26 Apps That Pay You For Data Collection: Earn a Passive Income

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26 Apps That Pay You to Install Them

Nielsen

(Earn around $50 per year by installing an app)

Nielsen Summary

• Earn $50 a year just by installing an app
• Earn up to $1000 from sweepstakes
• 15 different types of rewards, including TVs
• Win up to $500 by downloading PC app

Nielsen is one of the most well-known companies in the consumer research industry. With the Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel, you can earn a passive income while helping with market research. Once you download this app, all you need to do is use your phone or device as you usually would. 

For your participation, you will receive around $50 per year in credits that you can exchange for various physical products. There are also regular sweepstakes draws that give you the chance up to $1000.

Joining the Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel is a great way to earn a passive income. However, some users have found the app can shorten device battery life and slow performance a little. Nielsen does reassure all users that personal data is secure, as the app anonymously tracks your usage patterns.

Honeygain

(Earn around $50 per month by sharing your internet)

Honeygain Summary

• Earn $1 for every 10GB of data shared
• Get $5 for each person you refer
• Maximize earnings with more IP addresses
• 2 payment options – PayPal and Bitcoin

Honeygain is a platform that enables you to share your internet access to earn some extra income. The company pays you for your spare internet bandwidth and uses it to conduct market research. 

You can sign up for a Honeygain account with a valid email address. Once you have created an account, you can download the app to start earning money. Each time your devices are connected to the internet, the Honeygain network will also connect. 

Your earning potential with Honeygain will vary depending on how much bandwidth you share. On average, the platform will pay you $1 for every 10GB of data that you share. Thus, if you run Honeygain 24/7, you could earn up to $50 a month. 

If you have an unlimited data plan, using the money you earn with Honeygain to pay your internet bills could also be a great way to get free internet.

Sweatcoin

(Earn around $0.50 for every 10,000 steps you take)

Sweatcoin Summary

• Earn up to $20 per month once you reach highest membership tier
• Get $0.25 per referred friend
• You can transfer Sweatcoins between users
• Accurate step counting

Sweatcoin is an app that you can use to get paid for losing weight. The app is available for iOS or Android devices. Once installed, all you need to do is carry your phone with you when you are walking. The app will track your steps automatically, regardless of whether you are indoors or outdoors. 

For every 1,000 steps you take, you’ll receive 0.95 Sweatcoins. You cannot withdraw these coins as cash, but you can exchange your accumulated coins for goods and services. For example, you may request a $10 gift card for 100 Sweatcoins.

Dosh

(Earn up to 10% cash back at over 1000 retailers)

Dosh Summary

• Data is secured with 256-bit encryption
• $10 sign up bonus for new members
• Get $10 for each friend you refer
• Over 100,000 places to get cashback

Dosh is a highly popular mobile app that will pay you for data collection. The app enables you to earn passive income from your everyday purchases. Each time you buy something at a participating retailer, you will earn cashback. 

To qualify for your cashback, you need to make your purchases using a credit card. This means you can receive a percentage of cashback automatically without needing to scan receipts. 

You can earn up to 10 percent cashback on shopping or dining in purchases at over 1000 different stores and restaurants. You can claim your cashback as a PayPal payment or direct bank transfer. 

MobileXpression

(Get a $5 gift card after just 1 week)

Mobile Xpression Summary

• Earn a $5 gift card every few weeks for keeping app active in background
• Get paid $0.50 per survey
• New members receive an entry into a $100,000 sweepstake
• Donates tree if you keep your new account active for 90 days

MobileXpression is one of the best apps that will pay you for data collection. This market research company specializes in collecting data about its members’ internet usage. 

The app is available for both Android and iOS devices. After you install the app on your mobile device, it will record data about your online habits.

Some of the data that the app collects include:

• Pages you view
• Links you access
• Lengths of your calls

MobileXpression will reward you with credits for every week that the app remains active on your device. After just one week, you will have earned a $5 gift card. After this, you can expect a $5 gift card every few weeks. 

PermissionResearch

(Stand a chance to win up to $100,000)

Permission Research Summary

• Free sign-up and software
• Global availability
• Getting rewarded requires little effort
• Cash and gift cards

PermissionResearch is an online market research platform that aims to gain insight into internet behavior and trends. Thus, this makes it one of the best apps that pay you for data collection.

Unlike typical survey companies, PermissionResearch operates by having members install software on their devices. The data is collected and sold to various companies. You may also receive survey invitations via email to further boost your earnings. 

PermissionResearch is careful to protect your personal information. They do not store valuable personal information and the company uses digital and physical security to protect your data. However, the platform does not pay you for your data. Instead, you get a chance each month to win a prize of between $2500 to $100,000.

