SAVE FOR LATER
Three months ago, I downloaded 15 money-making apps after seeing promises of “$500 per week!” plastered across social media. After wasting 40 hours on surveys that paid $0.12 each and getting locked out of two apps before reaching minimum payout, I learned the hard truth: most of these apps are either scams or so time-inefficient they’re not worth your effort.
But six apps actually delivered. I spent 30 days testing each one, tracking every minute and every dollar earned. The question wasn’t whether I could make $100 total across all apps (I could), but which individual apps could realistically hit that $100 threshold in a month without requiring a full-time commitment.
The point of this research wasn’t about getting rich. With people struggling more than ever, I wanted to highlight legitimate ways to earn $100-$300 monthly during naptime or while waiting in carpool, without falling for scams that waste your time or never actually pay out.
Also See: Stack These 7 Apps to Earn $500 Monthly from Spare Change
App Performance Comparison
| App Name | Monthly Earning Potential | Time to $100 | Payment Methods | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branded Surveys | $75-$150 | 15-20 hours | PayPal, gift cards | Survey takers with qualifying demographics |
| Swagbucks | $50-$120 | 20-25 hours | PayPal, gift cards | Multi-taskers combining activities |
| Ibotta | $80-$200 | Varies (shopping-based) | PayPal, Venmo, gift cards | Regular grocery shoppers |
| Rakuten | $100-$300 | Varies (shopping-based) | PayPal, check | Online shoppers with big purchases |
| Dosh | $20-$60 | Passive (automatic) | Bank transfer | Frequent diners and travelers |
| Steady | $200-$1,000+ | Varies (job-based) | Direct deposit | Side hustle seekers |
Branded Surveys: $75-$150 Monthly for Qualifying Demographics
What You’ll Do
- Complete 10-15 minute surveys about products, services, and consumer habits
- Answer profile questions to increase survey matches
- Participate in daily polls for bonus points
Performance Reality
I earned $127 in 18 hours during my 30-day test, about $7 per hour. Most surveys paid 50-200 points ($0.50-$2.00) and took 5-15 minutes. The catch: I qualified for only 40% of the surveys I attempted. Demographics matter heavily here. Women aged 25-45 with household incomes $50,000-$100,000 qualify most often. If you’re outside prime marketing demographics, expect more disqualifications.
Monthly realistic target: $100-$125 in 15-20 hours if you qualify consistently. Payment arrives in 1-2 business days via PayPal (minimum $5 cashout) or instantly via gift cards (minimum $10).
How to Get Started
- Complete your profile thoroughly at BrandedSurveys.com (age, income, shopping habits, and household size determine survey matches)
- Enable push notifications to catch high-paying surveys quickly before they fill
- Start with daily polls to build an initial balance while you wait for survey invitations
- Complete 2-3 surveys daily during consistent times so the app learns your schedule
- Cash out at $5 threshold initially to verify payment processing, then save points to $25+ for better redemption rates
Red Flags to Watch For
- Survey disqualifications after 5+ minutes (you’ve already provided valuable data, but get no compensation)
- Point reductions without explanation (some users report balance adjustments)
- Surveys that request payment information or ask you to purchase products
- Extended verification periods before the first payment based on Trustpilot reviews
Bottom Line
Most consistent earners earn $100-$125 per month in 15-20 hours. Best combined with Swagbucks since both pull from different survey routers, so you’ll qualify for different opportunities on each platform.
Swagbucks: $50-$120 Monthly Through Activity Stacking
What You’ll Do
- Complete surveys similar to Branded Surveys
- Watch video playlists while doing other tasks
- Shop through their portal for cashback
- Play mobile games to specific levels for rewards
Performance Reality
My 30-day earnings: $94 across 23 hours of mixed activities. Unlike survey-only apps, Swagbucks works best when you stack activities. I earned $35 from surveys ($1.50-$3 per hour), $28 from shopping cashback (no extra time), $18 from video watching (ran passively on old phone), and $13 from completing one mobile game offer.
Income breakdown by activity: Surveys average $3-$5 per hour, but you’ll face frequent disqualifications. Video watching pays $0.50-$1 per hour but runs passively. Shopping cashback ranges 1-10% depending on retailer. The game offers pay $5-$25 but requires days or weeks to complete level requirements.
