45+ Apps That Pay Real Money (and Save Cash) in 2020

How it Works: With SwagBucks, you can shop online, watch entertaining videos, search the web, answer surveys, and find great deals to earn points. Redeem your points for free gift cards to your favorite retailers like Amazon or Walmart, to name a few, or get cash back from PayPal.

Payment: Gift Cards, PayPal

How it Works: Ebates is now Rakuten, but the same great perks still apply! Start shopping on Rakuten app and find a store, promo code or deal. Cash back will be added to your account when your order is confirmed.

Payment: Check or PayPal

How it Works: Shopkick lets you earn rewards points (kicks) when you walk into partner store, scan select products, or make purchases. Online, earn kicks when you visit online partners from Shopkick, view select offers, or make online purchases. Redeem the kicks you earn for digital gift cards from your favorite retailers.

Payment: Gift Cards

How it Works: Dosh is so simple and genius! Securely link your credit and debit cards. Whenever you pay with your linked cards, Dosh gets you cash back. Pay with your linked card at thousands of stores and restaurants, and get up to 10% cash back automatically in your Dosh Wallet. You don’t have to scan a single receipt!

Payment: Direct Deposit, PayPal

How it Works: Field Agent makes you an “agent” for crowd sourcing and mystery shopping. Find a job in store audits, research, mystery shopping, product trials and more. Once you’ve reserved a job, complete it within the time frame and make sure to follow instructions carefully. Location jobs generally pay between $3-$20.

Payment: Direct Deposit

How it Works: Mobee is perfect for secret shoppers. Search the map to locate simple secret shopper missions at popular stores and retailers. Answer questions once you arrive at the location and submit your mission for review. Earn points for every successful mission you complete and use those points for popular gift cards and prizes.

Payment: Gift Cards

How it Works: If the price of something you bought online drops, Paribus helps you get the money back. It’s developed by Capital One, so you can be sure it’s a trusted brand. Once a retailer confirms a price adjustment you are typically refunded within 3 to 7 business days depending on the retailer.

Payment: Refund to Original Payment Option or Card

How it Works: Earny is another price protection app. It watches the receipts in your inbox and searches for price drops on your products. Connect as many email accounts as you’d like!

Payment: Refund to Original Payment Option or Card

How it Works: When you shop with Ibotta, you’ll earn cash back whenever you shop, both online and in-store. Link loyalty accounts or submit receipts for your favorite retailers to automatically see earnings within 24 hours! I especially love the “any brand” offers for groceries. Combine these with generic brands for big savings!

Payment: PayPal or Gift Cards

How it Works: With Checkout 51, the offer list updates on Thursdays with new saving opportunities. Just add your favorite offers to your shopping list. Tap “Redeem” and check off the items you purchased on your receipt. This tells their system what to look for. Upload your receipt and get your cash once you build up to $20!

Payment: Check, PayPal, or Gift Cards

How it Works: Have a favorite brand you can’t do without? Chances are, Coupons.com has you covered. Choose from printable coupons, digital coupons, or grocery cash-back offers. Link loyalty cards, earn rebates, or just use coupons immediately in store. You choose!

Payment: Direct coupon savings in store, PayPal for rebates

How it Works: If your family loves organic, all-natural, non-GMO and other health foods, Berry Cart is perfect! This app works similiar to Checkout 51 or Ibotta, but the offers are all for healthy, organic foods. In the app, unlock an offer, then scan the items barcode and upload your receipt. Once your offered is redeemed, you can cash out when you earn at least $5. Or choose from gift cards to your favorite stores!

Payment: PayPal or Gift Cards

How it Works: To use Saving Star, you’ll first need to link your grocery store accounts. Then just select offers in the app, and use your store card at checkout. Once you earn at least $20 in rebates you’ll be able to cash out! So simple, but definitely a must if you use a favorite grocery store time and time again.

Payment: PayPal

How it Works: Don’t want to search through rebate grocery offers? Fetch Rewards make it simple. Just snap a picture of your receipts and they’ll award you points on all participating products and special offers. Use your points to get gift cards or Visa cards!

Payment: Gift Cards

How it Works: HealthyWage uses cash prizes to make weight loss and fitness more fun and effective!  Make a personalized bet on your own weight loss — prizes up to $10,000. Or join a jackpot challenge to win your share of the pot!

Payment: Check or PayPal

How it Works: StepBet is a fitness game that motivates you to be more active. Bet on yourself to meet your step goals during every week. Connect your activity tracker to track your daily steps. Win your bet back plus extra money when you do! The cash prize, accountability, and community support help you build a more active lifestyle. Also check out their sister apps: DietBet, RunBet, and SweatBet!

Payment: PayPal

How it Works: SweatCoin converts your outdoor steps into a currency to spend on cool products and services. Unlike HealthyWage and StepBet, you don’t have to put up any money up front. Connect your phone’s GPS to automatically update your step count. You can use your SweatCoins to buy tons of products from your favorite retailers.

Payment: Use SweatCoins currency to buy products and services directly, no cash out.

