From lottery tickets to envelope stuffing and everything in between, the internet is brimming with lots of popular get-rich-quick money-making schemes.
The big question is, how many of these actually work?
Not a whole lot, we’re afraid!Â
While you’re unlikely to strike it rich overnight, there are some tried and tested ways to make money online.Â
From becoming a virtual assistant or taking part in focus groups to selling crafts on Etsy or downloading cashback apps, with a little bit of creativity and dedication, you can make a steady income from the comfort of your couch.
Who knows, if you get really good at hustling, you might even become an internet millionaire.
We’ve compiled 33 easy ideas to help you get started in your quest for financial freedom:
#1. Freelance Work with platforms like Upwork and Fiverr
No qualifications are needed!
All you need is the right set of skills to offer your services online. Choose from tasks like writing, coding, design, virtual assistance, data entry, marketing, translation, and more — there’s something for everyone.
Are you a polyglot? Consider teaching a language online. Check out sites such as Blend Express, Gengo, and Acadsoc.Â
If you’re a little tech-savvy, why not become an app developer? With platforms like CodeFights and AppMakr, the sky’s the limit.
Got a knack for numbers? Consider becoming a bookkeeper — you can get started with an internet connection and a computer.
Check out sites like Bookkeeper Launch to get started.
How Much Can You Make?Â
That will depend on the type of freelance work you choose.
Many freelancers charge an hourly rate or set a fixed price. It’s up to you to decide how much you want to earn — just remember that your rates should be competitive so that other freelancers don’t undercut your prices.
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
Creating a profile and pitching for jobs can take as little as an hour — and if you’re successful, you could start making money right away.
Mode of PaymentÂ
That will depend on the platform you use. Generally, freelancers are paid via bank transfer, PayPal, Stripe, or even Bitcoin.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
Learning the ropes might take some time if you’re a novice. However, if you have an existing set of skills, then freelancing might be relatively easy for you — especially since there are many online resources that can teach you how to get started.Â
#2. Get Paid to Test Websites and Apps
Are you a tech-savvy individual? If so, then you can get paid to test websites and apps.
Companies like UserTesting will pay you for your feedback or opinion on various websites, apps, and games. All you need to get started is a computer with an internet connection — no experience required.
You’ll have to complete a short test to demonstrate your skills, and once you’re approved, you can start testing almost immediately. Each test will take about 15-20 minutes, and you’ll get paid around $10 for each successful task.
How Much Can You Make?Â
Typically, you can make anywhere from $5 to $10 per test.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
UserTesting pays its testers via PayPal eight days after a test is completed.Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
15 to 20 minutes.
How Hard Is It?Â
It’s not hard at all; if anything, it can be quite fun. Just be sure to follow the instructions provided and give honest and accurate feedback
#3. Get Paid to Complete Tasks at Amazon’s Mechanical Turk
Amazon’s Mechanical Turk is an online marketplace where you can get paid to complete various tasks. These tasks typically involve data processing, transcribing videos, tagging images, classifying receipts, researching, and sorting through large datasets.Â
Once you create an account, you can start looking for tasks that suit your skillset. The tasks are usually simple and don’t require any particular qualifications or experience. Plus, most of them can be completed in minutes.
How Much Can You Make?Â
It depends on the type and complexity of the task
Mode of PaymentÂ
Amazon pays its Mechanical Turk workers via direct deposit or Amazon gift cards.Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
Creating an account takes about 10 minutes, but you’ll have to wait several days before they approve it.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
It’s not hard at all
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
You get paid immediately after the completed task gets approved, which can take up to 30 days.
#4. Get Paid to Take Surveys
We all have opinions, and now you can get paid to share yours! There are several survey sites out there that will pay you for completing surveys. Swagbucks, Survey Junkie and MyPoints are just a few providers that will reward you for your opinion.
