Explore the best money earning apps in May 2025. Compare features and benefits to find the perfect app for earning money from your smartphone.

Money earning apps might be a good choice for you if you’re interested in making a bit of extra money from anywhere using just your phone. This extra money can help you when deciding how to budget, as it makes stretching your paycheck easier.

There are several types of money earning apps; some types include ones that focus on helping you earn cash back, ones that give you surveys to answer for money, ones that let you play games for money, and ones that offer several different ways to earn money. The best money earning app for you will likely depend on what you like to do.

Top Money Earning Apps

These are our top picks for the best money earning apps:

• Best for getting cash back on purchases online: Rakuten
• Best for getting cash back on purchases in the store: Ibotta
• Best for making money through surveys: Survey Junkie
• Best for earning cash through a variety of ways: Swagbucks

If you’re looking for additional tools to help you with your financial goals, you also might want to look through our guides on the best budgeting apps.

Compare the Top Money Earning Apps

The best apps to make money are those that make it easy to earn and redeem money. The best app for you will depend on how you want to earn money, whether that’s through cash-back, surveys, gaming, or some other way. For other ways to make money through an app, you might consider using one of our best investment apps.

Here are the best apps for earning money as picked by Business Insider editors.

Best for Getting Cash-Back on Purchases Online: Rakuten

Best for getting cash back on purchases online Rakuten Fees Free to download

Annual Percentage Yield (APY) N/A

Minimum Opening Deposit None

Pros- Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Earn cash back at over 3,500 stores

• Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Straightforward process for getting cash back online (log into the Rakuten website or app)
• Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Minimum of $5 needed before redeeming rewards

Cons- con iconTwo crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Receive cash back every three months

• con iconTwo crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Process for getting rewards on in-store purchases may be easier on other apps

Product Details - Get Cash Back at 3,500+ stores

• Get paid for shopping at all your favorite stores
• Sign up for a free account in less than 30 seconds
• Start shopping on rakuten.com, the Rakuten App or our extension
• Watch your Cash Back balance grow, then get paid via check or PayPal

Show Pros, Cons, and Morechevron down iconAn icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Rakuten is a strong option if you’d like to earn cash back on your online purchases. Rakuten is a online earning app and website that lets you get cash back at over 3,500 stores.

Here’s how it works: You’ll go to the Rakuten website or app and choose the store you’d like to shop at. When you make your purchase, the cash-back offer will automatically be added to your account.

Rakuten is easy to use and intuitively designed. If you have questions about the app, there’s also a help center that addresses commonly asked questions.

You’ll receive cash-back through a check or your PayPal account every three months. If you’d prefer to earn money more frequently, you might prefer one of our other top picks.

Rakuten also lets you shop in a store, but you’ll need to take a couple of steps. First, you’ll have to select the “In-Store” tab when you open the app. Then, once you find an offer you like, you’ll have to select “Link Offer” and include your credit card information. At the store, you’ll need to use that credit card to obtain the offer. Other apps may have a simpler process for in-store purchases.

Minimum amount needed to redeem cash: $5

Download: Google Play Store | Apple Store

Best for Getting Cash-Back on Purchases in Stores: Ibotta

Best for getting cash back on purchases in the store Ibotta Learn more On Ibotta’s website Fees Free to download

Annual Percentage Yield (APY) N/A

Minimum Opening Deposit None

Pros- Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Earn cash back with over 1,500 national brands

• Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Multiple ways to earn cash back in store

Cons- con iconTwo crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Minimum of $20 needed before redeeming rewards

Product Details - With Ibotta, you can get cash back every time you shop. It’s easy, fast, and safe to save big.

• Get exclusive cash back offers across the web from your fave marketplaces and brands.
• Link a bank account and withdraw earnings from wherever you’re logged into Ibotta. Easy money.

Show Pros, Cons, and Morechevron down iconAn icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. You might like Ibotta if you do a lot of in-store shopping. This cash-back app stands out because it’s partnered with over 1,500 popular brands and lets you save at stores in a variety of ways. You can link your loyalty account to the app, submit receipts (Ibotta will scan them for any qualifying purchases), or buy gift cards through the app. Typically, you’ll see cash-back earnings within 24 hours.

You’ll need to earn at least $20 before you can withdraw your earnings. Other money earning apps may let you make withdrawals at $5.

