50+ Apps That Pay You Real Money: The Best Money Making Apps of 2023

We’re hooked on our devices, but did you know there are apps can actually make you money every month?
Yes! Out of the millions of apps on the app store , many will actually pay you real money to use them.
To come up with this list, I:

looked my own favorite money-making apps
cross-referenced the best-rated money apps in both the iOS and Google Play app stores
gathered feedback from Side Hustle Nation readers

For each, we’ll take a quick look at how they work and how you can earn money and get paid for using them. Some are completely passive after you set them up, while others take a little more time.
I’ve broken these down by category, and encourage you to pick and install the ones that make the most sense for you.
12 Ways to Make Real Money on Your Phone

Apps That Pay You to Take Surveys and Play Games
Turns out there are tons of ways to make extra money sharing your opinion with brands.
These apps probably won’t make you a ton of money, but could add $15-30 a month to your bottom line if you use them consistently.
To earn more, consider online focus groups —my personal favorite resource for these is User Interviews . (Feel free to check out our full User Interviews review for more details.)
1. Solitaire Cash
I played my fair share of Windows Solitaire growing up, so Solitaire Cash  got my attention.

The well-rated Android and iOS (4.6-stars from over 200k App Store reviews) game app pits you against similarly-skilled solitaire players. Everyone receives the same deck, and top 3 players who finish with the most points win.
Of course, I recommend practicing for free first!
Solitaire Cash is free to download and play, but real money tournaments aren’t yet available in AZ, AR, IN, IO, LA, ME, SC, MT, and WA.
2. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a recognized leader in the online survey space. The long-running app has paid out hundreds of millions of dollars to users over the years.

You can earn rewards for shopping online, answering surveys, playing games, and watching videos (read: ads). Cash out for gift cards from major retailers.
Sign up through my referral link for a $10 bonus .
3. Blackout Bingo
The popular Blackout Bingo game app turns classic bingo from a game of luck into a game of speed and skill. Each game only takes about 2 minutes to play, and you can earn real-world rewards and cash prizes (except in AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, and SD).

At press time, the app has a 4.5-star rating on the iOS App Store from 85,000+ reviews, with players calling it fun and addicting. The most common complaint is that Blackout Bingo’s ads — which claim you can win big money with little effort — are misleading.
As with all gaming apps, practice for free first. Then, never put more money at risk than you can afford to lose.
4. Rewarded Play (Android)
With over 150,000 reviews and a 4.1-star rating in the Google Play store, Rewarded Play is another free, legit, and fun, “get paid to play” app.

Rewarded Play is your one-stop app for casual games like Solitaire, Mahjong, Wheel of Fortune, Yahtzee, and more. As you play, choose your rewards and get your gift cards within 48 hours.
5. Survey Junkie
With Survey Junkie , you get to be the influencer — and give your opinions to hundreds of partner brands.

As one of the highest paying survey apps, Survey Junkie offers popular gift cards and cash outs via PayPal. Join the 3+ million members and get started today.
6. InboxDollars
Most InboxDollars surveys pay between $0.50 and $5, but occasionally you’ll see offers up to $20 or more. You can also earn by watching TV, shopping, or completing offers through the app.

InboxDollars pays you in real dollars—not points—and offers a free $5 sign-up bonus .
7. Mistplay (Android)
Mistplay is a popular app (10+ million downloads!) that rewards you for discovering and playing new games on your phone. (Android only)

The more you play, the more “units” you earn. Then you can cash in those units for gift cards to your favorite stores.
As far as Mistplay strategy, check out the games with 3x or 4x unit multipliers to earn gift cards faster.
8. Toluna Influencers
Get paid to speak your voice and leave feedback on top brands with Toluna Influencers . The highest-paying surveys pay around $15, which you can redeem for gift cards or PayPal cash.

9. Opinion Outpost
Each Opinion Outpost survey enters you into a $10,000 quarterly drawing. You can cash out at just $5 via PayPal or Amazon gift cards.

