There are now more than 2.5 billion Android devices worldwide. If you have an Android device, you’ve undoubtedly downloaded an app from the Google Play store at some point in time.
The fact is, the Android app market is a massive business. In 2018, users spent $25 billion on the Google Play store.
Between paid app downloads, subscriptions, and in-app purchases, there’s a lot of ways to spend money on the Google Play store to enhance your mobile experience.
If you want to unlock some awesome features on the Google Play store but don’t want to spend your money, you’re also in luck.
There are a variety of ways to earn Google Play credit. These credits are a new way of earning those juicy rewards while doing activities/tasks or using nifty passive income tricks.
If you like playing games, taking surveys, browsing the web, or getting store discounts, then this might be an easy way for you to get Google Play credit for free.
Want fast ways to earn free gift cards? Checkout:
- Capital One Shopping – Apply coupon codes automatically online and earn free gift cards for shopping!
- MySoapBox – Share your opinion to earn free gift cards and cash!
How To Earn Google Play Credit For Free
Time to get into all of the different options you have for earning Google Play credit.
Generally, methods to earn free Google Play credit include:
- Using beermoney websites and apps that let you free gift cards in your spare time
- Answering surveys for Google Play credit
- Using cash back shopping apps to earn rewards for shopping
Whatever the case, hopefully a few of the ideas in this list score you some free Google Play credit!
Just note: these methods are useful for earning some free credit in your spare time or for saving up to buy something on the Play Store that you don’t want to spend real money on.
However, this isn’t really a high-paying side hustle idea, but rather a way to score some free credit in your spare time.
With that said, let’s look at how you can get free Google Play money.
1. Mistplay
Mistplay allows you to make money by playing a variety of mobile games. It’s the ultimate app for gamers who might as well make some extra cash while they play popular games that they love.
As you play sponsored games on Mistplay and level up, you earn in-app points. Points can be redeemed for a variety of free rewards, including:
- Amazon gift cards.
- Visa gift cards.
- Free Google Play credit.
- Itunes cards.
- Nintendo gift cards.
- Playstation gift cards.
The points seem to rack up quickly in the beginning, allowing you to cash out early on. However, the points slowly get harder to redeem because of the availability of games and the amount of points those games are worth.
Mistplay has been getting a lot of love by the gamer community, so take advantage of the rewards options if you fall into this niche!
Extra Reading – Our Mistplay Review!
2. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is a popular cash back app that pays you for buying groceries and everyday essentials from popular brands.
Like other receipt scanning apps, Fetch Rewards is also simple to use and only takes four steps to use.
- Shop for products from Fetch Rewards partner brands
- Scan your receipt after you shop to provide proof of purchase
- Earn Fetch Rewards points for eligible purchases
- Redeem points for a variety of free gift cards
What I like about Fetch Rewards is that you don’t have to pre-select shopping offers before heading to the store to earn points. As long as a partner brand appears on your receipt, you earn points!
Plus, you can redeem points for free gift cards to companies like Amazon, Starbucks, and Google Play credit. Many gift cards only require 3,000 points, or $3, to redeem as well.
Ultimately, if you do most of your household shopping, Fetch Rewards deserves a spot on your smartphone.
Download Fetch Rewards today and start earning free gift cards!
Extra Reading – 10+ Best Apps Like Fetch Rewards.
3. Branded Surveys
Another popular way to earn Google Play credit is to use paid survey sites that offer it as a reward. And in the survey world, Branded Surveys is one of the most popular platforms.
This site is 100% free to use, and it lets you earn free PayPal money, gift cards, and Google Play credit for sharing your opinion.
All you have to do is sign up, complete your profile, and then get matched to relevant surveys you complete to earn points.
It only takes $5 to cash out as well, so Branded Surveys is a pretty quick and easy online gig.
You can sign up for Branded Surveys to get started or read our Branded Surveys review for more information.
4. Honey Browser Extension
Another easy way to earn unlimited Google Play credits is also an incredibly simple way to save more money each year when you shop online.
With the Honey browser extension, it’s easy to shop online with more confidence because Honey automatically applies coupon codes at checkout.
Additionally, when you shop at Honey partner stores or for sponsored offers, you earn gold. Once you reach 1,000 gold ($10), you can redeem gold for a range of free gift cards, including Google Play.
Honey is one of the best shopping browser extensions because it’s free, automatic, and actually finds savings. To date (through completing offers and referrals), I’ve saved over $400 from installing Honey.
Honey also works in the United States, Canada, Australia, UK, and much of the EU. Plus, if you buy from a store that supports international shipping, Honey can still work.
This versatility makes Honey one of the best shopping browser extensions around. Hopefully, you can save money on your next shopping trip and also earn free Google Play credits.
