25 Best Side Hustle Apps to Make Extra Money (Tested & Approved!)
I’ve been hustling with side gig apps for years – some paid my rent, others barely bought me coffee. After testing dozens, here are 25 legit apps that actually put money in your pocket, with real numbers from my experience.
25 Side Hustle Apps You Must Try
1. DoorDash – Get Paid to Deliver Food
This became my go-to when I needed quick cash between jobs. You pick up orders from restaurants (even fast food) and drop them off.
What I Learned:
– Lunch (11am-2pm) and dinner (5pm-9pm) pay best – I made $22/hour during rushes
– Hot zones matter – Parking near shopping centers means constant orders
– Tips make the difference – Friendly service got me repeat customers
Earnings: $15-$30/hour (weekends pay more)
Perfect For: People with reliable transportation who want flexible hours
2. Uber & Lyft – Drive People Around for Cash
My cousin paid off his car loan driving nights and weekends. You set your own schedule and meet interesting people.
Pro Tips:
– Airport runs pay best – $25+ per ride to/from terminals
– Friday/Saturday nights = surge pricing (I once got $45 for a 10-minute ride!)
– Keep your car clean – Higher ratings mean more rides
Earnings: $15-$35/hour after gas costs
Best If: You have a newer, clean car and don’t mind chatting
Drive for Uber | Drive for Lyft
3. Instacart – Shop for Others & Get Paid
I did this during lockdowns and was shocked how much people tip for groceries. You shop at stores like Costco and deliver.
What Works Best:
– Early morning shifts – Stores are empty, orders are quick
– Big orders = big tips – One $300 Costco order got me a $40 tip
– Wear the lanyard – Store employees help you find items faster
Earnings: $18-$35/hour with tips
Great For: People who know grocery stores well
4. TaskRabbit – Get Paid for Handyman Jobs
I’m not super handy, but I made $120 assembling an IKEA bed! People hire for all kinds of tasks.
Top Requested Jobs:
– Furniture assembly ($25-$75/hour)
– Mounting TVs ($50 per job)
– Help moving ($30+/hour)
Key Tip: Take good before/after photos for your profile
Earnings: $25-$100/hour
Best If: You’re good with tools or heavy lifting
5. Rover – Make Money Pet Sitting
I watched a golden retriever for a weekend and got paid $150 to basically cuddle a dog. Sign me up!
Most Popular Services:
– Dog walking ($15-$25 per walk)
– Overnight stays ($50-$100/night)
– Drop-in visits ($15-$30 per visit)
Pro Move: Offer holiday care – rates double around Christmas
Earnings: $20-$75/hour
Perfect For: Animal lovers with flexible schedules
6. Fiverr – Sell Your Skills Online
I started offering simple video edits for $25 and now charge $150 for the same work. Build reviews, then raise prices!
Best-Selling Gigs:
– Logo design ($50-$300)
– Voiceovers ($50 per minute)
– Resume writing ($75-$200)
Secret Sauce: Niche down – “I edit TikTok videos for realtors” beats “I edit videos”
Earnings: $25-$500 per project
Ideal For: Anyone with marketable skills
7. Upwork – Land Freelance Clients
I built a steady $3k/month writing business here. It’s competitive but pays better than Fiverr long-term.
Highest-Paying Fields:
– Web development ($50-$150/hour)
– Copywriting ($30-$100/hour)
– Virtual assisting ($20-$50/hour)
Winning Strategy: Send personalized proposals – generic ones get ignored
Earnings: $20-$200/hour
Best For: Serious freelancers
8. Airbnb Experiences – Host Paid Activities
A friend makes $300/week giving sunset photography tours. If you’re good at something, teach it!
Popular Experiences:
– Cooking classes ($50-$100/person)
– Hiking tours ($30-$80/person)
– Craft workshops ($40-$120/person)
Hot Tip: Partner with local businesses for better venues
Earnings: $50-$500 per event
Great If: You live in a tourist area
9. Sweatcoin – Earn Money Walking
This app tracks your steps and pays you in crypto. I’ve redeemed $75 in Amazon cards over a year.
