17 Ways to Earn Gift Cards by Playing Games Online

Yes, you can really earn gift cards by playing games online. Many apps and websites will reward you for your gaming time with gift cards or cash (usually via digital wallets like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Venmo or sometimes via bank transfer).

Popular gift cards up for grabs include:

• Amazon
• eBay
• Walmart
• Target
• Starbucks
• Google Play
• Apple iTunes
• Best Buy
• Sam’s Club
• Lowe’s
• Shein
• Gap

How much can I make in gift cards with online games?

In our experience, you can’t earn much in gift card credit by playing games. We’ve used many platforms from our list, and we found that a hefty time commitment was often necessary to earn points or other rewards with games.

In some cases, we managed to earn a bit from a short gaming session (usually of around 5–30 minutes), but our earnings were usually equivalent to just a few cents.

The exact amount you can make in gift card credit will depend on the platform you’re using, plus other factors. Notably, different platforms will have different ways to determine your earnings. For example, many platforms specify a certain number of points (or coins, units, or other types of credits) you can earn by progressing to a specific level or stage.

Some platforms also have different exchange rates for gift cards (or other rewards) from different retailers or in different denominations. For example, you may get a better rate exchanging points (or other in-app credits) for dollars if you redeem a $50 gift card versus a $5 card. This means that the type of gift card you choose to redeem can also affect your earnings.

This list features several microtasking and GPT (“get-paid-to”) platforms, which are websites or apps you can use to earn money or gift cards by testing games and completing other quick, easy tasks. It also includes a few apps that offer cash back and rewards with your purchases.

1. Mistplay

Mistplay is one of the most popular apps that’ll pay you to play games. It offers gift cards from over 10 different companies, including well-known brands such as Amazon, Target, and Walmart. We kept it in the top spot this month, as recent user reports suggest Mistplay’s payouts are slightly higher than that of some of its competitors.

Previously, it was only for Android devices. However, it now has a version available for iOS devices (e.g., iPhones).

Whereas many of the other apps on this list also offer surveys and other types of tasks, Mistplay is focused primarily on games. Mistplay’s selection of games includes puzzles like Words with Friends and old favorites like Solitaire and Merge Dragons. You have to download these games via the Mistplay app to accumulate Mistplay points (or “Units”) while you play.

Which redemption options does Mistplay offer?

When we used Mistplay, we saw a gift card selection that included:

• Amazon
• Target
• Walmart
• eBay
• Starbucks
• Uber Eats
• DoorDash
• Sephora
• Google Play
• PlayStation

Mistplay also has options to redeem cash via prepaid cards and PayPal.

2. MyPoints

MyPoints offers a huge gift card selection (from dozens of retailers when we checked). Users also report it’s currently easier to earn on MyPoints than on its more well-known sister app, Swagbucks.

MyPoints has a web version and apps for both Android and iOS devices and will probably also have a high threshold for your first redemption (although you may be able to redeem smaller denominations after the first redemption).

MyPoints says gift cards can take up to 10 days to reach you after you redeem.

Which redemption options does MyPoints offer?

Gift cards are one of the redemption methods MyPoints offers, and its gift card selection included dozens of retailers when we checked. These retailers included:

• Amazon
• eBay
• Target
• Uber
• Starbucks
• TGI Friday’s
• Nike
• Gap, Inc.
• Best Buy

MyPoints also has cash redemption options (via prepaid debit cards and PayPal).

3. Fetch

Fetch calls itself “America’s rewards app,” and it’s primarily for earning points by scanning receipts from grocery stores, restaurants, and other retailers. Despite some complaints about cashing-out issues, many users claim to use the app “avidly” due to its ease of earning.

Like the other apps in our top recommendations, Fetch offers gift cards from many well-known brands, including Apple, Starbucks, and Target.

