9 of the Best Money Making Apps of 2025

1 . Ibotta

How it works : Ibotta lets you earn cash back on in store and online purchases at over 2000 supported retailers  Originally for groceries  it has expanded to include clothing entertainment and eating out  pet supplies and other categories. Offers can be product or retailer specific  For others  you’ll need to complete an additional task such as watching a video or taking a poll.

There are three possible ways to earn cash back in stores   Add offers and submit your receipt in the app after your shopping trip (you have 7 days to send in your receipt through the app)  link your retailer loyalty accounts or purchase a retailer gift card through the Ibotta app. For online purchases you shop through the app or with the Ibotta browser extension on your computer.

Payment : PayPal  digital gift card or direct to a bank account.

Benefits

• You’ll receive cash back on in-store purchases quickly   typically within 72 hours

• Ibotta offers a welcome bonus to new users  referral bonuses and a variety of payment methods

Drawbacks

• Making money can be a slow process. You must have at least $20 in cash back to redeem your earnings (some gift cards require at least $25 in earnings) 

• The pending period for earning cash back varies by retailer. 

• Ibotta deducts an account maintenance fee for inactive (no activity for 180 days) or deactivated accounts

2 . Rakuten

How it works : Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) rewards shoppers with cash back on purchases from well known retailers  restaurants and food delivery services. Users can also earn cash back on travel  gift cards and more. Its straightforward  Create an account  tap on the store where you want to shop in the app  then make the transaction through the portal.  You can also link a credit or debit card to your Rakuten account to earn cash back in-store  as long as you activate the deal through the app first.  Rakuten credits the cash back to your account after it confirms the purchase with the retailer.

Payment : PayPal  Big Fat Check  or or American Express Membership Rewards points

Benefits

• With thousands of participating stores and purchases  you will likely find deals where you already shop

• New users can earn a welcome bonus after their first qualified purchase  and there are opportunities for referral bonuses

• You can make an impact with your earnings by donating a portion to nonprofit partners

Drawbacks

• As with most cash back services  you have to spend money to make money and then wait to receive earnings. 

• Rakuten sends out payments every three months  and you need to hit the minimum cash back balance to get paid. 

• Unlike Ibotta  you have to remember to initiate your purchase in the app first   If you forget and make your purchase outside of the app  you cant  get credit retroactively.

  3 . Swagbucks

  How it works : Swagbucks is a cash back and rewards app.  You earn points  called  SB   by shopping online  there are over  1,500 participating retailers  taking surveys  watching videos  playing games or fulfilling other tasks through Swagbucks. You can redeem those points for gift cards   prepaid Visa cards or get cash back to your PayPal account.  The total points awarded can vary by task.  For example  100 SB points equal  $1  and surveys are typically worth about  25 to 500  SB points each.  The minimum balance required to redeem depends on the payout option you choose  but some gift cards are available for just 300 SB.

  Payment : E gift card  prepaid Visa card or PayPal  You can also redeem SB for Bitcoin through the Crypto voucher Gift Card options.

  BenefitsSwagbucks offers many easy ways to earn rewards.

  • There is no waiting period to cash in. 

  • Payments usually arrive within 10 business days after redemption. 

  • You can get a $10 bonus with a qualifying $25 purchase when you join.

  Drawbacks

  • It does n0t pay much  one SB is worth about a cent. 

  • With many tasks valued at pennies  it can take time and effort to make substantial money. 

  • You wont qualify for every survey or task  although users can earn up to 5 SB per day if they disqualify. 

  • Users often report getting kicked out in the middle of surveys  This can be due to demographics or dishonest or inconsistent answers  according to Swagbucks.

    4 . Fiverr

    How it works : Fiverr is a freelancing marketplace that features gigs in over 700 categories  such as musician and video and animation. Create an account first  then you can set your profile as a  seller  highlighting your expertise. Post the gig you are offering  which will include pricing and a description of your services. Pricing ranges from $5  to  $10,000. Clients  known as  buyers  can click through and place orders. You’ll get paid once you complete the job. Fiverr assigns seller levels based on performance. As you move up each tier  you will be able to sell more  extras  such as paid consultations.

    Payment : PayPal direct to a bank account  Payoneer or credit to a Fiverr Revenue Card (a prepaid card)  Minimum withdrawal amounts vary  and your payment processor may charge a withdrawal fee  depending on which option you choose.

    Benefits

    • You don not  have to worry about tracking down buyers because they come to you. 

    • You can earn tips on top of regular pay. 

    • Fiverr boasts its flexibility  allowing sellers to complete gigs in their own time or around their 9  5 jobs.

    Drawbacks

    • Fiverr takes 20% of your earnings for every gig  including tips. 

    • • You don’t have to worry about tracking down buyers because they come to you. 

      • You can earn tips on top of regular pay. 

      • Fiverr boasts its flexibility  allowing sellers to complete gigs in their own time or around their 9  5 jobs.

