There has been a lot of buzz surrounding passive income. Is it real? Can you truly make money by doing nothing at all? Are passive income apps safe and legitimate?

The short answer is yes. Passive income is real, and you can make money with little to no effort at all. Not only does passive income assist with paying down your debt, help you work toward financial freedom, but it creates opportunities for improving your quality of life.

If you are looking for a way to improve your financial wellbeing, generating passive income is one way to start.

Best Passive Income Apps

InboxDollars

There is a reason InboxDollars appears on nearly every financial list for creating income. It is trusted, requires nearly no effort, and offers you cash rewards for watching videos, TV, reading emails, playing games, taking short surveys, and shopping online. Basically, you get paid for doing all the things you already do! Another dependable feature is the fact that InboxDollars deals in dollars—not points, which is a rarity among award systems. This way you always know exactly what you are earning and can set clear goals.

• Read Our Full Review Here

Drop App

One of the best ways of generating passive income is through apps like Drop. Drop offers point rewards for shopping online at your favorite stores, booking travel, and ordering takeout through their app. Once you gain enough points, you can exchange them for incentives, discounts, or gift cards to your favorite stores. With the Drop App, you get paid for doing all the things you normally do, which makes it ideal for anyone looking to make money without taking extra steps.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is one of the most frequently reported passive money-making apps available to date. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a list that did not mention it. Why? It is simple, trusted, reliable, and turns minutes of leisure time into points you can cash out. This is how it works. Once you download Swagbucks, they pay you for taking surveys, watching videos, and performing web searches. Swagbucks claims you can earn between $200-$300 if you become proficient, but even if you spend one hour a day, you can bring in between $25-$30 a month.

• Read Our Full Review Here

Patreon

This is a perfect time to discuss crowdfunding. Crowdfunding refers to the process of funding a project or venture by taking small amounts of money from a large amount of people. You are likely familiar with this through popular philanthropic apps such as GoFundMe. However, there are many ways crowdfunding can create passive income outside of charitable giving.
Consider Patreon. Patreon is a crowdfunding platform where artist with a special niche are supported by their fans. If you have a niche or talent that you regularly share, consider outsourcing. Many artists with a wide variety of talents are supported through Patreon every day. It is worth researching crowdfunding if Patreon is not exactly right for you. There are many options out there to support your goals. 

Fundrise

Investment is and has always been one of the best methods to create passive income, and with Fundrise it has never been easier. Fundrise is a real estate investment firm structured for the everyday investor. When you invest in Fundrise, you are buying shares of residential or private commercial properties and generate income from those shares. Last year, Fundrise investors saw a 9-12% return on their investment, which is considerable. However, like any investment, it is important to be sure you understand hidden fees, the product you are investing in, and their cash out policies. Crowdfunding firms like Fundrise offer everyday investors a piece of the passive income pie.

• Read Our Full Review here

Public: The Social Investing App

If you are searching for a community of investors and a platform that enables you to connect with your peers, Public has taken investing to the next level. Public offers investors a wide variety of stocks, including the ability to purchase portions of them, and offers funds without commission fees. Public also sales transparency. They believe your investments should mean something to you and that you have the right to know what you are investing in. They encourage you to connect with your peers and grow! If you are considering investment as your means to passive income, Public is worth consideration. 

Airbnb

Passive income can come from many different sources, but if you are looking to earn a large payout in a relatively small amount of time, it is time to consider Airbnb. All you need to do is clean up one of your rooms and rent it out to travelers. It is as simple as that. You decide what to charge, house rules, when your room is available, and what amenities are offered. You choose the level of interaction you will have with your guest—if any at all. Furthermore, you are protected. All hosts on Airbnb are backed with twenty-four-hour support and free $1M liability and property insurance. With Airbnb it is not uncommon for hosts to walk away with $500 or more depending on their rates, rental type, and location. Out of the options on this list, Airbnb is one of the quickest ways of making considerable cash with little to no effort involved.

Neighbor

If you are intrigued by Airbnb but unsure about providing hospitality, Neighbor offers the ability to rent out your empty space for storage in exchange for income. It turns out people are always looking for affordable storage options to house anything from their items to an RV. Like Airbnb, you post your available space on their platform and in return they offer you free $1M liability insurance, nationwide customer support, the right to request a photo ID, and

the ability to screen all potential renters. One of the benefits of Neighbor is that it offers a steady, reliable source of income because most people rent out spaces for long periods of time. The returns can also be substantial.

TRIM

Trim is a virtual assistant app that looks for ways to optimize your cash flow by analyzing your spending habits to save you money. However, it does not stop there. Trim cross references your current bills to assure you are receiving the best rates and negotiates a lower payment if it finds you are paying too high. It will negotiate with credit card companies to lower your APR and negotiate refunds on unfair bank fees. Trim also cancels old subscriptions, makes sure you are not paying for services you do not use, and works to lead you to greater financial health. With Trim, the money you make—is your own.   

Permission Research

There is a way to make money by doing nothing at all. In fact, many apps will pay you to download their app and pretend like they do not exist. Yes, you read that right. This is how it works. In exchange for downloading the app and allowing Permission Research to access anonymous data about how you use the internet, you receive cash and other incentives. Do not worry, your information is kept anonymous and cannot be traced back to you. I would not expect large payouts from Permission Research, but if you are able to download an app and go about your life, this is an open door to free money.

