Best Apps to Earn Money in 2025: Quick Guide

If you’re seeking ways to earn some extra income during your free time, you’re in the right place. The emergence of money-making apps has transformed how people can generate earnings. Whether it’s through surveys, playing games, watching videos, or leveraging passive income opportunities, these apps have turned smartphones into powerful tools for making money.

With countless options available, you can easily find apps that suit your lifestyle and preferences. Start earning today by exploring activities like selling unwanted items, renting out unused vehicles, participating in online surveys, or even investing in real estate. The opportunities are vast and flexible, offering rewards like cash, gift cards, and more.

In this guide, we’ll dive into the best money-making apps of 2025. Discover how to navigate app-based earnings and unlock your potential for extra cash with ease.

Freelance and Gig Economy Apps

1. Task-Based Platforms

Task-based platforms are ideal for those who prefer flexible, short-term gigs that can be completed in their spare time. One of the standout apps in this category is TaskRabbit.

TaskRabbit connects users with local freelancers who can help with various everyday tasks such as moving, furniture assembly, home repairs, and even grocery shopping. To become a Tasker, you need to download the app, create a profile, and undergo a background check.

Once approved, you can set your own hourly rates and manage your work through the mobile app. This platform offers great flexibility and the opportunity to earn money by helping people in your local community.

2. Professional Services

For those with specialized skills, professional services platforms offer a robust way to earn money. Upwork is a leading example in this category, connecting freelancers with businesses across a wide range of skills, including web development, design, writing, and more.

On Upwork, you can create a detailed profile showcasing your skills, submit proposals to projects that match your expertise, and work on both hourly and fixed-price contracts. The platform also offers features like payment protection and AI-powered tools to help you manage your projects efficiently.

Other notable platforms include Fiverr, where you can list your services as gigs and set your own prices, and Freelancer.com, which allows you to bid on client projects and participate in contests to showcase your skills.

These platforms not only provide a way to earn money but also offer tools and features that help you grow your professional portfolio and network. Whether you’re looking for short-term gigs or long-term projects, these freelance and gig economy apps can help you monetize your skills and free time effectively.

Survey and Micro-Task Apps

1. Paid Surveys

If you’re looking to earn money through your opinions, paid survey apps are an excellent option. One of the top platforms in this category is Survey Junkie. Survey Junkie is known for its simplicity and user-friendly interface, allowing you to earn points for each completed survey.

These points can be redeemed for PayPal payments, eGift cards, or bank transfers, with a minimum cash-out threshold of $5.

Another notable platform is Branded Surveys, which offers a $1 sign-up bonus and a loyalty program that rewards users as they advance through bronze, silver, and gold levels. This platform provides surveys with payouts ranging from $0.30 to $3 per survey and allows cash-outs via PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards once you reach the $5 minimum.

Prime Opinion is another highly recommended site, offering high-paying surveys that can earn you up to $5 per survey. It also provides a welcome bonus and flexible cash-out options, including PayPal, Venmo, direct bank transfer, or gift cards.

Prime Opinion’s streak feature and quick payment processing make it a favorite among users.

InboxDollars is another popular choice, offering rewards not only for surveys but also for playing games, watching videos, reading emails, and online shopping. The platform uses a real cash reward system rather than points, and you can cash out via check, prepaid VISA, or gift cards once you reach the $30 minimum.

2. Micro-Tasks and Small Jobs

Beyond surveys, micro-task apps provide a variety of small jobs that can be completed for extra income. Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a leading platform in this space, offering tasks such as image/video processing, data verification, and information gathering. These tasks are often quick and can be completed at your convenience, making MTurk a great option for those looking to earn money in short intervals.

Clickworker is another platform that offers a range of micro-tasks, including text creation, research, and mystery shopping. You can complete these tasks via the Clickworker app and receive weekly payments via PayPal or Payoneer. The platform tailors tasks to your qualifications, education, interests, and language abilities, ensuring you can find jobs that fit your skills.

Pawns.app is also worth mentioning, as it allows users to earn money by taking surveys, playing games, or even passively sharing their internet connection. This app offers payments in cash, gift cards, or Bitcoin and is known for its simplicity and trustworthiness.

Remotasks is another micro-task site with a global reach, offering tasks such as labeling images and transcribing audio files. The platform provides clear task descriptions, including the time required and pay, and offers weekly payments via PayPal or AirTM.

Remotasks also offers free online courses and training to help you get started.

Investment and Savings Apps

1. Stock Trading Apps

For those interested in investing in the stock market, there are several top-notch apps that offer a seamless and intuitive experience. E*TRADE stands out as one of the best overall investment apps, praised for its robust portfolio and risk management capabilities, deep research tools, and user-friendly navigation.

