9 Best Side Hustle Apps of Dec 2025 (And 24 Others You Can Try)

Ridesharing apps are platforms that connect independent drivers with people who need convenient, on-demand transportation.

Uber is our top pick in this space, given the sheer amount of work on the platform and its extensive global network and other integrated services.

If you want to become a rideshare driver, this is probably the first app that comes to mind. As a ridesharing app, it’ll connect you with people who need taxi services, which you’ll provide using your personal vehicle.

In addition to having a working car, you need to meet the minimum driving age in your area (often 21), have a few years of driving experience, and pass a background check to sign up as an Uber driver.

Several factors affect how much Uber drivers can earn, including where you live, how far you generally drive, and what tips (if any) your customers give you. After expenses, you’ll probably earn around what you’d make with most entry-level retail jobs—not all the money in the world, but a respectable wage for a gig that almost anybody with a car can do.

Other ridesharing apps

Uber isn’t the only ridesharing app out there. If you’re looking for other options, check out Lyft. Many drivers use both Uber and Lyft simultaneously to minimize downtime and maximize earnings.

Delivery driving apps are platforms that give gig workers the flexibility to earn money by accepting on-demand requests to pick up and deliver goods like food and retail items. These apps allow workers to set their own schedules, choose which orders to accept based on the potential earnings, and get paid quickly.

Our top pick is DoorDash due to its high order volume and the ease of getting started on the platform.

DoorDash is even more popular in the US than Uber Eats, another widely used delivery app, so the competition can also be quite stiff if you work as a DoorDash driver. However, DoorDash drivers still typically earn around $15–$20 per hour.

This means a DoorDash driver’s daily earnings can sometimes amount to $120–$160 (for an eight-hour workday). It’s also possible to earn more than that depending on your location and the number of hours you work.

As with ridesharing, the trick to maximizing your earnings is to use at least two apps simultaneously. This way, you can accept orders with higher pay and will have less downtime. In addition, to further boost your earnings, consider driving during DoorDash’s peak hours, which are:

• Lunch (10:30 am–2:30 pm)
• Dinner (4:30 pm–9:00 pm)

Other delivery driving apps

Again, many drivers use multiple delivery apps simultaneously to boost their earnings. Aside from DoorDash, consider signing up with one or more of the following:

• Uber Eats
• Grubhub
• Instacart
• Amazon Flex
• Spark
• Shipt

Manual labor and shift work apps connect gig workers with businesses that need temporary staff for roles like warehousing, event support, and light industrial tasks. They offer the ability to pick up shifts on demand and often pay out quickly.

Wonolo is our top pick due to its decent rates and quick sign-up process.

Wonolo, which stands for “Work Now Locally,” also offers a broader range of jobs than some of its competitors. You can find shifts in the hospitality industry, in warehousing, and in other manual labor work.

Instead of searching for shifts, you’ll select them from a curated list of positions that the app will send you every day. You can customize your profile to receive options that match your skills and schedule.

Other apps for doing manual labor and shift work

Wonolo isn’t the only place you can look for manual labor and shift work. You can also consider:

• TaskRabbit
• Qwick

Freelancing platforms serve as digital marketplaces that connect independent professionals—from coders and designers to writers and consultants—with clients worldwide who need specialized project-based work.

Upwork stood out to us here, given its comprehensive suite of tools and vast, global client base.

This site is a popular platform for freelancers of all types. Whether you work as a graphic designer, a consultant, a virtual assistant, or something else entirely, you can find work on the platform.

While Upwork is free to sign up for, it charges a 10% service fee on all earnings. For $20 per month, you can upgrade your account to “Freelancer Plus,” which waives the service fee and gives you access to more tools that you can use to find clients and land jobs.

Other freelancing apps

In addition to Upwork, it’s worth checking out the following platforms as well:

• Fiverr
• Freelancer

Caregiving and sitting apps are designed to match independent sitters and caregivers with families and pet parents who need trustworthy, on-demand assistance for their loved ones or pets.

