We all know some influencers earn a fantastic living making content for social media apps like TikTok and Instagram. But did you know there are plenty of ways to make money on your smartphone outside of social media? 

Whether you’re looking for a side hustle, want to earn some passive income or fancy making some extra money in between jobs, money-making apps are a fantastic way to boost your earnings. And aside from being pretty lucrative, a lot of them are super flexible, effortless and even fun!

Top money-making apps to try

To help you get started, we’ve rounded up the best money-making apps for 2024, so you can start earning with just a few taps:

1. Swagbucks

Swagbucks has been around for almost twenty years, but it’s still one of the best money-making apps in 2024. This app pays you for doing simple tasks like watching videos, answering surveys, shopping online and even playing games. Over the years, Swagbucks has paid out over £644 million pounds in rewards to members in the UK, US and beyond, so it’s a good community to be a part of! 

• How it works: You earn ‘Swagbucks’ (points) for completing tasks, which you can redeem as cash through PayPal or as gift cards to major retailers like Amazon.
• Why it’s great: It’s easy, requires no specific skills and you can make money during your downtime.
• Potential earnings: You won’t get rich using Swagbucks, but it’s a reliable way to earn about £75 to £200 a month, depending on how active you are. 

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2. Fiverr

If you’ve got a skill - whether it’s graphic design, writing, voiceover work or even social media management - Fiverr can help you turn it into cash. It’s a freelance marketplace that lets you offer your services to clients worldwide.

• How it works: You create a profile showcasing your services (called ‘gigs’) and set your own prices. Clients can search the site to find you and then hire you for specific tasks.
• Why it’s great: You control your rates, and as you build up positive reviews, you can attract higher-paying clients.
• Potential earnings: It depends a lot on the services you offer. Around 70% of sellers report earning below £75 each month through the platform - mainly due to only occasionally being booked for jobs - but experienced freelancers can charge hundreds for larger projects.

3. Rover

This is a fun one if you’re an animal lover! Rover is the perfect app to make money by offering dog walking or pet sitting services. It’s a great side hustle if you love dogs and have some extra time on your hands.

• How it works: Create a profile and let pet owners know your availability for walking and sitting. Pet owners can then book you to take care of their furry friends.
• Why it’s great: It’s flexible, allows you to spend time with adorable animals, and pays well for a fairly low-effort job.
• Potential earnings: You can set your own nightly or hourly rates, and keep 85% of the money you make through Rover bookings (as the app does take a 15% fee). Dog walkers make around £10 to £20 per walk, and sitters can earn around £8 to £15 per hour for overnight stays.

4. TaskRabbit

The TaskRabbit app connects people who need help with everyday tasks - like assembling furniture, mounting a TV or cleaning - to local ‘taskers’ (that’s you).

• How it works: Sign up as a tasker, list the types of tasks you’re willing to do and set your rates. Clients can then hire you for jobs based on your location and skill set.
• Why it’s great: You get to set your own hours, and there’s a big variety of tasks to choose from, so it’s easy to find work that suits what you can do.
• Potential earnings: Taskers typically charge £18 to £50 per hour, depending on the job.

5. Airbnb

If you’ve got some extra space in your home - or even a full property - you can make a serious side income by listing it on Airbnb. With travellers always looking for unique, affordable accommodations, Airbnb is a great choice for turning your spare room into a money-maker - or even your whole house if you’re planning to go away for a while.

• How it works: Sign up on Airbnb, create a listing for your space, set your nightly rates and get ready to welcome guests.
• Why it’s great: You can make passive income just by letting guests stay in a room you’re not using, and you can choose when to rent it out.
• Potential earnings: Depending on your location, you can make anywhere from £50 to hundreds of pounds per night.

6. Foap

Foap is a photography app that lets you turn your photos into money. Whether you’re a professional photographer or just love snapping pictures on your phone, you can upload your best shots to Foap and sell them to brands, agencies and people.

• How it works: Create an account, upload your photos, and sell them through the Foap marketplace. Each time someone buys your photo, you get a cut of the sale.
• Why it’s great: You can earn passive income from photos you’ve already taken - and there’s no need for professional equipment.
• Potential earnings: Foap pays $5 (a few pounds) per photo sold, and you can sell the same photo multiple times. Depending on how many great photos you’ve taken, that can really add up. 

7. Rakuten

Rakuten lets you earn money simply by shopping online. By partnering with thousands of retailers, Rakuten gives you cashback on your purchases when you shop through their platform.

• How it works: Download the app, browse through their partnered stores and shop as usual on your phone. You’ll earn a percentage of your purchase back in cashback.
• Why it’s great: You’re making money on purchases you’d be making anyway, with no extra effort required.
• Potential earnings: Cashback rates range from 1% to 10% or more, depending on the retailer.

8. Sweatcoin

If you’re someone who’s always on the move, Sweatcoin will reward you for it! The app tracks your steps and rewards you with digital currency (Sweatcoins) that can be redeemed for gift cards, products or even - if you have enough - cash.

• How it works: Download the app, allow it to track your steps and start earning Sweatcoins for your daily walks or runs.
• Why it’s great: It’s a win-win as you’re earning money while getting healthier. You can even exchange Sweatcoins for PayPal cash once you accumulate enough.
• Potential earnings: You’ll earn around 1 Sweatcoin for every 1,000 steps you take, and you can redeem about £500 worth of gift cards per 20,000 Sweatcoins you earn.

Do you need to pay tax on the money you earn through these apps?

Usually, yes. In the UK, you pay tax not only on the money you earn through regular employment, but for profits you make if you're self-employed or have a side hustle, including from services you sell through websites or apps. 

As long as you earn above the income threshold for tax, you’ll need to let HMRC where you’re earning any extra money from. If you’re unsure how or whether to submit a Self Assessment tax return for your side hustle, we recommend you speak to a trusted professional accountant or tax advisor. Here at Crunch, we’re always happy to help!

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Ready to make some extra cash?

We hope this article’s helped you realise that in 2024, there’s a money-making app out there for everyone - no matter your interests or skill set. 

So, whether you’re looking to make money passively with something like cashback rewards, or you’re keen to get into freelancing or pet sitting, there are plenty of opportunities waiting for you on the app store. Why not try downloading a few money-making apps today? 

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