10 best money-making apps for December 2024

In a nutshell

Money-making apps help you find ways to earn extra money to help pay the bills. The apps on our list help you earn extra money through gigs, taking surveys and other activities.

Some apps pay you through cash-back rewards for shopping and other activities that you regularly participate in, though some apps we don’t normally think of as money-making can also be good choices. Those include investment apps and apps that help you better manage your money.

Our top recommendations for money making apps

Survey Junkie: Best for getting paid to take surveys

Survey Junkie may very well be the most classic example of a money-making app. You’ll be paid to take surveys from which you can earn rewards that can be redeemed through PayPal or with gift cards, and best of all, you can do it in your spare time. That means you can earn rewards during your lunch break, when you are relaxing at home after work and even at the gym in between sets.

The purpose of the surveys you complete is to provide market research to companies looking to improve their products or services.

How you’ll get paid: Rewards can be redeemed through cash transfers into your PayPal account or by e-gift cards at popular merchants like Target and Amazon.

Upside: Best for cashback on shopping offers:

Upside works much like Rakuten and other cashback rewards apps in that you must open the app, claim the cashback offer and then shop as usual to earn the rewards. You can expect to earn rewards on purchases of gas, groceries and restaurant meals. Gas and restaurant meal rewards run about 2%, while grocery purchases can earn you an average of 2.5%. It’s an excellent way to earn money for purchases you are already making.

How you’ll get paid: Rewards are sent directly to your bank account, PayPal account or sent to you by gift card.

Fidelity: Best for self-directed investing

Fidelity is an investment broker where you can invest your savings to earn money. Fidelity is one of the world’s largest investment brokers, and because it has so many investment options, services and resources, it’s the perfect platform for self-directed investing.

You can use Fidelity to invest in individual stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, fixed-income securities and even options and futures. Each of these investments requires a specific set of investment skills — some more than others.

Even if you are not investment savvy, Fidelity offers investment options for every investor. That includes a high-yield government money market fund, as well as Fidelity’s robo-advisor, Fidelity Go. The robo-advisor will invest your money automatically in a mix of stock and bond related ETFs and provide complete investment management going forward. There is no fee for the first $25,000 invested, after which an annual advisory fee of 0.35% will apply.

How you’ll get paid: Technically speaking, you won’t get paid with Fidelity in the normal sense. Instead, you’ll earn investment returns on the capital you invest, which can then be withdrawn for income purposes. As with all investment activities, those returns are never guaranteed.

Rocket Money: Best for finding extra money in your budget

Rocket Money (formerly TrueBill) might be the most passive money-making app on this list. That’s because you don’t have to invest any money or even spend any time. Instead, Rocket Money works to find unwanted subscriptions in your budget and then cancels them to reduce your monthly outlays. In a sense, it doesn’t make you money, but instead it enables you to keep more of what you already have. You can also use the app to analyze your spending patterns to find more money to allocate toward savings.

How you’ll get paid: You’re “paid” in the form of reduced expenses.

Freecash.com: Best for getting paid to test apps, games and surveys

Freecash.com is a money making app that can be downloaded to your mobile device on Google Play. The company claims the average time until a user makes his or her first cash out is just 17 minutes and 16 seconds. The app offers hundreds of apps and games, with payouts ranging from under $1 to over $300. There are only a handful of surveys available and no indication of the amount paid.

The app publishes daily earnings, with the top earners fetching over $100 each. Participants can also earn a referral commission of up to 30% of all earnings from family and friends they refer to the app.

The app has a Trustpilot rating of 4.5 out of five stars based on more than 82,000 reviews. It also has 4.1 out of five stars for more than 62,000 Android users on Google Play; however, it does have a poor rating with the Better Business Bureau.

How you’ll get paid: As you complete tasks, you’ll earn coins on the app, which can be redeemed in cryptocurrencies, payments through PayPal, bank transfers or gift cards at popular retailers and service providers like Amazon, Netflix, Uber Eats and Visa. Unlike some money making apps, Freecash.com transfers payment immediately, especially by PayPal.

