Even if you have a busy schedule, there are countless easy ways to earn extra money on the side. The best micro task sites let you make money online by completing a variety of activities in 20 minutes or less.
If you’re looking for online jobs from home to pad your budget, our guide shares some of the top options.
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Top Sites That Pay You to Do Short Tasks Online
There are many opportunities to make money online. However, not every opportunity is worth trying. Some will lead to frustration, while others can be a good way to pad your budget.
We ranked options based on the highest pay potential, trustworthiness, and potential variability in earnings.
App | Best For |
---|---|
Swagbucks | Earning opportunities |
Fiverr | Freelance work |
Survey Junkie | Surveys |
MTurk | Quick Jobs |
Here are the top sites to find micro jobs.
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the best sites if you are looking for easy tasks. It’s the perfect app to make money in your free time or while watching TV.
Here are some of the ways to make money with Swagbucks:
- Taking surveys
- Using their search engine
- Playing online games
- Downloading apps
- Watching sponsored videos
- Referring friends and family members
In addition to these opportunities, two of the best ways to make money are shopping online through their rewards shopping portal and scanning receipts for in-store purchases.
For each activity, you earn SB points that you can convert to gift cards or PayPal cash.
The redemption minimum starts at 140 points (or $1) for Amazon gift cards.
Other gift cards and PayPal cash redemptions require 500 points (or $5), which is lower than most micro task sites.
*Related: Are you looking for product tester jobs to make money on the side? Read our guide here to learn about the top platforms to start earning.
You can start using Swagbucks as young as 13 years of age, so it’s a terrific way for nearly anyone to earn extra cash. Swagbucks even pays users $5 when they open a new account.
Read our Swagbucks review to learn more about the platform and see why it’s one of the best micro jobs sites.
2. Fiverr
Sometimes it’s smart to use your skillsets to earn extra money. That’s why Fiverr is an excellent platform to help small businesses in the gig economy.
You can take advantage of this site to earn cash on the side.
Here are some of the services you can perform to make money:
- Graphic design
- Drawing
- Voiceover
- Writing
- Social media management
- Translation
- Programming
- Online typing jobs
You get to set the rate for each task and charge at least $5 for basic offerings. Then, you can charge more for add-on services.
It’s free to create a portfolio, but you must wait for a client to hire you. You work as an independent contractor and keep 80 percent of your earnings.
Despite the 20 percent platform fee, you can earn more than other short task sites with a similar time commitment.
3. Survey Junkie
Paid surveys won’t make you rich, but Survey Junkie is a leading site to earn a small income by answering market research questions.
Most surveys take 20 minutes or less, and they tell you how many points you can earn before starting. You can earn up to $3 per successful survey.
However, you will need to answer several brief screener questions to determine if you qualify for the full questionnaire. If not, you receive a few points for your time.
A second way to earn money effortlessly is by installing the SJ Pulse extension or mobile app. You receive points by sharing your internet activity and can also qualify for exclusive surveys.
Rewards can be redeemed for gift cards, PayPal, and bank account deposits with 500 points (or $5).
Read our Survey Junkie review to learn more.
4. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is another popular micro jobs website that focuses on surveys but offers several other ways to make quick money.
Other moneymaking tasks include:
- Using coupons from their site
- Playing games online
- Reading sponsored emails
- Watching videos
You can even get paid to watch ads on the platform. It’s easy to participate in activities during your free time.
While their minimum payout is $30, your payment options include PayPal, gift cards, and Visa prepaid debit cards.
You’ll also get a $5 signup bonus when you first join.
Read our InboxDollars review to learn how to maximize earnings.
5. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys lets you make money online by taking surveys. You won’t be able to quit your day job, but the site is a good option to earn a few extra dollars.
This side hustle idea can be worth it if you need money fast as you can answer several surveys each day. Completing multiple surveys each week lets you earn bonus points.
You can earn up to 300 points ($3) per survey. The redemption minimum is only 500 points ($5) for PayPal and gift cards.
Check out these other best survey sites to maximize your earnings.
6. Amazon Mechanical Turk
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is one of the ultimate micro jobs sites as there are several unique small gigs to make money. Think of these gigs as quick tasks that require minimal skills.
Some of your options include:
- Review video and audio uploads
- Tagging objects in images
- Online research
- Remove duplicate content from business listings
- Categorize data
- Transcribe video and audio
- Surveys
Most tasks require 20 minutes or less and can be more exciting than your standard get-paid-to site opportunities.
While you can have fun completing these tasks, it’s important to remember that most tasks pay under $1 each. However, these tasks are quick and easy, and there isn’t a minimum time commitment required.
You can earn more per task as your skill level increases and qualify for gigs unavailable to new micro workers.
This opportunity is a true work-from-home side hustle. You sign up, sign in when you feel like it, and complete tasks for money.
Amazon Mechanical Turk offers payment directly to your account or via an Amazon gift card after completing a job. This lets you work online and get paid instantly.
New workers must wait ten days to claim earnings. After that waiting period, you’ll receive payment after each task. Workers report earnings of up to $6 per hour.
You won’t become rich with Amazon Mechanical Turk, but it can be a simple way to earn cash if you need money now.
7. Clickworker
Clickworker is similar to Amazon Mechanical Turk. You make money by completing online micro jobs, including:
- Copyediting
- Categorizing data
- Completing surveys
- Proofreading
- Research
- Testing apps
Your earnings depend on the nature of each task and how long it takes you to complete the assignment.
