The internet offers alternatives for you to earn extra income by performing some simple activities. One way that is widely publicized on the web is the option to earn money watching videos, with applications designed to turn your leisure time into a possibility of profit.
Dozens of apps promise to pay users for their time and attention on the platforms — but how much do these services pay and what is the dedication required to make a little money with these apps?
How to earn money watching videos
Video platforms such as TikTok and Kwai offer bonuses for time spent using and staying in their apps, counting the minutes watched and extra rewards for completing challenges and daily missions.
In general, these apps have a simple operation: they pay more the more videos you watch. However, to maximize your earnings, it is necessary to be aware of the challenges and campaigns launched frequently on these platforms.
You can be rewarded, for example, for checking in daily for two weeks or watching a certain number of videos every day. Other campaigns involve inviting friends to the app, interacting with publications, answering questionnaires or publishing your own content.
Why do apps pay you to watch videos?
Apps pay users to view videos with the aim of generating engagement and attracting new visitors to maximize earnings from ads and advertisements. The amount passed on is a percentage of the profits made from advertising.
In addition, the business model is based on the generation of behavior and consumption data. The user who participates in the campaigns and challenges generates market intelligence for the applications, which collect and aggregate information about consumer habits and preferences.
Likewise, some of these apps offer additional rewards for testing games and other apps or participating in surveys — with topics ranging from social, education, behavior and consumption data.
How to receive the money
Apps that pay for viewing videos online often use a virtual currency wallet that can be converted to a fiat currency (such as the Brazilian real) or a cryptocurrency.
Popular apps like TikTok and Kwai display user values in their own currencies, the Ruby and Kwai Gold, respectively. When converting platforms, 30,000 Rubies are equivalent to USD 1, while 10,000 Kwai Golds represent USD 1.
To convert and receive money from these apps, the user can make a transfer through third-party services such as PayPal or even inform the PIX key to deposit the amount directly into a bank account.
It is worth noting that the apps have minimum withdrawal amounts. In many of these rewards apps, it is necessary to reach a high score in order to reach the minimum amount for cash withdrawal, so keep in mind that earnings are neither easy nor immediate.
7 apps to earn money watching videos
1. TikTok
How it works: TikTok offers points to users for the time they spend watching content, as well as converting it into a friend invite subscription and daily check-in to the app. On the social network, rewards are higher for popular content creators who promote their materials on the platform.
Payment method: Points can be converted into cash, redeemed as coupons and discounts at stores, cinemas and restaurants or used to top up with mobile phone operators. Cash redemption of TiKTok points can be carried out by bank transfer, PIX, PayPal or PagBank.
2. Kwai
How it works: Kwai is a short video sharing app similar to TikTok in terms of function and features. The app offers a rewards program in which users earn virtual currency — Kwai Golds — by watching videos, inviting friends, and completing challenges and other in-app tasks.
Payment method: It is possible to redeem virtual Kwai coins through bank transfer, PayPal, top-ups for cell phones and coupons for iFood and fast food chains.
3. Make Money
How it works: Make Money is an application that offers a wide variety of tasks and missions for users to complete and earn money. These tasks include watching videos, answering surveys, testing games and apps, participating in promotional activities, and even registering and purchasing in other apps.
Payment method: Receiving Make Money earnings in cash is possible through PayPal or vouchers at online stores and services.
4. TV Two
How it works: TV Two features a selection of YouTube videos for users to watch on the platform and earn points for doing so. The score can be enhanced with some extra activities within the platform, such as answering surveys, testing other apps and reaching levels in mobile games.
Payment method: TTV points can be converted into Ethereum and transferred to a virtual wallet.
5. COS.TV
How it works: COS.TV is a video streaming platform where users earn coins — called COS — by watching content on various topics, such as games, entertainment, sports, betting, humor, politics, tips, among others. The playback interface is similar to YouTube and displays an accumulated score progression bar.
Payment method: COS.TV currency can be converted into Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether cryptocurrencies through a Binance account.
6. Givvy
How it works: Givvy is an app that offers rewards for watching promotional videos. In this case, it is necessary to monitor ads and advertisements that interrupt and are displayed during the playback of videos to collect virtual coins.
Payment method: Virtual currencies can be redeemed as a gift card, donated to charity or transferred to a PayPal account.
Download: Android
7. Swagbucks
How it works: Swagbucks is a website that offers different tasks for users to accumulate points on the platform. In addition to watching videos, you can complete surveys, shop online, try out games, and complete other activities to increase your score.
Payment method: Swagbucks points can be redeemed as a gift card at online stores and services or via a PayPal transfer.
It is worth it?
The income possible from using rewards apps can vary greatly. Tests carried out by Canaltech showed that it is necessary to invest a lot of time and dedicate many minutes daily watching videos on these platforms to collect the coins and points offered. Some campaigns require you to log in every day to receive bonuses or multiply your earnings.
To do this, you need to be aware of the challenges and missions that offer different rewards and vary a lot every day. Sometimes, for example, there are high-score offers to invite friends and convert them to subscriptions or check-in on consecutive days.
In this sense, completing the extra challenges is a necessity to increase your income on these platforms — just watching the videos to collect virtual coins is time consuming to earn fractions of cents.
It is important to know that the earnings possible with the applications do not replace the income of a regular job and, at most, should be considered as an extra. In addition, the rewards are often more advantageous if the user uses the points in coupons or discount vouchers, which offer greater “earnings” than converting them into cash.
How much does it make?
Users who use apps that pay to watch videos can earn an extra income of around USD 100 per month — in direct transfer or as coupons and discounts — with daily dedication of time, use of several apps, participation in campaigns, sending invitations to friends and completion of additional tasks and challenges.
Tips to increase your earnings
As a way to maximize your earnings in reward apps, you can perform some additional actions to the activity of watching videos online in exchange for money:
- Set reminders for daily check-in;
- Use multiple apps (and even different cell phones);
- Indicate friends to subscribe to the platforms;
- Comment and engage in the videos;
- Perform extra tasks and challenges;
- Follow and participate in campaigns;
- Respond to surveys;
- Test games and other apps;
- Review redemption offers with coupons and discounts.
To learn about other opportunities to earn money on the internet, see also how play to earn games work.
