Introduction
Let’s face it—making money while you sleep sounds like a dream, right? But thanks to modern technology, passive income is more accessible than ever. From cashback tools to investing apps, you can now build extra income streams using nothing more than your smartphone.
At SurveyBeta, we’re all about helping everyday people earn smarter—not harder. In this article, we’ll guide you through the Top Passive Income Apps in 2025, including tools that earn you money in the background, without daily effort.
Let’s break it down clearly and simply, so you can find what works best for you.
1. What Is Passive Income?
Passive income is money you earn with little to no ongoing effort. Unlike a traditional job or side hustle where you trade time for money, passive income allows you to earn automatically—once the system is set up.
In app form, this might mean:
- Getting cashback for your purchases
- Earning interest just for saving
- Sharing anonymous data for small payments
- Automating investments that grow over time
The goal isn’t to get rich overnight, but to stack small wins that build into consistent, meaningful income.
2. Categories of Passive Income Apps
Here’s a breakdown of where most users focus their passive income efforts:
| Category | % of Users in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Cashback & Rewards | 30% |
| Survey & Data Sharing | 20% |
| Investing & Robo-Advisors | 18% |
| Crypto Earning Apps | 12% |
| Savings & Interest Apps | 10% |
| Others (rentals, ads) | 10% |
As you can see, cashback and data-sharing apps lead the way for low-effort, high-frequency earnings.
3. Honeygain – Get Paid to Share Internet
Honeygain is one of the most hands-off apps around. It runs in the background and pays you for sharing your unused internet bandwidth. It’s completely anonymous, and you don’t have to lift a finger once it’s installed.
- 📱 Runs on PC and Android
- 💰 Earn around $20–$50/month passively
- 🔒 Secure and data-protected
💡 SurveyBeta Tip: Use a spare device or run it during Wi-Fi-only hours to maximize income without slowing your main connection.
4. Rakuten – Cashback on Auto-Pilot
Formerly known as Ebates, Rakuten gives you cashback every time you shop online at popular stores. Once installed as a browser extension or mobile app, it activates cashback deals automatically.
- 🛍 Works at 3,500+ stores (Walmart, Target, Nike, etc.)
- 🪙 Up to 10% cashback or more
- 💳 Pays via PayPal or check every quarter
If you shop online even semi-regularly, Rakuten is a must-have.
5. Acorns – Invest Your Spare Change
Acorns rounds up your purchases and invests the spare change into a diversified portfolio. It’s a great app for beginners looking to get into passive investing without knowing the stock market.
- 📊 Portfolios curated by financial experts
- 💵 Invests as little as $0.01 per round-up
- 📈 Earn interest and dividends long term
It also offers cashback when you shop through partnered brands, doubling up on passive income.
6. Swagbucks – Passive Options Included
While known for surveys, Swagbucks also offers passive income options like:
- Watching video playlists
- Running offer walls
- Earning cashback through their shopping portal
You can set it and forget it—especially on a second device or tablet. Swagbucks payouts include PayPal and tons of gift cards.
7. Capital One Shopping – Save Without Thinking
Capital One Shopping (formerly Wikibuy) helps you automatically find discounts and better deals while you shop. The savings don’t go straight into your account, but you spend less—which is essentially the same as earning.
- 🔍 Price comparisons at checkout
- 💳 Cashback and reward credits
- 🎁 Gift card redemption options
Use it with Rakuten for double benefits.
8. Coinbase Earn – Crypto for Learning
Coinbase Earn pays you in cryptocurrency to watch short educational videos about emerging blockchain technologies. While not truly passive at first, the knowledge and coins you gain can appreciate over time—turning into passive long-term assets.
- 💰 Earn up to $10–$50 worth of tokens
- 🔐 Stored securely in your Coinbase wallet
- 📈 Potential to grow significantly in value
Crypto carries risk, but for beginners, it’s a low-stakes way to learn and earn.
9. Current – Earn While You Listen
Current is a music app that rewards you for listening to music and interacting with small ads or surveys. It’s passive in the sense that you’re doing what you’d normally do—listening to your favorite tunes.
- 🎵 Earn points while streaming
- 🏦 Redeem for cash or gift cards
- 📲 Extra bonuses for unlocking your phone or referring friends
Pair with a long commute or gym session for easy daily earnings.
10. Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel – Data for Dollars
Nielsen pays users just to have the app installed on their devices. It collects anonymous usage data to help businesses improve online experiences.
- 📊 No tasks or surveys required
- 💰 Earn up to $50/year per device
- 🖥 Runs on Windows, Android, iOS
It’s truly “set it and forget it” money.
11. Chime & Varo – Passive Banking Bonuses
Modern digital banks like Chime and Varo are transforming passive income through:
- High-yield savings accounts (up to 5% APY)
- Automatic savings round-ups
- Referral bonuses (up to $100 per friend)
No fees, no fuss—just smarter banking that works for you.
12. How These Apps Compare
Here’s a side-by-side look at how the top apps stack up in terms of earnings potential and passiveness:
| App | Type | Passive Level | Est. Monthly Income | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honeygain | Bandwidth sharing | Fully Passive | $20–$50 | Background earners |
| Rakuten | Cashback shopping | Passive | $10–$40 | Online shoppers |
| Acorns | Investment automation | Passive | Long-term gains | Beginners investing |
| Swagbucks | Passive features | Semi-passive | $10–$30 | Multi-task earners |
| Coinbase Earn | Crypto + education | Semi-passive | $10–$100 (one-time) | Crypto curious |
| Nielsen Panel | Data collection | Fully Passive | $5–$50/year/device | Simple background use |
| Current | Music & rewards | Semi-passive | $10–$25 | Daily music listeners |
| Chime/Varo | Savings & referrals | Passive | Varies | Smart savers |
Conclusion
Passive income apps aren’t get-rich-quick tools—but they’re absolutely real and useful for people who want to earn a little extra without changing their routines.
By choosing a mix of cashback, investment, and background-earning apps, you can stack multiple small income streams. Over time, these can add up to hundreds—even thousands—of extra dollars per year.
At SurveyBeta, we always recommend:
- Starting with one or two apps you’ll use consistently
- Prioritizing security and transparency
- Reinforcing good habits like saving and investing what you earn
So go ahead—pick a few apps from this list, install them today, and start building a passive income stream that works for your life.