Do you want to make a little extra money? By starting a side hustle from your mobile phone, you can make a few pounds by using some apps that pay you for doing so.
If you have ever wondered how to make money using your smartphone, read on to discover the best money-making apps, UK.
Survey apps pay you to answer questions and take part in tasks – check out Branded Surveys and i-Say by Ipsos for more. Apps like Swagbucks will pay you to play games.
If you’re unfamiliar with the idea, it can be easy to assume that such apps must be a scam.
While lots of online scams exist – phishing emails that try to get your to part with your personal information being a key case in point – these apps do indeed allow you to make money online. Instantly, sometimes.
Using UK money making apps is unlikely to make you rich. Yet you could earn enough for extras like birthday and Christmas presents, a short break or a shopping trip – and using them is usually quick and easy.
I have made money with apps myself by using ‘get paid to’ or survey sites. Most of the apps that make money in the UK require their users to complete some sort of simple task in return for payment.
Often, this will mean participating in a survey or completing a task. Sometimes this involves playing a game or watching a video.
31 Best Money-Making Apps in the UK 2024
Contents
- 31 Best Money-Making Apps in the UK 2024
- 1. Branded Surveys
- 2. Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel (Earn Up to £62 in Your First Year)
- 3. Swagbucks
- 4. Toluna
- 5. Roamler
- 6. BeMyEye
- 7. Field Agent
- 8. CheckoutSmart
- 9. ClickSnap
- 10. StreetBees
- 11. Voxpopme
- 12. Pocket Bounty
- 13. Fronto
- 14. EarnApp
- 15. QuickThoughts
- 16. MobileXpression
- 17. SweatCoin
- 18. iSay
- 19. Qmee
- 20. Bulbshare
- 21. InboxPounds
- 22. Shoppix
- 23. Huyu
- 24. ZipZero
- 25. OhMyDosh
- 26. Gigwalk
- 27. GfK Mediaview
- 28. 20Cogs
- 29. Taskrabbit
- 30. Prolific
- 31. Vinted
- Which UK money-making app will you try?
I’ve separated the good from the bad so you don’t have to. Some apps offer a poor user experience, are too time-consuming or simply don’t pay enough.
The apps listed in this guide include all sorts of UK money-making apps. There are mystery shopping apps like Roamler, Field Agent and BeMyEye.
ClickSnap and CheckoutSmart allow you to make money when doing the weekly shop, while EarnApp pays you cash for your smartphone’s idle time.
Branded, Toluna, Swagbucks, StreetBees and Pocket Bounty users can complete surveys or other tasks, or give your opinion via a one-minute video to Voxpopme and you can get paid for doing so.
Use Fronto to earn rewards simply by swiping to unlock your screen, or complete one-off jobs via TaskRabbit.
Or as a Prolific user, you can even take part in academic research. Sweatcoin, meanwhile, will even pay you for walking.
They might not make you rich, but you have nothing to lose by trying some of these apps for yourself.
1. Branded Surveys
When you’re looking for apps to earn money, Branded Surveys should be at the top of your list (which is why it’s at the top of ours!).
We firmly believe Branded is among the best UK survey sites, and their mobile offering makes it easy to complete surveys on your phone.
Rated “Excellent” on TrustPilot due to the frequency of surveys and ease of cashing out, Branded Surveys is worth adding to your money-making arsenal.
You can read our full review of Branded Surveys here.
Check out Branded Surveys here
2. Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel (Earn Up to £62 in Your First Year)
The Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel is one of the best apps that give you money in the United Kingdom.
That’s because you get money for jam – yep, you do nothing at all other than keep the app installed and earn rewards.
Just use your mobile as normal. Nielsen will track how you use your device, and their data is used to predict internet usage trends.
According to Nielsen, the software/app won’t affect your battery or performance.
You’ll get a weekly incentive for being an active member and quarterly bonuses, plus you can earn triple points for registering multiple devices (iPad, laptop, etc.)
Learn more about the Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel here
3. Swagbucks
Of all the quick money-making apps in the UK, Swagbucks is one of the most well-known.
