43 Best Side Gigs to Make Money Fast (What Actually Pays)

Here are 43 side gigs that actually pay, grouped by what you’ve got to work with: a phone, a car, a skill, a spare room or a closet full of stuff. Each one says what it pays, how you get the money and the catch.

No fluff about “passive income.” Just what works.

Freecash
Fast phone cash
$10 bonus after your first offer. Most PayPal cash-outs are instant.
See the details
Testerup
Gamers
$10 welcome bonus, see each payout before you start.
See the details
DoorDash
Car owners
Cash out once a day with Fast Pay.
See the details
Instawork
No car
Hourly shifts, instant pay on eligible ones.
See the details

Table of Contents +

Side gigs you can do from your phone

These are the easiest to start. You download the app, sign up and do an offer while you’re watching TV or waiting in line, and what you make comes down to how much time you put in.

Honestly, the top three are all good and worth a free sign up to see which pays best for you. Pick an offer and run it for a few days.

1.Freecash

Best for: quick cash from games and offers

What it is: A rewards site and app that pays you to play games, try apps and take surveys.
What you do: Pick an offer from the list, do what it asks (usually hit a level in a game), and the money lands in your balance.
How much it pays: Each offer shows its own payout. Your first offer unlocks a $10 welcome bonus. Cash out to PayPal, crypto or gift cards, and most of those withdrawals go through instantly.
The catch: Your first withdrawal needs an ID check, and that first minimum runs $5 to $20 depending on where you live. After that it’s $5 for PayPal.

Worth it? Yes if you want money this week and don’t mind grinding a game for a few days to hit the milestone.

Try Freecash

2.Testerup

Best for: a $10 welcome bonus

What it is: An app that pays you to test mobile games and take surveys.
What you do: You pick a game or task, play until you hit the goal, and get paid. Every offer shows what it pays before you start, so there’s no guessing.
How much it pays: There’s a $10 welcome bonus, and Testerup says one game goal can pay over $200. You cash out by PayPal, Venmo, a Visa virtual card or an Amazon gift card, usually within 24 hours and up to 3 business days.
The catch: PayPal and Venmo payouts lose 5%, so take the Visa card or Amazon gift card if you want the full amount. You’ll also do a quick face check before your first payout.

Worth it? Yes if you already play mobile games. You might as well get paid for the levels you were going to beat anyway.

Try Testerup

3.Bigcash

Best for: short offers you can finish fast

What it is: A rewards app that pays coins for games, apps, surveys and offers.
What you do: Grab an offer, finish it and collect coins. Bigcash says most offers take 5 to 10 minutes.
How much it pays: 250 coins = $1. Bigcash claims some offers pay up to $170 and that it has paid out more than $20 million. You cash out to PayPal, gift cards or Bitcoin, and the App Store listing says payments go out within 36 hours.
The catch: Bigcash can raise your cash-out threshold based on how you use the app, and it can take rewards back if an advertiser flags the activity.

Worth it? Yes if you want quick little wins on your phone. Do the offers properly and you won’t have problems.

Try Bigcash

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4.Branded

Best for: points for reaching game levels

What it is: The games version of Branded: you earn points for reaching levels in games and apps.
What you do: Install a game from the list, play to the target level, and the points get added to your account.
How much it pays: 500 points = $5, and you get 100 points just for joining.
The catch: Game offers take about 7 days to credit, so this isn’t same-day money.

Worth it? Only if you’re fine waiting a week for points. It stacks nicely with Freecash if you’re already playing.

Try Branded

5.Swagbucks

What it is: A rewards site and app from Prodege that pays points for surveys, games, shopping and receipts.
What you do: Take surveys, play games to hit goals, or shop through Swagbucks for cash back.
How much it pays: 100 SB = $1. You can redeem gift cards from 300 SB ($3), and PayPal cash takes 2 to 5 business days. The $10 welcome bonus only unlocks after you spend at least $25 at a store through Swagbucks within 30 days.
The catch: Most tasks pay small, and the welcome bonus isn’t free money for signing up.

Worth it? Only if you already shop online. The cash back is where Swagbucks makes sense.

