101 Ways to Make Extra Money on the Side in 2025 (Fast & Legitimately!)

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom wanting a side hustle you can do online without leaving your house, someone with a full-time job looking for additional part-time money-making opportunities, or just someone who wants to use their free time to make quick cash, this list has you covered.

Best Ways to Earn Extra Money in Your Spare Time

Here are all the ways you can make extra money with little to no upfront cost.

1. Make $10 fast with QuickRewards

This is my favorite site for completing free offers and getting paid cash fast through PayPal. I’ve talked about it in detail here.

Basically, you sign up for free, spend 20-30 minutes completing some free offers (like visiting sites, subscribing to free newsletters, playing games, etc.), and then cash out.

The cool thing about this site is that there’s no minimum requirement for cashing out. You can get paid even if you have just 5 cents in your account!

That said, if you spend around 20 minutes on this site, I’m sure you can easily make $10.

The best part? They pay via PayPal within hours.

2. Sell used books with BookScouter

Who doesn’t have tons of books lying around the house?

We all do!

You probably have piles of books sitting in your basement gathering dust.

But did you know you can make some quick cash by selling your used books?

Forget about selling on eBay or Craigslist—those platforms often mean waiting around for buyers.

Instead, use BookScouter.com to sell your books quickly and easily.

It’s super simple…

1. Visit BookScouter.com.
2. Enter the 10-digit ISBN number of your book and hit enter.
3. The system will check how much the book is worth and, within seconds, you’ll receive an offer.
4. If you accept the offer, you can print out a prepaid shipping label from their site, send in the book, and get paid within about two weeks.

You can choose to be paid via PayPal or by check.

3. National Consumer Panel: Scan Your Groceries

Want to get paid every time you go grocery shopping?

NCP wants to pay you for scanning your groceries with their free smartphone app.

NCP is an app by the well-known Nielsen company, the same research firm behind Nielsen TV ratings, which track TV viewing habits anonymously.

Why would they want you to scan your groceries?

To gather data that helps manufacturers and retailers make better decisions—like figuring out which products sell well so they can produce more of them, and which ones don’t so they can improve or replace them.

Here’s how it works:

• Step 1: Sign up for your free NCP account here.
• Step 2: After creating your account, you’ll get access to their free smartphone app—or they may send you a free scanner.
• Step 3: Scan the barcodes on the products you buy at the grocery store using the app or scanner.
• Step 4: Enter additional details like the date and time of purchase, store name, and location.
• Step 5: Earn points weekly based on your activity.
• Step 6: Redeem your points for cash, gift cards, or other prizes.

They also have sweepstakes where you can win cash and prizes.

We all buy groceries, so why not use this free app to get something back?

4. Clean Your Closet and Get Paid via ThredUp

ThredUp is like an online consignment store.

How it works:

• Visit their site and order a “Clean Out” bag.
• Fill the bag with unused clothes from your closet.
• Print the prepaid shipping label from the site and send the bag to them.
• Earn 40% of the resale value for each item.

You can choose to receive store credit or get paid via PayPal.

5. Pleio: Remind People to Take Their Medication

Pleio is a website that provides a reminder service to help people take their medications.

They often have remote job openings where you can call clients to remind them about their prescriptions and assist with basic questions.

6. Reddit’s r/forhire: Do Freelance Work

Freelancing is popular for a reason—it lets you work from anywhere, anytime.

You can keep your full-time job and still make money as a freelancer.

The hard part? Finding clients.

Sure, you could use traditional freelancing platforms like UpWork and Freelancer.com…

But with hundreds of thousands of workers from all over the world competing for every job (often underbidding you), it can be tough to land work.

That’s why I recommend smaller, less-known platforms.

Sure, Reddit is one of the biggest sites in the world, but it’s not widely recognized as a freelancing platform. However, it has many subreddits that are gold mines for finding jobs and offering your services.

For example, subreddits like r/forhire allow you to list your service—essentially posting a free ad.

There are also subreddits where clients post about the freelance help they need.

Here are a few to keep an eye on:

• r/hiring
• r/jobs
• r/freelance_forhire

Using these smaller subreddits makes it much easier to find paying clients. Some of these gigs can even turn into long-term work if you deliver quality results.

7. Nielsen Digital Voice: Earn an Extra $50 a Year Passively

When I say passive, I really mean it!

All you have to do is install a free app. For every month you keep it installed, you get paid.

Nielsen Digital Voice (also known as the Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel) is an exclusive program by Nielsen Research. It helps companies better understand how we use our devices—computers, tablets, smartphones, and more.

Here’s how it works:

• Step 1: Sign up for free here.
• Step 2: Install the free app.
• Step 3: Earn rewards as long as you keep it installed!

The app runs quietly in the background, collecting anonymous data for research and development purposes.

You continue using your device as usual—browsing the web, playing games, shopping, watching videos, and more.

Plus, you can participate in their sweepstakes, where Nielsen gives away $10,000 in prizes every month!

Visit the site today, install the app, and start earning for doing what you already do!

8. JustPark: Rent Out Your Driveway or Parking Space

Do you live in a location where parking spaces are hard to find?

If so, take advantage of this by renting out your driveway or parking space through platforms like JustPark.

9. Rent the Runway or HURR Collective: Rent Your Clothes or Accessories

If you’re into fashion and have a closet full of clothes you rarely wear, this one’s for you!

Websites like Rent the Runway or HURR Collective make it easy to rent out your high-end clothing, accessories, or even everyday wear for extra cash.

10. Peerspace or Splacer: Rent Out Your Backyard for Parties or Events

If you have a large backyard or outdoor space, you can rent it out for private events, small weddings, or outdoor parties.

No need to post ads on Craigslist to find renters! Platforms like Peerspace and Splacer connect property owners with people searching for unique venues for their events.

11. The Prop Store: Sell Your Old Books or Collectibles to Movie Studios

Got old, rare books or collectibles lying around? Consider selling them to movie studios or production companies. These items are often purchased as props for films and TV shows.

Websites like The Prop Store specialize in buying historical artifacts and unique items for entertainment productions.

12. Context Travel: Walk Around Your Town!

Here’s a fun way to pocket some extra cash in your free time: become a tour guide!