Bark: Best for expanding or building a business

Bark is an app that enables owners of existing businesses and startups to find new clients for their businesses.

Bark works something like a job board in that potential clients post the services they need to hire, giving business owners an opportunity to fill those needs. When you find jobs you are prepared to fill, you can contact potential customers directly. You can even set up instant notifications for leads so you can respond quickly. You can also post your own service on the platform to make it available to those looking for help.

To use the service, you must buy a credit pack and use the credits for the contact of potential customers. Credits are calculated based on the cost of contacting a customer, the value of the job, and the balance of supply and demand in your area. Beyond the credit pack, there are no monthly fees, and Bark does not collect any commissions if you successfully engage a new client.

How you’ll get paid: Bark doesn’t generate revenues directly, but rather clients for your business that will pay you upon completion of services rendered.

DoorDash: Best for delivery services

DoorDash is quite possibly the consummate side hustle for the 21st century. It’s also the app that will require the most active involvement on your part since the income you earn will be directly correlated with your availability, especially at peak delivery times.

Drivers are paid to deliver meals to customers and earn money from both DoorDash and tips they receive along the way. The service has moved beyond meal delivery alone, and can now include delivery of groceries, business supplies and even specialty products like baked goods. You will need to have a reliable vehicle, a valid driver’s license, auto insurance and a clean driving record to qualify.

How you’ll get paid: Weekly, through direct payments into your bank account, plus tips paid on the spot.

Sofi Invest: Best for investing with diversified financial services

Sofi Invest is part of a diversified financial services provider that offers student loan refinancing, mortgages, personal loans, auto loans, various insurance policies, online banking and a cash-back credit card. When you open an account, you will also work with a certified financial planner at no additional charge.

SoFi Invest comes in two forms: SoFi Active Investing and SoFi Automated Investing. Active Investing enables you to trade stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and options commission-free. Automated Investing is a robo-advisor that provides you with a fully managed portfolio invested in stock and bond ETFs. There is no fee for the service, and you can begin investing with as little as one dollar.

How you’ll get paid: Similar to other investment platforms on this list, you can be paid when you withdraw money earned on your invested capital. That can be done anytime you have realized investment gains, or even at regular intervals. Exactly how much you’ll earn on your investments will vary with the amount of capital you have invested.

There is, however, an opportunity to get paid through a new account bonus. SoFi Invest is currently offering a bonus of between $5 and $1,000 when you open a new account with at least $25. The funds must settle in your account within 30 days. They also provide a 1% match on your contributions to either a traditional or a Roth IRA.

Poshmark: Best for converting used clothes and luxury goods to cash

Poshmark has come up quickly as the go-to place to sell gently used clothing, shoes, accessories and even home goods. It serves as an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of generally quality merchandise. Much like eBay, you’ll need to post ads on the site advertising your products. That will include photos and product descriptions. You’ll then list it for sale, and entertain offers. Poshmark provides prepaid, addressed shipping labels for UPS delivery to buyers.

How you’ll get paid: Once a purchase is completed, you can be paid by PayPal, Venmo, paper check, instant transfer or direct deposit into your bank account.

Summary of top money making apps

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What apps pay you instantly?

Very few money-making apps will pay instantly. At a minimum, there is usually a delay of two or three days for funds to reach your bank account. Many apps impose holding periods to make sure required transactions or services have been provided satisfactorily before payment is released.

Are money-making apps safe?

Most are. They have safeguards in place to protect both your information and the transfer of funds through the app. However, always fully investigate the safety and integrity of any online app before signing up. Check with the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, the ratings on The App Store and Google Play and even your state department of consumer affairs.

How much does a money-making app cost?

Most money-making apps require no upfront costs. There are no fees to join, nor any to download the app. Instead, fees are charged on the back end after products are purchased or services are rendered. Always pay close attention to the fine print of any fee disclosures associated with a money-making app. Some charge a flat fee, others a percentage, and some a mix of both.

You should be suspicious of any money-making app that requires you to put money up front. That’s either a tipoff of a scam, or an arrangement in which the app will be paid whether or not you receive any financial benefit from its use.