24 Highest Paying Apps To Make Extra Money
When it comes to making money online by using your phone, there are legitimately thousands of options these days.
However, if you've ever tried using apps to make money, you probably know that a lot of them barely pay anything. And, even worse, some of them are downright scams.
Thankfully, I've been testing out money making apps and ideas for years since my time in college. So in this post, I'm covering some of the highest paying apps out there that you can use to earn quick money and gift card rewards in your spare time.
The Highest Paying Apps
If you want to make money with your phone, this list of legit high paying apps is for you:
Table of Contents
1. Freecash
Freecash is a new rewards website that's quickly becoming one of the most popular companies in the industry.
With Freecash, you can earn in so many ways. Cash surveys, downloading apps, cash games, and shopping offers are just a few examples. And members are earning $20+ per day right now on average.
I've already earned $70 with this site without much effort. And I like that you can cash out with PayPal money, gift cards, crypto, and even free Steam games. Plus, Freecash's team adds new offers every single day to keep things interesting.
2. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys is one of my favorite paid survey platforms. And, with its recent launch of an Android and iOS app, Branded Surveys is also one of the highest paying real money apps around.
This survey site pays you with points for completing short surveys. And you can redeem your points for free PayPal cash or dozens of gift cards. It only takes $5 to cash out, so you can easily get paid the same day with this app.
Branded Surveys also has a loyalty program that pays you with bonus cash each month the more surveys you complete. If you grind out enough surveys, this bonus makes Branded Surveys one of the highest paying apps in the entire paid survey space.
3. Solitaire Cash
Want to try a fun iPhone money game? If yes, then Solitaire Cash is for you.
This win real money app lets you compete in Solitaire games with other players from around the world. You pay small entry fees to compete in tournaments, with winners earning real money for their efforts.
I've tested out this app in the past, and I like that tournament games can pay $10 to $70 or even more. So if you get on a streak, you could be looking at a fast $50 to $100 or even more.
Note that you can’t play cash games in these states: AZ, DE, LA, MT, SC, TN, and VT.
4. Rewarded Play
If you want to get paid to play Android games, then Rewarded Play is one of the best side hustles with your phone you can try.
This app pays you with coins for downloading and playing new mobile games. You then cash those coins in for free gift cards to companies like Amazon, Best Buy, Adidas and more after earning only $5.
Again, Rewarded Play is Android only, and it's only available in the United States. But I love how quick it is to cash out with. Plus, the app has dozens of games at a given time that you can download and play to earn.
Overall, it's one of the best apps that pays real money if you already spend time gaming on your phone and want the chance to earn.
5. Bingo Cash
Are you a fan of Bingo? If so, one legit high paying app you can use to make money in your spare time is Bingo Cash.
This competitive Bingo app lets you play against other players in games of classic Bingo to win cash prizes. Tournaments often have prize pools of $10 to $50 or more, so it can lead to some pretty large payouts if you're skilled at Bingo.
This gaming app is similar to apps like Blackout Bingo and Solitaire Smash. Overall, it's one of the more competitive options out there in the world of high paying apps.
Note that cash games aren't available in the following states: AZ, IN, IA, LA, ME, SC, MT, WA.
6. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a popular gpt site that I’ve been using for years since college to make extra money.
If you want an easy way to make money online, It’s the app for you. It’s also completely free to sign up for and has millions of members around the world.
What I like about Swagbucks is that is also offers a variety of ways to earn, including paid surveys, shopping offers, downloading apps, and playing games.
Points you earn, known as SB, are redeemable for a variety of free gift cards and PayPal money as well. There’s also a $5 sign up bonus for new members.
7. Cash Giraffe
Cash Giraffe is an Android gaming app that pays you with free gift cards and PayPal cash for downloading and playing new games. And the best part is that you can cash out once you earn just $0.20.
The game variety is also pretty extensive on Cash Giraffe, and the developer adds new games all the time. Plus, there are plenty of gift cards you can cash out with if you don't want cash.
Of course, Cash Giraffe won't make you $300 a day or anything crazy like that. But it's a fun way to earn rewards while gaming, and it pays you quickly.
Try out Cash Giraffe or read my Cash Giraffe review for more details!
8. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie lets you earn PayPal cash and gift cards for sharing your opinion. It’s completely free to sign up for, and it’s one of the most popular survey platforms in North America and Australia.
I like Survey Junkie since you can often find surveys that pay $1 to $2.50 or more. And since it only takes $5 to cash out, you get paid rather quickly.
This high paying app also has a more passive earning option called SJ Pulse. This program lets you share your browsing data to earn even more, and it can pay about $50 per year in free money.
Extra Reading – Is Survey Junkie Legitimate?
9. Bubble Cash
One versatile gaming app iPhone, Android, and Samsung devices for you can use to make extra cash is Bubble Cash.
