Five bucks might not seem like a lot of money. But if you can earn $5 quickly, and you can do it over and over again, those $5 earnings will really start to add up.
Heck, let’s say it takes you just five minutes to earn $5. That’s $60 per hour. Not bad, right?
Fortunately, there are many ways to earn 5 dollars fast that are easy—and plenty of them are downright fun to boot.
Today, I’ll go over several ways you can get a free $5 instantly (or at least pretty darn quickly). In fact, you’ll find that you can monetize several of the activities you’re already doing! You can do one or two, or take advantage of more offers to make more money.
Whether you’re trying to save money for an important expense or just need a few dollars more to afford a luxury, you’re in the right place. Let me show you how to make a little extra cash.
Best Ways to Earn $5 Quickly—Our Top Picks
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Best Stock Trading App for Beginners
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Commission-Free Self-Directed Investing App
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Save, Earn Rewards While Shopping
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Commission-free trading. Robinhood Gold: Free 30-day trial, then $5/mo.
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Commission-free trading.
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Free (no monthly fees).
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1. Free Stocks + Cash Bonuses on Stock Apps
Sign up. Make a deposit. Profit.
Webull ($18-$36,000 in free stock)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Desktop app (Windows, macOS, Linux), web, mobile app (Apple iOS, Android)
- Promotion: 6 to 12 free stocks valued between $3 and $3,000 each ($18 to $36,000 total)
Webull frequently runs promotions that allow investors to collect free stocks.
This platform has become one of the best stock apps for intermediate traders and investors, though many of its features are helpful to beginners as well.
For one, Webull remains friendly to wallet-conscious traders today. It costs nothing to open a Webull account. Stocks, ETFs, and options still trade commission-free. Many options have $0 contract fees. And Webull has no deposit minimums. On top of that, it offers fractional shares, which allows investors to start buying for as little as $1. So beginners working with small dollar amounts can still easily diversify across numerous investments.
Newer investors can also learn trading skills through the courses in Webull’s education center, and even practice their skills via Webull’s paper trading service.
Plus, Webull is available across just about every platform, allowing you to research, trade, and track your stocks on your smartphone, tablet, or desktop.
Why choose Webull to trade stocks?
Webull provides investors with several useful features and tools, including:
- Customizable screeners for both stocks and ETFs
- Preset lists—including Top Gainers, Top Losers, Most Active, and Best-Performing Industries—investors can use to identify opportunities
- Voice commands: Simply speak to buy, sell, or look up information about a ticker
- “Big Button Mode”: Populates giant buttons on your screen that allow you to quickly make trades with just a push
- Charting tools
- Free real-time stock quotes and stock alerts
→ How to get free stock with Webull
Currently, Webull is offering new users between six and 12 free shares of stock worth between $3 and $3,000—so, the bonus is worth between $36 to $36,000.
To claim this potential bounty, you will first need to sign up through this link, open your account and make a deposit of any dollar amount. If you do, you will receive between six and 12 shares of stock from Webull.
Check out our Webull review to learn more.
- Webull is a low-cost trading and investing app that allows you to invest in stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto, and participate in initial public offerings (IPOs).
- Commission-free trades on stocks, ETFs, and options.
- Trading features include charting tools, technical indicators, customizable screeners, real-time stock alerts, and group orders.
- Let Webull manage your money for you with Webull Smart Advisor, which combines Webull's in-house investment expertise and artificial intelligence to build, manage, and rebalance an ETF portfolio for you.
- New users also get one free month of Nasdaq TotalView's Level 2 Quotes service. (That subscription costs $2.99/mo. thereafter.)
- Sign up for Webull Cash Management to earn a 5.0% APY without fees or minimums.
- Special offer: Open an account and deposit any amount to receive between 6 and 12 free fractional shares, collectively worth between $18-$36,000.*
- Good selection of available investments
- Fractional shares
- Powerful technical analysis tools
- Offers robo-advisory services
- Accessible to beginning and intermediate users
- Voice commands
- Offers highly competitive APY through Webull Cash Management
- Does not support mutual funds
Related: 7 Best Wealth + Net Worth Tracker Apps [View All Your Assets]
Robinhood ($5-$200 worth of free stock)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Web, mobile app (Apple iOS, Android)
- Promotions: Free stock worth between $5 and $200
Robinhood is a pioneer of commission-free trading, jumping into the investing public’s consciousness in 2013 when they rolled out commission-free trading. They remain a standout option for cost-minded investors thanks to their continued $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, and options, as well as for its fractional trading, which allows people to invest with as little as $1.
