7 Best Passive Income Apps for 2025

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

Making extra cash has never been easier! Passive income apps help you earn money with minimal effort, turning your daily habits into opportunities to grow your finances.

Here’s how they work:

  • Save on everyday purchases with cashback and rewards.
  • Invest spare change automatically and watch it grow.
  • Earn rewards for simple, quick tasks.

These apps let your money and habits work for you—no constant effort required. Whether you’re saving, investing, or earning, there’s something for everyone.

Ready to boost your income? Check out the best passive income apps and start earning today!

Discover the Best Passive Income Apps

1. Fundrise

fundrise real estate investing app

Fundrise makes it easy to invest in real estate and earn passive income through expertly managed portfolios. With an average historical return of around 9% per year, even small monthly contributions can grow significantly over time. For example, investing just $100 a month with a 9% annual return could grow to an impressive $184,447 in 30 years.

Here’s how it works: Fundrise pools your investment into a diversified portfolio of real estate projects, allowing you to benefit from rental income and property appreciation without the hassle of owning property yourself. By automating your monthly contributions, you can steadily build wealth while letting Fundrise do the heavy lifting.

This simple, hands-off approach shows how Fundrise can turn consistent small investments into substantial long-term growth, making it a powerful tool for generating passive income.

$10 bonus
Fundrise
5.0
  • Earn passive income with real estate investing starting at just $10
  • Easy-to-use app for seamless access to crowd-funded real estate deals
  • Perfect for those who want their money to work for them
Start Investing With $10
We earn a commission for this endorsement of Fundrise.

2. Swagbucks

swagbucks

Swagbucks transforms your daily online habits into a steady stream of rewards. By completing simple tasks like taking surveys, watching videos, shopping online, or even searching the web, you can passively earn points called “SB.” These points can then be redeemed for gift cards or cash through PayPal.

The beauty of Swagbucks lies in its flexibility—these tasks can easily be done during your free time, whether you’re commuting, watching TV, or waiting in line. Over time, these small efforts add up, turning idle moments into extra cash.

With no upfront cost and a variety of ways to earn, Swagbucks makes it easy to incorporate passive income opportunities into your everyday routine. It’s a hassle-free way to boost your finances while doing things you’re already doing online!

$10 welcome bonus
Swagbucks
5.0
  • 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
Claim Your $10 Bonus

3. Acorns

best micro investing app acorns

Acorns simplifies investing by rounding up your everyday purchases and automatically investing the spare change into a diversified portfolio. With consistent contributions, even modest amounts can grow significantly over time. For instance, if you invest just $100 a month with an average annual return of 7%, you could grow your investment to approximately $122,709 in 30 years.

Acorns automates the entire process, from saving to investing, making it an ideal choice for those new to investing or who prefer a hands-off approach. By starting small and staying consistent, you can harness the power of compounding to build wealth effortlessly over time.

With Acorns, anyone can start investing and take a step closer to long-term financial security.

$20 bonus
Acorns
5.0
  • Effortless investing: Acorns rounds up your spare change and invests it automatically—no extra work required
  • Big potential growth: Investing $100 a month could grow to over $180,000 in 30 years with a 9% return
  • Free money: Sign up, fund your account with $5, and set up recurring investments to get a $20 bonus
Claim Your $20 Bonus Now

4. Nielsen

nielsen homepage

Nielsen offers a simple way to earn passive income by contributing to market research. By installing the Nielsen app on your devices, you can earn up to $60 per year without lifting a finger. The app works quietly in the background, collecting anonymous data about your internet usage to help companies understand consumer behavior.

This is one of the easiest ways to generate income—no surveys to complete, no purchases required, and no time commitment. With just a few minutes to set up, you can start earning rewards passively year-round.

Nielsen proves that even small, passive income opportunities can add up over time, especially when combined with other money-making apps. It’s a no-hassle way to make your data work for you!

Get $60 for installing app
Nielsen
5.0
  • This company will pay you $60 a year to keep their app on your favorite internet browsing device
  • They also give away $10,000 each month
  • Legit passive income opportunity
Join Nielsen Our Review

5. Fetch Rewards

fetch rewards app

Fetch Rewards makes it incredibly easy to earn rewards from your regular shopping habits. By simply snapping a photo of your receipts, Fetch automatically scans for eligible purchases and credits your account with points. There’s no need to clip coupons or hunt for deals—the app does the work for you.

Over time, the points you accumulate can be redeemed for gift cards, allowing you to save money or treat yourself without extra effort. Fetch turns everyday spending into a rewarding experience, making it a simple and passive way to boost your finances.

$2 welcome bonus
Fetch
4.5
  • Snap receipts to earn points for every purchase
  • Redeem points for gift cards to top stores like Amazon
  • Get a $2 bonus with promo code C1JAV
Start Saving Fetch Review

6. Upside

getupside

While Upside isn’t a traditional passive income app, it helps users save money effortlessly, which can feel like earning extra cash. By offering cashback on gas, groceries, and dining purchases, Upside allows you to passively accumulate savings on things you’re already buying.

Once you link the app, claim an offer, and upload a receipt, the rewards are automatically credited to your account, requiring minimal effort.

The money you save with Upside can be redirected toward investments, savings, or other financial goals, effectively turning your everyday spending into a passive income opportunity.

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

    7. Rakuten

    rakuten

    Rakuten makes earning passive income as simple as shopping online. By using their app or browser extension, you can earn cashback at thousands of retailers, including big names like Amazon, Walmart, and Target. Simply start your shopping through Rakuten, and a percentage of your purchase will be credited back to your account automatically.

    With no extra effort beyond your usual online shopping, Rakuten turns everyday spending into an opportunity to earn. Over time, the cashback can add up significantly, especially if you take advantage of their seasonal double cashback offers.

    Whether you’re buying groceries, booking travel, or updating your wardrobe, Rakuten ensures you’re rewarded for purchases you were already planning to make. It’s one of the easiest ways to earn passive income while shopping smarter.

    $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

    Unlock Your Earning Potential with Passive Income Apps

    Passive income apps are revolutionizing how people earn money by turning everyday activities into opportunities to grow wealth effortlessly. From cashback on purchases to investing spare change or leveraging unused resources, these apps make it easier than ever to create additional income streams without the need for constant attention or effort.

    Whether you're looking to save more, invest smarter, or earn rewards passively, there's an app that fits your goals and lifestyle. By exploring and incorporating these tools into your routine, you can take a step closer to achieving financial independence. Start today, and let technology work for 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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