The 18 Best Apps to Earn Real Cash This Year

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Finding the best apps to make money is a real possibility. You can absolutely earn money and generate extra cash in 2025. This guide presents 18 legitimate money-making apps for earning extra cash. You can find opportunities in gig work, use cashback and rewards apps, or even find passive income apps. The goal is to help you turn your phone into a paycheck.

The global gig economy is a massive and growing field. Projections show its market size will reach an incredible $582.2 billion in 2025. This growth creates many chances for you to make money and secure extra income.

Key Takeaways

• Many apps help you earn real money. You can find gig work, get cashback, or earn passive income.
• Gig apps like Upwork and DoorDash offer flexible work. You can earn money for your skills or by making deliveries.
• Rewards apps like Rakuten and Ibotta pay you for shopping. You get money back on things you already buy.
• You can earn money by taking surveys or selling items. Apps like Survey Junkie and Poshmark help you do this.
• Start with one or two apps that fit your life. Consistent effort helps you earn more money over time.

Best Apps to Make Money with Gigs

Gig work apps are some of the best apps to make money because they offer flexibility. These platforms connect you with clients or customers for specific tasks. You can find great side hustles that fit your schedule and skills. These hustles let you make money on your own terms.

Upwork

• Best for: Freelancers with professional skills in writing, design, programming, and marketing.
• How it Works: You create a profile showcasing your expertise. Then, you can bid on projects posted by clients or list project-based services for clients to purchase directly.
• Earning Potential: Your potential to earn money depends on your skills. The average hourly rate is $39, with most freelancers earning between $29 and $54 per hour. Specific fields vary:
  • Writers and editors: $15 - $40 per hour
  • Programmers: $21 - $55 per hour
• Payout Details: You can withdraw funds via Direct Deposit or PayPal. A 5-day security period applies after payment, and the minimum withdrawal is $100 for wire transfers.

Fiverr

• Best for: Creatives and professionals offering specific, packaged services (called “Gigs”).
• How it Works: You create a “Gig” that describes a service you offer for a set price. Clients browse these Gigs and purchase them. You make money by completing these orders.
• Earning Potential: Earnings range from $5 to thousands of dollars per project. Popular categories include:
  1. Shopify Marketing
  2. Search Engine Marketing
  3. Website Development
  4. Architecture & Interior Design
• Payout Details: You keep 80% of each transaction. You can withdraw earnings to your bank account or PayPal 14 days after an order is marked complete. The minimum withdrawal is $1.

DoorDash

• Best for: Individuals with a vehicle (car, scooter, or bike in some areas) looking for flexible delivery work.
• How it Works: As a “Dasher,” you use the app to accept food delivery orders from local restaurants. You pick up the food and deliver it to the customer’s location.
• Earning Potential: You can make extra money with an average earning of $15-$25 per hour, which includes base pay and customer tips.
• Payout Details: Dashers receive payments weekly via direct deposit. You can also use Fast Pay to cash out daily for a small fee.

Instacart

• Best for: People who enjoy grocery shopping and have a reliable car.
• How it Works: You work as a full-service shopper. You accept a customer’s grocery order through the app, shop for the items at the store, and then deliver them to the customer.
• Earning Potential: You can earn money with an average hourly wage of approximately $18.33. Earnings can increase with larger orders and customer tips.
• Payout Details: Shoppers are paid weekly via direct deposit. You can also use the Instant Cashout feature for a small fee to access your earnings immediately.

Uber

• Best for: Car owners seeking a flexible driving side hustle with high demand.
• How it Works: You sign up to be a driver. Once approved, you can go online in the app to accept ride requests from passengers nearby, drive them to their destination, and get paid.
• Earning Potential: Earnings vary by location and time. After accounting for vehicle expenses, which can be $5-$7 per hour, drivers can expect to make a decent wage.

• Payout Details: Uber offers Instant Pay, allowing you to cash out up to five times a day. Otherwise, earnings are sent weekly via direct deposit.

Top Money-Making Apps for Rewards

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You can get paid for your everyday spending with cashback and rewards apps. These platforms give you a percentage of your purchase back as cash or points. They are some of the best apps to make money because you earn on things you already buy.

