12 Side Hustle Apps to Make Money in 2026: Earn Extra Cash Today

12 Legitimate Side Hustle Apps to Make Money

1. DoorDash – Food Delivery

DoorDash dominates the food delivery space as one of the most popular side hustle apps to make money, operating in over 7,000 cities across the United States, Canada, and Australia.

How it works: Accept delivery requests through the app, pick up food from restaurants, and deliver to customers. You keep 100% of tips plus base pay ranging from $2-$10 per delivery depending on distance, time, and desirability.

Earning potential: $15-$25 per hour depending on market, with top earners in busy metropolitan areas reaching $30+ per hour during peak times.

Requirements: 18+, valid driver’s license, insurance, reliable vehicle (car, scooter, or bike in some cities), and smartphone. Background check required.

Payment: Weekly direct deposit via Fast Pay, or instant cashout for $1.99 fee.

Best for: Drivers who know their local restaurant scene and can work during meal rush hours (11am-2pm, 5pm-9pm).

2. Uber / Uber Eats – Rideshare and Delivery

Uber pioneered the rideshare revolution and remains one of the most recognized side hustle apps to make money globally, with Uber Eats expanding delivery opportunities beyond just passengers.

How it works: For rideshare, pick up passengers and transport them to destinations. For Uber Eats, deliver food, groceries, and alcohol to customers.

Earning potential: Rideshare drivers average $18-$25 per hour before expenses. Uber Eats typically pays $12-$20 per hour. Earnings vary significantly by market, time of day, and surge pricing.

Requirements: 21+ for rideshare (19+ for Uber Eats), valid driver’s license, vehicle meeting age requirements (typically 15 years or newer), insurance, and background check.

Payment: Instant pay available for $1.00 fee, or weekly automatic deposits.

Best for: People comfortable driving strangers (rideshare) or those preferring no-passenger delivery work (Uber Eats).

3. TaskRabbit – Local Services and Tasks

TaskRabbit connects “Taskers” with people needing help with everyday tasks, making it unique among side hustle apps to make money by focusing on hands-on services rather than delivery.

How it works: Create a profile highlighting your skills (furniture assembly, moving help, cleaning, handyman work, etc.). Set your hourly rate and availability. Clients book you for specific tasks.

Earning potential: $20-$80 per hour depending on task complexity and geographic market. Taskers set their own rates, with the app taking 15% commission.

Requirements: 18+, pass background check, have relevant skills, provide tools for tasks you offer. Available in major U.S., Canadian, and UK cities.

Payment: Direct deposit 3-5 business days after task completion.

Best for: Handy people, organizers, furniture assemblers, and anyone comfortable with physical labor and home services.

4. Instacart – Grocery Shopping and Delivery

Instacart transformed grocery shopping into one of the most flexible side hustle apps to make money, particularly popular since 2020 when grocery delivery demand exploded.

How it works: Accept “batches” that include shopping lists, shop for items in partner stores (Costco, Kroger, Safeway, etc.), and deliver to customers’ homes.

Earning potential: $15-$25 per hour including tips. Experienced shoppers in high-demand areas can earn $30+ per hour during peak periods.

Requirements: 18+, reliable vehicle, smartphone, pass background check. Ability to lift 40+ pounds and navigate grocery stores efficiently.

Payment: Weekly direct deposits, instant cashout available for $0.50 fee.

Best for: Organized people who enjoy shopping, know their local grocery stores well, and can quickly identify product substitutions.

5. Upwork – Freelancing Platform

Upwork stands out among side hustle apps to make money as the largest freelancing marketplace for digital services, connecting over 12 million freelancers with businesses worldwide.

How it works: Create a professional profile showcasing your skills in writing, design, programming, marketing, virtual assistance, or 100+ other categories. Submit proposals for posted jobs or let clients find you.

Earning potential: Highly variable, beginners might earn $10-$20 per hour while experts command $50-$200+ per hour. Your skills and experience determine earnings more than platform itself.

Requirements: Demonstrable skills, professional portfolio, ability to communicate effectively with clients globally. No age minimum but payment methods may require 18+.