→ How to get your free stock with Robinhood
Robinhood offers anywhere between $5 and $200 in free stock, just for signing up and linking an account.
Once you’ve signed up with this link and are approved for a brokerage account, simply link your bank account or debit card, and Robinhood will give you between $5 and $200 that you can use to buy fractional stock, chosen from a list of “20 of America’s leading companies.”
(Note: You must wait three trading days to sell your gift stock. Once you’ve sold your stock, you can use the money to buy other stocks right away. But if you want to withdraw the funds for cash, you have to wait at least 30 days.)
- Robinhood is an investing app that became famous for offering commission-free trades on stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrency.
- The platform has added a new innovation in the retirement space: the only individual retirement accounts (IRAs) with a 1% match. Robinhood will match 1% of any IRA transfers or 401(k) rollovers, as well as any annual contributions*, made to your Robinhood Retirement account—and it will upgrade that match to 3% if you subscribe to Robinhood Gold.
- Robinhood Gold also includes Level II market data provided by Nasdaq, higher interest rates on uninvested brokerage cash, lower margin trading rates, and bigger Instant Deposits.
- Special offer: Sign up for Robinhood, link a bank account, and fund your account with at least $10, and receive a randomly selected cash amount between $5 and $200 to put toward fractional shares.
- Good selection of available investments in brokerage accounts
- 1% match on rollovers, IRA transfers, and contributions to IRAs and Roth IRAs (3% with Robinhood Gold)
- Automated portfolio builder in IRAs and Roth IRAs
- Intuitive interface
- Extensive educational library
- Lackluster investment selection in IRAs and Roth IRAs
- No mutual funds in brokerage or IRAs
- No robo-advisor functionality
Related: 20 Best Investing Research & Stock Analysis Websites
Plynk™ Invest ($85 in free cash bonuses)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Mobile app (Apple iOS, Android)
- Promotion: Earn $10 for signing up; Plynk will also double your deposit up to $75
Plynk™ is an app designed to help you start investing and learn along the way, and they’re currently offering up to $60 in bonuses for new accounts.
The Plynk app helps beginner investors put their money into an investment portfolio. Specifically, Plynk offers access to a selection of stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and crypto—all starting at a single dollar.
The platform uses straightforward, easy-to-understand language to explain investing concepts. No jargon. No complex charts and tables. Just simple-language tips and how-tos.
You can use Plynk Explore to find investments based on your interests. Just answer a few questions, and the app will display stock, ETF, and mutual fund investments that mesh with your investment comfort zone.
To assist with building your financial literacy, Plynk offers complete lessons and courses on financial education, including tips, educational content and how-tos.
The Plynk app enables you to make use of a powerful investing technique called dollar-cost averaging through participating in recurring investments. By continuing to buy a fixed dollar amount of investments over time, whether the market is up or down, you can build a disciplined investing habit and lower the stress that can come from market movements.
One of Plynk’s most interesting features involves, of all things, gift cards. Specifically, you can redeem unused gift cards for money that you can use to buy stocks in your favorite companies.
If this sounds interesting to you, consider opening an account with Plynk. To make it more worth your while, they have a few special offers.
→ How to get free bonuses with Plynk
Simply open an account and link your bank account to get a $10 signup bonus. Plynk is also offering a special bonus promotion through October 19, 2023. If you make a deposit, Plynk will double it to $75. Customers must have a minimum of $25 in net deposits during the promotional period to receive a match. That means you may be eligible for up to $85 in signup bonuses from Plynk by taking qualifying actions.
- Start investing for as little as $1.
- Answer just a few questions, and find suitable investments for your needs.
- Invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds and crypto commission-free**.
- Plynk™ lets you redeem unused gift cards for money that you can use to invest in your favorite companies.