Every city has its charm and attractions, and if you know your town well, you can share your knowledge with tourists through Context Travel.

Set your own hourly rates and get paid in your local currency, no matter where you live.

13. Roadie: Turn Your Daily Commute Into Cash

Like the idea of making money with your car but don’t want to drive strangers around?

Why not give rides to packages instead? Platforms like Roadie let you deliver packages during your regular commute, earning cash while you’re already on the road.

Roadie is a peer-to-peer delivery service that “matches people with stuff to send with drivers already headed in the right direction. The result is a cheaper, easier, greener delivery service.”

As a driver, you get paid to deliver packages to destinations already along your commute.

Here’s the best part:
You don’t have to change anything about your commute! You can simply accept deliveries that align with your existing route.

How much can you make?

It depends on the distance:

• For local trips, you can earn between $8 and $50.
• For long-distance deliveries, earnings can reach several hundred dollars or more.

It’s a fantastic way to make extra cash during your daily commute, road trips, or any journey you’re already planning to take.

Payments are processed at the end of the next business day, and funds are deposited into your bank account within 3-5 business days.

How to get started:

• Download the free Roadie app.
• Apply to be a driver.
• Complete a background check.
• Watch an online tutorial to get familiar with the process.

If everything goes smoothly, you could be on the road earning money as soon as the next day!

14. Amazon Flex: Deliver Packages for Amazon

Amazon Flex is a newer opportunity for those looking to make money with flexible schedules.

If you’ve ever wanted to make money with Amazon without selling products, this is for you.

Amazon Flex is an opportunity for local drivers to help improve Amazon’s delivery time by delivering packages more quickly.

The best part about working with Amazon Flex is the flexibility—it allows you to set your own schedule and work whenever you want.

With Amazon Flex, you can earn $18-$25 per hour.

The Amazon Flex app makes it easy to track your earnings, giving you a snapshot of how much you’re making in real time.

15. Amazon Home Services: Sell Your Local Services (Not Products!) with Amazon

Amazon Home Services is a feature that allows service providers to sell their local services to customers.

If you offer services like:

• Painting
• Plumbing
• Landscaping
• Assembly
• House cleaning
• Handyman (or woman)
• Electrical work
• …and more!

Once your application is approved, you can start seeing new jobs in your area through the Amazon app. Pick the ones you like and start earning money!

16. ClinicalTrials.gov: Participate in Medical Studies

Universities, hospitals, and research organizations conduct hundreds of thousands of studies every year, and they pay well for participants.

It’s not uncommon to earn $10,000-$20,000 for a single study, though those are rare and can take weeks to complete.

However, there are many open paid clinical trials that pay anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

Finding legitimate clinical trials that pay can be tricky, but ClinicalTrials.gov makes it easier to find quick cash gigs near you in the form of open paid studies.

Some studies are online, while others are conducted locally.

Just visit the site, enter your zip code, and explore the available opportunities in your area.

17. GigWalk: Do Random Small Tasks

Check out gigwalk.com for gigs that companies are ready to pay you for.

It might be something as simple as checking the price of items in a grocery store or taking a photo of a house.

18. Rev: Caption Videos

Rev is a platform that connects freelance captioners with companies and brands that need their services.

You’ll watch videos and create timed captions that sync with the video.

You can set your own schedule and work from anywhere at any time.

They pay weekly via PayPal.

They also offer transcription and translation jobs.

19. GoTranscript: Transcribe Audio Files and Videos

Can you type quickly?

Want to work from home?

Then try GoTranscript!

It is one of the fastest freelance transcription platforms where you can work as a freelancer, set your own schedule, work from anywhere, and get paid weekly.

You can earn up to $0.60 per audio or video minute.

Their top earners make an average of about $1,215 per month working only part-time.

20. Fiverr: Do… Whatever!

Good at a lot of things?

This is for you!

Fiverr started as a micro freelancing site where anyone could sell any service imaginable for just 5 bucks.

But it has since grown so much that it is now one of the top micro gig sites in the world.

Not only that, you can now sell your services for any price you like.

Here’s the kicker…

You can literally sell any service you can think of!

Drawing, writing, poetry, singing, taking pictures, social media management, being silly on camera, prank calling, even standing on the street corner and taking pictures.

The list goes on and on.

Some people are actually making six-figure incomes on Fiverr.

Don’t know what to sell?

Browse the gigs from other sellers and see what’s popular. Then create your own gig and do it better!

21. SurveySavvy: Take Online Surveys

Taking surveys for money is a fun way to get paid for telling companies and businesses what you think of their products.

There are tons of legit survey sites out there, but one of the best and most high-paying ones is SurveySavvy.

Their surveys pay anywhere from $1 to $5 on average (takes 10-15 minutes).

The pay can go as high as $60 or more for special studies that may take longer.

Not only that, but you can also earn $1-$2 for every survey your friends and family take.

Join the site for free, complete your profile, and start getting paid for your opinion.

22. SwagBucks: Get Paid to Search

When it comes to rewards programs, one site stands out: Swagbucks.

We did a comprehensive review of Swagbucks a while back.

In a nutshell, it rewards you for doing what you already do online—shopping, playing games, taking surveys, watching videos, etc.

You earn what is known as Swag Bucks.

When you earn enough points, you can redeem them for Amazon gift cards, cash into your PayPal account, or prepaid Visa cards.

23. RedBox: Stock Redbox

You know that you can rent movies for only $1.50 from RedBox.

But how do you think the movies get there?

Yes, you can be paid to stock the DVDs into the kiosks and make sure the equipment is working.

24. Shipt: Make Money Grocery Shopping (Up to $25/hr)

This is a perfect side hustle for anyone looking to make extra cash, especially those of us who love shopping but hate paying for stuff!

You can earn up to $25 an hour buying and delivering groceries for local people via Shipt.

What is Shipt, you ask?

It’s an on-demand grocery delivery service that is looking for reliable, independent people to shop for groceries and deliver them to their members.

The best part is that you can set your own schedule, so you can work whenever you have some free time.

You need to be 18 years or older, have a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and a clean background.

25. InboxDollars: Watch Videos

InboxDollars is a reward site where you get paid to do a variety of things.

