20 Apps That Pay You Real Money: Earn Up to $100 a Day
There are apps that can help you make $100 a day. However, most people won’t hit that number using just one app or with a few spare minutes.
That’s the most important thing to know before you start using apps that pay. Survey apps, game apps and rewards apps can be useful for extra cash, but most pay modestly on their own.
You have the best chance of reaching $100 in a day by stacking a few apps together or using a higher-paying option like gig apps or renting out something you already own. Among Americans who earn side income, the majority (57%) have two or more side hustles, according to The Penny Hoarder’s 2026 Side Hustle Statistics survey.
Below, we break down survey and reward, cash back and shopping, and gig and local task apps that pay users, how they work and what you can realistically expect from each one.
Best Money-Making Apps by Type (Quick Answer)
Apps at a glance
| App type | Example apps | Realistic monthly earnings | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
Survey and Rewards Apps |
Freecash, InboxDollars, Branded Surveys, KashKick |
$25-$50/mo |
Low |
Cashback and Shopping Apps |
Ibotta, Rakuten, Fetch and Upside |
$20-$25/mo |
Low |
Gig and Local Task Apps |
TaskRabbit, Rover and DoorDash/Uber Eats |
Around $1,000/mo |
High |
Asset-Based Apps |
Turo |
$900/mo per vehicle |
Medium |
Game Apps That Pay |
Solitaire Smash, Vybs, Mistplay and Testerup |
About $50/mo |
Medium |
Our Favorite Money Apps
If you want a few easy places to start, these are some of the strongest options on the list. They combine low barriers to entry with flexible ways to earn.
| App | Potential Earnings | How It Works | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solitaire Smash | Prize pools can vary from $5 to over $100 | Compete against other players | |
| InboxDollars | About $25-$50/mo | Complete short surveys |
There’s no guarantee you’ll make $100 in a day. But these apps can be useful starting points if you want to test some options and see what fits your schedule.
How to Make $100 a Day With Apps
It’s possible to make $100 a day with apps, but usually not with just one low-effort app.
Most money-making apps fall into one of three buckets:
- Low-effort apps, like surveys and rewards platforms, that may help you earn a few dollars a day
- Mid-tier apps, like GPT platforms and game-based rewards apps, that sometimes pay more but are still inconsistent
- Higher-potential apps, like gig or asset-based platforms, that may offer bigger payouts but usually require more time, skill or risk
If your goal is $100 in a single day, the most realistic strategy is to combine a few smaller earners with one higher-paying option. That could mean using a survey app in the morning, a gaming app in your downtime and an asset-based app in the background.
Survey and Reward Apps
Listed below are apps that pay you for answering questions and doing certain tasks.
1. Freecash:
Best for: People who want multiple ways to earn in one place.
Freecash rewards you for completing simple tasks, like playing games and trying new apps from partner brands. You choose your tasks and complete them at your convenience. The coins you earn from each completed task can be converted into things like Visa gift cards, Amazon gift cards, cryptocurrency or PayPal cash. It’s one of the more flexible options on this list because you’re not limited to a single earning method.
How you earn:
Complete quick tasks, try offers, play games and answer surveys.
How much you can realistically earn:
It depends which tasks you complete and how frequently you qualify.
How you get paid:
PayPal, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
Reality check:
Freecash is one of the stronger apps on this list, but most users still won’t hit $100 in a day from Freecash alone.
Read our Freecash review.
2. InboxDollars:
Best for: People who want a familiar rewards-site format.
InboxDollars mixes surveys with a few other simple earning methods, which can make it feel more varied than a survey-only app. If you like rewards platforms and want something easy to use, it can be a decent addition to your lineup.
How you earn:
Take surveys and complete simple online tasks.
How much you can realistically earn:
InboxDollars said top earners make about $225 a month, but expect closer to $25-$50 a month.
How you get paid:
PayPal, gift cards or checks.
Reality check:
InboxDollars is useful for low-pressure extra cash, but it’s not one of the higher-paying choices.
3. Branded Surveys:
Best for: Straightforward paid surveys.
