35 Best Money Making Apps Right Now

Updated: May 10, 2023

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I put the best money-making apps out there to the test to find only the best and most legitimate. Find out which ones made the cut and can help you pad your wallet right now.

If you want to make some extra cash from your smartphone, you’re in the right place!

These days, there are so many apps you can use to make money from the comfort of home , or even turn into a lucrative side hustle.

But are money-making apps really worth the hype?

While there are a number of apps out there that claim to make you money, not all of them are legit.

That’s why I’ve put the best money-making apps to the test and created this list of the few that are worth your time.

Some will help you make money in your spare time or earn you cash from things you’re already doing, while others might form the foundation of a new small business . And some might even start earning you passive income.

Ready to start?

What Are The Best Money Apps?

After comparing hundreds of money making-apps, I picked the best ones based on my personal experience and users’ reviews online.

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The Best Money-Making Apps Overall

Survey apps to make money

Taking surveys can be a great way to make some extra cash. You can easily earn money by answering questions in your free time.

I’ve been taking online surveys for a while now and have tried many survey apps. Many of them are just a waste of time, so I’ve hand-picked a few for you that are legit.

No, you won’t get rich from survey apps, but if you set aside 30 minutes to an hour per day, you can earn an extra $50-$150 each month.

1. Swagbucks

Swagbucks

Make money filling out surveys, but also watching videos, playing games, shopping online, and even just browsing online!

Available for: Android, iOS

GET $10 SIGN UP BONUS

Click Here

Swagbucks is hands down one of the best money-making apps out there. It’s probably my favorite app to make a bit of extra cash online.

Here’s how it works: Every time you complete a survey, you earn Swagbucks (SB) points, which you can convert to PayPal cash or e-gift cards.

In fact, it’s not just surveys that earn you SB points. With the Swagbucks app, you can earn money by watching videos, playing games, shopping online, and even just browsing online.

The payout threshold is $25 for PayPal and $3 for gift cards, meaning you will need to accumulate at least that amount in SB points before you can withdraw your money. Payments usually arrive within 10 business days after redemption.

And get this, if you sign up now, you’ll get a free $10 gift card as a sign-up bonus!

Click here to sign up for Swagbucks and get a free $10 Gift Card!

$ 10

Free to join
You can cash out via PayPal or gift cards
It can take a while to make money
You won’t qualify for every survey
High payout threshold for PayPal cash ($25)

2. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie

Get paid for taking surveys, as well as for sharing your browsing history with SJ Pulse.

Available for: Android, iOS

Click Here

Survey Junkie is another one of my favorite paid survey apps.

Like Swagbucks, you earn points in exchange for your opinion, which you can then convert into PayPal cash or gift cards.

You will need to reach at least 500 points, equivalent to $5, to redeem them, but most surveys will earn you between 100 and 200 points, so it doesn’t take much time to reach the withdrawal threshold.

All you have to do is sign up and fill out Survey Junkie’s profile questionnaires, which the app will then use to match you with surveys – the more info you provide, the more survey opportunities you’ll receive!

And if you want to earn even more points, you can give the Survey Junkie app access to your browsing history with a feature called SJ Pulse and start racking up rewards faster.

Click here to get paid for taking surveys with Survey Junkie!

$ 5

Large inventory of surveys
It can take a while to make money
You won’t qualify for every survey

3. Ipsos i-Say

Ipsos i-Say

Make money completing surveys, or occasionally participating in highly paid focus groups.

Available for: Android, iOS

JOIN TODAY

Click Here

Founded in 1975, Ipsos is one of the biggest market research companies in the world, conducting more than 70 million paid surveys every year in over 80 countries.

With the Ipsos i-Say app, you can get in on the action directly from your phone!

By completing surveys, you earn points which you can redeem for PayPal cash, gift cards, or i-Say merchandise.

A great thing about Ipsos i-Say is that once you sign up, they will contact you once a day through email with available survey invitations.

While most of the surveys will earn you between $0.40-$1.50 each, you will occasionally be offered an opportunity to participate in high-end focus groups , where you can earn $50-$100 for an hour of your time!

Want to know more about Ipsos i-Say? You can read my full review here.

Join Ipsos i-Say here to earn rewards for your opinions!

Pros:

Cons:

4. Google Opinion Rewards

Google Opinion Rewards

Earn money by filling out short surveys (as short as ten seconds!)

Available for: Android, iOS

GET STARTED

Click Here

The great thing about Google Opinion Rewards is that you can make money for completing surveys which take as little as ten seconds!

It’s true. After downloading the app, filling out some basic information about yourself, and granting it access to your location, you will receive short surveys once in a while based on your internet searches, YouTube videos watched, and online shopping habits. Often these surveys will be only one or two questions!

For each survey completed, you will receive somewhere between $0.10-$1.00.