These are things you already do online: watching videos, reading emails, shopping, playing games, and more.

They also pay you $5 just for joining!

26. SkillShare: Create Instructional Videos

You know those instructional videos you watch on YouTube or Facebook? You can actually make good money creating those videos!

We are all experts in something. You can turn your expertise into cash by creating a simple online course that you can sell over and over again to people interested in learning it.

It doesn’t matter what your expertise is— as long as you can teach it well, you can sell it.

The biggest site of this kind is Udemy, but as the platform grows, so does the competition.

That’s why I recommend SkillShare.

It’s still a big platform, but there is much less competition than on Udemy.

They even have guides to help you get started.

Have no clue how to structure your course?

Take a look at similar courses. Of course, don’t just copy their work—use it as a guide to creating your own.

27. Take Lessons: Give Lessons Online (or Locally)

I always say that each of us is an expert at something.

If you can teach that “something,” you can actually make good money.

The biggest problem with making money by giving lessons is finding paying students.

Fortunately, that problem is solved with Take Lessons.

It’s an awesome platform where people looking to learn something new can find teachers.

As a teacher, you can teach almost anything you’re good at—dancing, playing guitar, writing, woodworking, knitting, sewing…

You can set your own schedule, prices, and teaching subjects.

Since the site is popular, you save time and money trying to find paying students on your own.

Now, the best part is that you can teach online or offline. You can meet up at a local place to teach local students, teach online through the site, or even travel to teach if you like.

According to the site, their top teacher has earned $227k so far.

To get started, visit the site, fill out the application, complete a background check, and agree to their independent contractor terms.

28. Fotolia: Sell Stock Photos

Perhaps your forte isn’t in writing or making videos, but you’re good at taking pictures. If that’s the case, you should consider stock photo sites, where you can offer your photos for sale.

These are the sites that everyone turns to when they need a photograph, whether it’s to illustrate a book cover or provide other content.

Start by checking out Fotolia, Shutterstock, iStockphoto, or Bigstockphoto.

The great thing about this opportunity is that your photos can be sold repeatedly, giving you ongoing residual income.

29. Udemy: Teach Anything

As I mentioned earlier, Udemy is so popular that you’ll face a lot of competition.

However, since you’ve already created the course for SkillShare, you might as well upload it to Udemy as well.

Yes, you can sell the same course on Udemy.

You own the content, so you can sell it on any other similar site or even your own site.

Basically, you do the work once but continue to earn money from it over and over again.

It can’t get any sweeter than that!

30. Amazon FBA: Sell Stuff

Take away the auction, and Amazon works much like eBay, allowing you to sell goods and charging you a fee for the privilege.

You can either sell items and ship them yourself or use their Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program, where they store your inventory and handle shipping. If you buy wholesale goods, you can even have them delivered directly to Amazon, so you never have to touch them.

Or, if you prefer to work for the company directly, you can become an Amazon customer service associate and work from home.

31. Etsy: Make & Sell Arts and Crafts

Etsy is like eBay for handmade items.

If you’re good at making handmade items—whether it’s jewelry, woodwork, metal objects, paintings, or anything else—you can make money by selling them on Etsy.

There are people who are making a full-time living on Etsy.

Need examples?

How about these people:

Bill and Amy Mowat earn $25,000 to $45,000 a month selling wooden cheese boards on Etsy.

Alicia Shaffer makes $80,000 a month selling handmade legwarmers, scarves, and headbands on Etsy.

There are countless other examples.

But here’s the thing…

You don’t have to make a six-figure income on Etsy to be successful.

Even by putting in just a few extra hours a month making and selling handmade items in your free time, you can earn a significant side income.

Here’s how to get started selling on Etsy:

• Step 1: Get a pen and paper.
• Step 2: Write down a few ideas for things you can make easily and without too much financial investment.
• Step 3: Create 10-20 prototypes to begin with.
• Step 4: Take high-quality pictures from all angles.
• Step 5: Create your account on Etsy and list your items.
• Step 6: If there’s interest, start making more. If not, tweak the design or come up with something new.

The beauty of working with Etsy is that, because the site is so popular, you don’t have to do much advertising. If you create quality products, word of mouth and customer reviews will carry you far.

32. Lyft or Uber: Give Rides

I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard from people on forums I participate in about the amount of money they are making with Uber and Lyft.

If you own a car and have free time on your hands, this is truly an awesome way to make money with your car.

Both of these companies are available in most major cities.

All you need is a clean car, a clean driving record, and a willingness to do the job.

The best part is that you can work whenever you want.

You make your own schedule.

It just can’t get any better than that.

33. Zazzle: Design customized stuff

Another website for the designer in you, you can use this site to sell items you have made, upload designs and be paid royalties, or promote others’ products to earn money.

It’s called an Artisan website, so take a look and see what type of goods are selling.

34. UberEats: Deliver food

If you don’t like the idea of ridesharing and don’t want to make money giving rides to strangers, this is for you.

You can still work with Uber and make money with your car without sharing your car with total strangers.

UberEats is basically a food delivery system.

Customers pay for the delivery through the Uber app. You deliver the item(s) and get paid for it.

You are paid a pickup fee, a drop-off fee, and a mileage fee.

Based on UberEats driver reviews I have seen you can earn up to $20 an hour doing this.

Now, if you are already doing Uber ride-sharing, this will be perfect since you can do the delivery between rides.

35. Postmates: Deliver Food

Postmates advertises that you can earn up to $25 per hour as a food delivery person.

Once again, you need to check whether it’s in your area before getting too excited. It consists of picking up food from a restaurant where it has been ordered and delivering it to the customer.

We recently reviewed working for Postmates, you can read our article here.

36. Fetch: Walk dogs

I am a dog/animal lover, so this is one of my favorites.

If you are a dog/animal lover looking for extra cash, you’d be crazy to pass on this.

With so many sites and networks that connect dog owners with walkers, it is easier than ever to get this side hustle going.

Fetch is one of the biggest ones out there.

A quick search on Reddit and other forums shows there are people who are making $1000 or more a month on a part-time basis.

There are other sites as well.

Here are a few:

• DogWalker
• Rover

For a bigger list of apps and local sites where you can find dog walking gigs, read our Dog Walking Jobs post.

