In today’s digital economy, the concept of passive income isn’t just for real estate moguls anymore. Thanks to the explosion of smartphone apps, anyone with a phone and a little creativity can start building income streams that earn while they sleep.

Whether you’re looking to monetize your downtime, leverage assets you already own, or earn royalties from digital content, there’s an app for that.

Below is a curated, up-to-date list of 50 legit apps that can help you generate passive or semi-passive income in 2025—without quitting your day job.

Cashback & Rewards Apps

These apps help you earn money automatically on purchases you already make. While each payout might seem small, they add up fast and require little to no maintenance.

1. Rakuten

Earn cashback from over 3,500 stores. Just activate deals before you shop online, or use the browser extension for automation.

2. Dosh

Link your debit/credit cards and earn cashback automatically when you shop or dine at partner businesses.

3. Ibotta

Scan grocery receipts or link a loyalty card to earn cashback on everyday purchases.

4. Upside

Great for gas, groceries, and dining. Just check in and upload receipts for instant cash rewards.

5. Honey

Automatically applies coupon codes at checkout and gives you rewards via PayPal when you shop online.

6. Fetch Rewards

Scan any receipt to earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards.

7. Receipt Hog

Turn everyday receipts into points and sweepstakes entries. Super low maintenance.

8. Drop

Earn points for shopping at your favorite stores and redeem for gift cards. Just link your cards once and let it run.

Rental Platforms (Assets You Already Own)

Got a spare room, car, or even a driveway? These apps let you monetize what you already have.

9. Airbnb

Turn your extra space into a consistent income stream with minimal effort.

10. Neighbor

Let people store their stuff in your basement, garage, or attic. Less hassle than Airbnb.

11. Turo

List your car when you’re not using it and get paid daily rentals.

12. Vrbo

Like Airbnb, but geared more toward vacation properties.

13. Getaround

Another car-sharing platform that makes renting your car quick and secure.

14. JustPark

Live in a city? Rent out your driveway or parking spot.

15. Sniffspot

Have a backyard? Rent it by the hour to dog owners looking for private dog parks.

16. Fluid Market

Rent out tools, trucks, and gear to neighbors and local businesses.

Digital Product & Content Monetization Platforms

These platforms let you create once and earn forever. Digital products are one of the purest forms of passive income. However, don’t forget that they require a lot of marketing, so check out this guide on marketing your digital products here.

17. Teachable

Build and sell online courses. Once created, they can generate income 24/7.

18. Gumroad

Sell ebooks, templates, music, or even mini-courses. A favorite among digital creators.

19. Podia

All-in-one platform to host and sell courses, digital products, and memberships.

20. Etsy

Not just for crafts—digital downloads like planners, art, or templates are hot sellers.

21. Amazon KDP

Self-publish your eBook or paperback and earn royalties from every sale. Check out our guide on how to make money writing and publishing eBooks.

22. YouTube

Monetize long-form or short-form content via ads, memberships, and affiliate links. Focus on evergreen content for maximum long-term payout. Check out this guide on creating a faceless YouTube channel.

23. Spotify for Podcasters

Launch a podcast and get paid through ads and listener support.

24. Ko-fi

Offer digital downloads or exclusive content. Supporters can send you recurring tips.

25. Substack

Start a free or paid email newsletter and earn subscription revenue.

26. Patreon

Create a membership-based income stream by offering exclusive content to fans.

Automation Tools for Scalable Passive Income

These apps and platforms help you build semi-passive businesses by automating content, stores, and workflows.

27. Canva Pro

Design and sell planners, templates, and marketing kits. Canva makes content creation easy and fast.

28. ChatGPT

Use AI to generate blog posts, product descriptions, eBooks, or YouTube scripts—then monetize them. Check out ways that you can make money with AI here.

29. Notion

Build and sell productivity templates for students, professionals, or entrepreneurs.

30. ClickFunnels

Create automated sales funnels that sell digital or physical products while you sleep.

31. Shopify

Start a dropshipping or print-on-demand store. Automate everything from inventory to fulfillment.

32. Printify

Connect to your Shopify or Etsy store and automatically fulfill print-on-demand orders. Check out our guide to print on demand here.

33. Redbubble

Upload designs that are printed on everything from shirts to mugs. You earn a royalty from each sale.

34. Zazzle

Another passive-friendly marketplace with a wide variety of customizable products.

35. Epidemic Sound

If you make original music, you can license it for passive income.

36. Envato Elements

Sell digital assets like PowerPoint templates, music, stock video, or web design kits.

Miscellaneous Passive & Semi-Passive Income Apps

These don’t fit neatly into one category, but they all help you earn money with minimal ongoing effort.

37. Swagbucks

Earn points by watching videos, searching the web, and answering simple questions. Use the autoplay features for passive stacking.

38. InboxDollars

Similar to Swagbucks with additional video and offer wall earnings.

39. Gigwalk

Earn money for simple local tasks—some as simple as taking a photo. Not 100% passive, but tasks are quick and repeatable.

40. UserTesting

Earn money testing websites and apps. Not fully passive, but once you’re accepted, you’ll get consistent invites.

41. MobileXpression

Let the app run in the background and earn rewards over time for anonymous data collection.

42. Nielsen Mobile Panel

Install it once and forget it. Nielsen pays you to let them collect anonymous device data.

43. Slidejoy

Earn rewards from ads on your phone’s lock screen (availability may vary).

44. Fronto

Similar to Slidejoy. Lock screen ads earn you daily points redeemable for cash.

45. S’more

Lock screen rewards + music discovery. Great for passive users.

46. Current Music App

Get paid to listen to music. The more you listen, the more you earn.

47. Pogo

Earn money by letting the app track your spending and location. Very passive once set up.

48. Tapestri

Get paid for allowing anonymous location tracking.

49. Panel App

Simple background data tracking in exchange for gift cards or sweepstakes.

50. SavvyConnect

Download this app on your devices and get paid just for having it installed.

Final Thoughts: How to Turn These Apps Into Real Income

Not all of these apps will make you rich, but stacking a few together can easily add hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars per month in passive or low-effort income.

The key is to:

• Start with 2–3 apps per category that fit your lifestyle
• Automate wherever possible (set it and forget it)
• Leverage your assets (home, skills, or digital creations)

And don’t forget: many of these platforms offer referral programs. So once you find success with one, share it—and earn even more.