21 Apps That Pay You For Data Collection

Making a passive income online is not always easy. Ultimately, you have to put in time and effort in some way or another. But that’s not the case if you use apps that pay you for data collection. Check out my list for further details.

Are you working to your utmost potential at your day job but still don’t make enough to afford a luxurious lifestyle? Most people would suggest you take up a part-time job or start a side hustle, but let’s face it, it can get exhausting.

Even taking surveys and completing activities on online reward sites after a long day can seem tedious. But don’t worry, you’re not alone.

What if I told you that some apps pay you for doing nothing? Yes, you can download these apps that pay you for data collection and earn a steady monthly income.

However, not all paid data collection apps are safe to use. That’s why I’ve rounded up all the information you’ll need to choose the ultimate app that fits your needs. So, let’s get started.

Best Apps That Pay You for Data Collection

Now that you know the basic concepts about apps that pay you to collect data, it’s time to list the best options. All the options listed below vary according to the

• Information they store
• Devices they accommodate
• Their respective pay rate and payment policies

So read through the details before selecting the ideal one that fits your needs.

1. Honeygain

Honeygain is a popular online data collection app that pays you in exchange for your unused internet data. Your network provider facilitates a constant data connection across all your devices.

However, you might not realize that you don’t use all the data your internet bandwidth connection gives you. It means your network is working idle most of the time. Honeygain lets you compensate for the extra money you pay by allowing the app to use your internet.

The remuneration depends on your internet speed and the number of devices you connect with Honeygain. You can even find an hourly rate calculator on their website, which lets you find your exact pay rate according to your internet quality.

If you let the app run in the background 24 hours a day on a single device, you can earn up to $50 per month.

Like what you are hearing? Read more in this full Honeygain review.

2. MobileXpression

Another free data collection app is MobileXpression. Owned by a well-known mobile research company, it collects data about your everyday internet usage.

You can download it on Android or iOS devices and let it run in the background. It then records the pages you open through your browser, the web searches you conduct, and the time you spend on each page.

It may not seem significant to you, but this information helps shape crucial strategies for website owners and content marketing companies, who pay the app for your information.

You’ll earn a $5 gift card from MobileXpression every week, which you can use to receive discounts at any of its partner brands.

See Related: Pinecone Research Review

3. DataCoup

DataCoup is one of the most accessible data collection apps that pays well while running effortlessly in the background.

However, you can only make money on the app if you provide details for your social media accounts.

The company collects data from these accounts regarding your activities, preferences, and purchase habits. Later, they sell this information to advertisers who show relevant ads on your social media accounts.

If you’re feeling unforgettable about the concept, here’s a reality check: All the social media platforms you use already have algorithms that promote relevant ads to your page.

So, with DataCoup, you’ll at least control which accounts you allow them to access and earn money for sharing your details.

4. UpVoice

UpVoice is another app that pays you for data collection in exchange for gift cards. If you’re not interested in cash prizes and would rather get discounts on your favorite products, this is the ultimate option for you.

The app works on your mobile phones and desktops to collect information regarding your internet activity. Besides that, it regulates the ads you view and sells the data to computer research companies.

The best part is that the app runs effortlessly in the background, not hindering your device’s functionality. Depending on your internet use, you earn 2-50 points on the app daily.

The app’s minimum payout threshold is 600 points. Once you accumulate the amount, you’ll receive a $10 gift card that you can spend at any of their partner retail stores.

See Related: Epic Ways to Get Free Cryptocurrency

5. SavvyConnect

If you want to generate passive income without hassle, you can download SavvyConnect and get paid for your data. Just download the app and keep it running in the background on your devices.

After that, the app will record data whenever you use the internet and sell it to computer research companies. However, the remuneration isn’t much, ranging only from $5-$10 per month.

But, the minimum payout threshold is only $1. It means you can get your free money within a week of signing up and save some spare change.

Additionally, you can download its sister app, Survey Savvy, and take online surveys on the platform to maximize your passive income.

See Related: Ways to Get Free Cryptocurrency

6. Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel

Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel is one of the most popular apps that pay for data collection. You can download the app on your smartphone and desktop and earn money by letting it do its work.

What I love about Nielsen is that it is associated with reliable market research companies. This means that even if it is tracking your every move on the Internet and your mobile, you can be sure your information is in safe hands.

Besides that, the app lets you earn around $50-$100 annually for doing nothing. Additionally, you can participate in short opinion polls, giveaways, sweepstakes, and their referral program to increase your income on the app.

See Related: Best Survey Apps

7. Sweatcoin

If you lead an active lifestyle, Sweatcoin is the ideal data collection app for you. You can download the app on your mobile phone and earn money as you walk around—it’s as simple as that.

According to the total number of steps you walk every day, you will earn Sweatcoins on the app. Later, you can redeem these Sweatcoins for gift cards or cash or use them to participate in sweepstakes.

