If you’re looking for an easy way to make extra money, your phone can be a surprisingly useful tool.

There are now apps that pay you for taking surveys, playing games, completing offers, delivering food, and even accessing wages you’ve already earned.

Of course, not every money-making app is created equal. Some are better for earning a few extra dollars during your downtime, while others can become legitimate side hustles if you’re willing to put in more time.

Here are 10 apps worth checking out if you want to make extra money from your phone.

1. HeyCash

HeyCash is a rewards app that lets you make money by completing surveys, playing mobile games, and completing various offers. It’s essentially a digital rewards marketplace where you can choose from different ways to earn rather than being locked into one activity.

After creating an account, you can browse available surveys, games, and offers. Surveys are generally the quickest way to earn, while games and offers can potentially pay more if you’re willing to spend additional time completing milestones.

For example, a game might reward you for reaching certain levels, while an offer could require you to download an app or complete a specific action.

One of the nice things about HeyCash is its selection of cash-out options. Depending on your location, you can redeem your balance for PayPal, bank transfers, Venmo, Cash App, and various gift cards.

If you’re looking for games that pay to Cash App, PayPal, Venmo or right to your bank account, then I’d stick with HeyCash first.

2. KashKick

KashKick is another rewards platform where you can make money by completing surveys, playing games, shopping, and trying different online offers. It’s been around for several years and has a straightforward setup that makes it easy to see how much you’re earning.

Once you create an account, you can browse the available activities and choose what you want to complete. Surveys are generally the simplest option, while gaming offers can take longer but potentially pay more. Some offers require you to reach specific milestones inside a game, so make sure you read the requirements before starting.

KashKick lets you cash out once you earn $10. PayPal is the payment method, so you’re earning real cash with KashKick, not gift cards or sweepstake entries.

3. EarnStar

EarnStar is a money earning app that focuses heavily on mobile gaming, although it also offers surveys and other ways to earn. If you’re already spending time playing games on your phone, the concept is pretty simple: play games, complete milestones, and receive rewards.

After signing up, you can browse the available games and choose the ones that interest you. Different games have different requirements. You might earn rewards for reaching certain levels, playing for a certain amount of time, or completing specific objectives. You can also switch to surveys and other offers when you want another way to earn.

EarnStar currently offers PayPal and gift-card rewards. Rewards range from $5 to $20 depending on what you’re redeeming.

The main selling point here is the focus on mobile games. If you enjoy trying new games anyway, EarnStar gives you a way to potentially get something back for that time.

4. Branded Surveys

Branded Surveys is a market research platform that pays you for sharing your opinions. It’s much more focused on surveys than some of the other apps on this list, so it’s a good option if you don’t want to play games or complete complicated offers.

When you sign up, you fill out some basic information about yourself. Branded Surveys uses this information to match you with surveys you’re potentially qualified for. You then browse the available surveys and choose which ones you want to complete.

Survey lengths and payouts vary, and you won’t qualify for every survey. That’s normal with survey platforms because companies are looking for specific demographics and opinions. You might answer a few screening questions only to discover that you don’t qualify for the rest of the survey.

The earning potential is relatively modest, but Branded Surveys can be useful for making a few extra dollars during downtime. It’s the kind of app you can use while watching TV, waiting for an appointment, or sitting on the train.

You need 500 points before you can redeem your rewards. Depending on your country, redemption options can include PayPal, gift cards, Visa rewards, and other choices.

5. Freecash

Freecash is one of the more diverse rewards platforms on this list. It gives you access to surveys, mobile games, app-testing opportunities, sign-up offers, and other online tasks.

The basic process is simple. Browse the available offers, choose one you want to complete, follow the instructions, and receive your reward after the advertiser confirms that you’ve completed the requirements.

Gaming offers are one of Freecash’s biggest attractions. You might find an offer that pays you for reaching a certain level in a mobile game, for example. Other offers can involve downloading an app, signing up for a service, answering surveys, or completing specific tasks.

The earning potential varies dramatically. Some activities pay only a few cents or dollars, while larger gaming and promotional offers can be worth substantially more. The higher-paying opportunities generally require more time and effort, so it’s worth considering the value of your time before starting.

Freecash also has a wide selection of withdrawal methods. Depending on your location, you can cash out through PayPal, bank transfers, Visa, cryptocurrency, and various gift cards. This variety is one of the platform’s biggest advantages.

6. EarnIn

EarnIn is different from the other apps on this list because it isn’t really a money-making app.

Instead, EarnIn is an earned-wage access service that allows eligible workers to access some of their wages before their normal payday. In other words, you’re not earning additional income; you’re getting earlier access to money you’ve already earned.

After signing up, EarnIn verifies information about your employment, income, and pay schedule. If you’re eligible, you can request a portion of your earned wages and have the money transferred to your bank account.

