39 of the Best Side Hustles To Make Money
Finding a profitable side hustle, side jobs, side gigs, moonlighting, freelance jobs – whatever you call them – is a good way to earn some extra cash besides your full-time job. Someday one of these additional income ideas may eventually replace your day job.
Unless you have had your head under a rock for the last five years, there is a very high likelihood you have heard a friend say they have a “side hustle.”
You may want a side hustle to repay credit card debt, go to college without borrowing money, or even take a vacation you pay for entirely with cash.
Best Side Hustle Ideas
Regardless of why you need a side hustle, the simple truth is that not all side hustles are created the same. The key ingredients to the best side hustles include:
- Flexibility
- Quick money
- Able to be done at home (or at least on your own schedule)
We've compiled this massive list of some of the best side hustles so you can find which option, or options, are the best fit.
Play Games for Money
Making money by playing mobile games isn't necessarily the most lucrative side hustle, but it's definitely one of the most fun!
1. Mistplay
Getting paid to play games on your smartphone sounds like a dream come true, right? Well, it's a good side hustle that you can start immediately with Mistplay, all you need is an Android phone.
Making money on Mistplay is as easy as downloading the app, playing games, earning Mistplay units, and cashing out for free gift cards. However, to maximize your income potential, make sure you note the games that offer higher-value rewards.
While you won't benefit from direct deposits like some survey sites, you can earn points and spend them on various rewards. Of course, this isn't going to make you rich. Still, it is an easy way to make a little extra money without much effort, especially if you love playing video games.
Please find out more about Mistplay in our review of the app.
2. Bubble Cash
Download this free app from the Apple app store and make money playing this fun bubble shooting game. In order to make actual money playing Bubble Cash, you must make a cash deposit. This allows you to enter paid tournaments where you can win real cash prizes.
Spend three minutes matching and popping the same color bubbles. The top three scores are winners in this addictive game!
Note: Restricted in US states: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MT, SC, SD, and WA.
Earn Extra Cash With Bubble Cash
3. Solitaire Cash
Test your classic Solitaire skills in this fun race against the clock. You have five minutes to solve this skill-based game and score in the top three to win a prize. You'll be matched with others of the same skill level to ensure fair play. Play for free or make a deposit to enter cash tournaments.
Note: Cash tournaments are not available in the following states: AZ, AR, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, SC, MT, SD, and WA.
Earn Extra Cash With Solitaire Cash
4. Bingo Cash
Spend some free time playing Bingo on your mobile device to win cash prizes. Beat out your opponents in these fast two-minute rounds to race who can get the most B-I-N-G-O's and finish in the top 3.
Make a deposit to enter cash tournaments, plus collect daily prizes and bonuses!
Note: Cash tournaments are not available in the following states: AZ, AR, IA, LA, DE, SC, and WA.
Earn Extra Cash With Bingo Cash
5. Sell Feet Pics
If you're unfamiliar with the recent popularity of selling feet pics, we assure you this is a legitimate option. Sure, it sounds strange, but many people (and even businesses) pay good money for pics of feet!
Selling feet pics is an easy side hustle, especially if you sell your pics on an online marketplace like Fun With Feet. This is an excellent option because they are reputable and already have a built-in customer base, so you don't need to spend a lot of time searching for potential buyers.
This step-by-step guide will detail how you can make money by selling feet pics, but here's a quick synopsis:
- Create a free account on Fun With Feet
- Set up your profile (which can be anonymous)
- Snap a few pics of your feet
- List them on your Fun With Feet page
- Earn money when people buy your pics
Earn Extra Cash With Fun With Feet
Take Surveys
While taking online surveys probably isn't the fastest way to earn money on the side, many people include it as one of their favorite side hustles because it can be done from your couch while you're lying around or watching TV.
The good news is there are plenty of online survey sites. The bad news is it can take too much time to weed out the good from the bad.
Here are a few tried and true, legitimate sites for paid surveys.
6. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is one of the most popular survey sites for side hustlers.
The key is matching quickly with surveys looking for people like you to take them. This is a great way to make extra money while watching TV, commuting, or over coffee.
