The 3 Best Side Hustle Apps to Make Money in 2026
You have a free Saturday, decent gloves and a bank balance that could use some company. Meanwhile, someone on your street is losing a war with their hedge.
The short answer
Neighbr Best overallOf the side hustle apps to make money helping people nearby, Neighbr is the best. You browse local requests for yard work, errands or moving help, offer your price, and keep the full amount because nobody pays a fee. Taskrabbit suits steady hourly work with in-app payment, and Thumbtack suits skilled trades in the US.
Which one is for you?
Best overallNeighbrNeighborhood odd jobs, errands and yard work where you keep every cent
2
Best for steady workTaskrabbitHandy people who want regular hourly bookings with payment handled for them
3
Best for skilled tradesThumbtackSkilled tradespeople in the US ready to run the hustle like a business
- Neighbr takes no cut: you keep the full agreed price for every lawn, errand or couch carry.
- Taskrabbit brings steadier bookings and in-app pay, but only in selected cities.
- Thumbtack is for skilled trades in the US, and pros pay to reach each customer.
Most side hustle apps to make money want you driving strangers around or tapping through surveys for pocket change. The better market is on the next street: leaves to rake, a parcel to collect, a couch that has to go upstairs. These apps put those jobs on your phone, and they treat your earnings very differently.
Keep reading
The big split is who takes a cut. Some apps charge the customer, one charges you for leads, and one charges nobody at all. Pick by the work you want, then by how much of the price you keep.
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Best overall
1. Neighbr
1Your street is hiring, and nobody skims a commission off the pay.
- Free
- iPhone
- No subscription
It's Saturday morning and a neighbor two streets over wants the hedge trimmed by lunch. On Neighbr you spot the request on the map, send an offer with a short note and your price, and if they pick you, a private chat opens to sort the details. Whatever you agree is yours.
More about Neighbr
It's not just yard work: requests cover moving help, cleaning, snow removal, pet sitting, tech help and tutoring. Great reviews earn a Top rated badge, and a private history tallies what you've earned. The catch: fewer requests than big platforms in many areas, no built-in payment protection, and it's iPhone and iPad only.
Great forNeighborhood odd jobs, errands and yard work where you keep every cent
The catchFewer requests than big platforms in many areas, and no payment protection
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Best for steady work
2. Taskrabbit
0The closest thing to a shift schedule for people who own a good drill.
- Free
- iPhone · Android · Web
You're quick with an Allen key and want more than the odd weekend job. As a Tasker you choose the work you like, from furniture assembly and TV mounting to moving and yard work, set your hourly rate, and bookings often land for the same day or the next. Payment comes through the app.
More about Taskrabbit
Customers see your rate and reviews before they book, and the service and trust fees are added on top of that rate on their bill. The catch: you'll pass identity checks, plus a background check in many countries, before taking jobs, and it only runs in selected cities.
Great forHandy people who want regular hourly bookings with payment handled for them
The catchOnly in selected cities, and you clear ID checks before your first job
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Best for skilled trades
3. Thumbtack
0For the side hustle that comes with a toolbox, a van and its own business cards.
- Free
- iPhone · Android · Web
You're a weekend painter, a part-time cleaner or a landscaper with spare evenings. On Thumbtack, US customers describe a project and compare pros by price estimates, reviews and credentials, so a strong profile does the selling while you're on another job. You message customers directly.
More about Thumbtack
The range runs well past odd jobs, from plumbing to remodels. The catch: Thumbtack charges pros to reach customers, so your costs arrive before your income, you're competing with other pros who reply fast, and it's US only. Casual helpers with a free afternoon will find little here.
Great forSkilled tradespeople in the US ready to run the hustle like a business
The catchYou pay to reach customers, and it only works in the US
Side by side
| # | App | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Neighbr |
Best overall |
| 2 |
Taskrabbit |
Best for steady work |
| 3 |
Thumbtack |
Best for skilled trades |
How to choose
What makes good side hustle apps to make money locally?
Start with who takes a cut. Some apps add fees to the customer's bill, some charge workers to reach customers, and Neighbr charges neither, so the agreed price is what you earn. Then check payment: in-app payment protects you, while direct payment means agreeing the amount and method before you lift a finger.
Finally, look at demand near you. A fee-free app with steady requests nearby beats a big platform that doesn't cover your city. Reviews snowball, so stick with one app long enough to build a reputation.
How do you land your first jobs on a side hustle app?
Start close to home with work you do well: yard work, errands, flat-pack assembly. Add a short, friendly note to every offer, agree on price, timing and payment method in the chat, and turn up when you said you would. Then ask each happy customer for a review, because ratings win the next offer.
Get Neighbr if you want neighborhood odd jobs where the whole price lands in your pocket. If you'd rather have steadier hourly bookings with payment handled for you, and Taskrabbit covers your city, sign up as a Tasker.
See why Neighbr is #1Compare the top picks
Questions people ask
What is the best free side hustle app?
Neighbr is free for helpers and for the people asking, with no fees or commissions, so you keep the full agreed price. Payment is settled directly between you and your neighbor, so agree the method before you start.
Is Neighbr or Taskrabbit better for making money?
Neighbr is better for casual jobs near home where you want to keep the whole price. Taskrabbit is better for steady hourly bookings with payment handled in the app, as long as it operates in your city.
How can you make money helping neighbors?
Browse nearby requests in an app like Neighbr and offer to handle yard work, errands, snow removal, pet sitting or moving help at a price you name. Reviews from each job make the next one easier to win.
Do side hustle apps take a cut of your earnings?
It depends on the app. Neighbr charges nobody, Taskrabbit adds its service and trust fees to the customer's bill, and Thumbtack charges pros to reach customers.