The 22 Best Passive Income Apps (Ultimate 2024 Guide!)
I’ve always been interested in finding ways to generate passive income. And one of the easiest ways to get started is to use different passive income apps.
These apps pay you for sharing your data, shopping online, and for completing other types of tasks. You can also find a variety of apps for both Android and iOS devices, so anyone can begin earning!
I've been using passive income apps for years and have earned thousands of dollars in that time. And here are 22 of the best apps you can use to begin earning.
22 Best Passive Income Apps
1. Nielsen Mobile & Computer Panel
Nielsen is one of the most well known and reputable panels out there, and it's another great passive income app and website for earning free money without having to lift a finger.
Nielsen actually has a computer and mobile panel, and you can enroll your devices in the panel to share your data with Nielsen, earning rewards in the process.
Here's how each program works:
- Computer Panel: Register your computer in Nielsen's panel and automatically enter into monthly sweepstakes. Nielsen gives away thousands of dollars every single month to winners.
- Mobile Panel: Earn points every month for registering your mobile device into the mobile panel. Nielsen's app pays you $50 per year for joining the program.
You can redeem points for a variety of free gift cards and even physical merchandise, and overall, this is one of the highest paying apps and programs around.
Start earning with the Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel!
2. Capital One Shopping
Capital One Shopping is a nifty way to save money when you're shopping online.
For starters, Capital One Shopping automatically applies available coupon codes at checkout to help you save money at thousands of different U.S. retailers.
Plus, you can earn Capital One Shopping rewards for shopping at hundreds of partners. These rewards are redeemable for a range of free gift cards to companies like Sephora, Nike, Macy's, Home Depot, and Kohl's.
You can shop through your computer or Capital One Shopping's mobile app as well to leverage coupons and to earn your free gift cards.
Note: Capital One Shopping Compensates Us When You Sign Up With The Provided Links.
3. Current
While high-yield savings accounts might seem boring, they're one of the most common ways to earn passive income without lifting a finger.
And, out of all the high-yield savings accounts out there, one of my favorites right now is Current, a new digital financial tech company.
With Current, you earn 4% APY on up to $6,000 of savings. This makes it a popular place to park an emergency fund or a bit of idle cash so it earns something.
And I like Current since right now, new members can take advantage of a $50 sign up bonus with a qualifying direct deposit. Plus, Current helps you build your credit and even get paid up to two days faster.
The company doesn't have a minimum balance requirement or fees either. Overall, it's an excellent platform to build your savings and credit together.
4. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a popular app that lets you earn free PayPal money in your spare time. And it's also a passive income app and website that I've used since college to earn rewards.
For starters, Swagbucks has a lot of ways you can earn including answering paid surveys, shopping online, and playing games.
And, Swagbucks also lets you watch ads and videos to earn small amounts of points through its Swagbucks Watch feature. I've used this feature ever since I was phone farming in college, and it's let me cash out plenty of gift cards over the years.
This is a nice passive way to earn with Swagbucks. And new members can also snag a $5 sign up bonus to sweeten the deal.
5. MobileXpression
I’ve covered MobileXpression in my phone farming guide, and it is one of my favorite passive income apps. It works like a lot of similar apps and rewards you for selling your data.
MobileXpression doesn't accept every smartphone into the service. If you're eligible, MobileXpression is a great way to earn another $5/month without any work.
Brand new users of MobileXpression will also receive a $5 Amazon gift card after 1 week of running the app in the background of their smartphone. Points can be redeemed for Amazon, Starbucks, or Best Buy gift cards.
I've been using MobileXpression to earn passive income for more than a year, and I redeem a Starbucks or Best Buy gift card every month and a half.
6. Mistplay
If you spend time playing games on your Android phone, one fun passive income app you can try is Mistplay.
This paid gaming app pays you with gift cards and free PayPal money for downloading and playing new games. So, if you spend a few hours per week gaming on your phone, you can turn this time into a humble passive income source.
