🤯 24-Hour Challenge: I Tried Every Crazy Money-Making App – How Much Did I Earn?

Have you ever wondered if all those “earn money from your phone” apps actually work? Well, I decided to take the plunge and try every wild money-making app I could find for a full 24 hours. From apps that pay you to walk, to those that reward you for shaking your head, I wanted to see the truth for myself: can you really make money fast, or is it just hype? Here’s my full experience, step by step.

Why I Took the 24-Hour Challenge

It all started with a simple question: “Can I really make money using my phone for just one day?”

I’ve seen countless ads claiming you can earn $100, $500, or even $1,000 with no effort. Some promised rewards for watching videos, others for taking photos of your groceries, or even saying “hello” to objects in your room. The variety was overwhelming, but also fascinating.

I knew I couldn’t just try one or two apps—I had to go all in. My goal was simple: document every app, every step, and every cent earned to see how realistic these claims really are.

Step 1: The Preparation

Before starting, I created a plan:

• List of apps to try: I picked 15 apps with different earning methods: surveys, tasks, watching ads, micro-investments, and quirky ones like “shake your head for cash.”
• Time tracking: I set a timer to ensure I spent roughly equal time on each app.
• Recording earnings: I kept a notebook and a spreadsheet to track every cent earned in real-time.

I also made sure my phone was fully charged and had a fast internet connection—because let’s face it, nothing kills a money-making challenge faster than a dead battery.

Step 2: The Apps That Pay You to Do Normal Things

Some apps were surprisingly simple:

Walking Apps

These apps reward you for moving. You just walk, run, or jog and earn points that convert to cash. It felt fun at first—like I was getting paid for my daily exercise. But after a few hours, the points barely moved. I walked 10,000 steps in 3 hours, but the payout was less than $2. A nice bonus, but not life-changing.

Watching Ads and Videos

Next, I tried apps that pay for watching short videos or ads. This was more like a passive experience—you just tap and watch. I managed to watch over 50 videos, earning around $3. It felt a bit mind-numbing, but it was an easy way to see incremental gains.

Step 3: The Weird and Wacky Apps

Now came the crazy stuff that made me laugh:

• Shaking my head sideways: Yes, there was an app that literally paid me $2 for moving my head left and right for a minute. It felt silly, but the payout was instant.
• Talking to objects: Another app encouraged me to say “hello” to every item in my room. I greeted my lamp, my chair, my cat—each “hello” earned a few cents. In 20 minutes, I made $1.50.

These apps were fun for a while, but clearly not sustainable as a primary income source.

Step 4: Survey and Task Apps

Survey apps are a classic. I tried three popular ones:

• Survey payouts: Some surveys offered $0.50–$2 per completion. The tricky part? You often got disqualified halfway through. Out of 10 surveys, I completed 4 successfully, earning $4 total.
• Task-based apps: These included simple tasks like categorizing images or testing websites. Each task took 10–15 minutes, paying between $1 and $3. I completed 5 tasks, totaling $10. Not bad for part of a day.

Step 5: The Micro-Investing Experiments

I also experimented with apps that claim to make money via micro-investments or crypto rewards. I invested $5 in a micro-stock app and watched it fluctuate throughout the day. By the end of 24 hours, I had $5.20. Technically profitable, but not exciting for a single day.

Step 6: My Total Earnings

After 24 hours of nonstop app testing, here’s the breakdown:

Total earnings:$22.70

Not life-changing, but honestly, it was fun and educational. The experience proved that while these apps do pay, the amounts are small, and time investment is significant.

Step 7: Lessons Learned

1. No “get rich quick” magic: Even after 24 hours, my earnings were modest.
2. Combine multiple apps: If you’re serious, using multiple apps simultaneously can increase total income.
3. Prioritize fun apps: The weird apps, while small in payout, kept the experience enjoyable.
4. Track your time: Some apps waste hours without meaningful gains. Knowing where your time goes is key.
5. Stay realistic: These apps are great for small extra income, but not a replacement for a full-time job.

Step 8: Final Thoughts

This 24-hour challenge taught me a lot about the modern gig economy. From the quirky apps that make you laugh to the serious survey apps, there’s potential to earn, but patience is required. My advice: pick a few apps, enjoy the process, and don’t expect to quit your day job.

Tried it yourself? Share your experience in the comments! I’d love to see if you earned more (or less) than I did.

✅ Sources

1. Swagbucks – How It Works
2. Mistplay – Gaming for Money
3. Survey Junkie – Paid Surveys
4. StepBet – Walking App
5. Personal 24-hour app testing experience

Written by the author, Fatima Al-Hajri 👩🏻‍💻