BEST money making apps to earn you easy cash (2024)

Use money making apps to earn some extra quick cash in no time. These free smartphone apps can put money in your pocket with little effort.

Phones aren’t cheap, but (no matter what a few people say) they are now an essential item to have, not just for staying in touch with people, but for managing your finances and dealing with any HMRC issues.

To compensate for its hefty cost, get savvy and start using your phone to earn cash with some money making apps!

Skint Dad has searched the universe (well the Google Play and App Store) and tested apps to bring together a list of free money making apps that will put cash in your pocket.

Money making apps

Finding apps that pay you real money is easy as we’ve got the best one listed all in one place.

Whether you scan receipts, take surveys, voice your opinion, or play games, these apps can turn your spare time into a money-making machine!

Survey apps

Swagbucks

Join Swagbucks here for a £10 signup bonus!

• Pros:
  • Multiple earning methods: Surveys, videos, shopping, and more.
  • Frequent rewards: Offers a variety of reward options, including gift cards and PayPal cash.
• Cons:
  • Low survey availability: Sometimes there aren’t many surveys available.

With Swagbucks, you earn SB (or Swagbucks) for doing things like completing surveys, playing games, shopping, watching videos or using their site as a search engine.

While you aren’t able to do everything via their apps, you can use their SB Answer app or their Trivia and Money app to earn a few SB on the go.

The points add up quickly enough for you to cash out. Read up on this full Swagbucks UK review by Skint Dad contributor Lorna who (at the point in writing) had earned over £100 in Amazon vouchers!

Cashback apps

CheckoutSmart

CheckoutSmart is a great tool to earn cashback on your supermarket shop.

After you’ve been shopping, you are able to upload your receipt to their app. However, if you don’t have a flashy smartphone then you can upload the receipt directly to their website too! Read up on my full Checkout Smart review.

Deals are updated each week.

Quidco

• Pros:
  • High cashback rates: Often provides better rates compared to other cashback sites.
  • Wide retailer network: Partnered with a vast range of stores.
• Cons:
  • Payout delays: Cashback can take a long time to be confirmed and paid out.
  • Potential for declined cashback: Transactions might not always track properly.

Quidco allows you to earn cashback on your everyday spending online, from clothes to toys to insurances.

You search for the retailer or service provider, click through their link and you’ll earn money back.

TopCashback

• Pros:
  • No minimum payout: You can withdraw any amount of cashback.
  • Generous referral program: Earn bonuses for referring friends.
• Cons:
  • Customer service: Users sometimes report issues with getting timely support.
  • Tracking issues: Occasionally, purchases might not track correctly.

In the same way as Quidco, TopCashback offers cashback on your shopping. They have exclusive deals, and cashback amounts can vary to Quidco, but they offer a price match.

Take a look at some of the other best cashback sites.

Gig economy apps

TaskRabbit

• Pros:
  • Flexible work: Choose tasks that fit your schedule.
  • Set your rates: Control how much you earn by setting your own fees.
• Cons:
  • Service fees: TaskRabbit takes a cut of your earnings.
  • Job availability: Dependent on demand in your area.

TaskRabbit connects you with people who need help with everyday tasks, like assembling furniture or running errands. You set your rates and availability.

Deliveroo

• Pros:
  • Flexible hours: Work when you want.
  • Performance-based pay: Earn more during peak times and for long-distance deliveries.
• Cons:
  • Wear and tear: Delivery work can be hard on your bike or vehicle.
  • Weather dependency: Earnings can fluctuate with weather conditions.

Deliveroo offers a flexible way to make money by delivering food.

You can choose your working hours and earn based on the number of deliveries you complete.

How much do Just Eat drivers earn?

Uber

You can deliver food with Ube, but you can also be a driver and work as a taxi service.

Picking hours to suit you can be very flexible and fit around your other commitments.

How much do UK Uber drivers make?

Passive income apps

Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel

• Pros:
  • Passive income: Earn rewards just for having the app installed.
  • Privacy-focused: Ensures your data is anonymized and secure.
• Cons:
  • Small rewards: Earnings are relatively low.
  • Limited participation: Not always available to new participants.

By simply installing the Nielsen app, you can earn rewards while the app tracks your internet usage.

It’s a passive way to make some extra cash without doing anything!

Investments apps

Plum

• Pros:
  • Automated savings: Saves money for you based on spending habits.
  • Investment options: Allows you to invest your savings easily.
• Cons:
  • Subscription fees: Some features require a paid subscription.

Plum helps you save and invest money effortlessly.

It analyses your spending and automatically saves small amounts, which can be invested in various funds.

Moneybox

• Pros:
  • Easy investment: Invest spare change effortlessly.
  • Educational: Helps users learn about investing.
• Cons:
  • Fees and access: Charges a subscription fee for its services and you cannot get the money from LISA without paying a withdrawal fee.
  • Market risk: Investments can lose value, especially in volatile markets.

Moneybox rounds up your everyday purchases to the nearest pound and invests the spare change.

It’s an easy way to start investing in a LISA (Lifetime ISA) to put towards buying your first home.

Freelance apps

Fiverr

• Pros:
  • Global platform: Reach clients from all over the world.
  • Set your prices: Control how much you charge for your services.
• Cons:
  • Service fees: Fiverr takes a percentage of your earnings.
  • Competitive: High competition can make it hard to get started.

Fiverr allows you to offer freelance services, from graphic design to writing.

You set your prices and get paid for each completed task.

Upwork

• Pros:
  • Variety of projects: Find work in numerous fields.
  • Long-term contracts: Potential for ongoing work with clients.
• Cons:
  • Service fees: Upwork charges a fee on your earnings.
  • Job competition: Highly competitive, especially for popular skills.

Upwork connects freelancers with clients looking for specific skills.

You can find short-term or long-term projects in various fields, such as web development or marketing.

Selling apps

Vinted

Vinted is perfect for selling clothes, accessories, and even handmade items.

As a seller, you pay no fees, so you keep more cash for yourself!

eBay

eBay is a well-known platform where you can sell almost anything.

It’s a great way to declutter and make money from items you no longer need.

Receipt apps

Amazon Shopper Panel

• Pros:
  • Easy to earn: Upload receipts to earn points.
  • Payout: Guaranteed payout each month for little effort
• Cons:
  • Data sharing: You may feel that it asks for a lot of data.
  • Limited rewards: Fewer options for redeeming points.

Amazon Shopper Panel pays you for receipts from other shops. You can also earn with short surveys.

If you upload 10 receipts in 30 days, you guarantee £5 which pays out as Amazon credit once a month.

Check out how to watch ads for money.

And, when you’ve started to make extra money, to allow it to grow over time, look at using one of the best investment apps.