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How I Scored Over $2,000 in Free PayPal Money

Hey there! If you‘re looking for proven ways to get free PayPal money, you‘ve come to the right place. As a side hustler and personal finance blogger, I‘ve earned over $2,000 in free PayPal funds and gift cards through various apps, bonuses and promotions.

In this detailed guide, I‘ll show you the exact tactics and platforms I use to earn free PayPal cash reliably each month. Whether you want to make an extra $100 this week or save up for a special purchase, these tips can help you reach your goals!

Let‘s Start With Paid Online Surveys

Taking online surveys in your spare time is one of the easiest ways to earn free PayPal money quickly. Here are my go-to survey sites:

SurveyJunkie – My #1 Pick

With over 4.5 million members, SurveyJunkie is a trusted and secure platform. I’ve easily made over $500 here with surveys paying $2 – $25 each. I like how you can qualify and start taking niche surveys on all types of topics right away.

“I average around $20 per hour on SurveyJunkie by being selective and checking for newly added surveys daily,” says Amy, a longtime user. “The $5 instant PayPal payout is a bonus – it adds up quickly!”

To maximize your earnings, provide accurate profile information and take advantage of member-only higher paying surveys. Study their tips on qualifying for surveys here.

SurveyJunkie pays via PayPal or gift cards. I recommend setting a daily goal, like making $5 per day. This can quickly net you a $100 per month based on an average of 30 minutes of survey time daily.

Swagbucks – Earn Gift Cards and Cash

Swagbucks is a popular rewards platform that pays you to take surveys, shop online, play games, watch videos and more. While they don’t offer direct PayPal cashouts, I’ve earned over $300 redeeming points for PayPal and Amazon gift cards.

Surveys here pay $0.50 – $2 generally, with the occasional $3 – $5 survey. “I average around $10 per week in Amazon gift cards on Swagbucks with about 1 hour per day of activities,” says Alex, a college student user.

Pro tip – Wait for 2X or 3X point events to take surveys and redeem SB points for maximum value.

With consistency, you can realistically earn $25 – $50 per month in gift cards on Swagbucks. Sign up with this link to get a $5 welcome bonus.

InboxDollars – Get Paid to Watch Videos

InboxDollars is another rewarded community with all kinds of earning activities. I’ve earned over $100 taking surveys and getting paid to watch videos, play games, and more.

You can cash out on InboxDollars starting at $30 via PayPal or check. One tip from a top user – “Make sure to confirm your email and verify your address to unlock higher paying surveys and offers.”

With InboxDollars, you can potentially earn $40 – $60 per month working about 30 minutes daily. Use this link to join and get a $5 signup bonus.

Pro Tip: Check all 3 sites daily and cash out your earnings once you hit the minimum threshold. This will add up to free PayPal money in no time!

Cashback Apps – Passive Income from Regular Shopping

Cashback apps give you money back for shopping like normal at thousands of stores and restaurants. It takes just a few extra seconds at checkout to earn 1-20% back in free PayPal cash.

Here are the top 3 apps I always use:

Rakuten – The Cashback King

Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is my favorite way to earn automatic cashback. I’ve earned over $500 in free PayPal money just for shopping online and offline as normal.

They offer up to 40% cashback at major stores like Walmart, Best Buy, Nike, Macy‘s, and more. There‘s no minimum payout, and your cashback goes instantly to your PayPal balance monthly.

“I average around $30 per month in free PayPal money from Rakuten without even trying too hard,” says Lisa, a savvy bargain hunter. “It takes minutes to check for coupon codes and activate cashback. The browser extension makes it effortless.”

Follow influencers and check the Rakuten blog weekly for the best cashback offers. During the holiday season, you can earn over $100 back from shopping gifts on Rakuten.

Ibotta – Great for Groceries and Everyday Essentials

With Ibotta, you earn cashback and rebates on everyday purchases like groceries, gas, rideshares, restaurants, and more. Just select offers in the app, make qualifying purchases, scan your receipts, and cash out your earnings.

I’ve earned around $150 with Ibotta since I regularly buy groceries and household items anyway.

“I usually get at least $10 back per month using Ibotta for my weekly Walmart and Target runs,” says Savannah, a busy mom. “Every bit of savings counts, and it’s an easy habit to build.”

You can cash out your Ibotta earnings on PayPal starting at $20. Refer friends to earn $10 each.

Drop – Automatic Rewards

Drop is a fast-growing cashback app that offers 1-20% automatic cashback at places like Amazon, Target, Uber, Starbucks, Airbnb, and more. Just link your credit or debit card and let the savings stack up.

I’ve earned over $75 in free PayPal money with Drop just using it as my normal payment card. There‘s no minimum cashout which is a major bonus.

Ryan, a Drop power user says, “The passive cashback really adds up for me. I average around $25 per month without putting in any extra effort."

Track your cashback earnings and learn about new offers by following Drop on Instagram and Facebook.

Target earning $20 – $50 per month across these 3 cashback apps. It can seriously add up if you use them regularly!

Referral Bonuses – Get Paid to Share

Referral programs that offer bonuses for sharing apps with friends are an easy way to score free cash. Here are some worthwhile PayPal referral offers:

PayPal Money Bonuses

PayPal offers $10 for referring a friend who creates an account and spends at least $5. Your friend gets $10 too, so it‘s a real win-win.