Minimum amount needed to redeem cash: $20

Download:Google Play Store | Apple Store

Best for Making Cash Through Surveys: Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie Learn more On Survey Junkie’s websiteIcon of check mark inside a promo stampIt indicates a confirmed selection. Perks Take surveys. Get paid. Be an influencer. Share your opinion to help brands deliver better products and services.

Fees Free to download

Annual Percentage Yield (APY) N/A

Minimum Opening Deposit None

Pros- Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Get cash by taking surveys

• Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Minimum of 500 points (the equivalent of $5) needed before redeeming rewards
• Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Redeeming rewards is quick and straightforward

Cons- con iconTwo crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Have to answer questions before actual survey to see if you’re eligible

• con iconTwo crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Requires patience because it can get repetitive or you might not qualify for every survey

Product Details - Build your profile & we’ll match you to surveys.

• Complete surveys and earn virtual points.
• Redeem virtual points for PayPal or e-Giftcards.

Show Pros, Cons, and Morechevron down iconAn icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Survey Junkie emerged as our top pick in survey apps because it almost always has ample surveys available, and the process for redeeming points is a lot simpler and easier than other apps.

You only need to earn a minimum of 500 points (the equivalent of $5), and you can redeem them through PayPal or online gift cards. This could be a good option if you’re unbanked, since you won’t need a bank account to get your money. In most cases, the rewards can be redeemed instantly. For example, if you get an online gift card, the code will be sent to your email for you to use on the same day.

You may not qualify for every survey that’s available. Usually, you’ll have to answer a set of questions to determine your eligibility. Based on the information you give, you’ll either be redirected to the survey or told you aren’t eligible (you’ll get a few points for your time).

When you’re taking surveys, you’ll need to have patience. You might be asked the same question repeatedly or you might answer a handful of questions before realizing you do not qualify for a particular survey.

Minimum amount needed to redeem cash: $5

Download:Google Play Store | Apple Store

Best for Earning Cash Through a Variety of Ways: Swagbucks

Best for earning cash through a variety of ways Swagbucks Learn more On Swagbucks’s websiteIcon of check mark inside a promo stampIt indicates a confirmed selection. Perks Info iconMember must “Activate” the Bonus in the Swag Ups section of your account. Bonus value is earned in the form of points, called SB. Get a 1000 SB bonus, which is equivalent to $10 in value, when you spend at least $25 at a store featured in Swagbucks.com/Shop. You must receive a minimum of 25 SB for this purchase, which you must complete within 30 days of registration. MyGiftCardsPlus.com and travel purchases do not qualify.Join for free, and earn a $10 bonus.

Fees Free to download

Annual Percentage Yield (APY) N/A

Minimum Opening Deposit None

Pros- Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Earn cash through a variety of activities

• Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.Minimum of 500SB (the equivalent of $5) needed before redeeming rewards

Cons- con iconTwo crossed lines that form an ‘X’.May not qualify for every survey

• con iconTwo crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Activities with high SB may require a lot of effort or may be difficult to qualify for
• con iconTwo crossed lines that form an ‘X’.Gift cards may take up to 10 days to receive in email

Product Details - Shop online, Play video games, Search the web, Answer surveys and find great deals to earn your points.

• Redeem your points for gift cards to your favorite retailers like Amazon and Walmart or get cash back from PayPal.

Show Pros, Cons, and Morechevron down iconAn icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Swagbucks might be an appealing option if you are looking for an app that has a variety of ways of earning cash. Swagbucks is a versatile money earning app where you’ll earn points (referred to as SB) by completing surveys, playing games, scanning your receipts for qualifying cash rewards, and finishing other activities.

You’ll be able to redeem SB for gift cards or transfer money through a PayPal account. Generally, 500 SB is the equivalent of $5.

The amount of SB you’ll earn for different tasks can vary greatly. The value can be anywhere from 2 SB to up to 250,000 SB. Usually, higher-value tasks require substantially more effort or are more difficult to qualify for. You also may need to download other apps or go to other sites to complete certain tasks. Also, keep in mind it may take up to 10 business days until gift cards are processed and sent to your email.

Minimum amount needed to redeem cash: $5

Download: Google Play Store | Apple Store

Features to Look for in a Money Earning App

User-Friendly Money Earning App Interface

When looking for a money earning app, you’ll want to consider if the app itself is easy to use. If you’re constantly struggling against the app to earn money, it’s unlikely you’ll stick to using it regularly. Hard-to-use apps could also keep you from using the cash you earn if it isn’t clear how to redeem your money. An easy-to-use money earning app for beginners has straightforward cash redemptions — typically, you can either get money transferred to another account, such as a checking account, or a gift card sent to your email.

