These side hustle apps are offering users a way to earn extra money

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (InvestigateTV) - Apps that let people rent out things they already own are offering users a way to earn extra cash without taking on an in-person part-time job.

Instead of signing up to drive for a rideshare service or deliver groceries, some people are turning to rental platforms that allow them to make money on their own schedule by listing items they already have at home.

Reese Grau has been renting out her closet on the Pickle app for the last five years.

“Basically, if I rent it out four times, I make my money back,” Grau said. “So, it’s kind of like girl math…return on my investment.”

Pickle allows users to list items from their real-life closet on the app, from accessories and shoes to clothing. Grau said larger rentals, such as higher-end dresses, can bring in more money.

“I get some bigger rentals — like a nicer dress — I can make more,” she said. “There’s been weeks where I’ve made $200 a week.”

Over the last year, Grau said she rented out 85 items and earned about $1,300.

For families looking to put outgrown baby gear to use, BabyQuip offers another option by connecting travelers and parents with providers who rent out items such as strollers, cribs, toys and fans.

Kierstyn Stewart, a BabyQuip provider based out of Franklin, Tennessee, said she joined after her children started outgrowing their equipment.

Stewart said she has been renting out baby gear for a little more than two years and has completed around 150 rentals. Business can spike during peak travel seasons, she said, including spring break and major holidays.

“There are different parts of the year where you’re going to be busier: spring break, Thanksgiving, Christmas,” Stewart said. “You’re going to find that you’re just busier those times of the year, and throughout the year, it’s sprinkled in.”

BabyQuip said providers keep 78% of their rental and delivery fees and 100% of tips.

Other platforms offer similar opportunities with different kinds of property. Swimply allows homeowners to rent out pools, hot tubs and even sports courts — such as pickleball — as well as backyards for events. Another app, Neighbor, allows users to rent out space such as driveways.

Both women said the side income is helpful, but the work is also something they enjoy.

“I’ve been kind of trying to get some side hustles going, and this has been great for me,” Grau said. “I’ve gotten a lot of my friends on it too.”

Pickle, the clothing rental app, said in 2025 some of their top lenders made around $5,000 a month.

By 2034, the global peer-to-peer rental apps market size is expected to be worth around $49.3 billion.