Making money just by downloading an app? It might sound too good to be true, but there really are apps out there offering sign-up bonuses.
You might land a sign-up bonus for opening a bank account, shopping at your favorite online stores, or registering to complete a few simple surveys. There are even bonuses available just for browsing the web.
We’re not saying you’ll get rich off sign-up bonuses, but they can be a great way to afford that extra cup of coffee or top up your savings account.
Engage with these apps further and you could unlock even more cash or other great benefits.
So, here, we explore the best apps with sign-up bonuses. You’ll learn how to sign up, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each. By the end, you’ll know which ones to target – and how much you could bank.
But that’s not all…
While these apps are great for scoring a few bucks, we also let you know how you can create your own business here on Whop to build a steady (and unlimited) income.
Let’s get to it.
Shopping & cashback sign-up bonuses
We start with some apps that offer cashback for simply doing things like shopping at your favorite stores or booking travel.
While each of these apps offer a bonus for signing up, there’s also value in using them over the longer term, as the cashback amounts can really add up.
Rakuten
Rakuten offers shoppers cashback for making purchases at its partner stores. It’s available as a free app and as a browser extension. You can also shop through the main Rakuten website.
Essentially, it’s an affiliate program. Rakuten earns a commission each time a user buys something through the affiliate link. It passes a portion of that commission to the user in the form of cashback.
The partner network extends to 3.5k stores, so you can earn cashback on things you’d spend money on anyway. The list includes hotel booking sites, clothing, tech, and groceries. Once you’ve hit $5, you can cash out via PayPal.
The best part is that new users can claim a bonus when signing up. Rakuten bonuses range from $10 if you spend $25+ in the first 90 days to an extra 10% cashback on purchases made in the first 7 days.
Join through the Amex referral link to get a $30 bonus when you spend $30 in the first 90 days.
How to sign up: Simply open a free account and start shopping through the affiliate links or link a credit/debit card to your Rakuten account.
| ✅ Pros | Free to sign up; claim cashback on purchases made at 3.5k+ partner stores |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Quarterly payouts only; cashback amount varies |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | Extra 10% cashback on purchases made in the first 7 days / $30 bonus via Amex referral link |
Ibotta
Ibotta offers cashback on groceries and a range of other purchases from its 2k+ partner stores, which include the likes of Walmart, Doordash, and Uber. It works as an app, browser extension, or through the website.
You can also link Ibotta to a loyalty account to claim cashback or submit receipts for qualifying purchases. Once you hit $20 in cashback, you can claim a payout to your bank account or opt for the balance on a gift card for Target, iTunes, or any of the other 50 retailers.
If you leave your account inactive, you’ll be charged $3.99 every 30 days.
A sign-up bonus is available, though the value varies. It’s around $10 for new account holders, plus ongoing bonuses are available on selected purchases.
How to sign up: Download the app or sign up to the website and browse the available offers.
| ✅ Pros | Earn cashback on everyday purchases; multiple ways to claim cashback; 2k+ partner stores |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Process to claim cashback is complicated; monthly $3.99 fee on inactive accounts |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | Around $10 / ongoing bonuses available |
Should you sign up? Find out in our Ibotta review.
Fetch
Through the free Fetch app, you can earn reward points as you shop. As well as making purchases online through its partner retailers, Fetch encourages you to photograph or “snap” your receipts and submit them for reward points.
You can also earn points by playing mobile games. Fetch works as an affiliate program and also a data aggregator.
Once you’ve collected at least 3k points, you can redeem them against offers such as gift cards for leading retailers (1k in points = $1). Partners include Amazon and Starbucks.
Fetch’s sign-up bonus comes in the form of 3k of reward points you can claim either by using a valid promo code or by referring a friend to the app. Both you and the friend get to claim a reward.
How to sign up: Download the app and you’ll see all your personalized offers. If using a referral link, be sure to use the code to claim the bonus points.
| ✅ Pros | Collect points on shopping, games, and scanning receipts; 2.3k+ partner stores |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Redeem points for gift cards not cash, points expire after 90 days if account is inactive |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | Up to 3k reward points if signing up via a promo code or referral link |
Read more in our Fetch Rewards review.
BeFrugal
BeFrugal claims to offer the highest cashback amounts. It works with 5k+ stores, including Amazon, Walmart, Sephora, and Booking.com. Users can shop through the app or install the browser extension. As well as cashback, there are discount offers and online coupons available.
