The Best Ways to Make Money with Apps in 2025: Complete Guide to Monetize Your Phone

Is the traditional 9-to-5 job still relevant in 2025? For many people, definitely not. The digital age has transformed the way we make money, and today it’s entirely feasible to build a significant income using just a smartphone. Whether you’re a content creator, writer, seller, or investor, there’s an app designed for your goals. In this guide, you’ll discover the best ways to make money with apps in 2025, categorized by user profiles — so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.

Monetize Your Social Media Presence

Social media has ceased to be just entertainment. Today, they are income-generating machines for those who know how to use them. From very short videos to live streams, the opportunities to earn money with apps on social platforms have exploded.

TikTok: Short Videos, Quick Profits

If creating creative videos is your strength, TikTok offers multiple ways to turn views into cash. The Creator Fund pays based on views and engagement, while TikTok Shop allows you to sell products via affiliate links and earn commissions on sales.

Technical Details:

• Category: Social Media and Entertainment
• Highlights: Rapid audience growth; payments based on reach
• Payment System: Minimum of 10,000 followers; withdrawals via PayPal or bank transfer within 30 days
• Platform: Available on Android and iOS

YouTube: The Platform That Keeps Paying

YouTube remains the absolute reference for video monetization. With billions of active users, it offers various revenue streams: advertising through AdSense, Super Chat and Super Stickers during live streams, channel subscriptions, and affiliate marketing.

Technical Details:

• Category: Video and Entertainment
• Highlights: Multiple income sources simultaneously; massive global reach
• Requirements: Minimum 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours watched in the last 12 months
• Payment System: Via Google AdSense, with transfers within 30 days after monthly closing
• Platform: Available on Android and iOS

Kwai: Rising Brazilian Alternative

Kwai is particularly strong in Brazil and works as an excellent alternative for creating content and earning money with apps. It offers a Creator Program that pays for views, promotional campaigns with rewards, daily bonuses, and paid viral challenges.

Technical Details:

• Category: Short Videos and Entertainment
• Highlights: Engaged Brazilian community; multiple monetization options
• Payment System: Transfers via Pix or digital wallets within 7 business days
• Platform: Available on Android and iOS

Turn Your Writing into Income

For those who prefer to use words as their main tool, there are platforms that pay for articles, essays, and informational texts.

Medium Brazil: Write and Earn Money

Medium operates on a model based on reading time and subscriber engagement. You publish content about finance, technology, entrepreneurship, or digital culture, and receive payments proportional to the interest generated.

Technical Details:

• Category: Content Publishing
• Highlights: Building authority; monetization based on quality of reading
• Payment System: Via Stripe or PayPal, with monthly payments
• Platform: Available on Android and iOS

Make Money with Apps Through Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing remains one of the most accessible ways to generate online income. You promote products, earn commissions per sale — simple and requiring no significant initial investment.

Temu: Affiliate Program with Various Rewards

After arriving in Brazil, Temu quickly established itself as a viable platform to earn money with apps. Its affiliate program allows sharing personalized links, generating discount coupons, and earning commissions on each purchase made through them.

Technical Details:

• Category: E-commerce and Affiliates
• Highlights: Commissions per sale; temporary campaigns with extra bonuses
• Payment System: Via Pix, PayPal, or app credit depending on the campaign
• Platform: Available on Android and iOS

Shopee Affiliate Program: Competitive Commissions

Shopee’s affiliate program offers commissions of up to 28% per sale. Registration is free, and you can start promoting products on social media — Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook — immediately.

Technical Details:

• Category: E-commerce and Affiliates
• Highlights: High commissions; established and reliable structure
• Payment System: Bank transfer (Pix) within 3–5 business days
• Platform: Available on Android and iOS

Work as a Freelancer and Make Money with Apps

Home office and remote work have solidified freelancing as a viable career. Several platforms connect professionals with clients seeking design, writing, translation, and more.

Workana Brazil: Trusted Project Marketplace

As one of Latin America’s largest freelancer marketplaces, Workana connects design, writing, digital marketing, translation, and IT professionals with companies hiring by project. An escrow system ensures security for both parties.

Technical Details:

• Category: Freelancer and Remote Work
• Highlights: Projects in Portuguese; escrow security
• Payment System: Via Payoneer, bank account, or PayPal
• Platform: Web and Android

99Freelas: 100% Brazilian and in Portuguese

99Freelas is a fully Brazilian platform connecting companies and independent professionals. Interface in Portuguese, local support, and transparent pricing — everything to make earning money with apps easy.

Technical Details:

• Category: Freelancer and Digital Services
• Highlights: National support; payments in reais; direct negotiation
• Payment System: Bank transfer (Pix) after client approval
• Platform: Web and Android

How to Choose the Right App to Make Money

With so many options available, the decision can seem daunting. Follow these 5 essential tips to find the ideal app:

1. Assess Your Actual Skills

Reflect on your natural abilities — are you a visual content creator, writer, seller, or technical expert? The closer your talent aligns with the app you choose, the better your results will be.

2. Prioritize Platforms with a Solid Track Record

Established apps with a good reputation offer greater security. Check user reviews and confirm if there’s a history of consistent payments.

3. Understand the Payment Mechanisms

Each platform operates differently — PayPal, bank transfer, digital wallets, Pix. Understand the methods before starting to avoid surprises.

4. Compare Commission Rates

Many apps retain a percentage of your earnings. Analyze if the return justifies the effort invested.

5. Research Real User Experiences

Read comments from existing users to confirm reliability, payment speed, and support quality.

Conclusion

In 2025, making money with apps is more feasible than ever. Whether through TikTok videos, articles on Medium, sales on Shopee, or freelance work on Workana — opportunities are accessible for those who seek them. The key is to choose platforms aligned with your skills, stay consistent, and monitor your results.

Try different apps, identify your best performers, and stay focused. Making money with apps in 2025 is a matter of strategy, dedication, and creativity.