Online Trading Starts Here
EN /interesting-articles/top-25-ways-to-get-extra-money/money-for-signing-up/
AR Arabic
AZ Azerbaijan
CS Czech
DA Danish
DE Deutsche
EL Greek
EN English
ES Spanish
ET Estonian
FI Finnish
FR French
HE Hebrew
HI Hindi
HU Hungarian
HY Armenian
IND Indonesian
IT Italian
JA Japan
KK Kazakh
KM Khmer
KO Korean
MS Melayu
NB Norwegian
NL Dutch
PL Polish
PT Portuguese
RO Romanian
... Русский
SQ Albanian
SV Swedish
TG Tajik
TH Thai
TL Tagalog
TR Turkish
UA Ukrainian
UR Urdu
UZ Uzbek
VI Vietnamese
ZH Chinese
Menu
Advertiser Disclosure

How To Get Free Money For Signing Up

Rinat Gismatullin
Written by:
Rinat Gismatullin
Ciaran Ryan
Reviewed by:
Ciaran Ryan
Chinmay Soni
Fact-checked by:
Chinmay Soni
Updated:
October 27, 2026

Editorial Note: While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for How We Make Money. None of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer.

Best sign-up bonuses give:

Free money for signing up? It might sound too good to be true, but it’s a legitimate strategy many platforms use to attract new users. Whether you're looking to cushion your investment account or just want a little extra cash in your pocket, understanding the ins and outs of sign-up bonuses can be a game-changer. In this article, we’ll break down how these offers work, the best platforms to try, and tips for both beginners and advanced traders.

Best apps and platforms offering free money for signing up

Free money for signing up with crypto exchanges

Many investment platforms have sign-up bonuses. Here are best crypto exchanges, that have such offer:

Best exchanges with sign-up bonuses
Crypto bonuses Min. Deposit, $ Coins Supported Spot Taker fee, % Spot Maker Fee, % Open account

OKX

Yes 10 600+ 0.1 0.08 Go to broker
Your capital is at risk.

Crypto.com

Yes 1 400+ 0.5 0.25 Go to broker
Your capital is at risk.

BTCC

Yes 10 399 0.3 0.2 Go to broker
Your capital is at risk.

Kraken

Yes 10 400+ 0.4 0.25 Go to broker
Your capital is at risk.

PointPay

Yes 1 320 0.12 0.12 Go to broker
Your capital is at risk.

Cashback and rewards apps that pay for signing up

Cashback apps are a popular choice for earning rewards on everyday purchases. Here are some of the best:

  1. Ibotta. Offers a welcome bonus for eligible new users after completing qualifying offers. You can earn cashback on groceries, household essentials, travel, and online shopping through hundreds of participating retailers.

  2. Fetch Rewards. New users may receive a sign-up bonus in points after scanning their first eligible receipt. The app rewards purchases from grocery stores, restaurants, and retail brands, allowing users to redeem points for gift cards.

  3. Rakuten. New members can earn a welcome bonus after making a qualifying purchase through the platform, with bonus amounts varying by promotion. Rakuten also offers cashback at thousands of online and in-store retailers, with payouts sent quarterly via PayPal or check.

Here’s a comparison table for these cashback apps:

Cashback apps with free money for signing up
AppMin. PurchaseBonusProsCons

Ibotta

$0*

Up to $5 welcome bonus (varies by promotion)

Wide range of store offers and cashback opportunities

Bonus requires completing qualifying offers

Fetch Rewards

$0

2,000 points (≈ $2) after scanning your first eligible receipt with a referral code

Works with receipts from thousands of retailers

Rewards per receipt are relatively low

Rakuten

$25 qualifying purchase

$30 welcome bonus after a qualifying purchase of at least $25 (offer may vary by promotion)

Cashback at thousands of online stores with quarterly payouts

Bonus requires making a qualifying purchase through Rakuten

*No minimum purchase is required to create an account, but qualifying purchases or offers may be needed to receive the welcome bonus.

Bank promotions offering free money for signing up

Many banks offer cash bonuses to attract new customers. Here are some of the most popular promotions currently available:

  • Chase Total Checking. Earn $400 when you open a new Chase Total Checking account and receive qualifying direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more within 90 days of enrollment. The account has a $15 monthly fee, which can be waived by meeting direct deposit or minimum balance requirements.

  • Chase Savings. Earn $100 when you deposit $5,000–$9,999 in new money, or $200 when you deposit $10,000 or more within 30 days and maintain the qualifying balance for 90 days.

