10 apps that earn you money for doing almost nothing

September 9, 2021

By Kim Komando

Rewards programs are plenty these days, with incentives that run the gamut from traditional free airline miles to the unique offering of a drone — complete with pilot lessons. What consumer doesn’t like a bonus for their effort? Unfortunately, while some programs are amazing, the majority fall flat.

Not surprisingly, many people find offers out there a bit too good to be true and steer clear. Tap or click here for 10 ways to make extra money online.

But what if you uncovered rewards programs that offer a host of goodies, including cash, that take little effort and are legit? Would you be willing to give them a go? Well, here’s your opportunity. We have 10 apps that will pay you for doing what you already do throughout your day.

1. Miles

Here’s an app that rewards you any time you are on the move, and it doesn’t matter the mode of transportation. That’s right, Miles gives you points for trips taken via plane, boat, train, bicycle or foot and, of course, cars — which includes ride-sharing like Lyft and Uber.

Depending on the transportation method, the points vary and are calculated automatically, which means you do have to enable location services before your trip.

Use your accumulated points for a host of prizes such as complimentary items, freebies and percentage-off savings at many popular retailers.

Note: rewards are subject to change.

2. DraftKings

If you’re a sports fan, here’s a way you can earn cash while watching your favorite games: DraftKings, the leader in one-day fantasy sports.

It’s simple — just pick your lineup, stay under the salary cap and see how your team stacks up against the competition! This adds an extra exciting element to game night. Most of us love sports because we love rooting for our team. Putting cash on the line adds an extra layer of adrenaline.

While you’re polishing up your daily fantasy skills, check out DraftKings free-to-play pools, where you can earn big bucks.

Minimum $5 deposit required. Eligibility restrictions apply. See DraftKings dot com for details.

3. Ibotta

Get cashback in-store and online when you shop for groceries, clothing, home, travel and more with the free Ibotta app. For groceries, link your loyalty store cards, pay with Ibotta via linked bank cards or add offers before shopping, then submit your receipt. Combine all three of these methods to earn even more.

You can either shop with the Ibotta browser extension (Chrome) or app for online purchases. To withdraw your accrued savings, it must be greater than $20. You can also elect to transfer money to your PayPal account or a gift card purchased through the Ibotta app.

Note: Some retailers have a minimum purchase of $25 for gift cards.

4. Swagbucks

Who doesn’t spend time surfing the internet during the day? Why randomly scroll through social media or aimlessly browse websites when you can earn a few dollars online with Swagbucks browser extension or mobile app?

While this app allows you to earn cashback for the everyday things you do online, you may wonder how you score “SB” points. There are several ways, including:

• Shop online
• Search the web
• Watch videos
• Discover deals
• Answer surveys

Exchange your accrued points for gift cards from popular retailers like Amazon, Target and Walmart. In addition, you have the option to transfer the funds to your PayPal account.

5. National Consumer Panel

Although known for its TV ratings, the Nielsen National Consumer Panel wants feedback on your grocery habits. As a panel member, your data can influence the shopping experience for you and other consumers in the U.S.

When you use the NCP app to scan barcodes of purchased grocery items and share shopping data with the company, Nielsen awards you points, which are redeemable for merchandise, sweepstakes entries or gift cards.

If you are not interested in using the app, you can opt for a handheld scanner provided by Nielsen. You must become a panel member to download the app or receive the scanner. For more information on how to join, visit the National Consumer Panel website.

6. Shopkick

This app takes a unique twist to how you earn points. As is typical with this type of shopping app, Shopkick gives you points when you purchase certain products and scan your receipts or shop online.

However, you can further earn points for merely walking into a brick-and-mortar retailer, watching product videos or scanning barcodes of specific products while in the store.

You may also like: 4 ways to get cashback on Amazon

Accumulate enough points and cash them in for gift cards from brands including Starbucks, Sephora, Target and AMC Theaters.

7. Fetch

You can turn your grocery receipts into cash with the Fetch app. While many grocery apps require you to scan products or search for offers, with this app, you just take a photo of your receipt and Fetch does everything for you.

Once you’ve earned enough points (min. 3,000), you can transfer cash to a prepaid Mastercard, Visa or store-specific gift card. Don’t worry. Earning points is easy. You may receive a couple of thousand points on the purchase of one item or referral.

8. Seated

Any time you make a dining reservation, use Seated. You will earn a percentage (up to 30%) back in rewards that you can spend on brands like Uber, Sephora, Delta and Amazon.

How do you earn with the app? Select a restaurant from over 1,500 curated establishments, which you can sort by various filters such as location, cuisine and price.

You have the option to either book a reservation ahead of time or use the Seated walk-in feature. Once you finish dining, snap a picture of your receipt to receive your rewards.

9. Charity Miles

While this app won’t earn you money, you can make some bucks for a worthy cause. Charity Miles allows you to log all types of movements such as walking, biking, running, skipping or dancing towards dollars for the charity you choose from the site’s wide selection.

The many well-known charities include those that make an impact for:

• Children
• Animals
• Health
• Education
• Veterans
• Environment

You can earn as an individual or gather friends, family or co-workers for a team effort. With Charity Miles, everyone wins.

RELATED: How to get Amazon to donate for you

10. Microsoft Rewards

When you join Microsoft Rewards, you’re opening yourself up to all sorts of money-making opportunities. Search, shop and play with Microsoft to earn cash. Earn points for gift cards, nonprofit donations, sweepstakes entries and more.

Basically, it’s a way to make money by doing what you already do on your computer. For instance, you can earn five points when you sign in to your Microsoft account and search Bing.

You can also earn one point for every dollar you spend on the Microsoft Store. One of the most fun aspects of the Microsoft Rewards program is the daily and weekly quizzes, which teach you fun new trivia facts. Tap or click here to get started.