23 Best Side Job Apps to Make Extra Money in 2022

We all need some extra cash on occasion. Whether you want to supplement your income or you have a goal to reach, gig economy jobs can help.

These range from work-from-home opportunities to sites that let you take surveys for cash and everything in between.

If you need to earn extra money, this guide shares a few of the best side gig apps to pursue. None of them require investments or upfront costs, and all of them are legitimate opportunities to make money on the side.

As a preview, here are the top apps to start earning money right now.

You can multiply your efforts by using multiple apps or focus on one that allows you to earn top dollar.

Best Side Hustle Apps to Make Money in Your City

Working online is an excellent way to earn extra cash, but you can often earn more by working a side hustle in your town. Here are the top apps to make money on the side locally.

1. DoorDash

DoorDash is an on-demand delivery app that pays you to deliver meals from local restaurants to customers. It’s also possible to deliver groceries in select cities.

To start, you download the app and apply to become a Dasher. Once you are hired, you can select orders and deliver them to customers.

You only need to be 18 years old to join and can deliver by car, scooter, or bicycle.

With DoorDash, you can work on your own schedule and receive pay weekly. However, you can request an instant payout for a mere $0.50 fee if you need funds immediately.

*Related: Read our analysis of DoorDash and Grubhub to learn which of the delivery driver jobs is best for couriers. 

The DoorDash site claims couriers can get paid $23 per hour while on a delivery, including tips.

Read our DoorDash driver review here to learn more.

2. Instacart Shopper

Instacart Shopper is another leading delivery gig app that pays shoppers to purchase and deliver groceries to customers. This service can be an exciting side hustle if delivering fast food doesn’t interest you.

You must be at least 18 years old, able to lift up to 30 pounds, and own a smartphone with a minimum Android 5.0 or iOS 9 operating system.

As a full-service shopper, you’re required to have access to a vehicle to deliver orders.

Shifts are flexible, and you can earn up to $20 per hour, inclusive of tips. However, reports indicate earnings can be closer to $12 or $15 an hour.

Like DoorDash, working during busier hours is an excellent way to increase your hourly rate. Pay is released weekly.

Read our review of working for Instacart here to learn more.

3. Shipt Shopper

Shipt Shopper is another grocery delivery service that pays independent contractors to buy and deliver groceries to people in their town.

Target owns the Shipt service, though you can shop for groceries at any local store. Like Instacart Shopper, you must be at least 18 years old, able to lift up to 30 pounds, and own a smartphone.

You must also have access to a car to make deliveries.

With Shipt, you can work as much as you want and set your own schedule. Earnings can be up to $20 per hour, and you can earn more during busy periods.

*Related: If you’re looking for other food delivery jobs, read our guide on apps like Uber Eats to find additional side hustle opportunities.

One nice perk of delivering for Shipt is that they give you a $2 bump in pay once you complete 100 deliveries.

This allows you to earn up to $22 per hour. Additionally, pay is released weekly.

If you don’t mind being a personal grocery shopper, Shipt is one of the best delivery apps to work for if you want a flexible schedule.

Read our review of working for Shipt here to learn more.

The platforms above are three of the best food delivery services to work, but there are many others. Here are the pay rates for the top services.

4. Rover

Rover is a fun way to make some money on the side if you like spending time with pets. Originally a dog walking service, this app-based job lets people earn money in the following ways:

• Overnight boarding for dogs and cats
• Daycare
• Dog walking
• Housesitting and drop-ins at the pet’s house

The app claims walkers can earn at least $1,000 per month working for the service. To truly hit that level, it’s likely you will need to offer boarding services.

However, you can walk multiple dogs simultaneously to increase your hourly earnings. Like other side hustle apps, you can set your own rates and schedule.

Plus, you can choose the type, size, and age of dogs you want to care for. You need to be at least 18 years old to work for Rover.

Payments are deposited into your bank account two days after completing a service. For extra peace of mind, Rover offers up to $1 million in protection for your services and 24/7 assistance, including veterinary services.

Read our review of the best dog walking apps to learn more.

5. Steady

Steady is a perfect solution to find gigs near you. The app is free, and you can start looking for opportunities after downloading the app.

You’ll need to answer a few quick questions about your skills and past experience, then complete a personalized work profile to get started. Upon completion, you can find job opportunities available in your area.