Payment: Direct deposit, PayPal, wire transfer, or Payoneer. Upwork charges 10% fee on earnings over $500 with each client.

Best for: Skilled professionals in marketable fields seeking location-independent income, particularly writers, developers, designers, and marketers.

6. Rover – Pet Sitting and Dog Walking

Rover connects pet owners with caregivers, creating one of the most enjoyable side hustle apps to make money for animal lovers.

How it works: Offer services including dog walking, pet sitting, boarding, house sitting, or doggy daycare. Set your rates, availability, and service area. Pet owners book directly through the app.

Earning potential: $20-$50 per service depending on type and duration. Overnight boarding can earn $50-$100 per night. Active sitters earning 5-10 bookings weekly can make $500-$2,000 monthly.

Requirements: 18+, pass background check, have experience with pets, safe environment if offering boarding. Insurance provided by Rover during bookings.

Payment: Two days after service completion via direct deposit, PayPal, or check. Rover takes 20% service fee.

Best for: Responsible pet owners who enjoy spending time with animals and have flexible schedules or space to board pets.

7. Turo – Car Sharing

Turo enables car owners to rent their vehicles to others, positioning itself among passive side hustle apps to make money where your asset generates income with minimal active work.

How it works: List your car on Turo with photos, availability calendar, and pricing. Renters book your vehicle for trips. You can deliver the car or have renters pick up from your location.

Earning potential: Average hosts earn $706 monthly. Luxury or specialty vehicles in high-demand locations can earn $2,000+ monthly. Earnings depend on vehicle value, location, and booking frequency.

Requirements: 21+, qualifying vehicle (typically less than 12 years old with under 130,000 miles), current registration and insurance, clean title.

Payment: Direct deposit three days after trip starts. Turo takes 10-40% fee depending on insurance coverage level selected.

Best for: Car owners with vehicles that sit idle regularly, particularly in tourist destinations or major cities.

8. Neighbor – Storage Space Rental

Neighbor transforms unused space into income, making it one of the most passive side hustle apps to make money by monetizing garages, basements, driveways, or spare rooms for storage.

How it works: List available space with dimensions, photos, and access details. People needing storage rent your space monthly, often at rates lower than traditional storage facilities but more profitable for you.

Earning potential: $100-$500+ monthly depending on space size and location. Unused garages in desirable areas can earn $300-$600 monthly with zero active work.

Requirements: 18+, available space, pass background check. Renters also background checked. $1 million liability protection included.

Payment: Monthly direct deposit. Neighbor takes 8-17% service fee depending on payment plan.

Best for: Homeowners with extra space who want completely passive income requiring minimal involvement.

9. Wonolo – On-Demand Staffing

Wonolo (Work Now Locally) connects businesses needing temporary workers with people seeking flexible shifts, differentiating itself among side hustle apps to make money through variety of available jobs.

How it works: Browse available shifts in your area, warehouse work, event staffing, merchandising, assembly, etc. Accept jobs that fit your schedule. Complete the shift and rate your experience.

Earning potential: $12-$30 per hour depending on job type and location. Many positions pay same-day or next-day after shift completion.

Requirements: 18+, pass background check, physical ability for labor-intensive work, reliable transportation.

Payment: Fast pay available immediately after shift for small fee, or standard payment within 1-2 business days.

Best for: People seeking variety, physical workers comfortable with manual labor, and those who prefer structured shifts over independent contractor work.

10. Poshmark – Resell Fashion

Poshmark creates a social marketplace for fashion resale, establishing itself among side hustle apps to make money by turning closet cleanouts into cash.

How it works: Photograph and list clothing, shoes, and accessories from your closet or items sourced from thrift stores. Buyers purchase items, you ship using prepaid labels Poshmark provides.

Earning potential: Highly variable, casual sellers make $50-$200 monthly decluttering wardrobes. Dedicated resellers sourcing inventory can earn $500-$5,000+ monthly.

Requirements: 18+ (or 13+ with parental supervision), items to sell, smartphone for photos, access to post office.

