20 Best Side Hustle Apps to Make Extra Money
Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. Read our disclosure to see how we make money.
Do you need to make extra money for expenses, like paying off debt or planning a family vacation? While you may not have time to work a second job, there are many easy side jobs where you can make money fast in 30 minutes or less.
Some side hustle jobs even let you make money from home by completing simple tasks.
Are you ready to see which side hustle ideas can boost your monthly income?
Table of Contents
Best Side Hustle Apps to Make Money in Your City
Local gig jobs require more effort than side jobs online, but you’re more likely to make $100 in a day. Unlike most local opportunities, you can set your own work schedule.
Plus, you can join multiple side hustle apps to quickly find good paying options when you’re ready to work.
Some local side gig ideas for immediate income include delivering food, caring for pets, and being a handyman.
1. Postmates
Once upon a time, a select few restaurants offered delivery service. Now, many restaurants, retail stores, and pharmacies partner with delivery apps like Postmates.
Of the delivery apps, Postmates provides the most delivery options and is one of the best side jobs for quick cash.
It’s possible to deliver these order types with Postmates:
- Restaurant meals
- Groceries
- Clothing
- Alcohol
You decide how many hours you work each day. Depending on where you live, you can deliver by car, scooter, or bicycle. Plus, you only need to be 18 years old to join.
After joining, scan the Postmates app to choose customer orders that fit your delivery schedule. It’s possible to make up to $25 per hour with Postmates.
You can see upfront how much you will make with each delivery, which makes it easier to find the highest-paying gigs.
The delivery distance and estimated time, plus a flat commission, determine how much you make from each delivery. Customers can also give you tips.
New delivery partners earn a one-time starter guarantee on their first deliveries. You may receive a $350 cash bonus after completing 40 deliveries in the first 14 days, for instance.
This makes the platform one of the better choices if you’re wondering how to get help paying rent when you’re short on cash.
These are the two most consistent ways to earn bonus cash:
- Deliver during peak lunch and dinner hours
- Deliver on the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
Postmates offers free weekly payments to your linked bank account each Monday. Instant same-day deposits are available for a $0.50 fee.
Read our Postmates review to learn more about how you can make money delivering orders.
2. DoorDash
DoorDash is another leading delivery app. Different merchants partner with a specific app. As a freelancer, you can join multiple apps to find side jobs in your city.
So, if one delivery app has no current orders, you can switch to another to keep making money.
You only need to be 18 years old to join and can deliver by car, scooter, or bicycle.
It’s free to join DoorDash, and you can see current delivery requests in the mobile app. The in-app map shows city areas with peak demand.
You can earn extra cash by being in the right place at the right time.
Like Postmates, you can earn up to $25 per hour. And you get to choose the hours and restaurants that you deliver for.
Read our DoorDash vs. Postmates review to learn how the on-demand apps differ.
3. Instacart Shopper
Instacart Shopper pays you to grocery shop and deliver for other people.
This service can be an exciting side hustle if delivering fast food doesn’t interest you. You may not want to risk your car smelling like greasy food for the next week with a restaurant delivery app.
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. Full-service shoppers can also earn customer tips to make extra money.
Read our in-depth guide on how to make money as an Instacart Shopper to decide if it’s for you.
4. Uber Eats
Uber Eats is a third food delivery app to consider. Unlike the better-known Uber rideshare app, you don’t transport people across town.
Plus, you only need to be 18 years old in most cities to start delivering. You must be at least 21 years old to be a rideshare driver.
In many cities, you can deliver by car, scooter, or bicycle. The minimum age and vehicle requirements vary from city to city. If you have a car, it only needs to be 20 years old or newer.
Instant payments up to five times daily are available. All transfers are free when using the Uber Visa Debit Card from GoBank.
There’s a $0.50 transfer fee to send your earnings directly to your debit card.
Direct bank deposit is free but can take several days. It’s possible to earn bonus cash by delivering during peak order times like other delivery apps.
Another option is completing a minimum number of orders during a specific timeframe.
If you like the idea of using side hustle apps to deliver meals, our review of the best paying delivery app gigs shares several more top choices.
5. Airbnb
Not all apps that pay you cash require you to deliver something. Being an Airbnb host means your customers come to you instead, and it’s one of the more lucrative ways to earn money on the side.
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. Make sure you read our Airbnb host checklist to receive consistently positive reviews.
You can quickly estimate your monthly rental income using Airbnb’s calculator. It’s possible to make $1,500 a month by hosting an entire property in large cities, including Charlotte, North Carolina.
Major cities and popular tourist destinations can earn consistent monthly income.
6. Rover
Do you love pet sitting or walking dogs? Rover lets you make at least $1,000 a month by offering these services:
- Overnight boarding for dogs and cats
- Daycare
- Dog walking
- Housesitting and drop-ins at the pet’s house
Rover is one of the best dog walking apps because you can offer a variety of services. And 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 join, but you can set your own schedule and prices.
