Want apps and sites that pay you cash instantly? Ever wondered which app or website gives you real money? Here’s a list of the 20 best money-making apps to try.
If you’re looking for ways to earn extra money beyond a day job, numerous websites and apps can help you do just that.
On average, American consumers now check their smartphones an average of 52 times each day, according to a recent report from Deloitte. That’s up from 47 times per day on last year’s study, according to the consulting and professional services firm.
In 2020, there have been over 592 million daily app downloads. The number of mobile app downloads will exceed 250 billion in 2022.
In many cases, you can leverage resources you already have – your phone, your car, the junk in your garage – to earn additional income.
You’ll see what we mean in a moment. TheVibely has gathered 20 ideas that can help you make some extra cash.
Use Your Car to Make Money
With this strategy, keep in mind that you’ll spend money on gas, your insurance may go up and your car will experience wear and tear. But your car can be a major resource to help you earn money through these services:
1. Uber
To be an Uber driver, your car can’t be 15 years old or older, and it has to have at least four doors. You need to have at least one year of driving experience (three years if you’re under 23). The amount of money you’ll earn depends on how much you drive and where you live. But you’ll be paid upfront for every drive, and any tips you receive are all yours.
2. Lyft
You must be at least 21 to drive for this ride-hailing service, and you’ll need to undergo a criminal background check. Your car has to have at least four doors. As for the money you’ll make, it’s the same deal as Uber: It depends on how much you drive and where you live. You’re paid by the mile and minute, and tips and bonuses are all yours.
Others include;
- Postmates: You need to be at least 18 to deliver restaurant-prepped meals and goods through this courier service. You’ll be making deliveries, which is usually done by car, but you could also use a bicycle, the bus or hoof it on foot. The rate you receive depends on when and where you’re making deliveries.
- Instacart: If you are a full-service shopper, you’ll make grocery deliveries through Intacart. How much you earn varies: You might make $7 to $10 per delivery if you’re shopping and delivering. While the gig is pretty straightforward, you may have to attend an in-person orientation, and there will be paperwork, like a W-9 or W-4 tax form, depending whether you’re working as an independent contractor of a part-time employee.
- Getaround: With this service, you rent out your car when you aren’t using it. Rates are generally between $6 and $10 an hour, and you’ll keep 60% of that while Getaround takes a 40% cut. That may sound like a lot, but your car will be insured, and Getaround also covers roadside assistance. Your car must be at least a 2005 model or newer and can’t have more than 125,000 miles on it.
- DoorDash: To deliver food door-to-door with this service, you need to be 18. Obviously, a car is great, but a motorcycle or scooter is fine, and in some cities, you’re allowed to deliver by bicycle. DoorDash’s main concern is that you pick up food from a restaurant and have reliable transportation to get meals to customers. There are a few other rules, like agreeing to a background check.
- Carvertise: With this service, your car becomes something of a mobile billboard (without damaging its paint job). Generally, drivers earn around $100 a month, which should pay for at least some of your gas, but Carvertise says you might be able to make up to $300 a month. You’ll need to be at least 21, have a good driving record and drive a car that isn’t from the 1990s or older.
- Wrapify: This is a similar company. The website suggests, however, that you’ll make $196 to $452 a month, depending on the level of advertising. The brands Wrapify works with tend to be household names, and some vehicles, the website notes, are too hard to wrap ads around. So if you own a Hummer, Wrangler, PT Cruiser, HHR, VW Beetle or a soft-top convertible, you’re out of luck. Alas, it also doesn’t wrap motorcycles or motorhomes.
Make Money While Shopping
If you’re saving money, you can argue that you’re making money. But don’t get carried away using these sites to get deals. You are spending money with these sites – just less money.
3. Rakuten
You may know this company by its previous name, EBates. You earn cashback when you shop at stores partnered with Rakuten. Generally, you’ll get around 1% to 3% cashback, though it’s not uncommon to find deals where you’ll get 5% or 6% cashback and even up to 10% or more cashback. This can be a good deal if you’re planning to do some online shopping anyway.
4. RetailMeNot
This is also a cash-back site, and you’ll find coupon codes and promo codes, just like you can on Rakuten. You’ll save money using either website, but again, you’re spending money to “make” this money.
Other also includes;
- Capital One Shopping: This service specializes in finding the best price on products you buy online or in stores. It was previously called Wikibuy, but Capital One purchased it a couple years ago. Capital One Shopping is a free browser extension, and you don’t need a Capital One credit card to use it. Its cash-back option is somewhat limited; you don’t get cash deposited in your account like with some cash-back sites, but you can get points to redeem for gift cards.
- Fetch Rewards: You take a photo of the receipts you collect from stores and restaurants, and then you get points that turn into rewards – most, if not all, which will be digital gift cards. It does seem easy enough if you get into the habit of taking those photos. Keep in mind that if your account is inactive for 91 days, your points will expire.
