We all need some extra cash on occasion. Whether you want to supplement your income or you have a goal to reach, the best side hustle apps can help.
Available opportunities range from work-from-home jobs to sites that let you take surveys for cash and everything in between.
What Are the Best Side Hustle Apps to Use?
Finding the right opportunity to earn extra money can be challenging. You want to pick something that fits your interests and schedule while maximizing your income.
This guide shares a few of the top side gig apps to pursue. None of them require investments or upfront costs, and each one offers legitimate opportunities to make money on the side.
As a preview, here are the top apps to start earning money right now.
You can amplify your efforts by using multiple apps or focus on one that allows you to earn top dollar.
Best Side Hustle Apps to Make Money Near You
Working online is an excellent way to earn extra cash, but you can often make more by taking on a lucrative side hustle in your town. Here are the top apps to earn money on the side locally.
1. Uber Eats
Uber is one of the forerunners in the delivery and rideshare space. If you want to deliver for multiple apps, driving with Uber Eats is a good option to earn money on a flexible schedule.
The company operates similar to DoorDash and is in 6,000+ cities worldwide. You must be at least 19 years old to drive with Uber Eats.
Additionally, your car must be no older than 20 years, and have at least two doors.
As long as you have at least one year of driving experience, a government-issued ID, and valid insurance you can start delivering meals once approved.
The income potential for drivers varies and you can earn tips. Some cities allow a per mile or minute rate, which can positively impact earnings.
If you prefer not to deliver food, or want to increase your earning potential, you can also drive with Uber. This lets you drive riders to a chosen location.
*As of 7/18/22, Uber is migrating to a combined Driver & Delivery program that will allow a user to select how they want to earn with Uber, i.e., driving, delivering, or both! This consolidated program will be named Uber “One Earner.” Under this new model, whether a user lands on a Driver or a Delivery page, they’ll have the option to self-select which type of earning opportunity they want.
2. DoorDash
DoorDash is an on-demand delivery app that pays you to deliver meals from local restaurants to customers. It’s also possible to deliver groceries in select cities.
To get started, you download the app and apply to become a Dasher. Once you are hired, you can select orders and deliver them to customers.
You only need to be 18 years old to join, and you can deliver by car, scooter, or bicycle.
With DoorDash, you can choose your own schedule and receive pay weekly. However, you can request an instant payout for a mere $0.50 fee if you need funds immediately.
Read our guide on similar same-day pay jobs that also offer instant cashouts.
*Related: Read our DoorDash vs. Grubhub analysis to identify which app is best for couriers.
Dasher pay depends on various factors, including tips and delivery times.
Consult our DoorDash driver review to learn more.
3. Instacart Shopper
Instacart Shopper is a leading grocery delivery service that pays shoppers to purchase and deliver items to customers. This service can be an excellent side hustle if delivering fast food doesn’t interest you.
You must be at least 18 years old, able to lift up to 30 pounds, and own a smartphone with a minimum Android 5.0 or iOS 9 operating system.
As a full-service shopper, you’re required to have access to a vehicle to deliver orders.
*Related: If you’re looking for other food delivery jobs, read our guide on apps like Uber Eats to find additional side hustle opportunities.
Shifts are flexible, and you can earn up to $20 per hour, including tips. However, reports indicate earnings can be closer to $12 or $15 an hour.
Like DoorDash, working during busier hours can earn you peak pay, which increases your hourly rate. Pay is released weekly.
Read our review of how to become an Instacart Shopper to learn more.
4. Rover
Rover is a fun way to make some money on the side if you enjoy spending time with pets. Originally a dog walking service, this app-based job lets people earn money in the following ways:
- Overnight boarding for dogs and cats
- Daycare
- Dog walking
- Housesitting and drop-ins at the pet’s house
The app claims walkers can earn at least $1,000 per month working for the service. To hit that level, you will likely need to offer pet sitting services.
You can walk multiple dogs simultaneously to increase your hourly earnings. Like other side hustle apps, you can set your own rates and schedule. Plus, you can choose the type, size, and age of dogs you want to care for.
You need to be at least 18 years old to work for Rover.
Payments are deposited into your bank account two days after completing a service. For extra peace of mind, Rover offers up to $1 million in protection for your services and 24/7 assistance, including veterinary services.
If you don’t want to work for a food delivery service, Rover is a terrific alternative that still lets you accept on-demand gigs.
Read our review of the top dog walker apps to learn more.
5. Steady
Steady is a perfect solution to find gigs near you. The easy-to-use app is free, and you can start looking for opportunities after downloading it to your phone.
If you’re looking for jobs that pay cash, Steady is a fantastic app to use.
You’ll need to answer a few quick questions about your skills and past experience, then complete a personalized work profile to get started.
Upon completion, you can locate job opportunities in your area.
