Financial Writer
Haley Rogers is a content marketer and personal finance writer covering topics like inflation, savings, retirement, spending, budgeting, finance scams, and more. Her work spans various industries, with personal finance content primarily published on MagnifyMoney and ValuePenguin.
Smartphones make it easy to earn extra income through content creation, social media management, photography sales, gig apps, online surveys, gaming, and user testing.
Many phone-based side hustles rely on monetizing skills or hobbies, such as launching a YouTube channel, managing business accounts, starting an e-commerce store, or selling unwanted items.
Micro-earning apps let users make small amounts of money by walking, watching videos, playing games, or completing simple tasks, often redeemable as cash or gift cards.
Who isn't looking for a little extra spending money? If you've got a smartphone, several money-making options and apps may be within reach.
Here is how to make money on your phone so you can choose which side hustle works best for you.
Are you a natural storyteller? Create a YouTube channel and easily record, edit, and post content like tutorials or reviews — all from your phone.
What should you talk about? Lean into your passions and strengths, study popular content trends, build a list of topics and ideas, and post consistently.
Monetizing your YouTube channel is a long-term play. You make money by building a solid subscriber base over time.
For example, you need 4,000 viewing hours1 over the past twelve months to earn money from ads. Such engagement indicates quality content that will retain viewership.
As you get into content creation, here are some other ideas for monetizing your YouTube channel.
Earning commission as an affiliate marketer through product placements and endorsements
Accepting monthly payments for channel membership in exchange for member perks
Creating helpful, detailed content sponsored by brands you trust
Selling products and merchandise through an online store and advertising it on your channel in a way that won't jeopardize the quality of your content
Receiving fan donations during live streams
Find out other ways to make money online.
Small and local businesses often need help with their social profiles. If you have experience in social media, this type of job can earn you money on the side or even have full-time potential — especially convenient for stay-at-home parents.
You may find yourself:
Fully running the business's social accounts
Offering guidance in optimizing their social media strategy
Regularly posting on various platforms
Responding to customer reviews
Creating or refreshing social ads
Look for social media manager roles online or ask local businesses if they're looking for social support.
If you already have a robust photo library and enjoy photography as a pastime, you can get paid for it! And luckily, you don't even need a professional-grade camera to take high-quality images people will want.
Now, you can earn money from your phone by selling your images to stock photo websites and getting paid when a brand or agency buys them. Whether it's a series of fun selfies or a beautiful city skyline, your snapshots may be worth it!
Simply upload your images straight from your phone and license them for commercial use.
Gamers, you can make money for your skills. There are plenty of apps that offer gameplay in exchange for in-app currency redeemable for gift cards from top brands.
Play an edgy version of Bingo, test your memory, assemble an online puzzle, take quick surveys, or watch ads through your gaming. Sure, it may not supplement your income, but gaming can be a fun way to earn money with minimal time and effort.
Paid by the step! Whether taking your dog for a daily stroll, checking the mail at the curb, or going for your morning run, you could be earning every step of the way.
Check out some of today's popular health apps, which may convert your steps into digital currency — often redeemable for goods and services in the app's online marketplace.
You could earn rewards for things like athletic wear or digital devices, all for your regular daily activity.
Watching videos is another quick money-making tactic if you aren't sure how to make money from your phone via any of these other methods.
Typically, the same apps that pay you to take surveys, will also pay you to watch videos. If scrolling through social media or kicking back in front of Netflix is a regular occurrence, enjoy a little coin for your leisure time.
You may not earn as much as some of these other options, but it is an easy way to add extra spending money to your budget without needing specific skills or a degree. A nice reward for being effortlessly entertained, right?
If you've got items around the house that haven't been used in the past six months, it's probably time to let them go — and watch some cash come back your way.
The process is straightforward:
Take high-quality photos of your items to show their true appeal
Write clear descriptions of the items and their condition
List your items on the appropriate platform for your particular category
Meet the buyer in a safe, public location and notify someone of your whereabouts
Get paid!
Whether it's old electronics, clothing, or books, there's always a convenient and virtual way to turn unwanted items into extra cash.
Want a sweet side hustle to make money outside of your 9-5? Gig apps can connect you with all kinds of opportunities in your area, directly from your phone.
Depending on the app, you could walk dogs, deliver groceries, drive people around, or complete various odd jobs. There are plenty of platforms that provide diverse ways to monetize your time and skills — offering the flexibility to work on your own schedule.
