In today’s worrisome economy, all sorts of extra income are welcome. The problem is that we can only fit so many jobs in life before things start falling apart.
That’s why it’s a good idea to create small but multiple sources of income that won’t take much of your energy or time.
In this post, we’ll show you 22 of the best money making apps you can try today. From shopping online, taking surveys, to playing games, this list has an app for every kind of activity.
Most of these apps allow you to withdraw money through PayPal or directly from your bank account. Some of them also pay you in gift cards for major retailers. Also, almost all of them are available on the Google Play Store and iOS App Store.
The Best Money Making Apps (Examples)
We’ve included an overview of our top picks below. For detailed information on each pick, scroll down.
Survey Apps
- Survey Junkie
- Swagbucks
- InboxDollars
- Lifepoints
- Branded Surveys
Gaming Apps
- Mistplay
- Blackout Bingo
Delivery Apps
- Uber
- DoorDash
- Instacart
Trading Apps
- OfferUp
- Bookscouter
Task-Based Apps
- Gigwalk
- Rover
- Field Agent
- Upwork
Passive Income Apps
- Nielsen
- Neighbor
Cashback Apps
- Rakuten
- Fetch Rewards
- Capital One Shopping
- Ibotta
For convenience, we’ve organized our list of 22 apps as follows:
- Five Survey Apps
- Two Gaming Apps
- Three Delivery Apps
- Two Trading Apps
- Four Task-Based Apps
- Two Passive Income Apps
- Four Cashback Apps
Survey Apps
Survey apps are popular among money-making apps. Your task often involves answering questionnaires, filling out forms, or watching videos.
Most of these apps notify you when there are surveys available for you. Oftentimes, you can get your rewards once you reach a minimum threshold of cash.
- Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is a free app that you can use to earn some cash rewards. By answering surveys, you earn points that you can later exchange for gift cards or cash out using your Paypal account.
DISQ, the analytics platform that created Survey Junkie, allows you to earn rewards through two methods. The first one, SJ Opinion, involves taking surveys. It’s a straightforward method—complete a survey and earn some cash.
The second one is called SJ Pulse, and it’s more elaborate. You give Survey Junkie access to your ads, shopping activity, and browser activity. This may not be in favor of those who value privacy, but it yields a bit more cash than the standard SJ Opinion.
The app is easy to navigate, free to download, and safe to use. However, sometimes it suffers from limited survey offerings, which can hinder your cash rewards.
Pros
- Easy to use, navigate, and understand
- Doesn’t require technical information or skill to earn money
Cons
- Surveys can sometimes be too limited to provide actual income
- Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the most straightforward money-making apps out there. As a start, you get a $10 sign-up bonus if you’re a new user. The points earned come in a virtual currency called swag bucks.
You can redeem those swag bucks through your Paypal account or exchange them with gift cards.
There are various tasks you can do through the app to earn rewards. For example, referring friends can earn you some swag bucks. You may also play games, take paid surveys, watch videos, or earn some cash back when shopping online.
On average, you may increase your monthly income by $25 to $50 using Swagbucks. It’s not a lot, but the effort you exert isn’t a lot either, which makes the meager income worthwhile.
Pros
- Multiple ways to make money through one app
- You get a $10 bonus right off the bat
Cons
- The income is limited
- InboxDollars
To date, InboxDollars has been around for over 22 years. It has paid over $60 million to over 17 million users.
Much like Swagbucks, you get a sign-up bonus. It’s slightly less at $5, but the surveys are often more abundant, which helps you earn rewards faster.
InboxDollars has a high number of surveys from various third-party websites. In other words, you’ll almost always find a survey that you can take.
Surveys aren’t the only thing you can do in InboxDollars. You can also earn points by playing games, referrals, and reading emails. Each task pays anywhere between $0.5 to $5.
The minimum withdrawal amount is $30, and it takes up to two weeks for the processing to finish. If you’re a gold member, your waiting time gets reduced to one week. Payments come through checks or visa cash.
InboxDollars requires a minimum age of 18 years old. You also need to live in the United States if you want to use the app.
Pros
- One of the highest-paying apps in the survey category
- Besides surveys, you have various other methods to earn money
Cons
- Can’t be used outside the United States
- Lifepoints
Lifepoints offers good versatility for its users. It is available in over 40 countries. These include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, among others.
It also contains the highest number of available surveys per user on our list. The surveys don’t pay much at $0.5–$1 each. However, you can accomplish several surveys for more money, and they don’t take much time to finish. Updating your profile (or diary, as the application names it) also yields points.
