Hello there Sea Changers and welcome back. Did you know that there are over 3 billion smartphone users in the world today? Chances are you are even viewing this post on a smart phone yourself. Well it has come to my attention that there are a number of apps out there that will pay, or allow you to earn, cold hard cash (or a version of) simply for downloading and using them. So of course if this could possibly be a means of assisting with that all important sea change funding then I think we should check them out… So on that note, let's check out my list of 10 phone apps that pay money.
Before we begin, you should probably be aware that there are actually quite a large number of apps out there – let's say 1000s – that payout in some form for using them. So how have I picked my 10? Well… I really just wanted to give you a good cross section of what is out there so I did some searching around and checked a few out and chose them by looking at
- What they are
- What they do
- What you need to do
- How much they cost
- How they pay out
What do we mean by making money?
When it comes to making money with smartphone apps, there are a number of ways that this can be done. Some pay out cold hard cash in return for tasks completed – such as surveys or viewing website – whereas others allow you to ‘make money' via the redemption of discounts or coupons. Then of course there are those that simply facilitate the processes that let you earn cash – such as investment or access to odd jobs etc. In short, the following list outlines some of the ways in which you can earn money online with apps:
- Tasks/odd jobs
- Surveys
- Mystery shopping
- Delivery
- Banking/Investment
- Cash back/coupons
- Gambling
- Playing games
It should be noted at this point also that Smartphone apps, especially those that deal in cash rewards and store gift cards differ from country to country. Some that are listed below may not be available within your own country or if so, by a different name. See instructions at the bottom of this post for information on how to find relevant apps for your region.
So on that note, let's have a look at 10 programs that I have found below:
1. Earn Extra Income
Ok, so interestingly the first app outlined here doesn't actually make you any money directly from it. Rather, Earn Extra Income is a one stop shop access point for users looking to earn money online via a number of methods. It provides links directly to the sites that do pay out with options including:
- Fiverr – freelance work
- User Testing
- Selling photographs
- Selling clothing
- Teaching
- Delivery services
- Transcribing
- Renting space – car parks, cars, accommodation etc.
- and much more
Most of the links within the app are to legitimate sites that will make you money with work, via renting out space or selling items (AirBNB, Fiverr, Shopify etc.). This app is definitely helpful in providing access to them all in the one place.
How do you earn?: Access third party websites that offer jobs, tasks, sales avenues etc. as above.
How much can you earn?: Payments are dependent upon the job/tasks that is completed on the relevant site.
How do you get paid?: Dependent upon site accessed.
How much you need to make before cashing out: N/A
Platform: iOS, Android
Cost to Download: Free
2. FOAP
If you are an avid photographer, then you may be able to make yourself some extra cash via FOAP. There are four options with which you can earn money via FOAP. These are:
1. FOAP Missions – photos are uploaded to ‘missions' based on the types requested. The winner (I am assuming the person with the ‘best' photo in the missions) earns between $100 – $500. Photos within missions can also be purchased individually for $10 – $60.
2. Premium Missions – these are pay as you go missions (via the purchase or earning of FOAP coins) with higher payouts for a greater number of winners.
3. FOAP market – this is where you can simply upload photos to your profile and if someone likes it, they can purchase it from the marketplace for $10.
4. Photo referrals – simply add photos that others have uploaded to your own albums and if someone finds it there, you get a $0.25 referral payment for the sale of that photo.
This could be a good one for both the professional and recreational smartphone photographers alike especially those with a bit of spare time on their hands to play around with missions and interact within the community. If that is the case then this one may just earn you a little cash.
How do you earn?: By uploading photos and playing in missions
How much can you earn?: Single photo sales are $10 up to $2000 for winning a premium mission.
Note: FOAP takes a 50% cut on any photos sold excluding mission winnings
How do you get paid?: PayPal
How much you need to make before cashing out: N/A
Platform: iOS, Android
Cost to Download: Free
App Costs: Premium Missions require FOAP Coins to enter. These can be earned by watching ads on the app or purchased as below:
- 1000 coins – $19.99
- 500 coins – $11.99
- 300 coins – $6.99
- 100 coins – $4.99
3. Bookscouter
Our next app lets you combine new and old school media in the one place via the selling of books and text books. The app technically doesn't sell the books for you however once you have scanned your book, it will put you in touch with vendors who do. The most common books that sell within this marketplace include:
- Textbooks
- Cookbooks
- Niche publications
- Coffee table books
- Self help books.
