Best Side Hustle Apps: Earn More in Your Spare Time [October 2025]

Starting a side hustle from scratch can sometimes be intimidating because you're essentially starting your own part-time business. Side hustle apps, on the other hand, allow you to quickly get started earning money as an independent contractor with an already-established business.

The best side hustle apps offer high earnings, a flexible schedule, and often allow you to have fun at the same time. You can make money from home by using apps like Survey Junkie and InboxDollars. Other apps like Uber and Lyft allow you to create your own schedule, while platforms like TaskRabbit have a wide range of odd jobs if you're into that type of work.

I personally use some of these apps to fill in the gaps when I have free time. I encourage you to choose the ones that allow tasks you are passionate about and it won't feel like a job, but rather something you can do for fun. Here are the top picks.

How we evaluate products

The companies we chose for our best side hustle list are popular side hustle apps. We did not review all companies in the market. When evaluating these companies, we considered factors such as earning potential, ease of use, time commitment, and who might benefit most from a particular side hustle.

We included a variation of side hustles, including those that might earn you pocket change as well as those that could help you pay the bills. Each app we chose had specific eligibility criteria which we stated, and we tried to list varied tasks so that there is something for everyone.

Best side hustle app comparison

App	Best for	Level of time/effort required
InboxDollars	Earning money in your spare time	Low
Survey Junkie	Maximizing your earnings through surveys	Low
DoorDash	Setting your own schedule	Medium
UberEats	Extra flexibility	Medium
Etsy	Selling digital products	Medium
Fiverr	A variety of gigs	Medium
Rover	Working with pets	Medium
TaskRabbit	Simple odd jobs and housework	Medium
Airbnb	Significant earning potential	High

InboxDollars

• Potential earnings: $0.25 to $5 per survey
  
• Eligibility: Must be 18 years old and have a valid email address

InboxDollars is a popular rewards app that pays you to do things such as take online surveys, play games, or read emails. InboxDollars pays a $5 signup bonus to get you started, but you can't withdraw funds until you earn $15.

You aren't going to pay the bills with InboxDollars, but it can be a fun filler. I use it when sitting on the couch at night, in waiting rooms, or in line at the grocery store. The surveys are the highest paying task on the site, but they go fast. Reading emails and playing games are more for fun and to earn spare change, but every penny adds up.

Visit Inbox Dollars | Learn more in our InboxDollars review.

Survey Junkie

• Potential earnings: Varies significantly
• Eligibility: Must be 18 years old and live in the United States, Australia, Canada, or the UK

Survey Junkie is just what it sounds like — another app that lets you fill out surveys in exchange for cash. The nice thing is Survey Junkie pays you a few points as a consolation prize if you don't pass the survey screeners. Of course, the real benefit is when you qualify for surveys and earn a few dollars for giving your opinion.

You cash your points in for PayPal deposits (which you can, in turn, transfer to your bank account) or as gift cards to popular retailers such as Amazon.

Survey Junkie also offers a second option to earn money through SJ Pulse, which lets the company view your browsing history on your computer and mobile app if you're comfortable with that. You must download the app or free browser extension to participate.

Visit SurveyJunkie | Learn more in our Survey Junkie review.

DoorDash

• Potential earnings: $16 to $17 an hour (plus tips)
• Eligibility: 18 years old, have reliable transportation and a smartphone, and pass a background check

DoorDash is great for people who don't mind driving and dealing with potentially long wait times at restaurants.

The idea is simple: you drive to a restaurant, pick up a customer's order, and deliver it to them. DoorDash provides Dashers with a starter kit including a food-warming bag after making their first delivery. There are no vehicle requirements, and you can schedule shifts ahead of time or use Dash Now and work when you want.

A few great ways to increase your earnings include:

• Sign up for peak shifts
• Participate in challenges
• Give great customer service and earn higher tips

Visit DoorDash;|Learn more in our DoorDash review.

Uber Eats

• Potential earnings: Varies depending on location and other factors
  
• Eligibility: 19 years old, have a reliable vehicle, have a driver's license, and pass a background check

Uber Eats is a popular option when it comes to food delivery apps, and it has the advantage of letting you work whenever you want — no need to worry about signing up for shifts in advance. You also don't need to worry about meeting strict car requirements if you're driving an older model with less curb appeal.

Like DoorDash, there are several ways to increase your earnings, including:

• Sign up for peak shifts
• Participate in promotions or challenges
• Give great customer service to earn higher tips

Visit Uber Eats | Learn more in our UberEats review.

Airbnb

• Potential earnings: Varies depending on type of rental, location, and other factors
• Eligibility: Must be at least 18 years old, own an eligible property, provide proof of identity and residence, have a valid bank account

If you have a spare room or even a spare property, Airbnb can be a great way to supplement your mortgage payments. You can schedule bookings as much or as little as you like, and block off dates when you will be using the property.

