21 Best Passive Income Apps in 2026 (Free & Realistic)

Available in: All countries
Payment methods: PayPal, Payoneer, Bitcoin, gift cards
More info: Read full Pawns review

Short summary:
Pawns is a great way to earn some extra cash online, completely passively.

You just have to install the software on your computer or phone, and you will then be paid to share your unused internet. You can do this from all countries, but you will earn the most if you live in the US or Europe. You can also earn actively by taking surveys through the app.

You get fairly good rates compared to other similar platforms, and you can get your earnings out already when you have earned $5. So overall, a fast-paying site.

Available in: All countries
Payment methods: Grass (crypto)
More info: Read full GetGrass review

Short summary:
Grass (previously GetGrass) is one of the newer passive earning apps, and it is a bit unusual and, therefore, not for all.

You will earn by sharing your unused internet bandwidth. They say the goal is to make the compensation more fair and build a community owned by the community.

You will earn their Grass crypto token, which you can get into a Solona wallet. Grass is already listed on many big exchanges, so it is easy to sell it if you want to, or if you believe in its future, you can hold onto it and wait until it potentially increases further in value. You can also stake it to earn more passively.

Available in: USA, Canada, Australia, UK
Payment methods: PayPal, bank transfer, gift cards
More info: Read full Survey Junkie review

Short summary:
Survey Junkie is mainly known as a paid survey site and app, but it also offers a way to earn passively.

It is called Surf to Earn, and you can earn just by installing the extension on your phone or computer. It will anonymously gather data about how you use the internet, and this data will be used for market research. Participating in this will allow you to earn passively, and at the same time, you will also get access to exclusive surveys.

Once you have earned just $5, you can take your earnings out in cash or as gift cards.

Available in: All countries
Payment methods: PayPal (via Tipalti), JMPT
More info: Read full Honeygain review

Short summary:
Honeygain is available worldwide, and if you have unlimited internet, this can be a very easy way to earn passively.

You just install the app and set it up, and you will then share your bandwidth (unused internet) and earn like this. The more you share and the more devices you install it on, the more you will earn.

Once you have earned $20, you will be able to get your earnings out in cash through PayPal (via Tipalti). You can also get paid in the crypto JMPT. If you join through the invitation link below, you will get a $2 joining bonus just for signing up.

Available in: More or less worldwide
Payment methods: Crypto
More info: Read full Crypto.com tutorial review

Short summary:
If you are interested in crypto, the Crypto.com app is one of the most user-friendly apps.

You can easily sell and buy crypto and much more. However, it also offers ways for you to earn passively by just holding your crypto in your account there. You can claim free diamonds with a click every day. It offers supercharger polls where you can earn passively by staking and more.

You can also get a $25 joining bonus if you end up getting one of their crypto Visa cards, where you will get cashback when you use it. You need to join with an invitation code to get this bonus, and you can use this code: mikem

Available in: Worldwide
Payment methods: N/A
More info: Read full Mira Network review

Short summary:
Mira Network is a platform that lets you earn Lumira tokens by clicking a button daily. All you have to do is install its Android app.

Once it is installed, you just have to log in to the app once a day and click the Start Mining button to start mining LUM tokens. Then, you’ll have to watch a video ad before you can start mining.

It is still in its early stages, so the crypto still doesn’t have any monetary value. So, you should only join if you are willing to experiment without financial risk and not looking to earn immediately.

To join, you will need an invite code. You can use mine, which is MikeM.

Available in: Most opportunities in US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain
Payment methods: PayPal, gift cards
More info: Read full Swagbucks review

Short summary:
If you have been looking for ways to make some extra money online for free, you have probably heard about Swagbucks, as it is one of the biggest Get-Paid-To sites.

Let me just make it clear that the majority of the earning methods in the Swagbucks app are not really passive ways to earn, as you have to continuously do tasks. But it is still on this list as it also offers some passive ways to earn, as you can do your online shopping through it and get cashback, and also earn just by searching online, which you probably do anyway.