  • SoFi Checking & Savings. Earn a welcome bonus of $50 or $400 based on the amount of qualifying direct deposits received within a 25-day period after your first direct deposit. A total of $1,000–$4,999 in direct deposits earns a $50 bonus, while $5,000 or more qualifies for a $400 bonus. SoFi has no monthly maintenance fees and offers a competitive APY on eligible savings balances.

Check out our comparison table for these bank offers:

Cashback bank apps
BankMin. DepositBonusMonthly FeeSpecial Feature

Chase Total Checking

$0

$400

$15 (waived with qualifying direct deposits or minimum balance)

Access to 16,000+ ATMs and 4,700+ branches nationwide

Chase Savings

$10,000

Up to $200

$5 (waived with qualifying balance or linked checking account)

Competitive savings rates and tiered cash bonus

SoFi Checking & Savings

$0

$50–$400

None

High-yield checking and savings, no monthly fees, and early direct deposit

Survey platforms with sign-up bonuses

Participating in online surveys is another easy way to earn extra money. Here are some of the best platforms:

  • Swagbucks. New users can earn a $10 welcome bonus after earning their first 300 SB points (typically by completing surveys, shopping, or other qualifying activities). In addition to surveys, you can earn rewards by watching videos, playing games, shopping online, and completing special offers.

  • Survey Junkie. New members receive 75 bonus points for creating an account and completing their profile (worth about $0.75). Users earn additional points by completing surveys, which can be redeemed for PayPal cash, bank transfers, or gift cards once they reach the minimum payout threshold.

  • Toluna Influencers. New users receive 500 welcome points after registering and completing their profile. Members can earn more points through surveys, polls, product testing, and community activities, then redeem rewards for PayPal cash or gift cards.

Free money with prop trading companies

Prop trading companies offer traders the opportunity to trade with the company's capital after passing an evaluation process. While the companies don't technically offer "free money," they do provide various benefits like fee discounts, trial challenges, and capital allocation upon passing evaluations. Here are a few reputable options:

Best prop trading firms
FundedNext FTUK Goat Funded Trader SabioTrade FTMO

TU overall score

9.4 9.2 9.1 8.9 8.48

Profit split up to, %

95 90 95 90 90

Funding Up To, $

4 000 000 6 400 000 2 000 000 1 000 000 2 000 000

Min Trade Days

2 1 3 No time limits 4

Demo

Yes No No Yes Yes

Instant Funding

No Yes Yes No No

Open an account

Go to broker
Your capital is at risk.
 Go to broker
Your capital is at risk.
 Go to broker
Your capital is at risk.
Go to broker
Your capital is at risk.
Go to broker
Your capital is at risk.

How to get free money for signing up: a step-by-step guide

  1. Research and choose a platform
    Start by identifying the platforms offering the best sign-up bonuses. Look for platforms with a good reputation and a bonus structure that matches your financial goals. Discover the best apps to make money.

  2. Register and verify your account
    After selecting a platform, complete the registration process. This typically involves providing personal information and verifying your identity. Be cautious and ensure you're signing up on the official website to avoid phishing scams.

  3. Meet the bonus requirements
    Each platform will have specific conditions for claiming your bonus.

  4. Claim and use your bonus
    Once you've met the requirements, claim your bonus. Depending on the platform, you might receive cash, stocks, or points. Consider reinvesting these funds or withdrawing them based on your financial strategy.

How to get free money for signing up: a step-by-step guideHow to get free money for signing up: a step-by-step guide

Considerations for users

  • Platform reputation. Always verify the legitimacy of the platform. Stick to well-known companies or use trusted review sites to ensure your money and information are safe.

  • Understanding terms and conditions. Thoroughly read the fine print. Look for hidden fees, conditions on withdrawing the bonus, and minimum activity requirements.

  • Minimum investment and deposit requirements. Start small. Choose platforms that allow you to begin with low initial investments or deposits to minimize risk.

  • Managing multiple accounts efficiently. Use tools like Google Sheets to track account details, bonus requirements, and deadlines to ensure you meet all conditions without confusion.

Risks and warnings

  • Scams and fraudulent platforms. Beware of offers that seem too good to be true. Scammers often use the promise of free money to lure in unsuspecting users.

  • Hidden fees and conditions. Look out for fees that might eat into your bonus earnings, such as monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance penalties.

  • Overestimating potential earnings. Don’t assume you’ll easily earn hundreds or thousands of dollars. Bonuses often have stringent requirements that can be hard to meet.

