Top 10 Money Making Apps for College Students in India
Let’s be real. College life in India is an expensive balancing act. Between the canteen samosas, the endless stream of photocopied notes, surprise "party" contributions, and maybe, just maybe, trying to buy a decent outfit, that monthly allowance from home evaporates. It’s gone. Poof. Usually by the 15th.
You need cash. But who has time for a grueling part time job that drains your will to live and your attendance percentage? You need something flexible. Something you can do from your dorm room, in the library, or while pretending to listen in a lecture.
I’ve been there, scrolling through the Play Store, looking for anything that promised "easy money." I’ve downloaded the good, the bad, and the outright scams. So, I’ve put together my definitive list of legit money making apps for college students in India. This isn't a get rich quick fantasy. This is a real world guide to earning enough for your extra expenses.
A Quick Reality Check (Before We Start)
First, a little tough love. If you see an app promising you ₹5,000 a day for "just watching videos" or "clicking ads," please do us all a favor and uninstall it. Those are scams. They are designed to either steal your data or make you pay an "entry fee."
Here’s the golden rule: You should never pay money to make money on an app.
The apps on this list are legit, but they require one of two things: your time (for the easy ones) or your skill (for the high paying ones). This list is about side hustle money, not "quit college and move to Dubai" money. This is your chai and Maggi fund, your data recharge fund, or your "finally I can buy that book" fund.
Got it? Good. Let's get to the list.
The "Low Effort" League (Earn While Binge Watching)
This category is for when you’re sitting in your PJs, binge watching a series, and have a free thumb. You won't earn much, but it's practically zero effort.
1. Google Opinion Rewards
If you don't have this, download it right now. Seriously. This is the simplest, most no nonsense earning app on the planet, run by the big boss itself—Google.
How it Works: Google sends you super short surveys. I’m talking 30 seconds, tops. They are usually based on places you’ve recently visited (thanks, Google Maps) or videos you’ve watched on YouTube.
What I Like: It's honest. You answer a few questions ("Which of these logos do you prefer?" or "When did you last visit Big Bazaar?") and Google instantly drops credit into your account. For Android users, this usually goes to your Google Play balance, which is perfect for buying apps, games, or renting movies.
The Catch: It’s not a river of cash; it's a slow drip. You might get a survey worth ₹5 one day and then nothing for a week. But it's 100% passive and adds up.
2. Swagbucks
This is one of the oldest and most well known players in the micro task game. It’s the digital equivalent of doing a bunch of tiny chores for pocket money.
How it Works: You earn points (called "SB") for doing... well, almost anything. Taking surveys, watching videos (the real kind, not the scammy kind), playing games, or even just using their search engine.
What I Like: The variety. If you’re bored of surveys, you can switch to playing a game. They have a massive selection of payout options, including PayPal cash and Flipkart or Amazon vouchers.
The Catch: It’s a grind. Earning enough points for a significant payout takes time. Some surveys are also frustrating—you might get 10 minutes in and then be disqualified. Stick to the small, easy tasks.
3. Toluna Influencers
Another giant in the survey world, Toluna is a legit market research app that pays you for your opinions on new products, services, and ad campaigns.
How it Works: You build a profile, and Toluna matches you with surveys from big brands. The surveys are longer than Google's, often 15 to 20 minutes, but they pay more.
What I Like: You can see the cash (or point) value before you start a survey, so you can decide if it's worth your time. They also have a community poll feature where you can earn a few extra points. Payout is via PayPal or gift vouchers.
The Catch: Like Swagbucks, the disqualification after 10 minutes thing is real and annoying. My advice? Only do surveys when you have time to kill, like on the bus.
The "Skill Based" Hustle (Turn Your Brain into Money)
This is where the real money is. If you have a skill—writing, coding, designing, editing, or even just being good at social media—you can earn serious cash. This isn't just pocket money; this is "pay your whole semester fee" money.
4. Internshala
I can't recommend this enough for Indian college students. It’s not just an "earning app"; it's a career building app.
How it Works: This is India's biggest platform for internships. You create a professional profile, upload your resume, and apply for internships. Many of these are work from home (WFH) internships that are perfect for students.
What I Like: You get paid a stipend (which is often way more than survey apps) AND you get a certificate and real world experience. This is something you can actually put on your CV. You can find roles in content writing, digital marketing, graphic design, and more.
The Catch: It’s competitive. You aren't just clicking buttons; you are applying for a real position. You need to have a decent resume and take the application seriously.
5. Fiverr
Ever wondered if someone would pay you for that cool skill you have? The answer is yes. On Fiverr, you can sell almost any service, starting from $5 (around ₹400).
How it Works: You create a "Gig." This is your service offer. Examples: "I will design a simple logo for your brand," "I will write a 500 word blog post," or "I will do a voice over in a perfect Hindi accent."
