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7 Best Money Making Apps That’ll Make Your Wallet Happy

These best money making apps really pay you real money through PayPal. Take a look today and start making money the easy way.

Are you interested in downloading the best money making apps that really make you money real money?

There are PayPal games and other ways to make money from your phone with free apps that are just a download away.

Sometimes you need some extra cash to pay a bill or you’re trying to save up for something you want. You don’t want to fall behind on bills and are wondering how to make money today or what game apps pay real money?

Sure, another 100 dollars earned today wouldn’t hurt. We’ve all been there, but what do you usually do when that happens? This is an exhaustive list of things that anyone can do, today, in order to make money through the best mobile applications I've found.

If you're strapped for time, I'll go ahead and share the best money making apps that you can add to your side hustle arsenal.

1. Swagbucks (Android and iOS)

side hustle

There are a lot of sites like Swagbucks but nothing can beat the king of reward apps. Here you can earn a special currency called Swagbucks for completing offers, answering surveys and logging online activity.

You can redeem the currency for gift cards or cash rewards once you’ve accumulated enough. This is one of the best apps that pays you through PayPal.

Payment:

Gift card or PayPal.

Pros:

I personally use it and usually earn money taking surveys while watching TV, and it does add up. They even give new members a $10 sign up bonus with a qualifying $25 purchase.

Cons:

You won't qualify for every task or survey and users often report getting kicked out of surveys randomly.

Download:

Android, iOS.

$10 welcome bonus
Swagbucks
5.0
  • Earn points by taking surveys, playing games, and shopping online
  • Redeem rewards like PayPal cash or gift cards to top brands
  • Join millions who’ve earned over $800 million with Swagbucks and get a $10 welcome bonus
Claim Your $10 Bonus

2. Branded Surveys (Android and iOS)

Branded Surveys is one of the world's leading market research communities – rewarding you for your opinion. Branded Surveys asks for information about you so that they can match you with fitting surveys. At up to $5-10 a pop for some surveys and a free 100 points for signing up, it pays to check in daily to see which ones are available to you. You can likely make $10 fast this week by using it.

Payment:

Cashouts are through PayPal or gift cards. You'll earn money just for signing up and they pay you straight cash via PayPal.

Pros:

Branded offers a rewards program (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) where you can level up by collecting credits, which is exhilarating. As you level up, you can unlock higher earning opportunities to earn even more.

Cons:

As with other competitor sites, some surveys will require you to visit another website to complete the task. The sites they route you to can be more difficult to use than Branded's site, which is a downfall. Also, they do not have a mobile app available, but you can take surveys on mobile web or your desktop.

Download:

Android, iOS.

Branded Surveys
4.0
  • Pays users to share opinions through short online surveys
  • Covers topics from brands, products, and daily habits
  • Rewards can be cashed out via PayPal or gift cards once you reach the minimum balance
Open Account

3. Survey Junkie (Android and iOS)

survey junkie

Taking online surveys with Survey Junkie to make extra money is a no-brainer. You definitely won’t get rich or make hundreds of dollars per day with surveys alone, but you won’t waste much time, and you can make some money the easy way.

Survey Junkie is a free survey app for your phone that pays you to take online surveys, participate in focus groups, and try new products. And, I really mean free all around – free to join and they don’t charge anything to be a member (they will actually pay you in cash via PayPal).

Payment:

Gift card or PayPal.

Pros:

You’ll get paid even if you are not qualified for a survey, they won't waste your time. They are one of the higest paying survey sites currently available.

Cons:

Making money taking surveys online can be a slow process but they have a low cash out threshold of $5 in your account to cash out — which will be easy to reach.

Download:

Android, iOS.

Survey Junkie
5.0
  • Share your opinion to help brands deliver better products and services
  • Fast payouts, legit, and our favorite survey site
  • Has paid out more than $25 million to its members
Join and Claim $5 Promo

4. InboxDollars (Android and iOS)

side hustles

The next thing you can do is sign up for InboxDollars which pays you, in cash, to watch fun videos and take surveys. If you sign up before the end of this month, they also give you a $5 free bonus just to give it a try.

By spending just 5-10 minutes per day on this (either on your lunch break or during TV commercial breaks) you can earn and earn an extra $50 per month. More people should be using this money making app.

Payment:

Gift card or check.

Pros:

InboxDollars offers a plethora of ways to make money, including getting paid to play games. It was listed highly on our list of ways to get paid to play games, it's a legit money maker.

Cons:

It'll require a ton of time to reach the minimum payout of $30. If you want your earnings in the form of cash, you'll have to order a check. No PayPal cash out options available.

Download:

Android, iOS.

$5 bonus
InboxDollars
4.5
  • InboxDollars is a legitimate way to make extra money online
  • Been around for 20 years
  • Paid its members more than $59 million since 2000
  • Free $5 welcome bonus
Claim $5 Bonus after Email Confirm

5. Upside (Android and iOS)

getupside

Upside is one of the best cash back apps for gas that provides users with a variety of helpful information. First, it gives you 25 cents back on every gas station receipt you submit. It also shows you the best gas station deals and the cheapest gas. This free cash back app for gas is saving users an average of $124 in a year. There is no minimum for cash outs, but a $1 fee will be made on withdrawals under $15.

