10 Best Apps That Give You Money for Signing Up (2026)

There are many apps to make money, but only some of them will give you money for just signing up. If you want an app that offers an instant sign-up bonus, we have 10 such apps for you. However, keep in mind that bonus amounts and terms change frequently — always check the official app before signing up.

Key takeaways

Here is what you will learn from this article:

• There are multiple apps that will give you free money for signing up. Some even offer additional referral bonuses.
• You don’t have to choose only one app from this list. You can have multiple accounts on multiple apps, which will allow you to get many great bonuses. 
• Keep track of special promotions (such as welcome bonuses during the app’s birthday) to get higher rewards
• All these sign-up bonuses are legitimate but conditional. The qualifying action determines their real value.

TL;DR: Sign-up bonus app offers compared

Here is how the 10 apps compare to each other, ranked by their typical sign-up bonus size and the requirements for earning that bonus:

App name	Typical bonus	Requirement level
Honeygain	$3 in credits	Install and run
SoFi	Up to $400	Just deposit your money.
Rakuten	$50	Sign up and shop.
Current	$50	Transfer your paycheck from your previous checking account.
Ibotta	$25	You’ll need to redeem 10 offers
Acorns	$5	Make your first recurring investment.
MyPoints	$10	You’ll need to spend at least $20 with a MyPoints retail partner within 30 days of signing up
Fetch	$2-$10	Scan your first receipt to get the bonus.
InboxDollars	$5	Just sign up and confirm your email.
Upside	15-25 cents per gallon rebate	Spend money at gas stations, grocery stores, or restaurants.

1. Honeygain

Honeygain is a platform that lets people earn passive income by sharing their unused internet bandwidth. This is a good way to make money online for those who want a passive income. By signing up, you get a bonus as a head start on your earnings balance.

• Typical sign-up bonus: $3 in credits, but there are occasional special promotions (such as Honeygain’s birthday) where you can get a $5 signup bonus instead. 
• Qualifying action: Just install the app on your device(s).
• Payout method and speed: PayPal and crypto. It typically takes a few business days to process your payout request.
• Minimum withdrawal: The minimum payout threshold is $20.
• Skill level: Low. You need no skill to sign up, get your bonus, and start earning.
• Starter tip: Install on multiple devices in the same household (laptop, phone, tablet) to compound earnings and get extra income.

2. SoFi: free stocks and cash bonus

SoFi is an online bank that offers checking, savings, investing, and lending services, all in one app. Unlike other apps on this list that you can use to earn money, SoFi is more similar to Investment platforms. However, it offers some generous bonuses for signing up. 

• Typical sign-up bonus: You’ll get up to $400 for opening a SoFi Checking & Savings account with direct deposit,  $50 for $1,000–$5,000 in deposits, and $400 for $5,000+ within 25 days.
• Qualifying action: Opening a SoFi Checking & Savings account with direct deposit of at least $1,000.
• Payout method and speed: The $400 SoFi welcome bonus will be credited to your SoFi balance.
• Minimum withdrawal: It seems that SoFi doesn’t have a minimum withdrawal threshold, but it does have an early withdrawal fee, which is calculated individually. 
• Skill level: Low. Simply deposit your money and get your bonus. 
• Starter tip: Open your account during a specific timeframe to ensure your first full payroll cycle falls within the 25-day period.

3. Rakuten: cash back on online shopping

If you’re interested in cashback apps, try Rakuten, a cash-back shopping portal with a long history and over 3,500 participating retailers. Open a free account, click through Rakuten before you shop online, and Rakuten will share its referral commission with you.

• Typical sign-up bonus: $50 welcome bonus after $50 in qualifying purchases within 90 days. The promotion is valid until 30 June 2026. You can also earn a bonus on referral links, $50 per referral link. 
• Qualifying action: Spend $50 in qualifying purchases within 90 days after signing up.
• Payout method and speed: PayPal or cheque. You’ll receive your Rakuten referral bonus within 60 days.  
• Minimum withdrawal: $5. 
• Skill level: Low. You’ll need just a few minutes to sign up, then shop and spend money as usual.
• Starter tip: Stack the bonus with regular cash-back deals on purchases you were already planning.

4. Current

Current is a mobile banking app with early direct deposit access and budgeting tools. It is aimed at teens and younger users, but many adults use it as a primary banking app for their paychecks. 

• Typical sign-up bonus: Users receive a $50 welcome bonus on account setup with qualifying direct deposit (typically $200+ within 45 days).
• Qualifying action: You need to sign up and add an eligible payroll deposit of at least $200 within 45 days. 
• Payout method and speed: The Current welcome bonus is credited to the account balance and withdrawable to the linked bank, within 10 days of your first eligible payroll deposit. 
• Minimum withdrawal: There is no minimum withdrawal amount, and you can withdraw your money as you wish. 
• Skill level: Medium. You’ll need to transfer your paycheck from your previous account. 
• Starter tip: The bonus is only worth the friction if you’re already planning to switch your main checking account. Otherwise, this is not a quick win.

