If you’ve ever gotten a free sample from, say, Costco or Sephora, you know that a free sample can easily turn you into a regular buyer of a product.
Sign-up bonus apps work the same way, and they have the same goal. These apps are so confident you’ll enjoy their product that they’re willing to pay you just for signing up (and maybe completing a small task). So, worst-case scenario, you get a quick bonus from an app you don’t particularly like. Best-case scenario? You get paid to sign up for an app that you end up loving and using on the regular.
I’ve put together a list of great apps that offer up the best sign-up bonuses—some of them allow you to earn a little money (a few bucks here and there), and some of them offer huge bonuses (hundreds, even thousands of dollars)!
What I love about these apps is that, in most cases, you’re going to find them useful regardless of their bonus. They allow you to invest smarter, save more, earn cash-back rewards for stuff you already do every day, and more.
Instant Sign-Up Bonuses—Our Top Picks
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Commission-free trading. Robinhood Gold: Free 30-day trial, then $5/mo.
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Commission-free trading.
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The Best Instant Sign-Up Bonus Apps
Below, I’ve listed a wide array of apps that all offer easy ways to earn a little (or a lot of) money quickly!
1. Robinhood ($5-$200 Free Stock Bonus)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Web, mobile app (Apple iOS, Android)
- Promotion: Free stock worth between $5 and $200
Robinhood is a pioneer of commission-free trading, jumping into the investing public’s consciousness in 2013 when they rolled out commission-free trading. They remain a standout option for cost-minded investors thanks to their continued $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, and options, as well as for its fractional trading, which allows people to invest with as little as $1.
→ How to get your free stock with Robinhood
Robinhood offers anywhere between $5 and $200 in free stock, just for signing up and linking an account.
Once you’ve signed up with this link and are approved for a brokerage account, simply link your bank account or debit card, and Robinhood will give you between $5 and $200 that you can use to buy fractional stock, chosen from a list of “20 of America’s leading companies.”
(Note: You must wait three trading days to sell your gift stock. Once you’ve sold your stock, you can use the money to buy other stocks right away. But if you want to withdraw the funds for cash, you have to wait at least 30 days.)
- Robinhood is a pioneer in the investing app world, offering commission-free trades on stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrency, as well as one of the deepest libraries of investing educational content.
- Investing for retirement? Robinhood will match 1% of any IRA transfers or 401(k) rollovers, as well as any annual contributions*, made to your Robinhood Retirement account—and you can get a 3% match on any new contributions if you subscribe to Robinhood Gold.
- Want more advanced trading tools? Download Robinhoold Legend—a desktop trading platform with real-time data, customizable layouts, deeper asset analysis, and more—for free.
- Robinhood Gold also includes Level II market data provided by Nasdaq, higher interest rates on uninvested brokerage cash, lower margin trading rates, bigger Instant Deposits, and access to the Robinhood Gold Card (a 3% cash-back Visa credit card).
- Special offer 1: Sign up for Robinhood, link a bank account, and fund your account with at least $10, and receive a randomly selected cash amount between $5 and $200 to put toward certain fractional shares.
- Special offer 2: Earn 1% on any transfers from an external brokerage account to a Robinhood joint or individual investing account (2% if the margin balance is at least $10,000). Offer ends Oct. 27, 2024.
- Special offer 3: Robinhood Gold subscribers earn a 3% match on IRA transfers. Offer ends Oct. 27, 2024.
- Very good selection of available investments in brokerage accounts
- 1% match on rollovers, IRA transfers, and new contributions to IRAs and Roth IRAs (3% new-contribution match with Robinhood Gold)
- Automated recommended portfolios
- Intuitive interface
- Extensive educational library
- No mutual funds in brokerage or IRAs
- No robo-advisor functionality
2. SoFi Invest (Bonus 1: $5-$1,000 of Stock, Bonus 2: $10-$100 of Bitcoin)
- Available: Desktop signup here | iOS signup here | Android signup here
- Platforms: Desktop, web, mobile (iOS, Android)
- Promotion 1: $5-$1,000 in free stock
- Promotion 2: $10-$100 in free Bitcoin
Invest as actively or as passively as you’d like with SoFi Invest.
The Active SoFi Invest Brokerage Account has no required minimum balance, charges no commissions on stock, ETF, and options trades, and its options trading is free of contract fees, too. SoFi also offers 24/7 trading of 30 cryptocurrencies, access to initial public offerings (IPOs), and fractional stock buying for as little as $5.
