You already have a job. You want a little more money without blowing up your evenings.
So this list is built around your day: what fits a lunch break, what works after 5, and what fills a Saturday. Every pick has what it pays, how you get paid and the catch.
On your lunch break
Phone only, 20 minutes at a time. Pause it when the meeting starts. More apps like these live on the apps that pay you real money page.
1.Testerup
- What it is
- A testing app that pays you to play new mobile games and take surveys.
- What you do
- On your break, open a task, play toward its goal, and pick it back up after work.
- How much it pays
- Every account starts with a $10 welcome bonus, and the reward is shown before you begin. Get paid by PayPal, Venmo (US), Visa virtual card or Amazon gift card, usually within 24 hours and up to 3 business days.
- The catch
- You give up 5% on PayPal and Venmo payouts. One face check before the first payout. You must be 18.
Worth it? Yes. It fits in the gaps of a workday better than anything else here.
2.Freecash
- What it is
- A rewards platform that pays for games, app trials and surveys.
- What you do
- Knock out a short survey at lunch, chip away at a game offer at night.
- How much it pays
- You unlock $10 after finishing an offer for the first time. Most PayPal, crypto and gift card withdrawals are instant, and after your first one PayPal needs just $5.
- The catch
- Your first withdrawal needs ID verification and $5 to $20 in your balance, depending on where you live.
Worth it? Yes if you want money you can pull out the same day you earn it.
3.Branded
- What it is
- The games version of Branded, where reaching levels in games and apps earns points.
- What you do
- Start a game from its list after work and play until you reach the level it asks for.
- How much it pays
- Joining gets you 100 points. Every 500 points is $5, and you can redeem from 500 to PayPal, bank or gift cards.
- The catch
- Points for game offers take about a week to land.
Worth it? Only if you’re playing a game in the evenings anyway.
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4.Swagbucks
- What it is
- A long-running rewards site that pays SB points for surveys, games and shopping.
- What you do
- Answer a survey, scan a grocery receipt, or shop through it for cash back.
- How much it pays
- 100 SB is $1, and you can redeem gift cards from 300 SB. PayPal cash shows up in 2 to 5 business days.
- The catch
- The $10 welcome bonus requires you to spend at least $25 through the Swagbucks shop in your first 30 days.
Worth it? Only if you already buy a lot online. Then the cash back adds up quietly.
After work
Two to three hours a night, a couple nights a week. That’s where the side money starts to feel real.
5.Shipt
- What it is
- Shopping and delivering orders for Shipt, which Target owns.
- What you do
- Accept an order after work, shop it, drop it off. Package delivery routes are another option.
- How much it pays
- Offer pay is based on the time and effort an order takes, plus bonuses and 100% of tips. Direct deposit every Friday for the week before.
- The catch
- Instant Pay (up to 3 times a day) only unlocks after your first weekly payout. You need a car you’re insured on.
Worth it? Yes if you’d rather shop than drive food around. Evening orders fit a day job well.
6.Grubhub
- What it is
- Restaurant delivery for Grubhub by car, motorcycle or bike.
- What you do
- Schedule blocks ahead of time or grab deliveries on short notice.
- How much it pays
- Base pay (mileage, delivery type, time) plus tips and mission bonuses, and you keep 100% of tips. Earnings are available 15 minutes after a delivery.
- The catch
- No pay figures are published, and the instant cash-out cost isn’t either. 18 and up (21 in Las Vegas).
Worth it? Only if you like scheduling your hours ahead. Good for a steady weeknight routine.
7.Amazon Flex
- What it is
- Delivering Amazon packages in your own car, in blocks you reserve.
- What you do
- Book delivery blocks up to a week ahead, then run the route.
- How much it pays
- Amazon says most delivery partners earn $18 to $25 an hour, and it guarantees at least $15 to $19 per scheduled hour depending on the area. You pick your payday, even daily.
- The catch
- You need to be 21 with a 4-door midsize sedan or bigger, and blocks can be scarce.
Worth it? Yes if you qualify. Booking a week out is perfect around a 9 to 5.
8.Wyzant
- What it is
- A tutoring marketplace that brings students to you.
- What you do
- Teach booked lessons in the evenings in the subjects you’re good at.
- How much it pays
- You keep 75% of the hourly rate you list. The 25% platform cut is flat.
- The catch
- You need students to pick you first, so the start is slow.