Pros and cons of sign-up bonuses

  • Pros
  • Cons

  • Easy way to start investing or earning without significant upfront costs.

  • Access to various platforms and services with minimal risk.

  • Potential hidden fees and complex withdrawal processes.

  • Bonuses may be small relative to the required investment or effort.

Compare the conditions, not just the bonus amount

Anastasiia Chabaniuk
Anastasiia Chabaniuk Educational Content Editor

From my experience reviewing sign-up promotions, I would start with the conditions rather than the headline reward. A $400 bonus that requires a qualifying direct deposit may be straightforward for someone who already plans to move their salary, while a smaller crypto reward could require deposits, trading activity or other steps that make it less attractive in practice.

I also recommend checking the platform’s reputation, regulatory status where relevant, eligibility rules and withdrawal conditions before signing up. A larger bonus is not worth taking additional counterparty or financial risk. The best offer is usually one that fits an activity you already planned to complete rather than one that encourages you to deposit, trade or spend more solely to unlock a reward.

Conclusion

Sign-up bonuses can provide an accessible boost to your finances if chosen wisely, but the key is always in the details. Whether it's a $400 cash incentive from a bank like Chase Total Checking or a modest $5 offer from Ibotta, the true value comes from understanding the requirements and the platform's reputation. Savvy users look beyond headline figures and choose bonuses that align with their existing habits or needs, avoiding the pitfall of chasing rewards that demand unnecessary spending or complicated steps. Ultimately, the smartest approach is to treat sign-up bonuses as a way to supplement your financial goals without exposing yourself to undue risk or hassle.

FAQs

What are common conditions required to unlock the best sign-up bonuses for 2026?

Sign-up bonuses typically require users to complete specific actions such as making qualifying deposits, performing a certain amount of trading or purchases, verifying their identity, or completing onboarding steps like profile completion. Each platform sets its own criteria, so reviewing the eligibility and withdrawal requirements is essential.

How do minimum deposit or activity requirements affect the value of sign-up bonuses?

Minimum deposit and activity requirements can significantly impact the real value of a sign-up bonus. Higher minimums may tie up more of your money or demand more effort to unlock the reward. Comparing these requirements helps you balance the potential bonus against the resources and commitment needed to obtain it.

Can sign-up bonuses be combined across multiple platforms for greater total rewards?

Yes, users may sign up for various platforms that offer sign-up bonuses, provided they meet each platform's terms and are eligible. Efficiently tracking requirements and deadlines is important to ensure all bonuses can be fully earned and utilized without missing critical steps.

What withdrawal restrictions commonly apply to sign-up bonuses?

Withdrawal restrictions often include completing certain activities, maintaining minimum balances for a specified period, or meeting trading or spending thresholds. Some bonuses may initially be locked and only become available for withdrawal once all listed conditions are satisfied.

Editors' Top Picks and Insights

All news
Best Affiliate Programs Of Brokers And Crypto Exchanges
Parshwa Turakhiya
20 hours ago
Higgsfield AI: How to Earn Extra Income in 2026
Anastasiia Chabaniuk
3 weeks ago
Trading Psychology Explained: How To Control Emotions In The Market
Emilio Ghigini
4 days ago
The Opposite Of FOMO: How JOMO Builds Stronger Decisions
Maxim Nechiporenko
4 days ago
Which Market Is Best For Trading?
Alamin Morshed
4 days ago

Team that worked on the article

Rinat Gismatullin
Rinat Gismatullin
Author and business expert

Rinat Gismatullin is an entrepreneur and a business expert with 9 years of experience in trading. He focuses on long-term investing, but also uses intraday trading.

Learn about our editorial policies
Ciaran Ryan
Ciaran Ryan
Editor at Traders Union

Ciaran Ryan is a veteran financial journalist based in South Africa, where he covers cryptocurrency, mining, stock markets, and governance for Moneyweb. He also hosts the weekly Moneyweb Crypto Podcast.

Chinmay Soni
Chinmay Soni
Head of Fact-Checking Department

Chinmay Soni is a financial analyst with more than 5 years of experience in working with stocks, Forex, derivatives, and other assets. As a founder of a boutique research firm and an active researcher, he covers various industries and fields, providing insights backed by statistical data.

Glossary for novice traders
Prop trading

Proprietary trading (prop trading) is a financial trading strategy where a financial firm or institution uses its own capital to trade in various financial markets, such as stocks, bonds, commodities, or derivatives, with the aim of generating profits for the company itself. Prop traders typically do not trade on behalf of clients but instead trade with the firm's money, taking on the associated risks and rewards.

