The best apps to make money can turn spare time, a skill, or even your grocery receipts into extra cash. Some mobile apps reward you for quick tasks like taking surveys, while others – like Printify – help you build an online business that keeps earning.
Below, we compare 17 legit apps that pay you, with real earnings, fees, and payout thresholds.
Disclaimer
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no additional cost to you.
Top apps that pay you real money
Six standout apps you can make money on:
- Printify – Turn a design idea into custom products without inventory.
- Fiverr – Sell freelance services to clients worldwide.
- DoorDash – Earn fast cash delivering food in your city.
- Rakuten – Get cashback on every purchase you already make.
- YouTube – Create videos and earn ad revenue.
- Mistplay – Play mobile games and earn points for gift cards.
How to choose the right money-making app
Money-making apps aren’t all the same. Consider these four factors before choosing the right one for you.
Quick cash vs long-term income
Need cash this week? Choose mobile apps with a low minimum payout. For long-term earning potential, pick platforms where you can raise rates yourself or grow a store.
Active vs passive income
Active apps pay only while you complete tasks or deliveries. Passive apps need more setup initially, but keep paying you later.
Skill-based vs no-skill apps
Skill-based apps pay more for services like design or app development. No-skill apps give users a smaller reward for simple tasks, like taking surveys.
Local vs online
Local gigs require in-person work in your city. Online apps let you earn from your phone anywhere, and most are free to join.
Best money-making apps in 2027: Quick comparison
Here's how the best money-making apps stack up.
| App | Best for | What you can earn | Payout threshold/method | Time required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printify | Selling custom products without inventory | Scales with your store | Paid by your sales channel (e.g., Etsy, Shopify) | Few hours to set up; 5-15 hrs weekly |
| Etsy | Handmade, vintage, and POD items | Varies – about $1,900 average gross sales annually per seller (2025) | Bank deposit | 5-10 hrs to set up; 5-15 hrs weekly |
| eBay | Reselling and flipping | Depends on your margins | Bank deposit | 1-2 hrs to set up; 5-15 hrs weekly |
| Fiverr | Fixed-price freelance gigs | Your rate minus 20% | Withdraw after 7-14 day clearance | 10-30 hrs weekly |
| Upwork | Long-term freelance contracts | Your rate minus 0%-15% | Several methods; fees vary | 10-30 hrs weekly |
| Uber | Driving passengers | About $21/hour median gross | Weekly or instant cash-out | Flexible; 10-30 hrs weekly |
| DoorDash | Local deliveries | About $12-$16/hour gross | Weekly or Fast Pay | Flexible; 10-30 hrs weekly |
| TaskRabbit | Hands-on local jobs | Your rate plus 100% of tips | In-app bank deposit | Based on bookings |
| Rakuten | Online shopping cashback | Savings on existing spending | $5.01; PayPal, check, or gift card | Minutes per purchase |
| Ibotta | Grocery cashback via receipts | Savings on existing spending | $20; bank, PayPal, or gift card | Minutes per trip |
| Swagbucks | Points for surveys and small tasks | About $10-$25/month casually | Low gift card thresholds (from $3); PayPal from $25 | 20-30 min daily |
| InboxDollars | Cash to watch videos and take surveys | About $2-$4/hour | $15 first cash-out; PayPal, gift card, prepaid Visa | 5-15 hrs weekly |
| Freecash | Coins for offers, surveys, and games | Varies by offer | $5 for PayPal or gift cards ($5-$20 first withdrawal) | 5-15 hrs weekly |
| Honeygain | Bandwidth sharing | About $20 every few months | $20; PayPal or JumpTask | 5-min setup; runs in the background |
| Shutterstock | Licensing photos, video, and art | Varies – 15%-40% per license | Monthly, at your set threshold | 10-30 hrs upfront creating content |
| YouTube | Video content | Varies by niche and views | $100; monthly, once monetized | 10-30+ hrs weekly |
| Mistplay | Playing mobile games | About $0.50-$3/hour | Gift cards from 1,800 units ($5) | 5-15 hrs weekly |
How we verified: We checked fees, payout thresholds, and methods against official help pages, company filings, and 2025-2026 earnings data.
