How to Make Money Online

Finding opportunities to make money from the comfort of your home is just a click away through online platforms like Upwork, Fiverr and Etsy. Fast and easy gigs — like taking online surveys or reviewing music — offer simple ways to earn money with minimal effort. Creatives can share their talents in writing, video production or graphic design. E-commerce provides endless opportunities for sales-minded individuals, from online marketplaces to starting your own store. Freelance services like online coaching, virtual assistance and consulting offer lucrative ways for professionals to monetize their skills.

No matter your background or expertise, there are a range of options suited to diverse skills and interests. We’ve compiled 30 ways for beginners to make money online, detailing how to earn, how to get started and where to find these opportunities.

The internet is full of simple ways to earn extra cash without needing special skills or significant time investment. These quick and easy gigs are perfect for teens exploring beginner-friendly hustles, parents needing flexible income sources or anyone looking for straightforward tasks. Examples include sharing your opinions through online surveys, reviewing music for payment or earning rewards by gaming.

Companies value consumer insights, making online surveys an easy way to earn money online. Platforms like Swagbucks offer gift cards or cash rewards, while Pinecone Research provides consistent surveys and quick payments. To maximize opportunities, join multiple survey sites and regularly check your email. Filling out profile questionnaires can also help you qualify for more surveys. Dedicate some time each day to complete surveys and watch your earnings grow.

• Ideal for: People looking for a flexible way to earn extra money without special skills.
• Effort Required: Low. You can complete surveys in your spare time with no special skills needed.
• Potential Earnings: $0.50 to $5 per survey, with more in-depth surveys offering up to $50.

If you love music, reviewing tracks for independent artists and music companies can become a rewarding side hustle. Platforms like Slicethepie and Playlist Push pay for detailed feedback and promotion of new songs. Help refine musicians’ work when you sign up for multiple review platforms and consistently submit reviews to boost your income over time.

• Ideal for: Music enthusiasts with good listening skills.
• Effort Required: Moderate. Requires attentiveness and detailed feedback.
• Potential Earnings: $0.02 to $0.20 per review, with top reviewers earning up to $50 per month.

More than just a hobby, gaming can become a revenue stream through rewards, tournaments and streaming. Some game creators pay for feedback, and platforms like Twitch and YouTube offer additional income from viewer donations and sponsorships. To build a loyal audience, regularly stream and engage with viewers. You can also participate in tournaments to showcase your skills and attract sponsors, boosting your earnings.

• Ideal for: Avid gamers who enjoy interacting with online communities.
• Effort Required: Moderate to high. Requires consistent play and interaction with followers.
• Potential Earnings: $1 to $5 per hour for casual gaming, with top streamers making thousands per month.

Mystery shopping offers a fun and flexible way to earn money by providing feedback on customer service and product quality. Apart from the usual in-store opportunities, platforms like Market Force and Secret Shopper assign various online shopping tasks. Register with multiple platforms to access a range of assignments and provide thorough feedback to earn higher payouts.

• Ideal for: Consumers who enjoy shopping and providing detailed feedback.
• Effort Required: Low to moderate. Assignments vary in complexity.
• Potential Earnings: $10 to $25 per assignment, with more complex tasks offering up to $100.

Consider renting out your items to generate passive income. List tools, equipment or recreational gear on rental platforms like Rent Items and FriendWithA. Be sure to include clear, attractive photos and detailed descriptions with competitive pricing to attract renters.

• Ideal for: Individuals with high-demand items willing to rent them out.
• Effort Required: Low. Simply manage listings and coordinate rentals.
• Potential Earnings: $10 to $50 per rental, with high-demand items fetching more.

Monetizing your car during idle times can be lucrative. Car-sharing platforms like Turo, Getaround and HyreCar connect you with people who need a vehicle for short periods. Ensure your car is well-maintained, and consider having the best car insurance to protect you and your vehicle. Adding high-quality photos and consistently updating your availability can increase bookings while responding quickly to renter inquiries helps build a good reputation.

• Ideal for: Car owners looking to earn extra income from unused vehicles.
• Effort Required: Low. Just manage bookings and maintain your car.
• Potential Earnings: $30 to $100 per day, depending on the vehicle's make, model and location.

Offer your spare room for rent to generate a steady income, especially if you’re located in a popular tourist spot. List your space on short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo with high-quality photos and detailed descriptions. For positive reviews and repeat guests, the trick is keeping your room clean and promptly responding to inquiries. Additionally, consider getting short-term renters insurance to protect your property and provide peace of mind for both you and your guests.

• Ideal for: Homeowners with an unused room in tourist areas.
• Effort Required: Moderate. Requires cleaning and maintaining the room and communicating with guests.
• Potential Earnings: $50 to $150 per night, varying by location and season.

Sharing your expertise and creativity can turn into a profitable venture with content creation and media opportunities. Whether you're passionate about writing, speaking or visual storytelling, these avenues allow you to earn while doing what you love. Start a blog, create a YouTube channel or self-publish eBooks to share your passions and connect with a global audience.

Blogging lets you share your expertise and interests while earning money through ads, affiliate marketing and sponsored content. Select a niche and produce consistent, high-quality posts to build your brand and connect with readers. Whether you’re setting up on platforms like WordPress or Blogger, you can use SEO strategies and promote your blog through social media and email marketing to attract more visitors.

• Ideal for: Writers and experts wanting to share their knowledge and earn income.
• Effort Required: High. Requires regular content creation and engagement with audiences.
• Potential Earnings: $100 to $10,000 or more per month, depending on traffic and monetization strategies.

Expressing your voice and ideas through a podcast can net you earnings from sponsorships, listener donations and affiliate marketing. For starters, focus on a niche topic, invest in quality recording equipment and create engaging content. Platforms like Spotify for Podcasters and Podbean simplify hosting and distributing your episodes. Meanwhile, engaging with your audience helps grow your listener base.

• Ideal for: Those who enjoy speaking and sharing ideas with an audience.
• Effort Required: High. Requires regular content creation and audience engagement.
• Potential Earnings: $200 to $5,000 or more per month, depending on audience size and sponsorship deals.

YouTube offers monetization options for video content, including ads, sponsorships and viewer donations. Focusing on a niche and engaging with your audience helps grow your channel. Invest in good video and audio equipment and produce high-quality content consistently. Apart from promoting your channel through social media, you can also explore platforms like Patreon for viewer support and Teespring to sell merchandise.

• Ideal for: Creative individuals who enjoy video production and engaging with an audience.
• Effort Required: High. Requires consistent content creation and interaction with audiences.
• Potential Earnings: $100 to $10,000 or more per month, depending on views and monetization strategies.

With digital reading on the rise, eBooks provide a unique opportunity to earn from your writing. Work on topics you’re passionate about, invest in a professional cover design and promote your eBook to reach a wide audience. Publishing platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and Smashwords help simplify the process of distributing your work and managing sales so you can focus on earning royalties on sales.

• Ideal for: Writers looking to reach a global audience and earn passive income.
• Effort Required: High. Requires writing, editing and marketing your books.
• Potential Earnings: $100 to $5,000 or more per month, depending on sales volume and marketing efforts.

Earn commissions when you promote products or services through affiliate marketing. Sharing referral links on your blog, social media or email list allows you to get paid for each sale made through your links. Join affiliate programs like Amazon Associates and promote products that align with your niche. Track your links' performance to optimize your strategy and increase earnings.

• Ideal for: Bloggers, influencers and website owners looking to monetize their online presence.
• Effort Required: Moderate. Requires consistent promotion and content creation.
• Potential Earnings: $100 to $10,000 or more per month, depending on your audience size and engagement.

Businesses and content creators need high-quality visuals. If you're skilled in photography or videography, selling stock photos and videos can be a lucrative way to make money online, and platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock and iStock make the perfect marketplace for your work. To increase visibility, focus on high-demand themes, consistently upload new content and use effective keywords.

• Ideal for: Photographers and videographers looking to monetize their work.
• Effort Required: Moderate. Requires regular uploads and maintenance of a diverse portfolio.
• Potential Earnings: $100 to $2,000 or more per month, depending on downloads and portfolio quality.

If you love creating your own products and connecting with customers, e-commerce offers a fantastic way to earn money online. From vintage treasures to subscription box services and handmade goods, these ventures let you showcase your creativity and entrepreneurial spirit while building a successful online business.

Whether you're selling vintage treasures or dropshipping items, platforms like eBay, Etsy and Amazon connect you with buyers worldwide. Optimize your listings with high-quality photos and the right keywords to tap into a broad customer base. Start with a small inventory and gradually expand as you learn what sells best.

• Ideal for: Individuals with products to sell, from handmade crafts to vintage items.
• Effort Required: Moderate. Requires maintaining listings and managing customer service.
• Potential Earnings: $500 to $5,000 or more per month, depending on the product and sales volume.

Choose a niche and source high-quality products from reliable suppliers to ensure a successful e-commerce store. You can also utilize platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce to simplify your setup and management. Invest in SEO and social media advertising to drive traffic, and consider general liability insurance to protect your business from potential risks. For detailed guidance, check out our comprehensive guide on how to sell online.

• Ideal for: Entrepreneurs looking to sell products online.
• Effort Required: High. Requires ongoing management, marketing and customer service.
• Potential Earnings: $1,000 to $10,000 or more per month, depending on sales volume and profit margins.

Curating products for a subscription box service can create a recurring revenue stream, especially in industries like beauty, food and fitness. To start, identify a niche market and source high-quality products. For streamlined setup and management, you can market your subscription box through platforms like Cratejoy, Subbly and Shopify. Don’t forget to create an engaging unboxing experience to delight your subscribers and encourage word-of-mouth promotion.

• Ideal for: Entrepreneurs with a passion for curation and niche markets.
• Effort Required: High. Involves sourcing products, marketing and managing subscriptions.
• Potential Earnings: $500 to $5,000 or more per month, depending on the subscription price and number of subscribers.

Turn your creativity into income by designing print-on-demand products like t-shirts and mugs. Services like Printful, Teespring and Redbubble handle production and shipping, allowing you to focus on creating and marketing your designs. Get creative when you promote your products on social media to increase visibility and drive sales.

• Ideal for: Designers and artists looking for passive income.
• Effort Required: Low to moderate. Focuses on design and marketing.
• Potential Earnings: $200 to $2,000 or more per month, depending on sales volume.

Your artistic talents can generate income when you sell handmade goods and crafts. Unique, handcrafted items often attract customers who value artisan products. Listing high-quality creations at competitive prices on sites like Amazon Handmade, paired with effective social media marketing, can help you build a loyal customer base.

• Ideal for: Craft enthusiasts and artisans.
• Effort Required: High. Requires ongoing creation and marketing of products.
• Potential Earnings: $500 to $3,000 or more per month, depending on the products and sales volume.

Professionals can find lucrative opportunities in freelance services to leverage their expertise and skills. Offering online courses, providing virtual assistance or pursuing consulting lets you transform your knowledge into a steady income stream. Share your skills with a wider audience while enjoying the flexibility to build a thriving freelance career on your terms.

Monetizing your knowledge through online courses can generate significant passive income. To reach a broader audience, create engaging content and promote your courses through social media and email marketing. Platforms like Udemy and Teachable make it easy to create, market and sell your courses to a global audience, helping you turn your expertise into a steady income stream.

• Ideal for: Experts and professionals looking to share their knowledge.
• Effort Required: High. Requires consistent content creation and ongoing student support.
• Potential Earnings: $500 to $10,000 or more per course, depending on the number of students and pricing.

Transforming your expertise into a revenue stream through online coaching and consulting can be highly rewarding. Specialize in a niche and market your services effectively to attract clients. Platforms like Clarity.fm and Coach.me provide tools to manage your business and connect with potential clients. To draw in clients, outline your services clearly and maintain a professional profile.

• Ideal for: Professionals with expertise in a specific field looking to share their knowledge.
• Effort Required: High. Requires thoughtful preparation, client interaction and follow-up.
• Potential Earnings: $50 to $300 or more per hour, depending on expertise and client base.

If you're multilingual or polyglot, you can leverage your language skills to earn money by translating documents and content. Businesses and individuals often need translation services for various purposes. You can start by working on smaller projects with competitive rates on platforms like ProZ and Gengo to find more opportunities, build a strong portfolio and gain positive reviews.

• Ideal for: Multilingual individuals with strong writing skills.
• Effort Required: Moderate. Requires attention to detail and accuracy.
• Potential Earnings: $0.05 to $0.20 per word, equalling $20 to $50 per hour.

Share your expertise and earn money by tutoring and teaching online. Whether it's academic subjects, music or arts, there’s a niche that fits your skills. This is an excellent way to earn extra income, especially when paying down student loan debt. Sign up on tutoring platforms like VIPKid and Chegg, where you can offer free trial sessions to attract students and build your client base. You can also customize your teaching methods to fit individual student needs.

• Ideal for: Educators and skilled individuals looking to teach others.
• Effort Required: High. Requires preparation and regular engagement with students.
• Potential Earnings: $15 to $50 per hour, depending on the subject and experience.

A remote administrative support role typically involves managing emails, scheduling appointments, conducting research and data entry. To market your services and bring in new clients, highlight your skills and experience on freelancing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer. Start with smaller tasks to build your reputation and client base before gradually taking on more complex projects to earn consistently.

• Ideal for: Organized individuals with strong administrative skills.
• Effort Required: Medium. Requires consistent effort to manage tasks and communicate with clients.
• Potential Earnings: $10 to $30 per hour, depending on experience and the complexity of tasks.

Businesses constantly need high-quality content, making freelance writing or graphic design an excellent opportunity for skilled creatives. Build a strong portfolio on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr to attract well-paying projects. Networking with other freelancers and potential clients can also help you find more opportunities and establish a consistent stream of clients. If you want tips on managing your earnings, explore our freelancer's guide to personal finance.

• Ideal for: Writers, graphic designers and creative professionals.
• Effort Required: High. Requires ongoing project work and client communication.
• Potential Earnings: $20 to $100 or more per hour, depending on skills and experience.

Leveraging your social media skills can become a profitable side gig by managing accounts for businesses. You can use tools like Hootsuite and Buffer to streamline your efforts, whether that be creating content, engaging with followers or analyzing performance. To get started, create a portfolio showcasing your social media success stories, using analytics to demonstrate your impact on engagement and growth.

• Ideal for: Social media-savvy individuals with a knack for content creation.
• Effort Required: High. Requires regular updates and engagement with followers.
• Potential Earnings: $15 to $50 per hour, depending on experience and the scope of work.

Voice-over work is in high demand for commercials, audiobooks and animations. With a quality microphone and a quiet recording space, you can start offering your services online on sites like Voices.com and Voice123. To attract higher-paying gigs and establish your presence in the industry, practice different styles and tones to diversify your portfolio.

• Ideal for: Individuals with a clear, expressive voice and acting skills.
• Effort Required: Moderate to high. Requires practice, recording and editing.
• Potential Earnings: $100 to $500 per hour, depending on the project.

Turning spoken words into written text is another profitable online venture. Businesses often need accurate transcriptions for meetings, interviews and podcasts, which they can easily request from companies like Rev and TranscribeMe. Before starting, it’s important that you invest in good headphones and transcription software. You can also practice with different accents and audio qualities to improve accuracy and qualify for higher-paying jobs.

• Ideal for: Individuals with good listening and typing skills.
• Effort Required: Moderate to high. Requires attention to detail and accuracy.
• Potential Earnings: $0.30 to $1.10 per audio minute, translating to $15 to $25 per hour.

Turn your knack for finding website quirks into a money-making opportunity with website and app testing. Companies pay for valuable feedback on usability and design, and platforms like UserTesting and Userlytics make it easy to get started. Sign up, complete an initial test and secure a reliable internet connection and a good microphone for calls. Detailed and honest feedback can increase your ratings and qualify you for more assignments.

• Ideal for: Tech-savvy individuals who enjoy exploring new websites and apps.
• Effort Required: Moderate. Requires attention to detail and clear communication.
• Potential Earnings: $10 to $20 per test, each taking about 20 minutes to complete.

Flipping domain names involves buying and selling them for profit. Understanding market trends and researching top keywords are essential for identifying valuable domains. Start by purchasing inexpensive domains related to trending keywords. You can also list and sell your domains on marketplaces like GoDaddy Auctions and Flippa to interested buyers.

• Ideal for: Individuals interested in digital real estate and market trends.
• Effort Required: Moderate. Requires market research and managing listings.
• Potential Earnings: $100 to $10,000 or more per domain, depending on perceived value.

If you’re skilled at developing websites and programs, freelance platforms such as Upwork and Toptal connect you with clients seeking your expertise. To attract well-paying projects, keep up with industry trends and build a robust portfolio highlighting your best works. Networking with other professionals can also open up more opportunities and ensure a steady stream of clients.

• Ideal for: Individuals with web and software development skills looking to monetize their expertise.
• Effort Required: High. Requires continuous learning and project management.
• Potential Earnings: $50 to $150 or more per hour, depending on expertise and project complexity.

We answer some of your most commonly asked questions about how you can make money online to get you started on your new side hustle.