Try Swagbucks

6.KashKick

What it is: A US-only rewards site that pays cash for games, surveys and deals.
What you do: Play games to hit milestones, answer surveys or claim offers.
How much it pays: Cash out by PayPal or gift card once you hit $10. Staff review each withdrawal, usually in 1 to 3 business days, and most get approved within a day.
The catch: Game and offer earnings sit in a pending period first, anywhere from 1 to 31 days (about 14 on average).

Worth it? Yes if you’re in the US and patient. It’s a solid second app to run next to Freecash.

Try KashKick

7.InboxDollars

What it is: A rewards site that pays in actual dollars, not points.
What you do: Surveys, games, cash back shopping, receipt scanning and paid emails.
How much it pays: You get a $5 welcome bonus for signing up and finishing the profile survey. Your first cash-out is $15, then $10 after that, by PayPal, gift card or Visa.
The catch: Payment can take up to 10 business days, and if you don’t log in during the 10 days before it processes, the request gets dropped.

Worth it? Only if you like seeing a real dollar balance. The $15 first cash-out takes a while to reach.

Try InboxDollars

8.Survey Junkie

What it is: A straight survey site and app.
What you do: Fill out your profile, then take the surveys it matches you with.
How much it pays: Cash out from $5 (500 points) by PayPal, bank transfer or gift card. Open to 18+ in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK.
The catch: You’ll get screened out of a lot of surveys, and those only pay a few points.

Worth it? Only if you’ve got downtime to kill. I’ve used Survey Junkie on and off for years. It’s worth signing up for. Check what’s good when you have off time.

Try Survey Junkie Best survey sites

9.Google Opinion Rewards

What it is: Google’s own survey app.
What you do: Answer a short survey whenever the app pings you. They don’t come often.
How much it pays: On iPhone it’s $0.10 to $1.00 per survey, and Google sends PayPal cash every time you hit $2. On Android you get Google Play credit instead.
The catch: Android credit only works in the Play Store and expires a year after you get it.

Worth it? Yes, because the surveys are short and it’s free. Just don’t expect more than pocket change.

Get Google Opinion Rewards

10.Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel

What it is: Nielsen’s research panel. You install its app and it measures how you use your phone and computer.
What you do: Install it and keep using your devices like normal. That’s it.
How much it pays: Nielsen says you can earn up to $50 in points a year by staying in the panel, plus entries into monthly sweepstakes worth $10,000 in total.
The catch: The software tracks your device activity, and points expire after a year (or after 6 months of no activity).

Worth it? Only if you’re comfortable with the tracking. It’s about as passive as it gets.

Join Nielsen Read the full take

11.UserTesting

What it is: Companies pay to watch real people use their websites and apps.
What you do: You do a test while talking out loud about what you’re thinking. You need a working mic.
How much it pays: Each test shows its own reward, and it depends on the test type and length. Payment goes to PayPal about 14 days after the test.
The catch: PayPal is the only option, there’s a two-week wait, and nothing gets withheld for taxes.

Worth it? Yes if you can talk through a website without freezing up. Tests are steady once you pass the practice one.

Apply on UserTesting

Next step

Want more like these? Here are the apps that pay you real money, ranked.

Delivery and driving side gigs

If you have a car, this is the fastest way to turn free time into cash. Most of these let you cash out the same day.

Pro tip: run two apps at once in slow hours so you’re not sitting around. Our list of food delivery jobs goes deeper on the restaurant side.

12.DoorDash

Best for: cashing out the same day

What it is: Delivering restaurant, grocery and convenience store orders as a Dasher.
What you do: Accept an order in the Dasher app, pick it up, drop it off. Car, scooter, motorcycle or bike (bikes in some cities).
How much it pays: Base pay runs $2 to $10+ per offer, plus promotions and 100% of your tips. Weekly pay usually lands by Wednesday night, or use Fast Pay once a day for $1.99.
The catch: Some offers pay as little as $2, so you have to be picky about what you accept.

Worth it? Yes if you have wheels and want money fast. Decline the junk offers and it adds up.

13.Uber Eats

What it is: Delivering food, groceries and packages through the Uber Driver app.
What you do: Take delivery requests by car, scooter, bike or on foot, depending on your city.
How much it pays: Base fare, promotions and 100% of tips. You see the fare before you accept. Get paid weekly, or cash out up to 6 times a day with Instant Pay for $1.25 each time.
The catch: Car delivery needs you to be 19+ (21 in California and New York State), and how busy it gets depends a lot on your city.

