Your phone can be a tool for earning extra money, whether you want a few dollars a week or a serious side income. Some apps connect you with paid work, others help you sell items, earn cashback or get paid for feedback. But many apps overpromise, and some are scams. This guide covers the best types of apps to make money in 2027, realistic earnings and how to avoid traps.
Availability, pay rates and features vary by country and change over time.
Best apps to make money by category
| Category | Popular apps | Typical earning potential |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery and rideshare | Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart | Part-time to full-time income, minus vehicle costs |
| Task and handyman | TaskRabbit, Thumbtack, Angi | $20 to $80+ per hour depending on skill |
| Pet care | Rover, Wag | $15 to $50+ per service |
| Freelancing | Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer | Varies widely by skill |
| Selling items | Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Poshmark, Depop, Mercari, Vinted | Depends on items sold |
| Cashback and rewards | Rakuten, Ibotta, Fetch, Honey | Small savings or a few dollars per month |
| Surveys | Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, Prolific | A few dollars to small monthly amounts |
| User testing | UserTesting, Userlytics, TryMyUI | $10 to $60 per test |
| Tutoring | Wyzant, Preply, Varsity Tutors | $15 to $60+ per hour |
| Micro tasks and AI training | Various data annotation platforms | $15 to $40 per hour for skilled tasks |
| Investing and savings | Brokerage apps, high-yield savings apps | Interest and investment returns over time |
Gig work apps
Gig apps pay the most for many people because they pay for real work. Delivery and rideshare apps offer flexibility, but you pay for fuel, maintenance, insurance and taxes. Task apps like TaskRabbit let you earn more with skills such as furniture assembly, moving help and minor repairs.
Freelancing apps
If you have skills in writing, design, video editing, programming or virtual assistance, freelancing apps connect you with clients. Earnings grow as you build reviews. See how to make money on Upwork as a beginner and how to become a virtual assistant.
Selling apps
Selling unused items is one of the fastest ways to earn cash. Clothing, electronics, furniture and collectibles sell well. Some people turn reselling into a business by buying underpriced items. See how to make money selling on eBay and how to make money flipping furniture.
Cashback and rewards apps
These apps give money back on shopping and receipts. They will not replace income, but they add up if you use them for purchases you already make.
Frequently asked questions
Which app pays the most?
Gig and freelance apps usually pay the most because they pay for real work or skills.
Are survey apps worth it?
They pay small amounts. Good for spare minutes, not real income.
Testing and feedback apps
User testing apps pay you to try websites and apps while recording your screen and speaking your thoughts. Tests usually take 10 to 30 minutes. Research platforms pay for academic studies and surveys, often more fairly than typical survey apps. These are flexible but not consistent income.
Tutoring and teaching apps
Tutoring platforms connect you with students for school subjects, test prep and languages. Rates depend on your expertise and reviews. Language teaching apps let native and fluent speakers teach conversation online. See how to start a tutoring business.
AI training and data annotation apps
AI companies pay people to evaluate chatbot responses, label data and write examples. Skilled tasks in math, coding, law, medicine or writing often pay more. Work availability can be unpredictable, so treat it as flexible extra income.
Realistic earnings comparison
| App type | Time commitment | Realistic monthly earnings (part time) |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery and rideshare | 10 to 20 hours weekly | Several hundred to over $1,000 before expenses |
| Task apps | Flexible | Hundreds to thousands with good reviews |
| Freelancing | Flexible | Varies widely by skill and client base |
| Selling items | A few hours weekly | Depends on inventory |
| Tutoring | 5 to 10 hours weekly | Several hundred dollars or more |
| User testing | A few tests weekly | $50 to $200 |
| Surveys and cashback | Spare minutes | $10 to $50 |
Earnings depend heavily on location, demand, skills and effort.
Hidden costs to consider
| Cost | Applies to |
|---|---|
| Fuel, maintenance, depreciation | Delivery and rideshare |
| Platform fees and commissions | Freelancing and selling apps |
| Shipping and packaging | Selling apps |
| Equipment | Tutoring (headset, camera), task apps (tools) |
| Taxes | All self-employment income |
| Insurance | Driving and task work |
Track expenses to understand your real hourly rate. See how to file taxes as a freelancer.
