9 Best Passive Income Apps That Help You Earn Money for Doing Almost Nothing

Today I'd like to share with you legitimate passive income apps that you can install on your smartphone to make money.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more information.

Looking for the best passive income apps? In this age, we all have smartphones, and almost everything we do on them requires an app.

How convenient would it be if those apps that you use actually made you passive income? Well, some passive income apps do just that and I've found some of the highest paying apps.

I should preface, you're not going to become the next Warren Buffet, but you can surely earn a passive income while you sleep.

We're a big fan of passive income here at My Millennial Guide — the ones we're sharing are all pretty simple too, just watch a video or click a few buttons on your phone and collect your money.

Plus, they're free from the app store for iPhone or Android.

Best Passive Income Apps for Making Money Fast

Now it’s easier than ever to boost your income with passive income apps. Below you’ll discover 17 smart money income apps to start making money fast.

They’re quick, free and they’ll turn your spare time into cash!

So let’s get started, here are some of our favorite passive income apps or the best apps to make money fast:

1. Ibotta

ibotta app savings

It may be hard to believe, but Ibotta pays you for going shopping.

No, really, it does!

This passive income app presents you with a list of offers currently available on a wide range of products, from food to drinks all the way through to cleaning products.

Ibotta is free to download. Plus, you’ll get a $10 sign-up bonus after uploading your first receipt.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Look for a product you were planning on buying from the grocery store.
  2. Select a participating store that you’re buying the item from.
  3. Buy the item and then upload a picture of your receipt.
  4. That’s it! Simply sit back and passively wait for the cash to show up in your PayPal.
Ibotta
4.5

Ibotta pays you cash back for shopping at over 500,000 retailers, which you have to do every month. So why not get paid for it? Get started saving today.

Start Saving Ibotta Cheats

Where to download:

  • Ibotta — Platforms: iOS and Android | Price: free

2. Swagbucks and Survey Junkie

swagbucks

Many of you have come here by searching “make passive income.”

Well, here you go. This has got to be one of the fastest and most legitimate ways to make residual income.

You can actually get paid to watch movie previews, celebrity videos, news and all sorts of other videos.

You can sign up for sites like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie that will pay you to watch certain videos.

They will tell you how many minutes you need to watch the video for and you might also be asked to like the video.

While you not going to make a career out of it, it’s very easy money for pressing a few buttons on your phone in your free time.

There really is no limit when it comes to the question of how to make money online.

You can make around $500 a month by spending 15 minutes a day on surveys.

Earn around $50 to $1,000 per year
Swagbucks
5.0
$10 welcome bonus

Swagbucks offers a variety of ways to earn money online. You can take surveys, play games, surf the web, watch videos and more to earn points towards gift cards or cash.

Start Earning Swagbucks Review
$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

Where to download:

  • Swagbucks — Platforms: iOS, Android and desktop | Price: free
  • Survey Junkie — Platforms: Mobile web and desktop | Price: free

3. Acorns

best micro investing app acorns

You can download this passive income app called Acorns for free.

With this income app, you’ll start small and stack up change over time with the Acorns “round-up” feature. That means if you spend $15.25 on your connected debit or credit card, for example, 75 cents gets dropped into your Acorns account.

Then the app does the whole investing thing for you. It’s that simple. Now you can brag to your friends, too.

The idea is you won’t miss the digital pocket change — you know, out of sight, out of mind.  And those automatic savings stack up faster than you’d think.

The app is free to download on the app store or google play, and the service costs $3 a month —  plus you’ll get that $20 bonus just for starting out. Or you can sign up with your student email and it’s free.

The sooner you start investing, the sooner your money can start to grow toward your goals. Get started with this Acorns bonus today!

Earn $20 bonus investment
Acorns
5.0
Get an easy $20 sign up bonus

Start investing effortlessly with Acorns! Turn your spare change into investments, making it simple for anyone to build wealth over time. Set up automatic contributions, sit back, and watch your money grow. Plus, get a $20 bonus when you open a new account and start recurring investments.

Learn More

Where to download:

  • Acorns — Platforms: iOS, Android and desktop | Price: $3 Per Month

4. Nielsen

nielsen

By using the internet as you do every day, Nielsen invites you to make a difference – and you can make money too.

I downloaded this app and make around $50-100 passively… it’s a legit app.

You don’t have to do anything other than initially registering your computer or phone. You can read our full Nielsen Review here.

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

Where to download:

  • Nielsen — Platforms: iOS, Android and desktop | Price: free

5. Turo

Did you know that you can rent out your car when you’re not using it? And that you can bring in a lot of extra cash in your wallet by doing so?

Do you plan on heading on a vacation soon while your car sits unused at your home? Do you sometimes not use your car on the weekends?  If so, renting out your car while you’re not using it could be an easy way to make passive income.

A well-known company, Turo, which has signed up nearly 5 million users to its website, according to Bloomberg, lets you do just that.

