Best Instant Sign-Up Bonus Apps [Grab Free Cash Instantly]

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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The Best Instant Sign-Up Bonus Apps

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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)

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• 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.)

Related: 11 Best Stock Trading Apps [Free + Paid]

2. Webull ($60-$60,000 Free Stock Bonus)

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• 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.

Newer investors can also learn trading skills through the courses in Webull’s education center, and even practice their skills via Webull’s paper trading service.

Plus, Webull is available across just about every platform, allowing you to research, trade, and track your stocks on your smartphone, tablet, or desktop.

Why choose Webull to trade stocks?

Webull provides investors with several useful features and tools, including:

• Customizable screeners for both stocks and ETFs
• Preset lists—including Top Gainers, Top Losers, Most Active, and Best-Performing Industries—investors can use to identify opportunities
• Voice commands: Simply speak to buy, sell, or look up information about a ticker
• “Big Button Mode”: Populates giant buttons on your screen that allow you to quickly make trades with just a push
• Charting tools
• Free real-time stock quotes and stock alerts

→ 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.

Read more in our Webull review, or sign up at Webull today.

Related: 11 Best Stock Advisor Websites & Services to Seize Alpha

3. Moomoo (7 Free Shares Worth a Total of $35)

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• Available: Sign up here
• Platforms: Desktop app (Windows, Mac), web, mobile app (Apple iOS, Android)
• Promotion: 7 free stocks, each valued between at $5

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 7 free shares (collectively worth $35) from Moomoo. Here’s how: If you open a new brokerage account with Moomoo and fund it with $100 or more.

Enjoy these free bonus shares by opening an account with Moomoo through our link and making a qualifying deposit.

Related: 15 Best Stock Research & Analysis Apps, Tools and Sites

4. Acorns ($20 Bonus)

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• Available: Sign up here
• Platforms: Web, mobile app (iOS, Android)
• Promotion: $20 bonus when you set up recurring investments

Acorns is an investing app geared toward minors, young adults, and millennials by offering “Round-Ups”: The app rounds up purchases made on linked debit and credit cards to the nearest dollar, then invests the difference on your behalf.

For example, if you purchase a coffee for $2.60 on a linked credit card, Acorns automatically rounds this charge up to $3.00 and puts the 40-cent difference aside. Once those Round-Ups reach at least $5, they can be transferred to your Acorns account to be invested.

The Acorns investment offering itself is a simple, automated platform that uses pre-built portfolios of ETFs to keep investors exposed to stocks and bonds. While it doesn’t have much to offer intermediate investors who want variety in their portfolios, Acorns’ basic approach makes it one of the best investment apps for beginners.

Here’s more about what you can expect from Acorns’ varying subscription options:

• Acorns Personal ($3 per month): Includes an Acorns Invest investment account, as well as Acorns Later for tax-advantaged investment options such as Roth IRAs. Also includes Acorns Checking, a bank account that has no account fees, lets you withdraw fee-free from more than 55,000 ATMs nationwide, and Smart Deposit, which allows you to automatically invest a bit of each paycheck into your Acorns accounts.
• Acorns Personal Plus ($6 per month): Everything in Acorns Personal (Acorns Invest, Later, and Checking), plus Premium Education, which are live onboarding sessions covering account setup, Round-Ups, setting up recurring investments, and more; Emergency Fund; and a 25% bonus on Acorns Earn rewards (up to $200 per month).
• Acorns Premium ($12 per month): Everything in Personal Plus, plus Acorns Early, which allows you to open a custodial investment account for your child so you can begin investing for them while they’re a minor; custom portfolios that allow you to hold individual stocks; live Q&As with financial experts; a 50% match on Acorns Earn rewards (up to $200 per month); $10,000 in life insurance; even the ability to set up a will for free.

Personal Plus and Premium subscribers also get access to a powerful way to accelerate their savings: Later Match. While most people are aware that employers will sometimes match funds you contribute to your 401(k), “matches” are virtually unheard of in retirement accounts like IRAs, where there’s no employer to kick in extra cash. However, Acorns itself will match 1% or 3% on new contributions to IRAs for Personal Plus and Premium subscribers, respectively. 

Learn more in our Acorns review.

→ How to get your bonus with Acorns

To earn $20 from Acorns, you have to complete a few steps:

1. Sign up for an Acorns account.
2. Set up recurring investments ($5 minimum)
3. Make your first successful recurring investments.

Your $20 bonus will be awarded within 10 days of the following month.

Related: How to Invest as a Teenager [Start Investing as a Minor Under 18]

5. SoFi Checking and Savings Account ($50 to $250 in Free Cash)

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• Available: Sign up here
• Platforms: Web, mobile app (iOS, Android)
• Promotion: Earn $50 to $250 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 $250 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 $250 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.

