6 Best Side Hustle Apps for Students to Earn Money

College life is expensive.

But what if your smartphone could help you make extra cash? 

Between assignments, exams, and late-night pizza runs, finding a job that fits your schedule can be tough.

That’s where these side hustle apps for students come in.

These apps offer flexible ways to earn money on your own time, even while watching tv!

Here, you’ll discover legitimate apps that let you complete simple tasks, run errands, or take on small gigs between classes. 

If you need quick cash for daily expenses or want to start a side hustle, these apps let you earn money without disrupting your studies.

How Much Do Side Hustle Apps Pay?

Side hustle apps typically pay between $3 and $25 per hour depending on the task type, urgency, and level of detail involved.

I’ve earned as high as $40 for a quick 10-minute task with Field Agent!

The great thing is, you can pick up quick gigs whenever you have a spare moment and often get paid instantly.

So, if you want to make sure you have enough for a quick Starbucks coffee before class tomorrow, just do a quick gig today!

Unlike regular part-time jobs, you don’t have to stick to a schedule or commit to long shifts. Plus, no waiting two weeks to get paid!

I use many of these apps and am sharing some of my favorites below.

Best Earning Apps for Students to Make Money

No need to search any further for easy ways to make money in college.

These side hustle apps let you earn money between classes or even from your dorm room.

1. Field Agent

To date, I’ve earned close to $5,000 by completing small tasks in my area with the Field Agent app.

It’s hands down my favorite money-making app to use!

One day, I might be snapping a quick picture of a product display at my local Target store to make $5 fast.

The following, I could be nabbing a free product to test as a Field Agent mystery shopper! The types of gigs you can get are endless. 

The mystery shopper jobs typically don’t pay much, but I’ve found that some of the free items can be flipped for $20 or $30.

Read my full Field Agent app review.

• Average Earnings Potential: $4 – $20 per gig

• Payment Method: Bank direct deposit; cash out earnings once you reach $3.00

• Best Suited For: People who live in bigger cities where there are more opportunities to complete tasks

2. Otter.ai (AI-Powered Transcriber)

With Otter.ai, you can literally make money while snoozing through Statistics 101.

Just set up the app to automatically transcribe every word your professor says.

After class, clean up the transcription, format those notes into something actually readable, and sell them to your classmates who overslept.

You can also offer them to fellow students who struggle to keep up with fast-talking professors. 

The beauty of this hustle is that you’re already sitting in these lectures anyway, so you’re essentially getting paid for something you have to do! 

You can market your polished notes through campus social media groups or direct messages. 

You could even set up a simple subscription service where classmates pay you monthly for reliable notes!

• Average Earnings Potential: $50-200 per month depending on class size, subject difficulty, and your marketing skills

• Payment Method: Direct payment through Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal from classmates

• Best Suited For: Detail-oriented students taking popular or challenging courses who can consistently attend lectures

3. Cambly

One of the best side hustle apps for students to earn money is Cambly, where you get paid to chat with people.

It’s fun remote work with no experience required. You just need to be a native English speaker and have a reliable internet connection to get started.

Imagine earning cash between classes just by having conversations with folks from around the world who want to practice their English skills.

You literally get paid to talk about your day, your hobbies, or whatever topic pops up! 

You can log on whenever you have free time, even if it’s just 30 minutes between your morning lecture and afternoon lab. 

Simply open your laptop and start making dorm room income with Cambly, while essentially making new international friends!

• Average Earnings Potential: Make $0.17/min ($10.2/hour) on Cambly and $0.2/min ($12/hour) on Cambly Kids

• Payment Method: Weekly pay via PayPal, direct deposit

• Best Suited For: Outgoing, patient students with clear English pronunciation who enjoy meeting people from different cultures and can maintain consistent availability

4. Google Opinion Rewards

Google Opinion Rewards is a money-making app that sends you quick surveys straight to your phone.

You get paid for sharing your thoughts on places you’ve visited, products you’ve used, or random consumer questions that take literally seconds to answer. 

While you won’t get rich, these mini-paydays add up to enough for your monthly Spotify subscription or weekend coffee runs. 

