Any legit apps that actually pay you real money

General
1

I keep seeing people talk about apps that give you money for tasks, surveys, or cash back, but I’ve wasted time on a bunch that barely pay or seem sketchy. I’m trying to earn a bit of extra income each month to help with bills and don’t want to get scammed or spammed. Can anyone share legit, proven money-making apps you personally use, roughly how much you earn, and any tips to avoid the fake ones

2

Short answer. Most “get paid” apps pay pennies. Treat them like pocket change, not income.

Stuff that tends to be legit and pays out:

  1. Cash back / receipt apps
    • Rakuten. Solid for online shopping. 1 to 10 percent, sometimes higher on promos. Pays via PayPal or check. Real company, been around for years.
    • Ibotta. Grocery and retail cash back. You scan receipts or link loyalty cards. Payouts add up if you shop the big chains a lot.
    • Upside. Gas and some food places. You check in, pay with card, get cash back. Useful if you drive a lot.
    • Fetch. Scan literally every receipt, get points. Not huge money, but it stacks without much effort.

  2. Survey / task apps
    These are fine for “I am bored on the couch” money. Not side income in any serious way.
    • Prolific. Probably the best paying survey site. Academic studies, less scammy stuff. You earn maybe 6 to 12 dollars per hour if you are picky and fast. Payouts through PayPal.
    • User Interviews. Not an app in the usual sense, more like research studies. Higher paying, 20 to 100 dollars per session, but not frequent. Sometimes Zoom calls, product tests, etc.
    • UserTesting and similar UX testing platforms. You speak your thoughts while using an app or site. Around 10 dollars for 15 to 20 minute tests. You need clear English and a decent mic.

  3. Micro work
    • Amazon MTurk. Small tasks like data labeling. Pay varies a lot. Some requesters are trash. If you learn which to avoid and use scripts, you might hit 5 to 10 dollars per hour. Takes time to learn.
    • Appen, Toloka, Clickworker. Similar vibe. Short tasks, some long term projects like search evaluation, content tagging. Sometimes you get into a decent project at 10 to 15 dollars per hour, sometimes it is 2 dollars per hour junk.

  4. Gig apps with real output
    These are not “tap ads, earn coins” things. They need effort.
    • Rover, DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Shipt, etc. More worth calling side income. How much you earn depends on location, tips, and your hustle.
    • Taskrabbit. Furniture assembly, moving help, random jobs. Better in big cities.

Red flags for the trash apps you keep running into:
• “Cash out at 50 dollars” but it takes weeks of grinding to hit 10.
• Tons of ads, spin wheels, or “coins” with weird conversion.
• No clear info on payout methods or timelines.
• Overhyped reviews with identical wording.

If you want an extra 50 to 100 a month with minimal stress, stack a few: Rakuten or Ibotta for normal shopping, Prolific for surveys, and one gig app if you are willing to leave the house. Do not waste hours on apps that pay you 0.10 for a 15 minute survey. If it feels like that, dump it fast.

3

@techchizkid covered most of the “usual suspects,” so I’ll skip repeating those and hit a few other legit angles plus some reality checks.

First, quick mindset shift: anything that lives 100% inside an app and doesn’t require real skill or output is almost always pocket change. If an app claims you can pay rent by watching ads or spinning a wheel, just assume it’s lying.

Stuff that actually can add up a bit:

  1. Fitness & habit apps that pay
    Not huge money, but at least it rewards what you’re already doing.
  • HealthyWage / StepBet / DietBet: You basically bet on yourself to hit fitness or step goals. If you meet them, you win your money back plus a cut of the losers’ pot. Real payouts, but you can lose money if you slack.
  • Sweatcoin–type apps: Converts steps to points for gift cards or discounts. Very slow burn, but it’s passive if you walk anyway. Not income, more like “free coffee a few times a year.”
  1. Reselling + app support
    If you’re willing to do a bit more work:
  • eBay / Mercari / Poshmark: Not “get paid to tap around” but real money if you sell stuff lying around. Use the apps to list, ship, and manage messages. I made more clearing out a closet than months of survey apps.
  • Pro tip: Start with stuff you already own so you’re not risking cash. Once you get a feel for what sells, then maybe flip thrift store finds if you like hunting bargains.
  1. Local service apps that are not food delivery
    Food delivery and rideshare get mentioned a lot, but they’re oversaturated in some places. Some alternatives:
  • Pet care / house sitting outside Rover: a bunch of local-focused apps and even Facebook groups where you can find recurring gigs. Paid in cash or via apps like Venmo, not coins or gift cards.
  • Tutoring apps: Wyzant, Varsity Tutors, etc. You need a specific skill (math, language, test prep), but rates can be solid compared to surveys. This is where I disagree a bit with the idea that “apps = pennies.” If you bring a skill and the app just matches you with clients, earnings get way better.
  1. Cash back but with stacking
    Everyone mentions stuff like Rakuten, Ibotta, etc, but the trick is stacking instead of just using one:
  • Store sale + manufacturer coupon + store rewards + card cash back + app cash back.
    If you’re already shopping smart, this can realistically knock 30 to 100 off your monthly spend, which is the same as earning it. Most people treat these apps as “extra money” but the real win is reducing expenses.
  1. Content creation lite
    Not talking about going full influencer here. More like:
  • Short reviews on marketplaces or apps that pay very small amounts for content but also give you free products (Vine–style programs, invite-only but they start with frequent reviewers).
  • Some brands run campaigns on influencer platforms where even small accounts can get like 20–50 bucks for a simple post. It’s not steady, but it exists and is more “real money” than watching ads for coins.

Red flags that almost guarantee trash, even if they claim legit payouts:

  • You have to reach some weirdly high threshold like $100 and the progress bar crawls.
  • They count “coins” or “gems” instead of showing clear cash value.
  • Payout only via gift cards to obscure brands.
  • The app is constantly pushing “watch more ads to boost earnings.”

If your goal is “extra 50–150 a month,” I’d personally:

  • Use 1–2 cash back/receipt apps you actually like, not ten.
  • Pick one survey or research platform that pays decently and ignore the rest.
  • Add one “real work” app that leverages a skill or physical activity: tutoring, pet sitting, reselling, local gigs.

And honestly, track your time for a week. If something is paying you under 3 bucks an hour after a few days of trying, treat it as entertainment or uninstall it. The time sink is where these “free money” apps quietly rob you.