And what's nice about Mistplay is that it has a wide variety of games. Genres include strategy, card, puzzle, action, and simulator games. Plus, you can cash out for various gift cards at only $0.50, making it one of the most popular apps that pays you instantly.
And if you like this type of passive income app, you can try out some other apps like Mistplay, such as Blackout Bingo and Money Well, to keep on earning.
7. HealthyWage
I’ve covered HealthyWage before in my list of fitness apps that pay. And this app is awesome because it pays people up to $10,000 to lose weight.
That's right: with HealthyWage, you place a bet on yourself to reach a certain weight loss goal. If you reach that goal in time, you get your wager back plus a cash prize for your efforts.
Once you make your wager, it's a fun way to start earning some passive income and to make money by walking and working out. Plus, there's some serious cash on the line, and even team games you can join too.
And you can try similar apps like Sweatcoin, CashWalk and WeWard to earn even more while you get your sweat on.
Calculate your HealthyWage cash prize!
Extra Reading – The Best Apps Like Sweatcoin.
8. Mobile Performance Meter
I included Embee Meter CX, known as Mobile Performance Meter, in my phone farming guide, and it truly is one of the most consistent earners around.
Mobile Performance Meter runs in the background of your phone and collects data on phone connectivity to wireless networks. In return, users can earn between $0.10-$0.30/day.
This Android app is more specific as to what devices are accepted into the program, although I currently have 2 Moto G phones running the application and each device earns $0.1/day.
The payout threshold begins at $5 and is exclusively done through PayPal. As you can see from the screenshot above, this app also pays and is legit.
The app always pays me on time, so I know it's completely legit. It isn’t a lot of money, but this is a simple passive income app that can earn $5-$10/month without any work!
9. Fundrise
If you want to invest in real estate, Fundrise is definitely worth trying out. This real estate investing platform lets you invest in income-generating real estate with only $10.
Fundrise pools money together from numerous investors to purchase real estate properties. Usually, these properties are multi-family homes or commercial real estate that generate income from rental payments.
With a $10 minimum, Fundrise makes it very easy to diversify your portfolio with real estate. And the platform often has a $10 sign up bonus for new customers as well.
Plus, Fundrise has historically returned around 8% annually. You pay 1% annually in management fees which is pretty standard for the world of real estate.
This isn't the most traditional passive income app out there. But if you're curious about real estate investing, definitely Check out Fundrise!
Disclaimer: This is an endorsement in partnership with Fundrise. We earn a commission from partner links. All opinions are my own.
10. Pawns.app
Another passive income app you can use to get PayPal cash and Bitcoin is Pawns.app.
This rewards app and website lets you sell your unused internet bandwidth for cash. You earn $0.20 per gigabyte of data you share, and you can cash out once you earn $5.
According to Pawns, members make $5 to $140 dollars per month on average. How much you earn really depends on how much bandwidth you share and where you live.
But what I like about Pawns is that you can also answer surveys for cash. So, if you're close to cashing out, you can complete a few surveys to reach the $5 minimum.
11. Worthy Bonds
Bonds are a popular fixed-income investing strategy people use to earn money on autopilot. And the great news is you can now easily earn 7% APY with the Worthy Bonds app.
This investing platform lets you buy bonds starting at only $10. It pays 7% APY for a limited time, and interest compounds daily.
The best part? There aren't any platform fees or maintenance fees. Plus, Worthy Bonds doesn't charge penalty fees if you want to sell your bonds early.
Learn more about Worthy Bonds!
12. Survey Websites
Survey sites are an easy method to make money online. And a lot of the top sites have options to earn passively, like video reward portals, shopping extensions, and more.
Some of my all-time favorite survey platforms you can check out include:
Answering surveys is a nice active way to earn. And many of these sites have passive earning options that you can use by setting up an old laptop or using your main computer or phone.
