The Best Moneymaking Apps for Android and iOS

Earning money from your phone can be accomplished in less than 20 seconds with Google Opinion Rewards. The app uses your Google search activity, as well as your location history via Google Maps, to send you relevant surveys. Each survey takes less than 20 seconds to complete and will reward you with up to $1 per completion. Once you’re done, the credit will instantly be transferred to your Google account — no waiting. Note that you’re rewarded in Google Play credits so it only can be used on Google services like the books, movies, and apps on the Google Play Store, or as a method of payment with Google Pay.

From the makers of Cash App comes Make Money. This is a great all-in-one option when it comes to making money from your smartphone. From watching videos and sharing posts on social media to using their affiliate offers, there are many ways to make money with this iOS-only app. After you’ve accumulated enough credits, you can exchange them for a PayPal payout and spend it however you like. The user interface is easy to follow, and you can complete most of the tasks with just a few taps.

Rakuten awards you with up to 40% cash back on items you normally buy. There are more than 2,500 participating stores — including Walmart, Amazon, Groupon, and Expedia — and you can set the app to notify you when there are new coupons available. If you choose a specific item you want to purchase, Rakuten also will show you which stores are selling that item and how much cash back you would receive from each store. Rakuten also offers a $10 Welcome Bonus after you make your first purchase on the app.

Why not get money back for your everyday purchases? Ibotta helps you save money while shopping. All you do is check the app before you head out to shop, travel, or dine, and add those cashback deals to your phone. When you’re finished shopping, simply snap a picture of your receipt within the app and Ibotta will award you with cash back. The app works with your favorite retailers, too, including Best Buy, Lowe’s, Safeway, eBay, and many more.

Think of Shopkick like a game, one that awards you gift cards as you earn points — or “kicks.” To earn them, you accomplish daily challenges, which might require you to walk into a nearby store or scan products in a scavenger hunt. You also can earn extra points by taking a picture of your receipt. Then, you just cash in those “kicks” for gift cards to Starbucks, Walmart, Target, Amazon, or one of the many other participating vendors.

Bored on a Sunday afternoon and want to do something more than just watch Netflix? Field Agent pays you for completing small jobs as you’re doing what you’re already doing, whether that’s shopping in stores, running errands, or even simply hanging around your house. The app asks you to take photos, answer questions, express opinions, or complete other small tasks. Each job generally pays somewhere between $3 and $20 and is available on a first come, first served basis.

Let’s be real, no one really likes working out, but what if you were rewarded for doing it? With DietBet, you bet on yourself to lose weight with a group of other players. You choose one of two game types: Kickstarter, which challenges you to lose 4% of your weight in four weeks, or Transformer, which tasks you with losing 10% of your weight in six months. If you meet your weight-loss goal by the end of the game, you split the pot with the other players. DietBet claims that 96% of its players have lost weight and winners take home an average of $58.

StepBet pays you to do what you do every day: Take steps. Like DietBet, you place a bet on yourself, and if you accomplish your goal, you split the pot with others in the game. You don’t have to move more or longer than your competitors, just hit your goals and cash out. StepBet uses a signature algorithm to provide each player with daily step goals, and it automatically counts your steps using a variety of devices, including those from Apple, Fitbit, and Garmin. All you have to do is walk, climb, dance, or walk from the living room to the fridge — anything to get your steps in and hit your goal.

Use Foap to turn your photos into dollars. The app lets you upload your photo collection and sell it to well-known brands. Buyers of the app’s photos include Bank of America, Air Asia, Pepsi, and many more. Foap also distributes your photos through partners like Getty Images to help you sell even more — and make more cash. With Foap, you can upload as many images as you want in the hopes that they’ll sell. Then, you receive a 50% commission each time someone buys a picture. Feedback via the app is a nice touch and allows for input from a growing international community of photographers. If you got into photography for the camaraderie rather than the money and fame, the forum is even more enjoyable.

Slidejoy pays you for checking your notifications or skimming the latest headlines. Once you register, you will receive a “card” with news or an advertisement every time you unlock your phone. Slide up to see more or right to close out of the app and access your home screen. By swiping left, you can see more information, while a swipe down opens your notifications. You don’t have to slide left to make money, either. You can use your phone as you usually would, and the cash will add up.