Want Free Money? Here Are 15 Legit Options to Try

Does “free money” really exist? If it does, you know you want some. While there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world, there are some clever ways to get paid for minimal effort. You just have to know where to look. 

Many companies promote their brands and look for talents online, opening up many opportunities to earn. You don’t even have to get out of the house for most. 

A gadget, an internet connection, and a little effort are all it takes to increase your income at home. 

Let’s look at some legit and effective ways to get free money. 

Easy Ways to Get Money 

With 32% of Americans unable to cover a $400 emergency, people must know how to earn some quick money online. 

One way is to look for side hustles that help you make extra money. This could involve taking on a part-time job, starting your own business, or blogging. 

You can try to negotiate a higher salary at your full-time job or look for cashback opportunities when you make purchases. Cashback apps give you a percentage of your purchase price through cash rebates. 

Related: 300+ New Side Hustle and Small Business Ideas

15 Ways to Get Free Money 

1. Paid Surveys 

One of the easiest and safest ways to make money is to fill out surveys. You can do this from anywhere in the world. 

All you need to do is sign-up for an online survey and earn extra cash or receive gift cards. Getting started on different online survey sites is pretty simple. 

The compensation for survey sites can be as low as $2 per hour but can go higher with premium platforms. Though this is no get-rich-quick scheme, it might land some extra money in your pocket. 

2. Referring Friends 

By sharing your referral link, you can make some extra cash by getting others to sign up for your favorite service. In addition, they also often receive a bonus payment. 

It doesn’t cost anything to get started. Check your account of your favorite service to see if they offer a referral program and share your unique link with friends and family. 

Some businesses pay as little as $10, while others offer higher bonuses, up to $50 or more. 

3. Paid Walking Apps 

Walking is easy and healthy, and you almost certainly already do it. So give yourself an extra (financial) incentive to walk the dog or reach your daily step count target. 

These apps monitor your physical activity and compensate you for the total steps taken with virtual money. You can exchange this virtual money at well-known stores and restaurants, but most importantly, you can also use it to get free money. 

Earning free money from these walking apps won’t make you a millionaire quickly. Still, it’s a way to make money through something you’re already doing. 

4. Scan Receipts for Cash 

Another great way to get free money is by scanning receipts for cash. Various receipt scanning apps pay you to submit copies of your receipts for every transaction made at any retailer. You will receive coins or tokens each time you submit a receipt, even if you won’t be paid in cash for each one. 

You can cash in once you’ve collected enough coins to withdraw them as Amazon vouchers or free money via PayPal. 

5. Join Focus Groups 

You can make up to $150 per hour through focus groups – significantly more than online surveys. Paid focus groups are small groups of people who provide feedback on a particular topic, usually in a discussion. 

These discussions and feedback sessions can be conducted online or in person. They take place online and usually last 1-2 hours. 

You must first have a profile at a particular focus group, pass the screener survey to ensure you are eligible, and that’s it. Then, you are good to go. 

6. Watch Videos Online 

Watching YouTube videos is a great way to make money from home during your spare time. Platforms like iRazoo and MyPoints simplify the process.

Sign up to these platforms and start watching videos, short clips, reels, and advertisements to earn convertible reward points. 

If you go through a reliable platform, you can earn between $100 to $200 per month.  

7. Earn While Shopping 

One way to earn a little extra money while shopping is to sign up for rewards programs offered by cashback apps, including Swagbucks and Rakuten. Through these programs, you can earn points for every dollar spent, which you can redeem for discounts or cashback. 

Another option for those looking to make money while shopping is becoming a mystery shopper. Mystery shopping involves visiting a store or restaurant and providing feedback on the shopping experience. 

You can also sell items you no longer need on sites like eBay. This has two clear benefits: more free cash and less clutter! 

Related: Ka-ching! 9 Easy Ways to Make and Save Money with Cash App

8. Robo-Investing 

Robo-investing is a new way of investing that involves using algorithms and software to make investment decisions. 

Rather than analyze the stock market yourself, let the software can make adjustments to your portfolio based on your risk appetite.

Acorns and M1 Finance are two platforms that offer robo-investing. Make sure to only invest money you can lose, as the stock market isn’t guaranteed to go up in the short term.

9. Freelance Work 

As a freelancer, you can make your own schedule and choose your own projects. While not a way to earn ‘free money’, the flexibility certainly makes earning easier.

