How to Make $10 Fast – Let the Internet Lead the Way
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Whether you’re a student looking to make extra money for weekend excursions or a budget-conscious newlywed interested in stretching your dollars, making even a small amount of extra money each week can give you some much-needed breathing room. Especially if you have some extra free time on your hands, it’s possible to make some real money without investing too much of your own time and energy.
While plenty of people chase side hustles, sometimes all you really need to accrue each week is some spare change. The good news is that the internet connects you with dozens of money-making opportunities if you’re looking for how to make money fast. From market research to cash-back apps, here’s a quick rundown of ways to make $10 fast.
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Ways to make money fast
Not all options on this list are the same—and that's by design. Some people can commit more time to a job than others. On the other hand, some people are looking for a job to scale up into a true side hustle, while others are more interested in making some extra pocket change here and there.
Regardless of your goals, the main ways of making money outlined below fall into four categories: apps, websites, investment opportunities, and hybrid work.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Apps
Many of the money-making platforms below require you to download a free app to start earning. Sometimes, all of your work will be completed and paid out through the app. In others, you'll be able to use a website at home and an app on the go to increase when you’re able to make money.
Websites
From paid survey sites to browser plug-ins, there are many web-based ways to earn extra income quickly. While some online surveys are conducted via apps, many of them are still down through browser-enabled devices. You can visit the website to complete the survey on a desktop computer, smartphone, or tablet, if you’d like.
Investment opportunities
Some of the options outlined in this list will help you make $10 quickly but also require you to invest some of your own money. Not everyone has the money to join an app like Robinhood or invest through Acorns; however, if you’re trying to find a passive income stream, it’s worth weighing these options.
Hybrid work
While jobs using apps and websites are purely virtual, there are some hybrid earning opportunities that require some physical component—even as they’re enabled by an online component. For example, if you deliver groceries with Instacart, you’ll be shopping in person, driving a vehicle, and also interacting with a shopping list using your smartphone. While these require a bigger time commitment, they also generally have the highest earning potential.
Is online work profitable?
All the money-making websites and apps on this list are legit ways to earn quick cash in your spare time. Some of them will likely be a better fit for you than others. Part of this depends on what you’re best at or most interested in, and part depends on how much money you’re trying to make.
When it comes to making $10 quickly, many of these options go up in value simply because of their low barriers of entry. While some of the gigs on this list offer severe cash and welcome bonuses, some are the things you’ll spend 10 minutes on each day. Combining a few easy-to-do survey sites and cashing in on a sign-up bonus is likely all you need to do to hit your $10 goal.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Where you can make $10 fast
Acorns
Interested in finding a way to save money that you earn in addition to your day job? Acorns lets you invest your spare change by automatically rounding up your purchases to the nearest whole dollar. That latte you bought for $4.67? It’ll earn you an extra $0.33, automatically deposited to an investment account to continue growing and accruing interest. With smart portfolios, top-notch security, and the option to diversify your investments with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, you may save $10 in your first week of use alone! As a passive income option, Acorns takes a lot of the thought out of saving for your future.
Amazon
While you probably think of Amazon as a website where you spend money and don’t make money, many people make money selling used goods on the platform, too. Whether you have a textbook that’s gone up in value or are buying items from overseas and selling them at a profit, Amazon is a trusted name in eCommerce and well worth aligning yourself with as you look to make some extra money.
DoorDash
If you have a car and want to really start making some money, delivering food through DoorDash is an excellent option. DoorDash drivers get to keep 100% of their tips and get paid for every delivery they complete. That means that if you just download the app and make a few deliveries on a Friday night, you could easily earn much more than $10 for your time.
DoorDash is one of the options on this list that also comes with a signup bonus to really help jumpstart your earnings. The only thing better than quick money is free money, and your welcome bonus for signing up with DoorDash could be worth $100 or more. Combined with earnings from your referral code, DoorDash can be a very lucrative side gig.
Fiverr
If you are already in a creative field like graphic design, copywriting, or editing for your 9-to-5 job, then Fiverr could be a great way to earn extra money for work you’re already talented at. Fiverr lets you set up a profile and custom gigs to be purchased from clients looking for a wide range of freelance work. Payments are made via PayPal, so you can get your earnings quickly once you’ve completed a job and it’s cleared Fiverr’s system. Just keep in mind that Fiverr will take a 20% cut of your profits, so you’ll want to factor that fee into your pricing structure before you begin accepting gigs.