Using it involves various online tasks, such as taking part in surveys, completing web searches or watching videos.
Swagbucks also has a cash back site, and it too can pay you in Swagbucks.
There are plenty of special deals listed there.
According to Which? it might be easier to make money from a desktop or laptop. There are plug-ins out there that allow you to run Swagbucks while you work.
For example, you can run ads in another window on your PC or tab on your Mac, or Swagbucks can be set as the default search engine.
This means you can make a few pounds with minimal effort.
Of all the Swagbucks tasks you can complete on your phone, completing surveys seemed to be the most lucrative.
Once you earn enough, you can either trade Swagbucks for an Amazon voucher or be paid via PayPal.
For that reason, this is one of the best ways to earn instant PayPal money in the UK.
4. Toluna
Toluna is simple and enjoyable to use, and regulars say they enjoy the sense of belonging that comes from joining the Toluna community.
This company calls its devotees ‘Toluna influencers’, as their input can be used to help shape the way big brands operate.
It is basically a survey app. Typically a major Toluna survey will take around 15 minutes to complete, and you will be rewarded with 2,000 points plus. You can also answer one-off questions to earn 15 points.
One of the best things about Toluna is the range of rewards you can choose from. Points can be exchanged for PayPal cash or vouchers for big brands like Amazon.
Like many of these money-making apps, you will have to give demographic information that might affect how many surveys you are invited to take part in.
Find out more about Toluna here
5. Roamler
Roamler is one of the best money making apps around. From a Dutch tech company, the Roamler app on Apple and Android allow users to make money by completing small mystery shopping tasks.
There are a couple of initial obstacles – but don’t let that put you off as they’re easily surmountable. Firstly you need an invitation to join up.
This may sound tricky, but requesting one via the Roamler UK Facebook page will usually do the trick, or you can message them directly via the Roamler app.
You will also need to complete several unpaid tasks before securing paid ones. Roamler say this is to ensure that users are committed to making the app work for both parties.
This also works as a type of training, as you learn by performing real tasks what is really required of you.
Initially, you can expect to fail a task or two, but after that, it’s easy enough to pick up.
As more tasks are completed you get the chance to move up to to a higher level. A Which? tester achieved this within just a few days.
At level two and above you can expect to be offered more paid tasks. A word of warning – if you fail to follow the instructions to the letter then you will not be paid.
That said, you will soon get the hang of it.
While this might sound like a lot of effort, in reality, most tasks only take a few minutes to complete – so it’s easy money.
If you make regular shopping trips or spend your lunch hour in the city centre, then it doesn’t take long at all to take a quick snap or check product availability.
6. BeMyEye
BeMyEye is basically a mystery shopping app.
They represent big names like L’Oréal, Nestle and Samsung, who want to gather data on how retailers display their products within stores.
Those who sign up to BeMyEye are thus paid to collect this information.
This one is widely regarded as one of the best game apps to make money, so jobs are allocated quickly. Again, this is a simple one to fit into your day, if that involves shopping trips in the town centre or grocery store.
Tasks do vary slightly, which can make life more interesting. You may be required to make notes, take photos of stock displays or answer questions.
In some cases, users might be asked to approach shop staff with queries to report back on their performance. You may also need to buy products, and the cost of these will be reimbursed.
The level of difficulty varies, and BeMyEye usually pays between £1 and £10 per task. Cash will be paid into your chosen PayPal account.
Related post: How to Start Mystery Shopping in the UK
7. Field Agent
This mystery shopping app allows users to earn by filling out reports, posting online reviews, carrying out retail audits, participating in digital product demo and more.
The list of brands ranges from stores to restaurants and bars.
You can choose between carrying out tasks while in-store, or if you prefer, you can stick to doing surveys from home.
Users may also purchase products and provide a review, and will be rewarded for doing so.
Payments can be made from Field Agent straight to your bank account, usually occurring within a few days.
This idea of Field Agent is to obtain accurate and useful shopper insights and retail information. Brands can then use this to target opportunities for growth.
