A majority of men, 69%, and women, 80%, said remote work options are among the most important factors to consider when evaluating a job prospect, according to a 2021 FlexJobs survey of more than 2,100 people.
With the popularity of side hustles only growing, flexibility in the additional income streams outside of your day job can be a priority, too. Luckily, there are numerous side hustles that can be done via an app that offers users the freedom to choose how and when to do them.
Here are three free apps available on Android and/or iOS that side hustle experts recommend downloading, including one that personal finance expert Kevin Ha calls “surprisingly lucrative.”
ProductTube
“This is a lesser-known app,” says Ha, who has at times worked more than a dozen side hustles simultaneously, and he’s been surprised at how much it’s helped him bring in. He made $70 on ProductTube in April, according to the monthly earnings reports from his site. Since the start of the year, he’s pulled in $125.
Before companies launch new products, websites, and apps, they hire market research firms to help test them out in the field and get feedback from potential customers. ProductTube is one such market research company. Its app asks users to review products while shopping or after they make a purchase.
After creating a profile on the ProductTube app, including your demographics and location, the app will start sending you projects. Typically, you’ll need to shoot a 2-5 minute video using your smartphone. The app pays $5-$35 per video review in Amazon gift cards, according to Sidehusl.
One thing to keep in mind: The app does not reimburse you for products you purchase to review.
If you’re into product reviews, consider also creating profiles on apps like UserTesting.
Peerspace
If you have a picturesque office, a grand dining room, a spacious apartment, or just a generally cool space, consider renting it on Peerspace. The platform lets hosts rent out their spaces for events ranging from video shoots to baby showers. Current listings include a $50 per hour creative workspace in Philly and a $175 per hour exposed brick loft in Seattle.
You’ll need to use the Peerspace site to set up your initial listing. From there, though, you can use the app to message guests and manage bookings. Peerspace collects a 15% fee from every booking.
If you have other types of space to rent out, like land for campers, try using platforms including Hipcamp or Tentrr.
Mercari
Mercari is an online marketplace where consumers and entrepreneurs can sell just about anything. You’ll see listings as varied as a sealed Michael Jackson “Thriller” CD for $15 and a pair of new women’s Chucks for $75.
Start digging through your closet. “The fastest-selling items [on Mercari] are small electronics, game consoles, video games, and designer clothing and bags,” says side hustle expert Daniella Flores.
To start selling on Mercari, you upload photos of your item, write a description, select the categories the item falls into and set a price and shipping method.
It helps to take decent photos of your items before listing and make time for packing and shipping once they’re sold. Factor in fees when you’re setting a price: The seller fee is 10%, plus 2.9% of the item price and 30 cents for each payment received from the buyer.
Depending on what else you have to sell, you could also consider using apps including Poshmark, eBay, and Facebook to list on Facebook Marketplace.
