7 of the Best Money-Making Apps of 2024
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For those looking to earn money in an easily accessible way, apps provide plenty of avenues to consider. You can use your smartphone to take surveys, pick up a side gig, sell your unwanted stuff and more.
Here’s the scoop on seven free money-making apps. NerdWallet considered apps with at least 3.8 stars and 25,000 reviews in both Google Play and the iOS App Store.
7 of the best apps to make money
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- How to maximize your rewards
- Simplifying tax time with accounting software
- 1. Earn with ads as a YouTube Partner Program member
- 1. How long has the position been available?
- Welcome offers
- Step 1: Perfect your craft
- 1. Create educational content or activities
- Big horsepower
- 1. Ibotta
- Traditional IRA deductions
- AtoB
- Check if private student loans are right for you
- Home insurance quotes online
- 2. Offer virtual team-building
- 1. Decide what kind of marijuana business to start
- Standard with ads: $6.99 per month
- VA loans
- 1. Child tax credit
- Example savings APYs at select institutions
- Monthly after-tax income
- Inventory and order management
- 2. How is the interview process structured?
- 1. Reserve a longer stay
- Step 2: Create a business plan
- Step 1: Choose your business name and business entity type
- 3. Start a meal-prep business
- Property for your laundromat
- 1. Decide how you want to invest in the stock market
- Cheap auto insurance from large companies
- Conventional loans
- 2. Child and dependent care credit
- NY state income tax: Single and married filing separately
- 50% of your income: needs
- Standard: $15.49 per month
- Luxury cars past their prime
- Captive insurance agents
- Alliant: Best for fast funding
- Coast
- Income taxes for single-member LLCs
- 4. Create a food waste solution
- Benefits and rewards
- Coverage amounts
- Discover Bank, 4.25% APY, no minimum opening deposit
- 2. Write your business plan
- Basic economy
- Pros
- Shipping
- 3. American opportunity tax credit
- Benefits that are the same in Plan F and Plan G
- NY state income tax: Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)
- Request a payment plan
- The standard deduction
- Breadwinners
- 2. Rakuten
- Roth IRA contributions
- 5. Capitalize on plant-based foods
- Utilities
- Varo, 3.00% APY, no minimum opening deposit
- Premium: $22.99 per month
- Cons
- 4. Lifetime learning credit
- How Colonial Penn’s pricing works
- 3. What’s helpful to know about the hiring manager?
- Medical expense deduction
- Step 2: Write a business plan
- NY state income tax: Head of household
- Delay payment
- Medical requirements
- EveryDollar
- 30% of your income: wants
- 1. The home must be your principal residence
- Cheap car insurance from midsize companies
- The rule of 25 and 4% rule
- Independent insurance agents and brokers
- Stay-at-home parents or spouses
- “Free” cancellations
- VA loans
- Integrations with other online shopping platforms
- First Tech: Best for co-sign and joint loan options
- Benefits that differ between Plan F and Plan G
- WEX
- Income taxes for multi-member LLCs
- 6. Start a dropshipping business
- Automatic relief group
- Bask Bank, 5.10% APY, no minimum opening deposit
- 5. Student loan interest deduction
- Settle for less than you owe
- Home equity loans pros and cons
- Earning bonus points
- Taxes
- Fixer-uppers
- Itemizing
- Parents or grandparents with dependents
- Is online banking safe enough?
- Conventional loans
- Property tax deduction
- 2. Extend your trip by a few nights
- Spacing out credit card applications
- The right equipment
- Credit Karma
- 20% of your income: savings and debt
- Pros
- 6. Adoption credit
- 7. Curate subscription boxes
- Best insurance company overall: Travelers
- 3. Register your business name and entity
- 2. Choose an investment account
- 2. Take a cut with affiliate marketing
- 2. You must have owned the home for at least two years
- 1. States with no income tax
- Best insurance company overall: Travelers
- 4. How long do people typically stay in this role?