Focus groups
Besides answering surveys, focus groups are another way to cash in on your opinion. FocusScope is one such website helping companies complete important work in market research. From businesses looking to improve their Nielsen rating to companies interested in feedback from a certain demographic before a product launch, you’ll be able to help others by sharing your thoughts—and make money doing it! Go to Google and search “focus group websites” to see what other options are.
Fundrise
Real estate is another popular passive income stream for many investors; however, not everyone meets the qualifications necessary to tackle REITs and other forms of real estate investment on their own. Fundrise seeks to bridge that gap, letting you get in on various investment opportunities for as little as $10. Best of all, when you invest $10 and meet certain terms and conditions, you’ll get an extra $10 in bonus shares. Now that’s the fastest free cash you’re likely to ever make!
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
InboxDollars
Of all of the paid survey sites out there, InboxDollars is one of the top contenders. Once you download the app, you’ll fill out a demographic profile and begin to see various surveys that you qualify for. Surveys may pay you as much as $5 or as little as $0.25, so you’ll need to be selective in order to make your $10 quickly. Even so, if you’ve got a commute on a bus or train (or are just looking for something to do during commercial breaks), InboxDollars can be a great way to earn some extra money without having to dedicate extra time to it.
Instacart
Thanks to the pandemic, grocery delivery is a luxury that will likely stay for many. If you like the sound of shopping for others’ groceries and making deliveries, Instacart is a great option. For the most part, you’ll just be shopping for items and then delivering them to the proper recipient; however, if you need to make a substitution for an item, you may need to reach out to the person you’re shopping for to have a quick back-and-forth about replacement options.
You can join the platform as a full-service shopper and earn money per job, plus keep 100% of your tips, or you can join as an in-store shopper and commit at least 29 hours of your workweek to Instacart. In-store shoppers have a higher hourly rate of up to $24 an hour, depending on where you live, so if you’re looking to graduate to a more serious side gig, Instacart is a great way to start.
Mistplay
Do you already play a lot of mobile games on your smartphone? If so, you should look into Mistplay, which pays you money to play games. Games get recommended to you based on your taste, and the more you play them, the more you can earn. From word games and casino games to puzzle games and arcade games, there’s something for everyone on the platform. When it’s time to cash out, Mistplay lets you withdraw your earnings through Amazon gift cards, PayPal, and a few other options. To date, Mistplay has given away over $23 million to its users!
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Mypoints
Mypoints is a website offering cash back and cash rewards when you shop at businesses you’re likely to already frequent such as Home Depot, Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon. You earn points on every dollar you spend through Mypoints and access to cash back, coupons, and other money-saving perks. This means that you can easily save $10 in your first week or two of using Mypoints, depending on what you’re buying and where you shop. Best of all, when you join Mypoints, you’ll automatically get your choice of one of two free gift cards: a $10 Amazon gift card or a $10 Visa gift card.
Rakuten
Another rewards site of sorts is Rakuten. Rakuten functions similarly to Mypoints, except Mypoints focuses on cash-back offers. Rakuten functions as a browser plug-in, so anytime you’re thinking of making a purchase online, if a deal is available, Rakuten will let you know that you can earn a percentage back. For example, when I go to Best Buy’s website, Rakuten sends a message letting me know that I can earn 1% back for purchases that fit the categories of Appliances, Cell Phones, Health, Fitness & Beauty, Magnolia, and TV & Home Theater.
While Rakuten offers a great way to earn money quickly through a cas-hback program, they only pay your earnings quarterly. This means that while you can make $10 fast with the platform, you won’t be able to spend that $10 immediately.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Robinhood
Robinhood has been in the news a lot in the last few years, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth considering if you’re interested in investing and don’t have much money to put on the table yet. Investing with Robinhood is commission-free, and you can start contributing to your portfolio with as little as $1. If you pick the right stock, you could quickly earn $10 with a small initial investment.
Survey Junkie
One of the other top survey sites besides InboxDollars is Survey Junkie. If you enjoy taking surveys and can complete them quickly, there’s no reason you shouldn’t use both platforms to increase your earning potential. Remember that Survey Junkie pays you a specific point value for each survey you complete. From there, you can redeem your points for gift cards or cash. Having a few different survey websites in rotation each day can be a valuable strategy for having more consistency in your survey-taking side gig.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Swagbucks
If you like variety, then Swagbucks is the option for you. Swagbucks offers many simple ways to earn some extra cash, whether you’re getting paid to watch videos, play games, or complete surveys. Swagbucks is a super simple way to earn pocket change, making it an ideal complement to some of the other money-making websites and apps found here. It’s also one of the most popular options on this list, with total payouts of over $600 million to its users to date. You’ll even earn a $10 bonus when you join for free!
