A delivery driver on a red scooter

Earn money now

If you need income this month, these are real options. None of them is a forever plan, and that's okay. They can keep you afloat while you work toward something steadier.

Before you start: gig pay is what you earn before costs. Gas, car wear, insurance, phone data and taxes come out of it, so your take-home is lower than the number on the app. These apps treat you as an independent contractor, so no tax is taken out. Setting aside part of each payout for taxes saves a painful surprise in April.

Most of these require you to be at least 18 (21 for some driving apps) and to pass a background check. Pay and availability depend on where you live and change often. We can't promise how much you'll earn.

Drive or deliver

Flexible hours and fast sign-up. You'll need a car (or a bike in some cities), a smartphone and a clean driving record. Busy times pay best.

Amazon Flex (deliver) FreeFree to join. (opens in a new tab)Uber (drive or deliver) (opens in a new tab)Shipt (shop and deliver) (opens in a new tab)DoorDash (deliver) (opens in a new tab)

Care for pets

Dog walking, drop-in visits and pet sitting. Great if you love animals and have a flexible schedule. Some areas charge a small fee for a profile review.

Rover (pet sitting) (opens in a new tab)

Get paid for your opinion

Join paid research studies and website tests from home. You won't qualify for every study, so sign up for a few.

Prolific (paid studies) FreeFree to join. (opens in a new tab)UserTesting (test websites) FreeFree to join. (opens in a new tab)User Interviews (paid research) (opens in a new tab)

Use skills you already have

If you have professional experience, such as in coding, finance, health or law, AI companies pay experts to help train and test their tools. Expect an application and screening.

micro1 (AI project work) (opens in a new tab)

Rent out space you don't use

Have an empty garage, shed or driveway? You can rent it out for storage.

Neighbor (rent out storage space) (opens in a new tab)

Small rewards (not a job)

Apps that pay a little for games, surveys and offers. Fine for spare minutes, but they won't pay the bills.

Never pay or deposit money just to unlock a reward, and check how cash-out works before you put in hours.
Freecash (opens in a new tab)Scrambly (opens in a new tab)

Earning now is a smart move. When you're ready, let's find a path that pays more and lasts longer.

Take the career quiz