How to Make 15 Dollars Fast: 12 Real Ways

Discover quick and easy ways to make $15 fast, including tips on sign-up bonuses and smart investments to grow your money over time.

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Sometimes, you just need cash fast—whether it’s to cover a small expense, grab a quick bite, or boost your savings. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple ways to make $15 quickly, without a lot of hassle. From sign-up bonuses to quick gigs, you can turn your spare time into extra money. In this guide, we’ll show you how to earn $15 fast and, even better, how to turn that money into long-term wealth with smart investments. Let’s get started!

How to Make 15 Dollars Fast

1. Make $15 Fast with Survey Junkie

survey junkie

Taking online surveys with Survey Junkie to make extra money online is a no-brainer!

You definitely won’t get rich or make hundreds of dollars per day with surveys alone, but you won’t waste much time, and you can make $15 fast the easy way. It is my #1 favorite (and highest paying) survey site:

Survey Junkie: This is a free survey app for your phone that pays you to take online surveys, participate in focus groups, and try new products.

And, I really mean free all around – free to join and they don’t charge anything to be a member (they will actually pay you in cash via PayPal).

Join for free through this link and get your free registration bonus.

ProsCons
There’s absolutely no cost to join. Tip: Never register for a survey site that asks you for cashSometimes you’ll be a few questions in only to find out that you aren’t eligible for a survey, but you still get points
Points can be exchanged for both cash to PayPal and for gift cards Minimum balance of $10 USD needed for Payout
Your information will go toward helping companies improve their products and servicesOnly users from the United States, Canada, and Australia can participate with future plans to expand
Answers that you provide are kept completely anonymous
The potential for high earnings (depends on your demographics)
Registration bonus if you go through this link.
If you’re not eligible for a survey, you’re still given points
$1.6M+ monthly payout to its members
Survey Junkie
4.5
Over $55,000 Paid to Survey Junkie members daily

Survey Junkie is one of the highest-paying survey sites available. Complete three or more surveys a day, and you can earn as much as $100 monthly. With $76 Million paid out to date, Survey Junkie is one of the best survey sites available.

Start Earning Survey Junkie Review

2. Make $10 Right Now with Swagbucks

swagbucks

Swagbucks is an app on the Google Play Store and the App Store that offers you a way to get a free $10 instantly through its sign-up bonus for new members.

From there you have the option to take surveys, play games for money, watch videos, or get paid to search the web. I personally use it and usually make up to $3 per survey while watching TV, and it does add up.

It's free to sign up and 100% free-to-use. You'll even get a $10 welcome bonus just for signing up and confirming your email.

You can cash out your rewards via PayPal or for gift cards to basically any store you can imagine. It is another great way to make $10 fast by just pushing a few buttons in your free time.

Here's the good and bad about Swagbucks:

ProsCons
An incredibly wide range of activities to partake inSometimes there’s no sign-up bonus
Most of the tasks are incredibly simple to completeMay take up to a few days to receive your reward
100% free – never join a rewards site that asks for your payment information
Registration bonus if you go through this link.

Tip: Enjoy knowing that Swagbucks is one of the highest paying survey sites that actually works. You can also earn free cash (via Paypal) for everyday activities like shopping, watching videos and searching the web. If you're interested you can get started with a $10 sign up bonus.

Free $10 PayPal for Joining!
Swagbucks
5.0
Earn your Swagbucks faster—make sure to verify your email to unlock your rewards!
  • Earn points by taking surveys, playing games, and shopping online
  • Redeem rewards like PayPal cash or gift cards to top brands
  • Join millions who’ve earned over $800 million with Swagbucks and get a $10 welcome bonus
Get $10 Welcome Bonus Swagbucks Review

3. Sell Unused Items on Facebook Marketplace

facebook

If you've got items lying around that you no longer use, the Facebook Marketplace can be a treasure trove.

Instead of hosting a yard sale, you can easily sell unused gift cards, old cell phones, clothes, or furniture to people in your local area.

