By: Rita Cunha | November 30, 2020

Updated May 15, 2022

Who wouldn’t want some extra money in their bank account? When the end of the month rolls around, a little can go a long way. Whether you want help paying off bills or just want “fun money,” this article is for you.

Did you know there are legit money-making apps you can use in your spare time? They won’t make you rich, but they can give a boost to your personal finance. Plus, it’s more rewarding than mindlessly scrolling through social media for hours. Today, we’re revealing the best money-making apps for 2022.

We have only included tried-and-true apps you can use for free here. From getting paid to give your opinion to completing simple tasks and getting cash back, there is something here for you. 

Apps That Pay You to Complete Tasks

One of the ways to make money from a mobile app is to complete simple tasks. It’s a nice side hustle to have and it can be a lot of fun.

1. SB Answers

By far the most reliable app paying you to take online surveys is SB Answers. It was started by the renowned Swagbucks and thousands of people use it every day. Giving your opinion on a variety of subjects will get you gift cards or real money put into your PayPal account.

SB Answers stands out from the competition (iPoll, MyPoints, Survey Junkie, InboxDollars, and so on). They do this by offering more competitive payout options, as well as a realm of rewards, which includes the option for an iTunes or Amazon gift card.

As if all that weren’t enough, you can get a sign-up bonus when you create a new account. Plus, when you invite friends to join, you’ll get referral rewards, too. You can download the app now for iOS and Android.

2. Shopkick

Shopkick will pay you to walk into local stores and scan barcodes. You can then exchange your hard-earned in-app points for gift cards or rewards when making your day-to-day purchases.

3. Field Agent

You can help retail owners better manage their stores using Field Agent. You’ll see a wide selection of tasks near you. Select the one you want to complete and you’ll get rewards as payment. Through the app, you could get gift cards for simply visiting your local Walmart or Target and reporting on what you see. It’s a shopaholic’s dream.

Get Money for Doing Fun Things!

Everyone wants to have fun while making real money, right? These apps let you do just that.

4. Swagbucks LIVE

Who would have thought that answering trivia questions on your phone could get you paid? Swagbucks LIVE is available for both iOS and Android devices and a favorite among trivia enthusiasts. If you like watching game shows like “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”, you’ll love it too.

You’ll be entered to win big cash prizes every time you get a round of questions right. Then, you can receive the money in your PayPal account or exchange it for popular gift cards. Even if you don’t want to play aggressively to win, you can still have fun! Challenge your friends and family to see who gets more questions right.

5. SweatCoin

We all know how important working out is. SweatCoin gets users moving and rewards them with a nice payout. Download the app, go for a short or long walk, and exchange your points for gift cards and even free products!

6. Foap

Are you a budding photographer? Why not keep working on your skills and getting extra cash for your work? Foap lets you sell your pictures to brands and anyone who wants to use them. One picture can be sold several times, so there’s real money to be made here. Plus, it could open the gates to working closely with a top brand!

Sell Things You Don’t Use From Your Phone

If you want to free up room in your home, try selling things you don’t use anymore. It’s easy, safe, and rewarding.

7. eBay

The market for second-hand goods just keeps growing. Sell your unwanted items through the eBay app to make a quick buck. Tech and designer clothes always fetch great prices.

8. Decluttr

Decluttr lets you sell textbooks, CDs, DVDs, video games, phones, and more with just a few clicks. Scan the barcodes of the items you want to sell (or manually enter them) and Decluttr will do the rest of the work for you. You’ll even get your payout by direct deposit in just a few business days.

9. BookScouter

The same goes for BookScouter, although, you can only sell used books and textbooks. Nevertheless, it’s an awesome way to both clear out your shelves and get money in return.

Get Cash Back on Your Online Purchases

There are apps solely dedicated to giving you cash back for the things you buy. These are well worth looking into.

10. Swagbucks Browser Extension

If you want to save money on your online purchases, Swagbucks has something for you. Its browser extension will look for discount codes in record time. Simply enter them when you head to check-out. There are codes for a variety of retailers such as Amazon, Walmart and Target.

Additionally, you can also get cash back from the things you buy. Browse the offers page and select the things you want. Then, once you’ve made your purchase, you’ll get that money back either in your PayPal account or in gift card form.

11. Rakuten (aka eBates)

Rakuten (previously known as eBates) is also a popular cash back app. It gives you money for making purchases at over 2,000 online retailers (including Amazon) and almost 50 in-person stores. You can then get a “Big Fat Check” in your PayPal account.

12. Ibotta

How many times do you go to a grocery store every month? Many, right? So what if you could get money back from your grocery bill at select retailers? Ibotta does exactly this for you. Take a photo of your receipt, upload it to the app, and get money back in your wallet.

Best-Money Making Apps for Providing Services

Everyone knows that a side hustle can make money. These apps make it incredibly easy to provide services for a good payout.

13. Uber

You can become a full-time or part-time driver with Uber. As long as you have a car and time to drive people around, Uber can make you quite a bit of money. Plus, if you want to maximize your income, you could also do food delivery through UberEats. Many people sign up to drive for UberEats to get the $200 signup bonus from Swagbucks.

14. Lyft

Lyft also lets you become a chauffeur for people in your city. Log in to the app, get in your car, and meet the demand for hired drivers.

15. InstaCart

With InstaCart, you can help people in your area and make money at the same time. You’ll be asked to deliver groceries through the InstaCart app to those who can’t shop in-person themselves. 

16. TaskRabbit

Jacks of all trades will do great with TaskRabbit. The app connects you to people who need help moving or getting things fixed in their homes. You can show off your versatile skills, be a good Samaritan, and make good money in your free time.

Make Passive Income from an App

Yes, you read that right: you can make money without any effort through a mobile app.

17. Slidejoy

Slidejoy truly feels like a source of free money. The app displays ads on your lock screen, which you can click on or ignore. Either way, you’ll make spare change without doing anything at all with Slidejoy.

18. AirBnB

Do you have a spare room you don’t use? Why not advertise it on AirBnB. The app is an awesome way to meet new people and make money from underutilized space. Plus, if you live in a touristy city, you could make a pretty buck with AirBnB every month.

19. Acorns

Acorns is one of the best investing apps out there. If you want to invest your money and don’t know where to start, Acorns is perfect for you. Its robo-investment technology puts your money into lucrative ventures so you can maximize profits. Plus, you can even open a checking account with the app and get all kinds of other rewards!

iPhone vs. Android: Which One Is Better to Make Money?

You can find most mobile apps we’ve listed both on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. When it comes to which operating system works or pays better (iOS vs. Android), there isn’t a difference. You can make money with either.

Top 3 Tips to Avoid Scams

It’s easy to be roped into signing up for an app that doesn’t actually pay. Here are some tips to tell the best money-making apps apart from scams.

  1. Don’t give away your credit card information.
  2. Read reviews for apps before signing up.
  3. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
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