You can find any of the following on the Steady app:

• Part-time jobs
• Work-from-home gigs
• One-time side hustles

The site claims members can earn at least $5,000 a year by using the online marketplace. You can also take advantage of Income Boosters, which are opportunities to earn cash incentives.

The Steady platform allows you to keep an eye on your weekly income as well as your total income, hourly income, and more.

6. TaskRabbit

If you’re interested in making money doing odd jobs, TaskRabbit is an excellent resource to find work. The platform connects you with homeowners needing your skills for these tasks:

• Home repairs
• Furniture assembly
• Mounting flat-screen TVs
• Yardwork
• Painting
• Moving furniture and boxes

Handyman jobs may not seem lucrative, but you can earn as much as $60 per hour if you have a specialty skill like being a plumber or electrician.

Even if you don’t have a specialized skill, it’s easy to earn $20 to $40 an hour. After creating a profile and getting accepted, you can post your experience and look for opportunities.

You can work around your schedule, and the app handles all payments so you don’t have to exchange cash with clients. You receive payment weekly, so it’s a great way to get cash fast if you’re a hard worker.

Read our guide on other apps like TaskRabbit to learn more about finding local gigs.

7. Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex is a suitable alternative to make money delivering packages instead of food. Working for the retail giant is competitive, so there aren’t always opportunities available.

However, what makes it one of the best side hustle ideas is the pay rate. Driver reports indicate you can earn up to $20 per hour with this opportunity.

Tips are less frequent than with other delivery jobs, but Amazon pays a guaranteed rate, so there is less fluctuation in income.

You must be at least 21 to get work and have a reliable car. Like other courier gigs, you need to pass a background check to be approved.

Regardless of not always needing drivers, Amazon Flex is one of the top high-paying apps if you don’t want to depend on tips for income.

Read our review of working for Amazon Flex here to learn more.

8. Handy

If you want to work odd jobs but don’t necessarily want to work with your hands, Handy is a good option.

The app works similarly to Taskrabbit in that it allows you to find gigs in your area. But, it specializes in services like home and office cleaning.

You can do other tasks like:

• General handyman work
• Installation of devices
• Painting
• Remodeling

Pay is weekly, and you can work on your own schedule. It’s possible to cash out daily, but you’ll incur a $3 fee.

If you truly want to make extra money, it might be best to use both Handy and Taskrabbit to find more work.

Side Hustle Jobs to Make Money Online

If you don’t have time to work on the side, small task sites are an easy way to make money in your free time. You won’t earn a lot of money, but micro jobs are an excellent way to earn extra spending money.

Here are some of the top online side hustles to score some cash.

9. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a “get-paid-to” platform that pays you to complete small tasks. There are numerous money-making opportunities to take advantage of, including:

• Surveys
• Watching videos
• Shopping online
• Playing games
• Requesting free samples
• Redeeming coupons

Swagbucks pays users in SB points, which work as rewards you can redeem for gift cards and PayPal cash. Amazon gift cards only require a $1 balance. PayPal cash requires a minimum $25 balance.

The app also gives users a $5 bonus when they open an account. You only need to be 13 years old to start earning money.

Read our review of Swagbucks here to learn more.

10. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is an easy-to-use app to make money on the side by taking surveys. Many sites pay next to nothing for completing surveys or have a high redemption amount.

That’s not the case with Survey Junkie. They pay out $1 to $10 for surveys, and you can cash out once you reach a $10 balance.

Like other surveys for money sites, you can redeem for cash or gift cards. Every 100 points you earn equals $1. Most surveys take five to ten minutes to complete.

Read our review of Survey Junkie here to learn more.

11. Pinecone Research

Many online survey apps are notorious for having low payouts. Pinecone Research is an exception as you can earn $3 per survey.

You can earn more if Pinecone invites you to test products. If you test products, you can earn up to $75 per test.

Rewards options include virtual Mastercards and Amazon gift cards.

However, if you’ve joined Pinecone in the last 30 days, your first redemption must be by bank transfer to verify your rewards account.

The only catch is that you must join Pinecone Research through a special invitation link.

Read our review of Pinecone Research here to learn more.

12. MyPoints

MyPoints is a part of the Swagbucks family and lets you earn rewards points by completing various online tasks. Options include:

• Surveys
• Shopping through their online portal
• Watching videos
• Playing games

Watching ads is one of the easier ways to earn reward points. These ads can take less than one minute to watch and earn points.