The app enables Field Agent to give brands instant feedback on the real-life experiences of shoppers.
Are products in the right place? What catches a shopper’s eye? How is the customer service, and how are consumers using the products once they get them home?
Field Agent helps brands and retailers to answer such questions, so by taking part, you can help to shape the shopping future for us all.
8. CheckoutSmart
As the name suggests, CheckoutSmart pays you for those trips to the supermarket. All you have to do is upload a picture of your shopping receipt following your trip.
You can also use it when ordering groceries online. Even those without a smartphone can use this, as the receipts can be uploaded to their website instead via a laptop or PC.
A bonus of using CheckoutSmart is that they give you exclusive access to special discounts from big brand names. Payment can be made either via PayPal or directly into the user’s nominated bank account.
The CheckoutSmart website features some impressive testimonials from the likes of the BBC, Good Housekeeping and money-saving expert Martin Lewis.
Their partner brands cover the big four supermarkets and many more, so whether you shop at Asda, Aldi, Ocado, Spar, Superdrug or Waitrose, you can earn while you buy.
Check out the CheckoutSmart app here
9. ClickSnap
ClickSnap comes from Quidco, one of the UK’s biggest and best-known cash-back sites. Like CheckoutSmart, it involves earning money when doing your supermarket shopping.
As with Quidco, you earn cash back every time you use the ClickSnap app. This can later be credited to your PayPal or back account.
There are three simple ways to earn this cashback via ClickSnap.
Take a photo within the app when shopping in-store, upload the image of your receipt onto the main website or give ClickSnap your online supermarket account details, and featured products will be credited to you each time you shop.
Participating retailers include Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose and Ocado.
As well as earning money, app users can make the most of some unbeatable offers on a large range of big brand essentials.
Make a start with the ClickSnap app here
10. StreetBees
Streetbees is an app offering users various types of task. In terms of variety, this is a great option, and the app is fun to use.
Your allotted tasks might mean completing a survey, recording a video of you testing a product, or taking one or more photos.
StreetBees are paid via PayPal rather than in gift cards or vouchers or gift cards.
How much you can earn depends on which tasks become available to you.
This in turn, is influenced by various factors, including your location.
In terms of pay, this one is pretty good – you can typically earn around £1 for a five-minute task.
The StreetBees ethos is to discover what consumers are up to.
Whether that means finding out about how you spend your spare time, the device you own or your favourite snack foods. It’s up to you how much information you decide to share.
Become a Streetbee by downloading the app here
Related post: Best Product Testing Websites in the UK
11. Voxpopme
If you fancy yourself as an influencer – particularly a YouTuber – then Voxpopme might be the best option for you.
Once you’ve downloaded the smartphone app, you can start making money by sharing your views.
The company rewards users for their opinions, which are given via quick one-minute video.
They give you a topic and pay you to upload a recording of you talking about that subject.
Voxpopme users earn 25p for each video. Basically, they want you to get your message across to the brands they work with – in just one minute.
So it suits anyone good at talking in a clear and concise manner. It will also appeal to anyone keen to have their voice heard.
What you earn can then be transferred to your PayPal account. You do have to earn a minimum of £10 before you can claim a payout, however.
Download the Voxpopme app here
12. Pocket Bounty
Pocket Bounty is among the best money-making apps when it comes to choice. You can earn by completing a variety of tasks, and these range from taking surveys to downloading apps.
You can also be paid to watch videos or enter competitions. Earnings can then be spent on Amazon or Google Play vouchers, or you can claim cash via PayPal.
Watching videos appears to be the least lucrative task, although if you can get them to run in the background, that could prove more worthwhile. One coin is paid per ad, and these may be a minute or two long.
Downloading apps varied. With some, the user only has to download and open the app to get paid, but with others, a certain level of interaction is required. For instance, a certain level should be reached on a game before Pocket Bounty will pay out.
Once more, taking surveys seems to be the best use of time in terms of reward. You will also have to complete various demographic information before you can take part.
Discover more about Pocket Bounty here
13. Fronto
Fronto is another option you could consider. Download the Android app, and you can earn money via your smartphone.
