If you’ve been spending your winter evenings unwinding with mobile games, you might be sitting on a low-effort side hustle that can help offset those end-of-year bills this January.
You don’t need to be a professional streamer or a gaming expert to get paid. There are plenty of legitimate apps and websites that reward casual gamers with real cash just for testing out new titles or reaching certain levels.
We’ve rounded up 10 of the best ways to earn real money via PayPal with online games this month. You can see our top 3 recommendations as of January 2026 in the first three rows of the table below:
| Gig App | Signup Bonus | Withdraw Minimum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | $10 | ||
| $0.50 | $1 | ||
| $0.54–$0.66 | $5 | ||
| $0.05–$250 | $5–$20 (then $0.25) | ||
| Not yet tested | <$5 | ||
| $0–$10 | $1–$25 | ||
| $5 | $15 (then $10) | ||
| $2 | $3–$15 | ||
| $0 | None | ||
| $3 | Not stated | ||
In addition to testing games ourselves and tracking their recent updates, we regularly check out what other people are saying about gaming apps across the web. We recommend the most promising apps by looking for ones that are frequently updated, have active communities, and pay real money fast.
How playing games for money works
These types of free platforms featuring paid tasks are often referred to as GPT platforms, microtasking platforms, or rewards platforms, as well as by other names. The platforms on our list include all types of games, from casual puzzle games and trivia challenges to fast-paced arcade games and skill-based competitions.
With some of the apps, you’ll be able to play via your web browser. Often, though, you’ll have to download an app to your mobile device in order to play and earn. All of the apps are completely free to download and use, so these are our top recommendations for making money with games.
However, these earning opportunities aren’t all equally worthwhile, and there are pitfalls to watch out for. Read on to discover the top online games for PayPal rewards and what you need to watch out for when you start your gaming side hustle.