If you want to diversify your income, finding legit money-making apps that pay you is a great way to save time and make more money. Rideshare driving has its peaks and valleys, so having ways to supplement your income is a great way to help you achieve your financial goals.
But, are there really apps that pay you??
It sounds crazy to think apps would pay you; it’s usually the reverse. The good news is there are legit money-making apps that pay you. The downside is you must do your research and only work with legit apps because just as there are great apps to earn money, there are scams, too.
15 Legit Money-Making Apps That Pay You
I’ve narrowed down the top money-making apps. They are legit, pay well, and are a fun way to pass your free time.
- Ridesharing Apps
- Food Delivery Apps
- Shopping Apps
- Survey Apps
- Games Apps
- Upload Receipt Apps
- Rent Your Storage Space
- Rent Your Car
- Rent Property
- Sell Unused Tech
- Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel
- Freelancing Apps
- Pet Sitting
- Investing in Real Estate
- Investing in Stocks
1. Ridesharing Apps
Uber and Lyft are great ridesharing apps that pay you to pick up and drop off passengers. The amount you earn varies by location and when you work. Both apps have ‘peak hours,’ which means times with higher demand and when you can earn the most money.
You choose when and where you drive. When you’re ‘active’ on the app, you’ll see ride requests and can decide whether to accept them.
Both platforms have a flat fee structure that they pay drivers, plus you keep 100% of customer tips earned.
2. Food Delivery Apps
Driving people isn’t the only way to make money with apps. You can also download free apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub to make money delivering restaurant food. You set your own hours, choose which orders to take, and keep 100% of the customer tips.
This works well for people who live in areas with many restaurants, especially if you have the time to work on the weekends at night, as that is when restaurant delivery is the busiest in most areas.
3. Shopping Apps
If you love shopping, you can make money with apps like Instacart that pay you to shop for a customer’s grocery order, check out, and deliver it to their doorstep. You will also need to love grocery stores, know the layout well, and are great at picking out produce, this could be a great way to make money.
If you prefer to deliver packages, check out Amazon Flex. You can be an Amazon delivery driver without driving the truck. All you need is a midsize sedan or larger with four doors to deliver packages to make money.
There’s yet another way to make money shopping if you prefer to do your own shopping but still make money. Field Agent pays ‘agents’ to get information for brands and retailers by taking photos inside stores or products and sharing opinions about the products and services received. You won’t make as much with Field Agent as you would with an app like Instacart, but it’s a fun way to make money while doing what you’d normally do.
4. Survey Apps
Survey apps have become quite popular today, and there are many to consider. Here are my favorites:
- Swagbucks: If you want an app that does a little bit of everything, you’ll find it in Swagbucks. On this app, you can make money by taking surveys, shopping online or in-store, searching the web, playing games, or watching videos. They pay in ‘SBs’ that you can convert to PayPal cash or gift cards to your favorite stores.
- KashKick: Diversifying your ways to make money ensures you’ll have extra cash in your pocket, and that’s what KashKick offers. You can answer surveys, play games, and accept offers to earn side cash on KashKick. You must earn $10 before you can cash out your earnings.
- Survey Junkie: Join Survey Junkie and have access to thousands of market research surveys where you share your opinion about products and services. Survey Junkie partners with the country’s top brands and retailers, enabling you to influence the products and services that hit the market. They pay in virtual points that you can redeem for cash or gift cards.
- Branded Surveys: On Branded Surveys, you can answer surveys from large brands and earn points that you can redeem for PayPal or Branded Pay (direct deposit). They work with Fortune 500 companies, so your opinion could majorly impact what you see on store shelves. You can cash out when you earn at least 500 points.
- InboxDollars: If you have patience and can wait to cash out until you’ve earned $30, InboxDollars is another great app that pays you to do things like answer surveys, watch videos, play games, and shop online. You don’t have to worry about converting points with InboxDollars because they pay in cash.
5. Game Apps
Some apps pay you to play games. These are my favorites because you can diversify your ways to make a little extra money.
- Mistplay: Sitting in your car waiting for the next order or ride can be frustrating, but you can fill the time playing games on Mistplay and making money. Mistplay recommends games for you; the longer you play, the more money you make. This helps distract your mind while waiting for the next gig and puts a little money in your pocket.
- Bingo Cash: You don’t have to go to the local Bingo Hall to make money playing Bingo. Now, you can play right on your phone, but this time, it’s not a game of luck but strategy. The faster and more strategically you dab, the more money you’ll make. This app that pays you requires you to put money in the pot, but if you’re good, you may earn a bigger piece back.
