We all face times when we could use some extra cash. Luckily, there are many opportunities to meet that need. From side hustles to money-making apps, you can easily create supplemental income.
Many options require little skill or let you complete tasks in your free time. They pay via PayPal, direct deposit, gift cards, or cash back on purchases. If you have spare time, consider these platforms to make money online.
Popular Types of Money-Making Apps
We carefully analyzed various apps to make money with your phone. The top choices come from the following categories:
- Popular side hustle apps
- Platforms that pay you to share your opinion or watch videos
- Apps that offer you cash rebates on shopping
- Passive income apps
- Apps that pay you for something you’re already doing
All of the apps we tested let you earn extra cash from your iPhone or Android phone.
Top Side Hustle Apps
Sometimes you need to earn more than a few extra bucks. This may be the case if you need to pay off debt or save for a large purchase.
Side gig apps provide an excellent opportunity to make extra money fast. Here are some of the top options worth considering.
1. DoorDash
The delivery space is a terrific option to make money on the side. A delivery app job like DoorDash lets you take restaurant meals to customers who place an order online or through the app.
This service is available in many small and large cities. As a contractor, you can use the app to accept orders and deliver items to people.
You can create your own schedule and choose which delivery requests are worth your time. DoorDash pays drivers weekly. It is possible to cash out within 24 hours if you’re in a pinch and need to get paid today.
Drivers can get paid $23 per hour while on a delivery. Your ability to work during peak periods will increase your earning potential. Better yet, you get to keep 100 percent of your tips.
To work for DoorDash, you must be at least 18 years old, pass a background check, and have reliable transportation. In select cities, Dashers can complete the delivery by bike or scooter.
Read our review of DoorDash to learn more.
2. Instacart Shopper
Delivering meals is not the only way to make money as a courier. You can also deliver groceries. Apps like Instacart Shopper allow you to earn real money as a personal grocery shopper.
Once you receive an order, you go buy groceries and deliver them to the customer. You can even chat with the customer through the Instacart app if you have questions about their order.
Similar to DoorDash, you set your own schedule. You can earn up to $20 per hour as a driver for Instacart, including tips. Pay is distributed weekly.
In most cities, shoppers must have a reliable vehicle to complete deliveries. Select supermarkets hire in-store shoppers that work a shift similar to a part-time job and don’t need a delivery vehicle.
Read our review about working for Instacart Shopper to learn more.
3. Shipt Shopper
Shipt Shopper is another side hustle app to consider if you want to deliver groceries for money. You will pack orders at local grocery stores and deliver them to your customers.
The app works a lot like Instacart, but you can earn up to $22 an hour, including tips, after you complete 100 deliveries. In addition to a flexible schedule, you can enjoy these benefits:
- Free Shipt deliveries
- Two weeks of financial assistance with a COVID-19 diagnosis
- Discounts on various services and insurance coverage
Read our Shipt Shopper review to learn more.
The above three options are just a few of the choices to work as a delivery driver. Here’s a preview of the other top options available to independent contractors.
| App | Avg. Hourly Pay | Pay Frequency | Bike/Motorcycle? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postmates | Up to $20 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
| DoorDash | $23 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
| Uber Eats | Up to $15 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
| Instacart | $20 | Weekly + instant | No |
| Shipt Shopper | $22 | Weekly + instant | No |
| GrubHub | $19 | Weekly + instant | No |
| Saucey | $12 | Weekly | No |
| Caviar | $25 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
| Favor | $14 | Daily | No |
4. Steady
When you need to take on a side hustle to increase your income, consider using a free app like Steady. Shaquille O’Neal is one of the founders, and it has more than three million members.
In addition to on-demand gig economy jobs, you may find both skilled labor and professional work opportunities through the Steady app. These opportunities can be online or locally-based.
You can also use apps similar to Steady to maximize your search for a side hustle. Steady also has Income Boosters, which are ways to earn cash rewards by signing up for different services.
This can include opening a new bank account or signing up for an app-based job. According to their website, the average earnings are around $5,500 per year.
