The Best Money-Making Apps for 2022 (2023)

• Upwork
• Rakuten
• Survey Junkie
• Uber
• OfferUp
• Swagbucks

• Bottom Line

• Compare Providers

• What Is a Money-Making App?

• How Much Does an App Cost?

• Are Money-Making Apps Real and Safe?

• Do Money-Making Apps Really Work?

• Methodology

Upwork’s simplicity, streamlined communication and potential for freelancers to earn more over time make it the best money-making app, whether you’re picking up a side hustle or building a full-time freelance business.

As a freelance marketplace driving the gig economy, Upwork is the best money-making app for skilled workers to connect with clients, while managing projects in one place. For its broad range of available skill categories, profile-building features and limitless earning potential, Upwork wins best overall.

Regardless of your previous experience, Upwork makes it simple and easy to create a profile and apply for new gigs. Freelancers can find opportunities in over 1,600 skills spanning digital marketing, coding, translation, admin work, and much more. If you can do it on a computer, you can do it on Upwork.

Through Upwork, you can apply for one-off opportunities or find ongoing work with clients. New reviews and a rising Job Success Score will make you a more attractive candidate for future opportunities. Qualified freelancers may receive invitations for exclusive opportunities.

Project funds are held in escrow through Upwork’s Payment Protection program, which helps ensure safe and timely payment for freelancers. You can receive payment through direct deposit, PayPal, wire transfer, or other methods. Unfortunately, freelancer fees range from five to 20%. The more you earn from an individual client, the lower your fee percentage. Funds aren’t credited to your account until 10 days after the weekly billing cycle ends.

As an independent contractor, you’ll have to pay taxes on earnings.

Available on: iOS and Android

Offering numerous cashback options for online and in-store purchases, Rakuten delivers a seamless process with rewarding sign-up and referral incentives.

Previously known as Ebates, Rakuten is the top money-making app for cashback, offering deals across numerous retailers along with inviting sign-up and referral incentives. Although you have to spend money to make money, the app lets you get a little cash back for purchases you'd be making anyway.

After registering, users can browse cashback offers at thousands of retailers, including Target, Best Buy, and Kohl's. To receive cashback, simply click into a retailer from the app or website and place an order. You can also receive cashback for in-store purchases by selecting the offer in the app and linking your card prior to purchasing. However, you can’t receive cashback without first taking these steps.

Cashback rates vary by retailer, ranging from 1% to 40%. You can browse available cashback deals by store, brand, and category directly through the app.

New users can qualify for a $10 welcome bonus after spending $25. You can also receive a $30 referral bonus for introducing new users who spend $30.

Users receive payment through PayPal or a check every three months. To qualify for a payout, you must accrue at least $5 in cashback.

This money-making app also helps computer users save money. The cashback button automatically applies all applicable coupons, saving you the trouble of comparing coupons. It also displays cashback potential in Google search results and notifications about cheaper pricing available at other retailers.

Available on: iOS and Android

Survey Junkie has surveys that take 15 minutes or less to complete based on demographic questions, while offering instant payment via gift cards or PayPal.

Partnering with brands and market research companies, Survey Junkie offers users the opportunity to complete surveys in exchange for points, which can be instantly redeemed for gift cards or payment via PayPal. For this reason, Survey Junkie wins as the best money-making app for surveys.

The sign-up process is simple. You create a profile by answering questions, allowing Survey Junkie to offer relevant surveys. Each survey awards a certain number of points, which can be exchanged for cash. One hundred points will earn you $1, whether you cash out with gift cards or choose payment via PayPal. At minimum, you need 500 points (or $5) to cash out.

Surveys take, on average, 15 minutes to complete. All surveys are optional. You can find available surveys in the dashboard, though some listed may no longer be active.

Some surveys include repetitive questions to verify your identity. Note that Survey Junkie reserves the right to disqualify and award partial points to users who don’t meet certain criteria at any point during the survey.

