10 Easy Ways to Make Extra Cash in an Hour or Less

How much you can make: Line-standing fees are typically based on the estimated time you’ll need to queue, with TaskRabbit paying $27 an hour on average. Instacart delivery drivers usually make between $8 and $25 an hour, depending on their location. Furniture assemblers on home remodeling marketplace Angi typically charge $50 to $150 per piece, depending on the size and complexity of the furniture.

Tip: “TaskRabbit clients choose between a number of freelancers when they’re looking for help, so it makes sense to take time to make your profile shine,” says Kathy Kristof, founder of SideHusl.com, which reviews and rates moneymaking opportunities. “Take a good selfie. Potentially take before-and-after photos of your work, too.”

4. Redeem credit card rewards

Around 1 in 4 boomers and Gen Xers with rewards credit cards have unused rewards, according to a 2023 CreditCards.com survey. That’s a missed opportunity, and a risk: A 2023 study by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that consumers forfeit hundreds of millions of dollars in credit card rewards each year. Check your credit cards to see how many points, miles or cash back you’re sitting on.

How much you can make: Nearly a third of cardholders with unused cash-back rewards have accrued $100 or more, one LendingTree survey found.

Tip: Read the fine print to see whether your credit card’s rewards expire if you don’t redeem them within a specific period. 

Kyle Hilton

5. Trade in used electronics

Some retailers offer gift cards or store credit for used gadgets such as laptops, tablets, cellphones, streaming media players, headphones, wireless routers and gaming systems. Costco, Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Staples and Sam’s Club operate such programs.

How much you can make: The amount you can fetch for a used device depends on its condition and market value. In early August, Walmart’s trade-in program was offering up to $288 for a used iPhone 14, Best Buy was offering $30 for a used pair of Bose 700 headphones and Costco was offering up to $450 for a used Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ 256GB tablet. For some trade-ins on Amazon, the retail giant offers an additional 20 percent discount toward the purchase of a new Amazon device. 

Tip: Don’t look at just one trade-in program. “Shop around for the best rate” to find the highest offer for your device, says Julie Ramhold, a senior editor at DealNews, a daily deals website.

6. Test websites and apps

You can earn money by providing feedback on websites and apps through testing companies like UserTesting, Userlytics and uTest. Businesses use these sites to solicit consumer insights to improve their products or services.

How much you can make: According to job-and-recruiting website Glassdoor, UserTesting testers typically earn $20 to $37 an hour, Userlytics testers typically make $25 to $38 an hour and uTest testers typically receive $21 to $39 an hour.

Tip: Stay informed about new opportunities by signing up for notifications about tests that match your skills and interests.

7. Digitize receipts

Don’t throw out your receipts — you might be able to earn cash or gift cards by scanning them on an app like CoinOut, Fetch, Ibotta or Receipt Hog. These apps partner with hundreds of stores, including big-box retailers like Walmart, grocery chains like Kroger, warehouse clubs like Costco and home improvement stores like The Home Depot. 

How much you can make: Earnings depend on how frequently you shop and scan receipts from participating retailers. Ibotta says its consistent users save an average of $261 per year; CoinOut’s founder says dedicated users can save up to $200 a year. Some receipt-scanning apps also offer small sign-up bonuses and bonuses for referring new users.

Tip: You’re not limited to scanning a receipt on only one app. Depending on the retailer, you may be able to scan a receipt on multiple apps to maximize your rewards.

8. Go mystery shopping

Retail and market research companies pay people to shop at stores, dine at restaurants, stay at hotels or frequent other businesses and report on things like customer service, cleanliness and product quality. Some also offer compensation for shopping online. You can find these “mystery shopping” opportunities through companies like BestMark, Confero, IntelliShop, Market Force and Second to None. You can also look for gigs through the Mystery Shopping Professionals Association (MSPA Americas), a trade group.

How much you can make: Mystery shoppers typically earn between $5 and $25 per gig. Most companies require mystery shoppers to pay for the product or service themselves and then reimburse them.

Tip: Watch out for mystery shopping job scams, the Federal Trade Commission warns. “For safety, stick to established companies, only communicate through official channels and avoid any ‘mystery shopping’ offers that ask you to cash checks or send money in advance," says Spencer of FlexJobs.​

9. Get paid to play video games

Love playing games on your smartphone, computer or game console? Video-game-testing platforms such as Mistplay, InboxDollars, PlaytestCloud and Swagbucks let you earn cash or points that can be redeemed for gift cards, usually in exchange for feedback that developers use to improve gameplay and fix bugs.

How much you can make: Payouts are modest. According to PlaytestCloud, a 15-minute game test typically pays $9. Some companies also offer sign-up incentives, like InboxDollars’ $5 bonus for new testers, and cash rewards for referring new gamers. 

Tip: Play consistently. Mistplay, InboxDollars and Swagbucks allow game testers to unlock extra rewards for streaks, depending on the number of consecutive days played.

10. Transcribe audio and video clips

You can monetize your listening and typing skills by transcribing audio or video recordings of business and legal proceedings, such as phone calls, conference meetings and courtroom hearings. Companies like Rev, Speechpad, TranscribeMe, Quicktate, CastingWords, GoTranscript, Transcription HUB and SpeakWrite offer freelance transcription opportunities.

How much you can make: Most companies pay freelancers a flat rate for each minute of audio transcribed. Rates vary depending on the employer — for example, Speechpad transcriptionists get paid between $0.25 and $1 per audio minute, depending on their level of experience; Rev transcriptionists receive $0.30 to $1.10 per audio or video minute; and GoTranscript transcriptionists make up to $1.75 per minute, often depending on the language. Legal transcriptionists typically receive higher rates, earning $15 to $40 per audio hour from TranscribeMe.

Tip: “To increase your earnings, focus on improving your typing speed and accuracy, familiarize yourself with different audio formats, and take advantage of any practice tests or training materials the platform offers,” Spencer says. “As you start to gain experience, seek out specialized transcription in fields like legal or medical for higher pay.”