8 Apps Like Phrendly To Make Money
A researched list of platforms that pay you to chat, connect, and build a flexible side income, plus how to actually make it work.
Are you looking for a flexible side hustle you can do right from your couch? Something that doesn’t require a special degree, a huge investment, or a grueling schedule? The demand for virtual companionship and paid conversation has grown into a real, if niche, corner of the gig economy. Below is a researched list of platforms, who each one is best for, and what you can realistically expect to earn.
8+ apps like Phrendly to make money
Who each one is for and what you can realistically expect to earn.
RentAFriend
Lets people “rent” a platonic friend for virtual or in-person companionship: showing a tourist around, being a plus-one, or chatting about a shared hobby. Strictly platonic.
Who it’s for: sociable people comfortable with online and in-person meetups. Earnings: you set your own hourly rate, typically $10 to $50, and keep 100% of it. The platform charges clients a membership fee instead of taking a commission from you.
RentaCyberFriend
The online-only version of RentAFriend: virtual companionship through text, voice, and video calls, like a modernized pen-pal service.
Who it’s for: anyone who wants to earn from home with purely digital, platonic interaction. Earnings: paid per minute on video calls, with rates you set from $0.10 to over $1 per minute. The platform takes a 20% commission and it can be competitive to get noticed.
Texting Factory
Text-only chat work with a layer of anonymity. You work as a chat operator, often using a persona, responding to messages ranging from friendly to fantasy-based.
Who it’s for: fast typists who prefer anonymous, text-only work with no phone or video required. Earnings: the platform advertises $300 to $400 a week for active operators, though many workers report the effective hourly rate is lower. Payment is often per message, and payouts are handled through a specific digital wallet.
Whop
A digital marketplace for selling access to communities, courses, and other digital products, so you can scale beyond one-on-one chats into a subscription community on Discord or Telegram.
Who it’s for: the entrepreneur with a specific niche who wants a recurring revenue stream. Earnings: you set your own prices; creators report anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand a month. Free to use, with roughly a 3% transaction fee plus payment processor fees.
ChatRecruit
A long-running UK-based platform offering phone chat, webcam, and texting, with both non-adult and adult chat options. Note this platform has a significant adult-entertainment side.
Who it’s for: people who are specifically comfortable with or seeking that type of work, across multiple communication formats. Earnings: paid per minute for phone and text, with rates you set for webcam work, plus bonuses and tipping. The platform’s share is already deducted before your dashboard rate is shown.
NiteFlirt
An adult-entertainment platform (same parent company as Phrendly) for phone calls, texts, and selling pre-recorded content. This is exclusively for adults comfortable with NSFW work.
Who it’s for: creators specifically working in the adult content space. Earnings: pay-per-minute with rates you set; the platform takes a 30% commission on calls and content sales.
Fiverr
Best known for freelance services, but also a place to list conversation, companionship, or gaming-buddy “gigs,” often under Lifestyle categories.
Who it’s for: beginners who want a free, low-commitment way to test different service offerings on a large marketplace. Earnings: fully up to you, e.g. $15 for a 30-minute chat or $30 for an hour. Fiverr takes a 20% commission, and early reviews matter a lot for visibility.
FriendPC
Another platform built for renting a virtual friend, with listings ranging from simple companionship to more specific roles like life coaching or gaming partner.
Who it’s for: people offering a range of platonic or companionship-style services, by text, call, or in person. Earnings: you set your own rates; FriendPC states you keep 90-95% of what you earn, though some users report it takes patience to land a first client.
Paidwork & Premise
Two broader micro-task apps that pay for small jobs like surveys, watching videos, and (for Premise) simple on-the-ground data collection like photographing local prices.
Who it’s for: anyone who wants low-commitment, gap-filling income rather than sustained conversation work. Earnings: modest and task-dependent, more of a supplement than a primary income.
Papa
Connects “Papa Pals” with older adults and families who need companionship and light assistance: errands, light housekeeping, or simply conversation.
Who it’s for: compassionate, patient, reliable people who want in-person, service-oriented work (requires a background check). Earnings: competitive and location-dependent, with a national average hourly rate around the high teens.
Freelance marketplaces (Upwork, etc.)
Broader platforms like Upwork let you build a structured, professional service around conversation and support, such as a recurring “Weekly Check-In” package.
Who it’s for: anyone who wants to treat this like a real freelance business, with a brand and testimonials. Earnings: more predictable since you’re selling a defined package, minus each platform’s commission structure.
Want a business model with more control than gig apps?
Side Hustle to Six Figures walks through building a side income you actually own, around the hours you already have.
Get the Playbook →Smart strategies to maximize your earnings
Find your angle
Get specific instead of generic. A clear persona, travel guide, movie buff, supportive listener, makes you memorable.
Create packages
Bundle a set of short chats at a discount, or build subscription tiers for more predictable income.
Use more than one platform
List on two or three platforms so a slow day on one doesn’t stop your income.
Think about digital products
Custom pre-recorded messages, voice notes, or a short guide can earn passively alongside live conversation.
Be a pro
Post clear availability, stay consistent during peak hours, and follow up. Good service turns a one-time client into a repeat one.
Safety, privacy, and keeping it professional
Working online with strangers requires being smart about your own protection.
- Stay on the platform. Always use the platform’s built-in tools for communication and payment. A client trying to move you to another app or pay you directly is a red flag.
- Protect your personal data. Never share your real name, address, or personal phone number. Use a pseudonym and the platform’s built-in privacy features.
- Know the rules. Read each platform’s Terms of Service, and remember you’re an independent contractor responsible for tracking your own earnings and taxes.
- Set clear boundaries. Be explicit in your profile about what your services do and don’t include. End and report any conversation that crosses a line.
- Practice good digital hygiene. Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication wherever it’s offered.
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