- Signup bonus: Plynk offers two signup bonuses worth up to $85 combined: (1) Plynk will match up to $75 in net deposits made to your account through Oct. 19, 2023, subject to certain terms; (2) Plynk will pay a $10 sign-up bonus for downloading the Plynk app, opening an account and linking a bank account as a new customer (or existing customer who hasn't previously linked a bank account).
- Designed for beginning investors
- Redeem unused gift cards to invest
- Helpful educational resources
- Some features may require a fee in the future
Related: 11 Best Free Investing Apps [Invest for Free]
Moomoo (15 free shares worth $45-$30,000 + share of TSLA or GOOG)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Desktop app (Windows, Mac), web, mobile app (Apple iOS, Android)
- Promotion: 15 free stocks, each valued between $3-$2,000, plus a share of Tesla (TSLA) or Alphabet (GOOG)
Moomoo is a commission-free trading platform for stocks, ETFs, and options. While Moomoo is best for advanced traders, offering powerful tools to empower your trading insights and strategies, it takes a different approach from other similarly targeted platforms, favoring simple interfaces and high ease of use. The desktop platform is highly customizable, while the mobile app is straightforward, allowing you to search for stocks and trade with minimal hassle.
Still, Moomoo has more than enough under the hood for advanced traders to get the job done. Its charting system, for instance, includes 62 technical analysis indicators and 22 drawing tools. You can set up alerts based on changes in price, bids, turnover ratio, and more. Free Level 2 market data helps you get a greater understanding of a stock’s value, determine how liquid a stock truly really is, and better time your trades. You can even enjoy 24/7 financial news handpicked by Moomoo’s editorial team.
→ How to get your free money with Moomoo
You can receive up to 15 free shares (collectively worth anywhere between $45 and $30,000) and an extra share of Tesla (TSLA) or Alphabet (GOOG) from Moomoo. Here’s how:
- If you open a new brokerage account with Moomoo and fund it with $100, you’ll earn five free stocks valued between $3 and $2,000 each, as well as a $50 cash reward.
- If you make a net deposit of $1,000 or more in the promotion period, you’ll get a total of 15 free stocks valued between $3 and $2,000 each, as well as a $50 cash reward.
- If you make a net deposit of $5,000 or more in the promotion period, you’ll get a total of 15 free stocks valued between $3 and $2,000 each, as well as a $50 cash reward, and one free share of either TSLA or GOOG.
Enjoy these free bonus shares by opening an account with Moomoo through our link and making a qualifying deposit.
- Moomoo is an all-in-one investment app geared toward stock, ETF, and options traders who want to work with real-time market data at the ready.
- The service offers free Level 2 market data, offering more insight into the trading activity below the NBBO surface shown on many financial data sites.
- Use the service's powerful stock charting software capabilities to find trading opportunities.
- Special offer: Get up to 15 free stocks plus 1 exclusive share of either TSLA or GOOG stock when you sign up through Young and the Invested, for opening a new account and funding it with certain minimums.*
- Free Level 2 market data
- Free powerful stock charting software
- Free paper trading
- Low margin rates
- Fewer features than peers
- No robo-advisor functionality
Related: 11 Best Stock Trading Apps [Free + Paid]
2. Sign-Up Bonuses on Survey Sites
Join for the sign-up bonuses. Stick around for more easy money.
Swagbucks ($10 sign-up bonus)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Web, mobile app (iOS, Android)
- Promotion: $10 sign-up bonus
Swagbucks is one of the most popular money-making apps because it allows you to earn money or gift cards by doing everyday activities. For example, you can make money by taking online surveys, playing games, watching videos, even doing live trivia. The more you play games, watch videos, and complete other activities, the more extra cash you earn.
To get started, sign up for a Swagbucks account and begin participating in some routine tasks offered through the app. Each task earns you “SB” (Swagbucks), which you can cash in for gift cards or redeem for free PayPal money.
→ How to earn free money with Swagbucks
SwagBucks will pay new users 1,000 SB, which is worth $10. All you have to do is:
- Sign up using our link.
- “Activate” the bonus in the Swag Ups section of your account.
