As a freelance writer and mom of three with an ever-increasing grocery tab, I love a good GPT (Get-Paid-To) site or platform — the type of site that lets users rack up free gift cards and earnings by playing games, surfing the web, participating in online surveys, or performing other simple tasks. And as a self-professed two-screener who can’t resist the urge to pick up my phone while watching TV or hanging in the passenger seat when we’re rolling around town, I love the way GPT websites let me transform downtime into lucrative payouts.
In my spare time, I’ve had a chance to check out the best and the worst GPT platforms and made plenty of real cash along the way. Here’s my breakdown of the best GPT sites and what to expect when you use them.
1. YouGov
YouGov is an online political and market research company platform that has been around for about 25 years. And unlike most of the big GPT sites that have just popped up in the last decade or so, YouGov has had plenty of time to establish its reliability and trustworthiness as a GPT platform.
The site deals mainly in research collection on a wide range of opinions from users who access the platform using their mobile devices or desktops. On the desktop site, users can opt in to data collection from commonly used shopping sites (like Amazon), banking, and other web-based platforms to pick up points in exchange for insights. Users can also complete simple tasks like politics-related surveys for points.
The only downside to YouGov is that it can take a long time to rack up enough rewards to cashout. Unlike most other GPT sites, YouGov doesn’t always offer a steady stream of surveys, and the reward cashout minimum is $15 for gift cards and $50 for bank transfers. But it’s still a good, reliable GPT side to add to your personal piggy bank ecosystem. Just remember to log in once a month and upload your data, and you’ll eventually have enough rewards stacked up for a payout.
2. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is one of those super simple to use, straightforward GPT survey apps that pays out pretty quickly and reliably. It’s also one of the older and more reliable platforms in the survey app world (I’ve been on the platform for more than a decade).
Unlike many other GPT survey apps, Survey Junkie actually has a functional desktop site for users who prefer not to work on their phones. Even better, you can actually get a 100-point bonus just for installing the Survey Junkie extension on your browser and allowing the platform to collect data on your web surfing habits. There’s also a desktop application users can download to grab another easy 100 points. They also have lots of other small bonus opportunities, like logging in and completing a certain number of surveys within a given time frame.
While Survey Junkie’s PayPal payouts can take up to three days to process, you can also cash out with a Visa gift card. Or you can cash out your rewards with a number of other gift card options, including Sephora, Target, Walmart, Amazon, Apple, Groupon, and Starbucks.
3. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the best and most well-known GPT platforms out there. Unlike some GPT platforms, which offer only a small handful of simple games like Solitaire or casino apps, Swagbucks offers a ton of gaming options for both Apple and Android devices. Many are higher-quality games like Monopoly GO!, Phase 10, Merge Gardens, and Gardenscapes. Click on the “Tapjoy” option to search games by category.
In my time on the app, which was my first GPT platform, I’ve noticed the survey options have improved greatly through the years. As with the best GPT sites, filling out the biographical information as thoroughly as possible will yield better survey offerings. Swagbucks also offers individualized survey recommendations.
The site also features a “Deals” section with some pretty hefty sign-up bonus rewards for signing up for platforms like Chime, SoFi, and OnePay. You can also earn Swagbucks (SB) by using the Swagbucks browser to surf web pages, get cashback on shopping, upload receipts, or participate in trivia and events for additional SB.
Although Swagbucks generally requires at least a $5 cashout, there are nearly 150 cashout options to choose from. In addition to virtual Visas, the platform offers a long list of gift card payout options to choose from, including popular shopping and restaurant chains.
4. Freecash
Freecash is another great GPT platform with a wide range of earning options, including games, surveys, and more. I prefer to use this site for mobile gaming since the payouts seem to be higher than some other GPT sites. I also found the reward benchmarks on Freecash games easier to achieve, and I appreciated the higher-quality games like June’s Journey and Tetris. On the other hand, I found the survey payouts to be significantly lower than some other GPT platforms, so I tend to stick to Freecash for gaming and cashback deals.
Although Freecash has a desktop and mobile app, I have found it works better on the mobile version. Freecash is one of the few GPT apps that pays out directly to PayPal, although there’s a $5 minimum on Freecash. The site also offers a fairly long list of gift card payout options as well, and all generally come with a $5 cashout minimum.
5. JustPlay
JustPlay is one of those apps that I admittedly passed over when I originally saw it advertised, only to try it out later after seeing it recommended on Reddit a few times. Unlike most GPT platforms, it’s strictly a mobile app for now.
As the name suggests, it’s all about mobile gaming. You will have to watch a ton of commercials, and they can become a bit cumbersome. But the payouts are real if you can endure the annoyance, and there are fast play offers that make it easier to rack up earnings.
6. Mistplay
Mistplay is hands-down the best mobile GPT app for users who want new game recommendations and to earn a few bucks. It’s all about mobile gaming, and the app has a very large selection of mobile games to choose from.
While most other GPT sites just throw you a pool of random games to choose from, Mistplay asks what you’re into when you sign up, so the app can recommend games based on your interests. For example, I love puzzle games, RPGs, shooters, and strategy games, and I’m not really into racing or casino games. It’s really lovely getting recommendations based on what I’m actually interested in, so I don’t have to sift through a bunch of irrelevant content. Mistplay will also make recommendations based on whether you’re into solo play, competition, or team play.
One of the things I love most about Mistplay is how easy it is to navigate the platform. There are a ton of cool games to choose from, and the app offers boosts for certain games when you’re playing. Rewards can be paid out in gift cards (including PayPal gift cards) when you’re ready to cash out those earnings.
How to Maximize Your GPT Earnings
Whether you’re using a gaming or survey/gaming combo GPT app, there are plenty of tricks to maximize your payouts. Be sure to complete every detail in your profile and answer as many biographical questions as possible if they’re available.
On sites like Swagbucks, you’ll have an opportunity to answer additional biographical surveys. Completing these helps the platform understand which types of content to recommend, so you’re less likely to get kicked out of surveys halfway through because they’re a bad match for your background.
Take some time to navigate the site and find out if there’s a daily login bonus or leaderboard. On some platforms, you can rack up points simply by logging in every day and answering the daily question. Finally, don’t sleep on those referral points since some apps can offer up to a $10 signup bonus when your buddies sign up and cash out their first earnings.
Tips for Mobile Game Earnings
If you’re a mobile gamer, you can really have a lot of fun with GPT apps. But you’ll save yourself some disappointment by skimming over the checkpoint requirements before downloading, since some gaming apps will time out users if they don’t hit those checkpoints within a certain time frame.
It’s also a good idea to read through the checkpoints carefully for any special instructions, since some games offer rewards for side quests or specific in-game achievements.
Final Thoughts on GPT Sites
Although you’re not going to get wealthy with GPT platforms, they can be a fabulous (and fun) way to bring in some extra cash with your smartphone throughout the year. My good friend Lisa loves to stack up those gift cards all summer long and then cash them out when it’s time for stocking stuffers and little treats to slip into holiday cards.
And the best part? These sites can offer a welcome, phone-based distraction that doesn’t involve doomscrolling or spending money. And heck, if you do want to spend money, a few GPT sites will actually give you a cashback reward when you do.
Did I leave your favorite GPT site off my list? Let me know in the comments, and happy GPT platforming!
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