The Cautious Consumer

Three-part series where I will share information about five legitimate Apps that allow you to earn and that really pay!

How many times have you scrolled through Instagram or Facebook and seen a post claiming you can make tons of money by playing games on your phone, taking surveys, or doing something equally tedious and unrealistic? If you’ve ever struggled financially like I have, you’ve probably noticed that the second you look up anything related to debt relief, your feed suddenly fills up with “get out of debt in five minutes doing nothing” posts.

What’s that old saying? “If it sounds too good to be true, it is.” Turns out that’s not just a cliché, it’s true. If it sounds too easy, it probably is. If it doesn’t make sense, it’s because it doesn’t.

The good news is there are legitimate ways to earn supplemental income to help with everyday expenses. They take a little research, and they won’t make you rich overnight, but they can help. If you’re looking to make a few extra dollars or bring in an additional $100-$200 a month to ease the pressure, build savings, or start investing, I’ve found some solid options through my own firsthand experience.

First in the series will be:

Apps where you can earn by playing games- MistPlay

Below is my honest review of the first of three different apps that allow you to earn money by playing games on your phone. I will share both the pros and cons of each app, my experience with each one, and how much I have earned using each app. None of these apps are sponsors, and I am not receiving any bonuses or commissions for promoting these products; just sharing my experiences to help you find legitimate opportunities to cover some expenses.

The first app I’ll be reviewing is:

MistPlay

MistPlay is an app that allows you to play games on your phone and earn either gift cards or money through PayPal deposit. I have been using MistPlay for about seven years and have earned approximately $1,000 over that time, or about $10–15 a month. I know this sounds like nothing on its own, but these are earnings I made casually, just for playing games I’d have played anyway. When added to the other income streams we’ll discuss, MistPlay earnings were just one piece of my earning puzzle. The minimum cash-out is $10, but depending on how much time you have and your needs, you can cash out as much as $100 at a time.

One of the things I love about MistPlay is the opportunity to earn passive income. As long as the game is running, you’re earning. You don’t have to actively play. There have been many days when I’ve been at work (well, working…I work remotely) with the app open on my desk, running one of the games, and I didn’t have to do anything but keep my screen on. A few swipes throughout the day and I’m earning for doing nothing (nothing with the game, anyway).

MistPlay does have fun games, though, so whenever I have time, later in the evening or early morning, while I’m enjoying my coffee, I play Solitaire, Mahjong, Candy Crush, and other mainstream games. The earning potential is higher when you actively play, so I suggest balancing active gameplay with passive earning.

MistPlay has no fees to play, and as I mentioned, you only need $10 to cash out. The app offers gift cards such as Starbucks, Google Play, and Amazon, or you can opt for a Visa Gift Card or PayPal deposit for real money. Another huge bonus is that your earnings are nearly instantaneous. I’ve rarely waited more than a couple of hours for funds to be deposited or gift cards to be redeemable.

As much as I love MistPlay, there are some negatives. Games are assigned units that determine earnings per level, and not all games are created equal. For example, one game may earn 2.5 units (about 50 points per level), while another earns 5 units per level (100–150 points). Since it takes 3,700 points to reach the $10 payout, you want to find the highest-earning games, though they can be harder to come by. Once you download a game, you can play up to level 20, and all games increase earning potential after level five.

Another negative is the ads. Of course, when an app pays out money without charging fees, it has to find ways to monetize, and the ads on MistPlay, though not as intrusive as some other apps, can still be annoying. Additionally, some games require in-app purchases to advance. Once those appear, I stop playing. What’s the point of playing to earn if you have to pay to play?

MistPlay Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Fun, mainstream games
2. Passive earning opportunity
3. High and quick opportunities to earn
4. Cash out at just $10 and can earn up to $100 per cash-out
5. Many cash-out options and pays real money through PayPal
6. Almost always pays out the same day

Cons

1. Not all games have the same earning opportunities
2. It can take a while to get to the $10, depending on which games you play
3. The Ads are not excessive, but still annoying and distracting sometimes
4. In-app purchases that prevent advancement at certain points in some of the games

In Summary

MistPlay is the real deal. It won’t replace your income or pay off your mortgage, but if you’re already playing games on your phone, you might as well get paid for it. With passive earning, quick payouts, and real money through PayPal, it’s a low-effort way to bring in an extra $10–$15 a month. On its own, that’s a coffee or two. Combined with other income streams we’ll cover in this series, it starts to add up. If you want to know the next app I recommend, read my next blog!