Sign up to receive a $10 bonus when you collect $20 in cashback within 12 months of becoming a BeFrugal member. You can request a payout as a check or via PayPal, direct deposit, Venmo, Zell, or a gift card.
You can also earn a bonus by referring a friend. If a member signs up using your referral link, they get a $10 bonus once they earn $10 cashback, and you can claim $35. Refer multiple friends and claim $35 each time.
How to sign up: Download the app and sign up to start searching for cashback offers.
| ✅ Pros | Variety of payout options; 5k+ partner retailers; deals and coupons |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Need to search for offers; some users report tracking issues leading to loss of cashback |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | $10 once you earn $20 in cashback / claim $35 for referring friends who earn $10 in cashback |
RetailMeNot
RetailMeNot offers cashback and discount offers from 20k+ retailers, including Amazon, Target, and Expedia. It’s available as an app and browser extension, as well as through the website. Users are encouraged to combine the various offers to score the highest rewards on their purchases.
Members can request their cashback payments only to a PayPal or Venmo account once they cross the $5 threshold. It takes up to 45 days for cashback amounts to appear in your account.
A $5 bonus is available for new members. Eligibility includes having a verified PayPal or Venmo account and making a valid purchase from a participating retailer. The bonus will be added to the member’s account.
How to sign up: Download the app and browser extension to start collecting cashback and unlocking the available offers.
| ✅ Pros | 20k+ partner retailers; claim cashback and discount offers |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Some users report expired coupons and deals; only PayPal or Venmo payouts |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | $5 for new account holders who make a valid purchase |
Banking & finance sign-up bonuses
This category of bonuses is where the real value can be found. We’ve only highlighted the bonuses available for accounts where significant money isn’t at risk.
However, if you’re in the market for any type of financial product, check whether there’s a bonus attached - banking is a competitive space and they all want your business.
SoFi
SoFi is a regulated online bank that offers a range of financial products, including savings and checking accounts. The bank offers a range of benefits, including attractive interest rates and getting your paycheck funds up to two days early.
Members can also earn reward points, which - among other things - can be redeemed for cash. There are also travel discounts, with the bank’s naming rights agreement giving members perks at SoFi Stadium (home of the LA Chargers and LA Rams).
Eligible customers who sign up for a checking account can claim a bank sign-up bonus of either $50 or $300 if they make direct deposits during the promotion period. The amount depends on how much you deposit. Between $1k and $5k, claim $50. Over $5k and you can claim $300.
How to sign up: Sign up for a checking account online (you’ll automatically get a savings account), submit the required information, and wait for approval.
| ✅ Pros | Regulated; up to 4% interest; no account fees |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Have to open both a checking and savings account; direct deposits required |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | $50 or $300 for opening a checking/savings account |
Chase Bank
A familiar name in the banking world, Chase offers everything from checking accounts and credit cards to mortgages. App-based banking is available via Chase Mobile. In fact, their banking app is considered one of the best.
One of the potential downsides for opening a checking account is the monthly fee. However, ways to avoid these fees include keeping a $1.5k+ balance in the account or making $500 in direct deposits each month.
For eligible new customers, a $300 bonus is available for opening a Chase Total Checking account. Among the requirements is that you put $500+ worth of qualifying direct deposits into the account within the first 90 days.
How to sign up: Sign up online by filling out the form and providing the requested information, including ID, proof of address, and source of deposit funds, and wait for approval.
| ✅ Pros | Global company; bank in person, online, or via the app |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Account fees may apply; low interest rates on savings |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | $300 for opening a Chase Total Checking account and making $500 in direct deposits |
Robinhood
Robinhood is an app-based investment and trading platform, which offers a range of services including buying and selling crypto. While the platform looks like it’s for serious investors, there’s also the option to trade or invest small amounts.
Its service is commission-free and while there’s no account minimum, fees apply. These depend on the type of account and activity, so read the details if you want to sign up.
The sign-up bonus for new customers comes in the form of a specified dollar amount which can be used to buy a fraction of a stock from the list of options. While Robinhood states the value of the sign-up bonus can be between $5 and $200, expect to get the low-end value. You can trade the stock after three days or withdraw the value after 30 days.
How to sign up: Open an account online and link a credit or debit card.
| ✅ Pros | Buy & sell crypto; trade stocks |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Limited for serious investors |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | $5 (or even $200) in stock for opening an account and linking a credit/debit card |
Learn more in our Robinhood review.
