INTRODUCTION
In today’s fast-paced world, earning extra income online has become more accessible than ever. With just your smartphone, you can easily start making $500+ a month by using some of the best side hustle apps available. Whether you’re a student, a stay-at-home parent, or someone looking to boost their income, these apps provide excellent opportunities to earn money without leaving your home. In this guide, we will explore the top online earning apps that can help you make extra cash using only your phone.
Why Earn Money Online Using Side Hustle Apps?
Before diving into the apps, let’s quickly look at why making money online through side hustle apps has gained immense popularity:
- Flexible Hours: You can work whenever you want, from anywhere.
- No Initial Investment: Most side hustle apps are free to download and use.
- Diversified Income Streams: You can combine multiple apps to create several streams of income.
- No Special Skills Required: Many apps are beginner-friendly and don’t require prior experience.
Now, let’s explore the best side hustle apps that can help you earn $500 or more each month from your phone.
1. Swagbucks: Earn Money from Surveys and Daily Tasks
One of the easiest ways to start making money online is by using Swagbucks, a popular platform that rewards users for completing simple tasks like taking surveys, watching videos, and shopping online. With Swagbucks, you can accumulate points known as SBs, which can be converted into cash or gift cards.
How to Get Started:
- Download the Swagbucks app and sign up for a free account.
- Complete daily tasks like surveys, polls, and cashback offers to earn SBs.
- Redeem your SBs for PayPal cash or gift cards to major retailers.
Potential Earnings: With consistent effort, you can earn between $50 to $200 per month, depending on how many tasks you complete.
Pro Tip: Focus on high-paying surveys and daily bonuses to maximize your earnings. Referring friends to the platform can also increase your income through referral bonuses.
2. Fiverr: Make Money Freelancing
If you have marketable skills like writing, graphic design, or video editing, Fiverr is one of the best online platforms to monetize your talents. Fiverr allows freelancers to offer services (known as “gigs”) to clients worldwide, making it a great way to start earning money from your phone.
How to Get Started:
- Create a Fiverr account and set up your profile with detailed information about your skills.
- Post your gigs, offering services such as social media management, logo design, or writing.
- Promote your gigs through social media or personal networks to attract clients.
Potential Earnings: Fiverr services start at $5 per gig, but experienced freelancers often charge hundreds of dollars for premium packages. With dedication, you can easily make $500 or more per month.
Pro Tip: Offer upsells and extra services within your gigs to increase your average order value.
3. DoorDash: Earn Money Delivering Food
If you’re looking for a flexible side hustle, DoorDash allows you to make money by delivering food from local restaurants to customers. As a DoorDash driver, you have the freedom to choose your hours and work as much or as little as you want.
How to Get Started:
- Download the DoorDash app and sign up to become a driver (Dasher).
- Complete the necessary registration steps, including a background check.
- Accept delivery requests in your area and start earning for each completed delivery.
Potential Earnings: Depending on your location and how often you deliver, you can earn between $15 to $25 per hour. Working part-time, you can easily make $500 a month or more.
Pro Tip: Focus on peak hours (lunch and dinner) and high-demand areas to maximize your earnings. You can also increase tips by providing excellent customer service.
4. Rakuten: Earn Cash Back While Shopping
Do you love shopping online? With Rakuten, you can earn cashback on your everyday purchases from popular retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target. Rakuten gives you a percentage of your spending back as cash, which can quickly add up.
How to Get Started:
- Download the Rakuten app and sign up for an account.
- Shop through the Rakuten platform or activate the cashback feature before making purchases.
- Earn cashback on qualifying purchases and withdraw it via PayPal or check.
Potential Earnings: While Rakuten is not a traditional side hustle app, regular users can earn up to $50 or more monthly just by shopping.
Pro Tip: Combine Rakuten with credit card rewards or store discounts to maximize your savings.
5. Upwork: Get Paid for Freelance Projects
Upwork is one of the largest freelance marketplaces where you can find a wide range of jobs, from administrative tasks to creative projects. If you’re looking to make money online from home, Upwork is perfect for both beginners and professionals looking to land remote jobs and long-term contracts.
How to Get Started:
- Download the Upwork app and create your freelance profile.
- Browse and apply for jobs that match your skills, such as content writing, data entry, or web development.
- Get hired, complete the work, and receive payments directly to your account.
Potential Earnings: On Upwork, your earning potential depends on the type of jobs you take. Skilled freelancers can make anywhere from $15 to $100 per hour. You can easily reach the $500 mark by taking on multiple small projects.
Pro Tip: Building a strong profile with good reviews will help you land higher-paying gigs.
6. Sweatcoin: Walk and Earn Rewards
Sweatcoin is an innovative app that rewards users for staying active. By tracking your steps, Sweatcoin converts them into digital currency (Sweatcoins) that can be redeemed for rewards like PayPal cash, gift cards, or discounts on various products.
How to Get Started:
- Download the Sweatcoin app and sign up for a free account.
- Allow the app to track your steps using your phone’s built-in pedometer.
- Accumulate Sweatcoins and redeem them for rewards or cash.
Potential Earnings: While Sweatcoin won’t make you rich overnight, dedicated users can earn up to $100 per month just by walking regularly.
Pro Tip: Invite friends to join and earn additional Sweatcoins through their referral program.
7. Ibotta: Earn Cash Back on Groceries
Ibotta is another cashback app that rewards users for purchasing groceries and everyday items. Simply scan your receipts after shopping, and Ibotta will give you cash back on eligible purchases from stores like Walmart, Kroger, and Costco.
How to Get Started:
- Download the Ibotta app and create a free account.
- Browse the app for cashback offers and shop at participating stores.
- Upload your receipt and receive cashback within 48 hours.
Potential Earnings: Depending on how often you shop, you can earn $20 to $100 per month in cashback from Ibotta.
Pro Tip: Combine Ibotta with store coupons and other cashback apps like Rakuten to double your earnings.
8. Amazon MTurk: Get Paid for Microtasks
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is an online platform where you can earn money by completing microtasks like data entry, transcription, and surveys. While the tasks are small, they add up quickly, making it a great option for online earning.
How to Get Started:
- Sign up on Amazon MTurk and get approved as a worker.
- Browse available tasks, known as HITs (Human Intelligence Tasks), and start completing them.
- Get paid for each HIT completed, with the ability to withdraw your earnings to a bank account.
Potential Earnings: Depending on the number of tasks you complete, you can earn $50 to $300 or more per month.
Pro Tip: Look for higher-paying tasks and complete them in bulk to maximize your earnings on MTurk.
Final Thoughts: Consistency is Key
Earning $500 or more monthly from your phone is entirely possible by using a combination of these side hustle apps. The key to success is consistency. Set daily or weekly goals, track your progress, and continue exploring new earning opportunities. Diversifying your income streams by using multiple apps simultaneously can significantly boost your earnings and help you achieve your financial goals.
Summary of Top Earning Apps:
- Swagbucks – Surveys, videos, and tasks.
- Fiverr – Freelance marketplace.
- DoorDash – Food delivery.
- Rakuten – Cashback on shopping.
- Upwork – Freelance jobs.
- Sweatcoin – Earn by walking.
- Ibotta – Grocery cashback.
- Amazon MTurk – Microtasks.
With these side hustle apps, you can start making money online right from your phone today. The more time and effort you put into these opportunities, the quicker you’ll be able to reach or surpass that $500 monthly goal. So, why wait? Start hustling!