Are you looking for easy ways to make money online? You’re in luck! Today, there are more opportunities than ever to hop online and earn some easy cash in your spare time. In this post, I’ve rounded up some of the best ways to make money from home!
The best part? You don’t need a lot of time or previous experience to start. Just sign up with a few companies and start making money online in your spare time!
1. Affiliate Marketing
A great way to make passive income is through affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing lets you make money when people click on links from your blog posts, website, or social media accounts to buy a product or service. Essentially, brands will give you a small commission for sending people their way!
If you have some brands that you love, why not promote them?
You can promote them on a YouTube channel, an email list, Facebook groups, Pinterest, and more. In some cases, you don’t even need a website, for instance, with Amazon’s Influencer Program. For a list of places to find affiliate programs, check out this post.
2. Answer Questions Online
Do you have a topic or subject you could talk about all day? If you have knowledge or expertise to share, you could be getting paid for your advice by answering questions online.
You can get paid for answering questions on just about anything—from food and parenting to technology, finance, math, business, and more. In most cases, you will need to prove your area of expertise, which might be experience, a degree, or a skills test. For ways to make money online by answering questions, explore Studypool, Courses Hero, and JustAnswer.
3. Become a Mock Juror
If you’re a true crime junkie or can’t get enough of all the detective shows, this one is right up your alley. Online jurors help lawyers by reviewing the information presented to them about a case and providing their honest thoughts. Through mock trials, lawyers can test how well their case will work and fix any flaws before they go to court.
Typically, you receive video, photo, and transcript files to review on your own. The types of cases and pay rates vary significantly depending on the time you’ve put in and your qualifications. You can find a list of online juror jobs here!
4. Blogging
If you enjoy writing and marketing, starting a money-making blog is a fun way to earn money online. Blogging allows you to show off your creativity while writing about topics that you’re passionate about. It does take some time to get it up and make a steady income, but if you’re highly motivated, you can turn it into a lucrative side hustle or full-time gig. Not only is blogging flexible, but you can monetize your efforts in a wide variety of methods, from brand sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and advertising to course and printable sales to selling freelance services or merch.
If you’re ready to begin your blogging journey, here are some step-by-step instructions for getting started.
5. Bookkeeping
If you’re looking for a part-time or full-time job, you can do from home, why not try bookkeeping? Bookkeepers need to have keen organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail. You also need to be comfortable working with numbers!
Most small businesses and bloggers need someone to keep track of monthly expenses and income. A relatively untapped market with plenty of demand, remote bookkeeping jobs are a pretty easy way to fill the hours and make money. With bookkeeping, you can start your own business offering services on sites like Upwork and Legiit or apply for online independent contracting positions with BELAY or VaVa Virtual Assistants.
6. Complete Micro Jobs
If you have a few minutes to spare, you can always hop onto one of the many different micro jobs sites and make easy extra money online by completing short tasks. It’s one of the best ways to make money quickly.
Tasks can range from rating a picture to transcribing a minute of audio. It just depends on the microtask site you use and the jobs available at any given time.
Micro jobs don’t pay a lot, but they are a quick and easy way to make money online, even if you only have a couple of minutes of free time.
Check out these short task sites for thousands of quick tasks where you can quickly make money online:
7. Complete Quick Tasks on Fiverr
Do you have something you can do in 15 minutes or less? Consider selling your task on Fiverr!
Fiverr is a marketplace where buyers can pay for tasks starting at just five bucks. Services range from posting on Facebook to singing a silly song on camera. (Seriously! Check out Fiverr’s unique finds for inspiration.)
Fiverr is totally free to join. Once you make a sale, they’ll take a 20% fee, and your payment will be deposited into your PayPal account, Fiverr Revenue Card, or bank transfer.
And, better still, if it’s something you enjoy doing, you’ll never feel like you’re working. How’s that for an easy way to make money online?
Want to read more and see if it’s the right fit for you? Check out this article about if freelancing on Fiverr is the best way to go.
8. Content Creation
Do you post content to platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook? Then, devise a strategy to turn your content into cash! First, decide on your niche. Then, choose an appropriate name for your social media accounts and add a keyword-heavy description. You should consider joining multiple platforms, as you can repurpose your content from one platform to another. Then, come up with an editorial calendar for your content and start filming and publishing. As your audience grows, you can start incorporating monetization methods into your content, such as, creator fund, affiliate marketing, advertising, a TikTok shop, merch, and brand deals. Check out this article for more tips on being a content creator.
10. Customer Service
Believe it or not, not all customer service jobs require you to answer calls for eight hours a day! There are many companies that hire online call agents to work on a flexible schedule. In these roles, you’ll generally work as an independent contractor, so be sure to understand what this means in terms of your tax responsibility.
