We’ve extensively tested the most popular money-making apps to find the ones that are legit and worth your time, ranking them based on their earning potential, ease of use, user ratings and company reputation.
Our list is divided into the following categories:
- Side cash apps. Earn extra cash by completing tasks like surveys, playing games and shopping on your phone. These apps offer fun, low-effort earning opportunities.
- Gig and sharing economy apps. Make an average of $15 to $20 per hour with tasks like shopping, delivery and dog walking. These apps provide additional income on your own schedule.
- Investing apps. These apps provide an easy and accessible investing experience for beginners.
Side Cash Apps
To create this list, we extensively tested and analyzed the top survey apps, best cash-back apps and gaming apps that pay. While these apps will not replace your income, they’re an effective way to earn free gift cards or rewards to transfer to a bank or PayPal account.
#1. Swagbucks
| Our rating: | 4.8/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.4/5 with 79,905 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.2/5 with 107,256 reviews |
| Availability: | United States, Canada, most of Central America, South America, Europe and Asia |
Swagbucks is a reader and personal favorite for good reason: while you can take surveys, there are also several other simple tasks you can do to make money, such as watching videos, playing games and getting cash-back for shopping online.
While Swagbucks is a solid survey platform, its wide variety of tasks and generous $10 sign-up bonus make it one of our favorite overall money making apps.
Minimum withdrawal: There’s technically no minimum to cash out, but most reward options start at $3 (including PayPal cash and select gift cards).
You can Download Swagbucks using Link Below :
#2. Survey Junkie
| Our rating: | 4.2/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.6/5 with 62,752 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.4/5 with 64,369 reviews |
| Availability: | United States, Canada and Australia |
Survey Junkie is a top market research company with over 10 million members, high user ratings, an “Excellent” Trustpilot score, and a low $5 cash-out minimum.
It stands out for its large inventory of surveys, allowing for flexible earning opportunities.
Although there’s no sign-up bonus, new users can complete high-value tasks like profile surveys and watching a video to quickly reach the $5 minimum payout.
Minimum withdrawal: 500 points gets you a $5 transfer to your PayPal account, or you can redeem these reward points for gift cards.
You can Download Survey Junkie using Link Below :
#3. Rakuten
| Our rating: | 4.5/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.8/5 with 304,139 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.0/5 with 73,452 reviews |
| Availability: | United States, France, Germany, Spain, Ukraine and the United Kingdom |
Rakuten is a top-rated app that offers up to 40% cash-back at more than 3,500 partnered merchants. Simply search for the retailer in the app, click the link, and shop as usual.
For in-store purchases, link your card and activate cash-back offers before checking out.
Minimum withdrawal: $5, but note that payments are not available on-demand. Your cash-back will be paid automatically every three months via your choice of PayPal, paper check or American Express rewards points.
You can Download Rakuten using Link Below :
#4. Mistplay
| Our rating: | 4.0/5 |
| iOS rating: | Android app only |
| Google Play rating: | 3.9/5 with 315,663 reviews |
| Availability: | United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Korea, Italy and Spain |
Branded as “the loyalty program for gamers,” Mistplay is a free gaming app that rewards you with points for playing games on your Android smartphone (an iOS version is in development).
Sometimes, you must provide Mistplay with feedback on the game itself. In other cases, you’re required to reach certain in-game milestones (like leveling up).
Your points can be redeemed for gift cards to major retailers like Amazon, Starbucks and the Nintendo store.
Minimum withdrawal: 1,500 points, which is roughly equal to $5 in value.
You can Download Mistplay using Link Below :
#5. Fetch Rewards
| Our rating: | 4.1/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.8/5 with 2,850,493 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.6/5 with 521,117 reviews |
| Availability: | United States only |
Unlike many receipt scanning apps, Fetch Rewards works at any store. There are no barcodes to scan or coupons to clip, and you don’t have to buy specific products to earn points.
