If you’re like me, sitting down with a hot cup of coffee and playing a challenging word game is the perfect way to start off a morning.
Word puzzle games are a fun way to challenge your brain while potentially expanding your vocabulary. But, what if it was actually possible to turn your next word gaming session into a side hustle?
Well, the great news is that there are actually numerous word games that pay real money you can use. So, if you want to hone your word puzzle skills while making a quick buck, these apps are right up your alley.
Time to dive into some of the best word games that pay!
Looking for other money-making ideas? Checkout:
- Cash Giraffe: Play new Android games to earn gift cards and cash!
- Branded Surveys: Share your opinion and earn PayPal money and gift cards!
Table of Contents
The Best Word Games That Pay Real Money
I’ve been testing out legit cash games for the last few years. And I personally play quite a few gaming reward apps on my phone at a given time to test the latest apps and money-making methods.
Word games for cash are a sub-niche of apps that pay you for gaming. These apps won’t make anyone a millionaire, but they’re a fun side hustle any word puzzle fan can use in their spare time.
1. Scrabble GO
Scrabble is one of the most popular word games of all time. And it’s also one of the best word games that pay real money if you know where to play the app.
At the time of writing, you can earn up to $20 in free cash if you play Scrabble GO on InboxDollars, a popular get-paid-to website.
All you have to do is sign up for InboxDollars, which is a free website available in the United States. You then play Scrabble GO through its website, earning cash prizes the more you level up.
I’ve used InboxDollars over the last few years, and it has other ways to earn, like answering surveys for cash or watching ads. And, it even has a $5 sign up bonus to help you get started.
Sites like InboxDollars have other word games that pay as well as other gaming genres, so you can bounce between offers to earn more.
2. Bingo Cash
If you’re a Bingo fan, one of the highest paying apps in the paid word game space is Bingo Cash.
This iPhone money game lets you compete in paid Bingo tournaments against people from around the world. Players have identical Bingo cards, and the players with the fastest times and most Bingos called at the end of the game win a share of cash prize pools.
Tournaments often have prize pools ranging from $20 to $70 or even more. So, you can make pretty decent money in a short amount of time if you’re skilled at Bingo.
Just note that you have to pay small entry fees to participate in cash tournaments, so Bingo Cash isn’t for everyone. Also note that cash games aren’t available in the following states: AZ, IN, IA, LA, ME, SC, MT, and WA.
However, if you’re looking for a more competitive word game that pays real money, Bingo Cash could be worth testing out.
3. Word Wipe
Word Wipe is a free and fun word puzzle game that involves swiping letters on a board to form new words. And it’s also a fun way to earn money with word games if you’re willing to play it through InboxDollars.
Like Scrabble Go, you can create an account with InboxDollars and then get paid to level up on Word Wipe.
By leveling up, you earn scratch tickets on InboxDollars that you can scratch to get free money. Cash prizes range from a few pennies to $50 to $100 or more if you get lucky.
Personally, I’ve never won more than a few dollars from InboxDollars with this method. But if you enjoy word games like Word Wipe, you might as well earn a bit of side money while gaming.
4. Word Cube
Like Bingo Clash, another competitive word game that pays you can play is Word Cube.
This iOS app from Tether Studios involves building words by placing tiles on the board, similar to Scrabble. The more words you build, the more points you earn, and you face off against other real players to compete for cash prizes.
Games often pay $5 to $25, but you can play in higher-stake games with larger prize pools.
You have to buy-in to tournament games, so this isn’t the best word game that pays if you want to earn money online without spending anything. But it could be an excellent app if you don’t mind some competition.
5. Word Blitz
Word Blitz is another way to make money playing word games if you’re willing to put your skills to the test in competitive games.
This app from Skillz lets you play against players in a word-creating game that’s similar to Word Cube. You have a board of letters, and you have to create as many words as fast as you can to best your opponent.
I like Word Blitz since you get more points the longer the words you create are, so it pays to have a decent vocabulary.
Plus, cash prizes can reach $25 to $75 or even more. Overall, it’s a pretty competitive yet fun puzzle game for money that you can check out.