I’ve earned over $100 referring my siblings, classmates, coworkers, and really anyone I think would use PayPal. People are always excited about getting free money.

Pro tip – Share your custom referral link via text and email. Remind friends to use it when signing up and to complete their $5 transaction.

MooMoo and Public Stocks

I’ve also earned free stock shares (valued from $5 to $200) by referring friends to install the MooMoo and Public investing apps.

Both platforms give you a free stock slice for signing up, and an additional free stock for each successful referral. It’s a relatively easy $10 value just for sharing apps you already use.

Uber, Lyft and Delivery Credits

Refer friends to apps like Uber, Lyft, Instacart, Uber Eats, Postmates, etc. and you get a credit like $5 – $20 off your first order or trip. Your friends usually get a discounted first ride too.

I’ve earned around $50 in free rides and delivery credits which I cash out for PayPal funds after using. Easy passive income!

Pro Tip – Post your referral codes to social media and text them privately to close friends when relevant. People love saving money.

Resell and Freelance Online

Selling used items or your skills online is a bit more hands-on, but can be quite lucrative:

Sell Used Stuff

I’ve earned over $500 reselling lightly used clothes, shoes, electronics, furniture, and other household items online that I no longer needed.

Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp are great for bulky furniture or meeting local buyers. For clothing and accessories, Poshmark is my go-to.

Lisa makes $200-300 per month reselling part-time on Poshmark. “Taking styled photos and sharing my closet daily helps me consistently earn sales. The free shipping kits and direct deposits make the payout process easy.”

Freelance Skills

In college, I earned $15-20 per hour freelancing for clients I found on Fiverr. I charged $5 – $50 for social media, research, data entry, and administrative tasks that I could do quickly.

Now I freelance in my spare time as a financial writer and virtual assistant. The income helps cover monthly expenses and build savings.

Tina earns $400+ per month moonlighting as a contract accountant and tutor on Upwork. “I love the flexibility to set my schedule and rates. Over time as you build reviews, your profile gains trust and earns higher paying clients.”

The key is finding quick, simple services you can provide at competitive rates. Don‘t underprice yourself either. The income can be meaningful.

Bonus Hacks to Earn Free PayPal Money

Here are a few more creative ways I’ve scored free PayPal cash and gift cards:

  • Playing games and completing tasks on app reward platforms like Mistplay, Swagbucks, and LootUp. I earn $5 – $10 per week in points and gift cards in my downtime.

  • Getting cashback at gas stations with apps like GetUpside and GasBuddy. I earn around $5 – $15 per month in PayPal gift cards.

  • Taking advantage of limited-time sign up bonuses and promotions. I’ve scored $20 – $50 in free credits from apps like Drop, Pei, Dosh, and Rakuten this way.

  • Trading unwanted Amazon or other gift cards for PayPal cash using subreddits like r/giftcardexchange. Done this for $100+ so far!

  • Entering giveaways for free PayPal money on blogs and social media. Actually won $50 from an Instagram giveaway once – it does happen!

Every little bit adds up. Combining passive cashback earnings, surveys, referrals, reselling, and promotions easily nets me $400 – $500 extra in free PayPal money each month.

Top Tips to Earn Safely

Here are my best tips to earn free PayPal money safely:

  • Stick to legitimate platforms like SurveyJunkie and Swagbucks with a reputation for paying out fairly. Avoid “free money” offers that seem sketchy or too good to be true.

  • Never pay money upfront to get your “rewards”. Avoid membership fees. Free means free! Legit platforms earn from advertisers, merchant commissions, etc.

  • Don’t give sensitive personal information like SSNs, bank logins, etc. Never share more than needed for age verification and payment.

  • Use unique passwords and two-factor authentication to secure your accounts from fraud. Earning extra income is useless if you’re at risk of identity theft.

  • Check for transparent payment policies, positive reviews, proof of payouts, and direct communication channels before investing time and effort into any platform.

  • Diversify your efforts across a few trusted platforms, so you have multiple income streams. Never rely solely on one site or app.

  • Withdraw your earnings ASAP once you hit the minimum payout threshold. Don’t let it accumulate for too long in your account balance.

  • Have realistic expectations, work consistently, and maximize your efforts for the best earnings results. Understand each platform’s payment rates and time investments needed.

  • Enjoy the process! Side hustles and beer money platforms should be fun and rewarding. Don’t dread the grind. Experiment to find what you honestly enjoy and pays decently.

Start Earning Free PayPal Money Today!

Thanks for reading my complete guide to getting free PayPal money! I hope you found the tips helpful and actionable. Don‘t overthink it, just take that first step to sign up, set aside consistent time, and start making money.

It won’t make you rich, but earning an extra $500+ per month can make a real difference. You can use the funds to help cover bills, save up for vacations, pay off debt, build an emergency fund, or reach other financial goals faster.

Remember to share your referral codes, diversify your efforts, cash out earnings promptly, have fun, and build safety habits. Wishing you the best of luck – you got this! Let me know how it goes or if you have any other questions.

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Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.