Yes, you can get paid to listen to music, but expectations matter. Most apps pay $10-50/month for casual listening. This guide covers 6 legit options and what to realistically expect from each.
Getting paid for something you already do sounds ideal. The reality is more modest: music-listening apps won't replace income, but they can turn idle listening time into small rewards. Here's what actually works and what to skip.
Music apps are part of a broader ecosystem of apps that pay real money for everyday activities. The music niche pays less than most, but requires the least effort. If you're already exploring ways to get paid for your attention, music apps fit naturally into your earning stack.
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How Getting Paid for Music Works
Music apps pay you for two things: your opinion or your attention. Review apps pay more per task because they want thoughtful feedback on new tracks. Passive apps pay less but require almost no effort — similar to how passive income apps work across other categories.
Review-based apps: You listen to songs (often from unsigned artists) and write short reviews. Pay ranges from $0.05-0.20 per review. Active work, better pay. These function like micro-task apps but focused entirely on music.
Passive listening apps: You stream music through their player and earn points over time. Pay is minimal but requires zero effort beyond using their app instead of Spotify.
Neither type will make you rich. Treat these as ways to earn small rewards for time you'd spend listening anyway, not as serious income sources. For better earning potential, check out apps that pay real money with higher returns.
Music Review Apps
These pay you to listen and provide feedback. Higher effort but better pay per minute.
1. Slice the Pie
Earnings: $0.05-0.15 per review | Payment: PayPal at $10 | Availability: Global
The most established music review platform. Listen to 90-second clips and write reviews (minimum 60 characters). Quality reviews unlock higher pay rates over time. Also offers fashion item reviews for variety. Read our full Slice the Pie review for detailed earnings data and tips to maximize your pay rate.
Best for: People who enjoy discovering new music and can write quick, thoughtful feedback.
The catch: Low starting rates. Takes 100+ reviews to reach $10 payout threshold. Since it pays via PayPal, it fits well into a stack of apps that pay to PayPal.
2. Playlist Push
Earnings: $1-3 per song reviewed | Payment: PayPal | Availability: Requires Spotify playlist
Higher pay but with requirements. You need an active Spotify playlist with 400+ followers. Artists pay to have their songs reviewed by playlist curators. If you like a song, you add it to your playlist. Wondering if Spotify itself pays you to listen? It doesn't — but curating playlists through Playlist Push is the closest legitimate option.
Best for: People who already curate Spotify playlists with real followers.
The catch: Building a qualifying playlist takes months. Not for beginners.
3. HitPredictor
Earnings: Points for sweepstakes | Payment: Prize drawings | Availability: US only
Rate 30-second clips of upcoming songs. Earn points toward monthly prize drawings rather than direct cash. Fun if you enjoy predicting hits, but no guaranteed payout.
Best for: Music enthusiasts who enjoy rating songs even without direct payment.
The catch: No cash payout. Only sweepstakes entries.
Passive Listening Apps
These pay you just for streaming music through their platform. Minimal effort but minimal pay — the audio equivalent of getting paid to watch videos.
4. Current Rewards
Earnings: $5-20/month | Payment: Gift cards | Availability: US, select countries
Stream music through their app and earn points passively. Also offers games, news, and weather for bonus points. The music selection is decent (licensed radio stations) but not as good as Spotify. See our Current Rewards review for a 30-day earnings breakdown.
Best for: People okay with switching from their usual music app for background listening.
The catch: Lower music quality/selection than mainstream apps. Points accumulate slowly.
5. Mode Earn App
Earnings: $5-15/month | Payment: PayPal, gift cards | Availability: Global
Earn points for music streaming plus additional tasks like surveys and games. The music feature is one of several earning methods within the app. Points convert to various reward options.
Best for: People who want multiple earning methods in one app.
The catch: Music alone won't earn much. Need to combine with other tasks.
6. RadioEarn
Earnings: $1-5/month | Payment: PayPal at $5 | Availability: Global
Play radio stations in background and earn small amounts. Extremely passive but extremely low pay. Works best running on an old phone or tablet you're not using.
Best for: People with spare devices who want truly passive background earnings. Pairs well with other lazy ways to make money.
The catch: Very low earnings. Only worth it on dedicated devices.
Earnings Comparison
For a deeper comparison with expanded app coverage, see our best music earning apps roundup with 10 apps compared side by side.
| App | Type | Monthly Earnings | Effort Level | Payment Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slice the Pie | Reviews | $10-30 | Active | PayPal |
| Playlist Push | Reviews | $20-100+ | Active | PayPal |
| HitPredictor | Reviews | Sweepstakes | Active | Prizes |
| Current Rewards | Passive | $5-20 | Minimal | Gift cards |
| Mode Earn | Passive+ | $5-15 | Minimal | PayPal/Gift cards |
| RadioEarn | Passive | $1-5 | None | PayPal |
Earnings vary by activity level, location, and availability of songs to review. Higher ranges require consistent daily use.
Can Spotify Pay You to Listen?
This is the most common question in the music earning space, and the answer is no — Spotify does not pay users to listen. Spotify pays artists per stream (roughly $0.003-0.005), not listeners. Any website or app claiming you can earn money directly from streaming on Spotify is fraudulent.
However, there is one legitimate way to earn money related to Spotify: becoming a playlist curator through platforms like Playlist Push. Curators with playlists of 400+ real followers get paid $1-3 per song to review and potentially add tracks. It's not the same as "getting paid to listen on Spotify," but it's the closest real opportunity. We break this down in detail in our full Spotify earnings guide.
What to Avoid
Apps promising $100+/day: No legitimate music app pays this much. These are scams or require you to pay first. The same red flags apply across all money-making apps — if it sounds too good, it is.
Spotify payment scams: Spotify does not pay users to listen. Any site claiming otherwise is fraudulent.
Apps requiring upfront payment: Legitimate music reward apps are free. Never pay to access earning features.
FAQ: Getting Paid to Listen to Music
Can you really get paid to listen to music?
Yes, but earnings are modest. Expect $10-50/month from casual use. Review apps pay better than passive listening apps, but both are supplemental income at best. For higher-earning alternatives, see our guide to apps that pay real money.
Which app pays the most for listening to music?
Playlist Push pays the most ($1-3/song) but requires an established Spotify playlist. For beginners, Slice the Pie offers the best balance of accessibility and pay.
Are music earning apps safe?
The apps listed here are legitimate. Avoid any app asking for payment, promising unrealistic earnings, or requesting sensitive information beyond email.
Can I use multiple music apps at once?
Yes. Using Slice the Pie for active reviews and Current Rewards for passive listening maximizes earnings without much extra effort. This is the same stacking strategy used across all passive income app stacks.
Does Spotify pay you to listen to music?
No. Spotify pays artists per stream, not listeners. However, you can earn through Spotify playlist curation via third-party platforms like Playlist Push. Read our full Spotify earnings breakdown for details.
How does listening to music compare to watching videos for money?
Music apps generally pay less than video apps ($10-50/month vs $50-100/month) but require less attention. Video apps need you to actively watch; music apps let you listen in the background. See our video earning guide for comparison.
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