Did you know that around 65 billion text messages are sent each year in the UK? And that’s just SMS – not including WhatsApp and other messaging services! A good number of those probably end up on your phone.
But did you know you can actually get paid to text? This post will show you a few ways you can make money by sending and receiving text messages or working as a text chat operator in the UK. These opportunities won’t make you rich, but they can be a fun way to earn some extra cash with minimal effort.
Get Paid to Receive Messages
There are a few apps that pay you just to receive text messages. You don’t have to reply or even read them. Mobile network operators need to test the deliverability of their SMS services, and these apps help them do that by sending and receiving test messages. All you need to do is download the apps on your phone, enter your details, and wait for the messages to come in.
The messages usually contain random letters and numbers. The app reads the code and sends the data back to their server. According to the apps, they only access texts with their code, not your private messages. You earn a few pennies per text, so it’s not a lot, but it’s incredibly passive as long as you don’t mind receiving loads of nonsense texts! You can increase the number of texts you get over time by staying connected to the app and having good phone coverage.
Here are a few apps that pay you to receive text messages. Note that these only work on Android phones:
Money SMS
Money SMS app pays €0.02 per message. They send messages every 24 hours. Once your balance reaches €2, you can withdraw via PayPal, WebMoney, or Bitcoin. They also have a referral program to earn extra money by introducing friends.
SMS Profit
SMS Profit pays between $0.01 and $0.06 per message, with an average of $0.02. You should receive at least one message every 24 hours. You can cash out once your balance reaches $2 via PayPal or Bitcoin.
McMoney
McMoney pays around $0.051 per text, with texts arriving every 2-3 days. The payment threshold is $5.00, and they pay via PayPal. They also have a referral program.
Get Paid to Answer Text Messages
There are also sites and apps that pay you to answer text messages, depending on your skills and experience.
1Q
1Q is a market research company that sends you survey questions via text and pays you to answer. They pay $0.25 for every question you answer, and most are multiple choice, so it doesn’t take long. The best part is that they pay out instantly to your PayPal, so you don’t have to wait months to reach a payment threshold. However, in my experience, I only get a few messages each month, and sometimes weeks go by without any. So, it’s not a big money-maker, but it takes just seconds, and every little bit helps!