Let me save you time: if you’re asking whether the Benjamin app is worth your time — or if it’s a scam — my honest answer is no, it’s not worth it anymore. Here’s what happened to me after I earned $75 using the app.

The one-sentence breakdown: They did pay me $75 across three payouts over several months, but then I was banned without a clear explanation or any real recourse. So it’s not a scam — but unless I’m a completely isolated case, there’s a real risk they could disable your account without warning.

How Benjamin Worked at First

Benjamin is a passive rewards app that pays you small amounts of money for shopping at certain stores, like Kroger or Target. You don’t need to scan receipts or watch a ton of ads (you will have to watch a few) — just enable location permissions, link it to your bank account, and go about your errands.

At first, it felt like free money. I earned around $0.50 per trip to the grocery store, and the minimum payout was only $25. It took about a month of normal shopping to cash out.

Then Things Started to Change…

Once I got close to my third cashout, the earnings slowed to a crawl. Suddenly, instead of $0.50 per trip, I was getting $0.01 or sometimes nothing at all. It took me another full month just to earn the last dollar.

Then They Banned Me — Without Warning or Explanation

After finally reaching about $75 total in lifetime earnings, I got this message out of the blue (my emphasis added in italics):

Hi J******,

Thank you for reaching out to Benjamin Support!

Upon review, we’ve identified activity that violates our terms and conditions. Due to this your account has been disabled. To keep our community safe and secure for everyone, we have finalized our decision over your account and inquiry. We understand this might be disappointing, but it’s important to maintain a fair and secure environment for all our users.

We appreciate your understanding.
Sincerely,
T******
Benjamin Member Services

There was no warning, no specific accusation, and no appeal process. When I replied asking for details on what I had supposedly done wrong, they did not provide any specific explanation. I hadn’t done anything shady. I just used the app the way it was designed. My account was terminated and I lost my balance — for what they vaguely called “activity that violates terms.”

⚠️ Don’t Forget to Revoke Bank Access

If you connected your bank account to Benjamin, they may still have read-only access to your transaction data even after banning you. This is because apps like Benjamin often use third-party services like Plaid to access your spending history.

In my case, I found Benjamin listed under my Plaid-connected apps — even after my account was disabled. That means they could still see my transactions, even though I couldn’t use the app anymore.

To protect your data:

• Visit https://my.plaid.com
• Log in with the bank account you linked to Benjamin
• Find Benjamin in the list of connected apps and click “Disconnect”

This step doesn’t just apply to Benjamin — it’s a smart move for any rewards or finance app you stop using.

What This Means for Other Users

• You can earn money early on, but expect diminishing returns.
• The closer you get to cashing out, the harder it becomes to earn.
• They reserve the right to ban users without specific reasons or recourse.

A Better Alternative for Passive Rewards

If you’re looking for a legitimate passive rewards app, check out InboxDollars instead. It’s more transparent about how you earn and has a lower ban rate for normal users. You can also stack earnings with browser extensions and surveys if you’re active.

AtlasEarth is another legit option that lets you earn small amounts of money over time by watching ads and using your Atlas Bucks to buy virtual property. Each parcel earns you rent every second, and while the earnings are slow, they do add up. I’ve personally cashed out around $50 without spending a dime. It’s not life-changing income, but it’s a real passive rewards app that actually pays. Just know it’s a long game — expect to earn a few cents a day unless you’re extremely consistent about checking in.

Important Note on This Review

Everything shared in this post is based on my personal experience using the Benjamin app as a consumer. I’m not alleging fraud or misconduct — just relaying what actually happened in my case. Your experience may differ, and I encourage anyone interested to read the app’s current terms and decide for themselves.

Final Verdict: Not Worth the Hassle

I had high hopes for Benjamin, but in my experience, the earnings dropped significantly and I ended up banned without explanation. It may still work for some users, but the risk of wasting time — or losing your earnings entirely — is too high in my opinion.

Disclaimer: This article reflects my personal experience and opinion as a former user of the Benjamin app. I make no claims of illegal or unethical conduct. All content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice.