If you’re hunting for low-barrier side hustles, the Kale app might sound like a dream: get paid for sharing content about products you already use. But does it actually make money, enough to bother with? In this post, I break down how Kale works, what’s good, what’s bad, and whether it’s worth your time.
What is the Kale app?
Here’s a quick overview:
- Kale (full name: Kale Creator Rewards) pays creators for posting videos or content about brands.
- The app connects your content to brand dashboards so brands can see your work (even if you don’t have established brand relationships). kalecard.com
- Payments are “automatic” once you upload qualifying content.
- It’s open to creators of all sizes — you don’t necessarily need a huge following.
But the details matter…
How Kale Works: Step by Step
Here’s how users describe the process:
- Sign up and link your socials / payment info.
You’ll usually need to connect accounts so Kale can verify your content and pay you. - Browse brand “challenges.”
These are tasks or prompts tied to a brand. For example: post a video using Product X in a specific way.
Some challenges seem to have a “tiered” structure “🥬” (Kale’s symbol) might mean higher payout or more effort. - Create and post content.
You produce a video (or content) following the brand’s guidelines. Some users report that filters, heavy editing, or special effects can disqualify a submission, so the content often needs to stay simple and authentic. - Upload to Kale and wait for approval/payment.
Once your content is approved, Kale pays you. Some users say it’s within ~24 hours; others report delays. - You might have to wait before doing another challenge.
Many users say you cannot have more than one active challenge at a time.
What People Are Saying (Pros & Cons)
Pros:
- Low barrier to entry. Even small creators say they used Kale to start making money.
- No need to pitch brands initially. Kale handles the matching and distribution.
- You get exposure. Your content is visible to brands even if they haven’t hired you yet.
- Passive-ish. Once a challenge is approved, you wait for payment rather than negotiating.
Cons & red flags:
- Low total earnings. One creator tried Kale for a year and earned ~$256 total (about $21/month) despite consistent effort.
- Challenges get claimed fast. Many users say that the best (highest-paying) challenges disappear within minutes.
- Opaque payout rules. The criteria for how much you get (views? engagement? creativity?) is vague.
- Customer service / delays. Some report long waits for payments or stuck submissions.
- You may need to front costs. Kale doesn’t always send products — you might need to buy items to film with.
- Time vs reward mismatch. If you do the math (time spent filming, editing, submitting), your effective hourly rate might be very low. The creator who earned $256 in a year makes that point.
How to Maximize Earnings If You Try Kale
If you decide to try Kale anyway, here are tactics to tilt it in your favor:
| Strategy | What to Do | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Pick challenges that use things you already own | Avoid buying new products | Cuts your upfront cost |
| Batch-create content | Film several videos in one session | Saves setup time and you’re ready to post |
| Go for lower-competition challenges | Sometimes smaller brands or less “sexy” niches | More chance of approval and payout |
| Follow brand guidelines exactly | Don’t break filters, format rules, etc. | Avoid disqualification |
| Track your time and ROI | Use a spreadsheet to see whether worth pursuing | Helps you decide to continue or move on |
| Use it as a stepping stone | Use the content you generate in Kale as a portfolio piece | Helps you reach better-paying brand deals later |
Verdict: Is Kale Worth It?
In short: maybe, but don’t expect big money overnight.
Kale seems best viewed as a supplemental micro-income tool, not a full side hustle. If your goal is several hundred or thousands a month, you’ll probably want to pair it with other creator platforms (e.g. direct brand outreach, affiliate marketing, etc.).
If you’re curious and willing to experiment with low risk, give Kale a shot. Track exactly how many hours you put in vs what you make. If the ROI is too low, don’t feel bad dropping it and focusing your energy elsewhere.
Overall, it is hard to say if Kale is worth it. There are mixed reviews on sites like Reddit, and on vaious social media platforms.
Be sure to check out sidehustlewatch.com for more ideas!