Low Money Earning App Payout Threshold

Most apps won’t let you withdraw the money you’ve earned unless you earned a certain amount. The lower the threshold is, the easier it is to actually use the money you earn. A $5 payout threshold is low and easy to reach; a $100 payout threshold is not, and for many money earning apps, requires a significant amount of time and effort.

Multiple Money Earning App Earning Options

Money earning apps with multiple options for how you earn cash can be helpful if you’re not sure how you want to use the app. Some apps might only let you earn cash by shopping at one specific place, while some will let you earn cash back from a variety of stores while also letting you answer surveys or play games for cash. Consider what you’ll use the app for and whether the earning options it offers are actually useful to you when deciding on an app.

Reliable Money Earning App Payment Methods

If a money earning app doesn’t pay out your money reliably, then it’s not useful to you. Consider how you want to receive your money when deciding on an app: depending on the app, you might be earning points to later redeem for gift cards or prepaid debit cards, or you might even have money deposited directly into your account, although that’s rare. Check the app’s website and terms of service to see how quickly the money will get to you, and check user reviews to see if people struggle to get money out of the app.

How to Choose the Best Money Earning App for You

Assessing Your Skills and Interests

Consider what you’re actually most likely to stick to when deciding on a money earning app. If you want to earn cash back on purchases but don’t want to get a cash-back credit card, then you might be interested in money earning apps that focus on cash back. And if you’re a student, you might want to consider checking what the best money-making apps for students are.

Evaluating Money Earning App Features and Benefits

Consider what the app has to offer before committing. If it’s a cash-back app, check what brands it works for to make sure you’re going to be able to use the deals it offers. If it offers surveys or games, check out how long the surveys are and how many surveys it will give you in a day. You’ll also want to check if it’s one of the highest-paying money earning apps, or if it doesn’t let you make much money. And always check the security policies of whatever app you’re interested in to make sure the app will be responsible with your data. If you’re worried about security, you might be better off seeing if your mobile banking app has cash-back features you can use.

Considering Money Earning Payment Methods and Frequency

Most apps put a limit on how frequently you can withdraw the money you make, whether that comes in the form of a payout threshold, a payout schedule, or both. Check what requirements your app has and how it pays out money; some apps let you earn gift cards, some give you a prepaid debit card, and a few put money directly into your account.

Pros and Cons of Money Earning Apps

Advantages of Using Money Earning Apps

Money earning apps can be an easy way to earn a little extra cash. Since they’re usually free, they generally don’t require you to spend money to save, unless you’re using a cash-back app. And since they’re on your phone, you can earn money no matter where you are.

Potential Drawbacks and Considerations for Money Earning Apps

Keep in mind that, when you use a money earning app, you’re essentially selling data. If you don’t trust a money-making app with your data, then you might want another way to earn money, such as with a cash-back debit card from your bank. Also, keep in mind you won’t be earning a lot of money from any of these apps, so they don’t work as a primary source of income.

In addition to money earning apps, there are other ways to make fast cash. For example, you can consider freelancing, working a gig economy job, or starting a side hustle.

If you’re looking for a more traditional method for getting cash, you also apply for a personal loan or ask someone close to you for a family or community loan.

App Trustworthiness and BBB Ratings

We include ratings from the Better Business Bureau to evaluate how companies address customer issues and handle transparency.

Ibotta received a D rating from the BBB because of a high number of complaints filed against the business, with a few it hasn’t resolved.

Survey Junkie received a B rating because of a high volume of customer complaints on the BBB website.

Prodege, LLC has a B rating from the BBB because of the high volume of customer complaints filed against the business.

Money Earning Apps FAQs

What are the best apps for earning money?

Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.We listed Rakuten, Ibotta, Survey Junkie, and Swagbucks as some of the best money earning apps on your phone with.

Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

What are the best apps for earning money through surveys?

Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Survey Junkie is our top pick for the best app for earning money through surveys.

Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Does any app pay real money?

Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Yes, there are apps that let you earn real money by performing simple tasks like taking surveys or playing games. These apps will let you earn gift cards, prepaid debit cards, and a few put money directly into your account.

Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Why You Should Trust Us: Experts’ Advice on Choosing the Best Money Earning Apps

We consulted financial planning experts to inform these picks and provide their advice on finding the best money earning app for your needs.

