Everyone seems to have a side hustle these days. Even if you have a side hustle, sometimes you still need extra cash fast. When that happens, you want something that you can do quickly and easily right from your phone.
Money-making apps are usually more about saving money and couponing than making money. Do you think you’re just out of luck if you need to make money? Not at all. Let’s take a look at the 19 best apps for making money fast!
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In What Way Do You Want To Make Money From Your Phone?
Before we dive into the apps, you need to determine how you want to make money. Are you willing to leave your home, or would you rather sit on your cozy couch? Or, do you want an app to help you make money from skills or passively?
Another thing to think about is whether you have any money to put into start-up costs. Some apps need you to have some money to put in right away, while for others, you need yourself. Today, we’ll be looking at three main ways to make money from your phone.
For people who have some money to put in upfront and want to make money completely passively, there’s investing. Investing is undoubtedly an excellent way to earn money from your smartphones, and it can pay off big down the line.
Next, you can try surveys. Taking surveys isn’t quite as passive as investing, but it’s still minimum effort. You can easily take surveys from your couch, and surprisingly, most of them only take a couple of minutes. The best thing about surveys is that you don’t have to put in any money to get started when it comes to surveys. You just download the app and get going.
You Have A Bulk Of Options
Finally, you could sell services or items. There are various options for selling things you know how to do, and maybe even something you already do. In all, it’s the most flexible one among all of your options and the most fun! No matter what it is that you enjoy, someone will pay you for it.
Now we’ve covered the ways you can make money from your phone, but how about specifics? There are hundreds of apps to do all three of those things, and picking one can feel like an impossible task. Penny Calling Penny’s team sorted through those for you, so you don’t have to. Now, let’s see the compilation of our top 19 best apps to make money fast.
Best App For Investing
1. Robinhood
The pros and cons of Robinhood are as follows:
App Rating: 4.2/5 Stars
Active Users: 22.5 million
Pros:
- First, potential for a large payoff
- Second, completely passive app for making money
- Third, financial learning resources
Cons:
- Takes a while to see the payoff
- Requires an upfront investment
- Investing has the potential to lose some money
Runners-up For Investing Apps:
2. Acorns
The pros and cons of Acorns are as follows:
Pros:
- Automatically saves/invests spare change from your everyday purchases
- Hands-off approach leaves the investing to investors while you reap the benefits
- Education center gives you opportunities to learn more about saving and investing
Cons:
- $5 minimum requirement to start investing
- Monthly fee of $3 or $5, depending on your plan
- No included options for tax strategies or human investing advisors
3. Diversyfund
The pros and cons of Diversyfund are as follows:
Pros:
- Allows you to invest in real estate instead of just stocks
- Learning Center teaches you how and why to diversify your investments
- Dividends payments allow you to see returns on your investments quickly
Cons:
- Requires a minimum of $500 to invest
- Unable to choose commercial investments
- Investments are only on properties in California, Texas, and North Carolina
Best App For Surveys
4. Survey Junkie
The pros and cons of Survey Junkie are as follows:
App Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Active Users: ~10 million
Pros:
- Quick money with minimal effort
- You get out what you put in
- Money just for signing up
Cons:
- The best surveys can be time consuming
- Some people aren’t comfortable sharing their information
- Can’t replace a full-time income
Runners-up For Survey Apps:
5. The American Sweepstakes
The pros and cons of The American Sweepstakes are as follows:
Pros:
- Easy and quick
- Blogs and newsletters on how to increase your chances of winning a sweepstakes
- Fun and different!
Cons:
- No guarantees – One month you could earn a lot and other months only a little
- Some people might be uncomfortable sharing contact information
- Prize winnings can be taxed at a very high rate
6. InboxDollars
The pros and cons of InboxDollars are as follows:
Pros:
- Has regular surveys and video options
- No points system, each survey is measured in real currency
- Sign-up and referral bonuses
Cons:
- Surveys are usually worth only $0.25, and there’s a $30 cashout minimum
- Generally, surveys don’t always pay the same amount, some pay more and some pay less
- Surveys that pay $2-4 are usually very involved, taking 30 minutes or more
7. CashKarma
The pros and cons of CashKarma are as follows:
Pros:
- Highly engaging, with options for videos, surveys, and games
- Tiered rewards mean the longer you use the app, the more you’ll make
- Get points just for opening the app
Cons:
- Points aren’t a 1-to-1 equivalent with currency, with $10 equalling 11,000 points for a gift card or 13,500 points for cash
- Tier system means earning can be slow-going at first
- Not everyone wants to share information
Best App For Selling Items
8. Etsy
The pros and cons of Etsy are as follows:
App Rating: 4.4/5 Stars
Active Users: 81.9 million (buyers), 4,300 (sellers)
Pros:
- Huge buying market
- Can replace a full-time or part-time job
- Taxes and other tricky things are handled for you
Cons:
- The market is competitive, only the best ideas make it to the top
- Fees can be expensive if you don’t make enough sales
- Requires a creative skill
Runners-up For Item-Selling Apps:
9. Tradesy
The pros and cons of Tradesy are as follows:
Pros:
- Sell clothes, shoes, and accessories
- Set your own prices and Tradesy takes less than 20% of large sales
- Shipping is free
