If you want to start a side hustle you’ll feel overwhelmed when you start researching your options. Starting an online business sounds great on paper.

But if you need to make money fast and have a busy schedule starting a business isn’t an option.

Luckily your next moneymaking idea might already be in your pocket. There are apps that pay you real money and free gift cards you can download to start making money today.

Not all of these apps will make you rich but you can make a difference in your finances when you combine a few of them.

Survey and Game Apps

If you want to make money fast in your free time survey and game apps are the way to go.

Companies will pay for your feedback and to try new mobile games. These apps take more effort than cash-back reward apps but are great for using on the go or at home.

1. Survey Junkie

Many survey sites are a waste of time because they barely pay and take months to cash out.

Luckily Survey Junkie, a leader in the paid survey space, sets the standard for what to look for in a survey site.

Once you sign up for a free Survey Junkie account you’ll fill out a questionnaire that matches you to surveys. This reduces your disqualification rate and makes the surveys more interesting. Many survey sites will disqualify you mid-survey which is a waste of time so this is a nice feature.

You can take surveys on your computer but Survey Junkie also has an Android and iOS app. You may pay out via PayPal, direct transfer, or free gift cards. And you only need $5 in your account to cash out which is achievable after completing a few surveys.

Link: https://www.surveyjunkie.com/

2. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is another paid survey website where you may make additional money in your leisure time.

InboxDollars is another paid survey site you can use to make extra money in your free time. Unlike Survey Junkie, InboxDollars has more than surveys and lets you earn by:

• Playing games
• Using scratch-and-win tickets
• Taking polls and watching videos
• Earning cash back for shopping
• Trying coupon codes

There’s a $5 sign-up bonus. You need $30 to cash out, but the variety of ways to earn and sign-up bonus will get you there faster. Redemption options are PayPal or check.

Try InboxDollars if you want more ways to earn than Survey Junkie and Mistplay.

Link: https://www.inboxdollars.com/

3. Swagbucks

If you like the variety of ways to earn on InboxDollars, Swagbucks is another option to earn rewards in your free time.

Swagbucks is one of the most well known companies out there and pays out 7,000 free gift cards every day to members according to their website. With Swagbucks you earn points by:

• Taking surveys and daily polls
• Playing games
• Downloading apps
• Shopping online
• Watching videos
• Searching the web

Surveys are the most consistent way to earn points, but Swagbucks has some nice cash back rewards if you shop online at their partners.

Swagbucks has apps for Android and iOS, as well as an online version.. Reward variety is also a bonus, with options to redeem for PayPal, charitable donations and gift cards to Amazon, Walmart, Boston’s Pizza, Starbucks and Best Buy.

You won’t get rich from this platform but Swagbucks has plenty of ways to earn so you have control over how you earn rewards. And the cash out threshold is lower than most competitors which is nice for occasional users.

Link: https://www.swagbucks.com/

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4. Freecash

Freecash is a 5 star app that pays real cash when you complete offers on the app.

With Freecash you can get paid for:

• Playing games
• Taking surveys
• Depositing
• Signing up for apps
• Buying

The app is free to use. Once you sign up with your email address you can browse through thousands of offers and use filters to find what you like.

Freecash says most users cash out within 17 minutes.

Before you choose an offer you can see the earning potential and popularity rating based on how many people have done it.

When you’re ready to cash out you canhoose between PayPal, gift cards, bank transfers, or crypto payouts, making Freecash one of our top choices for earning with flexibility.

Link: https://freecash.com/

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Cash-Back Apps

You’re losing out on free money if you’re not getting paid to shop. With cash-back reward apps you get real money and gift cards for making everyday purchases through your phone.

5. Capital One Shopping

Capital One Shopping is a moneymaking app that’s a little different than your average reward app.

Like Rakuten, Capital One Shopping has a browser extension that applies coupon codes at checkout to help you save money online. But the Android and iOS apps are nice to have in your back pocket too.

In fact the app is just a mobile version of the Capital One Shopping website. With the app you can:

• Earn credits that can be redeemed for free gift cards by shopping from Capital One Shopping partners
• Capital One Shopping helps you find amazing deals at unbeatable prices
• Use the app to shop online and use coupons to save money.