It offers two well-designed mobile apps: E*TRADE Mobile for general investors and Power E*TRADE for more active traders. Both apps provide access to a wide range of investment options, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and options, with no commission fees for stock, ETF, and mutual fund trades.

Another highly recommended app is Webull, known for its low-cost trading features. Webull offers $0 commission for trading stocks, ETFs, and options, along with impressive charting capabilities and extended hours trading. It is particularly popular among active traders due to its customizable watchlists and responsive mobile interface. However, it lacks some of the full-service features and portfolio management tools found in other apps.

Interactive Brokers is another top choice, especially for active traders and options traders. This app provides a wide range of investment options, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and more, with commission-free trades for stocks and ETFs. It is renowned for its strong research tools and security, making it a trusted platform for professional-level investment decisions. However, the app and website can be complex for beginners to navigate.

Robinhood is a popular option for beginner traders, offering a user-friendly interface and zero-commission trades for stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrency. While it does not provide access to mutual funds or bonds, its simplicity and cost-effectiveness make it an excellent choice for those new to investing.

2. Savings and Rewards Programs

Beyond stock trading, there are several apps that help you save money and earn rewards through various programs. Acorns is a notable example, specializing in delivering on-the-go functionality for investors looking for a recurring savings plan. It allows users to allocate change from purchases to passive income or growth opportunities, making saving money effortless and automatic.

Acorns also offers automated portfolio management and goals-based asset allocation, making it a great option for long-term, hands-off investors.

Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is another excellent choice for earning rewards. This app offers cash back for online and in-store purchases at over 3,500 stores, including major retailers like Amazon and Costco. Users can earn up to $10 as a welcome bonus and $30 for each friend referred. Cashback rewards are paid every three months via check or PayPal, making it a straightforward way to earn extra money.

Dosh is a cashback app that works in the background, automatically giving you cash back when you shop, dine, or book travel with linked cards. You can withdraw your earnings via Venmo, PayPal, or your bank account once you reach a minimum of $25. This app is convenient and easy to use, requiring no manual receipt scanning or discount code entry.

Upside is another app worth mentioning, offering cash back at gas stations, convenience stores, and fast food chains. It partners with over 100,000 gas stations and offers savings of up to 25% on dining out and up to 25 cents per gallon back at the pump. Users can upload receipts or link their debit cards for automatic rewards, making it a simple way to save money on everyday purchases.

Conclusion: Maximizing Your Earnings with the Right App

In conclusion, the world of money-making apps provides a wide range of opportunities to earn extra cash. Whether it’s through surveys, gig economy jobs, investments, or passive income streams, there’s something for everyone. To maximize your earnings, it’s essential to choose apps that align with your unique skills, interests, and the time you have available.

Consider exploring freelance and gig economy apps like TaskRabbit and Upwork for professional services. For quick rewards, survey apps such as Survey Junkie and Swagbucks are excellent options. If you’re aiming for long-term financial growth, investment apps like E*TRADE and Webull can help you achieve that. Additionally, savings and rewards programs like Ibotta and Rakuten can provide cash back on your everyday purchases.

By carefully selecting the right combination of apps, you can transform your smartphone into a powerful tool for generating extra income and reaching your financial goals.

FAQ

What types of tasks can I complete to earn money on apps like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie?

On Swagbucks, you can earn money by taking surveys, playing games, shopping online and in-store, scanning receipts, watching video playlists, clicking through featured offers, and completing daily polls. Additionally, you can earn from special offers and bonuses on activities like signing up for a bank account.

On Survey Junkie, you can earn money by taking surveys, participating in focus groups, product testing, and through the Surf to Earn program, which involves sharing your browsing habits.

How do apps like Depop and BookScouter help users earn money from their unwanted items?

Apps like Depop and BookScouter help users earn money from their unwanted items by providing platforms to list and sell these items. On Depop, users can list secondhand garments and other items for free, with Depop taking a 10% fee on the transaction value plus payment processing fees.

BookScouter allows users to compare buyback offers from multiple vendors for their used books, helping them find the best price. Users can search by ISBN, view offers from various vendors, and choose the most beneficial deal.

What are the payment options available for earnings from apps such as Ibotta, Swagbucks, and EarnKaro?

For Ibotta, earnings can be redeemed via PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards, and can also be transferred to a bank account or a digital wallet. For Swagbucks, users can redeem their points for gift cards, PayPal, or Payoneer payments.

For EarnKaro, earnings are paid via NEFT transfer to a bank account or can be redeemed through gift cards.

Can apps like SweatCoin and Evidation generate significant income through daily activities like walking and tracking health metrics?

Apps like Sweatcoin and Evidation can generate some income through daily activities, but it is not significant. For example, Sweatcoin users would need to take ten million steps to accumulate 10,000 Sweatcoins, which could take about three years.

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