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How to Make $20 Instantly – 40+ Legit Methods (2024 Guide)

Don't Work Another Day is reader-supported. We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own.
  By Forrest McCall | Last Updated:  March 25, 2023

Need to make $20 instantly?

No matter your reason for needing quick money, finding $20 is easier than you think! Thankfully there are plenty of options if you need $20 quickly.

Here's the problem – you don't have all day to spend working on a side hustle, or you don't have time to dedicate towards making money. 

Good news! You can still get the money you need!

In this post, I'll explore the best ways to get $20 instantly, simple ways to make $20 fast online, and much more. Let's get started!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Some of the best ways to get $20 instantly include:

Legit Ways to Get $20 Instantly

Below are some of the best methods to get $20 instantly. Try of the of these methods and find what works for you! Some methods might offer free gift cards or cash rewards for your time, so be sure to try them all!

1. Register for InboxDollars (Free $5 or $10)

InboxDollars is an awesome site for making extra money online whether you have 15 minutes or a few hours.

InboxDollars pays you to read emails, take surveys, play games, and much more.

If you're looking for a digital side hustle, taking surveys with InboxDollars is a great option for anyone looking to make some extra cash.

They've been in business since 2000 and have paid out over $57 million to their members making it a great option to make money and earn cash rewards when you watch videos, take surveys, and more.

Don't forget to claim your free $5 bonus with the link below!

With InboxDollars you can make money in your free time taking surveys, watching videos, and more. Plus, when you register with the link below – you'll get a free $5! So why not give it a try??
Register Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

2. Register for Swagbucks ($5 or $10 Bonus)

Swagbucks is a great survey site you can use to earn money online in your free time by completing a variety of different tasks.

With Swagbucks you can make $20 fast or even $50 instantly by:

  • Taking surveys (earn over $20 per survey)
  • Playing games
  • Watching videos
  • Shopping online

Swagbucks is completely legitimate and they have been around since 2008 and have over 10 million users.

Making money with Swagbucks is a breeze and you can receive your earnings directly through PayPal.

As a bonus, Swagbucks is offering new users a free $5 or $10 (depending on their current offer) to new users. Claim your free money below!

Looking to make some extra cash in your free time? Sign up with Swagbucks to get $5 instantly and make money playing games, taking surveys, and more!
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

3. Register for Rakuten (Free $30)

Rakuten App

Rakuten is a cashback site that allows you to earn money for shopping online.

I've been using this platform for years now and it's pretty solid. You'll only make money by spending money, but if you're going to make a purchase anyways, why not get paid to do it?

To get $30 in free cash, you'll just need to register for a new account and make a qualifying purchase of $30 or more. That's it!

You can also make money for each friend you refer to the platform. Currently, you can make $30 for every referral, which is pretty sweet if you love free money like I do. 

Create your account here and get $30 free!

4. Register with MyPoints (Free $10)

MyPoints Free Money App

MyPoints is an excellent way to make $20 instantly because you'll be welcomed with a free $10 sign up bonus, meaning you'll only need to come up with an additional $10 to get the money you need.

With MyPoints, you can make money taking online surveys and shopping at your favorite stores.

If you want to begin earning money in your spare time, consider using MyPoints to earn cash rewards. Open your free account below to get started!

Create My Account

5. Claim Free Stock with Acorns (Free $20)

Invest in Stocks

If you're on the lookout for free money, Acorns is offering $20 in free stock when you create a new account.

If you want to make $20 fast, Acorns is a great way to grow your money and make passive income investing in the stock market.

This investing app allows you to invest your spare change and make money without having to put any effort in.

For example, if you purchase a soda at the gas station that costs $.79, Acorns will automatically round up your purchase to $1 and invest the $.21 for you. While this one purchase may not be life changing, over the course of a year it can add up.

Register with the link below to claim your $20 sign up bonus!

Acorns automatically rounds up your purchases and invests for you. Get started below to claim $20 in free stocks!
Claim $20 in Free Stocks!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

6. Use Referral Bonuses

Referral apps like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and others can be some of the fastest ways to get the $20 you need.

You can start making money in just minutes by referring friends and family to these apps.

Depending on the app, it's possible to make a few dollars when they register plus you'll earn money whenever they make money!

Some of the best referral offers include:

  • Swagbucks – 10% of referrals earnings
  • InboxDollars – $1 per referral + 30% of their earnings
  • MyPoints – free 25 points + 750 points when referral makes first purchase

7. Register with Opinion Inn (Free $10)

There are plenty of survey sites you can use to make money online, but Opinion Inn is one of the best.

Not only do they have a very user-friendly interface, but you can also get paid instantly with PayPal.

