Looking for an app that earns real money on the side? This article offers some options.
Money-making apps have become more popular than ever as the use of smartphones has become more integrated with our daily lives.
Whether you aim to earn extra cash in your spare time, make passive income, or are looking for a consistent side gig, an app can help.
The best money-making apps work on iOS and Android phones, allowing you to fully maximize your current device.
Best Apps for Making Money Now
The top-paying apps below reward you for doing different things.
Side hustle apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats pay you to work as your own boss delivering food when you have some time to spare.
Cash back apps such as Rakuten and Ampli pay you to shop like you already do.
Investing apps offer some of the best ways to earn passive income over time.
Market research apps like Swagbucks pay you to give your opinions, and fitness app such as Sweatcoins pays you to exercise.
This list of apps to make money is a good starting point.
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is the top get-paid-to site to join if you want to get paid for your opinions.
Users are rewarded for completing surveys, playing games, watching video ads, surfing the internet, and shopping online.
How it works: Sign up for a free Swagbucks account and complete the profile questionnaire. You will get multiple invites to earn rewards daily, and many offers only take a few minutes.
Payment: You can redeem your Swagbucks points for gift cards or cash out using PayPal.
- iOS App rating: 4.4/5
- Android App rating: 4.2/5
Promotion: Get a $5 bonus when you sign up here.
Swagbucks has paid out more than $845 million to its members and gives out 7,000 gift cards each day. It is one of the best apps to make money fast. Get more details in this review.
2. Rakuten
Rakuten is my top choice when it comes to using a cash back app that pays real money.
Formerly known as Ebates, Rakuten offers discounts from hundreds of stores in Canada and the United States.
How it works: Sign up for a free Rakuten account. Visit your favourite store by clicking on it from your dashboard and earn up to 30% in cash back.
Your earnings are automatically tracked and credited to your account balance.
You can also install the Rakuten browser extension, so discounts are applied automatically when you checkout at any participating store.
Payment: Cash back earned is paid quarterly via PayPal, cheque, or gift card.
- iOS App rating: 3.9/5
- Android App rating: 4/5
Promotion: Get a $30 bonus when you sign up here and make your first online purchase of $30 or more.
Rakuten has paid Canadians more than $100 million since 2012, and users in the United States have earned over $2 billion.
Learn more in this Rakuten review.
3. Wealthsimple
This financial technology company is one of Canada’s top online wealth managers. It also operates in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Wealthsimple invests your money using low-cost ETFs and automatically rebalances it and re-invests your dividends.
Compared to a traditional mutual fund, your management fees are lower, ranging from 0.40-0.50% per year.
How it works: Sign up for a Wealthsimple account. You can choose to make lumpsum contributions or set up recurring deposits. They invest your money in a diversified portfolio that meets your needs.
Over time, investing can grow your net worth, and it is an excellent way to earn passive income.
- iOS App rating: 4.7/5
- Android App rating: 4.3/5
Promotion: Get a $25 cash bonus when you open an account and fund it with at least $500.
Wealthsimple has more than $15 billion in assets under management. Learn more in this Wealthsimple review.
4. Uber Eats
Drive for Uber Eats in your free time and get paid to deliver groceries and food to local customers.
You can get started quickly with a smartphone, the Uber Eats app, and a means of transportation (car, bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle).
Uber is available in Canada, the U.S., and several other countries.
- iOS App rating: 4.8/5
- Android App rating: 4.4/5
How it works: Sign up to become a delivery driver. After your application is approved, you can start taking gigs.
Food delivery jobs work well if you are looking for a part-time job that pays.
5. Questrade
If you are comfortable managing your own portfolio, you can use Questrade to buy and sell stocks, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), and other investment assets.
Questrade is one of the best brokerage platforms in Canada, and it offers personal taxable and non-taxable accounts, e.g. TFSA and RRSP.
How it works: Open an account, fund it and start trading. ETF purchases are free, while stock trading costs $4.95 to $9.95 per trade.
- iOS App rating: 1.7/5
- Android App rating: 2.1/5
Promotion: Get $50 in free trades when you trade and fund your account with at least $1,000.
Here’s a Questrade trading platform review.
Another favourite trading app I use for investing is Wealthsimple Trade.
Unlike traditional brokers, this app offers no-commission trades on thousands of stocks and ETFs… no trading fees!
It’s no wonder that Wealthsimple Trade is often regarded as the Robinhood app alternative for Canadians.
New clients also get a $25 cash bonus when they deposit $200.
6. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie pays its members to provide their opinions about brands and the products and services they provide.
How it works: Sign up for a free account and complete the profile questionnaire. Survey Junkie sends you surveys that match your profile, and you earn points when you complete them.
- iOS App rating: 4.6/5
- Android App rating: 4.4/5
Payment: Redeem your points for cash via PayPal, gift cards, or transfer to your bank. The minimum payout threshold is $10.
Survey Junkie has millions of members around the world. Learn more about the panel in this review.
7. Ampli
Ampli is a Canadian cash back app similar to Drop in the United States. This free app rewards you when you shop online and in-store.
How it works: Sign up for free and connect your credit or debit cards. When you shop at participating retailers, you earn real cash.
- iOS App rating: 4.6/5
Payment: You can redeem Ampli rewards using Interac e-Transfer, starting at $15.
Ampli has paid its users more than $2 million. Find out about how to maximize the platform in this review.
8. Moka
If you find it difficult to set aside money to invest regularly, a spare change investing app could help.
How it works: The Moka app rounds up your purchases and invests the difference automatically. For example, if you buy a cup of coffee for $2.50, Moka rounds up the purchase to $3.00 and invests $0.50 on your behalf.
You can use the app to invest in a taxable or non-taxable account (e.g. TFSA). It also offers cash back offers at many popular brands.
Moka has a $3 monthly fee. You can learn more about it in this Moka review.
- iOS App rating: 4.4/5
- Android App Rating: 4/5
Moka is the equivalent (for Canadians) of the Acorns app in the United States.
Promotions: Get a $5 cash bonus when you sign up here and connect your bank.
9. Sweatcoin
Looking for an incentive to exercise? The Sweatcoin app pays you to walk and stay active.
How it works: Open a free account and start earning “Sweatcoins” when you walk or perform other physical activities indoors to outdoors.
Payment: You can redeem your coins for PayPal cash, yoga classes, iPhones, fitness gear, and more.
- iOS App rating: 4.6/5
- Android App Rating: 4.4/5
Sweatcoin is available in multiple countries, including Canada and the U.S. Check out our review of the app.
10. Mistplay
If you are into online games, Mistplay offers rewards when you play games on the platform.
It is available on Google Play and has a 4/5 rating.
You can redeem your points for Amazon, Google Play Store, and Visa gift cards.
Top Money Earning Apps of 2023
There are a lot more opportunities available out there, and this list of money-earning apps is just a start.
You can sign up for a couple and test them to see which one better fits your schedule and lifestyle. Keep the ones that make sense for your needs.
Here are some of the best stay-at-home jobs to make money. For other ideas to make money, check the resources below:
