31 Legit Money Making Apps: Top Apps That Pay Cash (2024) (2024)

What are the highest-paying apps available today?

To find out, we’ve tested the most popular money-making apps. Our goal was to discover which ones are legit and worth your time, ranking them based on their earning potential, ease of use, user ratings, and company reputation.

Our top picks are:

Note: The reviews and ratings below were collected on August 15, 2024. We update this data periodically throughout the year to keep it current.

Side Cash Apps

To create this list of the best side cash apps, we tested the top survey apps, best cash-back apps and gaming apps that pay.

#1. Branded Surveys

Branded Surveys is a highly-reputable survey platform that’s been around since 2012 and has paid out more than $38 million to its users.

What makes Branded Surveys stand out is its large inventory of available surveys, which generally take 5 to 15 minutes each and can pay up to $5.

The downside to Branded Surveys in our testing was the high disqualification rate. You may not qualify for all surveys available on the platform, or you may get kicked out after answering a few questions because you don’t fit the demographic.

Minimum withdrawal: You can cash out once you’ve earned $5, with available options including PayPal, bank account transfer or gift cards (including Amazon).

Download Branded Surveys.

#2. Swagbucks

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).

Download Swagbucks.

#3. Survey Junkie

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.

Download Survey Junkie.

#4. Rakuten

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.

Sign up using this link for a $10 bonus on a qualifying purchase of $25 or more.

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.

Download Rakuten.

#5. Freecash

Freecash is a comprehensive rewards platform that offers various opportunities but primarily specializes in games.

There are free and paid games where you can earn Freecash Coins, which can be exchanged for cash.

According to the website, the most active users reported an average daily earning of $19.52.

One downside is that the game selection is limited initially, but more options become available as you play and progress.

Game options right now include Monopoly Go and Family Island.

While there is only an Android app, there are both iOS and Android games you can access after signing up via their website.

Minimum withdrawal: $5. Options include PayPal, cryptocurrency, and gift cards.

Download Freecash

#6. Mistplay

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.

Download Mistplay.

#7. Upside

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 offers cash-back at select grocers and restaurants, but availability varies by zip code.

Minimum withdrawal: You can withdraw at any time for a $1 fee. Once your balance reaches $10, you can withdraw for free.

Download Upside.

#8. Fetch Rewards

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.

Download Fetch Rewards.

#9. Rakuten Insight

Rakuten Insight is a paid survey app from the company behind Rakuten, the most well-known cash-back shopping portal in the United States.

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.

Download Rakuten Insight.

#10. 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.

Download the Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel app.

#11. SurveyMonkey Rewards

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.

Download SurveyMonkey Rewards.

#12. KashKick

KashKick functions similarly to other reward apps like Swagbucks in that offers a range of different ways to earn money.

When we tested the platform, we found that taking surveys on KashKick only pays about $1 per hour on average, so it’s not worth your time.

However, KashKick does provide some unique money-making offers that are worth checking out.

For example, we found an offer allowing users to earn $300 from KashKick for buying a $100 annual LifeLock subscription (which can be canceled after the first year).In other words, you can net an easy profit of $200.

KashKick also offers games. We found that KashKick games provide higher payouts than on competing platforms (such as Mistplay), but they usually require that you reach the designated milestones faster in order to earn (e.g., 7 days instead of 14 days).

While that aggressive timeline may not work for everyone, KashKick’s games could be worthwhile if you have the time to commit.

Minimum withdrawal: $10 minimum via PayPal.

Download KashKick.

#13. InboxDollars

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 $15 minimum to cash out, though the $5 sign-up bonus can help you reach that milestone.

Minimum withdrawal: $15 to cash out.

Download InboxDollars.

#14. Ibotta

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.

Download Ibotta.

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.

#15. DoorDash

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.

#16. Instacart

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.

Download Instacart.

#17. Fiverr

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.

Visit Fiverr.

#18. Uber

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.

Download the Uber driver app.

#19. Rover

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.

Download Rover.

#20. Turo

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.

Download Turo.

#21. Neighbor

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.

Download Neighbor.

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.

#22. Arrived

Arrived, backed by Jeff Bezos, provides a platform for investing in single-family rental and vacation homes, with a minimum investment of $100.

