Did you know that it’s easier than ever to get free money for signing up?
That’s right: these days, there are plenty of companies, websites, and apps with sign up bonuses. This means it’s possible to snag some free cash or gift cards just by signing up or trying out various products and services.
The best part is that many of these free money for signing up bonuses don’t even require spending money. So, you can potentially walk away with a nice amount of cash for an hour or two of work.
I’ve been leveraging sign up bonus offers for years to make money. And in this post, I’m covering some of my favorite ways to sign up for free money that you can take advantage of.
Let’s get to it!
How To Get Free Money For Signing Up
Many tactics to get free money for signing up involve registering with a website or app with your email and getting an instant bonus. In contrast, some of the more lucrative bonuses on this list require completing a few steps, like making a deposit or linking your bank account.
Think about how much money you want to make and what you’re comfortable with. Then, you’re ready to dive into this side hustle and earn some free money for signing up!
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a popular get-paid-to site that’s also one of the easiest ways to sign up for free money.
I’ve been using this website since my college days. And right now, new members can enjoy a $10 sign up bonus if they sign up and make a qualifying purchase of at least $25 through Swagbucks’ shopping rewards portal.
I like Swagbucks since it also has plenty of ways to make money, including online surveys, shopping offers, playing games for money, surfing the web, and more.
It also has a wide variety of rewards, including PayPal cash and free gift cards. And with rewards starting at $1, you can actually cash out your free money bonus quite quickly.
2. Current
If you want a new online bank account and a $50 bonus, then Current is another excellent app that gives you free money for signing up.
This fee-free account makes it easy to spend, save, and manage your money right from your phone. And with Current’s savings pods, you can earn 4% APY on up to $6,000, which is perfect for your emergency fund or savings.
To claim this free money bonus, you have to sign up with the code ‘WELCOME50.’ You must also add a qualifying direct deposit of at least $200 within 45 days.
This takes a bit of work, but it’s one of the more lucrative methods for getting free money for signing up. And with a 4% APY, Current is a nifty passive income idea as well that you can use to put your money to work.
3. Acorns
Acorns is a leading micro investing app in the United States that helps people invest for income by helping them to regularly invest.
The app works by rounding-up purchases and investing the extra money into pre-built portfolios. And I like Acorns since it keeps everything automatic and helps people pick portfolios that match their investing goals.
At the time of writing, Acorns also has a $20 sign up bonus for new members. So, it’s the perfect time to try out the app and to begin investing small amounts of money each day.
You can also earn referral bonuses with Acorns by inviting your friends to join the app. Overall, it’s a great way to earn autopilot cash through investing, and it usually has some type of free money sign up bonus going on.
4. InboxDollars
Like Swagbucks, another instant cash survey site that also lets you sign up to get free money is InboxDollars.
This U.S. website is available if you’re 18 or older. And it pays new members with an instant $5 sign up bonus when they create an account.
As a member, you can then complete a variety of short micro tasks to earn money.
For example, InboxDollars lets you make money by answering online surveys, downloading apps, playing games, and watching ads. You can then cash out with free PayPal cash or a wide variety of gift cards at $10 to $15.
Websites like InboxDollars won’t make anyone rich. But it’s a nice way to earn money online as a beginner, and it has an easy free money sign up bonus.
5. Rakuten
If you shop online often, one of the best free money for sign up offers you can use comes from Rakuten.
Rakuten is a shopping extension that pays you with cash back for shopping at thousands of retailers. It’s completely free to use, and all you have to do is visit Rakuten before shopping or download its extension to begin earnings.
And right now, Rakuten is also paying new members a $30 bonus if they sign up and spend at least $30 on a qualifying shopping offer.
This is a very lucrative cash-back offer. Rakuten also works with popular brands like Adidas, Best Buy, Nike, Target, and Walmart, so earning is quite easy.
You get paid quarterly with PayPal cash or via check as long as you have $5 in your account. Overall, Rakuten is my favorite way to get paid to shop online, and it’s one of the easier ways to get free money for signing up if you have an upcoming shopping trip.
6. Cash App
Cash App is one of the most popular money transfer and management apps in the United States.
It’s also the perfect app that gives you free money for signing up since all you have to do is join with a referral code to get $5 instantly.
This Cash App money hack takes a few minutes to complete at most. And you can keep on earning if you invite more friends to Cash App, so it’s a win-win.
Some of my friends have done this, with each person signing up and inviting the next person to join. So with just a few minutes of work, everyone can enjoy a nice $5 bonus.
Extra Reading – The Best Games That Pay Instantly To Cash App.
7. Broker Bonuses
If you’re still wondering how to get free money for signing up, one lucrative option to consider is opening a new account with an investment brokerage.
These days, most leading online brokers have free money and stock bonuses for new members. If you’re willing to move some money around, this is one of the highest-paying sign up bonuses you can get.
Examples of some top free money sign up bonuses from brokers include:
- M1: Earn $75 to $10,000 by making a large enough transfer to your new M1 account.
- Stash: Get free stock for signing up and up to a $20 bonus depending on the promotional period.
- Robinhood: Earn free stock for opening a new brokerage account.
- Moomoo: Get up to 16 free stocks for opening a new account.
- Webull: Like robinhood, Webull also pays you with free stocks for opening and funding an account.
- Tornado: Earn up to $1,000 for making large enough deposits in your new account.
Of course, this free money for sign up bonus is easier to get if you’re already on the market for a new broker. But you can also consider moving money around for just a few months to churn through these bonuses.
8. Albert
Albert is a popular cash advance app that lets you borrow up to $250 against an upcoming paycheck if you need quick money.
