Making money at school comes down to two things: how old you are and how much time you have between classes.
So this page is split by age, because most money apps flat-out won’t pay you before 18. We only list an app under high school if its own rules let you in.
In high school (13 to 17)
First, the rules. Under federal law you can work most regular jobs at 14. At 14 and 15 that’s capped at 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours a school week, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day). At 16 the federal hours limits go away. Your state has its own rules on top, so check those too. The Department of Labor’s youth rules page has the details.
1. Tutor classmates or younger kids
Good at math or chemistry? Parents will pay someone close in age to explain it. Set an hourly rate, start with a friend’s little brother, and let word of mouth do the rest.
2. Babysit
The classic for a reason. The Red Cross runs babysitting classes, and showing up with a certificate makes it easier for a parent you don’t know to say yes.
3. Lifeguard
The Red Cross lifeguarding course takes students who are at least 15 by the last day of class and can pass a swim test. Pools need lifeguards every summer.
4. Get a part-time job at 14
Cashier, stocking shelves, bagging. At 14 and 15 you can do most retail work, inside the hours limits above. A real paycheck, and it looks good on college apps.
5. Sell your old stuff (through a parent)
Old games, sneakers, clothes. Most selling apps want an adult on the account (eBay requires 18), so have a parent list it and split the money however you agree.
6. Yard work and snow
Mowing, raking, shoveling driveways. Knock on a few doors on your street. Neighbors will pay to skip it.
7. Pet sit for neighbors
Feeding cats and walking dogs while families travel. No app needed, just a reputation for showing up.
8. Tech help for older relatives and neighbors
Setting up a new phone, fixing the Wi-Fi, moving photos off an old laptop. What takes you ten minutes takes them an afternoon.
Apps that actually let teens in
Here are the money apps whose own rules allow under-18s, and at what age.
9.Swagbucks
- What it is
- A rewards site where you earn points (SB) for surveys, games and watching videos, and 100 SB = $1.
- What you do
- Do a survey or a game goal after homework. It adds up slowly.
- How much it pays
- The smallest gift card is 300 SB, or $3. Amazon, Apple and Target cards are on the list.
- The catch
- Allowed from 13, but under-18s should get a parent’s permission. The $10 welcome bonus needs a $25 purchase, so skip that part.
Worth it? Yes for teens. It’s one of the few real rewards sites that lets you in at 13.
10.Mistplay
- What it is
- A loyalty app that gives you points for playing mobile games.
- What you do
- Download games from its catalog, play them, earn points. On iPhone you also get 10 bonus points a day just for opening the app.
- How much it pays
- Points turn into gift cards, like Amazon, Visa, PayPal, Starbucks and DoorDash. There’s no direct cash.
- The catch
- Every player now verifies their ID before getting a gift card, so loop a parent in. The iPhone and Android apps are separate and points don’t move between them.
Worth it? Only if you game a lot anyway. Ages 13 and up.
11.Freecash
- What it is
- A rewards app for game offers, app trials and surveys.
- What you do
- Take an offer you can actually finish, like reaching a level in a game, and get paid when it’s done.
- How much it pays
- Your first finished offer unlocks a $10 welcome bonus. Withdraw to PayPal, crypto or gift cards, and most are instant.
- The catch
- You must be 16 or older, and some offers have higher age limits. The first withdrawal needs ID and $5 to $20 depending on your region.
Worth it? Yes once you’re 16. The strongest real-money pick for 16 and 17 year olds.
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12.Fiverr
- What it is
- A marketplace where you sell a service at a set price.
- What you do
- If you can edit videos, design thumbnails or make logos, list it as a Gig.
- How much it pays
- Sellers keep 80% of each order plus all tips. PayPal cash-outs start at $1 with nothing taken out.
- The catch
- You have to be 18. Teens 13 to 17 can only sell through a parent or guardian’s account, so it’s a family project.
Worth it? Only with a parent on board. If you’re good at editing or design, it’s worth the setup.
Not for under 18
These are 18 and up by their own rules: InboxDollars, Survey Junkie, KashKick, Google Opinion Rewards, Nielsen and eBay. Delivery apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats and Instacart start at 18 too. Several of these check ID before paying out, so fudging your birthday just means doing the work for free.
In college (18+)
At 18 every app on the site is open to you. The trick is picking ones that bend around a class schedule, so nothing here needs set shifts. For more ideas built around free time, see the side jobs that fit around a schedule, and ask your school’s student employment office about campus jobs.
13.Testerup
- What it is
- Testerup pays you to test mobile games and fill out surveys.
- What you do
- Between classes, pick a task and play until you reach its goal.
- How much it pays
- There’s a $10 welcome bonus, and the payout for each task shows before you start. Get paid by Visa virtual card, Amazon gift card, PayPal or Venmo (US), usually within 24 hours and up to 3 business days.