- Spend at least $25 at a store featured in Swagbucks.com/Shop. (You must receive at least 25 SB for the purchase, and you must complete it within 30 days of registration.)
- Get paid to answer surveys, watch videos, and shop online with Swagbucks.
- Earn "SB," which you can redeem for PayPal cash, prepaid MasterCards, or gift cards at dozens of retailers, including Amazon, Target, Dunkin', and GameStop.
- Minimum cash-out: $3 (300 SB)
- Age restrictions: Must be at least 13 years old to participate.
- Special offer: New users receive a $10 bonus when you spend at least $25.*
- Pays you for easy tasks
- Offers gift cards from numerous merchants
- Offers cash back
- Teens can participate (ages 13+)
- Not a lucrative side hustle
Related: 25 Best Jobs for 15-Year-Olds [In-Person + Online]
Branded Surveys ($1 sign-up bonus)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Web, mobile app (iOS, Android)
- Promotion: $1 sign-up bonus
Branded Surveys has paid out more than $36 million to more than 3 million users.
The surveys made available to you will depend on your interests and profile information, as well as what research partners currently need. Each survey earns points; you can cash out once you’ve accumulated at least 500 points. Depending on survey length, users make anywhere from 50 cents to $5 per survey. This is an easy way to make $5 fast.
You can use your points toward gift cards from more than 100 brands, receive cash in your PayPal or bank account, or even make a charitable donation.
→ How to earn free money with Branded Surveys
Simply sign up for Branded Surveys and you’ll receive 100 points, which is worth $1.
- Branded Surveys, which boasts more than 3 million users, pays you to take surveys to share your thoughts on future products and services.
- You earn points for completing each survey and can redeem them toward cash (paid via direct deposit or PayPal), gift cards at more than 100 merchants including Amazon and Apple, or even donations to your favorite charity.
- Earn anywhere from 50 cents to $5 per completed survey (longer ones tend to pay more).
- Minimum cash-out: $5 (500 points).
- Age restrictions: Must be at least 13 years old to participate. Teens age 13 to 17 must have parental consent.
- Special offer: Get 100 free points (worth $1) for signing up.
- Pays you for easy tasks
- Offers gift cards from numerous merchants
- Offers cash back
- Teens can participate (ages 13+)
- Not a lucrative side hustle
Related: 7 Best Paid Surveys for Kids and Teens [Online Surveys]
Rakuten
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Web, mobile (iOS, Android, Galaxy Store)
- Promotion: $10 sign-up bonus
Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) has become one of the most popular apps among shoppers because of the rewards and savings it offers when you buy through the app. To date, it has paid members more than $2 billion via cash-back rewards, making it an easy and powerful way to make money.
To take advantage of the shopping savings, you can either shop through Rakuten’s online platform or install the Rakuten Chrome browser extension, which identifies potential shopping savings as you browse online retailers. Rakuten leverages its massive scale to extract affiliate revenue from more than 2,500 retailers—when you use Rakuten to get shopping savings, brands pay Rakuten a commission, which it then shares with you every three months (an admittedly infrequent payout schedule) via PayPal or check.
→ How to get your free money with Rakuten
Currently, all you have to do is sign up with Rakuten, you’ll receive a $10 bonus.
- When you shop with Rakuten (formerly Ebates) activated, Rakuten automatically identifies potential shopping savings at thousands of retailers, and it pays you cash-back rewards for buying with those merchants.
- Offers available both online and in-store.
- Cash-back rewards add up as you complete offers. Payments are then sent out every three months, via PayPal or check.
- Minimum cash-out: $5.01.
- Age restrictions: Must be at least 18 years old to participate.
- Special offer: Receive a $10 bonus just for signing up!
- Easily earn savings for shopping
- Offers cash back
- Convenient Chrome extension
- Payments only sent out once per quarter
Related: 21 Best Stock Research & Analysis Apps, Tools and Sites
Playing Games on Your Phone
You read that right. You can get rewarded just for playing games on your phone. Your mother won’t believe you, though.