Citi
Another global name in the banking sector, Citi offers a wide range of financial products and services, including via its highly rated mobile app. While the interest rates on the savings accounts are low compared to some other banks, it does offer competitive rates on other accounts.
There are no overdraft fees on checking accounts. A monthly service fee applies but, again, this can be avoided if you fulfill the requirements, including putting at least $250 of qualifying direct deposits into the account each month.
Customers who open an eligible checking account during the promotional period can claim a bank sign-up bonus of $325 if they fulfill the requirements. These include making at least two qualifying direct deposits with a combined total of at least $3k within 90 days.
How to sign up: Go to the banking section of the site or app and click “open an account” and enter the requested information, including ID and a Social Security number, and wait for approval.
| ✅ Pros | Global brand; competitive rates; good app; variety of financial products |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Fees apply to some accounts; low fees on some saving accounts |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | $325 for opening an eligible checking account and making $3k in direct deposits |
Acorns
Acorns is an online platform that encourages users to invest small amounts and to make investment part of their everyday banking. It claims over 10m members and a total of $22m of investments made.
One feature is the ability to invest loose change from purchases when you shop with a credit or debit card linked to your Acorns account. So, if you buy something for $10.50, Acorns will round it up to $11 and invest the extra fifty cents. One negative is the account fee, which ranges from $3 to $12 a month.
A sign-up bonus of $20 is available to new customers. While some of these investment-related bonuses require you risking a significant amount of money, Acorn demands a recurring deposit of a minimum $5.
How to sign up: Open an Acorns account and set up a recurring investment to qualify for the bonus.
| ✅ Pros | Flexible investing; invest change from purchases; also offers banking services |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | High management fee; bonus requires recurring investment |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | $20 for new account holders who set up a recurring investment of $20+ |
Find more of the best apps which pay real money.
Online surveys & games sign-up bonuses
We end with one of the easier ways to land a few bucks or the equivalent. Online surveys and sites which offer rewards for playing games can be fun as well as add a little extra to your wallet, in the form of cash or gift cards.
While you won’t earn a lot on these apps, here are some which tempt you in by offering a sign-up bonus.
Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys is a market research company that rewards users for completing surveys on behalf of brands. Surveys take around five to 20 minutes to complete, with users able to make around $5 to $100 a month. Like most of these types of apps, rewards come in the form of points.
Each survey has a number of points attached. It can take a while to build up enough points to be worthwhile. However, you can redeem your points in the form of a bank transfer, PayPal payment, or as a gift card. There are also other ways to collect points.
The welcome bonus is 100 points added to your account. The cash equivalent is $1. You need to collect 500 points ($5) before you can cash out. Once you hit this milestone, you’ll see the option to redeem your points in your account.
How to sign up: Simply sign up online using an email or password or go through an existing Google account. You can then complete a profile to start qualifying for surveys.
| ✅ Pros | Easy to sign up; earn points by filling out surveys; redeem points as cash/gift cards |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Not always surveys available; can take time to accumulate points; low value welcome bonus |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | 100 points (equal to $1) for opening a new account |
Read our full Branded Surveys review.
Scrambly
Scrambly rewards users for completing certain tasks and challenges across a selection of 150+ online games. The aim is to showcase mobile game and app developers by rewarding users who interact with their games.
The app claims users can earn between $50 and $500 a month. The payouts for each game are made in “coins” and winnings can be withdrawn as soon as you hit 1k coins ($1), with cashout options including PayPal, Visa, and Amazon gift cards.
New users can get a head start with a bonus of 500 coins ($0.50) in their account. Scrambly also offers bonuses for referring new members, with 10k coins added to the affiliate’s account once a user they’ve referred makes their first withdrawal.
| ✅ Pros | Get rewarded for playing games; low payout threshold; variety of cashout methods |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Time intensive; not always tasks available |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | 500 coins ($0.50) for signing up / also offers referral bonuses of 10k coins |
Want more? Find the best apps which pay you to play games.
InboxDollars
Inbox Dollars is another app that rewards users for filling in surveys and completing other tasks. Its surveys pay from $0.50 to $5 and take up to 25 minutes to complete. Again, you won’t get rich but engage with the app regularly and you can accumulate some cash – up to about $25 a month.