Earn Extra Cash With Survey Junkie
7. Swagbucks
This online platform is a great place to earn some cash in the margins of your day. In addition to paid surveys, Swagbucks also rewards you for additional tasks, including:
- Shop online
- Watch entertaining videos
- Search the web
- Find great deals
- …and more
You can use Swagbucks on your desktop or mobile device to earn from anywhere. Plus, get a $10 welcome bonus when you sign up.
Earn Extra Cash With Swagbucks
8. Toluna Influencers
Another good platform for taking paid surveys is Toluna Influencers.
Earn free gift cards and PayPal cash for answering surveys, participating in online community polls and discussions, or playing fun games.
Earn Extra Cash With Toluna Influencers
9. Opinion Outpost
Opinion Outpost is a great place to earn money for completing paid surveys. You can also get paid for completing additional tasks such as testing out new products, watching advertisements, taking part in real-world missions, and even participating in diary studies.
Earn Extra Cash With Opinion Outpost
10. InboxDollars
Join InboxDollars for free and get paid to take surveys, shop online, try name-brand products, and play games online.
It's a simple website and is perfect for expert multitaskers who want to earn extra money while binge-watching their favorite TV shows.
Earn Extra Cash With InboxDollars
11. Become a Virtual Assistant
Becoming a virtual assistant can be a lucrative way to earn from home. Most virtual assistants work as independent contractors, so you can set your own hours, your own rates, and be your own boss. Work from your home and combine your writing, transcription, or bookkeeping skills to attract higher-paying virtual assistant jobs.
The key to becoming a virtual assistant is managing your time well. You'll be working either hourly or task-based roles, and your clients will expect the job to be handled promptly.
The services you can offer as a VA are endless. A few options include:
- Data entry
- Writing blog posts
- Customer service (answer phone calls, respond to emails, etc.)
- Digital marketing
You can find virtual assistant jobs or clients in virtually every job-hunting source online. Check out our handy guide to becoming a virtual assistant.
12. Start a Blog
Blogging can be a full-time job, but it can also be an incredibly flexible and fun online side hustle. The key to blogging success is knowing your target market and having a solid strategy. Then, with a little effort, you can start building an audience and monetizing your blog within a few months.
Don't expect your blog to blow up overnight, but do expect you can start attracting ads and affiliate programs for your blog in a short period. Learn how to Start a Blog in 10 Easy Steps.
A few reasons starting a blog is one of the best side hustles are:
- Gaining online business experience
- Requires minimal upfront investment
- Share things you're passionate about
- Multiple potential income streams
- Location-independent
All that being said, blogging is also challenging. To truly make the big bucks (like these bloggers who make six figures), it does require a lot of work, and most importantly, you treat it like a business instead of a side gig.
However, starting a blog is relatively inexpensive – less than $90 when you use Bluehost.
That being said, blogging requires patience, and these detailed articles will help you determine if blogging is the right side hustle for you:
13. Drive for Uber or Lyft
Got a car? Uber and Lyft aren't exactly going to make you quick money, but if you love driving and you don't mind driving people around, driving for a rideshare app is the perfect side hustle for you.
This is an excellent side job if you're looking to set your hours. And if you live in a metro area, where many people use ride-sharing apps, you can make some decent money. Check out the other apps that can make you money while you drive-share.
14. Walk Dogs
One of the best side hustles for pet lovers is walking dogs for people who don't have time to. Wag! and Rover are two of the best apps for any dog lover looking for a side hustle. They're easy to use — download the app, create your profile, and sign-up to become a dog walker in your neighborhood.
Depending on where you live, many dog walkers may already exist, but it's worth checking out. Some users have reported making almost $4000 a month walking dogs part-time.
Rover.com is the most popular dog walking platform, and it even allows you to offer additional services like boarding, sitting, and doggy daycare. Rover also provides cat services, so you, too, can make money on the side if you're fond of felines.
15. Become a Freelance Writer
As a freelance writer, you can choose who you work for and when you work. Freelance writing is perfect for topic experts, resume writers, copywriters, proofreaders, and almost any written media creator. So many different apps have been created to cater to freelancers. Still, you can also find listings on typical job-finding sites.
Being a freelance writer requires a lot of initiative. You must follow every lead, follow up with potential clients, and stalk social media for jobs. It's a highly competitive field, but there's also a place for everyone in the market.
To become a freelance writer, there are some steps you will want to take to make it a profitable side gig.