Branded Surveys is a simple option for people who want to earn by answering surveys instead of juggling games, cashback offers or a long list of digital tasks. It’s easy to understand and easy to fit into short pockets of free time.
How you earn:
Answer surveys matched to your profile.
How much you can realistically earn:
Branded Surveys says users can earn up to $5 per survey. Taking three quick surveys a day could earn up to $140 each month, but this is also a higher estimate.
How you get paid:
Once you earn $5, you can cash out via PayPal, your bank account, a gift card or Amazon. You’ll get paid within 48 hours of your payout being processed.
Reality check:
Branded Surveys is better for consistent small payouts than for big daily income.
4. KashKick:
Best for: People who prefer cash-based tasks instead of points.
KashKick is another GPT-style platform that lets users earn by completing surveys, offers, games and other simple tasks. One reason some people like it is that the platform feels more cash-oriented instead of focusing heavily on points.
How you earn:
Answer survey questions, play games, watch videos and review things.
How much you can realistically earn:
Most users earn a few dollars a week.
How you get paid:
PayPal, plus a $10 minimum payout.
Reality check:
KashKick works best when you’re selective about the offers you take, because not every offer comes with a high payout.
5. YouGov:
Best for: People who enjoy sharing opinions.
YouGov is a market research company that pays users for participating in surveys. Companies pay YouGov for consumer insights, then YouGov shares a portion of that revenue with users who complete surveys. You may see YouGov data cited in news stories to show public opinion on a subject.
How you earn:
Take surveys.
How much you can realistically earn:
It depends on how many surveys you take and which ones you take.
How you get paid:
Cash or gift cards.
Reality check:
YouGov pays real money, but it’s not necessarily fast cash.
6. Swagbucks:
Best for: People who want variety.
Swagbucks remains popular because it offers multiple ways to earn in one place. You can earn points (called SB) by watching videos, completing surveys, shopping online, playing games, or using your browser to search the web. It’s one of the more versatile options on this list.
How you earn:
Take surveys, shop online, watch videos, play games and complete other small tasks.
How much you can realistically earn:
Expect to earn about $1-$5 a day.
How you get paid:
Every 100 SB points is worth about $1, and you can cash out once you hit around 300 points. Use your points for paid cash via PayPal or gift cards.
Reality check:
Swagbucks is a flexible app, but it follows your typical GPT framework.
Read our Swagbucks review.
7. MyPoints:
Best for: People who frequently shop online.
With MyPoints, you can earn points by shopping online, completing surveys and reading emails. You first take a survey to introduce yourself, earn points by giving your honest answer in surveys, and redeem your points for gift cards.
You can also earn your points through playing games, shopping online, and more. Plus, you can redeem these points as travel miles.
How you earn:
Shop online, complete surveys, read emails and do other small tasks.
How much you can realistically earn:
It depends which surveys you qualify for and how often you do surveys. Some surveys pay up to $50, so you could earn a couple hundred a month. Other tasks can have lower payouts.
How you get paid:
PayPal, gift cards or travel miles.
Reality check:
Using MyPoints will be more beneficial if you’re a frequent online shopper.
8. SurveyMonkey Rewards:
Best for: Short surveys in spare moments.
SurveyMonkey Rewards pays you for completing surveys on a variety of topics, from consumer products to current events. The surveys are usually short — typically under five minutes — and you’ll be notified when one is available.
How you earn:
Complete short surveys on your phone.
How much you can realistically earn:
Each completed survey earns you around $0.75, so even if you complete them frequently, it could simply get you some spare cash.
How you get paid:
Gift cards or charity donations, with a $5 minimum cash out.
Reality check:
SurveyMonkey Rewards is a good spare-minutes app, not a serious $100-a-day contender.
Cash Back and Shopping Apps
Earn some extra money while buying things like groceries, gas and clothing.
9. Upside:
Best for: Saving on gas.
Upside helps you earn cash back on gas, groceries and dining at certain locations. It’s a relatively easy way to earn cash back on things you were going to buy anyway.
How you earn:
Claim a deal in the app, fill up at a participating station or make a purchase at a partner store, and verify the purchase by uploading a receipt or linking your card.