Payment:

Paypal or gift cards.

Pros:

It's a free app, and thousands of gas stations are offering cash back.

Cons:

You can earn cash back on gas in over 40 states, but if you want to earn using its grocery stores and restaurants features it is more limited.

Download:

Android, iOS.

$5 bonus
Upside
5.0
  • Earn real cash back every time you get gas, grab food, or shop for groceries
  • Simple app that pays you instantly for purchases you already make
  • Get a $5 bonus on your first offer with promo code mmgcash
Get My $5 Bonus

6. Fundrise (Android and iOS)

fundrise

Wouldn’t it be great if you could invest in commercial real estate and apartments without dealing with all the hassle of buying, improving, and re-selling real estate?

You don't have to be a millionaire to invest in these types of properties. You can now invest in large-scale real estate for as little as $10 with Fundrise. Through their real estate investment products, investors earned an average of 8 – 11 percent on their money last year, and all without painting a wall or dealing with unruly tenants.

Payment:

Payment via bank deposit.

Pros:

There is a reason why they currently have over 500,000+ users, this real estate investing app really pays you solid returns. A low minimum investment is required (only $10) and it is open to all investors. IRA accounts are also available and the app and website as easy to use even for beginners.

Cons:

Please keep in mind that shares you’ve held for less than five years may be subject to a penalty. If you held your shares for less than three years you are subject to a 3% penalty of the total share value. You will want to hold your shares for at least five years to avoid any fees. Fundrise should be considered a long-term investment strategy.

Download:

Android, iOS.

$10 bonus
Fundrise
5.0
  • Earn passive income with real estate investing starting at just $10
  • Easy-to-use app for seamless access to crowd-funded real estate deals
  • Perfect for those who want their money to work for them
Start Investing With $10
We earn a commission for this endorsement of Fundrise.

7. Nielsen Mobile Research (Android and iOS)

nielsen

By using the internet as you do every day, Nielsen invites you to make a difference – and you can make money too. Personally, I downloaded this app and make around $60 a year passively, it's a legit app. You don’t have to do anything other than initially register your computer or phone. They will just track your internet browsing history, keeping your personal data anonymous, which is what most apps do, but now you can get paid for it.

Payment:

Nielsen will pay you $60 a year to keep the app on your device.

Pros:

It's quick and easy to sign up and you can get $60 per device just for downloading it and keeping it on your devices. It is considered one of the best passive income apps that help you earn money for doing almost nothing. Plus, the app won't slow down your device.

Cons:

The app will collect data about your anonymously. Some people may not be comfortable with this.

Download:

Android, iOS.

Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel
5.0
  • Collects anonymous phone and internet usage data to help Nielsen study consumer trends
  • Runs quietly in the background after you install the app on your phone
  • Pays users in gift cards or cash-equivalent rewards, usually around $60 per year
Open Account

Which Apps Pay You the Most?

For those of you looking to get paid instantly, you will likely benefit from taking advantage of app bonuses that'll pay you just for signing up or completing a task.

If you are looking for a longer-term strategy to increase your earning potential then these apps will get the job done. It is very possible to earn a quick $50 this week if you use multiple apps like Swagbucks or Survey Junkie.

Just be careful about scams or providing your personal information to apps that you aren't familiar with. You can usually get a good indication of the apps validity by reading the user reviews in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Once you get the ball rolling with money making apps, you'll want to take it the next level.

There Will Always Be Money Making Apps that Pay You

There you have it. If you’ve finished the list, you can see there are so many different apps to use to earn a little extra money. I wish you the best of luck on your journey on how to make money with the best money making apps.

Just remember, with most of these services, consistency is key, so be diligent about completing your daily check-in and continue to use the service if you want to earn more lucrative amounts of cash or gift cards.

It’s always better to use these opportunities as additional cash for smaller purchases, rather than to rely on them for a steady income. You want to check out the latest post that shows you how to get free money through major companies.

To chalk it up, there are dozens of ways to make extra money with mobile apps that pay. Plus, they'll all free so the only thing you are giving up is your time. So make sure you find the best money making apps to add to your side hustle arsenal.

Before you go, you might be leaving free money on the table. Sign up for a few of these apps and you could pocket $50+ this month just for playing games and completing simple tasks. Most people start earning within minutes. See all verified apps here, free to join.

Brian Meiggs
Brian Meiggs is the founder of My Millennial Guide, where he’s been helping readers take control of their money for over a decade. As a seasoned personal finance writer and entrepreneur, Brian shares practical strategies on saving, investing, and building wealth through side hustles and smart financial habits. His work and insights have been featured in Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Yahoo Finance, and other major publications. Brian’s mission is simple — to help everyday people make smarter money decisions and create financial freedom for themselves.