For flexible ways to make money as a customer service rep, check out:
9. Data Entry
If you pay close attention to detail and are a quick typist, working as a data entry specialist may be a good fit for you. No having to answer inbound calls, no special equipment needed, or special training is required!
While legit data entry jobs can be hard to come by, they do exist! Just be sure to watch out for scams, as scammers know that a large portion of the population is looking for this type of work. Check out this list of companies that frequently hire for online data entry jobs.
10. Design and Sell Printables
What is a printable? A printable can be just about anything you dream up—a daily schedule, water-tracking sheet, chores task list, invoices, planners, templates, and more. Printables are digital products that you can download, print out, and use from home.
The best part of selling them is that you can make them once and sell them over and over again. No inventory, shipping, or large investment is required.
If you have a creative flair, you can sell printables online on sites like Etsy or your own e-commerce store like Shopify. You never even have to leave your house!
11. Design and Sell T-Shirts
If you’re an artist or designer, there are a ton of ways you can make money with your work. One of which is turning your designs into T-shirt graphics!
Gone are the days of buying loads of T-shirts and hoping you can sell them later. With one of these print-on-demand platforms, all you have to do is upload your artwork, and the company handles the rest.
12. eBook Writer
Have you ever dreamed of becoming an author? These days, that dream is so much closer to being a reality. If you’re an expert on a specific topic, chances are people want to hear about it from you. Now, you can write your ideas and self-publish them as an ebook.
Platforms such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble directly sell ebooks from authors, but you can also make your own website or blog to publish your book. You can also create an ebook in just one month. If you want to expand on your topic, consider creating an online course using a platform like Teachable or Uscreen.
13. Freelance Graphic Designer
If you love combining new color palettes and fonts, doing some freelance graphic design work is an excellent way to make money online. Business owners of all sizes need marketing materials for their businesses, so you may end up creating a business logo, social media graphics, custom icons, business cards, and the list goes on and on. You can easily find clients on sites like Toptal, Dribbble, or Behance. Or, if you prefer to earn passive income, try selling your designs, patterns, and fonts on a site like Creative Market.
14. Freelance Writing
Writing jobs are some of the most numerous jobs you can find online. Businesses need help with all sorts of writing these days—articles, social media posts, ad copy, blogs, emails, reports, white papers, case studies, grants, and more. There are, quite possibly, a million and one ways to make money just by putting pen to paper.
Ready to start? The easiest way to make money writing is to write about what you know about! And with the digital world exploding, there is absolutely a company out there that needs your writing on your preferred topic. Check out this huge list of paid writing gigs and see if anything there strikes your fancy!
15. Help Shape AI
If you’d like to help shape AI, there are many companies that will pay detail-oriented, tech-savvy individuals to do this work. Tasks may include analyzing images, videos, text, audio, maps, search engine results, and more. No experience is needed for these positions; however, you will need to pass an initial exam that tests your research, writing, and attention to detail. These roles are independent contracting positions that you can work around the clock. Companies to explore include Data Annotation Tech, TELUS International, and Welocalize.
16. Make Money with Your Mobile Device
There’s an app for everything these days! And with them comes a multitude of ways to make money. With on-demand apps, you can get paid to walk, drive, shop, play with pets, and more.
It’s never been easier to pick up a quick gig in your own neighborhood or while you’re out in town. The best part is, you control which gigs you take and how often you want to work. Just use one of these apps to start making money.
17. Moderate Forums and Groups
You have probably already visited a favorite forum or two. And, chances are, you actively participate in different discussions and threads. You can put your knowledge of forums to work and make easy extra money as an online moderator.
Answering questions and making sure everyone follows the rules can be challenging on forums and in online groups. That’s why forum owners will pay people to moderate content for appropriateness and helpfulness.
Some gigs may require knowledge of social media platforms, while others are more concerned with you having excellent communication skills.
18. Mystery Shopping
If you don’t mind picking up the phone and making a few quick calls, you can easily make money online as a telephone mystery shopper!
Telephone mystery shoppers make phone calls to businesses with the purpose of gathering information. During your call, you’ll make notes and provide feedback regarding the conversation that took place.
From there, you simply log in to your telephone mystery shopper account, write a short synopsis of your call, and submit it. It is that simple.
19. Online Surveys
You have an opinion, and companies are willing to pay for it. That’s why survey-taking is one of the best ways to make money online. All you have to do is answer a few questions about a product, industry, or service, and in return, you’ll earn a little extra cash.
Keep in mind that not all survey sites are the same. Some pay in points, others only allow you to redeem points for gift cards, and some still pay in cold, hard cash.
Either way, becoming an online survey taker is an easy way to make money online since you earn rewards for simply sharing your opinion. Rewards usually include Amazon gift cards, cash via PayPal, or Visa gift cards.