Disclaimer
We selected these platforms based on legitimacy, payout methods, ease of use, and user feedback at the time of writing. Always confirm the latest terms before signing up. Earnings are rough estimates – actual results vary.
eCommerce and selling apps
These apps let you make money with a side hustle that scales.
1. Printify
Printify helps creators and businesses turn any design idea into custom t-shirts, mugs, hoodies, and more – then sell them without inventory. You pay only after a customer makes a purchase.
How it works: Sign up for free, connect to Etsy, Shopify, or a Pop-Up Store, add designs, and Print Providers fulfill each order for you.
Income type: Active, then passive potential as your store grows.
What you can earn: $100-10,000+ per month, but most new stores need a few months before revenue builds. It all depends on your niche, design quality, pricing, and marketing to your target audience. With the right strategy, Print on Demand is profitable – George McConnell built a million-dollar business on Printify.
Pros: No inventory cost, so you can test the market for free with 2,000 products in the Catalog and an optional Premium subscription that helps you save.
Cons: Quality varies by Print Provider, and you'll need marketing, like promoting designs on Instagram, to generate sales.
Available on: Web and a Printify mobile app on iOS and Android.
2. Etsy
Etsy is one of the most popular selling apps for handmade, vintage, digital, and print-on-demand products.
How it works: Open a shop, list products in the right category, set prices, and ship orders yourself or through a partner like Printify.
Income type: Active, with passive potential for digital and POD products.
What you can earn: Etsy had 5.6 million active sellers and about $10.5 billion in gross sales in 2025 – roughly $1,900 per seller. Top shops drive most of that, so most users earn less. See our guide on how much you can make on Etsy.
Pros: A built-in audience for niche market products that fit your target audience.
Cons: Etsy fees add up – $0.20 per listing, 6.5% per transaction, payment processing, optional advertising through Etsy Ads and Offsite Ads, and an optional Etsy Plus subscription.
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play, and web.
3. eBay
eBay is one of the oldest selling apps for used, collectible, and new products like custom apparel.
How it works: List what you want to sell, choose auction or fixed price, ship it, and get paid.
Income type: Active.
What you can earn: It depends on what you sell – there's no reliable average. Sellers get 250 free listings a month, and most categories carry a final value fee of about 13.6% plus a per-order fee.
Pros: A huge resale market and built-in insights to track sales.
Cons: Price competition is common, and an optional Store subscription adds a monthly cost.
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play, and web.
Quick tip
Read our interview with Andrew Kasemeyer to learn how he built a print-on-demand eBay business.
Freelancing and skill-based apps
These freelance apps pay users for their skills.
4. Fiverr
Fiverr is one of the best freelance apps for selling design, copywriting, and app development services to businesses worldwide.
How it works: Create a profile, publish your services, and complete orders. Fiverr keeps 20% of every order, including tips – for example, a $100 order pays you $80.
Income type: Active.
What you can earn: Rates depend on your skill, niche, and reviews. Reply fast when talking to clients.
Pros: No upfront cost and access to a global market of paying clients.
Cons: A 20% fee on every order, heavy competition.
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play, and web.
5. Upwork
Upwork is one of the biggest freelance platforms, connecting you with businesses needing writing, design, and marketing services.
How it works: Build a profile, spend Connects to submit proposals, and deliver. Since May 2025, Upwork has charged a variable freelancer fee of 0%-15%, fixed per contract.
Income type: Active.
What you can earn: New users often price lower to win first contracts, then raise rates.
Pros: Access to long-term, higher-paying contracts.
Cons: A crowded job market, Connects cost money (a Freelancer Plus subscription adds more Connects and bid insights), and new contracts often land near the 15% fee.
Available on: iOS, Android, web.
Gig economy apps
Need quick cash? These mobile apps pay you money for local work.
6. Uber
Uber is one of the most flexible driving apps for passengers or food delivery.