37. Urban Sitter: Baby sit (and find clients easily!)

When you’re trying to make money babysitting, the hardest part is finding clients.

No more!

With UrbanSitter it is easy as joining (which is free) and completing your profile.

You can set your own schedule and your hourly rate.

But the best part is that unlike similar sites that take a cut of your earnings, here you keep 100% of what you make!

You can earn an extra $1000 or so a month easily even if you just devote an hour or two a day.

38. Become a Reality TV Star

Have you considered becoming a reality TV star?

With so many TV channels to fill, reality TV has become a big business.

You can aim for the networks, with America’s Got Talent or the like, or you can shoot for the cable reality shows which seem much easier to get into.

If you can spin them a unique story, such as the people on Duck Dynasty, then you’ll have a much better chance.

Here are a few shows you can apply for:

1. America’s Got Talent
2. ABC: You can apply for many ABC shows including WifeSwap and Extreme Weight Loss
3. HGTV – Apply to be on shows like House Hunters, Love It or List It, and Property Brothers.

39. HomeStay: Rent your spare room

We all know AirBnB.

And that’s the problem with it!

It is so saturated with competition that the prices you can charge go lower and lower every year.

That’s why I think it’s better to use smaller sites with less competition.

One of those sites is HomeStay.

According to the company, you can earn from $2,042 per month renting out your spare room in the United States.

And that’s the minimum!

40. Nomador: Get paid to stay in luxury houses!

People will pay you to stay in their house while they go away on vacation.

The idea is that you are responsible and will take care of their property, making sure everything stays fine (pipes don’t freeze, the mail is collected, phone answered, etc.)

You may even find that they want to leave their dogs and cats behind, giving you a pet sitting gig at the same time.

Traditionally, to get clients (people who need house sitters) you’d have to know somebody, but with a site like Nomador you don’t.

All you do is sign up, create your profile (they do background checks) and look for people in your local area who need house sitters.

This is an international platform, so no matter where you live, you can potentially find clients.

As far as how much you can make, it really depends. From what I have seen on online forums, sitters are making an average of $50 per night.

To get more clients, sign up for similar sites like HouseSitter and HouseCarers.

41. Needle: Be an advocate of your favorite brands

Or perhaps you prefer to help people out via chat windows and would like to become a customer support person.

Needle.com employs people called Advocates who are always available for an online real-time conversation with shoppers.

42. FieldAgent: Do Audits and Research with your phone

FieldAgent is basically an app that enables you to earn money by completing quick tasks for local businesses.

Tasks include price checking an item, taking photos of a store or its display, finding a product at a store, answering surveys, etc.

There are a few different types of jobs you can do:

• Audits: You’ll have to visit a location and conduct an audit (check the status of a product, display, or a section of an aisle).
• Mystery Shopping: You’ll pose as a real customer, gathering information about the store in general (employee friendliness, store displays, cleanliness, and how easy or hard it is to find a product).
• Scavenger Hunt: With this one, you’ll take pictures of specific items.
• Surveys: You will answer questions about a business and its products and services. Sometimes you may be asked to take the survey while in the store; other times, you can complete it at home.

Each gig pays between $1 and $12.

You can withdraw your earnings via Direct Deposit to your bank account.

To get started, download the free app, create your profile, and start browsing and accepting local jobs.

The overlooked benefit of using FieldAgent is that, since these jobs are quick and easy, you can do them whenever you have free time.

Some jobs take only a few minutes, so you can complete them during your lunch break.

It really is an easy way to make some extra cash.

43. Skyword: Get Paid to Create Content for Major Brands

Skyword is a step above your usual freelancing platforms where anyone can sign up. This is a platform for serious content creators.

They create content for some of the biggest brands in the world—Lowe’s, Purina, TransUnion, Equifax, IBM, The Wall Street Journal, and many more.

They look for people who are skilled:

• Videographers
• Writers
• Photographers
• Designers

If you are good at creating engaging content, this is the platform where you can get paid big bucks for your work.

The pay is based on the type of content you create.

For example, if you are a writer, you can earn between $25 to $50 for small pieces. But the real money is in longer more in-depth articles that pay up to $400 to $500 each.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Sign up and create your profile.
2. Add a few samples of your work.
3. Once your account is approved, they’ll assign you stories based on your portfolio.
4. From then on its a matter of creating quality content and getting paid.

You can do this full time or part-time.

You are paid via PayPal on the 1st and 15th of each month.

44. FocusGroup.com: Tell companies what you think of ’em!

Here at MoneyPantry, we’re a big fan of online survey sites.

These sites pay you for sharing your opinion about products and services through studies done by market research companies.

Another way market research companies gather consumer feedback for companies and manufacturers is through focus groups.

There are online and offline focus groups that are conducted in your local area.

Offline focus groups usually pay much more.

You can expect between $75 to $250 for your average study that takes between 40 minutes to 2 hours.

There are also higher paying studies that can pay $500 or more, but they take longer as well.

Now finding legit focus group companies that conduct studies in physical locations near you isn’t easy.

Fortunately, with FocusGroup.com it is as easy as entering your zip code in the search box.

The site will then display a list of available studies near you.

Pick the ones you like and apply to become a participant.

Most offline focus groups pay cash after the study is done.

45. Air Garage: Rent out your garage

If you have extra space in your garage, this is an easy way to make money with it.

Who would rent your garage?

There are many reasons people and businesses would want to rent parking space.

For example, I may work near your house and am tired of paying too much for daily parking spots. I want a safer and cheaper place to park my car.

Sometimes businesses and people hold special events where hundreds of thousands of people may show up. Finding parking posts for all these people can be hard and expensive.

Your spot offers a safer and cheaper way for these people to park their cars.

How much can you make?

As you can imagine, it really depends on your location.

Obviously, spots near busy downtown locations can charge more.

People report earning from $50 to $100 or more per month.

It may not sound like much, but when you consider the minimal amount of time and effort that you have to put into it, it’s a no-brainer.

Plus, you make money from a spot that otherwise would sit there with no use.

And you have complete control over everything – who you rent to, how much to charge, etc.

To get started, simply sign up for free, add your space and set a price. Interested drivers can then apply.

