I put to the test the best money-making apps out there: find out if you can really make money from your couch!
If you want to make some extra cash from your smartphone, you’re in the right place!
But are money-making apps really worth the hype?
I’ve been testing ways to make money online for years, and I now earn a full-time income from my laptop. And I truly believe you can generate cash in many unconventional ways!
So I decided to put to the test the best money-making apps out there to see if you can really turn sitting on the couch while playing with your phone into a side hustle.
It turns out you can!
There is an incredible number of apps that claim to make you money, and the best money-making apps for you will depend on what type of hustling you are better at.
So, if you are looking for ways to earn a bit of extra cash from home while doing what you love, keep reading to find out which one you should choose!
41 Best Money-Making Apps
After comparing hundreds of money making-apps, I cherry-picked the best ones, based on my personal experience and users’ reviews online.
The top 41 apps are split into 5 categories:
Best Money-Making Apps in 2020
1. Survey apps to make you money
2. Cashback and receipt scanning apps
3. Top apps to make money by doing simple tasks
4. Best apps for making money passively
5. Best money-making apps to sell stuff
My top picks
Survey apps to make money
Taking surveys is a great way to make some easy cash. You can easily earn money by answering some questions in your free time.
I’ve been taking online surveys for a while now and tried many survey apps. Most of them are just a waste of time. No one likes taking a survey only to find out that they are disqualified.
So I hand-picked a few for you that are legit.
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is hands-down one of the best money making apps out there. It’s my favorite app to make a bit of extra cash online.
On Swagbucks, you can earn money by:
- Filling out surveys
- Watching videos
- Shopping online
- Playing videogames
- Searching online
In just a few months, I made over $200 with Swagbucks!
How does it work?
Every time you complete a survey, watch a video or play a game, you earn SBs. You can then convert those into cash or gift cards. The payout threshold is $25 for PayPal cash and $3 for gift cards.
Click here to join Swagbucks and get a $10 sing up bonus!
2. InboxDollars
Earning $5 just for signing up? Yes, please!
InboxDollars is another great app to make money completing surveys. The difference between Swagbucks and InboxDollars is that with InboxDollars, you complete surveys for cash, not points.
All you need to do to make money from InboxDollars is sign up, complete your profile, and start completing surveys. You need to reach the threshold of $30 before you can withdraw your cash.
Click here to start making extra cash with InboxDollars (and get a FREE $5)!
3. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is one of my favorite paid survey sites.
In exchange for your opinion, you earn points. Those can then be converted into real cash or gift cards. 100 points equal $1. You will need to reach at least 1,000 points to withdraw your money.
Most surveys will earn you between 100 and 200 points, so it doesn’t take too long to reach the withdrawal threshold.
Apart from filling out surveys, you can also become a part of an online focus group and get paid to test products on both Survey Junkie and Ipsos i-Say.
Click here to get paid for taking surveys with Survey Junkie!
4. Ipsos i-Say
Ipsos i-Say is one of the biggest survey companies and accepts participants from all over the world!
You earn points that can be converted into cash or gift cards for completing surveys or focus groups. You will need at least 1530 points in your account to withdraw your cash. Or just 500 for a gift card.
The great thing about Ipsos i-Say is that you can sign up for email reminders that will let you know when a new survey is available, so you don’t miss out. You can read my full review here.
Join Ipsos i-Say here to earn rewards for your opinions!
5. Google Opinion Rewards
Google Opinion Rewards is a great app for Android users!
You can earn credit for purchasing apps, games, music, and more by filling out surveys. The surveys are as short as 10 seconds. After downloading the app and filling out some basic information about yourself, you’re ready to start earning credits.
Join Google Opinion Rewards here!
6. MyPoints
MyPoints is another great site for paid surveys. It’s owned by the same company as Swagbucks.
The ways you can earn some cash are similar to Swagbucks. You can make money by filling out surveys, playing games, or even browsing the internet. The payout threshold is $25 for PayPal cash and $3 for gift cards.
The great thing about MyPoints is that it estimates how long it will take to complete the survey.
Click here to sign up to MyPoints and start earning points for your opinions!
7. PineCone Research
PineCone Research is an exclusive survey and product testing site.
To get in, you need an invite. But once you do, you can earn a generous $3 for taking a survey. It’s difficult to access this app as there are not always open spots.
You will need to click the link below to see if you are eligible to register.
Click here to see if you can join PineCone Research!
8. iPoll
iPoll is an app and website that pays you for completing surveys. Upon signing up, you get free $5!
The surveys pay anywhere between $0.30 and $3.
One thing that sets iPoll apart from the other apps is its ‘missions’ feature. You go to a specific location to complete a survey. Those are the most lucrative ones and can earn you up to $100.
If you want more info on how to earn a bit of extra cash completing surveys, check out my post on online surveys that pay cash!
