I've been using a lot of money apps on my phone. And here are my assessments of the ones I currently use:
Swagbucks, member since 2014
Referral link: https://www.swagbucks.com/profile/AngeliaSparrow
Total earnings: 1156.19
How: I take surveys, play trivia and other games, visit websites and watch videos. Sometimes, when I shop, I get kickbacks: 2 cents on bananas or apples or bread.
Rate: 1 swagbuck=1 cent
Payouts: Paypal or Giftcards
Pros: Steady, pays out. Has been around for a long time. Huge selection of gift cards. Can get one $25 visa per month for 2175 swag points.
Cons: Slow. Most things earn a few cents. Be careful of offers that require you to spend money
Payouts: Paypal, virtual visa, gift cards
My Rec: One of my better earners. I make at least $25/month
Fetch Rewards, since 2018
This app is on your phone.
Referral link: BV9VC
Total earnings: $55
How: Take pictures of your receipts: grocery, gas, restaurant, misc in the app. Every receipt is worth at least 25 coins. Brand names get you more.
Rate: 100 coins=$1
Payouts: Gift cards, sweepstakes entries, magazine subscriptions, cash cards, charity donations.
Pros: Everything earns. Easy conversion factor. Brands (Pedigree wet dog food=2000 pts, so $2) earn more. HUGE selection of giftcards: restaurants, retail, travel, etc. This even has Delta Airlines' gift cards
Cons: VERY slow. Every receipt is 2.5 cents.
My Rec: Use in conjunction with other receipt apps to maximize
NCP: since 2019
Referral code 135A92A
Total earnings: $85
How: Scan every item you buy. You get points for this, and bonus points for doing it weekly. There are also surveys that pay about 15c for 3-5 minutes.
Rate: 10 points= 1 cent
Payouts: Gift cards, with decreasing cost as the amount goes up $5=5000, 10=9000, $25=21,000 $50=41000 points.
Pros: Steady earner.
Cons: Not a transparent rate for how you get paid per receipt. Scanning after every shopping trip is a nuisance. And the gift card variety is limited to 9 choices: Amazon, Apple, Delta, Fandango, Google Play, Groupon, Spotify, Uber and Visa
My Rec: Use in combination.
Receipt Pal: since 2019
Referral link: none
Total earnings: ?? About 40, from what I can gather based on old posts
How: Scan receipt with app. Can also check for e-receipts
Rate: 25 points per receipt. about 6 cents/receipt. 88 receipts=$5
Payouts: Amazon or Retail gift card, cost decreasing as denomination rises. $5=2200, $10=4000, $25=9250
Pros: Good payout per receipt
Cons: stripped down app, no history. Easy to forget.
:My Rec: Make it a priority to remember.
Ibotta
Referral code: mcpiwnp
Total earnings:310.67
How: Scan receipts after shopping
Rate: 1 cent=1 cent, it gives straight cash back
Payouts: Paypal, gift cards (76 choices from Ace hardware to Zappos)
Pros: Easy to understand. Easy to use. Does a free Thanksgiving dinner (reimburses you for everything)
Cons: A lot of brand name stuff. No discounts on gift cards.
My Rec: Definitely one to use. Referrals are huge.
Coin Out: Since 2019
Referral link: none
Total earnings: about $40
How: scan your receipt and it gives you a random amount of money, from 2 cents to 15 cents
Rate: 1 cent=1 cent, straight cash back
Payouts: Amazon gift card, bank, paypal
Pros: Easy. Actual money
Cons: Cannot cashout until $20, amount is random, no history in app
My Rec: Not a lone earner, but might as well grab the two cents while you're scanning the other items.
Receipt Hog: since 2020
Referral code:buk46797
Total earnings: $20
How: scan the receipts, take surveys and spin the free slot machine (a reward for scanning in a receipt every week)
Rate: 2 coins=1 cent. $5=1000, 15=2900, 25=4300 and 40=6500
Payouts: Amazon, visa, Paypal
Pros: Easy, just scan when hitting the others.
Cons: Slow build. Not transparent on how many coins/receipt
My Rec: Add in with the others. A two second photograph is worth the pennies it pays.
Shopkick since 2015
Referral link: MALL751055
Total earnings: 255. I didn't do much with it until 2020.
How: watch videos, walk into stores, scan items in stores, buy items and scan receipts
Rate: 1 kick=0.4 cents, 10 kicks=4 cents. Walk-ins are usually 10 kicks. Most scan items are 10-20 kicks, some go as high as 50 kicks. Buying items is between 200-1000 kicks (80 cents-$4)
Payouts: Paypal or gift cards
Pros: Easy to use. Accumulates fast.
Cons: Requires some dedication.
My Rec: Definitely a good earner. But only buy stuff you ordinarily would.
Mistplay
Referral link: here
Total earnings: 415
How: Play online games. Download the game through the app and open it. Play. As you reach each level, you accumulate gems. Gems can be traded for gift cards
Rate: 1 gem=0.3 cents. 10 gems=3cents
Payouts: Paypal, gift cards: Amazon, Visa, Google play, Uber Eats, Xbox, Game stop, Playstation, Starbucks, Ebay, H&M, Ninentendo, Sephora, Spotify
Pros: Money for playing games I would play anyway. Will also log games being played on other apps like Cash Alarm, Coin pop and Rewarded Play
Cons: Keep an eye on how much the games pay. Level gems stop after level 20.
My Rec: If you play anything, even candy crush, play here. Always have this one, especially if you're using the others.
Cashwalk
Referral link: BCEED
Total earnings: 25 since August 2022
How: Your phone tracks your steps as you go about your day. 3 ads per day also boost your earning
Rate: 100 steps=1 coin. 400 coins to the dollar.
Payouts: gift cards: Amazon, Walmart, Google Play, Apple Play, Banana Republic, Barnes and Noble,Chipotle, Fanatics, Fandango, Hulu, Macy's, NFL shop, Old Navy, Southwest, Stub Hub, Uber Starbucks, Ebay, Ulta. Whole Foods, Dunkin Donuts, Jamba Juice, Taco Bell, Subway, Spotify, Nintendo, Xbox, Ihop, Nike
Pros: Money for going about my day
Cons: A bit slow
My Rec: Literal money for nothing. Use it.
Pogo:
Referral link: G1137P
Total earnings:2.55 since Jan 1
How: Earn rewards and savings on every purchase, automatically find more ways to save on your finances, and get paid for sharing more data (if you choose!). Basically, it does all the work. Check in before bed and make sure you have claimed all your points
Rate: 1000 pts to the dollar
Payouts: paypal, venmo
Pros: Money for going about my day
Cons: A bit slow, kind of intrusive
My Rec: if you don't mind the intrusion, go for it.
Miles
Referral link: OMJ6C4
Total earnings: $4 since August 2022
How: Your phone tracks your mileage as you go about your day.
Rate: 5000 miles to the dollar
Payouts: gift cards: Amazon, Target, Chili's, plus raffles, discounts and more
Pros: Money for going about my day. Money for nothing.
Cons: Very slow. Most people may not drive enough to make it worth their while
My Rec: Literal money for nothing. Use it.
TapChamps
Referral link: OMJ6C4
Total earnings: 11883 diamonds, about $45
How: play games for diamonds
Rate: 800 diamonds to the dollar. The cost of gift cards decreases with higher denominations. $10 is 2999, but 20 is 5750
Payouts: gift cards:Paypal, Amazon, Google PLay, Visa, Playstation, XBix, Nintendo
Pros: earn for playing
Cons: slow. very few fast paying games
My Rec: If you play games on your phone, go for it.