Money-Making Apps: 11 Easy Ways To Earn Extra Cash

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Looking for simple ways to earn extra cash with your phone? Whether you’re between jobs, saving for something special or just want to boost your income, money-making apps can help. From cash-back rewards and paid surveys to selling photos and completing small tasks, these apps are easy to use, pay reliably and let you earn on your own time.

Best Money-Making Apps To Download

If you’re looking for a new revenue source, look no further than the palm of your hand to monetize your spare time. Here are some of the best money-making apps of 2025:

For Surveys and Opinions

Google Opinion and Rewards

• Type: Surveys
• Earnings: Up to $1 credit per survey
• Payment: PayPal and Google Pay 
• Platforms: IOS and Android 
• Notable perks: Easy passive income and no payout thresholds for Google Play credits
• Downsides: Low earning potential and surveys are not regularly available
• Best for: Casual users who want to earn small rewards

Surveys on the Go 

• Type: Surveys
• Earnings: $1 – $5 for most surveys; some pay $10 and up
• Payment: Cash via PayPal, Virtual Visa or gift cards 
• Platforms: iOS and Android 
• Notable perks: Higher payouts than most survey apps and intuitive user-friendly interface
• Downsides: Surveys may be infrequent and you may be screened out of some surveys
• Best for: People wanting higher payouts for surveys 

For Cash Back and Rewards

Ibotta

• Type: Cash back
• Earnings: Varies — typically $0.25 to $5 or more per offer
• Payment: Cash via PayPal, bank deposit or gift cards
• Platforms: iOS and Android 
• Notable perks: Wide retail coverage and stackable with other deals   
• Downsides: Must upload receipts or link to retailer accounts 
• Best for: Frequent shoppers who like cash back 

Rakuten

• Type: Cash back
• Earnings: Depends on current promotions, but can be 10% of purchase price or more
• Payment: Cash via PayPal or paper check — paid quarterly
• Platforms: iOS, Android, web browser extension
• Notable perks: Works with over 3,500 retailers and automatic cash back   
• Downsides: You have to wait for cash back because it is paid quarterly, and some purchases may not track 
• Best for: Online shoppers who want cash back 

Swagbucks 

• Type: Cash back and surveys 
• Earnings: You earn points called “SB” and total points vary by task — could earn up to $5
• Payment: Gift cards or PayPal cash
• Platforms: iOS, Android and web
• Notable perks: Multiple ways to earn money and frequent bonus offers   
• Downsides: Time-consuming tasks for low payouts, and surveys can screen you out  
• Best for: People who have extra time and want to earn income passively

For Gig and Delivery Work

Uber Eats 

• Type: Gig work/food delivery 
• Earnings: Varies by location and is based on several factors, including the number of pickups and drop-offs, time, distance and tips
• Payment: Direct deposit (weekly), Instant Pay (up to 5x/day for a small fee)
• Platforms: iOS and Android
• Notable perks: Work when you want and instant pay
• Downsides: Demand may vary, no employee benefits 
• Best for: People seeking independent and flexible work

Gigwalk

• Type: Quick local gig work 
• Earnings: From a few dollars to $100 per assignment
• Payment: PayPal 
• Platforms: iOS and Android
• Notable perks: Work on your own schedule, no experience required 
• Downsides: Competition for higher-paid gigs and approval process can delay payment
• Best for: People who have access to urban and retail areas 

For Selling Photos and Unwanted Items 

Foap

• Type: Photo-selling platform 
• Earnings: Up to $5 per photo 
• Payment: PayPal 
• Platforms: iOS and Android
• Notable perks: Earn money from photos you already have, simple to use for beginners
• Downsides: Highly competitive and limited licensing rights 
• Best for: Best for hobby photographer to make a few bucks

Dreamstime

• Type: Photo-selling platform 
• Earnings: As much as 60% of the selling price for your images, videos and audio files
• Payment: PayPal, Payoneer, Skrill or check
• Platforms: iOS, Android and web
• Notable perks: Accepts photos, illustrations, videos and audio files, and can sell exclusive and nonexclusive work
• Downsides: Payouts can be slow, and common photographs are often rejected 
• Best for: Photographers and designers with high-quality work 

Decluttr

• Type: Selling 
• Earnings: Dependent on items sold
• Payment: Direct deposit, PayPal or check 
• Platforms:  iOS, Android and web 
• Notable perks: Free shipping, quick payments and user-friendly interface
• Downsides: Lower payouts and nonreturnable items
• Best for: Great way for people to make cash on tech and media items 

For Investing Spare Change

Acorns

• Type: Investing 
• Earnings: Varies based on market returns from ETF portfolios
• Payment: Withdrawals sent to your linked bank account
• Platforms:  iOS, Android and web
• Notable perks: Acorns automatically invests your spare change from purchases
• Downsides: Monthly fees  
• Best for: Easy passive way for beginners to start investing 

How To Choose the Best Money-Making App 

While there are money-making apps that really work, some of them are not worth your time. Consider the following questions to determine whether the app you’re looking at is legitimate:

• Is the app free? If not, is it worth the payment?
  • Be wary of a free app that then asks you to pay for a subscription. Most platforms that offer money aren’t going to ask you to pay first.
• How are the app’s reviews? Do they sound legitimate?
  • On the download page on Google Play or the App Store, you should be able to see reviews from users. Be skeptical about reviews that are too vague or effusive.
• How long has the app existed? Does it have a good reputation on third-party sites?
  • Many of the apps listed above have existed for years and have a number of third-party reviews for you to sift through.

Money-Making Apps: Quick Comparison

Here’s a side-by-side look at the best money-making apps for 2025:

Final Take: Are Money-Making Apps Worth It?

The amount of money you can make through apps depends on whether you’re choosing the right ones to download. Most money-making apps aren’t going to make you rich overnight, but they can add to your wallet. The best apps are the ones that suit your schedule and your interests and also pay you for things you’d normally do, such as cash back on your shopping.

Cynthia Measom, Andrew Lisa, Taylor Bell and Barri Segal contributed to the reporting for this article.

Information is accurate as of May 14, 2025.

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