Looking to earn money while watching videos on your phone?
We’ve spent 15 hours testing 15 different video-watching apps, all rated 4+ stars on Google Play Store, to uncover the real earning potential.
Our comprehensive testing involved spending exactly one hour with each app, tracking every penny earned to give you an honest, unexaggerated picture of what you can expect.
Top-Performing Video Apps
Swagbucks
In our testing, Swagbucks delivered the highest earnings at $1 per hour from video watching and task completion.
The app pays better for surveys and shopping cashback, but even basic video watching brings in steady money.
You can watch different types of content including movie trailers, app previews, and sponsored videos.
Swagbucks Summary
- DollarBreak’s test earnings – $7.45 for 5 hours of surveys
- $5 sign up bonus
- Up to 10% cashback when shopping online
- 18 ways to earn money and e-gift cards
- Watch videos and play games for $
- Legit platform – paid $500 mil to users
Mode Earn App
During our hour of testing, Mode Earn App brought in 48 cents, with an extra welcome bonus of 750 points.
Beyond just videos, you can earn by playing games and reading news articles.
Keep in mind that Mode Earn App sets daily limits on how much you can earn from each activity type.
Pop Tube
Our one-hour test with Pop Tube generated 49 cents.
The app includes a wheel spin feature every 5 hours that adds real money to your balance.
Pop Tube has clear daily earning caps – once you hit them, your earnings drop significantly for the rest of the day.
InboxDollars
Starting you off with a $5 signup bonus, InboxDollars only earned us 2 cents from an hour of video watching.
The app requires you to reach $15 before cashing out.
While the signup bonus is nice, regular video earnings on InboxDollars are pretty small.
InboxDollars Summary
- DollarBreak’s test earnings – $5.78 for 5 hours of surveys
- Referral program – 30% that referral makes
- Most of the surveys pay $0.01 to $2.50
- 13 different ways to earn money
- Get paid to read emails and play games
- Over $80 million in cash rewards paid
Moderate Earning Platforms
PaidWork
In our hour of testing, PaidWork earned us 24 cents.
You only need $1 to cash out, and points convert to dollars right away.
However, PaidWork makes it hard to qualify for surveys, and video watching pays very little.
Givvy Videos
Our test hour with Givvy Videos brought in 13 cents, paying points consistently for each video watched.
While Givvy Videos lets you cash out with less than $1, we ran into frequent app crashes and sound problems during ads.
Short Videos
Testing Short Videos earned us about 12 cents in one hour.
The app gives you points as soon as each video starts, but get ready for lots of ads between videos.
Rewardy
Rewardy accumulated 7 cents in our testing hour.
You can earn while watching Twitch streams or listening to music, but the pay rates are quite low compared to other apps.
Limited Return Platforms
Tube Pay
Our testing showed Tube Pay bringing in just 2 cents per hour and required constant clicking to get any rewards at all.
JumpTask
JumpTask earned only 1 cent per hour in our testing, despite being simple to use.
Cheelee
While Cheelee offers 3,000 points when you sign up, we couldn’t figure out how these points convert to actual money during our testing period.
PrizeRebel
Testing PrizeRebel earned six points or $0.06 in our hour.
The app focuses on music video watching for points.
PrizeRebel Summary
- DollarBreak’s test earnings – $4.71 for 5 hours of surveys
- Earn as much as a hundred each month
- Rewards are sent in 24 hours
- Up to 30% for referred user earnings
- Cash out in Paypal, Bitcoins or Gift Cards
- $30 million in rewards given
Media Rewards
Media Rewards lets you earn points watching YouTube videos, but during our test, we couldn’t determine how points convert to cash.
You can at least play YouTube in the background while using it.
Earnably
Testing Earnably showed no earnings in our first hour, despite watching various video clips and sponsored content.
Warning Signs to Watch For
During our testing, we found one app called Videocash showing $300 in earnings for one hour – this raised immediate red flags.
Despite promises of PayPal and Amazon gift card payments within 7-14 days, user reviews consistently show these payments never arrive.
When an app promises earnings this high, it’s usually too good to be true.
How to Get the Most From Video Apps
To maximize your video-watching earnings:
- Start with higher-paying apps like SwagBucks and Mode Earn App
- Use the signup bonuses, especially InboxDollars’ $5 offer
- Pick apps that let you earn in multiple ways
- Set alarms for bonus features like Pop Tube’s wheel spins
- Choose apps with clear cashout rules and reasonable minimum payments
Realistic Expectations
Most of these apps pay between 1 cent to $1 per hour, with most falling under 50 cents.
Signup bonuses might make your first few days look better, but regular earnings stay pretty low.
These apps work best when you use them during times you’d watch videos anyway, like during your commute or while relaxing at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I realistically earn from video-watching apps?
Most users earn between 1-50 cents per hour, with some platforms occasionally reaching $1 per hour through combined activities.
Are these apps safe to use?
Yes, especially those with high ratings on official app stores. However, be wary of apps promising unrealistic earnings like several dollars per hour.
What’s the fastest way to reach payout thresholds?
Combine video watching with other available activities on the platform and take advantage of signup bonuses and special features like bonus spins.
Can I use multiple apps simultaneously?
While technically possible, most apps require active viewing and engagement, making simultaneous use challenging and potentially against terms of service.
How often do these apps actually pay out?
Legitimate apps like Swagbucks and InboxDollars consistently pay out when you reach their minimum thresholds, though processing times vary by platform.
Remember, while video-watching apps won’t replace traditional income, they can provide a modest stream of pocket money when used strategically during your regular video consumption time.