However, you won’t always qualify for each survey as the requirements can be meticulous. You also don’t earn cash right away. Instead, you earn points that you can later convert into cash.
The issue here is that Lifepoints is somewhat inconsistent in their point-to-cash values, so you can’t get an expected average income. You can get paid through your PayPal account or with gift cards. The processing time may take up to 10 days.
Pros
- The app is available in over 40 countries
- The number of surveys available is higher than most other apps
Cons
- Inconsistent, somewhat low payment
- Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys is another app that rewards you for taking surveys. The process is as straightforward as it gets: complete the online surveys in exchange for cash rewards.
With some effort, you can make anywhere between $5-10 a week, which isn’t bad for taking surveys. You also get access to a tier-based rewards program (bronze, silver, and gold). As you make your way through the gold tier, you get access to better-paid surveys.
The issue here is that some surveys aren’t taken on the app itself. Instead, it’ll direct you to a third-party website. At that point, it’s a matter of luck. Some websites are easy to deal with, while others may not even register when you finish the survey.
Your payment is also straightforward through PayPal. You may also get paid in gift cards.
Pros
- You progressively earn better with the tier-based reward program
- The more you use the app, the more surveys you’ll get
Cons
- Some surveys take you to third-party websites that can be annoying to navigate
Gaming Apps
If you like to play games, gaming apps might be a good investment in your spare time. Though fun, they’re not as yielding as other types of money-making apps.
However, if you’re persistent enough and know what you’re doing, you can earn a considerable amount of money and gift cards.
- Mistplay
Mistplay brands itself as “the loyalty program for gamers.” Most gaming money-making apps revolve around paying a little and earning a lot when you win a tournament or a competition.
On the other hand, Mistplay allows you to earn points by reaching certain milestones in the game itself. Leveling up your character, defeating a certain boss, and acquiring a rare item are examples of such milestones.
You may also earn points by providing feedback on the games to the application. You can earn $5 by exchanging 1,500 points.
You also don’t get paid in cash, but in gift cards for major retailers like Amazon and Starbucks. This free app is currently up and running on the Android Play Store. It’s the only app on our list that’s yet to make an appearance on the Apple app store.
Download here: Android.
Pros
- You don’t have to pay to play games
- You get points for completing game milestones, which is much easier than competing against other players
Cons
- You don’t get paid in actual cash, which makes Mistplay unprofitable
- Blackout Bingo
Are you familiar with the game Bingo? If you are, then why not make some money out of it? For a small fee of 60 cents, Blackout Bingo allows you to enter tournaments and win money.
There are two earning methods with this app. The first one is through free play, which earns you the app’s currency known as Zs. You can exchange these Zs for gift cards or merchandise from participating retailers.
The second way is to earn actual cash, and that involves playing paid games. The cash prizes can be as low as $1 or as high as $755.
Note that Blackout Bingo is available only in the United States.
The game is available on the iOS Apple Store. However, there are many knockoffs on the Google Play Store, so you’re better off downloading it from the Galaxy Store.
Pros
- You can earn gift cards even without paying anything
- The winning prize is often much larger than the entry fee
Cons
- You don’t earn actual money unless you pay a small fee, which will go to waste if you lose
Delivery Apps
Delivery apps require you to transfer someone or something from point A to point B. The process is often straightforward and simple.
These apps pay relatively well, but they take some considerable effort.
- Uber
The Uber app is one of the most common money-making apps. If you have a car and some free time, why not drive people around for some extra money?
Downloading the Uber app is free. Simply provide your car’s information and ensure its safety. Once you submit the required documents, the app will allow you to pick up passengers and drop them off in exchange for cash.
The catch here is the Uber fee, which often ranges between 20–25%.
As a driver, if you drive someone for $100, expect to give $20–$25 to Uber in exchange for connecting you with your rider. These apps pay good money to maintain their servers and improve their user interface (UI), so the fee could be quite high.
Occasionally, you can get various promotions. For example, you could earn an extra $100 if you make 40 trips within the next three days.
You receive your payment through cash or through a bank account deposit.
Uber is a great side hustle app to earn some extra money. If you enjoy driving, you may even make a full-time job out of it.
The biggest disadvantage here is that the app is completely useless if you don’t own a car or a motorized bike that you can use.
Pros
- One of the safest, most straightforward money-making apps
- You can earn money on a daily basis as you don’t have to wait for a specific payment time.