- Ibotta: Ibotta is a mobile app — available for both iOS and Android — that helps you save money by scanning your grocery receipts. It also works with other apps and services on your device, such as Uber. For example, every time you use Uber and order a ride, you can earn $1 back through Ibotta. You can then transfer the funds to your authorized PayPal account for personal use.
- Drop
- Rakuten (formerly Ebates): Earn cash back for items you’re going to buy anyway. It mostly works for online shopping and allows you to earn money you can transfer directly to a linked PayPal account. Theoretically, it can be one of the highest-paying apps depending on how much you shop.
Make Money While Exercising
Really, there’s nothing to consider: It gets you out moving and away from the junk food, and you can earn extra money as well.
5. Sweatcoin
This is an app that you download, and as long as your phone stays with you, you end up earning digital cash as you walk around or run. You can exchange sweatcoins at the app’s storefront to buy things, or you can donate them to charity. The website says it doesn’t sell customers’ data; it partners with brands that want to reach health-conscious consumers.
6. HealthyWage
This is a website where you bet money that you can lose weight in a certain amount of time. (Your weight needs to be verified, which you can do by sending in a video or by having a HealthyWage “referee” remotely witness you stepping on your scale.) If you lose the desired weight, you win prize money – and the money you bet. If you don’t lose weight, you don’t win money – and you lose the money that you’ve bet. What you win depends on how much you bet and if you’re successful at losing weight. Because if you aren’t careful when using this site, you may lose money instead of weight.
Other also includes:
- MyAchievement: This is an app that pays you to track your steps as well as other activities, such as the time you sleep or how much you’re eating. (The company partners with health companies for market studies.) You can earn $10 for every 10,000 points you collect. Unfortunately, one step does not equal one point. It may take you a while to compile 10,000 points. In fact, the most points you can collect per day is 80.
Make Money Doing Odd Jobs
If you’re handy around the house or have a specialized skill, you can monetize your talents with these apps and sites.
7. TaskRabbit
With TaskRabbit, you can sign up and agree to do odd jobs in your area, like assembling furniture or cleaning bathrooms. Or you can become a “tasker” and set up a profile with the services you’ll gladly do along with how much you’ll charge – and then people can find you on the website. You can set your own rates. It’s probably not going to make you rich, but if you’re a handy person, you might be able to make some decent side income.
8. Fiverr
If you don’t want to leave the house, and you have a skill you can do without leaving your home – say you’re a good writer or artist, or you’re skilled with video editing – this may be a good website for you. It does take a 20% commission. But on the plus side, while the website may have once been known for charging $5 for services, you’re allowed to charge as much as $995 for services.
- UserTesting: If you apply on UserTesting.com and are accepted, you will get paid to test how various websites and apps work. You’ll need to complete a short practice test and fill out some basic information. Your computer or phone will also need to be relatively new. You can earn $4 for every five-minute test you take, $10 for every 20-minute test and between $30 and $120 for participating in live interviews, offering your insights and thoughts about various websites and apps that you’ve tested.
Make Money by Selling Stuff
Earn money by clearing away the clutter. Think of all the CDs and books you’ve thrown away in the past because you weren’t sure if anyone wanted them. That practice can be a thing of the past.
9. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace connects sellers and buyers, and it can be a nice way to earn a buck. Plus, Facebook doesn’t take a commission unless you’re selling items from an online Facebook store. Still, you’ll probably have to meet your seller somewhere (ideally in a public place).
10. Stillwhite
Most people will use this website or app maybe once or twice, if at all. Still, if you have a used wedding dress that you’re willing to part with, here’s where you could sell it. There is a list of online retailers that you can’t sell a dress from on Stillwhite.com, and you have to pay a $20 listing fee (if you have multiple dresses to sell, that $20 will go down), but there is no commission to pay if you make a sale.
Others also include:
- Decluttr: This is a website where you can sell used CDs, DVDs, games, books and electronics like phones, tablets and game consoles. You scan items with your phone, and you’ll be given an instant offer on your item. You then print out a prepaid label (assuming you accept the offer) and send your stuff for free. Assuming what you’ve sent isn’t damaged, you’ll get a check or a direct deposit. You might get a few bucks (or cents) from an old DVD or CD, but you also might get $100 for, say, an old smartphone.
- EagleSaver: This site specializes in buying books (no textbooks), CDs, DVDs and video games. You can also ship these to EagleSaver.com for free after getting an instant quote for whatever you have to sell.
- Ziffit: This website and app specializes in buying books. You scan or enter the barcode of the book, get an instant price, and ship the books (for free) using the website’s FedEx service.
