Contents
  1. Quick Summary
  2. Are There Any Word Games that Pay Real Money
  3. Key Takeaways
  4. 1. Words to Win
  5. 2. Cash Word: Win Real Money
  6. 3. Wordle
  7. 4. Scrabble® Go
  8. 5. Word Voyage
  9. 6. Wordscapes
  10. 7. Words with Friends 2
  11. 8. Real Money Word Search
  12. 9. Word Star
  13. 10. Word Cube
  14. 11. Letter Quest
  15. Frequently Asked Questions
  16. Conclusion: Some Word Games Pay to Play

You can turn your love of word games into a side gig. There are several word games available that pay cash money when you win. All you need is a smartphone, skill, and a little luck.

Are There Any Word Games that Pay Real Money

There are several word games that pay money. But most of these don’t pay a lot. The payout may be under $20 monthly. Some games promise higher winnings, but this is seldom true. Many games pay via PayPal or give you gift cards.

Key Takeaways

  • Several legitimate word games allow you to earn real money by winning.

  • Popular paid word games include Words to Win, Cash Word, Wordle, Scrabble Go, Word Voyage, Wordscapes, Words with Friends 2, Real Money Word Search, Word Star, Word Cube, and Letter Quest.

  • Some games require paying entry fees to compete for cash prizes, while others let you earn through third-party apps like Swagbucks or Mistplay.

  • Always check reviews and ratings before playing any "pay to win" word games to avoid scams.

Word games are a great way to while away hours when there's nothing else to do. But being paid makes it even more fun. Here are some word games that pay you to play.

1. Words to Win

Designed by Rewardify Inc., Words to Win has a 4.5-star rating on the App Store. It has over 50,000 reviews and the developers have been known to respond to those reviewers who have had issues.

Words to Win is an app that has both crossword and word puzzles. The puzzles are set in different locations throughout the world.

You can enjoy a game while playing to win real prizes daily.

 Words to Win Gameplay

There are fun and challenging words to uncover. You uncover the hidden words to win real money. You can also use Word Connect to win cash.

You start in Australia, where you uncover words in the ocean, beach, and outback. 

You'll later move on to other regions like:

  • Mexico
  • Africa
  • Hawaii

If you’re stuck on a word, there are “boosts” you can use to reveal letters. This will help you win the level.

Words to Win Rewards

There are several ways to win and score some rewards. They include:

  • Instant scratch-off cards where you can win instantly
  • Daily and monthly sweepstakes
  • Bonus prize wheels

With the bonus prize wheel, you keep spinning to increase your chances of getting in-game items and increased rewards. 

The downside to the game is that you must have a minimum of seven dollars to cash out. Most reviews say they stop winning once they hit over six dollars. There's also a lot of ads.

 Another downside for some is that it’s only available on iOS.

2. Cash Word: Win Real Money

Developed by TK Game Studio, the App has a 4.7-star rating. The content rating is high maturity. It has been downloaded over 28,000 times and it’s one of the best free games. Cash Word is also known as Word Link.

Cash Word Gameplay

With this App, you can challenge yourself and improve your puzzle-solving skills and knowledge.

It's simple: all you must do is connect letters to form correct words. Just swipe your finger to connect adjacent letters. The goal is to complete the words.

You can explore thousands of different words. Some are simple three-letter words, while others will challenge your brain.

There's no time limit, so you can play at your own pace on all levels. You can also explore bonus words to get additional rewards.

There are 2,000 levels without repeats.

Cash Word Rewards

The App says it pays via PayPal, but reviewers have said they have yet to receive any money. There is a caveat that cash rewards are subject to following the game rules and terms, so that may be the problem.

Cash Word is available on Android.

3. Wordle


Image source: apartmenttherapy.com

Created by New York-based software engineer John Wardle, Wordle is a daily word game. Users are greeted daily with a fresh word puzzle that can only be solved using a series of process-of-elimination clues.

The game has a browser version and an app version.

The App has four stars on Google Play and over ten million downloads. It's also available in the Apple App Store.

Wordle Gameplay

You're given a five-wide by six-long grid of empty, white boxes. Each box holds a one-word letter. You'll need to type in a five-letter word – any word – and press enter to get the game going.

There aren’t any clues, so this five-letter word is just a guess. Each letter of the guessed word will change the color of the box. For example:

  • If the box turns green, that letter is in the daily word.
  • If it’s yellow, the letter is in the word, but you have it in the wrong place.
  • If the box turns grey, the letter isn’t in the word.

Although the browser version is created differently than the app version, you must still guess the word the same way. However, you can play against friends or strangers on the App.

