Earn Money While Playing Mobile Games
How much time will you spend a week on entertainment/relaxation? 4-5 hours?
MooCash mobile app lets you earn money with your Android cellphone or tablet simply by using the screen locker. This free screen locker reward users for unlocking their mobile screen, by swiping left to claim an offer. Users earn coins which can be redeemed into the cash via PayPal or Google Reward Card when they swipe to claim an offer.
I guess most of us would like to relax by watching your favorite movies/TV shows, visiting a nearby shopping mall, playing video games on your Xbox or PlayStation etc.
- Some games also have in-game purchases. And you get cashback for every dollar you spend while playing it online. But since your primary goal is to earn money, we’ll suggest you stick to Swagbucks’ free games. Swag Jump and Swag Memory are starters to get paid to play games online.
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- How Do Mobile Games Make Money? Types of Revenue Models for Mobile Gaming App Monetization The Mobile Gaming Industry Is Incredibly Lucrative. Mobile games have come a long way since the days of playing Nokia’s Snake on a tiny screen. The first known mobile game was a prehistoric version of Tetris, installed on a mobile.
Of course, playing games is the best option to relieve the stress for working professionals. Because it helps them to relax a bit after a tight work schedule of 8 hours/day for 5 days a week.
Now, let me ask you something.
Besides killing their free time, does playing games offer any kind of benefits to teens, college students or stay at home moms? Partially, Yes. How?
There are some mobile apps that actually pay the users to play/test their games for free. Yes. It’s really true and I’m not kidding. Let’s not worry about why should the game apps pay you to download, install and play their games.
Here Is the List Of Legit Apps That Pay To Play Games – (iOS/Android):
Definitely, this money making apps will not make you rich or help you to make $100-$500 per month. Instead, it rewards a few cents or dollars to do things you like.
1. InboxDollars
Many of you might have heard about InboxDollars as a paid survey site that rewards its members for taking surveys. However, it has a dedicated games section with some of the popular games like Solitaire, Bejeweled and more.
The reward varies based on the time spent in playing the games on the InboxDollarswebsite or app.
More time, More Money!
(Suggested Read:11 Ways To Make More Money From InboxDollars )
2. Swagbucks
You can find a lot of game apps from the Discover section of the Swagbuckswebsite and mobile app. And, you can easily earn SB to download and install those gaming apps.
Besides installing the game apps, you can earn easy SB for your various activities like searching the web, shopping products/services, watching videos and more.
( Also Read:15 Easy Ways To Make More Money From Swagbucks )
3. Swag IQ
Swag IQ is a live trivia game show where you can win huge cash prizes for answering 10 multiple choice questions correctly. You will get only 10 seconds to answer a question. If more than one person has answered all the questions correctly, then the prize money will be shared between the members.
The app is launched by the same company which owns Swagbucks. Swag IQ is available for both iOS and Android platforms.
4. Lucktastic
Do you believe in luck? Then, you can try this game. As per the name, Lucktastic allows the users to win cash/prizes by playing scratch cards. And, the scratch cards are valid only for a limited interval of time and it expires after that. You will get new scratch cards every day to try out your luck.
If you scratch reveals 3 identical symbols, then you will be considered as a winner. And, you will get either cash prize or tokens (can be used to redeem instant rewards or to enter contests). You can receive the cash via the Dwolla mobile wallet, check or gift cards.
App Link:iOS, Android
5. Bananatic
Are you some who is interested to explore and try new games? Then, you can check out the Bananatic app as it regularly adds new and interesting games. It is available for both iOSand Androidplatforms.
As you progress to the next level or achieve a milestone in your game, you will be rewarded with a few points for your efforts. And, you can redeem that points either to make purchases within the app or exchange them for gift cards from various retailers.
6. Gamehag
Gamehag rewards the users with points called Soul Gems (SG) to either play the games integrated to its platform or for downloading and playing the listed games. Besides games, you can earn SG to complete offers, watch app trailers or take surveys. It rewards the top 3 players every day with 1000, 500 and 300 respectively. It has an active forum where you can discuss with fellow users about the games, rewards and more.
Once you accumulate the minimum SG, you can spend them on buying games or add to your Steam Wallet.
Gamehag is available on both iOS and Android platforms.
7. Paid Game Player
Paid Game Player is not a mobile app. Instead, it is a website that pays you to play games for free. It claims that you can make free money by playing more than 600 games (casino, puzzle, poker etc) which are available on its database.
Plus, you can also make a few dollars to review the games. Just you need to create a free account on their website and start playing games for money.
Earn Money While Playing Mobile Games Online
8. Tap Cash Rewards
Basically, Tap Cash Rewards is an Androidapp that pays to play games, watch videos, install mobile apps and more. Also, you can earn coins if someone downloads the app using your referral code.