Here’s what they had to say about the best apps for earning money. (Some text may be lightly edited for clarity.)

Are money earning apps worth it?

Mykail James, MBA, certified financial education instructor, BoujieBudgets.com:

“I think cash-back apps are great, especially if you are already a shopper. When it comes to trying to find smaller ways to get a couple of extra dollars, work the current habits you already have. If you’re someone who does all the grocery shopping in the house, look for those apps that give discounts and cash-back for your grocery shopping.”

Sophia Acevedo, banking editor, Business Insider:

“Money earning apps might be worthwhile if you want to make a bit of extra money each month by taking quizzes, scanning your receipts for cashback rewards, or performing some other activity. But make sure to manage your expectations. The amount of money you’ll earn on an app depends on how much effort you put into the activity.”

What should people be mindful of when using a money earning app?

Mykail James, MBA, CFEI:

“Understand what these apps are there they are really paying for — your feedback and data. Most of these are market research companies that are paying for sourcing your data.”

Sophia Acevedo:

“When you’re searching for money earning apps, read through customer reviews to get a better idea of how it works and whether the platform is easy to use. You can also carefully review the app’s privacy policy to learn about the information being collected and used.”

Methodology: How Did We Choose the Best Money Earning Apps?

Business Insider’s editorial standards help us review our products in a clear, fair way. We understand that “best” is often subjective, so in addition to highlighting the clear benefits of a financial product, we outline the limitations, too.

To choose the best app for earning money, we compiled a list of over a dozen popular mobile money earning apps. We didn’t include gig economy apps like TaskRabbit or Uber because your availability to sign up for some of these apps may depend on where you live (there may be paused registrations for some areas). We also didn’t include them because your experience with these apps may vary depending on your skill sets.

Most of our top picks had at least 20,000 reviews in both the Apple and Google Play stores. We reviewed each app’s sign-up process and user experience by using the apps for two weeks. We also considered whether each app accomplished everything it advertised, and how regular users reviewed the product on the Apple and Google Play stores.

As with all of our product reviews, we rate bank accounts on a scale of one to five stars. A one-star product is a low rating and indicates that the product requires significant improvement. A five-star rating is a high rating that indicates it is a strong product that many people may like.

Check out our bank account methodologies page to see how we usually rate banking products.

Kit PulliamBanking reporterKit Pulliam (they/them) was a banking expert who specialized in certificates of deposit, savings accounts, and checking accounts. They’ve been reporting, editing, and fact-checking personal finance stories for more than four years. ExperienceIn college, Kit worked as an undergraduate research assistant in a psychology lab. While there, they found that they were passionate about writing and helping others write about topics that matter.Before Business Insider, Kit was an editorial specialist for Tax Analysts, diving into the tax code to help readers get the best information about a confusing but necessary subject.They find banking similar to taxes in that way: There are some things everyone needs to know because just about everyone needs to work with a bank — and you don’t want to end up with an account that doesn’t serve your needs.As interest rates changed, they enjoyed the fast pace of reviewing rates for products like CDs and high-yield savings, which can change daily and have a direct impact on readers’ money.Their work has been featured in Business Insider and MSN. They were part of the My Financial Life and Milestone Moments series with Business Insider.ExpertiseTheir expertise includes:- Certificates of deposit

• Savings accounts
• Checking accounts
• CD rates
• Bank reviews

EducationKit is an alumnus of Vanderbilt University, where they studied English and psychology and received the Jum C. Nunnally Honors Research Award for their senior thesis.Outside personal finance, Kit enjoys reading, film, video games, and cross-stitching. They are based in the DC area.Read moreRead lessEvelyn HeCompliance and Operations AssociateEvelyn He is a compliance and operations associate for Business Insider’s Personal Finance team. Evelyn ensures content accuracy and editorial independence so readers get the most up-to-date and objective financial advice, enabling them to make informed financial decisions.ExperienceAs part of the compliance team, Evelyn helps fact check Personal Finance stories and works to make sure that the language is clear, precise, and compliant with government regulations and partner guidelines. Previously, Evelyn worked as a compliance specialist for Apellis Pharmaceuticals and a legal assistant at the law firm Morrison Mahoney.ExpertiseEvelyn is an expert in the following areas:- Compliance

• Quality assurance
• Affiliate marketing
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Content strategy

EducationEvelyn earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UMass Amherst and a master’s in marketing from Boston University. Evelyn has two dogs, Money and Tibber.Read moreRead less

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