7 Ways To Make Money Today [2026]: Side Hustles With Instant Payment Options

If you had told me a few years ago that I could earn extra money and cash out the same day, I would have laughed. But now I know there are real ways to make money and be able to spend it almost instantly. It's all about knowing which apps and side hustles offer fast payouts.

Some side hustles, such as delivery and ride-sharing apps, may deposit cash you've earned into your account on the same day (often for an instant payout fee). And some cash apps can initiate payments quickly, too, although it can take longer than a day for that money to appear in your bank account. But if you're smart about it, you can stagger your payouts to keep cash coming in regularly.

Understanding which apps and side hustles actually pay out same day, and how each one works, can help you plan and navigate unexpected expenses.

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Do odd jobs

For decades, even centuries, doing odd jobs has been a great way to make extra money. Today, there are many places to find this type of work online, and many people want it done as soon as possible. Posting your handy-person business on a local site like Nextdoor is a smart way to find jobs in your neighborhood, and you can ask to be paid as soon as the work is complete.

You can also use job websites, though you may need to wait a couple of days to get paid, since these sites often charge the customer and confirm that the work is done before releasing payment. If you can wait a bit, two of my favorite odd job sites are Thumbtack and TaskRabbit.

Thumbtack

Payout time: Instant or three to four business days

Thumbtack is a website and app that lists all sorts of jobs for qualified contractors, from home maintenance and general contracting to lawn care and carpet cleaning. Project categories include:

• Essential home services
• Home maintenance
• Home remodeling
• Outdoor upkeep

You set your pay rates and schedule. Thumbtack charges per customer lead, with the amount based on the job's value.

You can receive a direct deposit in three to four business days, or cash out immediately using Instant Pay for a 1% fee on jobs worth $50 or more.

Check out our Thumbtack review.

TaskRabbit

Payout time: One to three business days

TaskRabbit could be a better fit if you enjoy physical tasks, such as painting, moving, or building furniture. These are typically one-off jobs that aren't reserved for certified professionals.

TaskRabbit charges a one-time $25 registration fee in some areas. As with Thumbtack, you set your rates and decide when and where you want to work.

TaskRabbit generally pays out within one to three business days, including tips, after you complete the task and the customer has been charged. But while you may not get paid instantly, you could find jobs to complete right away, once you're set up.

Check out our TaskRabbit review.

Take paid surveys

I use survey sites when I want an easy way to make money online after a long day. The fastest cash outs are generally via PayPal or store gift cards, though you might have to pay a fee for instant service. I really like Survey Junkie and Freecash.

Survey Junkie

Payout time: Within a few hours to up to five days

I like Survey Junkie more than other platforms because it offers many survey options and a Surf to Earn browser extension that can help you qualify for higher-paying surveys. I also like that you only need to earn $5 (500 points) to cash out. In my experience, most surveys are worth $0.15 to $1, though you can sometimes find surveys worth $4 or more.

Survey Junkie offers PayPal or gift card payments within a few hours, while bank transfers may take up to five days.

Visit Survey Junkie | Check out our Survey Junkie review.

Freecash

Payout time: Within an hour to up to five days

Freecash is a rewards app and website that offers a wide range of money-making options, including a large selection of surveys. It only requires you to earn $5 minimum to cash out. Most surveys are worth a few cents, but I've seen some worth nearly $5. And if you get bored with surveys, you can play games for money or complete other tasks.

I like Freecash because PayPal or giftcards are usually available within an hour, if not instantly after cashing out. However, bank transfers may take three to five days. There's also a 5% processing fee on PayPal or bank transfers.

Visit Freecash | Check out our Freecash review.

Sell stuff you don't need

Purging your home of items you don't use is a no-brainer for making your wallet and mind happier. And if you enjoy thrifting or have an eye for spotting high-quality, in-demand items, reselling can be a lucrative, dependable side hustle. Here's how to do it.

Facebook Marketplace

Payout time: Instant

Selling items on Facebook Marketplace is easy, especially if you have good stuff at fair prices. And depending on what you're selling, it's one of the best options to make $300 fast. Marketplace works particularly well for local pickups and deliveries, since you get paid when you deliver the item. You can't get much more instant than that!

However, if you use Facebook to facilitate shipping, you may incur a 10% selling fee (minimum of $0.80 per order). And if you use Marketplace to process payments, it may take up to 20 days for the payment to appear in your bank account after the item is marked as shipped (so I don't necessarily recommend this).

Mercari

Payout time: Within minutes

Like Facebook Marketplace, Mercari is a reselling website and app for buying and selling new and gently used items. I've never personally sold items on Mercari, but the platform has high mobile app ratings and is well-regarded in the reselling community. It also offers Instant Pay, letting you get paid in minutes for a $3 fee. You will pay a 10% selling fee, however, which includes the item price and buyer-paid shipping.

