I’m always on the hunt for interesting apps I can use to earn extra money. Not too long ago, I discovered a great app I’ve been using called ProxyPics. It’s an app similar to IVueIt, where you’re tasked with taking photos of nearby properties.
In this ProxyPics review, I’m going to go over how ProxyPics works, what my experience with the app has been like, and why this is a side hustle app worth downloading.
ProxyPics Review – What Is Proxy Pics?
At the outset, I have to say that I’ve really been enjoying using ProxyPics. It’s not an app that you can rely on for large amounts of income, but it is a nice app that can help you earn a bit of extra income each month. How consistent ProxyPics will be for you will likely depend on where you live – in some places, you might have more regular assignments than in others.
So what is ProxyPics exactly? The short answer is it’s an app that appraisers use to get photos of properties they’re evaluating. To do this, ProxyPics uses independent contractors who can sign up for ProxyPics and then accept assignments in the app.
The assignments are all straightforward. You’ll know how much you’ll be paid before you accept the assignment and the app walks you through exactly how to complete the assignment. Most assignments simply require you to take a few exterior photos and answer some questions.
After you complete all the required steps, you’ll upload the pictures and your survey in the ProxyPics app. The ProxyPics staff then reviews your assignment and once it’s approved, you’re paid immediately. You can then cash out your earnings to your bank account.Â
In the next section, we’ll go into some more detail about how to use ProxyPics.
How To Use ProxyPics
The first thing you’ll need to do is create a ProxyPics account. This is a straightforward process. Just download the app and follow the steps to create your account.Â
When you open the app, you’ll see a map with all the available assignments in your area. Each assignment will tell you what the assignment is and how much it pays.
Assignments on ProxyPics are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, so whoever grabs the assignment first gets it. Once you accept an assignment, you’ll have a set amount of time to complete it. If you need an extension, you can request an extension within the app.
To complete the assignment, click the assignment you’ve accepted and follow the directions it gives you. Here’s an example of an exterior photo assignment I recently completed.Â
This assignment required me to take a few photos of a property and answer some questions about the property and the neighborhood. Here’s what the neighborhood questions looked like:
And below is a screenshot of some of the photos I had to take:Â
The entire assignment took me about 5 minutes to complete (maybe even less than that). This assignment simply required two photos of the street, three photos of the front of the house, and then a photo of the numbers on the house. The assignment paid me $20, which is very good for how little time it took me to complete.
How Much Does ProxyPics Pay?
The amount each assignment pays varies but most of the assignments I’ve completed have paid $20. You’ll see exactly what you’ll earn for each assignment before you accept it.
When you complete an assignment, you’ll submit it to ProxyPics for approval. It usually takes a day or two to approve your work, at which point you’ll see your earnings pending in the app. When you’re ready, you can cash out your earnings to your bank account.
The nice thing about ProxyPics is that you can cash out your earnings immediately. Depending on the bank you use, you’ll see your earnings either the same day or within a few business days. (If you want to get your money sooner, using a bank like Lili is a great option – that’s the bank I use for my gig earnings).
Strategies To Incorporate ProxyPics Into Your Side HustlesÂ
ProxyPics assignments aren’t consistent, so you shouldn’t rely on them as your main source of income. Instead, the best way to use ProxyPics is to combine it with things you’re already doing.Â
One way I like to use ProxyPics is when I’m already traveling somewhere. I’ll open the app to see if there’s anything in the area I’m going to. If there’s a ProxyPics assignment nearby, it’s an easy way for me to essentially get paid for my commute. Most of the ProxyPics assignments I’ve completed are during my commute home from my son’s daycare or if I’m running an errand somewhere and see an assignment nearby.
For the most part, I try not to go out of my way to complete ProxyPics assignments, although they pay well enough that it can be worth traveling to them. When I go out of my way to do a ProxyPics assignment, I usually do so while I’m biking with my son. That way, we get to enjoy a nice bike ride and get paid at the same time. The ProxyPics assignments are fast and easy enough that I can also do them with my son in the bike seat.Â
If you can, combining ProxyPics with other side hustles you’re doing can also be a good option, especially since the assignments can be completed so quickly. For example, I do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. If I see a ProxyPics assignment near me, I can fit it in while I’m completing deliveries.
If you want more ideas for gig economy apps you can use, check out this post:Â The Ultimate List Of Gig Economy Apps.
Final ThoughtsÂ
Hopefully, you found this ProxyPics review helpful. It’s an app I’ve been very happy with, which is why I wanted to write this ProxyPics review. The assignments are easy to complete, pay well, and can be completed quickly – usually in just a few minutes.Â
The main downside with ProxyPics is that there aren’t a lot of assignments. I usually only see a few assignments in the app each month. It’s enough for me to earn a few extra bucks, but if you’re looking to earn a lot of extra money, you’re going to need to look for something that gives you more consistency.
