Let’s be honest—we all spend hours scrolling on our phones every single day. What if I told you some of that time could actually put money in your pocket?
In 2025, there are dozens of legit apps that will pay you real cash (not points that never turn into anything useful). I’ve tested and researched the best ones that actually pay through PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards.
These won’t make you a millionaire overnight, but if you’re looking to cover a few bills, save up for something fun, or just add a little cushion to your wallet, these apps are the easiest way to start.
Here are 15 of the best apps that pay you real money this year.
Swagbucks
People still use Swagbucks in 2025 for a good reaspm. You can earn money by doing quite easy stuff like taking surveys, playing games, shopping online and even watching videos.
💰 Average income: $50–$100 each month (more if you are consistent)
📲 Available on: Android & iOS
💳 Payment: Gift cards or Cash from PayPal
👉 The best part? You can start with just a few minutes a day while you are on train or watching TV. It won’t replace your regular job, however hey, getting paid for things you already do online is a win.
Mistplay
If you love mobile games, this one is a no-brainer. Mistplay literally pays you to play games on your phone. The more you play, the more “units” you earn, and those can be cashed out for PayPal money or gift cards.
💰 Average income: $20–$50 each month
📲 Available on: Android & iOS
💳 Payment: Gift cards or Cash from PayPal , Amazon and more
👉 If you’re already wasting time on games, why not make some money while you’re at it? Just keep in mind, you won’t make a fortune it’s more like fun money on the side.
Rakuten(formerly Ebates)
If you shop online, Rakuten is like free money. All you just use their app or browser extension to shop, and they give you money back on your purchases.
💰 Average income: $50–$100 each month (more if you are consistent)
📲 Available on: Android & iOS
💳 Payment: Gift cards or Cash from PayPal
I like Rakuten because it is completely passive. You don’t have to fill out surveys or do anything else. Just buy anything from Amazon, Walmart, Target and other stores and earn cashback automatically.
💡 Pro Tip: You can easily make an extra $150 to $200 a month without changing your daily routine by using apps like Rakuten + Swagbucks together.
InboxDollars.
One more genuine rewards app is InboxDollars. They pay for reading emails, fill out surveys, watching videos, and even trying out free offers. The best part? Earn a $5 bonus simply for signing up.
💰 Average earning: $30–$80/month
📲 Available on: iOS & Android
💳 Payout: PayPal or gift cards
👉 You can make simple and quick money and easily without too much overthinking, IndoxDollars is a good tool to have.
Survey Junkie
Surveys are not the most exciting thing in the world, but Survey junkie is one of the legit ones. Here you give your opinion, answer questions , and get paid for it. Very easy and straightforward.
💰 Average earning: $50–$100/month (depending on how many surveys you did.)
📲 Available on: iOS & Android
💳 Payout: PayPal or bank transfer
It is not flashy, but if you have 10-15 minutes to spend during lunch or while waiting in queue, it adds up.
Ibotta
Ibotta is a cashback app that gives you money back on groceries. Take a snap of your receipt, and you get cash back. They have expanded to online shopping too, so it is not just for you going to the store.
💰 Average earning: $20–$60/month
📲 Available on: Android & iOS
💳 Payout: PayPal or gift cards
👉 Ibotta is like free money waiting for you if you already shop for groceries every week (and who doesn’t?)
Dosh
Dosh runs automatically. Link your debit or credit card and get cash back anytime you shop, eat out, or book hotels at participating places. No need to scan receipts or do anything else.
💰 Average earning: $23–$100/month (depending on how much you spend everytime)
📲 Available on: Android & iOS
💳 Payout: PayPal or gift cards, Venmo and Direct deposit
👉 Dosh is great because it is 100% passive. Once you set it up, you don’t even have to remember it’s there.
Acorns
Acorns is not an “make money” app, but it helps you build wealth. It automatically collects your spare change from everyday purchases and invests it.
💰 Potential: Long-term savings ( users say they save hundreds to thousands over time)
📲 Available on: Android & iOS
💳 Payout: Account linked to bank
👉 Think of it as a digital piggy bank that fills up without you thinking about it.
Sweatcoin
Here is an interesting fact: Sweatcoin pays you just for walking. You can get PayPal money, gift cards, or even fitness products for every time you redeem.
💰 Average earning: $20–$50/month (depends on how much you walk)
📲 Available on: Android & iOS
💳 Payout: PayPal or rewards
👉 If you want to keep healthy, why not get paid to move?
Mode Earn App (formerly Current)
This app is crazy – you can literally get paid to listen to music. They have teamed up with thousands of radio stations, so all you have to do is stream music and just earn..
💰 Average earning: $20–$40/month
📲 Available on: Android & iOS
💳 Payout: PayPal or gift cards
👉 Listen to music while you work, drive or relax. You are making money while enjoying tunes.
Google Opinion Rewards
This app pays you for taking super short surveys(often only 3-4 questions), and it is straight from google.
💰 Average earning: $5–$20/month
📲 Available on: Android & iOS devices
💳 Payout: Google Play credit or PayPal
👉 You won’t get rich from it, but the surveys are so quick that it’s like free money for 30 seconds of your time.
Fiverr
In fiverr you get paid for your skills – writing, design, video editing, or do voiceovers. This has a lot higher earning potential than Survey apps.
💰 Average income: $500 or more each month, based on talents and effort
📲 Available on: Android & iOS devices
💳 Payout: PayPal or direct deposit
👉 Fiverr is where you start if you want to make more than just pocket money and genuinely build an income stream.
Upwork
Like Fiverr, but more professional. Freelancers bid on jobs that companies publish. You can find jobs in coding, marketing, writing, customer service and more.
💰 Potential: $1,000+/month if you take it seriously.
📲 Available on: iOS & Android devices.
💳 Payout: Direct deposit, PayPal, Payoneer.
👉 Upwork can take the place of a part-time job(or even your full-time job) if you really want to be a freelancer.
TaskRabbit
This app connects you to find people in your region who need help with things like cleaning, moving, assembling furniture, and running errands.
💰 Average earning: $15–$30/hour
📲 Available on: iOS & Android
💳 Payout: Direct deposit
👉 Great if you are physically active and need money quickly on weekends or at night.
Uber / Lyft
We can’t forget about ride-sharing apps, of course. If you have a car and some free time, driving people about is one of the fastest ways to turn hours into cash.
💰 Average earning: $200–$600/month (part-time drivers)
📲 Available on: iOS & Android
💳 Payout: Direct deposit
You can set your flexible hours, and money is usually available instantly.
Final Thoughts
There you have – 15 legit apps which pays you real money in 2025.
Some of them are passive income sources, like Rakuten or Dash. Some can grow into real income streams, like Fiverr or Upwork. Some are fun( Mistplay, Sweatcoin). The secret is to mix and combine a few of them depending on your lifestyle.
Tip: keep in mind that these apps won’t make you rich right way overnight, but they will help you earn money for bills, savings, or even groceries. And the best part is? You can start right now, from your phone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Are these apps really legit?
Yes! All of the apps on this list are legit, tested and have paid millions of users around the world. Apps like Swagbucks and Rakuten have been available for more than 10 years.
Q2. How much money can I realistically make?
Most people earn between $50 – $300 per month as side income. It depends on how long you spend doing surveys, purchasing with cashback shopping, or doing other small jobs.
Q3. Do I need to pay to join these apps?
No, they are all 100% free to join. In fact, many offer a signup for bonus when you create an account.