Want to make money, but you’re not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
And you're not alone. More than one-quarter (27%) of Americans earned extra income from side gigs last year, according to the Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2020, released in May 2021 by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
NerdWallet rounded up 25 legitimate ways to make money — at home or out and about — and listed each option based on how fast you can get started and get paid. While most people prefer fast cash, don’t discount the “slow” gigs, as they may pay more in the long run.
Making money online is the sweet spot people look for in the gig economy. Whether you aspire to be a six-figure social media influencer, or are just looking to supplement your regular income with some internet gigs, we've found some viable options.
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 One Hour Translation, or drum up business through a site of your own. No matter what kind of freelancing you do, keep track of the going rate for the kind of work you provide so you know if you’re charging too much or too little. Learn how to get started on Upwork.
Total time: It can take a while to get your first gig. Setup: 24 hours. How easy to start: Easy, if you have the expertise. Age threshold: 13+ but varies by site. Payment speed: Varies by site.
Need to know
Upwork will approve your profile within 24 hours. But keep in mind it can take time to land your first freelance gig.
Payment varies by site. On Upwork, you're paid after you and the client review the work, 10 days after the billing period ends. On Fiverr, you're paid when the work order is complete, but you can't withdraw funds for another 14 days.
Requirements
Upwork requires users to be at least 18. Fiverr sets the age requirement at 13. And Freelancer.com requires users to be at least 16.
Some sites require you be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
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2. 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 worked. You’ll have to pass a short test to be accepted, then you’ll be paid $10 for each 20-minute test, which involves a recording and answering four follow-up written questions. Or you could earn up to $120 to participate in a video conversation with a customer after your test.
Total time: Approval time can vary. Setup: Less than an hour. How easy to start: Easy, if you have the tech gear and complete a sample test. Age threshold: 18+. Payment speed: Seven days.
Need to know
You typically need to complete a sample test as part of the application process.
You will start receiving testing opportunities after your application is approved.
The timeline for approval can vary.
You get paid seven days after completing a website or app test.
Payment is issued via PayPal.
Requirements
You need to be at least 18.
You need a computer, internet connection and microphone.
Mobile app testers also need an Android or iOS mobile phone or tablet.
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3. Pick up tasks on Amazon's Mechanical Turk
Even in the age of automation, some jobs still require a human touch. Companies often outsource those jobs via services like Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. As a “worker,” the tasks you’ll be assigned can be tedious — tagging images, transcribing videos, classifying receipts — and can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Temporary employers or “requesters” set the price for each task and get to approve the finished product before paying you. That can leave room for scams, so do your research. Join a community like the MTurk Crowd forum, or the MTurk and Turker Nation subreddits, which can steer you away from shifty dealers. These communities and fellow “workers” can answer questions and give a realistic idea of how much money you can expect to make. Read more about Mechanical Turk as a way to make quick money online.
Total time: Several days to find out if you're approved. Setup: Depends on the task you choose. How easy to start: Easy if you have certain skills. Age threshold: 18+. Payment speed: You get paid following work approval, which can take up to 30 days.
Need to know
It’s unclear how long it takes Amazon to review your application, but according to the MTurk subreddit, it can take several days to learn if you were approved or denied.
After you submit your work, the requester has 30 days to approve it.
You can have your earnings deposited into your bank account or put on an Amazon gift card.
Requirements
You must be at least 18 to register for Mechanical Turk.
You also need an Amazon account to register for Mechanical Turk.
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» MORE: What job makes the most money?
4. Take surveys for money
You can make money from home by taking online surveys, but don’t expect to be rolling in the dough. Survey sites don’t typically offer a big payoff, and many sites are more useful for earning gift cards than cash. Some of the more popular survey sites include Swagbucks and Survey Junkie. Read our analysis of a dozen survey sites to find out which one is best suited for you.
Total time: It will take a while. Setup: Just minutes. How easy to start: Very. Just register and begin. Age threshold: 13 to 18+. Payment speed: Varies by site.
Need to know
You can register with a site and start taking surveys in a matter of minutes.
The time it takes to get paid depends on the survey site and how much time you dedicate to taking surveys.
Some sites let you cash out only after you hit a minimum earnings threshold. With InboxDollars, for example, the threshold is $30 for first-time payments and $10 for additional payments.
Other survey sites issue points, which can be redeemed for cash (via PayPal) or gift cards.
Requirements
Most survey sites have a minimum age requirement, which ranges from 13 to 18, depending on the site.
Individual surveys may have specific requirements. Don't be surprised if you are disqualified from a survey without much explanation.
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LISTEN: The Smart Money podcast answers the question, "How do I get my hands on some money?"
5. Make money from your blog as an affiliate
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. Read more about affiliate marketing and other ways bloggers can make money.
Total time: It can take quite a while to build an audience. Setup: With blog templates, building a site is easy. How easy to start: Starting is not that difficult. Creating regular content may be another matter. Age threshold: Any. Payment speed: A month or two, on average.
Need to know
First, you need a blog, social media account or other online presence that draws a healthy number of visitors each month.
Then, you need to apply for and be approved by an affiliate marketing network like CJ Affiliate, ShareASale, FlexOffers or Amazon Associates.
