Best side hustle apps for making money

If you’re looking to make extra money, you don’t need to learn a new skill from scratch. In many cases, you can start earning with just your phone.

Side hustle apps connect you directly with people willing to pay for deliveries, freelance work, household help, or even unused items sitting in your home. The best part? Most let you set your own schedule and get started quickly.

That said, not all side hustle apps work the same way. Some focus on quick, on-demand work, while others are better for building longer-term income. Choosing the right one can make a big difference in how much you actually earn.

Best side hustle apps to make money right now

The best side hustle apps make it easy to start earning quickly, offer consistent opportunities, and pay fairly. While the right choice depends on factors like your schedule and location, a few platforms stand out for their reliability and earning potential.

Here are some of the best side hustle apps to consider, so you can start making money right now:

• DoorDash: Deliver restaurant orders on your own schedule, with higher earnings during peak meal times and busy weekends.
• Uber Eats: Earn by delivering food, with the option to switch to rideshare driving if you’re approved for both.
• Instacart: Get paid to shop for and deliver groceries, with earnings based on order size, tips and demand.
• Uber: Drive passengers in your area and take advantage of surge pricing during high-demand periods.
• Fiverr: Offer freelance services like writing, design, or social media management starting at your own set rates.
• Upwork: Connect with clients for freelance projects, including longer-term work that can lead to steady income.
• TaskRabbit: Complete local tasks like helping someone move, assembling furniture, or doing home repairs, often at hourly rates you set.
• Rover: Make money walking dogs or pet sitting, with the potential to build repeat clients over time.

Delivery and driving apps

Delivery and driving apps are some of the fastest ways to start earning money. Most platforms let you sign up quickly, set your own schedule, and get paid weekly or even daily. Earnings will vary based on your location, time of day, and tips, but busy hours often bring higher payouts.

DoorDash: A food delivery app where you pick up and deliver restaurant orders.

• Potential earnings: $18 to $27 per hour (including tips, varies by market)
• Pros: Easy to start, flexible hours, strong demand in many areas
• Cons: Pay depends heavily on tips, vehicle costs can add up

Uber Eats: Similar to DoorDash, this app focuses on restaurant delivery and can integrate with the Uber driver platform.

• Potential earnings: $17 to $22 per hour (including tips)
• Pros: Flexible scheduling, option to switch to rideshare driving
• Cons: Earnings fluctuate, wear and tear on your car

Instacart: A grocery delivery platform where you shop for and deliver customer orders.

• Potential earnings: $15 to $20 per hour, sometimes higher with large orders and tips
• Pros: Higher earning potential per order, tips can be substantial
• Cons: Time-consuming shopping, physically demanding

Uber: A rideshare app where you drive passengers to their destinations.

• Potential earnings: $24 to $40 per hour in many markets (before expenses)
• Pros: Higher earning potential during surge pricing, consistent demand in cities
• Cons: Higher vehicle wear, stricter requirements, insurance considerations

Lyft: Another rideshare platform similar to Uber, often with slightly different demand patterns depending on your area.

• Potential earnings: $20 to $35 per hour (before expenses)
• Pros: Flexible hours, potential bonuses, incentives
• Cons: Income depends on demand, vehicle costs reduce net earnings

Freelance and remote work apps

Freelance and remote work apps connect you with clients looking for services like writing, design, admin support, and more. Unlike delivery apps, these platforms can take longer to get started, but they often have a higher earning potential and the ability to build ongoing client relationships.

Fiverr: A freelance marketplace where you offer specific services (“gigs”) at set prices.

• Potential earnings: $10 to $65-plus per project (can scale much higher with experience)
• Pros: Easy to list services, great for beginners testing a skill
• Cons: Fees, high competition

Upwork: A platform for freelancers to apply for projects ranging from one-time gigs to long-term contracts.

• Potential earnings: $10 to $75-plus per hour depending on skill level
• Pros: Access to higher-paying clients, potential for steady work
• Cons: Fees, can take time to land first job

Freelancer: A global freelance marketplace offering a wide range of project types.

• Potential earnings: $10 to $50-plus per hour depending on the project
• Pros: Large variety of jobs, accessible for beginners
• Cons: Competitive bidding system can drive prices down

Task-based and odd job apps

Task-based apps focus on physical or one-off jobs like moving help, furniture assembly, or basic home repairs. These gigs are often local and can pay well per task, especially if you have practical skills.

TaskRabbit: Connects you with people who need help with tasks like moving, cleaning, or assembling furniture.

• Potential earnings: $19 to $31-plus per hour depending on the task and your rates
• Pros: You set your rates, strong demand in urban areas
• Cons: Work can be inconsistent, physically demanding

Handy: Focuses on home services like cleaning and handyman work.

• Potential earnings: $16 to $27 per hour
• Pros: Steady demand for cleaning services, simple booking system
• Cons: Fees, limited control over pricing

GigSmart: Offers a mix of shift-based and task-based work, including labor and event help.

• Potential earnings: $18 to $25 per hour depending on the job
• Pros: Variety of job types, short-term commitments
• Cons: Availability varies by location

Selling and resale apps

Selling apps make it easy to declutter your home or resell items for profit. This category can generate quick cash upfront, especially if you already have items to sell.

Facebook Marketplace: A local selling platform for furniture, clothing, and household items.

