Look, $10 isn’t life-changing money. But sometimes you just need a quick ten bucks for gas, lunch, or to round out your bank account before a bill hits.
I’m Brian Meiggs, and I’ve been testing money-making apps and side hustles for years. This guide cuts the fluff—here’s exactly how to make $10 fast, ranked by how quickly you’ll actually get paid.
Fastest Ways to Pocket $10
$10 signup bonus + surveys, videos, games. Paid out $832M+.
$20 bonus when you sign up. Auto-invests your spare change.
4/5 Trustpilot rating. $5 minimum cashout. Clean interface.
$5 instant signup bonus. BBB accredited. $80M+ paid out.
One delivery = $10+. Cash out same day with Fast Pay.
The Fastest Ways to Make $10 (Ranked)
I’ve organized these by speed. The first few can literally put $10 in your pocket within minutes through signup bonuses. The rest take a bit more effort but are equally legit.
Instant Signup Bonuses (Get $10 in Minutes)
These are the fastest because you’re getting paid just to create an account. No surveys, no work—just free money for signing up.
1. Swagbucks ($10 Signup Bonus)
I’ve used Swagbucks since 2015. They’ve paid out over $832 million to members, and they give you $10 free just for creating an account.
After the bonus, you can keep earning through surveys, watching videos, playing games, and shopping cashback. I typically make $50-100/month using it casually while watching TV.
Time to $10: Instant (signup bonus)
2. Acorns ($20 Bonus)
Acorns is an investing app that rounds up your purchases and invests the spare change. Right now they’re giving new users $20 free when you sign up and complete the application.
That’s double what you need—and you can withdraw it once it hits your account.
Time to $10: 1-3 days (bonus posts after account setup)
3. InboxDollars ($5 Instant Bonus)
InboxDollars gives you $5 instantly just for creating an account. They’re BBB accredited and have paid out over $80 million to members.
The nice thing about InboxDollars is they show your balance in actual dollars instead of confusing points. You’ll also get paid to read emails, which is about as easy as it gets.
Time to $10: Get $5 instantly, earn the other $5 with a few surveys
4. Current (Bank Bonus)
Current is a mobile banking app that frequently runs signup promotions. They also offer up to 4.00% APY on savings—way better than your regular bank.
No monthly fees, no minimum balance, and you get a Visa debit card. Check their current promotion when you sign up.
Survey Sites That Actually Pay
I’ve tested probably 50+ survey sites over the years. Most are garbage. These are the ones I still use because they actually pay and don’t waste your time.
5. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is my go-to survey site. It has a 4/5 rating on Trustpilot (highest of any survey site I’ve found) and over 3 million users.
What I like about Survey Junkie:
- Shows you exactly how long each survey takes and what it pays before you start
- You get paid even if you don’t qualify (most sites waste your time for nothing)
- Low $5 minimum to cash out via PayPal
- Clean interface—no spam or confusing navigation
Time to $10: 1-2 hours of surveys
6. Freecash
Freecash isn’t as well known, but it often pays more than the big sites for the same offers. Some offers pay $20-50 each.
They also do same-day payouts, which is rare. If you’re going to stack survey sites, add this one.
Time to $10: Complete one or two high-paying offers
7. KashKick
KashKick flies under the radar but I’ve found their survey payouts are often higher than Swagbucks or InboxDollars for the same surveys.
They have a low $10 minimum payout and only pay via PayPal (no gift card nonsense). Worth adding to your rotation.
Passive Income (Set It and Forget It)
8. Nielsen Panel ($50/Year Per Device)
This is the easiest money I make. Nielsen pays you $50 per year per device just to have their app installed. It runs in the background collecting anonymous usage data for market research.
I have it on my phone, tablet, and laptop. That’s $150/year for doing absolutely nothing.
Requirements: US resident, 18-45 years old
Time to $10: About 2-3 months per device (but requires zero effort)
9. Upside (Gas Cashback)
Upside gives you cash back every time you fill up your tank. Typically 10-25 cents per gallon, sometimes more.
