Today, cell phones are more than just a communication device; they’re a source of entertainment, an educational tool, and an extension of the global marketplace.
In fact, the impressive utility of smartphones means that many work-at-home jobs don’t even require a computer anymore.
So if you want to make extra money from home but don’t have a laptop, have no fear! Here are some of the best work-at-home jobs you can do using your mobile phone.
1. Uber Driver
As an Uber driver, you are your own boss and work whenever you want. It’s an ideal job if you like driving and live in a major city where rideshare drivers are in demand.
All you need to be an Uber driver is a reliable car, a driver’s license, at least one year of driving experience, and a clean background check.
Everything is done through their driver app, which alerts you to opportunities, helps you plan your workday, and tracks your earnings. It also gives you turn-by-turn directions so you can easily navigate to your customers and their destinations.
How much you can earn as an Uber driver varies depending on many factors, including how much you work and where you are located. But according to Salary.com, the median annual salary is $37.7k.
If making money with your own vehicle is appealing, be sure to check out this list of apps for making money with your car!
2. DoorDash Driver
If you aren’t keen on shuttling people around from place to place but still like the idea of earning money by driving, then a food delivery service like DoorDash could be an excellent alternative for you.
It works very similarly to Uber, except instead of taxiing people, you transport takeout orders.
Like Uber, how much you can earn depends on how often and where you work. But according to Ziprecruiter, you can expect to make an average of $19 per hour or around $40k per year.
3. Gigwalk
Gigwalk is a smartphone app that pays you for completing small, local tasks. The jobs usually involve going into a retail store to confirm product pricing and how they’re displayed. You simply snap a few photos of the products and send them in for approval.
Each job pays anywhere from $3-$100. So it’s not enough to make a full-time income but can certainly help bring in some extra cash, especially if you live in an area with a lot of retail stores.
Payments are issued through PayPal within two weeks of completing the job, although it’s usually within a few days.
4. Photographer
You don’t need to be a professional photographer to make money taking pictures. All you need is a good eye and your mobile phone’s camera!
With the FOAP app, you can upload photos you take on your phone and sell them for $10 a photo. The earnings are split 50/50 with FOAP, so you take home $5 per sale.
You can also participate in “Missions,” which require photos of specific products or subjects. Rewards for placing in these Missions range anywhere from $100-$500.
Although most Missions only have one winner, you can use “FOAP coins” to unlock Premium Missions that reward up to 60 winners.
You can obtain FOAP coins by watching ads within the app, taking surveys, or purchasing them on the FOAP website.
5. YouTuber
YouTube is a massive platform and the second most visited website on the internet after Google. You can create your channel and upload videos that you take on your phone.
Once you build an audience of 1,000 subscribers and accrue 4,000 watch hours, you can monetize your channel via YouTube’s partner program.
Once part of the program, you can earn money with ads and sponsored videos. Ads pay roughly $18 per 1,000 ad views, and sponsored videos make around $10-$50 per 1,000 views.
6. Survey Taker
You’ll find no shortage of survey apps for your cell phone, many of which will compensate you for your time. Some of the best survey apps include Branded Surveys, SurveyJunkie, Swagbucks, and InboxDollars.
With most of these apps, you earn points or in-app currency that you trade for gift cards or cash. For example, with SurveyJunkie, you earn up to 500 points for each survey you complete. Once you get 500 points, you can redeem your earnings for gift cards or $5 cash to your PayPal account.
You won’t get rich taking online surveys with these smartphone apps, but you can make up to a couple of hundred dollars a month if you’re consistent.
7. VarageSale
VarageSale is an app that allows you to sell your old stuff in a virtual garage sale. It’s free to use, and signing up is as simple as downloading the app and connecting your Facebook account.
Once you have an account, you can join a local community and list your items at any price. You can sell old clothes, appliances, books, crafts, toys, and more.
Local buyers can find your posted items and reach out if they’re interested in purchasing.
After communicating with the buyer and settling on the details, you can reserve the item for them and arrange a place to meet where they will pay you with cash.
8. Instagram Influencer
With over a billion monthly active users, Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms on the web. Instagram users with large audiences can become influencers and make money through sponsored posts and affiliate links.
Influencers with over 100k engaged followers can make hundreds of dollars for sponsored posts! You can find such sponsors using marketplaces like Fohr, Crowdtap, and Find Your Influence.
The key to making money as an influencer is consistently posting and engaging with your audience. Share interesting posts and photos that inspire or captivate your followers.