Plus, you will get a few coins for daily login as well. You can request the payout by PayPal or convert the coins to gift cards once your balance reaches $10.
9. WowApp
WowAppprovides a lot of options to make money like watching videos, reading news, chat, taking surveys, making phone calls at lower rates and more. It claims that it is sharing 70% of its revenue with its members.
Besides the above-listed ways, you can also earn wowcoins (100 wowcoins = $1) by playing a lot of games which are integrated into the app itself. Once you reach the minimum balance, you can redeem the wowcoins to cash via PayPal, Bank account or exchange them to gift cards. The minimum payout is $1.
10. Grab Points
There is no separate games section on the Grab Points. However, you can easily earn a few points by downloading and installing the game apps which are available in the offers section.
Grab Points is available in both web and mobile versions. Besides games, you can make money from Grab Points by watching videos, taking surveys, completing offers and more. The minimum payout is $3 (3000 points).
(Recommended Read:GrabPoints Review: Tips and Tricks to Earn More Points )
11. FitPlay
FitPlayis exactly like the AppLike as both the apps are released by the same company. I don’t find any difference between the two except the theme.
Like the AppLike Android app, FitPlay also rewards the users with coins to play mobile games for the specified duration of time. Plus, you will get 4444 coins as a bonus when you sign up for the first time.
12. App Flame
Like FitPlay and AppLike, App Flame also rewards you to download and play the games every day. And, will be credited with coins for playing every 10 minutes or so. Based on your location and age, the games will vary.
The minimum payout is $0.5 (4999 coins) via PayPal. Since the App Flame offers a signup bonus of 4444 coins, you can get your first payout quickly.
13. AppStation
AppStation works exactly like AppFlame and rewards the users to install and play games on their smartphones. Like all the other apps, it also offers a sign-up bonus of 4444 coins.
You can earn more coins by spending more time playing the games. Once you reach the minimum balance, you can convert the coins to cash via PayPal.
14. AppKarma
>AppKarma rewards the users with points called Karma Points for doing various activities like watching videos, playing games, installing apps and more. It also offers a daily check-in bonus for just opening the app daily.
The points can be redeemed via PayPal or Steam once the user reaches the minimum points balance.
(Also Read: 11 Apps That Pays You To Walk in 2019)
15. iCash
iCash pays “iCash coins” to play the games listed on the app. And, you can earn additional coins by downloading and playing the games on your phone. You can try our luck and earn more coins from the daily Lucky Spin as well. Besides games, you can also earn iCash coins by completing offers from Fyber, Tapjoy and more. Even though you cannot make a hundred dollars from this app, you should be able to make $5 to $10 every month.
Once your balance reaches the minimum payout, you can redeem that by converting to cash via PayPal or gift cards like Amazon, iTunes, Xbox Live and more.
Update on 02/22/2019: The app is not paying the rewards.
16. AppLike
Have you ever played the game CoinMaster? It is one of my favorites and the most addictive mobile game I have ever played. Every time you play that game for 15-20 minutes, you will be rewarded with coins which can be redeemed once you reach the minimum payout (4999 coins = $0.50).
Not only CoinMaster, you can find a lot of games like Solitaire, Wordcookies etc which are integrated with AppLike. To receive the rewards, you need to install and play the individual game from the AppLike app.
The minimum payout is $0.50 for PayPal and $2.5 for Amazon gift card. For all other gift cards, you need 47065 coins ($5).
Earn Real Money Playing Games
Update 02/22/2019: This app has been removed from the Google Play Store.
17. WHAFF Rewards
Basically, WHAFF Rewards pays you to download, install and open the mobile apps. At least 30-40% of those apps are game apps so that you can make a few cents by playing those games.
Most of the games will pay you $0.005 to $0.01 daily (for at least 7-30 days) to play the game for at least 2-5 minutes. You can request the payment once your balance reaches $11.
(Also read:WHAFF Rewards: How Much Will You Get to Install Mobile Apps?)
Update 02/22/2019: Even though the app is listed on the Play Store, its official website has gone offline. Hence, it is not known, if the app still pays.
Become A Game Tester To Make Money Playing Games
Are you looking for a stable source of income for playing games? Then, the best option would be to become a game tester and make money to play and test games. PlayTestCloud is a website that rewards the users to test and share their voice-based feedback of mobile-based games.
To become a tester with PlayTestCloud, create a free account on their website, take the sample test where you need to install and play the game sent to your email. After you pass the qualification test, you will be sent invitations to test games.
You can earn up to $10 to test the game and for providing your feedback. The payments will be sent via PayPal.
