Where Can I Get Money Fast Online? 7 Digital Options to Try
We've all experienced this at one time or another — that moment when an unexpected bill hits or an immediate opportunity pops us and you need funds now. The only hitch?Payday is a week away.
One way to go is digital only — which can help you get paid quickly without leaving your home. From online apps that can quickly turn your skills (or clutter) into cash to apps that let you access your pay on your terms, these online options could boost your balance.
This guide zeros in on seven ideas to help you make money fast online, plus an alternative option to try with EarnIn if you can't wait days or weeks for a paycheck.
1. Upwork
Upwork is one option where it's possible to make money fast online. Upwork is a platform where you can do projects in a wide variety of fields like writing, editing, graphic design, data analytics, web design, and more.
You can bid on gigs on Upwork right after you create your account, so you can start earning money quickly. You can get paid per project or per hour, and you can set your hourly rate on your profile. Before you bid on a gig, you also can see the client's budget or the number of hours the project will take.
Clients pay Upwork up front, and once you've completed your work, the funds are released to your account — minus a 10% fee. If you're paid hourly on Upwork, it can take 10 days for the funds to be transferred to your account; but if you're paid per project, that waiting period can be reduced to just five days.
2. Fiverr
Fiverr is another option if you have a digital skillset and need to get money quickly online. And unlike Upwork, Fiverr lets clients come to you: After you list the services that you offer and your rate on your profile, clients can request to book you for projects.
Clients pay Fiverr up front and then once the project is completed, Fiverr releases the funds to your account. It can take 14 days for the funds to clear; however, if you're a top seller, you could receive your funds in seven days.
3. Medium
If you have a talent for writing, Medium can help you start earning money online. Medium comes with a built-in audience, so building a following is much easier than if you were to start an independent blog. Medium even has its own email list so that your stories can reach an even broader audience.
Once you sign up to the Medium Partner Program, you can start earning money on the articles you publish. The amount of money you earn is based on reader engagement and reading time. Medium uses Stripe to process payments. Although you can start earning money right away after you've been accepted into the Medium Partner Program, Medium only pays out your earnings on the 10th of each month.
4. Italki
If you have a passion for foreign languages, you can earn extra cash from your home as a language tutor on Italki. After you complete your profile and upload a short video explaining the languages you speak and your teaching style, clients can start booking lessons with you right away.
On Italki, you can set your own rates and your own schedule, it also offers many payment options, including PayPal and Payoneer. But keep in mind that Italki pays you twice a month, there’s a fee charged by the payment provider, and the minimum payout threshold is $30.
5. Cambly
Cambly is an online platform for teaching English with one-on-one lessons. You can start teaching on Cambly immediately after your profile is approved, and you can create your own schedule with no required minimum hours. So Cambly can be an ideal choice if you want flexible remote work.
Cambly pays $10.20/hour — or if you're teaching via Cambly Kids, you can earn $12/hour. Cambly pays once a week and offers many payout options, including direct deposit, Wise, and PayPal.
6. SwagBucks
SwagBucks, a popular cash reward app, pays you to do tasks like completing surveys, cashback shopping, or playing mobile games. Each task you do earns you points, which you can redeem for gift cards or cash deposited into your PayPal account.
With SwagBucks, there is no set payout schedule — you receive your earnings when you request a payout, as long as you meet the minimum payout threshold, which is 2,500 SwagBucks points (or $25) for PayPal or 300 Swagbucks points (or $3) for gift cards.
While you can start earning money instantly on SwagBucks, it can take up to 10 business days to receive your earnings.
7. Freecash
Freecash is another cash rewards app. Like SwagBucks, Freecash also pays you to complete tasks online, like testing apps, playing games, and taking surveys. Even though cash rewards apps can't compete with a full-time income, they can help you earn small amounts of money to make ends meet on a tight budget.
Freecash uses a points reward system: You can redeem your Freecash points for gift cards or cash via PayPal or bank transfer. The minimum payout threshold is $5 to $20, depending on your region and how you want to redeem your points. It takes 3 to 5 business days for funds to clear if you use a bank transfer. But if you use PayPal, funds transfer right away from your Freecash account to Paypal.
How to stay safe while getting money online
While the internet can offer speedy cash, it also requires a lot of vigilance. To protect yourself from scams, look out for red flags like requests for upfront fees — legitimate platforms deduct fees from your earnings, never from your bank account.
Also be wary of any offers that sound too good to be true; if it feels wrong, trust your gut. Always stick to secure, traceable payment methods like PayPal or direct bank deposits, and avoid sharing sensitive login credentials or wiring money to strangers.
Ideas to maximize your online earnings fast
To hit your financial goals faster, don't rely on just one income stream — look at stacking them. Try combining gig work, like using your skills online or taking surveys during your downtime, with selling unused items on digital marketplaces.