Accept the application and start getting paid.

46. Google User Experience Research: Help Google make better stuff

Most of us either own a few Google products or at least use some of them online (YouTube, Gmail, Google+…)

They do make great products and they’re always trying to improve their products and come up with better ones.

One way they do that is by gathering feedback from actual users.

This is done through Google’s own User Experience Research Studies.

Basically, you’ll give them feedback on a variety of Google products and features.

The good news is that anyone 18 and older can participate.

They have a few different kinds of studies:

• Usability study at a Google office: Basically show up at the location, meet with a Google researcher and provide feedback. Must live near a Google office.
• Remote usability study: Through a screen-capture session the researcher will have you use a product and ask for feedback as you go through the process. Can be done from anywhere in the world.
• Experiential sampling study: This usually is done over a few days. You’ll be asked to use a product and give feedback throughout the experiment.
• Field study: Google researchers will contact you and schedule a time when they can come to your house or office to conduct an in-person study.
• Surveys: They’ll send you online surveys that you can answer anytime and from anywhere.

What do you get?

According to Google, you get small prizes such as gift cards or donations to a charity of your choice.

47. CDS Virtual Lab Online Panel: Help Columbia Business School Researchers

Wanna help the Columbia Business School’s Center for Decision Sciences understand consumer behavior, judgment and decision makings?

Here’s your chance to do just that and earn around $16 per hour doing so.

As you might have guessed, they conduct online research studies to help the researchers understand our behavior when it comes to shopping, decision making, judgment, etc.

To get started, visit the site, fill out your profile and respond whenever there is a survey available.

You are paid via PayPal.

If you don’t have a PayPal account, you can ask for Amazon gift certificates.

48. A Fine Parent: Write about parenting

This is perfect for stay at home moms and dads.

You can write about anything that’s related to parenting.

It can be personal experiences, tips, how-to guides, or whatever else that can help or entertain parents.

You get $75 for every post that gets published.

If you’re interested in making money wiring online, check out my list of 101 sites that pay you to write.

49. ErliBird: Test apps

Love playing Candy Crush but want to see a new future?

Well, as an app tester, that’s exactly what you’ll do!

Basically, you’ll install an app/software, use it as you would normally, then provide feedback about your experience, its advantages and disadvantages and what you think would make it better.

ErliBird pays you $10 per test.

You get paid via PayPal 7 days after the end of a project.

50. Checker Patrol: Be a movie mystery shopper

Just like shopping mystery shopping where you pose as a customer to gather information, as a movie mystery shopper your job is to gather information for theater owners to help them improve their business.

Checker Patrol is one of the main market research companies that has a panel dedicated to movie mystery shopping.

Some of the things you may do for them include:

• Blind Checking
• All Screen Trailer Checking
• Sneak Preview Checking

They also conduct restaurant mystery shopping

To get started, visit the site (link above), fill out the form and wait to hear back.

The pay varies based on the assignment. Of course, you do get to watch movies for free.

51. TheSource: Rate pizzas

Companies spend millions of dollars on data that they can use to improve their business.

One of the most valuable kinds of data is customer feedback.

This is an awesome side gig that not only earns you a little extra cash but also helps local companies improve their business.

You’ll be working as an Independent Field Agent.

Basically, you visit local businesses – pizza shops, restaurants, fast food, movie theaters, mechanics, etc… and rate them.

Let’s say your assignment is a pizza shop. You order a pizza and rate their customer service, the quality of pizza and how quickly it was delivered.

You get paid by the project. Usually, the longer an assignment takes, the more you get paid.

The Source pays twice a month via Direct Deposit by check for U.S. agents. For Canadian and UK Independent Field Agents they pay via PayPal.

52. Achievement: Get paid for being healthy

Failing to keep up with your new year resolution?

This app will give you an extra incentive for being healthy, helping you achieve your new year resolution.

It’s basically a health app that rewards you for being healthy and active.

You earn points for things like walking and tracking your food.

You can also earn points by taking health-related surveys.

You can redeem your points for cash or free Amazon gift certificates. 10,000 points get you $10.

The best part is that Achievement connects to the popular fitness app some of which you may already own. We’re talking MyFitnessPal, Fitbit, RunKeeper, and Healthkit.

To get started, sign up, download the app and earn your first 10 points for free just by doing that!

53. Saucey: Deliver beer

With Saucey you can easily turn your car, bike or motorcycle into a source of income.

Saucey is like UberEat for alcohol. It delivers alcohol for customers with a promise of delivering it within 30 minutes.

You can set your own schedule and what part of town you want to pick up gigs from.

From reviews I read, it seems like drivers and bike riders are making between $10 to $22 per hour.

54. Carvertise: Advertise for companies with your car

I’m sure you’ve seen those trucks and cars wrapped in Monster or RedBull energy drinks ads.

That’s an advertisement method known as “Car Wrap.”

The owners of those vehicles are getting paid for that!

And you too can get paid to wrap your car in ads.

Again, with many side hustles like this, finding clients is the hardest part.

That’s where Carvertise comes in – they connect advertisers with drivers.

Sign up for free, then whenever there is an advertiser looking to run ads in your area, you’ll be notified.

If you accept the job, they’ll put the vinyl wrapping on your vehicle and you drive as you would normally.

According to the company, you can earn between $300 to $650 per campaign.

55. Kindle Direct Publishing: Publish your own eBook

Writing a book takes talent and a lot of hard work.

That’s not even the hardest part…

The hardest part is getting it published and promoting it.

Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform solves both of these problems.

Instead of a book, you can write an eBook (much easier since it can be as short as just 20-30 pages.)

And you can instantly publish it for free through KDP.

Your eBook can be about anything you want – food and recipes, art, blogging, saving money, history, novel or even a list of say… interesting things about whatever.

Sure, you may not have the success that Amanda Hocking, the 26-year-old romance writer from Minnesota had (who by the way became a millionaire thanks to her kindle books), but you could earn a little passive income.

I published my eBook “501 Free Websites You Can Use To Earn Extra Money In Your Spare Time (#29 Is Almost Too Good To Be True!)” about two years ago or so and I am making a few hundred dollars a month without any promotion whatsoever.