It’s also really simple to do (and free). Listing your car is quick and easy and takes less than 10 minutes to set up. According to a recent Turo review, somebody listed their car for 5 days every month and made $3,496 in a year. 

Sounds pretty good to me.

Oh, and they also protect your car against physical damage, so you’re fully covered.

Where to download:

  • Turo — Platforms: iOS, Android and desktop | Price: free

6. Fundrise

fundrise real estate investing app

Wouldn’t it be great if you could invest in commercial real estate and apartments without dealing with all the hassle of buying, improving, and re-selling real estate?

You don't have to be a millionaire to invest in these types of properties. You can now invest in large-scale real estate for as little as $10 with Fundrise.

Through their real estate investment products, investors earned an average of 8 – 11 percent on their money last year, and all without painting a wall or dealing with unruly tenants.

There is a reason why they currently have over 200,000+ users, this app really pays you!

Fundrise
5.0

Make your money work for you with Fundrise! Start real estate investing with just $10—no need for big bucks to get in. Fundrise gives you access to funds built to grow your money steadily. It’s easy, affordable, and designed for your goals. Want to let your cash hustle for you? Fundrise has you covered.

Learn More
We earn a commission for this endorsement of Fundrise.

Where to download:

  • Fundrise — Platforms: iOS, Android and desktop | Price: free

7. Fetch Rewards

fetch rewards app

Yup, it’s true!  There are several companies out there that will give you free money just for signing up.

Fetch Rewards is a mobile rewards app that pays you for shopping (from any store).

This is an easy and of the best money making apps to earn gift cards the easy way, and can add up to a large wad of free gift cards with time.

Here are the steps:

  1. Click here to download Fetch and use referral code C1JAV to get your $2 referral bonus!
  2. Scan any receipt from any stores that you use daily.
  3. Get cash (via PayPal).

Enjoy your passive income!

And there is no minimum amount you need to withdraw to your PayPal account either. You can read our full Fetch Rewards Review here.

Fetch
4.5

Fetch is one of the top apps for scanning receipts that we've tried. It's great because it always gives you the same amount of points for each receipt, at least 25 points, and you only need to earn a little ($3) before you can take your money out. You can scan up to 35 receipts every week, so if you shop a lot and keep using the app, you could get a few free gift cards each year. Get 250 points when you use the code C1JAV during sign-up.

Start Saving Fetch Review
  • Fetch Rewards — Platforms: iOS, Android and desktop | Price: free

8. Upside

getupside

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 truly passive income app, if you ever needed one. You can read our full Getupside Review here.

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. Rakuten

rakuten

You'd be silly not to get cash-back for items you would have bought anyway. You can do this by shopping online with Rakuten.

Rakuten is my favorite way to make money when I shop online and right now they are offering a $10 sign up bonus through this link.

Every time I shop online, I start at Rakuten and then I get cash back deposited into my PayPal account.

When you use Rakuten to shop, you get cash back. You can read our full Rakuten Review here.

$30 welcome bonus
Rakuten
5.0

Rakuten offers cash back for shopping at over 3,500 stores, free to join, and shares commissions with members as cash back, paid quarterly. Members also get a $30 sign-up bonus. Since 1998, Rakuten has paid out over $1 billion in cash back.

Start Saving Rakuten Review

Where to download:

Enjoy Your Passive Income Apps!

There you have it. If you’ve finished the list, you’ve just made at least $3,700 in FREE passive income with these best passive income apps.

Now that you know my top 17 best passive income apps that pay real money, it’s time to get cracking!

But remember:

If you want a profitable passive income app, you need to be consistent. Most people give up at the first hurdle.

…So please don’t do that!

Instead, stick with your automated income app, be persistent and never give up! It might take a while to earn a decent income but it’s 100% worth it.

Need some more tips on getting started? Drop a comment below and let us know.

If you wanted more ways to make money online these ones, here’s my list of the best ways to make money online:

Want more? Check out this epic list of the best side hustles!

About the author

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.

Take the next step to invest

Earn $20 bonus investment
Acorns
5.0
Get an easy $20 sign up bonus

Start investing effortlessly with Acorns! Turn your spare change into investments, making it simple for anyone to build wealth over time. Set up automatic contributions, sit back, and watch your money grow. Plus, get a $20 bonus when you open a new account and start recurring investments.

Learn More
Arrived
5.0

Build wealth with Arrived! Start owning shares in rental properties with just $100. It’s a simple way to earn steady, passive income without the high costs. Want an easy path into real estate? Arrived makes it possible.

Learn More
Fundrise
5.0

Make your money work for you with Fundrise! Start real estate investing with just $10—no need for big bucks to get in. Fundrise gives you access to funds built to grow your money steadily. It’s easy, affordable, and designed for your goals. Want to let your cash hustle for you? Fundrise has you covered.

Learn More
We earn a commission for this endorsement of Fundrise.

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