You're a go-getter, but you're always on the go. Starting an online store may be your ticket to entrepreneurship that fits your busy lifestyle.
Popular e-commerce platforms will typically allow you to handle every aspect of your store from your smartphone: uploading product photos, responding to customer comments, and setting up marketing campaigns.
Is there something you're good at that could meet a demand in the market? Once you land on an idea you're passionate about and skilled at:
Get to know your audience deeper, through research
Start developing your products and services
Build a business plan that makes sense for your niche.
Launch your store on a popular e-commerce platform
Use the platform's mobile app to record and track sales, manage and monitor inventory, fulfill customer orders and shipments, and communicate with your customers directly.
You set up your store on a desktop, and from that point on, the app makes it easy to run your business through the hustle and bustle.
Businesses need to know if their products, services, and websites are user-friendly, effective, and valuable. So, they will pay someone like you to use their products or website and provide honest feedback.
User testing can be a straightforward way to earn cash from your phone by simply visiting sites or downloading apps and sharing your user experience with testing companies.
The more time you invest in testing digital products, the more you can make! Depending on the task and how much time you put in, you can earn anywhere from a few bucks a week up to a full annual salary.2
Investing doesn't have to feel like a lofty undertaking, and you don't have to be a day trader to start your investing journey. Different investment apps cater to different levels of expertise when it comes to saving and investing.
For passive income, automated savings apps can help you save without even noticing. They'll typically link to your bank account, round up your everyday purchases to the nearest dollar, and invest whatever's left into a diversified portfolio of exchange-traded funds.
If you do intend to invest more time, day trading apps are an option. Some allow you to easily trade stocks and funds, even offering fractional shares. But you would probably need to stay on top of the market and have a solid understanding of trading strategies.
Or you can find an investment app that's the best of both worlds, allowing you to set your financial goals and create a customized, even automated investment plan.
Similar to user testing, online paid surveys can also earn you cash on the side and are a flexible way to get paid instantly for your opinions. Companies are eager for direct customer insights, and they'll pay you to participate in surveys and online focus groups.
You may not see big bucks, but you can use some time waiting in line or on a walk to complete a few surveys, earning you extra cash, cashback rewards, or gift cards to popular retailers.
So there you go, side hustlers! From starting your own YouTube channel to managing social media accounts for businesses, selling your photography, and even playing games, there are plenty of creative ways to earn extra money on the side.
Whether you're looking to supplement your income, save for the future, or have a little extra spending money, grab your phone and turn it into a money-making machine.
Have some solid writing skills? Freelance writing is another way to cushion your savings.
Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.
Chime is not FDIC-insured. The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. are the FDIC-insured members. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply. FDIC deposit insurance limit is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category.
Chime Checkbook: While Chime doesn’t issue personal checkbooks to write checks, Chime Checkbook gives you the freedom to send checks to anyone, anytime, from anywhere. See your issuing bank’s Deposit Account Agreement for full Chime Checkbook details.
By clicking on some of the links above, you will leave the Chime website and be directed to a third-party website. The privacy practices of those third parties may differ from those of Chime. We recommend you review the privacy statements of those third party websites, as Chime is not responsible for those third parties' privacy or security practices.
Opinions, advice, services, or other information or content expressed or contributed here by customers, users, or others, are those of the respective author(s) or contributor(s) and do not necessarily state or reflect those of The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. (“Banks”). Banks are not responsible for the accuracy of any content provided by author(s) or contributor(s).
APPLE and the Apple Logo are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. GOOGLE PLAY and the Google Play Logo are registered trademarks of Google LLC. Third-party trademarks referenced for informational purposes only; no endorsements implied.
This guide is for informational purposes only. Chime does not provide financial, legal, or tax advice. You should check with your legal, financial, or tax advisor for advice specific to your situation.
Third-party trademarks referenced for informational purposes only; no endorsements implied.
Chime is recommended by more of its users in the 2024 Qualtrics® NPS study when compared to top national banks and select fintechs. THE #1 MOST LOVED BANKING APP is a Registered Trademark of Chime Financial, Inc.
Licenses
Chime Capital, LLC, Nationwide Multistate Licensing System ("NMLS") ID 2316451
Chime Payments, Inc., Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (“NMLS”) ID 2538752
Address: 101 California Street, Floor 5, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States.
No customer support available at HQ. Customer support details available on the website.
© 2013-2026 Chime Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.