17 Great Apps That Will Pay You Real Money in 2021. By Angie Nelson. Last Updated February 5, 2021. Disclosure: We may receive compensation if you sign up for or purchase products linked below. Details on offers may change, and you should confirm them with the company prior to taking action. The popular Blackout Bingo game app turns classic bingo from a game of luck into a game of speed and skill. Each game only takes about 2 minutes to play, and you can earn real-world rewards and cash prizes (except in AZ, AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, MT, SC, SD, and TN).

It seems like everyone has a smartphone these days. While there are some definite downsides to a culture that’s always connected, these phones have many benefits. One benefit is the sheer number of apps that are available. You no longer need to carry a separate calculator, PDA, MP3 device, or any number of items. Your smartphone takes care of that. There’s pretty much an app for everything, including apps to help you make money from your phone.

Each app below is legit. You won’t find any scams here. Additionally, you won’t find money-making apps that rarely have opportunities available. You don’t want to waste your time sitting and refreshing an app a dozen times, just hoping that something appears.

You will find a variety of apps below. Since everyone is different, my goal was to have this list include at least one that would be a good match for you. With this list, you’re bound to find something of interest, whether you enjoy snapping pictures inside of stores, or earning passive income through investing. There’s definitely a lot of earning potential here, so dive in and see what will work for you.

To help you earn more, here are tips for increasing your earnings, plus my favorite 17 apps that pay you money.

Tips to Earn More with Money Making Apps

If you decide to sign up for any of these apps that pay you money, I highly recommend making a list. Keep track of your login information and record how often payments are made. If there’s a minimum threshold before you’re eligible for payment, document that as well. You want to have the information you need easily available.

Remember to use the apps. If you never log into them, you won’t be able to earn.

Because of this, I recommend starting with only one or two. Once you’ve made regularly checking in a habit, go ahead and download a few more. But, if you download everything all at once, you are going to be overwhelmed and you may not ever make any money with all these apps. They’ll just be sitting on your phone taking up space.

Always read the offers carefully. You need to follow the direction closely, or you will not be eligible for the rewards. Also, make sure you understand any risk potential, such as when you are betting on weight loss or investing in the market.

Check into your accounts regularly and make sure the balance is what you are expecting. If there’s an error, you want to catch it right away. Knowing your balance will also help you keep track of which app you can pull money from if you need quick cash.

Apps really are a fun way to earn money on the side. So, pick your favorite from the list below and get started.

1. Ibotta

Do you ever go grocery shopping? Almost everyone does! Everyone needs to eat.

That’s what I love about Ibotta. You get money for doing something you’re already doing. This app is phenomenal. I’ve been using it for years, and have earned over $1,200 in a calendar year. That’s not bad money for doing something as simple as scanning your receipts.

Ibotta is similar to using coupons, except you don’t have to subscribe to the newspaper or remember to bring your cut out bits of paper to the store with you. Instead, you do the following:

Download the app and register for a free account
Login and select your favorite stores from the list of available options
Browse the offers and add some that correspond to the items you want to purchase
Complete optional tasks to unlock even more offers
Read the details for each offer to make sure you know exclusions that may apply
Head to the stores and go buy the things on your list (and remember to pick up the things from your offers!)
Redeem your offer in one of three ways:
1. Scan your receipt
2. Connect your loyalty card (you must do this before you go shopping!)
3. Allow online shopping retailers to submit your receipt on your behalf (you can read more about this on the iBotta website here.)
Earn money. It’s deposited into your account within 48 hours. You can request cash through PayPal or Venmo, or a gift card. There is a $20 threshold before you can withdraw cash, and some gift cards require $25.

It’s a straightforward way to get some cash for the things you were planning on buying anyways, so sign up today. For a limited time, you can get $10 when you sign up through this link.

2. Swagbucks

Have you heard of Swagbucks? It’s another one of my personal favorite money-making apps. With this one, you earn points called Swagbucks (SB) for doing a variety of things. You can take surveys, search the web through their search engine, play online games, or go shopping.

Many of my readers love that they can earn SB by simply watching videos when they are folding laundry or have another few minutes to spare. Once you reach a certain number of SB, you can cash them out as gift cards to hundreds of merchants, or you can request cash through PayPal.

To learn more about earning with Swagbucks, read this post:

3. Shopkick

Are you looking some unique ways to earn some cash with your phone? Download Shopkick and give it a try! With Shopkick you can earn “kicks” and redeem them for gift cards or other rewards.

This app lets you earn “kicks” in six different ways:

Walking into specified stores (no purchase necessary)
Scanning barcodes on specific items (no purchase necessary)
Scanning a receipt after purchasing a certain item
Making a purchase with a linked card
Making online purchases
Watching videos (no purchase necessary)

When you earn kicks, you can redeemed them for gift cards and other rewards. It’s definitely a fun app, as you never know what you will earn kicks for doing. Many of my readers indicate they’ve been able to earn at least one gift card each week, just by doing these simple tasks and collecting kicks.

Download the app for iOS or Android.

4. UberEATS

Do you love the concept of rideshares, but hate the thought of letting strangers get inside your car? No problem! With UberEATS, you can earn money through the Uber app by doing deliveries.

Best of all, it’s super flexible. You set your own schedule and earn when it’s convenient. You may not even need a car. In some cities, you can make deliveries with your bike or scooter. If you are required to use a vehicle, Uber allows 2-door and 4-door models, as long as they are a 1997 or newer.

To qualify as a delivery driver with Uber, you must be over 19, have a valid driver’s license and insurance, and pass a background screen. After you’ve been approved, you can deliver packages, flowers, or food.

According to Uber, most deliveries are door-to-door, meaning you’ll walk into the restaurant or other business, pick up the items for delivery, and then take that delivery right up to the customer’s door. The best time to make money are during peak times. That’s currently lunchtime (between 11 AM- 2PM), dinnertime (5-9 PM) and late night (after midnight).

The amount you earn for each delivery can vary. Fees are calculated based on a pickup fee, drop-off fee, and a per-mile fee. Start your application here.

5. StepBet

News flash! When you work from home, it’s hard to get up and get moving. I sit in front of a computer for a good portion of each day, and exercise isn’t high on my priority list during this season of life.

In fact, when I pulled my Fitbit out of the drawer and started tracking, I discovered I was only putting in around 1,600 to 3,000 steps per day. Yikes! That’s not nearly enough physical movement in a day.

I wanted to find a motivating way to get some more steps in. So I started researching and stumbled upon StepBet. It’s a step challenge app created by the folks behind DietBet. The premise is that you bet a certain amount of money that you will meet your step goal. If you make your goal, you get to split the pot with the others. If you didn’t you just lost the money you bet.

So, if you aren’t motivated to get the steps and win the bet, this isn’t going to be a good app for you. But, if you’re looking for a fun way to earn a few bucks

Apps That Pay Real Money Fast