Worth it? Yes if you live in a busy city, or if you want to deliver on a bike or on foot.

14.Grubhub

What it is: Restaurant delivery for drivers and bikers.
What you do: Schedule delivery blocks ahead of time or just jump on when you’re free.
How much it pays: Base pay (mileage, delivery type and time), 100% of tips, plus bonuses for missions. Your earnings are ready 15 minutes after a delivery.
The catch: Grubhub doesn’t publish pay numbers, and it’s only in some cities.

Worth it? Only as a second app next to DoorDash, to fill dead time.

Apply on Grubhub

15.Amazon Flex

Best for: the clearest hourly pay

What it is: Delivering Amazon packages in your own car, in scheduled blocks.
What you do: Reserve blocks up to a week ahead or grab same-day ones, then run the route.
How much it pays: Amazon says most drivers earn $18 to $25 an hour, and it guarantees at least $15 to $19 per scheduled hour depending on your area. You pick which days you get paid.
The catch: You need to be 21+ with a 4-door midsize sedan or bigger, and blocks can be hard to get in some areas.

Worth it? Yes if you qualify. It’s the only big delivery app that actually puts an hourly number on it.

Apply on Amazon Flex Amazon Flex driver reviews

16.Spark Driver

What it is: Walmart’s delivery app.
What you do: Turn on Spark Now and take shop-and-deliver or delivery-only trips between 6 AM and 11 PM.
How much it pays: Pay is per trip, based on distance and order size, plus 100% of confirmed tips. You can get paid instantly or weekly, depending on how you set it up.
The catch: Zones fill up, and if yours is full you wait until a spot opens.

Worth it? Yes if there’s a Walmart near you. Any car works, unlike Flex.

Apply on Spark Driver

17.Uber (driving people)

What it is: Rideshare driving.
What you do: Pick up riders in your own car or a rental from one of Uber’s vehicle partners.
How much it pays: Uber doesn’t post a pay figure for drivers. Earnings go to your bank every week, or cash out up to 6 times a day.
The catch: No car? Rentals start at $260 a week, which eats most of the point.

Worth it? Only if you already own a car that qualifies.

Apply on Uber

18.Lyft

What it is: The other big rideshare app.
What you do: Drive riders around in a 4-door car, or rent one through Lyft’s Express Drive.
How much it pays: No pay figure on Lyft’s pages. Express Pay gets the money to you in about an hour or two.
The catch: Lyft’s national checklist says you have to be 25 or older, plus a background check and driving record review.

Worth it? Only if you’re 25+ and want a backup to Uber.

Apply on Lyft

19.Roadie

What it is: A delivery app for packages that are going your way.
What you do: Pick up a “Gig” and deliver it in your regular car.
How much it pays: Roadie says up to $12 per local trip, more for multi-stop runs. Weekly or instant payouts.
The catch: That $12 is a ceiling, and pay changes from gig to gig.

Worth it? Only if you’re already driving somewhere and want to make the trip pay.

Apply on Roadie

20.GoShare

Best for: truck and van owners

What it is: Moving and delivery jobs for people with cars, pickups, vans and box trucks.
What you do: Haul furniture, appliances and freight, or do labor-only jobs.
How much it pays: GoShare lists average earnings of up to $46 an hour for cars and SUVs, $60 for pickups and $188 for box trucks. Pay hits your bank in 4 business days.
The catch: Those are “up to” averages, your vehicle has to be 2004 or newer and pass an inspection, and it’s heavy lifting.

Worth it? Yes if you own a pickup or van. GoShare posts the biggest hourly numbers on this list.

Apply on GoShare

Shopping and errands

Like shopping more than driving? These pay you to fill grocery orders, build somebody’s IKEA dresser or check a store shelf on your way home, so you’re on your feet more than you’re behind the wheel.

21.Instacart

What it is: Grocery shopping and delivery as a full-service shopper.
What you do: Accept a batch, shop the list, deliver it. You can also do shop-only or delivery-only.
How much it pays: Pay is per batch (distance, items, weight and shopping time) plus 100% of tips. Weekly deposit lands Wednesday to Friday, or cash out instantly for a small charge.
The catch: Instacart doesn’t publish what instant cash-out costs, and pay rules change by city.

