18 Top Earning Apps with Zero Investment Needed (Elevate Your Finances)
Do you always need money to make money? No – because this post would show you the best-earning apps you can use without investing a dime.
In this internet age, there is an influx of information – so it becomes difficult to differentiate the right from the wrong information.
Because many people are scared of losing money, they shy away from making money online, but I would show you apps you can use to make money without any initial investment.
These are no get-rich-quick apps or scam apps – usually, there are a few tasks you’d have to complete before you get paid.
Signing up for these apps is totally free, some even give you free welcome bonuses of up to $30 when you join. Moreover, these are legit apps that have been used and reviewed by millions of users – so you would be paid real money!
When Will You Start Making Money With These Apps?
Actually, some of these apps have sign-up bonuses for new members, thus, you will make your first money immediately after downloading these apps!
This money can be withdrawn instantly through direct deposit, gift cards, PayPal, and other payment options. However, for apps that have a high payout threshold, you have to complete tasks for more money before you can finally cash out.
Free Money Making Apps That Actually Work
Below are the best apps you can use to make money without paying a penny. Without further ado, let’s start!
1. Swagbucks
With Swagbucks, you don’t have to invest any money before you can start earning. Swagbucks is a get-paid-to app that pays you to accomplish simple tasks such as:
- Answering online surveys
- Watching videos
- Playing games
- Surfing the web
- Shopping online – etc.
Also, you can refer your friends and family to the app and earn extra cash. To get started on Swagbucks, you have to download the app from Google Play or iOS App Store. After that, sign up for free and complete your profile.
The profile is very important – a questionnaire will be given to you to fill out, answering a few personal questions. This guides Swagbucks to give you relevant tasks to complete for money!
Once you’re done with your profile, you can start taking tasks.
How Much Can You Earn On Swagbucks?
Expect between $50 and $100 per month for completing tasks on Swagbucks. The app pays in points known as “SB”, conversion can be made into real cash at the time of cashing out. But understand that 100 SB equals $1. The cool thing is that Swagbucks also gives you a $10 bonus when you sign up.
Swagbucks allows withdrawal after you’ve garnered only $1. Payment options are PayPal cash, gift cards, and checks.
2. Qmee
Many businesses pay members of Qmee for their opinions. They use this data for building relevant and helpful products. You can join Qmee to trade your opinions for money through online surveys.
The good thing about Qmee is that all users are paid real cash right from the onset. That means no conversion of points – it’s good because you know how much you’re earning.
Qmee works on Android and iOS devices, so you can download it on your smartphone now. After signing up and completing your profile, you can accomplish various tasks and get paid. Here are some of the tasks on Qmee:
- Shopping online for cashback rewards
- Answering online surveys
- Referring others to join the app
- Playing games
- Taking special deals.
How Much Can You Earn On Qmee?
Qmee pays you about $1 to $2 per hour when you complete tasks on the app. So you have to be consistent on the app if you want to make more money.
Qmee has a very low payout minimum – you only need to earn $1 and you can cash out via PayPal. Alternatively, you can donate the money to charity or use it for gift cards to brands like Walmart, Kroger, Costco, Amazon, JCPenney, Home Depot, and Starbucks.
3. Survey Junkie
Another earning app without investment is the popular survey app, Survey Junkie. The name of the app speaks for itself – there are tons of surveys you can answer for money on this platform. If you live in the United States, Canada, or Australia, and you’re not below 18 years old, you can earn with Survey Junkie!
Interestingly, you shall receive a signup bonus of $5 as soon as you join Survey Junkie, and this can be cashed out anytime. But you’d want to amplify your earnings by completing more surveys on the app.
Apart from taking surveys, another way you can earn with Survey Junkie is to share your internet behavior with brands by installing software known as “Pulse” on your smartphones and computers.
How Much Can You Earn On Survey Junkie?
Users of Survey Junkie earn $40 per month on average – so expect that amount. It’s not much, but since you’re answering quick surveys for it, I think it’s worth it(there’s also a $5 welcome bonus!).