Unlike traditional methods, Arrived manages the properties, allowing investors to earn quarterly dividends from net income without the usual landlord hassles. The platform specializes exclusively in single-family homes, employing a systematic approach to select properties in lucrative markets aimed at optimizing rental income and asset appreciation.

Although relatively new with a limited track record, Arrived’s innovative model, lower entry barrier, and passive income potential make it an intriguing option for those looking to diversify their investment portfolios in real estate.

Download Arrived.

#23. Acorns

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.

Download Acorns.

#24. Public

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.

Download Public.

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.

#25. TikTok (Shop)

The best-selling author in late 2023 was 24-year-old Keila Shaheen. Her self-published book The Shadow Work Journal outsold every other title on Amazon.

Her secret? TikTok Shop.

TikTok Shop is a new opportunity for creators to earn money by either launching products directly on TikTok or by promoting other products as an affiliate.

Then, you create content around those products, ideally taking advantage of TikTok’s algorithm (which is more favorable to new creators regardless of follower count).

A strong network of affiliates is how videos of The Shadow Work Journal have now been viewed over 1 billion times.

See our article on how to make money on TikTok for tips if you want to give it a try.

#26. Amazon (Influencer Program)

The Amazon Influencer program allows everyday people to make money by creating short product review videos.

While you’re free to promote your videos via social media to increase your earnings, what’s unique about this opportunity is that videos can be featured directly within Amazon listings. You then earn a commission whenever viewers watch your videos and make a purchase.

This is great news in that you don’t need a large social following to get started or do well.

To learn more, check out our article on the Amazon Influencer program.

#27. Foap

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.

See also: Here are some more ways to get paid to take pictures with your phone.

Download Foap.

#28. Bookscouter

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.

Download Bookscouter.

#29. Field Agent

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.

Download Field Agent.

#30. Facebook and Other Selling Apps

Selling your stuff is one of the best ways to make money fast. Apps such as Facebook Marketplace (located in the Facebook app), Craigslist, 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).

Not sure what to sell? We did the research to find the best things to sell online.

#31. Evidation

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 That Aren’t Worth Your Time

We found plenty of apps that didn’t make the cut. Here are some of the most popular, along with why they’re worth skipping. The links below will take you to our full review of each app, where you can learn more.

• ATM App. While it has an interesting premise — users can choose to match with brands and then get paid for interacting with them, in a form of “brand dating” — we found the earning potential to be very low.
• Capital One Shopping. We highly recommend this app based on our experience, as it has provided us with some of the most rewarding shopping credits. However, it doesn’t serve as a direct source of income since the rewards are given in the form of gift cards only. For a more detailed insight, check out our Capital One Shopping Review.
• Honeygain. This app does legitimately pay you for sharing your internet connection. However, the pay rate is so low it’s not worth the hassle of installing it.
• LifePoints. We found LifePoints to have an extremely high disqualification rate combined with a limited inventory of surveys. So while it’s a legit site that will pay you for your time, there are better options.
• Lucktastic. This popular sweepstakes app was shut down in March 2022.
• OnMyWay. The app promises to pay you cash for safe driving, but you have to refer 250 users to unlock cash rewards.
• Sweatcoin. You can only earn money by referring friends to Sweatcoin — not by walking, as advertised.
• Testerup: The company makes bold claims about how much you can earn, but when we tested the app, our earnings came out to less than $1 per hour. Plus, you have to reach $70 in order to cash-out.
• Zogo. This free app pays you for completing lessons about basic personal finance topics. We made an average of $6.07 per hour in our testing, but our earning rate declined quickly the more we used the app.

Money Making Apps FAQ

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.

If you’re looking just for surveys, Branded Surveys is a great starting point.

Our favorite all around rewards app is Swagbucks, thanks to the wide range of ways you can earn.

If you’re looking for a dedicated cash-back app, Rakuten is an ideal choice.

For the entrepreneurial minded, consider running a business you can operate 100% from your phone, such as getting started with the Amazon Influencer program or making money with TikTok Shop.

These types of opportunities can turn into lucrative side hustles, but they can take some time to get up and running.