Websites like Upwork and Fiverr offer thousands of opportunities for freelancers of all skill levels. You can find jobs in freelance writing, graphic designing, web development, or any other category matching your skill set. 

For this, create an attractive profile, display a portfolio, add an hourly pay rate, enlist skills, and start bidding on the projects. This way, you’ll be able to make between $28 to $500 an hour, depending on your skills. 

Related: 30 Places to Learn New Job Skills for FREE!

10. Audio Transcription 

If you are efficient at typing and have excellent listening skills, you can take on audio transcriptions for your favorite Netflix shows. 

Transcription or closed captions can be done manually by listening to the audio and typing out the words. It can also be done automatically using speech-to-text software. 

Though time-consuming, it can be made easier using the right tools and strategies. For example, with pre-recorded or live-stream programming, there are paid rates depending on experience level. They range from $10 to $140 per hour. 

11. Publish eBooks 

Anyone with a laptop and a secure internet connection can publish an eBook and make money online. You do not have to be a professional writer or someone with years of experience. 

You can write an eBook on just about any topic you can think of. The key is finding a niche market willing to pay for information. For example, if you’re an expert in dog training, you could write an eBook on how to train your dog. 

Several ways to advertise your eBook include developing a website, writing blog posts, Amazon, and using social media. 

12. Play Games 

Making money can be fun and easy if you can make it through playing games. 

Most platforms, like Mistplay, only require a smartphone and an internet connection. Plus, it’s free to download and free to play. Once you’ve earned enough, you can redeem them for gift cards from your favorite stores, including Amazon, Google Play, Steam, and more. 

There are options for upgrading based on how much you spend playing games, which leads to more money.

13. Tutoring

More people are now getting their education online than ever before. This means online tutors are in high demand. So, why not use your skill and make extra money on the side? 

Whether you’re an expert in math, science, English, or another subject, you can use your knowledge to help others learn. 

For this, decide what you will tutor and then find a suitable platform that works for you. Set up a profile, start teaching, and get paid each month. You will make around $10 to $39 an hour through tutoring. 

14. Sign-up Offers 

You can get multiple sites offering you cash, rewards, and points only by registering to them when you look for ‘how to get free money.’ 

Some common sign-up offers include cash back on purchases, free shipping, or even a free trial period. However, when you’re looking for sign-up offers, be sure to read the fine print carefully. 

Some offers may require a credit card, and others may restrict how much money you can earn. 

15. Switch Gifts with Gift Cards 

Giving and receiving gifts are both wonderful gestures. However, there are situations when someone will go above and beyond to acquire a pricey gift when you’d much rather have cash. 

If that’s what you want, you can ask your family, friends, or whoever it is to simply offer you a gift card. 

It will give you more flexibility to use gift cards later to get what you want or sell gift cards online on these platforms. 

Related: I Need Money Now! 12 Excellent Ways to Make Quick Cash

Frequently Asked Questions – How to Get Free Money

Who Will Give Me Money For Free? 

Contrary to the saying ‘nothing in life is free’, there are crowdfunding sites and apps where strangers can give you money. Fund-raising sites like GoFundMe, IndieGoGo, Patreon, Kickstarter, FundMyTravel, and CyberBeg are just some examples.

All it takes is a good story or proposal to raise money for medical bills, art projects, school expenses, trips, startups, and other personal, business, or artistic causes. 

Are There Any Millionaires Giving Away Money?

People like Bill Gates, George Soros, and MacKenzie Scott have given away billions of their money to various charitable causes. This is usually done through their official foundations or charities.

What Is The Best App To Get Free Money?

Apps such as Ibotta, Survey Junkie, InboxDollars, and Rakuten are among the best ways to get legit, free money, usually paid out as gift cards. Some apps like Swagbucks, Toluna Influencers, and Freecash pay through PayPal. You can also get free toys or free perfume samples through these platforms, which will help you further save money.

Related: Have You Ever Complained Just to Get Free Stuff? 

Conclusion – How to Get Free Money 

While money doesn’t grow on trees, getting free (or easy) money nowadays is possible. With recent commercial and technological developments, you can just download apps, work at home, and earn cash from companies that seek to promote their products or hire people for odd jobs.

Just choose the apps that best serve your purposes and circumstances. Quality over quantity, prioritize those that will give you the best returns without taking too much time. You may not make enough income from these options to quit your day job, but they can take care of your short-term money needs.

Now, go get that free money!

This post originally appeared on Finance Quick Fix.