Disclosure: This page includes an optional sponsored offer: if you complete an offer from our partner (OGAds) to unlock the printable bonus, we earn a commission. We don't get paid by any app or company named in our guides.
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Printable reward app tracker
Unlock the printable bonusOptional: the bonus unlocks after you complete one sponsored offer from our partner, such as trying an app or a survey, and we earn a commission when you do. This guide is free to read either way.
A printable kit from our sister site, Reward Apps Guide: a tracker for minutes, points and payouts per app, a worksheet that turns points into a real hourly rate, a red-flag checklist and your own stop rules.
Ad: links in this box are sponsored. The full guide starts below.
Plenty of apps advertise a bonus for signing up. Most are genuine, but very few pay you just for creating an account. The bonus usually unlocks after you do something the company values: a first purchase, a deposit, a subscription trial or a minimum amount of activity. Here's how to tell a good deal from a costly one.
Reality check: apps, surveys and gigs can add a little extra money. Most people earn small amounts, and none of this is a reliable income. We never promise a payout, and we don't list anything that asks you to pay to start.
The common conditions
| Condition | What to check |
|---|---|
| First purchase or minimum spend | Only worth it if you'd buy the thing anyway. The bonus may arrive weeks later. |
| Deposit or direct deposit | How much, for how long, and whether there are fees if you withdraw early. |
| Free trial | Whether it auto-renews into a paid plan, and how to cancel. Put a reminder in your calendar. |
| Minimum activity | Points or tasks needed within a deadline, and whether a cash-out minimum applies after that. |
| Identity check | Financial apps must verify who you are. That's normal for a bank or investing app, but not for a game. |
Five rules before you sign up
- Read the bonus terms, not the ad. Look for the qualifying action, the deadline and when the bonus pays.
- Do the maths with costs. A $20 bonus that needs a $15 subscription is a $5 bonus.
- Never pay to receive money. A "release fee" or deposit to unlock winnings is how scams work, says the FTC.
- Protect your inbox. Sign up with a separate email address.
- One at a time. Track each bonus until it pays, then move on.
Free trials: the cost people forget
Trials that turn into paid subscriptions are where sign-up bonuses most often lose money. Note the end date when you start, cancel in the same place you signed up (deleting the app doesn't cancel it) and screenshot the confirmation. If you're still billed, contact the company, then your card issuer.
Optional: free printable reward app tracker
A printable kit from our sister site, Reward Apps Guide: a tracker for minutes, points and payouts per app, a worksheet that turns points into a real hourly rate, a red-flag checklist and your own stop rules.
Unlock the reward app tracker + worksheet (requires trying a sponsored offer)
Optional and sponsored: the bonus unlocks after you complete one offer from our partner, such as trying an app or a survey, and we earn a commission when you do. This guide is complete without it.
Free: the 15-minute subscription check-up
A printable checklist for finding the subscriptions and recurring charges you've forgotten about, and for cancelling or downgrading them. Join our email list and the checklist opens right away.
We haven't started sending emails yet. When we do, expect a few a month at most: new guides, reminders and occasionally a sponsored offer, always labeled. Every email will have an unsubscribe link. We store only your email address, the list you joined, the page and the date, and we never sell or share it. See our privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
Are there apps that pay you just to sign up?
Rarely. Nearly every sign-up bonus requires something more, such as a first purchase, a deposit, a trial or reaching a points threshold. Read the bonus terms before you join.
Is it safe to sign up for lots of bonus apps?
It can be, if they're legitimate and you track each one. Use a separate email address, avoid apps that ask for fees and cancel trials you don't want.
Are sign-up bonuses taxable?
It depends on the bonus. Rewards for opening a bank account, for example, are often reported as interest. See our side hustle tax basics and check IRS.gov or a tax professional.
Sources
Official sources this article relies on, checked October 17, 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm details at the source.
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