• Potential earnings: Varies widely, depending on what you sell
• Pros: No listing fees (local pickup only), quick local sales
• Cons: Requires meeting buyers, potential no-shows

eBay: A global marketplace for selling new or used items through auctions or fixed pricing.

• Potential earnings: Varies widely, depending on what you sell
• Pros: Large audience, potential for higher prices
• Cons: Fees, shipping logistics

Poshmark: A resale app focused on clothing, shoes, and accessories.

• Potential earnings: Varies widely, depending on what you sell
• Pros: Built-in audience for fashion, easy listing process
• Cons: You lose out on up to 20% of the sale price (commission)

Passive income and rewards apps

These apps won’t replace a full-time income, but they can provide a steady trickle of extra money for simple activities like answering surveys or earning cash back.

Swagbucks: Earn points for surveys, shopping, and watching videos, which can be redeemed for cash or gift cards.

• Potential earnings: $1 to $5 per day
• Pros: Easy to use, no special skills required
• Cons: Low earning potential, time-consuming

InboxDollars: Similar to Swagbucks, pays users for surveys, reading emails, and completing offers.

• Potential earnings: $1 to $2.50 per day
• Pros: Simple tasks, low barrier to entry
• Cons: Limited earning potential

Rakuten: A cash-back app that gives you a percentage back on online purchases.

• Potential earnings: Varies; typically 1% to 10%-plus cash back depending on retailer
• Pros: Simple, earn on purchases you’d make anyway
• Cons: Not a direct income source

Pet care and pet-sitting apps

Pet care apps connect you with people who need help with dog walking, boarding, or pet sitting. These gigs can be especially appealing if you enjoy spending time with animals and want flexible scheduling.

Rover: A popular platform for dog walking, boarding, and pet sitting.

• Potential earnings: $17 to $25-plus per hour
• Pros: High demand, potential for repeat clients
• Cons: Requires trust-building and reviews to grow

Wag!: Focuses primarily on dog walking and on-demand pet care services.

• Potential earnings: $18 to $32-plus per hour
• Pros: Easy to get started, flexible scheduling
• Cons: Fees

How much money can you make with side hustle apps?

How much you can earn with side hustle apps depends on the type of work you choose, how much time you put in, and where you live. Some apps are better for earning a little bit of extra cash quickly, while others can turn into a more consistent income stream.

On the lower end, passive apps like survey or rewards platforms might bring in $20 to $100 per month with minimal effort. Delivery and task-based apps often land somewhere in the middle, with many users earning around $15 to $25 per hour during active work time, though that can fluctuate based on demand, tips, and expenses like gas.

Freelance platforms tend to have the highest earning potential, but they also take more time to ramp up. Once established, it’s not uncommon to earn $25 to $75 per hour or more, especially in specialized fields.

For many people, a realistic goal is earning a few hundred extra dollars per month. With consistent effort, or by stacking multiple apps, it’s possible to push that closer to $1,000 or more. Just keep in mind that most apps don’t guarantee income, and your actual earnings will vary.

It’s also important to factor in expenses like gas, vehicle maintenance, fees, or supplies, which can reduce your take-home earnings.

How to choose the best side hustle app for you

With so many options available, the best side hustle app comes down to your schedule, skills, and how quickly you want to start earning.

• If you need money right away: Delivery and task-based apps are usually the fastest to get started. These generally require little experience, and you can begin earning within days of approval.
• If you’re looking for higher long-term income: Freelance platforms may be a better fit. They take more time to build momentum, but they offer the potential for repeat clients and higher rates.
• If you have a vehicle: Food delivery and driving apps require a reliable vehicle, but could be a good choice. Just remember that taking on these side gigs can come with added vehicle costs, like gas and maintenance.
• If you have specific skills: Task-based apps are a good option if you’re handy, but require physical effort. If you have other skillsets — like editing or graphic design — remote side hustle platforms usually only require a stable internet connection.

Ultimately, the best choice is one that fits into your routine and aligns with how you prefer to work — whether that’s on-demand flexibility or building something more consistent over time.

More options: Best side hustles for beginners

Pros and cons of side hustle apps

Side hustle apps can be a convenient way to earn extra money, but they aren’t without trade-offs.

How to make more money with side hustle apps

While some apps offer better earning potential than others, how you use them can make just as much of a difference. Here are a few tips on how to make the most of your side hustle:

• Work during peak demand. Working evenings, weekends, or holidays can significantly increase your earnings on delivery and driving apps. Taking advantage of bonuses, promotions, or surge pricing can also help boost your income.
• Find your niche. If you’re using freelance platforms, focusing on a specific niche can make it easier to stand out and charge higher rates. Building strong reviews early on can also lead to more consistent work over time.
• Stack multiple apps. For example, you might switch between delivery apps depending on demand or combine freelance work with occasional task-based gigs. This can help smooth out income and reduce downtime.

Are side hustle apps worth it?

Side hustle apps can be a worthwhile way to earn extra money, but whether they’re worth it for you depends on your goals, skills, and available time.

For most people, these apps work best as a source of supplemental income rather than a full replacement for a steady paycheck. They’re especially useful if you need flexibility or want to earn on your own schedule without a long-term commitment.

The best apps for you will depend on your skills, availability, and how you prefer to work. Some people do well focusing on one platform, while others find that combining multiple apps, like delivery, freelance work, and occasional tasks, helps create more consistent income.

If you approach them with realistic expectations, side hustle apps can be a flexible and practical way to bring in extra cash, even if they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Keep reading: How side hustles affect your taxes