If you are using the iOS version of the app, you can automatically transfer the cash you earn to your PayPal account. However, if you’re using the Android version, you are only able to redeem the cash you earn at the Google Play store.

Join Google Opinion Rewards here!

$ 10

Survey notifications sent automatically to your phone

Cons:

5. MyPoints

MyPoints

Earn cash by filling out surveys, watching videos, playing games, and even browsing the internet!

GET A $10 AMAZON OR VISA GIFT CARD

Click Here

MyPoints is another great site for paid surveys. It’s owned by the same company as Swagbucks, and the ways you earn some cash are similar – filling out surveys, watching videos, playing online games, or even browsing the internet.

One thing I particularly like about MyPoints is that not only can you redeem the points you earn in PayPal cash and gift cards, but in travel miles! This might make MyPoints perfect for those of us looking for a little extra income to fuel a travel habit.

Note that like Swagbucks, the payout threshold is $3 for gift cards, but $25 for PayPal cash.

Best of all, if you join MyPoints today, you’ll get a $10 Amazon or Visa gift card as a welcome bonus just for signing up!

Click here to sign up to MyPoints and get your $10 Amazon or Visa gift card!

$ 10

Tells you in advance how long each survey will take, and how much you can expect to make
Earn rewards in travel miles!
It can take a while to make money
High payout threshold for PayPal cash ($25)

6. Toluna Influencers

Toluna Influencers

Get paid for taking surveys and participating in the Toluna community.

Available for: Android, iOS

GET STARTED

Click Here

The most popular feature of the Toluna Influencers app is the opportunity to participate in longer surveys with more lucrative payouts.

While many of their available surveys will earn you something like $0.25, you will also gain access to more comprehensive surveys, which will pay you up to $50 to answer a series of detailed questions.

Additionally, you can earn further rewards by participating in the Toluna community. This means doing things like creating or responding to a topic in their forum, creating a poll, or starting a ‘battle’ and letting the community decide between two options.

Once you have accumulated $10 in earnings, you can cash out via PayPal or with gift cards.

Note, though, while you will be able to access your earnings from many surveys within a few days, for others, it can take up to six weeks.

$ 50

Participate in the community to earn more points
It can take a while to make money
Earnings can take up to six weeks to become accessible

Want to know more about the best survey apps out there? Check out my list of 15 Legit Online Surveys that Pay Cash .

Cashback and receipt scanning apps

We all go shopping, don’t we? Why not get paid for it?

With cashback apps, you can make extra cash by saving on the things you’re already buying!

They are an easy way to start putting real money in your pocket when you buy anything from

groceries

to household items, to a night out, to your next vacation!

7. Rakuten

Rakuten

Get 5%-20% cash back while shopping at over 3,500 retailers.

Available for: Android, iOS

GET A $30 BONUS

Click Here

Rakuten partners with more than 3,500 major retailers to save you money on pretty much everything you buy.

All you need to do is select the store you want to shop at within the Rakuten app, and you will receive between 5%-20% cash back on whatever you purchase. It’s that easy!

You also have the option to install the Rakuten browser extension, which will automatically inform you of the best deals anytime you’re shopping online.

The only potential downside is that while Rakuten will pay you the money you save through PayPal or by sending you a check, they only pay quarterly, meaning you may have to wait months to access your cash.

However, if you sign up today, you will receive a $30 bonus when you spend your first $30 through the app!

Click here to join Rakuten and claim your $30 bonus!

$ 3

500

Browser extension informs you of deals automatically whenever you shop
Featured deals, coupons, promo codes to save more

Cons:

Only pays out quarterly

8. Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards

Earn gift cards by scanning your receipts for purchases of groceries and other household items, no matter where you shop.

Available for: Android, iOS

Click Here

We all need to eat! So why not get some cash back from our groceries?

If you live in the US, the Fetch Rewards app allows you to earn rewards when shopping for groceries and other household products by scanning your receipts after making a purchase.

What I particularly like is that Fetch Rewards partners with brands, not stores, meaning you can scan your receipts no matter where you decide to shop.

One potential downside for some is that scanning your receipts with Fetch Rewards earns you points that you can redeem for gift cards but not cash.

However, many of these gift cards are for places where you can purchase groceries and household items, meaning you can earn rewards for purchases you make with the rewards you’ve earned!

Join Fetch Rewards here and start earning cash by scanning receipts!

Pros:

Partners with brands, not stores, so you can earn rewards anywhere you shop

Cons:

Rewards can only be redeemed in gift cards, not cash

9. Dosh

Dosh

Automatically get cash back at over 10,000 retailers by linking your credit or debit card.

Available for: Android, iOS

Click Here

With the Dosh app, you can get cash back at over 10,000 retailers without using an online portal to shop or scan receipts.

All you have to do is link your debit card or credit card to the app, and you will automatically receive up to 10% cash back whenever you use that card at thousands of places you’re probably already shopping already.

