Last Updated on January 13, 2022

So much of your data is shared these days. When you search online or download an app, other companies can use this data for research purposes. Data collection apps are very popular, and some of them will even pay you money. 

Yes, you can get paid just to use an app or digital program as you normally would. Data collection apps don’t pay a ton, but they can be a great way to earn some money passively with very little effort.

In this article, you’ll learn more about how data collection apps work and which options are best to get started with.  

What Are Data Collection Apps? 

What Are Data Collection Apps

Data collection apps are common because companies value your data and are even willing to pay money for it.

In terms of ‘data’, personal or sensitive information like your mailing address or financial information is not sought after.

Instead, brands and market research companies want to know things like your shopping habits including which products you buy and how often.

They may also want to know how often you use certain services or what your favorite brands are. This helps researchers collect enough information to create or improve products and services. 

Have you ever come across a product or service that seemed like it was made for you or solved a direct problem you had? Odds are this wasn’t a coincidence.

Researchers and companies paid lots of money and spent lots of time gathering important data on consumer data to develop those products that are tailored to a specific audience. 

The average person has 40 apps installed on their phone. Many of these apps are probably tracking your data whether you know it or not.

If you’re using apps and the internet regularly anyway, you might as well get paid for your data with some of these safe and credible options. 

10 Best Data Collection Apps That Pay Best Data Collection Apps That Pay

If you’re ready to start making money with data collection apps and programs, there are many options to start with.

Keep in mind that data collection apps won’t make you a ton of money, but you’ll get paid something for doing no work at all which is a pretty good deal.

If possible, consider signing up for more than one of these popular apps that pay for data collection to help maximize your earnings. 

1. Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel 

 

The Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel uses its platform to get a better understanding of how consumers use the internet. The best way for them to analyze this is by recording and studying which websites people visit.

All you have to do is register or download the Nielsen Computer  Mobile Panel onto your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Their goal is to unlock computer and mobile trends among consumers.

Some additional data that they gather include the types of apps you use and the content you listen to and view. 

This daily monitoring is important to Nielsen and they’ll even compensate you for it. Compensation includes receiving sweepstake entries, playing games, and earning points.

Having Nielsen on your computer automatically enters you into their $10,000 monthly drawing. Games like spin-the-wheel and scratch-off are used to help reveal potential rewards. Just for downloading and staying active, you can redeem an award of up to $50 every year. 

You can either use the reward through PayPal or gift cards from places like Walmart or Amazon. You must be at least 18-years-old, and be the owner of the device you choose to download the software on. 

Try Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel Today!

Related:

Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel Review: Where’s My $50?

16 Ways to Get Free Money Right Now

2. MobileXpression 

 

MobileXpression is another data collection app to consider. MobileXpression makes it pretty clear that the only thing they are monitoring on your phone is your browsing and what apps you have downloaded on your device.

So, your text messages, phonebook, and photos are all safe from them. You must own or control a phone that is compatible with MobileXpressions software. 

The platform is available on both IOS and Android. 2 million people have signed on to help improve the internet. The longer you participate the more chances you’ll have at earning.

Over the years they’ve given out over $5 million in gift cards. You can apply to become a partner right on the app or website.

In just one week of using MobileXpression, you’ll see at least $5 in rewards as a sign-up bonus. There are many different retailers you can pick for your gift card including AMC theater, Dunkin Donuts, and more.

Try MobileXpression Today!

Related: How to Get Paid to Search the Web

3. CapitalOne Shopping (Paribus)

Capital One Shopping was formerly known as Paribus, and it’s an app that helps you save money on your purchases. This is a free price protection service where you can give Capital One Shopping access to your purchasing receipts. That way, they can monitor the items you purchased for price changes.

If you happen to buy something and the price decreases shortly after, Capital One Shopping can let you know and request a refund from the store. 