Checkout our Honey browser extension review to learn more!
Signup for Honey and shop online with confidence!
5. S’more Lockscreen App
The S`more lockscreen app has a unique way of paying out cash rewards. You earn points for essentially doing nothing, but in exchange, you allow S’more to place articles, sponsored offers, and ads on your phone’s lock screen.
You don’t have to interact with articles or sponsored content to earn passive income.
Just use your phone normally and you’ll get $0.10 of points added to your account everyday. This might not sound like much, but it’s a free $36.50 per year at least, and there are short in-app surveys that can earn even more.
There is no minimum for how many times you have to look at your lock screen to make money.
The points are mainly exchangeable for gift cards to popular merchants like:
- Amazon.
- Target.
- CVS.
- Gamestop.
- Starbucks.
However, you can also redeem S`more points for free Google Play gift cards, so it’s the perfect way to passively earn these codes.
If you’re wondering how this affects your phone’s battery life, S’more has modified their software to take up the least amount of power possible. Seems like the laziest way ever created to earn money… I’m in!
Read our S`more app review to get all the details!
Extra Reading – 17 Passive Income Apps That Actually Pay.
6. Gamehag
If you like gaming and want more ways to get free Google Play credit by playing your favorite games, you’re going to love Gamehag.
Like Mistplay, Gamehag is a loyalty program for gamers that lets you try new and exciting games in exchange for points.
However, Gamehag also works for PC, meaning you can play games like War Thunder, Guild Wars 2, GTA 5, and plenty of other awesome games as a side hustle.
Gamehag has quite an extensive list of rewards, including free Steam games, prepaid Visas, cryptocurrencies, and Google Play credit.
Now, you’re going to have to grind out a few games and Gamehag tasks to work your way up to $10 or $15 rewards. However, if you’re playing a game you enjoy, this is basically passive income.
If you like the sounds of this platform, checkout our Gamehag review for all the details!
Extra Reading – The Best Beermoney Websites & Apps.
7. MobileXpression
Similar to S’more, MobileXpression just wants you to leave their app open on your phone. In exchange, they want data. MobileXpression is owned by comScore, and this app is essentially a market research play.
MobileXpression will monitor data such as mobile browsing, purchase behavior, application usage, video streaming, and other basic uses of your phone.
If you’re someone who is uncomfortable with the fact that they analyze your mobile data, then this app might not be for you. However, MobileXpression does pay, and this app used to be incredibly popular for phone farming setups.
MobileXpression offers a variety of free gift card rewards, and users can earn about $5 to $10 per month for having this app installed. Free Google Play gift cards are sometimes offered, but not always, so you’ll have to keep an eye on the reward options.
If you aren’t worried about sharing some of your phone’s data with this app, it’s a great way to make money on autopilot.
8. Gift Card Granny
Gift Card Granny allows you to work with gift cards in a couple of ways.
Firstly, you can buy gift cards at a discounted price. This way, you can save on purchases from stores that you were already going to shop at. If you want to buy Google Play store gift cards at a discount, this is the best place to look.
You can also earn free Google Play store cards by exchanging other gift cards you will never use for Google Play gift cards. Think of this app as the “eBay” of gift cards. Buy the cards you need. Sell the ones you don’t. It’s as simple as that.
Plus, Gift Card Granny offers multiple ways to redeem, including e-gift cards!
There are plenty of other apps and websites like Gift Card Granny as well, including:
9. Microsoft Rewards
Did you know that you can get paid just to search the web like you already do?
Microsoft Rewards pays users when they search with Bing. Microsoft Reward points can be redeemed for gift cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks, and, you guessed it, the Google Play store!
There are several other ways to make money with Microsoft Rewards besides searching, including:
- Shopping on the Microsoft Store (this is great if you buy Xbox related products or other Microsoft products).
- Playing games.
- Answering daily quizzes or surveys.
- Playing Xbox.
- Trying Microsoft products like the Bing mobile app or Microsoft Edge app.
If you already use Bing or don’t mind the interface, this is an easy way to get free Google Play gift cards. Just note, this is a slower earned and should be viewed as purely passive.
Extra Reading – 8 Ways to Enjoy Free Starbucks Gift Cards.
10. Ibotta
If you’ve heard of Ibotta before, that’s probably because it’s one of the largest free apps for earning cash back on your groceries.
Here’s how Ibotta works:
- Open the Ibotta app before you go shopping.
- Select offers/products you plan on purchasing.
- Upload receipts to show proof of purchase.
- Cash out in the form of Paypal or gift cards
Obviously, Ibotta works best if you are in charge of grocery shopping for your household and enjoy their product selection. However, as you can see from this Reddit thread, there is some pretty decent earning potential:
Here are a few of the companies that are eligible for Ibotta cash back:
- Walmart.