If it sounds scary to be providing your credit or debit information to an app, note that Dosh stores your information using Braintree, a PayPal service where over 1 billion cards are stored, so it’s about as safe as it can be!

Once you’ve accumulated at least $15 in savings, you can transfer the cash directly to your bank, or to your PayPal or Venmo.

Click here to sign up for Dosh and start getting your cashback!

$ 15

10,000+ retailers to get cash back from
Robust security
No receipts or portals, cash back is automatic with your linked card
Lower potential cash back (up to 10%) than others

10. Ibotta

Ibotta

Earn cash back by completing simple tasks then shopping online or in-store.

Available for: Android, iOS

JOIN TODAY

Click Here

Ibotta is slightly more complex than some of the other cashback apps above, but it might be worth it!

Here’s how it works: select an offer in the Ibotta app from over 300 partner companies, and you will be shown a list of tasks you can complete to earn cash back – things like reading a fact, completing a poll, watching a video, writing a comment, or posting on social media.

You can complete any or all of these tasks. The more tasks you complete, the more cash back you will earn.

When you’re done, just purchase the product either online or in store and claim your rewards! Usually, you will earn between $0.25 and a few dollars cash back on each selected product.

When you’ve accumulated $20 in savings, you can receive the cash through PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards.

Start getting your money back by joining Ibotta here!

$ 20

Earn on both online and in-store purchases
More chances to earn more rewards by completing tasks
More complex than other options

11. Receipt Hog

Receipt Hog

Earn cash back by scanning your receipts for purchases from “any store, any brand, online or in-store.”

Available for: Android, iOS

GET STARTED

Click Here

The Receipt Hog app allows you to earn rewards by purchasing from specific brands and scanning your receipts.

Though Receipt Hog will accept just about any receipt – “any store, any brand, online or in-store,” as they put it – different types of receipts and purchases will earn different types of rewards.

Some purchases, such as groceries and everyday items, will earn coins, which you can exchange for PayPal cash or Amazon gift cards and Visa gift cards, while others will earn you entries into monthly sweepstakes or spins on Receipt Hog’s proprietary ‘Hog Slots.’

Hog Slots is a game where you can win cash prizes, free gift cards, and other rewards. It’s like a slot machine; just pull the handle and see what combination of icons you receive to see what you’ve won!

Join Receipt Hog and start earning extra cash by taking snaps of receipts!

Pros:

Just about every receipt will earn at least some type of reward

Hog slots!

Cons:

Many purchases won’t earn coins which can be redeemed for actual cash

12. Drop

Drop

Earn rewards automatically on your favorite brands and most frequent purchases.

Available for: Android, iOS

Click Here

Drop is an amazing app that allows you to earn money back from your most frequent purchases.

All you need to do is link the Drop app to your credit or debit card, then pick your five favorite brands from their list of over 300. Every time you purchase one of these brands with your linked card, you will automatically receive points.

You can also earn points from the other 295+ brands, but will need to opt into these each time.

Once you’ve reached at least 5,000 points, equivalent to $5, you can exchange them for gift cards.

Note: different retailers offer different points per dollar spent. For example, Walmart is two points per dollar spent, while Dunkin Donuts is 14 points per dollar. It might be worth looking at Drop to see if your favorite brands are worth more.

Click here to sign up for Drop and start getting rewarded for shopping!

$ 5

Automatic for your favorite brands
Payout only available as gift cards, no cash
Weekly earning cap of $5 for card-linked offers

Want to know more about saving money and getting cash back with apps? Check out my list of the 35 Best Apps to Save Money.

Top apps to make money by doing simple tasks

There are many busy people and businesses out there who are looking for someone to do simple tasks for them, from picking up groceries to assembling Ikea furniture, to helping with product displays at stores, and more.

The apps below will connect you with these tasks!

13. Instacart

Instacart

Make money shopping for and delivering groceries for others.

Available for: Android, iOS

JOIN NOW

Click Here

With the Instacart app, you can make money by delivering groceries to more than 10 million active users in 5,500 cities across the US and Canada.

To sign up, all you need is a vehicle, a valid driver’s license, and your phone.

After you sign up, just enter your zip code, and the app will provide you with a list of orders available in your area. Just choose one, deliver it, and get paid. It’s that easy!

How much you can earn depends on the distance and difficulty of each order, as well as your location, but most earn somewhere between $10-$20 per hour as a baseline, and $25/hour or more at busy times.

You also get to keep 100% of customer tips!

The best part is you’ll have access to your earnings two hours after making a delivery.

Join Instacart here and start earning extra cash by delivering groceries!

$ 100

Access your earnings 2 hours after completing a delivery!

Cons:

You will have to pay for gas and vehicle maintenance

14. DoorDash

DoorDash

Get paid to deliver food from grocery stores and restaurants in your area.