The minimum payout is only $5 for Survey Junkie. Once you reach this threshold, you can withdraw it as PayPal cash, or gift card to various retailers.
4. Honeygain
Do you have unlimited internet data? You can share it on Honeygain for money to lower your internet expenses. Your internet connection is shared with business entities that use this data for market research, web statistics, price comparison, and more.
The good thing is that Honeygian works worldwide, so you can earn money no matter your current location.
How Much Can You Earn On Honeygain?
It depends on the number of IPs you serve, the bandwidth size, the number of hours you share the connection, and your internet speed.
So for instance, if you serve 1 IP with 3 GB traffic for 2 hours every day – you’d earn $27 per month according to Honeygain.
Honeygain has a calculator you can play with to know how much you shall earn. Moreover, you’d receive a $5 sign-up bonus when you join Honeygain.
Once you have earned $20 on Honeygain, you can withdraw as PayPal cash or crypto.
5. Opinion Inn
Opinion Inn is a survey app that has been around since 2014. The platform is available worldwide and has thousands of downloads.
You can sign up for Opinion Inn and answer surveys for money. Surveys on the platform last between 10 and 25 minutes – and pay from $2 to $5 depending on the length and difficulty.
Of course, some surveys pay higher than that but you wouldn’t get those often. If you want to share your opinions to help brands shape the future, then use Opinion Inn.
How Much Can You Earn On Opinion Inn?
First and foremost, you’d get a $10 sign-up bonus when you join Opinion Inn. After that, expect between $2 and $5 per survey on average. You can also take part in the weekly draw and win $500 if you’re an active user who has answered a minimum of 5 surveys within a month.
That’s pretty good but the only con is that you may not get enough surveys to answer if you’re not from countries like the U.S., Canada, India, Australia, and the U.K.
Opinion Inn pays via PayPal, you can cash out after you have accumulated $25.
6. MobileXpression
Using MobileXpression is the easiest way to make money. The platform has over 2 million users. The app tracks your behavior on the web and rewards you for that.
To start earning with MobileXpression, all you have to do it to install the software on your smartphone, personal computer, and tablet.
The software would work in the background as you go on with your daily web activities – and you shall be paid in return. Doesn’t it mean all your personal activities shall be tracked by MobileXpression?
No – the software only tracks information such as the websites you visit, and the time you spend surfing the web.
Besides data collection, MobileXpression gives you the chance to answer online surveys and also participate in Sweepstakes to maximize your earnings.
How Much Can You Earn on MobileXpression?
MobileXpression will pay you around $5.50 per month for allowing it to monitor your behavior on the web. It’s not much, but easy money.
Moreover, you’d receive a $5 signup bonus which you can use for a gift card. Other payment options are PayPal and eGift cards.
7. FusionCash
FusionCash is a get-paid-to site that pays its users to complete several tasks including:
- Completing online surveys
- Watching videos
- Playing games
- Referring others
- Taking offers – and more.
You cannot join FusionCash unless you live in Canada or the United States. Once you sign up, complete your profile so that you can get many relevant tasks from FusionCash.
How Much Can You Earn On FusionCash?
Initially, you’d get a $5 bonus when you sign up. Thereafter, you can earn between $0.50 and $5 for every survey you shall complete. Some may earn you $50+, but those are rare to get – they may also be lengthy.
You can also earn $8 for every person you refer to FusionCash. Payout options for FusionCash are as follows:
- PayPal
- Direct Deposit
- Check
If you want to make money from your phone, FusionCash is for you. You wouldn’t make fortunes, but it would be worth your time.
8. iRazoo
Another app you can use to make money without investment is iRazoo. The app is purposely for answering online surveys for money. It has a very friendly user interface, so you can find your way easily on the platform.
Unlike some survey sites that have limited locations, iRazoo is a global site so you can earn with it from anywhere.
Other tasks that can be taken to earn money on iRazoo are playing games, watching videos, completing offers, referring friends to join, surfing the web, and using promo codes.
How Much Can You Earn On iRazoo?
