A Realistic Guide to Getting Paid to Play Games

Updated on Apr 15, 2025

10 min read

Our Editorial Process

Written and Reviewed by

Anthony,

Marc

Can you really get paid to play games? Yes, it's possible to get paid to play games through various methods that cater to different interests and skill levels in the gaming community.

For casual gamers, reward platforms like Freecash, Mistplay, and Buff Game offer opportunities to earn cash or gift cards by playing games on their mobile devices or computers.
Those with a deeper passion and knowledge for specific games can explore becoming game coaches, where they teach strategies and techniques to other players for a fee.
Moreover, pursuing a career as a game tester provides a more formal avenue to earn by playing games, requiring players to report bugs and provide feedback on gameplay to developers.
The rise of e-sports and game streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube has also opened doors for gamers to earn through sponsorships, ad revenue, and fan donations by showcasing their gaming skills and personalities online.

How to Maximize Getting Paid to Play Games?

To maximize earnings from playing games:

Diversify your income streams and invest time in building a platform or profile that attracts a following or demonstrates your expertise
For game streaming and content creation, consistently producing engaging content, interacting with your audience, and utilizing social media to grow your viewer base can significantly boost your earning potential through ad revenue, sponsorships, and fan contributions.
As a game coach, specializing in popular or niche games and marketing your services across gaming forums and social platforms can help attract clients willing to pay for your guidance.
Game testers can increase their value by gaining experience across different game genres and platforms, and by developing a keen eye for detail and effective communication skills.
Creating and selling game mods or assets on platforms dedicated to mod communities can also be a lucrative endeavor for those with the technical skills to modify or create new game experiences.

Best Methods to Get Paid to Play Games

	Pros	Cons
Using Rewards Platforms	Can diversify your revenue streams across multiple platforms No experience or special skills required	It won’t make you rich Tasks can sometimes be monotonous
Becoming a Game Coach	High earning potential of between $20 and $100 per hour Flexible working schedule	Lots of competition with other skilled game coaches Difficult and demanding to attract clients
Becoming a Game Tester	Growth potential to become a full-time career Networking opportunities with many different individuals in the gaming industry	Entry-level jobs are generally low-paid It can be hard to find stable opportunities
Streaming Games	Very high earning potential if successful Multiple ways to diversify your income with streaming	High time commitment to succeed A saturated market means it can be very difficult to stand out from the crowd
Competing in eSports	Streamers can work on their own schedule Potential for multiple revenue streams such as sponsorships, streaming, and merch sales	Extremely competitive field, with few earning a steady income Limited career span due to age and declining skills
Creating Game Mods	The ability to monetize your creativity and passion Potential for high earnings if your mods are popular	Can face legal and copyright issues with mods Income is often unreliable and unpredictable

Using Reward Platforms

Within the realm of reward platforms, the significance of games has been widely recognized. That's why these platforms provide the opportunity to earn money or other enticing rewards by simply playing games. While some of these platforms are solely dedicated to mobile games, others support both PC and mobile gaming experiences.

Freecash: High earning potential, more than 100 games, Android, iOS, and Desktop
Buff Game: Low earning potential, more than 1,500 games, Android and Desktop
Gamehag: Medium earning potential, more than 1,000 games, Android, iOS, and Desktop
Mistplay: Low earning potential, dozens of games, Android, iOS, and Desktop
Swagbucks: High earning potential, more than 15 games, Android, iOS, and Desktop

Freecash

Freecash stands out from other GPT platforms when it comes to earning money by playing games, and we have a few key reasons to back that claim. One of the primary differentiating factors is the wide range of game options we offer, covering iOS, Android, and PC games. Our members can choose from an extensive selection of games, each offering an opportunity to earn Freecash coins. These coins serve as virtual currency, which can later be exchanged for over 25 popular and a diverse range of rewards.

Buff Game

Buff Game is a mobile app and PC software that runs silently in the background. Its primary objective is to observe and evaluate a player's in-game performance, subsequently rewarding them accordingly. The premise is simple: the better you perform in a supported game, the more Buffs (virtual currency) you earn.

It's worth noting that Buff Game boasts an impressive library of over 1500 games, including the most popular eSports titles for both PC and mobile platforms. This extensive selection ensures a wide range of choices and caters to the diverse preferences of users.

