Money-earning apps won’t replace a full-time salary, but they help earn some extra cash in your spare time through surveys, games, or quick tasks. The real challenge is finding apps worth your time. Many promise easy money but make it difficult to reach payout limits, overwhelm users with ads, rely on confusing reward systems, or offer payouts that don’t match the effort.
To help you decide what is the best app to earn money, we reviewed some of the most popular and newly developed options available. We compared them based on earning potential, ease of use, payout options, and real user feedback.
We’ll also show you how Settlemate can help you claim money you may already be owed through class action settlements, price adjustments, and flight disruption claims—with minimal effort on your part.
Types of apps to earn money [with examples]
There are many ways to earn money from your phone, but most easy money-making apps fall into a handful of categories. The table below breaks down the main categories and presents some of the top apps to earn money in each:
Some money-making apps fit neatly into a single category, while others combine several earning methods on a single platform. For example, apps like Scrambly mix surveys with cashback shopping, while Mistplay focuses on rewarding users for playing games.
What are the best money-earning apps?
Because many of the top money-earning apps we listed above have similar features, we’ll focus on ten of the most interesting and widely used picks across different categories:
- Swagbucks
- Freecash
- InboxDollars
- Branded Surveys
- UserTesting
- Mistplay
- Sweatcoin
- Honeygain
- Fundrise
- Robinhood
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the longest-running and most well-known apps that you can earn real money with. One of its biggest strengths is the variety of ways you can earn rewards directly from your phone, including:
- Answering surveys
- Shopping online
- Uploading receipts
- Watching videos
- Searching the web
- Playing mobile games
Rewards can later be redeemed for PayPal cash or gift cards from retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play, or you can also use a browser extension.
The downside is that many activities pay relatively little for the time involved, especially surveys. Some users report occasional bugs and survey disqualifications.
2. Freecash
Freecash is a popular get-paid-to (GPT) app that rewards users for completing small online tasks, such as:
- Playing mobile games (there are 100+ options)
- Completing short surveys
- Signing up for promotional offers
- Trying out partner apps
It’s designed to feel more like a gamified earning platform than a traditional survey app. Users can track progress, complete challenges, unlock bonuses, and earn rewards in the form of cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
One advantage of Freecash is that the rewards are displayed in dollar amounts, so you can see how much each task is worth before starting. Payouts are generally quick once you reach the minimum withdrawal amount.
However, some offers can be time-consuming, and though the app is free to install, certain game milestones may require significant effort or even in-app spending to unlock higher rewards. Surveys also tend to pay relatively little on an hourly basis. Some users report glitches that prevent progress tracking.
Overall, Freecash is great for users who enjoy experimenting with apps and games and don’t mind putting in consistent time for small but flexible payouts.
3. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is a jack-of-all-trades among GPT apps. It’s less gamified than Freecash and less polished than newer apps, but its simplicity is a big part of its appeal. You can start earning money from the get-go, as you receive a sign-up bonus the moment you create your account.
From there, there are plenty of options to earn through activities like:
- Completing surveys
- Playing games
- Watching videos
- Scanning receipts
- Scratching digital tickets
- Surfing the web
- Shopping online
- Reading paid emails
- Referring your friends
- Playing bingo
- Completing daily goals
The earning experience can vary widely, though. Some activities pay only a few cents, while others require more time before rewards become meaningful. Some users also report frequent survey disqualifications and very low rewards. Once you reach the payout threshold, you can usually redeem rewards through PayPal or gift cards.
Treat InboxDollars as a casual side activity rather than a dedicated income source. It’s an app you open daily for a few quick tasks rather than a focused earning session.
4. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys is one of the simplest ways to earn money from your phone because it focuses on one main activity: completing surveys.
After signing up, you can build a profile that helps match you with relevant surveys based on your demographics and interests. From there, the app becomes a steady stream of short questionnaires about products, services, and consumer habits. Companies use this feedback to refine existing products or shape new ideas, which is what you’re being paid to contribute to.
Most surveys take 5–20 minutes. You’re shown the estimated time and reward before you start, so you can decide whether a survey is worth your time.
You can cash out once you reach 500 points (equal to $5), and payouts are available via:
- PayPal
- Bank transfer
- Gift cards
Withdrawals are processed quickly, usually within a couple of days.
The main drawback is that survey availability depends on your profile, and some users report that surveys can sometimes take longer than the estimated completion time. You may also be screened out of surveys after answering initial questions.
5. UserTesting
UserTesting is an earning app that lets you get paid to actively test websites and apps while speaking your thoughts out loud.
After completing a short qualification test, you may start receiving invitations to participate in usability studies. These typically involve recording your screen and voice while you navigate a website or mobile app and complete specific tasks. The goal is to help companies understand how real users experience their products.
Most tests take around 5–20 minutes, and the payouts are typically higher compared to standard survey apps. There are also occasional live interviews that pay significantly more, although they require scheduling and direct interaction with researchers.
One of the key requirements is clear verbal feedback. You need to explain what you’re doing and thinking as you go, which isn’t for everyone. But if you’re comfortable speaking your thoughts aloud and want higher-paying, more interactive tasks rather than passive surveys or repetitive micro-earnings, UserTesting might be a good fit.
Payments are made via PayPal only, usually within 14 days.
User reviews are predominantly positive, with many saying the app is a reliable way to earn some cash on the side, though some report numerous technical issues.
