You have the power to make money in the palm of your hand. Here are some of the best apps around to help you make some extra cash on the side.
There are a number of apps that offer a financial incentive when signing up.
| Brand | Product type | Offer details | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revolut | Banking apps | Get a sign-up bonus of £20 | Get deal |
| Freetrade | Investing | Free stock worth £10-£100 (deposit £50) |
Get deal
Capital at risk
|
| IG new | Investing | Get up to £100 cashback on investments |
Get deal
Capital at risk
|
| InvestEngine | Investing | Sign-up welcome bonus of £20-£100. (deposit £100) |
Capital at risk
|
| Robinhood | Investing | Free stock up to $175 |
Get deal
Capital at risk
|
| Freecash | Cashback | Get up to £4 as a welcome bonus | Get deal |
| Plum | Savings account | £15 Gift Card when you open a Plum Cash ISA | Get deal |
| GoHenry | Kids bank account | Get a £20 pocket money bonus for your child | |
| NatWest | Kids bank account | Get a £20 opening bonus with a child's bank account from NatWest | Get deal |
| Barclays | Business banking | Get £175 when you sign up to a Barclays business bank account | Get deal |
| Quidco | Cashback | Get £25 cashback for yourself and a friend when you refer them | Get deal |
| Pensionbee | Pension | Open a pension and receive a £50 bonus |
Get deal
Capital at risk
|
| Trading212 | Investing | Get free shares up to £100 |
Capital at risk
|
| Santander | Student account | Free 16-25 railcard with Santander Student | Get deal |
| Cashback UK | Cashback | Free £5 when you sign-up | Get deal |
| Penfold | Pension | Earn £25 when you refer a friend |
Get deal
Capital at risk
|
| Revolut business | Business banking | Sign up to get a £100 welcome bonus. | Get deal |
| InvestEngine | Pension | Sign-up welcome bonus of £20-£100 |
Capital at risk
|
A quick way to make some money via an app is to take surveys or play games. Here’s a round-up of some of the best survey apps around.
The Freecash app lets you earn small sums of money by completing tasks such as taking surveys, testing apps or playing games.
You earn coins for each task you complete, and these are then converted to real money, cryptocurrency or gift cards.
Get up to £4 as a welcome bonus
Swagbucks is a rewards app which pays you for completing tasks such as filling in surveys, watching videos or playing games. For each task you complete, you can earn Swagbuck points, known as SB.
Each SB is worth around $0.01, and you can redeem these points for cash via PayPal or to buy gift cards for partner retailers such as Amazon, M&S, Tesco and Caffe Nero.
Ipsos iSay is an online survey rewards app where you can earn reward points for taking surveys. These reward points can then be redeemed for cash via PayPal, gift cards, prepaid cards or charitable donations.
You can sign up for free and opt out at any time.
OnePoll is an online research agency that conducts PR surveys and market research. You can join the OnePoll panel and complete surveys through its app.
You’ll earn points for each survey you complete. When your account reaches 2,500 points, you can redeem them for £25.
If you’re looking for more of a long-term side hustle, then freelancing would be a good fit. There’s a wide range of industries that need freelancers, needing different skillsets to complete the tasks. Here are some top apps for freelancers.
Upwork is one of the largest websites in the world for freelancers, with over 18 million users. You can use its app to submit proposals, message, track projects, and manage contracts. It has a wide range of industries available for you to bid on, although some skillsets are more in demand than others.
Fiverr is smaller than Upwork and works slightly differently, in that you create a profile there and potential clients can choose you for your skills.
As a freelancer, you can use the app to increase your exposure to businesses and improve your response rate and ratings.
We all have items that we just don’t use any more, so why not make some money from them? Here are some of the best apps to sell old items through.
Vinted is a popular digital marketplace where users can buy, sell and swap second-hand clothing, shoes and accessories. You can list items, negotiate prices and complete the sale, all through the app.
"I started using Vinted to sell old clothes, and it’s been a great way to boost my income. The interface is super easy to use, and it takes just a few minutes to upload a listing. It’s more than just clothes too – you can also sell homewares and electronics, so I made a nice chunk of cash by selling my old smartwatch, which I was no longer using. It’s good to know it’s gone to someone who will actually use it!
If there’s one thing you’d tell a friend who’s thinking of using Vinted, what would it be?