- PenFed: Best for a seamless application process
- Managing multiple billing cycles
- Recommendations
- Party wagons
- How this calculator works
- Adult children
- 3. Swagbucks
- Cons
- 7. Earned income tax credit
- Book travel via the AmEx portal or Expedia
- Other fuel cards to consider
- Choosing corporate tax status for your LLC
- Annual fees
- Reasons for unfreezing your credit
- Goodbudget
- 3. You must have lived in the house for at least two years in the five-year period before you sold it
- Online appointment booking
- Mortgage interest deduction
- Premium tax credit eligibility
- Step 3: Get the proper licenses, permits, and insurance
- Timing credit applications with big future purchases
- Example interest checking APYs at select institutions
- Website reviews
- Cheap car insurance after a speeding ticket
- 1. Cash dividends
- VA loans
- 8. Charitable donation deduction
- 5. What do you know about the employer’s development programs?
- Transfer points to travel partners
- Step 3: Register your catering business and get an EIN
- 8. Create an airport-centric app
- Business insurance
- Decision group
- Book Virgin Atlantic upper class with points
- 4. Register your marijuana business and obtain licenses or permits
- 2. States with flat income tax rates
- Learn more about online banking
- Navy Federal: Best for military members
- Tips for unfreezing your credit
- Dun & Bradstreet business credit scores
- Publications and sponsorships
- 4. You cannot have claimed the home sale capital gains exclusion recently
- Small-business owners
- 2. Stock dividends
- Exclusive content for members
- 9. Medical expenses deduction
- Charitable contribution deduction
- 1. Find a dividend-paying stock
- 9. Become a destination wedding planner
- Home equity lines of credit pros and cons
- Earn a companion ticket with your spending
- Understanding your results
- 3. States with progressive tax structures
- When Plan F makes sense
- Step 4: Decide where to sell your goods
- Marketing and advertising
- Price
- Set a budget
- 3. Land a brand deal and make sponsored content
- 5. You cannot have bought the house through a like-kind exchange
- Revocable life insurance trusts
- 3. Dividend reinvestment programs (DRIPs)
- 4. Fiverr
- 10. Deduction for state and local taxes
- 3. Book recently added properties
- Step 4: Get all licenses and clearances needed to start a catering business
- Your credit utilization
- 10. Make local guides
- People who want to cover their final expenses
- Learn more about online banking safety
- Payment processing with Stripe
- 6. What experience should I emphasize?
- Should I switch from Plan F to Plan G?
- Use points to upgrade your seat
- Equifax business credit scores
- Upgrade paid ticket to upper class
- 5. Register to pay taxes
- 6. You cannot be subject to expatriate tax
- Cheap auto insurance after an accident
- 4. Special dividends
- Conventional loans
- 11. Mortgage interest deduction
- Step 5: Find small business funding
- 2. Evaluate the stock
- Which is better when?
- Best insurance company for affordability: NJM
- Your money management style
- Post-class group
- Get pre-approved financing
- The right savings rate
- See how APYs have moved at high-yield accounts versus regular accounts
- Best insurance company for affordability: NJM
- 1. Figure out your gross income
- Cover your card charges
- Your payment history
- 11. Create a local grocery delivery service
- Make Money
- Co-signers or co-owners of debt
- Irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs)
- 5. Preferred dividends
- 12. Gambling loss deduction
- Bonus features
- 6. Get funding
- Choose target cars
- 4. Sell some merch
- How much dwelling coverage do I have?
- 2. Find your adjusted gross income
- Shop with points via the American Express site
- Step 5: Determine your pricing
- 3. Decide how much stock you want to buy
- Your credit age
- 12. Start a virtual event planning company
- Experian business credit scores
- Book an upper class chauffeur
- 3. Learn the difference between investing in stocks and funds
- 2023 tax rates by state
- 6. Dividend funds
- 13. IRA contributions deduction
- 7. What kind of people has the company typically preferred?
- 4. Take advantage of an early bird discount
- Step 6: Find and manage candle supplies
- Account linking
- The magic of compound growth
- Eureka
- 5. Upwork
- Use points toward online purchases elsewhere
- Example CD APYs at select institutions
- Get an inspection
- 14. 401(k) contributions deduction
- 13. Sell zero-waste products
- Showers
- Combine points and cash to book your flight
- 5. Offer memberships
- Cheapest car insurance after a DUI
- Watch the calendar
- 8. What should I wear to the interview?