Rakuten

• Best for: Online shoppers who want to earn passive cashback from thousands of retailers.
• How it Works: You start your shopping trip in the Rakuten app or use its browser extension. When you make a purchase at a partner store, Rakuten tracks it and adds cashback rewards to your account.
• Earning Potential: The amount you earn money with varies by store. While some offer up to 20%, you can realistically expect:
  • Most stores offer 2% to 6% cash back.
  • Promotional rates can reach 10% or more.
• Payout Details: Rakuten sends your earnings every three months via PayPal or a physical check. You need a balance of at least $5.01 to receive a payment.

Ibotta

• Best for: Grocery shoppers who want to save on specific products and everyday essentials.
• How it Works: Before you shop, you add offers for products you plan to buy. After shopping, you upload a photo of your receipt to the app to verify your purchases and get cash back.
• Earning Potential: Active users can make money, with earnings between $100 and $300 per month. An average user typically earns $10 to $20 monthly. Since its start, Ibotta has paid out over $1.5 billion to its users.
• Payout Details: You can withdraw your earnings once you reach a $20 minimum. Payout options include direct bank transfer, PayPal, or various gift cards.

Fetch Rewards

• Best for: Shoppers looking for the simplest way to earn rewards without clipping coupons.
• How it Works: You simply snap a picture of any receipt from any store. Fetch awards you points for every receipt and gives you extra points for purchasing products from its partner brands.
• Earning Potential: Earnings are modest but consistent. You can expect to earn a few dollars per month, with more potential if you buy sponsored brands.
• Payout Details: You can redeem your points for gift cards once you reach 3,000 points (equivalent to $3).

MoneyLion

• Best for: Individuals wanting an all-in-one finance app with integrated cashback rewards.
• How it Works: MoneyLion offers a suite of financial tools, including a feature called MoneyLion WOW. You can activate cashback deals in the app and use your MoneyLion Debit Mastercard to make purchases and earn rewards.
• Earning Potential: You can earn up to 15% cash back at participating merchants. The app is highly rated by users, holding a 4.7-star rating on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
• Payout Details: Rewards are automatically deposited into your investment account, helping you build savings effortlessly.

Upside

• Best for: Drivers and diners who want to save money on gas and restaurant meals.
• How it Works: You check the app for offers at nearby gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores. Claim an offer, pay with your linked card, and upload the receipt to earn cash back.
• Earning Potential: Frequent users report average annual earnings of around $290. It’s a great way to offset the cost of fuel and food.
• Payout Details: There is no minimum for cashing out to a bank account or PayPal, though a small fee applies to withdrawals under $10.

Make Money with Surveys & Passive Income

You can turn your downtime into dollars with survey and reward apps. These platforms offer simple ways to earn cash or gift cards by sharing your opinions or performing easy tasks. Some of the best apps to make money in this category are passive income apps, which require minimal effort after the initial setup. These side hustles are perfect for earning while you watch TV or commute.

Swagbucks

• Best for: Users who want a variety of ways to earn rewards beyond just surveys.
• How it Works: You earn points, called “SB,” for activities you already do online. You can make money through:
  • Taking surveys
  • Watching videos
  • Shopping online
  • Searching the web
• Earning Potential: Casual users can expect to earn $1 to $5 per day. Dedicated users can earn more, but it requires consistent effort.
• Payout Details: You can redeem points for gift cards with a minimum of just $1-$3. PayPal cashouts start at $5.

Survey Junkie

• Best for: Individuals who want a straightforward platform dedicated purely to taking surveys.
• How it Works: You build a profile, and Survey Junkie matches you with relevant surveys. You complete them and earn points that can be redeemed for cash or gift cards.
• Earning Potential: A typical user can make extra money, potentially earning between $50 and $150 per month by consistently completing surveys.
• Payout Details: You can cash out once you reach 500 points ($5). Payout options include PayPal, bank transfer, or e-gift cards.

Google Opinion Rewards

• Best for: People looking for quick, location-based surveys with instant rewards.
• How it Works: Google sends you short, easy surveys based on your recent activity, like places you’ve visited or YouTube videos you’ve watched.
• Earning Potential: Rewards are small but add up. Surveys typically pay between 10 cents and $1 each. You might complete 2-5 surveys weekly, with annual earnings ranging from $20 to $100.
• Payout Details: Android users receive Google Play credit instantly. iOS users receive cash payments to their PayPal account.