Conclusion
Definitely, you are not going to become a millionaire by installing and using the above apps that pay to play games. However, you will be rewarded with a small amount to spend your valuable time on playing games.
Plus, it will also motivate the game lovers to improve their gaming skills and take part in competitions or giveaways to win prizes.
For teens, stay at home moms and college students, these apps will give extra cash or pocket money every month.
This post may contain some affiliate links. For more information, check out Disclaimer page.
For the latest influencer marketing news, resources, and case studies,subscribe to our weekly newsletter.How Do Mobile Games Make Money? Most Popular Monetization Models
The meteoric rise in mobile device popularity and tech capability has fueled the extremely popular mobile app industry. Mobile games are amongst the most popular types of apps—in 2017, 80% of all app revenue came from gaming apps for both the Apple iOS App Store and Google Play Store. The global gaming market is targeted to reach $115 billion in 2018; the mobile gaming industry accounts for $50 billion dollars in all of global gaming revenue.
It’s clear that the mobile app industry is lucrative and continuing to grow in size each year. How do mobile games make money? Game monetization is the method by which a game product makes money for its developers and copyright owners. There are various revenue models that mobile games use to generate profit.
How Do Mobile Games Make Money? Types of Revenue Models for Mobile Gaming App Monetization
Free Games Earn Money
The Mobile Gaming Industry Is Incredibly Lucrative
Mobile games have come a long way since the days of playing Nokia’s Snake on a tiny screen. The first known mobile game was a prehistoric version of Tetris, installed on a mobile phone called Hagenuk MT-2000 in 1994. The launch of Apple’s App Store in 2007 marks the early days of mobile gaming as we know it today. Developers flooded the marketplace with games, many of which were incredibly addictive. Some early hits have faded from memory (Angry Birds, est. 2009), while others remain dominant in popularity (Candy Crush, released in 2012).
Mobile gaming apps have never been more sophisticated and new developments like real-time multiplayer abilities, livestreaming, and cross-device synchronization continue to drive industry growth. Another growth factor is the explosion of social media interest in gaming on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. As of April 2018, top mobile games like Fortnite and Candy Crush Saga earned more than one million dollars in daily revenue on iPhones alone.
The very first gaming apps fell into one of two broad categories: 1. Free Mobile Games (sometimes monetized through ads); 2. Paid Mobile Games (just a single upfront payment). Now, gaming monetization models have become significantly more complex and varied. The lucrative nature of mobile gaming influences game design and development, so creators can profit from their games.
Earn Money While Playing Mobile Games On
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Methods Used to Monetize Mobile Game Apps
Free Mobile Games
Free-to-Play (F2P or FTP) games are free to initially download, but require payment for various upgrades.
Freemium games are free to download and play but offer small in-game purchases known as microtransactions. The top grossing mobile games in 2018 have all been freemium model games, for example Clash Royale, Fortnight Battle Royale, and Candy Crush Soda Saga.
Microtransactions allow players to purchase additional virtual goods like extra gameplay levels, cosmetic skins, exclusive gear (e.g. armor, shields), loot boxes, or in-game currency. In-game purchases vary – some enhance the player’s power or speed up their progress within the game, while others are entirely cosmetic. An example of a microtransaction for a roleplaying game (RPG) is a player purchasing a limited-edition potion which gives their character special powers that would be otherwise very difficult or time-consuming to obtain via normal gameplay.
Since the purchases are usable within the game, microtransactions are especially tempting for avid, devoted players. Microtransactions can potentially lower the skills barrier needed to progress within the game, which can make the game feel out-of-whack for those who choose not to spend. Game developers must be very careful in designing microtransactions so that don’t significantly unbalance competition between players or worse, make players feel extorted (i.e. feel like they must spend their money to be able to function within the game).
Advertising model games are typically free, but contain ads as a means of revenue.
- Display ads are the most standard type, which can include static ads, dynamic display ads, banner ads, video ads, and pop-up ads. Neko Atsume occasionally inserts dynamic display ads as a small banner at the bottom of the screen.
- Interstitial ads are ads that are shown automatically in intervals. Interstitial ads are common for games with a level-up progression since they can be displayed between levels where there is a natural break in the gameplay, making them relatively unintrusive. For example, Ray-Man Adventure requires the player to watch a 30-second video after beating a level.
- Incentivized ads offer an in-game incentive, like an in-game currency or a boost, in exchange for interacting with an ad (e.g. watching a video ad). Puzzle game Candy Crush will offer to give users a bonus if they watch a short video before beginning a new level.
- Contextual ads are integrated into gameplay, often as branded gameplay objects or branded storefronts within the scenery of a game. Think branded Pokestops in Pokemon Go or billboards on the streets of Grand Theft Auto.