How It Works:
– 1,000 steps = ~0.5 Sweatcoin
– 5,000 coins = $25 gift card
Best For: People who already walk a lot
Earnings: $1-$5 per week passively
10. Survey Junkie – Get Paid for Opinions
Not a get-rich scheme, but I make $100/month watching TV and answering surveys.
Top Survey Apps:
– Survey Junkie ($1-$5 per survey)
– Swagbucks (also pays for watching videos)
– InboxDollars (checks take 2 weeks to arrive)
Pro Tip: Sign up for all three to maximize earnings
Earnings: $3-$10/hour
Good For: Making spare change during downtime
11. Poshmark – Sell Clothes from Your Closet
I cleared out my closet and made $800 in two months. Designer items sell fastest.
What Sells Best:
– Lululemon leggings ($40-$80)
– Nike/Jordan sneakers ($50-$300)
– Vintage band tees ($30-$150)
Selling Hack: Share your listings daily for more visibility
Earnings: $20-$500 per item
Perfect For: Fashion lovers with extra clothes
12. Turo – Rent Out Your Car
My neighbor’s Jeep pays his car payment by renting it 10 days/month.
What You Need:
– Clean title
– Good condition
– Full coverage insurance
Best Cars to Rent:
– SUVs ($50-$150/day)
– Convertibles ($75-$200/day)
– Luxury cars ($100-$300/day)
Earnings: $500-$3,000/month
Ideal If: You have a nice car you don’t drive daily
13. Foap – Sell Your Phone Photos
I uploaded 50 travel pics and made $200 over a year without doing anything else.
What Buyers Want:
– Authentic lifestyle shots
– High-quality food photos
– Unique cityscapes
Pro Tip: Shoot in high resolution and use natural light
Earnings: $5-$100 per photo
Great For: Photography hobbyists
14. Neighbor – Rent Out Storage Space
People will pay to store stuff in your garage, basement, or even driveway.
What You Can Offer:
– Closet space ($30-$100/month)
– Garage parking ($50-$200/month)
– RV parking ($100-$400/month)
Safety Tip: Always meet renters in person first
Earnings: $50-$500/month
Best If: You have unused space
15. YouTube – Build Passive Income
I started a gaming channel as a joke and now make $200/month from ads.
Best Starter Niches:
– Tutorials (how to fix/make anything)
– Product reviews (test and share opinions)
– Day in the life vlogs (people love authenticity)
Growth Secret: Post consistently (2-3x/week) for the algorithm
Earnings: $3-$10 per 1,000 views
Perfect For: Creative people willing to learn video editing
16. WeGoLook – Get Paid to Inspect Things
This app pays you to verify items before purchase. I got $35 to take 20 photos of a used car!
How it Works:
– Accept inspection jobs in your area
– Take required photos/notes
– Submit report and get paid
Best Jobs:
– Vehicle inspections ($25-$50)
– Property condition reports ($40-$75)
– Retail store audits ($15-$30)
Earnings: $20-$75 per inspection
Time Required: 15-60 minutes per job
Perfect For: Detail-oriented people who want flexible gigs
17. Field Agent – Complete Local Missions
I’ve made $200+ taking product photos in stores and checking prices.
Common Tasks:
– Audit store displays ($5-$12 per store)
– Mystery shopping ($8-$25 per visit)
– Take product photos ($3-$8 per item)
Pro Tip: Stack multiple jobs at the same store location
Earnings: $10-$30/hour
App Rating: 4.3/5 (iOS)
Best For: People who already go shopping regularly
18. GigPro – Premium Service Jobs
This is like TaskRabbit but with higher-paying clients. I made $125 for 2 hours of moving help!
