25 Ways to Make Money Online at Home

This article explains how to make money online from a side gig and how long it will take to start making extra money at home.

Is making money online fast?

If you are wondering how to make money online, it is important for you to stay away from get-rich-quick schemes. For example, there are some people who may recommend online business ideas that claim you can make money from home overnight.

Even though there are lots of ways to earn money online, you need to keep your wits about you, as people who promise that you can make millions of dollars in just a few days are probably trying to take advantage of you. Instead, it is important to focus on legitimate ways to make money, such as social media content creation.

Even though you do need to be careful as you are looking for ways to make passive income from home, there are plenty of amazing ideas out there.

If you are wondering how to make money online, you need to focus on what you are already good at. You have talents that a lot of other people would love to have, and you need to lean on them if you would like to make money online.

Do not hesitate to try out a few ideas, and remember that there are people who are willing to help you. Put together a cohesive strategy that you can use to make money on your schedule from home with a solid internet connection.

1. Pick up freelance work online

Make money online through websites such as Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.com. These sites offer opportunities to do a variety of freelance jobs, such as writing, programming, design, marketing, data entry and being a virtual assistant. Fluent in a second language? Check sites such as Gengo or Blend Express, or drum up business through a site of your own. No matter what freelancing you do, keep track of the going rate for the kind of work you provide so you know what to charge. Learn how to get started on Upwork.

A recent report from Freelancer.com found that creative writing jobs had the fastest growth in listings on its site in the second quarter of 2023, up 58%. And although generative artificial intelligence (AI) is being used more for content creation, it can’t fully do the work of human writers. Companies are looking for writers who know how to edit AI content and who have at least a basic understanding of search engine optimization — learning or beefing up SEO skills could be a lucrative side hustle. Some freelancers are charging $100 an hour or more for their freelance writing services.

3. Test websites and apps

Another way to make money from home is on sites like UserTesting.com. You get paid for your thoughts on how well — or not so well — certain websites and apps work. You’ll have to complete a short test to be accepted, then you’ll be paid depending on the test type. 

5. Make money from your blog with affiliate links

If you’re a blogger who gets decent traffic, you could make money by joining an affiliate network. Affiliates (that’s you) get paid when someone clicks through from the website to the partner site and buys something there. Some bloggers make a lot of money this way, particularly those who do affiliate marketing full-time. You can use social media or a platform like Pinterest to drive traffic to your blog. Read more about affiliate marketing and other ways bloggers can make money.

6. Sell your wares on Etsy

Have a penchant for woodworking, jewelry-making, embroidery or pottery? Sell your crafts on Etsy, the go-to site for artisans selling home goods, art and knickknacks. According to Etsy, the company has 95 million active buyers, and grossed over $13 billion in merchandise sales in 2022. Learn more about how to make money on Etsy.

7. Write and publish an ebook

If you have some measure of knowledge on any specific topic, you can always write and publish an ebook to make money online. Just be sure to write about a topic that is relevant to your blog. This will increase your chances of making a sale, since your audience comes to your blog because of your topic or niche. You can also develop a newsletter list and email potential buyers about your ebook.

8. Get advertising revenue from your blog or YouTube channel

Turn your cat videos into cash videos. If your YouTube videos or blog posts draw a big audience, you may be able to make money from advertising. YouTube sets 1,000 subscribers as the benchmark for applying to the YouTube Partner Program if you want to place ads on your channel. You can apply with 500 subscribers for other monetizing features like channel memberships. You can also use Google’s AdSense, the same ad platform on YouTube, to put relevant ads on your blog or website for earning potential. Read more about how to make money on YouTube and Google AdSense.

9. Develop an app

By developing an app, you can help put a brand right on the home screen of its audience's mobile devices. This way, they can enjoy gamification, dedicated communities, and interactive content. App developers are in-demand, so developing your own app or working for a company in need can be a great way to earn extra income.

