Earn Money by Working With Your Cellphone

That expensive smartphone you're carrying may be the key to earning a little pocket money. Several services will pay you to install their apps and perform market research or otherwise point and click with your smartphone. They're easy tasks anyone can do. While you won't be able to make a living off these apps and services, the extra money you make may well be worth the minimal effort. Some pay in cash directly to your account; some pay in gift cards.

You have an advantage if you live in a good-size city rather than in a rural area. Most of the jobs are in cities.

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Gigwalk

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Gigwalk describes itself as a "mobile work marketplace." You can earn a second paycheck using Gigwalk's iPhone or Android mobile apps to perform simple fieldwork, such as mystery shopping, delivering items, testing mobile apps, taking photos, and more. Available in major U.S. metro areas, Gigwalk pays from $3 to $90 per task, depending on your experience and reputation.

Just download the app and check the list of jobs in your area. The small tasks take just minutes to complete, and you work only when you want to.

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Field Agent

Similar to Gigwalk, Field Agent turns iPhone and Android smartphone users into mobile workers who scan barcodes, mystery shop, check prices, take polls, explore neighborhoods, and more using their smartphones. In return, agents are paid between $1 and $12 for each task. It may not seem like a lot of money, but when you're bored waiting in a line, you might as well take a survey and earn a few bucks.

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EasyShift

Pick up a quick one- or two-minute shift, and you can earn a couple of bucks anywhere you show. Like Gigwalk, EasyShift assignments often include taking a picture or recording a price. Payments range from $2 to $20 per shift. The automatic payments are sent within two days to your Paypal account. The app is available for iPhone and Android smartphones.

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Shopkick

Shopkick rewards you just for going shopping—whether or not you buy an item. If you walk in with your smartphone, you earn "kicks" redeemable for gift cards or store discounts. You don't actually get pocket money with Shopkick; you receive savings instead. When you scan items or buy from partner stores, you earn even more kicks. Shopkick is available as an app for both iPhone and Android smartphones.

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CheckPoints

CheckPoints, like Shopkick, earns you points and rewards for scanning items, watching videos, checking in at different stores, playing games, or completing offers. Points are redeemable for discounts, gift cards, or products. The app is available for iPhones and Android smartphones.

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Swagbucks

Get paid in gift cards to search the web—on your phone or on your computer. Swagbucks is a popular online rewards program, and both Android and iPhone users can make money on the go. Mobile searches, daily polls, and other ways to earn Swag Bucks are available from your phone. For about 450 points, you can earn a $5 gift card—that requires a lot of searches, but there are other ways to earn points including random drawings.