5. Ibotta

Ibotta is a cash-back app typically used for everyday purchases (such as grocery shopping). Simply scan receipts or link a loyalty card to earn cash back on specific offers. You can also get additional bonuses by joining referral programs.

• Typical sign-up bonus: New customers get a $5 Ibotta welcome bonus plus $20 after redeeming 10 offers within 14 days ($25 in total). 
• Qualifying action: Sign up and redeem 10 offers within 14 days.
• Payout method and speed: Payout: PayPal, gift cards, or direct deposit. It takes between a few minutes and a few days to get your money, depending on the withdrawal method. 
• Minimum withdrawal: $20.
• Skill level: Medium. You’ll need to redeem 10 offers.
• Starter tip: Spend your 10 redemptions on ‘Any Brand’ or ‘Any Receipt’ offers because they’re easier to clear quickly.

6. Acorns

Acorns is a micro-investment app that rounds up your purchases and invests the spare change automatically. This online platform is a good option if you want to start investing your

extra cash. 

• Typical sign-up bonus: $5 after linking a funding source and setting up recurring investments of at least $5 per week. Keep in mind that the bonus sits in an invested account, not a cash wallet.
• Qualifying action: Making your first recurring investment of at least $5. 
• Payout method and speed: Your Acorns bonus will be held in your invested account.
• Minimum withdrawal: There is no minimum withdrawal limit with Acorns. You can withdraw as much (or as little) as you want. 
• Skill level: Medium. You’ll need to set up recurring investments and make the first investment before you can get your bonus. 
• Starter tip: Set the smallest recurring deposit allowed (e.g., $5/week) — enough to keep the bonus, and you can cancel later.

7. MyPoints

MyPoints is a long-running rewards platform, founded in 1996. Here, you can earn points and some extra money for surveys, online shopping, watching videos, reading emails, and even playing games.

• Typical sign-up bonus: You’ll get a $10 welcome bonus on your Amazon or Visa gift card.  
• Qualifying action: To get the MyPoints bonus, you’ll need to spend at least $20 with a MyPoints retail partner within 30 days of signing up.
• Payout method and speed: You can withdraw your earnings with airline miles, PayPal cash, or gift cards. Usually, it takes 3 to 10 business days for MyPoints to process your withdrawal request. 
• Minimum withdrawal: You’ll need at least 700 points ($5) in your balance to withdraw.
• Skill level: Medium. You’ll need to spend money before you can get the bonus.
• Starter tip: Pair the $20 spend with a planned online purchase you’d be making anyway. The $10 bonus stacks with the regular cash back.

8. Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards is a receipt-scanning rewards app. You just need to snap photos of receipts from groceries, restaurants, and retail to earn rewards and points. Alternatively, you can earn points by playing mobile games. 

• Typical sign-up bonus: You can typically get 2,000–10,000 points (roughly $2–$10) for scanning a receipt from your first purchase with a referral code.
• Qualifying action: You’ll need to scan a receipt.
• Payout method and speed: Gift cards. Your reward will be credited to you 72 hours after you redeem points.
• Minimum withdrawal: You’ll need at least 3,000 points (approximately $3) to withdraw.
• Skill level: Medium. Just scan your receipts, and you’ll get your Fetch bonus.
• Starter tip: Scan grocery receipts already on your phone. Receipts that are up to 14 days old also count.

9. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is a get-paid-to platform running since 2000, with over $80 million paid out. It pays you to do online surveys, but it’s so much more than just another survey app. Apart from completing surveys, you can also earn money by watching videos, reading emails, and cash-back shopping.

• Typical sign-up bonus: You get a $5 cash sign-up bonus, which will be credited immediately after email confirmation. This makes InboxDollars one of the few genuinely instant bonuses on this list.
• Qualifying action: Confirm your email after signing up. 
• Payout method and speed: PayPal, gift cards, and Visa credit or debit card. It will take 3-10 business days to be processed. 
• Minimum withdrawal: Minimum withdrawal is $15 for first-time withdrawals. Subsequent withdrawals have a threshold of $10. The $5 you got as a bonus won’t be enough. You’ll need to pair the bonus with other earnings for it to be redeemable.
• Skill level: Low. You just need to sign up and confirm your email. 
• Starter tip: Turn on notifications for the daily survey email. It’s often the highest hourly rate available on the platform. You can also learn how to earn your first $30 with InboxDollars.

10. Upside

Upside is a cash-back app for fuel, groceries, and restaurants. You can make most olut of Upside by using it on fuel purchases. Upside has over 30,000 partner gas stations, such as Shell, Exxon, BP, and many others. 

• Typical sign-up bonus: For your first fuel purchase at a participating station, you typically get a 15-25 cents per gallon rebate. 
• Qualifying action: Just buy fuel at a participating station.
• Payout method and speed: PayPal, bank account, or gift cards. Payout usually takes a few business days, depending on the payment method. 
• Minimum withdrawal: $1. 
• Skill level: Low. All you need to do is spend money on gas stations, grocery stores, or restaurants. 
• Starter tip: Check the app before every fuel stop. Participating stations may rotate, and unclaimed offers may expire. You don’t want to fill the entire tank before realizing you won’t get any bonus.