This could have a positive impact on your budget. To use the platform, you’ll have to answer questions about your skills and experience. You must also complete a work profile.
Then, the app matches your background with relevant openings. Once you start earning, there’s a secure platform to keep track of your total income, weekly earnings, pay per hour, and more.
Read our Steady review to learn more.
5. Rover
Do you enjoy spending time with four-legged friends? If so, you can make money caring for animals through apps like Rover. Rover is one of the best high-paying apps for walking dogs and caring for pets. You can offer these services:
- Dog walking
- Drop-in visits
- Pet daycare
- Overnight boarding
You may also be able to care for cats to expand your income opportunities. Your income potential depends on the types of services you offer. Dog walkers can earn up to $20 per hour for one dog.
Overnight boarding is the most lucrative as you can charge up to $40 per night in most cities. Keep in mind that the service fees to use the site are 20 percent of your earnings.
Sitters must be at least 18 years old and pass a background check to use Rover. After creating your profile, you can list your schedule availability and the animal sizes you’re comfortable caring for.
You must wait for pet owners to contact you to start making money. Your earnings deposit into your linked bank account two days after completing a job.
This payout speed can be faster than other money-making apps. If you don’t want to walk dogs, you can still earn cash for walking.
Read our guide on the top apps to earn money walking to identify potential opportunities.
Top Apps That Pay You for Your Opinion
Companies will pay to learn what consumers like or dislike since this helps them improve their products or services. They can learn this information using paid surveys requiring up to 20 minutes of your time.
Many companies work with online survey sites to compensate users. Here are the top survey apps that pay you instantly.
6. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of our favorite apps to complete online surveys and other small tasks for cash. There are many ways to earn money on Swagbucks, including:
- Answering surveys
- Using their online shopping portal
- Playing games online
- Browsing the internet
- Testing new products
- Completing various online tasks
This get-paid-to (GPT) site pays users various amounts for completing different tasks. While you won’t earn a lot of money, it’s a great way to pad your bank account.
The cash rewards app has over 20 million users and gives new users a $5 signup bonus. The minimum age to join is 13, which makes it a fantastic choice to make money as a teen.
You can redeem earnings via PayPal or gift cards to your favorite retailer once you reach a $5 balance, making this a great way to work online.
Read our Swagbucks review to learn more.
7. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is a perfect app to use when you want to make money in your spare time. Whether you’re watching TV or waiting for an appointment, the app pays you to answer surveys on your phone.
The site is free to use, and you must be at least 13 years old to join. Signing up takes less than a minute. Surveys pay between $1 and $3, though some go as high as $50.
If you don’t qualify for a survey, you will earn points. Survey Junkie boasts over three million active users. They have a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot.
You can redeem your money as soon as your account reaches $5 (which is equivalent to 500 points). Payout options include transferring cash to your PayPal account, direct deposit, or an electronic gift card.
Read our Survey Junkie review to learn more.
8. Pinecone Research
Pinecone Research is one of the top survey sites to get paid for your opinion. It pays $3 per completed survey. You can also earn up to $75 by testing products at home.
The site is a bit unique since it’s available by invitation only. You can also sign up through our link. This membership restriction helps the service ensure they have enough opportunities for their users.
There are no minimum thresholds to cash out. You can withdraw your funds at any time via bank transfer, virtual Mastercards, or Amazon gift cards.
Read our review of Pinecone Research to learn more.
9. InboxDollars
Our final choice to earn money for sharing your opinion is InboxDollars. The app works much like Swagbucks in that it offers several ways to earn money. Options include:
- Taking surveys
- Viewing sponsored videos
- Downloading and printing coupons
- Opening sponsored emails
- Playing games
New users earn a $5 bonus after signing up. Earnings can be redeemed for PayPal cash or gift cards. Unfortunately, the survey app has a higher redemption minimum of $30.
While InboxDollars is a good platform, you may want to pair it with other options due to its redemption threshold. Read our review of InboxDollars to learn more.
