Making Money With Apps in 2026: An Honest Comparison

Germans spend an average of more than three hours a day on their smartphones. The obvious question: can you turn that time into money? The honest answer: making money with apps works – just not as well as some people promise.

Which apps can you actually make money with, and what do they really pay? This guide shows you which methods work, what you can realistically earn and which offers you should ignore.

How much can you realistically earn with apps?

First, the most important truth: making money with apps is a side income, not a replacement for a salary. Here is what is realistic:

The methods you can combine without any special skill (surveys + cashback + microjobs) realistically add up to €50–150 per month. Anything beyond that requires either an in-demand skill or capital.

1. Survey apps: your opinion for money

Market research companies pay for your opinion – on products, ads and political topics. The effort is low, and so is the payout. A good fit as passive side income you can knock out during downtime.

Apps worth using:

• Swagbucks: Surveys plus cashback, videos and product tests. Payouts from €5 via PayPal or vouchers. One of the most widely used platforms in Germany.
• YouGov Shopper: Anonymously scans your purchases in the background. No active effort after setup – points come in automatically.
• Ipsos iSay: International market researcher with regular surveys. Payouts from €5, reputable provider.
• Toluna & Marketagent: Good for German-speaking countries, lots of short surveys, solid payout reliability.

Realistic earnings: €5–30 per month if you use several platforms at once. Individual surveys pay €0.50–3, longer studies up to €10.

Tip: Sign up with 3–4 platforms to get more surveys. Use a separate email address to keep your inbox clean.

2. Cashback apps: money back when you shop

The principle could not be simpler: before you buy online, open the app, shop at the partner store as usual and get 2–15% of the purchase value back. No extra effort – you were going to buy anyway.

Apps worth using:

• iGraal: Cashback at more than 1,800 stores, including OTTO, adidas, Booking.com and Lidl. Reliable payouts, reputable provider.
• Shoop: More than 2,000 partner stores, 5–10% cashback depending on the store.
• Payback: Germany's best-known loyalty program – now also usable as an app with direct cashback.

Realistic earnings: €10–50 per month, depending on how much you shop. If you buy online regularly, this is where you get the most out of it.

Tip: Combine cashback apps with a credit card that has its own cashback feature. Saving twice means earning twice.

3. Microjob apps: small tasks, real pay

Microjob apps send you out for small tasks nearby: photographing supermarket shelves, checking outdoor advertising, mystery shopping, verifying product availability. Well paid for the effort – but it depends on where you live.

Apps worth using:

• Streetspotr: More than 500,000 active users in Germany. Jobs like mystery shopping, location photos or supermarket audits. Pay: €1–15 per job.
• AppJobber: Checking outdoor ads, shelf placements and prices. Especially many jobs in larger cities. Pay: €1–20 per job.

Realistic earnings: €20–100 per month if you live in a city with plenty of available jobs. In rural areas there are far fewer options.

4. Product testing apps: paid for your feedback

Companies pay real money for you to test their apps, websites, games or physical products and give structured feedback. More effort than surveys – but also significantly better pay.

Platforms worth using:

• Testerheld: App tests, game tests, product tests. Some tests pay more than €50. The longer you stick with it, the better the premium tests you get offered.
• empfohlen.de: Surveys, app tests, product reviews. Large selection of available jobs, fast first payouts.
• Freecash: Especially fast payouts (from €0.50), via PayPal, bank transfer or crypto. Good for beginners.

Realistic earnings: €10–150 per month. A single UX test or app audit can pay €30–150. Stay with it long term – the best jobs go to experienced testers.

5. Freelancing apps: the biggest lever – but only with a skill

If you have a skill – design, programming, copywriting, translation, social media, video editing – freelancing platforms are by far the most lucrative option. Surveys and microjobs are not even close.

Apps worth using:

• Upwork: Ideal for longer projects and higher hourly rates. German users can invoice in euros.
• Fiverr: Faster to get started thanks to standardized offerings ("gigs"). Good for creative services like logo design, copywriting or voiceovers.
• Malt: The European freelancing network with many German corporate clients. Higher prices than Fiverr are possible.

Realistic earnings: €200–3,000 per month and up – depending on your skill and how much you put in. The only model on this list that can produce a real income.

How to start: Build a profile with sample projects, accept lower prices at first to collect your first reviews, then raise them step by step. The first jobs typically come in after 2–4 weeks.

6. Selling & renting out: what you already own

Sell things you do not use or rent out what you already have – one-off or passive income with no upfront investment.

Selling:

• Vinted: Sell clothing with no seller fees – the buyer pays the service fee. Fast and straightforward.
• eBay Kleinanzeigen: Electronics, furniture, books, toys – anything you no longer need.
• Momox: Scan the barcode of books, DVDs and games and get an instant offer. Convenient, but lower prices than selling item by item.

Renting out:

• fainin: Peer-to-peer rentals for bikes, cameras, tools and speakers. Items are insured and renters are vetted.

Realistic earnings: €10–500 one-off when you clear out, €20–150 per month when you rent out high-quality equipment.

7. Investment apps: long term, no quick money

Trade Republic, Scalable Capital and Comdirect make investing easier than ever. Over the long run, ETF savings plans can return 6–10% per year.

Which method fits you?

What to watch out for with app providers

Not every app that promises money actually pays out. These warning signs tell you which providers to avoid:

• No legal notice or missing contact details → close the tab right away
• Promises like "€100 a day with no effort" → not legitimate
• You have to pay money in first → always a scam
• No verified proof of payouts → research user reviews on Trustpilot and in the App Store
• Points expire after a short time → read the terms before you invest your time

Do not forget taxes

Income from apps is generally taxable. Here is what you need to know:

• If you stay below the basic tax-free allowance (2025: €11,784/year), you owe no income tax.
• Anyone working regularly and with the intention of making a profit (for example freelancing or selling on a regular basis) is acting commercially and should register a business.
• Since 2023, platforms like eBay, Vinted and Airbnb report revenue to the tax office automatically (DAC7 directive).
• When in doubt, ask a tax advisor – the first consultation pays off once you earn roughly €500 a year through apps.

Conclusion

Making money with apps works – with realistic expectations. Combine cashback, surveys and microjobs and you can add €50–150 a month without much effort. Use freelancing platforms and you can turn it into a real side job.

If you want to build an app yourself and generate revenue with it, you quickly run into the topic of app monetization – the question of which business model fits your own app and how to build sustainable revenue with it.

Frequently asked questions

Which app can you make the most money with?

Freelancing apps like Upwork or Fiverr offer the highest potential – but only if you have an in-demand skill. Without prior experience, cashback apps and product testing platforms like Testerheld are the most reliable.

How much can you realistically earn with apps?

With cashback and surveys, realistically €20–80 per month. With microjobs and product tests, €50–150. With freelancing, €200–3,000 depending on your skill and effort. A full-time salary is only achievable through freelancing.

Are these apps safe and legitimate?

Well-known platforms like Swagbucks, YouGov, AppJobber, Streetspotr, iGraal and Upwork are legitimate and have a proven payout record. With unknown apps, always check the legal notice, read reviews and never pay your own money in first.

Do I have to pay tax on app earnings?

Yes, as a rule you do. Below the basic tax-free allowance of €11,784 (2025), no income tax applies. If you earn regularly and with the intention of making a profit, you should get tax advice.