Available for: Android, iOS

GET STARTED

Click Here

With the DoorDash app, you get paid to deliver orders from grocery stores and restaurants.

To sign up and start earning, you will need a vehicle, though, in many cities, this can include a scooter or even a bicycle.

You will also need to pass a background check, though this process is free and is usually completed within a week.

From there, you can expect to earn anywhere from $10-$25 per hour, plus keep 100% of your tips.

You can also increase your earnings with Peak Pay promotions, which allow you to earn more when it’s busy, and Challenges, which provide extra money for completing a certain number of deliveries in a set amount of time.

Earnings are paid weekly through direct deposit to your bank account or via PayPal. If you want to access your earnings immediately, you can pay a $1.99 fee.

Click here to start delivering for DoorDash today!

$ 1

Keep 100% of tips
Peak Pay and Challenges can increase your earnings
You must pass a (free) background check to get started

15. Rover

Rover

Get paid to walk dogs or pet-sit for a variety of pets.

Available for: Android, iOS

JOIN NOW

Click Here

Any animal lovers here? With the Rover app, you’ll make money by walking dogs , as well as pet sitting for dogs, cats, and a variety of other pets.

To join Rover, you will have to submit an application and complete a background check (which costs $25). Once you are accepted, you can set your own schedule and your own rates, and the more experience you gain, the more money you’ll make!

Better still, after you complete a gig on Rover, the money you earn will be available for withdrawal directly to your bank account two days later.

Note that Rover will take a 20% commission on your earnings.

However, they do provide The Rover Guarantee , an insurance program that covers vet care as well as accidental damage done to a pet owner’s home.

Join Rover here to earn extra money caring for animals!

$ 25

Make money spending time with pets!
The Rover Guarantee
High commission (20%)

16. Shopkick

Shopkick

Earn rewards at stores without spending any money, instead, by scanning barcodes of selected items, and even just for walking into certain stores.

Available for: Android, iOS

Click Here

How does going into stores and earning money without buying anything sound?

With the Shopkick app, you can earn points for scanning the barcodes of certain items in stores, even if you don’t buy. In fact, you can actually earn points just for walking into certain stores!

You can redeem these points in gift cards, and Shopkick advertises that most people earn enough for their first free gift card in one week.

For me, Shopkick is great to use at stores you already shop at. If you’re already walking the aisles, why not scan barcodes and earn rewards as you do?

Additionally, you can use the Shopkick app to scan receipts for in-store purchases at any of their many partner stores, allowing you to earn additional points on top of what you might be getting for scanning barcodes.

Pros:

You can earn rewards without buying anything!

Especially easy if you’re already going to the store

Cons:

Only pays out in gift cards

Location dependent – available opportunities can vary widely depending on your location

17. TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit

Get paid to do various tasks and odd jobs for people in your community.

Available for: Android, iOS

DOWNLOAD TASKRABBIT

Click Here

With the TaskRabbit app, you can make money by helping people with various tasks and odd jobs such as cleaning, putting together furniture, making home repairs, and more – there are over 50 service categories!

To start, simply create a profile with the type of tasks you want to do, and input your available hours. From there, clients will contact you to book the tasks they need done.

Note that while TaskRabbit charges a $25 registration fee when you sign up, they do not charge fees or commission on your work – you keep 100% of what you earn, plus tips!

The cash you earn will be transferred via direct deposit to your bank account.

Check out this useful tool where you can input your location and the type of task you’d like to do and see how much you can expect to be paid!

Download TaskRabbit and earn extra cash by helping other people!

$ 25

You keep 100% of your earnings, plus tips
50+ different genres of tasks
Location dependent – available opportunities can vary widely depending on your location

18. Roamler

Roamler

Earn cash by completing a variety of in-store tasks, from mystery shopping to building promotional displays.

Available for: Android, iOS

GET IT NOW

Click Here

The Roamler app lets you earn money by completing all sorts of small in-store tasks for companies related to their products. This could include mystery shopping, taking pictures, or filling in short questionnaires, as well as refilling shelves with products or building up promotional displays, and more.

All you have to do is download the app, and you’ll see a list of tasks available near you. Just choose one, complete it, and get paid! From there, you will be able to withdraw your earnings via PayPal.

As you complete tasks, you will accumulate experience points (XP). The higher your XP, the more opportunities you get, and the more money you can make!

Note: Roamler is not available in the US or Canada. It is available across Europe and in Chile.

Join Roamler here and start earning cash as a mystery shopper!

Pros:

Easy tasks which can usually be completed in minutes

Experience points increase your earnings

Cons:

Location dependent – available opportunities can vary widely depending on your location

Not available in the US or Canada

19. Field Agent

Field Agent

Make money by performing small tasks in stores such as testing a product or taking pictures.

