For those aiming to make money online, apps provide plenty of avenues to consider. The best money-making apps are free to download, offer a variety of ways to earn money, are compatible with iOS and Android devices, and send payments quickly.
A so-called money-making app is an app or browser extension that may help you earn extra cash, whether from selling goods and services, getting cash back, or generating commissions from successful referrals.
This roundup will help you choose the best money-making app based on your goals, how you aim to earn, and the effort you’re willing to invest. These money-making apps may be great for some, but they’re not for everyone. Look for an app that matches your skills and lifestyle before getting started.
8 of the Best Money-Making Apps of October 2023
- Rakuten: One of the best apps to make money online from cash back on online purchases
- Upwork – One of the best apps to make money for freelancers
- FOAP - One of the best apps to make money online for photographers/videographers
- Survey Junkie - One of the best apps to make money for taking surveys
- Uber – One of the best apps to make money for car owners
- Airbnb - One of the best apps to make money online for renting out space
- Gemini – One of the best apps to make money online for crypto holders
- CAPEX.com - One of the best apps to make money online from successful referrals
Note: Here’s the scoop on seven free money-making apps. We’ve considered apps based on industry experts’ coverage, ratings, and reviews in both Google Play and the iOS App Store.
1. Rakuten - One of the best for cash back on online purchases
With Rakuten, formerly known as Ebates, users can search and shop using in-store and online exclusive coupons, scan items to compare prices, and get money back on specific purchases from certain retailers including Macy's, Marriott, and Sephora. Users can choose to shop with the mobile app or browser extension.
After signing up for a free account, you'll need to download the app or extension to start shopping. Once you make a purchase, you’ll earn a percentage of your cash back (i.e., a rebate) when you shop from Rakuten’s list of 3,500-plus eligible retailers.
While the cashback is usually between 1% to 2% on a purchase, some may earn as much as 10%, depending on what you buy. You may even earn extra cashback by signing up for the Rakuten credit card. Additionally, new users can earn a $10 welcome bonus, as long as they spend at least $25 on eligible purchases within the first 90 days of signing up.
Payouts are issued every three months, provided you earn at least $5.01 in cash back. You can receive your funds electronically with PayPal or by physical check in the mail.
2. Upwork – One of the best apps to make money for freelancers
Upwork is considered one of the best money-making apps for skilled workers to connect with clients, while managing projects in one place. 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.
3. FOAP - One of the best apps to make money online for photographers/videographers
Great for aspiring photographers and videographers, Foap is a money-making app for Apple and Android devices that makes it simple to sell your photos and videos. To use it, you'll need to download the app, create an account, and then upload your photos and videos to your online portfolio.
If your work is purchased by an agency, brand, or another user on Foap, you’ll get paid. Be aware, though, that you’ll share the profits with the app 50/50. So, if Foap sells a photo for $10, you’ll make $5. But one photo can sell more than once, which can lead to some significant earnings.
You can also submit photos or videos to a specific project (Foap calls them "Missions") for the chance to be paid even more for your work.
Industry experts consider it very hard nowadays to make a good income from Foap due to increased competition and lack of rewards. However, if you're already a photographer you can take it as an additional opportunity to market yourself and your photos.
4. Survey Junkie - One of the best apps to make money for taking surveys
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 a 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.
5. Uber – One of the best apps to make money for car owners
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.
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, surge pricing, and tips.
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.
6. Airbnb - One of the best apps to make money online for renting out space
If you’ve got a spare room or you’re going away for a while, you could rent out your space using Airbnb. It’s available as both an app and a desktop site, and nearly anyone can become an Airbnb host by uploading photos of their space and making a listing.
Hosts can list spaces anywhere in the world to be rented out. They set the price per night, what days it’s available, check-in and check-out times, and the maximum number of guests. According to Airbnb, hosts earned about $13,800 on average in 2021.
While it’s free to post a listing, Airbnb takes a cut of the earnings — typically 3 percent, but more in some cases, such as if the host sets strict cancellation policies.
Airbnb is considered one of the best apps to make money online because there is a way to earn even if you don’t own properties. With the co-hosting strategy, you don't have to buy or own properties because all you must do is manage, and help hosts manage their listings. This method allows you to learn more about the business and earn.
7. Gemini – One of the best apps to make money online for crypto holders
Investors love generating passive income, but plenty of market experts claim that cryptocurrency lacks the ability to provide a source of income. That’s not entirely true. Staking (as well as a few rewards programs) can generate interest income from the crypto that you own right now.
You can earn rewards through staking by locking up your crypto to help run the blockchains that support certain cryptocurrencies. If you’re interested in staking or a crypto rewards program, picking the right crypto exchange is essential. This will ensure that you get access to the right resources and the highest yields.
Gemini supports more than 40 cryptocurrencies for earning rewards via its Gemini Earn program. While it’s not a staking program per se, Gemini Earn is a lending platform that lets users lend out their crypto holdings in exchange for interest payments.
Like staking on other crypto exchange platforms, users earn an annual percentage yield (APY) for participating in their crypto holdings.
8. CAPEX.com - One of the best apps to make money online from successful referrals
CAPEX.com partnership program offers monetary payment for traffic directed to the capex.com app from the affiliate’s online sources (e.g. website, blog, social networks, etc.).
Becoming a CAPEX.com partner entitles you to a CPA commission for the qualified traders you refer to capex.com through your referral link. It is an effective way to earn money from your traffic. Simply use any available marketing material (e.g. direct links, banners, mailers, etc.) for your online activities.
CAPEX.com is one of the world’s leading online trading app which offers both investing in stocks and ETFs, as well as trading CFDs on shares, indices, forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.
One of CAPEX.com’s most important advantages is that it is a reputable and regulated brand.
The sign-up process is simple. After you receive an affiliate link you can earn up to 1.200 USD CPA payout depending on terms and conditions.
Bottom Line
As the world inches closer to fully embracing the blossoming gig economy, there’s no shortage of money-making apps to supplement or replace your full-time job. Depending on your goals and preferences, there are a variety of options to choose from.
Free resources
You should consider referring to the educational resources we offer like CAPEX Academy or a demo trading account. CAPEX Academy has lots of free trading courses for you to choose from, and they all tackle a different financial concept or process – like the basics of analyses – to help your referrals become better traders or make more informed investment decisions.
Our demo account is a suitable place for those who want to learn more about leveraged trading, and they’ll be able to get an intimate understanding of how CFDs work – as well as what it’s like to trade with leverage – before risking real capital. For this reason, a demo account with us is a great tool for investors who are looking to make a transition to leveraged trading.