The platform pays on a per-project basis, so the faster you work, the more money you can make in your spare time. However, because of this, there is no guarantee of how much you could earn.
Many workers have reported earnings of around $9 an hour. You can withdraw earnings via PayPal weekly with a minimum account balance of $10.
8. Shopkick
Shopkick is a terrific app to use when you are out shopping, even if you’re just browsing. All you need is your phone to start earning.
Shopkick pays you for various activities, including:
- In-store shopping: Visit stores, scan barcodes, and purchase products
- Online shopping: Purchase products at participating virtual stores
- Watch videos: View short ads from home or in-store
When you do these tasks, you earn “kicks” that translate to points and money.
The great thing about this app is you don’t have to buy anything to earn money. Merely walking into a store and opening the app will automatically give you kicks.
However, this app is also an easy way to scan receipts for money when you make a purchase.
When you cash out, you’ll have access to gift cards and PayPal cash that you can buy with your kicks. To redeem a $5 gift card, you’ll need 1,250 kicks.
You can use code FRUGALRULES to get a $5 bonus when you sign up.
9. Appen
Appen is a micro task app that works with independent contractors to complete tasks for companies and businesses that need help.
The part-time online jobs offered by the platform include:
- Social media evaluations
- Transcription
- Marking important objects with boxes (yes, you read that right)
- Moderate abusive or explicit text and images
Again, you won’t become rich through this site. The pay is per gig, and each one pays up to a few dollars. But, if you’re fast and accurate, you can qualify for higher-paying tasks.
Like other short task sites, you receive earnings each week via PayPal.
10. OneSpace
OneSpace is a cloud-based platform that works with freelancers and large e-commerce companies (like eBay). As a freelancer, you work with large companies and earn money based on the tasks you complete.
Some of the short-term gigs you can complete include:
- Writing product descriptions
- Taking surveys
- Keyword research
- Finding image(s)
When you first start with OneSpace, you’ll start at the beginner level. The more tasks you complete with accuracy, the higher the chance you have to move to intermediate and expert.
When you reach these levels, you qualify for more tasks and better pay.
The site doesn’t publicly comment on pay, but it’s one of the better choices to get paid to do tasks online as they pay via PayPal once a task is complete.
11. Gigwalk
Gigwalk helps you find micro jobs in your area. You can do everything from your phone while you’re out and about.
Opportunities include:
- Noting the price of milk at a specific store
- Taking a picture of a particular display
- Mystery shopping
Most of these tasks take anywhere from several minutes to a few hours (if choosing gigs like mystery shopping).
Short tasks can pay $3 each. Longer tasks may net up to $100.
There are no thresholds or a minimum amount of money that you have to make before you cash out. After each job, the app transfers the money right to your PayPal account, allowing you to work online and get paid instantly.
12. Slicethepie
If you love listening to music and taking surveys, Slicethepie lets you hear and review songs from upcoming albums.
You may also be able to review clothing and other artist-related products.
Most reviews earn between $0.05 and $0.20 after listening to a 90-second clip. You earn more by leaving a detailed review.
The payout minimum is $10 through PayPal.
This side hustle is open to panelists as young as 13-years-old. As a result, it can be a fun online job for teens.
13. UserTesting
UserTesting is a real site that lets you test websites and apps. Companies use the information you provide to help improve their websites and apps.
To participate, you will need video and audio recording capability for your phone or computer.
It’s possible to earn $4 per five-minute test or $10 for 20-minute tests where you complete a checklist of activities and verbally describe your experience.
You complete these tests on-demand, and the company watches your review later.
If you’re an excellent reviewer, you can receive invites for live testing. These tests may take longer but pay between $30 and $120.
You receive your payment by PayPal seven days after completing the review.
How Much Do Micro Jobs Pay?
It is possible to earn several dollars for completing small tasks. However, some only pay a few cents per completion.
Tasks that require special skills or a longer time commitment can pay more.
Here are several examples of how much micro task sites pay:
- Surveys: $0.10 to $3 per survey
- App and website testing: $1 to $10
- Data categorization: $0.50 to $3
- Mystery shopping: $1 to $20
- Freelancer jobs (i.e., graphic design, voice overs): $5 to $100
You can expect to earn between $5 and $20 per day for most short online jobs. However, you may need to complete several tasks to earn this amount of money.
Are Micro Jobs Worth It?
Depending on the gigs you choose, completing short jobs can be worth it. Micro tasks won’t replace your income, but they can be a quick and easy way to make extra money.
You can help clients that need at-home workers to complete basic tasks that only require a few minutes of your time.
Since many jobs pay a few dollars or less, you may consider a site like Fiverr because you can earn more for a similar time period.
However, you may need special skills or equipment to finish complex tasks.
Who Should Use Microtask Sites?
Online jobs sites are an excellent fit for people with a busy schedule that don’t have time for a traditional part-time job.
Many tasks only require between ten and 20 minutes, and most platforms offer weekly payments. Additionally, you don’t need any special skills, equipment, or a vehicle for the majority of assignments.
Bottom Line
You don’t have to side hustle for hours every week to earn some extra cash. It’s possible to make money in your free time from the comfort of your home with micro task sites.
Some opportunities may be mundane, but they take minimal effort.
It’s even possible to do small and simple tasks that you may come to love doing. While you won’t become rich, these platforms offer an excellent way to bridge a cash shortage with minimal effort.
What are your favorite ways to make money on the side?
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