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There are plenty of ways to make money online and have it deposited directly into your PayPal account. Whether it’s through cash-back websites, shopping platforms, survey sites, and more, you can earn for your time and efforts.

If you’re short on time and can’t commit to a full side hustle, these sites and apps are a simple way to earn extra cash via PayPal.

Here, we’ve compiled a list of the best methods for Canadians to make free PayPal money.

Key Takeaways

  • You can earn PayPal money by using cash back sites/apps and survey sites/apps.
  • GeniusCash is an excellent way to make PayPal money simply by signing up for financial products and services you were planning to get anyway.
  • Branded Surveys and Swagbucks are two excellent survey sites that pay via PayPal.
  • Mistplay lets you play games to earn PayPal cash.
  • Freecash acts as a combination cash back app and survey app, offering several ways to earn PayPal money.

Cash back offers

Cash back offers are a simple and convenient way to save money on your daily purchases, but many cash back sites and apps offer more than just savings. Essentially, these sites and apps give you a discount on purchases while also helping you earn free PayPal money.

Below are three extra cash back offers and apps that can help you earn free PayPal money and help save money on your daily spending.

1. GeniusCash

Users can get as much as $250 in cash back when they sign up for various financial products featured by GeniusCash. Your cash rewards can be collected either through PayPal or Interac e-Transfer.

Plus, the new GeniusCash app helps you bank real cash and level up your rewards. You can access limited-time welcome bonuses, custom recommendations, and exclusive offers to max your credit card rewards and cash back.

How it works:

Top offers:

  • Scotiabank Preferred Package: $50 cash back
  • MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard: $100
  • Monthly Fee
    $0
    Mobile App
    No
    Available Retailers Estimate
    20
    Minimum Balance To Cash Out
    $0
    4.6 Genius Rating
    0.0 (0) User Reviews

    GeniusCash is a cash back program that rewards users for subscribing to many of the products and services they use on a regular basis. Plus, its new GeniusCash mobile app makes it easier than ever to bank real cash and level up your rewards.

    Pros
    • New industry-leading mobile app
    • Up to $250 cash back
    • Flexible payout options
    • Bi-weekly payouts
    Cons
    • Cash back bonuses are harder to get
    • Only a limited amount of offers available
    • No cash bonus on sign up
    Provinces
    ALL
    Eligibility
    • Age of majority
    • Eligible to receive select Canadian credit cards
    Why You Want It
    Earn up to $250 in bonus cash back + Level up your money & rewards.
    Special Features
    • Up to $250 in bonus cash back
    • Easy to use mobile app for even more deals and exclusive offers
    • Payments are made directly to you via PayPal or Interac e-Transfer
    • Referral bonuses available via the GeniusCash app
    Monthly Fee
    $0
    Mobile App
    No
    Available Retailers Estimate
    20
    Pay Via Cheque?
    No
    Pay Via PayPal?
    Yes
    Pay Via Amazon?
    No
    Pay Via Gift Cards?
    No
    Pay Via Electronic Fund Transfer?
    Yes
    Minimum Balance To Cash Out
    $0
    Pay Frequency
    After a certain amount of time
    Limited Payment Wait
    Biweekly
    Welcome Bonus
    $0
    Welcome Bonus End Date
    N/A
    Refer A Friend Offer
    See Issuer for Details
     

    2. Rakuten

    Especially if you prefer shopping online, Rakuten makes it easy to earn cash back by spending at your favourite retailers. Whether you use the website, app, or browser extension, using Rakuten's partner links can earn you up to 30% cash back from more than 750 stores.

    You can link a credit card to earn cash back on in-person purchases, so you're not just limited to shopping online. And there's a $30 referral bonus up for grabs, too.

    How it works:

    • Sign into your account online, open the app, or open a browser with the integrated Rakuten extension
    • Use the links provided to take you to your preferred retailers
    • Shop as usual, earning the indicated percentage of your purchase as cash back
    • Receive your cash back to your Rakuten account
    • Cash back is automatically paid out via PayPal or cheque every three months ($5 minimum)

    Top offers:

    • NordVPN: 90% cash back
    • Love Scent: 15% cash back
    • Allbirds: 11% cash back
    Monthly Fee
    $0
    Mobile App
    Yes
    Available Retailers Estimate
    750
    Minimum Balance To Cash Out
    $5.01
    5.0 Genius Rating
    2.7 (3) User Reviews

    Rakuten Canada has long been one of Canada's favourite cash back sites, thanks to its wide range of over 750 retail partners and legit cash back opportunities. Over the last 10 years, it’s paid out more than $100 million to Canadians, which shows how popular Rakuten Canada really is.