Cashback and receipt scanning apps
We all go shopping, don’t we?
How about making a bit of extra cash by saving on your grocery bill? Yes, it’s possible!
If you are wondering what the best app for making money on your groceries is, there are quite a few:
9. Rakuten
Rakuten is an app, browser extension, and website that rewards you by giving you cashback when you shop through its link.
The app is straightforward to use. All you need to do is open the app, select a store, and buy whatever you planned to.
Depending on what you buy, you can get anywhere between 2 and 7% of your money back!
Click here to join Rakuten and start earning money grocery shopping!
10. Fetch Rewards
We all need to eat! So why not get some cash off our groceries?
All you need to do is join the app, go grocery shopping, and then scan your receipt. By doing this, you’ll earn points that you can then redeem as gift cards to popular stores such as Amazon, Walmart, or Target.
You can scan receipts up to two weeks after the purchase!
Join Fetch Rewards here and start earning cash by scanning receipts!
Plus, if you enter the code FETCH3K you will get a complimentary 3,000 points (that’s the equivalent of $3 that you can cash in straight away using their rewards).
11. Dosh
Dosh lets you connect your debit or credit card to your account and get money back on the purchases you’ve made.
As scary as that sounds, it’s totally safe!
You can earn up to 10% of the money back from your purchases. Dosh is a no-brainer app to save some money. You just set it up and are on your way to starting saving some cash. After earning at least $25 from shopping in popular stores such as Sephora or Pizza Hut, you can redeem your money via PayPal.
Click here to sign up for Dosh and start getting your cashback!
12. Ibotta
Ibotta is a cool app to earn some cash back. It can be used both in physical and online stores.
All you need to do is view the available offers and go shopping as you normally would. After you’ve done your shopping, snap a picture of your receipt.
You can earn anywhere between $0.25 and a few dollars as cashback on certain products. It’s that easy!
Start getting your money back by joining Ibotta here!
13. Trim
We all sign up for some subscription services only to stop using the service after a few months. If that’s your case, Trim is a great option to save some cash!
When you sign up for the app, you connect your credit or debit card. Trim then scans your recurring payments and sends you a message whether you want to cancel them.
If you’re using cable and internet providers such as Verizon or Comcast, Trim can negotiate your subscriptions with their customer service by finding better plans and discounts for you.
Join Trim to start getting cashback from your subscriptions!
14. Receipt Hog
Receipt Hog lets you scan your receipts and claim rewards such as gift cards to popular stores like Amazon.
It’s a fairly straightforward app to use. You download the app, complete your profile, upload your receipts, and you’re ready to earn some cash. You do that by earning coins.
After you’ve earned at least 1,000 coins, you’re eligible for a payout!
Join Receipt Hog and start earning extra cash by taking snaps of receipts!
15. Paribus
Did you know that many retailers have programs that will refund the difference between a purchased item and its discounted price?
Paribus is an app that will take care of that for you!
It’s happened to all of us before: you purchase an item only to find a discounted version at a different retailer. Well, what can you do now?
Download Paribus! Paribus monitors the prices and helps you get the difference back.
Join Paribus here and start getting refunds!
16. Drop
Drop is an amazing app that allows you to earn money back from your most frequent purchases.
All you need to do is to download the app, connect your card, pick some of your favorite stores, and you’re ready to start earning points.
Once you’ve reached at least 5,000 points, you can start exchanging them for gift cards. 5,000 points are equal to a $5 gift card. They have a wide selection of brands such as Starbucks, Uber, or Walmart.
Click here to sign up for Drop and start getting rewarded for shopping!
Top apps to make money by doing simple tasks
Enjoy your shopping run? Or putting together Ikea furniture (you are a bit mad!)?
There are many busy people out there who need help with picking up groceries, delivering personal items, or cleaning. These apps are great if you want to make some extra cash fast!
17. Instacart
Why not make some cash while doing some grocery shopping?
You could make some good extra cash grocery shopping for others! You can earn between $10 to $20 on Instacart and up to $25 during busy times!
All you need is to be eligible to work in the US and have access to a vehicle. After you sign up, it’s pretty simple: you get offered the order, you shop, deliver it, and get paid!
The good thing is that it’s a flexible way to make some extra money. There are no time commitments, and you select offers based on your availability.
Join Instacart here and start earning extra cash by delivering groceries!
18. Postmates
Do you own a car or a bike? Why not use it to earn some money?
You can drive for Postmates and deliver takeouts, grocery orders, or some personal items for up to $20 per hour.
All you need to do is to download the app, register, and you’re good to go! Every time you complete a delivery, you can withdraw your money instantly!
Click here to start earning cash by driving for Postmates!
19. Rover
Any animal lovers here? Animal-sitting is a flexible way to earn a bit of extra cash!