You can earn up to $100 per survey you complete making them one of the highest paying survey sites on the market.

As a bonus, they're giving new users $10 completely free when you register with the link below.

Opinion Inn is a trusted way to earn money fast taking surveys. Plus, you'll get a $10 bonus instantly when you register with the link below!
Register Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

8. Make Money with Survey Junkie

Another easy way to make money online taking paid surveys is by using Survey Junkie.

This site has been around since 2013 and has millions of users which speaks to its legitimacy.

You can get paid through PayPal or gift cards and there is an extremely low payout threshold that most people can achieve without much effort.

In addition to taking online surveys, you can also participate in focus groups to make even more money.

If you want to make $20 fast, give Survey Junkie a try!

Want to Make $150 With Paid Focus Groups? 💵
Survey Junkie is a great option to get paid to take surveys online and complete paid focus groups. You can make over $150 on qualifying focus groups you complete.
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you register through my link.

9. Make $20 Fast with Opinion Outpost

Opinion Outpost offer some of the highest paying surveys on the market. While you won't get any free cash with this survey site, you can earn money quickly with their high paying surveys.

This survey site is slightly different than others on the list because they focus strictly on online surveys.

How much can you make?

It's possible to make over $25 per survey you complete – which is a great way to make some extra cash if you're short on time.

Opinion Outpost is a great way to make money online if you don't mind taking surveys. Register below to get started!

With InboxDollars you can make money in your free time taking surveys, watching videos, and more. Plus, when you register with the link below – you'll get a free $5! So why not give it a try??
Register Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

11. Participate in Paid Focus Groups

Survey Junkie is a great platform to take paid surveys anytime, anywhere as well as completing paid focus groups.

With focus groups, you'll participate in an online discussion with a group of people and provide your feedback on a product or service.

Focus groups usually last for 30 minutes to an hour and you can easily make $50 or more for your participation.

Want to Make $150 With Paid Focus Groups? 💵
Survey Junkie is a great option to get paid to take surveys online and complete paid focus groups. You can make over $150 on qualifying focus groups you complete.
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you register through my link.

12. Make Money Quickly with KashKick

KashKick Survey Site

Kashkick is another way to earn cash online by taking surveys and more.

With KashKick, you can get paid to:

  • Take paid surveys anytime
  • Watch videos
  • Surf the web
  • Shop online

You'll get paid directly to PayPal making it extremely convenient when compared to other survey sites.

Register below to create your account and get started!

Register Now!

13. Use Side Hustle Apps to Make $20 Instantly

Side hustle apps like Doordash, Instacart, and Rover can be tremendous ways to make money whenever you have some free time.

While you won't make money instantly like you would with Swagbucks, you can earn a decent income from these platforms.

For example, you can make $500 a week with Doordash by using a few hacks.

There are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to money making apps.

Some of my favorites include:

  • Doordash – get paid to deliver food
  • Instacart – get paid to deliver groceries
  • Rover – make money pet sitting
  • TaskRabbit – earn money doing odd jobs
  • Uber/Lyft – make money driving people around

14. Make $20 Renting Space

Do you have some extra space in your garage that you aren't using?

Consider renting it out on sites like Neighbor.com. With this site you can rent just about any space you have to neighbors to make money.

Some spaces you can rent include:

  • Driveway space
  • Basement space
  • Closet space
  • Sheds

The platform is extremely easy to use and you can earn an extra $500 a month or more in some cities.

Sign up below to get started!

Register Now!

15. Sell Things Around Your Home

It's easy to make $20 instantly when you sell things around your home.

If you have any old electronics, clothes, or anything else lying around, consider selling them on sites like Craigslist, Ebay, or Facebook Marketplace to make extra money.

The amount of money you can make will depend on the items you have and how much people are willing to pay for them, but it's easy to make $20 or more.

16. Start Flipping

Flipping is a great way to make $20 quickly when you need it. While it'll take a little bit of time, you can easily double your money in 1 hour or less by doing it right. 

There are plenty of things you can flip for a profit including clothes, furniture, electronics, and more.

I've found that some of the best places to purchase your items is on Facebook Marketplace and garage sales. Many times you can find things that people are giving away for completely free meaning a 100% profit!

You can sell your items online or if you don't want to deal with shipping by using a few websites to sell things locally.

Whether you're looking to flip $500 or flip $1,000, if you need to make $20 in a hurry, give flipping a try!

17. Donate Plasma

If you don't mind a little poke in your arm, getting paid to donate your blood plasma is a fast and easy way to make $20 fast.

Many plasma donation centers will pay you $40 or more for each donation and it doesn't take long to complete.

You can find plasma donation centers in most large cities and it's a great way to make quick cash when you need it.

