Need $400 in your pocket this week? Whether it’s an unexpected bill, building your emergency fund, or just wanting extra breathing room—I’ve tested dozens of ways to make quick cash and narrowed it down to what actually works.
No fluff. No “start a blog and wait 2 years” advice. Just proven methods you can start today.
Top 6 Ways to Make $400 Fast
Tested and verified — start earning today
Invest in real estate with as little as $10. Earn passive income from rental properties without being a landlord.
Deliver food on your schedule. Keep 100% of tips.
Auto-invest spare change. Grow wealth passively.
Cash back on gas, groceries and restaurants.
Surveys, offers and app downloads. Low $5 cashout.
Access your paycheck early. No interest or fees.
Keep scrolling for more ways to make $400
Some of these take 5 minutes to set up. Others require a bit more hustle. Mix and match based on your situation—stack a few together and you’ll hit $400 faster than you think.
How to Make $400 Fast (Realistic Methods That Work)
1. Earn Passive Income with Fundrise
Want your money working for you while you sleep? Fundrise lets you invest in real estate with as little as $10—no landlord headaches, no property management, no massive down payments.
Why Fundrise stands out:
- Start investing with just $10 (seriously)
- Average historical returns of 8-12% annually
- Earn quarterly dividends from rental income
- Diversified portfolio of commercial and residential properties
- Completely passive—Fundrise handles everything
This isn’t get-rich-quick money. It’s build-wealth-steadily money. While others are chasing surveys for pennies, your Fundrise investment compounds in the background.
🏠 Start building passive income with Fundrise.
2. Turn Your Spare Change Into Investments with Acorns
Here’s the thing about building money: small amounts add up when you’re not paying attention. Acorns automatically rounds up your everyday purchases and invests the difference.
Buy a $4.50 coffee? Acorns rounds it to $5 and invests that $0.50 for you. It sounds small, but I’ve watched my account grow to several hundred dollars without thinking about it.
Why it works:
- Set it and forget it—the round-ups happen automatically
- Start with as little as $5
- $20 bonus when you sign up and complete your application
- Your money actually grows through real investments (not just sitting in a savings account earning pennies)
This won’t get you $400 overnight, but it’s the foundation of building wealth passively.
💰 Claim your $20 bonus and start investing.
3. Cash Back on Gas and Groceries with Upside
You’re already buying gas. You’re already buying groceries. Why not get paid for it?
Upside gives you cash back at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants—often 25¢ or more per gallon on gas alone. I fill up twice a week, so that’s real money adding up fast.
How to maximize it:
- Check the app before you fill up—some stations offer better deals than others
- Stack it with a cash-back credit card for double dipping
- Cash out via PayPal, direct deposit, or gift cards
It takes 30 seconds to claim an offer before you pay. Over a month, that’s easily $30-50 back—money you were spending anyway.
⛽ Start getting cash back with Upside.
4. Get Paid Up to $2 Per Survey with Freecash
Most survey sites waste your time with 20-minute surveys that pay $0.50. Freecash is different—it aggregates the best-paying offers from multiple platforms so you’re not digging through garbage.
What makes Freecash worth it:
- Surveys, app downloads, game offers, and sign-up bonuses all in one place
- Payouts via PayPal, crypto, or gift cards
- Low $5 minimum to cash out
- Daily bonuses and streak rewards for consistent users
I use this when I’m watching TV or have 10 minutes to kill. Won’t make you rich, but it’s legitimate beer money.
🎁 Start earning with Freecash.
5. Deliver Food with DoorDash (Make $100+ Per Day)
If you need $400 fast and have a car, DoorDash is the most reliable way to get there. Deliver when you want, keep 100% of your tips, and cash out the same day with Fast Pay.
Real numbers:
- Average $15-25/hour depending on your market
- Dinner rush (5-9pm) and weekends pay best
- $400 is realistic in 20-25 hours of dashing
The key is being strategic: work during peak times, decline low-paying orders (the $3 deliveries aren’t worth your gas), and learn which restaurants are fast.
🚗 Become a Dasher and start earning today.
6. Access Your Paycheck Early with EarnIn
Already have money coming—just need it sooner? EarnIn lets you access up to $150 per day of money you’ve already earned before payday hits.
How it works:
- Connect your bank account and verify your employment
- Cash out what you’ve already worked for
- No interest, no mandatory fees (tips are optional)
- Money repays automatically on your next payday
This isn’t “making” money—it’s accessing what’s already yours. But when you need $400 by Friday and payday is next week, this bridges the gap without predatory payday loan rates.
⚡ Get your money now with EarnIn.
7. Sell Your Unused Gift Cards
That Applebee’s gift card from Christmas 2022? The Macy’s card you’ll never use? Turn them into cash.
Sites like CardCash, GiftCash, and Raise let you sell unwanted gift cards for up to 92% of their face value. According to Bankrate, the average person has $200+ in unused gift cards sitting around.
Quick tip: Check multiple marketplaces—offers vary by retailer and platform. Some cards (Amazon, Target, Walmart) fetch higher percentages than others.
