Dreaming of earning extra cash with minimal effort? Passive income apps offer a fantastic solution.
They can boost your income alongside your day job or even launch a new business venture.
Many of these clever tools pay you for activities you already do daily, like driving, shopping, or simply using your phone.
We’ve researched the top apps that genuinely work, allowing you to make money while you sleep. Discover how to start supplementing your income today!
Your Go-To Passive Income Apps
Here are some awesome apps to get you started on your journey to earning a little extra.
1. MobileXpression
MobileXpression will reward you for helping them improve the internet. You install the app on your smartphone, and it just runs in the background. You don’t have to do anything else!
This can easily earn you about $5 a month. Plus, new users often get a $5 Amazon gift card after just one week.
You can swap your points for gift cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks, or Best Buy. It’s a super simple way to get some extra pocket money.
2. Nielsen Mobile & Computer Panel
You know Nielsen, right? They’re the famous company that measures TV ratings. Well, they also have an app that can pay you for sharing your data.
Just install their app on your phone, tablet, or computer, and let it run quietly in the background. It helps them understand how people use their devices, all while keeping your info anonymous and safe.
The more data it collects, the more you earn! You can get cash or gift cards and even enter monthly prize drawings. You could earn around $60 a year just by having the app on your phone!
3. Survey Junkie (including Surf to Earn)
You might know Survey Junkie as a place to take quick surveys for cash. And yes, that’s a great way to earn, even if it does take a little effort.
But here’s the really exciting part: they have a special program called “Surf to Earn“! This is where you can passively share your digital habits for market research.
You can install it on your computer or use the Survey Junkie app. It tracks things like the websites you visit, the apps you use, and even the ads you see.
Don’t worry, your personal stuff, like passwords or credit card details, are never collected.
By joining, you automatically earn points that you can turn into real money through PayPal, bank transfer, check, or gift cards. It might even get you invited to special surveys for even more earning chances!
4. FreeCash
FreeCash is a popular rewards website where you can earn money by playing games, downloading apps, and taking surveys.
While some tasks require effort, they often have great sign-up bonuses or cashback deals that are pretty passive to claim.
You can even earn money by “playing” simulator games that don’t need much active attention. You can cash out through PayPal, gift cards, or even free crypto!
5. Swagbucks
If you spend a lot of time online, Swagbucks is an app you’ll want to check out.
It rewards you for tasks you probably already do, like shopping online, watching YouTube videos, or even just searching the web.
You earn points (called SBs) that you can trade in for gift cards to your favorite stores or for real cash through PayPal.
You can also take surveys, play games, and scan receipts. They even have a feature where you can watch ads and videos to earn points. New users often get a $5 sign-up bonus, too!
6. Passive App (Internet Bandwidth Sharing)
Want an easy-peasy way to earn money? The Passive App is here to help. It pays you for simply sharing your extra internet bandwidth with trusted companies.
Just download it, install it on your devices, and it works quietly in the background. Big security companies like Avast and McAfee even say it’s safe.
The more internet traffic you share, the more you earn. You can even use several devices with different IP addresses to boost your income. It’s truly a “set it and forget it” kind of app!
7. Fundrise
Thinking about real estate investing but don’t have a ton of cash? Fundrise is an awesome choice.
It pools money from lots of people to invest in a variety of real estate properties, like commercial buildings and homes. You can start investing with just $10!
You’ll earn passive income from rental payments, interest, and the chance of property value going up. These investments are best for growing your money over a longer time.
Fundrise even has a cool real estate portfolio calculator to help you see how your investments could grow.
8. Betterment
Investing in the stock market is a classic way to build wealth, and Betterment makes it super easy to get started.
Their automated platform helps you invest even if you don’t know much about finance. You can pick from different investment plans that fit your goals and how much risk you’re okay with.
Betterment also offers smart tools to help you save on taxes and grow your money even more.
If you’re already saving, think about putting some money into Betterment to start making it work for you!
9. Honeygain
Honeygain is another clever and simple way to earn passive income. This app pays you for sharing your unused internet bandwidth.
Just install it on your device, and it runs in the background. It uses your extra internet connection to help companies with data collection and other tasks.
You earn money based on how much data you share. It’s an easy setup that turns your unused internet into cash with almost no effort from you!
You can cash out $20 via PayPal after sharing 200GB of bandwidth.
10. Neighbor
Got an empty basement, garage, or even a spare parking spot? Neighbor lets you turn that unused space into cash!
It’s basically like the “Airbnb of storage,” connecting you with people who need a place to store their stuff.
You list your available space, set your price, and start earning passive income. It’s a super easy way to make money from extra space in your home.
The best part? You get $1 million in personal liability insurance for free, so you can rest easy. Neighbor even guarantees your payments every month, even if a renter misses one!
11. Rapify
Ever wanted to turn your car into a money-making machine? With Rapify, you can get paid to put advertisements on your vehicle!
You can earn a few hundred dollars a month just by driving around with ads on your car. How much you earn depends on how much of your car is covered.
A full car wrap could bring in $264 to $452 per month! Just download the app, set up your profile, and once you’ve driven about 50 miles while tracking, you’ll start getting offers.
12. Turo
Do you have a car that sits idle a lot? Turo is a popular app that lets you rent out your vehicle to others.
You can become an owner and earn passive income from your car. Many people use this to create a car rental business!