Want to put your portfolio on autopilot? SoFi’s robo-advisory services will create a portfolio for you free of charge (that can be designed to address one or several goals) and auto-rebalance it for you as necessary over time.
And one thing that sets SoFi apart is your ability to handle many financial tasks within the very same app. SoFi’s app allows you to tackle anything from banking and investing to student loans, insurance, and mortgages.
→ How to earn free stock from SoFi Invest
SoFi Invest allows you to win a randomly selected dollar amount worth of free stock: $5, $10, $25, $100, or $1,000. To qualify:
- Open a new brokerage account with SoFi.
- Fund your account with $10 or more within 30 days of the account opening.
Your bonus should post to your account in 10 business days.
→ How to earn free Bitcoin from SoFi Invest
You can earn between $10 and $100 worth of Bitcoin when you sign up and make your first cryptocurrency trade. Here’s how:
- Open a new account with SoFi.
- Buy a minimum of $50 worth of any cryptocurrency within seven days.
The following trade sizes earn the corresponding Bitcoin bonuses:
- $50-$99.99 earns $10 worth of Bitcoin.
- $100-$499.99 earns $15 worth of Bitcoin.
- $500-$4,999.99 earns $50 worth of Bitcoin.
- $5,000 or more earns $100 worth of Bitcoin.
- SoFi Invest allows you to trade or invest in stocks, ETFs, and options with no commissions and no account minimums. You can also invest in cryptocurrency and participate in some initial public offerings (IPOs).
- Invest for as little as $1 with fractional shares.
- Free robo-advisory services, including goal planning and auto-rebalancing.
- Special offer: Fund a new account with at least $25 within 30 days of opening an account, and receive $5, $10, $25, $100, or $1,000 worth of stock. (Prize level awarded at random.)
- Good selection of available investments
- No options contract fees
- DIY and automated investing options
- Fractional shares
- No mutual funds
- Limited trading tools
- No tax-loss harvesting
- No socially responsible robo-advisor functionality
- Higher-than-average cryptocurrency trading fees
3. Upromise ($30.29 in Bonuses)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Web, mobile app (Apple iOS, Android)
- Promotion: $30.29 ($5.29 for signing up, and $25 for linking a 529 plan)
Upromise makes it easier to save for your child’s future higher education expenses, and it has helped families save more than $1 billion for college to date.
After you create a Upromise account, you link it to either your 529 plan, or a checking or savings account. You can also apply for a no-monthly-fee Upromise Mastercard that earns you cash rewards when you shop online, eat at restaurants, and more. The service will automatically deposit both your cash rewards and any monthly contributions into your 529 plan or linked bank account.
You’ll also earn more in cash-back rewards with the Upromise Mastercard than you will with any other linked debit or credit card. Also, every month, Upromise gives five families a $529 college scholarship. Every dollar of earned rewards gets you an entry.
→ How to get your free money with Upromise
You’ll earn a $5.29 sign-up bonus simply for signing up with Upromise using our link and verifying your email. To receive an additional $25, you must:
- Link a 529 plan account within 30 days.
- Keep the account active through the first cash-back rewards redemption cycle.
- Make sure your cash-back rewards account balance meets the minimum transfer amount to be able to transfer rewards into the linked account.
- When you link Upromise to a 529 plan or bank account, you can earn cash-back rewards that are automatically deposited back into your account.
- Earn 1.529% in cash-back rewards with the Upromise Mastercard, or 1.25% cash back with any other linked card.
- Earn a 2.5% bonus on your bill if you use a linked credit or debit card at more than 10,000 eligible restaurants, and earn a 5% bonus if you use the Upromise Mastercard.
- The Upromise Mastercard is a no-monthly-fee credit card that allows you to earn $100 in bonus cash-back rewards after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days.
- Special offer: Earn $5.29 upon signing up for Upromise, then earn another $25 when you link a 529 plan.
4. InboxDollars ($5 Bonus)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Web, mobile app (iOS, Android)
- Promotion: $5 sign-up bonus
InboxDollars helps users make extra money from doing simple tasks. Like with other money-making apps, brands pay InboxDollars for consumer opinions—which is where you come in.