Reward suppliers include Google Play, iTunes, Amazon and PayPal gift cards.
Once you’ve created a Fronto user account, the app automatically becomes your phone’s default lock screen.
You then unlock it by swiping as usual. This triggers ads, which you are paid to view.
In a nutshell, you get paid to use your smartphone just as you usually would. Unless you are very easily distracted by ads, then it’s an easy way to make a few quid.
If you click through on the ads, you will earn more money. Again it’s one of those things that you could use to occupy time while waiting for a train or sitting on the bus or tube.
View the Fronto app here
14. EarnApp
The big selling point of this one – compared to other game apps that pay you – is that it’s all about when your phone is doing absolutely nothing.
According to EarnApp, our phones are idle for an average of 21 hours per day, so why not put this time to good use?
Your phone must have some battery life in it, or be charging, and you must also be connected to WiFi.
Other than that, EarnApp users can make money while literally doing nothing. It’s what is known as passive income.
Once you download EarnApp, the company basically use your phone’s bandwidth to direct secure traffic. Businesses are apparently carefully vetted by EarnApp, who then route their traffic via your device.
The aim is to increase competition in the marketplace. Put simply that may help to drive down prices for consumers just like you.
Luminati are the brains behind EarnApp. Their aim – as well as reducing prices – is to protect brands to reduce the incidence of counterfeit goods and fraud. They also carry out website testing and track search engine performance.
Various factors can affect what you can make when using EarnApp. These include your location, plus the internet speed and connectivity of your chosen device.
Make money with EarnApp today by signing up here
15. QuickThoughts
The QuickThoughts app will pay you in iTunes or Amazon gift cards in exchange for your views. Surveys are designed to be completed either from home or on the go, so they’re quick and simple to take part in.
Anyone over 18 can sign up before selecting from a broad range of surveys to suit their interests and preferences.
There is no commitment, and surveys vary in length from a few quick-fire questions to more in-depth polls – or even a photo survey.
The companies partnering with QuickThoughts do so because they want to determine what consumers think. So if you want to make your voice heard, this is a great app to use.
QuickThoughts pays up to £3 per survey, with photo polls paying a fee of up to £5 each.
Get started on giving your QuickThoughts to big brands here
16. MobileXpression
MobileXpression attracts interested parties by claiming users can earn a £10 Amazon gift card in under a fortnight.
Once installed, the more time you spend on the app the more you will be rewarded.
With more than 2 million members, MobileXpression allows you to exchange the credits you earn with them for gift cards. As usual, you must be aged 18 or over to sign up.
This app is backed by comScore incorporated, one of the world’s biggest names in market research. As well as awarding points, members can be entered into sweepstakes to win gadgets, gift cards or cash.
The aim of MobileXpression is to help businesses understand how consumers use the internet on mobile devices. They also donate to Trees for Knowledge, and points never expire as long as your membership remains active.
Sign up with MobileXpression on Apple or Android here
17. SweatCoin
SweatCoin is designed to allow users to become healthier as well as wealthier. In a nutshell, this clever app rewards you for walking.
Users earn Sweatcoins by exercising either at home or outdoors, and you can access the app via a smartwatch as well as a smartphone.
Sweatcoin acts as a pedometer, so you can monitor your pace and step count as you go – and it is designed not to drain your phone battery.
Nor do Sweatcoin track your location or share personal details with any third parties.
The Sweatcoins earned can be spent on health and fitness kit, gadgets and other exclusive member deals, or you can donate them to charity if you prefer.
Stay active by signing up with Sweatcoin here
18. iSay
iSay is another online survey app that gathers public opinion on behalf of big brands. Around 3 million users’ views are shared via iSay, with participants being rewarded for expressing their opinion.
As well as knowing that your input will be valued, as an iSay member, you will also be rewarded for your efforts via gift cards for use at retailers like Amazon, Tesco, Argos, M&S, Sports Direct, John Lewis and more.