The big downside to Fetch is that each receipt only pays a few cents. However, you’ll get bonus points for buying sponsored items, and these are often common household products that you may be buying anyway.
Minimum withdrawal: 3,000 points gets you a $3 gift card.
You can Download Fetch Rewards using Link Below :
#6. Upside
| Our rating: | 4.3/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.8/5 with 297,264 reviews |
| Google Play rating | 4.6/5 with 205,522 reviews |
| Availability: | United States only |
Upside is a cash-back app focused on gas purchases. In our testing, we found gas stations that offered up to 35 cents per gallon (though 25 cents and lower is more common).
The app also quickly expands beyond just gas, offering cash-back at certain retailers and restaurants.
Minimum withdrawal: You can withdraw at any time for a $1 fee. Once your balance reaches $10, you can withdraw for free.
You can Download Upside using Link Below :
#7. Blackout Bingo
| Our rating: | 2.5/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.5/5 with 84,423 reviews |
| Galaxy store rating: | 4.5/5 with 8,761 reviews (only available for Android phones in the Galaxy store) |
| Availability: | United States only (not available in AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, and SD) |
Blackout Bingo is a competitive bingo game where you can play against other users. The game rewards users who pay attention:
“The closer you pay attention to the numbers that are on your card (and which numbers you need in order to get a bingo), the better bonus ball selection you can make. When you select the right bonus ball numbers, you achieve more bingos, which in turn increases your point total for that game — making it more likely that you will win.”
For true bingo fans, play free to earn “Zs,” the game’s currency, which are exchangeable for gift cards or merchandise. However, it takes about five hours of play to earn a single sticker.
To win cash, pay a 60-cent minimum entry fee for games with $1 to $755 prize pools. (This need to pay to win cash is the driver of our relatively low 2.5/5 rating.)
This app is best suited for dedicated bingo players who are willing to invest time and money to win cash prizes. If you enjoy bingo and can afford the small entry fees, this app may provide a fun and potentially rewarding experience.
You can Download Blackout Bingo using Link Below :
#8. Rakuten Insight
| Our rating: | 4.5/5 |
| iOS rating: | No iOS app available |
| Google Play rating: | 3.9/5 with 120 reviews |
| Availability: | United States, France, United Kingdom and most of Asia |
Rakuten Insight is a paid survey app from the company behind Rakuten, the most well-known cash-back shopping portal in the United States. The app is only available for Android devices, but we found it easy to take surveys on iPhone via their mobile-optimized website.
We earned $9.62 per hour during our testing period, making this one of the best-paying survey apps we’ve reviewed.
The downside to Rakuten Insight is that the number of available surveys is limited compared to bigger platforms like Survey Junkie.
Still, the above-average pay makes this a great option when you’re thinking about giving paid surveys a shot.
Minimum withdrawal: $5 to cash-out via PayPal.
You can Download Rakuten Insight using Link Below :
#9. Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel
Nielsen, a renowned research company known for TV viewership ratings, also analyzes smartphone usage with their Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel app.
This app runs in the background, anonymously collecting data on phone usage and activity types, such as browsing or watching videos.
Users are entered into a $10,000 monthly sweepstakes and can earn up to $50 per year in gift cards or PayPal cash if the app remains installed for 12 months.
You can Download Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel app using Link Below :
Download the Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel app.
#10. SurveyMonkey Rewards
| Our rating: | 4.5/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.7/5 with 14,853 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.4/5 with 9,166 reviews |
| Availability: | United States only |
SurveyMonkey, which is widely used by numerous businesses for gathering customer feedback, also offers a lesser-known rewards app.
In our testing, we earned an impressive $13.56 per hour (significantly above the survey app average).
The platform’s surveys are typically brief, taking just 2-3 minutes to finish. However, survey availability is limited; we received only nine opportunities during a month-long test.
Despite this, we reached the $5 cash-out minimum with minimal time and effort.
