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When money feels tight, a side hustle can make a real difference—and the easiest way to get started is often right from your phone. Side hustle apps let you earn extra income without completely rearranging your life.
There are countless side gig apps out there, which is exactly why choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Some platforms pay you for simple tasks like surveys or watching videos, while others let you earn by delivering groceries, offering freelance services, investing, or selling items online.
The good news: most of these apps are free to join, quick to set up, and flexible enough to fit different schedules. If you want to start earning on the go, you’ll find options below that work for many lifestyles.
To help you skip the guesswork, we narrowed this list to 20 of the best side hustle apps based on earning potential, user feedback, and legitimacy. Let’s dive in.
Capitalize on your neighborhood with these side hustle apps
Postmates
Earning estimate: Results vary by city and demand. Many couriers report roughly $10–$15/hour (not including tips). Some promotions may offer a sign-up bonus (e.g., meeting a minimum number of deliveries within your first 30 days).
Postmates is an on-demand delivery platform where you get paid to drop off food, groceries, and other everyday items. If you like flexible work and want to earn on your own schedule, delivering for Postmates can be a solid option.
You choose your hours, but peak times tend to pay better. Getting started is free, and depending on your area, you may be able to deliver by bike if you don’t have a car.
| Hourly Pay | Tip % | Delivery Volume | Next Steps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $9-$14/hour | 100% | Very Good | JOIN NOW | Read Review |
See Related: 12 Best Delivery Apps and Jobs
DoorDash
Earning estimate: DoorDash advertises that Dashers can earn around $15–$25/hour in some markets. Many drivers report earning per delivery (often with tips) and completing about two to three deliveries per hour depending on demand.
DoorDash is popular because Dashers keep 100% of tips. The app makes money by charging partner restaurants a fee on each order.
Once a customer places an order, the request is offered to nearby Dashers, who pick up the food and deliver it. Like most delivery gigs, you’ll cover operating costs such as gas, insurance, phone data, and taxes.
| Hourly Pay | Tip % | Delivery Volume | Next Steps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10-$14/hour | 100% | Excellent | SIGN UP | Read Review |
Instacart
Earning estimate: Instacart suggests shoppers can earn up to about $25/hour in some locations. Real-world earnings often fall around $10–$20/hour before tips, depending on order volume and your market.
This grocery delivery app matches customers with personal shoppers. You’ll receive orders on your phone, shop at local stores, and deliver to the customer’s doorstep. Flexibility is a major perk, but you’ll pay your own expenses like gas and parking.
Pay can rise during busy periods and drop during slower hours. Compensation is typically influenced by factors like number of orders, size of orders, and local demand.
| Hourly Pay | Tip % | Delivery Volume | Next Steps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10-$14/hour | 100% (Check Policy) | Decent | BECOME A SHOPPER |
Rover
Earning estimate: Many sitters report around $1,000/month depending on availability, services offered, and local demand.
Rover is a marketplace for pet services—great if you prefer a side hustle that doesn’t involve driving food around town. Pet owners use Rover to find dog walkers, sitters, and boarding options nearby.
You can offer services like dog walking, drop-in visits, overnight sitting, or boarding. Rover requires a background check, and you’ll typically need your own supplies (leashes, poop bags, crates, toys, etc.).
Airbnb
Earning estimate: Depends on pricing, location, and occupancy. Many hosts average around $945/month, while top-performing Superhosts can earn more.
If you have an extra room—or even an entire place you can rent—Airbnb can turn unused space into income. The basic steps are straightforward: create a listing, upload quality photos, set availability and pricing, approve bookings, and host guests.
You can add house rules, adjust pricing for seasons, and fine-tune your calendar to fit your schedule. Airbnb also provides host protections (up to $1M for certain damages), though taxes and local regulations vary by location.
See Related: 10 Pros and Cons of Airbnb Hosting
Get paid for doing simple tasks with these side hustle apps
InboxDollars
Earning estimate: Many tasks pay small amounts (e.g., a few cents for emails/videos), while surveys and offers can pay more. Some users average modest hourly earnings. New users may receive a sign-up bonus (commonly around $5).
If you have downtime and a smartphone, InboxDollars lets you earn by completing quick activities like surveys, games, videos, and reading promotional emails.
You can also try special offers (sometimes including free trials) for higher payouts. Unlike many survey platforms that pay in points, InboxDollars is known for offering cash-based rewards.
| Earn Per Activity | Payment Method | Min To Cash Out | Next Steps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to $5 | Cash & Gift Cards | $30 | CLAIM BONUS | Read Full Review |
See Related: InboxDollars Review: Can You Make Legit Money?
Swagbucks
Earning estimate: Many regular users report modest monthly earnings (often a few dollars), with occasional boosts from offers. New users may receive a sign-up bonus (commonly around $10).
Swagbucks is a well-known “get paid to” app. You can earn by taking surveys, watching videos, playing games, shopping online, and even using Swagbucks as a search tool.
Instead of cash immediately, you earn SB points that can be redeemed for PayPal deposits or gift cards (Amazon, Target, Starbucks, and more). Typically, 100 SB equals $1, and many surveys pay around 40–100 SB.
Cash-back shopping is another strong feature—earning SB when you buy through their links (offers vary by store).
| Earn Per Activity | Payment Method | Min To Cash Out | Next Steps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.4 – $2 | PayPal or Gift Cards | $3 | CLAIM BONUS | Read Full Review |
See Related: Swagbucks Review: How Much Money Can You Make?
Pinecone Research
Earning estimate: Often around $3 per survey, and some product tests may pay more (commonly around $6 per test).
Pinecone Research is known for higher-than-average payouts, but it’s not as open as many survey apps. Membership can be invite-based or limited, often accessed through targeted ads.
Surveys commonly take 15–30 minutes, and users typically earn a set amount per completed survey. If you qualify, you may also get invited to product testing opportunities.
Rewards can be redeemed via PayPal, check, prepaid cards, gift cards, or Amazon options (availability may vary).
See Related: Pinecone Research Review: Make Money with Surveys
MyPoints
Estimated earnings: Users commonly report roughly $1–$3/hour depending on tasks and available offers.
MyPoints has been around since the 1990s and rewards users for surveys and everyday online activities. It’s one of the longer-running rewards programs in the space.
You can earn points by taking surveys, shopping, reading emails, watching videos, searching online, printing coupons, playing games, and referring friends. Once you reach the minimum threshold, you can redeem for gift cards or cash options like PayPal or prepaid cards.
| Earn Per Activity | Payment Method | Min To Cash Out | Next Steps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2.5 | PayPal or Gift Cards | $3 | CLAIM BONUS | Read Full Review |
Survey Junkie
Estimated earnings: Many surveys pay roughly $1–$10, often taking 5–10 minutes depending on length and qualification.
Survey Junkie is one of the largest survey platforms, with millions of members. Brands use it for market research, and users get rewarded for sharing opinions.
The mobile app is clean and easy to navigate, making it convenient to answer surveys during breaks or while commuting (as a passenger). You earn points per survey; typically 100 points equals $1. Cash-out options commonly include PayPal or gift cards once you meet the minimum threshold.
| Earn Per Activity | Payment Method | Min To |
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