How it works: Pass the background check, then accept rides whenever you're online. Uber takes a fee that varies by trip.
Income type: Active.
What you can earn: Earnings depend on your city, hours, and surge pricing, and you'll cover fuel and maintenance yourself. A busy market pays more.
Pros: A flexible schedule, weekly or instant payouts.
Cons: Gas, maintenance, and insurance expenses cut into pay, and you owe self-employment taxes, so keep receipts.
Available on: iPhone, Android.
7. DoorDash
DoorDash is one of the top delivery apps for food, groceries, and retail orders.
How it works: Pass the background check, add your vehicle and bank account, and go online. Dashers earn a base pay of $2-$10+ per offer plus 100% of tips.
Income type: Active.
What you can earn: It depends on your city, hours, and tips. Promotions like Peak Pay add extra, and users in a busy market earn more.
Pros: Flexible hours by car, bike, or scooter in some cities, payouts each week, or Fast Pay for instant cash-outs.
Cons: Base pay is often low, so tips matter. Vehicle costs and taxes cut take-home pay.
Available on: iPhone, Android.
8. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is one of the best local job apps for furniture assembly, moving help, or cleaning.
How it works: Create a profile, pick a category, set your rate, and accept bookings. Taskers keep 100% of what they charge plus tips.
Income type: Active.
What you can earn: Unlike delivery apps, you set your own rate, so earnings depend on your skills, reviews, and market demand.
Pros: You decide the schedule and rates, and keep 100% of tips.
Cons: Work depends on demand in your area. A one-time $25 registration fee applies in some cities.
Available on: iPhone, Android.
Cashback and rewards apps
Cashback apps help you save money you'd spend anyway. They don't create new income, but every dollar back counts.
9. Rakuten
Rakuten is one of the best-known cashback apps, sharing the commission it earns from retailers with users.
How it works: Shop through Rakuten's links, and Rakuten passes part of the store's commission to users as Cash Back.
Income type: Passive (cashback on existing spending).
What you can earn: It depends on what you spend. You need $5.01 in confirmed Cash Back in your account to get paid by PayPal, check, or Amex Membership Rewards points.
Pros: No cap on Cash Back, thousands of partner retailers and brands, and it works alongside other apps.
Cons: Payments arrive every three months, Cash Back can take weeks to confirm.
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play, and web.
10. Ibotta
Ibotta is one of the most popular grocery apps paying users to save on everyday items.
How it works: Add offers, make an eligible purchase, then upload receipts. When your receipts match, Ibotta credits cash to your account. The network averaged 18.2 million redeemers in 2025.
Income type: Passive (cashback on existing spending).
What you can earn: Savings depend on how often you shop – regular receipts from weekly grocery runs add up. Other apps like Fetch also give points for scanning receipts.
Pros: Works with major grocery chains, and you earn real cash, not points.
Cons: A $20 payout threshold. Submitting receipts that don’t meet the guidelines earns nothing.
Available on: iOS, Android, web.
Survey and microtask apps
Businesses and market research firms pay users of these mobile apps to answer questions, complete tasks, and test products.
11. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the longest-running reward apps for simple online tasks.
How it works: Earn points (SB) as you answer surveys, watch videos, shop, scan receipts, or try offers. 100 SB points equal $1.
Income type: Active.
What you can earn: Earnings depend on how much time users spend and which surveys they qualify for.
Pros: Low gift card thresholds, many ways to earn points across its apps and website.
Cons: Surveys require screening, $25 PayPal threshold.
Available on: iOS, Android, web.
12. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is one of the few survey apps paying real cash – not points.
How it works: Answer surveys, watch videos, read emails, or play games to grow your account balance.
Income type: Active.
What you can earn: About $2-$4 per hour. New users need $15 minimum to cash out via PayPal, digital gift card, or prepaid Visa.
Pros: Cash, not points. Multiple earning options.
Cons: A higher payout threshold than similar apps, low hourly pay.
Available on: Apple App Store, Google Play.
13. Freecash
Freecash is one of the newer reward apps paying users to test apps, answer surveys, and reach game milestones.