Available for: Android, iOS

JOIN TODAY

Click Here

Field Agent is a mystery shopping app available in the US, Canada, and the UK, which pays you to conduct simple tasks at local stores.

This could include taking pictures to make sure products are properly displayed, making a purchase to evaluate service, conducting in-store audits, testing products, filling out surveys, going on a scavenger hunt, and more.

Generally, you can make anywhere from $3-$12 per task, though some will pay upwards of $30, and often you’ll get free products as well.

Once you’ve completed a task, you will receive your payment via direct deposit to your bank account, usually within a day or two.

Note that the tasks are generally on a first come first serve basis, so make sure to check the Field Agent app often so you don’t miss out on the higher paid gigs!

Join Field Agent and start earning money doing small tasks!

Pros:

The tasks are easy and can usually be completed in only a few minutes

Access your earnings in only a day or two

Cons:

Location dependent – available opportunities can vary widely depending on your location

20. Mobee

Mobee

Earn rewards for completing mystery shopping “missions” in stores.

Available for: Android, iOS

DOWNLOAD

Click Here

How does making extra cash by going on missions sound?

Similar to Field Agent, the Mobee app pays you to complete missions in stores and restaurants in your area, which can include testing products, taking pictures, asking employees questions, and more. When you complete these missions, you will be asked to provide brief feedback within the app.

All you have to do to get started is download the app, and you will be able to see a map of all the available missions in your area.

Usually, each mission completed will earn you between 100-500 points, which translates to $1-$5. Points can be redeemed for gift cards in as little as 48 hours after completing a mission.

Bonus: make sure you check out Mobee’s “Featured Missions” on the map, which are worth significantly more points!

Download Mobee and get rewarded by going on missions!

$ 15

Access your earnings in 48 hours

Cons:

21. Mistplay

Mistplay

Earn gift cards for playing games on your phone. The more you play, the more you’ll make!

Available for: Android

GET STARTED NOW

Click Here

If you like playing games on your phone, then you are into one of the

best hobbies to make money

right now.

If you have an Android, just download the Mistplay app and start playing any of their 300+ games. After a couple of minutes, you will start earning units, which can be redeemed for gift cards.

The more you play, the more achievement badges you will unlock and Game Experience Points you will accrue, which means even more units!

Units can be redeemed when you’ve earned as little as $0.50, and when you do, gift cards will be sent to your email in less than 48 hours.

Note though, the longer you wait to redeem, the more your units will be worth – for example, your units are worth three times as much when redeemed for a $10 gift card as opposed to a $0.50 gift card.

Download Mistplay and get paid to play games on your phone!

$ 0

You get paid to play games on your phone!
Gift cards arrive in less than 48 hours
Payouts only available in gift cards
Earnings are low – it takes a long time to reach a $10 gift card
Only on Android

22. Money Well

Money Well

Get paid to play games on your phone.

Available for: Android

DOWNLOAD MONEY WELL

Click Here

Similar to Mistplay, Money Well pays you to play games on your Android phone.

One advantage Money Well has, however, is that you can redeem your rewards in PayPal cash, as well as gift cards.

Just download the app and log in to see all of the available games to play. They are constantly adding new ones, so the list will never get stale.

When you choose one, you will be directed to the Google Play store so that you can download it. From there, you will be able to earn cash rewards by playing it through the My Apps page in the Money Well app.

For every minute you play a game, you will earn rewards. You can also reach milestones within each game for additional rewards.

Start earning cash for playing games on your mobile phone with Money Well now!

$ 0

Get paid to play games on your phone!
Redeem rewards via both PayPal cash and gift cards
It can take a while to earn money
Only available on Android

23. Just Answer

Just Answer

Get paid to answer questions on a subject you are an expert in.

Available for: Android, iOS

APPLY

Click Here

If you’re an expert in a particular topic, you can get paid to answer people’s questions about it with the Just Answer app, where people head to find advice from doctors, lawyers, mechanics, home repair professionals, and all sorts of other experts.

To get started, you must first go through an application process that verifies your proficiency and credentials. It can take up to two weeks to be accepted.

Once accepted, you’ll be able to browse questions people have asked and how much they are willing to pay for an answer. Just choose one you can answer and start making money!

Note you will only receive 20% of what the customer paid when you’re first starting. As you gain experience, you can earn up to 50% of the fee.

Earnings are paid out via PayPal transfer or Venmo once per month.

Apply for Just Answer and start getting paid to answer questions!

Pros:

$ 80

Aggressive quality control algorithm
Payouts once per month

Want more ways to make money with simple tasks? Check out my breakdown of 25 Ways to Make Extra Money

Best apps for making money passively

If you’re a regular in the Gathering Dreams community, you’ve probably heard me talk about passive income .

This is money you don’t have to exchange your time for, income you make without needing to actively work for it.

The apps below will help you begin to generate this passive income and start making money in your sleep!

