Before you jump into making money online, take a moment to figure out what you want to achieve and what might hold you back.
Like most things, how much you succeed at making money online depends on how much time and effort you put in. Your situation makes a big difference too.
Here are a few things to think about before you get started on your online money-making adventure:
If you already have some followers online, you’ve got a head start! You can share your new business with them right away, and they’re like a built-in audience ready to check out your content, products, or services.
If you’re awesome at organizing stuff but not so great at making content, some money-making ideas will fit you better than others. Don’t just focus on how much money you could make—think about what skills you already have to make it work.
Your approach will depend a lot on your situation. For example, if you’ve got cash saved up and tons of free time, you’ll do things differently than if you’re working full-time and only have an hour a day to spare.
Alright, let’s dive into the best ways to make money online using just a laptop or phone through these simple and easy ways.
Quick and easy ideas to start with right away
Let’s kick things off with some super easy ways to make money that you can start right now. These won’t make you rich, but they’ll give you a quick cash boost while you work on bigger money-making ideas later.
1. Watching videos
We all watch videos—so why not make some cash while you’re at it? Believe it or not, there are apps and websites that pay you just for hitting play.
How It Works
You sign up, watch videos (ads, clips, or even full movies), and earn points or cash. Some platforms run passively in the background while you do other things.
Best Apps & Sites to Try
Avoid sketchy apps—stick with well-known platforms that actually pay out.
What You Can Expect
Pro Tips to Maximize Earnings
Bottom Line: It’s not big money, but if you’re already watching stuff online, why not get paid for it?
2. Answering questions
People are constantly searching for answers online—and some platforms will pay you to provide them. While Reddit is great for free discussions, Quora’s Partner Program actually pays for quality answers. But there are two especially profitable niches worth focusing on:
1. Homework Help (High Demand, Steady Work)
2. Professional Advice (Higher Pay, Requires Credentials)
What to Expect
Key Tips for Success
Answering questions won’t make you rich, but it’s a solid way to monetize your knowledge in your spare time.
Note: The Quora Partner Program, which paid for asking questions, shut down in March 2023, but Quora still offers ways to earn by answering questions, especially for top writers with engaged followings.
3. Taking online surveys
If you live in the US or another big consumer market, online surveys are one of the simplest ways to make extra cash—no special skills needed.
Why do companies pay for surveys?
Big brands want to understand shoppers like you. They’ll pay real money just for your opinions on products, ads, and shopping habits.
But be careful—there are scams!
Stick with well-known survey sites like: Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, Pinecone Research, Vindale Research
What to expect:
Quick Facts:
Sign up for multiple legit survey sites to get more opportunities. The more you qualify for, the more you can earn!
4. Chatting online
First things first, let’s clear up any confusion: we’re not talking about chatting on adult-only platforms (though those exist, and people get paid well for it if that’s their gig).
There are plenty of other websites where you can earn money just by chatting with folks. Sometimes it’s about being a friendly companion, but it can also cover stuff like:
Some platforms are super specific. For example:
What you need to start:
Quick note: Ginger.io is now integrated with Headspace for mental health coaching or therapy, and HeyPeers is great for peer support chats.
5. Play to earn gaming
Play-to-earn (P2E) gaming lets you play games and earn stuff you can legally trade for real money—no shady underground markets needed.
Unlike games like The Sims that keep charging you for extras or big-name games packed with microtransactions, P2E games focus on rewarding you for your time instead of emptying your pockets.
Here’s how it works:
P2E gaming is still pretty new, but there are some cool games out there already:
If NFTs and blockchain aren’t your thing, no problem! You can play games on sites like the ones that pay for watching videos (we talked about those earlier), but you’ll earn way less.
What you need to start:
Gods Unchained is popular but has mixed vibes. Players love the strategy and community, but some say it’s slow, hard to earn good cards without spending, and only nets small bucks (like $20 in six months for one player).
It’s free, but top cards cost a lot, and it had a brief “Adults Only” rating in 2023 over crypto stuff, which kicked it off Epic Games Store before it came back.
6. Sign-up bonuses
If you’ve checked out apps like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, or Ibotta, you might’ve noticed they often throw in a sign-up bonus. Pretty sweet, right? Here’s the deal:
There’s another place where sign-up bonuses can be really good: online betting sites. But these work differently:
What you need to start:
7. Online sweepstakes
Look for shops and creators running the Whop Wheel—a free online spin-to-win game that brands use to reward their communities.
If you’re into gaming or building PCs, you can score some serious cash or gear by entering online sweepstakes. Here’s how it works:
Some tips to boost your chances:
What you need to start: with internet connection and maybe an email address,
8. Online focus groups
Online surveys are super popular for companies doing market research, but focus groups are also a big deal.
Here’s the difference:
Focus groups used to mostly happen in person, but now online focus groups are taking off. Companies love them because it’s way easier to schedule when people can just join from home.
A few things to know:
What you need to start: a device with internet and maybe a webcam.
9. Cashback apps
Loyalty programs are great, but if you really want to maximize your savings, cashback apps take things to the next level.
Take Ibotta for example – just download the app, shop like you normally would, and get a percentage of your money back in cold hard cash or gift cards. No hoops to jump through, just free money for buying stuff you already planned to purchase.
It’s like getting a secret discount on everything you buy!
Here’s the best part: You still shop at your favorite stores – Walmart, Lowe’s, Temu – but now you’re getting free money back on every purchase.
Imagine:
That’s extra cash just for shopping like normal!
Plus, many apps reward you even more for:
The deal:
Pro tip: Choose apps that work where YOU shop
10. Selling data
Note: This isn’t about selling personal data (yours or anyone else’s – that’s illegal). We’re talking about selling your unused internet bandwidth.
Think about it:
In places like the US or Europe, you could earn up to $50/month just for sharing your unused connection.
But here’s the catch:
Most services require you to install their software on your computer. While this is normal for phone apps, be extra careful with PC software.
Key points
Remember: Only use trusted, well-reviewed platforms