This real money game lets you compete in cash games of the classic bubble popping arcade game you're probably familiar with. And the best part is that tournament games can also pay $5 to $60 or even more!
You have to pay entry fees to compete, so this app isn't for everyone. But if you're skilled at mobile games, it could be a nice way to score a fast $50 or so if you do well in tournaments.
Payouts also go to your bank account or PayPal, so you're earning actual cash. Just note that cash games aren’t available in these states: AZ, IN, IA, LA, ME, SC, MT, WA.
Start earning with Bubble Cash!
10. Uber Eats
Food delivery gigs are one popular category of high paying apps, and Uber Eats is no exception.
This delivery gig pays you to deliver food and everyday essentials to people in your city. And you can deliver via bike, car, scooter, and even on foot in some markets.
I also like this money-making app since it lets you start delivering whenever you want. This makes it a flexible side hustle, and it’s available in 6,000+ cities around the world.
As for pay, it greatly varies based on your market, potential tips, your delivery speed, and other factors. But earning $15 to $20+ per hour is certainly possible.
11. Mistplay
Mistplay is the most popular app that pays you to play games. It's available for Android devices, and it works in dozens of countries as well.
Mistplay has tons of games you can play across plenty of genres. And it adds new games regularly so there's fresh content to try. I also like Mistplay since it lets you cash out for various free gift cards at only $0.50.
Apps like Mistplay don't make you rich. But if you want to earn money with your phone while having fun, it's a legit app.
12. Pool Payday
If you're a bit of a pool expert and want to compete against other players for cash prizes, Pool Payday could be for you.
This gaming app lets you buy-in to competitive tournaments of mobile pool with people from around the world. And tournaments can pay anywhere from $5 to $55 or even more, so the earning potential is quite high.
You can cash out your winnings to your bank account or with PayPal, and Pool Payday is one of the more competitive PayPal games that pays instantly out there.
You can also play games for free to practice and have fun. But buying-in to tournaments is the main way to earn cash. If you want to earn money online without paying anything, this isn't the app for you. But for competitive gamers, Pool Payday is one of the top paying apps in the space.
Just note that cash games aren't available in a few states, including: AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, and SD.
13. Lucky Match
If you're interested in playing puzzle games for cash, one app you can checkout is Lucky Match.
This is a classic Match 3 puzzle game where you have to put your brain to the test. As you complete levels, you unlock entries to cash sweepstakes and monthly jackpots. You also win cash that you can redeem for PayPal money after you earn $7.
Sweepstakes can pay out a lot of bonus cash if you get lucky. So, it's the perfect money app to try if you enjoy a good puzzle and want the chance at some free cash.
14. DoorDash
DoorDash is a leading gig app is available in 5,000+ cities across North America. And it lets you complete deliveries for cash via bike, scooter, or car.
My good friend Grant actually made money with DoorDash and Uber Eats as a bike courier back in college. He was able to make a decent hourly income on his bike by using both apps at the same time.
DoorDash drivers also keep 100% of all their tips, and you can also earn peak pay for completing deliveries during busy periods.
15. InboxDollars
Like MyPoints and other survey apps, one of the most popular highest paying apps out there is InboxDollars.
This rewards platform is very similar to Swagbucks. It lets you make money by answering surveys, shopping online, scanning barcodes, playing games, watching ads, and completing sponsored offers.
New members also get a $5 sign up bonus, which is one of the reasons this platform is so popular. You can also cash out once you earn $10 to $15 for gift card and PayPal cash prizes. And InboxDollars has enough ways to earn to keep things a bit more interesting.
16. Nielsen Panel
If you're willing to share your data, one legit high paying app you can try is the Nielsen Mobile Panel.
Nielsen is a data collection and market research company that's been in business for decades. And it's actually willing to pay people about $50 per year for sharing data about how they browse the internet.
Each month, you earn points as long as you run the panel on your smartphone. You then redeem those points for gift cards or various cash or merchandise prizes. There's a desktop panel as well, but that one just pays you with sweepstake entries, so the mobile app is much more lucrative.
If you like this idea, you can also stack it with other passive income apps like MobileXpression and Mobile Performance Meter.
17. Steady
Steady helps connect people with side hustles that are a good match. All you have to do is download the free app, answer a short questionnaire, and then Steady matches you with potential side jobs that are a good fit.
A lot of recommendations are for gig economy jobs like Uber Eats or Instacart. But you can also find part-time work, online money-making ideas, and various instant sign up bonuses to earn with.
According to its website, Steady members earn about $5,000 – $5,500 per year in additional income. And I like that the app is free and is also personalized to your interests and skills.
18. Rover
If you enjoy spending time with animals, one of the best highest paying apps that you should try out is Rover.
This gig economy app connects pet owners with pet caretakers to help people look after their beloved pets. As a Rover contractor, you can make money in a variety of ways. But the platform is best known for its dog walking and sitting services.
