A data collection application called Free cash seems to have fooled users as it quickly climbed to the top charts on the App Store and Google Play, where it remained for months until the recent ban.
If you’ve been on TikTok this year, you’ve probably come across ads for Freecash. THE the app has been released in the market as a way to make money just by scrolling on TikTok — and it has climbed to the top of app stores in recent months, hitting the No. 2 spot in the US App Store.
In fact, Freecash pays users to play mobile games — while collecting a huge amount of sensitive data, according to cybersecurity firm 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 that wants to match game developers with users 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 that Freecash used deceptive marketing techniques and pushed users to spend money on games, TikTok pulled some of Freecash’s ads, saying the company violated its rules on misrepresentation. At the time, Freecash denied involvement, saying the ads were created 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 on the Google Play store.
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 Apple App Store and Google Play Store policies, as evidenced by the fact that they are live and regularly pass platform reviews,” said an email from Almedia PR director James Law, signed “Almedia Press Office.” “We do not comment on internal product strategy regarding specific app listings.”
The question remains how an app like Freecash was able to play social media ads and other partnerships to rise to the top of the app store. Downloads of the app increased in January 2026 to 5.5 million in global app stores, up from 876,000 in October 2025; according to evidence from a market intelligence company Appfigures.
The growth brought the app to the No. 2 spot in the US App Store. Thanks to organic discovery and other marketing efforts, it has continued to occupy the top 5 position nearly every day since January 8th. On Google Play it reached No. 7 overall, Appfigures said.
Appfigures told TechCrunch that Freecash downloads peaked in February at nearly 6 million, but have been declining since then. Current estimates had the app on track for around 3 million installations in April.
However, Freecash’s game extends beyond deceptive TikToks, potential fake ratings, suspiciously favorable Google backlinksand the apparent use of bots to increase traffic to the application;
A possible bait and switch
Before Freecash reached the top of the Apple and Google app stores, it was created with two different developer accounts.
Third party data from market information provider Appfigures shows that Almedia GmbHthe German company behind the Freecash app, submitted for the first time Free cash on the Apple App Store on March 24, 2024, but was removed after about two months, on June 13, 2024. (Appmagic sees its removal on June 12 — see below.)
That version of the app was downloaded about 69.5 thousand times before the removal, Appfigures said.
Months later, a second app was already in the store, developed by the Cyprus-based company 256 Rewards Ltdrenamed as “Free cashand an update was submitted with this app’s ID, according to the third-party data.
It is unclear whether Almedia acquired the Cyprus-based developer, which it did initially called Rewardsor if you just got the developer account. Rewards no longer seem to have a operation website or social media presenceand the team behind the company has since moving to a new company, He pushed. (The Rewards co-founders did not respond to a request for comment about their previous company sent through their new company’s email.)
Almedia’s re-entry into the App Store via another developer account may have been a way around the ban on the original Freecash app. Using another developer to re-enter the App Store after a ban is a common, albeit rule-breaking, tactic. (An Almedia spokesperson declined to comment on the app’s earlier takedown.)
A Washington Post report on the scam app ecosystem noted this trend, noting several fraudulent apps would disappear from the App Store and then reappear under a different developer account. Others independently investigations have documented this tactic also, and often, app scam owners portfolio works of accounts, has been reported.
It’s unclear if Almedia used similar practices to get its Freecash app approved, but what is clear is that the Rewards app was renamed Freecash just five months ago before quickly rising to the top of the Apple and Google stores. The company spokesman did not say whether its original apps had been banned for policy violations.
Apple’s App Store guidelines bans apps that try to trick its app control system by doing things like bypassing bans.
After TechCrunch reached out to Apple for comment, the company removed Freecash from the App Store for violating its rules on Monday, citing misleading marketing. Apple showed TechCrunch in two App Store Review Guidelines3.1.2(a) and 2.3.1, which prohibit deceiving users, engaging in bait-and-switch tactics, and marketing applications in a misleading manner.
Besides, Apple Developer Program License it also says that developers cannot engage in illegal, unfair, deceptive, fraudulent, improper or dishonest acts or business practices related to their app. This includes engaging in bait-and-switch pricing, misrepresenting consumers, deceptive business practices or unfair competition against other developers, Apple noted.
Almedia might have done something similar on the Google Play Store. The company initial application (developer ID com.freecash.twa — see above) was removed in January 2024, per Appfigures. The current Freecash app is listed under a different developer ID (com.freecash.app2). Google tells us it’s looking into the matter.
As of Friday, April 10, Freecash was at No. 7 on the US App Store and No. 13 on Google Play.
Despite reports of deceptive marketing tactics, Freecash had a very high review score of 4.7 stars. It’s not unusual or particularly difficult for brands to falsify online reviews, but it’s possible that a high rating means it wasn’t flagged by Apple for removal.
In its statement, Apple told TechCrunch that users should report apps they believe are involved in fraud or scams through reportaproblem.apple.com website.