It’s also an easy way to sign up for free money if you’re willing to set up a new direct deposit. That’s because Albert pays new members with a $100 bonus if they open a cash account and set up a direct deposit of at least $200 every 30 days for the next 90 days.
You also have to spend at least $100 with your Albert debit card every 30 days for this 90 day period. So, this free money sign up bonus takes some effort to complete.
But once you’re done with these steps, you get a nice $100 sign up bonus. And Albert has a range of useful features, like its investing account and access to financial advice, that you can take advantage of.
Extra Reading – How To Get $100 Now.
9. MyPoints
MyPoints is another U.S. and Canadian survey website like Swagbucks. And like the other survey sites on this list, it’s a simple way to sign up for free money.
New MyPoints members get an instant $5 bonus to hit the ground running. You can then earn by completing surveys, installing apps, surfing the web, and shopping.
You can redeem your earnings for a wide variety of gift cards starting at $3 to $5. Free PayPal cash is also available, but you need $25 to cash out, which takes a bit longer.
10. Bank Bonuses
Like broker bonuses, another free money for sign up bonus category to explore are bank and credit card bonuses.
Many banks are willing to pay juicy sign up bonuses if you open a new account or card. So, you can often earn $100 to $200 or more just by moving some money around.
Several popular bank and credit card bonuses you can check out include:
- Go2Bank: A fee-free online bank account with cash-back rewards that also has a $50 referral bonus.
- Discover: Get up to $200 for opening a savings account with Discover.
- Chase: Earn $200 for opening a new Chase Total Checking account and setting up qualifying direct deposit.
- SoFi: Earn a $250 checking account sign up bonus and up to $300+ in other account bonuses.
This is just scratching the surface, and you can find plenty of other bank and credit card bonuses with a few Google searches.
11. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys is another leading survey site that lets you get paid to answer questions.
It’s available in the United States, Canada, and the UK to members who are 18 or older. And new members get an instant $1 sign up bonus once they verify their email address.
This is one of the smaller bonuses on this list. But Branded Surveys only needs $5 to cash out, so you can still earn money online quite quickly.
The reward options are also extensive, including PayPal money and gift cards to companies like Amazon, Best Buy, Starbucks, Target, and Uber Eats.
12. MobileXpression
MobileXpression is a passive income app that lets you get paid for your data. And it’s another app that pays you with free money for signing up that’s perfect if you want free gift cards.
With MobileXpression, you can get a $10 gift card after installing the app and running it for one week. From there, you earn credits every week you run the app which you can redeem for even more prizes.
Gift card options include companies like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Overall, you can earn about $5 per month with this app, but the sign up bonus is a nice way to earn that first gift card that much faster.
13. Ibotta
Ibotta is a popular rewards app that pays you with cash back for buying groceries and everyday essentials.
The app is similar to Fetch and Checkout 51. Once you download the app, you select rebates, shop, and upload a photo of your receipt for proof of purchase.
Ibotta often has a $10 to $20 sign up bonus as well. And you can keep on earning if you invite your friends to join the app.
Apps like Ibotta won’t make hundreds of dollars per month. But if you do most of the shopping for your house, earning $2 to $25 per month is quite realistic with a bit of effort.
14. UNest
If you want to help your kids save for college, UNest is one popular app you can check out.
The platform lets parents set up a 529 College Savings plan for their kid and make regular contributions. And it also has a $25 sign up bonus you get if you verify your email address and set up an account.
I like UNest since you can also earn cash back rewards by shopping at various partners. And while it’s a more specialized service, it’s an excellent option for U.S. families that want to begin saving for future education expenses.
15. MoneyLion
One last way to get free money for signing up you can consider is MoneyLion, an all-in-one money management app.
At the time of writing, MoneyLion is paying new members a $10 referral bonus and $50 direct deposit bonus when they set up an account and qualifying direct deposits.
The app comes with a range of features as well, including cash-back rewards, automatic investing plans, cash advances, and zero hidden fees.
If you like apps like Chime, Dave, or Albert, then Money Lion should feel quite useful. And it’s another lucrative bonus you can churn if you’re willing to put in a bit of work.
Extra Reading – The Best Sign Up Bonuses With No Direct Deposit.
Tips For Earning Free Money Sign Up Bonuses
Now that you know some top websites and apps that give you free money for signing up, I want to share a few tips that have helped me over the years to maximize my income from this hustle:
- Always Read Terms Carefully: It’s important to read terms and conditions and to follow steps carefully to get paid. Many free money for sign up offers require specific steps, like direct deposit set up or certain purchases, to complete.
- Stay Organized: I use a separate email when trying sign up bonus offers. You can also make a spreadsheet or set calendar reminders to ensure you complete necessary steps.
- Stay Up To Date: Promotions and bonuses change all the time. Stay up to date by subscribing to company newsletters and by Googling current bonuses.
Extra reading – The Best Instant Withdrawal $25 Sign Up Bonuses.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide on how to get free money for signing up helps you pad your wallet while trying out some nifty new apps and websites.
There are so many online side hustles out there. But I have to say, figuring out ways to get free cash and gift cards by signing up for things is one of my favorite ones.
Just make sure you read terms and conditions carefully. And only sign up for products or services you actually plan on using or plan on churning through to get paid.
Best of luck!
Want even more ways to make money? Checkout:
Tom is a full-time blogger and freelance writer with a passion for side hustling, passive income, and the gig economy. His work has appeared on dozens of personal finance websites like Money Crashers, The College Investor, Investor Junkie, and more. This Online World is all about providing people with honest ways to make and save more money by using technology. To learn more about Tom, read his About Page!
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