How it works: Open the app, claim an offer at a nearby gas station, fill up, snap a photo of your receipt. Cash back deposits to your account and you can withdraw anytime.
If you drive regularly, this adds up to $10+ every month without any extra effort.
Active Earning (Trade Time for Money)
10. DoorDash
If you need $10 fast and have a car, DoorDash is the move. One delivery typically pays $6-15 including tips.
You can literally make $10 in 20-30 minutes during lunch or dinner rush. And with Fast Pay, you can cash out the same day for $1.99.
Time to $10: One delivery (20-30 minutes)
11. Instacart
Instacart pays you to shop for groceries and deliver them. Similar deal to DoorDash—one order can easily net you $10-20 including tips.
If you know your way around a grocery store, you can knock out orders fast and maximize your hourly rate.
Gaming Apps That Pay Real Money
I’ll be honest—gaming apps aren’t going to make you rich. But if you’re going to play games on your phone anyway, you might as well get paid for it.
12. Solitaire Cash
Solitaire Cash lets you compete in Solitaire tournaments for real cash prizes. Everyone gets the same deck, so it’s skill-based—fastest completion wins.
My advice: Practice extensively in free mode before entering cash games. Get good first, then start competing for money.
13. Bingo Cash
Bingo Cash is skill-based Bingo where everyone sees the same numbers. Speed and accuracy determine the winner, not luck.
Games take 2-3 minutes. It’s actually pretty fun if you like competitive casual games.
Cash games not available in AZ, AR, CT, DE, LA, MT, SC, SD, and TN.
14. Mistplay (Android Only)
If you have an Android phone, Mistplay pays you to try new games. You earn points as you play and can cash out for gift cards.
It’s not fast money, but if you’re going to play mobile games anyway, you might as well get something for it.
Investing Apps (Build Wealth Over Time)
These won’t make you $10 today, but they’re worth mentioning because small investments compound over time.
15. Fundrise
Fundrise lets you invest in real estate starting at just $10. You’re buying into actual properties—apartments, commercial buildings, single-family homes—and earning from rent and appreciation.
Historical returns have been 8-12% annually. I’ve had money in Fundrise for years and it consistently outperforms my stock market investments.
Other Quick Ways to Make $10
16. Sell Something on Facebook Marketplace
Look around your house. You probably have something worth $10 that you don’t use anymore. Old books, clothes, electronics, furniture—anything.
Facebook Marketplace is the fastest way to sell locally. No shipping, instant cash, huge audience.
17. Return Something
Got something sitting around with tags still on it? Return it. Most stores have 30-90 day return windows. That’s instant money back in your pocket.
18. Check for Unclaimed Money
Go to your state’s unclaimed property website. You might have forgotten refunds, old bank accounts, or deposits waiting for you. It’s free to check and you’d be surprised how often people find money.
The Fastest Path to $10
If I needed $10 in the next hour, here’s exactly what I’d do:
- Sign up for Swagbucks ($10 bonus) — done
That’s it. One signup, $10 in your account. If you want more:
- Add InboxDollars ($5 bonus)
- Add Acorns ($20 bonus)
Stack those three and you’ve got $35 in bonuses alone. No surveys required.
FAQs
What’s the fastest way to make $10?
Signup bonuses. Swagbucks gives you $10 free just for creating an account. Takes about 2 minutes.
Can I really make money from surveys?
Yes, but set realistic expectations. Surveys pay $3-5/hour on average. They’re good for earning while watching TV, not for replacing a job.
Are these apps legit?
Every app on this list is legit. Swagbucks has paid out $832M+. Survey Junkie has 4/5 stars on Trustpilot. InboxDollars is BBB accredited. I’ve used all of them personally.
Do gaming apps actually pay?
Yes, but they’re skill-based. You’re competing against other players. Practice in free mode first, and only play with money you can afford to lose.
Bottom Line
Making $10 fast is genuinely easy in 2026. The signup bonuses alone from Swagbucks + InboxDollars + Acorns give you $35 for maybe 10 minutes of work.
Start with Swagbucks for the instant $10, then stack from there.
— Brian
Want to make more? Check out these guides:
