21 Legit Ways To Make Money From Your Cellphone

21 Legit Ways To Make Money From Your Cellphone – Graphic © WealthPowerBoost. Photo – Pixabay

Here’s another mega free tutorial… you are going to love this one! Here are 21 awesome Ways To Make Money From Your Cellphone

Introduction

There are now a mountain of ways to make money from your phone and the opportunities out there now are absolutely amazing. Researching and preparing this tutorial, I was truly blown away.

When I was young and broke, (we are talking pre-internet days here) there was NOTHING like this. Unlocking these income streams is a potential passport to a much more free lifestyle as you are truly not tied to one place! Please make the most of this extraordinary opportunity to take control of your future!

Stuff That Doesn’t Count: First, let’s take the trash out. Many of the existing lists of ways to make money from your phone are extremely weak. I was disappointed to see the huge pile of absolute garbage out there on this topic. (But also realized that I could blow them completely out of the water with a proper tutorial 😉 )

But seriously, most of the methods that these weak tutorials are proposing are a pointless waste of time.

For example, earning points for playing games that you can then redeem for Amazon gift cards. That is time that could be spent more profitably.

Or downloading some ridiculous app onto your phone that spams you with ads… and in return for your self-inflicted suffering you get points. And if you waste enough time you can earn a few dollars! Seriously, forget that.

I also ruled out apps that give you cash rewards for shopping – because you are spending money, not earning it. That does not count as income. It is incentivized shopping. Sure, if you really already shop with those services then go ahead and sign up. But you know they are doing it to encourage you to spend money, not make money.

We are only interested in ways to make real money. Not debt consolidation services, shopping rewards or gift cards. Cash money. The good news is I found loads! You know how I roll…. I have sifted through them and added a ton of our own ideas to bring you the best of the best. So let’s get cracking!

1. Teaching, Tutoring, One-on-One Mentoring Via Your Phone

The personal tutoring / coaching / mentoring business is now absolutely huge and people LOVE one-on-one coaching, especially from someone who has high status in their estimation. There are numerous options here and this is quite an in depth topic – but one with unlimited potential.

If you are already in the business of coaching, sharing knowledge or teaching and have an online presence, you can offer / promote one-on-one mentoring through your website or social media accounts.

Mentoring can often be a simple as a half hour phone call once per week. And people love to have a mentor who is “there for them” when they are going through struggle, or simply when they are out there somewhere in the world.

For this of course you don’t need some exotic app beyond simple communication apps which allow phone, text or video conferencing. You also need a simple app that allows you to receive payments, such as PayPal.

Google Hangouts allows you to create free videoconferences for up to 10 people, but can also record the session via YouTube and then turn it into an archived presentation!

Skype is of course well known and permits calls, chat and video chat.

There are also various online tutoring apps which have a ‘marketplace’ that connects students to experts 24/7 and help them find a teacher ideally suited to their needs. Individual requirements vary but I have linked the page for tutors to sign up. Examples include:
Yup
Wyzant
Chegg
Preply

Teaching a language: I know someone who does this and earns a great hourly rate. She has conversations via Skype in English with people who are learning and want to improve their conversational English skills. There are numerous companies that are looking for tutors to chat with students but many of these require the use of a computer, webcam and headset. However there are ways to do this with a phone only: You could for example promote your services through Fiverr – I see many people offering language lessons via phone there. Here’s a great additional tutorial I found for teaching English via Skype.

2. Driver / Courier / Delivery Services

Got wheels? There are plenty of mobile phone apps now that can connect you and your trusty chariot with opportunities to make money.

Uber and Lyft – depending on where you live, you can make a living driving for these well known services, which connect people who need transportation with people who drive. A good tip for drivers is to plan your availability around special events in your local area and times when there is unusually high demand.

Kango – Provide rides, carpool and childcare for kids.

Postmates (USA major cities) – you collect people’s shopping or their mail and deliver it to their house! You don’t have to have a car, you could walk if it is nearby.

Grubhub. Estimated to pay around $13 per hour, Grubhub enables drivers to make money delivering from various restaurants to local customers. You get paid per order, plus 50 cents per mile, plus you get to keep any tips that you receive.

Uber just rolled out UberEats which allows drivers to fill in their schedule with deliveries when demand for rides is slow.

DoorDash is another food delivery opportunity (major cities in USA and Canada).

Amazon Flex app. Available in the USA and the UK. You don’t have to drive people around to make money from your car. You can deliver their Amazon packages. 18+. Website claims you can earn $18 to $25 per hour.

Roadie. “Roadie is an on-the-way delivery service that connects people with stuff to send to drivers already heading that way.”

Instacart. You shop for people and deliver their shopping to their house. You need to be 21+ if their shopping order includes alcohol.

Fluid Truck Share. “Earn $5k-$25k per year by renting out your truck.” USA based. Available on the web or for iOS devices.