Cons
- You need a car or a motorized bike with minimum requirements to work for Uber
- DoorDash
So, you do enjoy driving, but you don’t enjoy talking a lot or socializing with people. Why not deliver goods instead of people? DoorDash is a delivery app that pays you to pick up food orders from your local restaurants and deliver them to customers.
Drivers get paid a fixed base salary of around $15 per hour. They also get to keep all the tips they receive. Additionally, if you work during “Peak Pay,” expect to receive even more money. This happens when restaurants are working more than usual and more drivers are needed.
DoorDash has a great advantage over most delivery apps—you’re not required to have specific criteria for your car. In contrast, Uber requires specific types of cars that aren’t older than a certain number of years. With DoorDash, you can pick up that old Chevy and get to work without issues.
Moreover, some cities allow you to deliver using motorbikes, scooters, or even regular bicycles! Make sure to check the listed cities in the app to see if you can use those in your area.
Keep in mind that DoorDash isn’t responsible for parking and tolls. If you end up receiving a fine for illegal parking, the app won’t cover the expenses.
Pros
- You earn money from driving around without needing many passengers
- You can work with your car regardless of its type and model year
Cons
- The application won’t compensate for any parking tickets
- Instacart
If you like the idea of DoorDash, then you’ll love Instacart. The idea of this money-making app is simple. Instead of just delivering food, you’ll shop and deliver groceries.
The best thing about Instacart is that car delivery isn’t a must. If you don’t have a car, you can be an in-store shopper only. However, delivering often yields a better rate; plus, you get to keep the tips from customers.
Much like DoorDash, you get to set your own schedule. If you don’t want to work right now, just switch off the app. It’s that simple.
Also, peak hours (mostly weekends) increase the rate per hour. So if you want to make some extra cash, using Instacart on weekends could be worth the effort. The app is available to use in the United States and Canada only.
Pros
- You get to earn money even if you don’t have access to a car
- You get to set your own schedule
Cons
- Unavailable outside the United States and Canada
Trading Apps
Trading apps often require some skills and brains, as they involve some planning, bargaining, and persistence.
They often revolve around two main things: either sell your old items or buy cheap second-hand items and sell them for a higher price to profit.
- OfferUp
If you have a knack for business or trading, OfferUp might be one of the best money-making apps you can use. Instead of getting rid of old items, you can make extra money by selling them. The challenge lies in finding someone who’s interested in whatever you have to sell.
OfferUp acts as an online display of your items. It allows your goods to reach a broader audience. Once you connect with a buyer, you have one of two selling options.
First, you can meet the buyer and sell the item straight away. OfferUp recommends that you only accept cash payments, as other forms like checks could be easily scammed.
Option two is when you can’t meet with your buyer because of distance. OfferUp allows you to ship your item anywhere in the United States except for Hawaii, Alaska, and Arkansas. The service fee is 12.9%, at a minimum of $1.99.
If you’re shipping your item, you can set up deposits to a debit card or bank account.
The app also allows buyers and sellers to review each other, giving you an idea of how trustworthy the other party may be. Creating your listing is also simple and straightforward: just snap a picture of your product, provide a description, and upload.
Pros
- Gives you access to a greater audience and the ability to safely ship your item to them
- Listing items is easy and you get to know the other party through the app before dealing with them
Cons
- You can’t make money unless you have something to sell
- Bookscouter
Are you a book lover whose pile is growing at an alarming rate? Do you want to get rid of some books while making money? Bookscouter might be just what you need.
All you have to do is to use the application to scan the book’s ISBN (International Standard Book Number). The application will then provide you with a list of individuals or companies who are willing to purchase the book, along with the offered price.
What’s great about this app isn’t just how it allows you to sell your own books. Even if you don’t have books, you may buy some finely used books and scan their ISBNs, then sell them to someone who’s offering a higher price. The difference in price is your profit, so it’s up to your skill.
The application is available worldwide, making it one of the easiest money-making apps to access. The one downside to this app is that you sometimes need to cross long distances to find the books you need.
Pros
- You get to sell your old books instead of having them occupy space
- You can take the app income to the next level by buying and selling books
Cons
- It may take you some time to find the book you need
Task-Based Apps
Task-based apps can take a considerable chunk of your time. Some of them might be easy and straightforward, while others could be transformed into full-time jobs if you know your way around.
The tasks vary from app to app. Sometimes you need a specific skill, and sometimes you just need to walk around.
- Gigwalk
Gigwalk is a handy money-making app if you fancy walking. The uniqueness of this app is that you won’t need anything but your legs and a phone camera.
