13 Best Money-Making Apps for 2024

If you're looking for ways to balance your budget, numerous apps can help you earn extra cash or save money on everyday purchases. These money-making apps make it easy to use your mobile device to pick up a side gig, take online surveys, sell stuff you no longer use, lower your bills, and more. The best money-making apps let you sign up for free, get paid quickly, and set your own hours. Here are our top picks.

Our recommendations for the best apps to make money

1. Best for earning gift cards: Swagbucks

Swagbucks lets you earn points by completing easy tasks like answering surveys, playing games, watching videos, and searching the internet. You can also earn cash back and access exclusive deals and coupons when you shop at over 1,500 in-store and online retailers (including grocers). Membership is free, and you can redeem your points for gift cards to retailers like Amazon or Walmart or get cash back from PayPal.

2. Best for online surveys: Survey Junkey

Survey Junkey is an online market research community. As a member, you complete surveys in exchange for virtual points, which you can instantly redeem for e-gift cards or PayPal payments. You'll answer a few questions and create a profile to get started, and then Survey Junkey matches you to relevant surveys. You won't get rich taking surveys, and the company points out that it's not meant to replace a full-time job. Still, it says you can earn $40 monthly by completing three surveys a day.

3. Best for playing games: FreeCash

FreeCash lets you earn money by playing games, taking surveys, watching videos, and more. The website says you can earn up to $399.89 per offer, though users earn an average of $27.90 daily. Once you sign up for a free account, you can browse a large selection of offers, choose one you like, complete the steps, and get paid in FreeCash coins ($1,000 coins equals $1). From there, you can cash out your rewards via PayPal, various cryptocurrencies, gift cards, or in-game items on games like Valorant and League of Legends.

5. Best for investing spare change: Acorns

Acorns makes it easy to save and invest with little to no effort. The app automatically rounds up purchases you make from linked accounts, debit cards, and credit cards to the next dollar. Then, Acorns invests that spare change in a diversified portfolio of professionally managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Acorns also offers a browser extension called “Earn” that helps you earn money when you shop online. Subscriptions cost $3, $6, or $12 monthly, depending on the plan and features you choose.

9. Best for freelancers: Upwork

Upwork is a freelancing marketplace that connects gig workers with clients. Once you sign up and create a profile, you can pitch projects and bid for jobs in nearly every industry, job, and skill set. You'll invoice clients and track your earnings on Upwork, choose how to get paid (direct deposit, PayPal, Payoneer, or wire transfer), and pay a 10% freelancer service fee on your earnings.

10. Best for active traders and investors: TradeStation

TradeStation is best known for its flagship desktop platform, but on-the-go traders will appreciate its freshly updated mobile app. With a quick and secure login, the app offers sophisticated charting with real-time data, advanced analysis, a streamlined order interface, intuitive order tracking, account monitoring, and more. You'll also have access to pre-built hot lists, news, analyst ratings, and earnings calendars. The app supports stocks, options, futures, and crypto currency trading—with the option to toggle between live and sim trading environments. 

11. Best for passive investors: M1 Finance

M1 Finance is a low cost robo-advisor that's ideal for self-directed investors wanting to manage their investing, banking, and borrowing in one app. Offers like an Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured savings account that earns 5% APY (as of Nov. 2, 2023), a Visa credit card that offers up to 10% cash back, and no-fee personal loans may appeal to anyone. Self-directed investors will appreciate M1's competitive margin loan rates, digital tools, and automated investing with dynamic rebalancing to keep your portfolio allocation in check.

12. Best for cash back: Rakuten Rewards

Rakuten Rewards (formerly Ebates) offers cash back, deals, and coupons at over 3,500 stores on everything from clothes and electronics to restaurants and ridesharing. Sign up for a free account in less than 30 seconds and start shopping on Rakuten.com, the Rakuten app, or the browser extension. You can also link store offers to your credit card to earn in-store cash back. Rakuten Rewards emails you when it adds cash back to your account, and you'll get a payment every three months by check or PayPal.

13. Best for selling tech and media: Decluttr

Decluttr is a resale app that lets you sell the tech and media products you no longer use, such as old smartphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, DVDs, game consoles, and video games. To get started, download the app, search for the item you want to sell (or scan the barcode on your media), and get an instant price quote. If you accept it, Decluttr sends a free UPS shipping label. Once Decluttr receives the item, you'll get paid by direct deposit or PayPal within 24 hours. Or, if Decluttr doesn't accept the item for some reason, it will send it back at no cost to you.

Best money-making apps compared

TIME Stamp: Money-making apps can supplement your income

It's essential to set realistic expectations when using money-making apps. They aren't get-rich schemes, and you might not earn enough to make ends meet. And as a side gig, you won't receive any employee benefits like health insurance, a 401(k), or paid time off—and your earnings may be sporadic.

Still, money-making apps can be an excellent way to earn extra income while enjoying the flexibility of setting your own schedule. Keep in mind that using certain apps together could boost your earnings potential.

Average payout	$0.40 – $2	$1 – $3	$0.50 – $5.00
Payment method	Paypal or gift cards	Paypal, eGift cards, or bank transfer	Paypal Cash, Amazon gift cards, Starbucks gift cards, and more
Minimum to cash out	$3 for gift cards; $25 for PayPal	$5 (500 points)	$30
Promotion	$10	N/A	$5
	View Offer	View Offer	View Offer

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Which money-making apps pay right away?

There is usually a delay between the time you earn cash through a money-making app and when you receive it. Depending on the app, the delay could be 10 days or longer. Still, some apps have low minimum thresholds for requesting payouts. For example, Survey Junkie lets you cash out with just $5 in earnings. You may have to verify your bank account or PayPal details before the app can send you money, which could take several days.

How much do money-making apps cost?

Most money-making apps are free to download and use, but some offer in-store purchases to unlock premium features or charge user fees, typically deducted from your earnings. Of course, some apps let you earn cash through rebates—meaning you'll need to spend money to make money. In these situations, consider whether you really need the item. It doesn't make financial sense to buy something you don't need just to score a rebate.

How safe are money-making apps?

Many money-making apps are safe. Legitimate ones will be transparent about how they pay and protect users. If you're unsure about an app, research the company, read online user reviews, and check its Google Play or Apple App Store ratings and download statistics.