This is the definitive article about how to make money online.
On this page you’ll see ideas and examples for earning a few dollars 💵 to millions per month 🤑 on the internet. At the end I’ll also tell you the best way to get started (click here to find out now).
You’ll see the quick and easy opportunities listed first. As you scroll down, the earning potential tends to increase, along with the level of difficulty.
⚠️ None of the real-world examples on this page represent how much money you would earn with a similar business; their purpose is simply to show you what’s possible.🗂 GetPaidTo – Level 1 / Novice
Often abbreviated to GPT, this is the type of work pretty much anyone can do online. You rarely need specific skills or qualifications.
Popular GPT tasks include completing surveys, watching videos, or participating in research studies. The offers tend to be small and frequent or big and rare. Each offer gives you the chance to earn or save money. Complete Online Surveys
PrizeRebel is the best site we’ve found for earning money with online surveys…
Rhonda RebelOnline Survey Taker at PrizeRebel$2 – $5 per hourJoin PrizeRebel for freeSee our list of best survey sitesWatch Videos
You can earn a little money watching videos via the Swagbucks website or apps…
Sammy SwagbucksWatching videos on Swagbucks$1 – $5 per dayGet your $5 sign-up bonus at SwagbucksParticipate in Online Research Studies
Respondent is a popular site for finding the occasional Online Shop paid research study…
Renee RespondentOnline research study participant at Respondent$21 average earnings per hourJoin Respondent for freeMore sites for paid research studies
You can earn a side income working for Appen as a social media evaluator…
Annie AppenSocial Media Evaluator at Appen$7 – $20 per hourApply for a job at AppenMore data entry jobsBecome a Mock Online Juror
Sign up to OnlineVerdict and they’ll notify you when attorneys in your area need people for a focus group or mock trial…
Julie JudiciousMock Online Juror at OnlineVerdict$20 – $60 per hourSign up to OnlineVerdictEarn Cash Back Rewards
This is basically “getting paid to spend money” but it can be worthwhile if you use cash back offers for things you planned to buy anyway, like gas or groceries.
For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card offers a $200 bonus if you spend $500 in the first three months, plus 1.5% cash back on purchases.
Sarah Chrisp uses cards like that for business expenses and earns impressive rewards…
Sarah ChrispFounder of Wholesale Ted$1,000 monthly credit card rewards
You can also earn rewards from shopping platforms like Rakuten, which offers up to 40% cash back at over 2,500 stores like Macy’s, Old Navy, Apple and Nike…
Kerry KutenOnline Shopper via Rakuten$10 welcome bonus on first purchaseGet your $10 welcome bonus at RakutenLearn more about making money online with GetPaidTo opportunities🗂 Contests – Level 1 / Novice
With these opportunities you’ll be competing with others online to win cash prizes, typically by providing a service to clients who pick the winners.
You do the work upfront and get paid if your performance is deemed good enough.Enter Naming Contests
Come up with a great name for a business on Squadhelp and you’ll get paid…
Scottie SquadhelpNaming Creative at Squadhelp$100 – $300 per contest wonJoin Squadhelp as a creativeMore work-from-home typing jobsEnter Branding Contests
Squadhelp also hosts branding and identity contests. The prize money for these can be even bigger…
Stella SquadhelpBranding & Identity Creative at Squadhelp$100 – $500 per contest wonJoin Squadhelp as a creativeEnter Design Contests
If you have some web or graphic design skills, a design contest might be right up your alley.
99designs is the most famous site for design contests…
Nina Ninety-NineDesign Contest Participant at 99designs$271 average per contest wonBecome a designer at 99designs
DesignCrowd is similar but the prize money’s a little less…
Danny DCContest Participant at DesignCrowd$215 average per contest wonBecome a designer at DesignCrowdLearn more about making money online with contests🗂 Remote Job – Level 2 / Intermediate
A remote job is like having a regular office job, but you can do it from anywhere (usually at home).
You would be a full- or part-time employee of a company, working from your computer. Some remote jobs allow you a flexible schedule and freedom to travel, while others have strict work hours and/or require you to live in a specific country or time zone.
You’d typically get paid a salary.
Some examples of people with remote jobs…
Kaurie AlbertRemote Executive Assistant$35k – $70k estimated annual salary
Art M.Remote Health Coach$32k – $67k estimated annual salary
Chris NolanRemote Accountant$40k – $71k estimated annual salaryTurn Your Current Job into a Remote Job
If you work a regular office job, you may be able to negotiate a remote work agreement.
Jake was able to do just that and now works from home instead of a cubicle…
Jake BartlettRemote Customer Success Manager$41k – $104k estimated annual salary
For tips on negotiating a remote work agreement with your current employer, see chapter 12 of The Four Hour Workweek.
Failing that…Find a Remote Job
Pretty much any job that can be done from an office can be done remotely these days, and you’ll find plenty of remote job openings posted online.
Here are the best remote job boards to find a remote job fast.🏆 Best Remote Job Boards 🏆More ways to find remote jobsLearn more about making money online with a remote job🗂 Freelance – Level 2 / Intermediate
As a freelancer (or contractor) you’d be building and running your own business.
You would use specific skills or training to provide an online service. Clients or agencies would pay you for your time and/or output.
You might hire other people to help you out occasionally, but you’d be doing most of the work yourself.
If you don’t want to get a remote job, freelancing is my #1 recommendation to get started earning a living online.Freelance Your Existing Skills
You probably already have skills you can freelance online.
For example, if you’re good with kids, you could try your hand at virtual babysitting via VeeBee…
Vicky VBVirtual Babysitter at VeeBee$16 average hourly rateLearn more about virtual babysitting at VeeBee
Or if you have decent social skills and enjoy teaching, you could help people learn English on iTalki…
Ian ItalkiCommunity English Tutor on iTalki$4 – $25 per hourApply to become a community tutor at iTalkiMore online chat jobs
You can earn even more on iTalki if you have a language teaching certification (like TEFL)…
Ivy ItalkiProfessional English Teacher on iTalki$5 – $44 per hourApply to become a pro teacher at iTalki
Or you could start freelancing the same skills you used at your 9-to-5 job.
That’s what Kat Ambrose did, going from producing content for an ad agency in Denver to running her own online writing business…
Kat AmbroseFreelance Writer$4,500 monthly revenue
To be clear: you will have to learn additional skills to become a successful freelancer – the skill of getting clients being the most crucial – but leveraging your existing skills can get you earning good money fast.Use these 3 methods to find your first freelance clientsLearn New Skills You Can Freelance
This can be done faster than you might think, given how easy it is nowadays to learn new skills via inexpensive or even free online courses.