Your points are redeemable for gift cards with balances as low as $1. PayPal cash is a second redemption office once your balance reaches $25.

MyPoints is free to join, but all members must be at least 13 years old.

13. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is a micro-task site that pays you to take surveys, watch ads, and complete shopping offers.

You can even earn money by reading sponsored emails and playing games.

You must be at least 18 years old and live in the United States to join. InboxDollars gives you $5 bonus cash for joining, and you can start requesting a cash balance with a $30 balance.

Read our review of InboxDollars here to learn more.

Rental and Selling Apps

Not all gig jobs require you to put forth a lot of effort. Some allow you to make money online by renting or selling something you own.

Possibilities range from earning extra spending money to passive income opportunities. Here are several of the best ways to make money.

14. HyreCar

If your car sits idle much of the week, you can use it to make extra money. HyreCar lets you rent your car to individuals and is one of the more unique gig economy apps.

You simply open an account and upload pictures of the car you have to rent.

All rentals come with up to $1 million in liability insurance, and HyreCar can cover the cost of physical damage from theft, vandalism, and collision with add-on protection plans.

The site claims the average user earns $720 per month through the service. Exotic or high-demand cars are likely to make more money.

HyreCar handles all rental management and vets all drivers to ensure safety

15. Airbnb

Another terrific opportunity to make money on the side is renting out part of your residence. The sharing economy has been a boon to people who want to earn cash helping others, including short-term house rentals.

Airbnb is one of the more popular apps to use for hosts. You can make money by renting these areas to travelers:

• Spare bedroom
• Finished basement
• Guesthouse
• Apartment
• Condo
• House

Maybe you can convert a unique property like a school bus, barn, or yurt into a short-term rental. You can quickly estimate your monthly rental income using Airbnb’s online calculator.

In many cases, you can earn $1,000 or more a month by hosting an entire property in large cities. If you live in a popular tourist destination, it’s possible to earn consistent monthly income.

Read our Airbnb host checklist here to learn how to maximize profits.

16. SellCell

Do you have old electronics or devices collecting dust? You can sell those items for cash to purchase a new one or to pad your bank account.

SellCell is a helpful app that lets you unload used devices. Unwanted items you can sell include:

• Cell phones
• Tablets
• Smartwatches
• Laptops
• Game consoles
• Smart home devices
• Wireless headphones

This website is a quick way to sell your electronics before they become outdated. You will see an instant price quote from over 40 buyback companies on the items you wish to sell.

To find out what you can earn, simply provide information on what you want to sell. The site will show you the potential buyers and their respective offers.

After you select a company, they give you a free shipping label to mail your items via USPS. The company sends you payment by PayPal or check within two business days of receiving and inspecting your items.

17. BookScouter

The college bookstore isn’t the only place to sell your used textbooks. You can fetch a higher price on BookScouter for your textbooks and used books.

Scanning the barcode with the mobile app compares the buyback prices for over 30 vendors.

You choose the best vendor and can mail your books with a free shipping label. Most vendors send PayPal payments within three days of receiving your books.

18. Decluttr

Do you have items to sell that go beyond used devices? Decluttr is a good alternative to sell both electronics and other unwanted items.

You can make quick money selling the following items on Declutter:

• Cell phones
• DVDs and CDs
• Video games
• Tablets
• Wearables
• LEGO
• Books

After you scan the product barcodes with the Decluttr mobile app, you receive an instant quote. If you accept the quote, Declutter gives you a prepaid UPS shipping label.

You receive payment via PayPal one day after receiving your shipment.

19. OfferUp

Garage sales are an excellent way to sell unused items. However, they can be a hassle or limit you to selling items locally.

OfferUp is an excellent alternative you can use to earn more money selling your used items than instant buyback sites like Declutter. The Android or iOS app lets you list items in as little as 30 seconds.

You can sell personal items, tech devices, and high-value items like cars and jewelry.

It’s free to sell items locally or ship to distant buyers. You can message potential buyers in the app, which can be safer than selling on Craigslist to strangers.

OfferUp doesn’t collect a fee if you sell locally. However, sellers pay up to 12.9 percent (with a $1.99 minimum fee) of the sale price for online sales that require shipping.