How much you can realistically earn:
Most rewards fall in the range of 5 to 25 cents per gallon, depending on where you are and what offers are available. But bonus rewards can go even higher.
How you get paid:
Bank transfer, PayPal or gift cards.
Reality check:
You have to go where the offers are, and it may not be at your preferred gas station or grocery store.
See our full review of the Upside app.
10. Rakuten:
Best for: Online shopping at major retailers.
Rakuten lets you earn cash back when you shop through its app, website or browser extension. It partners with thousands of retailers, including big names like Walmart and BestBuy.
You can also use the app to search for In-Store Cash Back options and pay with a card linked to your Rakuten account. Once your balance hits the minimum, Rakuten sends you earnings via PayPal or a mailed check.
How you earn:
Shop at partner retailers through its platform.
How much you can realistically earn:
It depends on how much you shop. Most offers fall between 1-10% cash back. There are occasional offers for higher bash back opportunities.
How you get paid:
PayPal or a mailed check.
Reality check:
Payments only go out once per quarter.
11. Ibotta:
Best for: In-person grocery shopping.
Ibotta focuses on cash back for groceries, household essentials and some online purchases. You pick out and activate the offers before shopping, and you earn the rewards once you buy. Ibotta partners with stores like Costco, Target and Walmart for these offers.
To get the cash back, you either upload your receipt or link your store loyalty account to track your purchases. Rewards vary by item and promotion, but most grocery stores offer a few cents to a few dollars.
How you earn:
Upload your receipts or you can link a store loyalty account.
How much you can realistically earn:
Ibotta’s site says you could earn about $260 a year.
How you get paid:
Bank account, PayPal, gift cards.
Reality check:
Make sure you activate the offers before shopping.
12. Fetch Rewards:
Best for: Those who like gift cards.
Earn points by uploading receipts from popular grocery stores, convenience stores and many other retailers. The app will tell you which partner retailers are nearby. You can also earn points by playing mobile games in the app.
Most receipts earn a small number of points, while certain brands offer higher rewards through special promotions.
How you earn:
Shop at certain retailers and upload the receipts, and play mobile games.
How much you can realistically earn:
About $10-$15 a month.
How you get paid:
Gift cards.
Reality check:
Your earnings per receipt likely won’t be very high, and gift cards are the only cash out option.
Gig and Local Task Apps (Highest Earning Potential)
These apps are the strongest choice for earning $100 in a day, although they tend to have a higher barrier to entry.
13. TaskRabbit:
Best for: Those who are handy.
TaskRabbit is a popular platform for people to find what’s commonly known as odd jobs. If someone needs their lawn mowed or someone to mount a TV for them, people like you can help.
How you earn:
Complete tasks requested by people in the app. It’s often household tasks like assembling furniture or help with moving.
How much you can realistically earn:
It depends, because you can set your own rates for a task. Do some research on what’s typical for your area so you can charge competitively. Many go for around $30-$50 per task.
How you get paid:
Payouts are via Stripe.
Reality check:
You will need to have some set of skills to offer people.
14. Rover:
Best for: Animal lovers
Rover allows you to land jobs related to pet sitting and walking. You can set your own rates and the services you provide, so you can offer boarding without doing walking.
How you earn:
Pet parents requests walking and pet sitting services at rates set by you, which you can change at anytime.
How much you can realistically earn:
This also depends because you decide how much your service is worth and how often you offer it. Walkers usually charge around $20-$25 per walk, and some people who offer overnight care charge more than $100 a night.
How you get paid:
Rover pays out via Stripe.
Reality check:
Rover charges a 20% commission fee for connecting you with the job.
15. DoorDash/UberEats:
Best for: Those with reliable transportation.
Delivering with DoorDash and UberEats allows you to make your own schedule and earn tips — not a bad deal. Plus, when you’re delivering food, you don’t have to worry about having a stranger in your car.
How you earn:
Delivering food to hungry people via your vehicle with UberEats or your vehicle or bike/scooter with DoorDash.
How much you can realistically earn:
Depends on how many jobs you can take and how much you earn in tips, but expect around $20-$25 an hour on average.
How you get paid:
Both offer bank deposits.