Here are some survey sites to explore:
20. Online Tutor
Are you a history buff? Do you love to read the classics? Then, perhaps your true online calling is becoming a tutor. If you have a passion or extensive knowledge surrounding a specific topic, you can teach others about it online. This could be anyone, from children to college students to even interested adults.
While you can advertise online through places such as Facebook Marketplace or your local schools, plenty of tutoring websites will connect you directly with students. Check out this post for different remote tutoring websites.
21. Paid Focus Groups
There are a lot of online market research companies out there, and they want to know things like what TV shows you watch, what websites you visit, how you use certain products and more. Some will pay you to take brief surveys or complete simple tasks.
Other times, you can sign up for online market research panels. As an online market research participant, you will either participate via webcam, phone, or live chat.
For focus groups to explore, check out:
22. Play Games Online
If you already spend a significant portion of your time gaming, why not get paid to do it?
The money you can make playing games ranges from some spare spending change to a full-time income. The amount you can earn depends on your level of gaming.
If you consider yourself a serious gamer, you can earn money playing in competitions or live streaming on Twitch. If you’re more of a part-time gamer, you can make money too! With a site like Swagbucks, you can turn those game points into cash.
Sound intriguing? Learn more about how to make money playing games here.
23. Personal Training
The world of online fitness has exploded over the past decade, and it only continues to grow! Ever since people got stuck at home and couldn’t go to the gym, they realized that working out at home is less expensive and can be just as fun.
Through apps such as Trainiac or Trainerize.me, you can connect directly with clients and train them virtually. You can also try advertising locally and using Zoom to watch forms and keep your clients motivated to reach their fitness goals.
24. Review a Book
How much time do you spend reading? If you always have a book (or two!) sitting on your nightstand, writing book reviews could be the perfect side gig for you!
You don’t necessarily need a ton of experience either—just an honest opinion and the ability to defend your opinion beyond “this book was good or bad.”
25. Review Phone Calls
Have you ever called into a call center or place of business and heard that familiar recording, “This call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes,” and wondered who’s actually listening?
Well, if you become a call reviewer, that person could be you!
Being a call reviewer is an easy way to make money online. All you do is listen to pre-recorded calls and rate them. What you’re rating depends on the type of call being monitored. For example, you might listen in to see if a call was answered within a certain number of rings or to see if there was a missed opportunity to make a sale.
Does this sound interesting? Sign up at Humanatic to get started reviewing calls for pay.
Just FYI, this is a really low-paying gig, only $1-$4.50 per hour; however, it might be worth it if you’re in a pinch. Payments are made via PayPal.
26. Score Test Papers
If you have a bachelor’s degree, you can earn money by evaluating and scoring test papers online. Most of these jobs don’t require prior experience, and they can be done on your own schedule. However, this work is seasonal in nature. For companies to explore, check out Pearson, Measurement Incorporated, and Write Score.
27. Search Engine Evaluator
Search engines are smart. But they’re not perfect. That’s why search engine evaluators are still needed to help improve search results.
As a search engine evaluator, you will be given a search term someone may use in a search engine, like Google or Bing. Then, you’re given a sample search results page. As a search engine evaluator, your job is to rate the relevancy of the search results page to the actual search term.
For example, let’s say someone googles “new apple.” Chances are, the searcher is looking for information on the latest iPhone, iPad, or Mac made by the company Apple and isn’t interested in learning about apple recipes or the latest trends with this fruit.
Search engine evaluator positions are usually very flexible. Typically, you can set your schedule as long as you meet minimum productivity standards (usually 10 hours a week minimum).
Browse through this list of companies that hire search engine evaluators to start making money online with this method.
28. Sell Handmade Goods on Etsy
Having your own online store is easy these days with the help of Etsy. If you have a passion for crafting or have a creative side, Etsy is the place for you. You can sell anything your heart desires, including jewelry, clothing, party decorations, printables, plants…you name it! The more niche, the better.
The difficult part of selling on Esty is making sure people discover your items. Much like Google, you want to utilize search engine optimization by filling out as many details about your listing as possible. You can also use a dedicated social media account to encourage followers to check out your online store.
29. Sell Your Photos
If you’re the kind of person who always has a camera handy, consider earning some passive income by selling your photos online. The best part is that all types of photography are welcome! There’s a market for just about any subject matter and experience level. You can even make money from your Instagram shots!
Interested? Check out this big list of 40 Ways to Make Money Selling Photos Online.
30. Social Media Manager
One of the most popular ways to make money on the internet is by working as a social media manager. These days, all large and small business owners need to have creative minds working behind the scenes on their social media.