Rewarded Play (Earn money fast on your phone)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Mobile app (Android)
Rewarded Play introduces you to new games to play—and the more you play, the more you earn. You won’t make money instantly, but the path to earning this extra cash is fun, and if you play a lot of games, you can make $5 fast.
Like many money-making apps, Rewarded Play is points-based. You earn points when you play games. If you earn at least 5,000 points on any given day, you’ll also earn a Daily Bonus that starts at 500 points. For each consecutive day you earn 5,000 points after that, your Daily Bonus grows by 500 points, up to five days—after that, you’ll earn 2,500 points every day you continue your earning streak. If you miss a day, the bonus starts over.
You can also earn points by making in-app purchases and watching ads.
You must accumulate at least 45,000 points (the equivalent of $5) to cash out. Points can be redeemed for free gift cards to popular retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and Macy’s. To date, Rewarded Play has paid out more than $15 million to users.
- Rewarded Play introduces you to the newest trending games—and pays you to play.
- The app runs on a points-based system that rewards you for playing games, buying in-game content, and watching ads. Redeem points for gift cards for retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and Macy's.
- Currently, Rewarded Play is only available on Android devices.
- Minimum cash-out: $5.
- Age restrictions: Must be at least 18 years old to participate.
Related: The 13 Best Investment Apps for Beginners
Scrambly (Play games, try apps, earn money)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Web
Scrambly lets you play games to earn rewards. Users test companies’ products on their phones with various in-game steps. In exchange for testing the apps and playing online games, they get coins. These can be exchanged for gift cards or cash back to a PayPal account.
To earn cash rewards faster, people can also take surveys and invite friends. When you recruit friends, you get a commission on their lifetime earnings.
There is no minimum or maximum amount of time you have to spend. You can do this occasionally for just a bit more spending cash or more frequently to rack up rewards faster.
- Scrambly pays you for a variety of tasks, including testing out apps and games, and filling out surveys.
- Cash out instantly with PayPal cash or gift cards.
- Minimum cash-out: $1 (1,000 coins) for PayPal, $5 (5,000 coins) for gift cards.
- Age restrictions: Must be at least 13 years old to participate.
- Special Offer: Use code "YOUNGNINVESTED" to get a 20% coin-boost for 24 hours*.
- Pays you for easy tasks
- Offers gift cards from numerous merchants
- Offers cash back
- Low payout minimum
- Teens can participate (ages 13+)
- Not a lucrative side hustle
- No mobile app
- Gift card program supports a small number of vendors
Related: 30 NFT Statistics to Understand [Market, Sales & Trends]
Mistplay (Play and earn)
- Available: Android
- Platforms: Mobile app (Android)
Mistplay is a loyalty program targeted to gamers that rewards you when you play video games and participate in contests.
To make money using the Mistplay app (only available as an Android app at the moment), you discover new games on the app’s mix list, select the ones that interest you, then generate points as you play.
You can redeem earned points toward prizes such as Amazon and Google Play gift cards, and PayPal cash. Mistplay also holds weekly contests and offers an “epic” grand prize in the last contest of each month.
Invite friends to the app to earn more or join competitions to improve your ranking on the Mistplay app.
- Mistplay is a loyalty program where you can earn points toward gift cards and PayPal cash by playing video games.
- Mistplay also holds weekly contests and offers an “epic” grand prize in the last contest of each month.
- Currently, Mistplay is only available on Android devices.
- Minimum cash-out: $5 for gift cards, $10 for PayPal cash.
- Age restrictions: You must be at least 18 years old to participate.
Related: 26 Best Online Jobs for Teens [Earn Money at Home, Age 13+]
Bingo Cash
- Available: iOS | Android | Galaxy Store
- Platforms: Mobile app (iOS, Android [Not in Google Play], Galaxy Store)
Bingo Cash is a fun bingo game that lets you earn money. You play against other users in tournaments; whoever has the highest score when the two-minute timer runs out wins. The faster you click your numbers, the more points you get. You can use “boosters” to increase your score as well.
You earn gems (the in-game currency) and bonus cash alike. You’ll also fill up an experience meter every time you play; as you level up, you’ll unlock new content and win prizes. You can collect daily rewards, too, and earn extra gems by watching ads. You also have the option to spend money to get gems, but it isn’t necessary. That said, some games do cost gems to play.
