Google Play Credit is an in-store balance that allows you to purchase apps, games, subscriptions, and other types of digital content. They’re not equal to real money as you can only use them within the Google Play ecosystem.
Credits can be acquired through topping up your balance directly from a credit card or through Google Play points. The latter you can get through Google’s dedicated rewards program.
Since Google Play Credit is your primary way of purchasing things within the ecosystem, earning them can be a major part of the digital experience. You can always spend real money, however, there’s plenty of ways to earn Google Play Credit.
How to Earn Google Play Credit
1. Participate in Google Opinion Rewards
Google Opinion Rewards is a survey app, created by the company that provides Google Play Credit as the cash out form. According to users, it’s a great way to get free Google Play Credits due to several reasons:
- Surveys are short and quick. You can complete some of them in just mere minutes and get your Google Play Credits reward.
- Decent earnings. While you only get free Google Play Credits, the maximum payout per survey is equivalent to $1 with users saying they average about $0.25.
- Legitimate. There’s no doubt about the legitimacy of the app as it’s created by Google themselves, so there’s no hiccups or weird payout structures.
Getting started with Google Opinion Rewards is extremely easy. All you need to do is download the app, register an account (or use the one you have with Google), and complete the initial survey.
Once that’s completed, make sure to keep notifications and alerts active. According to users, the surveys are provided sporadically, so you might easily miss them without notifications.
2. Utilize Reward Apps and Websites
Another way to get Google Play Store Credits is through various reward apps and websites that aren’t directly linked to the company. Most of these apps and websites have plenty of ways to redeem rewards with Google Play Store gift cards being one of them.
Here are some popular options:
- Pawns.app: share your internet data or complete surveys to earn points. Points can be redeemed to a Google Play gift card.
- Swagbucks: complete a variety of tasks, ranging from quick to time-consuming, to earn Swagbucks (points). Redeem them for Google Play gift cards.
- Branded Surveys: complete surveys to earn points and redeem them for gift cards or cash.
All of these apps (and most of them in general) work nearly identically. Register an account, download the app or use the website to complete surveys or other tasks. Get enough done and you can redeem your points to Google Play gift cards.
Pawns.app is a bit of an exception as you can also share your internet bandwidth to get points. So, you can both complete surveys and share your internet, making the entire process quicker. It’s a great option if you intend to use both and need to get Google Play Store credits faster.
3. Use Cashback Apps and Sites
Cashback apps and sites are quite similar to reward apps and websites. Instead of getting money or free Google Play codes for performing tasks or filling out surveys, you get a small amount of money for purchasing items.
Some of these sites will work automatically, all you need to do is install a plugin, extension, or app. Others include receipt scanning. While they require more work, they also usually provide better rewards.
For cashback sites and apps, look for options like Rakuten or Honey as these work in many regions and on a wide variety of websites. For receipt scanning sites, Ibotta, Fetch, and Swagbucks are good options.
4. Participate in Beta Testing Programs
Product, UX, UI, and software testing is a popular option that can earn you money and various other benefits, Google Play Store credit included. While Google has a beta testing program themselves, it seems to have no rewards at the moment.
So, you’ll have to turn to third-party testing websites like TestBirds or Beta Family. Both of these websites offer rewards for supporting various developers through voicing your opinions. While you won’t always be rewarded, you can still get Google Play credits for your efforts.
Take note that beta testing programs are one of the more time-consuming methods for earning free Google Play credit as there’s several stages to the process. First, you must play around with the app and perform the required tasks, then submit extensive feedback and only then you may get rewarded with Google Play credit.
5. Take Advantage of Promotional Offers
While not a very strict and detailed method, you can get a lot of Google Play Store credits through various promotions. Sometimes Google themselves run promotions where you can earn extra credit or points for Google Play for any digital purchases.
You can also sometimes find promotions on third-party websites that will provide Google Play Store gift cards for various purchases. As you can always convert Google Play Store gift cards to credits, it’s a great option if you want to get more value out of your purchases.
6. Enter Contests and Giveaways
Finally, if you want to earn free Google Play credit, contests and giveaways are a good option. Although no rewards are guaranteed, it’s a completely free option that takes just a little bit of time.
You can often find contests and giveaways on social media platforms and on websites like Reddit. While Google Play Store gift cards aren’t the most popular options for giveaways, you can still find some of them.
Alternatively, you could find various contests or giveaways that just provide a gift card of your choice. If you win it, you can pick something that would give you Google Play credits.