How it Works: On the Restaurant.com app, find dining deals to your favorite spots. Search by restaurant name, cuisine type, city, or zip code. Or browse hot deals near you! Choose a certificate that matches your restaurant choice. Just show the certificate to your sever from your phone! The savings will appear on your final bill.

Payment: Direct savings on your bill.

How it Works: Groupon has deals and savings for everything under the sun, including great restaurant deals! Search by location or cuisine, and choose a deal. User reviews will help you pick the perfect restaurant! Since Groupon handles tons of big and small retailers and restaurants, details for redeeming your Groupon will be included on each individual deal page.

Payment: Direct savings on your bill.

How it Works: If you dine out a lot, Hooch is the perfect fit for you. Just connect your credit or debit cards to the app. Dine out at any of the affiliated restaurants as you normally would. Get 5-10% back on your purchases. Then use your rewards points to get gift cards and other rewards.

Payment: Gift Cards

How it Works: LivingSocial helps you discover new places to eat (and tons of other fun activities!) in your neighborhood, plus save money while you’re there! Search by restaurant name, location, or category and find a deal. Print out the deal or pull it up on the app to use at your meal.

Payment: Direct savings on your bill.

How it Works: Developed by the same folks at Booking.com, Open Table helps you earn points while you dine out. Make a reservation through the app, and earn points toward your Open Table balance. You can then redeem your points balance for hotel and dining deals, Amazon gift cards, or magazine subscriptions!

Payment: Gift Cards

How it Works: Seated lets you browse over 1,500 curated restaurants. Sort by location cuisine, price, and more. Book a reservation ahead of time or use the walk-in feature for spontaneous dining. Upload a picture of your receipt. Based on the restaurant’s listed reward percentage, you’ll be granted a percentage of your spend back in the form of Seated Rewards. Spend your Seated rewards on services, experiences, or gift cards to your favorite retailers like Amazon and more!

Payment: Gift Cards

How it Works: Brands want your feedback. Inbox Dollars helps give brands the feedback they need and helps you earn money! Take paid online surveys, watch videos, read emails, get cash back for online shopping, and more. Once you earn at least $30, you’ll be able to cash out!

Payment: Gift Card, Prepaid Visa, or Check

How it Works: With Survey Junkie, you’ll earn rewards with every survey you take. Fill out your profile to be matched with relevant surveys. Once you complete a survey, you’ll be reward with points. As you reach 1,000 points, you can choose to redeem gift cards, or get a cash payout through PayPal or bank transfer.

Payment: Direct Deposit, Gift Cards, PayPal

How it Works: Want to give feedback to Google? Google Opinion Rewards allows you to complete short surveys during your daily routine. Get rewarded with Google Play or PayPal credit for each one you complete. Topics include everything from opinion polls, to hotel reviews, to merchant satisfaction surveys. They’ll notify you when a survey is waiting.

Payment: Google Play credit, PayPal

How it Works: Want to get paid to browse and evaluate websites? UserTesting participants are paid $10 for each completed website test or app test. A test consists of a 15 minute recording and answers to four follow-up written questions. UserTesting is a great way to earn a few extra dollars on the side. On average, most participants take one or two tests per week. Just don’t expect to make this a full-time job!

Payment: PayPal

How it Works: Learn to pay yourself with Acorns! Set aside the leftover change from everyday purchases by turning on automatic Round-Ups. Or, shop with their Found Money partners, and they’ll automatically invest in your Acorns Core account! Plans start at $1-3 per month.

Payment: Direct deposit to stock portfolio or IRA account

How it Works: Stash combines investing, banking, spending, and saving in one app. Start investing with as little as $5 with our flexible investing and retirement accounts. Invest your spare change and move money over on a set schedule. Plans range from $1-9 per month.

Payment: Direct deposit to stock portfolio or IRA account.

How it Works: Want to get your spouse on the same page financially? Enter Twine (backed by John Hancock Life Insurance). Collaborate and set savings goals together. Create automatic deposits. Start with a simple cash savings, or invest in a portfolio to grow your money. There are no hidden fees, pay just 25¢ per month for every $500 in your account. Twine is a great app to start paying yourself!

Payment: Direct deposit to savings account or stock portfolio.

How it Works: Sell your used tech items for quick cash with Decluttr! Simply select the make, model and condition of your cell phone or tech device and they’ll give you an instant price. Pack and ship your box for free! A few days later, your items will arrive at the Decluttr warehouse. A team will check them over, remove any personal data from your tech devices using specialist software and then you get paid!

Payment: Direct Deposit, PayPal or Check

How it Works: Most of us have unused gift cards sitting around. Sell gift cards for cash with Raise. Look for unwanted gift cards and store credits, new or partially used. It’s free to list cards for thousands of brands, and you set the selling price. Get paid when you sell!

Payment: Direct Deposit, PayPal, Check

How it Works: Miss Craigslist? You’ll love Letgo! Sell things you don’t need locally. From electronics to clothes and baby items, you can make quick cash on this virtual yard sale app.

Payment: Direct from buyer.

How it Works: Need to clean out your library? BookScouter helps you sell textbooks and used books for the most money by comparing offers from over 30 book buyback vendors with a single search. Select a vendor to sell to, ship for free, then get paid once they check in your books!