You can receive cash rewards to a PayPal account, Apple Pay, or a linked Visa or Mastercard. Just note that cash tournaments currently aren’t available in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Louisiana, and South Carolina. You must be 18 or older to play for cash.
- Compete against other players in Bingo Cash, a two-minute Bingo skill game where the faster you are, the more points you can rack up.
- Earn gems (in-game currency) and bonus cash, and win real money during cash games and tournaments. You can also collect daily rewards and earn extra gems by watching ads.
- Receive cash rewards through PayPal, Apple Pay, or a linked Visa or Mastercard.
- Minimum cash-out: $5. Bingo Cash charges a $1 withdrawal fee regardless of withdrawal size. You also forfeit any remaining bonus cash if you request a withdrawal.
- Age restrictions: You must be at least 18 years old to participate.
- State restrictions: Cash games/tournaments are not available in AZ, DE, IA, LA, and SC.
- Special offer: Earn $5 Bonus Cash when you make your first $10 deposit.
Related: Best Investments for Teenagers [How to Start Investing Young]
3. Cash-Back Apps
You’re going to shop anyway. You might as well get rewarded for it.
GoCashBack ($8 sign-up bonus)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Web, mobile app (iOS)
- Promotion: $8 sign-up bonus
GoCashBack is a cash-back app trusted by more than 700,000 users who’ve collectively earned more than $8 million in rewards. The free platform allows users to make money shopping online at retailers like eBay, Walmart, Home Depot, Macy’s, GNC, and more, and get up to 40% back on their purchases. (However, actual cash-back rates are more commonly in the low- to mid-single-digit range for most offers.)
You can shop through GoCashBack’s website or app, or use their Chrome browser extension to claim coupons and deals through various participating retailers. You can use their GoCashBack app to check your cash-back status from anywhere and click through while on the go to save when you shop on your phone. You can withdraw via PayPal, check, and gift cards.
→ How to earn free money with GoCashBack
Simply sign up for GoCashBack and you’ll receive an $8 bonus.
- Capital One Shopping searches for discounts and promo codes while you shop, and it automatically applies any deals it finds to your cart.
- Want an item but it's too expensive right now? If you're searching on Amazon, Capital One Shopping will identify whether that item is cheaper elsewhere. And if it's not, you can put the item on a watchlist; the app will alert you when there's a price drop.
- In addition to immediate savings, you accumulate shopping rewards that you can spend on e-gift cards.
- Works with more than 100,000 stores.
- Does not require you to be a Capital One cardholder to use.
- Minimum cash-out: $5.
- Age restrictions: Must be at least 18 years old to participate.
- Easily earn savings for shopping
- Offers e-gift card rewards
- Convenient Chrome extension
- Limited gift card selection
- Long time (up to 60 days) for rewards to appear
Related: 14 Best Apps That Give You Money for Signing Up [Free Money]
Capital One Shopping (Shop and earn)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Web, mobile app (iOS, Android)
The Capital One Shopping app automatically saves you money while shopping online. There’s no need for you to search for deals and clip coupons. The app automatically applies the best coupon code at checkout and offers rewards you can redeem for free gift cards.
The Capital One Shopping app always compares prices between Amazon and other retailers, ensuring you always pay the lowest price. Users can also put items on a watchlist, and the app will notify them when the item goes on sale (or if the price otherwise drops).
The app is free, it works with more than 100,000 stores, and it doesn’t require you to be a Capital One credit card holder to use it.
While the app is convenient, some people may prefer to do their online shopping on a web browser. After downloading the app, you can add Capital One Shopping to Safari as a browser extension and get rewarded there too.
- Capital One Shopping searches for discounts and promo codes while you shop, and it automatically applies any deals it finds to your cart.
- Want an item but it's too expensive right now? If you're searching on Amazon, Capital One Shopping will identify whether that item is cheaper elsewhere. And if it's not, you can put the item on a watchlist; the app will alert you when there's a price drop.
- In addition to immediate savings, you accumulate shopping rewards that you can spend on e-gift cards.
- Works with more than 100,000 stores.
