Best Solitaire Apps to Play for Real Money
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“Playing solitaire to win real money”... A few years ago, this statement would have seemed strange and unusual because everyone knew solitaire to be a simple, casual game that people played strictly for fun.
Today, playing free solitaire games and winning real cash rewards is a reality for thousands of people across the globe.
Of course, as with anything that involves making real money online, it’s important to practice due diligence and ensure you’re not wasting your time on another scam. To save time, I’ve compiled this list of the seven best free solitaire games tested and proven to pay out real cash prizes.
How to play solitaire
Check out the Microsoft Solitaire collection on your computer, and you’ll immediately notice numerous game variants, the most popular being Klondike Solitaire. This is the classic solitaire game that we all know and love. While each version of solitaire has its own unique gameplay, there are some general instructions on how the game is played.
Many of these free solitaire games also offer mini-games and daily challenges, making the game experience more exciting and allowing you to earn more rewards.
Get Up to $83 Per Win With Solitaire Cash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $83 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
Gameplay requirements
A standard Solitaire game requires one 52-card deck (without Joker cards). The card ranking goes from K (highest), Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and Ace (lowest).
How the board is set up depends on the version you’re playing. For instance, in a classic Klondike solitaire card game, the cards are stacked in seven columns with one card placed face up on each column and a specific number of covered cards underneath, except for the first column with no covered cards. In Spider Solitaire, on the other hand, the cards are only available in a single suit (Spades, Clubs, Hearts, or Diamonds).
The objective also differs with each version of solitaire, but ultimately, you want to eliminate cards from the board in a prescribed order. Basically, you can only move the cards under the restrictions provided.
We’ll go over the gameplay for each game in this list so you’ll better understand how to play and, more importantly, how to win cash, Amazon gift cards, and other exciting prizes.
Is it a game of luck or skill?
If, like me, you’ve spent a good amount of time playing card games, you’ll know that they require a fair bit of skill. Solitaire games are no different. Yes, luck has its place in the game, and you may occasionally find yourself with an easier card formation, but you still have to consistently make the correct moves at every turn. This takes skill, not luck.
So, let’s just say you need a mix of luck and skill to win at solitaire and take home the resulting rewards.
With all that out, here are the top seven free solitaire apps you can download on your Apple or Android device and begin winning real money.
Best free solitaire apps for real money
1. Solitaire Cash
At the top of the list is Solitaire Cash, an upgraded and more engaging version of the classic Solitaire card game. Plus, you can win big (up to $83 per win), making it one of the highest-paying online solitaire games. You also get bonus cash for referring your friends ($1 per friend that joins).
Solitaire Cash is free to play and is available for download on the App Store for iOS devices — iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. Solitaire Cash is a decent way to earn some extra cash.
Gameplay
The setup process is straightforward once you download the Solitaire Cash game app. You’ll need to select an avatar and a username, after which you’ll go through a brief tutorial about the gameplay and how the app scores games.
Solitaire Cash follows the same rules as Klondike Solitaire. The goal is to eliminate cards off the board in a specific order — from Ace to King — and into the four foundation piles at the top of the board. On the board, you’ll need to arrange the cards so that they are in descending order in each column. The cards need to be alternated by color, meaning if there’s a black card, it must be followed by a red card in descending order.
If you run out of moves, tap the stockpile to uncover more face-up cards to help arrange your stacks. The game ends when you have all the cards in the foundation piles or run out of moves.
Get Up to $83 Per Win With Solitaire Cash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $83 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
Winning money on Solitaire Cash
There are two primary ways to win real money in Solitaire Cash, and both involve staking your own money. The first is through multiplayer events. Here, you’ll compete against a fellow gamer with a similar skill level. You put your money into the prize pot, and the winner takes all. You’ll need to think and act quickly, as there’s no pausing the game once you start. You and your opponent will play using the same deck of cards and board, and the moves are recorded in real-time.
The second way is through cash tournaments, which require you to test your solitaire skills against some of the best players across the United States. Different tournaments have different prize payouts and entry fee requirements, but you’ll still be matched against people within your skill range. Make your way up the leaderboards and compete for larger prize winnings. The top three winners in the tournament share the cash prizes.
When you’re ready to cash out, you can withdraw your winnings into your PayPal account, Apple Pay wallet, or your Visa/Mastercard credit card.
Is Solitaire Cash legit?
Yes, it is. The game was developed by Papaya Gaming LTD, a leading mobile game developer with several other legit cash games under their brand, including Bubble Cash, Bingo Cash, and 21 Cash.