- Uber.
- Target.
- AMC.
- Kohl’s.
- Lowe’s.
- Best Buy.
- Bed Bath & Beyond.
- Hotels.com
Ibotta doesn’t offer free Google Play codes. However, you can cash out to PayPal once you reach $20 and buy the gift cards with ease.
Start earning with Ibotta on Android or iOS today!
Extra Reading – Ibotta vs Fetch Rewards.
11. Costco Offers
Google Play has worked with Costco to find offers for their customers. They have deals with certain Samsung TV’s that give you a $50 Google Play credit upon purchase.
The offers are not super common, but they’re something you should look out for once in a while if you are purchasing more expensive items at Costco.
12. Bananatic
Similar to Mistplay, you can earn points (or bananas in this case) by playing mobile or computer games through Bananatic!
All you have to do is download the app or use the desktop version of Bananatic to play new games. Once you signup, you will get a giant list of games/missions available for you to complete in exchange for rewards.
Just note, rewards are not given to you for playing the game for a certain amount of time. Rather, rewards are earned once you’ve completed a milestone that Bananatic has set for you.
For example, you may have to play a game where you build a village, but you will only receive your rewards if you upgrade your village to a certain level.
The minimum payout for this app is $5 (2,500 bananas) which you can redeem through the following brands:
- Amazon gift cards.
- PlayStation and Xbox cards.
- Google Play Store credits.
- Spotify and iTunes rewards.
- PayPal cash.
- Steam keys or free games.
Extra Reading – How To Make Money Playing Video Games.
If you don’t mind answering surveys to earn free Google Play store gift cards, the following apps and websites are worth looking into.
13. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a popular GPT app that rewards you for completing tasks like watching videos, taking surveys, playing games, and shopping online.
You can make money online with Swagbucks fairly quickly because of how many options there are to earn rewards.
The rewards are redeemable at any time with a minimum of $5 at stores such as Amazon, Target, Starbucks, and free Google Play gift cards.
Swagbucks can also be redeemed through Paypal. You won’t get rich by answering surveys on Swagbucks. In fact, the pay is pretty abysmal:
However, if you’re desperate for free Google play credits, this is one option. Not what I recommend, and Grindabuck performs better for me than Swagbucks (see below).
14. GrindaBuck
GrindaBuck allows you to make money online by doing surveys, watching videos, downloading apps, and completing microtasks just like Swagbucks.
You can redeem the Grindabucks you earn in 3 main ways:
- PayPal.
- Gift Cards.
- Cryptocurrency.
Every 100 points on GrindaBucks is worth $1 when redeemed as a gift card or bitcoin. However, 125 points is worth $1 if you decide to cash out on Paypal.
I would recommend you just turn the points into a gift card for Amazon or Google Play credit and not have to worry about losing your money’s value through Paypal.
Extra Reading – How I Made $100+ From Grindabuck.
15. Google Opinion Rewards
With over 1.5 million reviews and 10 million installations, Google Opinion Rewards is a huge platform that does exactly what the name implies…Reward users for their opinion.
Most survey questions are sent out around once a week and you can earn up to $1 for answering rather easy questions. This is probably the fastest way to earn free Google Play credit in 2020.
The cash rewards you earn for sharing your opinion are redeemable in Google Play credit. Questions are fairly simple, so this is an incredibly fast way to earn credit. You can’t answer an unlimited number of surveys, but they are free money when they pop up.
16. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is a free app that allows you to take surveys in exchange for rewards, just like Swagbucks.
Unlike some of the other survey platforms, Survey Junkie is solely based on earning rewards through surveys.
Once you reach a minimum of 5,000 points ($5), you have the option to redeem it as cash through Paypal, various e-gift cards, or even direct transfer to your bank!
Keep in mind that most surveys are worth 100-200 points and take around 5-20 minutes to complete. This means you really only need to take 5-10 surveys before you can cash out, assuming you don’t get disqualified for any.
Online surveys aren’t always worth it, but Survey Junkie at least has a lower cash out threshold than most of the competition.
You won’t get rich by using this site, but if you want to earn some pocket money and Google Play credit for free in your spare time, it’s not the worst option.
Signup for Survey Junkie today!
17. Upvoice
If you want to earn $75 or more per year for just browsing the web, signing up for UpVoice is worth considering.
UpVoice is a research panel that is interested in what types of advertisements you see when you browse. In return for installing the extension, you gain points that you can exchange for gift cards.
Currently, UpVoice rewards you when you browse:
- Facebook.
- Amazon.
- LinkedIn.
- Twitter.
- YouTube.
