I’ve tried more money-making apps than I’d like to admit. Some were rubbish. Some felt like a waste of time. But a few stood out — they actually paid me cash (not just points or gift cards), they didn’t make me jump through hoops, and they were 100% legit for UK users.
If you’re looking for real ways to earn a bit of money on your phone, these are the ten apps I’ve kept installed on mine. You won’t get rich, but you’ll definitely make something.
Prolific
This is hands-down my favourite. Prolific is a research platform where you take short academic surveys, usually from universities. They’re quick, interesting, and you actually get paid in cash.
- Most surveys pay between £0.50 and £3
- I’ve made over £200 just casually
- Paid via PayPal, minimum payout is just £5
Curious Cat
A super simple survey app. It pays out fast and works well on Android and iPhone. The surveys aren’t always high-paying, but they’re quick and add up fast.
- Instant PayPal withdrawals from just 100 points (£1)
- Average survey pays 20–100 points
- Great for waiting in queues or doing nothing on the sofa
➡️ Download Curious Cat on iOS
Shoppix
Get rewarded for uploading your shopping receipts. That’s it. You take a photo of your receipt and earn points. It works best if you shop often in-store.
- 25–30 points per receipt
- Payout via PayPal or Amazon gift card
- Bonus points for answering short polls
Roamler
This one pays you to complete real-world tasks like checking prices in shops, photographing displays, or testing services. You need to be a bit more active, but the pay is worth it.
- Tasks usually pay between £3 and £20
- Paid straight into your bank or PayPal
- Invite-only in some areas, but worth getting into
Streetbees
This app is basically text-message-style surveys. You answer questions about your daily habits, food, TV, shopping and get paid.
- Pays £0.50 to £5 per diary
- Takes under 5 minutes in most cases
- Sometimes includes photo tasks
Swagbucks
An oldie, but it still works. Swagbucks pays you for watching videos, doing surveys, searching the web, and shopping through their links. I mostly use it for cashback and surveys.
- Payout via PayPal or gift cards
- Cashback available on most major UK stores
- Occasional bonus events for extra points
AttaPoll
Quick surveys right from your phone. Very similar to Curious Cat but a little cleaner in terms of layout. It’s been reliable and consistent for me.
- Cash out from just £3 to PayPal
- Surveys typically take 1–4 minutes
- You get alerts when new surveys are available
Cashwalk
A passive app that pays you for walking. You collect coins based on your step count, which you can exchange for vouchers. It’s not cash, but it adds up over time.
- Rewards for doing what you already do
- Step-based goals and bonuses
- Works quietly in the background
BeMyEye
This is another mystery shopping app, kind of like Roamler. You complete simple tasks at local stores — price checks, display reviews, product placement — and get paid.
- Tasks from £2 to £10+
- Can stack multiple tasks in one trip
- Pays out via PayPal within days
➡️ Get BeMyEye
SnapMyEats
Take photos of your food receipts and get entered into monthly prize draws. While this one doesn’t pay directly in cash every time, the rewards are legit and easy to enter.
- Monthly prize draw entries
- Easy upload interface
- Works on any grocery/food receipt
I keep all of these installed on my phone, and when I’m sitting on the bus, watching TV, or waiting for dinner to cook, I’ll knock out a few tasks or surveys. Some days it’s just a pound or two. Other days it’s £20 or more.
If you’re smart with it — and consistent — these apps really do help pad your budget without much effort.
Let’s keep growing it cheap, one tap at a time.