In fact, all I did was write the book and publish it on KDP.

And that’s the beauty of using KDP – Just being on Amazon’s huge platform is enough. Amazon gets millions of visitors a month, so your eBook is seen by thousands of potential readers/buyers.

Of course, if you want, you can promote your book, but it’s not necessary.

To get started, read this awesome guide by CopyBlogger which covers everything you need to know/do to publish your first eBook on Amazon’s Kindle platform.

56. WeGoLook: Get paid to look!

This is a company that helps businesses and individuals gather and validate information anytime, anywhere.

As a “Looker” you get paid to go “Look” and gather information.

Assigmnets include:

• Inspections: Inspecting cars, properties and equipment
• Document Services: Document signing, collection, notarization, and more
• Assessments: Identifying risk, documenting damage, adjusting for loss
• Pickup and Delivery: Item retrieval, courier services, and custom tasks

You can set your own schedule and choose locations you want to accept assignments from.

Most “Looks” take an average of 20 to 25 minutes and pay between $25 and $200.

57. Hairsellon: Sell your hair

This might not make you a lot of money, and it can’t be a regular source of income unless you’ve unlocked the rapid hair growth secret!

But it’s a fun way to make some easy cash if you have long hair.

58. BioLife: Donate Blood Plasma

Not for everybody, but if you don’t mind a needle in your arm, donating blood plasma is an easy way to make some cash.

Blood banks like BioLife pay good money for donations.

You can earn up to $260 a month.

59. TaskRabbit: Do odd jobs

TaskRabbit is an app that connects local service providers with people and businesses who need small tasks done.

These tasks can be anything—picking up and dropping off a package, painting a wall, putting furniture together, organizing a garage or closet, installing a ceiling fan…

You are free to set your own schedule and accept any gig you like.

60. FlipKey: Rent out a Room or Your House

Make some extra cash by finding someone who wants to rent a room in your house.

This can help you pay the mortgage.

61. Fancy Hands: Become a virtual assistant

These days, most online companies use virtual assistants to delegate everyday tasks like answering calls, setting up meetings, replying to emails, etc.

As a virtual assistant, you can work from anywhere you like.

And the good news is that, unlike most legit work-at-home jobs, finding VA jobs is easy with sites like Fancy Hands.

The pay is based on the task—how easy it is to do, how long it takes, etc.

Obviously, harder and more time-consuming tasks offer bigger pay.

On average, you can expect to earn between $2.50 and $7 or more per task.

By performing tasks well, you may also receive bonuses and more pay.

62. HireMyMom: Work from home

Stay-at-home mom looking for a way to make money working from home?

HireMyMom is a great platform for you.

It’s basically a job board for moms.

This site is geared toward professional moms and women in general who don’t have the time or patience to weed through scams.

The site basically does the work for you.

Every day, they’ll send you a screened list of work-at-home opportunities from legitimate companies.

There is a membership fee of about 33 cents a day, or you can pay yearly, which comes to $99.

63. Sitter: Become a babysitter

Babysitting is one of the few jobs most of us have done as kids to earn some extra cash.

The good news is that you can still do it as an adult and make good money.

With a site like Sitter, you don’t have to worry about finding clients. Parents looking for babysitters post on the site, and all you have to do is review the requirements and accept the job.

Here’s how it works:

• Step one: Join the site for free
• Step two: Parents looking for sitters post on the site.
• Step three: Search by zip code to find parents looking for sitters near you.
• Step four: Read the requirements and apply for the job.
• Step five: Make the arrangements, do the job, and get paid!

There are also other similar sites, like UrbanSitter, that you can use to find more clients.

64. Zum: Drive kids

Don’t like driving adults around with Uber and Lyft?

Drive kids around!

Zum is a new app that aims to help parents find drivers who can drive their kids to and from their daily activities.

The app started in the San Francisco Bay Area but is already expanding to other areas.

Needless to say, there will be extensive background checks.

As far as pay goes, like all ridesharing jobs, it varies for each individual ride, but the company states the least you’ll make is above minimum wage.

65. SinclairCustomerMetrics: Become a secret shopper

Secret shopping, or mystery shopping as it is more commonly known, is a form of market research.

As a secret shopper, you’ll visit a business posing as a real customer, gathering information about the business.

What kind of information?

• Customer service and how friendly the staff were.
• How easy it was to find an item.
• Store display.
• How clean the store was.
• Etc.

Basically, these are things that can help a company improve the overall performance of the business.

You get paid based on the assignment.

In some cases, you also get to keep what you buy, for free.

Sometimes you may be asked to dine at a restaurant; in that case, the meal is paid for by SCM.

The only problem is that you can’t rely on it as a consistent source of income since they may not have assignments near you that often. But you can solve that problem by joining a few legit secret shopping companies.

Also, please be aware of scams.

There are tons of mystery shopping scams out there, especially the Western Union Check scam.

And remember, never pay any company claiming to have mystery shopping jobs for you. Legit secret shopping companies will never, ever charge you for anything.

66. Rentafriend: Get paid to be a friend!

It’s 2018, and yes, you can get paid to be someone’s friend for a few hours!

RentAFriend is not a dating website; it’s a site where people can “Rent Your Friendship.”

Here’s how it works:

1. Sign up and fill out your application.
2. Once you are approved (usually within an hour or so), your profile goes live.
3. People can then search by zip code or city/state/country to find friends in their area.
4. If they find your profile interesting, they’ll contact you. You can then negotiate your price, time, and activity.
5. You then meet the person, have a great time, and get paid!

People use this service to find temporary friends for different reasons — to have someone show them the town, take them over a cup of coffee, watch a movie, go to a party, etc.

According to the site, you can earn up to $50 an hour.

67. DietBet.com: Get paid to exercise

New year means new resolutions for most of us.

We all know what the most popular resolution is…

Losing weight and exercising more!

If only there were more incentives for keeping up!

Fortunately, there is.

With DietBet, you essentially get paid for losing weight and working out.

Here’s how it works:

Basically, you either join a game or start your own, where you bet on losing X amount of weight in X amount of time.

At the start of the game, you weigh in and submit your pictures. At the end of the game, people who have hit their goal will split the pot.