You can find any of the following on the Steady app:
- Part-time jobs
- Work-from-home gigs
- One-time side hustles
The site claims members can earn at least $5,000 annually using the online marketplace. You can also take advantage of Income Boosters, which are opportunities to earn cash incentives.
Steady allows you to keep an eye on your weekly income as well as your total income, hourly income, and more.
Read our Steady app review to learn more.
6. Taskrabbit
If you’re interested in making money doing odd jobs, Taskrabbit is an excellent resource to find work. The platform connects you with homeowners needing your skills for these tasks:
- Home repairs
- Furniture assembly
- Mounting flat-screen TVs
- Yardwork
- Painting
- Moving furniture and boxes
Handyman jobs may not seem lucrative, but you can earn as much as $60 per hour if you have a specialty skill like being a plumber or electrician.
This makes Taskrabbit one of the top Steady app alternatives for people with in-demand skills.
Even if you don’t have a specialized skill, it’s easy to earn $20 to $40 an hour on Taskrabbit. After creating a profile and getting accepted, you can post your experience and look for opportunities.
You can work around your schedule, and the app handles all payments so that you don’t have to exchange cash with clients. You receive payment weekly, making it a great way to get cash fast if you’re a hard worker.
Similar to other favorite side hustle apps, you’re an independent contractor when claiming work on the platform. Speak with a tax professional to determine how to handle taxes on earnings.
Read our guide on other apps like Taskrabbit to learn more about finding local gigs.
7. Handy
If you don’t have advanced hands-on skills but enjoy working with your hands, Handy is one of the top odd job apps to use.
This app works similarly to Taskrabbit in that it allows you to find gigs in your area. However, it specializes in services like home and office cleaning.
You can do other tasks like:
- General handyman work
- Installation of devices
- Painting
- Remodeling
Pay is released weekly, and you can work on your own schedule. It’s possible to cash out daily, but you’ll incur a $3 fee to get paid today.
If you truly want to make extra money, it might be best to use both Handy and Taskrabbit when you need help finding local gigs.
8. Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex is a suitable alternative to make money delivering packages instead of food. Working for the retail giant is competitive, so opportunities aren’t always available.
What makes it one of the best side hustle ideas is the pay rate. Driver reports indicate you can earn up to $20 per hour with this opportunity.
Tips are less frequent than with other delivery jobs, but Amazon pays a guaranteed rate, so there is less fluctuation in income.
You must be at least 21 to get work and have a reliable car. Like other driver jobs, you need to pass a background check to be approved.
Regardless of not always needing drivers, Amazon Flex is one of the top high-paying apps if you don’t want to depend on tips for income.
Consult our Amazon Flex driver review to learn more.
Top Side Job Apps to Make Money Online
If you don’t have time to take on a part-time job, short-task sites are an easy way to make money in your spare time. You won’t earn much, but micro jobs are an excellent way to earn extra spending money.
Here are some of the top online side hustles to make extra cash.
9. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a “get-paid-to” platform that pays you to complete small tasks and is a top choice if you want to start making money online.
There are numerous money-making opportunities to take advantage of, including:
- Online surveys
- Watching videos
- Shopping online
- Playing games
- Requesting free samples
- Redeeming coupons
Swagbucks pays users in SB points, which work as rewards that you can redeem for gift cards and PayPal cash. Amazon gift cards only require a $1 balance.
PayPal cash requires a minimum $25 balance.
The app even gives users a $10 bonus when they open an account. A qualifying purchase through its shopping portal is required to earn the bonus.
You only need to be 13 years old to start earning money, which makes it an excellent summer job for teens.
Read our Swagbucks review to learn more.
10. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is an easy-to-use app to make money from your phone. Many sites pay next to nothing for completing surveys or have a high redemption amount.
Fortunately, that’s not the case with Survey Junkie. They pay out $1 to $10 for surveys, and you can cash out once you reach a $10 balance.
Like other surveys for money sites, you can redeem for cash or gift cards. Every 100 points you earn equals $1. Most surveys take five to ten minutes to complete.
Read our review of Survey Junkie to learn more.
11. Pinecone Research
Many online survey apps are notorious for having low payouts. Pinecone Research is an exception since you can earn $3 per survey.
You can earn more if Pinecone invites you to test products. When you test products, you can earn up to $75 per test. Read our guide on other product tester jobs to identify other opportunities.
Rewards options include virtual Mastercards and Amazon gift cards. However, if you’ve joined Pinecone in the last 30 days, your first redemption must be by bank transfer to verify your rewards account.
The only catch is that you must join Pinecone Research through a special invitation link.
Read our review of Pinecone Research to learn more.
12. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys is a popular membership rewards site that allows you to earn money online. Like Swagbucks, you can earn free cash by completing small online jobs.
