Apps provide a wide variety of potential revenue streams to anyone who are looking for simple and convenient methods to generate income. You can use your smartphone to participate in surveys, get a side business, sell unwanted items, and do a lot more of these things.
Here’s the lowdown on seven free apps that can help you make money. NerdWallet looked for apps that have received at least 25,000 reviews and a minimum of four stars in either the Google Play Store or the iOS App Store.
The most successful applications for making money
1. Ibotta
How it functions: Ibotta gives its users the opportunity to earn cash back on purchases made in-store or online at any of the more than 2,000 supported stores. It was initially for groceries, but it has now extended to cover other categories such as apparel, entertainment and dining out, supplies for pets, and more. Some offers will automatically be applied, and others can be tailored to a particular product or merchant. Other ones will require you to finish an additional job first, such as watching a film or participating in a vote, before you may access them.
There are three different methods that customers can receive cash back when shopping in stores: You can earn extra cash back with the Ibotta app by linking your store loyalty accounts, adding offers and submitting receipts after your shopping excursion, or buying gift cards for retailers through the app. When making purchases online, you can either use the Ibotta app or the Ibotta browser extension that you install on your computer.
Payment can be made via PayPal, an electronic gift card, or directly into a bank account.
The cash back on your in-store purchases will be refunded to you swiftly, usually within 24 hours of making the purchase. Ibotta provides its members with a number of payment options, as well as a welcome bonus, referral bonuses, and other incentives for referring their friends.
The process of making money can be rather sluggish at times. In order to pay out your profits, you need to have at least $20 in cash back (depending on the gift card, you may need at least $25 in earnings). When it comes to cash back earned from online buying, the waiting period required by different retailers differs.
2. Rakuten
Rakuten, which was originally known as Ebates, is a shopping rewards platform that gives customers the opportunity to earn up to 40% cash back on purchases made at popular merchants, restaurants, and food delivery services. Users can receive cash back on a variety of purchases, including gift cards, travel, and more. It’s not complicated at all: First create an account, then use the app to navigate to the location of the store you wish to shop at, and then complete the purchase using the portal. You can also receive cash back in-store by linking a credit or debit card to your Rakuten account. However, in order to do so, you will first need to activate the deal through the Rakuten app. Rakuten states that it may take anywhere from a few hours to several days before it is able to credit your account with the cash back after it has confirmed the transaction with the vendor.
You can pay using either PayPal or a check.
Pros: You can get cash back on purchases made at thousands of different businesses, so it’s probable that you’ll find bargains at the same places you typically buy. After making their first purchase that meets the requirements, new users are eligible to receive a $10 welcome bonus. You can also earn bonuses for signing up new users and for referrals.
Cons: You need to make a purchase in order to earn cash back, which is the case with the vast majority of cash-back services. You also won’t be able to see your earnings immediately away because Rakuten only sends out payouts once every three months, and you’ll need a cash-back amount of at least $5 in order to get paid.
3. Swagbucks
The Swagbucks app is a cash-back and rewards programme. Here’s how it works: You can rack up points on Swagbucks, which are denoted by the acronym “SB,” for activities such as making purchases, participating in surveys, viewing videos, playing games, and completing other chores. You have the option of exchanging those points for gift cards or getting cash deposited into your PayPal account when you do so. The overall number of points awarded may change depending on the challenge. For instance, the points awarded for completing surveys range anywhere from forty to two hundred. There are gift cards available with a purchase price as little as 110 SB, but the minimum amount required to redeem them varies depending on the payment option you select.
Gift cards and PayPal are accepted forms of payment.
Swagbucks is advantageous in that it provides a multitude of quick and simple methods to rack up reward points, and there is no required waiting period before cashing out. After a redemption has been completed, payments are typically sent out within ten business days. In addition, if you join, you are eligible for a $10 bonus after making a qualifying purchase of $25.
Cons: It does not pay very well; one SB is about equivalent to one penny. It can take a considerable amount of time and effort to make a big quantity of money due to the fact that many activities are just worth a few cents. In addition, there is no guarantee that you will be accepted for every survey or activity. Users frequently mention that they were disconnected from surveys in the midst of completing them. According to Swagbucks, this could be the result of demographic factors, dishonest answers, or inconsistent responses.
4. Fiverr
Fiverr is a marketplace for freelance work that includes “gigs” (work contracts) in over 200 different categories, including programming, video, and animation, among others. First you’ll need to create an account, and then you may set your profile such that it highlights your expertise as a “seller.” Put up the description of the gig you’re offering, including with pricing information and a rundown of the services you provide. Customers, also known as “buyers,” can place orders by clicking through the provided link. You’ll get paid once you complete the project. Performance is taken into consideration when determining a seller’s level on Fiverr. You’ll be able to sell more “extras” as you go up each tier, such as a quicker delivery time, as your status improves.