3. Blogging

Blogging is a tried and tested way to make money; typically through a) publishing great content b) building an authoritative body of work c) building a following and promoting via social media and d) running advertising and affiliate promotions for automated income. Blogging was my first truly successful business and it is still going strong.

You are not at all tied to the computer! You can get an inexpensive bluetooth keyboard for iPhone and iPad (Amazon link), link it to your phone and do your writing from wherever you are.

WordPress is the premier blogging platform and yes, WordPress is available for iOS and for Android!

4. Instagram

Instagram is of course a social media platform that was essentially designed around the mobile phone. Although many will use a computer to process their images and manage the account, for example through a desktop app such as Flume, you can run your Instagram account entirely from your phone and if you build a significant following (or even if you do not!), there are various revenue opportunities. I have an in depth free tutorial for making money on Instagram.

5. Youtube

You can run your youtube account entirely from your mobile phone and make money from it through Youtube’s built-in ad platform or through other various methods such as sponsorships, product reviews and more. YouTube Creator Studio app is available for Android users and for iOS. It allows you to manage everything from your mobile phone.

Famebit This app is a way to get sponsorships and works well for people who already have a Youtube following.

Look out for our full tutorial on making money on Youtube, coming soon!

6. Virtual Assistant / Online Tasks

There is an enormous global marketplace now for online workers and numerous apps / websites that facilitate the connection between employers and workers.

Now of course many of the typical outsource tasks, such as graphic design, will be more laptop-oriented than phone-oriented but there are a number of these tasks that can be done from a phone. There are also plug-in or bluetooth keyboards for iPhone and iPad (Amazon link) which give you full text functionality – so writing tasks, proof reading etc can be performed without a laptop. If you want something a bit more futuristic then there is the Laser Projection Virtual Keyboard that connects to your smartphone via bluetooth.

You can also make money online hiring virtual assistants to work for you and accomplish tasks for your business. That opens up another whole field of money making possibilities!

Here are a few Virtual Assistant apps:

Upwork is one of the best known freelancer websites.

Fiverr is a well known online marketplace for freelancers, named after the fact that it focuses primarily on smaller tasks, starting at $5.

Mechanical Turk. Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing marketplace for repetitive online tasks. Many of the tasks are best performed from a computer however there may be some mobile friendly tasks.

OnlineJobs.ph. I have had great success hiring from OnlineJobs. Geared towards Filipino VAs.

7. Receiving Tips And Donations

There are numerous apps / online platforms that allow you to receive tips and donations.

Tipgenie.io impressed the heck out of me… ohh, how I love this! Here’s how it works: TipGenie provides you with a QR Code which acts as a “virtual tip jar”. You can display this in printed media, on a website, on signage – anywhere that you have visible “real estate”.

What is fantastic is that the tipper does not have to download an app! Android and iOS 11+ smartphone cameras will automatically recognize the QR code and take the person through to a tipping screen, powered by checkout.stripe.com. They will need to enter Card information (unless they have used the service before and have their information stored) and then it’s just another tap of the screen to send you cash.

Patreon – Described as “the best way for artists and creators to get sustainable income”… this well known crowdfunding / “virtual tip jar” app can be used to receive donations for whatever it is that you are doing. Works best if you already have a social media presence or have a way to build one. You can build a Patreon following and offer custom content in multiple tiers depending on the level of contribution.

SubscribeStar – described as “The most convenient, transparent and advanced platform for getting sustainable income and connecting with your auditory and fans.” In the days of “deplatforming” and “demonetization” that are sadly now upon us, services such as this are vital revenue streams for online content creators of all kinds. Similar to Patreon, subscribers can send a tiered monthly amount to support your work.

Note that you can use an online QR Code Generator (such as the one linked; there are tons) to create a custom QR code for any URL, enabling you to provide a way for people to connect directly to your Patreon, SubscribeStar or other donation app from anywhere.

Paypal Donate Buttons – one of the first – if not the original grandaddy of digital fundraising options – I thought had better include this. Not sure if this can be set up from mobile, to be honest, but these buttons enable people to show you some love for your content when they are browsing from their phone or laptop.

8. Trading (Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Stock, Options etc)

(note – you can lose money as well as make money trading. Standard disclaimer, this is not financial advice nor a recommendation to buy or sell.)

Cryptocurrency trading platforms offer the opportunity to trade, for real, using their online trading platforms. Many of these exchanges, such as OKEX and Binance have excellent phone apps that you can use to execute your trades.