While Surveys don’t offer big payoffs, they are a great way to make extra cash in your spare time.Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
You can expect to make between $1 and $5 per survey.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
Payment methods vary by site but generally, you will be paid via PayPal or gift cards. Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
It takes only minutes to sign up and start taking surveys.Â
How Hard Is It?
Surveys are generally relatively easy, taking 10 minutes or less to complete. However, some more detailed surveys may take longer. Â
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
Varies depending on the site
#5. Start Earning as an Affiliate Marketer
You can make money through affiliate marketing if you’re a blogger or a content creator.
When someone purchases through your link, you will receive a commission. All you need to get started is a blog or website and an understanding of basic search engine optimization (SEO).
Afterward, you want to sign up with an affiliate site such as Amazon Associates, Click Bank, CJ Affiliate, or Shareasale. Once your account is set up, you can start promoting products and services on your blog or website and receive a commission from every sale made through your link.Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
It depends on the product or service you are promoting, but you could make anywhere from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars in commission per sale.
Mode of PaymentÂ
Affiliate networks will pay via PayPal or check once your earnings reach a certain threshold.Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
Creating an account takes a few minutes, but you’ll need to research the best products and services to promote.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
Affiliate marketing can be quite challenging; it requires knowledge of SEO, marketing, and an understanding of how different affiliate programs work.
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
It depends on the affiliate network, but you can generally expect to get paid within a few weeks.Â
#6. Sell Your Wares on Etsy
If you’re creative and enjoy making crafts, why not make some money while doing what you love? Etsy is an online marketplace where handmade crafts can be sold. From t-shirts to jewellery to books, anything that was made by hand can potentially sell on Etsy.Â
The platform boasts about 96 million active buyers, grossing over $13.5 billion in merchandise sales in 2021.
How Much Can You Make?Â
The profit you make will depend on the quality of your product and how much effort you put into promoting it, but sellers have reported making anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars per month.
Mode of PaymentÂ
Etsy pays its sellers via PayPal, check, or direct deposit.Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
It usually takes around 15 minutes to open an Etsy shop, but you’ll need to spend some extra time creating and optimizing your listings for them to appear in the search results.
How Hard Is It?Â
Making money on Etsy requires social media, SEO, and copywriting knowledge. Finding the right combination of products and marketing tactics that work best for you also requires a lot of trial and error.Â
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
Usually, within seven days of selling a product
#7. Get Paid to Advertise on Your Blog or YouTube Channel
Ever wondered how bloggers or YouTubers make money? One way is through sponsored content. Companies are always looking for influencers to help promote their products and services, and they’re willing to pay handsomely for it.
YouTube sets 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours as the minimum requirements to join its partner program and make money through ad revenue.Â
YouTube Partners can access an AdSense account, where they can generate revenue from viewers who watch and click on ads.Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
The amount of money you make depends on the number of subscribers and views you get, but some YouTube Partners have reported making hundreds of thousands of dollars per month from ad revenue.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
Payments are sent via check.Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
It takes around 15 minutes to set up an AdSense account, but you’ll need to spend some time creating content and promoting it to get enough subscribers and views to start making money.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
Creating content for YouTube or a blog is time-consuming, but with the right strategies, you should be able to see results fairly quickly. You’ll need to know how to market yourself and optimize your videos or blog posts for maximum engagement.Â
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
Payments are sent out every month. Depending on the payment method, you can expect to receive funds within 2-3 weeks.
#8. Teach Online Classes
These days, more and more people are turning to online learning platforms like Udemy and Skillshare to gain new skills or brush up on existing ones. And if you have the knowledge to share, you can turn your expertise into a profit by teaching online classes.Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
Teachers on Udemy and Skillshare typically make anywhere from $500 – $10,000 per course, depending on the subject matter and quality of content.
Mode of PaymentÂ
Teachers are paid via PayPal or direct deposit.Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
It usually takes around 15 minutes to sign up and create a course, but it can take days or even weeks to assemble the content and ensure that the quality is top-notch.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
Creating an online course can be pretty challenging. You’ll need to know the subject matter you’re teaching and have little experience in video production and editing.Â
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
Payments are generally sent out within 7-10 days after students complete the course. You may receive your funds within a few days after that, depending on the payment method.