10. Mode Earn (Android)
More than 10 million users have already installed the new Mode Earn app that pays you real money to listen to music and play games. It’s a cool way to get paid for something you’re probably already doing.

Mode Earn has over 100,000 radio stations to choose from and the world’s top current songs and artists. I mean, it’s not like Spotify is sharing any of their ad revenue with you!
Apps That Pay You to Invest
11. Fundrise
I’ve been a Fundrise investor for years, and like their long-term outlook and consistent quarterly dividends. With just $10, you can start building a portfolio of commercial real estate.
(Disclosure: when you sign up, I earn a commission. All opinions are my own.)

12. Robinhood
Robinhood  is an online brokerage that gives new customers  a free stock when you sign up— worth up to $200.

It’s a random draw–not your choice, unfortunately. I got Groupon (currently worth about $22), but Microsoft, VISA, and Johnson & Johnson are options.
Apps That Give You Money for Using Your Phone
Because we give so much of our data away for free to companies like Facebook, it’s probably not that far a stretch to actually get paid for what you share. Here are some options to do just that.
13. Pogo
The free Pogo app is one of my latest finds. By sharing your location and credit card transaction data, Pogo gives you points that you can cash out to PayPal or Venmo.

Just enable location tracking and link your bank account credentials when you sign up. Based on my results so far, I expect Pogo to be worth around $10-20 a year. 
14. Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel
Nielsen pays you for sharing Internet usage behaviors. Just download the app to all of your registered devices and earn up to $60 per year.

The app isn’t intrusive and won’t slow down your devices.
15. MobileXpression
MobileXpression is a market research panel that pays you for data from your mobile phone.

After you download the app , it works in the background recording your browsing habits. You’ll earn weekly credits redeemable for gift cards to popular retailers.
Realistically, this is an un-intrusive background app that will probably earn you around $20 a year in passive income . And you’ll earn a free $5 gift card after your first week.
16. SavvyConnect
The  SavvyConnect VIP program  “uses safe, cutting-edge technology to collect data as you surf the web.” In exchange for sharing this data, they’ll pay you  up to $5 a month per device.

When you connect your smartphone, tablet, and desktop/laptop, you can earn $15 a month or $180 a year.
17. Honeygain
I’ve seen a lot of buzz lately around a new app called Honeygain . According to the site, you can earn up to $50 a month when you share “your unused net traffic with data scientists.”

Just install the app (available on Windows, MacOS, and Android), connect it to the Internet, and earn rewards passively. On average, it takes users 48 days to reach $20.
Get a $5 bonus to start .
Before you get started though, make sure you’re truly on an unlimited plan—it sounds like this could chew through a lot of bandwidth in hurry!
18. Tapestri
The interface is a little frustrating, but Tapestri actually does pay you for sharing your anonymous location data.

The app automatically rewards you traveling around town, and you can earn more by checking in and completing surveys.
I’ve earned $17 in my first few months.
Apps That Connect You With Money-Making Gigs
19. Steady
The popular Steady app is your gateway to dozens of “gig economy” jobs and other money making opportunities.

Fun stat: Steady users make an average of $5,500 more per year after they join!
Plus, when you link your bank account details you’ll see personalized Income Boosters — quick ways to make extra money.
Download the app and create an account to find gigs in 4 different categories:

Gigs
Part-Time and Full-Time Work
Work From Home
Recently Added

There are some low-paying options to sort through, but I found several new-to-me platforms to explore. Check out our full Steady app review to learn more.
20. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is one of the largest gig economy platforms. You can create a profile specializing in everything from running local errands, assembling furniture, local admin temp help, and even virtual support jobs.
Rates vary widely based on what service you’re providing, but I’ve seen tasks anywhere from $15 an hour all the way up to $100 an hour or more for specialized handyman skills.
The Best Cash Back Apps
Many cash back apps will basically give you free money just for tracking the spending you’re already doing.
21. Fetch Rewards
The Fetch Rewards app is a favorite of mine because it’s super easy. You earn points by snapping pictures of your grocery receipts, which you can cash in for gift cards.