Beyond demographic-based surveys, this money-making app also offers the option to qualify for additional surveys based on browsing data. The Survey Junkie Pulse extension is available on both the mobile app and browser extension and tracks digital activity like searches, websites, shopping, and more to find new surveys for you.

Survey Junkie protects user data by submitting all responses anonymously.

Available on: iOS and Android

Earn at your convenience by driving and delivering when you want to, and cash out on earnings up to five times per day.

Uber offers users two ways to earn, immediate payouts, and a streamlined app for accepting new work, making it the best money-making app for car owners. This ridesharing and food delivery giant makes it easy for anyone with a car to earn at their convenience, provided you qualify. You must:

• Meet local driving requirements (including a valid driver’s license)
• Drive for at least a year in the U.S., or for drivers under 25, three years
• Have a vehicle with four doors that meet Uber’s local requirements
• Provide the necessary documents, including proof of residency, insurance, registration, and more
• Go through the driver screening process

As an Uber driver, you can choose to either accept ride requests from passengers or deliver food through Uber Eats, all through the same app.

You can cash out up to five times per day. Your earnings for each trip vary based on a few factors, including:

• Standard trip fare: A base rate calculated based on the length and distance, which varies by city
• Surge pricing: Earn more during peak periods with high demand
• Tips: Keep 100% of tips from passengers

Uber Eats pays drivers through a similar system.

Keep in mind that, as a driver, you’ll need to cover the cost of car maintenance. Uber also charges drivers a service fee, which is deducted before payment. Because Uber drivers are considered independent contractors, you’ll have to pay taxes on earnings.

Available on: iOS and Android

OfferUp takes a modern approach to the Craigslist concept by allowing anyone to sell new or used items through its online marketplace.

OfferUp, which acquired competitor Letgo, takes the stress out of selling online through its simple and easy-to-use marketplace. Because it has a streamlined listing process and gives users the choice to sell locally or nationwide, OfferUp wins as the best money-making app for selling old goods.

Users can list a new product by uploading a picture, entering a description, and setting a price. You can choose to set a firm price open to the first willing buyer, or an asking price with room for negotiation. Viewers can communicate with the seller directly through the app to ask questions or express their interest.

OfferUp mainly facilitates local transactions, but users can also ship products. Rather than monitor offers and messages, you can set an item to “buy now” with a set price for shipping.

Because most transactions take place locally, buyers normally pay in cash.

After a shipped item arrives, buyers have two days to evaluate it before the sale is finalized. Sellers then receive payment within five business days.

Promoting your items helps potential buyers find them. You can choose to promote your item by either paying in a one-off transaction or purchasing a membership.

Users can verify their identity by confirming contact information or linking a Meta account. For local transactions, OfferUp protects users by recommending safe public meet-up locations based on factors like lighting, surveillance, and more.

Available on: iOS and Android

Swagbucks doesn’t pay much, but it offers a variety of ways for users to earn cash, including cash back for qualifying purchases, as well as odd jobs like taking surveys, watching videos, playing games, and more.

While it won’t pay like other side hustles, Swagbucks is an easy way for anyone with a smartphone to make extra money by completing odd jobs, or by earning cashback, which is why it wins best for odd jobs.

This money-making app partners with marketing companies in order to pay users. You can earn Swagbucks (SB) by buying products, watching videos, taking surveys, playing games, and using search engines.

Getting started is simple and doesn’t require payment info. The daily checklist feature helps users keep track of ways to earn.

Most tasks are easy, but not all award the same number of SB. Surveys take from five to 60 minutes and generally award users between 40 to 200 SB. With 100 SB valued at $1, earning enough points to cash out can take time.

Swagbucks’ survey options are chosen based on demographics. Only users who fit specific profiles, like owning a pet boa constrictor or having two sets of twins, can access higher-paying surveys.

You can earn cashback on in-store purchases by linking a credit card. After spending $25 on purchases through retail partners, new users can earn a $10 joining bonus. Swagbucks also offers referral incentives.

You can redeem points for rewards immediately through Swagbucks, but receiving cash via PayPal or gift card codes could take up to 10 business days.

Available on: iOS and Android