Best crypto faucets 2026: Earn free Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but it is possible to earn free crypto.

With crypto faucets, you can collect small amounts of crypto like Bitcoin or Ethereum tokens for free, typically by completing small tasks like watching an ad. Sometimes, a platform that's trying to simply build awareness or educate users will give away crypto.

Think of it more as a dripping faucet rather than a gushing one.

The concept dates back to the early days of drumming up interest in Bitcoin. Gavin Andresen, a software developer and key figure behind the growth of Bitcoin, is credited with setting up the first crypto faucet in 2010, when he gave away 5 BTC per person on a first-come, first-served basis.

Today, that amount would be worth over half a million dollars, but at the time, it was basically nothing. Now, crypto faucets similarly dispense tiny amounts of free crypto, but you probably shouldn't get your hopes up for a windfall, considering that the crypto market is much more mature than it was in 2010. Platforms often give out a handful of satoshis (0.00000001 BTC) or equivalent fractional amounts of other cryptocurrencies.

While it's a straightforward way to earn some free crypto, it's probably not a get-rich-quick ticket, especially considering the time and effort you might put into finding and earning coins or tokens from them. Still, it could be a little boost that's particularly helpful if you want to get your foot in the door before investing your own money.

In this guide, we'll take a deeper look at some of the best crypto faucets.

What are crypto faucets?

Crypto faucets are websites or apps that "drip" small amounts of free crypto. Users can collect this crypto — which might be in the form of Bitcoin or Ethereum tokens, for example — by completing small tasks, like solving captchas or engaging with sponsored content.

Also, crypto faucets can be used to distribute testnet tokens, which are used to test out features on a blockchain. They generally don't have real-world value, but developers might want them to experiment on a testnet.

Crypto faucets generally aren't charitable efforts, but rather marketing tools. In trying to drum up interest in a new crypto coin or token, for example, a project developer might pay or donate crypto to a faucet operator to release some of their crypto. Or a crypto operator might be trying to drum up its own business, like by collecting money from advertisers. When users watch ads, some of that ad revenue is distributed as free crypto.

How crypto faucets work

For users, the way crypto faucets work is pretty simple. You typically just create an account on the faucet platform of your choice, which mainly involves adding your email and wallet address. You might not even have to create an account with some crypto faucets, particularly for some testnets.

Then, complete the tasks the faucet platform asks, like solving captchas, filling out surveys, or watching ads. As you complete the tasks, you earn rewards that get deposited into your account. There's often a cooldown period, where you have to wait before completing more tasks for more crypto. Accumulated rewards, such as BTC, ETH, DOGE, etc., might be automatically transferred to your wallet, or you might have to transfer them yourself, depending on the platform.

However, there's typically a minimum withdrawal amount, such as a few dollars worth, rather than processing every satoshi you earn. You also might have to pay a small withdrawal fee. Faucets often use micro-wallet services like FaucetPay that help move the crypto from the platform to individuals' wallets for low fees.

While this is essentially free money for the user, there's clearly a time investment. Before you start, make sure you have a compatible wallet ready. A multichain self-custody wallet like Best Wallet can accept BTC, ETH, DOGE, and other token faucets commonly pay out, so you don't need a separate wallet for each coin.

How to get started with crypto faucets

Getting started with crypto faucets involves just a few basic steps:

1. Set up a cryptocurrency wallet: You'll need a place to deposit the coins or tokens you earn. Consider a multichain wallet like Best Wallet, so you don't need separate wallets for different types of crypto you earn.
2. Find reputable faucets: Do your own research to make sure you're engaging with a reputable faucet by reading reviews and browsing forums.
3. Register on crypto platforms: Assuming you need to create an account, you can do so on the platforms where you want to try to earn free crypto. This is typically a simple process, such as adding your email address and wallet address.
4. Start completing tasks: Different faucets have different tasks, so you can choose what interests you, like watching ads or playing games.
5. Claim rewards: After completing the tasks, you'll typically be able to claim your rewards at the click of a button. There are often limits on how much you can earn and how quickly, but consider sticking with one platform if it offers loyalty bonuses.
6. Withdraw your earnings: Once you claim your rewards and meet any minimums, you can transfer them to your personal wallet.

Best crypto faucets in 2026

The best crypto faucets can vary from person to person, depending on the types of crypto you want to earn and the tasks you want to complete. That said, some of the top platforms to consider include the following. Note that the details often change frequently, so make sure you directly review any potential crypto faucets you want to use before diving in.

FreeBitco.in

FreeBitco.in is a pioneer among Bitcoin faucets, having operated since 2013. In addition to its core faucet offering, where you can win up to $200 in free Bitcoin every hour by playing a game, FreeBitco.in has expanded into a more comprehensive crypto earnings site with interest accounts, lottery drawings, and betting options.

Pros:

• Long track record
• Proven payment history
• Multiple ways to earn

Cons:

• Relatively high minimum withdrawal of 30,000 satoshis typically, plus fees
• Hourly claim frequency longer than some competitors
• Some customer reviews cite issues with withdrawals and customer support

Cointiply

Cointiply is another popular crypto faucet that offers a wide range of ways to earn, including playing games, completing surveys, and signing up for services. It supports multiple cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, LiteCoin, Doge, and Dash. The platform offers relatively frequent claims and features a loyalty bonus system that increases rewards for consecutive daily logins.