Pawns.app

• Best for: Anyone wanting to generate passive income by sharing their internet connection.
• How it Works: The app runs in the background on your device and securely shares your unused internet bandwidth. You can also complete easy surveys to boost your income.
• Earning Potential: This side hustle offers a unique way to earn money.

  You earn money at a rate of $0.20 per gigabyte of shared data. While earnings vary by location and demand, it is possible to cash out up to $140 every month from internet sharing alone.

• Payout Details: You can withdraw your earnings once you hit the $5 minimum. Payouts are available via PayPal, Bitcoin, and various gift cards.

Apps for Earning Extra Cash by Selling

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You can turn your unused items into a stream of income with selling apps. These platforms provide a marketplace to connect you with buyers, making them some of the best apps to make money from things you already own. These side hustles are perfect for decluttering and earning extra cash.

Poshmark

• Best for: Fashion enthusiasts looking to sell new or used clothing, shoes, and accessories.
• How it Works: You take photos of your items, write a description, and set a price. When an item sells, Poshmark provides a prepaid shipping label. You just package the item and drop it off.
• Earning Potential: Your earnings depend on your inventory. The average sale price for an item is often between $19 and $35. Top-selling brands that attract buyers include:
  • Lululemon
  • Nike
  • Coach
  • Free People
  • Patagonia
• Payout Details: Poshmark takes a flat fee of $2.95 for sales under $15 and a 20% commission on sales of $15 or more. You can request a direct deposit or a check.

Etsy

• Best for: Crafters, artists, and collectors selling handmade goods, vintage items, and craft supplies.
• How it Works: You set up a digital storefront to list your unique products. Etsy provides tools to manage your shop, process payments, and communicate with customers. This is one of the most rewarding hustles for creative individuals.
• Earning Potential: Success varies, but the average successful seller makes around $45,000 per year. Profitable categories for new sellers include digital products, jewelry, and wedding items.
• Payout Details: Funds are deposited directly into your bank account. You can set a schedule for daily, weekly, or monthly deposits.

OfferUp

• Best for: Individuals wanting to sell large items locally, like furniture and electronics.
• How it Works: You list items with photos and descriptions for local buyers. You can arrange meetups at safe, community-approved locations or use the app’s shipping options for smaller goods.
• Earning Potential: You can make extra money selling a variety of items. Electronics are rated as an "Excellent" category and often sell in under four days.

• Payout Details: For local cash sales, you keep 100% of the money. For shipped items, funds are deposited into your debit card or bank account after the buyer receives the item.

Facebook Marketplace

• Best for: Anyone looking for a massive, built-in audience to sell almost anything locally.
• How it Works: You use your existing Facebook profile to list items for sale. With over a billion monthly users, your listings get immense visibility. Buyers contact you via Messenger to ask questions and arrange a purchase.
• Earning Potential: This side hustle has high potential due to its huge user base. Your earnings are limited only by what you have to sell.
• Payout Details: For local pickups, you typically receive cash in person. For shipped items, payments are processed through Facebook and deposited into your bank account within a few days of the item being delivered.

Earning real cash with apps is an achievable goal. This guide showed you options from gig work and selling to rewards and passive income. You should choose apps that match your skills and lifestyle to maximize your potential for extra income.

Tip: Start small! Pick one or two apps from this list. Applying the tips consistently is the key to earning extra cash and building a steady stream of extra income. Your small efforts can lead to meaningful extra income over time.

FAQ

Which apps are best for beginners?

You should start with apps that require minimal effort. Rewards apps are a great choice.

Try these first:

• Fetch Rewards: Simply scan any receipt to earn points.
• Rakuten: Get automatic cashback on your online shopping.
• Google Opinion Rewards: Answer very short surveys for quick credits.

Are these money-making apps legitimate?

Yes, all 18 apps in this guide are legitimate. We vetted each one for a proven track record of paying users. You can use them with confidence to earn extra cash. Always download apps from official app stores.

How much money can I realistically earn?

Your earnings depend on your effort and the apps you choose.

• Gig Apps: Offer the highest potential, from $15-$25+ per hour.
• Survey Apps: Can generate $20-$100 per month.
• Rewards Apps: May add $10-$30 to your monthly budget.

Do I need to pay taxes on my earnings?

Yes, you must report income earned from these apps. The specific requirements depend on your total earnings and location. It is wise to track your income. You should consult a tax professional for personalized advice.