The average car owner could earn around $10,868 a year, which is almost $1,000 every month.
Turo takes care of insurance, customer support, and helps people find your car listings. Everything is built into the app for you.
13. Get Around
Similar to Turo, Get Around also allows you to earn money by renting out your car. You list your car, provide the necessary info, get bookings, and receive payments within five working days after each rental.
What’s neat is that they offer a keyless exchange option, so you don’t even have to meet the renters. Get Around also verifies every driver’s identity, giving you peace of mind.
14. Sniff Spot
Got some extra land? Turn it into a private dog park with Sniff Spot! If you have a fenced backyard or an empty plot of land, you can list it for dog owners to rent for their furry friends.
You upload photos, create your listing, and guests are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs. They also require guest dogs to have vaccines, and all guests sign a waiver.
There’s even $2 million in liability insurance to keep you worry-free. You could potentially earn up to $3,000 per month.
Plus, only one booking is allowed at a time, so no doggy drama! They pay you monthly via direct deposit.
15. Arrived Homes
If you’ve dreamed of investing in rental properties but thought it was too expensive, think again!
Arrived Homes lets you invest in shares of rental properties across the U.S. for as little as $100. The best part? You don’t have to deal with tenants, property management, or any of the usual landlord headaches!
Arrived Homes handles all the work, from buying and selling homes to managing tenants. You can expect to earn quarterly passive income and benefit from property value growth.
They even let you invest in vacation rentals now, which can mean more earnings and seasonal cash flow.
16. Groundfloor
With Groundfloor, you can invest in short-term real estate loans, basically becoming the bank. You can start with as little as $10.
Your money helps fund projects like buying and fixing up homes, which are then rented or sold. You get paid back with interest, which is your passive income.
Returns can be pretty good, ranging from 6% to 14% or more. You can check out each investment’s “Loan Type” and “risk/reward scale” to pick what’s right for you.
Higher risk usually means a chance for higher returns.
17. RVshare
Could you use an extra $40,000 to $60,000 a year? You could with RVshare!
This app lets you rent out your RV when you’re not using it. People can rent it for road trips to national parks or other adventures. You could earn $120 or more per night, depending on your RV’s size, condition, and type.
The app makes it easy to list your RV and manage rentals. Plus, as an owner, you get access to their RVshare Protection Plan, which includes up to $1 million in liability insurance and up to $300,000 in collision coverage.
18. Pawns App (Internet Sharing)
Imagine earning passive income just by renting out your internet connection! That’s what Pawns App lets you do.
Simply install the app on your devices, connect to your internet, and let it run. Don’t worry about your private info; the app only uses what’s necessary, like your IP address, and your personal data is not shared.
You could earn anywhere from $5 to $140 per month, depending on your location and internet speed.
Once you reach $5, you can cash out through PayPal, Bitcoin, or gift cards. You can even refer friends and earn 10% of their earnings!
19. Acorns
Acorns is perfect for young adults and anyone new to investing because it makes things super simple.
It helps you build wealth by rounding up your spare change from daily purchases and investing that money.
You can choose from five pre-set investment plans, from safe (conservative) to more adventurous (aggressive).
They even have a sustainable portfolio option. Their “Round-Ups Multiplier” feature is awesome, letting you multiply your round-ups (like 2X or 3X) to help you reach your savings goals even faster.
20. Worthy Bonds
Looking for a steady investment that pays? Worthy Bonds lets you earn a solid 7% annual return.
You can start buying bonds for as little as $10. The interest builds up every day, and there are no platform fees or hidden charges.
Plus, if you need to sell your bonds early, you won’t get hit with any penalty fees. It’s a great, low-stress way to earn passive income.
21. Pogo
Pogo is a newer app that pays you just for shopping. All you do is download the app, securely connect your bank account, and then it automatically earns you points for every transaction you make.
While each earning might be small (around $0.02 to $0.05 per transaction), it’s completely passive. No need to scan receipts manually! You can cash out with just 3,000 points ($3) for Venmo or PayPal.
How Do These Apps Actually Work?
These passive income apps usually pay you in a few different ways.
- Data Collection Apps: These apps pay you for sharing your data with market research companies. They use this info to understand consumer habits.
- Cashback Apps: These automatically give you money back when you shop at certain stores or for specific products.
- Video Reward & Lockscreen Apps: You get paid for watching short videos or simply by having ads appear on your phone’s lock screen.
It’s all about getting paid for things you already do or resources you already have!
Smart Tips for Using Passive Income Apps
To make the most of these apps and keep things safe, here are a few friendly tips:
- No VPNs! These companies are smart and can detect if you’re using a VPN. They’ll often ban you quickly if you do.
- Think “Burner Phone”: If you have an old smartphone lying around, consider using it for data collection apps. These apps can sometimes drain your battery, and you might not want them running 24/7 on your main phone.
- Be Realistic: Remember, these apps won’t make you rich overnight or let you quit your day job. But they are a fun way to earn some extra cash or gift cards.
- Keep Trying: New apps pop up all the time, and some work better in different places. So, don’t be afraid to try out new ones and see what works best for you!
Ready to Get Started?
These passive income apps are fantastic tools. They might not make you a millionaire while you sleep, but they can definitely set you on the path to building wealth, paying off debt, and saving more money.
Every little bit truly counts, and your future financially free self will thank you for starting today! So go ahead, download a few, and watch that extra cash roll in!