Fetch also rewards you for playing games with the feature Fetch Play, which promises “a ton of popular mobile games,” such as:

• Candy Crush Saga
• Words with Friends 2
• Farmville 3
• Monopoly Go
• Royal Match

The Fetch website claims that players average 3,000 points a week with Fetch Play, which is equivalent to about $3 worth of gift cards. 1

Fetch says that most other rewards are available in denominations from $5 to $50, which suggests that you’ll usually need at least 5,000 points (worth $5) to get your first gift card.

Fetch has mobile apps available for iOS and Android mobile devices. There’s also a Fetch website, but this is just for information and for downloading their browser extension.

Which redemption options does Fetch offer?

Fetch says that it offers gift cards from:

• Amazon
• Starbucks
• Ulta Beauty
• Walmart
• Apple
• Target
• Other retailers

It also offers cash redemption via Visa cash cards and sweepstake entries.

4. Scrambly

Scrambly is another legit way to earn money by downloading and playing games (120+ of them, according to Scrambly’s Google Play Store overview), including puzzle games, casino games, strategy games, and more.

This platform is available as an app for Android devices and iOS devices. There’s also a desktop version that will allow you to use at least some of its features.

Besides games, Scrambly also has a few other ways to earn. For example, you can sign up for offers from partnered companies, hunt for online promo codes, or refer friends. Once you’ve completed your Scrambly profile and made your first payout, you should also be able to access surveys.

The main selling point of this platform is its “lightning-fast cashouts”—in contrast to some of the other apps on our list, it won’t make you wait for your earnings once you reach the minimum payment threshold. The minimum payment threshold is also conveniently low at just $1 for gift card redemptions.

Which redemption options does Scrambly offer?

One downside of Scrambly is that its gift card selection is more limited than many other sites’, with only a few options on offer. When we explored the platform, we found gift cards for:

• Amazon
• Walmart
• Apple
• Google Play

Scrambly also has cash redemption methods (via PayPal and Visa).

5. Freecash

Freecash is another legit platform for testing games and other types of apps. Like Scrambly, it will also pay you to take surveys, and like many apps on our list, it’s only available for Android, although you might be able to use its web (browser) version to test certain iOS (Apple) games, too.

Freecash features a wide selection of games that pay real money in addition to “numerous surveys of various difficulties.”

One annoying feature of this platform is that it has complicated requirements regarding the threshold you need to reach for the first withdrawal. You may need as little as a few dollars in rewards or as much as $20 for the first redemption. The threshold will depend on your location, and you won’t know which minimum threshold will apply until you sign up. 2

After the first redemption, you should be able to cash out with much smaller amounts—potentially as small as $0.25.

The signup bonus situation is also befuddling. Freecash may offer you a bonus, but the amount will depend on various factors (which they don’t explain very clearly). It ranges from $0.05 to $250, but you’re more likely to get something at the lower end of that range.

Which redemption options does Freecash offer?

When we viewed Freecash, we saw options to cash out with gift cards from:

• Amazon
• Apple
• Google Play

However, you may find other options available, as Freecash says that it also offers gift cards for other retailers like:

• Spotify
• Uber Eats
• Netflix
• Xbox

You can also get paid via cash options (e.g., Visa prepaid cards, PayPal, or bank transfer).

6. Money Well

Money Well is a free app from JustDice that you can use to earn money by playing games, with many different types available, including arcade, adventure, casual, strategic games, and more.

According to reports online, you’ll get a signup bonus when you sign up with Money Well. However, Money Well doesn’t specify how much this will be.

Reports online also suggest that the minimum threshold for gift card redemption is very low at $0.50. This means it should be fairly easy to reach the minimum amount required to redeem your first gift card.

Which redemption options does Money Well offer?

Money Well offers PayPal and gift card redemptions. It doesn’t specify which gift cards you can get, only that they include “top brands” (so we suspect the likes of Amazon, Google Play, Best Buy, Starbucks, and iTunes).