Maggie, one of the writers for WebMonkey, actually made money with Rover in the past by offering walking and pet sitting services. And she was easily able to earn $15 to $20+ dollars per hour, all while spending time with dogs!
If you get a stable roster of clients, Rover can easily turn into hundreds of dollars per month in extra income. And it’s a fun side hustle if you want to spend time with animals anyway.
19. Instacart
With Instacart, you get paid to shop for people’s groceries and then deliver them to their homes. It’s similar to gigs like DoorDash, except you actually do the shopping as well, so you have to know your way around a grocery store.
Instacart batches, which is what the platform calls orders, can take around 30 minutes to an hour or more depending on how many items you have to shop for. But a good batch can easily pay $20 to $30. Shoppers also keep 100% of their tips, so a lucky delivery could be a fast $50 or more in your pocket.
20. Rakuten
Rakuten is a leading shopping extension and cash-back app that pays you with real money for shopping at thousands of retailers.
I’ve been using Rakuten since college to save money when shopping online. And in my opinion, it’s one of the best ways to earn rewards online because of how many brands it partners with.
To earn cash back, all you have to do is visit Rakuten and shop at its partners through its website. From there, cash back accumulates in your account. And Rakuten pays you quarterly via check or PayPal as long as you have at least $5 in your balance.
Plus, you can sign up with my Rakuten link to get $30 when you spend at least $30 on a qualifying shopping offer.
And, if you want even more ways to earn with this company, you can use its paid survey platform, Rakuten Insight, to get PayPal cash and Amazon gift cards.
21. Amazon Flex
If you're still looking for the highest paying apps, one option you can consider is Amazon Flex.
This driving gig pays you $18 to $25 per hour to deliver packages to Amazon customers. And you can sign up for free as long as you're 21 or older.
Most deliveries are for standard Amazon.com packages. But you can also make money by delivering Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods orders. It's a great side hustle if you have a cargo van or larger vehicle. But even smaller vehicles can qualify.
The downside of this high paying app is that there's often a waiting list. This is why many drivers stick with options like DoorDash or Instacart while waiting to get accepted by Amazon Flex.
22. PlaytestCloud
PlaytestCloud is a user-testing platform that pays you to test apps and games that are in development and to then provide feedback.
If you've ever used sites like UserTesting or TestingTime before, PlaytestCloud should feel familiar. And I like this high paying app since it pays you $10 for every short test you complete.
Since tests are so short, PlaytestCloud actually works out to about $30 per hour or so.
However, tests are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis. This is the main downside of user-testing gigs since you might not get many tests some month if you're a bit unlucky or slow to respond to invitations.
23. Shipt
With Shipt, you get paid to shop for groceries and then deliver them to people in your city. You can make about $15 to $22 per hour in a lot of markets, and you also keep 100% of all your tips.
Like other gig apps, you're responsible for tracking your own income and expenses. And Shipt doesn't pay for gas or vehicle maintenance.
However, the hourly pay plus tips makes it profitable for many people. And a lot of gig workers I know use Shipt to supplement busier apps like DoorDash or Grubhub.
24. Acorns
One final app you can test out is Acorns, a leading micro-investing app.
With Acorns, you can round-up your spare change from your daily purchases and invest that money for your future. This helps you build good habits while gradually putting your money to work in investments that match your goals.
For example, if you buy lunch for $8.45, Acorns rounds-up that purchase to $9 and invests the extra $0.55 for you.
You get to pick the types of funds Acorns invests in, but it's largely low-fee ETFs that match your risk tolerance. And you can change how much Acorns rounds-up and invests so you don't overdo it.
Acorns also has other features, like a rewards card and cash-back shopping partners. But I like that it helps you invest for income and your future, completely on autopilot.
Extra Reading – How To Make Money On Autopilot.
Tips For Getting Started
Here are a few tips that I found helpful over the years to make as much as possible:
- Set A Goal: How much money do you want to make with these apps? Is it $50 a day, $100, or more? Different apps have different levels of earning potential, so pick ones that make sense.
- Double-Up On Apps: A lot of apps are easy to use together and help you make more money per hour. For example, some people double-app with Amazon Flex and DoorDash, or any combination of driving apps, to get more orders per week.
- Have Patience: It takes time to find the money-making apps that work best for you. Trust the process, and work on chipping away at your daily, weekly, and monthly income goals.
Extra Reading – The Best Free Online Jobs That Pay Daily.
Final Thoughts
I hope my list of the highest paying apps helps you earn some extra cash or rewards, all from the palm of your hand.
The truth is that there are dozens of apps that pay you these days. Most aren't worth using, but some of them can help you make a quick buck.
Sure, you probably won't make $1,000 a day with these apps. But in combination, I think they can help anyone boost their income.
Want even more money-making ideas? Checkout:
