Cash Giraffe

Estimated reading time: 14 minutes

Have you ever wished you could make money by playing games on your phone? Good news – it’s actually possible! You can indeed earn money playing mobile games, and yes, you can earn real rewards for doing so, without it being a scam or gimmick. This beginner-friendly guide will walk you through the most popular and legitimate ways to earn money gaming on your smartphone. We’ll cover everything from play-and-earn reward apps to streaming your gameplay, and share tips to help you maximise your earnings while having fun.

Important Note: You won’t get rich overnight by playing mobile games. These methods provide extra pocket money or gift cards, not a full-time income. But if you’re already gaming in your spare time, why not earn a little something for it? Let’s dive into how it works and get started.

1. Use “Play-and-Earn” Reward Apps 📱💎

One of the easiest ways for beginners to earn money playing mobile games is by using reward apps. These are apps that track your gameplay time or progress and reward you with points (sometimes called coins, gems, or units), which you can redeem for real gift cards or PayPal cash. Essentially, they pay you for the time you spend playing other mobile games.

How do reward apps work? Typically, you install a reward app and choose from a list of sponsored games to download. As you play those games, the app runs in the background tracking your playtime or achievements. In return, you accumulate points within the reward app. Once you have enough points, you can cash out for rewards like Amazon gift cards or PayPal transfers (usually a $5 minimum payout is common).

Some popular apps to earn money playing mobile games include Cash Giraffe, Cash ’em All, and Rewarded Play, among others. For example, Mistplay is one of the original gaming reward apps on Android and boasts a strong reputation, earning a 4.5-star rating on Google Play with over 900,000 user reviews. Mistplay exclusively offers game rewards and has paid out over $60 million to users since launching in 2016.

Another example, Cash Giraffe, is a newer app available on both Android and iOS. It lets you redeem “gems” for real money payouts via PayPal or gift cards, even with small amounts under $1. Cash Giraffe has a 4.4-star rating from half a million Android users and 4.7 stars on the Apple App Store, indicating real user trust.

Pros of reward apps: They’re free to use and easy to start – no special skills required. You can discover new games you might enjoy, and earn a bit of money in the process. Many reward apps have low cash-out thresholds (some as low as $0.50 or $1) and multiple payout options (PayPal, Amazon, Google Play, etc.). They are perfect for casual gamers who want to monetize their hobby without any upfront investment.

Cons to keep in mind: The earning rates are modest. Typically, you might earn on the order of a few cents per hour of gameplay. Also, the game selection in each app can be limited, and you may encounter diminishing returns (the longer you play one game, the fewer points you get per minute). Finally, Android vs iOS availability differs: Mistplay and some others are Android-only, whereas apps like Cash Giraffe support both platforms in all countries.

Tips to earn money playing games effectively:

• Choose reputable apps: Stick to well-known, legit apps with high ratings and many downloads. Read reviews to ensure people are actually getting paid. (We’ll talk more about spotting scams later.)
• Focus on one game at a time: In many apps, you earn more points by leveling up in a game or reaching milestones. Don’t spread your time too thin across dozens of games; pick one or two that you enjoy and that offer good reward rates.
• Leverage bonuses: Take advantage of any bonus features like welcome bonuses, daily check-in rewards, or “boosts” that multiply your earnings. For example, Cash Giraffe runs a Double Rewards Weekend event, where all new games offer 2× gems from Friday through Sunday, making it a great time to rack up points faster.
• Cash out promptly: Once you hit the minimum redemption (say $5), cash out relatively soon.

Reward apps are an ideal starting point for earning money while playing mobile games. They’re user-friendly and designed for beginners looking to get paid to play. Next, let’s explore some other ways – including a bit more advanced options – to monetize your mobile gaming hobby.

2. Participate in Mobile Gaming Tournaments 🎮🏆

If you have a competitive streak, mobile game tournaments and competitions can be another avenue to earn cash. Certain mobile games (especially popular ones like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, or even competitive puzzle/casino apps) host tournaments where top players can win prize money. There are also platforms that facilitate head-to-head matches or esports-style competitions for mobile gamers.

For example, skill-based gaming platforms like Skillz host tournaments in games such as solitaire, bingo, or trivia where players can wager a small entry fee and compete for a cash prize pool. Apps like Solitaire Cash or Blackout Bingo fall into this category – winners in tournaments can earn money (though note that these often require an initial deposit to compete, so they carry some risk).

