In today’s digital world, there are countless ways to earn money from the comfort of your home, and one of the easiest avenues is through apps. Whether you’re looking for a side hustle, passive income, or a full-time opportunity, there’s likely an app out there that suits your needs. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best apps that you can use to earn real money, and we’ll break down how they work, what kind of earnings to expect, and the pros and cons of each.
What Are Money Making Apps?
Money-making apps are mobile applications that allow users to earn money through various tasks, services, or rewards. These apps cover a wide range of opportunities, from completing surveys to freelancing, investing, selling, and more. Some of them offer quick cash, while others require more time and effort.
Types of Money-Making Apps
- Survey Apps: Complete surveys and get paid.
- Gig Economy Apps: Earn money by offering services like driving, delivery, or freelance work.
- Investment Apps: Grow your money by investing in stocks, real estate, or cryptocurrencies.
- Cashback Apps: Get rewarded for shopping at partner stores.
- Gaming Apps: Earn money by playing games.
- Passive Income Apps: Earn money with minimal effort, such as renting out data or storage.
Let’s dive deeper into some of the best apps in each category.
Best Survey Apps to Earn Real Money
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the most popular survey apps, and for a good reason. It offers users a variety of ways to earn money, from completing surveys to watching videos, shopping online, and playing games.
- How it works: You earn points, called “SB,” which can be redeemed for gift cards or PayPal cash.
- Average earnings: Users can earn around $1 to $5 per day, depending on how much time they invest.
- Pros:
- Multiple ways to earn.
- Low minimum payout threshold.
- Easy-to-use interface.
- Cons:
- Some tasks pay very little.
- Surveys can be time-consuming.
2. InboxDollars
Inbox Dollars is another app that pays users to complete online activities like surveys, reading emails, playing games, and more.
- How it works: Earn cash for each task completed, and once you reach the $30 threshold, you can cash out via check or PayPal.
- Average earnings: Around $0.50 to $5 per survey.
- Pros:
- Multiple earning options.
- User-friendly.
- Cons:
- High payout threshold.
- Surveys may not always be available.
Gig Economy Apps for Real Money
3. Uber and Lyft
If you own a car and like the idea of getting paid to drive, both Uber and Lyft are solid choices. These ridesharing apps allow you to earn money by giving people rides in your spare time.
- How it works: Sign up as a driver, set your availability, and start accepting ride requests. You can choose your own hours and work as much or as little as you want.
- Average earnings: Drivers can earn between $15 to $25 per hour, depending on location and demand.
- Pros:
- Flexible schedule.
- Instant payments in some cases.
- High earning potential in busy areas.
- Cons:
- Requires vehicle maintenance and fuel costs.
- Earnings depend on location and demand.
4. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit connects people who need help with various tasks (cleaning, moving, assembling furniture, etc.) to people who can complete them. If you’re handy or enjoy doing odd jobs, this app is a great way to make extra money.
- How it works: After signing up and completing a background check, you can offer your services and set your own rates.
- Average earnings: Taskers earn anywhere from $20 to $80 per hour, depending on the task and location.
- Pros:
- Flexible work schedule.
- Set your own rates.
- Cons:
- Some tasks require physical labor.
- Jobs may not be consistent.
Investment Apps for Real Money
5. Acorns
If you’re interested in growing your money through investing but don’t know where to start, Acorns is an excellent app for beginners. It automatically invests your spare change from everyday purchases into diversified portfolios.
- How it works: Link your debit or credit card, and Acorns will round up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invest the spare change.
- Average earnings: Returns vary depending on market performance, but users typically earn between 5-10% annually.
- Pros:
- Great for beginners.
- Easy, automated investing.
- Low fees.
- Cons:
- Slow growth unless you invest larger amounts.
- Limited control over investments.
6. Robinhood
Robinhood allows users to invest in stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies without paying any commission fees. If you’re interested in more hands-on investing, this app is a popular choice.
- How it works: Create an account, deposit money, and start buying and selling stocks, ETFs, or cryptocurrencies.
- Average earnings: Potential earnings depend entirely on how well your investments perform.
- Pros:
- Commission-free trades.
- Access to stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies.
- Cons:
- High-risk investing.
- No automated features for beginners.
Cashback and Shopping Reward Apps
7. Rakuten (formerly Ebates)
Rakuten offers cashback rewards when you shop online at thousands of partner stores, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
- How it works: Shop through the Rakuten app or browser extension and earn a percentage of your purchase back as cashback.
- Average earnings: You can earn between 1% to 10% cashback, depending on the retailer.
- Pros:
- Easy way to earn money while shopping.
- Available for a wide range of stores.
- Cons:
- Cashback rates vary.
- Requires upfront spending.
8. Ibotta
Ibotta is a cashback app that focuses on grocery shopping, though it has expanded to include other retailers as well.
- How it works: Browse the app for cashback offers, purchase the items, and upload your receipt to earn cash.
- Average earnings: You can earn between $0.25 to $5 per item.
- Pros:
- Easy to use.
- Frequent offers and bonuses.
- Cons:
- Requires upfront spending.
- Some offers may be limited.
Gaming Apps That Pay Real Money
9. Mistplay
Mistplay is a gaming app that rewards you for playing mobile games. The more you play, the more points you earn, which can be redeemed for gift cards or PayPal cash.
- How it works: Download and play games through Mistplay, and you’ll earn points based on the time you spend playing and achieving certain milestones.
- Average earnings: You can earn between $1 to $5 per day, depending on how much you play.
- Pros:
- Fun way to earn money.
- Wide variety of games.
- Cons:
- Rewards are relatively small.
- Takes time to accumulate points.
10. Lucktastic
Lucktastic offers users the chance to win real money by playing digital scratch cards. While winning isn’t guaranteed, it’s a fun and easy way to potentially earn extra cash.
- How it works: Play free scratch card games, and if you’re lucky, you can win prizes or cash rewards.
- Average earnings: Winnings vary, but users typically earn a few dollars here and there.
- Pros:
- Free to play.
- Potential for large prizes.
- Cons:
- Winnings are not guaranteed.
- Ads can be annoying.
Passive Income Apps
11. Honeygain
Honeygain allows you to earn passive income by sharing your unused internet bandwidth. It’s an effortless way to earn some extra cash if you have a stable internet connection.
- How it works: Install the app on your devices, and it will share your internet bandwidth with the Honeygain network. You’ll earn money based on how much data you share.
- Average earnings: Users can earn around $1 to $3 per day, depending on usage.
- Pros:
- Completely passive.
- Easy to set up.
- Cons:
- May slow down your internet connection.
- Low earning potential.
12. Slidejoy
Slidejoy pays users for allowing ads to appear on their smartphone lock screen. It’s a simple, passive way to earn money without much effort.
- How it works: After installing the app, you’ll start seeing ads on your lock screen. Swipe left to learn more about the ad, or swipe right to unlock your phone as usual. You earn points regardless of which option you choose.
- Average earnings: You can earn between $5 to $15 per month.
- Pros:
- Completely passive.
- Easy to use.
- Cons:
- Small earnings.
- Requires seeing ads on your lock screen.
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Earning real money through apps is entirely possible, and there’s an app for almost every skill set and interest. Whether you want to take surveys, invest, play games