There are MILLIONS of apps available for download on the app store. So how do you know which ones are actually good and worth your time? We’ve tested all of the most useful and popular apps, cherry-picking the best ones for making money. Here is a list of our favorites:
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Making Money
- 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.
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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.
- OfferUp
How it works: OfferUp, which combined with competitor Letgo in 2020, functions as a local marketplace you can use to sell your stuff. If you want to reach a broader audience, OfferUp also allows shipping within the continental United States. Create an account and snap a picture of your smartphone, car, sofa or whatever it is you’re selling. Once you add a title, description and price, you can post your listing and chat with buyers directly through the app. Then, you’ll ship to or arrange a meeting with the buyer.
Payment: Cash or deposit to debit card or bank account.
Pros: Creating a listing is simple and fast, and you’ll get paid instantly when you make a cash sale. You can also view a prospective buyer’s reviews and ratings to get an idea of how trustworthy they are beforehand. If you ship your item, the buyer pays the cost, and OfferUp provides the label.
Cons: You’re responsible for meeting local buyers in person and handling transactions. Sellers must pay a 12.9% service fee, or a minimum of $1.99, for shipments.
Download: Android, iOS.
- Poshmark
How it works: The Poshmark app is tailor-made for selling clothes, accessories and even home decor. After signing up, you take or upload photos of your item, fill out a description, price it and share the listing. You can also feature items in the app’s “Posh Parties,” which are virtual shopping events centered around particular brands, categories and themes. Poshmark emails you a prepaid shipping label once a purchase is made. Then, you send the package.
Payment: Check or direct deposit to a bank account.
Pros: Poshmark facilitates the entire process, from selling to shipping. Plus, you don’t have to meet with strangers to make a sale. The company will cover lost packages and handle issues between you and the buyer. Getting paid is relatively quick, too; Poshmark issues the money within three days of the buyer receiving the order.
Cons: You’ll pay a fee for selling through Poshmark. The company takes a $2.95 commission for sales under $15 and a 20% commission for sales of $15 or above.
Top money earning apps 2022
- Rakuten
Rakuten is one of my favorite online best earning apps because you get cash back for things you’re going to buy anyway, as long as you do it through their app. How? Stores pay Rakuten a commission for sending customers to their store. Rakuten splits that commission with you, so you both win.
I’ve made over $500 from shopping online through Rakuten and referring friends.
A phone showing Ebates program and how money can be earned while using program,
When I know I want to purchase something and I don’t need it right away, I buy it online (if shipping is free) to take advantage of my Rakuten perks.
I have a nice check of $265 on the way! This is the best Android app for earning money, and it’s now available on IOS!
If you use my link to sign up with Rakuten, you get $30 when you spend at least $30 online.
- Dosh
Dosh is a must-have cash back app, I absolutely LOVE it. It’s all passive income since all you need to do is link your credit/debit card and it will automatically give you cash back when you shop, eat, travel, and more at participating local and national merchants.
I forgot I had this app, and I was out to dinner with my husband for our anniversary and received this email after we paid:
Screenshot of cash rewards earned by using Dosh
And this keeps happening when I use my credit card at participating merchants!
I’ve made $75 with this app from using my card at participating stores and referring friends.
Screenshot of cash rewards earned from using Dosh
- Ibotta
Ibotta is another app that allows you to get cashback for items you buy anyway. I LOVE this app.
Here’s How It Works:
Download the Ibotta App and before you shop, add offers on products you normally purchase anyway.
Buy the products you selected at any participating store. Don’t forget your receipt!
Redeem your offers by taking a photo of your receipt. Ibotta will match the items you bought to the offers you selected and give you the cash!
Your cashback will be deposited into your Ibotta account within 48 hours.
I’ve made $105.53 so far from a combination of shopping and referring friends. If you tell your friends to sign up they get $10 and you get $5!
Related: Need Money? Here are the 10 Best Ways to Make Money Fast
Screenshot of cash rewards earned from using Ibotta
- Acorns
Acorns is a neat money earning app to get you to start micro-investing. It rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the difference on your behalf.
For example, if you buy a coffee for $1.75, Acorns will round it up to $2.00 and automatically invest $.25 in “smart portfolios”.
