If you want to make money playing video games, you have a surprising number of options these days.
For starters, there are lots of apps that pay you to play games. If you enjoy mobile gaming or PC gaming, this is a simple way to turn your hobby into a new side hustle.
A newer company in this gaming rewards space is Buff Gaming.
Buff Gaming states you can get paid to play popular games like Fortnite, Volorant, and Counter Strike. Plus, you earn rewards just for playing, so this is basically passive income.
But, is Buff legit? And, how much can gamers actually make with this rewards platform?
Our Buff Gaming review is covering the features, pros and cons, and if this gaming platform is actually legit so you can make the right decision.
Looking for other quick ways to make money? Checkout:
- Branded Surveys: Share your opinion and earn free PayPal money and gift cards!
- InboxDollars: Another popular rewards website with gift card and PayPal prizes!
What Is Buff?
Buff is a loyalty program for gamers that lets you play your favorite PC and mobile games to earn rewards.
According to the CEO Elay De Beer, Buff is “a loyalty program for gamers on top of blockchain that allows gamers to earn something.”
Overall, Buff is similar to companies like PlayVig that let you earn rewards for playing video games and submitting your best clips.
According to its website, Buff has over 450,000 active daily players who play over 3 million matches per day.
Buff also boasts an impressive list of games, including:
- Apex Legends
- CS GO
- League of Legends
- Dota 2
- PUBG
Unlike apps like Mistplay that pay you for completing certain in-game achievements or leveling up, Buff is much more passive.
The idea is to download Buff Gaming, run it in the background of your computer or phone, and to gradually earn rewards for gaming.
How Does Buff Work?
There are a lot of ways to make money playing video games, and companies like Buff tend to come and go since the idea of getting free money just for gaming is often too good to be true.
So, in our Buff review, we’re covering how this gaming rewards platform actually works and if it’s worth using to earn rewards.
1. Sign Up & Download Buff
The first step in using Buff is to download the Buff app for Windows or the mobile app for Android or iOS.
Buff has way more games for PC, so really, Buff is for PC games. If you want to earn rewards for mobile games, apps like Drop and Mistplay are better options.
Here are Buff’s Windows system requirements:
- Operating System: Windows 7 (64 bit), Windows 8, and Windows 10.
- Space: 50MB.
- CPU: If your computer can run video games Buff supports, your CPU is good enough.
- RAM: At least 4GB but Buff recommends 8GB.
Once you download the Buff app, you create an account to sync the app to an actual Buff account.
Buff is available worldwide but states international users might encounter occasional problems if they use non U.S. servers and that they should contact support if these problems arise.
2. Play Video Games To Earn Buff Coins
Buff runs in the background while you play games. In return, you earn Buff coins for playing.
How many Buff coins you earn depends on your performance. For example, if you have a better KD ratio, you earn more coins. Buff also pays you more coins if you win or lose matches.
Buff uses Overwolf technology, which uses APIs from Buff’s game partners, to track your in-game performance.
According to Buff, its software doesn’t impact game performance and you won’t notice that it’s even running as you play your favorite video games.
Some popular games Buff supports include:
- CS: GO
- League of Legends
- Dota 2
- Fortnite
- PUBG
- Valorant
- Rainbow 6
- Overwatch
- Call of Duty Warzone
- Apex Legends
- Rocket League
- Hearthstone
Buff also has a small mobile games section that supports games like Clash of Clans, Brawl Stars, and Clash Royale.
However, Buff definitely caters to PC gamers, so this mobile section isn’t very useful quite yet.
According to Buff, its software only collects data for in-game performance and achievements and isn’t interested in any other data from your computer.
3. Cash Out
Buff coins you earn from gaming gradually deposit in your account. This is the currency you use to buy rewards.
Note that it takes a very long time to earn coins. You might only earn a few coins per match you win, or potentially 10 or more coins if you do very well in a particular match.
Many Buff rewards cost 1,500 coins or more, meaning it realistically takes a few weeks to earn enough coins to cash out.
You cash out by using Buff’s Marketplace, and most of the reward options are electronic gift cards or in-game rewards.
Is Buff Legit?
Buff is a legit app you can use to earn passive rewards for gaming. However, it also has a lot of controversy surrounding it, and some users have accused it of secretly mining crypto in the background of your computer. This hasn’t been proven yet, but you should keep this potential risk in mind when deciding if Buff is worth using or not.
According to many gamers on Reddit, you can earn some rewards with Buff but it’s incredibly slow and not worth it.
But, some threads also accuse Buff of secretly mining crypto in the background while it runs, so you’re actually spending more on electricity than you’re making in Buff coins.