Our current favorite is Wag!, which offers streamlined management tools and is easy for new users to get started on.

While the main service on Wag! is dog walking, the platform also offers other pet care services, such as pet training and boarding. If you want to become a dog walker full-time, you may want to use Wag! in tandem with other dog-walking apps.

Pet parents will message you on Wag! upon viewing your profile if your services, schedule, and rates match their expectations.

Other caregiving and sitting apps

If you want to explore alternatives to Wag! or are interested in babysitting opportunities, here are some other apps to consider:

• Rover
• UrbanSitter
• Care.com
• Sittercity

Tutoring apps are digital marketplaces that enable independent educators to connect with students globally for on-demand, virtual lessons across a wide range of subjects. These platforms give teachers full control over their rates and schedules while providing integrated tools for scheduling, secure video sessions, and reliable payment processing.

italki landed at the top of our list, as it has a lower commission than similar platforms (i.e., it takes a smaller cut of your earnings).

You can teach any language on italki (which isn’t always the case on language-learning platforms).

The platform categorizes teachers into two types:

• Professional Teachers: These teachers must be certified or have prior teaching experience.
• Community Tutors: These are native or near-native speakers who are interested in teaching informally. They don’t need any formal qualifications or to have previously taught.

To become a teacher on italki, you must record and upload a 1–3 minute long video introduction that demonstrates your teaching style and personality. The platform lets teachers set their own rates and charges a 15% commission fee.

Other tutoring apps

In addition to italki, these tutoring apps are also worth considering:

• Superprof
• Wizeprep

Online selling apps function as digital marketplaces, allowing individuals and businesses to easily list and sell new or used products.

Our favorite platform is Facebook Marketplace, due to its built-in audience and free, simple setup.

You can access Facebook Marketplace through the ordinary Facebook app. It’s possible to ship items to buyers, but this platform is mainly meant for buying and selling locally.

As is usual for selling apps, you can sell most everyday goods on Facebook Marketplace, from used books to furniture to garden tools, but there are prohibited items you can’t sell (e.g., weapons and healthcare products). Visit Facebook’s “Commerce Policies” page to see the full list of banned products.

Listing items on Facebook Marketplace is free, but you need to pay a 5% fee when you ship a package. You can bypass this by handing the item to your buyer in person.

Age requirement: 18+ years old.

Other apps for selling online

If you’re keen on setting up a professional online store, you might want to take a look at these other apps to see if they suit you better than Facebook Marketplace:

• Etsy
• eBay
• Poshmark

Rental apps are peer-to-peer marketplaces that let property owners earn passive income by listing and renting out their unused physical assets, such as spare storage space, parking spots, or equipment. This is one of the most convenient side hustles you can do from home.

We strongly recommend Neighbor because it allows users to monetize their underutilized assets in an innovative way.

In contrast with apps for short-term vacation rentals, like Airbnb, you won’t host actual people on Neighbor; instead, you’ll rent out space for storage.

This means that in addition to spare rooms, you can rent out other spaces, such as your garage, shed, or driveway. Neighbor collects payments from renters and ensures you’re paid at the end of each rental period.

Other renting apps

If you want to host people or have a spare vehicle to rent out, these might be better options:

• Airbnb
• Turo

Survey and microtasking apps offer you small, quick earning opportunities. These consist of simple online assignments, like taking paid surveys, watching paid ads, and playing free games for money.

If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, Swagbucks is a decent option.

Swagbucks is also classified as a cashback app, a receipt-scanning app, and a signup bonus app, as it rewards you for making qualifying purchases, uploading valid receipts, and simply joining the platform.

Other apps for taking surveys and microtasking

In addition to Swagbucks, these apps also offer plenty of survey-taking and microtasking opportunities:

• Inboxdollars
• Branded Surveys