This app is a good one for those looking to make a quick buck selling all of their old books or if you have access to stock, sell in an ongoing capacity online.
How do you earn?: By selling books.
How much can you earn?: There is no limit dependent upon the value of the books that you have for sale.
How do you get paid?: PayPal
How much you need to make before cashing out: N/A
Platform: iOS, Android
Cost to Download: Free
4. Sweatcoin
Sweatcoin is a fitness based app that “convert some of your steps into currency to spend on goods, services and experiences”. This one is a little more intrusive than some of the others wanting access to your google account, email address and a phone number so that it can track your steps via Google Fitness on your cell phone.
The premise is quite simple:
- Go for a walk to earn ‘sweatcoins'.
- Use sweatcoins to claim prizes such as Bang and Ollufsen headphones, Samsung TVs or cash.
Sweatcoins work out to be around 1 coin per 1000 steps so to reach the 20000 required to qualify for most of the prizes… well that is a lot of walking. Further coins can be earned via referring friends and watching some ads so if you are on your feet all day, then who knows, $1000 every six months or so might just be worth it.
How do you earn?: By walking.
How much can you earn?: There is no limit dependent upon how much you can walk.
How do you get paid?: PayPal and via material prizes, trips and subscriptions.
How much you need to make before cashing out: 20000 sweatcoins.
Platform: iOS, Android.
Cost to Download: Free.
5. Swagbucks
For this next app, we move into the world of surveys and the like with Swagbucks. As with the main website, the app is a “get paid to” arrangement that pays its members via swagbucks (SB) for such actions as:
- Completing online surveys
- Trialling products and services
- Watching videos
- Discovering stuff – websites etc.
- Performing online searches
Each task is allocated a SB total which can then be ‘cashed' in the form of gift cards from Amazon, booking.com and eBay cards etc. An online survey will earn you anywhere from 25 to 250SB and take anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes to complete. And as per many Apps of this type, extra SB can also be earned via referring friends as well. Cash out amounts then vary from vendor to vendor – for example a $3 Amazon card will cost 300 swagbucks and a PayPal $25 cash card will cost you 2200. But if you have some time and like doing surveys and watching videos etc. on your phone, then there is some money to be made here.
How do you earn?: By taking surveys etc.
How much can you earn?: There is no limit dependent upon how many tasks you wish to undertake.
How do you get paid?: Gift cards from well-known vendors and websites.
How much you need to make before cashing out: 300 swagbucks will earn you a $3 gift card.
Platform: iOS, Android.
Cost to Download: Free.
Then I found a way to make money online with my very own website.
I used the time I wasted trying to make money with these games and built two websites that make real cash!!
Joining for FREE was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
6. Mistplay
Mistplay is an app that pays you to download and play online games. The app itself provides links to hundreds of games which are downloaded independently from the relevant app store. Points are then earned based on the games chosen and how long they are played (I played a game for 10 minutes and earned 20 unit points).
Once you have played long enough to generate at least 1800 ‘units', you can claim payment in terms of prepaid visa and MasterCard (1800 = $5) or gift cards to major retail outlets as well. Extra units can also be earned for referring friends, subscribing to newsletters and following the app on social media.
How do you earn?: By playing online games on a smartphone.
How much can you earn?: There is no limit dependent upon how long you wish to play.
How do you get paid?: Prepaid credit cards or gift cards from well-known vendors and websites.
How much you need to make before cashing out: 1800 units will earn you a $5 prepaid Visa card.
Platform: iOS, Android.
Cost to Download: Free – games are downloaded separately with many containing ‘in app' purchases.
7. Rakuten eBates
eBates is a shopping app owned by Rakuten that technically doesn't make you money rather it saves you on shopping that you are already doing. The process is quite simple in that you:
- Locate the store that you wish to shop at via the app (if you go directly to the retail site you will not get the discount).
- Shop and pay on vendor site.
- Collect cash back directly from the Rakuten app.
Shopping categories include:
- Clothing
- Food and restaurants
- Gift cards
- Electronics
- Home Decor and Furniture
- Health and Beauty
- Shoes and Handbags
- Subscription boxes
- Baby and Kids gear
- Travel and Vacations
This would work well for those who do a lot of shopping or even purchase for a business. Note: payment is made via the app and not applied by the vendor at time of purchase.
