December 2, 2025
Side hustle apps changed the game. No resumes, no interviews, no waiting weeks for a callback. Download an app, complete a profile, and start earning within hours. After testing 15 popular platforms over eight months and talking with dozens of regular users, I found significant differences in actual earning potential, time investment, and hidden costs that marketing materials never mention.
Side hustle apps removed the traditional barriers to earning extra income. You don't need startup capital, business licenses, or even a laptop in many cases. Your smartphone becomes your business headquarters.
The flexibility matters most. Work during your lunch break, after the kids go to bed, or on weekend mornings. Accept jobs when it suits your schedule and decline when it doesn't. This control over your time makes app-based hustles fundamentally different from traditional part-time jobs with fixed schedules.
The startup speed also sets these platforms apart. Traditional side businesses require weeks or months of planning, purchasing inventory, or building client lists. With apps, you can complete your first paying task today. I've watched people earn their first $50 within three hours of downloading their first gig app.
But here's the reality check: Not every app delivers on its income promises. Some bury you in fees. Others require expensive equipment or only work in specific locations. The best app for your neighbor might be completely wrong for your situation, skills, and available time.
| App Category | Time Required | Earning Potential | Best For |
| Gig Economy (DoorDash, Uber) | High (Active work) | Medium ($15-$25/hr) | Fast cash, flexible schedules. |
| Skilled Work (Upwork, TaskRabbit) | High (Proposals + Work) | High ($30-$100+/hr) | Professionals building a business. |
| Selling Stuff (eBay, Poshmark) | Medium (Listing/Shipping) | Variable ($100-$1,000+) | Clearing clutter, flipping items. |
| Asset Rental (Turo, Rover) | Low/Med | High ($500-$2,000+) | People with cars or homes to leverage. |
| Passive Apps (Fetch, Swagbucks) | Very Low | Low ($15-$50/mo) | Pocket money, zero effort. |
Set aside 25-30% of every payment immediately. Open a separate savings account labeled "Taxes" and treat it as untouchable. When you earn $1,000, transfer $300 to your tax account before paying any bills.
The math hurts worse than you think. If you earn $15,000 from side hustles in 2024, you'll owe roughly $2,295 in self-employment tax alone, plus your regular income tax on that amount. Miss this, and April becomes a financial crisis.
Most gig platforms issue 1099 forms if you earn over $600 annually. The IRS gets a copy too. They know exactly what you made, and they expect their cut. Consider making quarterly estimated tax payments if you're earning more than $1,000 quarterly from side hustles to avoid underpayment penalties.
These platforms connect you with immediate, on-demand work in your area. The pay comes quickly, usually within days, but you'll need to factor in vehicle expenses, insurance, and the physical demands of the work.
Food and grocery delivery apps offer the most immediate earning opportunity. Download the app, pass a background check, and start accepting delivery requests within days.
DoorDash and Instacart both let you work whenever you want. Open the app, go online, and accept orders that make sense for your location. In my testing across three different cities, DoorDash consistently provided more available orders during peak hours (5-9 PM), while Instacart offered higher base pay but required more time per delivery due to shopping.
The earning potential varies dramatically by location and time commitment. According to a 2024 Gridwise study analyzing 150,000 gig workers, the median DoorDash driver earns $15-25 per hour before expenses during peak times, dropping to $10-15 during slower periods. Instacart shoppers average $15-20 per hour, with experienced shoppers who work efficiently earning up to $25 per hour.
However, these figures don't account for vehicle costs. The IRS standard mileage rate for 2024 is 67 cents per mile, reflecting gas, maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. If you drive 50 miles during a $100 shift, your actual take-home drops to $66.50 before taxes.
The insurance situation gets messy. Your personal auto insurance policy likely excludes coverage while you're actively delivering. You're in a coverage gap between accepting an order and completing delivery. DoorDash and Instacart provide liability coverage during active deliveries, but it won't cover damage to your own vehicle. You need a commercial or rideshare endorsement on your personal policy, typically adding $10-30 monthly to your premium. Skip this, and you risk claim denial after an accident while delivering.
Ridesharing requires a higher barrier to entry than delivery, your vehicle must meet specific age and condition requirements, and you're responsible for commercial insurance gaps. But the earning potential can exceed delivery apps in the right circumstances.
The key differentiator: surge pricing. When demand spikes (Friday and Saturday nights, major events, bad weather), rates can double or triple. Experienced drivers in cities like Austin or Miami report earning $40-60 per hour during major events or New Year's Eve, though these peaks represent 5-10% of total driving hours.