One of the things that is great about this is that if you are trading, you often have to keep one eye on the screen waiting for optimal buying or selling conditions to occur. And not all situations are conducive to pulling out your laptop and working from there. However if you install the phone app you can trade easily in many circumstances that would not otherwise work. There is the potential to make (or lose) a lot of money using these apps and full disclosure, I have had some of my best and some of my worst days online cryptocurrency trading. There is a skill set to learn. However you don’t have to risk big money. You can start small – for example with $50 and see if you can grow it. And if you cannot grow $50 then you should not be risking big money anyway. So in order to minimize your risk, don’t start with your life savings, start small with $50-$100 and see how much you can grow your money.

Robinhood app enables you to trade stocks, ETFs, options and cryptocurrencies from your smartphone (or desktop) using Robinhood app – commission free! There may be some regulatory trading fees, account maintenance and transfer fees.

9. Investment and Loans

Acorns app is a very simple app that enables you to invest money passively in Mutual Funds, earning interest on your savings! Reported interest is around 2-5% which is considerably higher than a typical bank savings account. You can round up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invest the difference in “smart portfolios”. You can also set up recurring monthly investments.The app gives you a projected returns graph.

Mylo is a similar investment service (Canada based)

10. Call Center Agent

Now I would to want to spend all day on the phone – but if you are interested in customer service there are opportunities such as Working Solutions. According to their website, Working Solutions’ website, “Agents have earned the equivalent of anywhere from $9 an hour to $30 USD an hour, depending on the program.” I am not sure how many of these services require a computer but it is something to investigate.

11. Selling Your Stuff

There are numerous apps nowadays that help you get some fast cash coming in from getting rid of your old stuff. Have a clearout of those old books you will never read, DVDs, phones etc and make some quick money. Here are a few examples:

Books:
WeBuyBooks.co.uk (UK Based).
BookScouter (textbooks)

CDs, DVDs, Games:
Decluttr – this app allows you to sell old CDs, DVDs, video games and other electronics for cash. You scan the items and get a quote. If you agree to the price they send you a shipping label, you ship the items and then when they receive the items you get paid within 24 hours!
Ziffit – books, CDs, DVDs and games

Clothing:
Poshmark – designer and brand name clothing.
ThredUp – secondhand clothing.
Depop – accessories, collectibles, clothes.

Homemade Goods:
Etsy. Perfect for selling stuff that you make.

General Items:
Letgo. USA based. This intuitive phone app allows you to photograph an item, write a description and list an item for sale quickly.
OfferUp
eBay – yes eBay has a phone app that enables you to upload listings.
5Miles “a simple, secure environment where buyers and sellers can easily trade goods from the palm of their hand.” User ratings and a verification system adds a level of security that is not seen on for example Craigslist.
Mercari – “almost anything”
Facebook marketplace

12. Stock Photography

Now this is a great additional revenue stream. Your phone is probably full of a gigantic pile of photos just sitting there. Some of them might be awesome and have some value! Foap is a stock photography website which has an app for adding your photos to the online marketplace. You get $5 for everyone who buys the use of your photo. The number of people who can buy the use of one photo is unlimited. Try also:
Shutterstock
Adobe Stock
Snapwire
Dreamstime
EyeEm

13. Local Tasks

There are some interesting apps now that connect you to local tasks. There are potentially hundreds of jobs in your own city that you can gain access to and either build up a full schedule or simply add a few jobs on the side to boost your existing income.

Handy allows you to sign up as a professional cleaner, electrician, handy person, plumber, lawn care specialist and more, earning a decent rate of pay.

Gigwalk connects you to “Gigs” – local tasks that can take anywhere form 5 minutes to a few hours and make from $3 to $100 or more. Everything is gone through the Gigwalk app! And Gigwalk links through to your PayPal, so that once a task is finished and approved you get the money sent directly.

TaskRabbit connects Taskers with customers to perform various tasks including furniture assembly, cleaning, heavy lifting painting and assisting with removals.

EasyShift offers the opportunity to find quick tasks such as checking prices and reviewing promotions at local stores and shops in the USA and UK.

Field Agent “crowdsources shoppers’ smartphones to furnish consumer packaged goods, retailers, and agencies with in-store photos and video, retail information, and shopper insights.” What this means for you is that the Field Agent app provides opportunities to accomplish assignments in your local area such as taking photos of store displays, scanning bar codes or researching prices. It pays via PayPal.

iSecretShop. Self explanatory. “Get paid to shop, dine out, share your thoughts, and help businesses improve their service quality”.

There are many others that don’t pay cash but offer gift cards, however I chose to focus on the ones that pay cash money. 😉

14. Pet Care

DogVacay, Wag and Rover are apps that connect pet sitters and dog walkers with dog and cat owners. These are well developed apps that provide a great opportunity for animal lovers with a stable home environment to generate an extra income. Glancing at the listing, you can expect to earn perhaps $30-40 per night providing boarding for people’s dogs and the service is available on iOS and Android as well as through the regular web.