Gamehag

Gamehag is a unique get-paid-to platform that offers users the opportunity to earn rewards by playing games. Unlike the passive nature of Buff, Gamehag requires users to actively participate in specific in-game activities and invest a certain amount of time to receive Soul Gems - a virtual currency.

The platform supports a wide variety of games across different genres, catering to both PC and mobile gamers. One of the standout features of Gamehag is its user-friendly interface, providing a seamless and enjoyable experience for its members. Additionally, Gamehag offers a premium membership option, unlocking a range of perks for users who choose to elevate their gaming experience.

Mistplay

If you're solely interested in mobile gaming, Mistplay offers an enticing opportunity to get paid for playing games. This app, exclusively available for Android devices, delivers a curated selection of mobile titles tailored to the user's region. While it may not support the major eSports mobile titles, Mistplay ensures a diverse range of games across various genres to cater to everyone's preferences. It also goes the extra mile by providing weekly contests, allowing users to earn additional Units (virtual currency).

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is one of the most reputable get-paid-to platforms out there, and it features various earning opportunities, including playing games. Members can choose between many games, with each one bringing a different amount of Swagbucks Points.

Swagbucks features mobile apps for both iOS and Android, and it offers numerous rewards to its members. However, if you’re playing on a desktop, you’ll need to scan a QR code and use your phone number, or email to install the game on a mobile device - after which you can start completing tasks. Play-to-earn Games

Becoming a Game Coach

Video game coaching offers a lucrative opportunity for skilled players to monetize their expertise by coaching novices. As a video game coach, you can share your skills, strategies, and knowledge with other players, helping them improve their gameplay and achieve their goals. With hourly rates ranging from $20 to $100 or more, video game coaches have the potential to earn a significant income.

Video game coaches can offer their services independently, which is often a slower way, or work through a platform that offers coaching services to their users, which is much faster but less profitable, as these platforms will take a percentage of earnings.

By leveraging their proficiency in popular eSports games, such as Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, or Valorant, players can turn their passion for gaming into a profitable venture. If you're a skilled player looking to earn money while sharing your expertise with others, consider offering your coaching services and dive into the exciting world of video game coaching.

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Becoming a Game Tester

Game testing is a great way for gamers to monetize their expertise by testing video games for all platforms. As a game tester, you get to play and evaluate games before their official release, identifying bugs, and glitches, and providing feedback to developers. This crucial role ensures that games are polished and optimized for an optimal gaming experience. With hourly rates ranging from $15 to $30 or more, this gig can become a full-time job.

Streaming Games

Streaming video games online presents an incredible potential for earning substantial money while doing something you love. With the rise of platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming, gamers have the means to share their gameplay experiences with a global audience, and in turn, monetize their streams. Through sponsorships, brand partnerships, donations, and ad revenue, streamers have multiple avenues to generate income.

Additionally, in recent years, platforms have introduced features like subscriptions and virtual item sales, allowing viewers to support their favorite streamers directly. This level of fan engagement can translate into significant earnings. Moreover, streaming is not limited to elite players; there are successful streamers across various games and genres. Whether you're a skilled competitive gamer or an entertaining personality, the potential to make money through streaming is vast.

Competing in eSports

eSports has skyrocketed in popularity, offering gamers the opportunity to transform their skills into a lucrative career. To succeed in eSports, you must choose a game to specialize in and dedicate yourself to mastering its mechanics and strategies. Joining a competitive team or finding reliable teammates to collaborate with will enhance your chances of success. Together, you can practice, strategize, and compete in tournaments, strengthening your skills as a cohesive unit.

The world of eSports offers a wide range of platforms and tournaments, from local community events to international championships, offering various monetary rewards. In eSports, there are various sources of income you can tap into. Prize money from tournaments is just the tip of the iceberg: sponsorships, streaming revenue, and merchandise sales are all potential streams of income that can contribute to your financial success.

Creating Game Mods

Modding games involves creating custom game content, features, or modifications that enhance the game experience. To make money from modding, creators can sell their mods or offer them for donations on platforms like Nexus Mods or Steam Workshop. You can also create custom mods for individual clients or work on sponsored modding projects.

Building a portfolio of quality mods and promoting your work through social media and gaming forums can help you attract more clients and establish a profitable modding career. While making money through modding requires time and effort, it can be a rewarding way for gamers to monetize their creativity and passion for gaming.