Solitaire Cash is rated 4.6/5 based on over 276k reviews on the Apple App Store. The development team is also quite responsive, so you can reach out anytime if you encounter any issues with the gameplay or payouts.
Get Up to $83 Per Win With Solitaire Cash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $83 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
2. Solitaire Clash
This classic card game is fun and free to play, with an immersive game design and nifty features that make for a truly enjoyable and rewarding gaming experience. In Solitaire Clash, you’ll compete against real gamers to win real cash prizes and other cool rewards.
You can download Solitaire Clash directly from the App Store on your iPad or iPhone. Using a Samsung device, you can also get the game from the Samsung Galaxy Store. At the moment, it’s not available on the Google Play Store.
Gameplay
The gameplay is similar to classic solitaire, so if you already know how to play that, it should be easy to play Solitaire Clash. You aim to arrange the cards on the board in descending order and alternating colors in each tableau.
You’ll need to move the cards from one column to another and from the stockpile to build an organized stack in each tableau or column at each turn. Once you have a complete stack, the cars in the tableau are cleared from the board, leaving behind a space where you can start building a new stack. Keep in mind that under classic solitaire rules, only a King card can be placed in an empty space.
You win the game when you’ve successfully cleared all the cards off the board and onto the foundation piles at the top of the board. Conversely, the game ends when you’ve run out of moves and lost.
Solitaire Clash is one of the best free games out there because the gameplay is super simple to follow. Plus, you can play as many practice games as you need to hone your skills before competing for real money rewards.
Get the Best Sign-up Bonus in the With Solitaire Clash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $115 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
Winning money on Solitaire Clash
Like many other cash games on this list, the primary way to win cash is to compete against real players with similar skill levels in multiplayer competitions and cash contests. These contests have five to 10 players battling until the top three winners emerge.
You’ll need to put some of your money into the prize pool to participate in either. For example, in the multiplayer mode, let’s say you put up $1, and your opponent puts up $1. Whoever wins claims the money in the pool. You can also win gems, which allow you to enter cash tournaments. This is ideal for people who are just starting and skeptical about depositing their money.
How much you can win per game depends on the prize pool size and how well you play in tournaments. You can also win bonus cash, gems, and additional rewards from the mini-game modes available.
When you’re ready to cash out, initiate the withdrawal process, and the funds will be transferred to your PayPal account.
Is Solitaire Clash legit?
Solitaire Clash is a legit mobile game developed by AviaGames, Inc. This California-based mobile game developer boasts a wide collection of game apps, all of which can be accessed from its Pocket7Games platform. Solitaire Clash is rated #2 in the Casino category on the Apple App Store. It also boasts a 4.8/5 rating from over 147k ratings.
Get the Best Sign-up Bonus in the With Solitaire Clash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $115 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
3. Solitaire Smash
Making its debut on the App Store in October 2021, Solitaire Smash is one of this list's newer free solitaire game apps. In that time, it quickly became a favorite among solitaire fans worldwide. More than that, the game offers real opportunities to make some extra money.
Solitaire Smash is only available for download on the Apple App Store. However, Windows operating system users can also play the game online through its web app version.
Gameplay
Solitaire Smash is essentially your everyday classic solitaire, as far as the gameplay is concerned. Based on my description of the rules above, I'm hoping it’s enough to give you an idea of how to play the game. Regardless, there’s no steep learning curve when playing solitaire. As long as you know your way around a deck of cards, getting acquainted with the game mechanics should be easy.
Get Up to $83 Per Win With Solitaire Cash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $83 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
Winning money on Solitaire Smash
This follows the same process as with Solitaire Cash and Solitaire Clash. You’ll be pitched against real fellow players with similar skill levels, and the winner gets the cash prizes.
Cash tournaments are also available where you can compete for larger rewards but higher stakes. In tournaments, you want to get a high score at each turn. At the end of the tournament, the scores are tallied, and the top three players win the cash rewards.
Another way to make money on Solitaire Smash is through referrals. I haven’t personally tried this, but the game claims you can win up to $100 for inviting your friends.
In any case, I particularly love Solitaire Smash because it allows me to play free online solitaire while browsing the web on my computer. Other games require downloading on your mobile device, but this lets you play and win rewards online.
Is Solitaire Smash legit?
The game is rated 4.8/5 from nearly 21k reviews on the App Store.