Not only is it a quick way to earn extra cash, but it's also a great opportunity to declutter. With the mobile app, listing an item takes just a few minutes, and you could earn that $15 fast, if not more.

4. Earn $60 in Rewards with Nielsen

Wondering how to make $15 dollars in 5 minutes? By using the internet as you do every day, Nielsen invites you to make a difference – and you can make money too.

You just have to download their app on your favorite internet browsing device and they'll pay you $60 per year.

It's truly passive income and you don’t have to do anything other than initially registering your computer or phone.

Nielsen: This company will pay you $60 a year to keep their app on your favorite internet browsing device and they also give away $10,000 each month. So you can possibly make more than $60.

Sign up through here for a registration bonus.

Get $60 for installing app
Nielsen Mobile Panel
5.0

This company will pay you $60 a year to keep their app on your favorite internet browsing device and they also give away $10,000 each month. You don’t have to do anything other than initially registering your computer or phone.

Join Nielsen Panel Nielsen Review

5. Food Delivery Apps

With the rise of the gig economy, food delivery services like Uber Eats or DoorDash offer flexible opportunities to earn money.

If you have a car or even a bike, you can make deliveries on your own schedule, especially during peak hours when demand is high.

Food delivery apps typically pay per delivery, and with a few hours of work, you could earn much more than just $15. Do keep in mind that some platforms may require a background check or a valid driver's license.

DoorDash Driver
5.0

Earn extra money for your short-term or long-term dreams with DoorDash. As a Dasher, you can be your own boss and enjoy the flexibility of choosing when, where, and how much you earn. All you need is a mode of transportation and a smartphone to start making money. It’s that simple.

Start Earning DoorDash Review

6. Earn Money By Micro Investing with Acorns

acorns

Need $15 fast? With Acorns, you can make money quickly and start building real wealth. Right now, Acorns offers a $20 sign-up bonus when you invest just $5. That’s an easy $15 profit, leaving you with $25 in your account instantly.

The real power of Acorns is its ability to grow your money over time. By investing $15 a month with an average 9% annual return, you could have over $10,200 in 30 years.

Acorns even rounds up your everyday purchases and invests the spare change, making saving effortless. Start with $5 today, claim your $20 bonus, and let your money work for you!

Earn $20 + Start Investing Today!
Acorns
5.0
  • Get a $20 bonus when you start investing with Acorns today!
  • Grow your wealth effortlessly—Acorns invests your spare change automatically.
  • Build your portfolio with dividend-earning investments made simple.
Start Investing & Get $20

7. Freelance Writing and Digital Marketing

macbook on a table in a coffee shop
Photo by Omar Prestwich on Unsplash

For those who have a knack for writing or digital marketing, freelancing platforms like Fiverr or Upwork are full of businesses and clients looking for services.

Whether it's blog writing, graphic design jobs, or managing social media platforms, there's a wide range of tasks that can help you earn quick cash.

It's an excellent side hustle for college students or anyone looking to monetize their skills without committing to a full-time job.

8. Earn Cash Back with Upside

upside

Want to make $15 fast off your gas receipts? Upside provides users with a variety of helpful information. First, it gives you 25 cents back on every gas station receipt you submit. It also shows you the best gas station deals and the cheapest gas.

This free cash back app for gas is saving users an average of $124 in a year. There is no minimum for cash outs, but a $1 fee will be made on withdrawals under $15.

How does it work?

To score the best gas prices, grocery prices, and restaurant offers with Upside, all you need is your phone and your receipt. There’s no limit on how much you can earn, and you can even use it with other coupons, discounts, and loyalty programs!

  1. Click here to download for free.
  2. Claim your offer for the best gas price, restaurant or grocery offer
  3. Snap a photo of your receipt or receipts

Profit! Earn cash back, and cash out whenever you want via PayPal, gift card or check. A true way to make 15 dollars fast, if you ever needed one.