Expect between $0.10 and $3 for each survey you complete. You’re basically paid in points on iRazoo, and 3,000 points for instance equals $5. Also, the sign-up bonus is 100 points when you join the site. Moreover, you can refer others to join iRazoo and earn about 150 points.
iRazoo has a minimum payout option of $12, once you have reached this amount, you can cash out via PayPal.
9. Mistplay
There’s no better app that would reward you to play games on your phone than Mistplay. The app is available to all game lovers. You can play games like
- Toon Blast
- Dragon City
- Tropicats
- Super Mario Run, etc.
Moreover, you can make money through weekly contests, freebies, and streaks. There’s also a referral program that allows you to refer others to Mistplay for money.
How Much Can You Earn On Mistplay?
If you play games regularly on Mistplay, expect about $50 per month. This amount can be cashed out via PayPal or be used for a gift card to brands including eBay, iTunes, TJMaxx, Sephora, Walmart, and Nintendo.
10. Rakuten
Rakuten, formerly known as Ebates is an app you can use for shopping. Anytime you shop through the app at your favorite store, you’d receive a cashback.
Rakuten has more than 3,500 stores – including Petco, Kroger, JCPenney, eBay, Walmart, Amazon, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Glossier, Fandango, Chewy, Aer Lingus, Expedia, Hotels.com, and Macy’s.
You can shop either online or in-store. For in-store, after shopping – you have to upload a scanned receipt to Rakuten for your cashback reward.
If you’d shop anyway, then it’s important that you use Rakuten – so that you can save so much money.
How Much Can You Earn On Rakuten?
Rakuten users literally save a lot of money. The amount of money you can earn in cashback depends on how often you’d shop through Rakuten.
However, Rakuten pays you $10 for free when you join – you can also earn $30 for every person you refer to the app.
Once you have earned a minimum of $5, you can withdraw via PayPal or check.
11. Tellwut
Tellwut is a Canada-based market research site that pays users to share their opinions through online surveys. After sharing their opinions, companies buy the feedback and analyze it to enhance their products, services, and marketing strategies.
Tellwut accepts only Canadian and U.S. residents who are at least 18 years old. After signing up, fill out your profile so that you can get more surveys to complete on the platform.
How Much Can You Earn On Tellwut?
Tellwut pays between $2 and $5 per week when you answer surveys. Even so, the site pays in points. You’d get 250 points as a sign-up bonus, and extra points when you refer others. Once you have earned 4,000 points (equals $10), you can cash out via PayPal.
12. Receipt Hog
You can upload every receipt you get after shopping at any store on Receipt Hog – for cash rewards and gift cards. The app works on both Android and iOS so you get it on Google Play or iOS App Store.
Receipt Hog accepts receipts that are less than 2 weeks old, so make sure you don’t keep receipts with you for long. You can shop at various brands including Amazon, Walmart, Costco, and Target for rewards.
How Much Can You Earn On Receipt Hog?
Even though Receipt Hog is legit, the money you can earn on the app is very low compared to other apps. Receipt Hog rewards you with about 10 to 20 coins when you upload a $100+ receipt.
And the funny thing is – you have to accumulate 1,000 coins before you can cash out. That means you have to upload a lot of receipts to earn some cool money.
It’s not the best, but if you want to try several cashback apps, you can consider Receipt Hog. The app pays through PayPal, and gift cards.
13. Ferpection
So much money can be made on Ferpection. This site would pay you to become a tester. Ferpection is a market research platform that collects opinions from its users to give to brands – this feedback is used to improve the websites, services, and products of these brands.
When you apply at Ferpection, it’s free – once you have been approved, the platform would send you websites and apps to test for money. You don’t have to be a website expert to be able to do this.
When testing a website, you just go to the website and give your opinions about how cool it is, if the site was slow or messy, you can also talk about it – so it’s not difficult to become a tester.
The cool thing is that you can work from Ferpection from many countries, and you got to do it from the comfort of your home!
How Much Can You Earn on Ferpection?