24. Acorns

Acorns

Invest your money automatically by rounding up purchases to the nearest dollar and investing the difference.

Available for: Android, iOS

START INVESTING TODAY

Click Here

Acorns is a great app for those who want to start investing but don’t know where to begin.

It’s actually so simple. Every time you make a purchase, the app rounds up to the nearest dollar and invests the difference – if you buy a cup of coffee for $3.75, the app rounds your total up to $4 and invests $0.25 of your money automatically.

When starting with the Acorns app, you’ll be asked a series of simple questions to determine which of their more than 25 investment portfolios is best for you.

The app isn’t free, but fees start at only $1 per month.

Bonus: Acorns partners with hundreds of different retailers. When you make a purchase from any of these partners through the Acorns app, between 1%-5% of what you spend will go straight into your investments – not as a round up, but as free money!

Download Acorns and start investing your spare change!

Pros:

Cons:

25. Fundrise

$ 10

If you want to start investing in real estate but don’t have a lot of extra money to put down, Fundrise is a great way to get started.

With the Fundrise app, you can invest in commercial and residential real estate projects with as little as $10.

Fundrise facilitates this by pooling investor assets together, which allows access to high-quality properties that would otherwise not be available.

All you need to do is download the app and select from their diversified portfolio strategy options. From there, you sit back and earn quarterly dividends from your investment, as well as investment income once a property is sold.

Notably, Fundrise has relatively low fees for the industry – a 0.15% yearly advisory fee, and a 0.85% annual asset management fee, meaning you will pay them 1% of every dollar you have invested every year.

Click here to get started with investing in real estate from your smartphone!

$ 10

Relatively low fees for the industry
There are always risks with investing and particularly real estate investing – it’s possible to lose money

26. Stash

Stash

Invest with as much simplicity or complexity as you desire, with both automated portfolios and hundreds of individual stock options.

Available for: Android, iOS

Click Here

Stash is another investing app that allows you to invest through round-ups, on a set schedule, or through their ‘Smart Portfolio’ system, which analyzes your habits and invests what you can afford in a diversified portfolio.

The great thing about the Stash app is it lets you decide how involved you want to be in your investment strategy.

On one hand, you can choose automated portfolio options to make everything simple. But you can also choose from hundreds of individual stock choices, even fractional investing, and pursue themed choices like ‘Blue Chips’ or ‘Delicious Dividends.’

And you can get started with as little as $5!

The app costs $3 per month to use for their basic service and $9 per month for a pro option, which comes with access to a resource center filled with market insights and tips from financial advisors.

Join Stash here and start earning cash investing in stocks!

Pros:

Cons:

27. Airbnb

Airbnb

Make money by renting your spare room or second property, or even by renting your home while you travel.

Available for: Android, iOS

START RENTING

Click Here

If you have a second property or even a spare room, why not make some extra cash off it? Renting your extra space is a great way to increase your passive income!

The best place to get this done is Airbnb . It’s one of the safest places to rent, a trustworthy global company where you can screen potential guests and accept or reject them based on their reviews.

The Airbnb app provides you with all the tools and resources needed to list your space and start booking visitors right away. In fact, you can even estimate how much you might make based on where you live with this helpful calculator before you get started.

Bonus tip: If you like to travel and are often away from home for extended periods, rent your space on Airbnb while you are away to help fund your adventures!

Start earning extra cash by becoming an Airbnb host!

Pros:

Cons:

28. Fat Llama

Fat Llama

Make money renting your unused equipment, electronics, and more to members of your community.

Available for: Android, iOS

GET A $20 CREDIT

Click Here

If you have things like photography equipment, electronics, sports equipment, tools, or other equipment that you don’t use every day, you can make passive income renting these things with the Fat Llama app.

All you have to do is download the app and go through a verification process, and you can start listing your unused items on the platform. From there, verified renters can send you a request to rent.

I especially like how Fat Llama provides free insurance up to $40,000, in case your item should be damaged or stolen.

When you make a rental, you will receive your earnings in your account 24 hours after the rental starts.

And if you get started today, you’ll receive a free $20 credit!

Note: Fat Llama does take a 25% service fee.

Download Fat Llama and earn extra cash by renting your stuff! Plus, get $20 free credit!

Pros:

Cons:

25% service fee

29. Shutterstock

Shutterstock

List your photos online and get paid a commission every time someone downloads one.

Available for: Android, iOS

GET STARTED

Click Here

If you’re a photographer, you can turn your skills into a source of passive income.

With the Shutterstock app, you can list your photographs and earn a commission every time someone downloads your work. Though this commission is often small – between $0.25-$0.45 per download – it can really add up.

To get started on Shutterstock, you will have to submit some of your work for review by the platform’s quality control team in order to verify that it is good enough. This process usually takes 1-2 weeks.