Meanwhile, popular battle royale and MOBA mobile games have official esports tournaments. If you’re highly skilled at a game, you could try entering local or online competitions. The earnings for winners can be substantial (ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars), but keep in mind that this is highly competitive – essentially like becoming a professional gamer on mobile.

Pros: Tournaments can yield bigger rewards in a short time if you win. They add excitement and a goal to shoot for beyond just leisure play.

Cons: Not beginner-friendly in most cases, since you’re up against very skilled players. There’s no guaranteed income – it’s all or nothing in competitions. Some tournament apps require you to put in your own money upfront, which is risky and not recommended unless you know what you’re doing.

For beginners looking to earn money playing mobile games, we recommend approaching this method with caution. Start with free tournaments or small prize contests within games you already play, just to get a feel for it. Only consider paid entry tournaments if you’re confident in your skill and can afford to lose the entry fee.

3. Stream or Create Content Around Mobile Games 📹🎉

Another route to indirectly earn money playing mobile games is by becoming a content creator. This won’t pay you for playing games immediately like reward apps do, but over time, you can build an audience and earn revenue through platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or TikTok.

Here are a few ideas:

• Live Streaming: You can live-stream yourself playing mobile games on Twitch or YouTube Gaming. If you build a following, you can earn through viewer donations, subscriptions, or ad revenue. For example, some people stream popular mobile titles (Clash of Clans, Genshin Impact, etc.) and engage with viewers.
• YouTube Videos: Create videos such as game reviews, tips and tricks, walkthroughs, or funny highlights of mobile games. Once your YouTube channel meets certain criteria, you can monetize it with ads. Popular mobile game YouTubers also earn from sponsorships.
• TikTok or Instagram: Short, entertaining clips of mobile gameplay or gaming skits can go viral on social media. While these platforms don’t pay for views directly (except via creator funds), they can lead to sponsorship deals if you gain a large following.

Pros: If you enjoy content creation, this can be a fun and potentially lucrative endeavour. There are success stories of gamers turning their hobby into a side income through streaming and videos. You’re not limited by point systems or small payouts – income scales with your audience.

Cons: It’s not an instant or guaranteed way to earn. It takes time to build an audience (months or even years of consistent content). You’ll also need to develop on-camera or editing skills. For many beginners, this might be more effort than it’s worth purely for money, but if you love sharing your gameplay, it’s an option to consider.

Tip: You can combine this with reward apps – for instance, document your journey of trying play-to-earn apps and share honest reviews or earnings updates. This kind of content can attract viewers who are curious about whether these apps really work.

4. Earn money testing new mobile games and Apps 🧪🕹️

Did you know you can get paid to beta test new mobile games? Some platforms reward users for trying out pre-release or newly launched apps and providing feedback. This overlaps with reward apps, but the focus is often more on giving your opinion or discovering bugs, rather than just playing for points.

For example, Test ’em All is an app that pays users in two ways: you can earn by testing new games and apps (e.g., reaching certain levels or completing specific tasks), or by simply playing featured games through the app, much like other play-and-earn platforms. It combines elements of user feedback with casual gaming rewards. Similarly, websites like BetaTesting or PlaytestCloud recruit gamers to test pre-release games and answer survey questions about their experience — often paying a fixed amount per test.

Pros:
You get early access to new games and apps, and a chance to help improve them. Payment per task can be higher than standard reward apps — often a few dollars per test, depending on the scope. Apps like Test ’em All even let you earn by casually playing, not just testing.

Cons:
Opportunities can be irregular — you might only get a handful of tests each month. And while the pay is better per task, some assignments (like reaching specific levels) can be time-consuming. A few platforms also overpromise on payouts, especially if tasks are more grind than feedback.

If you enjoy discovering new games and sharing your opinions, this can be a fun and rewarding side-earner. Just be sure the testing platform is legitimate — always check real user reviews and payout history before investing your time.