Worth it? Yes if you’re quick in a grocery store. Big orders with good tips are where the money is.

Apply on Instacart How to become a shopper

22.Shipt

What it is: Target-owned grocery and household delivery.
What you do: Shop and deliver orders, or run package delivery routes.
How much it pays: Offer pay is based on the estimated time and effort, plus bonuses and 100% of tips. Direct deposit every Friday, or Instant Pay up to 3 times a day.
The catch: Instant Pay doesn’t unlock until after your first weekly payout.

Worth it? Yes if you have a Target nearby and like shopping more than driving.

Become a Shipt shopper

23.TaskRabbit

What it is: Local odd jobs: furniture assembly, mounting TVs, moving help, cleaning.
What you do: List your skills in the Tasker app, set where and when you work, and accept tasks.
How much it pays: You set your own hourly rate, and you keep 100% of tips. The service charges get added to the client’s bill, not yours.
The catch: There’s a one-time $25 registration fee, it’s non-refundable, and paying it doesn’t guarantee you get in.

Worth it? Yes if you’re handy. You set the rate, which no delivery app lets you do.

Apply on TaskRabbit

24.Gigwalk

What it is: Short in-store tasks for brands, like checking a shelf or snapping photos of a display.
What you do: Grab a gig near you in the app and do it on your phone.
How much it pays: Gigs pay $3 to $100, straight to PayPal.
The catch: How many gigs you see depends on where you live.

Worth it? Only if you’re out running errands anyway. Check the map before you count on it.

Get Gigwalk

Skills and freelance gigs

Slower to start, but this is where hourly pay can actually get good. Writing, design, tutoring, transcription. If you can do it for a boss, you can sell it here.

25.Upwork

What it is: A big freelance marketplace for writing, design, coding, admin work and more.
What you do: Build a profile, send proposals, win a contract, do the work.
How much it pays: Upwork keeps 0% to 15% of what you earn. Hourly pay gets released the Wednesday after your billing week. Withdraw to a bank for $0.99 or to PayPal.
The catch: You pay to apply. Proposals cost Connects, and Connects are $0.15 each.

Worth it? Yes if you have a real skill. It’s slow at first, then repeat clients make it worth it.

Join Upwork Get paid to write

26.Fiverr

What it is: A marketplace where you sell fixed-price services, called Gigs.
What you do: List what you offer and the price. Buyers come to you.
How much it pays: You keep 80% of each order, and tips are all yours. PayPal payouts are free with a $1 minimum.
The catch: Money sits for 14 days after an order before you can withdraw it.

Worth it? Yes if you can package what you do into something with a clear price.

Sell on Fiverr

27.Freelancer.com

What it is: Another freelance marketplace, with projects and contests.
What you do: Bid on projects and deliver the work.
How much it pays: Freelancer takes 10% or $5 (whichever is more) on fixed-price projects, and 10% on hourly ones.
The catch: That $5 minimum stings on small jobs, and it’s charged when you accept the project.

Worth it? Only as a backup to Upwork and Fiverr.

Join Freelancer.com

28.Rev

What it is: Transcription and captioning work you do from home.
What you do: Type out audio and video files, or write captions.
How much it pays: Transcription pays $0.40 to $1.10 per audio minute and captioning $0.54 to $1.10. You get paid weekly through PayPal for approved work.
The catch: Rev has a waitlist for new freelancers, and you only get paid for work that’s approved.

Worth it? Only if you type fast and accurately. Otherwise the per-minute rate hurts.

Apply on Rev

29.Wyzant

What it is: An online tutoring marketplace.
What you do: Teach lessons in subjects you know, online or in person.
How much it pays: You keep 75% of your posted hourly rate. Wyzant keeps 25%.
The catch: A quarter of every lesson is a big cut.

Worth it? Yes if you can teach a subject people need help with, like math or test prep.