16. Sell on Amazon
The past few years made it abundantly clear that eCommerce is a vital and necessary aspect of our lives. So why not capitalize on it and open an online store? Anyone with a computer and initiative can start their own Amazon marketplace.
The key to selling on Amazon is retail arbitrage. Buy items in retail stores at a lower price and then sell them online in your own store. People who do this typically use large online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay to resell their items for a significant profit.
Marketplace Superheroes and Wealth of Geeks offer a free webinar introducing you to a training course from two individuals who built a multi-million Amazon FBA business.
17. Complete Tasks Locally
You can do this side hustle whenever you want to and make some quick cash. TaskRabbit is one of the largest platforms centered around running errands, assembling furniture, etc., for others.
Book gigs and odd jobs starting at $15 an hour and ranging up to $100 an hour for more specialized jobs.
Check out these quick and painless ways to make cash today.
18. Deliver Food and Groceries
Food and grocery delivery is a part of our day-to-day lives that is here to stay.
If you have time to kill and you're looking for a part-time or full-time gig, check out delivery services like Instacart and DoorDash, to become a professional grocery shopper and food delivery driver.
These are both popular delivery platforms you can take advantage of. For a complete list of delivery apps, here are the best 9. Figure out whether Instacart or Doordash is the best choice for you.
19. Rent Out Your Extra Space
Do you have unused space in your home, your business, or even your outdoor area? The Neighbor app lets you rent out any spare attic space, driveway, office space, etc., you're not using.
Snap some pics and list them on the app, and Neighbor will take care of the rest, offering you secure payments, month-to-month rentals, and even property protection. So stop throwing money away and earn passive income by renting your unused space.
20. Rent Out Your Home on Vrbo
Do you have a spare room in your home? Or maybe you have a second home that sits empty throughout part of the year. You could be capitalizing on that space and making some decent money on the side.
While the amount of money you can make depends on your location and accommodation, you can quickly and easily see how much similar places are going for on the platform. This will give you a rough idea of your Vrbo earning potential.
Maybe you've got more than just a spare room. Bigger places command more significant fees, which is perfect if you've got an empty apartment.
The real key to making money on Vrbo or Airbnb is a property in a highly sought-after location — a city center, near a convention center, or a popular destination. People will turn to these sites for extended business stays or off-beat vacation rentals rather than turning to chain hotels.
21. Start a Graphic Design Business
Do you have a passion for graphic design? You can monetize that passion and turn it into a marketable side job. Even if you're not an official graphic designer, you can create a website, showcase your portfolio, and attract potential clients. In addition, you can search for businesses advertising graphic designers' needs or track down small businesses needing some graphic design TLC.
If you're not in the market to start a whole side business, using an online marketplace like Fiverr might be a better option.
Check out these other hobbies turned money-makers.
22. Flip Real Estate
Real estate flipping isn't as easy (or as painful) as HGTV and DIY shows make it out to be, but it does take a lot of patience, work, and a willingness to play the long game.
You can choose to invest in turn-key properties you can quickly turn into rental properties, or you can look into investing in quick-sale fixer-uppers that require a lot of money to update. Here is everything you need to know about real estate investing.
If house flipping feels too daunting, flipping cars for profit may be more your speed.
23. Become an Expert Consultant
If you've considered becoming a paid consultant, you must check out Clarity, an online platform for expert consultants. With Clarity, you can consult on various topics (business, tech, product design, and more) and help entrepreneurs with their start-ups.
The process is relatively straightforward. After you're set-up on Clarity, a client will reach out to you about the specific topic you specialize in; you schedule a call with them, consult, and then receive your payment.
Most people start at $60/an hour, but many consultants report making upwards of $300/an hour for their services with Clarity. And if Clarity isn't a good fit for you, you can always launch your own consulting business.
24. Teach English Online
People worldwide want to learn English as a second language, which has created significant opportunities for people to teach it from the comfort of their homes. Dozens of websites help match you up with kids from around the world looking to learn English.
If you're a native English speaker with a Bachelor's Degree, teaching experience, and can pass a background check, this is a perfect side hustle. You can set your own hours and interact with people from different countries and cultures.
Last year, VIPKid was ranked as one of the top 10 places to work by Glassdoor. New teachers in the program start at a base rate of $7.50, but that amount quickly increases as you teach classes.