Wordle Rewards

You can earn some cash playing Wordle if you go through KashKick. KashKick is an innovative incentive program that rewards users for playing games like Wordle.

You’ll receive three dollars by completing the classic mode 25 times within two days of installation. You’ll earn another three if you finish it 40 times within four days of installation.

4. Scrabble® Go

Mobile Game Company Scopely Releasing 'Scrabble Go' With Hasbro And Mattel
Image source: Forbes.com

If you like the original Scrabble® board game, you'll love this App. It plays basically the same way. It has 4.5 stars in the app store with 262,000 ratings. 

copely designed Scrabble® Go and has Hasbro's blessing. Hasbro owns the Scrabble® copywrite.

Scrabble® Go Gameplay

Play the classic game you know and love. You'll use the official:

  • Board
  • Tiles
  • Scrabble® word dictionaries

You can play games on Facebook with friends and family. You'll also be able to use chat emojis and phrases to express yourself.

There are various word games, including: 

  • Duels – this is head-to-head. You’ll be matched up against players with similar skills and play five turns each. You’re on a timer, so be quick. Victories in Duels unlock prize chests.
  • Word Drop – a word search puzzle game that constantly changes.
  • Tumbler – this one is for the anagram lovers. You find high-scoring words from rotating sets of letters in a limited time.
  • Rush – this is where you go solo and play off of yourself. Once more, you're on the clock.

 Scrabble® Go Rewards

If you play Scrabble® Go on Freecash, you’ll be able to play to earn money.

You can make this as an extra income source where you can make up to $25 to play Scrabble® Go. Earnings can be redeemed in several ways. 

They include:

  • PayPal
  • Bank Transfer
  • Gift Card

You’ll need an account with Freecash, but it’s free to sign up. Just select Scrabble® Go from the website’s mobile game section to play.

5. Word Voyage

Word Voyage has over one million downloads and a 4.6-star rating. It was designed by Unico Studio. You’ll take a tour around the world when you visit cities and landmarks to play. 

There are un word search puzzles and crosswords.

Word Voyage Gameplay

To play Word Voyage, you need to download the App. You then do the following:

  1. Find and search for words.
  2. Complete levels.
  3. Unlock new cities and landmarks.

You’ll need to train your brain to find hidden words and meanings.

Word Voyage Rewards

If you play Word Voyage through InboxDollars you can earn cash. InboxDollars makes it easy to know how much money you’ve earned. You’ll accumulate earnings instead of points.

Users can cash out for gift cards or real PayPal cash. Right now, you'll receive a five-dollar bonus if you sign up for InboxDollars.

6. Wordscapes

With more than 50 million downloads, Wordscapes is rated 4.4 stars on Google Play. You can show your vocabulary power by finding words and connecting them.

There are over 6,000 puzzles, so you won't get bored.

Wordscapes Gameplay

The point of Wordscapes is to create words from random letters and fill a crossword puzzle. Letters are swiped in various directions to form a word. It's similar to an anagram.

With other online games, the goal is to make as many words as possible. But, with Wordcapes the blank spaces in the crossword puzzle act as a guide. 

They help you complete words. You move on to the next round once you fill in all the words.

There is an option to request a “hint” if you get stuck. But you’ll have to pay with coins and those costs.

Wordscapes Rewards

Download Wordscapes through Mistplay, and you'll be able to play for monetary rewards. The more you play, the more units you collect to earn gift cards.

Gift cards that can be earned include:

  • Amazon
  • Uber
  • Spotify
  • Google Play

Mistplay is available for Android devices. If you don’t care about playing for gift cards, download the App on Google Play.

7. Words with Friends 2


Image source: businesswire.com

A take on the old game, Words with Friends 2 has light colors and bigger fonts. It’s designed to feel less dark and more modern.

Developed by Zynga, Inc., Words with Friends 2 has 4.6 stars and over 600,000 ratings.

Words with Friends 2 Gameplay

Players or friends take turns forming words vertically or horizontally on the board. The goal is to score as many points as possible for each word.

Words with Friends 2 Rewards

You can play Words with Friends 2 for gift cards through Swagbucks. Go onto the Swagbucks portal and check for games. Download Word with Friends 2 and start playing for rewards.

You need to make 25 moves in player-versus-player mode to earn 500 SBs. These are worth five dollars.

Once you make another 75 more for a total of 100, you’ll earn an additional 1,000 SBs. This will bring your cash total to $15.

There are hundreds of ways to cash out. These include Amazon gift cards and virtual pre-paid Mastercards.

You’ll also receive a ten-dollar bonus for joining Swagbucks.

8. Real Money Word Search

Brought to you by Skillz, Inc. Real Money Word Search has a 4.5-star rating on the App Store. It's the only multi-player word search game that pays real money.

