Earning a passive income online has become very popular.
However, it is also a widely misused term, and many articles that claim to show you passive ways to earn are not really showing truly passive ways.
Also, before finding the options for you, it is important you do it with the right expectations.
This article will clarify exactly what you can expect, what to look for, and will show you the 18 best passive income apps and websites in 2024 based on my experiences after having tested hundreds of ways to earn online.
These apps will both be for iOS and Android, and there will also be options for computers and tablets. They will be TRULY passive ways to earn, and you can find options that will work no matter the country you live in. And they will be completely free to use as well.
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Are passive income apps truly a passive way to earn?
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, passive income is a very overused and misused term today.
There are many articles that claim to show you passive ways to earn on your phone or tablet through apps, but in reality, they are not really passive.
Often, you will see that you have to put in quite a lot of effort. In my definition, that is not really to earn passively, then.
Therefore, I decided to put together this list of apps for both iOS and Android where you can earn truly passively.
This means that you can earn just by having the apps installed and not doing anything extra.
Also, all of the options will be free to use and get started with, so you do not have to invest anything to earn.
However, it is very important you do this with the right expectations. So, let's go over how much you can earn by using apps like this so you can see if this is what you are looking for or not.
How much can you earn passively through free apps and websites?
If you have been looking for ways to earn passively online for free for a while, you have likely come across some big claims about how easy it is to earn without any effort.
Let me just make one thing clear – there is NO magic way to make a living online without effort. People and sites that claim this are trying to sell you a dream just to make money for themselves.
In general, if you want to make a living online, this is not something you can do passively. It will require a lot of effort and time.
But if you are looking for ways to make some extra cash on the side online, then it is definitely possible with apps, as I will show you on the list below.
You just need to download the apps with the right expectations and know it will not be a way to make a living.
But if you download several of them, it can be a very easy and nice way to make some passive money without any extra effort.
Who can earn with these apps?
The great thing about the apps you can use to earn passively is that there are options for all.
You do not need any special skills or training to use them, and you can get started right away.
On the list below, I will also include apps for many different countries. So, no matter where you live, you will be able to use at least some of these apps to earn.
All you need is an Android or iOS phone or tablet, and then you can get started. Some of the options will also make it possible for you to earn passively from your computer. Many of the options can even also be used on your computer, and in some cases, you will even boost your passive earnings by installing the apps on several devices.
So, let's now get to the list.
18 best apps to earn TRULY passively
As mentioned, the list below is a list of apps where you can earn without doing anything extra, so they are truly ways to earn passively.
To get the most out of these opportunities, it is best to download and create an account for several of the apps.
I will also be updating this list regularly as I come across new passive income apps, so make sure to bookmark this page and come back and check for new opportunities once in a while.
Available in: All countries
Payment methods: PayPal, 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: 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 to 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 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: 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: 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: 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: All countries
Payment methods: Still unknown
More info: Read full GetGrass review
Short summary:
GetGrass.io (also just known as Grass) is one of the newest passive earning apps on this list, and it is a bit unusual and, therefore, not for all.
In many ways, it is similar to Honeygain and Pawns, as 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. However, it is still building at the time of updating this list, and therefore, you can not yet take your earnings out.
Therefore, it is still unknow what the value of your current earnings will be, but if you believe in the project, it is great to get in as early as possible.
Available in: 60+ countries
Payment methods: Cash
More info: Read full Tapestri review
Short summary:
Tapestri is a unique passive income app, where all you have to do is to install it and allow location tracking. That will then be used for market research and you can earn up to $25 per month just for this.
You also have other more active ways to earn inside the app, and if you upgrade your membership to become a partner, you can boost your earnings a lot by inviting others to join.
You can get paid in cash but the payout threshold depends on the country you live in, but overall it is easy to reach and fast to get paid.
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 to 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 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 interests just for having money or cryptos in your account. You can also earn really high interests 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 also on this platform can earn by sharing your unused internet bandwidth.
You can join from al 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 invest in crypto in an easy way. However, it also offers a passive way to earn Bitcoin.
All you have to do is to 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 at 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 longe 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 to 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 check. You can request for a payment already 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 receive 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.
As you can see, there are some really great apps you can use to earn passively. As long as you do it with the right expectations and do not expect it to make you rich or make a full-time income, then it is a really great opportunity.
If you combine several of these apps and use as many as you are able to qualify for, it definitely can give some nice extra earnings on the side. So find the apps that are available in your country and that you think sound the most appealing to you and start earning without doing anything.
If you have any comments, questions, or know of any great apps to earn passively that is not on the list, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
Here’s what happened when I joined Tapestri:
It didn’t take me very long to reach the $10 minimum threshold stated in the FAQ, but I did not receive the automatic payment at the beginning of the next month as stated in the app and the FAQ. I started investigating to see what I had done wrong, and lo and behold, when I logged into my wallet, it stated that the minimum threshold was now $25.
So, I kept going, and when I reached $25, once again, I did not receive automatic payment at the beginning of the next month. I checked my wallet again, and now it’s a $65 minimum threshold.
I’ve now got $89 in there and they have not responded to my support messages. In fact, when I look for them, there aren’t any – so either they deleted them, or they just disappeared into cyberspace. There is no support. And, I’m sorry to say, there is no payment.
Furthermore, I was foolish enough to pay for the $20 upgrade, and they don’t provide a way to cancel it on the website.
Sorry to hear that. But thanks for sharing your experiences.
As I mention in the review above, the threshold has been $65 in some countries for a long time. Also, I have been paid by it several times myself. But I agree the support and the conditions definitely could be better.