Use KashKick if: You want a single, low, flat cashout minimum no matter how you choose to get paid. Stick with Swagbucks if: You want a longer-established platform with a search-engine and receipt-scanning earning option.
Not a survey or gaming app fan but need quick cash? Try a cash advance app instead
If what you’re actually after is quick access to cash rather than points or gift cards, a cash advance app is a different tool for a different job. These apps let you access money you’ve already earned or a small advance ahead of your next payday, they don’t pay you for surveys or games.
7. EarnIn: Best for accessing wages you’ve already earned
Loan amount: Up to $150/day, max $1,000 per pay period
Loan term: Repaid automatically on your next payday
Cost: Free (1–2 business days) or from $3.99 for Lightning Speed (minutes); no interest, no mandatory fees
Why we like it:EarnIn falls under earned wage access, it advances money you’ve already worked for rather than acting as a loan, with no interest, no credit check and no required fees attached. You can draw up to $150 a day and up to $1,000 across a pay period. Its Balance Shield tool watches your linked bank balance and can alert you or move funds automatically if it dips too low.
Pros
No required fees or monthly subscription
No credit check involved
Tipping is optional and doesn't change your limit or eligibility
Cons
Requires proof of steady income and direct deposits
The $150 daily cap means the full $1,000 isn't available in one draw
Unavailable to Connecticut residents, per EarnIn's help center
8. Brigit: Best for small instant cash advances with no interest
Loan amount: $25–$500 (Maine: $25–$250 only); average advance $73
Loan term: Repaid automatically on your next payday
Cost: Free standard delivery (1–3 business days) or Express Delivery (about 20 minutes) for a fee; Instant Cash requires an $8.99–$15.99 monthly subscription
Why we like it:Brigit‘s Instant Cash advances top out at $500 (as low as $25), come with no interest, no late fees and no tipping and repay themselves automatically once your next paycheck lands. Beyond the advance itself, the subscription tier layers in budgeting tools, Credit Builder and up to $1 million in identity theft coverage.
Pros
Zero interest, late fees or required tips
Bundled credit-building and budgeting features with the subscription
No credit check needed
Cons
Instant Cash isn't free, it requires an active paid subscription
Typical advances ($73 average) land well short of the $500 max
The FTC sued Brigit's parent company (Bridge It, Inc.) in 2023 over marketing and cancellation practices, per consumer.ftc.gov
Apps like Swagbucks connect brands, advertisers and market research companies with everyday users. You complete tasks — surveys, games, shopping, watching videos, scanning receipts or trying new apps — and earn points or cash for each one.
Points-based apps convert your balance into dollars at a fixed rate (100 SB equals $1 on Swagbucks, for example) before you redeem for cash or gift cards. Cash-based apps like InboxDollars and KashKick skip the point conversion and show your balance in dollars from the start.
How do apps like Swagbucks make money?
These platforms generally make money through partnerships with advertisers, market research firms and brands that pay for user engagement, such as survey responses, game downloads, app trials and completed purchases. KashKick’s own site describes this plainly: brands pay the platform to bring them real, engaged users, and the platform passes part of that payment on to members.
Earning potential at a glance
App
What its own site says about earning potential
Swagbucks
Not listed as an overall figure. On Swagbucks, 100 SB = $1; cash out from 300 SB (about $3).
Freecash
“A few dollars up to around $50” a month, per Freecash’s own FAQ.
Mistplay
Not listed. Site cites about three hours’ average time to first reward and $205 million-plus paid out total, but no per-user rate.
JustPlay
Not listed. JustPlay’s own terms state there’s no fixed or guaranteed coin-earning rate.
InboxDollars
Not listed. Cashout minimum is inconsistent across its own site ($15–$30); no per-task or monthly figure published.
Survey Junkie
Not listed as a fixed rate. Cash out from $5 (500 points); per-survey values shown before you start.
KashKick
Not listed as a fixed rate. Cash out from $10 across every payout method.
EarnIn
Up to $150 a day, max $1,000 a pay period — based on your own earned wages, not credit.
Brigit
$25–$500 per advance (ME: $25–$250); average advance $73.
How to choose the best app for you
Check what you actually want. If quick cash matters more than points or gift cards, a cash advance app is a better fit than a rewards app.
Decide between points and cash. Some apps pay in points or coins you convert at a fixed rate, others show your balance in real dollars from the start. Neither is inherently better, but it changes how easy it is to track what you’ve actually earned.
Check the minimum cashout. Floors vary widely from app to app, and some companies even publish conflicting numbers across their own site, app store listing and help center. Confirm the current figure in your account before counting on it.
Look at how many ways you can earn. Some apps combine surveys, games and shopping in one place; others focus on a single earning method. More variety can mean more ways to earn, but a focused app can be simpler to use.
Check reward options. Decide whether you’d rather have cash via PayPal or Venmo, gift cards or a mix of both.
Read recent app store reviews. Ratings and reviews can change over time, so check current feedback before committing.
Bottom line
Swagbucks isn’t the only way to earn rewards online. Depending on what you’re after, other apps that make money offer more payout flexibility, a different mix of earning methods, or a sharper focus on just games or just surveys, including plenty of game apps that make money if gaming is more your speed. And if what you actually need is quick cash rather than points, a cash advance app offers a different route to money in your pocket ahead of payday.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Swagbucks itself is available on iOS as well as Android. Freecash, Mistplay, JustPlay, InboxDollars, Survey Junkie and KashKick are also available on iOS.
Apps like Swagbucks reward you with points, gift cards or cash for surveys, games and shopping, there's no borrowing involved. Cash advance apps like EarnIn and Brigit let you access money you've already earned or a small short-term advance ahead of your next payday, which is a different type of product entirely.
It varies by app and time invested. Only Freecash publishes a concrete monthly earnings range on its own site (a few dollars up to around $50). Swagbucks, Mistplay, JustPlay, InboxDollars, Survey Junkie and KashKick don't publish a comparable overall figure — JustPlay's terms explicitly say there's no guaranteed rate.
Yes. Many people use multiple rewards apps side by side to increase their overall earnings, since each app offers a different mix of tasks and payout options.
Megan B. Shepherd is a personal finance expert and editor for loans and insurance at Finder.
Her personal finance expertise has been featured on Forbes, Nasdaq, MediaFeed, Fox News, Time, Reviews.com, and carinsurance.com, adding invaluable information related to personal loans, financial strategies and smart borrowing tactics.
Megan graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a BS in Business Administration with an entrepreneurial focus. She's worked as a certified financial adviser and has earned certificates of completion from A.D. Banker & Company.
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