Paribus

(Keep 100% of the savings you earn from the app in cash)

Paribus Summary

• Monitors price changes for you
• Files refunds on your behalf
• Lets you know of late deliveries
• Free to use

Paribus is a data collection app that aims to help you get refunds for items you buy that have their prices reduced. If you buy an item only to have it drop in price a couple of days later, Paribus will help you negotiate with the company to get a refund. 

The app syncs with your email to monitor your purchases. You can also scan receipts for any other purchases. While this seems like a simple service, Paribus uses this information to analyze your shopping habits.

The potential earnings for this app will depend on your shopping patterns. If you frequently find there are sales events after you buy items, it could be a great app for you. Plus, the platform does not charge any fees and you get to keep 100% of the savings you earn from the app in cash.

Killi App

(Control how much of your data to share and earn up to $10 per week)

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Killi App Summary

• Killi application is safe to use
• You can download it on your mobile phone
• The app continues to improve with time
• Each update has an important bug fix

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Killi is one of the top contenders on this list of apps that pay you for data collection. It allows you to control how much of your data you want to share and enables you to earn cash when you complete tasks within the app. Generally, the more of your data you share, the more you can stand to earn.

The app allows you to earn a passive income simply by going about your daily activities. In addition, you can also complete surveys and refer friends to boost your earnings. As an average user, you can expect to earn up to $10 per week.

Get Pei

(Earn up to 20% cashback on your spending with a linked card)

Get Pei is a very popular cash-back app that enables you to get rewarded for your spending. When you use your linked credit or debit card at an affiliated merchant, you can earn up to 20 percent cash back. There are more than 110,000 locations throughout the US where you can earn cashback.

These include popular brands such as:

• Target
• Trader Joe’s
• AMC Theaters
• and many more

The app will use your shopping habit data to help brands improve their products, services, and marketing strategies. 

DataCoup

(Earn up to $8 per month for your social media account data)

Datacoup Summary

• Reliable and responsive customer support
• No minimum cash-out threshold
• Have full control over your data
• Earn money selling your data

DataCoup is a relatively new platform that will pay you up to $8 per month for access to your social media account data. You will need to provide the company access to your social media accounts. Your data is stripped of any personally identifying details before being sold to advertisers, so your privacy remains protected.

One unique feature of DataCoup is that there is an option to only sell data that you want to share. Thus, this means that you can link more accounts to earn more money. You can also decide who will buy your data. 

While you may be reluctant to share this information, the reality is that you already give your social media platforms this same information for free. At least with DataCoup, you can earn a passive income by sharing your data. 

ScreenLift

(Earn cash each time you lift your phone and cash out your earnings from $5)

ScreenLift Summary

• Rewards in cash.
• Responsive and reliable customer service
• Low minimum withdrawal limit of $5
• Easy to sign and use

ScreenLift is an app that places ads on your lock screen and you’ll receive rewards for viewing these ads, regardless of whether you interact with them. 

All you need to do is unlock your phone and use it daily as per normal. Each time you lift your phone to use it, you will earn a “lift”, which is the app’s internal currency. You can also look for more ways to earn extra lifts within the app, such as by plating a game in the app.

The app also has a system that detects if you’re trying to use your phone more than usual to earn more. If this happens, you will not receive rewards. To get $5 in cash, you need to accumulate approximately 7,100 lifts. You can cash out your earnings either via PayPal or in the form of an Amazon gift card. 

UBDI

(Earn up to $1000 per year by sharing your data)

UBDI Summary

• Reliable and responsive customer service
• Have full control of your data
• Strict privacy policy
• Earn anonymously by sharing your data.

Universal Basic Data Income (UBDI) allows you to get paid for exchanging your data and insights for cash. The main goal of the platform is to help companies improve their products and services. All data is shared anonymously, so you don’t need to worry about your details getting leaked. 

With UBDI, it is possible to earn up to $1,000 per year simply by sharing your data. Plus, the platform does not have any minimum withdrawal threshold so you can withdraw your earnings via bank transfer at any time.

AppOptix

(Get up to $50 worth of gift cards per year)

AppOptix Summary

• It is free to join the research platform
• Doesn’t snoop on phone calls, texts, pictures, or emails
• You accrue points as a panel member
• Cancel your participation at any time

AppOptix is a great choice on this list of mobile apps that pay you for data collection. Once you have installed it, the app runs in the background on your phone, collecting data on your phone’s performance.

Some of the data that AppOptix collects include:

• Apps installed on your device
• How long are your apps open for
• Your GPS location
• Battery performance of your device

Essentially, AppOptix operates as a is a research platform that analyzes consumer behavior. The data that the app pays you for is then used by wireless industry companies to improve their products and services. As an average user, you can expect to earn up to $50 worth of gift cards each year.