Payment: Earnings released to bank account or used for Poshmark purchases. Poshmark takes 20% on sales over $15 and flat $2.95 on sales under $15.

Best for: Fashion-conscious people with good eyes for style, patient sellers willing to manage listings and engage with the community.

11. Swagbucks – Rewards and Surveys

Swagbucks offers the easiest entry among side hustle apps to make money, requiring no special skills beyond internet access and time to complete simple online tasks.

How it works: Earn “Swagbucks” (SB) by completing surveys, watching videos, shopping online through partner retailers, playing games, and searching the web. Redeem SB for gift cards or PayPal cash.

Earning potential: Realistically $25-$100 monthly with casual use. Dedicated users maximizing all earning methods might reach $200-$300 monthly, though this requires significant time investment.

Requirements: 13+ with email address and internet access. No background checks or special skills needed.

Payment: Gift cards (Amazon, Target, Starbucks, etc.) or PayPal cash. Minimum redemption typically $3-$25 depending on reward.

Best for: People seeking truly flexible, no-commitment earning during downtime, not those needing substantial income.

12. Field Agent – Mystery Shopping and Retail Tasks

Field Agent pays users to complete quick tasks at retail locations, offering unique opportunities among side hustle apps to make money for people who enjoy shopping and attention to detail.

How it works: Browse available “jobs” near you—auditing store displays, checking prices, verifying product placement, mystery shopping experiences. Complete tasks and submit required photos or information.

Earning potential: $3-$20 per task depending on complexity. Jobs typically take 5-15 minutes. Active users completing 20-30 tasks monthly earn $100-$300.

Requirements: 18+, smartphone with camera, ability to visit retail locations, attention to detail for accurate reporting.

Payment: Payments processed twice monthly via direct deposit once you reach $10 minimum.

Best for: Detail-oriented people who frequent stores anyway and can efficiently complete quick tasks during regular shopping trips.

FAQs About Side Hustle Apps to Make Money

How much can you realistically make with side hustle apps?
Most people earn $200-$1,000 monthly with 5-15 hours weekly effort using side hustle apps to make money. Full-time gig workers (40+ hours weekly) typically earn $2,000-$5,000 monthly before expenses. Earnings depend heavily on which apps you use, your location, skills, and time invested. No app legitimately offers substantial income for minimal effort.

Which side hustle app pays the most?
Upwork typically offers the highest earning potential ($50-$200+ per hour) for skilled professionals in fields like software development, consulting, or specialized writing. Among delivery and service apps, TaskRabbit and Instacart often pay $20-$30+ per hour. However, “highest paying” varies by individual skills, local market rates, and time availability, what pays best for you depends on your unique situation.

Are side hustle apps safe?
Reputable side hustle apps to make money like those listed here implement background checks, insurance coverage, secure payment processing, and safety features. However, gig work involves risks, driving has accident risks, meeting strangers (TaskRabbit, Rover) requires caution, and delivery exposes you to weather and neighborhoods. Always trust your instincts, follow platform safety guidelines, and maintain appropriate insurance coverage.

How quickly do side hustle apps pay?
Payment speed varies significantly. Instant or same-day cashout (for small fees) is available on DoorDash, Uber, and Instacart. Weekly automatic deposits are standard on most platforms. Some apps like Rover pay 2 days after service completion, while Field Agent pays twice monthly. Platforms paying via PayPal typically process faster than those using direct deposit or checks.

Can teenagers use side hustle apps?
Most side hustle apps to make money require users to be 18+ due to payment processing, tax reporting, and liability concerns. Notable exceptions include Swagbucks (13+ with parental consent) and Poshmark (13+ with supervision). Teenagers seeking income should explore traditional part-time employment, lawn care, babysitting, tutoring, or starting small businesses that don’t require platform age restrictions.

Conclusion

The gig economy provides unprecedented flexibility to earn income on your terms using side hustle apps to make money that fit your skills, schedule, and financial goals. Whether you’re delivering food with DoorDash, freelancing on Upwork, pet sitting through Rover, or renting unused space on Neighbor, these platforms transform your spare time and underutilized assets into tangible income.