13. Mode Earn
Mode Earn is one of the newer Android apps in this space and lets you make money by listening to music. And you can also make money by completing easy tasks like online surveys, playing games, watching videos, and more.
The app used to be called Current Rewards. But even with its rebrand, it's a fun way to earn money while exploring new radio stations.
For rewards, PayPal cash starts at only $1. You can also redeem tons of gift cards at $5 to companies like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Google Play credit, Starbucks, and free Steam codes.
14. Acorns
Another leading passive income app that's great for young adults is Acorns, a leading micro-investing app.
With Acorns, you can round-up your spare change from daily purchases and invest that money into a variety of ETFs and funds that match your investing goals and risk tolerance. This helps you grow wealth over time, and it's a nifty way to make money by doing nothing.
I like Acorns since it has a variety of portfolios to choose from, so there's something for everyone.
Plus, it has other passive earning methods, like a browser extension and cash-back rewards platform. And there's often a sign up bonus for new members as well.
15. Pogo
One newer app that pays you to shop is Pogo, a free Android and iOS app that's available in the United States.
With Pogo, you earn tiny amounts of PayPal money for sharing your purchasing data. All you do is download Pogo, securely connect your bank account to the app, and then automatically earn points for every transaction.
Typically, Pogo only pays around $0.02 to $0.05 worth of points per transaction. However, the process is completely passive, and you don't need to manually scan receipts or enter transactions to earn.
And I like Pogo since you can cash out at just 3,000 points, which is worth $3. And reward options include Venmo and PayPal so you're getting real money.
16. Neighbor
Do you have unused storage space at your house? If so, one of the highest paying apps in this category you can use is Neighbor.
Neighbor is essentially the Airbnb of storage space. It lets you rent out unused space on your property to people in your city in exchange for monthly payments.
What I like about Neighbor is that it lets you rent out a variety of spaces, including attics, basements, driveways, garages, and spare rooms.
You get to set the monthly rental rate and rules for when renters can come by to pick up their things. And Neighbor provides comprehensive insurance to protect everyone.
17. Investing Apps
These days, pretty much every broker has a mobile app. And there are plenty of standalone investing apps you can use to begin earning passive income:
- Stash (my personal favorite if you're in the United States)*
- M1
- Public
- Moomoo
- Robinhood
- Betterment (or a similar robo-advisor)
These apps are all commission-free ways to start investing¹, so you can explore a range of stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, CDs, and more. Just make sure you speak to a financial professional if you have questions or need advice.
18. Honeygain
If you want to make money selling your internet bandwidth, then Honeygain is another app worth considering.
Honeygain turns your phone into a node in a VPN network, letting Honeygain's clients use your IP address from wherever they are in the world.
In exchange for selling your bandwidth, Honeygain pays you bits of honey. Once you sell 200GB of bandwidth, you can cash out with $20 of PayPal cash. And it's a great way to make money while you sleep with a spare device.
Extra Reading – The Best Apps Like Honeygain To Earn Passive Income.
19. Dosh
Dosh is another app that pays you to run in the background when you shop at its partner brands.
Currently, some of the top stores partnering with Dosh include Target, Walmart, Nike, Forever21, and Walgreens.
However, there are plenty of other stores available on the platform. And you can cash out right to PayPal once you earn $15 in cash back.
Plus, you can also book travel arrangements or complete other Dosh offers to gain more lucrative bonuses.
If you like Dosh and have an iPhone, we also suggest checking out the Caden app and Gener8 for even more earning potential.
20. Rakuten
Another popular passive income site you can use is Rakuten, a leading cash back extension and website.
On Rakuten, you earn cash back for shopping through its platform at partnered merchants. Rakuten partners with some of the largest retailers and ecommerce platforms, including Amazon, Walmart, Macy's, and thousands of other stores.
To date, I've earned $1,200 from using Rakuten and referring some friends:
From there, Rakuten pays you your cash back quarterly via check or PayPal. And it partners with thousands of companies, with cash back rates often ranging from 2% to 10% or even more.
