Have you ever stumbled upon an exciting piece of art and immediately imagined it in your home? That’s exactly what happened to me recently. I’d been eyeing a stunning painting for weeks, but the price tag was just a bit outside my budget. Determined to make it happen, I started looking for creative ways to earn some extra cash without dipping into my savings.
During one of my spin classes, I casually mentioned my budget woes to my friends. That’s when my friend Lety shared a genius idea that instantly got my attention: earning money by downloading apps — for free. I was intrigued. I’d used shopping reward apps before, but I had no idea there were other apps out there that could help me earn extra money.
Lety and I brainstormed a list of apps that help you save and make money. It turned out to be a goldmine of ideas. Here are three fantastic ways to earn money by downloading apps for free. Each of these apps is simple, fun, and effective —and they’re perfect for anyone looking to stretch their budget.
Earn Money by Downloading Apps for Online Shopping Savings
One of the smartest (and easiest) apps I’ve added to my lineup is Honey. Honey automatically finds and applies coupon codes when you shop online. You’ll see the savings instantly at checkout, and the app also rewards you with PayPal Rewards points that can be redeemed for gift cards or cash back.
It’s a total win-win — you save money on things you were already planning to buy and earn rewards at the same time. For me, it’s been a game-changer for big-ticket items and everyday essentials alike.
Earn Money by Downloading Apps and Playing Games
The more you play, the more Units you rack up, and those Units can be traded in for gift cards to places like Amazon, Target, and Starbucks. Mistplay even suggests new games based on what you already like, so you’re always discovering something new while earning at the same time.
Earning Money with Shopkick
Now, let’s talk about my personal favorite app: Shopkick. I’ve been using Shopkick for a while now, and I love how easy it is to earn rewards just by doing things I already do — like shopping.
Shopkick gives you points (called kicks) for completing various activities, including:
- Walking into partner stores (yes, you can earn points just for entering a store!)
- Scanning the barcodes of specific items to learn more about them
- Making purchases in-store or online
Once you’ve accumulated enough kicks, you can redeem them for gift cards to major retailers like Amazon, Target, and Starbucks. Personally, I love trading my kicks for gift cards to stores where I buy home goods and décor.
One of the things I love most about Shopkick is that you can also earn points online. For instance, you can get kicks by finding hidden kicks, watching videos, or making purchases online through the app. This flexibility makes it easy to rack up points regardless of whether you’re shopping in person or online.
Using Shopkick has turned everyday shopping trips into little opportunities to save. It’s almost like a game — finding ways to maximize your kicks while running errands. And trust me, the rewards add up faster than you’d expect.
Final Takeaway
So, if you’re ready to make your budget work a little harder, download one (or all three) of these apps today. Easy money really does exist — you just need the right apps in your pocket.
