With the economy in a slump and unemployment rates on the rise, many Americans are finding themselves unable to make ends meet. As a result, more and more people are turning to apps that promise free money. But which apps actually pay out?
I’ll take you through what we’ve found to be the best apps for free money. You may be skeptical, but we’re happy to report there are several legitimate ways to make money online right now, without having to invest any of your own time or money.

Table of Contents
Best Apps For Free Money
- Inbox Dollars
If you already spend hours of your time playing games or watching trailers, then add Inbox Dollars to your list of free money apps! Inbox Dollars is an online rewards club, and it’s really cool. You can get cash for doing easy activities like searching the internet, playing fun games, or even just watching movie trailers. And to sweeten the deal, you’ll even receive a $5 credit as a signup bonus. You can literally watch TV, movie previews, read emails, and take surveys from anywhere while earning perks! What’s not love about that?
- Drop
Next on our list of free money apps is Drop, which lets you earn cash for money you’re already spending. And cashing in is pretty darn simple! Just link your debit or credit card to the app and start earning that guap. Drop is teamed up with a plethora of retailers like Best Buy, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, Target and many more. Once you’re all set up, each purchase you make from a participating store will count toward your rewards. You can then redeem your points for gift cards once you reach 5,000 points. Typically, 5,000 points equals $5. Be on the lookout for special offers that amount to 50,000 points per purchase!
- Swagbucks
You already search the web and watch videos every day, so why not get paid for it? Swagbucks is here to help make that happen! Swagbucks lets you earn points for shopping online, watching entertaining videos, surfing the web, and answering surveys. You can then redeem those points for free gift cards from stores like Walmart and Amazon. Or if you prefer cold, hard cash, you can get cash back from PayPal! As of this article, Swagbucks has doled out about $290 million to users. And if you sign up now, they’ll even give you a $10 bonus! Def one of the coolest free money apps out there.
- Slidejoy
Wish you could make money just by using and checking your phone? This just might be one of the easiest free money apps to use. Slidejoy basically lets you rent out your Android lock screen for cash and gift cards. Here’s how it works: each time you check your phone, you’ll be shown an ad or news story. Then simply swipe left to learn more, slide up to see another promo, or slide right to get to your home screen. CNET says they’ll give you up to $15, which you can redeem on Paypal or donate to one of three charities, which include The Jericho Project, Got Your 6, and Tutor Chat Live.
- AppTrailers
Watching ads can be annoying, but we do it every day for free – so why not do it for some extra cash? We’re featuring AppTrailers on our roster of free money apps because it lets you do just that! To start earning money, all you have to do is start viewing videos about new apps, which run for 30 seconds or less. Watching these trailers will earn you points, which you can then redeem for gift cards from stores like Amazon, Sephora, Footlocker and iTunes. You can also earn points by uploading your own videos and getting likes!
- Ebates
If you love getting free cash back, then you’ll want to add Ebates to your options of free money apps! Ebates will give up to 40% cash back on select purchases from over 2,500 stores. Participating retailers include Amazon, eBay, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Walmart, Overastock, Bloomingdales, Office Depot, Nike, Lowe’s, American Eagle, J. Crew, Avon, Bobbi Brown, Finish Line, Hotels.com, Bed Bed & Beyond, Clinique, Pier 1, GNC, and many more! Check out the Ebates website to sift through all the participating stores. Plus, they’ll give you a $10 cash bonus just for signing up! Payouts are done every three months – which you can receive in the form of a check or through PayPal.
- Tap Cash Rewards
If you have eyes to watch videos, and thumbs to play games, then here’s one of the simplest free money apps on the market. TapCash lets you rack up rewards for – you guessed it! – playing games and watching videos, which you can then redeem for gift cards and PayPal cash. Gift card options include stores such as Amazon, Google Play, Amazon, and more.
- Ibotta – One of Our Fav Free Money Apps
Last on our list of free money apps is Ibotta. We all know keeping track of rebates can be a pain in the toosh. Filing away all those receipts and coupon cut-outs – who has time for all that? That’s where Ibotta comes in! Before you make your next retail therapy trip, download Ibotta and pick rebates from whichever retailers you’ll be shopping at. Then when you’re done shopping, snap a photo of your receipt and upload it into the app. You’ll get paid in actual cash, via Venmo or PayPal, within 48 hours – or get a gift card sent you. You can also score rebates on restaurants, movie theatres, and tons of other places.
Best apps to make money fast
- Ibotta
How it works: Ibotta lets you earn cash back on in-store and online purchases at over 2,000 supported retailers. Originally for groceries, it has expanded to include clothing, entertainment and eating out, pet supplies and other categories. Offers can be product or retailer-specific — and some will automatically be applied. For others, you’ll need to complete an additional task such as watching a video or taking a poll.