The point of the app is market research, so your tasks involve moving around retail markets and taking photos of how they display their goods.
The gigs often take a few minutes since most of your work will be in the area around you. This eliminates the need for a vehicle and allows you to save money on gas.
However, there are still some gigs that could be further away. These could take a few hours to handle. The longer the gig, the more money you’ll make from it.
The one issue with this app is its variable opportunities. People who live in smaller cities may not find enough gigs to make a considerable income from Gigwalk.
You should expect anywhere between $3–$100 per gig, with PayPal being the only available payment option to date.
Pros
- No need for any expertise. You just need a phone camera and an internet connection
- Most of the gigs are close and don’t need a vehicle
Cons
- The application isn’t reliable in smaller cities because of the lack of gigs
- Rover
Are you a pet lover? Then, how does walking pets around for $20 an hour sound?
Rover is one of the best money-making apps for those who love to walk animals. After providing your information to the app, it’ll allow you to get in contact with local pet owners.
Pet owners (especially dog owners) recognize the importance of those daily walks. However, people with tight schedules can fail to meet their pets’ exercise requirements, which can lead to adverse mental and physical health effects.
Rover allows you to take their pets for a walk around the block in exchange for a fee. This app is extra helpful for those who live in cities. You can also take various routes every time to make your trip less repetitive.
The application is available in various countries like the United States, Italy, France, and Germany.
Pros
- No skill is required. All you need is to be good with animals
- The payment rate is reliable even for just a side hustle
Cons
- It may not be fruitful if you don’t live in a city
- Field Agent
Some apps pay for walking, but Field Agent takes it to the next level. How would it feel like to walk into various stores as a mystery shopper?
That’s how Field Agent works. It allows you to earn extra income by completing various tasks in your local area. Most of these tasks involve mystery shopping “missions.”
For example, you may get a task that involves taking pictures of some store products to ensure that they’re adequately displayed. However, you may only do that with stores that participate in the business.
This is why Field Agent is best used in cities or urban areas where you can find higher concentrations of such places.
The application is usable only in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
Pros
- Your net earnings factor in the time taken and the distance traveled, which can increase the overall income
- The job itself is interesting and out of the box. Most people may find it intriguing
Cons
- The efficiency of this job depends on the number of participating businesses around you
- Upwork
Upwork is one of the most well-known freelancing money-making apps. You start by making a profile and a portfolio that include all your skills.
The type of work you can do can be anything. In Upwork, you’ll find translators, graphic designers, proofreaders, content writers, web developers, application developers, and more.
Once your profile gets accepted, you’ll get a list of client jobs tailored to your skills. To apply for one, you spend “connections.” Each job requires a different amount of connections and you can run out, so don’t go trigger-happy. Apply only for what’s suitable for you.
Also, you get “escrow protection,” which means that Upwork itself will pay you for your work if the client decides not to pay for some reason.
However, to get that protection, all your conversations and milestones should be inside the application itself. Upwork isn’t responsible for any details discussed outside the platform.
Depending on the set of skills you have, having your profile accepted by Upwork could either be a breeze or a difficult experience. If Upwork is already saturated with whatever type of work you have to offer, then your profile will get rejected.
Also, there are other freelancers who apply for the same jobs as you, so expect some severe competition at the beginning. Upwork requires a lot of patience, but if you play your game right, you can earn thousands per month.
You may begin withdrawal once your earnings reach $100. You can get paid through PayPal or have the money deposited directly in your bank account.
Pros
- You can earn thousands of dollars if you are persistent enough
- You can work in so many fields in any part of the world
Cons.
- The initial profile-making can be difficult and the competition is extreme
Passive Income Apps
Passive income apps require the least effort from you. Sometimes they don’t even require any time at all. However, they’re also the least-paying money-making apps since you’re practically doing nothing.
Your best bet with passive income apps is to use more than one of them at the same time so you can beef your earnings up a little.
- Nielsen
Nielsen can pay you up to $50 per year in PayPal cash or gift cards for doing absolutely nothing. The amount is quite low and can be negligible for some people. However, any income is better than no income. Plus, you’re not doing anything.
All you have to do is to keep the application installed on your smartphone for a 12-month cycle. The application would monitor how you use your phone and how much time you spend on each app.
The app collects data and sends it to its servers anonymously. You won’t have to worry about your privacy being invaded.
The effect of the application on your phone’s performance is also quite negligible as it’s just a screening app.
Keep in mind that you can’t use Nielsen if you live outside the United States.
