Yes — but you need to be careful. Most "money-making apps" are designed for adults, require you to be 18+, or have earning rates so low that your time is literally worth more doing nothing.
This guide is specifically for teenagers aged 13–17 who want to earn real, withdrawable money from their phone. Every app on this list:
Let's get into it.
Age requirement: 13+ (with parental consent)
What it pays: Real cash to PayPal
How it works: Fr. App is a short-video social platform — like TikTok — where you earn money by watching and posting content.
How teens earn on Fr. App:
Why it's great for teens: The app feels like a social media platform, not a boring task app. You're actually watching fun content from real people your age, and every scroll earns you something. Many teen users report earning $20–$50 per week during school breaks.
What you need to know: You'll need a PayPal account for withdrawals. In most countries, teens can open a PayPal Student account with a parent's help.
Earning potential: $20–$80/month with casual use, more if you also post content.
Age requirement: 13+
What it pays: Gift cards (Amazon, Walmart, Target) or PayPal ($5 minimum)
How it works: Complete surveys, watch video playlists, search the web, and shop online for points ("SB") that convert to rewards.
How teens earn on Swagbucks:
Why it's great for teens: It's been around since 2008, so your parents will likely feel comfortable with it. The gift card options are useful — Amazon gift cards for stuff you actually want.
What you need to know: Survey availability for teens is limited compared to adults. You'll get disqualified from many surveys after answering demographic questions. Expect to earn less than advertised.
Earning potential: $10–$30/month with regular use.
Age requirement: 16+ in most regions
What it pays: PayPal, crypto, or gift cards (from $0.10)
How it works: Complete offers — mainly installing apps and reaching certain levels in mobile games — for cash rewards.
How teens earn on Freecash:
Why it's great for teens: If you already play mobile games, getting paid $5–$30 for reaching a certain level in a game you'd play anyway is a solid deal. The instant PayPal payouts are a big plus.
What you need to know: The age requirement is 16+ in most areas, so younger teens can't use it. Game offers can take 10–30 hours of play to complete. Read the requirements carefully before starting.
Earning potential: $15–$60/month if you complete game offers regularly.
Age requirement: 13+ (with parental consent)
What it pays: Gift cards or PayPal
How it works: Take surveys about products, brands, and current topics. Earn points that convert to rewards.
How teens earn on Toluna:
Why it's great for teens: Surveys are often about topics teens actually care about — social media, gaming, fashion, food. The community aspect makes it more engaging than pure survey apps.
What you need to know: Earning rate is slow — expect $0.50–$2 per survey. Survey invitations are inconsistent. The minimum cashout varies by reward type.
Earning potential: $10–$25/month.
Age requirement: 13+
What it pays: Gift cards (Google Play, Amazon, PayPal)
How it works: Earn coins by playing featured mobile games. Coins convert to gift cards.
How teens earn on Appstation:
Why it's great for teens: Completely passive — just play games you'd play anyway. No surveys, no offers to complete.
What you need to know: Android only. Earning rate drops sharply after the first few hours with each game. You'll need to continuously rotate to new featured games.
Earning potential: $5–$15/month.
Age requirement: 18+ officially, but 16+ in some markets
What it pays: PayPal or bank transfer
How it works: Complete small tasks like taking photos of store shelves, answering questions about your neighborhood, or checking prices at local shops.
How teens earn on Premise:
Why it's great for teens: Tasks get you outside and exploring your neighborhood. Each task takes 5–15 minutes and pays $0.20–$2.00.
What you need to know: Task availability depends heavily on your location. Urban areas have more tasks. Some tasks require visiting physical stores.
Earning potential: $10–$40/month depending on your location.
Age requirement: 18+ (but available to teens with parental consent in some regions)
What it pays: PayPal, gift cards, crypto
How it works: Share your unused internet bandwidth in exchange for passive income. You install the app and it uses a small portion of your Wi-Fi (not mobile data) while your device is idle.
How teens earn on Pawns.app:
Why it's great for teens: Completely passive. Install it and forget about it.
What you need to know: Earnings are very low — typically $1–$5/month. You need parental permission to use your household Wi-Fi. Check your ISP's terms of service.
Earning potential: $1–$5/month (passive).
| App | Age | Earning Method | Monthly Potential | Payout | Fun? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fr. App | 13+ | Videos + scratch cards + creating | $20–$80 | PayPal | High |
| Swagbucks | 13+ | Surveys + shopping | $10–$30 | PayPal/Gift cards | Low |
| Freecash | 16+ | Game offers + surveys | $15–$60 | PayPal/Gift cards | Medium |
| Toluna | 13+ | Surveys | $10–$25 | PayPal/Gift cards | Medium |
| Appstation | 13+ | Playing games | $5–$15 | Gift cards | Medium |
| Premise | 16+ | Micro-tasks + photos | $10–$40 | PayPal | Medium |
| Pawns.app | 18+* | Passive bandwidth | $1–$5 | PayPal/Gift cards | N/A |
Use Fr. App as your primary earner (highest potential + most fun), add Swagbucks for gift cards when you want specific items, and keep Freecash for occasional game offers. Three apps running simultaneously can realistically earn $50–$150/month.
Most teens just scroll and earn from scratch cards — which is fine. But if you post your own videos (day-in-my-life, school stuff, sports, gaming), you earn a second income stream from unlocks. Some teen creators on Fr. App earn more from their content than from scratch cards.
Every app on this list has a referral system. Share your links with friends — if even 5 friends join Fr. App through your link, you both earn bonuses, and their future activity on the platform benefits your referral earnings long-term.
The biggest mistake teen earners make is going all-in for one week, then quitting. Even 15 minutes per day on Fr. App adds up to real money over a month. Consistency beats intensity every time.
You don't need to be 18, you don't need a job, and you don't need special skills. These 7 apps let teenagers earn real money from a phone — safely and legally.
For the highest earnings with the most enjoyable experience, Fr. App is the clear winner. It's the only app on this list that feels like a social platform rather than a task list. You're watching content from people your age, posting your own stuff, and earning from every interaction.
Download Fr. App — start earning from your first scroll. No credit card, no minimum age beyond 13, no catches.