People will try to offer you lower than the listing, but if you have a price in mind, it’s best to hold out and wait for the right buyer. Also, make sure you withdraw the balance as soon as you get paid – or you’ll be tempted to buy more on Vinted!"
Depop is a marketplace to sell second-hand clothing, with more of a focus on designer and vintage products. There are no seller fees, and you can manage offers, chat with buyers and handle shipping all within the app.
eBay lets you sell a range of items, from household kitchen goods to obscure football memorabilia. It is now free to sell things on eBay. You can list items in the app, add tracking and chat with your buyers live.
If you have shelves of books you’re not going to read again, see how much you could get for them by entering their barcode or ISBN number on Webuybooks. If you’re happy with the offer, send them in by post for free and wait for your payout.
Get rid of your unwanted games, consoles and CDs through Webuygames. Again, you’ll need to enter the barcode to get each item’s value and then post your items for free before receiving your payment.
This app enables you to rent out your wardrobe. Simply set up a profile and list the items of clothing you’re happy to rent out. When you receive a rental request, you can either approve or decline it. If you approve it, either send out the item or arrange for the renter to collect it. You receive your payment once the rental is complete.
You can boost your income by testing out products for companies and providing feedback. Some of the best user testing platforms in the UK include:
UserTesting is a popular platform as it’s free to sign up. You’ll need to complete a short practice test first, but once approved, you can browse the app to match with test opportunities. You’ll receive your payment in US dollars through PayPal, but you can then convert this to pounds sterling via PayPal if you want.
Userlytics is a global user testing platform. To join the panel, you need to provide your email and answer some screening questions. You can complete the tests within the app and record your session. You’ll get paid for each completed test, with payments processed every 2 weeks via PayPal.
You can use Trymata for user experience testing, app interface testing, e-commerce testing and remote usability testing.
You’ll usually need to include a video recording of your screen and voice as you test out an app, or written responses if you’re completing a short survey. You can expect to get a few tests each week.
There is such a thing as being rewarded to walk, who knew? Apps like Sweatcoin and WeWard want to encourage you to get moving and will pay you for doing so.
WeWard is a free app that rewards you for walking. You can earn “Wards” (points) for your steps and convert these into cash, gifts and donations. There isn’t a fixed conversion rate for how many Wards equal a dollar, as this will depend on which country you’re in, user demand and WeWard’s partners. It’s also important to note that when you cash in, it can take up to 90 days for some partners to approve and payout.
Download Sweatcoin and start walking to earn rewards. You can complete challenges and collect badges. Around 1,000 steps will earn you Sweatcoin, which is a digital currency that you can then exchange for discounted products and services. However, don’t expect to earn big with an app like this. The products and services may be niche, and the value of a single sweatcoin is not high.
You can boost your income just through your everyday shopping. There are apps out there that will pay you for your receipts.
The Amazon Shopper Panel is an opt-in, invitation-only programme where you can earn monthly rewards by sharing receipts from purchases made outside of Amazon. It’s easy to do, as you just upload eligible receipts to the app, and then you can earn up to £5 a month towards your Amazon balance or a charitable donation.
Shoppix asks you to upload your receipts to collect tokens. You can collect tokens on each of the first 30 valid receipts you send every week. Tokens can then be exchanged for vouchers or money with partners like Costa Coffee, Amazon or PayPal.
Cashback apps have been a popular way to give your income a little boost for years. Here’s a roundup of the best cashback apps around.
Along with earning money from completing surveys, Swagbucks also lets you earn cashback online and in-store. You’ll just need to link a card to your Swagbucks account, and then you can earn cashback at retailers like Amazon, Boots and Argos.
The TopCashback app is free to download and lets you earn cashback at over 6,000 UK retailers. There are 2 membership options: the Plus and Classic (free). The Plus is £5 per year out of your annual cashback earnings, but in return, you get higher cashback rates and payout bonuses.
Quidco lets you earn cashback with big brands like Deliveroo, H&M, Boots and LOOKFANTASTIC. Once you’ve downloaded the app, cashback offers are displayed beside the retailer. You just click through and pay as normal, and the cashback will be added to your account. Just note that this may take up to 90 days to happen.
