Free money? Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? Every year businesses (and the government) give away thousands of dollars in free money and free PayPal money as a way of promoting their websites or products.
It's true and I've put together a list of my favorites that will give you more than $3,700 in free cash right now. Some of them only require filling out a form or downloading a free money app. Some of them take a bit more effort, but you can easily knock out all of these in a weekend to get free money online.
How to Get Free Money
Is free money really free? I know you're probably skeptical but there are a ton of ways to get free money. Here are some ideas for you…
1. Get $15 right now
You're already spending time on your phone. Might as well make some money while you're at it.
Bigcash pays you to play mobile games, complete offers, and try new services. Right now they're giving new users a $15 sign up bonus. The more you play, the more you earn. Cash out anytime to PayPal or gift cards.
Will this replace your job? No. But it's a fun way to earn extra cash during downtime.
- Over 3,000 live offers on the platform now
- Cash out anytime through PayPal or gift cards with no complicated steps
- Get $15 bonus just for signing up and getting started
2. Get paid to play games with Mistplay
You're already gaming on your phone. Mistplay just makes sure you get paid for it.
Download games through the app, play like you normally would, and rack up points the whole time. Cash those points out for real gift cards to PayPal, Amazon, Visa, and more. The longer you play, the more you stack.
No surveys. No catch. Just free money for doing something you'd be doing anyway.
3. Get paid just for keeping an app installed
This might be the easiest money on the list. Nielsen Pulse pays you for doing absolutely nothing.
Install the app, let it run quietly in the background, and that's it. You go about your life while Nielsen uses anonymous data to study internet trends. No tasks, no surveys, no effort.
New users get a sign-up reward, plus you're entered into regular sweepstakes for cash prizes on top of the monthly payouts.
Set it, forget it, get paid.
Sign up for Nielsen Pulse here
4. Get $150 right now
Payday is Friday but the bills don't wait. Sound familiar?
EarnIn lets you cash out up to $150 a day, and up to $1,000 per pay period, of money you've already earned, before payday hits. Need gas on a Tuesday or groceries before the weekend? The cash you already worked for is sitting right there. Tap it.
Here's why people are switching: no interest. No mandatory fees. No late fees. No credit check. Ever. This isn't a loan and it isn't a payday advance trap. It's just your own money, early. You can even get it in your account within minutes if you need it fast.
Sign up takes a couple minutes. Connect your bank, verify your work, and you could be cashing out today.
Sign up and check your eligibility
5. Get free cash trying apps with Branded
Branded has over 200 offers available right now and top earners made $300+ last week. As seen on CBS, you pick what interests you, whether that's downloading a game, trying a new app, or signing up for a service, complete the task, and earn points you can cash out for real money or gift cards.
New members get 100 points just for signing up (worth $1). Over 3 million members use it, and getting started takes about a minute.
Sign up for Branded and start earning today
6. Claim free money from class action lawsuits
Here's one most people overlook: class action lawsuit settlements. Every year, major companies settle lawsuits worth millions of dollars, and a portion of that money is set aside for people just like you. The best part? In many cases, you don't even need proof of purchase to file a claim, just fill out a simple form and collect your share.
The trick is knowing where to find open settlements. FileYourClaim is the official site that tracks all the latest class action settlements so you can quickly see which ones you qualify for and file your claim in minutes. No lawyers, no fees, no hassle, just free money. New settlements pop up all the time, so check back regularly and don't leave free money on the table.
7. Earn free cash with Referral Codes
Right now, there's $4,247 in unclaimed sign-up bonuses sitting on the table. Companies like Cash App, Acorns, and Webull are literally paying new users just to sign up, most people never claim it.
ReferralCodes has every active bonus in one place. Pick an app, use the code, and the money hits your account. No surveys. No gimmicks. Just free money you didn't know existed.
Start browsing for free cash here
8. Find free money faster with MoneyAnswers
MoneyAnswers is a free AI money mentor that helps you find the best money apps, sign-up bonuses, and cash opportunities available right now. Instead of hunting around, you just ask and it points you straight to verified offers you can actually act on.
Right now there are over $1,185 in verified bonuses available through MoneyAnswers, covering everything from investing apps to cash advance tools. No signup required, no credit card, and no spam.
It takes about 60 seconds to check what free money is waiting for you.
Find your free money at MoneyAnswers
9. Rip a pack and claim real cash with ReferralWallet
This one's actually fun. ReferralWallet turns sign-up bonuses into free packs you rip open, and every pack hides a real cash bonus from an app or brand you already know.
Tear open the foil, see what dropped, and tap claim. From there you sign up on the partner's own site, meet their terms, and they pay you directly in real money. It's free to play, no deposit and no card to start.
