10+ Best Games To Win Gift Cards
There's nothing quite like sitting back for an afternoon with some friends or by yourself to jump into your favorite video games. And I've been a fan of mobile and PC gaming for years.
But what if it was actually possible to turn your next gaming session into a side hustle?
Well, the great news is that it's actually possible to earn gift cards by playing games if you know the right apps and platforms to use. So, you can start a new video game side hustle and reap the rewards of the time you spend playing.
How To Play Games For Gift Cards
I've been testing out different ways to earn money by playing games for years. And these days, there are plenty of gaming apps that pay you with free gift cards for the time you spend playing.
1. Cash Giraffe
My current favorite way to earn gift cards by playing games is to use Cash Giraffe, one of the leading Android games that pay.
This app pays you to download and play new mobile games. You can redeem earnings for PayPal cash as well as gift cards to companies like Amazon, Best Buy, Google Play, Starbucks, and Walmart.
Gift card rewards start at $5, so it doesn't take very long to cash out. And I like that Cash Giraffe also has PayPal cash prizes if you ever just want money. Plus, the game variety is quite excellent and includes genres like action, adventure, puzzle, strategy, and word games.
Try out Cash Giraffe or read my Cash Giraffe review.
2. Money Well
Like Cash Giraffe, another leading app in this space is Money Well.
This is another Android real money app that lets you earn PayPal cash and a wide variety of gift cards for downloading and playing different games.
Some of the top gift cards you can redeem with Money Well include ones to Amazon, Macy's, Nike, Kohl's, Starbucks, and Target.
You only need $5 to redeem many gift cards as well, so you can earn quick money with this app after playing just a few games. Again, Money Well is Android-only, so iOS users can read my post on the best iPhone games for money for some legit alternatives.
3. Kashkick
If you live in the United States and prefer PayPal cash to gift cards, then Kashkick should be on your radar.
This website is free to sign up for if you're 18 or older. Once you're a member, you can make money by completing short surveys and by playing a variety of games.
Kashkick also pays you to download apps and to sign up for different services. And some of its offers pay $50 or even more, so there's plenty of ways to earn. You get paid via PayPal, so your rewards are more versatile than redeeming gift cards as well.
4. Bubble Cash
If you're feeling competitive and have an iPhone, another app you can win real cash with is Bubble Cash.
This app lets you face off against real players in games of the classic bubble popping arcade game we all know from when we were kids. Winners of tournament games walk away with real cash prizes, and prize pools can often reach $10 to $50 or more.
This isn't a direct way to play games for gift cards. But you can cash out your winnings to your bank account or win PayPal and then use those funds to shop.
This is also one of the highest-paying apps in the game space, and you can potentially make $50 fast or even more by winning a few games.
However, players have to pay small entry fees to compete. You lose this fee if you lose matches, so this isn't the right phone side hustle for everyone. Also note that cash games aren't available in several states, including: AZ, IN, IA, LA, ME, SC, MT, WA.
Download Bubble Cash and start earning!
5. Mistplay
Mistplay is one of the leading apps in this category, and it's one of the Android reward apps I've used the most over the years.
This free app is also available in dozens of countries. And it's a fun way to download and play new games to earn different gift cards and PayPal money.
My favorite part about Mistplay is that many gift card rewards, including Amazon, are redeemable at only $0.50. This makes Mistplay a fun and fast way to earn money online, and the game variety is quite excellent.
Again, Mistplay is Android-only, but it had to make this list of the top ways to earn gift cards by playing games due to how popular it is.
6. Buff
If you're a PC gamer, then Buff is one of the best options out there.
This free program lets you earn passive income by playing leading titles like CS:GO, Call of Duty, Minecraft, League of Legends, and Valorant.
All you have to do is download Buff and let it run in the background while you play games. You then earn points passively which you can redeem for prizes like free gift cards, free Steam games, and gaming merchandise.
You won't earn hundreds of dollars in free gift cards per month with Buff. However, this is a fun way to earn money on autopilot while enjoying some of your favorite PC titles.
7. Cashyy
Cashyy is another popular paid gaming app for Android that also lets you earn gift cards by playing games.
The app is similar to Cash Giraffe and Money Well. All you do is download Cashyy and then play games from its list of sponsored games to earn.
What makes this app unique is that free PayPal cash rewards are available at just $0.20, which is a very low cash out requirement.
You can also redeem gift cards at $5 to companies like Amazon, DoorDash, PlayStation, Sephora, and Walmart. And Cashyy adds new games and rewards all the time to keep things interesting.
8. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a leading gpt site and app lets you earn rewards for completing various online tasks. And I've used it since college to make extra money on the side and have cashed out dozens of times over the years.