Realistic monthly target: $75-$100 if you actively stack 2-3 earning methods. Payment processes in 2-3 business days to PayPal ($25 minimum) or instantly to gift cards ($3 minimum).
How to Get Started
- Create an account at Swagbucks.com and complete the initial profile survey for 50 bonus points
- Install the browser extension before your next online purchase to automatically activate cashback
- Download the app on a spare device for passive video watching (select auto-play playlists under “Watch” section)
- Check “Discover” section daily for limited-time offers that pay 10-50x more than standard surveys
- Complete one survey daily to maintain an active status for high-paying opportunities
Red Flags to Watch For
- Games that don’t track progress correctly (screenshot your game level before starting any offer)
- “Pending” credits that never convert to available balance after the specified waiting period
- Offers requiring credit card information for “free trials” that auto-charge if you forget to cancel
- Video playlists that stop running and require constant monitoring
Bottom Line
Reaching $100 takes 20-25 hours monthly across multiple activities. Best used as a shopping cashback tool first, with surveys and videos filling spare time rather than being a primary income source.
Ibotta: $80-$200 Monthly for Regular Grocery Shoppers
What You’ll Do
- Scan grocery receipts to earn cashback on purchased items
- Activate offers before shopping
- Complete bonus tasks like buying any produce or meat
Performance Reality
I earned $156 in month one, but this included a $100 grocery budget I already planned to spend. My actual process: activated 20-30 offers before my weekly Walmart trip, spent 2 minutes scanning my receipt afterward, and earned $8-$12 per shopping trip. Over four weeks, 8 minutes of app time generated $48 in pure cashback (plus the $108 came from strategic offer stacking on items I was buying anyway).
Earnings vary wildly by shopping habits. If you buy name-brand products and shop at participating stores (Walmart, Target, grocery chains), expect $15-$25 weekly. Generic-brand shoppers or those using discount stores see $5-$10 weekly. Bonus multipliers during holidays can double earnings (I hit $35 in one Thanksgiving week).
The app reaches $100 monthly only when you actively use it for every grocery trip and strategically plan purchases around high-value offers. Most casual users earn $40-$60 monthly.
How to Get Started
- Browse available offers by category before leaving for the store (produce, meat, snacks)
- Activate 15-20 offers matching items on your shopping list (focus on “Any Brand” offers)
- Add 1-2 items from high-value offers ($1-$3 cashback) if they fit your budget
- Scan the receipt within 24 hours by photographing it clearly under good lighting
- Cash out at $20 minimum to PayPal or Venmo (payment arrives in 1-2 business days)
Red Flags to Watch For
- Offers requiring purchase of multiple items to unlock cashback (read fine print for “buy 3 to earn” requirements)
- Receipt rejections claiming items weren’t purchased when they clearly appear (submit support ticket with photo)
- Expired offers still showing in app (check expiration date before activating)
- Cashback amounts that decrease between activation and purchase (screenshot offers before shopping)
Bottom Line
Regular grocery shoppers spending $400+ monthly can realistically hit $80-$150 in cashback with 10 minutes total app time per week. Combine with Fetch Rewards (scans the same receipts for points on any purchase) to maximize receipt value.
Rakuten: $100-$300 Monthly for Online Shoppers
What You’ll Do
- Shop at 2,500+ online retailers through Rakuten’s portal or browser extension
- Earn 1-10% cashback on purchases (rates vary by store and season)
- Stack with credit card rewards and store sales
Performance Reality
My first month: $287 cashback on $3,200 in planned purchases (9% average rate). The distinction here matters: I was already buying a $900 laptop, $800 in holiday gifts, and $1,500 in household items. Rakuten just inserted itself into my existing spending. Zero additional time beyond clicking through their portal before checking out.
Realistic earnings depend entirely on online shopping frequency. Someone spending $500 monthly online at an average 5% cashback earns $25. Someone spending $2,000 monthly at 7% average earns $140. New users get $10-$30 welcome bonuses, and seasonal rates spike (12-15% during Black Friday).
The $100 monthly threshold requires roughly $1,400-$2,000 in online purchases at average cashback rates. This isn’t “earning” money; it’s recovering money on spending that was happening anyway.