Reality check:
Not everyone tips well, and if you live in a smaller town you might not get as many jobs.
Asset-Based Apps
Have something you can rent out? That can make you money.
16. Turo:
Best for: People with a car they don’t use every day.
Turo is the biggest outlier on this list because it isn’t a survey or gaming app. It’s an asset-based app that lets you rent out your vehicle, which gets you more money than most of the other options here.
How you earn:
List your car and earn when renters book it.
How much you can realistically earn:
Average monthly earnings reach around $900 per vehicle, depending on your car type and location. Among the apps on this page, Turo is one of the clearest paths to bigger totals.
How you get paid:
Direct deposit to your bank account.
Reality check:
Turo is one of the few apps that could easily get you to $100 a day, but it also comes with more responsibility, logistics and wear on your car.
Games That Pay
Playing games on your mobile device can earn you some extra cash, just factor in the fees to enter paid tournaments for some of them. We have a full list of games that pay real money if you want to see more options.
17. Solitaire Smash:
Best for: Skill-based tournament players.
Solitaire Smash is a mobile app where you can play traditional Klondike Solitaire and potentially win money doing it. You can compete in real-time against others in Solitaire Smash tournaments on an even playing field, as players use identical decks. It’s also on The Penny Hoarder’s list of games that pay real money.
How you earn:
Enter tournaments and place high enough to win cash prizes.
How much you can realistically earn:
The primary way to earn money with Solitaire Smash is through participating in cash tournaments. These tournaments require a small entry fee, typically ranging from $5 to $20, and the prize pools can vary from $5 to over $100. The top players in a tournament share the prize pool.
How you get paid:
Apple Pay, PayPal or direct bank deposit.
Reality check:
Solitaire Smash offers a realistic shot at meaningful same-day earnings, but it’s not guaranteed income. In fact, you could lose money because of entry fees.
18. Testerup:
Best for: People who enjoying trying new things.
Testerup lets users earn money three ways: by playing mobile games, taking surveys and completing tasks. The variety makes it a great choice for people who don’t want to do the same tasks over and over.
How you earn:
Get paid to test out new apps and games.
How much you can realistically earn:
Earnings depend on available offers.
How you get paid:
PayPal.
Reality check:
There’s a high minimum cash out of $55.
19. Vybs (Android only)
Best for: Android users who want game-based rewards.
VYBS is a gaming rewards app for Android users who want to earn by launching games and reaching milestones. You can play multiple mobile games to win cash or digital gift cards on the free app. Games on the rotating lineup include Coin Master, Dice Dreams, Domino Dreams and Solitaire Cash.
It’s best for people who already spend time playing mobile games and want a way to turn some of that time into rewards.
How you earn:
Play games through the app and hit tracked milestones.
How much you can realistically earn:
This is a casual gaming rewards app, not a serious heavy-earner. There’s also a $550 maximum in redemptions per calendar year.
How you get paid:
PayPal or gift cards from popular retailers.
Reality check:
Vybs can be a nice add-on for Android users, but it’s more of a supplemental app than a major income app.
20. Mistplay:
Best for: Android users who already play mobile games.
Mistplay rewards users for playing mobile games and reaching milestones. It’s one of the more enjoyable ways to earn a little extra money if you already spend time gaming on your phone.
How you earn:
Play mobile games and hit in-game milestones.
How much you can realistically earn:
With Mistplay, expect to only make a few bucks a month.
How you get paid:
Paypal or gift cards.
Reality check:
This is one of the lower-paying gaming apps.
Other Money-Making Apps That Pay You: New, Niche and More
If none of the apps above sound like the right fit, there are newer and more niche options worth exploring. Just know most of these are better for experimenting than for reliably hitting a daily income goal.
Some are highly specific, like getting rewarded for safe driving or sharing internet bandwidth. Others lean more heavily into gaming tournaments, app testing or narrow reward categories. That variety can be helpful. But it also means many of these apps have lower earning potential, less track record or a more limited use case than the featured apps above.
Passive Income Apps
- Honeygain: Earn small amounts passively by sharing your internet bandwidth.
- SoFi Active Invest*: Start investing in stocks and ETFs.