If you want to increase your income by playing with cats and dogs, Rover is a great place to start. You can either pet-sit in your own home, or you can stay in the owner’s home while they are away.
To join Rover, you need to submit an application and complete your profile. The good thing about Rover is that you can set your own rates! And the more experience you gain, the more money you’ll make.
Join Rover here to earn extra money animal-sitting!
20. Shopkick
How does going into stores and earning money while not shopping sound to you? Yes, it’s possible to do that with Shopkick!
How does Shopkick work?
You earn points by walking into the store, checking in, and scanning items. You can also make extra cash by scanning receipts or visiting online shops.
Sign up for Shopkick here and start earning extra cash by going to stores!
21. Foap
Are you a photographer? If the answer is yes, you make money off your works on Foap!
You sign up to the app, create a profile, and you’re ready to go. You can upload photos straight from your camera roll. Then you just add a title and keywords so your image can be found.
The good thing about Foap is that you don’t have to be a professional photographer. They welcome amateurs as well!
Generally, the price of a picture is $10 on Foap. But the commission is 50%, so you’ll only earn $5.
Join Foap here and start earning extra money by selling your photos!
22. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is an interesting app to earn some money on the side.
You can help people do various tasks such as cleaning, general handyman help, or personal assistance. Just a side note, due to the nature of the services, you’ll most likely have the most luck in big cities!
Download TaskRabbit and earn extra cash by helping other people!
23. Roamler
Have you heard of mystery shopping? Roamler is a great app to earn some cash as a mystery shopper!
Upon signing up, Roamler gives you a few tasks to complete just to make sure you understand what’s expected of you. By completing these tasks, you earn XP.
The higher your XP, the more opportunities you get, and the more money you can make!
Join Roamler here and start earning cash as a mystery shopper!
24. Field Agent
How about earning cash doing small tasks on your smartphone?
On Field Agent, you can earn money by mystery shopping, taking pictures of food, or checking local prices. You can make anywhere between $1 and $12 per task.
The tasks are generally on a “first come, first serve” basis, so make sure to check the app often!
Join Field Agent and start earning money doing small tasks!
25. Mobee
How does making extra cash by going on missions sound?
The app sends you on a mission, such as having dinner or trying some products, and then rewards you for completing the mission. Upon finishing the mission, the app asks you a few questions regarding the feedback.
You get 100 to 500 points for the time you spent on the mission. This converts from $1 to $5.
Download Mobee and get rewarded by going on missions!
26. Airbnb
Are you going on a holiday or have a spare bedroom in your apartment? Why not make some cash off of it?
Of course, if you’re renting your place, you will need to check you’re your landlord. But renting a spare room in your house is a great way to increase your passive income!
One of the best places to rent extra space in your home is Airbnb. It’s one of the safest places to rent as you can screen potential guests and accept or reject them based on their reviews.
Start earning extra cash by becoming an Airbnb host!
27. Sweatcoin
Are you struggling to get enough activity in your daily life? And would getting paid for walking motivate you?
That’s right! You can make money from taking walks with Sweatcoin! You earn points for every step you take, which you can exchange for gift cards or cash. Read more about it in my review.
And if you love staying fit, here is a list of the top apps that pay you to walk.
If you want to make extra cash on the go, click here to check out Sweatcoin and start earning now!
Best apps for making money passively
Is making extra money but filling out surveys or running errands for other people not for you? Are there some apps that make you money over time? Some apps where you don’t have exchange your time for money?
Yes! Actually, there are a few!
If you would like to read more info on how to make passive income, check out my post on the best passive income ideas!
28. WeBull
I am much more fond of index funds investing but if you’re interested in making money trading stocks, WeBull might be a great option for you!
WeBull is a stock brokerage app with zero commission rates. With WeBull, you can invest in stocks, options, and exchange-traded funds.
Join WeBull and get 2 FREE STOCKS when you deposit $100 (Valued up to $1400)!
29. Acorns
Acorns is a great micro-saving app for those who want to start investing but don’t know where to begin. Every time you make a purchase, the app rounds up to the nearest dollar and invests the difference.
What does that mean? For example, each time you buy a cup of coffee for $4.50, the app rounds it up to $5 and invests $0.50 of your money.
The app isn’t free but it starts at as little as $1 per month. It’s perfect if you want to start investing but don’t have large sums of money.
Download Acorns and start investing your spare change!
30. Nielsen
How does getting rewarded for using your cell phone sounds to you?
After creating a profile, the app runs in the background while collecting data on how you are using your device.
Just for installing this app and having it on your device, you can earn up to $50 per year, as long as you are in the US!
The app collects data on the websites you visit and how long you stay there. All collected data is anonymous! You can redeem your money in Starbucks, Amazon, or Target.
Join Nielsen here and get rewarded for using your smartphone!
