20+ Best Money Making Apps of 2026
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Looking for ways to make extra money without leaving your couch? You’re in the right place.
Whether you need quick cash for bills, want to build up your savings, or just need some extra spending money, there are dozens of legitimate apps that will actually pay you. No gimmicks, no complicated requirements, just real money for tasks you can do on your phone.
I’ve tested and researched the best money-making apps available right now, and I’m breaking down exactly how much you can earn, what you’ll need to do, and which ones are worth your time.
1. Survey Junkie: Get Paid for Your Opinions
If you’re going to try just one app from this list, make it Survey Junkie. This is hands down one of the most reliable ways to earn quick cash from your phone.
Survey Junkie pays you real money for sharing your opinions on products, services, and brands. Companies need consumer feedback, and they’re willing to pay for it. Each survey takes 5-15 minutes and pays anywhere from $0.50 to $3.00.
What makes Survey Junkie different? You can cash out via PayPal or gift cards once you hit just $5. Most survey sites make you wait until you’ve earned $25 or more, but Survey Junkie gets money in your hands faster.
Pro tip: After you sign up, make sure to confirm your email right away. This unlocks the highest paying surveys and gives you access to exclusive opportunities that can pay $5-10 each. The best surveys go to verified users first, so don’t skip this step.
Sign up for Survey Junkie here
2. Swagbucks: Earn While You Browse
Swagbucks is one of the most popular rewards platforms out there, and for good reason. You can earn money doing things you already do online: watching videos, shopping, playing games, and yes, taking surveys.
What sets Swagbucks apart is how many different ways you can earn. Use their search engine instead of Google and rack up points. Watch video clips during your lunch break. Shop through their portal and get cash back on purchases you were going to make anyway.
You earn Swagbucks points (called SB) that you can redeem for PayPal cash or gift cards to places like Amazon, Target, and Starbucks. Most users report earning $50-100 per month without much effort.
Important: When you sign up, verify your email immediately to unlock all earning opportunities. Verified users get access to higher paying offers and exclusive bonuses that can significantly boost your earnings in the first week alone.
3. Freecash: Fast Payouts for Simple Tasks
Freecash is quickly becoming a favorite for people who want quick payouts. This platform pays you for completing surveys, testing apps, and playing games. The minimum cashout is only $5, and you can get paid via PayPal, Bitcoin, or gift cards.
What makes Freecash stand out is the speed. Many users report cashing out within their first day of signing up. The tasks are straightforward, the interface is clean, and the payment is reliable.
Don’t skip this step: After signing up, confirm your email right away. Email verification gives you instant access to the highest-paying offers and surveys. Some of these exclusive opportunities can pay $10-20 each and are only available to verified accounts.
4. AttaPoll: Quick Mobile Surveys
AttaPoll specializes in short, mobile-friendly surveys that pay out instantly via PayPal. The surveys are quick (often under 5 minutes), and the cash-out minimum is low. What sets AttaPoll apart is its multiple gift card options alongside instant PayPal payments.
AttaPoll partners with major market research firms to collect data on products and services, which means you get access to a steady stream of surveys. The platform is available in multiple countries, making it accessible to users worldwide.
Pro tip: Complete your profile survey thoroughly after signing up and confirm your email. A complete, verified profile leads to more targeted survey opportunities that pay better. You can also turn on location tracking to get surveys specific to your area, which often pay premium rates.
Apps for Earning Cash Back & Rewards
5. Ibotta: Get Paid to Shop
If you buy groceries, you need Ibotta. This app gives you cash back on everyday purchases at over 300 retailers, both online and in-store. Just scan your receipts or link your loyalty cards, and watch the money add up.
Ibotta regularly offers bonuses for trying new products, and you can stack deals with coupons for even bigger savings.
6. Rakuten: Shop Smarter, Not Harder
Rakuten (formerly Ebates) gives you cash back when you shop at over 3,500 stores online. We’re talking big names like Amazon, Walmart, Macy’s, and more. The average user earns $200+ per year just by clicking through Rakuten before making purchases they were already planning to make.
7. Capital One Shopping
This free browser extension automatically finds coupon codes and compares prices across retailers while you shop. It works silently in the background, and you earn rewards credits that convert to gift cards.
Sign up for Capital One Shopping here
Gig Economy Apps: Higher Earning Potential
8. TaskRabbit: Get Paid for Odd Jobs
If you’re handy or don’t mind physical work, TaskRabbit can be seriously lucrative. Top earners make over $1,000 per week doing tasks like furniture assembly, moving help, handyman work, and cleaning.