6. Upload Receipt Apps
Did you know you could make money by shopping? That sounds backward, but some apps pay you to upload receipts or shop through their portal. These apps earn a commission from the stores you shop, and they share a piece of it with you. Here are my favorites.
- Dosh: The Dosh app is for people who don’t like activating offers or thinking about where to shop for the most cash back. After downloading Dosh, you link your most used cards. Then you shop like you normally do and automatically receive any earned cash back. Once you hit $15, you can transfer the funds via PayPal, Venmo, or direct transfer.
- Upside: Gas is a major expense for rideshare drivers, so Upside is the perfect app to make money. Download and check the app for the gas stations paying the most cash back and fill your tank. You link your payment card and sometimes can ‘check in’ to automatically earn cash back; otherwise, you must upload your receipt. Upside also pays cash back at many restaurants and retail stores.
- Fetch: If you don’t mind uploading receipts, download Fetch, and you’ll earn at least 25 points per receipt. They pay for every receipt, but you can earn bonus points for receipts from certain stores or by purchasing specific products. You can earn even more money by accepting personalized offers in the app. You can redeem your earnings for gift cards to your favorite stores.
- Rakuten: This is one of the oldest apps that pays you to shop! Rakuten partners with 3,500 retailers, pays 10% to 40% cash back and has special offers for members. The only downside is they only pay out once per quarter, so you must wait for your earnings, but the ‘big fat check’ is a nice addition to your side hustle income when it arrives.
7. Rent Your Storage Space
If you have empty space in your home, like a spare room, garage, or crawl space, consider renting it to tenants for storage. You don’t have to worry about tenants living with you or maintaining a property to make it livable. All you have to do is provide ample space for their items and ensure it’s temperature-controlled and safe. Neighbor is a great app to list your space and get reputable tenants filling it.
8. Rent Your Car
Letting a car sit and do nothing is a waste of money. Turo connects you with people who need a car to rent and even provides $750,000 in liability insurance. They have a customer base of over 14 million people worldwide, giving you a much greater chance of earning rent on your unused car, whether for the day or longer.
9. Rent Property
Of course, you can make money renting your property, too. Whether you have a single spare room or a second home that you don’t use year-round, sites like Airbnb help you find tenants and earn passive income renting your property.
10. Sell Unused Tech
Computers, cell phones, and video game consoles can add up in households. Each time you upgrade, you likely keep the old tech around ‘just in case.’ If you’re tired of those items cluttering your basement, consider selling them on Decluttr. Enter your item’s information, including the barcode, and you’ll get an instant offer. If you accept it, you ship the items to Decluttr, and they’ll pay you after checking that the items are in good condition.
11. Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel
The Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel app pays you to download the app and share your usage with them. You can download it on your phones, tablets, and computers and earn up to $60 in rewards points. You can redeem the points for cash or gift card prizes.
12. Freelancing Apps
If you want to start freelancing, download the free Fiverr or Upwork apps and create a profile showcasing your skills. This is a great way to supplement your income from rideshare driving during downtimes or to make a little more money doing what you love. Common tasks include data entry, graphic design, freelance writing, and translation.
You can also try the Steady app, which connects you with online gig-economy jobs with major companies. They also offer ‘Income Boosters,’ which are ways to make money quickly by completing small tasks.
13. Pet Sitting
If you love animals, you can make money walking dogs or even watching pets overnight while their owners are away from home. Apps like Rover or Wag connect you with pet owners looking for qualified dog walkers or pet sitters in your area. You set your services and prices, and these apps help you connect with jobs in the area to make money.
14. Investing in Real Estate
Arrived is the perfect app if you’ve always wanted to invest in real estate but didn’t have the capital or desire to be a landlord. With Arrived, you can invest in single-family residential and vacation homes with many other investors. They require only $100 to start investing, and you can instantly earn passive income by becoming a real estate investor.
15. Investing in Stocks
Robinhood is a commission-free stock and ETF trading app that guides you through the investment process. You can also buy fractional shares if you don’t have enough to buy a full share of your favorite company’s stock. Diversifying with stocks and ETFs is a good way to increase your passive income and reach your financial goals.
Use These Apps That Pay You in Your Downtime
As you can see, many apps pay you. The key is to narrow down your talents and how you want to use your time. Diversify your efforts with active and passive income-making opportunities to ensure you always have an income stream no matter what’s happening in the world or market.