20. Fat Llama

Do you own unique tools or equipment that you periodically use but can’t live without? Instead of collecting dust, rent these items to your neighbors with Fat Llama.

Here are some examples of how items you can rent in New York:

• Air compressor: $4 per day
• Camping tent: $12 per day
• Jackhammer: $77 per day
• Mirrorless digital camera: $99 per day
• Portable heater: $10 per day

Lenders get up to $25,000 in damage protection from Fat Llama, and it keeps 15 percent of the rental amount when you rent your stuff through its platform.

Best Side Hustle Apps to Find Freelance Jobs

Due to their flexibility, at-home jobs can be a great way to supplement your income. Here are the best apps to find side hustles from home.

21. Fiverr

Fiverr is one of the best resources to use if you want to work remotely and have the flexibility to work on what you enjoy. The site is renowned for its quick, $5 gigs.

It may seem like you can’t make a good income on the site, but it’s quite the opposite. The quick gig is the doorway to other, higher-paying jobs via add-on services.

Those services span from $20 per gig up to hundreds of dollars per job. It all depends on your area of knowledge.

Potential areas to find work include:

• Graphic design
• Web developing
• SEO
• Animation
• Writing

You get to set your own payment terms as well as rates and work only on projects that interest you. If you enjoy flexibility and the ability to control what you work on, Fiverr is one of the best side hustle apps to use.

22. 99Designs

Are you skilled in graphic design and want the flexibility to work from home? 99Designs is a useful resource to find side hustle work.

Similar to Fiverr, you create a free profile and begin looking for gigs. The site lets graphic design professionals connect with clients needing work on various jobs, including:

• Logos
• Book covers
• Illustrations
• T-shirt designs
• Packaging designs

You can accept as much work as you want. It can be a side hustle you work on in your free time or a legitimate at-home job.

Similar to other sites, you get to set your own rate and accept only the work you want.

23. Upwork

Upwork is a freelancer marketplace that works similarly to Fiverr. Freelance workers can find gigs from a wide variety of fields, including:

• Development and IT
• Writing
• Proofreading
• Customer support
• Graphic design
• Accounting

Upwork lets you create a free portfolio. Then you can start looking for gigs. Many jobs will list a budget, but you have the freedom to set your rates.

You can also create customized projects to sell to prospective clients as a means to set yourself apart.

What is the Best Side Hustle App?

The best app to find side hustles is Taskrabbit or DoorDash. The former lets you find a vast array of odd jobs near you that can easily pay over $20 an hour up to $60 per hour.

DoorDash is an excellent way to make money from your phone. The app lets you deliver meals from local restaurants to customers.

You can work on your schedule and get paid $23 per hour while on a delivery, including tips.

What Side Hustle App Pays the Most?

If you have a spare room or house to rent, Airbnb is the highest-paying side hustle app to use. Reports indicate the average nightly rate of Airbnb is $160 a night.

Unless you live in a big city or tourist destination, you won’t have occupants each night. However, even having guests for half of the month can be quite lucrative.

How Can I Make $1,000 on the Side?

It is possible to earn at least $1,000 on the side for a one-time or recurring need. The key is to find a job that pays roughly $20 an hour.

That will require you to work 50 hours a month before taxes. Here are some of the opportunities that allow you to earn at least $1,000 on the side:

• Delivery driver
• Freelance writer
• Handyman
• Graphic designer
• SEO specialist
• Airbnb host

The possibilities are endless. However, to avoid having a continuous need for money, it’s best to put some of your earnings in an online bank account for emergencies.

What Odd Jobs Can I Do for Money?

Odd jobs are an excellent resource to make extra money on the side. Possible opportunities include:

• Running errands for people
• Cleaning
• Moving services
• Installation of devices around the house
• Dog walking
• Yardwork
• Furniture assembly
• Painting
• Heavy lifting
• Furniture removal/moving

The opportunities are endless. If there’s a need or task, it’s likely you can use it as a side hustle idea to earn cash.

Summary

There are a growing number of side gig apps available today. Don’t limit yourself to just one.

Find several that work for you and fit into your schedule. You’ll be surprised at what you can earn.

Unlike a regular part-time job, you can make more money trying several of these side hustle apps at once. Take surveys, deliver food through a few apps, and sell items you no longer use.

There are countless ways to make money on the side. You simply need to be willing to do the work.

 

What are you doing to make money on the side?

 

*Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like 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.