- Does not require you to be a Capital One cardholder to use.
- Minimum cash-out: $5.
- Age restrictions: Must be at least 18 years old to participate.
- Easily earn savings for shopping
- Offers e-gift card rewards
- Convenient Chrome extension
- Limited gift card selection
- Long time (up to 60 days) for rewards to appear
Related: 8 Best Personal Capital Alternatives
Upside (Earn easy cash back on purchases)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Mobile app (iOS, Android)
Upside lets users earn cash back on purchases with minimal extra effort.
Upside can provide cash back at grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, and it can work alongside other discounts, coupons, and loyalty programs. And there’s no limit to how much extra money you can earn with this cash app.
Here’s how it works: You claim an offer through the app, then pay as you normally would with a credit card or debit card. From there, you either “Check In” your purchase (or upload a photo of the receipt), and cash back will be deposited into your Upside account. Finally, you can cash out as you wish via e-gift card, PayPal cash, or bank transfer.
- Upside lets users earn cash back on gas, restaurant, grocery, and other purchases with minimal extra effort.
- Check into the app to log your purchases, or upload a photo of your receipt, to earn cash-back rewards.
- Minimum cash-out: None, but must cash out at least $10 for gift cards or $15 for PayPal to avoid a $1 fee.
- Age restrictions: Must be at least 16 years old to participate. Teens age 16 and 17 must have parental consent.
- Easily earn cash back for everyday purchases
- Offers gift cards
- Offers cash back
- No minimum cash-out amount
- Some teens can participate (16+)
- Fees apply to small cash-out amounts
Related: 31 Millennial Spending Habits & Income Statistics to Know
Dosh (Automatic cash-back rewards)
- Available: Sign up here
- Platforms: Mobile app (iOS, Android)
Dosh automatically generates cash-back rewards when you shop—not just retail brands, but restaurants, hotels, and more. Some of the well-known brands under its umbrella include Walgreens, Nike, Forever21, Hyatt, Marriott, Shake Shack, and Disney+.
Participating is easy. Simply download the app, link up any cards or eligible mobile wallets. Whenever you use your card with a partner featuring cash-back rewards, Dosh will automatically deposit the cash back into your wallet. You can also accumulate rewards faster by completing special offers.
When you’ve accumulated at least $15 in rewards, you can cash out to your bank, PayPal, or Venmo.
- Dosh automatically generates cash-back rewards when you shop—not just retail brands, but restaurants, hotels, gyms, and more.
- Not sure where to begin? The app can show you any offers that are available near you.
- Download the app, then link up any cards, eligible mobile wallets, or other payment platforms. When you spend, Dosh will automatically deposit the cash back into your Dosh wallet.
- Cash out via bank, PayPal, or Venmo.
- Minimum cash-out: $15.
- Age restrictions: Must be at least 18 years old to participate.
- Easily earn cash back for everyday purchases
- Offers cash back
- Wide variety of available merchants
- Limited linkable cards
- Must use debit card as credit to earn rewards
Related: 10 Investments that Earn a Great Return [10% or More]
More Ways to Make $5 Fast
This section will cover less conventional avenues of making a little extra money. We will add to this part of the list as new and different ways of making $5 fast present themselves.
Lend your shares in a stock app through stock lending programs
Traditionally, investors earn money from stocks through either capital appreciation (investment price goes up), dividend payments, or both. However, there are other, less familiar options, such as lending out stocks you own.
Robinhood has a stock lending program, where users are matched with financial institutions that want to borrow their stocks. Why would a financial institution borrow stocks? Well, they can be used to facilitate trade settlements and even for short selling.
What do you get out of the deal? Money, of course! Stock lenders (you, in this situation) receive whichever of the following situations earns you more on a given day:
- Rebate rate of 15% of the weighted average rebate rate Robinhood earned by lending your stock to borrowers that day
- Or $0.01 for your total position in the asset that was borrowed during that month. It’s your share of the rebates earned for that stock on that day.
Your chances of making money are higher when there is a high market demand and low market availability for your stocks. You might only make a small amount from Robinhood’s stock lending program, but it requires no extra effort on your end (except for opting in).
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