You can also check out DaDa and Magic Ears or market your skills as a freelance teacher or online tutor.
25. Run Facebook Ads for Small Businesses Owners
Becoming a Facebook Ad Manager might seem daunting, but it's easier than you think. Are you well-connected in a small town? Does your best friend run their own small business? Do you frequent mom-and-pop shops that need a little marketing boost? If so, you may already have the right leads.
Despite the controversial nature of Facebook, it continues to be one of the most powerful tools for small businesses to market themselves, making now a perfect time to capitalize on it and turn it into the best side hustle for you.
Some critical aspects of managing Facebook ads are understanding the market, knowing the right keywords, and producing quality copy and graphics to engage potential customers.
26. Rent Out Your Car
Do you have a spare vehicle? How about a vehicle-oriented side hustle where you don't even need to do any driving? By renting your car, you can passively make money on the side. Best of all, you rent your car on your terms, meaning you can dictate who, when, where, etc.
User-friendly apps like Getaround and Turo make renting your car so simple. They are perfect for users who have an idle vehicle or live in a tourist destination and want to make money off their car.
27. Rent Out Your RV
Has your unused RV been camped out in your driveway?
RV Share and Outdoorsy are specifically geared toward users who own RVs. If you're an RV owner but only use it part of the time, why not list it and make money letting someone else use it? Some users report making over $300 a day renting out their RV. The best thing about Outdoorsy is their one million dollar insurance policy to cover their users.
28. Become a Mover
If you like lifting heavy things, you can check out TaskRabbit, as mentioned above, which has plenty of moving jobs listed. But another option is signing up for Dolly to score moving jobs only and make upwards of $300 a month. If you have a truck to help move larger pieces, you can make more money than the average mover.
Always watch on Facebook Marketplace and NextDoor; people always seek paid help to move!
29. Turn Your Hobby into a Business
If you have the patience to build your mini-empire, there are many ways to make money off your hobby. Whether you create quirky stickers, knit geeky scarves, woodcraft, or embroidery, Etsy makes it easy to turn your hobby into a lucrative business. However, did you know you can also easily teach it online?
You can turn your hobby into online workshops and start drawing a steady income from fellow hobbyists looking to refine their skills or learn something new. Check out Udemy to sell your own course, teaching people how to master a skill.
30. Resell Domains
If you own a website, you must always remember to renew your domain! Some people make a living by buying up domains that people have failed to renew and then essentially ransom them at insanely high price tags.
While we're not recommending this exact scenario, we recommend you look for unpurchased domains that may have long-term returns. Focus on domain names that could logically become a brand, socially-minded organization, or popular keywords. Do your research, and make strategic purchases, so you don't waste much money on domains that don't sell.
31. Create an Online Course
If teaching English wasn't the right match for you, but you have the passion and skills to teach other courses online, which might be your perfect side hustle. Especially with so many people looking for ways to learn new marketable skills or alternative education for their kids online, this has the potential to be a highly lucrative hustle.
Some people report making upwards of $90,000 a year teaching online.
Finding online teaching jobs is pretty straightforward, but you will need a few essential skills to enter the market. First, you must be proficient in a desirable field — research, check out what courses are available online, and see which ones are sold out and have an apparent demand.
You will also need a decent computer, video recording, editing abilities, and the discipline and time to teach at a distance. You can sell your course on Udemy or on your own website.
32. Upcycle Furniture
Have you ever browsed Facebook Marketplace and stumbled on a piece of furniture someone is practically giving away? Or you've seen a piece listed for $5 that needed a nice coat of paint and some TLC. There's money to be made in strategic upcycling.
There are entire websites — like Freecycle — where people list pieces of furniture, trinkets, and electronics for free!
If you're creative, you could easily take a free kitchen table and transform it into a $200 piece with some paint and elbow grease. Keep an eye on thrift stores, too; you never know what pieces you can find that would be perfect for flipping for a profit.
33. Become a Mystery Shopper
Companies worldwide hire mystery shoppers to give them feedback on their businesses. In exchange for money, these companies hire individuals to go into stores and purchase specific items and services to rate and review their employees and product accessibility.
Becoming a mystery shopper is easy and can be done with regular shopping.
