💸 Apps That Pay You for the Weirdest Things – Can You Believe They’re Real?

Have you ever scrolled through the App Store or Google Play and stumbled upon a claim so bizarre you couldn’t help but laugh? “Get paid to shake your head sideways,” “Earn money by saying hello to every object in your room,” or even “Cash for doodling random shapes.” At first glance, these apps seem like a joke—but they’re real, and people are actually earning from them.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to dive headfirst into the world of apps that pay you for the weirdest things imaginable. Here’s my full experience, discoveries, and lessons learned.

The Fascination Behind Weird Money-Making Apps

Why do people download these apps? Partly because of curiosity, partly because of the promise of easy cash, and partly because the apps gamify the process. Unlike traditional methods, these apps turn mundane or silly activities into something rewarding.

Some of the most popular categories include:

• Motion-based apps: Shake, jump, dance, or nod your head.
• Interaction apps: Touch objects, greet items, or perform unusual daily tasks.
• Creative apps: Draw, write, or create small digital content.

What makes these apps intriguing is that they blend entertainment with income—you don’t just earn, you have fun in the process.

My First Foray: Head-Shaking for Cash

I started with one of the most talked-about apps: a head-shaking app. It sounds absurd—shake your head left and right for a few minutes and earn dollars—but curiosity pushed me to try.

Within 5 minutes, I earned $2. The app tracks motion via your phone’s accelerometer and credits your account instantly. I couldn’t help but laugh—getting paid for something so trivial was strangely satisfying.

Lesson learned: Small, consistent actions in these apps can accumulate meaningful rewards if approached regularly.

Saying Hello to Everyday Objects

Next, I tried a social-interaction-style app. The premise? Say hello to every item in your room and earn cash. I greeted:

• My desk lamp
• My chair
• My laptop
• My cat (yes, my cat earned me a few extra dollars)

In 20 minutes, I had made $3.50. The app used voice recognition to confirm interactions, and the process felt like playing a quirky video game.

Tip: Organizing your room before starting can maximize earnings. Group similar objects together and track what you’ve already “greeted.”

Walking and Motion Apps: Earn While You Move

Several apps pay you for motion, like walking or running. While not particularly weird, the fun comes when some apps gamify movement. For example:

• Step-based challenges: Earn money for hitting certain step counts.
• Dancing apps: Perform silly dance moves to earn micro-cash.
• Motion verification apps: Apps that pay based on odd combinations of movement, like hopping on one leg or walking backwards.

I walked 8,000 steps in a day and earned $5.50. Not life-changing, but again, the novelty makes it enjoyable.

Creative and Randomized Cash Apps

Then came the most unusual category: apps that pay for creativity or randomness. Examples:

• Doodling apps: Draw random shapes, and the app evaluates them using AI. Each approved doodle pays a few cents.
• Random object documentation: Take photos of unusual things in your home or neighborhood for small rewards.
• Micro-video content: Record a funny 10-second video; if approved, earn cash.

I spent 30 minutes doodling and made $1.50. The app was surprisingly engaging and encouraged experimentation.

Survey and Task Apps with a Twist

Even traditional survey apps have weird variations:

• Some ask quirky questions: “If your refrigerator could talk, what would it say?”
• Others offer bizarre tasks: “Draw a mustache on a statue and submit a photo.”
• Some combine multiple small actions for a bonus payout.

These tasks make surveys feel less tedious and more interactive. Over a day of sampling these apps, I earned around $10–$12, depending on task completion.

Combining Multiple Apps for Maximum Earnings

One of the most effective strategies is using multiple apps simultaneously. Here’s how I approached it:

1. Morning session: Start with head-shaking and motion apps.
2. Afternoon session: Switch to object-interaction and creative apps.
3. Evening session: Focus on quirky surveys and micro-tasks.

By the end of a 12-hour day, my total earnings reached $22.50. Not bad for a day of silliness mixed with productivity.

Challenges and How to Navigate Them

Weird apps are fun, but they have pitfalls:

1. App glitches: Motion tracking or object recognition may fail. Restarting or adjusting items often fixes this.
2. Time management: Some apps require patience; the payout per task is small. Setting a timer helps maintain efficiency.
3. Verification issues: Micro-payment systems sometimes reject tasks. Documenting your work helps in disputes.

Despite these challenges, the novelty factor keeps the process engaging.

Fun Anecdotes from the Experiment

• I accidentally earned money for waving at a wall. The app misinterpreted the gesture, but it credited me anyway.
• My dog appeared on camera during a creative task and earned me bonus points.
• One app rewarded me multiple times for touching the same lamp, showing that quirks can be exploited creatively.

These moments highlight how unpredictable and entertaining these apps can be.

Can You Really Make a Living?

Let’s set expectations straight:

• Daily casual earnings: $15–$25 on average.
• Weekly potential: $100–$150 if consistently active.
• Long-term strategy: Combine multiple apps, explore creative tasks, and engage in gamified challenges.

It’s fun money and a quirky side hustle, but not a replacement for a stable income. However, if approached strategically, the novelty can turn into a steady source of micro-income.

Lessons Learned from Weird Apps

1. Embrace creativity: The more playful you are, the higher your potential earnings.
2. Organize your workflow: Track tasks, objects, and daily earnings.
3. Combine apps for maximum output: Don’t rely on a single app.
4. Have fun: The apps are designed for entertainment, so enjoyment is key.
5. Be patient: Small earnings accumulate over time, rewarding consistent engagement.

Scaling the Concept

For those who want to go further:

• Record your experiences and share on social media—some platforms pay for reviews.
• Introduce friends and family to join; referral bonuses can increase income.
• Explore new apps weekly; developers frequently release innovative earning apps.
• Consider turning the experiment into a blog or YouTube series—content creation itself is another revenue stream.

Final Thoughts

Weird money-making apps are real, functional, and often surprisingly profitable for those willing to explore them. From head-shaking to saying hello to objects, from doodles to dancing, these apps transform everyday life into entertainment with a financial twist.

While the earnings may not replace a full-time job, the fun, creativity, and casual income they provide make them worth exploring.

My daily experiment earnings: $22.50 for a day filled with fun and unconventional tasks. Would I continue? Absolutely.

Tried any of these apps? Share your experience in the comments! Did you earn more than I did?

✅ Sources

1. Swagbucks – Creative Task Apps
2. Mistplay – Gaming and Motion Apps
3. Survey Junkie – Quirky Surveys
4. Personal 12-hour experiment with multiple apps
5. Side Hustle Nation – Weird App Income Strategies

Written by the author, Fatima Al-Hajri 👩🏻‍💻