Once you’re accepted and start making money from your photos, Shutterstock will pay you once per month via PayPal or direct deposit to your bank account, provided you have at least $35 in earnings.

Want to know more about a stock photography side hustle? Check out my complete breakdown of Selling Stock Photos for Money.

Start earning passive income from your photos with Shutterstock!

$ 35

A great way to earn passive income
A large global customer base
Low payment per download – you’ll need to sell a lot to make money

If you want to know more about passive income, check out my breakdown of 31 Smart Passive Income Ideas That Actually Work .

Best apps to sell stuff

Do you need some extra cash? Look into the stuff you already own!

Seriously, there are so many great apps to sell things you no longer need or use to buyers all around the world. Below are some of the best right now.

30. BookScouter

BookScouter

Make money by selling used textbooks you no longer need directly to vendors from around the world.

Available for: Android, iOS

JOIN

Click Here

The BookScouter app is a great way to make money from old textbooks you’ve got laying around and other used books you aren’t going to read again.

After signing up, you simply enter a book’s ISBN number, and Bookscouter will provide a list of vendors from around the world looking to purchase that book and how much they’re willing to pay.

Once you accept an offer, you will receive payment via PayPal within 1-3 days of your shipment being received.

Note that BookScouter doesn’t charge any fees or commissions for its basic tools, but if you’re thinking of selling books regularly on the app, they offer Pro Tools for $29.99 per month.

Additionally, shipping fees are not provided by BookScouter, and can often come to $5 or more, so make sure to work that into the price you’re willing to accept.

Check out BookScouter here to sell your old textbooks!

$ 5

The basic version is free
Get paid via PayPal in 1-3 days after your shipment is received
You won’t always get the highest price for your books – you may be able to make more selling them elsewhere

31. Decluttr

Decluttr

Make money selling your used electronics and media, without having to make ads or deal with customers.

Available for: Android, iOS

GET STARTED

Click Here

Decluttr is a great app to sell your old electronic devices, as well as media like CDs, DVDs, or games.

For media items, just scan the barcode of the item you’d like to sell, and Decluttr will instantly tell you the price they’re willing to pay for it, while for electronics, you enter the make, model, and condition in order to receive an offer.

If you accept the offer, Decluttr will send you a prepaid shipping label so you can send the item for free. When they receive your shipment, you’ll be paid immediately through PayPal or direct deposit to your bank account.

While it’s true that you may be able to make more money selling your electronics and media on platforms like eBay , Decluttr is great for people who don’t want to go through the entire process of creating ads, dealing with customers, etc.

Download Decluttr to make extra cash selling your old electronics and media!

Pros:

Cons:

Lower payouts than if you sold the items yourself

32. 5Miles

$ 5

A great app to sell just about anything, 5Miles is focused on selling between neighbors, those within (as the name suggests) five miles of each other.

To begin posting items for sale and making money, you will first have to undergo their triple verification process – phone, email, and social media.

This may seem annoying to some, but safety is one of the main selling points of the 5Miles app. Both buyers and sellers must undergo verification in order to ensure they are who they say they are.

This means that, unlike some other apps for selling locally, you will not need to worry as much about scammers and sketchy actors. 5Miles even provides a “safe exchange area locator.”

Best of all, the app is completely free to use, and you keep 100% of the profits you make on your sales!

Sell your old stuff locally with 5Miles!

Pros:

Cons:

Limited local market – not as much of a customer base as global online selling marketplaces

33. Poshmark

Poshmark

Sell your used clothes while building a community of followers on this social shopping experience.

Available for: Android, iOS

START SELLING

Click Here

We all have clothes in our closets we never wear. Why not turn these things into some extra cash with the Poshmark app?

All you need to do is to download the app and sign up, then you can start posting ads and making sales!

When you do make sales, you will receive your money within three days of the buyer receiving the order via either PayPal, Venmo, direct deposit to your bank account, a physical check in the mail, or even an instant transfer to eligible Visa or Mastercard debit cards.

Note that Poshmark will take a 20% commission on anything sold for over $15 and a flat fee of $2.95 for anything under $15.

One thing to keep in mind about Poshmark – it is not just an ecommerce marketplace, but a social shopping experience. Sellers don’t just sell, they build and socialize with a community of followers.

If you want to know more about selling used clothes, take a look at my complete guide on How to Sell Clothes Online for Money .

Join Poshmark here and sell your unwanted clothes!

Pros:

$ 20

You have to interact to make sales – if you don’t want to have to engage, other selling platforms would probably be better

34. ThredUp

ThredUp

Make money from your old clothes instantly, or sell them through consignment without dealing with ads or customers.

Available for: Android, iOS

JOIN

Click Here

The ThredUp app is another great way to sell old clothes and fashion accessories from the comfort of your home.

It’s a bit different than Poshmark, though. Instead of selling your old clothes yourself, you order a clean-out kit and fill it with clothes, then send it to ThredUp with free shipping.