Real Money Word Search Gameplay

You try to beat the clock by finding as many words as you can. You compete against other players. The player who finds the most words in the timeframe wins real money prizes.

Real Money Word Search Rewards

Although it's a free game, if you just want to play for tokens, if you want to pay for cash, you must pay entry fees to join competitions.

You can cash out anytime through your Skillz account and receive payment. Rewards are made through:

  • PayPal
  • Visa
  • MasterCard
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay

You can download Real Money Word Search on iOS or Android.

9. Word Star

Another Skillz, Inc. game, Word Star, has a 4.4-star rating, and it pays real money. Gamers can play in tournaments to see who can solve the puzzles faster.

Word Star Gameplay

You'll move through worldwide destinations with your Avatar. On your way, you'll try to solve puzzle games swiftly. There are two different ways to play. One is a single play against the computer.

The other is in online matches against other players.

There are three ways to see how you stand.

  • Leaderboards
  • Achievements
  • Player Rankings

Word Star has a dictionary of over 40,000 English words.

Word Star Rewards

The quicker you solve puzzles, the more rewards you earn. As you rack up points, your final challenge is to nail the final word for the bonus.

It’s free to download, but you’ll need to pony up some cash to pay the entry fees for the matches.

You can cash out with PayPal and various other methods.

Word Star is available for iOS and Android.

10. Word Cube


Image source: games.lol

With over 100,000 downloads, Word Cube has a 4.7-star rating on Google Play. It allows you to customize themes so you can have the ambiance desired. If you like Scrabble® you’ll like earning real money playing this word game.

Word Cube Gameplay

It's fast-paced. You simply place letters and spell words to win. If you fill in the bonus tiles for additional points, you can play up to five words to get the highest score.

You take on other players head-to-head in all the games. Whoever comes up on top wins real money.

With Word Cube, the playing field is level. Both competing players have the same letters in the same order.

Word Cube Rewards

Although downloading the Word Cube app is free, you must pay some fees to enter cash matches.

You can cash out through PayPal and other methods.

Word Cube can be downloaded on Android.

11. Letter Quest

This is a Skillz Inc. game with a 4.6-star rating, but it only has 89 ratings, so it's pretty new. Letter Quest is a new take on a classic word link game. You can put your skills to the test by finding hidden words on the board.

Letter Quest Gameplay

In Letter Quest, you spell words quickly to advance. The more words you find, the more points you'll earn. You can use words with special letters to earn double points.

There are also multi-player competitions. You compete against players from around the world for real money and prizes. 

Start earning money by playing the game and see how you stack up against the competition by placing it on their leaderboard.

Letter Quest Rewards

Although the App is free to download, you'll need to pay an entry fee to enter competitions. Real money and prizes are not available in the following U.S. states.

  • Connecticut
  • South Dakota
  • Arizona
  • Delaware
  • Louisiana

If you live in one of these states you can still play, you just won’t be able to win money. You can play for fun and win Letter Quest’s virtual currency.

Letter Quest pays via pre-paid cards and PayPal.

There are several different Letter Quests available. One is even for children. So, ensure you download this one from the Apple Store. It is only available on iPhones, iPads, and iPods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Playing word games is a good time, but making money playing word games is even better. We've discussed the different games, but in case you have some questions, here are the most asked.

1. Are there scam word games that don’t pay money?

There are some word games that claim to pay money, but they’ve been reported to be scams. Some of these include Word Roamer, Words Daily, and Island of Words. Always check the reviews before playing a word game that pays money.

2. Are word games good for your brain?

Word games have been shown to increase attention span, verbal fluency, processing speed, and memory. They have also been known to enrich vocabulary.

3. What is the most popular word game?

Wordle is currently the most popular word game. As of 2023, Wordle is four times bigger than the 14 other most popular word games combined.

Conclusion: Some Word Games Pay to Play

There are several word games that pay to play. Although they are free to download, some of them require a fee to enter matches. But if you go through a third party like Mistplay, Kashkick, FreeChash, or Swagbucks, you can play for cash without a fee.

Although many games are legitimate, beware of the bad apples. Before paying money to play, always check the ratings and reviews.

If you have any questions about the Skillz systems or prize tournaments, please contact support@skillz.com

Bob Haegele

About the Author

Bob Haegele Bob Haegele

Bob Haegele, your personal finance guru, draws on years of experience to simplify complex financial concepts and offer actionable advice.

Dedicated to helping you achieve financial success, Bob is here to guide you through every step of your journey to financial freedom with expertise in areas such as investing, student loans, and credit cards. His work has appeared on Business Insider, CreditCards.com, and other nationally recognized outlets.

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