- Redeem for gift cards
- Fleet expense management tools
- Security
- Monitor the deal
- How are my belongings covered?
- InboxDollars Surveys
- VA loans
- 3. Add back certain deductions particular to MAGI
- Step 7: Start marketing your candles
- Step 6: Hire, train, and outfit your staff
- 14. Make products for pets
- Dividend per share (DPS)
- Set cash aside
- 15. Saver’s credit
- Cell phone insurance deductible
- Donate to charity
- Conventional loans
- Purchase discounted Airbnb gift cards
- 15. Create custom clothing
- Customer support
- Is there enough liability coverage?
- Google Opinion Rewards
- Dividend yield
- 16. Health savings account contributions deduction
- 9. What is the starting salary range for this position?
- Example money market account APYs at select institutions
- Best insurance company for accident forgiveness: Geico
- Best insurance company for accident forgiveness: Geico
- Consider using a retirement account
- 6. OfferUp
- Long-term care insurance deductible
- Resident status rules
- Term life insurance
- 17. Self-employment expenses deduction
- Benefits
- 16. Sell vintage clothing online
- User experience
- Cheapest auto insurance for poor credit
- Tax-efficient strategies
- What are the deductibles?
- Swagbucks
- Pet insurance deductible
- Spa
- 4. Set a budget for your stock market investment
- Permanent life insurance
- Past years' state tax rates
- Unlimited products
- 18. Home office deduction
- 5. Use a rewards card to pay for Airbnb
- Drawbacks
- 17. Begin niche blogging
- Reviews
- Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFIAX)
- 1. Live in the house for at least two years
- Dividend payout ratio
- VA loans
- Step 7: Market during your own events
- Built-in print-on-demand services
- 19. Educator expenses deduction
- Travel insurance deductible
- Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
- Quiet room
- Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX)
- 2. See whether you qualify for an exception
- Conventional loans
- 7. Poshmark
- Part-year resident status rules
- 18. Become an e-book writer
- 20. Solar tax credit
- Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBTLX)
- 3. Keep the receipts for your home improvements
- 6. Book through an airline portal
- Service
- 21. Energy efficient home improvement tax credit
- Which one should I take?
- Step 8: Get funding
- 19. Start ghostwriting
- Best insurance company for having few customer complaints: American Family
- 5. Focus on investing for the long-term
- Vanguard Balanced Index Fund (VBIAX)
- Best insurance company for having few customer complaints: American Family
- Nonresident status rules
- 22. Electric vehicle tax credit
- American Express® Green Card
- 20. Become a resume writer
- Vanguard Growth Index Fund (VIGAX)
- Lean FIRE
- How many products do you want to list at once?
- Cheapest car insurance for young drivers
- 7. Message the host
- 21. Open a coworking space
- Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund (VSMAX)
- Do you want to choose your own payment processor?
- 6. Manage your stock portfolio
- Fat FIRE
- Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VTIAX)
- 22. Become an online coach
- Barista FIRE
- American Express® Gold Card
- Step 9: Plan for emergencies — both financial and others
- 23. Flip failing websites
- How 'free' is it, really?
- Best insurance company for financial strength: Auto-Owners
- Cheapest auto insurance for senior drivers
- Best insurance company for financial strength: Auto-Owners
- Above-the-line deductions
- NYC tax rate schedule
- 24. Become a web developer
- 25. Start a podcast
- Below-the-line deductions
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Do you expect to need more features?
- 26. Be a social media influencer
- Would an online marketplace be a better choice than a website?