Their experts will sort through it and decide what they can sell. Then you choose whether you want to consign or take an upfront payout.

If you choose an upfront payout, ThredUp’s offer will be low, while if you choose to consign, ThredUp will take a commission between 85%-95% on sales under $20 and 20% for items $200 or more.

Despite this, ThredUp can still be a way to earn some quick cash for those who don’t want to go through the hassle of selling themselves.

When you do make money, you will receive your cash via PayPal.

Click here to join ThredUp!

Pros:

Cons:

It’s incredibly easy – from their cleanout kit to money in your pocket, you have to exert almost no effort

High commission and low payouts

35. Mercari

Mercari

Earn cash selling just about anything that you can ship.

Available for: Android, iOS

Click Here

Mercari is an online marketplace where you can buy and sell almost anything, from clothes to household items, to electronics, to home décor, to pet accessories, and beyond.

After downloading the Mercari app and signing up, you can easily create an ad and start selling by adding a few pictures of the item you want to sell, writing a description, and setting a price.

When somebody buys what you’re selling, Mercari will give you prepaid shipping labels which provide insurance on your shipments up to $200.

Mercari’s commission on each sale you make is only 10%, relatively low among e-commerce marketplaces, meaning you keep more money in your pocket!

Wondering what you could sell on Mercari? Check out my list of the 41 Best Things to Sell to Make Money .

$ 200

Mercari takes a low commission (10%) on your sales
Only available in the US and Japan, so your potential customer base isn’t global

Want to know more about the best apps to sell stuff? Check out my complete list of the 20 Best Apps to Sell Stuff Online and Locally.

F.A.Q.

Do money-making apps really work?

I’ve tested many money-making apps, and yes, they do work! Of course, there are lots of scams out there when it comes to selecting the right money making apps, but the ones on this list are legit.

How do money-making apps work?

Different apps can make you money in different ways. Some earn you extra cash in your spare time, while others help you save money on things you’re already buying, or pay you for doing simple tasks. Some are great for making extra money by selling stuff, while some can even become excellent sources of passive income.

How much money can you make with money-making apps?

It’s important when starting with money-making apps to keep your expectations realistic regarding how much you could make. In many cases, these apps will not be a replacement for a full-time job. However, they can be a great way to earn a little extra money on the side, and in some cases, such as completing simple tasks, renting on Airbnb, or selling stuff, they can even develop into a part-time job or lucrative side hustle.

Which money-making apps pay the most?

Which apps pay the most depends on how you look at things.

Apps that save you money on all your purchases can mean hundreds or even thousands of extra dollars on things you’re already buying, essentially meaning money for nothing.

Apps that pay you to complete tasks can be the foundation of a lucrative side hustle income if you’re willing and able to put in the time.

And, of course, apps that earn you passive income are a way to make money in your sleep, which can be the key to reaching financial freedom.

It’s all about what works best for you and which can be the most impactful in your life.

Are there any money-making apps that pay instantly?

Yes, some of the money-making apps on this list provide you with an opportunity to get paid almost immediately, in only a few days or even a few hours. Notably, you can complete deliveries for Instacart and receive your earnings only two hours later. Additionally, with apps like Rover, Field Agent, and Mobee, you can usually get paid within two days.

Are money-making apps safe to use?

While there are undoubtedly some scams out there when it comes to money-making apps, the ones on this list are legit and safe to use. That said, keep in mind that many money-making apps will collect some form of user data, so it is a good idea to read an app’s FAQ and user guidelines to make sure you are comfortable with what they’re collecting before you get started.

How can I maximize my earnings with money-making apps?

Most of the options on this list will offer additional rewards if you refer friends to sign up for the app. This is one way to maximize your earnings with these apps.

Another way is using these apps to earn money for things you’re already doing – for example, by using cashback apps for things you’re already buying or earning money by playing games on your phone.

Finally, setting up multiple sources of passive income can be an excellent way to maximize earnings without increasing your effort or the amount of time you’re putting in.

Ready to make money?

These apps are my favorite, but have you used any other apps that you liked? Let me know in the comments!

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Ray Payne says

October 19, 2021

I have used Swagbucks and Survey Junkie apps for making some extra money and These two apps are really good for making some quick money by doing little tasks. Thanks for your effort to make such a great list of money-making apps and share them with us.

Sara @ Gathering Dreams says

November 19, 2021

Fantastic! thank you Ray, I use Swagbucks a lot myself and I think it’s great 🙂

Do What You Love

Join me to find out:

35 Best Money Making Apps Right Now

What Are The Best Money Apps?

Do What You Love

Popular

The Best Money-Making Apps Overall

Survey apps to make money

Swagbucks

Survey Junkie

Ipsos i-Say

MyPoints

Cashback and receipt scanning apps

Rakuten

Dosh

Ibotta