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Your smartphone is more than just a device that drains your time and pulls you into an endless feed of shorts and reels. Hidden among the millions of apps on the Apple Store and Google Play Store are some that pay real money instantly.
These apps pay users because companies want us to perform small tasks, such as trying new services for free, taking short paid surveys, or running errands for others. When you complete these tasks, you’ll earn cash, points, or rewards, which can be redeemed for PayPal cash immediately. It’s not like they’re handing out free money to the public.
I’ve taken online surveys, earned cashback on my weekly grocery runs, and delivered food on gig apps for years. They help me earn $100+ a day whenever I need extra money. Every dollar counts in today’s times.
10 Free Apps That Pay Real Money Instantly
All the apps on this list are free to download and use – if an app requires you to pay to use it, it’s not worth your time or money.
Keep in mind that the more effort a task requires, the higher the payout. I tend to jump from app to app depending on which one pays the most at the moment.
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of my favorite ways to earn extra money every month. I’ve been using it since 2009, and it’s a legit app that pays you for completing simple day-to-day activities. As a broke student, Swagbucks helped me indulge in my guilty pleasure–Green Tea Frappuccino (Matcha Crème Frappuccino)–while cramming for exams. Over the years, I’ve redeemed hundreds of dollars in free Starbucks gift cards!
Swagbucks gives out “SBs” (Swagbucks points) when you complete easy tasks like web searches, surveys, shopping, and watching videos.
With a 4.0/5.0 rating on Trustpilot and over $618 million paid out to 10 million members, Swagbucks is a reliable way to make extra cash. You can cash out your points as soon as you reach a $5 value (sometimes, $3.75 if they have a promo) for PayPal cash or gift cards from popular retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Starbucks. It’s a fun, simple side hustle that anyone can try!
You can create a FREE account and quickly claim your $5 welcome bonus HERE.
How does Swagbucks really work? Check out my full and honest Swagbucks review here!
2. Rakuten
I’ve made it a habit to log into Rakuten every time I shop online. This cash-back app gives you cash back on most of your online purchases. If you’re not using it, you’re literally throwing away money.
Last month, I needed to restock my vitamins from iHerb, and Rakuten was offering 2% cash back on iHerb purchases. Would you choose 0% cash back by buying directly from iHerb or get 2% cash back with Rakuten?
Rakuten often runs promotions where you can earn 10%-15% cash back at select retailers. For example, on Cyber Monday, when we bought our snowblower, we earned $314.85 thanks to a Rakuten Cyber Monday special.
Sign up for free and get a $40 sign-up bonus HERE today!
3. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is known as an app that pays real money to its users for doing everyday activities. The company will pay you to share your honest opinions on services and products. You could qualify for surveys that ask about your morning coffee experience or even let you rant about how awful the customer service was when you picked up your coffee this morning. Do you check your emails daily? InboxDollars will pay you to read emails too. They also give you cash back for online shopping. You can compare their offers with Rakuten to see which one gives back more.
Paid surveys are the best use of your time, and each generally takes about 3 minutes to complete. You’ll earn $0.50 to $5.00 for each one you finish. The longer the survey, the more you’ll get paid. Some surveys could take up to 25 minutes to complete, with payouts of $10-$20 per survey.
InboxDollars is offering new members a FREE $5 for signing up today. You can create an account for free and test it out.
4. Ibotta
Ibotta is a rebate app that helps you save and earn more money on your regular groceries and even dining out than any other app on your phone. Having paid out over $2 billion in cash back to over 50 million users, you can trust this app. They’re listed on the NYSE under the ticker IBTA, if that means anything to you.
It’s very easy to use and lets you earn money on groceries and daily essentials. Within the Ibotta app, you can browse and add the offers/savings you want to your list (kind of like a shopping list). They’ve partnered with companies like Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, and Sam’s Club. To prove you purchased the offers you added, all you need to do is take a photo of the receipt using the app’s camera.
You can cash out for free gift cards, or send the money directly to your bank account or PayPal once you reach $20.
5. Freecash
Similar to Swagbucks, Freecash is a newer get-paid-to (GPT) app that compensates you with real cash for completing microtasks. The most popular activities are playing games, trying out new apps, and completing surveys. After completing activities, you’ll earn coins—1,000 coins are worth $1.00.
If you want to get paid to play video games, this app is perfect for you. To make money playing games, you’ll need to reach a certain level in the game within a set time frame. While you’re not required to spend real money in the game, doing so can help speed up your progress toward the payout milestone.
Freecash can afford to offer users real money because game developers and advertisers pay Freecash to promote their games and apps. Freecash keeps a portion of the revenue and shares the rest with its users. This is how game developers encourage people to download and try their games.
6. Field Agent
Field Agent is a gig app that offers simple and fun tasks like surveys, in-store audits, product reviews, and mystery shopping. You’ll feel like an “undercover agent” as you test products and answer surveys.
What makes it great is how easy and convenient these tasks are – you can make money right from your phone! Some surveys can be done from the comfort of your home, while others may involve visiting a specific location, where you can even score free stuff and get paid once you’re done.
One popular task is “Buy & Try,” where you test products and provide reviews. Sure, the pay might not be a lot, but you get free items and earn cash, making it perfect to pair with your grocery shopping trips.
Audits are among the higher-paying tasks, offering up to $30 per gig. If you’re pressed for cash, you should focus on these activities. For audits, you’ll need to travel to specific locations, take photos of certain product barcodes, and answer a few questions. These tasks usually take 15 minutes, but definitely less than an hour, and you can even take on multiple audit assignments near each other for higher earning potential.
Field Agent processes cashouts within 24 hours, meaning you’ll get your money quickly!
7. DoorDash
Everyone orders food from their phone, whether it’s late at night or you’re too tired to get dressed and pick it up yourself. Food delivery apps offer legitimate side hustles and guarantee on-time payments.
I turn on my Dasher app when I’m tired of staring at the monitor for hours and need fresh air. It’s flexible work, so I don’t feel stressed if I can’t make it.
If you want to work one-day-a-week, which is what gig apps are designed for, you need to choose your shifts wisely. Skip midday hours and work during peak times: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With more orders during these times, you’ll waste less time waiting in the parking lot and can earn $500 weekly or more. Yes, there’ll be more Dashers during busy hours, but there are more chances for surge orders, in-app bonuses, and higher tips.
Here’s a screenshot of my earnings from Dashing.
What I like about DoorDash is the option for same-day payment for $1.99, or you can wait for weekly payouts (no processing fee).
For people who don’t like DoorDash, you can give Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Postmates a go.
8. Rover
Rover is a great way to make extra money if you love spending time with pets. The app connects you with busy pet owners looking for services like pet sitting, dog walking, or dog boarding.
As a pet sitter, you’ll care for pets while their owners travel, which includes feeding, cleaning up, playing, and taking them for walks. Dog walking gigs pay around $40 per hour, allowing you to make approximately $1,000 monthly.
The highest-paying job on Rover is dog boarding, where you can earn up to $2,000 a month by hosting dogs overnight at your home. Before accepting a client for boarding, it’s a good idea to schedule a meet-and-greet to ensure it won’t interfere with your own pets.
For animal lovers, Rover offers an enjoyable way to earn while doing what you love, making it feel less like work. Just keep your performance score high on Rover since a lower score can mean fewer offers and opportunities. Higher rating profiles tend to be shown first on search results.
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