Tutor on Wyzant

30.YouTube

What it is: Making videos and earning from ads and fans.
What you do: Upload videos or Shorts until you qualify for the YouTube Partner Program.
How much it pays: You get 55% of ad revenue on regular videos and 45% on Shorts. To get ad money your channel needs 1,000 subs plus 4,000 watch hours in 12 months (or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days). New channels applying from February 1, 2027 need 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views instead.
The catch: It can take a long time to make a dime, and the bar is going up.

Worth it? Only if you’d make videos for free anyway. Treat the money as a bonus.

Start on YouTube How to make money on YouTube

Rent out your stuff

This is money from things you already own. You’ll spend a weekend getting the listing right, and after that you’re mostly answering messages and cleaning up between guests.

31.Airbnb

What it is: Renting out a room or your whole place to travelers.
What you do: List the space, set the price and rules, host guests.
How much it pays: You set the nightly price. Most hosts now pay Airbnb about 15.5% of each booking. Payouts get released about 24 hours after the guest checks in.
The catch: Airbnb can hold funds up to 45 days during a review, and your local rules may limit short-term rentals.

Worth it? Yes if you have a spare room in a place people visit. It’s real money from space you already have.

List on Airbnb Airbnb hosting guide

32.Peerspace

What it is: Renting out a space by the hour for photo shoots, meetings and parties.
What you do: List your loft, studio, backyard or shop and take bookings.
How much it pays: Peerspace takes 20% of the booking plus any extras you charge. You get paid within 7 days of the booking.
The catch: Your space has to look good on camera to get booked.

Worth it? Only if your place has something special. A plain living room won’t cut it.

List on Peerspace

33.Swimply

What it is: Renting out your backyard pool by the hour.
What you do: List the pool, set hours and rules, host swimmers.
How much it pays: Swimply takes 15% to 25% of the booking price, and your payout gets deposited after each booking.
The catch: Strangers in your backyard, and the pool has to be ready every time.

Worth it? Yes if you have a pool and live somewhere hot. It’s money from something you already pay for.

List on Swimply

34.SpotHero

What it is: Renting out a parking spot.
What you do: Send SpotHero the location, price and hours. If it’s a good fit, they add it.
How much it pays: SpotHero pays monthly by ACH for the previous month’s reservations, usually 7 to 10 days into the month.
The catch: The spot has to stay open for anyone with a reservation, and you handle towing yourself.

Worth it? Only if you have a spot near a stadium, downtown or an airport.

List on SpotHero

Sell stuff

Look around your place. Old phones, clothes and furniture you never use are cash sitting there, and listing them takes a few minutes each.

35.eBay

What it is: The original place to sell anything online.
What you do: List stuff you don’t need, or flip things you buy cheap.
How much it pays: Your first 250 listings each month are free, then $0.35 each. When it sells, eBay takes 13.6% (most categories) plus $0.30 or $0.40 per order.
The catch: Fees add up, so price with them in mind.

Worth it? Yes for electronics, collectibles and anything people search for by name.

Sell on eBay

36.Mercari

What it is: A simple app for selling clothes, electronics and household stuff.
What you do: Snap a few photos, list it and ship it when it sells.
How much it pays: Listing is free. Mercari takes 10% of the item price plus buyer-paid shipping. Direct deposit is free and takes about 5 business days, or pay $3 for Instant Pay.
The catch: That 10% includes the shipping the buyer pays.

Worth it? Yes for clothes and small stuff that ships easy.

Sell on Mercari

37.Facebook Marketplace

What it is: Selling to people nearby (or shipping) right from Facebook.
What you do: Post an item, answer messages, meet up or ship it.
How much it pays: For shipped orders, Meta takes 10% of the whole transaction with a $0.80 minimum.
The catch: Lots of “is this still available?” messages that go nowhere.

Worth it? Yes for furniture and big stuff you don’t want to ship.

Sell on Marketplace

38.Etsy

What it is: The marketplace for handmade, vintage and craft stuff.
What you do: Open a shop and list what you make or find.
How much it pays: Each listing costs $0.20. When something sells, Etsy takes 6.5% of the price plus shipping and gift wrap, and payment processing comes out on top of that.
The catch: You may pay a one-time set-up fee to open a shop, and every renewal costs another $0.20.

Worth it? Only if you actually make or source something people want. It’s a business, not a quick buck.

