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Best side hustle apps for earning some extra cash

Best side hustle apps for earning some extra cash
Grace Sweeney

Grace Sweeney

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People have long embraced the side hustle as a way to earn some extra cash in between jobs or shifts. In the past, that might have been babysitting or dog walking.

Movers

These days, there’s an app for that. And by that, we mean everything. There are a lot more options out there than just Uber. It doesn’t matter if your skills lean toward web design or manual labor, someone will pay you.

If you’re looking to earn a little bit of cash to heal your wallet post-holiday season, here is a roundup of a few apps that can help you do just that:

Best side hustle apps for earning some extra cash

Handy

handy service app

At a glance, Handy appears to be one of the more lucrative gig economy apps.

This app provides a solid side gig for professional cleaners and handymen/women. The app claims that you can earn between $22 and $45 per hour, depending on the job. You also get to decide when you’re available.

We should mention that not everyone can sign up. You must have paid experience in cleaning or performing handyman tasks. Still, if you’ve done this type of work in the past and want to earn some cash on the weekend, this could be a good way.

Postmates

Postmates app interface

Postmates drivers deliver food and other supplies to nearby customers. They can earn up to $25 an hour at their convenience. The only requirement is that you make at least one delivery per every 90 days and that you use your own vehicle.

That said, it’s not necessarily a steady income. You might be able to hit that $25/hr threshold. However, the average reported salary is $10/hr, per Glassdoor. Additionally, all of that driving around will cause wear and tear on your car.

We don’t recommend driving for Postmates full-time, but this gig’s flexibility makes it a good choice for people who want to earn some money during their downtime.

Postmates Download Free ►
8

Instacart

Instacart shopping

Instacart is ideal for those who love shopping for groceries. Sign up through the app to become a driver, shopper, or both. This app sends out assignments and will send you notifications about where you’ll be shopping that day.

Shoppers earn between $10 and $20 per hour and must have their own car. You’ll pay for the groceries through a prepaid Instacart card, then drive them to someone’s house.

Be prepared for a few challenges. In some cases, shoppers must carry heavy bags from down the street if there’s nowhere to park. Other times, you might get sent all over the place — spending more time driving than shopping. This side hustle might work for you, but be prepared to possibly walk bags upon bags of groceries up a flight of stairs.

Instacart Grocery Delivery Download Free ►
8

Amazon Flex

Amazon flex delivery app

Amazon Flex allows you to block off time in your schedule to deliver Amazon packages to customers. You can reportedly earn between $18 and $25 per hour.

As far as earnings go, Amazon’s civilian package delivery service presents some decent side cash. However, it’s not always easy. This Atlantic writer detailed their experience delivering packages in San Francisco and noted that it was a struggle to make deliveries on time and avoid getting a ticket.

City dwellers could find Amazon Flex a bit more trouble than its worth, but those in smaller cities with ample parking might have an easier time. Keep in mind, like other gig economy driving services, you’ll want to weigh auto expenses against earnings to see if the work is worth it.

Get Amazon Flex Download now ►
7

Dolly

dolly moving services gigs

Dolly is an app that allows those with some muscle to earn up to $15 an hour as a mover. Those with a truck or van of their own can make up to $30 an hour.

Dolly allows you to turn on notifications and accept the gigs that work with your schedule. The few “helper” reviews we’ve found online have mostly good things to say about the gig. A couple of people mentioned that there’s a lot of work available in cities where people frequently move around.

Rover.com

rover dog walking app

Rover is a dog walking service that provides dog owners with on-demand walking, boarding, and daycare. While you’ll need to pass a background check to sign up, Rover could be a good choice for those who already work from home. Supplement your income by hanging out with a rotating cast of furry friends. It doesn’t get better than that, right?

That said, it seems that you need to be prepared to send pet owners updates throughout the day. Also, be prepared for a steady amount of dog doo.

Still, the site guarantees that up to $1,000 worth of work is protected each month, and you’ll have access to 24/7 support.

Behance

Behance design gigs

Behance is a gig website for freelance designers, photographers, and other visual arts pros. The site allows you to show off past work to prospective clients, lock down gigs, and find some inspiration.

While it can be difficult to get views on your work, it will be subject to professional review. At the very least, you’ll get feedback for your work.

Starting a side business on your own is one of those ideas better in theory than practice. Apps provide a convenient way to sidestep the funding and marketing part of the equation and let you get right down to business.

Wrapping Up

That said, we don’t entirely recommend using these apps if you’re looking for something more substantial. Instacart recently changed their policy, and it has impacted shopper take-home pay significantly.

If you’re looking into gig work as a freelancer — you may be better off looking for direct clients or applying for remote contract work.

In any case, if you’ve got some skills, dust em off once in a while, and maybe you can pocket some cash.

Grace Sweeney

Grace Sweeney

Grace is a painter turned freelance writer who specializes in blogging, content strategy, and sales copy. She primarily lends her skills to SaaS, tech, and digital marketing companies.

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