Minimum withdrawal: You must earn a minimum of $5 to redeem rewards. Amazon gift cards or a contribution to charity are the only redemption options.
You can Download SurveyMonkey using Link Below :
Download SurveyMonkey Rewards.
#11. InboxDollars
| Our rating: | 4.0/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.5/5 with 162,061 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.0/5 with 118,970 reviews |
| Availability: | United States only |
InboxDollars is a popular money making app that lets you earn through surveys as well as a variety of other tasks. It’s owned and operated by the same company that runs Swagbucks, but there are some key differences between the two (including that it’s one of the few sites where you can get paid to read e-mail).
InboxDollars also rewards you in real money (not points) for the activities you complete. The downside? There’s a $30 minimum to cash out, though the $5 sign-up bonus can help you reach that milestone.
Minimum withdrawal: $30 to cash out.
You can Download InboxDollars using Link Below :
#12. Ibotta
| Our rating: | 4.5/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.8/5 with 1,538,287 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.5/5 with 619,804 reviews |
| Availability: | United States only |
Ibotta is widely recognized as one of the best cash-back apps for groceries, but has expanded into local retail and online cash-back.
It works like this: you use the app to scan the barcode of the product you purchased at the store, and then you upload a photo of your receipt. Often, you’ll have to watch a 15-second video clip to have the money posted to your account.
Both my wife and I use the app, often stacking one of the many apps that are similar to Ibotta to double-dip on rewards. We’ve found the 30 seconds it takes to always be time well spent.
You can earn a $5 welcome bonus by signing up with our link and making a $15 purchase through the app.
Minimum withdrawal: $20 in cash transferred to Venmo or PayPal.
You can Download Ibotta using Link Below :
Gig & Sharing Economy Apps
The gig and sharing economy has opened up dozens of legit earning opportunities that you can leverage with your smartphone, including on-demand delivery jobs, odd jobs and more.
#13. DoorDash
| Our rating: | 4.0/5 |
| iOS Rating: | 4.7/5 with 1,824,047 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 2.7/5 with 138,606 reviews |
| Availability: | United States, Canada, Australia and Japan |
DoorDash allows you to earn extra money by delivering restaurant take-out orders. You’ll need a car, bicycle or scooter, a driver’s license, and valid insurance to become a Dasher.
With DoorDash, you have the flexibility to schedule your shifts ahead of time or use DashNow, a feature only available during peak hours where no pre-scheduling is required.
That means you’ll have less scheduling flexibility than with UberEats (see below), but it also means you’ll usually have a more consistent flow of orders (because there are fewer drivers working at any given moment).
Download the DoorDash driver app.
#14. Instacart
| Our rating: | 4.0/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.8/5 with 836,272 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.2/5 with 119,978 reviews |
| Availability: | United States and Canada |
Instacart lets you earn money by shopping for and/or delivering groceries. Full-service Instacart shoppers both shop for and deliver items, but if you don’t have access to a car, you can be an in-store shopper only.
Similar to many gig economy apps, a big perk of working with Instacart is that you can set your own schedule. That said, peak times, such as weekends, often pay the most per hour.
Instacart shoppers get paid per order based on the time it takes to complete the order, as well as the distance (if delivering). Delivery drivers also get tips from customers.
#15. Fiverr
| Our rating: | 4.8/5 |
| iOS rating | 4.9/5 with 389,556 reviews |
| Google Play rating | 4.6/5 with 290,877 reviews |
| Countries Available | Worldwide |
Fiverr is a freelance marketplace known for its wide variety of tasks offered.
What’s unique about Fiverr is that you’re the one designing the gig and posting it for others to buy. As such, you can create jobs you can fulfill entirely from your smartphone.
This could include video editing, proofreading and photo editing — among many others.
#16. Uber
| Our rating: | 4.1/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.6/5 with 583,257 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.6/5 with 3,071,246 reviews |
| Availability: | Worldwide |
Uber gives you two ways to make money with a single app: ride-sharing as a driver or delivering takeout food orders with UberEats. And with over 100 million active monthly customers in 900+ cities, there’s plenty of demand to keep you busy.