9. Instacart
As an Instacart shopper, you get paid to grocery shop.
For this job, you need a dependable car and to be able to lift up to 40 lbs. Then, all you need to do to get started is install the shopper app and pass a quick background check.
After you get approved, the smartphone app connects you with customers who will pay you to pick out and deliver their groceries.
As a full-service shopper, you get to work when you want and are paid per completed batch. Earnings vary depending on the size of the grocery order and how far the delivery location is. Instacart shoppers also get to keep 100% of the customer’s tips. The average Instacart shopper makes around $13.88 per hour.
10. Bambino
Bambino is a babysitting app that connects parents with sitters. With the app, you can connect with parents, receive babysitting requests, and get paid through Venmo or direct deposit.
To get started, you’ll need at least one babysitting recommendation from a parent, although they don’t have to be a parent who uses Bambino. You can also get a background check to increase trust and win more jobs.
When you receive a request, you’ll get details on the date, time, number of kids you’re sitting for, and other important information. Once you accept the job and complete the sitting, you’ll get paid through Venmo or direct deposit.
11. Pet-Sitter and Dog Walker
If you have a passion for animals, use the Rover app to make money caring for pets. With Rover, you can connect with pet owners who need dog walking, pet sitting, drop-in, and boarding services for pets big and small. To make money using Rover, download the app to your phone, and fill out your online profile. You’ll need to pay a $25 fee for a background check, but once you’re approved, you’ll be able to provide services by creating your own schedule and setting your own prices. According to Glassdoor, the average walker/sitter earns $19 per hour, as Rover takes a 20-25% fee from your earnings.
12. Market Research
With market research gigs, you can earn an average of $50-$150 per hour participating in focus group studies. Companies like FocusGroup.com and User Interviews, allow you to create an account right from your mobile phone. Studies are conducted in a variety of formats, including telephone interviews, video interviews, online surveys, testing products, and in-person studies.
Participating in focus groups won’t provide a steady monthly income, but it is an excellent way to save for a dream vacation, pay down debt, or build your savings. To make the most of these opportunities, I suggest signing up with multiple platforms and creating a separate email account just for these gigs, as you’ll get a lot of emails once you sign up.
13. Telephone Mystery Shopper
You’ve probably heard of mystery shopping gigs where individuals go to stores as undercover patrons and report to the company on the customer service they received. Well, visiting stores isn’t the only way to make money as a mystery shopper; some companies use telephone mystery shoppers to gauge how well their employees are performing on the phone.
Companies like Confero hire independent contractors as shoppers and auditors to evaluate establishments. Once you register as a shopper on their site, you can choose which projects to work on (in person, by telephone, or web). After you complete your evaluation and submit your report, you’ll receive payment via PayPal.
14. TikTok Creator
Whether you want to be a social media influencer or a user-generated content (UGC) creator, TikTok is an excellent way to make money on your mobile phone. With TikTok, you film your content directly in the app, and they have all the editing tools built right in, so there is nothing extra you need to purchase. As long as you have a reliable phone, internet connection, and some great ideas, you’re good to go!
With TikTok, you can build your following and make money through the TikTok creator fund, marketplace, tips, gifts, affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and more. And if you don’t want to build your own following, you can create TikTok videos for brands as a UGC creator.
The great thing about content creation is creators can repurpose their content from one platform and post it to others like YouTube Shorts, Pinterest Idea Pins, and Facebook and Instagram Reels. To learn more about how to make money with content creation, check out this informative article.
15. App Tester
If you enjoy testing things out, sign up to become a website and app tester with UserTesting. They accept users from around the world to test websites and smartphone applications for companies. For each test you take, you’ll earn a set amount of money:
- 5-minute test pays $4
- A 20-minute test pays $10
- Live interviews pay between $30-$120
To test products with UserTesting, you’ll need an updated device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) that meets their tech requirements. Payments are distributed via PayPal seven days after you complete the gig. These opportunities are sporadic, so you may want to sign up with multiple website testing companies for increased earnings.
Conclusion
Thanks to your mobile phone, you don’t need a computer to earn decent money from home. So whether you are looking for easy ways to earn extra cash or a viable home-based career, there are many options just a few thumb taps away on your cell phone.
You can even do several of these smartphone jobs at the same time to multiply your earnings. All that’s left to do is download a few of these apps and see where they take you!
If you prefer to work a full-time job from home, but don’t have a computer, you can also check out this list of companies that provide equipment.
Originally published August 30, 2021. Content updated December 2022.