Gaming offers are available on Swagbucks that pay you to download new games or to play cash games in the Swagbucks library. You can also earn money with other tasks, including doing surveys for money, shopping, watching ads for money, and searching the web.
Gift cards are available starting at $1 to $5 as well, and Swagbucks has dozens of cards to choose from. Plus, there's often a $5 to $10 sign up bonus for new members, so you can cash out very quickly with Swagbucks if you complete a few steps.
9. Rewarded Play
If you still want some apps to earn gift cards, the Rewarded Play app is another must-try app.
This Android app is available in Canada and the United States. Once you download it, you then download other games to play and earn points the more games you play and as you level up.
The game variety is quite similar to other Android gaming apps in my experience. And I like that it only takes $5 to redeem a gift card, which only takes playing a game or two.
Gift card options also include major retailers like Adidas, Amazon, Walmart, and Uber Eats. And you get paid within a few hours or day or two of cashing out.
10. Gamehag
Like Buff, another easy way to earn gift cards by playing PC games is to use Gamehag,
This platform pays you with gems for playing a variety of free PC games and completing missions in them. You can then redeem your gems for a variety of gift cards, in-game skins, and free video games.
I like Gamehag since it has many leading PC titles, including ones like World of Tanks, Neverwinter, and Raid Shadow Legends. To cash out, you can redeem prizes like PayPal cash, Google Play credit, free Steam keys, and a variety of gift cards for various games.
Overall, Gamehag is a fun side hustle if you spend time playing PC games every week. And you can use its sister-website Earnweb for even more rewards.
11. InboxDollars
Like Swagbucks, another leading cash survey site with some great gaming offers is InboxDollars.
This website is available in the United States to anyone who's 18 or older. Once you're a member, you can complete a variety of tasks to earn cash that's redeemable for dozens of gift cards or PayPal money.
Some of the ways you can make money with InboxDollars include:
- Completing surveys and daily polls
- Downloading apps
- Playing PC and mobile games
- Scanning barcodes
- Watching videos
Websites like InboxDollars can generally pay a few dollars per hour, so it isn't a full-time online job. But it has numerous games you can play to earn and plenty of other earning methods.
I also like InboxDollars since it has an instant $5 sign up bonus to help new members get started. And you just need $15 to cash out your first time. If you like this site, you can also stack it with MyPoints, the sister-site to InboxDollars, to earn even more.
12. JustPlay
JustPlay is a popular app like Mistplay that also lets you download and play different Android games to earn cash and various gift card prizes.
What makes JustPlay unique is that it lets you cash out via PayPal every three hours, so there's no minimum cash out requirement. And the app has numerous gift card rewards you can redeem at only $5.
Gift cards include popular stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy. And JustPlay has similar game genres to the other apps on this list so there's something for everyone.
Apps like JustPlay won't make $50 a day or anything like that. But you can easily earn a few dollars per day with this app and then enjoy some free gift cards.
And if you like this app, you can check out similar apps like Money Rawr, Cash Cow, and Cash'em All that also have fast payouts.
13. AppStation
AppStation is an Android gaming app that's similar to apps like Mistplay or Rewarded Play. It lets you earn PayPal cash and various gift cards by playing new mobile games in your spare time.
Gift card options include retailers like Amazon, Groupon, PlayStation, Target, and Xbox. And AppStation has fairly similar game genres and options to the other gaming apps on this list.
The minimum cash out amount is also $5, so playing a game or two with AppStation can easily equal a free gift card in your wallet.
Tips For Earning More
Now that you know some top ways to get gift cards by playing games, here are a few tips that have helped me increase my earnings over the years with this type of digital side hustle:
- Shuffle Between Apps: One downside of gaming reward apps is that they pay less over time as you play more games. So, shuffle between several apps at once to earn as much as possible.
- Set Specific Goals: Set a specific income target so you have a goal to work towards with these apps.
- Try Similar Side Hustles: Mixing in other online hustles, like using beermoney sites or freelancing online, can help you take your earnings to the next level.
Extra Reading – How To Make Money Online As A Beginner.
Final Thoughts
I hope my guide on earning gift cards by playing games helps you find some new gaming reward apps while padding your wallet with some free money.
Sure, these gaming apps won't make $1,000 a day or anything close to that. But they're a fun way to earn something while spending time on your hobby. Plus, you can always stack multiple apps to earn more, or use mobile and PC platforms for some variety.
Want even more money-making ideas? Checkout:
- How To Get Money In One Hour.
- The Best Games That Pay You To Cash App.
- 10+ Best Games That Pay Real Money Instantly.