10. Become an Instagram influencer

Companies are using Instagram influencers — people with large, dedicated followings on the platform — to rep their products. You can get in on the action by applying for opportunities via a marketing platform like Open Influence or Aspire, or by contacting the brands you want to work with. Read more about how to make money on Instagram. (You can also make money on TikTok this way.)

11. Become a virtual tutor

Tutors are always in-demand. Whether you are a teacher or someone with specific knowledge, you can help learners improve their grades and prepare for exams. Just keep in mind that you should have the teaching experience and a subject-specific certification. This will help create credibility for both parents and students.

Do some research, so you will understand your audience. From your skills, pick topics that you will feel confident teaching. Having specialization certification or an advanced degree will give you an additional advantage.

There are a lot of teaching methods you can implement when you are a virtual tutor. You can use interactive activities, slides, storytelling, and even gamify your course lessons. Being a virtual tutor is one effective way to make money online.

12. Monetize your Twitch channel

Gaming could be a way to make money from home if you have a steady following on Twitch, the go-to site for gamers. Streamers can receive donations from viewers and even get a share of subscription and ad revenue if they reach Affiliate or Partner status. Learn more about how to make money on Twitch.

13. Sell your photography

Turn your photographs into cash via sites like Fine Art America, which lets you upload your images to sell as prints, T-shirts, phone cases and more. Other marketplaces for photographers include SmugMug, 500px and PhotoShelter. Some sites require a subscription but may provide features ranging from cloud storage to password-protected galleries and a customized website.

15. Become a dog walker with Rover or Wag

Love dogs? Choose dog walking as a beginner's way to make money. Apps like Wag and Rover offer on-demand dog walking, so you can pick up walks when your schedule allows. If you have space (and your landlord’s permission, if you rent), you could offer overnight dog boarding. Read the fine print if you sign up for these services

16. Start investing

Even though you can certainly take a look at alternative investment strategies, such as real estate and cryptocurrency, don't forget about the traditional stock market. There are a lot of people who feel like they cannot invest in the stock market because they don't have enough money to do so.

The good news is that there typically is no minimum balance to get started in the stock market. There are plenty of brokerage platforms out there, so you may want to take a look at a successful youtube channel that will explain the differences between them. That way, you can select the best option to meet your needs.

Remember that you do need to be careful when you invest in the stock market. It is difficult to predict whether the market will go up or down, and anyone who promises that they know what the market is going to do does not have your best interests at heart.

That is why you may want to take a few classes, watch a few videos, or read a few books about the stock market. Diversifying your investments is always a good thing, and you may want to consider investing in an industry that you know well.

17. List your spare bedroom on Airbnb

Renting out your home or spare bedroom on vacation rental sites is another way to make extra money. Be prepared to spend some money to clean and keep up the property, replace home goods and pay toward service fees. And scrutinize your rental agreement, HOA rules and zoning or other restrictions before you get started.

18. Become an online translator

Another way to make money online is through translating. Do you speak a second language? If so, you might be surprised at just how much money someone might pay you for your services.

Today, we live in a world that is more global than ever before. If you are able to speak a second language, you will immediately become more marketable just about everywhere. There are different types of translation projects you can work on.

For example, you may want to serve as a remote interpreter in a conversation. If a doctor is having a difficult time communicating information to a patient, they might decide to hire an interpreter to help facilitate the conversation.

You will listen to what one person says, translate it for the other person, and make sure they understand what you have said. Then, you can translate the information back for the doctor. This is one option available, and you might be able to create your own schedule.

Or, you might be able to find a job translating documents to make money online. For example, if someone needs to submit a document to the court and another language, they might hire a translator to help them do so.

Depending on the type of translation you want to do, you may have to take different exams or earn certain certifications. It is up to you to decide how much money you want to make as a translator.

18. Sell your old clothes

You might be interested in starting an online e-commerce business or your own online store. There are plenty of options available, so consider selling your old clothes to make money online.

There are plenty of stores that would happily list your clothes for a small fee. Generally, these online programs take a percentage of every sale. Keep this in mind when you are figuring out how to price your clothes.