The app might ping you anywhere, while waiting for class to start or standing in the dining hall line.

The more places you visit and the more you use your phone, the more surveys Google sends your way!

• Average Earnings Potential: $2-10 per month depending on location and shopping habits

• Payment Method: Google Play credit for Android users; PayPal for iPhone users

• Best Suited For: Students who frequently visit stores, restaurants, and campus locations, as location-based surveys typically pay more

5. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is an app I use to make money browsing the web, taking surveys and watching online ads.

I’ve also made a few hundred dollars completing sign-up bonus offers with Swagbucks. 

Think of it as getting paid for all the mindless scrolling you already do during boring lectures or late-night study sessions.

You can stack your earnings by using their search engine, shopping through their portal for things you’d buy anyway (hello, textbooks and dorm essentials), and playing casual games when your brain needs a break from studying. 

Your points add up fast. 

Before you know it, you’re cashing out to free Amazon gift cards to buy ramen in bulk or to get $20 PayPal cash for that pizza fund. 

Read my full Swagbucks review.

• Average Earnings Potential: $25-100 per month depending on activity level and time invested

• Payment Method: Gift cards (Amazon, Target, Walmart) or PayPal cash with $3-5 minimum payout

• Best Suited For: Anyone who wants to make extra money online in their spare time

6. Merchandiser by Survey.com

Merchandiser is an app similar to Field Agent. 

So if you like earning extra money through quick in-store tasks, you’ll probably enjoy using Merchandiser for flexible gig work opportunities.

The app may have you at a convenience store one day merchandising items, while the next you may be completing a product display setup.

You can choose gigs based on your location and availability. 

Once you complete gigs, you can expect to get paid within 6 days via direct deposit or prepaid debit card. 

Some of the gigs are time consuming and may not feel worth the payout. But that’s not always the case. Field Agent is the same way.

The key is to be selective and go after the gigs that feel worth your time.

• Average Earnings Potential: Earn $5 to $20 per hour on average, depending on the gig and location.

• Payment Method: Get paid by direct deposit or prepaid debit card

• Best Suited For: People who prefer active work versus sitting at a computer and who have reliable transportation

Frequently Asked Questions: Side Hustle Apps for Students to Make Money

Here are the top questions students ask about turning their smartphones into money-making machines with today’s most popular side hustle apps.

1. Are side hustle apps legitimate ways for students to make money?

Yes, most popular side hustle apps are legitimate. Apps such as Swagbucks and Field Agent have established reputations and thousands of users earning money regularly. 

Always research apps before signing up and avoid any that require large upfront payments.

2. Can I use these apps if I have a busy class schedule?

Absolutely! Many side hustle apps are designed for flexibility.

Apps like Swagbucks or Google Opinion Rewards can be used in short breaks between classes. Gig apps like Field Agent or Observa let you set your own hours and only work when you’re free.

3. Do I need special skills to make money with these apps?

No special skills are required for many apps.

While specialized skills can help on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, apps like Swagbucks, survey apps, and delivery services require minimal training or experience to get started.

4. How do taxes work for money earned through side hustle apps?

Income earned through side hustle apps is typically taxable.

Most apps classify users as independent contractors, meaning you’re responsible for reporting income and paying taxes.

Keep track of earnings and expenses, as you may need to file a 1099 form if you earn over $600 from a single platform.

5. Can I use multiple side hustle apps at once?

Yes! Many students maximize earnings by using multiple apps.

For example, you might complete surveys on Swagbucks during class breaks, deliver food with DoorDash on evenings, and sell AI-powered notes throughout the semester.

Final Thoughts on Side Hustle Apps for Students

Most students find that mixing quick-hit apps like Google Opinion Rewards with higher-paying gigs like Cambly can easily add $100-300 to your pocket.

You can start many of these apps right now.

You can even stack multiple apps to bring in more money without committing to a regular job. 

These side hustle apps are super flexible, so you can make extra cash whenever you have downtime between classes or on weekends.

But, if you want to make even more money, then check out this list of ways to make $300 a day!

And if you’re into crafts, then you may also be interested in easy crafts for teens to make and sell this summer.