You can earn 70 tokens per week, and it takes 600 tokens to redeem a $10 gift card.
However, you also earn milestone bonuses and a $5 welcome bonus, so it’s an easy $75 per year if you consistently browse the web.
There’s a massive range of reward options, including gift cards to Amazon, Starbucks, Burger King, Uber, and Google Play credit. I’ve been using UpVoice for a few weeks and redeemed an Amazon gift card, so this platform pays:
Not bad for just browsing the web!
Read our UpVoice review to learn more, or signup for UpVoice and earn some easy, free gift cards.
18. App Flame
App Flame is similar to Mistplay in that it lets you earn rewards for downloading and trying new mobile games.
However, unlike Mistplay, App Flame pays you per minute you play new games, not just for leveling up and completing missions.
I still prefer Mistplay, but if you’re a fan of mobile gaming, App Flame is another app you can try.
Reward options include PayPal cash, free Amazon gift cards, Starbucks gift cards, and, of course, Google Play credit.
Check out our App Flame review for all of the details!
If you like the idea behind App Flame, you can also read our posts on AppStation and Coin Pop for more gaming ideas that pay.
What Can You Use Google Play Credit For?
The credit you receive from Google Play is rather flexible when it comes to the redeeming options available.
You can use Google Play credit for the following categories:
- Buying apps.
- In-app purchases (for games or other apps).
- Purchasing movies and TV shows.
- Magazine subscriptions.
- Music downloads or YouTube music subscriptions.
Note, Google Play credit is only usable within the Google Play store. You can’t use credits to subscribe to magazines or download movies on alternate platforms.
You should also note that your credits do have an expiration date of 1 year after receiving them in your account.
How to Redeem Google Play Store Codes
Once you’ve earned a bunch of free codes, it’s time to redeem them in the Google Play store!
Redeeming Play Store codes is incredibly easy and can be done in 5 simple steps:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Open the drop-down menu.
- Select “Redeem.”
- Enter your code.
- Confirm the amount of money.
That’s it! You can start redeeming your free Google Play store codes in just a few seconds!
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you know how to earn Google play credit, it’s time to answer a few of the most common questions people have about Google Play credit so you know how to spend it!
1. Can I Turn Google Play Credit To PayPal Or Cash?
There used to be several tricks for exchanging Google Play credit for PayPal cash. However, most of these methods don’t work anymore.
There are plenty of apps on the Play store that state they will buy Google Play store codes at a discount, but again, many of these are fake apps. There is also a surprising amount of Google gift card scammers out there.
Some people think you can transfer Google Play credit to PayPal, but again, these methods don’t work and it’s pretty much always a scam.
Beware if you receive messages/phone calls from people claiming to be the “government” or “tech support” telling you that you can pay for their service with Google Play. If you get calls like this asking to give your Google Play codes to them, do NOT do it!
If you want to exchange Google Play store credit for cash, your best bet is to buy a useful service or subscription for a friend and to have them pay you some cash on the side.
2. Can I Use Google Play Credit On Amazon?
You can’t use Google Play credit to buy products or services off of Amazon.
However, you can sometimes use Google Play credit to buy in-app purchases from Amazon apps and products.
A common example is if you use Google Play credit to buy books in the Kindle app for your Kindle reader.
This is fairly niche, granted, so the general rule of thumb is that you can’t use Google Play credit to buy things on Amazon.
3. Are There Google Play Credit Scams?
Unfortunately, there are a lot of scams that pretend to generate free Google Play credit codes for you and attempt to steal information like your login credentials, email address, or even credit card information in the process.
If any website offers to give you Google Play money for free, no strings attached, it’s a scam.
Other warning signs to look for include:
- Asking for personal information
- Asking for credit card info
- Asking you to sign up for free trials or to buy a specific product (unless it’s a legit cash back website)
- Getting you to install an app, code generator, or software to get free codes
The main methods to get free credit involve putting in some work, be it answering surveys, playing games, or shopping online.
Don’t fall for Google Play credit scams, and always protect your personal information!
Extra Reading – Survey Sites That Pay Quick Cash.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are so plenty of options for getting free Google Play credit through various apps or websites.
Can you make tons of money like this? I guess that’s really up to you and how much time you end up putting into these apps.
However, with some effort, it is possible to rack up enough credit to dramatically cut down on any Google Play store expenses. At the very least, using simple apps like Google Opinion Rewards or some passive income apps is an easy way to save on app-related expenses.
Looking for more money-making ideas? Checkout:
Note: Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up with the provided links.
Daniel is a 22 year old blogger from Los Angeles with a huge love for everything entrepreneurship, finance, and investing. When he’s not blogging at Modern Teen, you can catch him playing volleyball, shooting archery, or finding new ways to make money.