How to Get Started
- Sign up at Rakuten.com using a referral link for $10-$30 welcome bonus (make a purchase within 90 days to claim it)
- Install the browser extension so it auto-alerts you when visiting participating stores
- Click the extension icon before any online purchase to activate cashback
- Complete your purchase normally (cashback posts within 1-3 days as “pending”)
- Receive quarterly payments by check or PayPal in February, May, August, and November (minimum $5 balance required)
Red Flags to Watch For
- Cashback not tracking if you use coupon codes from other sites (many stores exclude cashback when external codes are applied)
- “Pending” cashback that disappears before the payment period (happens with returns or order cancellations)
- Lower rates than advertised (browser extension shows incorrect percentage; always verify on the Rakuten site before purchase)
- Missing cashback claims requiring proof of purchase (save order confirmation emails)
Bottom Line
Reaching $100 monthly requires $1,400-$2,000 in online shopping. Only worthwhile if you already shop online frequently; not worth making purchases just for cashback. Best combined with cash-back credit cards for double rewards (4-7% total return).
Dosh: $20-$60 Monthly Through Automatic Cashback
What You’ll Do
- Link credit or debit cards to the app
- Earn automatic cashback when shopping at participating merchants
- No receipt scanning, no activation required
Performance Reality
My 30-day total: $43 cashback across zero active minutes. After linking my cards, Dosh ran automatically in the background. I earned $18 from dining at three participating restaurants, $12 from a hotel booking, $8 from Target purchases, and $5 from gas station stops.
This is the definition of passive earning, but with serious limitations. Participating merchants vary by location. My area had 15-20 restaurants and stores in the network, but friends in rural areas found only 3-4 options. Cashback rates run 2-10% depending on the merchant and current promotions.
Realistic monthly earnings: $25-$40 for frequent diners and travelers, $10-$20 for occasional users. The app reaches $60+ monthly only if you regularly stay in hotels or make large purchases at participating retailers. Most users earn $15-$30 monthly without changing spending habits.
How to Get Started
- Download the Dosh app and create an account
- Link your primary credit or debit card through a secure banking connection
- Browse local participating merchants in the app to see which places you already frequent
- Shop normally using linked cards (cashback posts automatically within 3-7 days)
- Cash out at $25 minimum to PayPal or bank transfer, or spend balance directly through app partners
Red Flags to Watch For
- Cashback not posting from verified merchant (ensure you paid with linked card, not a different payment method)
- Merchants shown in app but no longer participating in program (check “active offers” section before visiting)
- Account security concerns from linking bank accounts (use cards you monitor regularly, not primary checking)
- Minimum cashout increasing without notice (currently $25, but has changed in the past)
Bottom Line
True passive income averaging $25-$40 monthly for frequent restaurant and retail shoppers. It won’t reach $100 alone, but combines perfectly with Ibotta and Rakuten since it requires zero additional time or effort.
Steady: $200-$1,000+ Monthly Connecting to Side Gigs
What You’ll Do
- Browse vetted side hustle and part-time job listings
- Apply directly through the app to opportunities matching your skills and schedule
- Access income tracking tools and financial resources
Performance Reality
Steady differs from other apps: it’s a job-finding platform, not a task-based earner. I found three opportunities through Steady in month one: a $400 weekend catering gig, a $180 product demonstration job (3 hours), and ongoing $15/hour childcare bookings earning $200-$300 monthly.
This isn’t about the app paying you directly. Steady curates opportunities from companies like Instacart, DoorDash, local event staffing agencies, and direct-hire positions. Income potential ranges from $200 monthly for casual side work to $1,000+ for committed part-time schedules.
The app’s value lies in filtering legitimate opportunities based on your location, availability, and skills. Instead of visiting 10 different gig platforms, Steady consolidates them. Success requires actively applying; browsing listings earns nothing.
How to Get Started
- Complete detailed profile including skills, availability, transportation, and income goals
- Set job alert preferences for opportunity types (delivery, childcare, events, retail, online work)
- Browse daily listings and apply to 2-3 matches immediately (best opportunities fill within hours)
- Complete any required background checks or onboarding for selected platforms
- Track earnings through Steady’s income monitoring feature to see combined earnings across multiple gigs
Red Flags to Watch For
- Opportunities requiring upfront equipment purchases before starting (legitimate gigs provide supplies or reimbursement)
- Jobs with vague descriptions or no company name listed (may be MLM recruiting disguised as employment)
- Unrealistic pay rates like $50/hour for simple tasks (typically means commission-only or misleading structure)
- Positions requiring payment for “training materials” or “certification”
Bottom Line
Earning potential exceeds $200 monthly for active job seekers but requires 5-10 hours weekly applying and working actual gigs. Best used as a side hustle connector rather than a passive income source. Combines well with other apps since Steady helps you find substantial income while other apps fill small time gaps.