The exact payout threshold depends on the country you live in, but it is, in general, fairly low, and you can get paid in cash or via gift cards.

Available in: Select countries
Payment methods: Cash, gift cards
More info: Read full Nielsen Mobile Panel review

Short summary:
Nielsen Mobile Panel is truly an app you can use to earn passively. All you have to do is install it, and it will then anonymously collect data about your internet usage that will be used for market research.

So once you have downloaded it and created an account, you will keep earning passively as long as you have it installed. And you can even use it on several devices (also a computer) to earn more.

How much you will earn and how you will get paid depends on the country you live in. You can see which countries it is currently recruiting in by clicking the join button below.

Available in: Worldwide
Payment methods: PayPal, Wise, or Amazon gift cards
More info: Read full EarnApp review

Short summary:
EarnApp is a website that will allow you to earn by installing their program and letting it run in the background of your device. Its program shares your unused internet bandwidth while it is running in the background. But unlike other apps that offer the same kind of opportunity, your earnings will be based on the duration of your device’s connection and its contribution to traffic, rather than the amount of data shared.

You can get paid via PayPal, Wise, or Amazon gift cards. It is available globally, so you can sign up regardless of where you live.

Available in: 60+ countries
Payment methods: Gift cards, crypto, products, PayPal
More info: Read full Sweatcoin review

Short summary:
Sweatcoin is a unique app, as all you have to do to earn is just have it installed and have your phone with you when you walk or run.

It will then count your steps, and you will earn Sweatcoins for every step you take. It is not a lot you can earn, but you also do not have to do anything else than just have your phone with you when you walk or run, which you probably have anyway.

The Sweatcoins you earn can be exchanged for gift cards, products, or sometimes also PayPal cash. You can also choose to get paid in their own crypto called Sweat.

Available in: All countries
Payment methods: Cryptocurrencies, products
More info: Read full Coin App review

Short summary:
If you want to earn cryptocurrencies or great products passively, the Coin App is definitely an interesting option.

You can earn by geomining just by clicking a button, and also earn by having it running in the background. If you want to boost your earnings, you can do many different tasks and upgrade your membership.

You can choose to get paid in cryptocurrencies or products. The fastest is to get paid in the cryptocurrency XYO, but you can also hold your earnings longer and get paid in BTC, ETH, or products like iPads, headphones, watches, and more. If you join through the link below, you will get a 1,000 coin joining bonus into your account.

Available in: More than 200 countries
Payment methods: Bank transfer
More info: More info coming soon

Short summary:
This is quite a different way to earn passively, but it can be quite lucrative if you spend a bit of time learning more about how to use it.

Binance is a cryptocurrency trading platform that also has an app. Here you can also find earning methods, and you can, for example, get high interest just for having money or cryptocurrencies in your account. You can also earn really high interest by staking.

As mentioned, it will just take a bit of time to get into how it works, but then you can earn some really nice extra money passively. And the great thing is that you do not have to put your own cash into Binance to be able to start using the passive earning methods – several of the other earning options on this list offer to pay in cryptos, and you can then withdraw into Binance and grow the money further there.

Available in: More or less all countries
Payment methods: PayPal
More info: Read full PacketStream review

Short summary:
PacketStream is a great alternative to Honeygain and is similar in many ways, as you can also earn on this platform by sharing your unused internet bandwidth.

You can join from all countries, but the only payout method PacketStream currently offers is PayPal, so it only makes sense to join if you live in a country where PayPal is available.

Once you have earned only $5, you can get your earnings out.

Available in: Select countries
Payment methods: Gift cards, cash
More info: Read full Media Rewards review

Short summary:
Media Rewards is a quite unusual way to earn a bit extra passively.

You just install the app and then have it on in the background whenever you watch regular TV, watch YouTube videos, or listen to the radio. It will then pick up on the ads and programs you watch and listen to, and this info will be used for market research.