Cons:
- Tradesy only accepts items by specific designers
- Payout time can be slow since the site waits to ensure the buyer doesn’t want to return the item
- You’ll need to have or find clothing you can sell
10. Gazelle
The pros and cons of Gazelle are as follows:
Pros:
- Cash in on tech devices you aren’t using
- Shipping is free
- Get paid immediately after you send in your device
Cons:
- You may not have an old device, or you may have one they don’t support
- People who are hard on their devices will get less for them
- If your description doesn’t match the device condition, the amount you received can drop dramatically
11. Poshmark
The pros and cons of Poshmark are as follows:
Pros:
- Get clothes that are taking up space out of your house for a profit
- Free shipping when you’re sending your clothes in
- You can set your own prices
Cons:
- Taking photos and creating listings are time-consuming
- Buyers can “haggle” you down to a lower price
- It can be tempting to spend your newly earned cash on more items from Poshmark
Best App For Selling Services
12. TaskRabbit
The pros and cons of TaskRabbit are as follows:
App Rating: 4.8/5 Stars
Active Users: 1.5 million (users), 60,000 (“Taskers”)
Pros:
- Doesn’t require any special skills
- Taskers with higher ratings get suggested more often and earn more
- Set your own rates and schedule
Cons:
- May not apply in rural areas
- Can be slow to get started, since you have to accrue good ratings
- Not a very passive way to make money
Runners-up For Service – Selling Apps:
13. Bookkeepers.com
The pros and cons of Bookkeepers.com are as follows:
Pros:
- Create your own virtual business doing bookkeeping
- Bookkeepers.com offers classes on bookkeeping, so you can start with little-to-no experience
- Your schedule and pricing is up to you
Cons:
- No mobile app
- Fees can add up, you’ll have to build them into the cost of your services
- Requires some skill with organization and numbers
14. Foap
The pros and cons of Foap are as follows:
Pros:
- Make money from photo and video content using your surroundings
- Your work can be bought by companies and brands big and small, can be used to grow a photography business
- Has options for up to $1,000 off a few photos
Cons:
- You split your profits with Foap 50/50, so if a photo sells for $10, you’ll only get $5
- Requires some skill and time to get to the top of search results
- Can be time-consuming – to turn a profit you’ll need to upload a lot of content
15. Wyzant
The pros and cons of Wyzant are as follows:
Pros:
- Use your knowledge to tutor online or in-person
- Creating a profile is free
- You set your own hours and prices
Cons:
- You have to apply, and not all applications are accepted, so you may not qualify
- The fee after you get a gig is 40% of your final bill
- Accounts sometimes get shut down very suddenly
Best App For Cashback And Coupons
16. Ibotta
The pros and cons of Ibotta are as follows:
App Rating: 4.8/5 stars
Active Users: 6 million
Pros:
- Cashback at all major retailers for everyday purchases
- $5 sign-up bonus
- Has a browser extension that can choose offers automatically
Cons:
- You have to choose offers before you go shopping
- Some offers are brand-specific
- When shopping from your phone, you have to shop through the Ibotta app to get rewards
Runners-up For Cashback And Coupon Apps
17. Free Samples Pro USA
The pros and cons of Free Samples Pro USA are as follows:
Pros:
- Simple and quick registration
- Free Samples Pro has an enormous blog library so you can learn more saving tips and tricks
- Samples from large companies like Charmin, Pantene, etc.
Cons:
- Products are samples, so they vary in size
- You’re likely to get emails from companies you sampled
- Products are chosen for you, so you may not get what you want
18. National Resource Connect
The pros and cons of National Resource Connect are as follows:
Pros:
- In-depth questionnaire matches you with every available offer for loans, cash, and scholarships
- Blog library has extensive financial literacy content
- Offers a variety of resources for you to choose from
Cons:
- You don’t know in advance how little or how much you’re eligible for
- Onboarding can take some time when you first sign up
- Not an ongoing income source
19. Fetch Rewards
The pros and cons of Fetch Rewards are as follows:
Pros:
- Making your money is as simple as scanning a receipt
- Some items are worth a bonus
- Redeem for gift cards at almost any store
Cons:
- First, rewards are lower than similar apps
- Second, no cash back option
- Third, you can only upload 14 receipts in a 7 day period
Make Quick Money From Your Phone
The average person spends around 6 hours a day on their phone! It only makes sense to give all your efforts and make some money from your phone, too. Downloading an app only takes a few seconds, and then bam! You’ve started a new side hustle.
The best thing about our picks for money-making apps is that you can use them all at the same time. Nothing stops you from downloading Robinhood and starting an Etsy store or using Survey Junkie in between TaskRabbit gigs. You’ll be busy, but never bored! You can even use all four apps at the same time.
When it comes to making money fast, there are plenty of variables. How much money do you require, and how quickly? No matter how hard you look, no app will turn you into a millionaire overnight. If you need a large amount of money in no time at all, maybe it’s time to look at getting a personal loan.
Even if you don’t need to make lots of money, using more than one app as your side hustle is the best way to make money fast. Different strategies mean that you won’t be waiting nearly as long to see them pay off. Plus, when slowdowns happen with one of your options, you’ll have others fill the gap.
Moreover, making money from your smartphone is easy, and it can even be fun. The best trick is to figure out an app that works for you and schedule it into your day. You’ll have cash for that spending spree in no time! So, enjoy using these best apps to make money!