Other ways to earn on the site include PaidEmails, where you can collect reward points for opening and reading companies’ promotional emails. There’s also the chance to bag points by playing games.
The Inbox Dollars sign-up bonus is a generous $5. You need to collect $15 before you can cash out the first time, and $10 after that. Claim your payout via PayPal or choose a gift card from one of its partner brands.
How to sign up: Sign up for free with an email or via an Apple or Google account.
| ✅ Pros | Lots of ways to earn; generous sign-up bonus |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Takes time to accumulate dollars; need to make $15 for first-time cashout |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | Claim $5 for signing up and verifying a new account |
Check out our comprehensive InboxDollars review.
Prime Opinion
Prime Opinion is another platform that offers the chance to make a few dollars by completing surveys. In fact, it claims to offer up to $5 per survey, with the average taking around 17 minutes to complete.
Points are awarded for each survey, with 100 points equaling $1. Payouts can be requested in the form of a PayPal or bank account transfer or as an online gift card for one of 200+ retailers, like Amazon, Starbucks, and Apple.
The sign-up bonus is advertised as a slightly underwhelming offer of “up to $1”. However, there are various options, each of which has a different requirement. For example, you can claim a 500-point welcome bonus, but this cannot be withdrawn until you’ve collected 2.5k points. The lowest threshold is 100 points with a 500-point minimum threshold.
How to sign up: Sign up for a free account, at which point you can choose which welcome bonus to claim.
| ✅ Pros | Claims to offer higher rewards than other sites; cash or gift card payouts; quick payouts |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Low welcome bonus; hard to qualify for surveys |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | 100 points ($1) for signing up - you can claim a higher bonus with a higher payout threshold. |
Discover the highest-paying online survey sites.
Zap Surveys
Zap is another market research company that rewards users for sharing their opinion. Upon signing up, Zap collects users’ information so it can offer the most suitable surveys. Users report low payouts, compared to some other sites.
Cashout methods include Amazon gift cards and Mastercard gift cards, among many other options. The payout threshold is relatively high at $25. As the surveys pay around $0.10 to $1 each, it’ll take time to reach the payout level.
The welcome bonus here is a little different. Instead of getting cash or their points equivalent for just signing up, Zap promises you’ll get $2, or the points equivalent, for completing your first survey.
How to sign up: Open a free account with an email address or via Google, Facebook, or Apple. Answer some basic questions so you can be matched with the best surveys.
| ✅ Pros | Wide range of surveys; claim payouts via PayPal or gift card |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Low rate for surveys; high payout threshold; welcome bonus not awarded just for signing up |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | $2 for completing your first survey |
MobileXpression
We promised you there were ways to earn rewards by just going online, and here we are. MobileXpression will reward you for simply downloading its software onto your phone or other mobile device. It’s a market research firm interested in monitoring users' internet activity and mobile data usage.
Whether you want to get involved really depends on whether you’re comfortable downloading software and having your activity tracked for the purposes of data collection. It’s a good idea to check the privacy policy before going ahead.
The initial reward is a $5 gift card for Amazon for downloading the software and keeping it on your device for a week. Keep it for longer and you can continue to collect rewards in the form of gift cards.
| ✅ Pros | Easy to download the software; no major device performance issues; gift card rewards |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Data privacy concerns; requires being tracked online |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | $5 Amazon gift card for downloading the software and keeping it for a week |
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the leading names in the world of online surveys. Users can also earn points (or Swagbucks/SBs) by playing mobile games. There is even a cashback offer for shopping at its partner brands. Typically, you can make up to a maximum of $10 a day on Swagbucks.
Every 100 SB you earn is worth $1. Payouts come in the form of Amazon and Walmart gift cards, or via a PayPal transfer. You need 2.5k SBs to request a PayPal payment or around 300 SB for a gift card.
The welcome bonus is an eye-catching $10, which comes as 1k SB. The big catch is that you have to spend at least $25 at a store featured in the SwagBucks Shop. However, this includes retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
How to sign up: Sign up with an email or through a Google or Apple account. You can choose how you want to earn money on the site. If you want to claim the bonus, it must first be activated in your account.
| ✅ Pros | Lots of ways to earn; cash out via PayPal or as a gift card |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Welcome bonus requires spending money; takes a long time to build up cash |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | $10 in the form of points - must spend $25+ on a qualifying purchase |
Find out if you can make money on this site in our Swagbucks review.