Taking online surveys is one of the top ways to earn cash on Branded Surveys. Other opportunities include:
- Daily polls
- Survey streaks
- Poll streaks
- Referring friends
Every 100 points you earn equals $1 in rewards. You must earn at least 500 points before you can redeem your points. New users receive 100 points when opening an account.
Redemption options include free Amazon gift cards, gift cards to other popular retailers, PayPal, and bank transfers. You can also redeem for Visa gift cards if you don’t want funds in your bank account.
13. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is a micro-task site that pays you to take surveys, complete shopping offers, read sponsored emails, and play games.
It’s even possible to get paid to watch ads online to earn reward points. These ads can take less than one minute to watch.
You must be at least 18 years old and live in the United States to join. InboxDollars gives you a $5 bonus cash for joining, and you can request a payout with a $30 balance.
The rewards app has a higher minimum redemption amount, so it’s best not to depend on this platform alone. It does offer decent earning potential if you merely want to make money in your free time.
Read our review of InboxDollars to learn more.
Top Rental and Selling Apps
Not all gig jobs require you to put in a lot of effort. Some allow you to earn extra income by renting or selling something you own.
Possibilities range from earning beer money to passive income opportunities. Here are several of the best money-making options.
14. HyreCar
If your car sits idle most of the week, you can use it to supplement your income. HyreCar lets you rent your car to individuals and is one of the more unique gig economy apps.
You simply open an account and upload pictures of the car you have to rent.
All rentals come with up to $1 million in liability insurance, and HyreCar can cover the cost of physical damage from theft, vandalism, and collision with add-on protection plans.
The site claims the average user earns $720 per month through the service. Exotic or high-demand cars are likely to make more money.
HyreCar handles all rental management and vets all drivers to ensure your safety.
15. SellCell
Do you have old electronics or devices collecting dust? You can sell those items for cash to purchase a new one or to earn extra money.
SellCell is a helpful app that lets you liquidate used devices. Unwanted items you can sell include:
- Cell phones
- Tablets
- Smartwatches
- Laptops
- Game consoles
- Smart home devices
- Wireless headphones
This website is a quick way to sell old electronics for cash before they become outdated. You will see an instant price quote from over 40 buyback companies on the items you’d like to sell.
To find out what you might earn, simply provide information on what you want to sell. The site will show you the potential buyers and their respective offers.
After you select a company, they give you a free shipping label to mail your items via USPS. The company sends you payment by PayPal or check within two business days of receiving and inspecting your items.
16. BookScouter
The college bookstore isn’t the only place to sell your used textbooks. You can fetch a higher price on BookScouter for your textbooks and used books.
It’s possible to make extra money or use your earnings to buy new books you need.
Scanning the barcode with the mobile app compares the buyback prices for over 30 vendors.
You can choose the best vendor and can mail your books with a free shipping label. Most vendors send PayPal payments within three days of the site receiving your books.
17. Decluttr
Do you have items to sell that go beyond used devices? Decluttr is a good alternative to sell electronics and other unwanted items.
You can make quick money selling the following items on Declutter:
- Cell phones
- DVDs and CDs
- Video games
- Tablets
- Wearables
- LEGO
- Books
After you scan the product barcodes with the Decluttr mobile app, you receive an instant quote. If you accept the quote, Declutter will give you a prepaid UPS shipping label.
You receive payment via PayPal one day after the platform receives your shipment.
18. Airbnb
Another terrific opportunity to make money on the side is renting out part of your residence. The sharing economy has been a boon to people who want to earn cash helping others, including short-term house rentals.
Airbnb is one of the top high-paying apps to use for hosts. You can start making money by renting these areas to travelers:
- Spare bedroom
- Finished basement
- Guesthouse
- Apartment
- Condo
- House
Maybe you can convert a unique property like a school bus, barn, or yurt into a short-term rental. You can quickly estimate your monthly rental income using Airbnb’s online calculator.
In many cases, you can earn $1,000 or more a month by hosting an entire property in large cities. If you live in a popular tourist destination, it’s possible to earn consistent monthly income.
Listing all or part of your residence is one of the best side hustles to supplement a full-time job. It doesn’t require much effort, and you can do it from the comfort of your home.
Read our Airbnb host checklist to learn how to maximize profits.
19. OfferUp
Garage sales are an excellent way to sell unused items. However, they can be a hassle or limit you to selling items locally.
OfferUp is an excellent alternative to earn more money selling your used items than instant buyback sites like Declutter. The Android or iOS app lets you list items in as little as 30 seconds.
You can sell personal items, tech devices, and high-value things like cars and jewelry. If your favorite side hustle is to flip items for cash, OfferUp is a legitimate platform.
It’s free to sell items locally or ship to distant buyers. You can message potential buyers in the app, which can be safer than selling on Craigslist to strangers.