Standard rates tell a different story. A 2023 MIT study found that median rideshare drivers earn $9.73 per hour after expenses, with only the top 25% of drivers exceeding minimum wage after accounting for all costs. The difference comes down to strategy: working only during surge periods, positioning near high-demand zones, and minimizing unpaid miles between rides.
Vehicle depreciation hits rideshare drivers harder than delivery drivers. Putting 30,000 miles annually on your car significantly impacts its resale value. AAA estimates that driving costs for a medium sedan total 68 cents per mile when including depreciation, insurance, maintenance, and fuel.
TaskRabbit connects you with people who need help with furniture assembly, home repairs, moving, cleaning, and general handyman work. Unlike delivery apps, TaskRabbit lets you set your own rates and choose which tasks to accept.
The earning potential depends entirely on your skills and how you price yourself. Handyman tasks and furniture assembly command $40-80 per hour in major cities, while basic errands or cleaning pay $25-40 per hour. According to TaskRabbit's own data, experienced Taskers who maintain high ratings and complete 10+ tasks monthly average $110 per task.
The catch: You need actual skills for the highest-paying work. Someone requesting furniture assembly expects you to finish efficiently without damaging their new purchase. Moving jobs require physical stamina and proper lifting techniques. The platform reviews your work history, and poor ratings tank your visibility in search results.
TaskRabbit takes a 15% service fee from your earnings. If you charge $60 for a task, you receive $51. You're also responsible for tools, transportation to jobs, and any supplies not provided by the client.
Reselling apps turn your unused items into cash. The barrier to entry is zero, you likely have $500-1,000 worth of sellable items in your home right now. But success requires photography skills, pricing strategy, and patience.
Clothing resale apps cater to different demographics but operate on similar models. Poshmark targets women 25-45 with mainstream and designer brands, while Depop attracts Gen Z buyers looking for vintage, trendy, or unique pieces.
Both platforms handle payment processing and provide prepaid shipping labels once items sell. Poshmark takes a flat $2.95 on sales under $15 and 20% on sales above $15. Depop charges 10% of the sale price plus payment processing fees of roughly 3%.
The profit margin depends on your sourcing strategy. Selling your own closet generates nearly 100% profit (minus shipping and fees). Thrift store flipping, buying items at Goodwill for $5-10 and reselling for $30-50, requires more work but can generate consistent income. According to a 2023 Poshmark seller survey, active sellers who list 5+ items weekly average $200-500 monthly, while top sellers treating it as a business earn $2,000+ monthly.
Photography matters more than you think. Items with clear, well-lit photos on neutral backgrounds sell 3x faster than poorly photographed items at similar prices. I tested this by listing identical items with professional versus phone photos; the professional photos generated 15 likes and 3 offers within 24 hours, while the phone photos received 2 likes and no offers.
Facebook Marketplace dominates local selling because everyone already has a Facebook account. No shipping required, buyers pick up items in person, and you keep 100% of the sale price.
The platform works best for furniture, electronics, exercise equipment, and other large items where shipping costs make platforms like eBay impractical. In my experience selling 30+ items over six months, furniture sold within 3-7 days at 60-80% of asking price, while smaller items took 2-3 weeks.
Meeting strangers from the internet carries inherent risks. Always meet in public places, bring someone with you, accept cash only (scammers use fake payment apps), and trust your instincts about sketchy buyers. Facebook's rating system helps, but it's not foolproof.
eBay remains the king of online reselling for niche items, collectibles, and products where you need to reach a national audience. The platform's auction format lets hot items sell above market value, while fixed-price listings provide predictability.
eBay's fee structure runs 12.9% of the total sale (item price plus shipping), plus payment processing around 3%. Selling a $100 item costs roughly $16 in fees. These higher fees reflect eBay's larger audience and stronger buyer protections compared to Facebook Marketplace.
Shipping costs need careful calculation. I've seen new sellers lose money by underestimating shipping on heavy items. eBay provides shipping calculators, but you need to measure and weigh items accurately before listing.
These platforms let you build actual businesses from existing skills or assets you already own. The earning potential exceeds gig work, but competition is fierce and success requires professional-level service.
Freelance platforms connect professionals with clients needing writing, graphic design, web development, marketing, and hundreds of other services. According to a 2024 Upwork study, the freelance workforce grew to 64 million Americans, contributing $1.27 trillion to the economy.