Payment: Check, PayPal

How it Works: Need a hub to make money from your freelance skills? Search UpWork to find the right gig for you. Make real money with short-term tasks, recurring projects, or full-time contract work. You can do many jobs directly on your phone! All payments are made through UpWork for your piece of mind.

Payment: Direct Deposit, PayPal, Payoneer

How it Works: Sell your skill son Fiverr! Sign up for free, set up your Gig, and offer your work to a global audience. Get notified when you get an order and use the Fiverr messaging system to discuss details with customers. Complete the gig, and get paid!

Payment: PayPal, Fiverr Revenue Card, Direct Deposit

How it Works: Upload your photos and videos to Foap and earn extra cash! When a brand, agency or just anyone who finds your work outstanding purchases a video or picture from your online portfolio, Foap will share the profit with you 50/50.

Payment: PayPal

How it Works: Love creating amazing photography? Earn money on Snapwire! For brand requests and challenges, submit shots that match. Brands get the custom visuals they need and you earn money doing what you love. Or, sell your shots in your portfolio to your network. Your best ones are hand selected by us, making them searchable for buyers to purchase directly in the Snapwire stock library.

Payment: PayPal, Stripe

How it Works: Expand your freelance photography reach with EyeEm. A photo can sell again and again to multiple clients. You’ll earn 50% every time! Through EyeEm, you can also sell with Getty images and more photo agencies. After you’ve sold a photo, they will send you a notification and an email linking you to the earnings section of your account, where you can request your payout.

Payment: PayPal

How it Works: With Gas Guru, easily find cheap gas prices near you. Compare gas prices near work, home, or anywhere. Plus you can choose to view results as a list or map, whichever works best for you!

Payment: Direct savings on gas prices.

How it Works: Gas Buddy takes it one step further. Along with finding the cheapest gas prices near you, Gas Buddy also lets you earn GasBack perks! Find GasBack offers at popular retailers on the savings tab of the app. Automatically redeem your GasBack at the pump when you pay with your Pay with GasBuddy card. In addition to your GasBack, this free card saves you 5¢ on every gallon!

Payment: Direct savings on gas prices, GasBack rewards

How it Works: Earn with Instacart while balancing work and life! Become a full-service shopper and shop and deliver grocery orders. Full-service shoppers have the flexibility to work as little or as often as they want. Or try out the in-store shopper job and just select and pack orders within a store. In-store shoppers earn an hourly wage, detailed in the initial offer letter. Either way, the Instacart app will help you earn extra cash for your family!

Payment: Not Specified (Although we would assume direct deposit or PayPal)

How it Works: With DoorDash, earn real money delivering orders for your local restaurants. All you need is a smartphone and mode of transportation. Even a bike will work! Tap “Dash Now” in the app to start receiving orders in your area right now or use the “schedule” tab to set times for later. In-app instructions will direct you to pick up the order and deliver it to the customer. You’ll set your own hours and availability.

Payment: Direct Deposit

How it Works: Join the fleet at Postmates and deliver everything from a gallon of milk to a cup of coffee and everything in between. Once you sign up, they’ll mail you a free delivery bag and a Postmates prepaid card. Select and complete orders in your area, with maps and payments available directly in the app. There’s no limit to how many times you can cash out per day. Or, all of your weekly earnings will be automatically deposited to your bank account once a week.

Payment: Direct Deposit

How it Works: To drive with Uber, sign up their website, and verify that your car is eligible. You decide when and how often you drive, and you can easily track your progress toward your earning goals. To cash out, you can use Instant Pay, up to 5 times a day, as long as you have at least a $1 balance. Or, your earnings will be transferred into your bank account by the end of the week.

Payment: Direct Deposit

How it Works: Another great ride sharing option to earn extra cash is Lyft. You get paid for the time and distance of a trip. Plus, you keep all of your tips and bonuses. If there are lots of passengers who need rides in your city, you’ll see hot spots on the map on your home screen. There are a few ways to get paid with Lyft: Direct Pay, Express Pay, and Weekly Pay. With Lyft Direct, you can use Direct Pay and get paid instantly after each ride is complete.

Payment: Direct Deposit, Rewards, Cash Back on Gas

How it Works: S’more is an app that allows you to earn points by allowing content and ads directly on your phone lock screen. Don’t worry, you aren’t required to interact with the ads to earn points. Simply swipe up, down, left or right to unlock your phone. You also have to option to complete surveys for points. Points can be redeemed for gift cards. Just use your phone as normal to earn points towards great rewards! S’more is currently only available on Android phones.

Payment: Gift Cards

How it Works: With Slidejoy, you’ll also rent out your lock screen to advertisers. You can ignore the ad by swiping right, or choose to interact with the ad card if it’s helpful to you. You’ll make the same amount of money even if you choose to ignore the ad, no worries. You’ll earn carats toward your Slidejoy balance. Reach 2000 carats and cash out! Slidejoy is currently only available on Android phones.

Payment: PayPal, Gift Cards, Donate to Charity