    Pros
    • It's so easy to earn free money
    • More than 750 partnering stores and services
    • Browse and earn with the Gift Card Shop
    • Welcome bonus and referral program
    Cons
    • Rewards are only paid out 4 times per year
    • Tricky exceptions for cash back purchases
    • Cash back amounts change without notice
    Provinces
    ALL
    Eligibility
    See Issuer for Details
    Why You Want It
    Earn cash back with over 750 retail partners + $5 sign up bonus.
    Special Features
    • Link a credit card and get cash back when shopping in-store
    • Rakuten Button browser extension provides automatic cash back alerts
    • Impressive $30 referral bonus
    Monthly Fee
    $0
    Mobile App
    Yes
    Available Retailers Estimate
    750
    Pay Via Cheque?
    Yes
    Pay Via PayPal?
    Yes
    Pay Via Amazon?
    No
    Pay Via Gift Cards?
    No
    Pay Via Electronic Fund Transfer?
    Yes
    Minimum Balance To Cash Out
    $5.01
    Pay Frequency
    After a certain amount of time
    Limited Payment Wait
    Quarterly
    Welcome Bonus
    $5
    Welcome Bonus End Date
    N/A
    Refer A Friend Offer
    30
     

    3. Checkout51

    Checkout51 is a cash back app that allows you to earn extra money on your daily purchases. With rotating offers from featured brands, you can choose the ones you want to take advantage of each time you shop.

    You can even change your device's location settings and receive notifications from the app regarding featured offers available at the store you’re currently shopping in.

    How it works:

    • Open the Checkout51 app
    • Browse through offers and select the ones you're interested in
    • Head to the store and shop as usual
    • Open the app, tap "Redeem" to check off the items/brands you purchased
    • Take a photo of your receipt (to prove you bought the featured items/brands) and upload it to the app
    • Receive your cash back to your Checkout51 account
    • Cash out via PayPal or cheque at any time( $20 minimum)

    Top offers:

    ** Note: offers are location-dependent **

    • Crest Whitestrips: $10 cash back
    • Premier Protein Powder: $6 cash back
    • Cliff Protein Bars: $4 cash back
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    Survey sites

    You can earn free PayPal money simply by filling out information about yourself, your lifestyle, your habits, your opinions, and more for survey companies looking for participants. Sites like Swagbucks, Google Opinion Rewards, Survey Junkie, and i-Say offer these opportunities across Canada and internationally.

    One important thing to note is you'll often only earn a few cents per survey. So while it may be a relatively easy opportunity, doing these surveys can be quite time-consuming if you hope to earn substantial amounts.

    4. Branded Surveys

    Branded Surveys is a site that pays participants for their opinions – yes, you can actually get paid for your opinions. Fortune 500 companies use the information from these surveys as part of their market research.

    Users earn points in a few different ways:

    • Filling out surveys
    • Maintaining a "survey streak"
    • Participating in daily polls
    • Maintaining a "poll streak"
    • Achieve top spots on the Leaderboard
    • Referring friends and family

    There are many questions to answer during the initial setup – the more questions you answer, the more details they have to help match you with surveys suited to your profile. As soon as your completed surveys and activities are reviewed and approved, you earn points that can later be redeemed for cash.

    How it works:

    • Sign into your account online or via the mobile app
    • Scan your dashboard page for survey options, polls, etc.
    • Complete the survey or poll
    • Watch for your points to be awarded
    • Cash out via PayPal or gift card at any time (500 point minimum)
    ProsCons
    • 1 point for surveys you don't qualify for
    • Up to 500 points ($5) per qualified survey
    • Multiple earning opportunities
    • Age eligibility is 17+
    • Account registration is time consuming
    • Users are frequently ineligible for high-value surveys

    5. DailyRewards

    DailyRewards is a survey site solely for residents of Canada and the U.S. The company rewards members with cash when they perform different online activities, such as:

    • Taking surveys
    • Receiving and opening emails
    • Watching videos
    • Reviewing products
    • Online gaming
    • Online shopping
    • Referring friends and family

    To start earning rewards, you’ll first need to create an account on the platform and include your personal details. There are quite a few questions involved, all required to help match you with the best surveys for your lifestyle.

