40 Best Trivia Apps for Money and Prizes

If you're looking for an HQ Trivia alternative, just try one of these new trivia apps for money.

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Looking for trivia apps for money? You probably heard about HQ Trivia already but if you haven’t, it is a legit game app to win real money.

It was released last year and takes a form of a live game show, which usually airs at 9 pm US Eastern Time daily.

If multiple people correctly answer all 12 questions, the cash prize is split between all the respective winners.

Often the prize can be split between as many as 3,000 people, however, in some extreme cases, there can be as many as 80,000 winners or no winners at all.

If there are no winners, that day’s prize money is rolled over and added to the next day’s prize. The cash prizes can go up to $50,000 in some cases.

HQ Trivia is not the only app that does this, there are several new apps that have recently started.

Here they are:

What are Other Trivia Apps like HQ Trivia?

These apps like HQ Trivia will give you trivia for prizes and money. If you want to answer trivia questions on your phone and get paid, check out these win money apps.

1. Dabbl

With Dabbl, you can literally turn your downtime into gift cards by playing trivia games, answering surveys, watching videos and other fun tasks. Dabbl has paid out its members over $3.7 Million since 2017 — it’s legit. You can turn your downtime into gift cards from the following stores:

Interested? You can start earning in minutes:

1. Download the Dabbl app: Available for Apple iOS and Android.

2. Simple registration: Start with just your phone number and age.

3. Use it during your downtime: Quick videos & feedback earn you cash.

4. Load earnings to gift card: E-gift cards are emailed to you. Use them to buy whatever you want from the retailer.

Dabbl is one of the best trivia apps for cash and prizes.

Dabbl

Choose which companies pay you for your time and opinions. Earn Amazon and other gift cards. Get the Dabbl app on iOS or Android today!

Download Dabbl →

2. Swagbucks LIVE

Swagbucks LIVE is a trivia game show where you test your knowledge to win huge cash prizes. What is the most popular drink in the world that does not contain alcohol? What the official national anthem of the United States of America? What is the Capital of Australia?

If you answered coffee, the star-spangled banner, and Canberra, then you may want to look into the Swagbucks LIVE that pays you huge cash prizes for your smarts. Today’s prize is worth over $1,000! I’ll be playing, will you? It’s free. Just download the app to play.

Daily prizes over $1,000
Swagbucks LIVE
4.0

Swagbucks LIVE is the live trivia game show where you test your knowledge daily to win huge cash prizes. It's free. Download the app to play and win!

Play Trivia for Money → Swagbucks LIVE Review

3. Lucktastic

At Lucktastic you can play with 100% free scratch cards. Just pick your theme, swipe to scratch, and test your luck. Lucktastic is a free and fun way to win real cash and prizes and earn rewards. If you love match games, get ready to try a new match game that will surely leave you wanting to play more.

Best of all, Lucktastic Match is always free and the most epic match game! The scratch cards are updated daily with new themes including Diggin’ for Gold, Lucky 777 and more. You can win prizes daily just by playing.

Lucktastic also has a new trivia app out called Lucktastic Trivia Live (Android) where you can play live trivia and win free sweepstakes for the chance to win unique trips, experiences and more.

4. Solitaire Cube

Solitaire Cube is an addicting game where you can play Solitaire on your phone. It’s pretty easy to get started and the game will match you up with other players who have the same level of skills in real-time.

Solitaire Cube includes tournaments and head-to-head competitions with real cash prizes (where available). That’s what I was interested in most in my Solitaire Cube review.

If you deposit money you can enter cash tournaments against other players. Cash outs are through PayPal and I had no issues withdrawing or depositing money.

Solitaire Cube
4.0

Earn cash by playing solitaire against others from your mobile phone. Solitaire Cube is one of the best card games to play to make money. If you're fond of engaging in fast-paced card games that challenge your intellect and offer the opportunity to win cash prizes, consider trying out Solitaire Cube.

Deposit Money and Play → Solitaire Cube Review

5. InboxDollars

The next thing you can do is sign up for InboxDollars which pays you, in cash, to play games and watch videos.  If you sign up before the end of this month, they also give you a $5 free bonus just to give it a try.