- 27. Create online courses
- American Express® Business Gold Card
- 28. Become a marketing consultant
- Best insurance company for discounts: Amica
- Best insurance company for discounts: Amica
- 29. Develop an app
- Your house
- Your location
- 30. Make a smart appliance
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- You and your stuff
- 31. Tap into virtual reality experiences
- 32. Make a niche dating site
- 33. Develop a chatbot
- Best insurance company for customer satisfaction: State Farm
- Best insurance company for customer satisfaction: State Farm
- 34. Offer matchmaking skills
- 35. Be a virtual assistant
- 36. Reinvent exercising
- 37. Create eco-friendly, health-friendly makeup and beauty products
- Best insurance company for military members: USAA
- Best insurance company for military members: USAA
- 38. Open a food truck or restaurant pop-up
- 39. Start an organization business
- 40. Do interior design for young professionals
The best money-making apps
1. Ibotta
How it works: Ibotta lets you earn cash back on in-store and online purchases at over 2,000 supported retailers. Originally for groceries, it has expanded to include clothing, entertainment and eating out, pet supplies and other categories. Offers can be product or retailer-specific. For others, you’ll need to complete an additional task such as watching a video or taking a poll.
There are three possible ways to earn cash back in stores: Add offers and submit your receipt in the app after your shopping trip (you have 7 days to send in your receipt through the app), link your retailer loyalty accounts or purchase a retailer gift card through the Ibotta app. For online purchases, you shop through the app or with the Ibotta browser extension on your computer.
Payment: PayPal, digital gift card or direct to a bank account.
Pros: You’ll receive cash back on in-store purchases quickly — typically within 24 hours. Ibotta also offers a welcome bonus to new users, referral bonuses and a variety of payment methods.
Cons: Making money can be a slow process. You must have at least $20 in cash back to redeem your earnings (some gift cards require at least $25 in earnings). For online shopping, the pending period for earning cash back varies by retailer. Ibotta also charges an account maintenance fee for inactive (no activity for 180 days) or deactivated accounts. The fee is deducted from your balance, not your bank account.
2. Rakuten
How it works: Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) rewards shoppers with cash back on purchases from well-known retailers, restaurants and food delivery services. Users can also earn cash back on travel, gift cards and more. It’s straightforward: Create an account, tap on the store where you want to shop in the app, then make the transaction through the portal. You can also link a credit or debit card to your Rakuten account to earn cash back in-store — as long as you activate the deal through the app first. Rakuten credits the cash back to your account after it confirms the purchase with the retailer.
Payment: PayPal or "Big Fat Check."
Pros: Thousands of stores and purchases are eligible for cash back, so you’ll likely find deals where you already shop. New users can earn a welcome bonus after their first qualified purchase. You can also earn sign-up and referral bonuses. You can make an impact with your cash back earnings by donating a portion to nonprofit partners.
Cons: As with most cash-back services, you have to spend money to make money. You won’t see your earnings right away, either; Rakuten sends out payments every three months on the company's payment schedule, and you need to hit the minimum cash-back balance to get paid. Unlike other apps like Ibotta, you have to remember to initiate your purchase in the app first. If you forget and make your purchase outside of the app, you can't get credit retroactively.
3. Swagbucks
How it works: Swagbucks is a cash-back and rewards app. You earn points, called "SB," by shopping online (there are over 1,500 participating retailers), taking surveys, watching videos, playing games or fulfilling other tasks through Swagbucks. You can redeem those points for gift cards or get cash back to your PayPal account. The total points awarded can vary by task. For example, surveys are typically worth about 40 to 200 SB points each. The minimum balance required to redeem depends on the payout option you choose, but some gift cards are available for as low as 110 SB.
Payment: E-gift card or PayPal. You can also redeem SB for Bitcoin through the new Cryptovoucher Gift Card options.
Pros: Swagbucks offers many easy ways to earn rewards, and there’s no waiting period to cash in. Payments usually arrive within 10 business days after redemption. You can also get a $10 bonus with a qualifying $25 purchase when you join.
Cons: It doesn’t pay much; one SB is worth about a cent. With many tasks valued at pennies, it can take a fair amount of time and effort to make substantial money. Additionally, you won’t qualify for every survey or task, although users can earn up to 5 SB per day if they disqualify. Users often report getting kicked out of surveys in the middle of taking them. This can be due to demographics or dishonest or inconsistent answers, according to Swagbucks.
4. Fiverr
How it works: Fiverr is a freelancing marketplace that features gigs in over 200 categories, such as programming and video and animation. Create an account first, then you can set your profile as a "seller" highlighting your expertise. Post the gig you’re offering, which will include pricing and a description of your services. Pricing ranges from $5 to $995. Clients, known as "buyers," can click through and place orders. You’ll get paid once you complete the job. Fiverr assigns seller levels based on performance. As you move up each tier, you’ll be able to sell more “extras,” such as a faster delivery time.