However, you won’t get rich by downloading Sweatcoin. It is a lucrative app, considering it requires walking around with your phone in your pocket.

Usually, you would conduct this activity every day without getting paid, so why not try the app out? Moreover, if you’re lucky enough to win a sweepstake, you can earn more than $1000 cash prizes.

In my opinion, this makes Sweatcoin worth a try.

See Related: How to Take Surveys for Airline Miles

8. Panel App

For those looking to earn easy passive income online, Panel App is a reliable option. The sign-up process is easy and takes only a few minutes to complete.

The best part is that the app does not ask for sensitive information during the membership process. Just provide your basic demographic details and start earning.

Moreover, you can download the app on multiple devices to maximize your income, gather up all your idle phones, and use them. All you have to do is leave the app running in the background, and you’ll earn some points every day.

Most importantly, the minimum payout threshold is only $1, so you’ll probably get your first gift card within a week of becoming a member. Moreover, the app offers bonus points just for signing up and referring the app to your friends.

See Related: YouGov Review

9. CashMagnet

CashMagnet is a lucrative app that pays you for data collection. To maximize your income, you can download this app on four mobile devices.

The app runs in the background to collect information regarding internet usage data and uses your idle internet connection to run web searches for clients. If you use the app to its maximum potential, you can earn around $50 per month in passive income.

On the downside, CashMagnet can strain your mobile battery while working in the background. But there’s a simple trick you can use if you don’t want it to hinder your everyday operation.

Avoid using the app on your primary phone and download it on the extra phones around the house. This way, you can earn a hassle-free passive income.

See Related: How to Get Free Robux

10. S’Mores Lockscreen

S’mores is an app that pays you for data collection with a unique approach. Instead of running quietly in the background, the app shows its presence by displaying relevant ads on your lock screen.

Don’t worry; the ads won’t hinder your phone performance. You can lock and unlock your phone as usual and earn money just for viewing the ads.

The app collects information about your internet activity and shows ads based on shopping habits and preferences. But you’re not obliged to click on any ad to earn money.

S’more pays around $0.10 per day, and you can redeem your rewards when you reach the minimum limit of $1. The only drawback is that the app is currently only available for Android users.

See Related: Can You Really Hack Your Productivity With The Bizggro App?

11. OnMyWay

If you’re distressed about your long commute from home to your workplace, you can turn it into a source of passive income.

OnMyWay is an app that tracks the miles of driving and collects data regarding your phone activity while driving.

The sign-up process is easy, and you’ll get a $10 bonus as soon as you become a member. After that, you have to leave the app running in the background, and you’ll get $0.20-$2 for every mile you drive without using your phone.

The app provides an incentive to promote safe driving habits in individuals with long commutes. However, you can not redeem your earnings on OnMyWay in cash.

Instead, you can get coupon codes from the partner brands listed on the website.

See Related: Best Survey Sites in South Africa

12. Reklaim (Formerly Killi App)

Reklaim, formerly known as Killi App, is another popular app that pays you for data collection. To get paid through the platform, you just have to download the app and complete your profile.

The app records information regarding your online activities, including your browser searches, shopping habits, and location details. Besides that, you can also increase your passive income on the app by taking surveys and referring the app to your friends.

The best part is that Reklaim only records the information you consent to share with the app. If you don’t wish to share any information with the app, you can always refuse to share.

To run the app more than 12 hours a day, you can easily make $10-$15 per week.

See Related: Loadteam Review

13. Evidation (formerly Achievement)

Evidation, formerly known as Achievement, is an app that pays you for meeting your personal wellness goals. It helps you set a responsible lifestyle and earn some passive income.

You can log your target activities on the app, such as walking, meditation, eating healthy meals, and working out. After that, the more targets you achieve in a day, the more points you earn.

The best part is even if you’re using other fitness apps to track your goals, you can integrate the data on the Achievement app and earn points.

The minimum payout threshold is 10,000 points. Currently, the app pays you around 40 points for walking 14,000 steps and 10 points for tracking your heart rate.

Similarly, you’ll earn points for losing weight and taking health surveys on the app.

See Related: Best Apps Where You Can Win Money

14. Tapestri

Tapestri, the latest and easiest-to-use data collection app to reach the market, pays users for access to the same thing we give away for free: our location data.

Tapestri allows users to earn up to $25 monthly by sharing their location data. Tapestri works with major brands such as Lowe’s, Kohl’s, Amazon, and others to improve the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns.

Because the information is completely anonymous, brands will not contact you. What’s the best part? You can install the app on your phone and forget about it. You don’t have to interact with the app if you don’t want to. 

15. Dosh

The Dosh app allows you to earn cash back on in-store and online purchases made at select retailers using a linked credit or debit card. Although major retailers and offers change regularly, the Dosh app includes popular chains such as Target and Walmart.

After you download the app, you will enter your credit or debit card information. The cash-back rewards will be instantly added to your account whenever you buy something at a partner store. While most stores offer 2% to 3% cash back, some offer 10%.

