Have you ever wondered if you could make real money by downloading and installing apps? With our smartphones costing us so much money, it is great that we can find ways to make money from our phone. In this post we are going to explore some of the best ways that you can get paid to install apps, including getting extra cash, free gift cards and even getting a passive income from the apps you have installed.
Why Do Companies Pay You To Install Their Apps?
Before we start looking into how you can get paid to install apps it is important to understand why companies would pay you to install their apps in the first place – especially if they are free apps.
There are a few reasons for this, and the first one is to do with something called the freemium model.
The freemium model won't be new to you, although you might not have heard it called that before. It combines the words ‘free' and ‘premium' to mean that you can get the basic features of an app at no cost, and then access the premium features by paying. This could be in the form of a subscription model on in-app purchases.
You can also sometimes earn extra bonuses, especially in mobile games, by watching video ads.
Simply put, the more users an app has, the more chances they have to grow their revenue from things like the in-app purchases (things like extra lives in games) or display ads and banner ads.
Apps can also secure more lucrative advertising deals, sponsorships etc (depending on their app monetization models) by having a larger user base.
Basically, app creators want to have a big user base so that they can maximise their income, and they are willing to spend money to get new users!
How To Get Paid To Install Apps
In this article we are going to cover some of the easiest ways to get paid to install apps, including from the Google Play store and Apple App store.
Many of these will be free mobile apps, and you can use your Android device or iOs device to do this.
Get Paid To Play Games On Your Phone
If you enjoy mobile gaming then getting paid to play games on your phone is a great way (as well as a fun way) to make money.
I have earned hundreds of pounds for hitting certain milestones in games and it is something that I really enjoy doing, especially as I love playing games on my smartphone.
These games usually don't pay out in the game, rather you sign up to an earning platform such as Swagbucks or Inbox Pounds and they reward you for completing certain milestones in game.
These milestones vary – some will pay you for reaching a high level and others will pay in tiers, earning you more rewards as you progress up the levels.
There are so many different games to play games and earn money, no matter what type of game you like to play.
The types of games include trivia games, arcade games, puzzle and strategy games, board game adaptations and bingo or casino style games.
You can find some of the most profitable apps on Swagbucks, and be sure to watch out for any in-app advertising to help you hit the milestones faster.
I also like the Tester Buddy app for earning money from playing games – but be sure to check if you can earn more from one of the other websites like Swagbucks or Inbox Pounds first.
Check out my full guide to earning money from playing games here and good luck!
Get Paid To Complete Surveys
Another way to get paid to install apps is to complete surveys on your mobile devices.
Market research companies are looking for a wide variety of users to share their opinions on a wide range of topics. Typically, the longer the survey then the more money you can earn.
You won't make as much money as installing the games listed above, but you can get paid via Paypal money, or Amazon gift cards.
Some of my favourites are:
Get Paid To Install Apps With Free Money Offers
There isn't much that I love more than free money offers.
A lot of these offers are from fintech startups trying to get more users so that they can release their next round of investment. In order to do this, then entice new users along with free money offers.
One example of this is a company called Zing. In order to recruit new users, they are giving both the person referring a friend AND the friend who has been referred £20 cash when the new user spends £5 using their new Zing card.
Another example is the investing app, Robin Hood. When someone is referred to Robin Hood and deposits funds into their account, they get free shares.
These free money offers are always changing, so it is worth signing up to our newsletter so we can drop the latest and greatest straight into your inbox.
There are always new free money offers popping up across the internet. Sign up to our mailing list below to be the first to know about any new ways to make money online for free!
User Test New Apps
Another option for getting paid to install apps is by taking part in market research or user testing studies for new apps.
Companies and developers want to learn more about the user experience, so they will ask the user to complete various tasks, for example, try to get a home insurance quote (usually using some made up personal information) and then feed back on the experience.
Before taking part in user testing studies you may have to sign a non-disclosure legal document stating that you won't share anything you've been whilst completing the various tasks.
My favourite user testing website is Testing Time.
Cashback apps
I love getting cashback for my usual purchases, and there are now so many apps out there that help you to get paid to install apps.
These days there are two main types of cashback apps or two main methods of getting cashback.
The first is the most common way, where you sign up to a cashback website like Quidco, Topcashback, Rakuten or Widilo.
You then visit the cashback website or app and search for your favourite retailer before you make a purchase.
For example, you'd load up the Topcashback app before shopping at Boots, then search for Boots, click through to Boots from the Topcashback app (or website if you're on your computer) and make your purchase. Then Topcashback will share some of the commission they get from Boots for sending you over to Boots to spend your hard earned money.
There is a new way to earn cashback now too, and it involves pre-buying a gift card for specific retailers before spending with them.
The most popular apps for this are Jam Doughnut, Cheddar and EverUp.
Before you go shopping (or even when you're in the queue), roughly tot up what you've spent and buy a gift card for that retailer and you will get instant cashback.
They work with so many big named stores, including Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA, B&M and so many more.
There are also cashback apps like Checkout Smart, Shopmium and GreenJinn where you can get cashback on your grocery shopping. You'll find new products where you can get 100% of the price you paid in cashback. As well as popular brands you recognise that might give you 20% or 50% in cashback. It's a great way to reduce how much you spend, giving you money back for you to utilise elsewhere. An easy way to make money on your phone.
Get Paid To Walk
Did you know that there are apps that pay you for walking?
I'll be frank with you – you won't make much money from this, but it does all add up nicely.
From earning real cash to gift vouchers, these apps all work in different ways, and have different payment thresholds and different payment methods, but some of my favourite get paid to walk apps include WeWard, Biscuit (which is for people who walk dogs) and Sweatcoin.
Hints & Tips For Getting Paid To Install Apps
The last thing we want is for you to have a bad experience, so here are our best hints and tips for getting paid to install apps.
- Check the terms and conditions carefully. This is especially true for getting paid to play games with certain milestones. You want to ensure that you hit the milestones by any deadline set out – e.g. reach level 50 in 30 days. Setting a reminder in your calendar can help you to stay on target.
- Cash out as soon as you have hit the payment threshold. Getting the money into your bank account so that you can spend it is important. Over the years we've been payment thresholds increase or some websites and apps disappear.
- Look for reviews – many websites like ours will have reviews for most of the apps that you get paid to install, so take a look to see what others are saying.
- Track everything – most of the apps are a free download, but if you do spend real money on your debit card or credit card then be sure to keep track of this – especially if you get an extra reward for spending money.
There really is some serious money to be made by installing apps, which is great when so many of us are looking to boost our income.