PhonePaycheck

(Earn $80 per day while you sleep, withdraw your earnings from just $10)

PhonePaycheck Summary

• You earn a passive income
• Activate the app on up to 5 smartphones
• Users don’t see ads on PhonePaycheck
• No access to your personal information

PhonePaycheck is a renowned app that will pay you to use your phone’s processing power while you are sleeping. The app only runs when your phone is plugged into a charger and connected to WiFi. One unique feature of the app is that it does not use up any of your mobile data and does not access your personal information. 

You can earn up to $80 per year just by using the app for 8 hours per day while you sleep. As such, this app provides one of the best ways for you to make money while you sleep. Once your earnings reach $10, you can withdraw them either via PayPal payment or as a gift card.

You can increase your earnings even further by downloading the app onto your old phones using the same account. You can have up to five devices on one account.

Mobile Performance Meter

(Earn up to $6 per month by downloading an app)

Mobile Performance Meter Summary

• The application is simple to use
• You earn money from the site
• The minimum withdrawal threshold is low
• The app doesn’t drain your battery

Mobile Performance Meter is one of the most popular apps that will pay you for data collection about your phone activity. The app runs in the background, earning you points for each day that it remains installed on your phone.

The app collects data about your mobile usage habits, including:

• The lengths of your phone calls
• The times and dates of text messages
• Your phone’s battery life
• The duration of your internet browsing sessions
• The speed of your network.

Although this may seem like a lot of data, you will not need to worry about your privacy being affected. This is because the app does not collect personal data, such as pictures, email, or the content of your text messages. 

This app only works on specific Android devices, although you can earn up to $6 per month simply by installing the app on a compatible Android device.

Money SMS

(Earn around $0.20 for every test SMS message you receive)

Money SMS Summary

• Setting up the app is fast and easy
• Earn a decent income from the platform
• Various ways to cash out earnings
• Referral commissions are fantastic

Money SMS is an easy-to-use app that you can download to earn money for receiving test text messages. When you run the app and connect to the internet, you’ll receive test SMS messages from the platform.

Money SMS uses these test messages to help mobile network operators and telecom providers ensure that messages are being properly delivered. You will earn around $0.20 for each test message that you receive.

You can withdraw your earnings via:

• BitCoin
• Ethereum
• Litecoin
• PayPal

McMoney

(Earn around $0.06 per test message that you receive)

McMoney Summary

• You easily earn a passive income
• It is free to join and use the app
• The app has strict privacy measures
• McMoney doesn’t drain devices’ resources

McMoney is a top website that you can join to earn money for sharing your mobile number. When you install the app, you will receive messages at random for testing and you will earn around $0.06 for each one. These test messages help mobile operators improve their services.

To join McMoney, you must use an Android phone and have a stable connection. The number of messages you receive will depend on the testing system’s needs. However, it will usually not exceed two messages per day. 

Evidation

(Earn up to $0.20 for answering a short survey)

Evidation Summary

• It motivates you to become healthier
• Evidation is free to join and use
• Earn a reward for keeping a healthy lifestyle
• You earn a bonus for joining the app

Evidation is a great way to get paid for losing weight. The app allows you to collect points by performing healthy actions. You can connect your other health apps and use Evidation to track your progress walking, meditating, sleeping, and even eating. There are also surveys, where you’ll receive up to 200 points to answer basic questions.

The company uses the information from the app to help companies improve their products and services. In addition, it can be a great way to remain motivated to make health-conscious decisions. 

How much can you earn on Evidation?

Once you accumulate 10,000 points, you can exchange your points for $10 in cash via PayPal. 

OnMyWay

(Earn up to $0.05 per mile that you drive safely)

OnMyWay Summary

• It promotes road safety
• It is available on Android and iOS smartphones
• The app is free to download and use
• It is easy to use

OnMyWay enables you to earn up to $0.05 for each mile you drive safely. The app aims to encourage drivers to avoid using their phones when driving. At the same time, it also collects data on phone usage and habits.

The app activates automatically when you are driving. As long as your phone stays locked, you will earn rewards for your entire journey. You can then redeem the virtual currency you earn for PayPal cash or gift cards.

Joining the platform also gives you access to exclusive offers and discounts.

Mobilio

(Earn money automatically when you drive at over 12mph)

Mobilio Summary

• It’s a legit app that rewards
• Encourages safety driving
• Tracks the trip very well
• Use points to purchase products from insurance companies

Mobilio is a highly-popular app that enables you to earn money by driving without distractions. This app is available for Android and iOS users. 

