The Ultimate Guide to Making Money with Your Phone

We use our smartphones to message friends and family, take photos, post to our socials, check our finances, pay for our purchases, watch videos, play games, and much more. So what if that “more” could include earning money, right from the comfort of your phone?

With smartphones being such comprehensive everyday essentials, it’s not really a surprise that more people are finding ways to make money solely using their phones. Mobile gig apps, online survey apps, job opportunity platforms, investment apps, and passive income methods are transforming the way that people approach working, whether from your home or on the go.

Our ultimate guide will explore the many ways you can make money using just your smartphone. Whether you’re looking to earn extra cash via a side hustle, want to diversify your income streams, or plan to build a growing full-time business, there are plenty of opportunities to start earning money with your phone.

Why and How to Profit From Your Phone

As we’ve seen, smartphones aren’t limited to just being communication tools; they’ve become all in one mini computers that can manage our daily tasks, keep us connected, and now help us earn money. There are plenty of good reasons to use your smartphone to make money - and a long list of ways to do exactly that!

Flexibility

One of the best benefits of using a smartphone to make money is the flexibility it offers. You can work from anywhere - at home, on vacation, even while commuting or traveling. This freedom allows you to earn money on your terms, at your pace, from online survey apps, watching videos, or completing tasks through gig apps. You can find ways to fit these activities into your schedule and watch your wallet benefit.

Low Entry Barriers

Many gig apps, websites, and platforms that allow you to make money with your phone are free to use or require minimal investment; many don’t even require any special skills. Whether you're looking to complete paid surveys on survey apps like Swagbucks, rent out your stuff, or start an online store through an ecommerce platform like Fourthwall, getting started is simple.

Scalability

While it may seem that making money through your phone will only result in pocket change at best, the opportunities actually aren’t limited to small tasks. Many of the apps and platforms discussed here allow you to scale your efforts and increase your earnings over time, giving you plenty of potential to get some extra income.

Accessibility

The best part about using your smartphone to generate income is  how easily accessible the opportunity is. As long as you have a smartphone and internet access, you can start earning money! From paid surveys to gig apps, ecommerce sites to investment apps, many of these phone-based jobs are available to anyone, regardless of location or experience.

20 Ways to Make Money with Your Phone

Ready to start making money with your phone? Let’s get into 20 of the best ways to use your smartphone to earn revenue - these methods cater to a wide range of interests and skill levels, whether you want to keep it simple with surveys, or leverage your existing experience into freelance work.

1. Offer Your Skills

Whether you're a writer, graphic designer, programmer, or video editor, freelancing apps like Upwork and Fiverr allow you to offer your skills and services to a global audience. Freelancing can be a lucrative way to use your existing skills to make money, and with the flexibility to work from your phone, you can manage projects while on the go.

2. Take Surveys

Survey apps like Swagbucks and InboxDollars let you to earn money by taking online surveys, watching videos, and completing simple online tasks. Many of these online survey apps reward you with gift cards or let you earn some spare cash in your free time. Taking online surveys and completing tasks might not make you rich, but they can be a very easy way earn extra money on the side.

3. Create Stock Photos

Got some photography skills? Then you can make money by selling your photos as stock through apps like Foap or Shutterstock. You’ll upload your photos to the stock photo site of your choice, and when they sell, you earn a commission. Since smartphones generally have excellent cameras, anyone can start selling photos and earn extra money from their photography work. 

4. Sell Stuff

Gently worn fashion, classic vinyl records, retro videogames - You can sell just about anything to make money on apps like eBay, Poshmark, and Etsy. These platforms make it easy to start selling your vintage stuff without needing a physical store or even a computer, allowing you to upload photos and descriptions of your products right from your phone.

5. Become an Affiliate

Affiliate marketing is another easy way to earn money passively. By promoting products through apps like Amazon Associates or Rakuten, you can earn commissions on sales made through affiliate referral links. Share your affiliate links on your social media accounts, your website, or your blog, and you can earn money with minimal effort.

6. Sell Digital Products

Digital products like ebooks, online courses, or printables are an excellent way to make money with your phone. You can design right on your phone using apps like Canva or Adobe Express, then, upload your digital products and start selling them on platforms like Gumroad or Etsy, where you can continue earning passive income once your digital items are uploaded and listed.