Get 2000 free points ($2) when you install through our referral link !
22. Upside
Use the free Upside app to get up to 25¢/gallon cash back on gas at thousands of locations all around the country. Plus, get a 25¢/gallon bonus on your first fill-up with promo code SHN25.

Many major brands like Shell, BP, Exxon, Marathon, 76, Valero, and Sunoco are available, and you just have to tell the app where you’re filling up and what credit card you’re using.
The company is expanding to groceries and restaurants, and opening up in new areas as well.
23. Marble
Marble  is the first and only “rewards program” for insurance. Marble lets you sync your home, renters, auto, and pet policies in one dashboard, and then pays you up to 5% cash back on your premiums.

Since you have to have many of these coverages already, getting paid for them is like getting free money.
24. Rakuten (formerly Ebates)
The Rakuten shopping app is an established leader in money saving apps—the company’s been paying users back for over 20 years !
The app offers cash back, in-store cash back, and a cash back button extension for online shopping. Shop almost every retailer on the planet and earn up to 40% cash back.

I look forward to my “Big Fat Checks” every quarter!
Join through my referral link and get a $30 sign-up bonus .
25. Ibotta
I use Ibotta every week to check for extra cash back on our grocery purchases.
The drawback is you still have to scroll through each store’s listing and choose the products you bought. Then, you snap a picture of your receipt and watch the cash back hit your account.

Ibotta  Savers who use the app every month earn over $130 a year! I’ll take it. (You can cash out via gift cards or PayPal.)
26. Dosh
With Dosh , there are no codes to scan or receipts to upload. You’ll earn automatic cash back at lots of nearby locations.

Where Dosh is perhaps most interesting is in booking hotels. When you book through the app, you can get up to 40% cash back at 600,000 hotels!
27. NCP Mobile
Earn gift cards when you use the National Consumer Panel Mobile app to snap pictures of the barcodes of the products you buy. This is a great one to stack with Fetch and Ibotta.

Apps That Pay You to Drive
28. DoorDash
DoorDash “Dashers” make up to $25 an hour* as food delivery drivers.

Check out our full DoorDash driver review , where I sat down with one Dasher earning $250-500 a month in his spare time.
* For illustrative purposes only, actual earnings may differ and depend on expenses. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) and includes compensation from peak pay, tips, and other incentives.
29. Instacart
Get paid to shop for and deliver other people’s groceries with Instacart . Enjoy weekly payouts and a flexible schedule.

Check out our full Instacart Shopper review , with a side hustler earning an extra $450-500 a week.
30. Uber Eats
A friend of mine reported earning $25-30 an hour making takeout deliveries with Uber Eats .
Uber’s mega-popular tech platform connects your with nearby restaurant orders. Then you go pick up the order and bring it to the customer.
31. Lyft and Uber
These two ridesharing services are some of the most popular apps to make extra money .
With millions of users, they pay you to drive your neighbors around. Your earning potential varies by city, but you can set your own hours and earn tips for providing a great, safe passenger experience.
One potential “hack” is that both Uber and Lyft have a feature called “destination mode.” This allows you to tell the app where you’re going, and only accept rides from passengers heading in the same direction.
Several Side Hustle Nation readers report using this setting to offset the costs of their regular commutes.
32. Shipt
Deliver fresh food and household essentials to Shipt members. Drivers can earn up to $22 an hour  shopping for and delivering these products.
33. Hurdlr: Optimize Your Ridesharing and Delivery Earnings
If these gigs appeal to you — or you’re already a rideshare or delivery driver — you might consider adding Hurdlr to your arsenal. Hurdlr is a cool app that helps drivers find an average of $5,600 in tax deductions!
The app automatically tracks all your mileage, expenses, income streams, and tax deductions in real-time. That means you keep more of what you earn.
Mystery Shopping and Audit Apps
34. Field Agent
Field Agent presents a list of tasks you can do based on your location.
Most of these gigs involve evaluating product displays or checking on inventory. They typically pay $3-10 apiece, depending on complexity and the time involved.