18. Do Yard Work

If you don't mind working in the heat, doing yard work can be an excellent summer side hustle to make $20 fast.

With yard work, you'll do things like:

  • Mulching
  • Pulling weeds
  • Trimming bushes

It's possible to earn over $20 per hour doing yard work and you can set your own schedule.

19. Recycle

If you want to make some extra cash, consider collecting recyclable materials like aluminum cans and selling them to your local recycling center.

You'll need a vehicle to transport your materials but you can easily earn $50 or more per trip.

20. Rent Out Your Car

Renting out your vehicle with sites like Turo or Getaround can be a great way to make passive income.

With car rental, you can easily make $20 or more per day and it's a great way to earn money without having to do any work.

21. Rent Out an Extra Room

If you have a spare room in your home, consider renting it out for extra cash.

Depending on your home and city, it's possible to earn an extra $500 a month renting out your room.

You can use sites like Airbnb or VRBO to list your space or you can promote your space on social media.

22. Get Paid to Play Games

Making money playing games sounds like a dream, right? Well, it's possible when you use an app like Mistplay or InboxDollars.

With Mistplay, you can earn points by playing games on your phone and redeem those points for gift cards.

While you won't become a millionaire by playing games, it's a great way to make $20 fast.

23. Make Money Streaming Playing Games

Looking for another way to make money playing games?

Streaming your gameplay through site like Twitch can be a fun way to make money as a teen.

With Twitch, you can earn money from donations, ads, and subscriptions.

While it takes some time to start earning a consistent income, it's possible to make over $100 per month streaming your gameplay.

24. Use a Free Banking App

If you need quick cash, opening a new bank account with Aspiration Bank is one of the best options.

You'll receive $200 completely free when you open a new bank account with them and meet a few standard minimum requirements.

But that's not the only benefit. Aspiration Bank also offers:

  • 55,000 fee-free ATMs
  • The ability to get paid up to 2 days early
  • No fees
  • Environmentally friendly banking

By using a free banking app like Aspiration, you can avoid expensive overdraft and ATM fees.

Opening a new bank account with Aspiration Bank is a no brainer if you need $20 instantly, so open your account with the link below to claim your free money!

With Axos Bank you can earn $150 completely free when you create a new account and add a qualifying direct deposit. Sign up below to get started!
Register Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

25. Make Money Watching Videos

Looking to make money from your laptop or cell phone? Watching videos on apps like InboxDollars or MyPoints can be a simple way to make $20 fast.

If you're looking for free money making ideas, watching videos is an awesome way to begin earning money without much effort.

26. Find Free Money

Did you know there's a chance you could have money that you haven't claimed?

By using a site like UnclaimedMoneySearch you can find potentially missing money that's owed to you!

I found $28 when I checked!

27. Work as a Virtual Assistant

If you want to make money consistently, working as a virtual assistant is a great option.

Virtual assistants help with a variety of tasks like posting on social media, updating website content, sending and responding to emails, and much more.

The amount of money you can make will depend on your skills, but in many cases you can earn over $15 per hour for your work.

If you need help finding clients, you can use freelance sites like UpWork or Fiverr or you can network with online business owners to see if they need any help.

Ready to become a VA but not sure where to start? Check out Carrie's Virtual Assistant Accelerator course to learn everything you need to know to become a full-time freelancer!

28. Tutor

Tutoring is a great way to make money by helping students with their homework or preparing them for tests.

This is a great side hustle for grad students because you can set your own hours and possibly work from home.

Depending on your subject, you could earn $20 an hour or more tutoring students.

To find work, you can use online tutoring sites like Tutor.com or you can market your services to local schools and parents. It's also a good idea to check with your school to see if they have any opportunities available.

29. Save Money Automatically with RocketMoney

While this isn't necessarily a way to get $20 instantly, you can save $20 instantly – which is almost the same thing!

Rocket Money (previously Truebill) works by negotiating your bills for you to save you money each month. In addition, they can help you identify subscriptions that might be going unused so you can cancel them to save additional cash.

Truebill is a free app that just about anyone can use to save money. Create your account below!

Truebill (Now RocketMoney) helps you take back control of your finances and start budgeting with ease. Register below to get started!
Register Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

30. Sell Gift Cards

Do you have gift cards that you don't want or need? Consider selling your gift cards for cash to get $20 or more instantly.

The amount you can make will depend on the value of the gift card, but you can get up to 92% of the value in cash in some cases!

31. Ask Family for Money

If you need $20 in an hour, there's a good chance a family member or friend can help you.

Ask them if they have any extra cash you can borrow and be sure to repay them as soon as possible.