You set your own rates and schedule, and you keep 100% of what you earn plus tips. All Taskers go through background checks, which builds trust with clients.
9. DoorDash: Deliver Food on Your Schedule
DoorDash drivers earn $20-30 per hour delivering food from restaurants to customers. You can work whenever you want, accept only the orders that make sense to you, and get paid weekly (or even daily with Fast Pay).
10. Uber Eats: Flexible Delivery Work
Similar to DoorDash, Uber Eats lets you deliver food on your own schedule. You can deliver by car, bike, or scooter depending on your city. The base pay plus tips can add up quickly, especially during peak meal times.
11. Instacart: Grocery Shopping Side Hustle
Instacart shoppers report earning $450-500 per week shopping for and delivering groceries. You can choose to be a full-service shopper (shop and deliver) or an in-store shopper (just shop, no delivery needed).
Freelance Platforms for Skills Based Work
12. Fiverr: Sell Your Services
Fiverr lets you offer services starting at $5 (though most successful sellers charge much more). Whether you do graphic design, writing, video editing, social media management, or voiceover work, there’s a market for your skills.
13. Upwork: Find Freelance Projects
Upwork is perfect for freelancers who want ongoing client relationships. Specialized consultants can earn $75-150+ per hour for skills in writing, design, programming, marketing, and more.
Passive Income Apps
14. Turo: Rent Out Your Car
If you have a car sitting in your driveway, why not make money from it? Turo hosts earn an average of $900 per month renting out their vehicles. The platform handles insurance and payments, making it surprisingly hands-off.
15. Honeygain: Share Your Internet
Honeygain pays you for sharing your unused internet bandwidth. Just install the app and let it run in the background. You can earn $20-60 per month doing absolutely nothing. It’s as passive as it gets.
Fitness Apps
16. Sweatcoin: Turn Steps Into Cash
Sweatcoin tracks your steps and converts them into digital currency you can redeem for products, services, or cash. For every 1,000 steps, you earn 0.95 Sweatcoins (about $0.05). It adds up if you walk regularly.
Pet & Specialized Services
17. Rover: Pet Sitting & Dog Walking
Love animals? Rover connects you with pet owners who need dog walking, pet sitting, boarding, or drop-in visits. Pet sitters can earn over $1,000 per month, and you set your own rates.
E-Commerce & Selling Platforms
18. Poshmark: Sell Your Clothes
Clean out your closet and make money. Poshmark makes it easy to sell clothing, shoes, and accessories. Just snap a photo, list your item, and ship it when it sells.
19. Etsy: Sell Handmade or Vintage Items
If you’re crafty or have vintage items to sell, Etsy connects you with buyers worldwide. Keep in mind there’s a 20¢ listing fee per item plus a 6.5% transaction fee.
20. Printify: Print-on-Demand Business
Start a print-on-demand business with zero upfront costs. Upload designs to products like t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases. Printify handles printing and shipping when someone buys your products.
Investment Apps
21. Acorns: Invest Your Spare Change
Acorns automatically rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the difference in ETFs. It’s a painless way to start investing even if you don’t have much money upfront.
22. Stash: Simplified Investing
Like Acorns, Stash makes investing simple by rounding up purchases and investing the change. You can choose where your money goes based on your values and interests.
Other Useful Apps
23. Steady: Find Gig Opportunities
Steady aggregates gig opportunities from multiple platforms in one place. It helps you find part-time, hourly, and on-demand work based on your location and skills.
24. Influence: Video Survey App
Influence takes a unique approach to surveys by having you record short video responses (minimum 15 seconds) instead of typing answers. Once approved, you get paid via PayPal when you reach $10.
Start Earning Today
The apps on this list offer real opportunities to make extra money, whether you need a few dollars for coffee or you’re building a serious side income stream.
If you’re just getting started, I recommend beginning with Survey Junkie and Swagbucks. They’re the easiest to use, have the lowest barriers to entry, and can start putting money in your pocket within days. Remember to confirm your email after signing up to unlock the best offers.
From there, explore the other apps based on your interests and how much time you want to invest. Some people stack multiple apps and earn hundreds per month. Others pick one or two favorites and keep it simple.
The key is to actually start. Download an app, create your account, and take that first survey or complete that first task. Your future self will thank you!