Gaming Tournament Apps
- Blitz – Win Cash: Compete in skill-based games and tournaments for cash prizes (entry fees apply).
- WorldWinner: Play classic games like Solitaire and Trivia in cash tournaments.
Niche Survey, Learning, and Fitness Apps
- Zogo: Complete short financial lessons and quizzes for small rewards.
- OnMyWay: Get paid for safe driving and building better habits.
- Sweatcoin: Tracks your steps and rewards you with points you can trade for gift cards or products.
- HealthyWage: Get paid to lose weight.
Multi-Purpose/Cash Back & Finance Apps
- Super.com: Newer cash back app with discounts and some earning features.
- Rocket Money: One of our favorite budgeting apps that makes money management easier with tools like subscription tracking.
Tips for Maximizing Earnings with Money-Making Apps
Maximize your earnings with money-making apps by using more than one app, using them consistently and tracking which apps offer the best payouts.
A smart approach looks like this:
- Pick two or three apps that fit your habits instead of trying all of them at once.
- Track which apps actually pay off for your time.
- Prioritize higher-value tasks over low-paying busywork.
- Cash out early the first time you use a platform so you can confirm the payout works.
- Use referral bonuses only if the app is already worth using on its own.
The goal is not to spend all day bouncing between tiny tasks. The goal is to build a repeatable system that helps you earn more without wasting time.
Staying Safe With Apps That Pay You
Stay safe with money-making apps by making sure the app is clear about how you earn, and be cautious with any app that asks for unusually sensitive information, hides payout rules or promises huge earnings for almost no work.
There are legitimate apps that pay users real money, but there are also apps that over promise earnings, over collect data or make cashing out harder than it should be.
To protect yourself:
- Use strong, unique passwords for each account.
- Never pay an upfront fee just to start earning.
- Download apps only from official app stores.
- Read negative reviews, not just positive ones.
- Review the privacy policy before sharing personal data.
- Cash out early to make sure payouts work as expected.
- Stop using any app that suddenly changes terms or stops paying.
A little caution up front can save you a lot of wasted time and money.
Are Money-Making Apps Worth It? FAQs and Insights
Money-making apps can be worth it, but only if you go in with realistic expectations. For most people, they are better at generating extra cash than replacing a paycheck.
If you already enjoy surveys, gaming or reward programs, these apps can be an easy way to monetize spare time. But if you need steady income quickly, they usually aren’t the best solution on their own.
FAQs: Apps That Make You Money
Yes, but usually not from using one app. Reaching $100 in a day often means stacking multiple apps, focusing on higher-value opportunities or using an asset-based app like Turo.
Most money-making apps are free to join, but some gaming apps may involve entry fees for cash tournaments.
That depends on the app. Common payout methods include cash, PayPal, direct deposit, gift cards and other redemption options.
Several apps on this page pay real users, including GPT platforms like TaskRabbit, survey apps, skill-based gaming apps and asset-based apps like Turo.
Swagbucks is one of the most flexible for everyday users because it offers multiple earning methods in one place. Freecash is a stronger fit for people who want offers and tasks, while Turo stands out for people who have a vehicle to rent.
Survey and rewards apps like Freecash, Branded Surveys, InboxDollars and Swagbucks typically don’t require you to pay — just to sign up and start earning.
Solitaire Smash is the clearest game-based cash options. Mistplay and Vybs are more reward-oriented than direct cash-tournament apps.
It depends on the app and how often you use it. Gig apps are the best way to actually earn $100 a day for things like pet sitting, moving help and mowing lawns.
Final Thoughts
There are real apps that can help you make extra money, but the concept of “apps that pay $100 a day” involves some nuance.
Some of the apps on our list are good for a few extra dollars. A few have higher payout potential. Consistently using several apps in your spare time could get you to $100 in a day. Or, if you have something like a car to rent out, you could earn that much. But for most readers, the smartest approach is to treat these apps as tools you can combine, not magic shortcuts.
If you go in with realistic expectations and focus on the apps that best fit your time, habits and goals, these platforms can be a useful way to earn extra money. Just don’t expect quick or effortless results.
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