        There’s a standard 14 day waiting period to withdraw money after completing an order (top tier sellers wait seven days for funds to clear).

        5 . Upwork

        Upwork connects freelancers to gigs in writing  design marketing and other categories on the marketplace. First  you’ll create a profile. It should include information such as the field you are interested in plus your qualifications  availability and desired rate. Then, you can submit proposals  Clients will review them and offer projects if you seem like a good fit.

        You begin each month with a set number of  Connects   which are like credits that allow you to contact prospective clients. You can earn or pay a small sum for more Connects  but you won’t be charged when clients contact you. You can get paid on an hourly or per project basis.

        Payment : Direct to U.S. Bank  direct to your bank account  wire transfer  Instant Pay  PayPal and Payoneer  Charges apply to some payment options, so be sure to check Upwork for details.

        Benefits

        • Upwork helps take the work out of seeking out clients  establishing relationships and getting paid. 

        • The service gives you the flexibility to set your preferred rate and schedule.

        Drawbacks

        • The app is free to download  but initiating contact with lots of clients costs money. 

        • Upwork takes a  10%  cut of your earnings based on how much you have billed a client. 

        • The more you earn  the more you get to keep  but you won’t get paid until 10 days after the billing period ends. 

          6 . Offer Up

          How it works : Offer Up  which combined with competitor Let go in 2020, functions as a local marketplace you can use to sell your stuff. If you want to reach a broader audience  Offer Up also allows shipping anywhere within the United States except for Alaska  Arkansas and Hawaii. Create an account and snap a picture of your smartphone  car  sofa or whatever it is you are selling. Once you add a title  description and price  you can post your listing and chat with buyers directly through the app. Then  you will ship to or arrange a meeting with the buyer.

          Payment : When selling locally  Offer Up recommends sellers take cash from buyers and stay clear of accepting payments by check  cashier’s check or using other apps. For shipments  sellers can set up deposits to a debit card or bank account.

          Benefits

          • Its quick and easy to create a listing  and you’ll get paid instantly when you make a cash sale. 

          • You can view a prospective buyers reviews and ratings to get an idea of how trustworthy they are beforehand. 

          • If you ship your item  the buyer pays the cost  and Offer Up provides the label.

          Drawbacks

          • You are responsible for meeting local buyers in person and handling transactions. 

          • Sellers must pay a  12.9%  service fee  or a minimum of  $1.99  for shipments. 

          • To be successful  you will likely need to invest in a printer so you can print the shipping labels and mail items to buyers.

            7 . Poshmark

            How it works : The Poshmark app is tailor made for selling clothes, accessories and even home decor. After signing up  you take or upload photos of your item fill out a description  price it and share the listing. You can also feature items in the app’s  Posh Parties  which are virtual shopping events centered around particular brands  categories and themes. Poshmark emails you a prepaid and pre addressed shipping label once a purchase is made. Then  you send the package via USPS.

            Payment: Check  PayPal  Venmo  Instant Transfer or direct deposit to a bank account.

            Benefits

            • Poshmark facilitates the entire process  from selling to shipping  and you don’t have to meet with strangers to make a sale. 

            • The company will cover lost packages and handle issues between you and the buyer. 

            • Getting paid is relatively quick. Poshmark issues the money within three days of the buyer receiving the order.

            Drawbacks

            • You will pay a fee for selling through Poshmark. The company takes a  $2.95  commission for sales under  $15  and a  20%  commission for sales of   $15  or above.

              8 . Premise 

              How it works : Premise is a task based app that provides rewards for users who complete simple tasks. You get paid for sharing local insights to help businesses and communities. Some options include sharing information and photos on what is happening in your area like traffic jams and local events or taking surveys. You create an account by signing up with an email address. Once enrolled  you can browse the app for activities to complete for cash. You can also set notifications to receive the latest tasks available.

              Payment : PayPal  Bitcoin or Payoneer.

              Benefits

              • The app markets itself as a community first service where your opinion can help shape your community. 

              • Tasks may be associated with public service entities such as libraries  hospitals and governance related activities.

              Drawbacks

              • Depending on where you live  there may be limited tasks available. 

              • Some users state the app itself is challenging to use   making it difficult to locate the items or tasks in a community.

                9. Upside

                How it works: Upside provides cash back for gas  grocery and restaurant purchases. On average, Upside says users earn  8%  cash back on groceries and dining  and there are more than 100,000  retailers and restaurants that participate. Once you sign up, you claim offers through the app and pay for your purchase as you normally would with a credit or debit card. You will either check in on the app or scan your receipt to earn your reward. You can cash out anytime.

                Payment : PayPal  gift cards or deposit to your bank account.

                Benefits

                • Upside focuses on daily essential purchases that many consumers may already be making. 

                • The company says frequent users earn   $290  annually by adding Upside to their normal routine.

                Drawbacks

                • The app does not always work as it should  according to several user reviews. 

                • To be successful  you may have to work through technical issues and the receipt uploading process  which some users say is not worth the time investment for a minor payout.