They feature a wide array of games like Monkey Bubble Shooter, Mahjong Dimensions, Pyramid Solitare, WordWipe, PetHop, Outspell, and Candy Jam.

By spending just 5-10 minutes per day on this (either on your lunch break or during TV commercial breaks) you can earn and earn an extra $50/month. More people should be doing this!

$5 sign up bonus
InboxDollars
4.5

InboxDollars offers a variety of ways to earn money online. You can take surveys, play games, surf the web, watch videos and more to earn points towards gift cards.

Start Earning InboxDollars Review

6. Mistplay

Mistplay pays you to play games, no really it does. While earning money playing games sounds like a dream, this app lets you do just that.

How it works:

1. Install a game in your mixlist.
2. Play that game to start earning units.
3. Redeem your units for free gift cards.

That’s it.

To get started you can download the Android app and start playing and earning or you can learn more in this Mistplay review.

100% free, no deposits required
Mistplay (Android Only)
4.5

Earning money by playing games on your phone sounds like a dream. But Mistplay really pays you for playing new games with free gift cards. It is 100% free to play and you never have to deposit any money.

Select Your Favorite Game → Mistplay Review

7. Swagbucks

The next site to consider using is Swagbucks. There are a lot of sites like Swagbucks but nothing can beat the king of reward sites. Here you can earn a special currency called Swagbucks for playing paid games, completing offers, answering surveys and logging online activity.

You can redeem the currency for gift cards or cash rewards once you’ve accumulated enough. This is one of the best apps that pays you to play games through PayPal.

Plus, you can download the Swagbucks app to play fun games whenever you want to kill some time. My current favorite games to play to earn money are Wheel of Fortune, Solitare Rush, Angry Birds, and Scrabble Cubes. If you wanted to try it out, be sure to claim a $10 sign up bonus here.

Earn around $50 to $1,000 per year
Swagbucks
5.0
$10 welcome bonus

Swagbucks offers a variety of ways to earn money online. You can take surveys, play games, surf the web, watch videos and more to earn points towards gift cards or cash.

Start Earning Swagbucks Review

8. ProveIt App

PROVEIT is the newest arena for serious trivia players to flex their mental muscles. Compete against thousands of other players in head-to-head and multiplayer challenges, or play against yourself in Streaks solo play mode.

PROVEIT is currently available in the US only. Players who are physically present in AZ, AK, DC, DE, FL, IL, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, MT, NV, ND, SC, SD, TN, & VT are not currently eligible to play paid PROVEIT games. Other state restrictions, including age restrictions, may apply.

9. Hangtime App

Have fun playing with friends in the most awesome social gaming community in the land. Enjoy trivia games, quizzes, game shows, and more on Hangtime. Win and take home cash prizes! The trivia app offers a variety of game shows with new episodes every day, live animated pre- and post-shows with special guests and you can play with friends in a private hang to increase your chances of winning real money. Think you have what it takes? Get it on iPhone or Android.

10. The Question App

The Q is a live trivia game show where users compete against the world to win real money.

Contestants tune into the game when the game is live and answer real trivia questions with a live host over a certain number of rounds.

The winners then split a cash prize at the completion of a game.

11. KO Trivia App

KO Trivia (or K.O. or Knockout Trivia) is a Trivia game where you can play to win coins that can be redeemed for Cash and Other Prizes. Last longer than other players in trivia tournaments and win more coins! No talking – just 24/7 Non-Stop Trivia with exciting Tournaments starting all the time!

12. Lucky Day App

Lucky Day offers free scratcher, lotto, and raffle games for a chance to win real money and rewards. With daily opportunities to win up to $100,000 in cash instantly, earn rewards, or enter raffles!

In addition to winning money from scratchers, raffles, and lotto – you also win tokens every time you play which you can use to redeem gift cards and tangible prizes to nationwide companies like Amazon and Chipotle. Download Lucky Day App on iPhone or Android devices.

13. The PCH App

Publishers Clearing House has awarded Over $384 Million in Prizes since 1967 and we’re still giving money away! Don’t let others do all the winning! They call us the place “Where America Plays To Win” and the PCH App makes it happen with winners every single day. Download PCH App on iPhone or Android devices.