7. Cash Giraffe

Cash Giraffe is another free app from JustDice. Like its sister app Money Well, it will pay you to try out games in a variety of genres, including the usual suspects (e.g., arcade, adventure, casual, and strategic games). And, also like Money Well, Cash Giraffe is available only for Android devices.

Reports vary as far as the minimum threshold for redemption on Cash Giraffe, so this may depend on factors like your location, whether it’s your first redemption, and whether you’re redeeming via gift cards or other methods.

Many reports online say that you’ll get a small signup bonus when you start using the app, so this will likely apply.

Which redemption options does Cash Giraffe offer?

Cash Giraffe has redemptions via PayPal as well as gift cards. It mentions Amazon and Google Play as gift card redemption options, but it doesn’t specify any other gift card options.

8. Cash’em All

Cash’em All is yet another free JustDice app for Android devices (with no version for iOS devices or web browsers) featuring paid gaming opportunities. It promises a “huge selection of different game types to fit any preference” and the usual variety of genres (e.g., casual, strategy, action, puzzle, adventure, and arcade).

Cash’em all claims that you can earn your first gift card (or get PayPal cash) after just a few hours of playing games.

Which redemption options does Cash’em All offer?

As mentioned, Cash’em All has redemptions via PayPal in addition to gift cards. Once again, though, it doesn’t specify which gift cards are available (although reports online suggest that you can expect retailers like Amazon, Nike, Playstation, and Xbox in their selection).

9. AppStation

AppStation is the last JustDice app on our list, joining the ranks with Cash’em All, Cash Giraffe, and Money Well. Like the other JustDice apps, this one is available only for Android devices (with no web-based version for internet browsers or apps for iOS devices).

According to reports online, AppStation may allow you to earn money with a couple of other tasks—including surveys—in addition to games. However, games are the main focus, and the usual genres are available (e.g., casual, strategy, arcade, action, puzzle, and adventure games).

However, AppStation only promises several games for you to choose from (whereas many of the other options on this list have dozens of options).

Despite these potential limitations, AppStation makes fairly impressive claims about what you can earn. It promises a welcome bonus of 4,444 coins, worth about 44 cents, and payouts within just a few minutes.

Which redemption options does AppStation offer?

AppStation promises a selection of gift cards, including for the following retailers:

• Amazon
• Walmart
• Google Play
• PlayStation
• Nike

It also has direct payouts via PayPal.

10. Gamehag

Gamehag is a platform you can use on your PC or Android mobile device to get gift cards and other rewards. As the name suggests, it focuses on games as a way to earn.

The platform promises:

• MMO games
• RPGs
• Strategy games
• War games
• Arcade games
• Puzzles
• Minigames
• Many other types of games

In addition, Gamehag says it will pay you for some other tasks, such as writing news, articles, and even messages on their forums. Unusually, the site also features ways to get paid for watching videos.

The minimum redemption amount on Gamehag is so low, at just $0.05, that it’s very easy to reach the threshold and start claiming rewards.

Which redemption options does Gamehag offer?

Gamehag has hundreds of redemption methods, with many geared toward gaming enthusiasts.

The gift card selection includes platforms and rewards like:

• Google Play
• Amazon
• iTunes
• Kinguin
• Battle.net
• World of Tanks
• PUBG
• V-bucks (Fortnite)

There are also options to redeem via cash (including with prepaid debit cards and with PayPal or other digital wallets) and crypto.

11. Rewarded Play

Rewarded Play is the last Android-only app on our list (with no website available). At the time of writing, it claims to have paid out over $6 million per year in rewards.

The Rewarded Play app will pay you to play several classic games, such as solitaire, mahjong, Wheel of Fortune, and Yahtzee, in the form of gift cards.

You’ll need $5 worth of rewards to make your first withdrawal, and Rewarded Play claims that new users typically reach this goal in about 48 hours. 3

Which redemption options does Rewarded Play offer?

Rewarded Play promises opportunities to get gift cards from retailers like Amazon, Target, and Best Buy. Unlike most other platforms on this list, it doesn’t have options to get paid in cash or via other methods.