If you just want cash-back rewards, Rakuten is the way to go. But if you’re shopping for a big ticket item, Capital One Shopping’s price comparison tool will find you huge savings. Plus, free gift cards are a bonus.

Link : https://capitaloneshopping.com/

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6. Drop

Drop is a US and Canadian rewards app you need to download if you shop often.

With Drop you earn gift cards for shopping at brands you love. To get started with Drop:

• Download Drop for Android or iOS.
• Link the debit and credit cards you use to shop to your Drop account.
• Search Drop for cash back offers at brands and retailers you love.
• Use your connected card to shop in-store or online for those deals to accrue Drop points.

Once you accumulate 25 or 25,000 points, you may exchange Drop points for gift cards. Amazon, Boston’s Pizza, Starbucks, Sephora, iTunes, Gap, and more than a dozen other stores provide gift card alternatives.

A $25 redemption minimum sounds excessive but many Drop deals give 100 points or more for dollar you spend.

Link: https://www.rewardsdrop.com/

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7. Rakuten

While Rakuten is most famous for its money saving browser extension, the Rakuten app is a free app that pays you cash rewards.

Like the web version, Rakuten’s app lets you shop online to earn cash back at thousands of stores. Other features of the app include:

• Earning cash back for Lyft rides
• In-store cash-back opportunities
• 5% cash back at thousands of restaurants

Plus the app has mobile coupons to help you save more. Your Rakuten account is credited with any cash back you get. You get paid quarterly by check or PayPal as long as you have at least $5 in your balancee.

Link: https://www.rakuten.com/

8. Dosh

If you like Drop but don’t want to preselect offers before shopping to earn, Dosh is the best app that pays.

Like Drop, you link your payment cards to Dosh and the app tracks your spending. But you don’t have to search for offers before you shop. Dosh pays you cash back when you shop at an eligible partner.

Because Dosh has hundreds of partners, there’s no shortage of ways to earn. Shop at Walmart, Macy’s, Domino’s, Sam’s Club and Target and earn cash back automatically.

You can cash out your balance through PayPal, Venmo or direct deposit once you reach $25. This takes longer than Rakuten’s $5 minimum but is completely hands off.

Link: https://www.dosh.com/

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9. Ibotta

Ibotta lets you activate in-store and online offers to earn cash back. Like other apps, you select the offers you want to buy before you go to the store.

When you’re done shopping, upload a receipt through the app for proof of purchase. Ibotta also lets you link loyalty cards to certain stores so earning points is automatic.

Ibotta works with:

• Kohl’s
• Walgreens
• Petsmart
• Walmart
• Staples
• Sears

Groceries and household items are Ibotta’s main focus but you can also earn cash back on electronics, clothing, cosmetics, and health and wellness items. Redeem your balance when you reach $20 through PayPal, Venmo or Gift Card

Link: https://home.ibotta.com/

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10. Fetch Rewards

Of all the apps like Ibotta out there, Fetch Rewards is probably the most newbie-friendly.

Unlike most grocery reward apps, Fetch Rewards doesn’t make shopping complicated by pre-selecting rebates and building your grocery list. You shop for brands you love and upload your receipt to Fetch Rewards. If partner brands are on your receipt, you earn points, no questions asked.

Fetch Rewards has dozens of brand partners:

• Aquafina
• Pepsi
• Maxwell House
• Cheerios
• Hershey’s
• Kraft
• Yoplait

And Fetch Rewards also partners with personal care brands, beer companies, and baby products to help you save beyond groceries.

You only need 3,000 points, or $3, to redeem most gift card rewards. So you can realistically earn rewards from a single trip. Fetch Rewards lets you redeem gift cards to Amazon, Sephora, GameStop, Old Navy, Staples, Dunkin’ Donuts, and dozens more.

Link: https://fetch.com/

Final Word

You can say technology is opening doors for people to better their financial situation. Thanks to technology you can work remotely, start an online side hustle, and even use apps to make money.

Many moneymaking apps and side hustles won’t replace your full-time income. For maximum money, stick to selling applications and taking on gigs. For a casual side gig, the other categories of apps are good enough.

But if you’re living paycheck to paycheck or just want to add to your monthly income, there’s no harm in trying something new.