Verification Methods and Scam Prevention
Before spending time on any money app, verify its legitimacy through three checkpoints:
Trustpilot Review Analysis
Search “[app name] Trustpilot” and filter reviews by “Bad” rating. Read 10-15 recent negative reviews, looking for patterns. Legitimate apps show complaints about slow surveys or low pay, but users confirm they got paid. Scam apps show recurring themes: accounts frozen before payout, payment never arriving, points disappearing, or customer service ignoring complaints.
Payment Proof Research
Search “[app name] payment proof Reddit” to find real user discussions. Legitimate apps have multiple users sharing screenshots of deposits and discussing best earning strategies. Scam apps have complainers but no proof of successful payments.
App Store Rating Investigation
Check app ratings across both iOS and Android platforms. Legitimate apps maintain 4.0+ ratings across both stores with 10,000+ reviews. Sudden rating drops or huge discrepancies between platforms signal problems. Read reviews from your demographic (moms, your age range, your location) since earnings vary by user profile.
Red flags requiring immediate rejection:
- Apps requiring payment to access earning features
- Platforms promising specific dollar amounts for signing up
- Services asking for Social Security numbers before you’ve earned anything
- Apps with minimum cashouts above $50 (designed to prevent most users from ever cashing out)
- Platforms with no company information or physical business address listed
Common Issues and Solutions
Survey Disqualifications
Getting screened out after 3-5 minutes without compensation wastes time across all survey apps. Solution: Complete profile surveys thoroughly in Branded Surveys and Swagbucks (better matching reduces disqualifications by 30-40%). Accept that 40-60% disqualification rates are standard industry practice. If you’re getting 80%+ disqualifications, your demographic isn’t in demand; switch to shopping cashback apps instead.
Cashback Not Tracking
Ibotta receipt rejections and Rakuten missing cashback frustrate users most. For Ibotta: ensure receipt shows store name, date, and all items clearly. Photograph receipts immediately after purchase, not days later when the ink fades. For Rakuten: disable ad blockers before shopping, don’t navigate away from the store site after activating cashback, and avoid mixing Rakuten with other coupon extensions.
Payment Delays
Most apps process payments within stated timeframes (1-7 days typically), but delays happen. Document everything: screenshot your balance before cashing out, save confirmation emails, and note the date you requested payment. If payment exceeds the stated timeframe by 3+ business days, contact support through in-app messaging with screenshots. Legitimate apps resolve issues within 48 hours.
Account Suspensions
Apps suspend accounts for suspected fraud (using VPNs, multiple accounts from the same household, or rapid point accumulation triggering automated flags). If suspended unfairly: contact support immediately with explanation, provide photo ID if requested, and be patient (resolution takes 5-10 business days). If you were violating terms (trying to game the system), the suspension is permanent.
Turn One App Into $100+ Monthly (Or Stack Three for $300)
The apps that consistently delivered $100+ monthly were Branded Surveys (if your demographics qualify), Ibotta (for regular grocery shoppers), Rakuten (for frequent online shoppers), and Steady (for active side hustlers). Swagbucks hit $100 only when stacking multiple earning methods. Dosh stayed under $100 but required zero effort.
Your path to $100 monthly depends on your lifestyle. If you shop for groceries weekly and buy things online regularly, Ibotta plus Rakuten gets you there with 15 minutes of weekly effort. If you have dedicated work time, Steady connects you to real side gigs exceeding $100. If you’re home with kids during naptime, Branded Surveys reaches $100-$125 in 15-20 hours monthly.
Start with one app matching your strongest habit (grocery shopping, online shopping, or available work time). Test it for two weeks. If you’re earning $3-$5 per hour or better and payments arrive as promised, add a second app. Building to $100-$300 monthly across 2-3 apps takes 8-12 weeks as you learn which activities pay best for your time.
If you have 2-3 hours weekly during naptime, start with Branded Surveys and complete the profile survey today to begin qualifying for $1-$3 surveys. If you grocery shop weekly, download Ibotta before your next store trip and activate 15-20 offers to earn $8-$12 on that receipt. Document your first week’s earnings to see if the app matches your time value.