Mistplay

One of the best features of living in the technological age is possibility. Gone is the day where passive income is restricted to wealthy investors. Now, there appears to be something for everyone. Mistplay believes so too. Mistplay is a gaming app that pays you for playing games on your phone, it is as simple as that. Being as 70% of all Americans are phone-savvy gamers, there is a solid chance you already do this! Why not cash out on your favorite pastime? This will not get you rich, but it is one way to earn extra cash each month by playing the games you already know and love.

Rakuten

If you are an online shopper and looking at a way to maximize your money but also generate income at the same time, Rakuten can assist you with your goals. Rakuten partners with major retailers throughout the nation so they can provide you with cashback every time you make an approved purchase. All it requires is for you to shop through their app. One of the best features of Rakuten is your earned cashback hits your account as soon as the purchase has been confirmed. Rakuten can be downloaded from your Google Play Store.

• Read Our Full Review Here

Acorns

Acorns is one of the most unique apps for improving your financial health. Not only does it assist with checking and retirement, but it is an investment platform that allows you to invest your spare change to grow passive income from it. For example, if you purchase a Starbucks coffee for $3.75, Acorns rounds the total up to $5.00 and invests the remaining 25 cents. To do this, you link your debit or credit card to Acorns and let them do the rest. Acorns also assists you with planning for your future! You can designate all the money you earn and place it into a retirement fund for a later date. Acorns is great for the hands-off investor who is looking to earn passive income and save for their future.

• Read Our Full Review Here

Shutterstock

Making money could be as easy as taking a picture with your phone and uploading it. In fact, many people around the world make money from providing royalty free content to stock photo sites through easy apps that allow you to post as you go. Companies, businesses, and media outlets are dependent upon these images for productivity. Thus, the need for quality, applicable stock photos is not likely to decrease. On average, stock photo contributors earn 45 cents every time their photo is uploaded. Shutterstock will pay you 15-40%, depending on several factors. If you are a proficient with a camera or just enjoy documenting life, this is one way to create extra income.

Robinhood

Welcome to commission free investing. Everyone knows that investing takes money to make money, even when the cost is low. Robinhood makes it lower! Unlike some investments apps, Robinhood doesn’t charge you every time you trade, offering a return of 10-20% back into your wallet. They also provide a safe and secure way of building your portfolio by piecing together shares from different companies that draws down risk. Overall, Robinhood believes in transparent trading that happens in real time, so you always know how much a share costs. True to their name, they protect the rights to your individual money and provide a trading solution for those who are looking to reclaim more out of their investing experience.

• Read Our Full Robinhood Review Here

What is the Difference Between Passive, Earned, and Portfolio Income?

• Passive Income is money you make through other sources rather than working. While it is considered taxable income, the IRS treats it differently than active or earned income.
• Active or Earned Income is money you earn from a part-time, fulltime job, or business you own.
• Portfolio Income is made through interest, capital gains, stocks and dividends associated with investment.

When it Comes to Passive Income Apps, Is My Financial Information Safe?

Yes, most passive income apps are safe. In fact, most of them take extra steps and precautionary measures to assure you and your data are protected. However, as with any application, it is important to do your research—especially before giving them financial information.

No app should promise you will get rich, demand security or permissions that do not align with the app’s purpose or ask for information that makes you feel uncomfortable. Moreover, apps should be clear about what is expected of you and what they will deliver. Be aware of apps that make a lot of claims but give you no real information. While most phones do not get viruses, malware is a real concern. It is important to consider your phone security when dealing with downloadable apps.

Most apps will list their security features. It is a great idea to review these before downloading any app onto your phone. 

Here are a few ways you can be sure an app is safe:

• Make sure your phone is protected with security software and that this software has features designed to keep your financial information safe.
• Pay attention to permissions. Go with your gut—if the app is asking for too many permissions and those permissions do not align with the app; it is best not to download it.
• Make sure any financial app you are working with addresses safety, protections, and outlines the steps they take to assure your safety.
• Use third-party financial sites such as PayPal whenever you can. This is especially true if you utilize one or more apps and find yourself inputting your bank information in regularly. 

How Much Money Can I Make?

How much you make depends on several factors. Some use passive income to bring in a little extra money, while others use investment and set their sights on greater returns. This depends on whether you choose an investment app, like the idea of renting out a space or room, have a niche that can be funded, or would rather just bring income in by completing small tasks, like watch videos, take surveys, receive kickbacks from shopping, or participate in data collection.

A Note About Investment

While Investment can be one of the easiest ways to bring in extra cash flow, it also comes with a lot of red tape. As always, be sure to read the fine print anytime you consider investing your money or using an app to act as the go between. Make sure you understand what you are investing in, what fees are associated with both the investment and the app, if you can sell your shares back to the company, and if there are time limits on your ability to cash out your funds. Some investment apps restrict you from cashing out your earnings for five years or more.

It is never a good idea to invest more money than you can afford. The goal is to create money that will lead you to financial freedom and not create a financial hardship, so be aware of any schemes that promise you will get rich or generate lofty amounts of money in a short period of time.

Know the Market

While apps have been created with the everyday investor in mind, it is always smart to understand the market and the product your investing in. Conversations should include if/how COVID may impact your investment.

Do not be afraid to ask questions, utilize resources, and take time to consider your choice before you decide.

Passive Income Makes You Money

While some ways of making passive income can take more time than others, it is important to choose one (or more) avenues that help you reach your goal. With the accessibility to apps, Passive income works to better your financial health and wellness, by alleviating strains on your income and maximizing your dollar.