20 earning mobile apps

There’s a good chance you often find yourself killing time by idling browsing through your smartphone. Playing games and catching up on social media sites is great, but these activities alone won’t pad your wallet. Make the most of your spare time by downloading an app that can earn you extra money.

It might seem like there’s a catch involved, but there isn’t. There are many legitimate, free apps that allow you to make money by completing surveys, watching videos, secret shopping, sharing photos and more. Most of these apps offer modest pay and allow you the flexibility to earn money when your schedule permits.

See the 20 apps that allow you to learn extra cash.

Related: How to Make Money on Instagram

1. iPoll
   Android and iOS users can earn gift cards, airline miles, magazine subscriptions and more for completing 15- to 20-minute surveys. After downloading the app, you’ll tell the app a little about yourself to help iPoll match you to future surveys. Complete as few or as many questionnaires as you like, but the more you participate, the more you earn.

Most surveys pay $1 each, according to IveTriedThat.com. But you can earn up to $10 on some. You can request a payout when you have $35 in your account, according to IveTriedThat.com.

1. Swagbucks
   Accumulate points called SB by searching the Web, completing surveys, watching videos, referring your friends, shopping in the app’s mall, completing special offers, voting in daily polls, finding swag codes and entering fun contests via social media and the Swagbucks blog. These points can be redeemed for gift cards from stores like Amazon, Target and Walmart or for PayPal cash. At time of writing, Swagbucks has given out $97,751,668 in destributed rewards. Download the app on your iOS or Android device.

2. Slidejoy
   Get paid an average of $5 to $15 per month, according to CNET, for putting ads on your Android device. Every time you check your phone, you’ll see a card with a news story or promotion. You can slide left to learn more about it, slide up to see another card or slide right to use your phone as normal.

You don’t receive any more or less money for engaging with the content, so you essentially do nothing to get paid. Keep the cash you earned or donate it to the Jericho Project, Got Your Six or TutorChatLive.org.

1. Pact
   Cash in for achieving your health and fitness goals. Download the app on your iOS or Android device, make a weekly pact to exercise more or eat healthy, use the app to track your goals and earn an average of 30 cents to $5 per week for achieving results, depending on the number of activities completed.

Your activities are verified with GPS, photos and other services. If you fail to meet your pact, you’ll have to pay up.

1. BookScouter
   Earn money by selling your old books. This iOS and Android app allows you to scan or enter the barcode number to instantly compare buyback prices from leading book-buying websites. Choose the buyer offering the highest price and ship your book for free.

Registration is easy. Simply use your email address to create an account or log in through a host of eligible social networks.

1. AppTrailers
   Watch trailers of new apps spanning 30 seconds or less on your iOS or Android device and get paid for it. Earnings start at 500 points (50 cents) and can be redeemed for gift cards or cash via PayPal, according to Dailybucks.info. Another way to earn cash with this app: Upload videos and get likes.

2. Loot!
   Complete actions for your favorite brands, such as taking pictures or sharing content on social media, and get paid for it. To get started, download the app on your iOS or Android device, browse through the different brand campaigns and complete an action. When you reach $10, earnings can be withdrawn through your PayPal account. So far, users have earned more than $100,000.

3. Gigwalk
   Find as much or as little contract work as you want by connecting with local businesses in need of your skill set. Download the app on your mobile