Being a driver with Uber is the most famous side hustle in the world for a reason: Uber freelancers can earn solid money (earnings vary based on factors like location and demand), and you can work literally whenever or wherever you want, with no need to set a schedule. Just open the app, make yourself available and then accept the gigs that are sent your way.
UberEats is similar to DoorDash (mentioned above) in that you can earn money by delivering food orders from local restaurants using your car, scooter or bike — or even on foot in some cities.
Plus, whether you drive people or deliver food, you have the ability to request instant payout for a small fee — meaning you can get paid the same day you work] instead of waiting around for a deposit to hit your bank account.
#17. Rover
| Our rating: | 4.4/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.9/5 with 332,785 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.7/5 with 20,368 reviews |
| Availability: | United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden |
Rover is a pioneer in the pet care industry when it comes to pet sitting, dog walking, doggy daycare and boarding. The app allows you to connect with local pet owners in need of these services. Rover advertises that walkers can get paid up to $20 per hour.
It’s ideal for those living in a more urban area, where they can often take out multiple dogs and travel short distances. For those not living in a city, boarding can help maximize your earnings.
#18. Steady
| Our rating: | 4.0/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.6/5 with 20,318 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.2/5 with 37,860 reviews |
| Availability: | United States only |
Not sure which gig economy job you want to take on? Steady aggregates local gig economy and money making opportunities for you in one app. This way, you can see what’s available and find offers customized to your availability and skills.
The app has a strong community aspect as well, where other gig workers share best practices, tips to earn more, and how much they’re actually earning.
If you’re brand new to the gig economy, Steady is a good choice to lead you in the right direction.
#19: Turo
| Our rating: | 4.5/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.8/5 with 193,825 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.9/5 with 201,972 reviews |
| Availability: | United States, Canada and the United Kingdom |
Turo is a car sharing app that allows you to earn money by renting your vehicle.
The app works similarly to Airbnb in that you can list your car for rent and set your own price. Once a renter is found, they’ll contact you to arrange a time to pick up the car.
Alternatively, many Turo hosts use remote lock technology, giving renters access to the car without meeting in person. Theoretically, you can earn passively, as the app handles the entire transaction.
#20. Neighbor
| Our rating: | 4.4/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.6/5 with 2,656 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.4/5 with 1,953 reviews |
| Availability | United States only |
Neighbor is an app that allows you to get paid for renting unused space in your home. This could be an extra garage spot, driveway space, shed, attic or basement.
While there is some work involved upfront — such as listing your space and connecting with clients — once the storage is set up, there’s very little work required on your part.
Investing Apps
When we think of money making apps, it’s all about turning minimal time, effort and resources into cash — all through your smartphone.
A select few investment apps fall into this category, in that you can earn money without investing a lot of time or cash. This may include being paid a sign-up bonus, getting free shares of stock, or having the ability to automatically invest your spare change.
#21. Acorns
| Our rating: | 4.1/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.7/5 with 835,392 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.6/5 with 237,688 reviews |
| Availability: | United States only |
Acorns is a mobile app that automates investing through:
- Spare change investing. Acorns’ Round Ups feature sets aside the difference from your purchases (e.g., 80 cents from a $17.20 expense) and invests it into a mutual fund, helping you save and build an investment portfolio gradually.
- Acorns Earn. Partnering with hundreds of retailers, Acorns allows you to earn money when shopping at specific stores (up to 10% of the purchase amount) and adds it to your investment account.
By using Acorns Earn and investing spare change, you can build a substantial portfolio for retirement or generate side income.
#22. Public
| Our rating: | 4.3/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.7/5 with 60,202 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.3/5 with 44,591 reviews |
| Availability: | United States only |
Public is one of our favorite apps for investing in individual shares of stock.