15. Surveys And Consumer Research

Another opportunity to generate income directly from your mobile phone… these services allow users to complete online surveys for money or other rewards such as gift cards. There are tons of these and you can of course sign up with more than one. Options include:

Nielsen pays $50 per year to run their app in the background, collecting anonymous data on your internet usage.
Survey Junkie
Respondent connects people from all walks of life to in-person surveys and interviews that pay cash. From cat owners to patrol car drivers. There are also options including software testing. Some of these offers pay up to $150 for an hour’s task and $100 per hour is not uncommon.
User Interviews
Google Opinion Rewards. Get PayPal credit or Google Play rewards for completing short surveys.
Inbox Dollars – this phone app allows you to take surveys, play games and refer other users to make money.
Swagbucks has surveys as well as other simple online tasks.
iPoll. Answer questions from your mobile phone about the products and services you use and get paid either in PayPal, Apple App Store credits or Amazon gift cards.
Opinion Outpost
Rewardable allows you to complete simple tasks including watch videos, complete surveys, give produce feedback and visit retail stores. It pays via PayPal.
Vindale Research
Surveys On The Go

16. Lock Screen Apps

Ok, ok. I said I would not put in anything that involved ads on your phone. But this one is ultra simple and can make you a few extra bucks in return for a minor nuisance! These apps place ads on the lock screen of your phone and you get paid on those ad views. It is reported that this can earn $5-15 per month. Not a lot but it all adds up and then you can redeem either in cash to PayPal or major brand gift cards. Options include Slidejoy (Android), Fronto.

17. Testing Apps And Games

Signing up with GamingJobsOnline allows you to test video games and then review the game. They claim that you can make $39,000 per year but I don’t see this as something you would want to do full time! But there are plenty of times in life where you are stuck waiting – and you could

UserTesting offers “up to $60 per test” to visit websites or apps, complete tasks and share your thoughts about the app. The website claims that you can earn $10 via PayPal for each 20-minute task you complete… this is a pretty good income!

Utest claims to be “the #1 destination for freelance software testing and feedback”. Some of the projects listed on their “projects board” look very interesting! Many projects tailored towards Android or iOS device users but there are other very diverse projects on offer.

18. AirBnB

If you have a spare room or entire property available, Airbnb enables you to rent it short term to make potentially very good money, The Airbnb app enables you to manage your listing from your phone, however there is a fair amount of work involved in running an Airbnb rental. This can of course be outsourced and there are various companies that manage Airbnb listings turnkey if required. Another interesting option is Parking Panda app (USA and Canada) that enables you to rent your parking space from your mobile phone.

19. Bitcoin Mining

Yes you can mine cryptocurrencies “in the background” on your mobile phone, using apps such as MinerGate to mine cryptos and make money. Your mining rewards may also grow (or fall!) in value as the value of the cryptocurrency rises or falls. You won’t get rich from this, and you will have to take electricity costs into consideration; but if you are in a location where you can charge your phone for free, either from a solar panel or from a place that permits free charging (don’t do this illegally of course), then you can generate some funds.

If you have a powerful computer or mining rig then you can earn more, but the same rule of electricity consumption applies: The amount you can earn mining will perhaps be similar to the amount spent on electricity. However if you live in a cold location and are using electricity to heat your space, you could generate that heat through mining instead…

Other mining apps to investigate include Crypto Miner, Easy Miner, Coinhive.

20: SMS (Text Message) Marketing

Email marketing (learn more – email marketing tutorial here) is a tried and tested internet business method. However a modern twist on this is SMS marketing. Text message (SMS) campaigns can of course be run entirely through your phone, and you can send your subscribers links to promotions, your own products or online content. There is also the possibility to run SMS campaigns for local businesses if you get good in this field. SMS messages have some of the highest open rates of any form of communication.

21: Telegram Channels & Groups (and similar)

Telegram (and various other messenger apps) now have the option to create channels and groups, which permit you to post in a similar manner to a Facebook fan page. The potential here is absolutely huge. I really do think Telegram is going to be absolutely massive in a few years. The UX (user experience) is fantastic and it’s starting to get big. Telegram messages have very high open rates as many users will always receive notifications; and posts can be shared which permits viral traction to be developed.

The upper limit in size for a Telegram group is I think 200,000 members – and for a channel, unlimited. If you are good at creating engagement and building a following, there is unlimited opportunity here. There are also apps which permit live streaming, which could be monetized through affiliate promotions, product promotions or perhaps through donations via Patreon or similar.

Wrap Up:

There you go. Absolutely TONS of opportunity. Don’t of course try to do everything on this list, there is simply too much here. But you can see how this document might help you open up a “mobile lifestyle” and make money without being chained to a desk or even tied to one country. It’s all there for the taking. A couple of quick disclaimers, this is not financial advice or a get rich quick scheme, some of these methods have the potential to lose money (i.e. currency trading). And don’t forget to keep records and file your taxes because this income is of course all still taxable.