Check out our Mercari review.

Sell gift cards you don't want

If you have a pile of giftcards you'll never use, don't wait to trade or sell them.

CardCash

Payout time: Potentially same-day

I recently used CardCash for the first time to sell an unwanted gift card. While I only received about 74% of the value of my card, I did receive payment the same day via an electronic Mastercard.

You can also choose a physical check, an ACH payment, or a PayPal deposit, though those methods take longer. Payments are released after gift cards are verified, which can take up to two days.

GCX

Payout time: Within three business days or up to five business days

GCX is another platform that buys and sells unwanted gift cards. But unlike CardCash, GCX is an actual marketplace, which means you get to set the price, but you have to wait for someone to buy your card before you receive any funds.

If you get a buyer, you can cash out via ACH within three business days or PayPal, which can take up to five business days.

Deliver food or people

Driving for rideshare and food delivery apps is one of the best ways to make quick cash, as many an experienced side hustler can tell you.

These apps are reliable, can offer some of the biggest payouts (plus tips), and often provide instant or near-instant payments, sometimes multiple times a day. I recommend these two.

Uber or Uber Eats

Payout time: Instant

Uber, the rideshare app, and its food delivery counterpart, Uber Eats, are reputable and actually pay instantly. You earn a base rate per order based on time and distance, plus any applicable tips (though note that Uber charges a service fee per trip).

You can cash out using the Instant Pay feature up to six times per day, for a $1.25 fee per cash out if you send it to a personal debit card. If you receive your money to the Uber Pro Card, there's no fee, and Uber automatically pays out after every trip.

Visit Uber Eats | Check out our Uber Eats review.

DoorDash

Payout time: Same-day

Like Uber Eats, DoorDash is a popular food delivery app that pays a base rate with tips, in addition to offering promotions and challenges. There are several ways to cash out, including two same-day options.¹ <p class="">Subject to approval<br></p> Fast Pay allows drivers to cash out daily to their debit card for a $1.99 fee.² <p class="">Fees apply<br></p>

If you sign up for a DoorDash Crimson Deposit account and debit card, you'll get paid after every delivery with no fees and earn cash back on gas and electric vehicle charging, among other perks. However, many Dashers complain that the DoorDash app can make managing this account difficult, so I don't necessarily think this is the best checking account for everyone.

Visit DoorDash | Check out our DoorDash review.

House or pet sit

If you like to travel or love animals, house or pet sitting is a great option. Often, contracting directly with the home or pet owner is the fastest way to get paid when the job is done.

You can look for sitter jobs on local Facebook pages or get the word out to your friends that you're available for gigs. If you want a dedicated site for pet and house sitting, consider Rover.

Rover

Payout time: Within two days

Rover is an online job board that matches clients with pet sitters who provide services such as dog walking, daycare, boarding, and house sitting. You can set your rates, but know that Rover charges pet sitters a 20% booking fee in addition to the fees they charge clients.

Rover deposits funds into your Rover account within two days of completing a booking, and you can then transfer funds to your bank account. Tips are generally available within 24 hours after the client authorizes the amount.

Check out our Rover review.

Check for missing money

Although finding and claiming forgotten assets doesn't offer instant payouts, you could find old bank accounts, security or utility deposits, or other forgotten property quickly (and it's worth checking).

To find any missing money with your name on it, check reputable sites like:

• MissingMoney.com, a free website managed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA), allows you to search for your information in participating state databases or to look up your state's unclaimed property office.
• Search IRS.gov for outstanding federal tax refunds.
• USA.gov's unclaimed money website rounds up all of the different agencies you can search to find unclaimed money in your name.

Tips to make money more quickly

One of the best things about the gig economy is how quickly you can get paid. Consider the following when you're looking for fast payouts:

• Pick the right platforms: Look for side hustles that offer instant payouts without fees, like Uber or DoorDash, or make sure the fees are worth it.
• Book work yourself: When possible, work directly with the client (e.g., on job boards like Nextdoor or ZipRecruiter) or buyer (e.g., on Facebook Marketplace) to cut out the middleman and reduce payment processing times.
• Mix gigs: Supplement longer pay timelines with a few that pay instantly.
• Watch out for scams: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Read reviews on app stores and Trustpilot to find out issues other people have.

FAQs

Bottom line

Making money today and cashing out instantly is possible, but it's not as easy as some companies or apps might lead you to believe.

As you search for the best side hustles, remember to read reviews and comments on the app stores and Trustpilot. Look for red flags, such as offers that sound too good to be true or that are vague about payment times.