Pros:

• Multiple earning methods
• Relatively low minimum withdrawal requirements
• Loyalty bonuses

Cons:

• Tasks can be time-consuming
• Some offers require personal information or purchases
• Some users report account and customer service issues

Fire Faucet

Fire Faucet stands out for supporting 13 cryptocurrencies and paying out via more than 1,000 types of gift cards. Users can earn rewards through the Auto Faucet that pays out automatically by keeping a browser tab open. There are also manual faucet claiming opportunities, plus potentially other rewards such as offerwalls. Fire Faucet integrates with FaucetPay micro-wallets, or you can directly transfer rewards to your wallet.

Pros:

• Supports 13 different cryptocurrencies
• Auto Faucet feature provides passive earning potential
• Integration with FaucetPay

Cons:

• Some earning methods have a low return for the amount of time spent
• Withdrawal minimums vary by coin, which can create confusion
• Some customers report account or withdrawal issues

RollerCoin

RollerCoin differentiates itself by taking more of a gaming approach to earning rewards. The platform is centered around an arcade-style crypto mining game, where users can earn rewards to withdraw in the form of BNB, BTC, DOGE, or ETH. There may also be opportunities to earn through other methods, like taking surveys.

Pros:

• Entertaining gameplay to earn rewards
• Passive earning potential
• Supports multiple major cryptocurrencies

Cons:

• Limited ways to earn beyond gaming
• Need to pay for premium features to increase potential earning rate
• Regular earning rate generally has a low return for the amount of time spent

How to spot legit vs. scam crypto faucets

It's good to have your guard up with crypto faucets. Anything "free" can come with a catch. For legit crypto faucets, the cost is often your time, but there are scams that steal your information or possibly your money.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid unrealistic offers. If something sounds too good to be true, trust your gut and walk away. See how a faucet's rewards compare to others — a slightly better reward system might be reasonable, but if you're seeing promises that every user earns $50, $100, or more per day, for example, that's a red flag.

Also, consider what information the faucet requests. Never give private details like your wallet seed phrase, and if a faucet asks for that, do not proceed with that platform. You might even create a secondary wallet for crypto faucets, so that just in case anything goes wrong, you're not connecting your main wallet.

To find legitimate crypto faucets, do your due diligence by reading reviews on sites like TrustPilot, and see what other users have to say on platforms like Reddit and X. There's still potential for scammers to pump up their own shady faucets there, but you might be able to get a better sense of the legitimacy based on what's being shared in these online conversations.

How much can you earn from crypto faucets?

You're likely to only earn cents per day from crypto faucets. You might get some signup or loyalty bonuses that give you a few dollars' worth of coins at a time, or you might get lucky with a lottery-type win one day on a platform to win a few hundred bucks.

In general, though, crypto faucets drip extremely slowly. You might be better off thinking of these as a way to dip your toes into different types of crypto. You can earn small rewards that help you learn and experiment with crypto, rather than relying on it as a strong side hustle.

Pros and cons of using crypto faucets

Understanding the pros and cons of using crypto faucets can help you determine if it's worth your time to dive in:

Pros:

• Opportunities to earn free crypto
• Opportunities to learn more about different types of coins/tokens, blockchains, wallets, etc.
• Low barriers to entry

Cons:

• Typically extremely low earnings
• Time-consuming tasks/gameplay that can be hard to justify as financially worth it
• Potential for scams

Alternatives to crypto faucets

Because crypto faucets often take up substantial time and pay little, you might prefer to look for alternative ways to earn free crypto.

One option is to look for crypto airdrops. Airdrops are free crypto distributions for new projects, often earned through easy-to-complete tasks such as joining the project's social media groups. Some of these free coins or tokens might end up being essentially worthless, but there can be opportunities to get in on cryptocurrencies that end up mooning. Time spent collecting airdrops might provide a better ROI than time spent on faucets, though it depends on the specifics.

Another option is to complete educational sessions. Many crypto platforms or brokerages offer a few dollars of free crypto to users who spend a relatively short time learning about crypto. Reputable platforms like Binance and Robinhood often provide free crypto for completing educational lessons.

Also, once you have some crypto, you can increase your earnings through many platforms, such as by engaging in staking or joining liquidity pools. These often pay a percentage of your deposit, similar to a bank paying interest on your cash, though the percentages are often higher in the crypto world. How much you can earn depends on how much you put in.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about crypto faucets

Are crypto faucets safe?

Legitimate crypto faucets are generally safe, but there are scams to watch out for. Look for faucets with strong online reputations and reviews, and avoid sharing sensitive information, such as your private keys. Consider using a separate wallet for faucets, too.

Do crypto faucets really pay?

Yes, legitimate crypto faucets do pay, but the amounts are often less than the equivalent of $1 per day. Users often also face withdrawal minimums equivalent to several dollars. However, you might be able to earn more through things like referrals or lotteries.

How often can I claim rewards?

The frequency for claiming rewards varies by faucet, with some having continuous claiming features and others allowing for claims every five minutes, once per hour, once per day, etc. Keep in mind that higher claim frequency doesn't always mean that the platform is better because the rewards might not be worth the time invested.

Created by the Commerce team at Business Insider with Best Wallet.