Forex Trading

Forex trading, short for foreign exchange trading, is the practice of buying and selling currencies in the global foreign exchange market with the aim of profiting from fluctuations in exchange rates. Traders speculate on whether one currency will rise or fall in value relative to another currency and make trading decisions accordingly. However, beware that trading carries risks, and you can lose your whole capital.

Index

Index in trading is the measure of the performance of a group of stocks, which can include the assets and securities in it.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is a type of digital or virtual currency that relies on cryptography for security. Unlike traditional currencies issued by governments (fiat currencies), cryptocurrencies operate on decentralized networks, typically based on blockchain technology.

Yield

Yield refers to the earnings or income derived from an investment. It mirrors the returns generated by owning assets such as stocks, bonds, or other financial instruments.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Who We Are
Business Solutions
For Users
TU News
Popular Sections
Disclosures
CONTACT US
Legal
We are in Social Media
© IAFT Ltd., 2010-2026 All rights to the website are owned by IAFT Ltd.,
Registration number - HE 336186
  • Risk disclosure:

    Information on the TradersUnion.com website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute any motive or suggestion to visitors to invest money. Moreover, we hereby warn you that trading on the Forex and CFD markets is always a high risk. According to the statistics, 75-89% of customers lose the funds invested and only 11-25% of traders earn a profit. Trading in futures and options carries substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor.

    That is why you should only invest money that you are prepared — or can afford — to lose at such high risks. Tradersunion.com does not provide any financial services, including investment or financial advisory services. Also, the Traders Union is not a broker and does not get money for trading in the Forex or CFD markets. Our website only provides information on brokers and the markets and helps its users to select the best brokerage company based on detailed information and objective analysis of brokers.

  • Disclaimer:

    Traders Union (TradersUnion.com) shall not be liable for the consequences of trading decisions made by the Client and for the possible loss of his capital resulting from the use of this website and information published on it.

    Forex market, CFD and cryptocurrency trading involves high risks and is not suitable for everyone. Before investing money, you need to adequately assess the level of your expertise and be aware of the risks, particularly in the context of trading with leverage. The information on this website is not intended for distribution or use by any person in any country or jurisdiction, where such distribution or use would be in violation of the local law or regulation. Any payments by Traders Union (TradersUnion.com) to the users of our website shall be legally interpreted solely as an incentive on our part for the activity on the website in the form of a deduction of a part of the advertising income; they shall not be a subject of any claims of our users or our obligations, a subject of disputes, as well as cannot be considered in relation to the services provided to users by brokers, both in fact and in their completeness and volume. The administration of the website shall not be liable for the content of user comments and reviews about the companies and shall not verify whether the authors of the reviews are indeed real clients of a specific company. All reviews, both negative and positive are published on the website without verification of their reliability; only offensive reviews that call for violence or any kind of discrimination and also reviews published from one group of IP addresses are moderated and removed. The authors of the materials shall be fully liable for the accuracy, completeness and impartiality of any information in the articles and reviews, including in the context of their use or mention of any brand names or trademarks. All mentions of the names of companies and their brands in any materials on the website shall be made in the context of communication of socially important information to the people about their activities by independent journalists, who are the authors. All evaluations and indicators on the website express the subjective opinion of the authors of the reviews (articles) and shall not be viewed as accurate statements and be a subject of disputes and claims against Traders Union.

  • Disclosure of advertisers and revenues:

    All the services on the Tradersunion.com website are free for you to use. Our team spends thousands of hours per annum researching brokers and gathering information about them to help investors all over the world to choose reliable companies and to avoid fraudsters.

    Indeed, the curating, sourcing, and organization of this process requires substantial financial investment by Tradersunion.com, which the website earns in the form of advertising payments. There are two types of advertising services on the website — direct advertising or partner (broker) participation programs. However, no services purchased by our partners shall affect the recommendations on our website, or our opinions, or ratings. Our ratings are based on our objective rating criteria and methodology; and the results are always equally and fairly applied to each broker. The work of our content authors and research groups does not involve any interaction with our advertisers and they do not have access to data concerning the amount of advertising purchased. For over 10 years we consider our independence, absolute openness, and objectivity as our main priority. Please follow the links to each of our affiliated broker’s websites. This will help Tradersunion.com to continue to provide our services to you for free.

onepercentfortheplanet.org https://gdpr.eu/ GDPR World Association of News Publishers