You can also donate to charity or claim Google Play or iTunes vouchers.
iSay gathers data on advertising and entertainment as well as products, and their surveys are designed to be engaging and varied to keep users interested.
You can also set up iSay – owned by Ipsos – to notify you daily, weekly or monthly. This means you have more control over when you take part.
Have your say with iSay by joining here
19. Qmee
Qmee’s big selling point is that it can pay you in real cash if you prefer. You can sign up via Android or Apple and be paid via PayPal or in gift cards.
The app also says you can earn money very quickly – even when you only have 10 minutes or so to fill while commuting or looking after the kids.
They can also point you toward great deals that suit your preferences.
Unlike some other apps, there is no minimum cash-out amount with Qmee.
Rewards – and real cash – can be earned by completing surveys, answering quiz questions and even searching online. You can even get paid for referring a friend.
Gain your place with Qmee by clicking here
Bulbshare calls itself a creative community of worldwide collaborators, and these users can connect with brands, discover new ‘bulbshares’ from others and share their pictures and video footage.
Users love the variety, and the fact that Bulbshare pays out quickly with no minimum amount applicable before doing so.
With offices in London, New York and Hong Kong, Bulbshare provides regular insights and trends to all sorts of businesses all over the world.
Get ready to Bulbshare on Apple here or Android here
21. InboxPounds
InboxPounds boasts a very simple structure. Once signed up, users take part in a variety of online activities.
These may include conducting searches or watching videos as well as completing surveys. InboxPounds users may also be paid for shopping online or reading emails.
Brands pay InboxPounds for the genuine consumer input you provide, and in turn, InboxPounds pay you in cash or gift vouchers. You can be paid via PayPal or gift cards to redeem at Amazon or other retailers.
While it’s free to sign up, you cannot cash out with InboxPounds until you reach the £20 threshold.
Be quids in with InboxPounds by getting started here
22. Shoppix
Using Shoppix involves taking shots of your shopping receipts. This earns you tokens – as well as provides a handy place for storing all your retail records.
Shoppix users can also take short surveys or win prizes via digital scratch cards. Sometimes polls about your shopping experiences are also offered.
Completing these simple tasks means you can earn more tokens. These are awarded straight away and can be seen in the app’s rewards section.
You must earn at least £5 before you can claim your reward, and can then choose between gift cards and PayPal cash. Read our full Shoppix review here.
You can sign up for the Shoppix app right here
23. Huyu
Huyu partners with selected supermarkets, so you can earn as you shop. You can share paper receipts with them, or forward email copies.
Whether you shop online with Ocado, in-store with one of the ‘big four’ or prefer smaller supermarkets like Aldi, Co-op, Lidl or Waitrose, you can use Huyu to earn points. These can later be redeemed for various rewards.
500 points are required before using these to claim gift vouchers or cards. It’s easy to see which options you can choose from while in the rewards page of the app.
You can submit the receipts of household members as well as your own and may also be invited to provide a ‘Huyu snapshot’ of your internet search history.
Find out how to share your data with Huyu here
24. ZipZero
ZipZero’s rewards are slightly different from those offered by other money-making apps.
With them, the receipts you submit are turned into cash that goes towards your usual household bills.
You don’t need to be selective about where you shop, nor are you required to switch energy suppliers. Just carry on as before, but be rewarded for doing exactly that.
Every time you shop – at any retailer – ZipZero will pay 0.5% of the transaction value when you share the receipt with them.
Up to £50 per month can be claimed to help pay your council tax, broadband, phone, water, gas and electricity bills.
Start slashing your monthly outgoings once set up with ZipZero
25. OhMyDosh
OhMyDosh attracts new users by promising to pay out within the week. Once you reach the £10 threshold, you can receive your cash reward by bank transfer or PayPal.
Money can be earned by taking part in surveys, trials and more. Unlike others listed here, OhMyDosh isn’t an app as such, as you need to access it via the website. You can do this via a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone.
Many of the tasks involve signing up to free product or service trials, so you do need to be on the ball about cancelling these once the free period ends. You can also earn by referring friends to OhMyDosh.