Discontinued Trivia Apps [Update]

Some of the trivia apps have since been discontinued since we originally published this article and got pulled from the Google Play and App Store.

Sometimes companies go out of business or just received a large number of poor reviews.

Here are the trivia apps for money that are no longer available.

14. Total Trivia

Total Trivia is a website and app where you can win real items and discounts from your favorite brands by playing trivia. Compete in trivia tournaments with other shoppers – if you have the highest score at the time the tournament ends, you win the item for free!

As you play trivia and score points, you earn a discount towards the purchase of the product, so even if you don’t win, you always score a great deal on Total Trivia! Choose from thousands of popular items including tablets, cameras, household goods, and more. Discover products from brand sponsors by reading customer reviews and watching videos.

The app is easy to use and very reliable, making the entire experience one you will come back to time and time again!

15. Halftime Live App

Halftime Live is a sports trivia game show with cash prizes. We run the game show every day during halftime of the biggest sports event of the day.

Put your sports knowledge to the test. Make it through all the questions and the money is yours!

16. That’s Right App

That’s Right is the first ever gameshow app that combines a dynamic, live quiz show with an exciting drawing at the end that anyone can win.

The idea sparked from two dreams we had as gameplayers ourselves. We wanted to play a quiz game where the winners split a prize, but we also wanted every player to survive all the way to the end and have a chance to win even more. Who doesn’t love a chance to win cash, right?

17. Out of Tune

Out Of Tune is a live music game where you compete to win a cash prize. All you need to do is correctly guess 10 songs. The game is played every weekday at 3:30pm and 8:30pm ET.

18. SpinToWin App

Real prizes for real people like you …and totally free. Add 10 products you’re craving, for chances to win them and free money in points every day! Real winners are getting the prizes they picked delivered to their door – you could be next. What are you waiting for? Get started now.

19. Arena App

Welcome to Arena, a live trivia battle where you and your mob compete against the opposing mob to take all the winnings.

Make it to the end and walk away with cold hard $$$.

There are new games daily with this trivia app for money.

20. FN Genius App

Fox’ FN Genius app is a game-show where users can win money for answering trivia questions.

Put your knowledge to the test. Make it through all the questions and the money is yours!

21. Cash Show App

Cash Show is a live trivia show game with cash prizes! You just need to answer questions and you can win BIG PRIZE! Enrich your mind and win big prizes with your knowledge! Daily Cash Shows!

What are Other Apps that Pay You Money?

If you are looking for apps that pay you real money that isn’t solely related to trivia then you can see the best money making apps we’ve found below:

22. Survey Junkie

Taking online surveys with Survey Junkie to make extra money is a no-brainer! You definitely won’t get rich or make hundreds of dollars per day with Survey Junkie, but you won’t waste much time, and you can make some money the easy way.

Survey Junkie is a free survey app for your phone that pays you to take online surveys, participate in focus groups, and try new products. And, I really mean free all around – free to join and they don’t charge anything to be a member (they will actually pay you in cash via PayPal). Join for free through this link and get your free registration bonus.

Additional ways to earn up to $100
Survey Junkie
4.5

Survey Junkie is one of the highest-paying survey sites available. Earn up to $3 per survey with one of the highest-paying survey sites on the web.

Start Earning Survey Junkie Review

23. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is another great money-making app, to earn some easy cash for just pushing a few buttons in your free time. I personally use it and usually make up to $35 per survey while watching TV, and it does add up.

Enjoy knowing that Swagbucks is one of the highest-paying survey sites that actually works. You can also earn free cash (via Paypal) for everyday activities like shopping, watching videos and searching the web. If you’re interested you can get started with a $10 sign up bonus.

Earn around $50 to $1,000 per year
Swagbucks
5.0
$10 welcome bonus

Swagbucks offers a variety of ways to earn money online. You can take surveys, play games, surf the web, watch videos and more to earn points towards gift cards or cash.