Get Up to $83 Per Win With Solitaire Cash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $83 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
4. Solitaire Fortune
Solitaire Fortune is a free-to-play mobile game app featuring several fun twists that keep the gameplay interesting and engaging. The game is relatively new to the real money gaming scene, only appearing on the App Store in March 2022.
What I particularly like about Solitaire Fortune is that even though it’s a simple card game, the user experience is top-notch. The animations are super cool, and the card designs offer various customization options.
To download the game, your iPhone or iPad must have iOS 12.0. Also, don’t confuse this Solitaire Fortune with the version available on Google Play Store. While they have the same names, they are created by different developers.
Gameplay
Solitaire Fortune is based on classic game rules but with the chance to win big against real opponents. The game uses the same deck of cards and board for everyone involved, whether it’s a practice against AI, multiplayer mode, or cash tournament. When you start a new game, you will be matched against a similarly skilled opponent, giving you a fair chance of winning the cash prize.
The game follows Vegas scoring rules, but you also score bonus points for completing the game early. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for point deductions, such as when you undo moves or hit the stockpile after the fourth time.
Get Up to $83 Per Win With Solitaire Cash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $83 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
Making money on Solitaire Fortune
You win money on Solitaire Fortune by proving that you’re better than your opponents. As your wins grow, so does your global ranking, which helps move up the leaderboards. Competing in higher-difficulty tournaments means access to bigger cash prize pools.
Expect to be matched against similarly skilled opponents as the game boasts an anti-cheating algorithm that calculates players' skill levels based on their historical wins and losses and the skill levels of the players they defeated.
The game also pays out bonus cash and other prizes that can increase your total earnings. Payouts are processed and transferred to your PayPal account.
Is Solitaire Fortune legit?
Short answer, yes. Solitaire Fortune was created by Tripledot Fortune, LLC, a Seattle-based mobile games studio. The game is rated 4.3/5 based on over 41.9k reviews on the App Store.
Get Up to $83 Per Win With Solitaire Cash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $83 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
5. Solitaire King
This skill-based Klondike card game lets you participate in multiplayer tournaments and win real money rewards. With Solitaire King, you’ll be competing in fairly-matched contests with players from all over the world. I especially love the asynchronous play with no distracting ads to ruin the experience.
The game is free to play and is only available for download on the Apple App Store. So don’t confuse this Solitaire King with the Solitaire King version on Google Play Store.
Gameplay
The aim of the game is simple — clear cards off the board and into the foundation piles in a prescribed order, from Aces to Kings.
While the game is easy to play, even if you’ve never played any solitaire game before, remember that it is ultimately a game of skill, so make the best of every turn within the allotted time.
All players share the same deck and time limit to ensure fairness in cash tournaments. Fair matching is enforced, so you’ll compete in your skill class. One thing to keep in mind, not all games can be solved. When playing solo, don’t hesitate to tap the “Finish” button when you run out of moves so you can at least win time bonus rewards.
Get Up to $83 Per Win With Solitaire Cash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $83 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
Making money on Solitaire King
Rack up those high scores, and you’ll be well on your way up the leaderboards. The higher your rankings, the closer you are to the cash tournaments that offer significantly larger real cash prize pools.
The current season challenge featured a leaderboard with over $10,000 in the pool at the time of writing. However, cash tournaments are unavailable to gamers in the following states: Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, Tennessee, Indiana, Maine, and Texas. You can still play the game in these areas and win virtual currency.
Solitaire King facilitates secure withdrawals to your PayPal account when you’re ready to cash out your winnings.
Is Solitaire King legit?
Yes, Solitaire King is a legit game developed by Acerena Inc, alongside its other flagship fun games, Bingo King and Battle Bingo. On the App Store, it boasts a 4.4/5 rating from over 22.8k reviews.
Get Up to $83 Per Win With Solitaire Cash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $83 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
6. Pyramid Solitaire Lucky 13s
This is the newest on the list, only being released in August 2022. But Pyramid Solitaire Lucky 13s is quickly becoming my favorite game to play when I want to play something mentally stimulating and relaxing at the same time. This is because it follows different gameplay that ultimately requires you to be good at adding numbers in your head.
You can download Pyramid Solitaire Lucky 13s on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac device with iOS 11.0 or later.
Gameplay
Pyramid solitaire is more of a puzzle game. Your goal is to make pairs of 13 with the cards on the board. Once you select the pair and add up to 13, the cards are taken off the board.