What stands out about Public is its simplicity: the app offers a very clean and user-friendly experience, and forgoes more advanced features, like options and futures trading, that aren’t necessary for beginning investors.
They also have a generous sign-up bonus, giving you free stock worth up to $300 in value simply for opening an account — no deposit is required.
#23. Fundrise
| Our rating: | 4.4/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.8/5 with 24,554 reviews |
| Google Play rating | 4.6/5 with 2,095 reviews |
| Availability: | United States only |
What stands out about Fundrise is that it allows you to invest in commercial real estate projects for as little as $10. You then earn passive income from quarterly dividends, as well as investment income once a property is sold.
Miscellaneous Money Making Apps
From taking pictures of products at local retailers to achieving fitness goals, these apps don’t fit into one of the categories above but are still great for making extra money.
#24. Foap
| Our rating: | 3.9/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.5/5 with 18,075 reviews |
| Google Play rating | 3.2/5 with 34,130 reviews |
| Availability: | Worldwide |
Foap is a mobile app that allows you to make money by selling pictures you take with your phone. What’s nice is that one photo can sell multiple times, which allows you to generate a source of passive income.
The best way to earn is through “missions,” in which Foap teams up with a specific brand to show how everyday people use their product.
Minimum withdrawal: There’s no minimum, but Foap pays you once per month via PayPal.
#25. Bookscouter
| Our rating: | 4.1/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.2/5 with 682 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 4.7/5 with 2,205 reviews |
| Availability: | Worldwide |
A popular free app among book lovers, Bookscouter allows you to sell used books.
How it works is that you enter or scan a book’s ISBN number and Bookscouter provides a list of companies looking to purchase that title (along with how much they’re willing to pay).
Those who earn the most know where to find used books for cheap (garage sales, library book sales, etc.), and use the app on the spot to find the ones that will fetch the highest profit margins.
#26. Field Agent
| Our rating: | 4.0/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.7/5 with 11,731 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 3.3/5 with 8,324 reviews |
| Availability: | United States, Canada and the United Kingdom |
Field Agent is an app that allows you to make money by completing random local tasks, like taking pictures of products (to make sure they’re properly displayed) and completing mystery shopping missions to evaluate stores’ customer service. In that sense, it’s a form of mystery shopping (which can be a legit side hustle).
It’s also one of the best apps that pay you for walking.
This free app is best suited for those in urban areas, as you’re only paid on a per-task basis. Since you have to factor time and cost of travel into your net earnings, you’ll make more if you live near a high concentration of participating businesses.
Minimum withdrawal: $10 via PayPal.
#27. eBay, Craigslist and Other Selling Apps
Selling your stuff is one of the best ways to make money fast. Apps such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace (located in the Facebook app), and OfferUp are great for selling items locally.
eBay is best suited for selling items outside of your local area. While you have to ship the item, you can typically sell it for a higher price (as your group of potential buyers is greatly enhanced). This makes eBay ideal for collectibles and items that are in high demand (like iPhones).
#28. Evidation
| Our rating: | 4.0/5 |
| iOS rating: | 4.5/5 with 16,689 reviews |
| Google Play rating: | 3.8/5 with 18,807 reviews |
| Availability: | United States only |
Evidation (formerly called Achievement) is a combination of a survey app and a fitness app. It works by syncing with other fitness apps you have on your phone, including:
- Apple Health
- Fitbit
- MapMyFitness
- MyFitnessPal
- And over a dozen others.
In addition to earning rewards via healthy activities — e.g., hitting 10,000 steps in one day — you can earn rewards for answering health-related surveys.
Minimum withdrawal: You’ll need a minimum of 10,000 points to cash out, which gives you a $10 gift card to popular retailers.
Pro tip: Turn this into a passive income app by syncing it with an app like Apple Health, which tracks your activity and steps in the background.
Money Making Apps FAQ
Do money making apps really work?