    How it works:

    • Sign into your account
    • Scan the home page for featured offers and earning opportunities
    • Fill out the survey or complete your chosen task
    • Watch for your points to be awarded
    • Cash out via PayPal or gift card at any time ($30 minimum)
    ProsCons
    • $5 sign up bonus
    • Multiple earning opportunities
    • Earn 10% of your referrals' earnings
    • Easy site to navigate
    • High threshold for payout
    • Very limited support/FAQ resources

    6. Ipsos iSay

    Operating quite differently than typical survey sites, Ipsos iSay users can earn money by participating in polls and surveys created by community members themselves, all on trending topics. Alternatively, you can create polls yourself and request that others respond to them.

    There are a variety of ways to earn with this platform, including live, collaborative surveys and contributing to discussion boards. There's no minimum number of points required for cash out, but you must wait 96 hours after initial registration or 48 hours after changing your email address.

    How it works:

    • Sign into your account online or open the app
    • Select "Surveys" on the menu bar
    • Choose an option and complete the survey
    • Watch for your points to be awarded
    • Cash out at any time via PayPal, gift cards, or charitable donation
    ProsCons
    • Points awarded almost immediately upon task completion
    • Bonus points for loyalty/frequent activity
    • Option to use points as a charitable donation
    • Highly rated mobile app
    • PayPal cash out can take 3-4 weeks
    • Users won't qualify for all surveys

    7. LifePoints

    An online market research company that rewards members for completing surveys, LifePoints surveys focus on products, brands, and services. Members can also earn money via community giveaways and prizes.

    As with other survey sites, you'll want to answer as many questions and give as much detail as possible when setting up your account. The more information you give, the more surveys will be available to you. After setup, you'll receive emails when surveys become available for you.

    How it works:

    • Sign into your account online or via the mobile app
    • Scan your dashboard page for survey options
    • Complete the survey or poll
    • Watch for your points to be awarded
    • Cash out at any time via PayPal or gift cards (550 point minimum)
    ProsCons
    • 10-point welcome bonus
    • Age eligibility is 16+
    • Multiple cash out options
    • Surveys available in 40+ countries
    • Points expire due to inactivity or after 3 years
    • Infrequent survey opportunities

    8. PrizeRebel

    PrizeRebel is one of the oldest and most established survey sites available, established in 2007. It provides opportunities to earn rewards by taking online surveys, joining contests, watching videos, and more. You can even trade in old electronics to be recycled or refurbished to earn money and/or gift cards.

    Interestingly, PrizeRebel surveys occasionally feature quality control questions to ensure you're not just mindlessly filling things out. What really sets this site apart, though, is its incredible list of gift cards and other cash out options. Cash out thresholds are different for each option, but it's a 500-point minimum for PayPal.

    How it works:

    • Sign into your account online
    • Click the "Earn" tab to view the available surveys and opportunities
    • Complete the survey, contest entry, or other action required
    • Watch for your points to be awarded
    • Cash out at any time via PayPal or one of many other options (500-point minimum for PayPal)
    ProsCons
    • Unique option to cash in points for crypto
    • Earn up to 30% of your referral's cash earnings
    • Filter surveys by point value and/or time requirement
    • Payouts processed as quickly as 10 minutes after redemption
    • No mobile app
    • Only one account is allowed per household

    9. SurveyJunkie

    SurveyJunkie pays users to complete online surveys for companies. As with most survey sites, you'll want to include as much information as possible during signup to qualify for more surveys. The site and apps feature a simple design with a long list of survey options on the homepage.

    Installing the Survey Junkie browser extension results in a 100-point bonus and results in more higher-paying surveys becoming available afterward, based on the brands you shop with and sites you visit. The only redemption option for Canadians is via PayPal, but others can exchange points for gift cards or even bank transfers.

    How it works:

    • Sign into your account online or via the mobile app
    • Scroll though the list of survey opportunities
    • Answer required the screening questions
    • Complete the survey
    • Watch for your points to be awarded
    • Cash out at any time via PayPal (500-point minimum)
    ProsCons
    • 25-point welcome bonus
    • Simple, easy-to-use interface
    • Fast processing for cash outs (1-3 business days)
    • Highly-rated mobile apps
    • Earning is limited if you only do surveys
    • PayPal is the only cash out option

    10. Swagbucks

    Although Swagbucks is popular as a paid survey site, users can make money engaging in a wide range of simple online activities, including:

    • Shopping online
    • Watching videos
    • Playing games
    • Completing surveys

    There's even a Swagbucks Daily Trivia app, separate from the more general (and very popular) Swagbucks mobile app.