Upside
4.5

Upside (which used to be called GetUpside) lets you save up to 25 cents for every gallon of gas you buy at certain gas stations. You can also get up to 35% back when you shop for groceries or eat out at over 45,000 places that work with Upside. If you use the app a lot, you might earn more than $100 in a year.

Start Saving Best Gas Apps

9. Renting Out a Spare Room

If you have a spare room or space in your house or apartment, consider renting it out.

Websites like Airbnb have made it pretty easy to list spaces, and depending on your location and the value of your space, you could earn good money in just a night or two.

It's a smart way to make use of unused space, and you get to meet people from all over the world. Ensure you follow any local regulations and keep safety in mind when sharing your home.

10. Earn $15 Fast with InboxDollars

inboxdollars

The next thing you can do is sign up for InboxDollars which pays you, in cash, to watch fun videos & take surveys. 

If you sign up before the end of this month, they also give you a $5 free bonus just to give it a try.

By spending just 5-10 minutes per day on sites like InboxDollars (either on your lunch break or during TV commercial breaks) you can earn and earn an extra $50/month.

More people should be doing this!

$5 sign up bonus
InboxDollars
4.5
Unlock your InboxDollars rewards—remember to verify your email to start earning!
  • Earn real cash by taking surveys, playing games, and watching videos
  • Get paid directly via PayPal or gift cards for your activities
  • Join millions of users turning their free time into extra money
Claim $5 Bonus InboxDollars Review

11. Earn Money Fast with Virtual Assistant Jobs

With businesses operating remotely now more than ever, there's a demand for virtual assistants.

Platforms like Upwork or Freelancer offer opportunities for tasks ranging from data entry, managing emails, scheduling appointments, or even handling social media accounts.

It's a flexible job that you can do from the comfort of your home, and with a few hours of work, you can quickly earn that $15 or even more.

12. Make Money with Real Estate Investing

fundrise real estate investing app

Looking to make your money work for you? Fundrise is an easy way to start investing in real estate with as little as $10.

The platform allows you to earn passive income by investing in a diversified portfolio of real estate projects, and it has historically delivered an average annual return of 9.47%.

If you invest just $15 per month, your money can grow significantly over time. With a 9.47% annual return, those small monthly contributions could add up to over $10,800 in 30 years—all from a simple, consistent habit.

Fundrise makes it easy for anyone to start building wealth without needing a large upfront investment. Take the first step today with just $10 and let your money grow with real estate!

🚀 Trusted by 2M+ Investors | Earn 8-11% Returns
Fundrise
5.0
  • Invest in real estate for as little as $10—no hassle, no huge upfront costs.
  • Potential returns of 8-11% annually, backed by a platform with over 2 million investors.
  • Build wealth over time by investing in commercial real estate and apartments.
Start Investing with $10
We earn a commission for this endorsement of Fundrise.

Final Take

Making $15 fast is easier than you think, and it can be the start of something bigger. Whether you earn through sign-up bonuses, quick gigs, or investing small amounts, every little effort adds up.

Use opportunities like Acorns or Fundrise to turn that $15 into long-term wealth. Start today, and you’ll be surprised how small steps can lead to big financial growth over time. The key is taking action—your future self will thank you!

Brian Meiggs
Hi, I’m Brian Meiggs! I’m a personal finance expert and founder of My Millennial Guide, here to help you build real wealth. With a background in finance, I’ve spent years guiding people on smart, practical ways to grow their money. For stock market beginners, I recommend Acorns. It’s a simple way to start investing with just your spare change, helping you steadily grow your portfolio over time without the need to actively manage it. And if you’re interested in real estate, check out Arrived and Fundrise. I use both myself—they make it easy to start investing in property without needing huge upfront capital. These platforms are perfect for anyone looking to add real estate to their investments for passive, long-term growth. I believe these tools are great for building a balanced investment portfolio, combining stocks and real estate for a solid approach to wealth-building. You can trust this advice—my work has been featured in major publications like Business Insider, Entrepreneur, The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo Finance, NASDAQ, Discover, Fox News, and MSN Money.

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