31. Fat Llama
Do you have a lot of camera equipment, drones, or electronics that you don’t use on a daily basis? Why not renting it?
With Fat Llama, it’s possible! After joining the app and a verification process, you’re eligible to rent some goods to earn money passively.
32. Slidejoy
If you are looking for money-making apps for Android, look no further! Slidejoy is one of the best!
Slidejoy replaces your locked screen with ads. When you swipe up to unlock your phone, you can see more information about the promoted product.
You earn Carats for viewing ads. $1 is equal to 1,000 Carats. You can redeem your money via PayPal.
Click here to dowload Slidejoy and earn money by running ads on your smartphone!
33. Fundrise
Do you want to start investing in real estate? Fundrise is a great app to start!
The app allows you to invest in real estate for only $500. All you need to do is to download the app, choose an account level, select a strategy, and build your portfolio over time.
Click here to get started with investing in real estate from your smartphone!
34. Stash
Stash is another investing app. Upon signing up, you can get $5 and start investing.
This app is great for beginner investors as it allows you to buy fractional shares of stock. The more stock shares you invest in, the more money you can make passively!
Join Stash here and start earning cash investing in stocks!
Best apps to sell stuff
Do you need some quick cash? Look into the stuff you already own!
The best apps to make money are definitely the ones where you sell your old stuff. I bet you have a lot of stuff lying around your apartment that you could sell.
What about the dress you haven’t worn in ages? And the books you don’t plan on re-reading? Those can be turned into some extra cash!
35. BookScouter
Do you still have some old textbooks laying around? Why not sell them?
BookScouter is a great app to sell your old textbooks. Upon signing up, you can list a textbook you’d like to sell, and the app shows you the vendors that would like to but the book from you.
Check out BookScouter here to sell your old textbooks!
36. Decluttr
Do you have some clutter laying around? It might be a good time to do some decluttering.
Decluttr is a great app to sell some CDs, DVDs, games, or books. All you have to do is to scan a barcode of the item you’d like to sell and Decluttr will tell you the price they are willing to pay for it. Then you just pack the item and ship it for free to Declutter.
Download Decluttr here to get some extra cash by selling your old stuff!
37. LetGo
LetGo is an app that lets you buy and sell pretty much any used items. All you need to do is to be in the US, download the app, sign up, list an item, and wait for a seller to get in touch with you.
Click here to join LetGo and sell your used stuff!
38. 5Miles
Another great app to sell used stuff is 5Miles. Similarly to LetGo, you can list the items you want to sell, communicate with buyers, and then they either ship the items or meet up with the buyer.
The main difference is that you can sell stuff within 5 miles.
39. Poshmark
We all have some clothes in our closets we never wear. That dress you haven’t worn in ages? And what about those heels that are way too uncomfortable to walk in? Why not turn it into some extra cash?
Poshmark is the best app to sell your unwanted clothes. All you need to do to turn your old clothes and accessories into cash is to download the app, sign up, and start selling!
Do you have a lot of unwanted clothes in your closet? Check out my post on how to sell clothes online!
Join Poshmark here and sell your unwanted clothes!
40. ThredUp
Selling old clothes and accessories from the comfort of your home? Yes!
All you have to do is order their clean up kit which comes with a bag and a pre-paid shipping label. Then you pack the stuff you want to sell and ship the bag.
Then you choose whether you want to consign or take an upfront payout.
41. Mercari
Mercari is an online marketplace where you can buy and sell almost anything.
After signing up, you can start selling. You add a few pictures of the item, write a description, and set a price.
You must include a detailed description because you’re getting paid after the buyer has rated you and the item.
Sign up for Mercari here and start selling!
Do money-making apps really work?
I’ve tested many money-making apps, and yes, they do work. I’m not going to lie to you, there are a lot of apps that are just scam. But the apps on this list are legit.
As long as you use them often, and make them become part of your daily routine, you can make money.
What apps make you the most money in 2020?
There is always a relation between the effort you put in and the money you can make. Things like shopping for others or doing small tasks might take longer, but will be more profitable than simply playing with your phone.
Apps like Rover, Postmates, Instacart, or Airbnb will make you the most but require more effort. Apps like Swagbucks or Rakuten will make you easy money for stuff you already do, but they won’t turn into a part-time job or side hustle.
And apps like Poshmark can help you declutter and make money at the same time!
So… these are the best money-making apps
If you want to earn extra cash with one of these apps, start by deciding what kind of app sounds most appealing to you.
There’s no point in trying to make extra bucks completing surveys if you hate filling them out.
No matter what you decide to do, they are just fun ways to earn some extra cash.
Have you tried any of these apps? I would love to hear from you!
MORE WAYS TO MAKE MONEY:
Ray Payne says
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
Fantastic! thank you Ray, I use Swagbucks a lot myself and I think it’s great 🙂