Here’s what people say in one thread:
- Deatheater_YT says: “It uses some of your pc outputs to the app for unknown purposes The unknown purpose is probably bitcoin mining.”
- Megagotnoting says: “It’s “safe” as in it won’t try to scam you out of money. But it will make your pc run slower and consume more power, meaning more electricity bills. I personally wouldn’t recommend this sort of thing since it just feels kinda scummy to me.”
- KoS1596 says: :I use it and i only redeemed once I got a 5$ amazon card “
Plenty of other threads accuse Buff Gaming for being a secret crypto miner.
In its FAQ, Buff states: “We declare unequivocally that the BUFF app has no malicious properties of any kind.” The company also states that Buff makes money through Buff Premium and ads which you can watch to earn extra Buff coins.
Overall, there’s a lot of contention around Buff and if it’s legit or not.
This thread has even more information, and Buff Support and Overwolf’s PR team even chime in about concerns.
Overall, no one has been able to prove Buff mines crypto in the background. I downloaded the Windows app, ran a malware scan, and didn’t find anything either.
And, I think Buff deserves to be innocent until proven guilty for these types of accusations.
However, Buff barely pays you for gaming, and the fact that many rewards are conveniently out of stock is a massive problem in my opinion.
The verdict: Proceed with caution since Buff barely pays you rewards.
Buff Rewards & Cashing Out
Buff has several reward options you can redeem your coins for, including:
- Free gift cards
- Free Steam codes
- Gaming hardware like headsets and mice
- In-game skins
- In-game currency for games like Apex Legends and League of Legends
The gift card variety is pretty decent and includes options like Amazon, Domino’s, XBox, and Steam.
It costs 600 Buff coins for most $5 gift cards. Most other rewards like Steam codes or in-game rewards are around 900 to 1,500 Buff coins.
However, many users on Reddit state they earn Buff coins but rewards are conveniently always out of stock.
This is a big red flag for using Buff Gaming, but let’s explore some of the other features and what other games think about this rewards platform.
How Much Does Buff Pay?
So, how much money can you make with Buff? Well, it seems like avid gamers can earn around $5 to $15 worth of Buff coins every month or so.
In this Reddit thread, user Kenny328 shares how he earned about $15 worth of Riot Points over the span of 2 months.
This is very common in the world of gaming reward apps, so don’t expect to make more than $1 to $10 per month worth of Buff coins.
Of course, how much you earn depends on how much time you spend gaming and on your in-game performance.
Buff Premium
You can also use Buff Premium to earn rewards faster. Buff Premium costs $2.99 per month and unlocks perks like:
- Extra 50% in coin earnings
- 50 Buff coins per month
- Special marketplace items and discounts
- A dedicated Buff Discord channel
- Raffles where you can win bonus prizes
Honestly, Buff Premium isn’t worth it in my opinion since many gift card rewards are usually out of stock.
And, 50 free Buff coins is barely worth any money, so paying $2.99 per month is a waste in my opinion.
Buff Pay – A New Gaming Debit Card
One new feature that Buff has rolled out recently is Buff Pay, a debit rewards card for gamers. This $0 annual fee card provides a variety of perks like:
- 3% cash back on all purchases in the form of Buffs
- A $100 bonus after spending at least $1,000 with your card
- A $5 free gift card after making a $50 deposit
- A $15 free gift card after spending at least $500 with your card
You also earn boosted cash back for gaming and entertainment purchases and any Buff in-app purchases. And bonus cash back on subscriptions is coming soon.
The cash-back rewards are the main attraction for this card. And you can redeem your Buffs for a range of free gift cards to companies like Amazon, DoorDash, EA Games, Fornite, Valorant, and Xbox.
I still prefer using a regular cash-back credit card since I can redeem cash back as statement credit. But it’s nice that Buff keeps on adding new features and services to improve its platform.
Pros And Cons
Pros:
- Earn money on autopilot as you game
- Great selection of popular PC games
- Lots of reward options
Cons:
- You barely get paid for gaming
- Many rewards are always out of stock
- Lackluster mobile game selection
- Many Reddit users accuse Buff of mining Bitcoin in the background of your computer
Because of all the crypto mining accusations, missing rewards, and low earning potential, we don’t recommend using Buff.
Extra Reading – The 10+ Best Game Apps That Pay Instantly To PayPal.
Other Buff Reviews
I downloaded and tested out Buff, and my computer didn’t detect anything unsafe. But the platform pays out coins very slowly, which is the main downside.
I’ve already shared some Reddit threads where users share their experiences about how much they’re making with Buff. But here are some other Buff reviews from Trustpilot users:
- Tim Engelbrecht says: “The buff app is great but there are a few problems with it. Firstly everything is out of stock all the time. Secondly in the marketplace there are no items for the games we are being rewarded for playing.”