However, keep these factors in mind:

• You may be required to file extra tax forms at the end of the year, depending on how much you use the platform.
• Airbnb guests can sometimes be rowdy.
• Airbnb investors have been blamed for housing shortages, which has led to it being banned in some areas.

Learn how Airbnb Superhosts can earn up to $30,000 a year from their properties.

Fiverr

• Potential earnings: $27 an hour
• Eligibility: Must be at least 18 years old and prove your qualifications

If you're a creative person who'd rather stay at home, Fiverr might be a better choice for bringing in extra income. You create a profile and can choose from a list of more than 200 gigs to offer.

For example, if you're into graphic design, you could offer book cover design services, graphics for streamers, or social media designs. You're allowed to select up to four gigs to start, increasing over time up to a maximum of 30 gigs once you reach "Top Rated Seller" status.

The opportunities are abundant on Fiverr, but that's another double-edged sword. With so many people on the platform, it's often a race to the bottom in terms of rates, especially for easily completed gigs. If you can differentiate yourself with a specific niche or a highly sought-after offering, you may be able to earn more.

An additional downside is the fact that Fiverr keeps 20% of your earnings as a service fee for using the platform.

Learn more in our Fiverr review.

Rover

• Potential earnings: $20-$28 per service per animal
• Eligibility: Must be at least 18 years old, pass a background check, and provide a complete profile

Taking care of people's pets has been a side hustle since, well, people started living with them. You can offer pet sitting services directly in your community and advertising in local Facebook groups. however, Rover offers two advantages for the casual side hustler:

• You'll get access to an emergency support line if anything goes wrong, such as if a pet needs veterinary help or a dog gets loose.
• You'll be protected by the Rover Guarantee, which covers up to $25,000 in veterinary care if the animals you're watching suffer a malady.

You are in control when you list your services on Rover. For example, you can offer dog walking services, pet sitting in the owner's home, or open up your home for pet sitting services.

However, like other apps on this list, Rover keeps 20% of your earnings as a fee for using the platform.

Learn more in our Rover review.

TaskRabbit

• Potential earnings: Varies by task
• Eligibility: Must be at least 18 years old, pass a background check, provide a complete profile, and have a checking account

TaskRabbit is an app that pairs you up with clients to offer small services from a list of more than 50 options, such as doing laundry, assembling IKEA furniture, doing odd jobs around the house, or pet sitting. Unlike Fiverr, most of these tasks are designed to be done in person at your customer's home.

It can be a good way to practice your skills, though TaskRabbit only operates in around 60 large cities nationwide. With so many people concentrated in such a small area, some users say rates can be quite low for common services.

Keep in mind that TaskRabbit has a $25 fee, but they don't take a cut of your earnings like most gig apps do.

Find out more in our TaskRabbit review.

Etsy

• Potential earnings: Varies based on what you sell
• Eligibility: Must be 18 years old and eligible for Etsy payments (United States residents are eligible)

If you like creating things, Etsy can be a good way to sell to a worldwide audience. But as with any craft-related side hustle, you should be mindful of your costs. There is a lot of competition on Etsy, so you might feel like you should lower your prices, but to earn a profit, you must consider:

• Materials
• Time spent making the items
• Shipping costs
• Etsy fees

Keep in mind that Etsy charges a 20-cent listing fee for each item, as well as a 6.5% fee of the final sale price. It can be hard to come up with novel ideas that aren't already listed on Etsy, but watch out for copycats who try to steal from your success.

Discover more in our guide to starting an Etsy shop.   

How to choose the best side hustle app

It can be tough to choose the best side hustle app with so many options to consider. Here's a good strategy for narrowing down which app to use to make extra money:

1. Weed out side hustle apps that require things you don't have, such as an extra room in your house, a car, or driver's license.
2. Cross out any side hustle apps you're not interested in, such as caring for pets, being a handyperson, or driving strangers around.
3. Circle any side gigs you know you'd be comfortable doing, such as shopping for someone's order or filling out surveys.
4. From the remaining options, choose the side hustle you're most interested in that has the highest earning potential.
5. Consider using multiple side hustle apps to diversify your income and reach your financial goals.

FAQs

Products that didn't make our list

This list of the best side hustle apps is just the start. There are hundreds to choose from. Here are a few that didn't make the list but deserve a quick mention:

• Freecash: Freecash is a get-paid-to site that rewards users for playing games, completing surveys, and testing apps. It offers a Lite and an Advanced Mode (Advanced Mode features more earnings opportunities). Payouts are fast and reliable, and Freecash is a great way to earn a little extra cash.
• Upwork: Upwork is like Fiverr, a freelance marketplace where clients and freelancers can connect. You can list your services on Upwork and connect with clients; however, Upwork requires you to pay for "connects" to apply for tasks that clients list.

Bottom line

It's a good idea to try several different side hustle apps if you're undecided on how to make money. 

The best side hustles are things that you enjoy doing, allow you to create your own schedule, and offer a good return for your time. Often, you won't know what a great side hustle for you is until you actually try one out.