Looking for ways to maximize your earnings in the gig economy, deal with unexpected expenses, or navigate paycheck-to-paycheck living? You’re far from alone!
In fact, 78% of Americans say they’re unsatisfied with their 2024 savings — and plenty of them are turning to money-making apps for a little extra cash.
There are all kinds of different apps out there that let you access or earn money on your terms, whether it’s through gig work, monetizing your hobbies, or just getting cash from your next paycheck a little early. We’re here to help you figure out which app is the right option for you.
The most important factor to consider when choosing a money-making app is your financial need:
Identify your greatest need and compare apps created specifically for that need. Other factors to consider include:
Want to get a cash advance to cover an emergency or expenses before your next paycheck? Klover is the app for you. (*Note: You must repay the advance.)
As one of the best cash advance apps available, Klover offers:
But just to be clear, Klover isn’t actually a way to earn extra money. We help give you instant access to money you’ve already earned to help you cover expenses before payday.
So you’ll need to repay the advance, but our policies (no credit checks or late fees) are designed to help you make smart money decisions and keep from getting locked into a cycle of debt.
Sign up for Klover today to unlock cash advances that work for you.
Survey and task apps may be a good fit if you’re looking for casual earning opportunities. They typically reward users with small payouts after completing a series of simple, low-effort tasks.
Swagbucks is a loyalty and consumer rewards platform that pays you for completing everyday online activities. Once you sign up, you can start earning “SB” points for:
SB points vary by task. You might earn just 25 SB for one survey and up to 500 SB for another. When you’ve earned enough points, typically 300–2500, you can cash them out via PayPal or redeem them for gift cards to select retailers.
Limitations: Earnings are relatively low compared to the time you spend per task. Some tasks could pay you as little as a few cents. You may not qualify for all tasks, and some surveys might disqualify you halfway through.
Ideal user: People with spare time who don’t mind earning small rewards for simple tasks. It takes time for Swagbucks rewards to add up, so this option is only ideal for those willing to wait.
As its name suggests, Testerup is an app that pays users for testing products. It connects you to companies looking for feedback on their products — anything from apps and games to cosmetics — and pays a pre-determined flat rate per task.
The app then transfers earnings to your member account, which you can cash out with your PayPal account.
Limitations: High minimum payout. You need to earn at least $70 to cash out, which can take a while, and you might need to spend your own money on in-app purchases.
Ideal user: People interested in trying out new products and sharing feedback.
Cashback and rewards apps may be a good choice if you’re a frequent shopper, since they basically reward you for shopping.
Ibotta is a rewards app that gives you cash back every time you shop from supported retailers, such as Kohl’s, Walmart, and Ulta. While it initially focused on groceries, it has expanded to include other categories, like clothing and entertainment, increasing users’ earning potential.
To earn, you first need to sign up and browse the app for cashback offers on things you need or recently bought. Then just upload your receipt after shopping to earn your cash back. When you’ve earned at least $20, you can get your payout via a bank or PayPal transfer, or redeem for gift cards.
Limitations: The app deducts a maintenance fee for inactive accounts, and earnings are modest. According to the app, users earn an average of $261 a year. You may also end up wasting money on things you don’t really need just to get the rewards.
Ideal user: Frequent shoppers who don’t mind spending a little extra time maximizing their rewards.
Rakuten (formerly Ebates) gives you cash back for shopping from popular retailers like eBay, Temu, Sephora, and Ulta Beauty. It also rewards users with cashback on ridesharing and food delivery.
To earn, you need to look for your favorite stores in the Rakuten app and shop via the provided referral link. You can also earn from in-store purchases if you link your debit or credit card to the app and activate deals before shopping.
Rakuten pays via check or PayPal 15 days after your first purchase, and payouts happen quarterly from then on.
Limitations: You have to use the retailer link provided by the app to earn rewards, and after the first payout, you’ll only get paid quarterly.
Ideal user: Patient, frequent online shoppers who are looking for a little bit of cashback on everyday purchases.
Unlike the other apps we’ve looked at, side-hustle apps ask you to put in a fair amount of work to earn extra cash. The upside is that you can earn a lot more if you have the spare time for it.
Uber lets you work as a paid driver on your own schedule. With an estimated 76% market share, it’s the largest rideshare company in the U.S., so it’s a great option for maximizing earnings.
The service has also expanded beyond just ridesharing, and you can deliver groceries and Uber Eats orders if you don’t want to drive passengers.
To earn via Uber, you need to pass their application process and then accept trips or deliveries in the app. You can get same-day payments (for a small fee) via Instant Pay or weekly payments sent straight to your bank account.
Limitations: Income depends on demand, which can vary by location and time of day. You also have to own a vehicle and focus on providing great customer service to avoid bad reviews.
Ideal user: Vehicle owners who have plenty of spare time and don’t mind putting a lot of extra mileage on their cars.
Lyft is another popular ride-hailing app that lets you earn money by providing rides. While it’s less popular than Uber in the U.S., it’s a little more driver-friendly. The app offers bonuses for taking rides during busy times and in the busiest locations, and it also rewards drivers for participating in Ride Challenges.
