12 Best Passive Income Apps (2026)
Trying to make the most of passive income apps? You are in the right place. Below we break it down in plain English, with practical tips you can actually use.
Key Takeaways
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Passive income apps are an simple way to generate extra income or gift cards with little effort. From data sharing to investing and participation in the sharing economy, various apps allow you to earn on autopilot (or close to it).
Our top passive income apps include:
- Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel. Pays you in exchange for access to your anonymized internet usage data.
- Swagbucks. A rewards platform offering semi-passive income opportunities such as cash-back shopping, and a browser extension that will alert you to opportunities to earn on websites you currently browse.
- M1 Finance. Investment app perfect for passive investors, offering automated management, ready-made model portfolios, and regular rebalancing.
We’ve categorized the best passive income apps into four main categories:
- Best Data Collection and Sharing Apps. Earn rewards in exchange for data about your consumer habits and/or access to your device’s computing resources.
- Best Passive Investment Apps. Build an investment portfolio and let your money work for you.
- Best Passive Cash-Back and Rewards Apps. Get money and gift cards for your everyday online and in-store shopping.
- Best Passive Sharing Economy Apps. Make money from underutilized assets, such as a car you rarely drive or unused space in your home.
Note: The rating data below was collected on 9/10/2024. We update these numbers periodically throughout the year to keep them current.
Best Data Collection and Sharing Apps for Earning Passive Income
Data collection apps gather anonymized information from your device and reward you with small payments once installed. They offer a passive income stream but may slow down your device, especially older ones.
#1. Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel
Potential earnings:Up to $50 annually.iOS App Store rating: 4.1/5 with 468 reviews.Google Play rating:3.7/5 with 11,859 reviews.The Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel app is our top choice for truly passive income.
Nielsen is a publicly traded global research company (known for its TV ratings) that studies consumer behavior in over 100 countries. By joining their panel, you’re contributing to understanding how people use the internet.
You start by installing the Nielsen app on your laptop, tablet or smartphone. Once installed, the app works silently in the background, gathering data on the websites and apps you visit.
It does not collect sensitive information like user IDs or passwords, ensuring your privacy is maintained. For more information, see our in-depth review of the Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel app.
By installing the mobile app, you earn points that can be redeemed for prizes and gift cards. The maximum you can earn is $50 annually.
If you also install the desktop application, you can earn additional rewards by participating in sweepstakes and games such as scratch-offs and spin-the-wheel. The top earners can win up to $500 each, with over 500 winners each month.
Download Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel
#2. MobileXpression
Potential earnings:$5 for signing up, with chances to win sweepstakes prizes worth up to $5,000.iOS App Store rating: Not available for iPhones.Google Play rating:3.7/5 with 54,251 reviews.MobileXpression, owned by the internet technology company comScore, is a data collection app similar to the Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel.
Its primary function is to monitor mobile data usage to uncover patterns in online behavior. After being installed on an Android device (no iOS version is available), the app runs silently in the background collecting anonymized data about browsing history and app usage.
The app does not collect sensitive information like phone calls, personal emails or text messages, and the data collected is never linked to user identities.
As a sign-up bonus, MobileXpression offers users a $5 Amazon gift card in return for data contribution after just one week of use. There are also opportunities to win up to $5,000 in periodic sweepstakes.
Note that MobileXpression limits the number of new users it accepts each month. If it’s not available at this point in time, check back at the beginning of the next month.
#3. SavvyConnect
Potential earnings:Up to $15 per month ($5 per device type, with a maximum of three devices per household).iOS App Store rating: Not available for iPhones.Google Play rating:3.4/5 with 1,158 reviews.Owned by Luth Research, SavvyConnect offers users the opportunity to earn passive income by sharing their online behavior data.
SavvyConnect collects anonymized data about your online activities, such as searches, shopping and entertainment. In return for this data, you’ll get paid up to $15 per month ($3 per device type, including your computer, phone and tablet).
To maintain this monthly incentive, users must frequently use their devices with SavvyConnect installed, providing at least seven days of actual usage data per calendar month.
Currently, SavvyConnect is only available to U.S. residents. The payment method provided is paper check via mail, and users can request payment after accruing just $1.
Best Passive Investment Apps
#4. Acorns
Potential earnings:Varies depending on your investment amount, portfolio and market performance.iOS App Store rating: 4.7/5 with 904,597 reviews.Google Play rating:4.7/5 with 322,752 reviews.Acorns tops our list of passive income investing apps and best micro-investing apps thanks to its ability to grow a properly balanced portfolio over time and with little effort. The app is well known for its feature that rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and automatically invests the difference in low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
You can choose from five portfolios ranging from conservative to aggressive based on your risk tolerance and goals.
Acorns also has a feature called Earn, which allows you to earn cash-back from over 300 partner brands when you shop with a linked credit or debit card. The cash-back is then automatically invested on your behalf.
Acorns charges a monthly fee, with plans starting at $3 a month.
- Bronze Plan: $3/month - Basic brokerage accounts and financial education.
- Silver Plan: $6/month - Adds IRA (Acorns Later) and premium education with expert Q&As.
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Final Thoughts
The bottom line: a little research on passive income apps goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is one click away.
Originally published at thewaystowealth.com.
R.J. Weiss
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