That being said, ProxyPics is an app that I enjoy and recommend people download. It’s worth having in your back pocket and it’s an app that will definitely become a regular part of my side hustle repertoire.
More Recommended Ebike/Scooters
Check out these other ebikes/scooters I've had the chance to do a review for:
- GEN3 Outcross Bike – The GEN3 Outcross is a solid, affordable fat tire ebike that does a good job of doing what I need it to do. It works great for city riding, giving me a smooth ride in all conditions. It’s works really well as a winter ebike since the fat tires give it good traction over snow and ice. Check out my GEN3 Outcross Review.
- Himiway Escape Bike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
- Espin Sport Bike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
- Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
- Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.
More Recommended Investing App Bonuses
For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:
- M1 Finance ($100) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
- SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with $100 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
- Moomoo (5 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 5 free stocks (usually worth around $75-$100) if you open an account using a referral link and deposit $2,000. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
- Webull (5 free stocks) – Webull also gives you 5 free stock valued between $3-$3,000 each if you open an account using my referral link. Here’s a guide I wrote about how to earn your free stocks using Webull.
- Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
- Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.
More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses
If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.
- Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
- US Bank Business ($500) – This offer is limited to customers in the following states: AZ, AR, CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OH, OR, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, WY. This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
- SoFi Money ($275) – SoFi Money is a free checking account from SoFi. They’re currently offering a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi account with a referral link and deposit $10. You can also make an additional $250 as well if you complete a direct deposit. This is a good bank that is also 100% free, so you won’t have to worry about managing this account. Here’s a post I wrote with instructions on how to earn your SoFi Money bonus: SoFi Money Referral Bonus: Step By Step Guide.
- Fairwinds Credit Union ($100) – Fairwinds Credit Union is offering a referral bonus for users that sign up using a referral link. Fairwinds has no fees or minimum balance, so this is a particularly easy bonus to earn. Since this is a smaller credit union, my gut instinct tells me this offer won’t be around long, so if you’re in a position to meet the bonus requirements, grab this bonus before it’s gone. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Fairwinds Credit Union bonus.
- Upgrade ($50) – Upgrade is a free checking account that’s currently offering a $50 referral bonus if you open an account and complete three debit card transactions. These bonus terms are easy to meet, so it’s well worth doing this bonus as soon as you can. Importantly, this bonus says that it’s now scheduled to end on April 15, 2023. As long as you get your account opened before April 15th, you should be eligible. Here’s a post I wrote with more details: Upgrade $50 Referral Bonus – Step By Step Directions.
- Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link.Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
- Digital Federal Credit Union ($20) – Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a free, nationwide credit union that I recommend to readers for two reasons. First, DCU has a $20 referral bonus if you open a free DCU checking account with a referral link. Second, DCU has a saving account that gives you 6.17% interest on your first $1,000. Check out my in-depth post on how to set this account up.
- Netspend ($20 + 5% Interest Savings Account) – Netspend is a company that provides 5% interest savings accounts. If you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get a $20 signup bonus once you make your first deposit into your Netspend account of $40 or more. That means you get a 5% interest savings account and a free $20 to start! Make sure to check out my in-depth guide on how to set up these accounts.
- Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
- Varo ($30) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $30 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.
Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.
Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.
Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:
- SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $250 if you complete a direct deposit.
- US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $500 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
- M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account.
- DCU. Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a free, nationwide credit union that I recommend to readers for two reasons. First, DCU has a $20 referral bonus if you open a free DCU checking account with a referral link. Second, DCU has a savings account that gives you 6.17% interest on your first $1,000.
- Personal Capital. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.
Feel free to send Kevin a message here.
What about the people in the houses. Are they concerned someone is taking pictures of their house?
I’ve done this type of work with several providers including Proxy Pics. The odds of the homeowner being out exactly when come by are pretty small. It is totally legal to take pictures of any house. Just don’t step onto private property. Depending on the provider, it is normally 3 or 5 or 7 pictures requested: front, left side, right side, looking left in street, looking right in street. They may ask Qs to evaluate condition of house or neighborhood. I usually park a bit away from the house, wear a light safety vest (makes you look like you are there on “official” business) and take the shots in one pass across the front of the house. If anyone comes up to you, wait for them to ask a Q and the answer I’ve used once in ~50 of these is that I took on the job with a gig company. Only If pressed, I might add that I don’t know who asked for the pictures (because you normally don’t know) but it is usually someone with a financial interest in the property such as a mortgage holder, an insurance company, a landlord or such. Then walk away and leave.
I’ve never had an issue, although I think the app does have some sort of letter you can show people. It doesn’t take long to take these pictures and I’ve never had anyone notice me doing it.
Did you submit your driver’s license and photo of yourself after you signed up?