You can link as many credit or debit cards as you like and put your “change” to work for you in a low-cost ETF.
I recently downloaded this app and made over $50 without even noticing. There are no fees associated with withdrawing, just keep in mind that it may be more of a tax implication for the following year.
Screenshot of cash rewards earned from using Acorn app
You get $5 when you sign-up with my Acorns link.
- Swagbucks
Swagbucks is another app for earning money that will pay you to take surveys, watch videos, search the web, refer friends and test products. This app won’t make you rich but it’s an easy way to make some extra money.
I’ve recently downloaded this app and I’m at 477 SB (Swagbucks). If you sign up with my referral link you’ll already beat me with the $5 sign-up bonus. I could get a $5 Amazon Gift card (1 SB = 1 cent) with this amount but I plan on doing the things mentioned above which will help me earn $50-$100 a month.
If you want to make more money with surveys check out Survey Junkie and PrizeRebel, these are the only survey sites I recommend.
Swagbucks Android app
- HealthyWage
HealthyWage is a money earning app supported by the Government to incentivize people to lose weight by putting their own money at risk with the potential to earn up to $10,000!
Here’s How It Works:
Start with the HealthyWage Prize Calculator. Enter how much weight you want to lose, how long you’ll take to lose it, and how much you want to bet a month for that period of time.
The calculator determines your prize amount, up to $10,000. You can play around with the calculator until you get your desired prize amount.
Sign up and agree to pay the monthly amount for the duration of the challenge.
Achieve your weight-loss goal, and win your prize!
If you don’t hit your goal, your money goes to support HealthyWage, including prizes for others who achieve their goals.
You can see how Jaclyn won $5,294.12 and Anastasia won $10,000 here.
Click here to See How Much Money You Can Make
- Instacart
Do you need to make money fast? Consider Instacart and get paid for doing something you do almost every week, grocery shopping.
People pay for convenience every day, and that does not exclude the daunting task of Grocery Shopping.
Instacart has capitalized on this need for those who want to leave the shopping to someone else, it opens a door for you to fulfill the orders, make the delivery, and get PAID.
You can easily make $100 or more per day in just 3 hours. This is one of the best apps to make money fast.
I did a full review of Instacart and you can check it out to learn more, or you can just apply to become a shopper here.
If you like Instacart, you’ll definitely love Shipt. It’s pretty much the same thing with an average pay of $22 per hour. Click here to apply to become a driver!
Related article: 6 Best Delivery Driver Jobs
- Seated
So, here’s the thing, when I became a stay-at-home mom we’ve had to cut costs on going out to eat. I need every incentive to go out to eat and thanks to Seated, I get paid when I eat out, if I make a reservation through their app.
The payment is in gift cards and you can typically make $10 to $50 each time you book a reservation. I know someone who eats out a lot and made $200 in one month using this online earning app.
Here’s how it works:
Book an available reservation on the app and choose your preferred reward (Lyft, Amazon, or Starbucks gift card).
Dine out and upload a photo of your receipt to verify what you’ve spent.
Your selected reward code will be delivered digitally in the app within 24 hours of each successful reservation.
Restaurants are always looking for ways to get new loyal customers, that’s why they are willing to give $10-$50 in hopes they become a loyal customer. The Seated app is such a great idea.
- Foap
Foap is a money earning app that photographers can use to make money from their phone.
You do not have to be a professional photographer, but it would be good to learn how to take quality photos from your smartphone.
The Foap App has something called Missions where companies will tell you what kind of photo or video they are looking for and if you decide to take on that “Mission” and your photo/video is selected, you could win hundreds of dollars!
Simply follow the Mission brief and upload one or multiple videos or pictures that reflect what kind of imagery the company is after.
- Trim
Want to negotiate your Comcast bill for a lower price, lower your car insurance, and find additional ways to save money? Let the Trim app do it for you! Trim acts as your Personal Financial Assistant.
Link your bank to the Trim app and they will analyze your spending and work to save you money in every area.
Money saved is money earned.
Trim makes money by taking 25% of the money they save you, so you know they are working extra hard to save you money.
Conclusion
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