    If PayPal isn't your preferred method, there's a very long list of other point redemption options, including gift cards from multiple brands and donations to various charities. Cash out thresholds go as low as 750 Swagbucks/$10 for PayPal and $5 for gift cards

    How it works:

    • Sign into your account online or via the mobile app
    • Click "Earn," "Offers," or "Surveys" to view the current earning opportunities
    • Complete the survey or task chosen
    • Watch for your points to be awarded
    • Cash out at any time via PayPal or other methods (750-point PayPal minimum)
    ProsCons
    • Multiple earning opportunities
    • Option to use points as a charitable donation
    • Low cash out minimums ($3 - $5)
    • Highly rated trivia app
    • Inactive accounts are closed after one year
    • Can be difficult to qualify for surveys

    Other ways to earn free PayPal money

    Lots of people don't want to spend their free time filling out surveys – but playing online games? That's another story.

    Earning free PayPal money online doesn't end with survey sites. Especially if you don't mind installing browser extensions or other methods of tracking your phone use and/or online activity, there are a few valuable ways to earn cash.

    11. Mistplay

    Mistplay is a gaming platform that also acts as a loyalty program. Users can play games – mostly on mobile devices – and get rewarded for having fun. Mistplay users tend to stay engaged longer than the average player, making it a useful environment for game developers to gather feedback on their products.

    There are hundreds of games available through Mistplay, including user favourites like Words with Friends, Monopoly Go, and Merge Dragons. Points – called "units" – are awarded based on several factors, including time played, and you can redeem points for gift cards, PayPal cash, and more.

    How it works:

    • Open the mobile app
    • Click on the "games" tab
    • Choose the game you want to play
    • Play the game as usual
    • Watch for your units/points to be awarded
    • Cash out at any time via PayPal or other methods ($10 PayPal minimum)
    ProsCons
    • Hundreds of games in a variety of genres
    • 100-point referral bonus
    • 200-point welcome bonus
    • Bonus rewards for referrals
    • Unavailable for iOS
    • Points only available for games you haven't downloaded before

    12. Freecash

    Freecash offers multiple ways to earn cash, including playing mobile games and taking surveys. Canadians can cash out via PayPal, crypto, and gift cards – Americans have even more options. All considered, Freecash functions like a combination cash back app and survey site.

    The opportunities to earn can be as easy as playing a mobile game until you reach a certain level, or as dull as filling out a lengthy survey. Each offer listed on the app has ratings, and you can view those ratings to see whether the task is worth your time and effort.

    How it works:

    • Open the mobile app
    • Navigate to the "Earn" page
    • Select a game to play or task to complete
    • Play the game or complete the task as usual
    • Watch for your coins to be awarded
    • Cash out at any time via PayPal or other methods ($5 USD PayPal minimum)
    • Opportunities to earn are updated often
    ProsCons
    • Very low cash out threshold ($0.50 for crypto)
    • Age eligibility is 17+
    • Unique option to cash in points for crypto
    • Multiple earning opportunities that update often
    • Not available for iOS
    • Max one account per household

    FAQ

    How to get free money on PayPal?

    Cash back and survey sites/apps are ideal ways to get free money on PayPal. You can earn by signing up for new products and/or services, filling out surveys, contributing to polls, and more.

    What are some survey sites that give you free PayPal money?

    Survey sites that offer you free PayPal money include Branded Surveys, Ipsos iSay, SurveyJunkie, and Swagbucks. You can also play games through Mistplay and/or use Freecash to play games and more to earn PayPal money.

    Are there apps that give you free PayPal money?

    Yes, there are several apps that you can use to earn money and have it deposited into your PayPal account. GeniusCash, Checkout51, SurveyJunkie, Mistplay, and Freecash are just a few of the many apps you can try.

    Do PayPal games really pay?

    Yes, there are many gaming apps that Canadians can use to earn money and have it paid out via PayPal. Mistplay has its own hub of games, or you can use game apps like Solitaire Cash and Blackout Bingo.

    If you liked this article and want more practical ways to save money every day, we've compiled our best tips all in one place.

    Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone, and is not endorsed or sponsored by a bank, credit card issuer, rewards program or other entity. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website.

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