There are plenty of apps promising extra income out there, and everyone wants to know if they really work. I’ve done a survey of these games that claim to pay real money via Pix — spoiler: not everything is what it seems.

First thing: yes, you can make some extra cash playing, but don’t get your hopes up. Nobody gets rich from it. Most work by accumulating points in mini-games, answering surveys, or testing apps, then you cash out via PayPal and send it to Pix. Some pay directly, like Cash App, but most follow this indirect route.

The most well-known apps are Make Money, AppKarma, Big Time, FeaturePoints, Gamee, CashPirate, Toloka, Cash Alarm, Easy Bucks, and Premise. Each has its own way — some focus on sweepstakes, others on repetitive tasks. Cash App is the most convenient for Brazilians because it allows direct Pix, but the others require going through PayPal first.

Now, the truth: earnings are slow. Very slow. A game that pays real money via Pix usually earns between R$50 and R$200 per month if you stay active every day. Some apps have a minimum withdrawal of R$30, others require R$100 or more. And there are quite a few apps that take a long time to approve the withdrawal or simply don’t approve it.

What works best are apps focused on micro-tasks, like Toloka, because at least the amount per task is already stated. In sweepstakes games like Big Time or Gamee, you play a lot and might not win anything — which can be frustrating.

My advice: if you want a game that pays real money via Pix, choose one with a low withdrawal threshold, start small, and see if it’s really worth your time. Don’t go in expecting a fixed income. And beware of apps that ask for an initial deposit — those are definitely scams.

Some people combine several apps to earn a little more, but in the end, it’s time invested that could have earned more in any other freelance job. But if you just want to make some extra cash while on your phone, it’s worth testing one or two.