Top microtask apps to earn money on mobile
Looking for a microtask app to earn money from your smartphone? Here is a factual comparison of the 8 platforms that actually work on the go, ranked by mission type, realistic earnings and payout conditions.
What a microtask app actually is
A microtask app offers short missions you complete from your smartphone: validate an AI answer, take a photo of a shelf in a store, answer a 2-minute survey, moderate content, comment on a post, transcribe a short audio. Each mission is paid per unit, no commitment, no interview, no CV.
On mobile, three formats coexist: native apps (downloaded from the App Store or Google Play), PWAs (Progressive Web Apps, installed straight from the browser, no store required), and plain mobile sites (browsed via Safari or Chrome). For your earnings, the difference is negligible: what matters is the mission catalogue, not the format.
Top 8 microtask apps on mobile
1. Microtaches.com
French platform based in Paris, runs as an installable PWA (no app store, instant updates). Varied catalogue: AI validation, surveys, LinkedIn engagement, moderation, field photos. Public rates before acceptance: 1 Op = €0.0042 SEPA, €0.0082 in gift cards (Amazon, Netflix, Spotify, App Store). Minimum payout: 5,000 Ops (~€21 SEPA, ~€41 in vouchers). Free KYC from 1,000 Ops. French support, GDPR compliant, transparent DAC7 cap at €2,500/year.
2. Clickworker
Historic German platform, iOS and Android app. AI missions, transcription, categorisation, surveys. SEPA or PayPal payout, threshold at €5 (PayPal) or €10 (SEPA). Interface partly translated, but many missions are in English. High mission volume on desktop, leaner on mobile.
3. Microworkers
International marketplace, available as mobile web (no native iOS app). Varied missions: app tests, screenshots, signups, Google searches. Payment via PayPal, Skrill, Bitcoin. Threshold at $9. English UI, task reliability varies by requester.
4. Streetbees
British iOS/Android app focused on short surveys and field missions. You answer "bees": photograph a meal, share a habit, film a product. PayPal payout, low threshold. English UI, occasional French targeting.
5. Roamler
Dutch iOS/Android app dedicated to geolocated field missions: check a supermarket shelf, audit point-of-sale displays, photograph a product on the line. Invite-only. Pay per mission (typically €2 to €8). Great if you move around and don't mind a short walk for a paid mission.
6. BeMyEye
Italian iOS/Android app, similar to Roamler: in-store photo missions for brands auditing distribution. Missions shown on a map. €1 to €10 per mission. Manual review by BeMyEye, PayPal payout.
7. Swagbucks
US mass-market platform, iOS/Android app. Mix of surveys, cashback, video watching and partner offers. PayPal or gift cards. French UI available, missions often US-targeted. High volume, modest hourly rate on videos.
8. Attapoll
British iOS/Android app dedicated to short surveys (1 to 5 minutes). Very clean UI, notifications when a survey matches your profile. PayPal payout from £3. Ideal as a side stream, low friction.
Comparison of the 8 apps
How much you really earn from a microtask app
Earnings depend mostly on time invested and consistency, not luck or a magic trick. Here are realistic ranges for someone in France on a serious platform like Microtaches:
Mobile vs desktop: what works best on a phone
Not all missions are equal on mobile. Here is what works best from a phone:
- Short surveys (1 to 5 min) — ideal mobile-first format, little typing.
- AI validation (tick if the answer is correct) — a few taps, perfect on the go.
- Field photos (Roamler, BeMyEye) — the camera is the main tool.
- Quick moderation (image OK / not OK) — binary taps, low cognitive load.
- LinkedIn engagement / short comments — the native LinkedIn app makes copy-paste easy.
Conversely, some missions are more profitable on desktop: long annotation, audio transcription (physical keyboard), multi-tab research, product comparison across sites. The right strategy: switch between mobile and desktop based on context — mobile in dead time, desktop in structured evening sessions.
How to choose a microtask app
- Check rate transparency before acceptance — a serious site shows the rate clearly (e.g. 1 Op = €0.0042), not just "earn points".
- Check the payment method — SEPA transfer is the cleanest format (no PayPal fees). PayPal stays handy for small amounts.
- Check the support language — French support handles disputes faster and clearer.
- Check the withdrawal threshold — above €50, many users abandon before being paid.
- Check the KYC conditions — identity verification is normal (DAC7), but must be free, clear and documented.
- Avoid apps that require a paid subscription to "unlock" missions — it's a scam signal.
Why Microtaches works without a native app
Microtaches is not (yet) available on the App Store or Google Play, and it is a deliberate choice. The site is built as a Progressive Web App: from Safari or Chrome, you can "Add to Home Screen" and the icon behaves exactly like a native app (full screen, notifications, partial offline mode).
- No App Store / Google Play commission (15 to 30%) charged on transactions — that margin stays in the Ops paid to workers.
- Instant updates — no 1-3 week Apple review on every patch.
- Cross-platform from day one — iPhone, Android, tablet, computer share the same account without installation.
- No store-imposed ad tracking — full GDPR compliance.
On earnings: 1 Op = €0.0042 SEPA transfer, €0.0082 in gift cards (Amazon, Netflix, Spotify, App Store). Minimum payout 5,000 Ops (~€21 SEPA, ~€41 in vouchers), inalienable reserve of 10,000 Ops, free KYC from 1,000 Ops, transparent DAC7 annual cap at €2,500. Full guide to get started.
- Do I need to download an app to do microtasks?
- No, it is not mandatory. Several serious platforms (including Microtaches) run as PWAs: you add the site to your home screen from Safari or Chrome and the icon behaves like a native app, without going through the App Store or Google Play.
- Which microtask app actually pays in France?
- Microtaches pays by SEPA transfer from 5,000 Ops (~€21) or in gift cards at the same threshold (~€41 in vouchers). Clickworker, Streetbees, BeMyEye and Attapoll also pay via PayPal after identity verification. All the apps listed in this article actually pay, but with different thresholds, languages and mission frequencies.
- Can I combine several microtask apps?
- Yes, it is even recommended to maximise mission volume. Microtaches for structured French-language income, Attapoll or Streetbees for short surveys in dead time, Roamler or BeMyEye for field missions if you move around often. Don't create multiple accounts on the same platform though: it is forbidden and gets you banned.
- Do I need to declare microtask earnings to French tax authorities?
- Yes, from the first euro received in France. The European DAC7 directive forces platforms to report earnings above €2,000/year to the tax administration. Microtaches caps withdrawals at €2,500/year per account to stay compatible with a side income declared under BNC or as a micro-entrepreneur.
- Should I avoid apps that ask me to watch endless ads?
- Yes, those time/earnings ratios are awful: 10 to 20 minutes of ads for €0.30 is under €2/h, well below a real microtask. Same for apps that 'mine' crypto in the background: they drain the battery for a few cents per month.
- Does Microtaches have an app on the App Store or Google Play?
- Not yet, and it is a choice. Microtaches runs as a Progressive Web App (PWA) you install from Safari or Chrome in two taps, which avoids the 15-30% commission charged by Apple and Google. That margin goes back to workers through the Ops rate. A future native app is not excluded, but it would not change the rates.