Payment: PayPal, direct to a bank account, Payoneer or credit to a Fiverr Revenue Card (a prepaid card). Minimum withdrawal amounts vary, and your payment processor may charge a withdrawal fee, depending on which option you choose.
Pros: You don’t have to worry about tracking down buyers because they come to you. You can also earn tips. Fiverr also boasts its flexibility, allowing sellers to complete gigs in their own time or around their 9-5 jobs.
Cons: Fiverr takes 20% of your earnings for every gig, including tips, and there’s a standard 14-day waiting period to withdraw money after completing an order (top-tier sellers wait seven days for funds to clear).
5. Upwork
How it works: Upwork connects freelancers to gigs in writing, design, marketing and other categories on the marketplace. First, you’ll create a profile. It should include information such as the field you’re interested in plus your qualifications, availability and desired rate. Then, you can submit proposals. Clients will review them and offer projects if you seem like a good fit.
You begin each month with a set number of “Connects,” which are like credits that allow you to contact prospective clients. You can earn or pay a small sum for more Connects, but you won’t be charged when clients contact you. You can get paid on an hourly or per-project basis.
Payment: Direct to U.S. Bank, direct to your bank account, wire transfer, Instant Pay, PayPal and Payoneer. Charges apply to some payment options, so be sure to check Upwork for details.
Pros: Upwork helps take the work out of seeking out clients, establishing relationships and getting paid. The service also gives you the flexibility to set your preferred rate and schedule.
Cons: The app is free to download, but initiating contact with lots of clients costs money. Users also get charged a service fee. Upwork takes a 10% cut of your earnings based on how much you’ve billed a client. The more you earn, the more you get to keep. However, you won’t get paid until 10 days after the billing period ends. Remember, too, that you’re competing with other freelancers on the platform. That means clients may choose those who’ve set lower rates.
6. OfferUp
How it works: OfferUp, which combined with competitor Letgo in 2020, functions as a local marketplace you can use to sell your stuff. If you want to reach a broader audience, OfferUp also allows shipping anywhere within the United States except for Alaska, Arkansas and Hawaii. Create an account and snap a picture of your smartphone, car, sofa or whatever it is you’re selling. Once you add a title, description and price, you can post your listing and chat with buyers directly through the app. Then, you'll ship to or arrange a meeting with the buyer.
Payment: When selling locally, OfferUp recommends sellers take cash from buyers and stay clear of accepting payments by check, cashier's check or using other apps. For shipments, sellers can set up deposits to a debit card or bank account.
Pros: Creating a listing is simple and fast, and you’ll get paid instantly when you make a cash sale. You can also view a prospective buyer’s reviews and ratings to get an idea of how trustworthy they are beforehand. If you ship your item, the buyer pays the cost, and OfferUp provides the label.
Cons: You’re responsible for meeting local buyers in person and handling transactions. Sellers must pay a 12.9% service fee, or a minimum of $1.99, for shipments. To be successful, you’ll likely need to invest in a printer so you can print the shipping labels and mail items to buyers.
7. Poshmark
How it works: The Poshmark app is tailor-made for selling clothes, accessories and even home decor. After signing up, you take or upload photos of your item, fill out a description, price it and share the listing. You can also feature items in the app’s "Posh Parties," which are virtual shopping events centered around particular brands, categories and themes. Poshmark emails you a prepaid and pre-addressed shipping label once a purchase is made. Then, you send the package via USPS.
Payment: Check, PayPal, Venmo, Instant Transfer or direct deposit to a bank account.
Pros: Poshmark facilitates the entire process, from selling to shipping. Plus, you don’t have to meet with strangers to make a sale. The company will cover lost packages and handle issues between you and the buyer. Getting paid is relatively quick, too; Poshmark issues the money within three days of the buyer receiving the order.
Cons: You’ll pay a fee for selling through Poshmark. The company takes a $2.95 commission for sales under $15 and a 20% commission for sales of $15 or above.