Ferpection pays from $5 to $20 for every website or app you test. So, you can make some cool money here. To be successful at Ferpection, you should be able to observe and write proficiently.
After you have garnered a minimum of $20 on Ferpection, you can withdraw as PayPal cash or gift cards.
14. Decluttr
Do you have old CDs, DVDs, smartphones, video games, and other tech gadgets? You can sell them and make money on Decluttr.
Decluttr serves as the middleman; it buys your used items and sells them to others. If you want to sell your used item today, download Declutrr, after that you have to use your smartphone to scan the barcodes on all your items.
If the items are accepted, you can ship the items to Decluttr for free. When the items are received by Decluttr, you’d be paid right away!
How Much Can You Earn On Decluttr?
Every item you list on Decluttr has the amount you shall earn depending on its current condition. If the item’s condition is good, you may earn higher than if it’s faulty or old. For instance, an iPhone X that is in good condition may earn you about $250.
Decluttr pays through direct deposits and PayPal. You can also donate your money to charity.
15. Capital One Shopping
If you want the best and most affordable deals when shopping online, then use Capital One Shopping. The app was created in 2014 with the name “Wikibuy” in Austin, Texas. It was later bought by Capital One Bank, and its name got changed to what it’s called today.
When you install the Capital One Shopping Chrome extension on your computer, you can get information about the various items that are selling at a discount – so that you can save money as well as time.
How Much Can You Earn On Capital One Shopping?
Capital One Shopping will help you save more than 10% on items that you buy at any of your favorite stores – including Walmart, eBay, Target, Amazon, and more. You can use your earned money for gift cards to several brands.
16. Respondent
Respondent is one of the best market research companies out there. When you join Respondent, you will participate in focus groups to share your opinions on business and professional matters.
Your opinions would be used by big brands like Microsoft, Dropbox, GoDaddy, Intuit, and IBM. You can join Respondent from many countries around the world. However, you should at least 18 years old.
How Much Can You Earn On Respondent?
If you share your opinions on Respondent, you can earn between $100 and $700 per hour. The base amount is $100 – nothing less than that!
Moreover, you can refer others to Respondent and earn from $20 to $50 for each sign-up. You can withdraw your money through PayPal – there’s no minimum threshold.
17. HitPredictor
If you’re a music lover, you can make money now by listening to music on HitPredictor. HitPredictor is a platform that is owned by iHeartMedia, which is based in San Antonio, Texas.
The platform works globally. When you join, HitPredictor would give you the latest songs to listen – after that, you can make a prediction about whether they have a high chance of becoming popular.
How Much Can You Earn On HitPredictor?
Expect $5 for every 15 songs you listen to and make predictions. You would be paid in points on the platform, but you can convert it to cash at the moment of withdrawal.
The minimum payout amount is $20 – which is equivalent to 100 points. After accumulating this amount, you can cash out as a gift card.
Suggested Post: Best Apps That Pay You To Listen To Music
18. TourBar
TourBar gives you the privilege to go on travel dates and get paid on top of that. Travelers always want to connect with locals in countries they visit, so they search for dates on TourBar.
If you want to get hired to be a travel buddy or date, sign up for TourBar. You can engage in many activities with your date including hiking, camping, skydiving, kayaking, eating at a local joint, etc.
How Much Can You Earn On TourBar?
You have to negotiate with your date. But if you’re fun to be around, I’m sure you’d be paid more money. Besides the money, this could be a way to meet new people from all walks of life, and build friendships that last forever.
Suggested Post: Legit Ways To Get Paid To Date Online
Manuelo is an entrepreneur and a personal finance nerd. He is the founder of Dollars And Freedom. An expert in side hustles, online gigs, and everything about making money. His works have been featured on major financial publications, like Business Insider, GoBankingRates, Investopedia, Entrepreneur, and more. When he’s not busy with his blog or writing for others, you’ll catch him hanging out with loved ones or reading books on stoicism and self-development.
Having numerous avenues for generating income can be overwhelming, especially if you're unaware of the most effective methods to begin earning. Here are some exceptional side hustle ideas that can help you start earning money.