Payment schedules and thresholds vary by affiliate network, but expect to wait at least a month or two for your first paycheck.
Amazon Associates pays out earnings 60 days after the end of the calendar month in which they were earned. You must have a balance of at least $10 for earnings to be disbursed.
ShareASale disburses earnings on the 20th of each month, if you earned $50 or more the previous month.
Requirements
A blog, social media account or other online presence that attracts a steady stream of visitors.
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6. Sell your wares on Etsy
Have a penchant for woodworking, jewelry-making, embroidery or pottery? Sell your goods on Etsy, the go-to site for artisans selling home goods, art and knickknacks. Etsy boasts almost 82 million active buyers and grossed over $10 billion in merchandise sales in 2020, according to the website. Learn more about how to make money on Etsy.
Total time: It might take quite a while for customers to find you. Setup: Can be quite involved. How easy to start: Leaning toward "hard" on the difficulty meter. Age threshold: 13+. Payment speed: From the next day to seven days after a sale.
Need to know
Opening an Etsy shop is the easy part. It can be done in a few hours.
The prep work before you open up shop is more time-consuming. You need merchandise to sell, photos and descriptions to post, a name for your shop and a business plan to help you succeed. Once that’s done, you’ll still need to find customers. Depending on what you’re selling, that could take weeks, which is why you should expect the overall time for this gig to be slow.
Once you sell an item, payment is deposited into your Etsy Payments account.
In your first 90 days as a seller: Funds are available to deposit seven days after a sale.
After your first 90 days, funds are available for deposit the next business day.
Requirements
If you’re over 13 years old but under age 18, you can sell on Etsy but would be considered a minor and must follow extra policies.
You need to have all necessary rights to the merchandise sold in your shop.
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7. 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. With Google AdSense, businesses pay to advertise around your content. The service is free, but there are requirements you must meet. Read more about how to make money on YouTube and Google AdSense.
Total time: It can take several weeks to get up and running. Setup: Not that hard. How easy to start: Depends on how good you are at producing interesting videos. Age threshold: 18+. Payment speed: Could take a long while to earn the first payout; then monthly.
Need to know
Signing up for Google AdSense is pretty easy, but it can take anywhere from a day to several weeks for your account to be activated.
Allow at least two months for ad revenue to start trickling in.
You need to earn at least $100 before you're eligible for a payout.
Once you hit the $100 threshold, earnings are issued between the 21st and 26th of the following month. It can take four to 10 days to receive a payment via EFT and up to 15 days to receive payment as a wire transfer.
Requirements
Your own website that has been active for at least six months.
For YouTube, you need more than 1,000 subscribers.
You must be at least 18.
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8. 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 AspireIQ, 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.)
Total time: You'll need to stick with it. Setup: Quick and easy. How easy to start: Not that easy. It's a very competitive platform. Age threshold: 13+. Payment speed: Varies on partnerships.
Need to know
Creating an Instagram account is quick, but building a following takes time. Allow a few months to build a large enough following to attract advertisers.
Once you have the numbers, you'll need to find paid opportunities. You can do this via affiliate networks or by pitching brands you want to work with.
The time to receive your payment will depend on the terms of your agreement, but affiliate networks typically pay out earnings the month after a campaign is completed.
Requirements
An Instagram account with a dedicated, engaged following.
You'll also need to meet the requirements of any affiliate network.
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9. 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. Broadcasters 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.
Total time: This can be a long game. Setup: Quick and easy. How easy to start: Easy to start; takes a while to build a following. Age threshold: 13+. Payment speed: Monthly.
Need to know
You can launch a Twitch channel and start streaming in a day, but it will take weeks or even months to build a following.
Donation revenue can be withdrawn rather quickly, depending on the payout method.
Subscription and ad revenue earned as a Twitch Partner or Affiliate is paid out 15 days from the end of the month, and you must have a balance of at least $100 to request a payout.
Requirements
You need to hit certain viewership and broadcast milestones to become a Twitch Affiliate or Partner and qualify for a share of game sales, ads and subscription revenue.
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» MORE: How to make money as a kid
10. 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.
Total time: Buyers need to find you — and like your work. Setup: Just a few hours. How easy to start: If you have a library of photos, you're on the way. Age threshold: Any. Payment speed: Depends on your sales platform.
Need to know
You can set up a profile with sites like SmugMug, PhotoShelter or Fine Art America in a few hours, assuming you have a body of original work.
Payment varies widely depending on the site.
Fine Art America: Payment issued after 30-day return window expires. Sent on the 15th of each month.
PhotoShelter: Payment issued at time of sale to your chosen payment method (PayPal, Stripe, etc.).
SmugMug: You can request payment be issued the following month if you have a balance of at least $5.
Requirements
Requirements vary by site, but you need to have all necessary rights to the images you sell.
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How to make money from home
Some side hustles don't even require you to leave the house. Or if it does, it might just be a short walk around the block with a furry friend. Working from home requires a little creativity and a stick-to-it spirit.
Here are some excellent ideas for work-from-home gigs:
11. Become a dog walker or dog sitter
Love dogs? Make money by becoming a dog walker. 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
Total time: Building a client base may take some time. Setup: Takes about a week or so. How easy to start: Love pets? You're good to go. Age threshold: 18+. Payment speed: Two days to a week.