You can earn free money by participating in several activities, including taking surveys and reading emails. You can also earn cash-back rewards for online shopping, spending on games, and even buying groceries.
This passive income app isn’t a substitute for a full-time job, but it’s a great way to earn some extra money with only a little additional work on your part.
→ How to get your free money with InboxDollars
Simply sign up with InboxDollars, and you’ll receive $5 instantly!
- InboxDollars allows you to earn cash by taking surveys or reading emails, and earn cash-back rewards for online shopping and even spending on games.
- Minimum cash-out: $15.
- Age restrictions: Must be at least 18 years old or the age of majority in your state or province, whichever is greater, to participate.
- Special offer: Sign up now and get a $5 bonus.
- Pays you for easy tasks
- Offers gift cards from numerous merchants
- Offers cash back
- No confusing points system
- Not a lucrative side hustle
5. Webull ($60-$60,000 Free Stock Bonus)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Desktop app (Windows, macOS, Linux), web, mobile app (Apple iOS, Android)
- Promotion: 20 free stocks valued between $3 and $3,000 each ($60 to $60,000 total)
Webull, which frequently runs promotions that allow investors to collect free stocks, has become one of the best stock apps for intermediate traders and investors, though many of its features are helpful to beginners as well.
For one, Webull remains friendly to wallet-conscious traders today. It costs nothing to open a Webull account. Stocks, ETFs, and options still trade commission-free. Many options have $0 contract fees. And Webull has no deposit minimums. On top of that, it offers fractional shares, which allows investors to start buying for as little as $1. So beginners working with small dollar amounts can still easily diversify across numerous investments.
→ How to get free stock with Webull
Currently, Webull is offering new users 20 free shares of stock worth between $3 and $3,000—so, the bonus is worth between $60 and $60,000.
To claim this potential bounty, you will first need to sign up through this link, open your account and make a deposit of at least $500. If you do, you will receive 20 fractional shares of stock from Webull.
- Webull is a low-cost trading and investing app that allows you to invest in stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto, and participate in initial public offerings (IPOs). Webull has also expanded its U.S. offerings to include futures and commodities trading.
- Commission-free trades on stocks, ETFs, and options.
- Trading features include charting tools, technical indicators, customizable screeners, real-time stock alerts, and group orders.
- Let Webull manage your money for you with Webull Smart Advisor, which combines Webull's in-house investment expertise and artificial intelligence to build, manage, and rebalance an ETF portfolio for you.
- New users also get one free month of Nasdaq TotalView's Level 2 Quotes service. (That subscription costs $2.99/mo. thereafter.)
- Sign up for Webull Cash Management to earn a 5.0% APY without fees or minimums.
- Special offer: Open an account and deposit at least $500 to receive 20 free fractional shares, collectively worth between $60-$90,000.*
- Good selection of available investments
- Fractional shares
- Powerful technical analysis tools
- Offers robo-advisory services
- Accessible to beginning and intermediate users
- Voice commands
- Offers highly competitive APY through Webull Cash Management
- Does not support mutual funds
6. Moomoo (15 Free Shares Worth $30-$30,000)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Desktop app (Windows, Mac), web, mobile app (Apple iOS, Android)
- Promotion: 15 free stocks, each valued between $2-$2,000
Moomoo is a commission-free trading platform for stocks, ETFs, and options. While Moomoo is best for advanced traders, offering powerful tools to empower your trading insights and strategies, it takes a different approach from other similarly targeted platforms, favoring simple interfaces and high ease of use. The desktop platform is highly customizable, while the mobile app is straightforward, allowing you to search for stocks and trade with minimal hassle.
Still, Moomoo has more than enough under the hood for advanced traders to get the job done. Its charting system, for instance, includes 62 technical analysis indicators and 22 drawing tools. You can set up alerts based on changes in price, bids, turnover ratio, and more. Free Level 2 market data helps you get a greater understanding of a stock’s value, determine how liquid a stock truly really is, and better time your trades. You can even enjoy 24/7 financial news handpicked by Moomoo’s editorial team.
→ How to get your bonus with Moomoo
You can receive up to 15 free shares (collectively worth anywhere between $30 and $30,000) from Moomoo. Here’s how:
- If you open a new brokerage account with Moomoo and fund it with $100, you’ll earn five free stocks valued between $2 and $2,000 each, as well as a $50 cash reward.