And right now, new members can get a $30 sign up bonus if they sign up for Rakuten and spend at least $30 on a qualifying shopping offer.
21. Drop
If you regularly shop online from your phone, then Drop belongs on your phone.
This is also a reward app that I've been using for years, and it's an excellent way to earn free gift cards for shopping at your favorite brands.
There are plenty of stores where you can earn cash back. You usually earn 0.5-1.5% cash back in the form of Drop Points for your purchases. These points can then be redeemed for gift cards to stores like Starbucks, Amazon, and more.
You can also make money with Drop by playing mobile cash games or answering in-app surveys. And I like that there are dozens of gift cards you can redeem.
Sign up for Drop today and earn $5!
22. S'Mores Lockscreen
I’ve mentioned S'mores in my post on lockscreen apps that pay, and it’s truly the best passive income app in that entire category.
S'mores is an Android-based app that changes the lockscreen of your smartphone to display an ad in the background. You can completely ignore the ad and unlock your phone as you normally would, so users aren’t forced to click anything.
S'mores pays U.S. users $0.10/day for unlocking their phone, and points can be cashed out for Amazon gift cards once you reach $1.
Extra Reading – The Best Jobs You Can Do From Your Phone.
How Do Passive Income Apps Work?
Generally, passive income apps pay you for your data or for completing some kind of task or offer. The three main categories of apps are:
- Data collection apps: Get paid for sharing your data with marketing companies.
- Cashback apps: Earn cashback automatically when you shop at various stores.
- Video reward & lockscreen apps: Get paid for watching videos and ads.
Tips For Using These Apps
I wanted to end this post with a final few pieces of advice you should keep in mind. This is especially true when using apps that pay you for data collection since you need to know what you're giving up in exchange for rewards:
- Don't Use A VPN: These companies detect VPN usage and will ban you quickly!
- Use A Burner Phone: I rarely use data collection apps or other apps on my main phone since they can drain the battery overtime and I don't want my phone running 24/7.
- Have Realistic Expectations: None of these apps or websites will ever let you pay your rent or quit your day job, but they are a fun source of extra cash and gift cards.
- Test & Keep Testing: New apps spring up all the time, and different companies work better in certain countries than others, so keep on trying new ideas!
Extra Reading – How To Make Money In One Hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's The Best Passive Income Android App?
In my opinion, Mobile Performance Meter and the Nielsen Mobile Panel are the two best Android passive income apps.
Mobile Performance Meter pays around $0.10 per day, which is $36.50 in free money every year. And, with Nielsen's panel, you can earn another $50 per year for sharing your data.
What Are The Highest Paying Passive Income Apps?
In my experience, the highest paying passive income apps are Mobile Performance Meter and CashMagnet. I've easily earned over $200 between these apps, and if you're just starting out, I think they are the best apps that pay you to install them.
You can also use investing apps like Arrived, Dosh, and Acorns. And this option is the perfect way to begin building wealth for the future.
Extra Reading – 10+ Best Side Hustles For Passive Income.
Final Thoughts
I hope this list of the best passive income apps and websites helps you make quick money without having to lift a finger.
None of these apps are going to make you rich overnight. But I think they're a fun side hustle idea you can test out without much effort. Even if it's earning $20 a month by watching videos with Swagbucks or using a variety of data collection apps, every little bit counts.
Looking for even more money-making ideas? Checkout:
- 7 Realistic Ways To Make $50 A Day – Online & Offline Ideas.
- The Best Gig Economy Apps To Start A Side Hustle.
- Is Atlas Earth Legit Or A Scam?
Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investments LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. Investing involves risk and investments may lose value. Holdings and performance are hypothetical. Nothing in this material should be construed as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation to buy or sell any security. All investments are subject to risk and may lose value. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as tax, investment, or legal advice.
1 Ancillary fees charged by Stash and/or its custodian are not included in the subscription fee.