7. Launch a Blog or Vlog

If you enjoy writing or creating video blogs, you can start your own blog or vlog directly from your phone, where apps like WordPress, Medium, and YouTube allow you to create and publish content on the go. Monetize your blog or vlog through affiliate marketing, ads, or sponsorships, and enjoy your extra income.

8. Start Investing

Investment apps like Acorns allow you to invest and trade stocks, ETFs, and other assets directly from your phone. While investing does require some knowledge and research, once you get the hang of it these investment apps will make it easy to manage your portfolio, even on the go. You can start small, and grow your investments over time.

9. Rent Your Stuff

Got items stored away in your garage? You might be surprised to find out that you can rent them out for extra cash. Apps like Fat Llama and Turo allow you to rent out items like lawn and garden equipment, electronics, cameras, party gear like bounce houses, and even sports equipment. This is a great way to earn money from pricey things you already own but don't use very much!

10. Teach or Tutor

If you have expertise in a particular subject - from English to foreign languages, algebra to Python - you can connect with students online via tutoring gig apps and help them learn while earning extra cash. Teaching or tutoring through apps like VIPKid or Wyzant Tutoring can be an especially rewarding way to make money from your phone. 

11. Create Content

Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube offer plenty of opportunities for content creators and influencers to make money from their content. Whether it’s through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, or integrating ecommerce sites like Fourthwall so you can sell merchandise to your audience, content creation can be a profitable business.

12. Test Mobile Apps

Companies often pay for users to test their apps! You can find app companies to work with using sites like UserTesting, which offer opportunities to test apps and websites right from your phone, and make money by getting paid for your feedback and opinions.  

13. Dropship 

Dropshipping is a way to sell products without needing to store any inventory. Apps like Shopify let you easily set up a store so you can choose and start selling products. Once a customer makes a purchase, the supplier ships the product directly to them - and all you need is your mobile phone to manage your new dropshipping business.

14. Help Customers 

You’ll find that many companies hire customer service agents to work remotely - and many of these jobs can actually be done via your mobile phone. Platforms like LiveOps will let you search customer service positions that you can perform from anywhere, earning money without even leaving home as you chat with and help customers.

15. Virtually Assist 

Virtual assistant jobs are in high demand, and all it takes is a little legwork to find clients who can use your administrative support. Your tasks as a virtual assistant might include scheduling, email management, or social media management. Use gig apps like Time Etc. to find virtual assistant opportunities and start getting paid for your assisting work.

16. Get Crafty

Enjoy making things like jewelry, art, or candles? If you’re artistic or crafty, you can sell your handmade items through apps like Etsy. There’s always a market for unique, handmade goods, and selling your creations online is a great way to earn extra money while sharing your talents.

17. Let the Dogs Out

What better way to spend an afternoon than taking a friendly dog for a walk? Pet gig apps like Rover let you connect with pet owners who need help caring for their animals. You can offer dog walking or pet sitting services through these apps, and earn cash by hanging out with cute dogs in your spare time.

18. Spare a Room

If you have a spare room in your house, an apartment that’ll be vacant while you’re out of town, or a car you’re not using, apps like Airbnb or Turo allow you to rent out your space or your car to make extra money. Just put together a listing, a cleaning plan, and some rules for your guests, and you could find this a great way to generate passive income.  

19. Be Part of the Crowd 

Check out crowdsourcing platforms like 3PlayMedia, which offer opportunities to make money by participating in various projects. These crowdsourced tasks can range from translating documents to testing websites, and you can complete many of them right from your phone.

20. Coach or Consult

If you have expertise in a particular area, you can offer coaching or consulting services through platforms like Coach.me or Clarity.fm. You can connect with clients via your mobile phone, providing guidance on topics like fitness, business matters, or personal development.

Start Selling Online with Fourthwall!

Get a head start on making money with your phone by signing up at Fourthwall! Fourthwall is an excellent platform for creators who want to monetize their work, both on your phone and online. 

Whether you're an artist, designer, content creator, influencer, or new entrepreneur, Fourthwall allows you to create and sell custom products like merchandise, art, or digital downloads directly from your phone, making it easy to set up your own store and start selling. 

To get started with Fourthwall, simply sign up for an account, choose your niche, and start designing your products. From your own online store, Fourthwall provides tools to promote your merch and manage sales, all from your phone - your potential earnings are endless!