Top Passive Income Apps to Get Started With $100 or Less
Let’s be honest — the idea of making money while you sleep sounds like a dream. But passive income doesn’t have to be a fantasy reserved for the wealthy or financial pros. With just $100 or less, you can start planting seeds that grow your money over time — all from your phone. In this post, we’ll break down the best passive income apps that are low-barrier, beginner-friendly, and perfect for busy women ready to build real wealth with small steps.
This blog post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through one of these links. Please note that I only recommend products or services that I genuinely believe will add value to my readers. All opinions expressed are my own, and any affiliate income helps support the maintenance and growth of this blog. Please see my page of policies & disclaimers for further information. The information provided in this blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, or investment advice. Always consult a qualified financial professional or advisor to address your specific circumstances before making any financial decisions.
Why Passive Income Apps?
Whether you're a full-time working mom, side hustler, or managing household finances, your time is valuable. Passive income apps give you the power to put your money to work, even if you only have a little to spare. You don’t need to be an expert or spend hours researching. Most apps do the heavy lifting for you — from micro-investing to earning cash back or even renting out digital assets.
1. Acorns – Start Investing Your Spare Change
Minimum to start: $5
Type of income: Micro-investing / stock market returns
Best for: Beginners who want to invest without thinking about it
Acorns is a powerful beginner app that turns everyday purchases into long-term investments. It links to your debit or credit card and automatically rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar — investing the spare change into a diversified portfolio of ETFs (exchange-traded funds).
Example: You buy a coffee for $3.60 — Acorns rounds it up to $4.00 and invests $0.40.
Why it’s passive:
You set it and forget it — Acorns invests for you automatically.
You don’t have to worry about picking stocks or rebalancing.
Bonus:
Acorns also offers cash back from brands like Nike, Sephora, and Walmart when you shop through the app.
2. Fundrise – Real Estate Investing for Everyday People
Minimum to start: $10
Type of income: Real estate dividends + asset appreciation
Best for: Those curious about real estate but don’t want to buy physical property
Fundrise lets you invest in professionally managed commercial and residential real estate with as little as $10. You earn money through quarterly dividend payouts and long-term property appreciation.
It’s a great way to gain exposure to real estate — which can be a stable and inflation-resistant asset — without needing to be a landlord or save for a down payment.
Why it’s passive:
Fundrise handles all the management, maintenance, and tenants.
You just collect earnings and check your portfolio.
👉 Read our full Fundrise review
3. Rakuten – Get Paid to Shop
Minimum to start: Free
Type of income: Cash back
Best for: Online shoppers who want to earn while they spend
If you're shopping online and not using Rakuten, you're leaving money on the table. This app gives you cash back at over 3,500 stores — including Target, Sephora, Macy’s, and Old Navy. You just activate the cash back before you shop, and Rakuten tracks your purchase.
How to use it passively:
Install the browser extension or mobile app.
Activate cash back once and let it run in the background.
Get paid via PayPal or check every quarter.
It’s not a huge money-maker, but if you’re already shopping — why not earn back a little?
👉 Try Rakuten and get a sign-up bonus
4. Public – Invest in Stocks & Crypto With $1
Minimum to start: $1
Type of income: Stock dividends + potential growth
Best for: Beginners curious about investing in brands they love
Public is an investing app that lets you buy fractional shares of stocks and ETFs. You can start with as little as $1 and invest in companies like Apple, Disney, or Amazon.
What makes Public unique is its social component — you can see what other investors are buying, ask questions, and learn along the way.
Why it’s passive:
Choose dividend-paying stocks for recurring income.
Use auto-invest to build a habit without manual effort.
5. Honeygain – Get Paid for Unused Internet
Minimum to start: Free
Type of income: Passive data sharing
Best for: Anyone with unlimited Wi-Fi and a desire to earn on autopilot
Honeygain pays you to share your internet bandwidth with its secure network. Once installed, it runs quietly in the background and pays you based on how much data you share.
This app is a clever way to earn a small trickle of income without doing anything at all.
Why it’s passive:
Install it once on your computer or phone.
Let it run — and earn passively.
Note: You won’t get rich, but some users make $20–$50/month just letting it run.
6. Neighbor – Rent Out Extra Storage Space
Minimum to start: Free
Type of income: Peer-to-peer storage rental
Best for: Anyone with a garage, shed, closet, or basement
Got some unused space at home? Neighbor is like the Airbnb of storage. You can rent out empty space to people who need to store boxes, furniture, or even vehicles. You set your own rates and availability.
Why it’s passive:
Once listed, renters come to you.
Neighbor handles payments and offers protection for both parties.
Even a small space can earn you $50–$200/month depending on your location.
7. Trove – Fractional Real Estate with $1
Minimum to start: $1
Type of income: Rent and appreciation from real estate shares
Best for: Curious real estate investors with small budgets
Trove is another newcomer in the real estate investing space, but with an even lower entry point than Fundrise. You can buy fractions of single-family rental homes and earn your share of the rent.
Why it’s passive:
Trove handles tenants, maintenance, and payments.
You just invest and collect your share.
It’s perfect for anyone wanting to dip a toe into real estate with minimal risk.
8. Sweatcoin – Get Paid to Walk
Minimum to start: Free
Type of income: Rewards and gift cards
Best for: Busy women looking to turn movement into money
Sweatcoin pays you in digital “Sweatcoins” for every step you take. You can redeem them for products, gift cards, or even donate to charity. It won’t make you cash-rich, but if you walk a lot anyway — it's free money for something you already do.
Why it’s passive:
Automatically counts steps.
Earn passively while running errands or chasing toddlers.
9. Alto – Invest in Alternatives Using a Roth IRA
Minimum to start: $10–$100 depending on investment
Type of income: Alternative assets (startups, real estate, crypto)
Best for: Tax-savvy investors interested in long-term passive income
Alto IRA allows you to invest in alternative assets — think wine, art, startups, and more — using tax-advantaged retirement accounts like a Roth IRA. Some investments require $100 or more, but there are options that start below that threshold.
Why it’s passive:
You invest once and hold long term.
Alternative assets often pay dividends or grow in value passively.
Tips to Maximize Passive Income with a Small Budget
💡 Start with one app
Don’t overwhelm yourself. Pick one that fits your goals and commit to using it for 30 days.
💡 Automate your contributions
Set up auto-deposits — even $5/week adds up over time.
💡 Reinvest earnings
Whenever you earn dividends or cash back, reinvest or redirect them into another income stream.
💡 Track your passive income
Use a spreadsheet or app like Personal Capital to see your progress — even $10/month is momentum!
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be rich to start building passive income — just intentional. The apps above make it possible to start with $100 or less, often much less. Whether you're investing in stocks, sharing your internet, or earning cash back while shopping, small actions today can turn into real results down the line.
The best part? Once these streams are set up, they don’t require much of your time. You’re building wealth while living your life — and that’s what financial freedom is all about.
👉 Your Turn:
Which passive income app will you try first? Leave a comment or DM me on Instagram @CFFcashflowfam — let’s grow together!
And if you loved this post, subscribe to the CashFlowFam newsletter for weekly tips on smart money moves, investing, and side hustles that actually work.