Top Apps to Get Cash Back
Coupon apps give you points or money when you purchase something at a participating retailer. Shopping can be done online or in person.
Here are some of the top apps to make money when you shop.
10. Capital One Shopping
Capital One Shopping (formerly known as Wikibuy) provides users with an easy way to save money when shopping online. The app is a browser extension that you can use on your phone or desktop to find active coupon codes and discounts.
Nothing is more frustrating than wasting time looking for promo codes when shopping online. Capital One Shopping simplifies the process for you by working in the background as you shop.
In addition to discounts, you can also earn credits on purchases when you shop through the Capital One Shopping portal. These don’t convert to cash, but you can redeem them for gift cards with a balance as low as $5.
Participating stores commonly offer between two and ten percent in credits on your purchases. While this may not result in cash, free gift cards are just as good.
Read our Capital One Shopping review to learn more.
11. Ibotta
Do you like to save money at the store? Ibotta is one of the most popular money-earning apps that gives you cash back on your purchases. It works at both the grocery store and over 750 participating online retailers.
Like Capital One Shopping, you install the money-saving shopping extension. Once installed, it identifies discount opportunities for you when you shop online or place grocery pickup and delivery orders.
For in-store savings, you must install the smartphone app to activate store-specific offers and scan your receipt to claim the cash rewards. New users receive a $5 bonus after scanning their first receipt.
You can redeem your earnings via PayPal or gift cards once you reach $20. Read our review of Ibotta to learn more. Unfortunately, Ibotta doesn’t work at gas stations.
The Upside app is a legitimate alternative that works like Ibotta but specializes in gas rebates. You can earn up to $0.25 per gallon of gas when you use the code FRUGALRULES25 after downloading the app.
Read our Upside gas app review to learn more.
12. Fetch
While Ibotta is a fantastic app to save money at the store, you must select offers before shopping. Fetch is an excellent alternative if you want a low-hassle rewards app.
Unlike competing apps, you don’t have to activate offers to receive credit. Instead, you simply purchase participating brands and scan your receipt. Then, the app deposits points into your account.
Qualifying items earn ten points per dollar, and certain offers qualify for bonus points. You can scan grocery receipts to earn the most points, but you can also scan merchandise receipts and earn a minimum of 25 points per scan.
Gift cards are the only redemption option, and most require a $5 minimum balance (5,000 points). If you want a redemption option that is more like cash, Visa cash cards are your best choice.
However, you need 6,000 points for a $5 balance. Read our review of Fetch Rewards to learn more.
13. MyPoints
If you want to make money when you shop, MyPoints is a legitimate choice. The site operates much like Swagbucks with multiple short online tasks. However, where it really shines is its shopping portal.
You can earn up to 40 percent cash back on purchases through its portal. The rewards app works with over 2,000 online retailers to reduce your shopping costs.
New users receive a $10 bonus after making a $20 qualifying purchase. Once you reach a $20 balance, you can redeem your earnings via PayPal or gift cards.
Top Passive Income Apps
Passive income apps actively help you grow your wealth when you don’t need to get money fast. They can be an awesome way to set yourself up for the future.
Here are a few of the top platforms to create residual income or earn more money without a lot of work.
14. SoFi Invest
SoFi is well-known for student loan consolidation. They also help people grow their investments through SoFi Invest. If you don’t have a lot of money to invest, SoFi is perfect for you.
They have a $1 minimum balance requirement and zero transaction or trading fees. The platform allows you to purchase partial shares of stock, offers retirement accounts, and provides a variety of training resources.
SoFi also has a robo-advisor to help manage your investments if you’re new to investing and don’t want to go the self-directed route.
15. Acorns
Investing can be overwhelming to the point where you may forget to do it. Acorns is a unique solution to that problem. When you download the Acorns app, it rounds up your purchases and invests the difference.
For example, if you spend $15.02 on lunch, it invests the remaining $0.98 in a pre-made portfolio of your choosing. Essentially, it’s a way to automatically invest with little to no effort.