OfferUp doesn’t collect a fee if you sell locally. However, sellers pay up to 12.9 percent (with a $1.99 minimum fee) of the sale price for online sales that require shipping.
20. Fat Llama
Do you own unique tools or equipment that you periodically use but can’t live without? Instead of letting them collect dust, rent these items to your neighbors with Fat Llama.
Here are some examples of how items you can rent in New York:
- Air compressor: $4 per day
- Camping tent: $12 per day
- Jackhammer: $77 per day
- Mirrorless digital camera: $99 per day
- Portable heater: $10 per day
Side hustlers get up to $25,000 in damage protection from Fat Llama, and the site keeps 15 percent of the total amount when you rent your stuff through its platform.
Best Side Hustle Apps to Find Freelance Jobs
Due to their flexibility, at-home jobs can be a great way to supplement your income. Here are the best apps to find side hustles from home.
21. Fiverr
Fiverr is one of the best resources to use if you want to work remotely while having the flexibility to take on tasks that you enjoy. The site is renowned for its quick, $5 gigs.
It may seem like you can’t make a good income on the site, but it’s quite the opposite. The quick gig is the doorway to other, higher-paying jobs via add-on services.
Those services span from $20 per gig up to hundreds of dollars per job. It all depends on your area of knowledge.
Potential areas to find work include:
- Graphic design
- Web developing
- SEO
- Animation
- Writing
You get to set your own payment terms as well as rates and work only on projects that interest you. If you enjoy flexibility and the ability to control what you work on, Fiverr is one of the best side hustle apps to use.
22. 99Designs
Are you skilled in graphic design and want the flexibility to work from home? 99Designs is a useful resource for finding side hustle work.
Similar to Fiverr, you create a free profile and begin looking for gigs. The site lets graphic design professionals connect with clients needing work on various jobs, including:
- Logos
- Book covers
- Illustrations
- T-shirt designs
- Packaging designs
You can accept as many opportunities as you want. This can be a side hustle you work on in your free time or legitimate freelance work.
Similar to other sites, you get to set your own rate and accept only the work you like.
23. Upwork
Upwork is a freelancer marketplace that works similarly to FlexJobs or Fiverr. Freelance workers can find gigs from a wide variety of fields, including:
- Development and IT
- Writing
- Proofreading
- Customer support
- Graphic design
- Accounting
Upwork lets you create a free portfolio. Then, you can start looking for gigs. Many jobs will list a budget, but you have the freedom to set your rates.
You can also create customized projects to sell to prospective clients to set yourself apart.
What Are the Best Side Hustles for 2024?
The best side hustles that pay weekly are gig economy jobs like Taskrabbit or DoorDash. Taskrabbit lets you find a vast array of odd jobs near you that can easily pay $20 an hour up to $60 per hour.
DoorDash is an excellent way to make money from your phone. The app lets you deliver meals from local restaurants to customers.
Furthermore, you can work on your own schedule and be your own boss.
Read our guide on how to create a side hustle stack to maximize your earnings with multiple gigs.
What Side Hustle App Pays the Most?
If you have a spare room or house to rent, Airbnb is the highest-paying side hustle app. Reports indicate the average nightly rate of Airbnb is $160.
Unless you live in a big city or tourist destination, you won’t have occupants each night. However, even having guests for half of the month can be quite lucrative.
If you don’t want to rent your property, working for a delivery gig app is another high-paying opportunity. Most apps let you earn tips, and working during peak hours can significantly increase income potential.
How Can I Make $1,000 a Month on the Side?
It is possible to earn at least $1,000 on the side for a one-time or recurring need. The key is to find jobs that pay $20 an hour that you enjoy.
This will require you to work 50 hours a month before taxes. Here are some of the opportunities that allow you to earn at least $1,000 on the side:
- Delivery driver
- Freelance writer
- Handyman
- Graphic designer
- SEO specialist
- Airbnb host
The possibilities are endless. However, to avoid having a continuous need for money, it’s best to put some of your earnings in an online bank account for emergencies.
Bottom Line
There are a growing number of side job apps available today. Don’t limit yourself to just one. Find several that work for you and fit into your schedule. You’ll be surprised at what you can earn.
Unlike a regular part-time job, you can make more money trying several side hustle apps at once. Take surveys, deliver food through a few apps, and sell items you no longer use.
There are countless ways to earn additional income. You just need to be willing to do the work.
What‘s your favorite side hustle app?
*Earning more on certain types of orders (ex. alcohol): Earn more per order as compared to restaurant orders. Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries you accept and complete, time of day, location, and any costs. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from tips, peak pay, and other incentives.
*Get paid instantly (DasherDirect): Subject to approval
*Cash out daily (Fast Pay): Fees apply
*Start Dashing today: Subject to background check and availability
*Dash anytime: Subject to availability
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