It goes without saying that everyone loves some nice, free money. And if you’re in a tight financial spot or want some “fun money” to treat yourself, a bit of extra cash can really help out.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with plenty of reward apps and websites that pay sign up bonuses for trying them out.
And, after testing dozens of them, I’ve found some of the most reliable sign up bonus apps and platforms you can use to make some quick money.
So, if you’re ready to make a quick buck without much effort, this is the post for you!
Let’s dive in!
The Best Sign Up Bonus Apps
Sign up bonus apps work by paying new users a bonus for signing up and trying out the service.
Sometimes, apps and websites require completing some task to get your bonus, like funding an account or using a specific feature. But some companies pay you free money just for testing them out.
Below, you’ll find some of my favorite apps with a sign up bonus that you can use to make some fast cash. And, many of them only take a few minutes of signing up to get your bonus!
1. Fundrise
Fundrise is a real estate investing platform that lets you invest in income-generating real estate starting with only $10.
If you want to make your money work for you by investing in real estate, it’s a very popular option. And its low investing requirement means that just about anyone can get started.
It’s also one of the best sign up bonus apps since right now, it offers a $10 sign up bonus when you open a new account and invest at least $10.
This is an instant 100% return on your money, and once you’re invested, Fundrise pays out shareholders with quarterly dividends from the income properties generate.
Historically, it’s returned about 8-9% per year for investors. And you only pay 1% in annual management fees, which is a bit low for the real estate investing space.
Overall, Fundrise is a very popular way to start investing for income. And it often has some type of free money sign up bonus going on if you look for current promotions.
Start investing with Fundrise today!
Disclaimer: This is an endorsement in partnership with Fundrise. We earn a commission from partner links. All opinions are my own.
2. Current
Another one of the best sign up bonus apps out there right now is Current, a fee-free mobile banking platform that’s growing rapidly in popularity.
With Current, you can earn 4% APY on up to $6,000 of your savings. This makes it an excellent place to store some extra cash or an emergency fund.
And right now, new Current customers also get a $50 sign up bonus when they open an account and use the code WELCOME50.
You don’t pay any account fees or subscription fees either. And Current makes it easy to spend and save your money while managing your entire account right from your smartphone.
This isn’t a useful sign up bonus app if you don’t need a new bank account. But to earn 4% APY and get a fast $50, it’s worth considering.
3. Rakuten
Rakuten is a popular cash-back shopping extension that pays you for shopping at thousands of different retailers. It’s also my favorite shopping extension, and I’ve earned over $1,200 in cash back from using it over the years.
To use Rakuten, all you do is create a free account and then search its website for retailers where you can earn cash back for shopping.
As I mentioned, Rakuten works with thousands of partners, including the likes of Best Buy, Macy’s, Target, and Walmart.
Usually, Rakuten has a free money sign up bonus of $10 after you sign up and spend at least $25 at any of their qualifying stores.
But right now, Rakuten is paying you $30 for signing up and spending at least $30 on a qualifying offer. This is an excellent sign up bonus, and you’re basically getting paid to shop!
As for how you get paid, Rakuten sends out quarterly payments via PayPal cash or check if you have at least $5 in your account.
Overall, it’s an excellent platform to help you save more money. And you can get a quick $30 if you take advantage of the current sign up bonus.
4. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is a free rewards app that allows you to earn points by scanning receipts after you shop at a popular grocery store.
If you do most of your household’s shopping, it’s a must-have reward app. And my favorite part about Fetch Rewards is that you earn points as long as you buy any product from its partners, not just sponsored ones.
In contrast, other apps like Fetch Rewards like Ibotta or Checkout 51 only offer rewards at participating stores, which can be limited depending on where you live.
Plus, this sign up bonus app pays you 2,000 to 3,000 points when you create an account. This is only $2 to $3 worth of points, but the minimum cashout amount is $3, which is easy to reach with the sign up bonus and a few receipt scans.
You can redeem your points for dozens of free gift cards to companies like Amazon, Best Buy, Starbucks, and more. And Fetch Rewards is always adding new rewards and partners to help you save even more.
It won’t save thousands of dollars a year. But for some easy, free gift cards, I definitely like using Fetch Rewards.
5. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys is a paid survey website where you share your opinion to earn rewards like free PayPal cash or gift cards.
It’s one of my favorite survey sites, and it has over 3 million members and has been in business for years.
Typically, surveys pay between $0.50 to $2 or $3. And you can cash out at just $5, which is a fairly low minimum in the world of GPT sites.
And, Branded Surveys also offers a $1 free money sign up bonus for creating a free account. You get $0.50 for creating an account and another $0.50 for answering your first small survey.
You can also earn an additional $0.50 for every friend you refer to the site. And since the cash out minimum is just $5, you can redeem your first reward fairly quickly.
You won’t get rich using any paid survey site. But for a nice, easy instant sign up bonus, then Branded Surveys is worth using.
6. MyPoints
MyPoints is a popular get-paid-to (GPT) website that lets you make money by answering surveys, shopping online, watching ads, and completing various sponsored offers.
And, it also pays you with $10 in free money for signing up if you create an account and complete a shopping offer.
MyPoints has one of the highest bonus rewards out there with some of the lowest qualifications.
All you have to do is create a free account and then spend at least $20 on a qualifying shopping offer. You can then redeem a free $10 Amazon gift card or $10 prepaid Visa card.
Personally, I think it’s one of the easiest apps that give you free money for signing up. And you can always complete surveys or other offers to keep earning with the website.