Open an Etsy shop

Local services

Pets, kids, homes and shift work. These pay well because people trust you with something that matters to them.

39.Rover

What it is: Pet sitting, boarding and dog walking.
What you do: Set up a profile, pick your services and rates, and get booked by pet owners.
How much it pays: You set your own rates and keep 80% (Rover keeps 20%). Tips are yours. Money shows up 2 days after the job, then goes to your bank.
The catch: There’s a $49 to $79 profile review fee upfront, depending on where you live.

Worth it? Yes if you love dogs. Even better if you have room for boarding.

Apply on Rover

40.Wag!

What it is: Dog walking and pet care on demand.
What you do: Accept walks and pet care jobs near you through the Wag! app.
How much it pays: Wag! doesn’t post a pay rate or how much it keeps on its sign-up page.
The catch: You need to be 18+, a US permanent resident and pass a background check.

Worth it? Only as a second app next to Rover. Check the pay inside the app before you commit.

Apply on Wag!

41.Care.com

What it is: Where families find babysitters, nannies, senior caregivers and housekeepers.
What you do: Make a profile, apply to jobs and set up care with families directly.
How much it pays: Care.com doesn’t employ caregivers or post pay rates. What you earn is between you and the family that hires you.
The catch: Caregivers now pick between two paid memberships (Basic or Premium), and everyone has to pass Care.com’s background check.

Worth it? Only if you want steady, regular clients. One good family can be your whole side gig.

Check out Care.com What Care.com costs

42.Instawork

Best for: no car

What it is: Pick up hourly shifts at warehouses, events, restaurants and hotels.
What you do: Choose a shift in the app, show up, work it.
How much it pays: Instawork says up to $30 an hour, with the US average over $20. You can get paid instantly after eligible shifts.
The catch: Shifts depend on your city, and $30 is the top end.

Worth it? Yes if you want a regular paycheck feeling without a regular job. It’s free to start.

Get Instawork

43.Angi Services (formerly Handy)

What it is: Cleaning and handyman jobs. Handy Pro is now Angi Services.
What you do: See what customers are paying for a job, then claim the ones you want.
How much it pays: You see the price before you claim a job. Angi doesn’t post a pay rate up front.
The catch: You need paid experience in the service, a background check, a valid ID and any licenses the job needs.

Worth it? Only if you already clean or fix things for money.

Apply on Angi Services

Which side gigs pay the fastest?

If speed is the whole point, here’s how quick you can actually touch the money.

Gig	How fast you get paid
Freecash	Most PayPal, crypto and gift card withdrawals are instant	Try it
Uber Eats	Up to 6 times a day ($1.25 each)	Try it
DoorDash	Once a day with Fast Pay ($1.99)	Try it
Grubhub	15 minutes after a delivery	Try it
Testerup	Usually within 24 hours	Try it
Bigcash	Within 36 hours	Try it
Instawork	Instantly after eligible shifts	Try it

How to pick a side gig

Start with what you have. A phone? Do the apps at the top. A car? Delivery. A skill? Freelance. A spare room? Airbnb.

Then check two things before you sign up: what it costs you to start (Rover, TaskRabbit and Care.com all charge something upfront) and how fast you get paid. Plenty of gigs look great until you see the two-week wait.

And stack them. Most people doing well with side gigs run a phone app in the background and one bigger gig on the side. For the full app-by-app breakdown, see our list of gig economy apps, or browse everything in app-based gigs.

Side gig questions

What side gig pays the fastest?

Phone apps like Freecash pay out instantly once you clear the first withdrawal, and delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats let you cash out the same day for $1.99 and $1.25.

What side gigs can I do from my phone?

Rewards apps (Freecash, Testerup, Bigcash, KashKick), surveys (Survey Junkie, Google Opinion Rewards) and testing (UserTesting). Delivery apps run on your phone too, but you need a car or bike.

What’s the best side gig with no experience?

Rewards apps need nothing but a phone. Instawork is free to start too and pays instantly after eligible shifts, though what’s open depends on your city.

Do any side gigs cost money to start?

A few. TaskRabbit has a $25 registration fee, Rover has a $49 to $79 profile review fee, and Care.com caregivers pay for a membership. The phone apps and delivery apps on this list are free to join.