You just need to be aware that Media Rewards is only available in select countries, and it usually only has limited spots open for new members every month, so you have to be a bit lucky to become a member.

Available in: Select countries
Payment methods: Gift cards
More info: Read full MobileXpression review

Short summary:
MobileXpression is very similar to Nielsen Mobile Panel in the way you can earn. But it is not higher on the list because it can be a bit difficult to become a member.

They are often looking for members with specific devices, and the only way to find out if they are currently looking for members from your country with your type of mobile phone is by trying to apply to become a member.

But once you are a member, it is very easy to earn, as you do not have to do anything else than just have the app installed.

Available in: More or less all countries
Payment methods: Bitcoin
More info: Read full Ember Fund review

Short summary:
Ember Fund is an app you can use for both Android and iOS, where you can easily invest in crypto. However, it also offers a passive way to earn Bitcoin.

All you have to do is click a button once per day, and then it will automatically earn for you in the background for the next 24 hours.

You will be earning Bitcoin, and there are several ways to boost the rate you are mining inside the app. You can use the code: MNGUZJOA9AW to boost your mining rate.

Available in: All countries
Payment methods: Bitcoin, USDT, Litecoin, Ethereum, Webmoney, bank card transfer, BNB, Payeer
More info: Read full Peer2Profit review

Short summary:
Peer2Profit is an app you can install on your Android phone or on your computer and earn passively by sharing your unused internet.

It is quite similar to Honeygain, but it makes it easier to earn passively in some countries, where it will sometimes be hard to earn with other similar apps.

Once you have earned $2, you can get paid in Bitcoin or one of the many other payout options it offers. Once you request a payout, you will usually get your earnings out very quickly. Just be aware that at the time of updating this list, Peer2Profit no longer accepts new members. If you are already a member, you can, however, still use it. You can find the full update via the link below.

Available in: US, Canada
Payment methods: PayPal, check
More info: Read full Rakuten review

Short summary:
Rakuten is a really great way to earn a bit extra by just doing what you already do if you ever shop online. It is a cashback site that has agreements with thousands of online stores in the US and Canada.

So if you ever shop online, you can just do it through the Rakuten app, and then you will automatically earn for every dollar you spend.

You will also get a $10 joining bonus when you complete your first purchase through Rakuten, and you can earn further passive income by inviting friends to join as well.

Available in: US
Payment methods: Check
More info: Read full SurveySavvy review

Short summary:
SurveySavvy is actually a paid survey site, but it also has an app called SavvyConnect that allows you to earn passively. All you have to do is install the app, and you will then earn as long as you have it running in the background.

You will earn $5 for every month you have it installed, and you can install it on several devices to earn more. It is a really easy way to earn a bit extra, especially if you have several devices you can install it on.

You just need to be aware that you can only use SavvyConnect in the US, and you will get paid in checks. You can request a payment when you have earned $1.

Available in: Select countries
Payment methods: PayPal, WebMoney, or Bitcoin
More info: Read full Money SMS App review

Short summary:
Money SMS App is an interesting way to earn passively, as you will earn just by having it installed and receiving random text messages. These messages are sent by telecommunication providers to test the connection in your country.

There is no guarantee of how many text messages you will receive – sometimes you might receive one per day, sometimes several per day, and other times maybe only a few per month.

You get €0.02 per SMS you receive, and once you have earned only €2, you can get paid in cash via PayPal, WebMoney, or Bitcoin.

Available in: the US and the UK
Payment methods: PayPal or Stripe
More info: Read full Datacy review

Short summary:
Datacy is a Google Chrome extension that turns data sharing into a side hustle. Once the extension is set up, all you have to do is use your browser like you normally would, and the extension will work in the background.

They don’t really give you an explanation of how much your data is worth, but you will see your earnings immediately every time you open the extension. You can get paid via PayPal or Stripe once you’ve earned at least $30.

It is only available in the US and the UK.