Start Earning Swagbucks Review

24. Capital One Shopping

So this happened.  I bought something online from Target.  The price of the Keurig cups I purchased dropped in price after the fact. I effortlessly got refunded without doing a thing. I didn’t have to do anything, other than originally sign up for Capital One Shopping. It’s as simple as that.

This free app will scan your emails for any purchase receipts from dozens of online retailers. You don’t even have to know about the price drop in order to get your refund. Remember, it’s 100% free but sometimes you will need to call or email customer service to receive a refund.

Capital One Shopping Price Protection
4.3

Capital One Shopping Price Protection does the heavy lifting to help you find refunds when prices change. It can even negotiate the refund on your behalf!

Learn More

Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up for Capital One Shopping using the links we provided.

25. InboxDollars

The next thing you can do is sign up for InboxDollars which pays you, in cash, to watch fun videos & take surveys. If you sign up before the end of this month, they also give you a $5 free bonus just to give it a try. By spending just 5-10 minutes per day on this (either on your lunch break or during TV commercial breaks) you can earn and earn an extra $50/month. More people should be doing this in addition to using the best trivia apps.

$5 sign up bonus
InboxDollars
4.5

InboxDollars offers a variety of ways to earn money online. You can take surveys, play games, surf the web, watch videos and more to earn points towards gift cards.

Start Earning InboxDollars Review

26. Nielsen Panel

By using the internet as you do every day, Nielsen invites you to make a difference – and you can make money too. I downloaded this app and make around $50-100 passively. — it’s a legit app. You don’t have to do anything other than initially registering your computer or phone.

This company will pay you $50 a year to keep their app on your favorite internet browsing device and they also give away $10,000 each month. So you can possibly make more than $100.

Get $50 for installing app
Nielsen Mobile Panel
5.0

This company will pay you $50 a year to keep their app on your favorite internet browsing device and they also give away $10,000 each month. You don’t have to do anything other than initially registering your computer or phone.

Start Earning Nielsen Review

27. Trim

Who doesn’t want to save an extra $100 for a few minutes of your time? Nobody could turn that down. That’s why it’s worth trying out Trim — a free savings bot that promises to save you money.

Trim lets you save money with automation and within a few days, I saved an extra $100. I linked my financial accounts and Trim went to work.

It will find ways to lower your bills and negotiate your cable, internet, and cell phone bill and find subscriptions to cancel. It even helps to analyze your spending habits. It can easily find ways to save you money and remember it’s 100% free to activate. You’ll likely rack up hundreds in savings this year by using it.

Trim
4.0

Use Trim's AI to identify and manage your recurring subscriptions, find savings with your daily expenses and even renegotiate your bills to save you money with month.

Read Review

28. Blackout Bingo

Welcome to Blackout Bingo a brand new bingo-style game where you can win real-world rewards and cash prizes. This game boasts over 13K+ positive reviews in the App Store. Dive fast and use fun boosts to take the Bingo world by storm.

Travel the world and play in amazing and exotic places. A recent Blackout Bingo review left a review saying:

“Are you going to make $700 from this game? No, probably not possible! But the two days I’ve been playing this I’ve earned about $34.59! “

It takes concentration, speed, and strategy to become earn with this bingo app that pays real money. Do you have what it takes?

Cash tournaments aren’t available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, MT, SC, SD, and TN but residents can still play the free games for swag!

Blackout Bingo
5.0

You can make money playing bingo for free with this brand-new bingo-style game. With over 86K positive reviews in the App Store, it's a legit way to make money.

Download Now → Blackout Bingo Review

29. Robinhood

Robinhood offers free investing for everyone with commission-free investing, plus the tools you need to put your money in motion. Sign up and get your first stock for free worth up to $200.

And more free stock (up to a $200 value) every time one of your friends opens a Robinhood account from your promotional link. That’s up to $1,000 in free stock every year.

If you join through this link, you’ll earn a specified dollar amount and be able to pick your gift stock from a list of 18 of America’s leading companies.

The value of the fractional share may be anywhere between $5.00 and $200 and fluctuates based on market movements.

Robinhood
4.5

Robinhood has commission-free investing for stocks, options, ETFs, crypto, and tools to help shape your financial future. Sign up and get your first stock worth between $5 and $200, free.