- SellCell: This is a website where you can sell your cellphones, tablets, smart watches and other tech. It finds cellphone buyback companies for you, and once you type in the make and model of your phone or other device, you’ll get offers. Select the price you want, and you’ll ship your device to the buyback company for free (usually, the buyer will offer a shipping label that you can print out). Soon after, you’ll get your money (sometimes by check, and sometimes by direct deposit or PayPal; it depends on the buyer).
- Poshmark: Sell high-end fashion through this app and website. If you own a lot of brand-name clothing, you’re in luck. If you manage to sell an item for under $15, Poshmark will collect $2.95 as its commission. If you sell something for $15 or more, it’ll take 20%. Customers pay Poshmark, and then you take the money from your Poshmark account, either by direct deposit or a check.
Make Money by Investing
Investing is never a sure thing. Before you get too excited and sink a lot of money into investments, read through the fine print on each website.
11. Acorns
It’s a neat idea: If you sign up for Acorns, it will round up the purchases that you make with a credit or debit card, and that money will go into a Robo-managed investment portfolio. Still, there are monthly charges ($1 to $5 a month, depending on how you set things up) that may offset the gains you’re earning from your investments.
12. Fundrise
This is an online real estate company that lets everyday investors purchase private commercial and residential properties by combining their money through an investment platform. In other words, if you’ve never been wealthy enough to invest in real estate, this is one way to do it. That said, you’ll need a minimum of $500 to invest, and there are fees (an annual management fee of 0.85% an advisory fee of 0.15%, and possibly other fees, depending on how much you’re investing).
Other also includes:
- DiversyFund: Somewhat similar to Fundrise, you’ll need a minimum of $500 to invest. There are no management fees, which is nice, but as DiversyFund mentions on its FAQ page, you won’t see any return on your investment for five years. That is, if you see a return on your investment.
Make Money By Taking Online Surveys or Sharing Your Opinion
A lot of survey websites make you work pretty hard to earn cash and granted, you’ll never get rich offering your opinion. But these sites could add to your bottom line.
At some point in your life, you’ve probably completed a survey. Perhaps you were asked to watch a video and give feedback or your friend asked you questions for their school project.
Well taking online surveys is no different. You’re asked a set of questions, and you get paid for your answers.
The best thing about this approach is that there’s no limit to the number of surveys that you can fill out in a day.
The higher the number of surveys, the greater the reward; whether it’s in the form of cash or points.
13. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a personal favorite and I use it daily. This app allows you to earn a special currency called Swagbucks for completing offers, answering surveys, and logging online activity.
You can redeem the currency for gift cards or cash rewards once you’ve accumulated enough.
This is one of the best apps that pays you through PayPal and they offer a $10 sign-up bonus.
Swagbucks Summary
Bonus: $10 welcome bonus
Swagbucks is the most reputable rewards site that lets you watch videos, take surveys, shop, and more to earn real money.
14. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie pays you to share your opinions through its app. This company, however, offers unique paid opportunities to participate in focus groups and try new products.
After a quick registration — you can start checking out what paid online surveys are in your dashboard. You’ll soon realize why it is one of the highest-paying apps.
Signup is quick and painless, and you’ll get a registration bonus just for creating an account. If you remain active, you could easily earn up to $100 a month taking surveys a couple of times a week with Survey Junkie.
Survey Junkie lets you make up to $50 per survey in your spare time from home to take online surveys, participate in focus groups, and try new products.
Others also include:
- Google Opinion Rewards: Basically, you answer questions and provide feedback for Google, and you get credits that you can use at the Google Play Store. You can direct the credits toward purchases of apps, music, games, and movies.
- FindFocusGroups.com: Some focus groups will pay a decent amount of money – like $50 or $100 or more – especially if you’re going to be spending, say, an hour or so offering your opinion on products or services. You might be asked to spend an hour and a half answering questions about your use of social media, or discussing your favorite brands of pasta or hot beverages. There will be plenty of focus groups that you won’t be a good fit for, but you should be able to find some that offer cash for your opinions.
- KashKick
- My Points
- LifePoints
- Opinion Outpost
- Survey Premium
Make Money By Playing Games
Are you addicted to playing games on your smartphone? If you are, you might as well get paid for your skills.
There are apps that offer to pay you if you’re able to play a particular game at different levels.
15. Mistplay
This is a legit app with 140,000+ positive reviews in the Google Play Store.
Mistplay gets paid by game developers in exchange for these games being featured on the Mistplay platform. As a Mistplay user, you’re earning part of this money in the form of free gift cards and rewards.
You can download it from the Google Play Store here, and start playing free games for cash rewards.
Solitaire Cube is an addicting game where you can play Solitaire on your phone and compete in cash tournaments.
16. Solitaire Cube
Solitaire Cube includes tournaments and head-to-head competitions with real cash prizes (where available).
Earning money by playing games on your phone sounds like a dream. But this app really pays you for playing solitaire with cash rewards.