Obviously, it’s not a way to make hundreds of dollars (although you could if you bet high), it’s more of a way to keep yourself accountable and give yourself more incentive to stay healthy.

68. Doba: Do Drop Shipping

The beauty of dropshipping is that you don’t have to buy inventory beforehand. You only purchase inventory after you’ve made a sale.

Here’s how it works:

• • Step 1: Find something you want to sell

Visit the site, browse through their catalog containing millions of products, and find items you want to sell.

• • Step 2: Export product listings to your online store

Next, upload product pictures and information to your online storefront (this can be your own website or third-party platforms like Shopify). You can add hundreds of products to more than 100 platforms within minutes.

• • Step 3: Sell

Now, all you have to do is sell the products to your customers at retail prices.

• • Step 4: Get the product shipped

This is where the magic of dropshipping happens. Once you sell the product on your own storefront, you buy it from the Doba supplier (at wholesale prices), enter the customer’s shipping address, and you’re done! The Doba supplier will ship the item directly on your behalf.

• • Step 5: Profit and do it all over again

Repeat the process with new or existing products to continue building your business.

Repeat this process and profit!

This is an awesome way to avoid the headache of buying and storing inventory beforehand, risking the potential loss of unsold items, and dealing with shipping and handling. The best part? You only pay for products that you’ve already sold.

69. Repair Computers

If you’re knowledgeable about computers, this is a great way to earn some extra income. It doesn’t require much beyond your expertise and perhaps a small computer repair kit.

This business thrives on word of mouth. Start by helping your family, friends, and neighbors. Deliver excellent service, and they’ll refer you to more customers.

70. Scrap Metal

Selling scrap metal for cash is one of the oldest and most popular side hustles—and for good reason!

You’re practically turning trash into cash!

71. Do Online Coaching

Online coaching is another excellent freelancing opportunity. You could help people pass a class, teach them how to build a website, or offer guidance in a specialized skill.

To do this on your own, you’ll need to set up a website with details about your services, pricing, and terms. From there, you can rely on advertising and word of mouth to attract clients.

It’s easiest to set up a system with PayPal to accept payments online. You can also use Skype for your coaching sessions since it’s free and widely accessible.

72. Victory Marketing Agency: Be a Brand Ambassador

This company provides major brands and businesses with temporary staffing for corporate events, street promotions, trade shows, tours, and more.

As a freelance brand ambassador, you’ll need to apply and install their free app. Through the app, you’ll receive notifications about events in your area. You can choose to participate if the pay and details work for you.

Brand ambassador tasks may include:

• Modeling or being a spokesperson at trade shows
• Holding signs at promotional events
• Engaging with people at festivals

Essentially, your job is to promote the brand or company. Pay rates vary depending on the gig, and they offer direct deposit for payments.

73. VIPKID: Teach English Online

Teaching English online is a fantastic way to earn money, and VIPKID is one of the best platforms offering some of the highest pay rates.

You can set your own schedule and work from anywhere, making it incredibly flexible. VIPKID pays between $14 and $22 per hour, depending on your experience and performance.

You do need to have a degree, though.

74. User Testing: Test Websites (Earn $10 per Test)

Make productive use of your internet time by registering with UserTesting and other user testing sites that pay you.

These platforms allow you to earn money by trying out apps, programs, and websites, then providing feedback. It’s a straightforward way for companies to ensure their online presence is user-friendly and functional.

Traditional Side Hustles (That Still Work!)

The side hustles mentioned above are fresh and unique compared to the same repetitive ideas most sites churn out daily.

When you search for terms like “How can I make extra money in my free time,” you often find the same old suggestions:

• Mow lawns
• Shovel snow
• Paint houses
• …

It can feel monotonous, right?

But here’s the thing…

These methods work!

That’s why they remain so popular. The best part is that most of these options require no upfront investment. All you need is time and a willingness to hustle.

With that said, here are some of the more traditional ways to make extra money that still work.

75. Groom Pets

If you’re an animal lover, pet grooming can be a fantastic side hustle. According to the American Pet Products Association, pet owners spent around $66.75 billion on their pets in 2016—and grooming made up a decent chunk of that.

Even capturing a small slice of that in your local area could lead to a solid income. The best part? Starting out doesn’t require much. With just a few hundred dollars, you can get all the supplies needed to begin.

To find clients, start with family, friends, and neighbors. You can also advertise on platforms like Craigslist or distribute flyers in dog parks or other places pet owners frequent.

76. Be a Handyman

If you’re good at fixing things around the house, this side hustle could be for you. Whether it’s changing a faucet, repairing a ceiling fan, or patching drywall, many people are looking for reliable, affordable help with home maintenance tasks.

77. Cut Grass

Mowing lawns is a chore many people want to avoid. If you already own a lawnmower, you’re halfway there. With just the initial investment in equipment, you can start earning by helping out your neighbors and expanding from there.

78. Paint Gates

This side hustle won’t work everywhere, but in neighborhoods with garden gates, homeowners often don’t prioritize repainting them. Offering this service can be a great niche gig. Be sure to take before-and-after photos to showcase your work and attract future clients.

79. Paint Street Numbers

Here’s another specific but useful painting job—refreshing faded street numbers. Most homeowners never get around to it, making this an excellent opportunity to provide a simple, helpful service.

Offer to repaint them for $10, and you’ll be making money in no time. For faster and cleaner results, consider buying a set of stencils.

80. Paint Houses

If you’re already into painting, why not offer house painting services? Start small by repainting a single room and gradually expand to entire houses. House painters typically charge around $1 per square foot, which can add up quickly!

81. Shovel Snow

With climate change, this seasonal job might be at risk. But during winter, when snow piles up, many people will pay for help clearing their driveways and sidewalks. It’s hard work, but it can pay off. Check out this guide on how to make money shoveling snow.

82. Wash Cars

Busy schedules mean many people don’t have time to wash their cars. Help them out by offering a car wash service. All you need is a bucket, a sponge, and some elbow grease to get started.

83. Offer Mobile Oil Changes

Before washing a car, why not offer to do an oil change? Most people delay oil changes because it requires a trip to the mechanic. You can save them the hassle by providing a mobile service. Sweeten the deal by offering a free car wash with every oil change!