How to spot money-making app scams
- Upfront fees: legitimate apps do not charge you to start earning
- Task scams: apps that pay small amounts at first, then ask you to deposit money to unlock bigger tasks
- Unrealistic promises: earn $500 a day watching videos
- Withdrawal problems: high minimum payouts that are nearly impossible to reach
- Requests for personal data: asking for bank logins or ID without clear need
- Fake reviews: many identical five-star reviews
Check reviews from trusted sources and search the app name with the word scam before investing time.
Tips to maximize earnings
- Focus on one or two apps rather than spreading yourself thin.
- Work during peak hours for gig apps, such as meal times and weekends.
- Build ratings with great service.
- Raise rates on freelance and task apps as reviews grow.
- Combine apps strategically, like delivery and rideshare on the same shift.
- Track time and expenses to calculate true earnings.
- Set aside money for taxes.
Real examples
The student. Kayla tutors math online for six hours a week and does user tests between classes, earning enough to cover her phone bill and groceries.
The declutterer. Mark sold old electronics, furniture and clothes over a month and made over $1,200.
The handyman. Tony offers furniture assembly on a task app on weekends and earns more per hour than at his old part-time job.
Choosing apps based on your situation
| Situation | Best app types |
|---|---|
| Have a car and free evenings | Delivery and rideshare |
| Handy with tools | Task and handyman apps |
| Love animals | Pet sitting and dog walking apps |
| Professional skills | Freelance platforms |
| Lots of unused stuff | Selling apps |
| Teaching ability | Tutoring apps |
| Very little time | Cashback, receipt scanning, occasional user tests |
| Want long-term wealth | Savings and investing apps |
Safety tips for gig work
- Share your location with a trusted person during gigs
- Meet buyers in public places when selling items
- Use in-app payments and messaging
- Trust your instincts and decline uncomfortable jobs
- Keep insurance coverage appropriate for your work
Frequently asked questions
Can I make money with apps without a car?
Yes. Freelancing, tutoring, user testing, selling and pet care apps do not require a car.
Do I need to pay taxes on app earnings?
Generally yes. Many apps issue tax forms when you reach certain thresholds, but all income is taxable.
How fast can I get paid?
Many gig apps offer instant cash out for a small fee, while others pay weekly.
Trends in money-making apps for 2027
- More AI-related work: rating AI outputs and creating training data
- Hybrid gig platforms: apps offering delivery, rides and tasks in one place
- Creator monetization: short video apps paying creators and affiliates directly
- Resale growth: secondhand fashion and electronics continue to grow
- Faster payouts: instant transfers becoming standard
- Stronger worker protections: some regions introducing minimum pay rules for gig workers
Staying flexible and building skills lets you take advantage of new opportunities as apps evolve.
A simple 30-day plan
| Week | Action |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Sell five unused items on a resale app |
| Week 2 | Sign up for one skill-based app, like tutoring or freelancing |
| Week 3 | Complete your first paid jobs and gather reviews |
| Week 4 | Review earnings and expenses, keep the best app and drop the rest |
Focus on apps that pay you for real value, and treat small reward apps as bonuses rather than income.
Combining apps for steady income
Many successful app earners stack complementary apps to reduce downtime:
| Combination | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Delivery plus rideshare | Switch apps depending on demand |
| Freelancing plus user testing | Fill gaps between client projects |
| Tutoring plus AI training tasks | Use subject expertise in two ways |
| Reselling plus cashback apps | Earn on purchases and sales |
| Pet sitting plus dog walking | Serve the same clients with multiple services |
Final thoughts
The best apps to make money in 2027 are those that pay for real skills and work: gig apps, freelancing, tutoring, task apps and resale platforms. Cashback, receipts and survey apps can add small extras but will not replace income. Avoid apps that charge upfront or promise unrealistic pay, track your expenses and set aside money for taxes. For more ways to earn, read how to make money online as a teen and how to make money from home with no experience.
The bottom line
The best apps to make money in 2027 are gig, freelance, selling and tutoring apps for real income, with cashback and survey apps as small extras. Avoid any app that asks you to pay to earn. Also read best passive income ideas for 2027.