- If you make a net deposit of $1,000 or more in the promotion period, you’ll get a total of 15 free stocks valued between $2 and $2,000 each, as well as a $50 cash reward.
Enjoy these free bonus shares by opening an account with Moomoo through our link and making a qualifying deposit.
- Moomoo is an all-in-one investment app geared toward stock, ETF, and options traders who want to work with real-time market data at the ready.
- The service offers free Level 2 market data, offering more insight into the trading activity below the NBBO surface shown on many financial data sites.
- Use the service's powerful stock charting software capabilities to find trading opportunities.
- Get a great return on uninvested cash: Moomoo currently offers a 5.1% APY from its cash sweep program, though current promo offers 8.1% for a limited time.
- Special offer: Get up to 15 free stocks worth $30-$30,000 when you sign up through WealthUp, for opening a new account and funding it with certain minimums.*
- Free Level 2 market data
- Free powerful stock charting software
- Free paper trading
- Low margin rates
- Fewer features than peers
- No robo-advisor functionality
7. SoFi Checking and Savings Account ($50 to $300 in Free Cash)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Web, mobile app (iOS, Android)
- Promotion: Earn $50 to $300 in free cash
The SoFi Checking and Savings Account sounds like your run-of-the-mill bank account, but it’s more: It’s also a high-yield savings account that earns 10 times the national average percentage yield (APY) and more than the average high-yield account. Better still, it boosts your ability to save right off the bat by rewarding you with $50 to $300 upon sign-up.
Sofi Checking and Savings covers all of the basics: no monthly account fees, no minimum balances, and website and mobile app access. But it also has several perks that match or top the competition. Features include:
- Early paycheck reception when you sign up for direct deposit
- FDIC insurance of up to $2 million (vs. $250,000 for most accounts)
- Up to 15% cash back when you spend with local retailers
- No-fee overdraft coverage up to $50
- Round-ups on debit card purchases, which are deposited into your savings “Vault”
And right now, you can get a head start on your savings with qualifying direct deposits.
→ How to get your free cash with SoFi
First, you’ll need to Sign up with SoFi. Then you’ll receive $50 in bonus cash if $1,000.00 to $4,999.99 is sent to your account within a 25-day period, starting from when you receive the first direct deposit. That number jumps to $300 when you receive $5,000 or more.
The higher cash bonus requires you to hit an admittedly high threshold, but the $50 is still a reasonable bonus for a much more manageable threshold.
- SoFi's Checking and Savings Account is a free, no-monthly fee account that offers an above-average yield on the savings side, and up to 15% cash back when using your checking account's debit card.
- SoFi's high-yield savings account currently pays 4.60% APY, which is 10x the national average savings rate, and higher than the average high-yield rate.
- Available FDIC insurance of up to $2 million is 8x the typical insured amount at most financial institutions.*
- Round up debit card purchases, and the excess is automatically sent to your savings Vault.
- Special Offer: If you set up a qualifying direct deposit within the promotion period, you can earn up to a $300 cash bonus.**
- No account fees
- Above-average yield (4.60% APY) on its high-yield savings account
- Offers up to $50 of overdraft coverage with minimum monthly direct deposits in place
- Round-ups
- Up to $2 million in FDIC insurance
- Not as competitive yield as other banking institutions
- High direct deposit threshold for maximum cash bonus
8. Branded Surveys ($1 Bonus)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Web, mobile app (iOS, Android)
- Promotion: $1 sign-up bonus
Branded Surveys has paid out more than $36 million to more than 3 million users.
The surveys made available to you will depend on your interests and profile information, as well as what research partners currently need. Each survey earns points; you can cash out once you’ve accumulated at least 500 points. Depending on survey length, users make anywhere from 50 cents to $5 per survey. This is an easy way to make $5 fast.
You can use your points toward gift cards from more than 100 brands, receive cash in your PayPal or bank account, or even make a charitable donation.
→ How to earn free money with Branded Surveys
Simply sign up for Branded Surveys and you’ll receive 100 points, which is worth $1.
- Branded Surveys, which boasts more than 3 million users, pays you to take surveys to share your thoughts on future products and services.
- You earn points for completing each survey and can redeem them toward cash (paid via direct deposit or PayPal), gift cards at more than 100 merchants including Amazon and Apple, or even donations to your favorite charity.
- Earn anywhere from 50 cents to $5 per completed survey (longer ones tend to pay more).