12. Swagbucks

Founded in 2008, Swagbucks is one of the most popular places to earn online with microtasking. It’s primarily a survey platform for earning real cash rewards and gift cards, but it also has other ways to earn, such as receipt scanning, online searches, offer signups, and, of course, games.

Founded in 2008, Swagbucks is one of the most popular places to earn online with microtasking (i.e., completing quick and easy tasks to earn money). It features many different ways to earn, including games plus other paid tasks like surveys, online searches, and offer signups.

Some Swagbucks games will require you to download new apps; others you’ll be able to play from Swagbucks itself, directly.

One upside of this platform is that, unlike the others we’ve discussed so far, it has a web version and apps for both Android and iOS devices. On the other hand, a downside is that you’ll likely have to reach a high threshold of around $15 for your first redemption, which makes it harder to get your first gift card. However, the threshold will likely decrease for subsequent redemptions.

Which redemption options does Swagbucks offer?

When you do eventually reach the finish line and are ready to redeem on Swagbucks, you’ll have a wide variety of gift cards to choose from (as well as cash redemption via PayPal or prepaid cards).

When we used Swagbucks, we saw gift cards on offer from the likes of:

• Amazon
• Walmart
• Target
• Starbucks
• Google Play
• Apple iTunes
• Best Buy

One more downside of Swagbucks is that redemptions may take longer than with some other platforms from this list. The website says you should allow up to 10 business days to receive your gift card after you redeem. However, in our experience using these types of platforms, they usually send gift cards within a couple of days.

13. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is yet another offering from Prodege. It has similar features to Swagbucks and MyPoints, with similar tasks available, including games. In fact, you’ll probably see many of the same games on these three platforms (although the same may be true for other apps and websites on this list, too).

Like Swagbucks and MyPoints, InboxDollars has a web version and apps for both Android and iOS devices, along with a high $15 threshold for your first redemption. After the first redemption, the threshold decreases to $10, although this is still quite a lot.

According to the website, gift cards normally take 3–5 business days to reach you, although InboxDollars warns that the process can sometimes take longer.

Which redemption options does InboxDollars offer?

InboxDollars features similar gift cards to those featured on Swagbucks and MyPoints (e.g., Amazon, Walmart, and Target).

There are also cash redemption options (via prepaid debit cards and PayPal).

14. AppNana

AppNana calls itself “the world’s best mobile rewards app” and says that its members have earned over $10 million in gift card credits. Games are its main focus, although it may offer a few other tasks.

We’re not sure that AppNana is the world’s best mobile rewards app, but it currently has over 10 million downloads on the Google Play store, so it’s pretty popular. The app is also available on the App Store, although there’s no web-based version for browsers.

Which redemption options does AppNana offer?

AppNana offers gift cards from:

• Amazon
• iTunes
• Google Play
• Xbox
• PlayStation
• Roblox
• Other popular retailers

However, it doesn’t promise cash redemption options, so bear in mind that you probably won’t be able to cash out via PayPal, for example, if you decide that you don’t like any of the gift card options available.

15. JustPlay

JustPlay is another app that focuses on rewarding users for online gameplay. It describes itself as “a unique loyalty program designed for casual mobile players.”

JustPlay headquarters are in Berlin, Germany, but the app is available in many different countries, including the US (with both Android and iOS versions available).

JustPlay is a bit coy about the games and genres it offers, merely promising “games that no one else has.” We predict the usual suspects like card games, arcade-style games, casual games, puzzles, and quizzes.

According to some reports, you may also be able to earn with other tasks (e.g., taking surveys and watching videos), but this isn’t guaranteed.

Which redemption options does JustPlay offer?

JustPlay promises gift cards from Amazon and Walmart, and reports online cite other options like Google Play and Burger King. It also has the option to cash out via PayPal.