But the big feature that sets Lyft apart from Uber is its Express Drive program. In some cities, if you don’t own a vehicle, you can get a deal on a rental from partners like Flexdrive, Avis, and Hertz.
You can also choose to get paid instantly, daily, or weekly through the Lyft Direct debit card or Express Pay (you’ll need to link your personal debit card).
Limitations: Income fluctuates depending on the day and location, and there are generally fewer ride requests than Uber. The app also requires drivers to take a mandatory 6-hour break for every 12 hours worked.
Ideal user: People who don’t own their own car but want to earn by driving passengers.
DoorDash is a food and grocery delivery app that connects you to customers and restaurants. So it’s a good option if you’re not a social person, as you don’t have to make conversation with passengers while driving — you just deliver food to their doors.
If you can quickly navigate apartment complexes and neighborhoods in your area, that’s a big plus. The more orders you dash, the more money you’ll get.
The app is also pretty easy to use. To earn, just accept requests, pick up order items, and drop them off at shoppers’ locations. DoorDash then deposits delivery fees plus tips into your bank account every week.
Limitations: You need to cover fuel and vehicle maintenance expenses out of pocket, and long wait times at restaurants can cut into your earnings.
Ideal user: Anyone with reliable transportation who knows their delivery area well and is looking to make some extra cash.
Instacart is another grocery pick-up and delivery app that lets you accept customers’ orders, pick them up in-store, and deliver them. But you can also opt to be an in-store shopper and leave delivery to other users.
The app pays users per order completed, and earnings vary depending on the order size, difficulty (heavy or bulky items, for example), and delivery distance.
Limitations: Earnings are mostly tip-based, and the number of orders available at any time can vary quite a bit. Shopping and delivery can also be physically demanding and time-consuming.
Ideal user: Smart shoppers who know their local stores well and are comfortable making on-the-fly decisions. You’ll need to be able to quickly spot items in grocery aisles, communicate with customers in real-time, and make smart product substitutions for out-of-stock items.
Fiverr is a freelancing marketplace that pays for one-off services known as “gigs,” which can include anything from graphic design and video production to voiceovers and website creation. To earn, you need to:
The app pays you when you complete each job, depositing customer payments (minus a service fee) into your PayPal, Payoneer, or bank account.
Limitations: Fiverr takes a 20% cut of your earnings, and the platform is incredibly competitive.
Ideal user: Skilled freelancers who have the time to take on small side projects for extra cash.
Upwork connects professional freelancers with businesses (or individuals) looking for help with tasks like marketing, graphic design, and web development. To earn:
The catch is that you need Upwork credits, known as Connects, to submit proposals. The platform provides some free credits each month, but you’re competing against a lot of skilled freelancers, so you may need to apply to dozens of open jobs before you land any gigs.
Limitations: Upwork charges an up-to-15% service fee on earnings, and you’ll likely need to pay for Connects to apply to jobs.
Ideal user: Experienced freelancers who are looking for more long-term or higher-level work than what’s typically available on Fiverr.
Looking for something a little different? Apps like Foap and Mistplay could be for you.
Foap links content creators and photographers to businesses looking for creative assets. To earn, you need to upload high-quality photos and videos to the app’s marketplace, where customers can browse and buy them. Foap then pays you a share of your content’s selling price via PayPal every month.
Limitations: Competition is high, and income can be inconsistent if your assets aren’t in high demand.
Ideal user: Content creators and photographers looking for side hustles related to their craft.
Mistplay is a play-to-earn app that rewards users with units for playing mobile games. The longer you play, the more units you earn, and you can redeem these units for gift cards or cash.
Limitations: It’s a big time commitment for a low payout (one user reports earning $15 in three and a half hours), and games may be limited depending on your location.
Ideal user: Casual gamers looking for new gaming apps while earning small perks.
While money-making apps can be a great way to earn a little extra cash, you have to put in a lot of time and effort to make it worthwhile. You might spend hours on gaming and survey apps for just a few bucks, while side hustle apps like Uber and Upwork are essentially a second job.
Plus, none of them give you fast cash, right when you need it — but Klover does.
With Klover, it’s as easy as signing up for an account and telling us how much you need (up to $250). Our advances don’t require credit checks and there are no late fees, so you don’t have to worry about high costs. What’s more, we give you empowerment solutions like budgeting and credit tools to help you improve your personal finances.
As you’ve seen, there’s no shortage of money-making apps. Whether you need a side income, a cashback solution, gig work, or a cash advance, there’s something for you. But each option has its pros and cons, and if you need cash right now, none of them are a great solution. Except Klover.
With Klover, you can access quick funds to help you get by until your next paycheck — no special skills or credit checks required. Plus, with our zero-interest and zero-late-fee policy, you don’t have to worry about getting stuck in an endless borrowing cycle.
Download Klover today to unlock quick, affordable cash advances with no credit checks or late fees!