6. Mistplay
Mistplay turns mobile gaming into a rewards system where you earn points simply by playing new games on your phone. After setting up your profile, the app recommends a selection of games tailored to your interests, and you earn based on how long you play and how far you progress. There are also additional boosts coming from streak bonuses and in-game milestones.
You can redeem your points for gift cards from popular brands, such as:
- Amazon
- Google Play
- Walmart
- Visa
Occasional sweepstakes give users a chance to win larger rewards, including cash prizes and bundles.
Mistplay is free to use, but it has a Loyalty Status system. As you earn gems, often boosted through in-game purchases, your status increases. Higher tiers unlock extra benefits, such as:
- Extra gems
- Faster point accumulation
- Bonus entries into weekly sweepstakes
- Cosmetic perks, like premium avatar frames
Mistplay is best for users who already spend time playing mobile games and want a low-effort way to turn that habit into small rewards. However, some warn that app glitches can cost you streaks and gems.
7. Sweatcoin
Sweatcoin is a fitness rewards app that converts your outdoor walking activity into digital rewards.
Once installed, the app tracks your outdoor steps and converts them into Sweatcoins, which can be redeemed for in-app offers or donated to partner charities.
To earn Sweatcoins, you can:
- Take part in challenges
- Collect badges
- Join community goals that reward consistency
Rewards include:
- Discounts
- Digital subscriptions
- Travel vouchers
- Occasional higher-value items or promotions
Sweatcoin also has a separate cryptocurrency-based reward system called $SWEAT. Users who install the Sweat Wallet app can earn this token through eligible movement activity.
While Sweatcoin is popular among users who enjoy walking, it’s not a high-income-earning method. Most rewards are small, and some users report that desirable offers can be unavailable when they try to redeem their points.
8. Honeygain
Honeygain takes a very different approach from most apps that can earn you money on our list. Instead of completing tasks, playing games, or answering surveys, you share your unused internet bandwidth to get paid.
The app runs quietly on your device and uses a portion of your idle connection for approved data tasks from its network partners. You don’t interact with it day to day, which makes it one of the most passive earning apps available.
Earnings are based on how much data you share, typically credited by megabyte or gigabyte. New users usually get a small starting bonus of $2, and there are additional ways to increase earnings through:
- Referrals
- Daily activity rewards
- Optional content delivery mode
- Running the app on multiple devices
Payouts start once you reach the $20 threshold and can be withdrawn via PayPal or crypto (JumpToken).
Honeygain has predominantly positive reviews, but many users agree that earnings are quite modest and it takes a lot of time to reach the $20 threshold.
9. Fundrise
Fundrise is less of a quick money-earning app and more of a long-term investment platform that lets you invest in real estate starting with as little as $10.
You put your money into diversified portfolios of commercial and residential properties. These are grouped into funds, which spread your investment across assets like:
- Apartment buildings
- Logistics centers
- Residential developments
In return, you may earn dividends and potential long-term appreciation.
What makes Fundrise different from other money-earning apps is that it’s focused on building passive, compounding returns rather than immediate payouts. Some users receive regular dividend distributions, but returns aren’t guaranteed and can fluctuate based on market performance.
The platform will appeal more to long-term investors looking for a side hustle than short-term earners. It’s an attractive option because the entry barrier is lower than in traditional real estate investing, but your money isn’t instantly accessible.
10. Robinhood
Robinhood is a commission-free investing app for trading stocks, options, and crypto directly from your phone, with options to start with as little as $1. New users receive a free stock worth $200 just for signing up and linking a bank account or debit card.
Unlike survey or rewards apps, Robinhood doesn’t pay you for completing tasks. Instead, it gives you the opportunity to grow your money through investing.
Ways users may earn include:
- Long-term stock growth
- Dividend payments
- Referral rewards
- Market investments
The app is built to make investing feel approachable for beginners. Once you sign up, you gain access to Robinhood Learn so you can understand investing basics. The app also offers professional portfolio management, which is free for those with a premium subscription.
However, all investments carry risk. Their value can increase or decrease, and there’s no guaranteed return.
For people who want to move beyond microtasks and start building wealth gradually, Robinhood can be an accessible entry point.
Can you get extra cash without time investment?
Most apps to earn real money have one thing in common: they require ongoing effort. Whether you’re answering surveys, completing tasks, playing games, or testing products, you mostly earn while you’re actively using the app. That can work well for extra pocket money, but your earnings stop when you stop putting in the time.
Money claiming apps, such as Settlemate, take a different approach. Instead of rewarding you for completing tasks, they help you recover money you may already be entitled to but might otherwise miss. This can include:
Rather than creating a new side hustle that requires your time every day, the goal is to automate the process of finding and claiming money you’re already owed.
Settlemate: The set-it-and-forget-it alternative to money-earning apps
From class action settlements, refunds, and overcharges to compensation policies, billions of dollars go unclaimed every year. Often, it’s not because people aren’t eligible, but because the process is fragmented, time-consuming, or easy to miss entirely.
Settlemate brings these opportunities together in one app and helps automate the process of finding, preparing, and submitting eligible claims.
Here’s how Settlemate solves common money claiming issues:
Getting started with Settlemate is simple: download the app from the App Store or Google Play or sign up via the web app.
There’s little risk involved with Settlemate! If you don’t recover what you pay in subscription fees within the first year, you may be eligible for a full refund.