PayPal, wire transfers directly to a bank account, or credits to a Fiverr Revenue Card are all acceptable forms of payment (a prepaid card). Depending on which withdrawal method you go with, you could be subject to different minimum withdrawal amounts as well as fees associated with withdrawals.
The fact that customers will come to you eliminates the need to spend time locating potential customers. Tips are another possibility.
Cons: Fiverr takes 20% of your revenue for each and every job, including gratuities, and there is a customary 14-day waiting period after completing an order before you are able to withdraw money from your account (top-tier sellers wait seven days for funds to clear).
5. Upwork
Upwork is an online marketplace that matches independent contractors with employment opportunities in fields such as writing, design, and marketing, among others. You will start by making a profile for yourself. It ought to contain information such as the industry in which you are interested in working in addition to your qualifications, availability, and desired rate. After that, you will be able to submit proposals. Clients will evaluate them, and if you appear to be a suitable fit for their needs, they will offer you projects.
You start off each month with a predetermined quantity of “Connects,” which function similarly to credits and enable you to communicate with potential customers. It is possible to earn or spend a small price in order to get more Connects; nevertheless, there will be no additional fees incurred when clients contact you. You have the option of getting paid by the hour or by the project.
Payment can be made Instant Pay, via wire transfer, directly to your bank account, directly to U.S. Bank, or via wire transfer, PayPal, or Payoneer. There are fees associated with certain payment alternatives; therefore, you should check Upwork for further information.
Pros: Upwork makes it easier to find clients, build relationships, and get paid by eliminating much of the legwork involved in these processes. In addition, the service provides you the freedom to determine the fee structure and delivery time that best suits your needs.
Cons: Although downloading the app does not cost anything, making initial contact with a large number of customers does. Users are also responsible for paying a service fee. Your earnings will be reduced by a percentage ranging from 5% to 20% of the amount that you’ve billed a client. The more money you make, the more of it you get to retain for yourself. Nevertheless, your payment won’t be processed until ten days after the end of the billing period. Keep in mind, too, that you are competing with other independent contractors working on the platform. That implies customers have the option of choosing businesses whose prices are cheaper.
6. OfferUp
The way it operates is similar to that of its competitor Letgo, which it merged with in the year 2020, and it serves as a local marketplace where you may list items for sale. OfferUp also enables shipment throughout the continental United States, making it possible for sellers to reach a larger number of potential customers. Create an account and take a picture of the item you are selling, whether it is a smartphone, a car, a sofa, or anything else. After you have provided your listing with a title, description, and price, you will be able to publish it and communicate with potential purchasers straight through the app. After that, you will either ship to the buyer or make arrangements to meet with them in person.
Payment can be made in the form of cash, a debit card, or a bank account.
Pros: The process of creating a listing is straightforward and quick, and if you make a cash sale, you will be paid immediately. You may also look at the reviews and ratings that previous customers of the prospective buyer have left in order to get an idea of how trustworthy they are before doing business with them. Should you choose to mail your goods, the buyer is responsible for paying for shipping costs while OfferUp supplies the label.
Cons: You’ll need to meet local buyers in person and be the one to handle the transactions. For each shipping, sellers are required to pay a service fee of 12.9%, with a minimum payment of $1.99.
7. Poshmark
The Poshmark app was developed specifically for the purpose of buying and selling fashion items, accessories, and even home furnishings. Following registration, you will need to take or upload images of your item, provide a description of it, set a price for it, and then publish the listing. You can also include things in the app’s “Posh Parties,” which are essentially virtual shopping events themed around particular brands, categories, and themes. These “Posh Parties” can be found in the app. Following the completion of a purchase, Poshmark will send you an email containing a pre-paid shipping label. After that, the package is dispatched.
Payment can be made via check or an electronic deposit into your bank account.
Poshmark simplifies the entire process, from listing items for sale to sending packages to buyers. In addition, you won’t have to talk to random people in order to make a transaction. The organisation will compensate you for lost packages and handle any problems that arise between you and the customer. Poshmark makes the money available to the buyer within three business days of the purchase being delivered, thus being paid is also a relatively rapid process.
Con: There is a cost associated with using Poshmark as a sales platform. The corporation deducts a commission of $2.95 from sales that are less than $15 and a commission of 20% from sales that are $15 or over.