#9. Become an Instagram Influencer
You don’t necessarily have to be a celebrity to make money on Instagram. You just need to have a large enough following and a recognizable brand or personality.Â
You can start by posting content that connects with your followers and working with brands to create sponsored posts.
Once your Instagram account is ready and you’re driving a decent number of followers, you can dive into action by signing up with influencer marketing platforms such as Aspire, Open Influence, or IZEA.Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
Influencers can make anywhere from $50 – $20,000 per post, depending on the size of their following and the brand they’re working with.
Mode of PaymentÂ
Payments are usually sent via PayPal or direct deposit.Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
Setting up an Instagram account can be done in a matter of minutes. But once you have the account, it will take time and effort to build a decent following and create content your followers want to engage with.
How Hard Is It?Â
Becoming an Instagram influencer is not easy; it takes hard work, dedication, and creativity to stand out from the crowd and make money.
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
Most influencer marketing platforms pay within 7-10 days of the post’s completion. Depending on the platform and payment method, you may receive your funds even sooner.
#10. Monetize Your Twitch Channel
Are you a gaming enthusiast? If so, why not monetize your passion? You can do this by streaming your gameplay on Twitch and earning money from subscribers and donations.
You can also make money by creating content for brands related to gaming, such as product reviews and gaming tutorials.Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
Streamers on Twitch can make up to $10,000+ in donations per month.Â
Mode of Payment: Twitch streamers typically pay via PayPal, direct deposit, or even a physical check.Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
Setting up a Twitch account can be done in minutes. However, building up a following and creating content your viewers will enjoy watching takes a lot of time and effort.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
Monetizing a Twitch channel isn’t easy; it takes dedication, consistency, and creativity to stand out from the crowd and make money.Â
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
Payments are usually sent out within two weeks of a streamer’s earnings being confirmed.
#11. Sell Photos Online
Do you have a talent for photography? Why not turn your hobby into a money-making venture by selling your photos online?Â
You can upload your photos to stock photo websites such as iStockPhoto, Shutterstock, or Adobe Stock and make money from the purchases.Â
You can also create prints of your work and sell them directly via sites like Fine Art America.
Fine Art America lets you upload your images to be printed on T-shirts, phone cases, prints, and more.Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
Photographers can make up to $50 per photo or up to $2000 depending on the size of their portfolio and the type of license they have for the pictures.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
Payments for stock photography sales are usually sent via PayPal, direct deposit, or check.Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
Setting up your account on stock photo websites will only take a few minutes, and you can start uploading photos immediately.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
Selling photos online isn’t easy; it takes time and effort to create good photographs that will sell and patience to build a portfolio.Â
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
Most photo websites will send payments within 7-14 days of completing the sale.
#12. Become a Virtual Assistant
Do you have experience in administrative tasks or customer service? If so, why not become a virtual assistant and make money from the comfort of your own home?Â
Virtual assistants are typically hired to handle online tasks such as scheduling appointments, data entry, travel arrangements, etc.Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
Virtual assistants can make up to $20-$50 per hour, depending on the tasks they are hired to complete.Â
Mode of Payment
Virtual assistants are usually paid via PayPal, direct deposit or check.Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
Setting up a virtual assistant business can take a few days to weeks, as you’ll need to create a website and start looking for gigs.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
Becoming a virtual assistant is not easy; building up your skillset and getting clients takes a lot of time and effort.
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
Most virtual assistant services will send payments within 7-14 days of completing the job. Depending on the payment method, you may receive your funds even sooner.
#13. Teach English Online
Are you a native English speaker? Then why not teach English online to students worldwide, and make some extra money in the process?Â
You can find teaching gigs on websites such as iTalki, VIPKid, Cambly, etc.Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
Teachers on these websites can make up to $20+ per hour, depending on their experience and qualifications.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
Payments for teaching English online are usually sent via PayPal, direct deposit, or check.