Related: 11 Best Investment Accounts [Types for Beginners to Use]

6. Upromise ($30.29 in Bonuses)

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• 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:

1. Link a 529 plan account within 30 days.
2. Keep the account active through the first cash-back rewards redemption cycle.
3. Make sure your cash-back rewards account balance meets the minimum transfer amount to be able to transfer rewards into the linked account.

Related: 7 Best Alternatives to 529 Plans [Other College Savings Options]

7. InboxDollars ($5 Bonus)

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• 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!

Related: 50+ Best Money-Making Apps That Pay You Real Money

8. Branded Surveys ($1 Bonus)

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• 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.

Related: 7 Best Paid Surveys for Kids and Teens [Online Surveys]

9. MyPoints ($5 Bonus)

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• Available: Sign up here
• Platforms: Web, mobile app (iOS, Android)
• Promotion: $5 sign-up bonus

With MyPoints, you participate in activities such as online games/puzzles/trivia, taking surveys, and more, to earn points. Depending on the activity, you can earn points toward gift cards from the likes of Target, Starbucks, and Sephora; coupon codes; cash; or cash back on purchases.

People who already love shopping online and at physical stores can take advantage of MyPoints cash-back rewards for purchases at thousands of retailers. You can even get cash back when you purchase groceries and household stables if you scan your receipts.

Users can earn more points by trying out new products or signing up for trial services. For example, you might try out a streaming service or get meal kits delivered.

→ How to earn free money with MyPoints

Earning MyPoints’ $5 sign-up bonus is easy! Simply:

1. Sign up for MyPoints using our link.
2. Click the link in the confirmation email.

Related: The 13 Best Investment Apps for Beginners

10. Chase Total Checking ($300 Bonus)

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• 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:

1. Open a Chase Total Checking^℠ account.
2. Set up direct deposit within 90 days of coupon enrollment.

Related: 7 Best Wealth + Net Worth Tracker Apps [View All Your Assets]

11. SwagBucks ($10 Bonus)

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• Available: Sign up here
• Platforms: Web, mobile app (iOS, Android)
• Promotion: $10 bonus when you spend at least $25

Swagbucks is one of the most popular money-making apps because it allows you to earn money or gift cards by doing everyday activities. For example, you can make money by taking online surveys, playing games, watching videos, even doing live trivia. The more you play games, watch videos, and complete other activities, the more extra cash you earn.

To get started, sign up for a Swagbucks account and begin participating in some routine tasks offered through the app. Each task earns you “SB” (Swagbucks), which you can cash in for gift cards or redeem for free PayPal money.

→ How to earn free money with Swagbucks

SwagBucks will pay new users 1,000 SB, which is worth $10. All you have to do is:

1. Sign up using our link.
2. “Activate” the bonus in the Swag Ups section of your account.
3. Spend at least $25 at a store featured in Swagbucks.com/Shop. (You must receive at least 25 SB for the purchase, and you must complete it within 30 days of registration.)

Related: 12 Best Apps That Give You Money for Signing Up [Free Money]

12. Cash App ($5 Bonus)

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• Available: Sign up here
• Platforms: Web, mobile app (iOS, Android)
• Promotion: $5 sign-up bonus

Cash App markets itself as a smarter way to manage your money. Whether you’re looking to send, spend, bank, or buy stocks or bitcoin, Cash App has several useful features that allow you to handle, save, and invest your money.

Sending and receiving payments is free with Cash App, so you can rest assured knowing that your money is always accounted for when you transfer funds to friends and family.

Similar to Venmo, Cash App lets you instantly send money to anyone for free. You can even send stocks or Bitcoin. Your balance updates immediately, so you always know your transaction was successful. If you don’t have any funds in your account, the money is drawn from a linked card or financial account.

The recipient doesn’t need to have a Cash App account. You can use an email or phone number to transfer money. However, they will need to create an account within 14 days or the money is returned to you.

Optionally, you can deposit your paychecks, tax returns, and more into the app. Direct deposits are available as soon as they are received, which may be up to two days faster than banks.

Cash App can help you save money shopping online, or in person, as well. With the Cash Card, users get access to instant discounts. You do have to activate offers to save, though, and you can only add one offer at a time.

→ How to get your Cash App bonus

You and a friend can both get $5 bonuses when one of you uses the other’s Cash App referral code to sign up for Cash App. Here’s how to do it:

1. Download Cash App. You’ll need to register with your phone number.
2. Link a debit card.
3. Go to Settings, then Invite Code, and enter your referral code from a friend.
4. Within 14 days, send at least $5 (lump sum or multiple payments) to anyone.

Related: 7 Best Wealth + Net Worth Tracker Apps [View All Your Assets]

Best Apps for a Sign-Up Bonus: FAQs

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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 $250, 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 $250, 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, Acorns, Moomoo, SoFi Checking and Savings, Chase Total Checking, and Cash App 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.

Related:

• 12 Best Stock Trading Apps + Platforms for Beginners
• How to Get Free Money Now [15 Ways to Earn Money]
• 7 Best Stock Portfolio Management Software Tools + Apps