Payments deposit in 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 service.
7. TaskRabbit
Do you like fixing or assembling household items? TaskRabbit connects you with homeowners needing your skills for these tasks:
- Home repairs
- Furniture assembly
- Mounting flat-screen TVs
- Yardwork
- Moving furniture and boxes
You can make as much as $60 per hour if you have a specialty skill like being a plumber or electrician. Like other side hustle apps, you can pursue the jobs matching your schedule.
Read our guide on other apps like TaskRabbit to find odd jobs near you to make money.
Side Hustle Jobs to Make Money Online
Work-from-home jobs are becoming more common. You can make money online by completing micro tasks within 20 minutes.
Higher-paying side hustle jobs, such as teaching English online, can require you to work several hours a week but don’t require leaving home.
8. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a terrific “get-paid-to” platform. There are many ways to earn rewards points that you can redeem for gift cards and cash.
You earn rewards points for completing these tasks:
- Surveys
- Watching videos
- Shopping online
- Playing games
- Requesting free samples
- Redeeming coupons
Your points are redeemable for gift cards and PayPal cash. Amazon gift cards only require a $1 balance. PayPal cash requires a minimum $25 balance.
You only need to be 13 years old and can live in several countries to join Swagbucks.
Learn about all the ways to make money online in our detailed guide on Swagbucks.
9. EF Education First
Do you love to teach? EF Education First is one of the best platforms to teach English as a second language.
Teachers from the United States and the United Kingdom can teach English online in their free time. You can teach group or private lessons using EF’s curriculum.
EF lets you teach children or adults if you possess these basic qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification
- Computer with a reliable internet connection
Highly-qualified teachers have the opportunity to teach abroad. If you qualify, EF pays for your flight costs, and you teach English at a local language school.
10. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is a micro-task site paying 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 InboxDollars review to see how you can find easy side gig jobs.
11. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys pays you to fill out surveys, take polls, complete daily challenges, and more. Signing up is fast and easy, and you’ll be matched to certain surveys offered from companies in their client pool.
Points are awarded after the company approves the survey. Hit 1,000 or more points and you can cash in for gift card or cash with PayPal.
12. MyPoints
MyPoints lets you earn rewards points by completing various online tasks:
- Surveys
- Shopping
- Watching videos
- Playing games
Watching ads is one of the most effortless 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. 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. Your 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.
While online surveys won’t make you rich, this side hustle idea requires minimal time and skill. The only “catch” is that you must join Pinecone Research through a special invitation link.
Also, Pinecone Research doesn’t offer daily surveys to most members. You will need to use another side hustle app like Swagbucks if you need daily income.
Read our Pinecone Research review to learn more.
14. InboxPays
InboxPays lets you earn rewards points daily for these tasks:
- Taking surveys
- Reading email
- Playing games
- Clipping coupons
- Testing products
It’s possible to earn up to $50 per completed offer. You can receive payments via PayPal with a $50 reward balance.
Answering multiple daily online surveys also increases your earning power.
Side Gig Apps to Make Money Selling Your Stuff
You can also make extra money by selling your unwanted belongings or flipping items for a profit. Examples include cell phones, electronics, and textbooks.
It’s even possible to rent your car with one app.
15. SellCell
SellCell lets you sell these unwanted items:
- 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.
Your payment options are cash via PayPal, or check. You get a free shipping label to mail your items with the US Postal Service.
The chosen company sends you payment within two business days of inspecting your items.
16. Turo
Does your car sit idle most of the week? Turo lets you rent your car to individuals and is one of the more unique choices on our list of side hustle apps.
Turo can be an effortless way to pay off debt or at least offset the depreciation of your car.
All rentals come with up to $1 million in liability insurance, and Turo can cover the cost of physical damage from theft, vandalism, and collision with add-on protection plans.
You can earn up to 85 percent of the daily rent with direct deposit payment. Average monthly earnings are $706 with 12 completed trips, according to Turo.
More exotic or high-demand cars are likely to make more money.
17. Decluttr
Decluttr is a quick way to make money from home by selling these items:
- Cell phones
- DVDs and CDs
- Video games
- Tablets
- Wearables
- LEGO
- Books
You receive an instant quote for the items you want to sell and a prepaid UPS shipping label. Decluttr pays you through PayPal one day after receiving your shipment.
The quickest way to sell your used items is by scanning product barcodes with the Decluttr mobile app.
18. 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 payment within three days of receiving your books.
19. OfferUp
OfferUp can help you earn more money selling your used items than instant buyback sites. The Android or iOS app lets you list items in as little 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.
Summary
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.
Do you currently use apps to find side jobs? What are some of your best side hustles? Which idea are you going to try next?
Latest posts by Josh Patoka (see all)
- Acorns Review: Start Investing with $5! - August 14, 2020
- Stash Invest Review: Start Investing With $5 or Less - August 3, 2020
- Self Lender Review: Build Your Credit and Save Money - July 20, 2020