There's over $1,300 in bonuses sitting in the vault right now from apps that want you. Rip your first pack, reveal what's inside, and stack a streak to unlock more. ReferralWallet is an independent rewards directory, not a bank, so the cash goes straight to you.
Rip your first free pack at ReferralWallet
10. Win cash playing solitaire
You're already playing solitaire on your phone. Why not get paid for it?
Solitaire Cash turns the classic card game into real cash tournaments where you compete against players at your skill level.
The best part: you don't need to spend a dime to start winning. Just download the free app, enter a tournament, and if you outscore your opponents, real money hits your account.
We're not talking pocket change either. Solitaire Cash has paid out millions to players, and withdrawals go straight to PayPal or Apple Pay. Games only take a few minutes, so you can stack wins during your lunch break, on the couch, or anywhere you'd normally waste time on your phone.
Download Solitaire Cash for free and start winning real money today.
11. Get paid to test apps
Testerup pays you real money to download games, test apps, and complete offers. Over 2.9 million testers use the platform, and you can sign up for free and start getting paid right away. New members get a $5 sign-up bonus just for joining.
Each task has clear goals, like reaching a certain level in a game or trying a new service, and every goal has its own payout. Once you hit the payout threshold, you transfer your earnings straight to PayPal.
Sign up for Testerup and start earning today
12. Earn free cash with Freecash
Freecash pays you real money for trying apps, completing offers, and playing games. It is one of the highest-paying get-paid-to sites out there, with some offers paying $50 or more on their own.
New members get a free bonus just for signing up. Once you earn, you can cash out to PayPal, crypto, or gift cards with no minimum holding period. Over 3 million members have already been paid out.
Sign up for Freecash and start earning today
13. Get free money from the government
If you are in need of assistance then you can look to get free money from the federal government. Here's how with these legitimate sites to find unclaimed money:
Strata.org
Your first stop should be checking out Strata.org for finding unclaimed money that you may be owed. Strata featured collective records from all states of all residents' unclaimed property. This would typically include old security deposits that you've paid in the past and those sorts of things. This would be a great way to get free money sent by mail that is owed to you. You just visit the site, and it automatically detects what state you're in and where you need to go to check for your free money.
Child Care and Development Fund
The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan serves as the application for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funds by providing a description of, and assurance about, the grantee’s child care program and all services available to eligible families that need free cash and funds as aid.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. If you legitimately need money today for free then it is worth checking out.
Federal Pell Grant for Education
Federal Pell Grants are usually awarded to undergraduates that need payment assistance. The amount depends on financial need and the cost of attendance at the college. You can learn more at the Federal Student Aid website.
Earn Free Cash and Free Money FAQs
Free money is a benefit that has no costs. Here, it will mostly be sites that will not be asking for anything directly in return for the money.
Here are common questions people ask about how to get absolutely free money:
Finding free money is simple if you know where to look. If you wanted to get some free money right now you can earn money with online surveys, bank bonuses, use game apps to win real money, claim free stock promotions, and signing up for credit card bonuses. Or you can use the ideas below.
There are so many apps that give you free cash and free stuff. They are called ‘money-making apps‘ and you should start with InboxDollars, Drop, Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, Slidejoy, AppTrailers, and Rakuten.
Getting free PayPal money isn't any different than earning regular free money. The ideas and apps are the same and I've researched the different ways in this article on how to earn free PayPal money.
You can find unclaimed funds, find unclaimed pension funds, apply for educational and government grants, get assistance with childcare expenses, get help with utility bills, and accept healthcare credits.
Beware of Free Money Scams
You're likely ready to earn free money and get started soon. However, don’t assume that all free money opportunities you receive are from legitimate companies or even people. Some free money offers online are scams.
Spurious agents may happen to pick up your phone number and call you to offer a free vacation or even free money. Therefore, be vigilant about anything you find that someone claims to be free.
A detailed guide on the subject elaborates on the several steps consumers can take to protect themselves against such scam collection calls claiming to offer anything for “free”.
You should start by asking questions. For example, ask the caller about the company he or she represents, or ask for a number to call them “right back.” Legitimate companies would readily provide this information. Even asking seemingly trivial questions like “what’s my full name,” can help keep the fraudulent callers away.
With that being said, good luck earning free money and staying vigilant. Next, you can take a peek at our latest article on the best app bonuses.
Before you go, you might be leaving free money on the table. Sign up for a few of these apps and you could pocket $50+ this month just for playing games and completing simple tasks. Most people start earning within minutes. See all verified apps here, free to join.
