Our Honest Steady App Review: What We Like (And Don't Like)
The Steady app is useful for its curated list of job opportunities and for help navigating cash grants you may qualify for. Beyond that, its offers aren’t particularly compelling.
No hidden fees
Here at ThinkSaveRetire, we’re big fans of opportunities to make quick cash. So, when it comes to apps like Steady, we’re excited to dive in and report back to you what we think.
Steady earned the following reviews:
- 4.6 Stars on the Apple App Store (21,000 reviews)
- 3.8 Stars on TrustPilot (2,700 reviews)
- 4.0 Stars on the Google Play Store (39,000 reviews)
- 3.7 Stars on Think Save Retire
Our Steady App Review: 3.7 Stars
At ThinkSaveRetire, we’re big fans of opportunities to make quick cash. So, when it comes to apps like Steady, we’re excited to dive in and report back to you what we think.
That said, the Steady app wasn’t the most impressive of the platforms we’ve reviewed. While its curated list of job opportunities is great, it isn’t much different from what you’ll find on similar platforms.
What We Love
The Steady app is straightforward — four tabs at the bottom, each with clear purposes. This makes it simple to find what you’re looking for without getting lost in the weeds.
We also love that Steady connects users with grants they may qualify for. This is unique in comparison to competitors.
What We Don’t Love
We downloaded Steady on iPhone, and unfortunately, the app had a few bugs and loaded slowly. While this isn’t a deal-breaker, we know ease of use is important to users.
We’d also love to see Steady incorporate more earning opportunities, like paid surveys or a cashback portal. A web version of the platform would also be nice, given that not everyone has access to a smartphone.
What is the Steady App?
Steady is a free app that offers a curated list of local earning opportunities, like gig work, part-time roles, and sign-up bonuses. Owned by Adam Roseman and Shaquille O’Neal (yes…the real Shaquille O’Neal), the app helps users get access to tools and resources they need to increase their income.
Since its launch in 2018, Steady has earned over 6 million downloads, paying users over $15 million in cash incentives.
Ways to Earn with Steady
According to Steady themselves, members earn, on average, over $5,000 more per year using the Steady app. This comes from a few sources:
Apply for Jobs
The meat and potatoes of the Steady app is their work feed. This feed is a curated list of job opportunities, ranging from full-time roles to gig work, that are either remote or in your local area. The roles range from delivery driving platforms to remote customer service jobs.
When you first log in, the list of roles will be generic. You can filter and sort the list based on your interests, work preferences, and how far the role is from you. Based on the list we were shown, most roles range from $10 to $20 per hour.
It’s important to note that you aren’t guaranteed to land a role using Steady. You’ll need to complete the job application like any other role, then wait to hear if you’ve been hired. While it is helpful to have a curated list of local roles, it doesn’t appear that the list is anything special in comparison to other job sites like Indeed.
Income Boosters
Similar to KashKick and Swagbucks, Steady offers Income Boosters — a list of additional ways to earn, mostly sign-up bonuses on other platforms. While the list may look enticing, keep in mind that there may be stipulations to earn the amount listed
For example, to earn a $50 Income Booster with Stash, you’d need to deposit $5 into a Stash account. On the other hand, earning a $30 Income Booster with Varo doesn’t require a specific deposit amount. Make sure to read the requirements to qualify before registering for a bunch of random products willy-nilly.
Cash Grants
After creating an account, Steady will prompt you to complete a profile survey. You’ll need to connect your bank account via Plaid as part of this process.
Once you do, Steady will be able to examine your income and financial situation deeper, allowing them the necessary information to recommend cash grants you may qualify for. In the past year, they’ve delivered over $4 million in emergency cash grants to individuals experiencing income loss due to COVID-19.
Alternatives to Steady
If Steady isn’t your jam, consider other platforms with earning opportunities:
InboxDollars
While InboxDollars doesn’t have a curated work feed, they offer paid surveys, paid games, and cashback opportunities for both online and in-store purchases.
KashKick
KashKick offers paid surveys and games, referral offers, and a curated list of sign-up bonuses. While the platform is newer, and therefore has less proof of success on the platform, this might lead to less competition to qualify for survey opportunities.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks offers the same resources as InboxDollars — paid surveys and games, cashback opportunities, and bonuses for receipt scanning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Steady Legit?
The Steady app is legitimate. At the time of writing, they are not yet Better Business Bureau accredited, but keep in mind that this is common for similar platforms. Their competitors, KashKick and InboxDollars, are also not accredited by the BBB.
Can You Really Make Money with the Steady App?
Yes. According to several TrustPilot reviews from real users, they’ve received their earnings from Steady with no issue. There are, however, a few reviews from 2023 expressing concern about not receiving their earnings.
As with any app, exercise caution, and make sure your earnings are processed before investing a significant amount of time into the platform.
How Long Does it Take for Steady to Pay?
The length of time it takes to receive your earnings from Steady depends on the Income Booster you completed. Some users have reported receiving earnings after just three days, while others have reported 90+ day timelines.
What is the Income Booster on the Steady App?
Income Boosters are additional opportunities to earn cash, often sign-up bonuses on other platforms.
Is it Safe to Link My Bank Account to the Steady App?
Yes. Steady uses Plaid to connect to your bank account, a platform used by millions of people to connect their financial accounts to apps and services they trust. Plaid doesn’t share your personal financial data without your permission, and they don’t sell or rent it to third party companies.
How Old Do You Have to Be Steady?
According to Steady’s Terms of Service, you need to be at least eighteen (18) years old or of legal age in your state of residence to use the platform.