In true solitaire fashion, the value of the cards are in descending order — Kings count as 13, so you don’t need a pair; Queens count as 12, so you need to pair them with Aces to eliminate them from the board; Jacks count as 11 and must be paired with 2s; other cards bear their respective face values.
The cards are arranged like a pyramid; you can only start with the cards at the bottom row. When you can’t find any more pairs in the pyramid, you can tap the stockpile to uncover new cards you can use to make pairs. The game is timed; if you can’t clear the pyramid before time runs out, you lose the game.
Get Up to $83 Per Win With Solitaire Cash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $83 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
Making money on Pyramid Solitaire Lucky 13s
Like all the other cash games on this list, you can win real cash and other prizes by competing in tournaments.
One of the best things I love about the game is that these cash tournaments and multiplayer game modes are available to players in about 75% of the world. Most of the other games I discussed here are only available to gamers within the United States, so yay, Pyramid Solitaire Lucky 13s.
Cash out your winnings securely into your PayPal account.
Is Pyramid Solitaire Lucky 13s legit?
Based on my experience so far, I’d say yes. As I mentioned, the game was only launched a few months ago, so there are only a handful of reviews on the App Store (4.6/5).
However, it scores credibility points for being developed by Game Taco, Inc. This seasoned game developer features several games already making waves in the App Store, including Block Trail: Cash Cube Puzzle, King’s Crossing: Puzzle Chess, Wheel of Fortune, and Bingo Bingo! Play For Cash.
Game Taco, Inc is also the company behind the WorldWinner platform that facilitates skill-based competitions with real players across the globe. The company also claims to have paid over $1.5 billion in prizes.
Get Up to $83 Per Win With Solitaire Cash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $83 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
7. Solitaire Cube
We round up the list with another klondike-solitaire-style game. Solitaire Cube is one of the most popular real money game apps available today. The game features exciting gameplay and a refreshing experience with engaging animations, intuitive touch controls, and straightforward tutorials.
In addition to being a high-paying solitaire game, I love that Solitaire Cube is available for download on the App Store, Google Play Store, and Samsung Galaxy Store. This inclusiveness means Apple and Android device users can compete equally for the many cash prizes available.
Gameplay
Solitaire Cube features classic solitaire gameplay. Move the cards around the tableaus and clear the board. Get all the cards into the foundation stacks at the top of the board within the allotted time to win the game.
When playing against real opponents, you’ll need to make the most of your turn and try to score as many points as possible. If the game ends and your opponent has more points than you, they win the game and the cash in the prize pool.
Get Up to $83 Per Win With Solitaire Cash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $83 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
Making money on Solitaire Cube
The Skillz eSports platform facilitates cash multiplayer games and tournaments on Solitaire Cube. This is one of the world's largest platforms for mobile gaming today. You may have even come across some other popular games, such as 21 Blitz, Blackout Bingo, Spades Cash, and many more, all of which are hosted on this platform.
Cash tournaments also follow the same rules — contestants pay an entry fee into the pool and compete against real players. The top three with the highest points share the prize money based on their final position. Tournament entry fees can range from $1 to hundreds of dollars. The higher your skill level, the higher the stakes.
Like all other Skillz games, you can cash your winnings on Solitaire Cube to your PayPal or Apple Pay accounts.
Is Solitaire Cube legit?
Yes, it is a legit cash app. It was developed by Tether Studios and hosted on the Skillz platform. Also, the game is highly rated on the App Store (4.6/5 from over 92K ratings).
Get Up to $83 Per Win With Solitaire Cash
- It's legit: #3 Cards game on Apple Store, average 4.6/5 Stars for 130k ratings
- Get up to $83 per win in minutes
- Deposit cash to multiply your winnings in skill-based cash tournaments
- Cash out with PayPal or Apple Pay
- Cash tournaments not available in: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT & SD.
The bottom line
The world of solitaire continues to expand, and with it, more and more opportunities to make money playing solitaire games. Many of the new variants of the game I haven't even played myself, but just the names alone make me want to give them all a try. In particular, I think I would love to try out the following next — TriPeaks Solitaire, Freecell Solitaire, Yukon Solitaire, Canfield Solitaire, and Forty Thieves Solitaire (super curious about this).
What are your best solitaire games? And are you making money from them? If not, make the most of these seven best free solitaire apps today.
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Writer
Ezekiel Arifalo is a freelance journalist who specializes in personal finance writing and editing. His work has appeared on sites including Nova Credit and Medium.
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