8. Win Real Money Playing Bingo Cash
Sounds too good to be true, but Bingo Cash is a legitimate skill-based game where you compete against real players for cash prizes.
How it works:
- 2-minute games against players at your skill level
- Practice for free, then enter cash tournaments
- Speed and accuracy matter—tap numbers fast to earn bonus points
- Cash out via PayPal
This is legitimately fun if you enjoy competitive games. Just set a budget and treat any winnings as a bonus.
🎯 Play Bingo Cash and win real money.
9. Trade In Old Electronics
That old iPhone in your drawer? Your kid’s outdated tablet? Companies will pay cash for used electronics, even if they’re a few years old.
Where to sell:
- Walmart trade-in: Up to $288 for older iPhones
- Best Buy: Takes phones, tablets, laptops, headphones
- Amazon: Often offers 20% extra toward new Amazon devices
- Decluttr: Free shipping, instant price quotes
Pro tip: Get quotes from multiple platforms before selling. Prices vary significantly—I’ve seen $50+ differences for the same device.
10. Get Paid to Test Apps with Branded
Want to earn serious money testing apps and games? Branded (as seen on CBS) pays you to try new apps, play games, and complete brand offers—with payouts up to $100 per offer.
What to expect:
- High-paying app and game testing offers
- Earn up to $100 per completed offer
- New offers added regularly
- Cash out via PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards
This is one of the higher-paying options if you’re willing to spend time completing offers. Some require reaching certain levels in games or trying subscription services (just cancel before billing).
🎮 Start testing apps with Branded.
11. Compete for Cash with Blitz Win Cash
Blitz Win Cash offers skill-based competitions in trivia, puzzles, and casual games. Win tournaments against other players for real money prizes.
Like Bingo Cash, this works best if you’re naturally competitive and enjoy gaming. Practice in free mode first, then enter paid competitions when you’re confident.
🏆 Compete for cash with Blitz.
12. Find Remote Work with FlexJobs
Need consistent income, not just one-time gigs? FlexJobs is a curated job board specializing in remote, freelance, and flexible work opportunities.
Why it’s worth it:
- Every listing is hand-screened (no scams)
- Remote customer service, data entry, writing, and virtual assistant jobs
- Part-time and freelance options if you need flexibility
- Many jobs pay $15-25+/hour
There’s a subscription fee, but it filters out the garbage you’d wade through on free job boards. If you’re serious about finding legitimate remote work, it pays for itself quickly.
💼 Find remote work on FlexJobs.
13. Invest in Real Estate Starting at $100 with Arrived
Want passive income from real estate without buying property? Arrived lets you invest in rental homes with as little as $100.
How it works:
- Browse individual rental properties and invest what you can afford
- Earn quarterly dividends from rental income
- Benefit from property appreciation over time
- Arrived handles everything—tenants, maintenance, management
This is a longer-term play (not instant cash), but it’s how you build wealth that works for you while you sleep.
🏠 Start investing in real estate with Arrived.
14. Redeem Your Credit Card Rewards
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Americans forfeit hundreds of millions in unused credit card rewards every year. Don’t be one of them.
Log into your credit card accounts right now and check your points balance. Many people have $100+ sitting there, waiting to be cashed out for statement credits or gift cards.
Important: Check if your rewards expire. Some cards have expiration policies that could cost you money you’ve already earned.
15. Do Small Tasks in Your Community
Apps like TaskRabbit and Thumbtack connect you with people who need help with:
- Furniture assembly ($50-150 per piece)
- Moving help ($25-40/hour)
- Yard work and cleaning
- Waiting in line (yes, really—TaskRabbit pays ~$27/hour for this)
If you’re handy or don’t mind physical work, this is one of the fastest ways to earn $100+ in a single afternoon.
The Bottom Line: Stack These Methods
Here’s the real secret: you don’t pick one method—you stack them.
A realistic $400 week might look like:
- DoorDash dinner shifts (10 hours) = $200
- Sell old electronics = $75
- TaskRabbit furniture assembly gig = $60
- Upside gas cash back + credit card rewards = $40
- Surveys and app bonuses = $25
None of these will make you wealthy on their own. But combined? You’ve got options.
Start with the ones that fit your situation: Got a car? DoorDash. Got old stuff? Sell it. Got time to kill? Surveys and game apps. Need money you’ve already earned? EarnIn.
The $400 is out there. Now go get it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really make $400 in one day?
Honestly? It’s tough but possible. Your best bets are selling items you already own (electronics, gift cards), doing delivery or gig work during a busy day, or using EarnIn to access wages you’ve already earned. Most people will hit $400 within a week using multiple methods.
Are survey sites actually worth my time?
For beer money, yes. For serious income, no. Expect $3-10/hour on average. They’re best for downtime when you’d otherwise be scrolling social media. Use them as a supplement, not your main strategy.
What’s the fastest method on this list?
Selling things you already own (electronics, gift cards) or using EarnIn to access earned wages. These can put money in your account within 24-48 hours. Delivery apps pay quickly too—DoorDash offers same-day cash out with Fast Pay.