84. Wash Windows

Window washing is another service many people need but don’t want to tackle themselves. All you need is a ladder, a window squeegee, and some cleaning solution to get started. Your earnings will depend on the demand in your area.

85. Start a Blog

Blogging is a popular way to make money online. Yes, the competition is fierce, but it’s also a proven way to earn. Choose a topic you’re passionate about or one with a large audience to attract more readers. The more traffic your blog gets, the more opportunities you’ll have to monetize it.

Don’t know where to start?

Check out our beginner’s guide on how to start a blog and make money.

86. Sell on eBay

One of the most reliable ways to make money, eBay is perfect for selling items you no longer need. Many people begin by decluttering their homes and listing unwanted items for sale.

To turn it into a sustainable income stream, you’ll eventually need a source of inexpensive goods that you can resell at a profit. eBay even allows you to create your own online store to stock your inventory.

87. Buy & Sell on Craigslist

There are numerous ways to make money on Craigslist. It’s great for selling items, especially large ones, without worrying about shipping costs—buyers come to you to pick up their purchases.

Beyond selling, you can offer services on Craigslist. If you have practical skills, this opens up another earning opportunity.

88. Be a Designated Driver

Being a designated driver is a fun and straightforward way to earn cash. Simply pick up people from bars, parties, or events and safely drop them off at their destination.

89. Play Music

If you’re musically talented, local bars and clubs often look for live entertainment. Whether you play the guitar, violin, or another instrument, advertise your skills on Craigslist or contact venues directly to book gigs.

90. Dig for Treasures

Head to the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, and you might uncover some hidden treasures. Visitors have found diamonds and other precious stones, and the best part is—you get to keep what you find!

For example, 12-year-old Michael Dettlaff discovered a 5-carat diamond there. Who knows, you could be next!

There are also other places around the country where you can dig for diamonds and other treasures.

91. Work at a Golf Course

There’s always work to be done at a golf course beyond just playing golf. While caddying might require some skill and experience, there are other part-time opportunities like cleaning golf carts, selling drinks on the course, or picking up balls.

92. Be a Lifeguard

If you’re a strong swimmer and certified, working as a lifeguard can be a great way to earn up to $20 per hour part-time. While the job can be stressful, it’s also rewarding and often fun, especially if you enjoy spending time by the water.

93. Donate Sperm

While often joked about, sperm donation is a legitimate way to make money. You can learn more about it in this guide on how to get paid for sperm donation. Of course, you’ll need to meet specific health and genetic criteria, but if you qualify, you might be surprised by how much you can earn.

94. Clean Pools

Offer pool cleaning services by distributing postcards or flyers in your local area.

Pro tip: Use Google Earth to identify homes with pools in their backyards so you know where to target your services first.

95. Provide Tech Support to the Elderly

Logging into Facebook or browsing online might seem second nature to you, but for many older individuals, it’s a mystery! For instance, my girlfriend’s 90-year-old grandmother struggles to even open a browser. If you’re tech-savvy, you can help seniors with tasks like setting up email, using social media, or even troubleshooting devices—and make money while doing so.

What’s unique about this is that you don’t need to be a computer geek to make money in this space. Seriously, anybody—and I mean anybody—who can check emails and log in to Facebook can do this.

Why? Because these folks don’t need you to code a new programming language or build them a website. All they’re looking for is someone to guide them through basic tasks that we often take for granted.

Simple things like:

• Opening a Facebook account
• Opening and closing a browser
• Uploading a picture
• Checking emails
• Sending emails
• Sharing posts on social media
• …and more

If you can do things like that, you can absolutely succeed in this space.

Now, you might think, “The hardest part must be finding people who need my help.” But here’s the kicker—it’s not! There’s plenty of demand for these simple tech services.

People, especially the elderly, tend to share their positive experiences with friends when they find someone helpful. You don’t need a large number of initial clients to make this a success. In fact, getting referral clients within the elderly community is one of the easiest ways to gain more leads. Start with your friends and family, and gradually work your way up.

96. Deliver Pizza

Pizza delivery isn’t just for high school kids. Many people use it as a way to make extra money in their free time. The best part is that almost every town, no matter how big or small, has a few pizza places that are always on the lookout for more delivery drivers.

97. Scoop Dog Waste

People love their dogs, but some tasks are less appealing. All you need is a shovel and a willingness to do the work. You can start in your own neighborhood, just like Kelly Brott did. Now, he is making a living scooping dog waste.

98. Rover: Pet Sitting

Whether it’s letting the dog out while the owner is at work or pet sitting during a vacation, there are always people looking for occasional help with their pets. You can find these gigs on Care.com and Rover.com, for example.

99. Care.com: House Cleaning

Who wouldn’t want someone to come in and clean their house if they have the budget for it? Many people are willing to pay for a cleaning service, making this a reliable side hustle.

Traditionally, to find clients, you had to either post an ad on Craigslist or similar platforms or look out for homeowners needing cleaning services. But now, you can use a site like Care.com to quickly and safely find local homes in need of cleaners.

100. Turo: Turn Your Unused Car Time into Cash!

Do you park your car in the driveway for extended periods without driving it? Turn that time and your car into cash! Listing your car on Turo is free and takes less than 10 minutes. Simply describe your car, add some pictures, and set the calendar to let potential renters know which days your car is available.

When someone wants to book your car, you’ll receive a notification, and you can choose to confirm or deny the request—it’s totally up to you. If you accept, you can arrange a meeting with the renter to check their license and identification info.

After they return the car, check to ensure everything is okay. Turo covers your vehicle with $1 million in liability insurance and 24/7 roadside assistance. You’ll get paid via direct deposit within five days of the transaction.

101. 99 Designs: Design for Brands

If you’re creative, consider signing up for 99 Designs. It’s a design platform that connects brands with freelance designers. You can design logos, T-shirts, flyers, websites, and any other brand identity items you can think of.

Final Words

What I love about many of these opportunities is that you can do them almost anytime and from anywhere. So whether you find yourself in a waiting room, stuck at an airport, or lounging on your couch watching TV or feeling bored, you can pull out your device—phone, iPad, laptop, or whatever you use to get online—and make some money.

Make this year the year of making extra money on the side in your free time!