This means you’ll help post content and interact with followers on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and maybe even TikTok. You can also make money by helping run Instagram and Facebook ads.
31. Start a Membership Subscription
Maybe you create weekly meal plans, write poems, or draw comics. Whatever your creative outlet, you can monetize it with a weekly or monthly subscription business. Creators of all kinds (video, podcasting, gaming, music, and more) are making money using Patreon. With Patreon, you can start your business with no money upfront. Then, when someone joins your subscription, Pateron takes a small percentage of the sale price. You can learn more about starting a Patreon business here.
32. Start a YouTube Channel
Another easy way to make money online is by starting a YouTube channel. Like content creation, it’s best to start off with a niche and a keyword-laden channel name and description. From there, start creating videos, long-form, and shorts. To be eligible to join the YouTube Partner Program, you’ll need 4,000 watch hours and at least 500 subscribers. While you’re growing your account, you can monetize with an affiliate marketing program, like Amazon, and brand deals. Check out this article for more tips on growing and monetizing your YouTube channel.
33. Teach English Online
One of the most rewarding ways to make money online is by helping students in other countries learn English. All you need to get started is a webcam, microphone, and internet connection, and then you could be teaching English from home or on the road.
While some online tutoring platforms require you to have a teaching certificate or experience, sites like Cambly just ask you to be a native English speaker. You can also explore EF and VIPKid for ESL tutoring gigs.
34. Test Websites
There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into building websites and apps. It’s no wonder, then, that website administrators and app owners want their final products to work well and be user-friendly.
And to figure out just how well-received their designs are, usability testers are called in to give websites and apps a test drive. Their feedback is used to make improvements and correct any known bugs or errors.
So, what exactly does a usability tester do? It’s simple! As a usability tester, you’re assigned an app or website to visit, along with a set of tasks to complete. Assignments can be anything from pretending to make an online purchase to merely browsing a site as you usually would.
While you complete tasks, you’ll have to speak your thoughts out loud. Your thoughts and mouse movements (or app movements) are recorded through specialized software. That’s it!
At the end of a usability test, you may have to answer a few short written questions. Usability tests can range in pay from $8 to $12 and only take 15-20 minutes to complete. Try out UserTesting, or check out this list of companies if you’d like to make easy cash online as a usability tester.
35. Transcription
Transcription initially requires some learning, but once you master it, it can be an easy way to make money online.
As a transcriptionist, you’ll listen to recorded audio and type out what’s being said. If you don’t have experience as a typist, that’s okay. Several companies hire newbies to type from home — no experience necessary.
These entry-level transcription gigs often involve transcribing audio that is a minute or less in length. That means it should only take you about five minutes to finish one file.
Curious about where to begin? Here are seven companies that hire beginner transcriptionists from home.
36. Virtual Assistant (VA)
As a virtual assistant, you can work on a wide variety of administrative tasks and projects, such as handling email correspondence, booking travel and meetings, writing, proofreading, editing, research, data entry, and so much more! Most companies that hire VAs tend to want them to be available during normal business hours. However, there are a few companies that let you work on tasks on your own schedule. These include Byron, Fancy Hands, and My VA Rocks. You can always start your own VA business, too; here are some high-paying services you can offer!
37. Voice Acting
If you’ve been told that you have a pleasant voice, perhaps becoming a voice actor or audiobook narrator is your calling. While setting up your home recording studio has a learning curve, once you learn the basics, there are plenty of sites where you can apply for voice acting gigs. To learn more about becoming an audiobook narrator, check out this free training!
38. Watch Videos
Can you really make money watching videos online? Yes! From YouTube videos, advertisements, trailers, previews, and more – several online platforms will pay you to watch videos.
How it works: Brands want to gather opinions on their products and advertisements before going live to a broader audience. All you have to do is download an app like Dabbl, watch a short video clip, and fill out a brief survey to let the company know what you think.
You’ll earn points for each video you watch, which you can later redeem for cash, gift cards, or free products.
39. Write Royalty-Free Music
Musicians can even cash in on the online industry by licensing original music. Royalty-free music (also known as stock music) is used in YouTube videos, podcasts, training videos, commercials, and even indie films.
This is a great passive income stream as you upload a song once and get a commission every time someone licenses the song to use in a video or audio production. Check out Pond5 or Epidemic Sound to start uploading and licensing your music.
Conclusion: Easy Ways to Make Money Online
It doesn’t have to be complicated to earn money online. With these 39 ideas, you can start adding a little extra cash to your bank account today without having to put in much effort. And while you might not make a lot of money taking surveys or opening emails, you’ll still make money for completing super simple tasks online!
Are you making money online? If so, how are you doing it? Drop us a note; we’d love to hear from you!
Originally published May 30, 2018. Content updated May 2024.