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
Setting up your profile and creating a course outline may take some time, but signing up and getting verified should only take a few minutes.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
Teaching English online is not easy; it takes time to find suitable students and build up your reputation as an instructor.Â
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
Most websites will send payments within 7-14 days of completing the lesson. Some websites may take longer to process payments. It’s best to check each website for their payment policies before signing up.
#14. Get Paid to Write Articles and Reviews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIYC6zG265E
Do you have a flair for words and an eye for detail? You can make money online by writing articles and reviews for websites and blogs. Â
You can find writing gigs on websites such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.Â
It would also help to sign up for article writing sites such as Iwriter, Hirewriters, Verblio, etc.
Here are 20 article-writing sites to check out:
i) iwriter | ii) hire writers | iii) verblio | iv) textbroker | v) Great content |
vi) Text royal | vii) fiverr | viii) contentmart | ix) Constant Content | x) Writers Department |
xi) Get a Copywriter | xii) Crowd Content | xiii) Scripted | xiv) Keywordwave | xv) Freelance Writing |
xvi) Blogging Pro | xvii) Demand Studios | xviii) WritersBureau | xix) Writeraccess | xx) Zerys |
How Much Can You Make?Â
Writers can make anywhere from $5-$100 per article or review depending on the length and difficulty of the assignment.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
Payments for writing gigs are usually sent via PayPal, Stripe, Payoneer, direct deposit, or check.Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
Setting up your profile and creating a portfolio may take several hours, depending on the website you’re using.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
Writing articles and reviews online isn’t as easy as some people like to assume; it takes time to develop your writing skills and build your reputation.
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
Most websites will send payments within a week of getting an article approved and published. Some sites pay sooner than that.
#15. Get Paid to Transcribe Videos and Audio
Do you have a knack for transcribing? You can make money online by transcribing videos and audio into text.Â
You can find transcription gigs on Rev.com, Scribie, TranscribeMe, and many more.Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
Transcriptionists can make up to $20+ per hour, depending on the length and difficulty of the material they’re transcribing.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
Payments for transcription gigs are usually sent via PayPal
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
It doesn’t take long to sign up for a transcription gig. Most websites will require you to do an initial test before getting accepted, which may take up to an hour or two.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
Transcribing audio and video can be difficult, especially if the material is complex or has a lot of background noise. It’s best to practice transcribing to get better at it.
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
Most websites will send payments within 7-14 days of completing a transcription job. Some sites may take longer to process payments, so be sure to check each website for their payment policies before signing up.
#16. Get Paid to Do Students’ Assignments
Not exactly something we would recommend, but if you are good at a particular subject, like math or English, you can make money online by doing students’ assignments.Â
You’ll be paid to write essays, solve math problems, answer multiple-choice questions, and more.Â
You can find assignment gigs on websites such as Uvocorp, Essay pro, Essay Shark, Study Bay, Edduson, Writershub, Hawk Research, Study Pool, Writerslab, TSM, Gethomeworkhelp, and many more.Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
The amount you make will depend on the length and difficulty of the assignment. Most of these sites pay per page or assignment, and you can make anywhere from $5-$50 per page or assignment.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
Most websites send payments via PayPal, Payoneer, Stripe, or direct deposit.Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
Setting up your profile and portfolio may take several hours, depending on the website you’re using.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
Doing students’ assignments online can be tricky because you have to ensure that the work is original and that you’re not plagiarizing anyone else’s assignment.
You must also format your assignments properly and ensure they meet the required academic standards.Â
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
Most websites will send payments within 7-14 days of getting an assignment approved.
