Money State of Mind

We’re paying for calls where both people are in one of 45 US states. This page explains how it works, what makes a call score well, and how to participate.

45 states

Every state except Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Texas, and Washington.

Up to 30¢ / min

Highest-quality eligible calls can earn up to 30 cents per minute.

30% referrals

Excluded-state users earn 30% of referral earnings during the challenge.

Hi Neon User,

The special earnings opportunity we’ve been talking about is live. It’s called Money State of Mind. Thank you for filling out the state forms. This page covers how it works and how to get the most out of your calls, so please read the whole thing.

What is Money State of Mind?

We’re paying for calls where both people are in one of 45 US states (every state except Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Texas, and Washington). Every call between two people in those 45 states is eligible for payment.

What if I’m in one of the five excluded states?

We don’t want you left out. Anyone you refer during Money State of Mind earns you 30% of their earnings instead of the usual 20%.

Why are some states excluded?

Our customers sometimes have specific requirements for the audio we provide. This is the first time anyone has asked for something based on state residency, and we don’t expect it to continue going forward.

How long will this last?

Until we’ve collected enough quality audio from those states. If calls continue at the pace we saw in July, that’s roughly a month and a half. After that, we plan to return to paying for calls in all 50 states.

What determines whether a call gets paid, and how much?

Payment is based on call quality. The highest-quality calls can earn up to 30 cents per minute. Here’s what makes a call score well:

Clear audio. Phone to your ear or headphones, not speakerphone. Microphone quality is one of the biggest reasons calls score low. Modern iPhones are strong. Android varies: Pixel and Galaxy are usually good, Motorola and Blu usually aren’t. If your mic is weak, wired headphones make a real difference. Please avoid Bluetooth.
Don’t use mute or speakerphone. The more you use them, the lower your call will score.
Quiet background. No TV playing.
Normal conversations. Don’t talk about Neon. Mentioning your earnings, cashing out, or refreshing the app all count as talking about Neon.
No VPN.
Keep the conversation going. Short, natural pauses are fine. When you’re done talking, hang up. A call left running after the conversation ends scores lower.
Strong, steady connection. Wifi or good data, and stay in one place. Moving around causes dips in service that lower the score.
Don’t be in the same room as the person you’re talking to. It creates an echo and almost always scores low.

Are there Money Talks?

Not for now, since every call between two people in the 45 states is already eligible. If you’re in one of those states, think of it as an ongoing Money Talk.

What about prizes?

You’ve told us you want more clarity on what makes you eligible, so we’re moving to a prize system with clearer criteria. We’ll still announce the $100,000 prize winner, but after the new formula is in place so everyone can see where they stand. In the meantime, we’re awarding five $500 prizes to users who have been making consistently strong calls over the past few months. Check the app to see if you’re one of them.

How do I participate?

Update to the latest version of the app and fill in your US state of residence if you haven’t already.