Just note that like the other competitive word games that pay real money on this list, you have to pay small entry fees if you want to participate in tournament games.
6. Word Star
Like Word Blitz, Word Star is another game from skills that lets you earn money by playing word games on your phone.
This Android and iOS app is a word puzzle game where you have to swipe letters in a pool to create new words as quickly as possible. The more words you create, the higher your score, and the player with the highest score at the end of a game wins!
Cash games are available to compete in, with many games paying out $5 to $25. You can also find more competitive games with larger prize pools of $50 to $100 or more.
Games have entry fees, so this isn’t the best paid gaming app for everyone. However, you can also play free games to hone your Word Star skills before deciding to compete.
7. Real Money Word Search
If you’re a fan of word searches, then one more puzzle game that pays real money you can test out is Real Money Word Search.
This is yet another Skillz word puzzle game where you can compete in cash tournaments against other players. You face off with identical word search boards, and the players who find the most words before time runs out win.
With cash prizes of up to $100 or more, Real Money Word Search puts a serious twist on this classic word puzzle game.
Just note that like other Skillz games, you have to deposit money and pay entry fees if you want to compete. But you can also play free games if you just want to have fun.
Personally, I prefer free apps that pay me money, but hey, paid word games for cash are an option for more competitive gamers.
8. Word Race
If you’re still wondering how to play word games and earn real money, another option you can try is Word Race.
This iOS and Android app from Tether Studios involves tracing over letters in a box to form letters. Longer words earn more points, and the goal is to score higher than your opponent before time runs out.
What’s cool about Word Race is that you can play in head-to-head games or larger cash tournaments. And tournaments can have prize pools ranging from $5 to $10 to $50 or more.
Speed is the most important skill to have for this word game. Just know that cash games require a small entry fee like the other competitive word games for money on this list.
Extra Reading – The Best Android Games That Pay Money.
9. Wealth Words
One final word game that pays money you can play in your spare time is Wealth Words.
This website hosts a variety of word puzzle games you can play. Some are completely free, while others are more competitive and have cash prizes.
For example, Wealth Words has a timed crossword puzzle you can pay a few dollars to play. If you complete the crossword in enough time, you can often earn $5 to $25 or more.
There are also instant cash quizzes, which could be up your alley if you like paid trivia games. And there are even more word games for money on the site like Wealth Wordle, Quick Wordz, Quick Picks, and more games where you can put your skills to the test.
Extra Reading – How To Make Money Online As A Beginner.
The Best Alternatives To Word Games For Money
I’ve been testing out video game side hustles for years. And while I love a good word puzzle, in my opinion, this isn’t the highest-paying online side hustle out there.
Plus, you encounter a lot of word games for money that are pretty scammy. Apps like Words to Win, Island of Word, and Word Roamer are two examples, and I’ve reviewed them on This Online World before.
Thankfully, there are plenty of other alternatives you can use to paid word games if you want to make more money, including:
- Branded Surveys: My favorite survey site with free PayPal cash rewards and a $5 cash out minimum.
- Cash Giraffe: This Android app pays you to download and play exciting new games on your phone.
- Kashkick: A free U.S. website that lets you play games and answer surveys for PayPal money.
- Ipsos iSay: A global survey panel with a $5 cash out minimum.
- Swagbucks: A versatile rewards platform that pays you to download apps, answer surveys, watch ads, shop online, and play games.
I also made a YouTube video that covers more of my favorite ways to make money playing video games you can use instead of trying to earn money playing word games.
Extra Reading – The Best Games That Pay To Cash App.
Final Thoughts
If you were looking for word games that pay real money, I hope this list helps you find a new fun side hustle you can enjoy in your spare time.
Word games for money won’t make you $500 a day or anything even close to that amount. But I think you can realistically make some pocket money without much effort if you stick to some of the free games.
The paid and competitive games have a higher income potential. But they’re not the best fit if you don’t want to spend any money.
In any case, best of luck with your next word game side hustle!
Looking for even more ways to make money? 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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