I mod r/EarnExtraIncome (100K+ members) and have been testing money-making apps since 2016. I get asked constantly which sign-up bonuses are actually worth it — so here's the honest list of what's paid out for me personally. No fluff, no expired offers, no apps I haven't used myself.
Quick note: most of these take under 5 minutes to sign up. Stack a few and you're looking at $100+ in free money just for trying apps you'd probably use anyway.
Best Sign-Up Bonus Apps (Ranked by Bonus Size)
I've sorted these by bonus amount so you can prioritize the highest payouts first. All of these have paid out for me or members of my community — I don't list anything I can't personally vouch for.
Arrived lets you invest in rental properties and vacation rentals with as little as $100. You get a share of rental income and any appreciation when the property sells — no landlord responsibilities, no tenant calls. Quarterly income hits automatically. It's one of the more passive ways to add real estate to your portfolio without a big upfront commitment.
Swagbucks is the largest rewards site out there with 20M+ members and a legitimate track record. You earn SB points for shopping, watching videos, surveys, and app offers, then cash out via PayPal or gift cards. New members get $10 just for signing up and completing a few starter tasks. If you're already shopping online, the cashback alone makes this worth having.
FAQs
There are many ways you can get $5 for free just for signing up. Checkout 51, Opinion Inn, BeFrugal, and InboxDollars all offer a $5 bonus for signing up as long as you meet the corresponding requirements.
The majority of the apps listed above give you money for signing up. As long as you meet the requirements, you can earn rewards for being a new member.
There are many ways to earn a sign up bonus, though each typically requires opening a new account. Some apps reward you just for becoming a member, while others require you to act within a certain time frame, complete tasks, or even refer friends and family.
Stack These and See What Happens
The best move is to not pick just one. Sign up for Current first (biggest bonus), then Bigcash and Freecash while you're at it. If you want something totally passive, add Nielsen and forget about it. That's $100+ in sign-up bonuses with maybe 20 minutes of total effort.
I update this list monthly — if something stops paying out or a better offer comes up, I swap it. Questions? Drop them in r/EarnExtraIncome and I'll answer there.
Before you go, I keep a free spreadsheet of legit ways to earn extra income that I personally use and update regularly. Grab it here if you're interested.