16. FeaturePoints

FeaturePoints is one of the last on our list of microtasking and GPT apps and websites. This platform has been around since 2012 and allows you to earn real cash by playing free games as well as by downloading other types of apps and completing surveys.

FeaturePoints is available as a web version, and it also has mobile apps for both iOS and Android devices, with over 10 million downloads on Google Play. It claims to have paid out over $6 million in rewards to users and has the usual types of gift cards and other rewards up for grabs.

Which redemption options does FeaturePoints offer?

FeaturePoints offers gift card redemption with various popular retailers, such as:

• Amazon
• Google Play
• Xbox
• PlayStation
• Nintendo eShop
• Starbucks

It also has options to redeem via cash (with PayPal cash or Visa prepaid cards).

17. Drop

Drop is a cashback and rewards app (available for iOS and Android devices) you can use to save on purchases and earn rewards in the form of gift cards. It claims to have over 5 million members, so it has a fairly large user base.

The main focus of Drop is on earning rewards by shopping at partnered retailers. However, it also allows you to earn with games, including gaming apps you can download and install and simple in-app games.

Which redemption options does Drop offer?

Drop says that you can redeem rewards via gift cards from retailers like these:

• Fashion: Adidas, Nike, Ray-Ban, Lululemon, Everlane, Aerie
• Travel: Hotels.com, Expedia, American Airlines, Four Seasons
• Beauty: Sephora, Ulta, Glossier
• Shopping: Sam’s Club, Walmart, BestBuy, Costco, Target
• Entertainment: Stubhub, Fanxchange
• Food: Uber Eats, Starbucks, ShakeShack, Whole Foods, Dunkin’ Donuts

However, unlike most other platforms on this list, it doesn’t have cash redemption options.

The platforms we’ve already listed are, in our opinion, the best way to earn gift cards and cash by playing games online. They’re completely free and won’t require you to spend any money in most cases.

However, we’ve seen many other gaming apps recommended that we definitely don’t endorse, as they are specifically designed to coerce you into gambling. We’ll list some of these apps below.

You can, in theory, use these gambling apps to play games for free, earn gift cards or merchandise, and even win money in cash tournaments if you’re strategic and patient. However, the platforms in question strongly encourage you to spend cash to enter tournaments, so it can be tempting to fork out in the hope of winning cash prizes.

In particular, watch out for apps from the following platforms.

Skillz

Skillz is a platform featuring a variety of apps based on card games, board games, dice games, puzzle games, and more. Skillz apps are usually available for iOS and Samsung Galaxy devices, with non–Samsung Galaxy Android versions also sometimes available.

If you use multiple Skillz apps, you can merge your accounts and spend or withdraw your cash and credits interchangeably on all of them.

We have tested many Skillz games, including:

• Blackout Bingo: This app features virtual bingo tournaments (with a few bonus features to spice up the games).
• Dominoes Gold: This app features virtual dominoes tournaments.
• Pool Payday: On this app, you can enter virtual pool tournaments and compete against real human opponents or bots.
• Solitaire Cube: This app is based on the highly addictive card game, solitaire (the three-draw version).
• 21 Blitz: This app features a different card game, this time resembling a combination of solitaire and blackjack.

When we tried out these games, we found that they were good fun, but we usually made only very small amounts of money from them or even lost money, overall.

Skillz games allow you to earn in-app credits called Ticketz, and you can redeem these credits directly for gift cards (which include Amazon and Target, among other retailers) and merchandise. However, you need to accumulate huge numbers of Ticketz to get enough credits for a gift card or merchandise item.

To give you an example, one Skillz app we used offered us a $10 gift card in exchange for 600,000 Ticketz. We spent many hours using the aforementioned Skillz apps, and were not able to get anywhere near 600,000 Ticketz.

Other gambling platforms

Papaya Gaming and Pocket7Games are two more prominent gambling and tournament-based platforms. They don’t allow you to earn gift cards directly with in-app credits as they pay out only via cash (e.g., PayPal cash).