How do you earn?: Payments are made in the form of cash back on set percentages of the purchases made via vendor sites (e.g. 6% on all purchases from Macy's).
How much can you earn?: There is no limit however you do need to make purchases to earn cash back.
How do you get paid?: PayPal or check.
How much you need to make before cashing out: Payments made every 3 months once balance reaches $5.
Platform: iOS, Android.
Cost to Download: Free – vendor purchases required.
8. ShopBack
As with the previous App above, ShopBack pays out via cash back and rewards for purchases made at qualifying websites. Users shop at any number of well-known stores and outlets in a number of categories including:
- Mega Stores
- Fashion
- Home and other
- Health and Beauty
- Tech
- VPNs
- Groceries and Alcohol
Again, once shopping has been completed, the relevant cash back option (set amount or a percentage) is credited to your account via the ShopBack app. Rewards can also be earned by referring friends, shopping at particular stores during promotional periods or the use of in app coupon codes.
How do you earn?: Payments are made in the form of cash back on set percentages of the purchases made via vendor sites (e.g. 6% on all purchases from Nike).
How much can you earn?: There is no limit however you do need to make purchases to earn cash back.
How do you get paid?: PayPal, gift card or bank transfer
How much you need to make before cashing out: Payments made every month once balance reaches $5.
Platform: iOS, Android.
Cost to Download: Free – vendor purchases required.
9. ReceiptJar
Rather than pay you after you have made a purchase, ReceiptJar (called Receipt Hog in the U.S) pays out cash and rewards based on shopping that has already been done. The process works as follows:
- Upload receipts from qualifying retail outlets (supermarkets, department stores etc.)
- Upon upload, ‘Shakes' are added to ‘Shake Jars' within the app
- Once the Shake Jar is full, ‘Golden Jar Rewards' are paid.
Rewards include Gift cards, access to online ‘gaming' sites (U.S. only) or cash/check. Filling of Jars via the upload of receipts earns 25 points which can also be earned by referring others and taking online surveys. 1000 points is required to cash out the minimum $5 gift card or cash deposit.
How do you earn?: Uploading shopping vouchers, taking surveys
How much can you earn?: Receipt uploads are limited to 120 points per week
How do you get paid?: Gift cards, cash transfers, donations to charity
How much you need to make before cashing out: 1000 points
Platform: iOS, Android.
Cost to Download: Free
10. Investing.com
The Investing.com app is one of hundreds out there that allow you to manage investments via your smartphone. As with the shopping related apps above, you are not going to make money via the app itself rather from using it to invest on the stock market. There are a number of features within the app to assist you in this endeavour including:
- Current markets (stocks, currencies, commodities, crypto)
- News
- Webinars and information
- Expert analysis and opinion
- Trade (links to external app)
Apps like this make it extremely simple to manage online trades – especially for those new to the market who are not ready to start dealing in such large numbers.
How do you earn?: Trading in the stock market
How much can you earn?: Unlimited – although keep in mind that with the stock market, you can easily lose money as well.
How do you get paid?: Cash transfers
How much you need to make before cashing out: Dependent upon broker used – some have limits on trading amounts
Platform: iOS, Android.
Cost to Download: Free – investment funds required
How to find your own apps
As I have mentioned earlier, there are 1000s of apps out there that allow you to make money from them in some way, shape or form. My 10 above are a minute example of what is out there so if you are interested in making some money in this way and wanted to find some others, then all you need to do is go into your relevant iOS or Android app store and do some searches.
The best way to do this is to narrow down to whatever means you wish to use to make some cash. Some examples include:
- Surveys
- Coupon/Cash back
- Investing
- Online tasks
- Selling personal items
Below is an example of an online survey app search:
Note: App store results are geographical in nature with some only available within certain countries in order to ensure that rewards are suitable in local stores and currencies.
Conclusion
So… There are 10 phone apps to make you some cash in 2020. I hope it has been helpful and as usual, please do not hesitate to comment below if you have any questions, need some advice or have any experiences to share. Oh, and especially comment if you have any experience with these, or any other apps as well.
Until next time
Have fun
Paul
Note: If you make a purchase from this page, there is a very good chance that I make a commission from it – these commissions do not increase your sale price.
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