Upwork operates on a bidding model. Clients post projects, freelancers submit proposals, and clients choose based on price, portfolio, and reviews. Upwork charges sliding fees: 20% on your first $500 with a client, 10% from $500-$10,000, and 5% above $10,000. These high fees frustrate new freelancers, but they decrease as you build long-term client relationships.
The 2024 reality includes another cost: Connects. Upwork now charges you to apply for jobs. Each proposal costs 1-6 Connects depending on job value, and Connects cost roughly $0.15 each. Applying for 20 jobs costs $5-15 in Connects before you earn a single dollar. This pay-to-play model punishes new freelancers who need to send more proposals to land their first clients.
Fiverr flips the model. You create "gigs" with set prices, and clients purchase directly from your profile. Fiverr takes 20% of all transactions regardless of volume. The platform skews toward quick, commoditized services ($20 logo designs, $50 website copy), making it harder to command premium rates for specialized skills.
Breaking through on either platform requires strategy. I watched my neighbor, a graphic designer, spend three months applying to 50+ jobs on Upwork before landing her first client. She underpriced her first five projects to build reviews, then raised rates once she had 5-star feedback. Now she earns $4,000-6,000 monthly working 25 hours per week, entirely through Upwork clients.
Pet sitting and dog walking through Rover turns animal lovers into earners. The platform connects pet owners with local sitters for boarding, house sitting, drop-in visits, and walks.
Rover takes a 20% service fee from every booking. If a client pays $50 for dog boarding, you receive $40. In exchange, Rover provides payment processing, booking management, and a $1 million insurance policy covering accidents during services.
Your earning potential depends on your location, flexibility, and capacity. According to Rover's 2024 data, sitters who offer overnight boarding earn significantly more than those offering only walks or drop-ins. A dog boarder hosting 2-3 dogs simultaneously can earn $100-150 per night, minus the 20% fee.
Building a client base takes time. New sitters struggle to get their first booking without reviews. I interviewed five successful Rover sitters who all recommended the same strategy: start by offering discount rates (30-40% below market) to get your first 10-15 bookings and five-star reviews, then raise your rates to market levels.
Turo operates as Airbnb for cars. List your vehicle, set your price and availability, and rent it to travelers or locals who need temporary wheels. In markets with strong tourism or business travel, Turo can generate serious passive income from an otherwise idle asset.
The earning potential varies by vehicle type and location. According to Turo's 2024 data, the average host earns $706 per month, with top hosts in cities like Los Angeles, Miami, and Denver earning $2,000+ monthly. Luxury and specialty vehicles (convertibles, trucks, SUVs) command premium rates and higher occupancy.
Turo takes 10-40% of each trip depending on the insurance plan you select. Choosing Turo's insurance protection (35-40% fee) means Turo covers damage up to your vehicle's value. Selecting a lower fee plan (10-25%) leaves you partially responsible for damage costs, similar to a high-deductible insurance policy.
The risks are real. I spoke with hosts who've dealt with renters returning cars with interior damage, smoking smells, or mechanical issues. Turo's insurance covers major damage, but minor issues, deep cleaning fees, and lost rental time during repairs come out of your pocket. One host in Austin showed me receipts: $800 in cleaning and minor repairs over 18 months of hosting, cutting into his $14,000 in total earnings.
These apps won't replace your income, but they require minimal active effort. Think of them as optimizing actions you already take rather than creating new work.
Fetch turns every shopping receipt into points redeemable for gift cards. Snap a photo of any receipt from any store, grocery or gas station or restaurant, and earn points based on your purchase total and featured brands.
I've used Fetch for 14 months and accumulated $280 in gift cards with zero behavior change. I was buying groceries anyway. Now I scan receipts from my phone before throwing them away. Each receipt takes 10 seconds to scan.
The earning rate averages $15-25 per month for a typical household. Buy featured brands during promotions and you can double or triple that amount. Fetch partners rotate frequently (General Mills, Pepsi, Unilever products commonly offer bonuses), so checking the app before grocery shopping helps maximize points.
Fetch doesn't require you to buy specific items or shop at specific stores, unlike traditional coupon apps. Any receipt from any store earns points. This flexibility makes it the easiest passive earning app I've tested.
Here's the trade-off: Fetch earns money by selling your anonymized purchase data to market research firms. They track what you buy, where you shop, and how much you spend. This data helps brands understand consumer behavior. For many people, this trade seems fair, getting paid for data you're already generating. But understand what you're exchanging for those gift cards.