- Angel Murillo says: “Well, I don’t like that there isn’t much shortage of products and that some products don’t exist in my country, for example: redeeming Steam codes in MX.”
- Luqo Boulem says: “Absolutely shockingly terrible used to run 144 fps smoothly now i can barely do 80 and it won’t let me uninstall it, thank you buff for ruining my valorant experience. terrible please don’t get. Also it takes ages to get just a £10 gift card and even when you can, it’s sold out and you need to get a premium memebership.”
Overall, Buff has a 4.3 star rating on Trustpilot, but recent reviews are unhappy with how hard the company pushes Buff Premium.
This other Buff gaming review from YouTuber urnotjustin also provides a great overview of how Buff works, the pros and cons, and how you can use the Buff Pay card as well.
From my experience, I don’t think I’ll be using Buff. But I hope this extra context helps you make the right decision for you.
Other Sites & Apps Like Buff Gaming
If you like the idea of making money with video games but don’t want to use Buff, you still have options.
Here are some apps and sites like Buff you can try:
- Mistplay: The leading mobile gaming rewards platform for Android.
- Gamehag: A legit platform for earning free gift cards and Steam games for playing PC games.
- Rewarded Play: Another mobile gaming rewards app for Android.
- Flash Rewards: Like Mistplay, Flash Rewards lets you make money by playing different mobile games.
- Swagbucks: Get paid for playing games, answering surveys, watching ads, shopping online, and playing paid trivia.
Just note all of these Buff Gaming alternatives are quite low-paying.
If you want to really make quick money, trying out gig apps like DoorDash or Instacart is much more effective.
Get-paid-to websites like Pinecone Research and Survey Junkie are also easier, more effective ways to earn free PayPal money and gift cards in your spare time.
Ultimately, you can make money with Buff gaming, but you have to decide if it’s worth the time and effort.
Extra Reading – Is DoorDash Worth It For Drivers? The Complete Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Buff Make Money?
Buff makes money through monthly Buff Premium subscriptions and by display ads in its software dashboard. However, some users accuse Buff of mining cryptocurrencies in the background of your computer. The company now makes money from its Buff Pay debit card as well and is continuing to offer new products and services.
Is Buff Safe?
In my opinion, Buff is safe, and when I downloaded its software, my computer didn’t detect any malware or anything wrong. However, I don’t think it’s worth using because you don’t earn very much for the time you spend gaming.
In reality, you’re installing software that runs constantly on your computer to earn $1 to $10 in rewards per month, and you often can’t cash out rewards anyway. Some users also accuse Buff of running crypto mining software in the background of your computer, although this hasn’t been proven.
Is Buff A Scam?
Buff isn’t a scam, and if you earn enough coins, you can cash out for the rewards it offers. There is plenty of payment proof online and positive Buff reviews. However, this platform doesn’t pay very much, and some gamers don’t trust the company.
Does Buff Actually Work?
Some users report earning rewards from Buff, but many report it taking forever to cash out or rewards always being out of stock on the website. It looks like the platform works for some gamers but is very slow to earn with, so have realistic expectations.
Is Buff Gaming Worth Using?
So, is Buff legit and worth using? In our opinion, it’s too hard to say right now if Buff is legit because of all of the crypto mining concerns.
I love passive income apps and programs. However, you need to consider the risk versus return when using any of these programs.
There are so many ways to make money online, so do you really need to risk your data, security, and computer’s hardware to make $1 to $10 per month in Buff coins?
I mean, you can always try making money on YouTube with your gaming hobby, or try many gaming reward platforms like Mistplay and Gamehag that are legit.
Anyway, I hope our Buff gaming review helps you decide if this gaming rewards program is worth it for you.
Happy gaming!
Looking for other ways to make extra money? Checkout:
- The 10 Best Online Jobs That Pay Daily.
- How To Make Money With Steam – The Best Methods.
- The Best Ways To Make $400 A Day.
Buff Review
Name: Buff
Description: Buff is a gaming rewards platform that lets you earn free gift cards and other prizes for playing your favorite PC games.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Gaming Rewards
Author: Tom Blake
Overall
-
Earning Potential
-
Rewards
-
Ease Of Use
-
Game Selection
-
Security
-
Customer Support
Tom is a full-time blogger and freelance writer with a passion for side hustling, passive income, and the gig economy. His work has appeared on dozens of personal finance websites like Money Crashers, The College Investor, Investor Junkie, and more. This Online World is all about providing people with honest ways to make and save more money by using technology. To learn more about Tom, read his About Page!
If you’re interested in freelance writing services or want to partner with This Online World, please use our contact page to get in touch!
Leave a Reply