How it works: Pick an offer, see each reward upfront, and earn coins when you complete it. 1,000 coins equal $1.
Income type: Active.
What you can earn: It depends on your offers. First withdrawals require $5-$20 based on region, PayPal and gift cards start at $5.
Pros: There are many ways to earn, including subscription trials from brands paying for advertising.
Cons: Some offers require a deposit, and tracking can lag.
Available on: Android, web.
Passive income apps
This app earns money with almost no effort.
14. Honeygain
Honeygain is one of the most hands-off passive income apps, paying users for unused internet bandwidth.
How it works: Install the app on your phone or computer and leave it running. You earn 1 credit per 10 MB shared, and 10 credits equal $0.01 – so 1,000 credits equal $1.
Income type: Passive.
What you can earn: The payout threshold is $20 – users in low-demand regions can wait months for credits to add up.
Pros: Truly hands-off, runs on multiple devices.
Cons: Slow earnings that vary by location, demand, and connection speed.
Available on: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
Creator and digital content apps
These platforms pay users for the content they create.
15. Shutterstock
Shutterstock is one of the biggest stock content apps for licensing photos, videos, illustrations, and music.
How it works: Upload approved content and earn a royalty each time someone licenses it. Contributors earn 15%-40% per license, and levels reset every January 1.
Income type: Semi-passive once uploaded.
What you can earn: It varies widely. Your share depends on your contributor level, which rises with downloads.
Pros: Generate earnings repeatedly from one upload.
Cons: A competitive market, and some downloads pay just $0.10.
Available on: iOS, Android, web.
16. YouTube
YouTube is one of the biggest video apps for turning content into revenue.
How it works: Pick a niche, upload videos, and apply to the YouTube Partner Program. Revenue sharing from watch-page ads requires 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views. From February 1, 2027, new applicants need 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views. Creators keep 55% of long-form advertising revenue, plus a share of Premium subscription revenue.
Income type: Active, though older videos can generate passive income.
What you can earn: It varies widely. In one individual report, a creator with about 280K subscribers earned around $225K over five years from ad revenue alone. YouTuber merch adds more.
Pros: Multiple income streams, build a brand by talking directly to your target audience.
Cons: A crowded market that requires consistent uploads.
Available on: iOS, Android, web.
Gaming apps
These mobile apps reward screen time.
17. Mistplay
Mistplay is one of the best-known mobile apps paying users in gift cards to play games on their phone.
How it works: Install games through Mistplay and earn Units, its version of points. A $5 gift card costs about 1,800 Units.
Income type: Active.
What you can earn: Roughly $0.50-$3 per hour.
Pros: Gift card reward options from recognized brands.
Cons: A small reward for your screen time, and a two-hour daily cap per game.
Available on: Android.
How to make money on apps and maximize earnings
- Be realistic: Most mobile apps won't replace a full-time income, but they can cover a bill or two.
- Stack apps: It's a good idea to combine apps that pay you for the same activity – for example, scan receipts in two cashback apps.
- Take advantage of sign-up bonuses: Many apps give free cash or points for joining.
- Track what you earn each week: Drop any app that pays less than other apps you use, and don't spend more just to earn cashback.
- Watch for promotions: Limited-time deals and cashback boosts increase returns.
- Snap receipts right away: Upload grocery receipts after each trip so none get lost.
How to stay safe and avoid scam apps
- Do your research: Before downloading mobile apps, check their credibility.
- Never pay to join: Legit apps have no upfront cost for "exclusive" opportunities.
- Protect your account: Never share bank details outside the app.
- Skip unrealistic promises: Avoid apps that promise big money to watch ads.
- Check reviews: Popularity isn't proof – look for consistent payout reports from users on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
FAQ
Final thoughts
Whether you sell print-on-demand products with Printify, freelance on Fiverr, or earn passively with Honeygain, the best apps to make money fit your skills and schedule. The idea is simple – mix and match a few, track what pays, and stay consistent.
Want more control over how you earn money? Use Printify to create and sell custom products with no inventory.