Do your thing with OhMyDosh by joining here
26. Gigwalk
Gigwalk is a platform providing market data to big brands so they can use this intelligence when developing and marketing services and products.
Gigwalkers carry out various tasks, from checking how products are displayed in-store to completing reports or testing how an app works ahead of its launch.
Users download the app via Android or Apple, then register and link their PayPal account. After that, ‘Gigs’ can be found via the list or map in the app.
A task may take between a few minutes and a few hours to complete. All reporting is done in-app, and you are paid once the job has been approved. Earnings vary according to the type of task undertaken.
Get Gigwalking by downloading the app here
27. GfK Mediaview
If you listen to the radio or watch TV, you can sign up with GfK Mediaview to provide valuable consumer insights to programme makers and channel controllers.
You can give daily feedback if you like or opt to do so whenever it suits you. Your ratings are passed on to influential media types, which means you may even be helping to shape the future of audio and visual media.
The drawback of GfK Mediaview is that earning anything is not guaranteed. Points are earned for participation, and this allows users access to points prize draws.
Here, there are some top notch prizes to be won, but of course this is a matter of luck being on your side!
Join up with GfK Mediaview to provide TV and radio feedback here
28. 20Cogs
20Cogs is one of those UK money-making apps that actually pays out real money, as earnings can be claimed via bank transfer or PayPal.
Once signed up you can follow the instructions to complete each survey – or you can also earn by gaming, entering competitions or taking up selected offers.
You need to complete 20 offers before you’ll be paid, and 20Cogs make BACS or PayPal payments thrice weekly.
Find out more about how 20Cogs works here
29. Taskrabbit
TaskRabbit is rather different to the other money-making apps detailed here. It works by connecting can-do types with paying customers in the local area.
Whether they want a helping hand with cleaning tasks, assembling or moving furniture, gardening or other daily or one-off tasks, TaskRabbit lists many jobs you might be able to do.
If you can wash a car, babysit, run an errand, sew, work as a PA, iron a shirt, paint, provide pet care or repair items around the home, you could be quids in with TaskRabbit.
Rates vary according to the task, so you can check out what you could earn via the website before you even sign up.
At the time of writing, £10 per hour was a typical rate for many unskilled tasks, while specialist jobs like electrical assistance or carpentry paid between £20 and £30 per hour.
Discover what you could earn as a Tasker right here
30. Prolific
Prolific connects researchers with willing participants for the benefit of both parties. While the former wants to find out how people feel about all kinds of matters, the latter gets paid for participating in each project.
Sometimes referred to as Prolific Academic, this organisation works with the likes of Cancer Research and The World Bank as well as leading academic institutions like the universities of Oxford and Stanford.
Subjects are selected according to the demographics required by the researcher, and most studies take less than two hours to complete.
Prolific panellists are paid in pounds sterling via PayPal as long as at least £5 has been earned.
Become a Prolific participant by clicking here
31. Vinted
Vinted is a popular mobile app that allows users to buy and sell used clothing. The app is available in the UK, and it’s easy to use.
To start, simply download the app and create an account. Then, take photos of the clothing you want to sell and upload them to the app.
Vinted will then provide you with a shipping label, and you can send your clothes off. Once your items sell, you’ll receive payment to your Vinted Account.
You can then transfer your balance to your bank account with a minimum withdrawal of £0.10.
Vinted is a great way to make some extra money by selling clothes you no longer wear.
You can also use the app to find good deals on second-hand clothing. So if you’re looking for a new wardrobe or just want to earn some extra cash, download Vinted today.
Learn more about how Vinted works here.
Which UK money-making app will you try?
It is an interesting list, right? While it’s true that we all lead busy lives, the average smartphone user spends three hours a day using their phone.
If a lot of your screen time is spent scrolling through social media sites or checking out the latest shopping discounts, why not put that time to better use by signing up for a money-making app?
Whether uploading your receipt after doing the weekly shop, doing a quick ‘talking heads’ stint or completing a longer survey, there is nothing to lose by giving the best money-making apps in the UK a good go.