Many shoppers don’t know that they may be entitled to a refund if the price of an item changes quickly after they purchase it. Capital One Shopping also instantly checks for coupons, better prices, and rewards to help you save. 

The only downside is that you have to allow access to the email address that you use for virtual receipts.

However, Capital One doesn’t read your emails or share information with third-party companies. They only monitor your receipt emails to help you score rebates and savings. 

4. Evidation (Achievement)

evidation

Achievement is now Evidation, but even with a new name, the app still has many of the same features. Achievement awards points for each time you meditate, log meals, walk and do other healthy activities. Earn $10 for every 10,000 points you accumulate. There are a few different options when it comes to redeeming these points. 

You can either donate to a charity, set up direct deposit, receive a PayPal payment, or through a gift card. Rewards are paid no later than 7 days of requesting. Many people get points just from logging their steps.

In the past year alone, more than 1 trillion steps have been logged into Achievement. If you’re able to join there is also an Evidation study you can contribute to as well. 

This research focuses on getting answers on human health. Not only do you get insight in return for your answers, but also scientists publish some of this research into medical journals so everyone can benefit. 

5. Dosh

Dosh app

Another data collection app to earn with is Dosh. After downloading their app, you can then link your debit or credit card. Once you start purchasing things you’ll have the chance to earn cashback with each purchase.

You can use the Dosh app to earn cashback on both in-store and online purchases from participating retailers. You can earn up to 40% cashback for booking a room within the over 600,000 hotels Dosh partners with. 

Dosh also promises to never share the data they collect from you with anyone else. Users can earn from dining out as well  There are over 10,000 local restaurants that participate.

They don’t stop there because well-known, fast food restaurants we know and love are available as well. These are just a few of the ways you can earn simply by letting the app track your spending. 

Your wallet must reach at least $25 before you can cash out with Venmo, PayPal, or bank transfer. Also in order to cash out, you’ll need to have a debt or credit card linked to your account and also a verified email. 

6. OnMyWay

OnMyWay pays people to stay off their phones while driving. Picking up a phone while driving is a bad habit that can cause some big problems on the road.

OnMyWay is trying to help people avoid trying to do this. Just add your phone number onto the site and you’ll get a link texted to your phone to download the app. For every mile you don’t text or use your phone you’ll receive $0.05. Passengers can also earn while in the car as well. 

It will also be a benefit to refer people you think would be interested as well. Not only do you earn $2 for every referral but also $0.02 for every mile they drive without using their phone.

Since launching they credit themselves with saving over 180 lives, and preventing over 27,000 accidents. In order to earn all you have to do is keep your phone locked while you’re driving. The platform will automatically activate when you drive over 10 MPH. 

7. Pei 

Get rewarded for tracking your spending with Pei. Earn both online and in-store by linking your card(s). The platform allows you to trade Bitcoin using cashback with as little as $1. This can also be done without pre-funding your account beforehand. Users can earn up to 8% APY on the currency. 

This free mobile application automatically offers cashback in both USD and Bitcoin. Pei is currently only available in the United States. In order to cash out with PayPal, you have to have at least 2,500 points. You’ll also need to make a qualifying purchase through a Pei merchant to redeem your points through PayPal. 

Another option is cashing out through the Pei wallet. The minimum required to cash out with this method is 1,500 points which is equivalent to $15. PayPal and Bitcoin cashouts are typically completed in 1-2 days.

During busy times that can look more like 3-5 days. Earn up to 40% cashback on purchases from the 120,000 partner stores. 

8. UpVoice 

Upvoice

Be a part of the UpVoice community and earn by simply using your social account. You just continue browsing like normal you don’t have to change up your routine too much. One thing UpVoice will focus on is the ads that pop on during your visit to your social media networks. 

Once you’re in and a qualified member of the panel you can collect tokens. UpVoice is available through desktop as a windows app Edge/Chrome. The platforms you can earn points from is Facebook, Amazon, YouTube, Linked In, and Twitter.

