A knowledge harvesting app called Freecash appears to have tricked users because it quickly rose to the highest charts on the App Store and Google Play, where it sat for months until a recent ban.
When you’ve been on TikTok this yr, you’ve greater than likely encountered ads for Freecash. The app has been marketed as a method to become profitable just by scrolling TikTok — and jumped to the highest of the app stores in recent months, peaking on the No. 2 position within the U.S. App Store.
In fact, Freecash pays users to play mobile games — all of the while collecting a heaping amount of sensitive data, in response to cybersecurity company Malwarebytes.
A Malwarebytes report notes that the app may collect details about users’ race, religion, sex life, sexual orientation, health, and other biometrics, adding that the app is actually an information broker trying to match game developers with users who’re willing to put in and spend money on mobile games. Games promoted on Freecash include Monopoly Go and Disney Solitaire, amongst 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 a few of Freecash’s ads, saying the corporate broke its rules around financial misrepresentation. On 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 within the Google Play store. (It has since been removed).
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 undeniable fact that they’re live and commonly pass platform reviews,” an email from Almedia PR manager James Law, signed “Almedia Press Office,” noted. “We don’t comment on internal product strategy regarding specific app listings.”
The query stays how an app like Freecash was in a position to game social media ads and other partnerships to rise to the highest of the app store. The app’s downloads shot up in January 2026 to achieve 5.5 million across global app stores, up from 876,000 in October 2025, in response to data from market intelligence firm Appfigures.
The expansion sent the app into the No. 2 position on the U.S. App Store. Because of organic discovery and other marketing efforts, it continued to carry a top 5 spot nearly each day since January 8. On Google Play, it reached No. 7 overall, Appfigures said.
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 course for around 3 million installs in April.
Nonetheless, Freecash’s game extends beyond misleading TikToks, possible fake rankings, suspiciously favorable Google backlinks, and the apparent use of bots to drive traffic to the app.
A possible bait-and-switch
Before Freecash rocketed to the highest 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, nevertheless 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.
Months later, a second app that already existed on the shop, developed by the Cyprus-based company 256 Rewards Ltd, was rebranded as “Freecash,” and an update was submitted under that app’s ID, in response to the third-party data.
It’s unclear if Almedia acquired the Cyprus-based developer, which was originally called Rewards, or if it simply acquired the developer account. Rewards now not appears to have a functioning website or social media presence, and the team behind the corporate has since moved on to a brand new company, Pushed. (Rewards’ co-founders didn’t reply to a request for comment about their prior company sent via their recent company’s email.)
Almedia’s re-entry into the App Store through one other developer account can have been a way of circumventing a ban on the initial Freecash app. Using one other developer to re-enter the App Store after a ban is a standard, though rule-breaking, tactic. (Almedia’s spokesperson declined to comment about its earlier app takedown.)
A Washington Post report in regards to the scam app ecosystem noted this trend, highlighting several fraudulent apps that may disappear from the App Store after which reappear under a special developer account. Other independent investigations have documented this tactic as well, and infrequently, scam apps’ owners operate a portfolio of accounts, it’s been reported.
It’s unclear if Almedia employed similar practices in approving its Freecash app, but what is obvious is that the Rewards app was renamed to Freecash only five months ago before quickly rocketing to the highest of the Apple and Google stores. The corporate’s spokesperson didn’t say whether its original apps were banned for policy violations.
Apple’s App Store guidelines prohibit apps that attempt to trick its App Review system by doing things like circumventing bans.
After TechCrunch reached out to Apple for comment, the corporate removed Freecash from the App Store for violations of its rules on Monday, citing the misleading marketing. Apple pointed TechCrunch to 2 App Store Review Guidelines, 3.1.2(a) and a couple of.3.1, which forbid scamming users, engaging in bait-and-switch tactics, and marketing apps in a misleading way.
As well as, Apple’s Developer Program License Agreement also says developers cannot engage in illegal, unfair, misleading, fraudulent, improper, or dishonest acts or business practices regarding their app. This includes engaging in bait-and-switch pricing, consumer misrepresentation, deceptive business practices, or unfair competition against other developers, Apple noted.
Almedia can have done something similar on the Google Play Store. The corporate’s original app (developer ID com.freecash.twa — see above) was removed in January 2024, per Appfigures. The present Freecash app is listed under a special developer ID (com.freecash.app2). Google told us it’s looking into the matter. After publication, Google confirmed to TechCrunch that the app was faraway from the Play Store around 2 AM PT on April 15, 2026.
As of Friday, April 10, Freecash was No. 7 on the U.S. App Store and No. 13 on Google Play.
Despite the reports of its deceptive marketing tactics, Freecash had a really high review rating of 4.7 stars. It’s not unusual or particularly difficult for brands to falsify reviews online, nevertheless it’s possible the high rating meant it wasn’t flagged by Apple for removal.
In its statement, Apple told TechCrunch that users should report apps they imagine are engaging in scams or fraud via the reportaproblem.apple.com website.
Updated on April 15 to notice the app has now been faraway from Google’s Play Store.