If you take a look at your closet, there is a good chance that there are clothes in there that you have not worn for more than a year. You may want to pull out all of the clothes in your closet and divide them into different piles.

One pile might be for clothes that you want to keep, while another pile might be for clothes you want to donate. Finally, you should have a third pile of clothes that you want to sell to earn money. Make sure you take good pictures and pair your clothes with attractive product descriptions!

19. Offer transcription services

Who would have thought you could make money by watching videos? Offering transcription services entails converting audio or video files into written text, catering to a wide range of industries like academia, business, healthcare, and media. As a transcriptionist, you must possess strong listening skills, attention to detail, and typing proficiency. 

To start, you can set up a freelance transcription business by creating a professional website or profile on freelancing platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. Marketing efforts can include networking with potential clients, joining transcription groups or forums, and showcasing accuracy and reliability through sample transcriptions. 

You can specialize in specific industries or transcription types, such as medical or legal transcription, to target niche markets and command higher rates, which means making more money. 

20. Sell print-on-demand products

Selling print-on-demand products offers a lucrative business model that can even help you save money by monetizing your creativity and designing and selling custom merchandise without the need for inventory or any upfront costs.

Print-on-demand platforms handle product manufacturing, printing, and shipping, allowing sellers to focus solely on designing and marketing their products. You can create designs for everything from apparel and accessories to home decor. 

21. Sell stock photos and videos

Selling stock photos or videos is an opportunity for photographers and videographers to monetize their work by licensing images and footage to businesses, media outlets, and individuals for various purposes. 

You can sign up as a contributor on stock photography platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Getty Images and submit high-quality images or videos for review. Successful contributions often focus on niche topics or subjects with high demand, such as lifestyle, business, technology, or nature. 

Building a diverse portfolio of assets, optimizing metadata and keywords for discoverability, and adhering to quality standards set by stock agencies are essential for maximizing sales and earnings.

22. Sell online courses

Selling online courses lets you share your knowledge, expertise, or skills with a global audience and monetize your expertise. To create and sell courses, you can choose a topic or subject area in which you have expertise or experience and develop a comprehensive course curriculum. 

Platforms like Udemy, Teachable, or Skillshare provide tools and resources for creating courses online, making it easy for you to reach potential students worldwide. 

23. Participate in online market research

Participating in online market research offers you the chance to share your opinions, feedback, or insights on products, services, or brands and earn rewards in return.

To participate in online market research studies, you can sign up for survey panels, focus groups, or online communities hosted by market research companies or survey platforms. 

Completing surveys, participating in focus groups, or testing products or prototypes are common types of market research activities that you may be invited to participate in. Engaging in online market research allows you to influence product development, marketing strategies, or business decisions while earning rewards like cash, gift cards, or sweepstakes entries.

24. Try drop servicing

Drop servicing is similar to drop shipping. However, instead of selling products, you'll act as a middleman or intermediary between clients and freelancers by outsourcing service-based tasks like graphic design, digital marketing, writing, or programming and earning a profit margin on each project. 

To start to drop servicing, you can identify in-demand services or skills and create a service offering tailored to target markets or industries. Building a network of reliable freelancers or service providers through freelancing platforms, social media, or professional networks helps in sourcing talent for client projects. 

25. Offer virtual assistant services

Virtual assistant services like administrative, technical, or creative support include tasks like email management, scheduling, research, data entry, or social media management.

Virtual assistants must possess strong organizational and communication skills and proficiency in software tools like project management platforms. 

To start, you can create a professional website or profile on a freelancing platform to begin networking with potential clients. 

Search engine optimization (SEO) drives organic traffic to your website or online platform. By optimizing your web content for relevant keywords, improving website structure and navigation, and building quality backlinks, you can improve your search rankings and attract more visitors. 

It's essential to stay updated on SEO best practices and regularly audit and optimize your website for better visibility and performance. 

When optimizing content for search engines, focus on creating high-quality, relevant content that addresses your audience's unique needs and interests. 

Use descriptive and compelling titles and meta tags to improve click-through rates in search results and ensure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly for a better user experience.