Worth it? Only if your day job left you with a skill people pay to learn.
On weekends
Longer blocks of time mean bigger jobs. Pet boarding and shift work fit here. For more of this type, there’s a whole list of weekend jobs.
9.Rover
- What it is
- A pet care marketplace for sitting, boarding and dog walking.
- What you do
- Take weekend boarding or drop-ins while owners are away.
- How much it pays
- Your rates, your call. Rover keeps 20%, so 80% is yours, and it pays out 2 days after each service.
- The catch
- A $49 to $79 profile review comes first, plus a background check.
Worth it? Yes. Weekend boarding is the sweet spot for people with a weekday job.
10.Care.com
- What it is
- A marketplace where families find babysitters, senior caregivers and housekeepers.
- What you do
- Build a caregiver profile, apply to jobs, work out the schedule with the family.
- How much it pays
- Care.com doesn’t employ you or post pay rates, so what you earn is between you and the family.
- The catch
- Caregivers have to buy a Basic or Premium membership to join, and a background check is required.
Worth it? Only if you’re serious about steady babysitting or senior care. Know the membership cost before you pay.
11.Instawork
- What it is
- Hourly shift work at local businesses, booked through an app.
- What you do
- Claim Saturday shifts at events, warehouses or restaurants and show up.
- How much it pays
- Up to $30 an hour, with an average over $20 across US markets. Eligible shifts pay instantly.
- The catch
- There’s vetting first, background check included.
Worth it? Yes if you want weekend shifts without a manager scheduling you.
12.Roadie
- What it is
- A delivery app for carrying packages in your own car.
- What you do
- Pick up a Gig that’s headed your way and drop it off.
- How much it pays
- Up to $12 per local trip, more on multi-stop runs. Choose weekly or instant payouts.
- The catch
- Pay changes a lot from gig to gig. 18 and up with a US driver’s license.
Worth it? Only if you’re driving somewhere anyway. Free money on a trip you were taking.
From your laptop, any time
13.UserTesting
- What it is
- Paid feedback on websites and apps, recorded while you talk.
- What you do
- Take a test at your kitchen table: click through a site and say what you think out loud.
- How much it pays
- Each test lists its reward in your dashboard. You’re paid through PayPal about 14 days later.
- The catch
- Pay per test isn’t published, and you’ll handle your own taxes.
Worth it? Yes. Tests are short enough for a weeknight.
14.DataAnnotation
- What it is
- Contract AI training work you do remotely.
- What you do
- Qualify once, then take tasks at night or on weekends.
- How much it pays
- Up to $50 an hour for generalist work.
- The catch
- There’s a qualification test, and you can’t take paid work until you pass it.
Worth it? Yes if you write well. It’s the highest posted hourly rate on this list.
Keeping it legal (and keeping your day job)
Taxes. Side job money is taxable. The IRS Gig Economy Tax Center says you have to report it even when it never shows up on a 1099 or W-2. No employer is withholding anything, so put some of every payout aside.
Your employer. Read the handbook for a moonlighting or conflict of interest rule. Don’t do side work on the clock or on a work laptop. That’s the fastest way to lose the job that actually pays your rent.
Your car insurance. Every driving app here wants you on your own auto policy. Ask your insurer whether delivery driving is covered before your first shift, because a claim during a delivery is a bad time to find out.
Scams. A real side job never asks you to pay to start. If it does, walk.
How to pick
Count your free hours honestly. Five a week? Stick to the phone apps and UserTesting. Ten or more? Add one of the evening gigs.
No day job at all? The ways to make money without a job page is sorted for that. Everything else is in the side hustles section.
Side job questions
What side job can I do after a 9 to 5?
Evening delivery (Shipt, Grubhub) and Amazon Flex blocks booked a week out fit best. If you’d rather stay home, UserTesting and DataAnnotation work at night.
Do I have to tell my employer about a side job?
Check your handbook. Plenty of companies have a moonlighting or conflict of interest policy. If yours does, follow it. Never work your side job on company time or a company laptop.
Do I pay taxes on side job money?
Yes, even when you don’t get a tax form. The IRS says to report gig income even if it never shows up on a 1099 or W-2.
Which side job pays the most?
Of the ones that publish a number, DataAnnotation at up to $50 an hour and Amazon Flex, where Amazon says most partners earn $18 to $25 an hour. For a list built around hourly pay, see jobs that pay $20 an hour.
Next step
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