Swagbucks pays you to take surveys, watch videos, shop online, and search the web. The platform aggregates multiple earning methods, letting you choose activities that fit your schedule and interest.
Like Fetch, Swagbucks monetizes your data and behavior. Survey companies pay Swagbucks for your opinions and demographic information, and Swagbucks shares a portion with you. Retailers pay for tracking your shopping habits. You're trading privacy for convenience and small payments.
Survey earnings average $0.50-3.00 per survey, with most taking 10-20 minutes. The math rarely makes sense as "work," you're earning roughly $3-6 per hour. But if you're watching TV anyway, running Swagbucks videos in the background or completing a survey during commercials turns wasted time into modest earnings.
The shopping portal offers better value. Earn 1-10% cash back at 1,500+ retailers by starting your shopping session through Swagbucks. I've earned $400 over two years simply by clicking through Swagbucks before making purchases I was already planning. The earnings stack with credit card rewards, effectively getting paid twice for the same purchase.
Ibotta focuses specifically on grocery cash back. Unlike Fetch's any-receipt model, Ibotta requires you to unlock offers before shopping, then purchase specific items to earn cash back.
The earning potential exceeds Fetch if you're willing to adjust your shopping based on available offers. Ibotta regularly features $0.25-1.00 back on produce, milk, bread, and other staples, plus larger bonuses ($2-5) on featured brands. Strategic shoppers report earning $30-60 monthly by building their grocery list around Ibotta offers.
The app added a "pay with Ibotta" feature letting you link your loyalty cards and earn automatically without scanning receipts. This eliminates the post-shopping task but limits earning to partnered retailers. Like other cash-back apps, Ibotta sells anonymized purchase data to brands and market researchers. Your shopping habits have value, and Ibotta shares a portion of that value with you.
| App | Best For | Avg. Hourly Rate* | Key Cost/Risk |
| DoorDash | Meal times | $12 - $20 | Vehicle wear & tear |
| Instacart | Grocery shoppers | $15 - $20 | Shopping time varies |
| Uber/Lyft | Nightlife/Events | $10 - $30 | High depreciation |
| TaskRabbit | Handyman skills | $25 - $60 | Physical labor |
| Poshmark | Fashion lovers | Variable | 20% Platform fee |
| Large items | Variable | Safety (Meeting strangers) | |
| eBay | Collectibles | Variable | Shipping complexity |
| Upwork | Freelancers | $20 - $100+ | "Connects" (Pay to apply) |
| Rover | Pet lovers | $20 - $150+ | Liability for pets |
| Turo | Car owners | Passive | Vehicle damage risk |
| Fetch | Shoppers | $15/mo. | Data privacy |
| Swagbucks | Downtime | $5/hr. | Low payout |
Your best app depends on four factors: available assets, usable skills, time commitment, and income goals.
Match your assets to opportunities. Own a reliable car? Delivery and rideshare apps make sense. Nice home with flexible schedule? Consider Rover. Recent-model vehicle near an airport? Turo could generate serious passive income. No special assets? Focus on skill-based platforms or selling apps.
Be honest about your skills. Upwork and Fiverr require legitimate professional abilities and portfolios. TaskRabbit needs handyman competence. Reselling apps demand photography and pricing skills. If you're still building these skills, start with lower-barrier options like delivery apps or receipt scanning.
Calculate your actual available time. Gig apps require active work hours. Selling requires listing, communication, and shipping time. Freelance platforms need time for proposals, client calls, and project work. Passive apps need seconds daily. Choose platforms matching your realistic time availability, not your optimistic estimate.
Set realistic income targets. Need an extra $200 monthly? Passive apps plus casual reselling gets you there. Want $1,000+? You need gig work or freelancing with significant time investment. Aiming for $2,000-3,000? Treat it like a part-time job with 15-25 hours weekly. One app won't replace full-time income; successful side hustlers often run 2-3 apps simultaneously.
I recommend starting with one app in your strongest category. Master that platform, understand its payment timing and hidden costs, and actually earn money before adding others. App-hopping without fully learning any platform generates frustration without income.
Actual earnings vary significantly based on location, effort level, and individual circumstances. All figures represent pre-tax income and don't account for business expenses unless specifically noted.
The BestMoney editorial team is composed of writers and experts covering a full range of financial services. Our mission is to simplify the process of selecting the right provider for every need, leveraging our extensive industry knowledge to deliver clear, reliable advice.