While this might not be the best option in every case, it's worth considering if you need the money urgently.

32. Clean Homes

Cleaning homes can be a great way to make good money fast.

In many cases you can earn $25 or more per hour, plus you get to work on your own schedule.

You'll need some basic equipment and supplies to get started but most people already have them around their homes.

To find work, you can use online platforms like TaskRabbit or you can ask around your neighborhood to see if anyone needs help.

You might be surprised at how many people are willing to pay for your services!

33. Test Websites for Cash

Testing websites is an easy way to make money online. With this side hustle, you'll need to play around on a website for a few minutes and give your feedback.

By using a site like UserTesting.com you can earn $10 for 20 minutes of website testing. This is equivilent to $30 an hour – not bad for an online job!

34. Sell Stock Photos Online

Are you passionate about photography? Making money selling stock photos can be a creative way to make money with you passion.

You can sell your photos on sites like Shutterstock where you'll earn a commission for every photo that is sold.

It's possible to earn $100 a day with this side gig making it a great option for anyone who loves photography.

35. Try Medical Studies

Medical studies can be a goldmine for people who want to make money without putting in a lot of effort.

These studies can pay thousands of dollars and only require you to show up and do what you're told.

Of course, there is a risk involved with this side hustle – you might not be accepted into the study or you might not like the treatment you receive. You'll have to sign a waiver before you participate in any medical studies.

But if you're willing to take the risk, it's a great way to make some quick cash.

36. Take Out a Loan

While this method should only be used if you absolutely need $20 instantly, it will get the job done.

There are many places you can get online personal loans such as Zippy Loans

Just be sure to keep in mind the terms of the loan and how much money you'll pay in interest. Interest rates on personal loans can be over 10% – so be careful!

37. Flip Phones & Electronics

Flipping phones and electronics can be an awesome way to earn $20 instantly in your spare time.

You can often purchase broken devices for under $25, fix them for $25, and sell them for $100 or more.

You can purchase your products on eBay or Amazon and sell them online or locally through Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

This is a great side hustle for anyone who enjoys working with electronics and it can be very profitable if you know what you're doing.

38. Sell Crafts on Etsy

Selling crafts is a fun way to make additional cash in your free time if you're a crafty person.

To get started, you'll need to create an account and start listing your products. Be sure to take clear photos and write descriptions that sell.

You'll want to consider the logistics and shipping of your products as well.

You can easily make $50 a day selling crafts on sites like Etsy so if you need $20 instantly, this is a great option.

39. Become an Affiliate Marketer

Affiliate marketing is a profitable side hustle that anyone can do.

By becoming an affiliate for products and services that you use, you can earn a commission on every sale that you generate.

For example, if you have a blog about travel, you can become an affiliate for travel companies and make money every time someone books a trip through your link.

It's a great way to make money passively – all you need to do is promote your affiliate link and people will click it and buy products.

40. Get a Temporary Job

If you need to make $20 instantly, one of the best ways to do it is to get a temporary job.

There are many companies that offer temporary jobs – all you need to do is search for them online.

One of the best ways to find temporary jobs is to use a site like Craigslist.

While you're not going to make an enormous amount of money with a temporary job, it's a great option to get $20 instantly. 

How to Get $20 Immediately

If you're wondering how to get $20 immediately, luckily there are a few options.

The best methods include claiming $50 free with Nielsen Panel, referring friends to apps, and claiming free cash with survey sites. 

Make $20 Instantly Online

Some of the best ways to make $20 instantly online include:

  • Use an investing app like Acorns for a free $20 bonus

How to Get $20 in 5 Minutes

If you need $20 in five minutes, I recommend taking the following actions:

These methods will give you quick cash when you need it.

Get $20 Free PayPal Money

Want $20 in free PayPal money? Here are some simple ways to get $20 in PayPal cash instantly:

  • Start taking surveys with Swagucks (plus $10 welcome bonus)
  • Use InboxDollars to get $5 free

Final Thoughts on the Best Ways to Make $20 Instantly

Making $20 instantly is easier than you might think. There are plenty of options to get the money you need.

Between watching videos with InboxDollars, taking paid surveys, or claiming your $50 with the Neilsen Panel – there's certainly no lack of options.

Try a few ideas on this list to get the $20 you need fast!

Forrest is a personal finance, entrepreneurship, and investing expert dedicated to helping others obtain life long wealth. He has a Bachelor's degree in business and has been featured in many popular publications including Forbes, Business Insider, Bankrate, CNET Money, and many others. To learn more about Forrest, visit the About Us Page for more info.
Download My FREE Income Ideas Cheat Sheet!
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Don't worry – we hate spam too. Unsubscribe at any time.