Open Account Robinhood Review

30. Pool Payday

Pool Payday is one of my favorite gaming apps to win real cash. I’ve been playing online pool since back in the AOL days and now I enjoy playing it for real money.

“This billiards game is probably the most realistic pool game on iOS (I’ve tried them all).”

So if you enjoy playing pool as it should be played — with stunning 3D graphics and the most accurate and realistic pool physics available on mobile — you should give it a try.

We chalked it up in our Pool Payday review, this app is complete with leaderboards, trophies and an amazing loyalty program that rewards you just for playing.

Just note that cash tournaments aren’t available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, MT, SC, SD, and TN but everywhere else is fair game to win actual money!

Pool Payday
4.6

You a fan of billiards? Compete for 1-on-1 in live real-time games for fun, for profit, or both! The cash prizes are redeemable via PayPal, Apple Pay, and more.

Play Now → Pool Payday Review

31. Cube Cube

Cube Cube is from the same company as Solitaire Cube. It’s a simple puzzle game but to the game’s credit, it does require deep strategy.

You can fill the board, clear the board and score points and win. It is kind of similar to Tetris with no gravity.

In order to earn cash prizes, you’ll have to enter head-to-head competitions in time games where every move matters. You get 3 minutes for each match to see how many points you can rack up.

32. 21 Blitz

Lots of us already play solitaire games for fun or just to pass the time. Want to see if you can win real money at it? You can check out an app called 21 Blitz that lets you play for real money. You can get paid up to $82 per win.

There’s no catch, you can choose to play in high stakes tournaments or just for fun. Each game, you’ll play with 5 other players of equal skills.

With raving 21 Blitz reviews and over 33.9K positive ratings in the app store, this is a legit gaming app that pays. Cash tournaments not available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, MT, SC, SD, and TN but you can still win some amazing prizes!

21 Blitz
4.6

21 Blitz is a mix of 21 and Solitaire. It's a perfect way to practice your 21 skills, train your brain or just pass the time. Play against real people for free then switch to cash games when you're ready to compete and win!

Start Earning Cash → 21 Blitz Review

33. Fundrise

Wouldn’t it be great if you could invest in commercial real estate and apartments without dealing with all the hassle of buying, improving, and re-selling real estate?

You don’t have to be a millionaire to invest in these types of properties. You can now invest in large-scale real estate for as little as $10 with Fundrise.

Through their real estate investment products, investors earned an average of 8 – 11 percent on their money last year, and all without painting a wall or dealing with unruly tenants. There is a reason why they currently have over 200,000+ users, this app really pays you!

Best for REITs
Fundrise
5.0

Fundrise is a very easy-to-use app that allows individuals to access crowd-funded real estate investing. This option is best for users who want to make money consistently and let their money make them money.

Open Account Fundrise Review

34. Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards works directly with popular brands to bring you everyday savings on thousands of products throughout any grocery store. You can earn points and save without jumping through hoops. Buy what you want, where you want, and save.

They work directly with popular brands to bring you savings on thousands of products every day, no matter where you get your groceries. Just scan your receipts and make money fast. Once you scan your first receipt, you’ll get 3,000 points which you can claim for a $3.00 Visa Gift Card. If you want to get cash from a Visa gift card, you may have some options.

Fetch
4.5

Earn free rewards just by scanning your grocery receipts. Scan every grocery receipt after you shop and Fetch Rewards finds you savings.

Start Saving Fetch Review

35. Boodle

Boodle (android only) is one of the best apps to win money and it is completely free. You can earn coins towards gift cards for playing new games, completing fun and entertaining offers as well as participating in fun daily polls.

This is a legit money making app that doesn’t take much effort to win free gift cards just for playing popular mobile games and engaging with well-known brands.

You can redeem your coins for gift cards from the lifestyle brands you love like Amazon, Nike, Visa, Burger King, Chipotle and many more. Plus, it’s all 100% free and is a legit game app to win money and gift cards.

36. Drop

Drop offers you free gift cards for playing arcade games within its list of apps to play. You can play casino games or game shows and the games list changes constantly.