Shareware model games will allow you to play a free trial or demo version of a game, but require payment to unlock the full game license. Shareware gives free users limited gameplay compared to the full game – the idea is to entice users to pay for the game once they’ve gotten a taste. This model somewhat outdated as the vast majority of mobile game developers have embraced freemium.
Related Posts: The 19 Gaming Terms Every Marketer Must Know
Paid Mobile Games
Up-front payment model applies to games that are purchased via a one-time payment then downloaded directly onto a mobile device. A few popular examples of paid games include Minecraft, NBA 2K18, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Subscription model games charge a recurring fee to continue playing them, usually on a monthly basis. It’s uncommon for mobile games to use the subscription model – it’s more frequently used for massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) and other video games that require continuous server hosting and administrative overview in order to operate. Mobile games don’t lend themselves to a subscription model in part because they tend to be fleeting in popularity. Consumers tend to grow bored of mobile games, constantly looking for a novel diversion.
That said, chief marketing officer Al Campa of the business intelligence form App Annie predicts “I think you’ll start to see subscriptions making their way into gaming.” The success of media apps like Netflix and Spotify suggest that there’s a market for paying a monthly subscription to access collections of games. “The gaming world needs to continue coming up with new hits all the time,” explains Campa.
Monetizing Mobile Games IRL
Earn Money While Playing Mobile Games For Cash
Mobile games with a strong brand and fanbase can tap into revenue streams outside of the app itself.
Event marketing hosted by game creators bring together an army of avid gaming fans.From huge conventions like E3 and VidCon to regional competitions, gaming fiends are eager to connect with fellow fans at events. Other in-person events that draw die-hard fans include charity tournaments, festivals, and one-off experiential events. These photogenic, interactive events create photo-worthy moments for selfies, videos, and tweeting, which helps them to amplify the brand’s message beyond those in attendance. There’s significant opportunity to sponsor an event to further establish a gaming brand.
Merchandise is another outlet for mobile gamers to bring in revenue. Zealous gaming fans will don T-shirts and snap up collectible merchandise as an extension of their love of the game. Popular games, as well as cult indie games, can commoditize their brands by producing merch.
Tricks To Push Users to Make Purchases While Playing Addictive “Free” Games
Game developers have come up with truly ingenious tactics to make their games profitable. Leveraging a sizable pool of user behavior data, game creators learn to push the buttons of their gaming community. Game developer companies with a large roster of titles can test out different tricks and dedicate manpower towards marketing various upsells.
Whales, named after high rollers at casinos, are players who spend a disproportionate amount compared to other players. Although gaming apps aim to draw revenue through all of their players, they tend to make the bulk of their earnings from a smaller subset of devotees.
VIP Programs are an emerging tactic to retain power-users who are deeply devoted to the mobile game. Extra bonuses that come with membership can include performance enhancers that give a competitive advantage, elimination of advertisements, customer service support
In addition, some mobile games [World of Tanks Blitz, Poker King, TMNT Legends] offer a monthly VIP or premium tier accounts, which offer gameplay bonuses within a pre-specified timeframe.
Special offers can lure an apathetic player by giving them a strong incentive to make a purchase and get back in the game. Like an e-commerce display ad showing that an item once abandoned in a shopping cart has since gone on sale, special offers are all about timing and knowing one’s audience.
A once avid player hasn’t opened the app in over a month? Offer a discounted starter pack for a hot new game. Is a player grinding to beat a boss? Tempt them with a special booster pack that will help them build skills more quickly. A user is obsessed with customizing their avatar character? Sell them a pack of limited-edition skins or clothing.
Game creators can market offers via emails, push notifications, and in-game banner ads. This makes the messaging almost inescapable to a heavily invested player. In a sense, it’s unsurprising that mobile games are so lucrative. Considering the domestic market alone, 77% of Americans have smartphones and are virtually always with them. People frequently look at their phones out of habit and boredom and mobile games provide an instant dose of entertainment. The industry is ripe with potential for customer loyalty and a large customer lifetime value.
Influencer Marketing for Mobile Games
Mobile games are a great fit for influencer marketing partnerships because they appeal to all demographics and have a low barrier to entry. Since the majority of people own a smartphone and have access to mobile app marketplaces, a game download conversion can happen with just the tap of a smartphone.
Mobile games lend themselves well to videos and screenshots, meaning that creators can easily develop visually compelling content that will showcase video games in action. More and more video streaming platforms promote gaming as the industry continues to expand. Influencer marketing will continue to play a role in mobile app monetization going forward.
Although freemium is currently the dominant form of monetization, the ever-changing industry will continue to evolve. It’s possible that subscription to access a library of games (ala Netflix) or a new game-changing monetization model will crop up as mobile gaming continues to evolve.