There are three possible ways to earn cash back in stores: Add offers and submit your receipt in the app after your shopping trip, link your retailer loyalty accounts or purchase a retailer gift card through the Ibotta app. For online purchases, you shop through the app or with the Ibotta browser extension on your computer.
Payment: PayPal, digital gift card or direct to a bank account.
Pros: You’ll receive cash back on in-store purchases quickly — typically within 24 hours. Ibotta also offers a welcome bonus to new users, referral bonuses and a variety of payment methods.
Cons: Making money can be a slow process. You must have at least $20 in cash back to redeem your earnings (some gift cards require at least $25 in earnings). For online shopping, the pending period for earning cash back varies by retailer.
Download: Android, iOS.
- Rakuten
How it works: Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) rewards shoppers with up to 40% cash back on purchases from well-known retailers, restaurants and food delivery services. Users can also earn cash back on travel, gift cards and more. It’s straightforward: Create an account, tap on the store where you want to shop in the app, then make the transaction through the portal. You can also link a credit or debit card to your Rakuten account to earn cash back in-store — as long as you activate the deal through the app first. Rakuten credits the cash back to your account after it confirms the purchase with the retailer, which it says can take a few hours to several days.
Payment: PayPal or check.
Pros: Thousands of stores and purchases are eligible for cash back, so you’ll likely find deals where you already shop. New users can earn a $10 welcome bonus after their first qualified purchase. You can also earn sign-up and referral bonuses.
Cons: As with most cash-back services, you have to spend money to make money. You won’t see your earnings right away, either; Rakuten sends out payments every three months, and you need at least a $5 cash-back balance to get paid.
Download: Android, iOS.
Money management made easy
NerdWallet tracks your income, bills, and shows you ways to save more.
- Swagbucks
How it works: Swagbucks is a cash-back and rewards app. You earn points, called “SB,” by shopping, taking polls, watching videos, playing games or fulfilling other tasks through Swagbucks. You can redeem those points for gift cards or get cash back to your PayPal account. The total points awarded can vary by task. For example, surveys are typically worth about 40 to 200 SB points each. The minimum balance required to redeem depends on the payout option you choose, but some gift cards are available for as low as 110 SB.
Payment: Gift card or PayPal.
Pros: Swagbucks offers many easy ways to earn rewards, and there’s no waiting period to cash in. Payments usually arrive within 10 business days after redemption. You can also get a $10 bonus with a qualifying $25 purchase when you join.
Cons: It doesn’t pay much; one SB is worth about a cent. With many tasks valued at pennies, it can take a fair amount of time and effort to make substantial money. Additionally, you won’t qualify for every survey or task. Users often report getting kicked out of surveys in the middle of taking them. This can be due to demographics or dishonest or inconsistent answers, according to Swagbucks.
Download: Android, iOS.
- Fiverr
How it works: Fiverr is a freelancing marketplace that features gigs in over 200 categories, such as programming and video and animation. Create an account first, then you can set your profile as a “seller” highlighting your expertise. Post the gig you’re offering, which will include pricing and a description of your services. Clients, known as “buyers,” can click through and place orders. You’ll get paid once you complete the job. Fiverr assigns seller levels based on performance. As you move up each tier, you’ll be able to sell more “extras,” such as a faster delivery time.
Payment: PayPal, direct to a bank account or credit to a Fiverr Revenue Card (a prepaid card). Minimum withdrawal amounts vary, and you may be charged a withdrawal fee, depending on which option you choose.
Pros: You don’t have to worry about tracking down buyers because they come to you. You can also earn tips.
Cons: Fiverr takes 20% of your earnings for every gig, including tips, and there’s a standard 14-day waiting period to withdraw money after completing an order (top-tier sellers wait seven days for funds to clear).
Download: Android, iOS.
- Upwork
How it works: Upwork connects freelancers to gigs in writing, design, marketing and other categories on the marketplace. First, you’ll create a profile. It should include information such as the field you’re interested in plus your qualifications, availability and desired rate. Then, you can submit proposals. Clients will review them and offer projects if you seem like a good fit.
You begin each month with a set number of “Connects,” which are like credits that allow you to contact prospective clients. You can earn or pay a small sum for more Connects, but you won’t be charged when clients contact you. You can get paid on an hourly or per-project basis.
Payment: Direct to U.S. Bank, direct to your bank account, wire transfer, Instant Pay, PayPal and Payoneer. Charges apply to some payment options, so be sure to check Upwork for details.
Pros: Upwork helps take the work out of seeking out clients, establishing relationships and getting paid. The service also gives you the flexibility to set your preferred rate and schedule.
Cons: The app is free to download, but initiating contact with lots of clients costs money. Users also get charged a service fee. Upwork takes a 5% to 20% cut of your earnings based on how much you’ve billed a client. The more you earn, the more you get to keep. However, you won’t get paid until 10 days after the billing period ends. Remember, too, that you’re competing with other freelancers on the platform. That means clients may choose those who’ve set lower rates.
Download: Android, iOS.
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