Even if your credit card offers cash-back rewards, the Dosh app allows you to earn even more. When you have at least $25, you can transfer it to your PayPal or bank account.

16. Drop

Using the Drop app, you can earn cash rewards for shopping at your favorite brands. After downloading Drop, you’ll link your credit or debit card and select your top five stores. When the app detects that you have purchased at one of these locations, you will be rewarded with points.

The number of points you can earn is determined by the number of stores you visit. For example, Target may give you 8 points for every dollar spent, whereas Starbucks gives you 12 points for every dollar spent. You can get gift cards to places like Amazon, Trader Joe’s, and Domino’s Pizza once you have at least 5,000 points, equal to $50.

17. Mobilio

Mobilio’s objective is to reward people for not using their phones while driving. Once you download the app, your phone’s GPS feature activates. The point tracker will start whenever it detects a speed of more than 12 mph for at least 2 minutes.

You will receive one point for each minute you do not use your phone. If the app detects that you are using your phone, a point will be deducted. If you’re using Google Maps, Spotify, or any app, keep your phone in a cradle so it doesn’t move while driving.

You can exchange your points for Mobilio, a new cryptocurrency. In February 2020, Mobilio announced the Mobilio Airbag, the first product available for purchase on its platform.

18. Permission Research

Permission Research, a market research firm, relies on its users to gather valuable information about online trends and behavior. It works by downloading and installing data collection software onto your computer.

As you use your web browser, your internet usage data is collected, pooled, and sold (don’t worry, they protect your information). You can earn cash and gift cards by sharing your data.

Permission Research provides quality data sets to media outlets and companies to help them understand consumer internet usage and behavior and develop better products and online services. These organizations use the data for market research and to better understand how people use the internet.

19. Mobile Performance Meter

Another data collection app that pays up to $6 per month, or about $72 per year, is the Mobile Performance Meter app.  You can earn points for allowing the app to collect data and complete surveys.

100 points = $1, and $5 must be earned before exchanging them for Amazon and other gift cards.

In terms of the data they collect, it’s nothing personal, just:

• What kinds of apps do you use?
• Phone call duration
• The date, time, and number of text messages sent
• The speed of your network and the length of your browsing sessions
• Battery Life
• Survey data

20. National Consumer Panel

You can earn points by submitting your purchase data to the National Consumer Panel. You keep track of what you buy by scanning barcodes on everything you buy with the National Consumer Panel’s mobile app or handheld scanner.

Every time you do so, you’ll earn points in exchange for prizes or sweepstakes entries worth up to $20,000. You can also increase your profits by taking part in specific surveys. 

Because you will be paid in points, you can redeem them for prizes from the National Consumer Panel catalog.

21. PhonePaycheck

PhonePaycheck, a free app, allows you to earn money in exchange for allowing it to use your phone’s processor when you are not using it. The app starts when you plug your phone into a charger and leave it connected to Wi-Fi. The best part is that it does not use your cellular connection or access your personal information.

After downloading the app, you sign in with your Google account, keep track of your earnings, and cash out your winnings as PayPal cash or a gift card once your earnings reach $10.

Use the same Google account to download the PhonePaycheck app onto your old phones to increase your earnings. You can connect up to five devices to a single account. You will be paid if your phone is plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi.

See Related: Nielsen Surveys Review

What is Data Collection?

Nowadays, companies, brands, and retailers rely on consumer research to enhance their customer experience and design effective marketing campaigns.

Some brands partner with popular survey sites to collect qualitative information for this research, while those who need quantitative data depend on passive data collection apps.

Once you sign up for a customer data collection app, the company gets access to your mobile habits, such as the number of calls and messages you receive every day.

Similarly, some data collection apps regulate your demographic location, web browsing habits, everyday commute, purchasing habits, and even physical activity.

Is it Safe?

Data collection is not completely safe. Usually, a free mobile data collection app is either backed by a reputable market research company or partners with well-known brands. To see whether the app is safe to use – you should conduct background research on its affiliated organizations.

Besides that, the safety of data collection apps also depends on your personal comfort. Let’s say you’re okay with an app tracking your location or your calls in the background for some money is your choice.

However, refrain from apps that ask for sensitive information such as your social security number or personal bank account details. Also, checking the user reviews and ratings for an app when using it on your device can help you make your decision.

I have listed some of the best apps that pay you for data collection, which you can download concern-free and earn some extra money.

How Much Can You Earn?

The average earning potential on apps that pay you for data collection depends entirely on the devices you connect to and the app policy. Usually, the payment ranges from $1-$5 for leaving the app running in the background for one day.

I know what you’re thinking. It won’t make you rich overnight, but it is definitely enough to put some spare change in your pocket. After all, you’re getting paid for literally nothing.

Similarly, some apps use your mobile data and suck up your mobile device, which leads to extra costs. So, you should assess these factors before choosing the ideal platform to earn some passive income.

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