I’m looking for reliable apps to make some extra income on the side. I’ve tried a few in the past, but they weren’t very effective. Does anyone have recommendations for apps they’ve personally used to earn money? Thanks in advance for the guidance!
Honestly, most of those ‘make extra money’ apps are a joke. They promise you the world and give you like… what, $3 after you’ve spent 10 hours of effort? But hey, if you’re really looking, here are some that actually work (but don’t expect to retire off them):
- Uber/DoorDash/Instacart – Yeah, basic. But driving for these can bring in decent cash if you don’t mind gas costs and wear on your car. And tips from people too lazy to get up? Not terrible.
- Survey Junkie/Swagbucks – If you love giving your opinion and don’t care about earning, like, $0.50 every half-hour, try these. Some people swear by them.
- TaskRabbit – Great if you’re handy or don’t mind running errands. People pay serious cash when they don’t want to assemble IKEA furniture (who can blame them?).
- Etsy – Got arts and crafts skills? Sell something. Be warned though, the competition is crazy, and no, your hand-knitted cat scarves probably won’t go viral (unless they’re hilarious).
- Fiverr/Upwork – Freelance gigs. Cool if you’ve got expertise like writing, graphic design, or some other nerdy online skill. Decent money, but plenty of lowball clients.
- Foap – Got a decent camera and talent for not taking blurry photos? Sell stock photos to companies.
Skip all those apps that pay you in “gift cards” instead of cash, or the ones that expect you to download a 30GB game just to make a buck. Some of them sound fun, but you’ll end up hating life. Stick to the ones that actually work—real people, real tasks, real money.
Oh, and pro-tip: If any app seems too good to be true, it probably is. You’re not gonna get rich overnight, but hey, maybe you’ll get enough to cover your Starbucks addiction.
If you’re really diving into the world of “money-making apps” as a side hustle, let’s just acknowledge upfront that time is money. Some apps kill your time for little reward—no shade to @himmelsjager, but I’m not spending half an hour doing surveys for 50 cents. Nah. Here’s a slightly different spin on what works (from experience and less rage-induced googling):
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Poshmark or Mercari – Ever tried decluttering your closet? People will buy your old clothes, often at surprising prices. Sure, it’s not exactly “passive income,” but it’s quick cash for stuff sitting around in your dusty corner of shame.
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Acorns/Robinhood – Okay, not technically “money-making” in the traditional sense, but these apps can help you start investing with spare change. Why earn pennies when you can let your pennies (maybe) turn into dollars over time? A tiny bit riskier, sure, but not everything’s gonna hand you a bag of cash the easy way.
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Rover – Love dogs more than you love humans? Exactly. Pet sitting or dog walking isn’t just soul-fulfilling, it actually pays well. People out there will hand you $20+ per walk just to make sure their good boy gets some fresh air.
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Airbnb Experiences – This one takes some effort but hey, even if you don’t own property, you can host experiences or tours. Are you funny, passionate about local history, or just really good at making pasta? Charge tourists to hang out with you.
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Turo/Getaround – Try renting out your car instead of driving it yourself like Uber or DoorDash demands. A little risky if you’re protective of your ride, but if it just sits in your driveway 90% of the week, let it work.
I’d actually disagree slightly with the stock-photo apps like Foap mentioned earlier. Companies have libraries overflowing with stock pics, and unless you’re the next Ansel Adams, selling your sunsets ain’t exactly lucrative. Also, Etsy’s cool, but genuinely it’s work—and most don’t think of it as a business, which it 100% is.
My main advice: look at apps where other people are genuinely getting benefits you can see, not just random companies taking advantage of your time. Research a bit first and swipe left on the promising-but-sketchy ones. Done.