7 Reward Apps That Shut Down — and What to Use Instead in 2026
Reward Apps Keep Shutting Down — Here's What to Use Instead
If you've ever searched for "best reward apps" or "how to earn free gift cards," you've probably seen lists that include apps like SlideJoy, CoinOut, Viggle, Lucktastic, AppBounty, Tapporo, or PayoutPass.
The problem? All of these apps have shut down.
In this guide, we'll cover what happened to each one and give you the best working alternatives for 2026.
1. SlideJoy — Shut Down 2019
What it was: A lock screen app that paid you to see ads on your phone's lock screen. SlideJoy had over 2 million downloads.
What happened: The business model (ad revenue from lock screen placements) couldn't sustain payouts. As ad rates fell and users found workarounds, SlideJoy shut down. The domain (getslidejoy.com) is now a parked GoDaddy page.
Best alternative: Zarfo — Free rewards from casual games, spins, and scratch cards. No surveys, no purchases required, $5 minimum payout. Start earning free →
Full SlideJoy alternatives guide →
2. CoinOut — Shut Down 2022
What it was: A receipt-scanning app that paid you to photograph your shopping receipts. Simple concept: snap a receipt, earn coins, cash out.
What happened: CoinOut struggled with declining advertiser revenue and receipt fraud. The domain (coinout.com) now returns a 403 Forbidden error.
Best alternative: Zarfo earns you rewards without buying anything first, or Fetch Rewards if you specifically want receipt scanning.
Full CoinOut alternatives guide →
3. Viggle — Shut Down 2018
What it was: A TV check-in app that used audio recognition to verify what you were watching and paid you points for TV time.
What happened: TV advertising budgets collapsed as streaming took over, and the audio recognition tech wasn't reliable enough. Viggle's domain (viggle.com) no longer resolves.
Best alternative: Zarfo — Play quick games on your phone while watching Netflix or any show. No audio verification needed.
Full Viggle alternatives guide →
4. Lucktastic — Pivoted 2020
What it was: A free scratch card app where you scratched virtual cards for chances to win real cash and gift cards. Over 10 million downloads at its peak.
What happened: Low win rates frustrated users, and parent company MobilityWare pivoted from rewards to traditional mobile gaming. The domain (lucktastic.com) now redirects to MobilityWare's website.
Best alternative: Zarfo's scratch cards offer the same instant-win experience with consistent small wins and a $5 minimum payout.
Full Lucktastic alternatives guide →
5. AppBounty — Shut Down ~2018
What it was: An app-discovery platform that paid you to download and try new apps. You earned credits for each app you installed and used.
What happened: The app bounty model collapsed as advertisers realized most users uninstalled apps immediately after earning their bounty. AppBounty's domain (appbounty.net) no longer resolves.
Best alternative: Zarfo — Earn by playing games you actually enjoy, not forcing yourself to download apps you'll immediately delete.
6. Tapporo — Shut Down ~2017
What it was: Similar to AppBounty — earn rewards for downloading and trying apps, watching videos, and completing tasks.
What happened: Same story as AppBounty. Low retention from advertisers killed the economics. The domain (tapporo.com) no longer resolves.
Best alternative: Zarfo — Game-based earning that doesn't force you to download apps you don't want.
7. PayoutPass — Shut Down ~2019
What it was: A reward platform that offered gift cards for completing tasks, surveys, and offers.
What happened: PayoutPass never achieved meaningful scale and shut down when its offer wall providers pulled out. The domain (payoutpass.com) no longer resolves.
Best alternative: Zarfo — A growing, actively maintained platform with multiple earning methods and reliable payouts.
Why Do Reward Apps Keep Shutting Down?
The pattern is consistent across every shutdown:
| Reason | Examples | |--------|----------| | Ad revenue collapse | SlideJoy, Viggle | | User fraud | CoinOut, AppBounty | | Low engagement/payouts | Lucktastic, PayoutPass | | Advertiser pullback | Tapporo, AppBounty | | Unsustainable business model | All of them |
The common thread: Apps that depend on a single revenue source (ads, offers, or app installs) are fragile. When that one source dries up, the app dies — and users lose their earnings.
Zarfo is different. Multiple earning methods (games, spins, scratch cards, raffles, daily check-ins, and the ZARFO token) mean the platform stays healthy even if one method becomes less profitable.
Quick Comparison: Dead Apps vs Working Alternatives
| Dead App | Shut Down | Best 2026 Alternative | Key Advantage | |----------|-----------|----------------------|---------------| | SlideJoy | 2019 | Zarfo | Active earning > passive lock screen | | CoinOut | 2022 | Zarfo + Fetch | No receipts needed | | Viggle | 2018 | Zarfo | Better hourly rate than TV check-in | | Lucktastic | 2020 | Zarfo | Consistent scratch card wins | | AppBounty | ~2018 | Zarfo | No forced app downloads | | Tapporo | ~2017 | Zarfo | Play games you enjoy | | PayoutPass | ~2019 | Zarfo | Multiple earning methods |
How to Protect Yourself From App Shutdowns
- Cash out early and often — Never leave more than the minimum in your account
- Choose platforms with diversified earning — Single-source apps are most fragile
- Avoid apps requiring purchases — You shouldn't need to spend money to earn money
- Check the domain — If the website returns 403, 410, or doesn't resolve, the app is dead
- Use browser-based platforms — App-only platforms can be pulled from stores overnight
Join Zarfo for free → — Browser-based, diversified earning, low $5 payout, no app download required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a reward app is still active?
Check three things: (1) Does the website load? (2) Is the app in the App Store/Play Store? (3) Are there recent user reviews? If any of these fail, the app may be shut down or dying.
What reward apps actually pay in 2026?
Zarfo, Swagbucks, Fetch Rewards, Mistplay (see alternatives), and Microsoft Rewards are all actively paying in 2026. See our full comparison: 7 Legit Money-Making Apps That Actually Pay →
Can I get my money back from a shut-down app?
Unfortunately, no. When reward apps shut down, users typically lose any unredeemed earnings. This is why we recommend cashing out as soon as you reach the minimum threshold.
Why does Zarfo have a $5 minimum instead of $1 or $2?
A $5 minimum keeps the platform sustainable by reducing payment processing costs. Apps with very low minimums ($1–2) often can't cover their payment processing fees and shut down — as CoinOut and SlideJoy demonstrated.
Done with dead apps? Start earning on Zarfo → Free, no surveys, no downloads, no dead links.