Apps like Acorns are a good solution for new investors who need some guidance or seasoned investors who want a play account. Acorns also gives new users a $5 bonus.
After joining, you can select a portfolio of index ETFs fitting your risk tolerance and financial goals. Then, the app rebalances your portfolio as you add new funds.
One unique way to add free money is by shopping at participating retailers. Unlike a cash rewards app that sends you payment, Acorns invests your shopping credits.
Personal accounts cost $3 per month, and a family account costs $5 monthly. You can read our Acorns app review to learn more.
16. Fundrise
Investing in stocks is an excellent way to grow your wealth, but it’s not the only way to improve your net worth. Investing in real estate is another legitimate choice.
Thanks to crowdfunding, you don’t need a lot of money to build a portfolio of properties. Fundrise is our top choice for new investors who want to invest in real estate.
You only need $10 to open an account, and you could earn quarterly dividends with the platform. Specialized investment strategies are available when you invest at least $5,000.
The service gives you exposure to multifamily and commercial properties with multiple tenants. You’re not responsible for managing the property, which makes this a true passive income idea.
You can reinvest your dividend income or receive quarterly payments directly to your banking account. Unlike most of the money-earning apps on this list, Fundrise requires a long-term commitment.
You must hold your shares for at least five years to avoid early redemption penalties. Read our review of Fundrise to learn more.
Top Apps That Pay You for What You’re Already Doing
The best money-making apps let you earn fast cash for something you’re already doing. Here are a few apps that pay you for going about your normal routine.
17. HealthyWage
Losing weight is something many people want to do, but it can be challenging. HealthyWage uses the scientific research that money is an awesome motivator as an incentive to help people get in shape.
The HealthyWage app lets people bet on themselves to lose weight. You can do a challenge on your own or as a team of five. The minimum weight loss goal is ten percent of your body weight.
If you reach your goal in the allotted time, you win your bet. Otherwise, you lose out on your potential winnings. The average winner earns $1,400, but you can earn up to $10,000.
Read our review of HealthyWage to learn more.
18. Trim
Saving money on your monthly bills is a fantastic way to keep more cash in your bank account. However, not everyone likes to negotiate. It’s also easy to forget recurring expenses.
Fortunately, there’s an app for that. Trim helps you look for ways to reduce your recurring expenses with its bill negotiation service. It’s possible to reduce or cancel these types of bills:
- Cable and satellite TV
- Phone
- Internet
- Home security
You connect the app to your bank account, then it goes to work to identify savings opportunities. The app is free to use, but there is a 33 percent success fee when the service successfully negotiates savings.
The service can also reduce your medical bills, bank loan APR, and bank fees free of charge. Another way this service can help you save money is by tracking your spending habits and identifying areas that you can improve.
In addition to reducing your monthly expenses, this app can help make a savings plan for your financial goals by scheduling automatic transfers into a fee-free savings account.
Read our review of the Trim app to learn more.
19. Mistplay
Do you love to play video games? If so, Mistplay is a fun option to make money today by trying new phone games. Users get paid to download and play new video games.
You earn points for each game you play. Point values vary based on the game, though they can be worth up to 200 points. You receive $5 for every 1,500 points you earn.
Points can be redeemed via gift cards or a Visa cash card, and it’s possible to request daily payments after playing for a couple of hours. Unfortunately, this app is only available for Android phones.
Bottom Line
There are plenty of ways to make money on your phone. Many of these choices were not available a few years ago. Not all of the opportunities will work for you or be worth your time, so it’s best to try several before deciding on one.
It’s best to pair your earnings with a goal to incentivize yourself. Whether you want to pay off debt, save for a long-term goal, or earn extra spending money, you can work towards achieving these goals from your phone.
What are some other apps you use to make money? *Capital One Shopping compensates
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Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform. Information related to lending products contained herein should not be construed as an offer or pre-qualification for any loan product offered by SoFi Bank, N.A.
*Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like the number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from peak pay, tips, and other incentives.
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