- The catch
- PayPal and Venmo knock off 5%. A face check happens before the first payout.
Worth it? Yes. Easy dorm-room money if you play phone games anyway.
14.Bigcash
- What it is
- A rewards app that pays coins for short offers, games and surveys.
- What you do
- Burn through an offer while you wait for class to start. Bigcash puts most at 5 to 10 minutes.
- How much it pays
- 250 coins make $1, cashed out to PayPal, gift cards or Bitcoin. Payments go out within 36 hours, according to the App Store listing.
- The catch
- Bigcash can raise your cash-out bar based on your activity, and it reverses rewards when advertisers flag fake play.
Worth it? Yes for quick money between classes.
15.Prolific
- What it is
- Paid online research studies, the kind universities and companies run.
- What you do
- Fill in your profile, then take studies as they pop up. Lots are surveys.
- How much it pays
- Researchers must pay at least $8 an hour, and Prolific nudges them to $12. Cash out to PayPal from $6.
- The catch
- One cash-out every 24 hours, and a 72-hour wait after any change to your PayPal email.
Worth it? Yes. Research studies and college students go together, and the pay floor is fair.
16.Uber Eats
- What it is
- Delivering food and groceries through the Uber Driver app, including by bike or on foot in some cities.
- What you do
- Flip the app on between classes, take a delivery, flip it off.
- How much it pays
- Base fare, promotions and 100% of tips, and you see the fare before you say yes. Weekly bank transfer, or up to 6 Instant Pay cash-outs a day.
- The catch
- Instant Pay costs $1.25 a cash-out. Bike or walking delivery needs you to be 18, a car needs 19 (21 in California and New York State).
Worth it? Yes for students without a car on a busy campus.
17.DoorDash
- What it is
- Delivery work for DoorDash, on your schedule.
- What you do
- Dash between classes or on weekend nights. A bike works in some cities.
- How much it pays
- Each offer pays $2 to $10+ in base pay plus promotions, and tips are all yours. Weekly pay usually lands by Wednesday night.
- The catch
- Fast Pay costs $1.99 a day. You need to be 18 (19 in some states, 21 in California).
Worth it? Yes if you have wheels. Weekend dinner rushes are the time to be out.
18.Rev
- What it is
- Freelance transcription and captioning.
- What you do
- Type out lectures, interviews and videos for clients from your laptop.
- How much it pays
- Transcription pays $0.40 to $1.10 per audio minute, captioning $0.54 to $1.10. Weekly PayPal pay for approved work.
- The catch
- There’s a waitlist, and work that fails review doesn’t pay.
Worth it? Only if you’re a fast typist. If you are, it’s steady laptop work.
19.UserTesting
- What it is
- Getting paid to try websites and apps while you talk through your thoughts.
- What you do
- Do a practice test, then take real tests from your laptop or phone with a mic on.
- How much it pays
- You’ll see what each test pays on your dashboard. Paid by PayPal around 14 days after each test.
- The catch
- PayPal only, and no taxes withheld.
Worth it? Yes. Short tests fit between classes.
20.Wyzant
- What it is
- A tutoring marketplace where students find you.
- What you do
- Tutor high schoolers in the subjects you aced.
- How much it pays
- Wyzant keeps 25% of your posted hourly rate and you keep 75%.
- The catch
- Your first students are the hard part. Until then, nothing comes in.
Worth it? Yes if you crushed a subject. Teaching what you just learned pays better than most campus gigs.
21.Rover
- What it is
- Pet sitting and dog walking booked through Rover.
- What you do
- Walk dogs between classes, or board a pet over a break if your place allows it.
- How much it pays
- You set your own rates and keep 80%. Payment hits 2 days after the service.
- The catch
- There’s a $49 to $79 profile review to get started.
Worth it? Only if your housing allows pets. Dog walking works either way.
How to pick
In high school, get one offline thing going first. Tutoring or babysitting gets you real hourly money, which the apps can’t promise.
In college, pair one phone app for slow weeks with one thing that pays per hour: delivery, tutoring or Prolific studies. Check what’s paying right now before you pick an app, and the full real-money apps list once you’re 18. More ideas are in side hustles.
Questions students ask
How can I make money at school as a 13 year old?
Mostly offline: yard work, pet care, helping neighbors. You can join Swagbucks or Mistplay at 13 with a parent’s OK. Federal law lets you work most regular jobs at 14.
What apps pay teens real money?
Swagbucks and Mistplay from 13, Freecash from 16. Most of the others, like InboxDollars and Survey Junkie, are 18 and up.
What’s the best way to make money in college?
Delivery by bike with Uber Eats on a busy campus, research studies on Prolific, and tutoring on Wyzant. Pair one of those with a phone app like Testerup.
How many hours can a 15 year old work during school?
Under federal law, up to 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Your state may be stricter.
Next step
Under 13 or buying for a younger kid? The ways for kids to make money page is sorted by age.
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