LifePoints
Another survey app, LifePoints offers the chance to collect points for sharing your opinion on a variety of topics for the purposes of market research. This is not a particularly generous app when it comes to rewards, but it can still land you a few dollars.
The rewards are made in LifePoints. Their value varies but works out at around 165 points per $1. The lowest cashout amount is $5. This can be via PayPal or gift card, with many of the usual retailers available – Amazon, Starbucks, and TJ Maxx.
The welcome bonus here is a slender 10 LifePoints. Not really a sign-up gift, it’s more designed to get your account up and running. Typically, 550 points can get you a $5 gift card. To get a $10 PayPal payout requires 1.2k points.
How to sign up: Open a free account using an email or Google, Facebook, or Apple account. Fill out some personal details to be matched with suitable surveys.
| ✅ Pros | Easy to sign up; variety of payout options |
|---|---|
| ❌ Cons | Low earning potential; meager welcome bonus; point value varies |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | 10 bonus LifePoints ($0.10) for signing up |
MyPoints
MyPoints offers a variety of ways to get rewarded in points, including by taking online surveys and playing games (some require a cash deposit). There’s also a cashback offer on groceries and online shopping with the app’s 1.9k partner brands.
The MyPoints rewards depend on the opportunity. The points have an odd value of around 165 points per $1. Unlike some of the other options, the only payout comes in the form of a gift card for an online store or restaurant. The minimum payout amount is $5.
The welcome bonus is $5 in points for opening an account and confirming your email address. There’s also a $10 bonus available (given as 1,750 points), but this involves spending $20 or more with one of the partner retailers within 30 days.
How to sign up: Sign up with an email address. Verify your email to claim the welcome bonus.
| ✅ Pros | Lots of earning opportunities; cashback offers available |
|---|---|
| <❌ Cons | Only pays out in gift cards; some games require a cash deposit |
| 💵 Sign-up bonus | $5 bonus for opening an account / $10 if you spend $20 on qualifying store purchases |
🥇Sign up and cash in on Whop
Sign-up bonuses are awesome, but they aren’t a route to early retirement.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to enjoy steady, passive income with unlimited earning potential doing something you love?
Enter Whop…
Here, you can build your own “whop” – a storefront or hub you can use to sell any type of digital product or service.
Want hands-off income? Build your business around ebooks, downloads, or online courses that you create once, and which then deliver a constant income stream.
Want to be more hands on? Create a vibrant online community around your topic or offer consulting or training with live, one-to-one sessions.
Want to do it all? Maximize your revenue and your audience by offering a wide range of digital products and subscription models.
Whop makes it all possible.
We handle the behind-the-scenes stuff, like payments, leaving you to focus on scaling your business.
So, go ahead and grab those app sign-up bonuses then come back to Whop to really take control of your financial future.
Find your place in our growing community of successful creators who’ve scored the ultimate sign-up bonus… by selling with Whop.
Sign-up bonuses FAQ
How do I know if a sign-up bonus is genuine?
The best advice is to stick to reputable companies. Do a little research online to see what people are saying about the app or company. If you’re required to share lots of personal or payment info or the app is asking you for money, it might be a red flag.
Some social media scams involve cloned profiles – such as from Facebook – containing messages offering you a bonus.
Are there any sign-up bonuses I should avoid?
Bonuses where you need to spend or borrow a lot of money are probably best avoided.
For example, casino sign-up bonuses often have a wagering requirement. This means you have to bet a certain multiple of the bonus amount before you can cash it out or get your hands on any winnings from that bonus.
Let’s say you land a $20 casino sign-up bonus with 10x wagering requirements attached. You must place $200 of bets before you can withdraw the bonus or any winnings.
Likewise, a bonus attached to taking out a loan or credit card or putting money into risky stocks or investments means you could end up in financial trouble.
Read the terms and conditions to know what you’re getting into so you can really get the most value from the bonus – after all, it’s supposed to be an easy and hassle-free way of getting your hands on a few bucks.
Can I sign up more than once and score multiple bonuses?
Not a good idea. Companies are now more clued up to sign-up bonus abuse, which is a type of fraud that’s especially common in the casino/gaming sector.
Can I get the sign-up bonus and then delete the app?
In some cases, yes. But as you can see from our list, some apps require you to engage with the service in order to claim the bonus. The survey apps reward in points, while some of the bonuses, such as the cashback ones, are more valuable the longer you stick around.
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