Some platforms offer same-day cash-out options or instant-transfer features, which can help minimize the wait time between bill pay and payday. By diversifying your efforts and prioritizing apps that pay immediately, you can boost your total daily payout and look to better cover unexpected expenses.
Smarter money management tools
Once you've secured some extra cash, the next step is maximizing it. Using the right financial tools can help you stretch every dollar further and avoid future crunches. Consider apps that automate savings or visualize your spending habits, making it easier to spot where your money goes.
EarnIn offers two helpful financial tools:
- Balance Shield.1 This tool alerts you when your balance is low with custom notifications if your balance drops below a threshold you set ($0-$500). This can add some protection against overdrafts.
- Tip Yourself.2 With this service, automatically (or manually) save part of every paycheck. Monthly bills, a rainy day, a weekend away? You can add up to 5 goals as Tip Jars.
For a deeper dive into managing your finances, check out 8 Personal Budgeting Tools to Track Expenses and Take Control of Your Money. These resources can help turn a temporary cash infusion into more lasting financial stability.
Get money fast online with EarnIn
EarnIn can be an alternative to freelancing platforms or cash reward apps if you're short on cash. But unlike freelancing platforms or cash reward apps where you have to work more and wait days or weeks for a payout, the EarnIn's Cash Out3 tool lets you get up to $150/day, with a max of $1,000 between paydays of money you've already earned. It's not a loan. It's simply a way to get your earned wages when you need them, rather than waiting for the traditional payroll cycle.
And, since EarnIn's not a loan — but rather an earned wage access (EWA) app — you don't have to deal with credit checks, interest, late payment fees, or loan repayment. It's a practical solution if you need to make ends meet between paychecks. Whether you have to cover everyday necessities or urgent expenses, EarnIn can help you bridge the gap between paychecks.
Download the EarnIn app today for a financial safety net you could use.
Please note, the material collected in this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as or construed as advice regarding any specific circumstances. Nor is it an endorsement of any organization or services.
This Blog was sponsored by EarnIn. While the author received compensation, the information shared is grounded in independent research and intended to provide helpful and accurate guidance to readers.
EarnIn is a financial technology company, not a bank. The Cash Out product is a non‑bank service provided by EarnIn. Certain banking and payment services are provided by Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC, and/or Lead Bank, Member FDIC, as applicable. FDIC insurance applies only to deposits held in insured deposit accounts at an FDIC‑insured bank and protects your deposits in the event of a bank failure, up to at least $250,000 at each FDIC‑insured bank. Learn more at fdic.gov/resources/deposit‑insurance. Additional in‑app services may be provided by third‑party service providers and are subject to their terms and conditions.
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Balance Shield provides free alerts when your bank account balance drops below the threshold you set in your EarnIn account. You can also enable automatic transfers ($100/day — subject to your available earnings — with a limit of $1,000/pay period), if your bank account balance falls below your set threshold. If your available earnings are insufficient to transfer the $100, the transfer will not be completed. You choose the speed of these automatic transfers. Standard speed is available at no cost and the transfer typically takes 1-2 business days. Lightning Speed is available for a fee [see Lightning Speed Fee Table] and the transfer typically takes less than 30 minutes. You will also have the option to set a tip for automatic transfers. Tips are optional and can be $0; however, if you choose to set a tip, it will be applied to each Balance Shield transfer. Whether you tip, how much, and how often you tip does not impact the quality and availability of services. You can cancel the alerts and/or transfers at any time in your EarnIn account settings. See the Cash Out User Agreement for more details. While Balance Shield can help you avoid overdrafts, it does not guarantee protection from third-party fees, and its effectiveness depends on your usage and bank activity.2
Tip Yourself Account funds and Tip Jars are held with Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC and FDIC insured up to $250,000. Tip Yourself is a 0% Annual Percentage Yield and $0 monthly fee service deposit account. For more information/details visit Evolve Bank & Trust Customer Account Terms.The FDIC provides deposit insurance to protect your money in the event of a bank failure. More details about deposit insurance here.
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EarnIn determines your daily and pay period limits (“Daily Max” and “Pay Period Max”) based on your income and financial risk factors as outlined in the Cash Out User Agreement. EarnIn reserves the right to adjust the Daily Max and Pay Period Max at its discretion. Your actual Daily Max will be displayed in your EarnIn account before each Cash Out. For additional information about your Daily Max and Pay Period Max, please refer to our FAQ. Service may not be available in all states. EarnIn does not charge interest on Cash Outs or mandatory fees for standard transfers, which usually take 1–2 business days. For faster transfers, you can choose the Lightning Speed option and pay a fee to receive funds within 30 minutes. Lightning Speed may not be available at all times and/or to all customers. See the Fee Table for details. Tips are optional and do not affect the quality or availability of services.