#17. Make Money Trading Stocks
Are you a stock market whiz? You can make money online by trading stocks.Â
You can trade stocks on websites such as eToro, Robinhood, TradeStation, and many more.Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
The amount of money you can make will depend on your ability to predict the stock market and make profitable trades.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
Most websites send payments via PayPal, Payoneer, Stripe, or direct deposit.Â
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
Creating a trading account may take several hours, depending on the website you’re using. You’ll also have to deposit money into the account before you can start trading.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
Trading stocks can be risky, especially if you’re new to it. You need to understand what you’re doing and have a good strategy before investing any money.
How Long Do Payments Take?
You can withdraw your money almost immediately after a successful trade. Most websites will process payments within 24 hours.
#18. Drive for Uber or Lyft
If you have a car and some free time, you can make money online by driving for Uber or Lyft.Â
You can sign up to drive on the company’s website, fill out your driver profile, and start picking up passengers.
How Much Can You Make?Â
The amount of money you make will depend on how many hours you drive and how much the passengers pay.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
Uber and Lyft will send payments via direct deposit or mobile paymentsÂ
How Long Does It Take to Set Up?Â
Setting up your profile and completing the driver onboarding process may take several hours, depending on the website you’re using.Â
How Hard Is It?Â
Driving for Uber or Lyft can be a great way to make money, but it’s not without its risks. You must be aware of your surroundings and take safety precautions when picking up passengers.Â
How Long Do Payments Take?Â
Uber and Lyft will send payments directly to your bank account within 4-7 days.Â
You can also cash out your earnings instantly with Uber and Lyft debit cards.
#19. Make Money Trading ForexÂ
If you’re a currency market enthusiast, you can make money online by trading Forex.Â
You can trade Forex on websites such as eToro, Plus500, AvaTrade, and many more.Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
The amount of money you can make will depend on your ability to predict the currency market and make profitable trades.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
Most websites send payments via PayPal, Payoneer, Stripe, or direct deposit.
#20. Make Money Trading Crypto
If you want to make money trading crypto, you can do so on websites such as Coinbase, Kraken, Paxful, Local Bitcoin, and Binance.Â
Here’s how these sites work:Â
Crypto trading isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. There’s a lot of scamming and market volatility, so you must be careful.Â
By trading crypto, we mean buying coins at a lower price and selling them at a higher price to make money.Â
You won’t make a fortune overnight, but you could make consistent profits with some research and practice.
#21. Sell eBooks Online
If you have a knack for writing, you can make money online by publishing your own eBooks and selling them on websites such as Amazon Kindle, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble.Â
You can self-publish your eBooks or work with a publishing company to get them published. You’ll need to design the book covers, create the eBooks, and market them before you can start making money. Â
How Much Can You Make?Â
The amount of money you can make will depend on the number of books you sell and how much they’re selling for.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
Most websites send payments via PayPal, Payoneer, Stripe, or direct deposit.
#22. Get Paid to TypeÂ
You can make money online by typing if you’re fast and accurate with a keyboard. You could work for companies that offer data entry, document transcription, copywriting, and legal typing services.Â
You can apply for these jobs on sites like Microworkers, 2Captcha, Mega Typers, Fast Typers, Kolotibablo, Virtual Bee, Captcha Typers, Key for Cash, and ProTypers.
How Much Can You Make?Â
The amount of money you make will depend on how many hours you work and how much the company pays you.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
Most websites send payments via PayPal, Payoneer, Bank Checks, Stripe, Perfect Money, Western Union, Payza, or Web Money.
#23. Make Money Dropshipping
Here’s how dropshipping works: you create an online store and list products from suppliers.Â
When a customer makes a purchase, the supplier ships the product to the customer on your behalf — You don’t have to handle any inventory or shipping costs.Â
You can make money dropshipping on websites such as eBay, Amazon, and Shopify.
How Much Can You Make?Â
The amount of money you make will depend on your store’s success and the number of products you sell.Â
Mode of PaymentÂ
Most websites send payments via PayPal, Payoneer, Stripe, or direct deposit.Â
You can also use apps like Oberlo to automate the process and maximize profits.