What I Like: You set the price. You set the delivery time. You are the boss. It’s the best platform for beginners to build a portfolio. I started my own writing career by doing a few small gigs on Fiverr.
The Catch: It's crowded. Your first few gigs might be for cheap just to get those first 5 star reviews. Those reviews are everything. Once you have them, you can raise your prices.
6. Upwork
If Fiverr is the beginner's market, Upwork is the pro league. This is where you go when you're confident in your skills and want to work on bigger, longer term projects.
How it Works: Instead of clients coming to you, you bid on projects posted by clients. A company might post, "Need a developer to fix a bug on my website," and you (if you're a coder) send a proposal explaining why you're the right person for the job.
What I Like: The pay is generally higher than on Fiverr. You can find hourly work or fixed price projects. Building a long term relationship with a client here can mean a steady income stream.
The Catch: It’s tough for a complete beginner. You need a strong profile and a well written proposal. Upwork also takes a significant cut (20%) of your initial earnings from a client.
The "Zero Investment" Business (Be Your Own Boss)
This category is for the student with a good social network. If you're the person everyone follows on Instagram or trusts in your WhatsApp group, you can monetize that influence without spending a single rupee.
7. Meesho
You’ve definitely seen this. Meesho is the king of social reselling in India. It’s a brilliant zero investment business model.
How it Works:
You browse the Meesho app and find products (like kurtis, bedsheets, jewelry).
You share the pictures and details with your network (e.g., in a WhatsApp group or on Instagram Stories).
You add your profit margin. If a kurti is ₹400, you can sell it for ₹500.
Your customer pays you ₹500. You then pay Meesho ₹400 and place the order with your customer's address.
Meesho handles all the shipping and logistics. You keep the ₹100 profit.
What I Like: It’s genius. You never have to buy or store any inventory. You are a digital middle person. There is literally zero financial risk.
The Catch: You have to handle customer service. If the customer has an issue, you are their point of contact. It also helps to have a large, trusting network.
8. GroMo
This is like Meesho, but for financial products. If you're a B.Com, BBA, or MBA student, this is right up your alley.
How it Works: GroMo lets you sell financial products like savings accounts, credit cards, and insurance policies. You learn about a product (they provide training) and then share a link.
What I Like: When someone signs up for a credit card or opens a demat account through your link, you get a flat commission. This can be much higher than reselling a kurti—we're talking ₹300 to ₹2,000+ per successful referral.
The Catch: You need to build trust. People are wary of sharing financial details. This works best if you can genuinely explain the benefits of the products, not just spam your links.
The "Already On Your Phone" Apps
You use these every single day. You just aren't using them to earn.
9. Google Pay & PhonePe
Wait, what? Aren't these for spending money? Yes, but they have some of the most lucrative and simple earning methods built right in.
How it Works:
Referrals: Both apps have powerful "Refer & Earn" programs. You share your unique link, your friend makes their first UPI payment, and you both get a cashback bonus (often ₹100 or more).
Cashback: Pay your bills on these apps! Don't just do a simple bank transfer. When you pay your phone bill, electricity bill, or recharge your DTH, these apps almost always give you a "scratch card" or a reward. It might be a ₹10 cashback or a "Get 50% off on Myntra" coupon.
What I Like: It’s money you were going to spend anyway. You're just being smart about it. Getting 10 friends in your dorm to sign up for GPay could net you ₹1,000 in a weekend.
The Catch: The referral money is a one time thing per person. The cashback rewards are random and sometimes useless (who needs another pizza coupon? :/ ).
The "Smarty Pants" App (Monetize Your Notes)
This is my favorite one for students. You are already doing the work, so why not get paid for it?
10. Notesgen / Studypool
These platforms (Notesgen is very India focused) allow you to sell your study notes.
How it Works: You know those amazing, color coded notes you made for your "Strength of Materials" final? Or that perfect history summary? Scan them or upload the PDF to these platforms. You set a price, and other students can buy them.
What I Like: You create the asset once, and it can sell 100 times. It's the definition of passive income. You are literally monetizing the hard work you already did for your exams.
The Catch: Your notes have to be good. They need to be legible, well organized, and genuinely helpful. This only works if you're a good student who takes great notes.
My Final Two Cents
Whew! That's the list. I’ve used a mix of all of these at different times. My personal strategy? Pick one app from the "Low Effort" league (like Google Rewards) and one from the "Skill Based" league (like Fiverr or Internshala).
The easy app gives you that instant gratification and snack money. The skill app is where you build your income and your resume at the same time.
Don't try to do all 10. You'll just get overwhelmed and quit. The most important thing is consistency. A little bit of effort every day beats a 10 hour marathon once a month.
Now, stop scrolling on Instagram for free and go get one of these apps. Your wallet will thank you. :)