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Can you really earn a few pounds just for playing games on your phone? I've tried three of the best-known "play to earn" apps, FreeCash, TesterUp and JustPlay, so here's an honest look at how each one works, what's good, and what's not.
Quick reality check: none of these will replace a wage. Think of them as a way to pick up some pocket money for games you might be playing anyway.
All three apps are completely free to sign up to. There are no joining fees and you never need to pay anything to get started.
FreeCash pays you for playing games, completing offers and taking surveys. It has lower withdrawal thresholds than many similar apps and gives you a wider choice of ways to get paid, including PayPal, gift cards and crypto, so you aren't left waiting as long to see your first payout.
The FreeCash Earn screen, with featured games and high reward offers.
TesterUp pays you for hitting milestones in mobile games, for example reaching a certain level. Small early levels pay a few pence, while bigger milestones pay much more. I've already cashed out £75 to PayPal from it, with the biggest jumps coming from higher levels in a game (£18.50 for one milestone and £37.00 for another in Travel Town).
The TesterUp Discover screen, showing each game and the most you can earn from it.
JustPlay rewards you with coins for time spent playing featured games, plus daily bonuses, and you can redeem them for PayPal cash or gift cards. It does pay out, but it wasn't for me. The game selection felt limited and doesn't change much, a lot of the games seem to be JustPlay's own, and the whole experience leans heavily on adverts.
The JustPlay home screen, with daily challenges and boosted games.
| App | Best for | My take |
|---|---|---|
| FreeCash | Variety and quicker first cash-out | 4/5 - Flexible, with lower minimums |
| TesterUp | Bigger milestone payouts | 4/5 - Paid me £75, but needs patience |
| JustPlay | Casual players who don't mind ads | 2/5 - Limited games and lots of ads |
If you want to try one, I'd start with FreeCash for variety and lower payout thresholds, and add TesterUp if you want the chance at bigger rewards for reaching high levels in a game. I'd skip JustPlay unless you really like ad-supported casual games.
Join FreeCash Free Join TesterUp Free
Disclosure: the FreeCash and TesterUp links above are referral links, so I may earn a small reward if you sign up, at no cost to you. There is no affiliate link for JustPlay. Earnings, payout thresholds and available offers vary by person and location, can change at any time, and aren't guaranteed. Always check the current terms in each app before you start.
Written by Ford Hollett on the 11/10/2026
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