The app automatically activates once you travel at over 12mph. Thus, this makes it a great way to make money without much effort.

Mobilio uses the data the app collects to help organizations that are trying to promote safe driving. For example, insurance companies can integrate this rewards protocol into their business models. 

The overall aim of Mobilio is to create a safety marketplace that encourages safe driving while helping companies to boost their bottom line. 

CashMagnet

(Earn points every 5 minutes and cash out from just $1)

CashMagnet is an app that allows you to get paid for browsing the internet and visiting specific sites. The app essentially turns your phone into a traffic network node. It will help marketers to increase click numbers to improve their traffic figures. 

You’ll earn points every 5 minutes that you use your phone with CashMagnet turned on. It takes 10 points to earn $0.01. Fortunately, CashMagnet has a very low minimum redemption of just $1 or 1,000 points.

You can withdraw your earnings via:

• PayPal
• Amazon gift cards
• Ethereum
• Bitcoin

Placed Panel App

(Get a $5 gift card every month)

Placed Panel is an app that runs in the background on your device. You can use your tablet or phone as normal while the app collects your data.

In order for Placed Panel to work, your device must be connected to the internet with your GPS on. However, you can opt out of data collection at any time by uninstalling the app. The app also gives you access to surveys that can enable you to increase your potential earnings.

On average, most users earn around 33 points per day, and 1000 points are worth $1. Users can redeem their points for gift cards starting from $5 onwards. Although this may not seem like much, you do not need to put in much effort, making it a great way to get gift cards for free.

In general, you should be able to get at least one gift card every month or so.

SavvyConnect

(Earn up to $180 per year by installing software)

SurveySavvy Summary

• Get $5 per device each month plus access to special surveys
• Pays up to $15 per user referred
• Minimum payout threshold is only $1
• Available globally

If you are looking for apps that pay you for data collection, SavvyConnect is one of the best options. The platform enables you to earn up to $180 per year. You can install the company’s software on your devices and earn $5 per device per month in passive income.

In addition, you can also get survey invitations from SavvyConnect’s sister company, SurveySavvy, to further boost your earnings. 

The minimum cash out is relatively low at just $1, so you can withdraw your earnings via check whenever you want.

Safe 2 Save

(Earn 2 points for every minute that you drive and redeem points for rewards locally)

Safe2Save is a great rewards program that you can join to earn points when you drive without using your phone. The platform aims to help people become safer drivers since you are 23 times more likely to get in an accident if you use your phone while driving.

On average, you can expect to earn around 2 points for every minute that you drive above ten mph without using your phone. However, the value of your points may vary depending on the city.

PK Rewards

(Get your first prize in under 1 week)

PK Rewards is one of the best health apps that will pay you for data collection. With PK Rewards, you can earn rewards to keep yourself motivated to work out. You can also connect the app to your Apple Watch or other supported Bluetooth tracker. The app will then monitor your exercise levels. 

Each time you complete a workout, you will receive an Effort Score. The app calculates this score according to the intensity of your workout. From there, you will receive points according to this score.

You can redeem your coins for a variety of prizes including Amazon gift cards. Similar to other fitness apps that pay you for data collection, PK Rewards will use your workout data for market research purposes. This data will also help brands improve their products and services.

Runtopia

(Get a 1-month premium membership for free)

Runtopia allows you to set goals for running, cycling, or even walking. There are even audio coach sessions to listen to during your workout. 

Each time you work out or compete in a daily challenge, you will earn Sports Coins. You can redeem these coins for prizes, PayPal payments, and discounts. For example, you can exchange 599 coins for $10 in cash via PayPal.

In addition, you can also sign up for a premium membership to get access to:

• Detailed analysis of your running data
• Exclusive access to cadence metronome for your run
• Double the daily limit of Sports Coins you can earn
• and many more great features

New users can get a one-time 1-month premium membership for free.

How Much You Can Make With Mobile Apps That Pay You?

How much you can earn depends on the app you use and how much data you are willing to share. You can use most of the apps on this list simultaneously if each app collects different data.

For example, you could install MobileXpression, Dosh, and Screenlift on your mobile phone to earn approximately $20 a week with next to no effort.

How Can I Make 20 Dollars Right Now?

Many great apps will pay you for data collection. It is even possible to start making cash instantly with some of these apps.

If you want to make $20 quickly, there are several platforms that you can use to achieve this.

For example, joining the Media Insiders panel will enable you to earn up to $15 per month. SavvyConnect also pays users $5 per month per device. If you need some cash even quicker, MobileXpression will send you a $5 gift card after your first week. 

As such, you can easily earn $20 in cash just for installing apps on your devices.