Need Extra Cash? Use These 9 Top Side Hustle Apps

Written By Marie Abendroth
Last updated July 28, 2021

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Personal Finance
July 28, 2021

Simple. Thrifty. Living.

Wouldn’t it be nice to skip staying on budget in favor of splurging on delicious takeout food, a trip to the movies, or a new pair of shoes? If you’d like to make that happen without wreaking havoc on your financial health, simply look to your phone for ways to make money in your downtime. Not sure where to start? Just use any or all of these 9 side hustle apps to bring in a little extra spending money whenever you have a spare moment.

With AppKarma, you can earn points by trying out new gaming apps on your smartphone and providing feedback. Besides playing games, you can earn scratch cards that give you a chance to win even more points.

Plus, you can refer your friends to receive 30% of whatever they earn. As you level up, you can reach VIP status for even higher rewards, including a boost on what you earn from your referrals.

You get 300 points just for signing up and can start earning more right away. Every 1,200 points equals $1, and you can cash out upon reaching $5, or 6,000 points. You can get paid in gift cards or have the money transferred to your PayPal account.

As the more serious sister site to AppKarma, CashKarma gives you even more opportunities to earn cash. Instead of playing games, you’ll complete surveys, watch videos, and sign up for special offers.

Each task you do earns you points that add up to cash payouts or gift card rewards. Your participation also allows you to earn extra bonuses that boost your earnings level.

Just signing up earns you 300 points, while referrals get you 300 points each. You’ll need to earn at least 12,500 points to cash out. Which, in turn will get you $10 in your PayPal account. They also have gift card rewards if you prefer.

Available on iOS and Android, Money Machine lets you earn points by completing surveys, watching videos, playing games, and simply checking in each day. When you refer friends, even more points land in your account, plus you get a bonus when they start using the app.

You can then cash out the points for gift cards or deposit them in your PayPal account once you hit at least $50. Every 1,000 points equals $1, so you’ll have to let your total build to 50,000 before requesting your money.

As a UserFeel tester, you earn money by providing your input on app and website content, functionality, and much more. Like most side hustle apps, you can easily participate on your Apple or Android phone, although they also have testing opportunities for tablet and computer users.

No matter which platform you use, you get $10 per test after the client approves your results. Depending on your preferences, your payment will come through either PayPal or Amazon gift cards.

By downloading the Swagbucks app on your iOS or Android device, you can earn gift cards to your favorite stores or even get cash payments. Through the app, you can earn money by completing surveys, exploring branded content, and playing games. You can also get cashback while shopping online, helping you save even more money on each purchase.

Just for signing up, you’ll get a $10 bonus to kick off your experience with side hustle apps. Once you reach $25, you can decide to cash out by having the money sent to PayPal or selecting a gift card.

Only available for Android at this time, Mistplay gives you a chance to earn rewards for playing games. The longer you play, the more rewards you earn–and you don’t even have to be at the wheel the whole time.

As the games run, the system keeps awarding credits, letting you earn passive income while you’re otherwise preoccupied. You can also earn 50 points for every person you refer, and they get 50 points for signing up through your referral link.

Every 1,500 to 1,800 points gives you $5, which you can redeem for rewards of all kinds, including prepaid virtual Visa cards and Amazon gift cards. Unlike many other side hustle apps, you cannot get cash payments at this time.

Gamehag lets you play high-quality games on your iOS or Android device while earning money along the way. All the games are free to play and include popular titles like World of Warships, Sword Art Online, Life is Feudal, Roblox, and Maple Story 2.

As you play each title, you earn soul gems that can be turned in for rewards. Other ways to earn gems include completing quests, referring friends, and completing special offers.

Every 500 soul gems equals $1 to $3, depending on your location. You can choose to spend your rewards on in-game items, like Robux and skins. Or you can save up for a prepaid Mastercard, Twitch gift card, or random basic and premium Steam CD-keys.

When it comes to hitting your wellness goals, an accountability buddy is key. Especially if they’re willing to pay for your participation. If that sounds like a dream come true, try the Achievement app on your Android or Apple phone.

Through this app, you can earn points for tracking your wellness goals and taking part in health research studies. Everything from completing surveys to putting in your daily steps can earn you points.

Once you hit 10,000 points, you can cash out your $10 by sending the payment to PayPal or directly depositing it into your bank account. If you’re in a good spot financially, you can donate your points to a charity of your choice instead.

Available for both Apple and Android devices, Poll Pay is a great way to earn money while completing surveys in your free time. The app shows you just how long each survey will take to complete, so you can perfectly time each activity to fit into your schedule. You also get to know how much each survey pays out before you answer the questions.

Payouts start at $5 and climb from there. You can cash out enough for your small daily purchases or save up for a big outing later on. Then, you can choose to have the money sent to your PayPal or get a gift card instead.

Just a Little Extra

Although these side hustle apps won’t kick off your rags to riches story, they can help you buy those little extras that keep your motivation levels up. Just remember to pull out your phone and engage with the apps whenever you’re just sitting around. This will help you slowly build your balances. Then, cash out and splurge on whatever makes you happy–Hello, delicious cheeseburgers!–before starting all over again.

About the Author

Marie Abendroth

Marie is a skilled content strategist and copywriter with a focus on helping people improve their personal finances and overcome their barriers to success. In her articles, she aims to provide up-to-date info that can help everyone better understand how to invest in a better future.  

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