5. Other Ways to Monetize Your Mobile Gaming 🎯💡

Beyond the main methods above, here are a couple of additional ideas and opportunities that some gamers use to make a bit of money:

• In-game Item Selling: Some mobile games allow player-to-player trading. If a game permits it, you could potentially sell high-level accounts or rare in-game items/skins for real money. This is common in certain MMORPGs. However, be cautious – it may violate the game’s terms of service, and there’s risk in dealing with third-party buyers.
• Sweatcoin/Step-to-Play Hybrids: A few apps reward you for physical activity plus gaming. For example, an app might give you points for walking (like Sweatcoin does) and also bonus points for playing partner games. These are niche but worth mentioning as creative ways apps entice users.
• Join Giveaways and Contests: Keep an eye on the communities of your favorite games or gaming apps. Sometimes, companies run contests (such as high-score challenges or referral contests) where winners receive cash or prizes. Entering these free contests can unexpectedly earn you rewards if you’re lucky or put in some effort.

Overall, the landscape of making money through mobile games is always evolving. New apps and opportunities appear each year, while some fade away. The key is to stick with legit, proven methods – especially as a beginner.

Choosing Legit Apps and Avoiding Scams 🔒🚫

Whenever money is involved, it’s wise to be a bit cautious. The good news is that the leading play-and-earn apps are legitimate – they wouldn’t have hundreds of thousands of users and years in business if they were fake. For instance, apps within the justDice family, such as Cash Giraffe, have collectively paid out millions to users. Cash Giraffe, as of last year, paid out over $3.8 million in rewards to its users. These apps make money from advertisers (game developers who pay to get players like you), which is how they can share a slice with you.

However, you should still be cautious of scam apps or overly exaggerated claims. Here are some red flags to avoid:

• Apps that ask for money up front: A genuine get-paid-to-play app will never require you to pay a fee or purchase to join. If an app says, “Buy a premium membership to withdraw your earnings,” that’s a huge warning sign.
• Unrealistic promises: If you see an app advertising “Earn $100 a day effortlessly by playing,” be skeptical. Remember, typical earnings are small. Scammers use big promises to lure people in.
• No reviews or poor ratings: Before downloading, check the Google Play or App Store rating. Legit apps usually have thousands of reviews with an average of around 4 stars. If an app has almost no reviews, or a very low rating with many complaints of “never got my reward” – steer clear.
• Not on official app stores: If you’re asked to sideload an APK outside of the Google Play Store or App Store (especially on Android), that’s risky. Stick to official store downloads to reduce malware or fraud risk.
• Excessive ads or permissions: It’s normal for reward apps to show some ads (that’s how they make money to pay you). However, if an app is constantly displaying intrusive ads or requesting unnecessary device permissions, think twice.

The best way to verify an app’s legitimacy is to do a quick online search for “[App Name] legit or scam” and see what other users say. Communities like Reddit (e.g., r/Beermoney or r/EarnExtraIncome) frequently discuss these apps. If people have had trouble getting paid or encountered shady behavior, you’ll quickly find reports of it.

Finally, protect your information. Only provide the necessary info for the app to function (usually just an email and a PayPal account or similar to redeem rewards). Be wary if an app asks for sensitive data like your banking login or Social Security number – that’s not normal for gaming apps.

Start Earning money playing mobile games in Your Spare Time 🎉

To sum up, earning money playing mobile games is a fun side hustle for your spare time. As a beginner, your best bet is to start with one of the highly-rated reward apps we discussed – try a well-reviewed app like Cash Giraffe and see how you like it. They’re free, so you have nothing to lose except a bit of time (and you might enjoy the games you discover!).

Mix and match the methods that appeal to you:

• Want quick, guaranteed (if small) rewards? Download a play-to-earn app and use it consistently.
• Feeling competitive? Enter a tournament for your favorite game now and then.
• Already play a ton and have personality? Try streaming your gameplay or making video content.
• Love trying new apps? Sign up as a beta tester and give feedback for rewards.

Regardless of which path you choose, maintain realistic expectations and a positive mindset. You’re most likely to succeed if you treat it like a hobby that earns a bit of extra cash, rather than a job. That way, every gift card or PayPal deposit you earn feels like a bonus reward for something you enjoy doing anyway.

Internal Link: For a deeper dive into the world of game reward apps and more advanced tips, be sure to check out [The Complete Guide to Play-and-Earn Apps], our comprehensive pillar post covering everything you need to know about this growing trend. It will help you build on this beginner’s guide and take your earning potential to the next level.

Happy gaming and earning! 🎮💰