It’s pretty easy to get started and the game will match you up with other players who have the same level of skills in real-time.
It’s available on the Apple Store only, sorry Android users.
Cashouts are through PayPal and I had no issues withdrawing or depositing money.
How to play? Stack cards into piles to sort them by their suit. Sound easy? It is!
Other Apps that pay you to play games are:
- Boodle
- Flash Rewards
- GameHag
Make Money By Downloading App And Browsing Social Media
17. Nielsen App
Nielsen offers an app and desktop service that allows you to register and earn rewards just for browsing the Internet.
It is listed highly on our list of apps that pay because it is an app that pays you to simply install it (that’s it).
Yes, it’s a legitimate opportunity, but you should be mindful of what that means.
Once you’ve installed the application, the company will be collecting information about your usage habits, activities, and the websites you visit. You don’t have to do anything else, and the service works automatically in the background.
If that’s worth it to you, you can earn $50 passively throughout a year’s time by downloading Nielsen.
This company will pay you $50 just for downloading its free app (get paid for sharing your data anonymously). Plus, you’ll receive entries into the company’s $10,000 monthly sweepstakes every month. Every month 400 people win prizes, with the two top prizewinners taking home $1,000 each.
Make Money By Watching Videos
18. InboxDollar
Do you ever spend a few minutes on your lunch break or at home watching videos online? If so, InboxDollars is right up your alley. It’s available on mobile and desktop and requires you to watch “fun” videos and then take surveys about them.
If you invest just five to 10 minutes per day, you can earn up to $50 extra per month. That’s not bad, especially if you stick with it, because you can continue to earn more. You’ll get a $5 bonus just for signing up, which is quick and free.
InboxDollars is the online rewards club that pays you for completing online tasks, playing games, filling out surveys and you’ll even get $5 added to your account just for signing up.
Money Apps That Pay You for Simple Tasks
The following are iOS and Android apps that pay you money or rewards like free gift cards for simple tasks:
19. Lucktastic
If you love the feeling of buying lotto tickets or scratch-offs and dreaming about the money ???? you stand to win — then you would seriously enjoy playing Lucktastic (download for Android only).
This free app offers the same daily scratch-off cards that you find at your local convenience store — but here you can play for free and win real money.
This gaming app has over 338,049+ positive reviews in the Google Play store.
You can win up to $10,000 in card cash prizes and there are daily $500 Amazon gift card giveaways. The threshold for payout is only $2 and you can get daily opportunities to win big when you download the Lucktastic app for free.
Lucktastic offers the same daily scratch-off cards that you find at your local convenience store — but here you can play for free and win real money.
20. Vindale Research
Vindale’s app is straightforward. When you first log in, it will ask personal questions, so it can build an accurate profile of your preferences. You’ll then begin receiving exclusive surveys, which can pay anywhere from a few cents up to $75. You’ll even earn $2 right away just for signing up.
If you check in daily and complete the surveys they offer, you’ll have earned a nice chunk of cash before you know it with Vindale.
Others include:
- Mobee: Get paid to be a mystery shopper for local stores and restaurants.
- AppBounty: Earn rewards and gift cards for installing, playing, and using mobile apps.
- Gigwalk: This app helps you find gigs or premium opportunities around you, often with brands and companies in the surrounding area.
- App Karma: Earn rewards by trying out new apps and playing mobile games. After completing various offers, you’ll earn points you can redeem for cash — via PayPal — or different gift cards.
- Trim: Trim helps you to cut your bills automatically by negotiating with your cable, internet, and phone providers. It also cancels unused subscriptions on your behalf. In addition, the app offers a high-interest savings account and can help you lower your bank charges and credit card interest fees. Join Trim for Free.
Conclusion
We live in an era that provides an infinite number of opportunities to make money.
Even though it may not seem like it, this is one of the best times to make money, even if you don’t have a traditional 9-to-5 job. All you need is your smartphone, the right app, and an investment of your time.
Money-making apps help you earn in different ways but they all let you earn significant money over time.
If you spend hours on your phone browsing and getting interactive with your friends and family only, then I can say that’s not all the purpose your phones can serve.
There are many people who are millionaires or are satisfied financially today because of their rightful use of the internet. Well, you could be part of the rich list today by trying these online side hustles that actually pay.
Earning cash online using your phone will only continue to grow in popularity as more and more people transact using the internet.
The money-making apps listed above are a good starting point. Just remember, with most of these services, consistency is key, so be diligent about completing your daily check-in and continue to use the service if you want to earn more lucrative amounts of cash or gift cards.
It’s always better to use these opportunities as additional cash for smaller purchases, rather than to rely on them for a steady income.
Also, if you’re interested in getting paid by doing the normal things you want through a website, check out this post on 50 legit sites that pay you real money, and 40 apps that pay you real money to do ordinary things.