No purchase is necessary, unless specified in the task, in which case Field Agent will reimburse you.
For more, check out my full Field Agent review .
35. Shopkick (iOS)
The Shopkick app allows you to earn rewards in multiple ways, including simply walking into a qualifying store.

Other ways to earn points (called “kicks”) include shopping with a linked card, scanning barcodes on selected products, viewing online products, watching videos, and visiting online stores.
These points can then be redeemed for gift cards at stores like Starbucks, Amazon, and Target.
36. Gigwalk
Gigwalk works on the same premise as Field Agent. The app pays you real money for completing gigs available near you.
Gig Walkers can earn anywhere from $3-100 for certain tasks, but there wasn’t much selection near me when I checked.
Apps That Pay You to Exercise
37. Miles
The new Miles app gives you “frequent flyer miles” for all the travel you do, whether you’re walking, biking, driving, riding, or flying. (And walking is worth 10x as much as driving!)

By letting the app track your location, you’ll earn free points to redeem gift cards. You’re going to have to cover a lot of ground to get paid though — it takes 5,000-10,000 miles to earn a $1 Amazon gift card — but every dollar counts and the app just runs in the background.
At press time, you can get 1500 bonus miles when you join through my referral link .
Here’s our full Miles app review to learn more.
38. Rover and Wag
With the Rover and Wag apps, you can get paid to walk dogs. Both have large databases of dog owners looking for help from people like you.

According to Rover, top dog walkers are earning $1000 a month.
39. Cashwalk
Cashwalk  turns your step activity into gift cards, with power users earning  $5 every 3 weeks, or around $85 a year.

Check out our full  Cashwalk review  to learn more.
40. Evidation
Evidation is another app that pays you for walking . The Evidation app partners up with health companies for market studies. You get to be a part of cutting edge medical research, and get paid for it.
You can earn money by tracking steps, sleeping, logging meals, opting into challenges, completing surveys, tweeting, and more.
Evidation connects with apps like Apple Health, Samsung Health, Fitbit, Strava, MyFitnessPal, and Garmin.
Earn $10 for every 10,000 points,  and cash out through PayPal or straight to your bank account.
Apps to Make Money Selling Stuff
Many people earn quick extra cash selling items part-time. Here are the top apps to list and sell items locally and online.























Suggested Playlist: Flipping Profits
Buying low and selling high is the fastest way to multiply money. Here's how to get it done.
Add to Spotify










41. Bookscouter
Bookscouter makes it easy to see how much your books—especially textbooks—are worth.
When you scan the book’s barcode, the app will show you how much your book is selling for on various sites. You can then decide which vendor site is the best place to sell your book for the maximum value.
42. ScoutIQ
If you want to get serious about flipping used books, ScoutIQ is the go-to app to get up-to-date price information. This is a paid app (after 14-day free trial), and you can punch in your own custom filters to speed up your ISBN-scanning process.
To learn more, I sat down with a professional book flipper who reported earning $4,000 a month .
43. Decluttr
Make money selling your used CDs, DVDs, and video games using this app.
Decluttr will tell you how much your items are worth and even give you a pre-paid shipping label to send them all in.
(Usually it’s a depressingly low amount!)
But what Decluttr lacks in high payouts, it makes up for in ease-of-use. It’s definitely easier than attempting to photograph, list, sell, and ship all your items one-by-one.
44. Amazon Seller App
The free Amazon seller app is your gateway to the world of Amazon FBA — fulfillment by Amazon. The app will let you scan the barcodes of various products and see what they’re selling for on Amazon–and what your profit would be after fees.
I used this app, along with a lot of shopping, to earn over $600 on the side .
Reselling on Amazon is a serious side hustle that many have turned into full-time businesses. For a free course on how to get started, head on over to TheSellingFamily.com .
45. Poshmark
With the Poshmark app, you can make extra cash selling clothing, accessories, and home goods. (Used designer clothing is a big seller on Poshmark.)
The app does take a 20% fee, but has a large audience of buyers and makes the selling process as easy as possible.
You c