Jobs2Shop lets you become a mystery shopper overnight, while Field Agent matches you with nearby gigs while you're out driving around. Typically the Field Agent jobs involve checking out store displays or checking on product inventory. While neither will get you rich, they're another great side hustle to bring in some extra cash.
34. Start Dropshipping
Regarding the best side hustles, few are as straightforward or as lucrative as dropshipping. In fact, dropshipping is one of the quickest ways to get into online selling, and the fact you don't need to hold any stock yourself makes it highly attractive. Dropshipping can earn you upwards of $5,000 a month, but it requires some effort.
To get started, you must set up an eCommerce store like Shopify or WordPress and then sell stock straight from the supplier. Then, instead of shipping the products yourself, you purchase goods from a wholesale manufacturer. Then they package and ship directly to your customers.
Each platform charges different fees, so it's essential to research before creating a dropshipping business as a form of passive income. A common spin on dropshipping can be working as an Amazon FBA or fulfillment company.
35. Start an OnlyFans for Your Content
Since 2020, OnlyFans has proved itself to be a substantial source of income for many of its users. If you have an online following and want to post exclusive content behind a paywall, this is one of the best side hustles for you. Many creators use OnlyFans or an alternative platform, from fitness coaches to cosplayers, travel bloggers to adult models, and popular influencers to Do-It-Yourselfers. There's a niche for you.
This could be a great secondary resource if you've started building a successful brand on YouTube, as a blogger, or as a successful Twitch streamer.
Your “fans” can subscribe to your content at a monthly or yearly rate, so you must keep producing quality content to keep them subscribed. You can even create Amazon wishlists for them to buy things for you and send you additional tips.
36. Do Some Babysitting
If you're not an animal person but love kids, babysitting could be the perfect side hustle for you. And, of course, there's an app to help you get started.
With Care.com, you can find babysitting or nannying opportunities in your local area. You can even find jobs helping seniors and other individuals with special needs. This kind of side hustle can be gratifying, both in terms of financial gain and banking some serious karma credit.
37. Flip and Sell Stuff Online
You can easily sell some of your old junk, wedding decorations, and random things around your garage in a matter of days online.
With apps and websites like Poshmark, OfferUp, Craig's List, and Facebook Marketplace (to name a few), selling things online has never been easier.
On the flip side, you can also flip these items by selling them for a profit on eBay.
For example, you can buy an old backpack blower that doesn't work for $50 or so. Then, you replace the carburetor, clean it up, get it running, and sell it for $200. Profit = $150.
While this requires expertise and knowing what is profitable (and what is not), there are plenty of ways to learn how to become an expert flipper.
38. Start a YouTube Channel
Content creators are still flocking to YouTube to expand their businesses and create an additional income stream. If you already have a business, consider adding a YouTube channel to grow your audience and influence.
YouTube has low barriers to entry, as you can start a channel by simply sitting next to a bright window and filming yourself with your smartphone. Then, as your channel grows and begins earning, you can upgrade to more professional gear.
39. Become a Social Media Manager
Managing social media for brands is one of the best side hustles you can do from home. It offers complete flexibility and doesn't require a specific degree. Most brands and business owners want to maintain an online presence. They know building up their social media profiles to advertise their business is a good idea. Still, they may not have the resources or know-how to do it themselves.
If you're fluent in social media, you can offer your services. Consider including social media management in your available packages if you're a virtual assistant.
What Makes the Best Side Hustles?
There are many unique ways to make money online and at home to help you pay your debts, student loans, or even rent; the key is finding the best side hustles for your personal lifestyle and schedule. Hopefully, we have helped you find new ways to bring in a passive income or a new way to showcase and profit from your passions.
At the end of the day, there are two ways to look at side hustles:
- Side hustles can be a quick, flexible way to make money, hustling on the side of your job or duties like filling out surveys, delivering groceries, or helping others move.
- The best side hustles can be a way to start something for yourself that might overtake your full-time career in the long run and help you make $1,000s like blogging, writing, YouTube, and so on.
For some, the best side hustle simply means one that is mentally easy (like a survey), flexible, and puts some quick cash in their pocket.
Others might say they need a side hustle that can help them walk away from their job or help them pay off $300,000 in student loans.
Either way, whatever reason you need a side hustle, simply try a few and see which takes off.