These platforms are similar to Skillz in that they feature many of the same games. They also use many sneaky tricks to make you part with your money, and, as such, are best avoided.

Papaya Gaming

Like Skillz, Papaya Gaming offers apps based on various games and allows you to merge all of your accounts and use your cash or credits interchangeably on them.

Papaya Gaming apps include:

• Bingo Cash: Like the bingo offering from Skillz, this is basically virtual bingo with a few bonus features.
• Bubble Cash: This is an arcade-style game that involves shooting bubbles to win prizes.
• Solitaire Cash: This is another solitaire-based virtual card game (once again, the three-draw version).

When we used these apps, we found that, like Skillz apps, they were fun to play, but far from lucrative, as we ended up losing money, overall, instead of profiting. (In theory, Papaya apps pay out via PayPal if indeed you can actually make anything on them.)

Papaya Gaming apps are usually available for iOS and Samsung Galaxy Android devices, only (but not other Android devices).

Pocket7Games

Pocket7Games is one more platform that resembles Skillz and Papaya Gaming but, again, doesn’t have options to earn gift cards directly (only cash via PayPal, Apple Pay, Venmo, or Visa).

Examples of games available on Pocket7Games include:

• Bubble Buzz: This is another arcade-style bubble shooter game.
• Bingo Clash: This is one of two bingo-based games featured on the Pocket7Games platform.
• Bingo Tour: As you might expect, this is another bingo-based game from Pocket7Games.
• Solitaire Clash: Once again, we have the obligatory game of virtual solitaire (the three-draw version).

For all of these apps, once again, we found that they were good fun but caused us to lose money, overall.

These tips can help you maximize your gift card rewards from online games while avoiding common pitfalls.

• Switch games or platforms if necessary: In many reviews of platforms featuring online games, users complain of diminishing returns with their earnings. If you have similar problems, try switching games, as some platforms will stop paying you after you’ve spent a certain amount of time playing a particular game. If switching games doesn’t help, consider switching platforms.
• Manage your expectations: As we’ve already mentioned, you almost certainly won’t make much playing online games. Although you can probably make a few dollars worth of gift cards here and there, there are many faster and more efficient ways to earn (including other ways to make money within an hour or less).
• Double up online gaming with other earning strategies: Because online gaming is such a flexible side hustle, you can easily fit it around other activities like commuting or queuing. You can also pair it with other earning strategies like pet sitting or driving apps (e.g., if you have short periods between rideshare or delivery requests) to boost your earnings.
• Check redemption options: Gift cards are one of the most popular redemption methods available on GPT apps and websites or microtasking platforms. Nearly all of these platforms will have at least some gift cards on offer. However, the selection of retailers will vary, so check this out before you start using a gaming app or website, and make sure that there are at least a few options you like.
• Avoid in-app purchases: Our list includes many gaming apps that promise to pay you instantly with real money and gift cards. However, we’ve seen that some of these apps also encourage you to spend real money. Bear in mind that in-app purchases usually outweigh potential earnings, so it’s best to give these apps a wide berth and stick to free platforms.
• Check redemption thresholds and speeds: If you choose platforms with high redemption thresholds, be prepared to put in more time until you can get your gift card. Also, check in advance how long the card will take to arrive. In our experience, you’ll often get it within a day or so. However, many platforms caution that withdrawals can take longer—sometimes a couple of weeks or even more—so bear this in mind.
• Look for signup bonuses: We’ve seen that many platforms from our list will give you a welcome bonus when you sign up. By using signup bonus apps like these, you can reach the minimum redemption threshold faster to earn your first gift card.

If you already spend time playing games on your phone or laptop and want to earn rewards along the way, the platforms from our list can be worth trying. Sure, your earnings may be small, but they can stack up over time.

However, if you’re looking to earn serious amounts of gift card credit, you’re probably better off exploring more conventional side hustles or alternative types of money-making apps, which will pay you much more.