A data harvesting app called Freecash appears to have tricked users as it quickly rose to the top charts on the App Store and Google Play, where it has sat for months until a recent ban.

If you’ve been on TikTok this year, you’ve more than likely encountered ads for Freecash. The app has been marketed as a way to make money just by scrolling TikTok — and jumped to the top of the app stores in recent months, peaking at the No. 2 position in the U.S. App Store.

In truth, Freecash pays users to play mobile games — all the while collecting a heaping amount of sensitive data, according to cybersecurity company Malwarebytes.

A Malwarebytes report notes that the app may collect information about users’ race, religion, sex life, sexual orientation, health, and other biometrics, adding that the app is essentially a data broker looking to match game developers with users who are willing to install and spend money on mobile games. Games promoted on Freecash include Monopoly Go and Disney Solitaire, among others.

In response to a January report from Wired that found Freecash used deceptive marketing techniques and nudged users to spend money in games, TikTok pulled some of Freecash’s ads, saying the company broke its rules around financial misrepresentation. At the time, Freecash denied involvement, saying the ads were generated by third-party affiliates, not itself.

On Monday, after being contacted by TechCrunch for comment, Apple pulled Freecash from its App Store. As of Monday afternoon, the app was still listed in the Google Play store.

Image Credits:Freecash website screenshot

When reached for comment, Almedia, the Germany-based company that owns Freecash, denied allegations of driving artificial traffic to its platform or using deceptive marketing techniques.

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“Our apps are fully compliant with the Apple App Store and Google Play Store policies, as demonstrated by the fact that they are live and regularly pass platform reviews,” an email from Almedia PR manager James Law, signed “Almedia Press Office,” noted. “We do not comment on internal product strategy regarding specific app listings.”

> @cloveerika Decided to make a video bc I’m sure they would have taken my comment down lol. BUYER BEWARE! #foryoupage #xyzbca #pyramidscheme

♬ Classic classical gymnopedie solo piano(1034554) – Lyrebirds music

The question remains how an app like Freecash was able to game social media ads and other partnerships to rise to the top of the app store. The app’s downloads shot up in January 2026 to reach 5.5 million across global app stores, up from 876,000 in October 2025, according to data from market intelligence firm Appfigures.

The growth sent the app into the No. 2 position on the U.S. App Store. Thanks to organic discovery and other marketing efforts, it continued to hold a top 5 spot nearly every day since January 8th. On Google Play, it reached No. 7 overall, Appfigures said.

Image Credits:Appfigures (opens in a new window)

Appfigures told TechCrunch that Freecash’s downloads peaked in February, reaching nearly 6 million, but have since been declining. Current estimates had put the app on track for around 3 million installs in April.

However, Freecash’s game extends beyond misleading TikToks, possible fake ratings, suspiciously favorable Google backlinks, and the apparent use of bots to drive traffic to the app.

Image Credits:Appfigures (opens in a new window)

A possible bait-and-switch

Before Freecash rocketed to the top of the Apple and Google app stores, it was created under two different developer accounts.

Third-party data from market intelligence provider Appfigures shows that Almedia GmbH, the German company behind the Freecash app, first submitted Freecash to the Apple App Store on March 24, 2024, but it was removed after around two months on June 13, 2024. (Appmagic sees its removal on June 12 – see below.)

This version of the app was downloaded an estimated 69.5K times before removal, Appfigures said.

Image Credits:Freecash's original listing, data from AppMagic (opens in a new window)

Months later, a second app that already existed on the s

How the rewards app Freecash scammed its way to the top of the app stores