EarnIn currently advertises access to up to $150 per day and $1,000 per pay period, although individual limits can vary. Standard transfers don’t have mandatory fees, while faster transfers can involve a fee.

Because you’re accessing wages you’ve already earned, there isn’t really an earning potential like there is with a survey or gig app. The benefit is cash-flow flexibility. If your paycheck is coming in a few days but an unexpected expense comes up today, having earlier access to some of your earned wages can be useful.

It’s also important to remember that this isn’t free money. You’re simply receiving part of your paycheck earlier than you otherwise would.

7. Scrambly

Scrambly is a rewards platform that focuses primarily on playing games and trying apps. You earn coins by completing milestones inside games and apps and can then exchange those coins for cash or gift cards.

The process is straightforward. Browse the available offers, select one, follow the instructions, and start completing the required milestones. One advantage of the platform is that many offers have multiple milestones, so you can potentially earn rewards along the way rather than waiting until you’ve completely finished an offer.

One of Scrambly’s more interesting features is its low advertised cash-out threshold. Depending on the reward method, you can withdraw with as little as $1. Available options include PayPal, Cash App, Visa, Amazon, and Target, although the exact options vary.

8. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is one of the most established rewards platforms around and gives you a wide variety of ways to earn its SB points.

You can make SB by taking surveys, shopping through the platform, playing games, completing offers, submitting eligible receipts, and participating in other promotional activities. This variety is one of the reasons Swagbucks has remained popular for so long.

The best strategy is usually to experiment with a few different earning methods rather than forcing yourself to do something you don’t enjoy. For example, if surveys have low availability for you, you might have better luck with shopping rewards or game offers.

Your earning potential depends on which activities you use. Surveys generally provide smaller rewards, while some promotional and gaming offers can pay considerably more. Swagbucks also frequently runs special promotions that can increase the rewards available for certain activities.

Swagbucks has rewards starting at $1 to $5 which is another selling point. Options include PayPal and dozens of gift cards.

9. Mistplay

Mistplay is another app built around mobile gaming. Instead of paying you for completing surveys, Mistplay rewards you for playing eligible mobile games and reaching certain milestones.

You download Mistplay and browse the games available through the platform. When you find something you want to play, you install it through Mistplay when required and start earning Units as you play.

Mistplay isn’t really designed to replace a job. The appeal is that you can earn rewards from something you were already going to do anyway. If you’re a mobile gamer who spends several hours a week playing games, getting gift cards in return can be a nice bonus.

Rewards generally come in the form of gift cards and other digital rewards rather than a traditional paycheck. Available rewards vary by country, with options including brands such as Amazon, Walmart, Visa, and Starbucks in certain markets.

10. Uber Eats

Uber Eats is probably the biggest departure from the other apps on this list because you’re actually performing a service rather than completing digital tasks.

With Uber Eats, you sign up as a delivery person and use the Uber Driver app to accept food delivery requests. Depending on where you live, you may be able to deliver by car, bike, scooter, or another eligible method.

The biggest advantage is the earning potential compared with survey and rewards apps. You’re doing actual gig work, so you’re generally putting in more effort, but you also have the opportunity to make substantially more money during a few hours of work.

Uber lets delivery people choose when they want to go online, making it possible to work around another job, school, or other commitments. You can potentially go online for a couple of hours during a busy dinner period and then stop whenever you want.

Your actual earnings will depend on your location, demand, the number of deliveries you complete, tips, and other factors. You’ll also need to account for expenses such as gas, vehicle maintenance, insurance, and taxes if you’re using a car.

Uber says delivery people keep 100% of their tips, and the app provides an earnings estimate before you accept a delivery. In some locations, there are also additional minimum-earnings protections for gig workers.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of apps that can help you make extra money, but they aren’t all designed for the same person.

If you want something you can do from your couch, HeyCash, KashKick, Branded Surveys, Freecash, and Swagbucks give you plenty of surveys and online offers to choose from.

If you prefer gaming, EarnStar, Scrambly, and Mistplay let you turn some of your mobile gaming time into rewards.

EarnIn is different because it isn’t really a side hustle. It’s a tool for accessing wages you’ve already earned before payday.

And if you want to put in more work in exchange for the potential to earn more, Uber Eats is a completely different category of opportunity.

The biggest mistake is treating every money-making app like a source of serious income.

Most survey and rewards apps are better for making a little extra money in your spare time. The key is finding activities that don’t take more of your time than they’re worth.

If you’re already sitting on the couch watching TV, answering a survey might be worth doing.

If you’re already a mobile gamer, earning rewards through a gaming app can make sense.

And if you have several free hours and want to turn them into a more substantial side hustle, a gig app like Uber Eats may be a better fit.

The best app ultimately depends on how much time you have, what you’re willing to do, and how much you’re trying to earn.