Looking for apps that pay you for data collection and wondering if it’s worth your time?
We’ll introduce you to trustworthy apps where you can earn extra income by simply using your phone.
Best Apps That Pay You to Install Them
Honeygain
Honeygain is a platform enabling you to share your internet access to earn extra income. The company pays you for your spare internet bandwidth and uses it to conduct market research.
You can sign up for a Honeygain account with a valid email address. Once you have created an account, you can download the app to earn money. Each time your devices are connected to the internet, the Honeygain network will also connect.
Your earning potential with Honeygain will vary depending on how much bandwidth you share. The platform will average pay you $1 for every 10GB of data you share. It can take you up to 48 days to reach $20.
If you have an unlimited data plan, using the money you earn with Honeygain to pay your internet bills could also be a great way to get free internet.
Honeygain Summary
- Earn $1 for every 10GB of data shared
- Get $5 for each person you refer
- Maximize earnings with more IP addresses
- 2 payment options – PayPal and Bitcoin
Nielsen
Nielsen is one of the most well-known companies in the consumer research industry. With the Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel, you can earn a passive income while helping with market research. Once you download this app, you can use your phone or device as usual.
For your participation, you will receive around $60 per year in credits to exchange for various physical products. There are also regular sweepstakes draws that give you a chance to win up to $1000.
Joining the Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel is a great way to earn a passive income. However, some users have found that the app can shorten device battery life and slow performance. Nielsen assures all users that personal data is secure, as the app anonymously tracks usage patterns.
Nielsen Summary
- Earn up to $60/year by installing an app
- Earn up to $1000 from sweepstakes
- 15 different types of rewards
- Win up to $500 by downloading PC app
Pawns App
Pawns is a multi-functional platform that pays you for data collection by sharing your unused internet bandwidth.
By installing the app on your device and allowing it to run in the background, you contribute to a network that supports businesses in tasks like web analytics and content delivery. In exchange, you earn money based on the amount of data you share and the duration the app is active. You can earn up to $140 annually by sharing your internet connection.
With a low minimum payout threshold of $5, you can cash out via PayPal, Bitcoin, or gift cards like Amazon and Visa. Pawns prioritizes user privacy by ensuring that only non-personal data is collected and all sensitive information remains secure.
Sweatcoin
Sweatcoin is an app that pays users for losing weight. It is available for iOS or Android devices. Once installed, users can carry their phones with them when walking. The app tracks users’ steps automatically, regardless of whether they are indoors or outdoors.
For every 1,000 steps you take, you’ll receive 0.95 Sweatcoins. You cannot withdraw these coins as cash, but you can exchange your accumulated coins for goods and services. For example, you may request a $10 gift card for 100 Sweatcoins.
Sweatcoin Summary
- Earn up to $20 per month once you reach highest membership tier
- Get $0.25 per referred friend
- You can transfer Sweatcoins between users
- Accurate step counting
MobileXpression
MobileXpression is one of the best apps that will pay you for data collection. This market research company collects data about its members’ internet usage.
The app is available for both Android and iOS devices. After you install it, it will record data about your online habits.
Some of the data that the app collects include:
- Pages you view
- Links you access
- Lengths of your calls
Once installed, the app does not affect your regular phone use. It constantly rewards you just for leaving it installed on your phone.
Mobile Xpression Summary
- Earn a $5 gift card every few weeks for keeping app active in background
- Get paid $0.50 per survey
- New members receive an entry into a $100,000 sweepstake
- Donates tree if you keep your new account active for 90 days
Survey Junkie Pulse
Survey Junkie Pulse allows you to earn money by passively sharing your digital behaviors for market research. By installing the Pulse extension on your computer or opting in through the Survey Junkie app, your activities such as search habits, websites visited, apps used, and products purchased are anonymously tracked and encrypted to protect your privacy.
Participating in Survey Junkie Pulse can earn you up to $10 per month, which you can redeem for cash via PayPal, wire transfer, or gift cards. Additionally, you may gain access to exclusive surveys, providing further opportunities to boost your earnings.
Money SMS
Money SMS is an easy-to-use app you can download to earn money to receive test text messages. You’ll receive test SMS messages from the platform when you run the app and connect to the internet.
Money SMS uses these test messages to help mobile network operators and telecom providers ensure messages are properly delivered. You will earn around $0.20 for each test message that you receive.
You can withdraw your earnings via:
- BitCoin
- Ethereum
- Litecoin
- PayPal
Evidation
Evidation is a great way to get paid for losing weight. The app allows you to collect points by performing healthy actions. You can connect your other health apps and use Evidation to track your progress walking, meditating, sleeping, and eating. There are also surveys, where you’ll receive up to 200 points for answering basic questions.
The company uses the information from the app to help companies improve their products and services. In addition, it can be a great way to remain motivated to make health-conscious decisions.
How much can you earn on Evidation?
| Activity | Earning Potential |
|---|---|
| Track your heart rate | 6 points |
| Walk 14,633 steps | 39 points |
| Answer a survey | Up to 200 points |
| Log your food | 6 points |
| Bike 5 miles | 10 points |
| Post a health-related Tweet | 6 points |
Once you accumulate 10,000 points, you can exchange your points for $10 in cash via PayPal.
SavvyConnect
If you are looking for apps that pay you for data collection, SavvyConnect is one of the best options. The platform enables you to earn up to $180 per year. You can install the company’s software on your devices and earn $5 per device per month in passive income.
In addition, you can also get survey invitations from SavvyConnect’s sister company, SurveySavvy, to further boost your earnings.
The minimum cash out is relatively low at just $1, so you can withdraw your earnings via check whenever possible.
Runtopia
Runtopia allows you to set running, cycling, or walking goals. There are even audio coach sessions you can listen to during your workout.
Each time you work out or compete in a daily challenge, you will earn Sports Coins. You can redeem these coins for prizes, PayPal payments, and discounts. For example, you can exchange 599 coins for $10 in cash via PayPal.
In addition, you can also sign up for a premium membership to get access to the following:
- Detailed analysis of your running data
- Exclusive access to cadence metronome for your run
- Double the daily limit of Sports Coins you can earn
- and many more great features
New users can get a one-time 1-month premium membership for free.
Apps that Pay You for Data Collection FAQ
What are apps that pay you for data collection?
Apps that pay for data collection offer users monetary compensation or rewards in exchange for sharing their data, such as browsing habits, app usage, or purchasing history. The collected data is typically anonymized and used by companies for market research and analytics to improve products and services.
How do these data-collecting apps work?
After you install the app and grant necessary permissions, it runs in the background, passively collecting data about your online activities. In return, you receive payments or rewards. The data helps companies understand consumer behavior without requiring active participation from you.
Is my personal information safe with these apps?
Reputable data collection apps in this list prioritize user privacy by anonymizing and encrypting the data they collect. They do not access personal messages, passwords, or sensitive information.
How much can I earn from data collection apps?
Earnings vary depending on the app and the amount of data shared. Generally, you can earn anywhere from a few dollars to around $50 per month. While it’s not a substantial income, it’s an easy way to earn extra cash without additional effort.
What are some popular apps that pay for data collection?
Some well-known apps include Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel, Honeygain, MobileXpression, and Pawns.app. These apps compensate users for sharing their internet usage data or unused bandwidth, often with minimal impact on device performance.