TaskRabbit
If you like completing odd jobs and helping others, TaskRabbit could be a straightforward way to earn some extra coins. One day, you might help someone hang picture frames on a wall, while you may deliver groceries on another. If you don’t want to commit to a side gig fully but are interested in picking up extra work when you have the time and energy, TaskRabbit is a great platform to keep in your back pocket. Even taking care of one job could get you the $40 or more for a few hours of your time.
Uber
Uber is one of the most popular ridesharing apps on the market, and part of that is because of the way they compensate their drivers. Uber is willing to guarantee new drivers $2,500 in their first month of driving, provided they meet certain terms and conditions. As such, if you need to make $10 quickly, Uber will see your $10 and raise you $2,490! You can also switch between ridesharing through Uber and delivering food via Uber Eats, so if you’re interested in taking a break from one task or the other, but still want to earn money with your vehicle, Uber is a great option.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Upwork
If Fiverr doesn’t seem like your speed (or you’re tired of getting spam requests), it might be worth giving Upwork a try. With Upwork, you bid on different jobs and go head-to-head with other freelancers. This means that Upwork is a bit more competitive than Fiverr, but it also means that you have the opportunity to earn a bit more. Upwork and Fiverr are great ways to bolster your freelance roster if you want a more committed side hustle. Upwork even handles invoicing for you, and you can get paid through PayPal or an ACH transfer for near-instant payment.
Costs or fees
None of the apps and websites on this list have any upfront costs—assuming that you don’t need to buy a car to drive for Uber. However, some money-making options take a percentage of your earnings as a service fee. As such, that’s something you should factor into your work if you plan on finding clients with websites like Fiverr or Upwork. Keep in mind that any time you earn more than $600 as an independent contractor, you’ll also be required to pay taxes on your income.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Work when you want. If you want total control over when and where you work, the options on this list are great ways to find flexibility while you earn an extra $10.
- Easy. With perhaps the exception of a specific line of freelance work, all of these jobs are simple and straightforward. Sharing your opinion or watching a video is so easy to do that it can feel like free money.
- Quick payment. With payment options through PayPal and bank transfer, not to mention digital gift cards, you won’t have to wait for a check in the mail or bi-weekly payroll to be run with these options.
Cons
- Fees. Many of the options on this list don’t have fees; however, platforms like Fiverr do take a percentage of your income which can be a bit of a drag.
- Best paying jobs aren’t all virtual. If you need a fully-virtual job, you better be able to freelance. Otherwise, you’ll need to buy a car or join TaskRabbit in order to make more money per hour. Even so, if you’re just trying to earn an extra $10, you have plenty of all-online choices.
- Repetitive. Taking surveys might be easy, but on the tenth survey of the day, it can all start to feel a bit repetitive. As long as you don’t mind the tedium, survey sites and watching videos are a fine way to make money. Otherwise, you may want to stick to other jobs like Uber, Upwork, and Instacart.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
The bottom line
If you need to make money quickly, the jobs on this list are a simple, painless way to do so. While not all of the work is particularly glamorous, many of the options outlined above offer welcome bonuses and other perks that make hitting a goal of making $10 fast even easier. If you’re a student or stay-at-home parent, these sorts of jobs won’t make you rich, but will certainly help you make ends meet or feel a bit less guilty about going out to dinner once a week.
Even if you don’t have a lot of work experience, you can get started with the above jobs and money-making apps. Some of the work might be repetitive, but for many people that makes it a great fit for multi-tasking while you watch TV or manage your daily commute. Best of all, some of the jobs at places like Instacart, Uber, DoorDash, and Fiverr allow you to scale up your work to make even more money. Just because you need a quick $10 now doesn’t mean that you may not want to leverage your account to pay off debt more aggressively in the future, so signing up for some of these money-making opportunities today could be a great step towards fiscal wellness.
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Writer
Brent Ervin-Eickhoff is a Chicago-based writer, stage director, and filmmaker with a background in digital marketing and content creation. In addition to Joy Wallet, Brent has written for Complex, Volkswagen, HowlRound, Picture this Post, and Third Coast Review, among others. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Marketing for Content Creation at Court Theatre at the University of Chicago. Brent graduated from Ball State University with Academic Honors in Writing.
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