Top Gigs:
– Moving help ($25-$50/hour)
– Home cleaning ($30-$60/hour)
– Event staffing ($20-$35/hour)
Key Difference: Clients pay more for quality service
Earnings: $25-$75/hour
Available In: Major US cities
Ideal For: Professionals looking for better-paying gigs
19. Shipt – Grocery Delivery with Better Pay
Similar to Instacart but often higher base pay. I average $22/hour including tips.
Why Choose Shipt?
– Larger order minimums = bigger tips
– Member-only customers (more reliable)
– Better scheduling flexibility
Earnings Breakdown:
– $16 base pay + $10 tip = $26 for 45 minutes
– $5 promo pay during busy times
Best For: People who prefer fewer, higher-paying orders
20. Steady – Find the Best Local Gigs
This app aggregates all side hustle opportunities in your area. Found 3 new apps through it!
What It Offers:
– Compares pay rates across platforms
– Shows hidden “instant cash” jobs
– Tracks all your earnings in one place
Cool Features:
– Income tracker
– Exclusive high-paying gigs
– Cash bonus opportunities
Earnings Potential: Varies by gig
App Rating: 4.7/5
Perfect For: Side hustle beginners
21. Roadie – Deliver Large Items
Got paid $85 to deliver a treadmill 20 miles! Perfect if you have a truck or SUV.
Common Deliveries:
– Home goods ($25-$100 per trip)
– Auto parts ($15-$60)
– Retail returns ($10-$40)
Big Advantage:
– No schedule – accept jobs when you want
– Longer distances pay more
Earnings: $15-$50 per delivery
Vehicle Requirements: Any size accepted
Best For: People with larger vehicles
22. Qwick – On-Demand Event Staffing
I’ve bartended weddings through this app making $25-$35/hour cash.
Popular Jobs:
– Bartenders ($25-$50/hour)
– Servers ($18-$30/hour)
– Kitchen staff ($15-$25/hour)
Requirements:
– Some experience preferred
– Food handler’s card (easy to get)
Perks:
– Keep all tips
– Choose your shifts
Great For: Hospitality workers wanting extra shifts
23. HyreCar – Rent Your Car to Rideshare Drivers
My friend makes $800/month renting his spare car to Uber drivers.
How It Works:
– List your eligible vehicle
– Drivers rent it by the day/week
– You get paid whether they drive or not
Earnings Potential:
– Sedans: $400-$800/month
– SUVs: $600-$1,200/month
Requirements:
– Clean title
– Proper insurance
Smart Move: Rent to long-term drivers for stability
24. Dscout – Paid Market Research
Made $150 for recording myself shopping for jeans! Weird but easy money.
Typical Missions:
– Product testing ($50-$150)
– Shopping diaries ($40-$100)
– App testing ($20-$75)
Payment Speed:
– Most studies pay within 3-5 days
– PayPal or gift cards
Earnings: $20-$150 per study
Time Required: 15 mins to 2 hours
Best For: Opinionated shoppers
25. Fluid Truck – Rent Out Your Work Vehicle
If you own a truck, van, or trailer, rent it when you’re not using it.
What Renters Pay:
– Pickup trucks: $50-$150/day
– Cargo vans: $75-$200/day
– Trailers: $40-$120/day
Protection:
– $1M insurance included
– 24/7 roadside assistance
Earnings Potential:
– $1,000-$3,000/month for commercial vehicles
Ideal For: Contractors with extra equipment
Which App Should You Try First?
For fast cash: Roadie or Field Agent
For long-term income: GigPro or HyreCar
For passive money: Fluid Truck or HyreCar
Pro Tip: Combine 2-3 apps to maximize earnings!
All these apps are legit, tested by real people, and can put extra $100-$2,000/month in your pocket. The hardest part is just getting started!
Note: Earnings vary by location, effort, and availability. Results aren’t guaranteed but reflect real user experiences.
Want More Ideas? Check out Side Hustle Nation for 500+ ways to earn extra.
Why Listen to Me? I’ve personally tested all these apps – some became full-time income, others funded my coffee habit. The key is just getting started!