- Minimum cash-out: $5 (500 points).
- Age restrictions: Must be at least 13 years old to participate. Teens age 13 to 17 must have parental consent.
- Special offer: Get 100 free points (worth $1) for signing up.
- Pays you for easy tasks
- Offers gift cards from numerous merchants
- Offers cash back
- Teens can participate (ages 13+)
- Not a lucrative side hustle
9. Chase Total Checking ($300 Bonus)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Web, mobile app (iOS, Android)
- Promotion: $300 when you set up direct deposit
With Chase Total Checking℠, members get access to all of JPMorgan Chase Bank’s 4,700 branches, as well as more than 15,000 ATMs.
This is Chase’s most popular account for daily banking needs. Chase Overdraft Assist ensures no overdraft fee if you’re only overdrawn by $50 or less or if you’re overdrawn by more, but bring your overdrawn amount to $50 or less by the end of the next business day. Through the Chase Mobile app, users can pay bills, transfer money, deposit checks, and more.
The Chase Total Checking℠ account comes with Zero Liability Protection, so you’re reimbursed for any unauthorized debit card transactions as long as you report the transactions promptly.
Just note that Chase Total Checking℠ charges a high $12 monthly service fee unless you fulfill one of the following each month:
- Have at least $500 in total electronic deposits from payroll providers or government benefit providers via the ACH network, Real Time Payment network, FedNow℠, or third-party services that facilitate payments to your debit card through the Visa® or Mastercard® networks each month.
- Have a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account.
- Have an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying checking, savings, and other balances.
→ How to earn a bonus with Chase Total Checking℠
Chase Total Checking℠ offers a $300 bonus to new customers who do the following:
- Open a Chase Total Checking℠ account.
- Set up direct deposit within 90 days of coupon enrollment.
- New Chase customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a new Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities*.
- Access to more than 4,700 branches and 15,000 Chase ATMs.
- Chase Mobile® app: Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more—all from your device.
Best Apps for a Sign-Up Bonus: FAQs
How else can I get free money online?
Free money sign-up bonuses are an excellent way to get money instantly. All you have to do is sign up, and you’ll earn free cash. But, if you’re willing to put in a little extra effort, there are many other easy ways to earn cash online, including taking surveys, watching videos, and even playing games.
Which app gives the highest sign-up bonus?
The app that will give you the highest sign-up bonus depends on what additional actions you are able and willing to take after signing up. For instance, Chase Total Checking℠ has a $300 bonus, but you must set up direct deposit to get it.
The sign-up bonus for a SoFi Checking and Savings Account is between $50 and $300, depending on how much money is sent to your account within the first 25 days. It only takes $1,000 to receive a $50 bonus, but to receive the highest bonus of $300, you need to receive $5,000 or more.
It’s possible to receive an extremely high sign-up bonus of up to $36,000 in free stock with Webull, but the reward is in stocks rather than extra cash. Also, it’s highly unlikely you’ll get the maximum value—users receive six to 12 free stocks valued between $3 and $3,000, and you’re significantly more likely to receive the lower-valued stocks than the ones worth thousands.
Do any apps offer a sign-up bonus with instant withdrawal?
A number of apps, including Webull, Moomoo, SoFi Checking and Savings, and Chase Total Checking generally allow you to withdraw your money whenever you want.
In a couple cases, you might have to wait to be able to withdraw your bonus, however. For instance, Acorns’ bonus investment could take up to five weeks to hit your account.
Do any apps offer a sign-up bonus with instant payout?
It’s very rare for an app to pay you within minutes of requesting a payout—some take hours, many more take days, and a few take more than a week.
Survey Junkie is one of the few that offer an instant payout. In my own personal experience testing the app, when I requested a digital gift card, it arrived within minutes.
But remember: While SurveyJunkie pays out instantly, it doesn’t offer instant withdrawal—that is, you have to hit certain points minimums before you’re allowed to request a payout.
Do any apps offer a sign-up bonus with instant withdrawal and instant payout?
Unfortunately, none of the apps I reviewed for this article offer both the ability to withdraw whenever you want and get paid instantly.
Do free apps pay real money?
Depending on the app, rewards vary. Some apps let you earn money that can be sent directly to a bank account. Others pay out rewards as PayPal cash, free gift cards, stocks, swag, or charity donations.