"I’ve been using cashback sites for a number of years now, and it feels like a no-brainer when I’m shopping online. Quidco has been my site of choice; the site is clean and clear, and lists most of the sites I shop with. It’s really easy to sign up and use. You just need an email address, and you can browse the site for offers. But I normally search for the brands I like and click the “Get Cashback” button to shop.
If there’s one thing you’d tell a friend who’s thinking of using Quidco, what would it be?
I often tell friends and family to use Quidco when making big online purchases, such as holidays or insurance. And I remind them, cashback isn’t paid on delivery or VAT, so the cashback you get will sometimes be lower than you expect. "
If you’ve got a car, bike or scooter, boost your bank balance by delivering food to others. Alternatively, offer your services locally by offering to do odd jobs for your neighbours in return for cash.
If you sign up to be a courier with JustEat, you get to pick your own schedule, and weekly deposits are transferred directly to your bank account. You don’t even need any experience to get started – but you must have a moped, bike or car, plus a licence and the correct insurance.
Another option is to become a courier for Deliveroo. Again, you can choose your own working schedule, and you’ll be paid each week. You’ll need to have a scooter, bike or car with the correct insurance and licence, plus safety equipment such as a helmet.
Stuart delivers packages and food to a range of business types. To become a courier, you can apply online and select the times you want to work. You’ll receive your earnings each week but you will need a bike, moped or electric vehicle to get started. You will also need to pay for your own equipment such as a thermal bag and high vis jacket
You’ll need your own car, bike or motorbike to be an Uber Eats courier, plus a licence and the right insurance. You can then easily select when you want to work through the Uber app. Earnings are transferred each week and you can see how much you’ll get paid before you accept any order.
Sign up to Airtasker and you’ll be able to browse local job opportunities that match your skill set – this could be anything from removing rubbish from someone’s home to putting up shelves or painting a room. Once you’ve found a suitable job, offer your price and wait for it to get accepted.
Task Rabbit connects those looking to offer their services with those looking for help with tasks around the home. This could be anything from cleaning to floor laying to gardening. Simply sign up and start building a profile, selecting which services you’re happy to offer and where, and wait for the job invitations to come in. Then invoice your customers through the secure payment system.
Can’t get enough of animals? Why not start earning some extra cash by offering to pet sit or take other people’s dogs for a walk? Here are some of the best apps.
Rover is an app that lets you advertise your services as a pet sitter or dog walker. You build your profile on the app, setting your own schedule and prices, as well as the types of services you offer and your pet preferences. Then wait for your pet sitting requests to come through. Every booking is backed by the Rover Guarantee that includes up to £25,000 in vet care.
If you download the Paace app you’ll earn Paace Points whenever you start moving, whether that’s walking, running or cycling – the more you move, the more you earn. You can then redeem your points at partner cafes and restaurants to save money on purchases such as your morning coffee or healthy lunch.
There are lots of ways to earn money from your home, from renting out a spare room through Airbnb to renting out space on your driveway through JustPark.
To get started on Airbnb, you’ll need to create a profile and create your listing. You can rent out the entire property or just part of it, as long as you make this clear in your listing. You can decide when you want to rent it too – whether that’s once a year, a few nights a month or more often. It’s free to list but you’ll pay a service fee of 3%.
If you have space on your driveway, use JustPark to rent it out to others – this could be particularly lucrative if you live near a big shopping centre, train station or football or concert stadium. All you need to do is list your space on the site, explaining when it’s available and how much you want to charge for it.
Instead of completing odd jobs in your local area, you could use tasking apps to support businesses with jobs like data collection and analysis, mystery shopping or store audits, helping to boost your income. Here are some of your options:
Field Agent is a micro-tasking app that lets users earn money by completing small jobs for businesses, such as checking product displays, taking photos in stores, or performing mystery shopping tasks. Tasks are location-based, pay per job, and can be done using just a smartphone.
Sign up to Roamler and you can start earning extra cash by taking on a variety of tasks in your chosen locations. Tasks might include taking photos of store layouts, completing questionnaires or carrying out store audits. You can earn even more for technical tasks.
Shepper is another app that lets you earn money for completing tasks for businesses. These tasks typically involve taking photos and answering questions and could include product display checks, mystery shopping, property inspections and retail audits.
Streetspotr is an app that pays you for completing small tasks through your phone. Use the app to find where your closest tasks are and select the ones you want to complete – whether that’s a retail audit, survey or menu checks.
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