Pros
- Passive income application. You earn money by doing nothing
- Completely anonymous with no impact on your phone performance
Cons
- The earning rate is nowhere near being considered a reliable income
- Neighbor
Neighbor is an app with a unique idea. It allows you to publicly display a rental space at your house. It could be a room, an attic, a basement, or even your garage and driveway space.
You have the complete freedom to choose who or what occupies your space. For example, you can rent your spare room to someone, or rent your basement as storage for someone else’s goods.
Depending on the condition of the space you want to rent, you may need to do some initial preparations before placing the ad online.
However, once the place is ready and someone does rent it, you get a reliable source of passive income.
The Neighbor app is only available in the United States.
Pros
- Requires a one-time preparation for the to-be-rented space
- A decent source of passive income
Cons
- It’s not available outside the United States
Cashback Apps
Cashback apps aren’t actual sources of income. Instead, they pay you back a portion of your money after you already make a purchase with money.
In most cases, you can acquire these bonuses only when you buy items from participating retailers.
- Rakuten
When we talk about cashback apps, Rakuten often tops the list in the minds of many people. Rakuten is one of the highest-rated cashback apps around. It can give you up to 40% cash back on your purchases.
While many money-back apps aren’t reliable because not all retailers accept them, Rakuten has over 3,500 merchant-partners, allowing you to get some money back on most of your purchases.
The process is straightforward—browse the retailer you want through the app, purchase, then receive some balance in your “cashback balance” tab.
You can also get up to $30 by referring others to Rakuten. The app isn’t available worldwide, but it’s still present in several countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and France.
Pros
- Arguably the best cashback app to date. It can give you back up to 40% of your purchase money
- You can use it in most stores since it partners with over 3,500 retailers
Cons
- You don’t make money unless you spend money, so it’s not a source of income
- Fetch Rewards
Fetch’s uniqueness comes from its ability to give back cash on virtually any purchase. In other words, you don’t need to buy the product from a participating retailer.
You don’t need to scan barcodes or buy a specific product. However, the earning capacity you get is as low as a few cents per purchase. You may secure some extra funds by purchasing sponsored items, but don’t expect large sums of money, especially compared to Rakuten.
Household products tend to be the items that Fetch Rewards sponsors the most, so you might want to shop for these items through the app.
You also get a 3,000-point sign-up bonus, which is the equivalent of a $3 gift card. The app is available in both phone stores, but its use is restricted to the United States.
Pros
- You get cash back on any item your purchase regardless if it’s sponsored or not
- You get a sign-up bonus and extra money on sponsored items
Cons
- The cashback bonus is as low as a few cents, so it won’t save that much money
- Capital One Shopping
How gutting does it feel when you purchase something at full price, only to find it at a massive discount a couple of days later? Doesn’t that make you wish that you have a time machine that can take you just a few days back?
With Capital One, you get the next best thing. This handy app allows you to get refunds on items that you’ve bought if their price drops shortly after you purchase them.
Not only that, but you also earn rewards from online shopping while using the application. Additionally, if there are any discount coupon codes on the item you’re buying, the application will automatically apply them.
Whenever you’re in a store, you may scan the barcode of the product you desire and search for it online. It will save you a lot of time if you want to look for the best price without moving between stores.
So, in a way, you’re not actively earning cash; rather, you get refunded for a portion of the purchases you make.
Pros
- You get refunds on products that lower the prices after you purchase them
- You get automatic coupon codes and the ability to scan the product barcodes for the best deals
Cons
- You don’t actually earn money, so you can’t consider it an active source of income
- Ibotta
The Ibotta app is considered by many to be one of the best grocery cashback apps. While it started with groceries, it has now extended to online shopping.
Using the app is simple. Create an account and provide your credentials, then scan the barcode of the product you purchased. Next, upload a photo of the receipt. You’ll then be asked to watch a 15–30 second video ad. After that, you should receive some cash back in your account.
You need to stack at least $20 before you make a withdrawal, which is often done through Venmo or PayPal.
Ibotta is available to use only in the United States.
Pros
- The app is easy to use and guaranteed
- You can begin withdrawal at only $20
Cons
- You can’t use it outside the United States
The Bottom Line
There you have it—22 of the best money-making apps available right now! The wide selection offers you various tasks so you can pick whatever you like.
You also get different payment options like direct deposit, checks, cashback, and gift cards.
There are also a couple of gaming apps if you can spare the time, and a few passive income apps to keep the ball rolling. Enjoy earning money easily!