Every day you get 10 points for the first supported site you visit and then also 1 point for every site after that. The maximum daily amount for the 5 sites is 14. 

Members must be at least 18-years old and fall within a demographic profile which is subject to change. Make sure you don’t have an ad blocker on because you won’t be able to be tracked if it’s active on your computer.

You can redeem your rewards once you’ve reached 600 points or $10. Make additional money by referring people to UpVoice. You can refer up to 20 people with each sign up earning you $5. 

Related: 12 Apps That Give You Free Money

9. Honeygain

honeygrain

Honeygain is the first app of its kind. They allow you to make money online by sharing your internet connection. The goal is to monitor your usage history.

The app supports macOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and iOS. Some of the information that’s gathered is your IP address, payment methods, and your email address. 

You don’t have to worry about the safety of the platform because the app can’t be accessed by outsiders according to the site. Your earrings will depend on the demand for traffic and the number of simultaneous Honeygain users in your area.

Honeygain has made over 20,000 payments with $500,000 paid out. The average time to hit $20 in earnings is 48 days.  Honeygain uses your internet connection to gather helpful information from their clients. 

There is currently a $5 bonus just for signing up for Honeygain. Honeygain is available all over the globe and not strictly in the United States. 

10. Safe2Save safe2save

Safe2Save gives you another chance to earn for paying attention while driving. They want you to limit your distractions when behind the wheel. The app is available to both iPhone and Andriod users.

When creating your account you have three options. You can just enter your account information normally, or they also allow you to sign up with either Facebook or Apple. 

After creating an account and downloading the app the next step would be opening the app before you start driving down the road. You can earn 2 points for every minute you drive over 10 MPH.

The app will use GPS is gather the information. If you drive while on your device no points will be rewarded. Redeem your points for a chance to receive a gift card to your favorite stores. 

Is Sharing Your Data Safe? Is Sharing Your Data Safe

Naturally, when you’re opting in to share your data for the chance to earn rewards, cash and prizes, you may wonder how secure the program is or what your data will be used for. This presents the common question: Is sharing your data safe? 

Most of the apps on this list address this question pretty clearly. A quality data collection app will really take the time to ensure that your information is safe and not illegally sold or shared with other companies. Normally, the information can only be seen by the data collection company itself or any relevant client.

Each company should have a privacy policy and terms that clearly disclose how they use your data and who they share it with. Take the time to read these policies over to make sure you’re okay with them before getting started.

Sometimes, apps will also ask your permission to share or use certain data so you can have the final say. Finally, make sure the app or program clearly shares how they will protect your data and which security or encryption methods they use.

Start Getting Paid For Your Data and HabitsStart Getting Paid For Your Data and Habits

Earning passive income has never been easier thanks to these free data collection apps and programs. Yes, mobile data collection tools may require you to give up some of your privacy, but in many cases, an individual is not singling out your specific data.

Instead, it’s being used analyzed by an algorithm to help researchers discover different trends and habits to better improve certain products and services. 

Plus, these apps really pay and they’re so easy to use without having to switch up your normal routine. The driving apps are great because you’ll make money just for keeping your family safe and avoiding distracted driving.

Some of the other apps on this list pay you to stay active or help you save money on your purchases. These apps take your privacy very seriously and avoid any uninvited parties to try and hack your information.

If you’re looking for a way to make passive income without a lot of hassle, consider signing up today.

About the Author

Virginia Nakitari is a full-time blogger and a work from home expert. Join Virginia and 200,000 monthly readers on EarnSmartOnlineClass to learn how to make money online, even as a beginner. Before starting this blog, Virginia worked as a freelancer, specializing in general transcription and virtual assistance. Her wide clientele comprised of business coaches, podcasters, bloggers, and other online entrepreneurs. It's through these interactions that Virginia developed a knack for writing and showing people how to work from home, make money online and attain financial freedom.

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