7. Upside
Upside (formerly GetUpside) is a free rewards app available on Android and iOS that pays you with cash back for refilling at select gas stations across the United States.
I actually swear by this app as of late because it’s actually helped me earn a ton of cash back at more than just the gas station.
Upside also offers rewards at various supermarkets and drugstores. And when it comes to filling up gas though, you can save around $0.25 per gallon. And that’s without referrals!
Referrals stack on Upside, so you can save on dollars per gallon if you have enough people in your circle to use the app.
As for its standard free money sign up bonus, Upside pays you an extra $0.15/gallon on top of the current cashback amount that’s offered at your station.
Again, you can really take advantage of this app if you’re referring friends and have those friends refer to other people as well.
Plus, who doesn’t want free cashback for filling up expensive gas? I know I certainly do.
8. Swagbucks
The list for the best sign up bonus apps in the world wouldn’t be complete with Swagbucks.
Swagbucks is a popular beermoney site that lets you earn by answering surveys, watching videos, playing games, shopping online, and downloading apps.
I used to use this site a lot and it’s actually decent. The rewards aren’t going to break the bank, but it’s one of the more enjoyable survey sites to use.
Swagbucks also has a $10 sign up bonus when you spend at least $25 on an eligible online purchase under your “SwagUp” page. You get your bonus within 32 days of completing the purchase.
There’s usually a $5 sign up bonus as well depending on the promotional period, so there’s lots of ways to earn.
However, don’t go around completing these sign up bonuses if you don’t normally shop online or want to buy anything in the first place.
This free sign up bonus is better if you already regularly shop online and would already spend that $25 anyways on something you’ve been thinking about buying.
You can create a free Swagbucks account if you’re ready to get started. And our post on the best Swagbucks hacks also has a lot of tricks for how you can maximize your earnings.
9. Oxygen Bank
Oxygen Bank is a mobile banking app that’s known for its low fees and free high-yield savings account that can pay up to 3% APY.
If you’re tired of overpaying on bank fees and want a completely mobile solution, Oxygen could be what you’re looking for.
Plus, it’s an excellent app with a sign up bonus since you earn $100 for yourself and a friend if you set up a qualifying direct deposit of at least $500 a month or more and make five debit purchases.
You also get $10 if you invite a friend to join Oxygen. And with $100+ up for grabs, it’s one of the more lucrative sign up bonus offers on this list.
Of course, if you don’t need a new banking service, I’d skip this one. But definitely look into Oxygen if you’re not happy with your current bank fees or interest rates.
10. Drop
Drop is a free app that rewards users for shopping at their favorite store and for buying from partnered brands. It’s also one of my favorite cash back apps that I’ve used over the years to earn free gift cards occasionally.
The app also lets you make money from answering surveys and playing mobile games. However, shopping offers are the main way to earn points.
And in the world of apps that give you free money for signing up, Drop is quite popular. That’s because you can usually earn $5 to $15 if you sign up with a Drop referral code when you create your account.
Drop has a sign up bonus of $5 if you sign up through a referral link. You can use our unique link and start earning today.
Ultimately, Drop is one of my favorite sign up bonus apps on the list because I have been using it for years and I know it pays out. And if you do a lot of shopping online, it’s definitely worth having on your smartphone.
My post on the best referral bonus apps that pay also has more ideas for how you can get free cash easily.
11. Albert
One final free money sign up bonus that you can take advantage of is the $150 sign up bonus from Albert.
This free money-management app offers a variety of features and perks, including early paycheck deposits and free cash advances of up to $250.
The app also has other features, like its investing section to buy stocks and a free and friendly budgeting tool to help you organize your finances.
Here are the requirements for Albert’s sign up bonus:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Receive a qualifying direct deposit of at least $200
- Spend at least $100 every 30 days for 90 consecutive days with an Albert Debit Card
On top of that, you can refer friends and earn an additional $150 per friend that meets the same requirements.
Extra Reading – How To Get $500 By Tomorrow.
Tips For Maximizing Your Sign Up Bonuses
Now that I’ve covered some of the most popular apps that give you free money, here are a few tips in mind to help you maximize your rewards:
- Read Terms & Conditions: It’s critical to read terms and conditions for any sign up bonus app so you ensure you know exactly how to get your free money. Some companies and apps can void a bonus if you don’t follow steps, so read instructions carefully.
- Have Realistic Expectations: Free money is awesome, but none of these instant sign up bonuses are going to pay you thousands of dollars. Score some freebies, but know that this isn’t a long-term side hustle idea.
- Reinvest Earnings: Once you get some extra cash, don’t be afraid to reinvest it to keep earning. For example, you can start out with a company like Fundrise and begin earning passive income as you gradually contribute more to your portfolio.
Extra Reading – The Best $25 Sign Up Bonuses With Instant Withdrawal.
Final Thoughts
I hope my list of the best sign up bonus apps and websites helps you score some easy, free money without much effort.
I’ve loved these sorts of bonuses ever since I tried out phone farming back in college. And even today, I love dabbling with various reward apps and sites to get free money and gift cards.
But at the end of the day, every platform is different, and not every product or service is right for every consumer.
So, try the apps and websites that make sense for you, and skip the ones that don’t.
Even if you complete a few sign up bonuses, the extra cash is always nice to have. And you might find that one of the apps or services that you try helps you earn for months and years to come.
For even more ideas, you can read our post on the best $100 sign up bonuses!
Looking for even more fast money-making ideas? Checkout:
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!
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