Drop helps you find games on the iTunes App Store or Google Play, and each game has a task. When your required game task is complete, you’ll get points that you can cash out for free gift cards.

The great thing about Drop is that it has so many ways to earn — you can earn by playing games, cash back offers, taking surveys, and other rewards.

$10 bonus
Drop
4.0
Receive a $10 bonus after reaching 1,000 points within the app

The Drop app is a loyalty reward app that pays you to shop and complete other simple tasks. You can use Drop to get cash back on shopping, play games, take polls and more to earn free gift cards.

Download Drop → Drop Review

37. Dominoes Gold

Dominoes Gold is a gaming app that lets you win real money for playing dominoes. You won’t waste your time with this win real money app as it has a 4.7/5 rating out of 6.2K+ reviews in the App Store. I’ve been playing for the past few weeks and win around I win about 70% of my matches — it’s legitimate.

The only thing you’ll want to do when playing is turn off notifications or disable phone calls so you won’t get interrupted doing a real-time cash game.

Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, MT, SC, SD, and TN but you can still play for free if you’re in these areas.

PayPal Payouts
Dominoes Gold
4.5

When you play, Dominoes Gold, you’re playing the classic board game dominos for real world prizes! Challenge your opponent by playing identical games versus the computer. See who can defeat it by more. The winner earns real prizes!

Win Money Now → Dominoes Gold Review

38. Ibotta

With Ibotta, you’ll get paid to shop by receiving lucrative cash back offers. Ibotta pays you real money on your everyday purchases. Download the free app to receive offers and earn real cash back in stores and online. Download the app and start a free account to browse deals in your area.

You can get cash back at any bar and liquor store, retail, grocery store and more. This app is so good there are a ton of apps like Ibotta that try and copy it. However, nothing beats the original grocery rebate app.

Ibotta
4.5

Ibotta pays you cash back for shopping at over 500,000 retailers, which you have to do every month. So why not get paid for it? Get started saving today.

Start Saving Ibotta Cheats

39. Branded Surveys

Branded Surveys asks for information about you so that they can match you with fitting surveys from some of the most respected research firms in the industry. At up to $50 a pop for some surveys and a free $1 just for signing up, it pays to check in daily to see which ones are available to you. Cash outs are through PayPal.

Pays by bank transfer, PayPal & gift cards
Branded Surveys
4.0

Branded Surveys is quickly becoming one of the top survey sites. At up to $5-10 a pop for some surveys and a free 100 points for signing up, it pays to check in daily to see which ones are available to you.

Start Earning Branded Surveys Review

40. Shopkick

Shopkick is the money-making app that rewards you with free gift cards for the shopping you already do. You can join the millions of Shopkickers who have earned over $63.8 million in free gift cards to Walmart, Target, Amazon, Starbucks and more. You can get points for just walking in the door of some stores (including Walmart, Target, TJMaxx and more), for completing various offers or buying popular products.

You can also earn rewards for referring friends or family! It’s a great money-making app to earn money the easy way and it’s totally free. You can learn more about this money-making app in our Shopkick review.

Shopkick
4.5

Download the Shopkick app and start earning points, or "kicks", for shipping in-store or online or just by watching videos!

Earn Free Gift Cards → Shopkick Review

Start Earning With These Money Apps Today

There are plenty of ways to make money outside of your job with trivia apps and other money-making apps.

Find ways to do so by utilizing your time, expertise, and existing money (i.e. savings).

With the right options and avenues, you may find that you are making money 24 hours a day.

If you wanted more ways to make money online besides these trivia apps like HQ that pay money, here’s my list of the best ways to make money online:

About the author

Brian Meiggs
Brian Meiggs is a personal finance expert, and the founder of My Millennial Guide, a personal finance site helping you unlock the wealth of freedom. He helps millennials follow the smart money in order to increase their earning potential and start building wealth for the future. He regularly writes about side hustles, investing, and general personal finance topics aimed to help anyone earn more, pay off debt, and reach financial freedom. He has been quoted as a top personal finance blogger in major publications including Business Insider, Yahoo! Finance, NASDAQ, Discover, Fox News, MSN Money and more.

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