Smartphones are great, aren’t they? The world is connected like never before, and we use them for absolutely everything. From catching up with friends, getting directions to that new Chinese restaurant you’ve heard loads about, or sharing cute cat pictures, phones are central to our lives. A study from RescueTime, an app designed to monitor phone usage, found that the average person uses their phone for over three hours a day! With so much time spent using our phone for leisure, why not use it to make money?

There are several apps out there designed to help you make money. From investment apps to free (yes FREE) apps, there are plenty of options out there to make you money.

Free: Job Spotter
Pretty much the Pokémon GO of the money-making app world, Job Spotter pays users to find and locate job adverts. The app was created by job site Indeed.com and will pay you to take photographs of the job adverts that you see in windows or on notice boards. Job hunters will then be able to see these adverts online.

Users are allocated points for each job advert they snap, ranging from five to 150 per advert. The point system is based on the originality of the snap. Calculated by an algorithm, an advert is classed as original if it comes from a small local business. You will get fewer points if you take a picture of a McDonald’s advert, for instance, which will be classed as a generic
opportunity.

Each point is worth one US cent. Which.co.uk used the app for eight weeks and earned over £50.27 in Amazon vouchers. Launched in the US in 2016, with additional launches in the UK and Australia the following year, the app was recently closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic but will likely reopen when the world returns to normality.

If you want a fun app that will help you earn money for absolutely no cost at all, this app is for you.

Free: Roamler

For Europeans out there, another app which can help you make money for no cost is Roamler. Which.co.uk also play tested this app and earned a quite considerable £64.50.

The main stumbling block for Roamler is that you can’t exactly just start using it. There’s a bit of exclusivity with the app, with you requiring finding an invite code from an existing user. While it shouldn’t be like Fort Knox for you to gain access, it might be a bit annoying to track one down. Luckily, there are Facebook groups out there for the app, and I’m sure some nice
person will be happy to give you a code (fingers crossed).

So, what is the app? Well, it is essentially a big treasure hunt, except you will go around your area doing tasks. Tasks can be found anywhere, from supermarkets and bars to restaurants and petrol stations. You could be tasked to find a specific product, or fill in a short questionnaire, with each task completed paying you for your time.

When you start your Roamler journey, you will have to complete a series of unpaid tasks to prove your commitment to the cause. Each task will require differing levels of knowledge, which the app will train you to do. Better yet, when you complete a task, you will gain experience points to level up – the higher your level, the more paid tasks you are offered.

There is competition involved too, with each Roamler user vying for each task in your location.

It may sound quite complicated, but the bottom line is: You go places, do tasks, make money.

If you manage to get an access code, this fun adventure could help you make some nice money on the side.

Paid: Acorn

So, we’ve covered apps that help you earn money by doing tasks, now let’s talk about investment apps.

If you want to start investing, smartphone apps can be an excellent way to get into it. There are varying types of investments from property to stocks, with differing levels of learning curves.

Acorns is a great way to get a taste of the investment world without requiring the knowledge to make smart investments.

The app allows a completely hands-off investment, with Acorns automatically investing money. Basically, when you make a purchase, Acorns will round up the price to the next whole dollar/ applicable currency. So, if you buy that delicious sandwich from your local store
for $4.50, Acorns will invest $0.50.

Tip – another great hands-off investment would be to invest in property. If this type of investment is something you want to consider, you can learn more about the property market and how to get started in investing with online guides from experts like RWinvest.

The base version for Acorns costs $1 a month and will invest your money in stocks, bonds, and Exchange Traded Funds. For $3 though, you can save for your future and set up an individual retirement account (IRA) through the app.