Yes, money making apps work. However, it’s important to have realistic expectations. In most cases, your earning potential will be relatively limited. It’s best to view these apps as tools you can use to make extra cash in your spare time, since most were not designed to generate anything close to a full-time income.
At the same time, there are some money making apps that can generate a substantial amount of money when used consistently. One example is the cash-back shopping category. If you’re reading this, you probably shop online. And if you’re not using a cash-back app like Swagbucks or Rakuten, you’re effectively paying more than you have to for everything you purchase. Depending on how much you spend online over the course of a year, apps like these may realistically save you hundreds of dollars.
And then there are gig economy apps like DoorDash and Uber, which are fantastic options when you’re looking for a part-time job or a side hustle. This category of money making apps obviously requires real work, but it offers unmatched flexibility and pay that typically ranges from $15 to $25 when tips are factored in.
What are the best apps for making money fast?
Selling apps, such as Craiglist and eBay, are your best bets for making money fast. Beyond selling, DoorDash and Uber are also good options. These two apps enable you to make decent money on a per-hour basis, as well as to cash-out your earnings daily (for a small fee). These are among the highest and fastest-paying paying apps you’ll find.
Are money making apps safe?
Money making apps are generally safe, but there are some things to keep in mind before downloading them.
First, understand that virtually all money making apps collect some form of user data. This may include basic information like your demographics (age, location, etc.), but it may also include more personal data like your internet browsing habits.
If you’re concerned about data collection, make sure to read the app’s privacy policy. Of course, privacy policies are often written in legalese, so it’s a good idea to refer to the company’s FAQ or knowledge base to see if they provide clear and easy-to-understand details about what data is collected and how it is (or isn’t) used.
Another concern many people have is the safety of their financial information, such as bank login credentials or account details. Often, in order to get paid by a money making app, you’re required to provide a routing and checking number or link your bank account through a third-party provider like Plaid. Services like Plaid are generally considered secure, and we think you should be comfortable using them.
On the other hand, we’re not fans of manually providing our bank account details, because it’s not always clear how strong a given app’s security practices are. In cases like this, we recommend setting up a free online checking account that you use specifically for money making apps.
How do you avoid scams?
When you’re evaluating money-making apps, pay close attention to user reviews — and specifically the ones on the Google Play Store and iOS App Store. Unlike some other user review sites, companies can’t edit or delete reviews that appear on the official app stores. So if an app is a scam, chances are you’ll see that quickly based on user feedback.
Sort by negative reviews, and read through three to five to see the common complaints. If a lot of users have trouble withdrawing money or not getting responses from customer support, it’s best to avoid the app.
You can also search r/BeerMoney, a popular subreddit where people talk about their experiences with different apps.
How do apps that give you money make money themselves?
There are a number of different business models and app monetization strategies used by these companies to generate revenue.
– Online survey companies sell the data they collect to third parties seeking to improve their products and services.
– Many gig economy apps take a percentage of revenue from each transaction.
– Cash-back shopping apps like Rakuten are among the highest paying apps for a reason: they earn a solid commission for sending you to retailers’ sites, which they then share with you.
Apps that give you money are always getting something in return — whether that’s your data, your feedback, your business or something else. Keep that in mind when picking which ones to use and make sure you’re comfortable with the tradeoff.
Best Money Making Apps: Final Thoughts
Our top priority when compiling this list was to make sure every app we included was both legitimate and worthwhile. There are many other apps out there, and while some of them work for some people, others just collect your data and waste your time without providing any real chance to cash-out your earnings.
Depending on your situation, they may or may not be worth looking into. But this list is the cream of the crop.
Our pick for the overall best money making app is Swagbucks, thanks to the wide range of ways it gives you to earn. If you’re looking for a dedicated cash-back app, Rakuten is an ideal choice; for a best-in-class paid survey experience, go with Survey Junkie.
You won’t get rich by using these apps to make money, but they can work as a small source of extra cash. And some — like Uber and DoorDash — can turn into lucrative side hustles.