Everyone wants to make more money—whether it’s to save up, buy a house, or pay off debt. The obvious move is to pick up a part-time job, but that means giving up more of your time.
The good news? You don’t have to. The internet has made it easier than ever to make money from home in legit ways. There are so many options that even a list of 20 ways isn’t enough to cover them all. Some take a little setup, but most are quick enough that you can start making money almost immediately.
1. Rent out your rooms
If you need extra cash, one of the oldest tricks in the book is renting out a room in your house. You can either get a long-term housemate or list it on Airbnb for short-term stays.
Before you jump in, make sure you have solid liability insurance and understand how much control you want over who stays in your home. If you don’t want random guests showing up, disable Airbnb’s instant-booking feature so you can approve people first.
Also, check your local laws and HOA rules—many places straight-up ban short-term rentals, even if it’s just one room. Ignoring this could get you fined or shut down.
2. Teach what you know online
If you’re good at a subject or speak fluent English, you can make money tutoring online. Plenty of companies will pay you to teach students one-on-one, and you don’t need a teaching degree—just solid knowledge of the subject and the ability to explain it well. Whether it’s English, physics, math, or even a musical instrument, there’s someone out there willing to pay for your help. Some platforms let you set your own rates, so if you build a good reputation, you can make serious money.
3. Get paid for simple tasks
Freecash is a fast and flexible way to earn extra money from the comfort of your home. You can complete simple tasks, take surveys, and try out offers to start earning right away. Some of the top users are making up to $250 a day, proving how lucrative it can be with consistent effort. The best part? You can cash out with as little as $5 through PayPal, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. Whether you have a few minutes or a few hours, Freecash makes it easy to turn your free time into real money.
- Paid out over $6 million since 2020 with many ways to earn
- Multiple cash-out options, including PayPal and crypto
- Highly rated on TrustPilot and Google Play
4. Rent out your car
If you’re not comfortable renting out your home, your car is another way to make money. Platforms like Turo let you list your vehicle, but you’ll need to keep it clean, maintained, and up to their standards. Check your insurance policy to make sure it allows rentals, and read up on what happens if a renter gets a ticket or into an accident—some platforms offer coverage, but know what you’re getting into.
5. Start freelancing
Freelancing means working for yourself, which also means handling taxes and any business licenses your city or county requires. You can make money from home doing graphic design, writing, or just about any skill people will pay for. But don’t forget—freelancers don’t get taxes taken out automatically. Set aside some money from each payment so you’re not hit with a huge bill later.
6. Start delivering food
DoorDash is an easy way to make extra cash by delivering food in your area. You decide when and how much you work—whether it’s a few hours after your 9-to-5 or a full weekend hustle. You’ll see what you’ll earn before accepting an order, and you keep 100% of your tips. Need cash fast? You can cash out daily. All you need is a car, bike, or scooter to start making money on your own terms.
- Work on your schedule
- Keep 100% of tips
- Cash out quickly
7. Invest in real estate
Fundrise is a great way to dip your toes into real estate investing without needing tons of cash upfront. For as little as $10, you can start building a real estate portfolio, and new users even get a $10 bonus to kick things off. Whether you’re new to investing or looking to diversify, Fundrise offers an easy and flexible way to grow your money while investing in properties nationwide.
- Earn passive income with real estate investing starting at just $10
- Easy-to-use app for seamless access to crowd-funded real estate deals
- Perfect for those who want their money to work for them
8. Sell your data
Nielsen pays you just for browsing the internet, but there’s a catch—you’re giving them access to your data. Once you install their app on your phone or computer, it tracks your online activity in the background. You don’t have to do anything, and in return, you’ll earn $60 over a year. If you’re okay with sharing your browsing habits, it’s an easy way to make passive money.
- Sign up your computers, smartphones and tablets to earn up to $60 in reward points for gift cards
- Exclusive invitations for survey and research opportunities
- Legit passive income opportunity
9. Sign up for survey sites
If you want extra cash without committing to a schedule, survey sites like Survey Junkie and Swagbucks pay you for sharing your opinions. You’ll answer questions, and once you reach a payout threshold, you can cash out via PayPal, gift cards, or other rewards. Just know that you won’t qualify for every survey—each one targets specific demographics. It won’t make you rich, but it’s an easy way to earn a little extra in your free time.
10. Start a blog
Starting a blog is one of the easiest ways to make money from home, but don’t expect instant cash—it takes time and effort. If you’re into travel, personal finance, fitness, or any other niche, you can turn your ideas into income through ads, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and even selling digital products. You don’t need to be a tech expert to start, but you do need patience and consistency.
If you’re serious about it, Bluehost is a solid choice for web hosting. It’s cheap, beginner-friendly, and even includes a free domain name when you sign up. With the right strategy, your blog can grow into a steady source of passive income—but only if you’re willing to put in the work.
11. Get paid to lose weight
HealthyWage lets you bet on your own weight loss—if you hit your goal, you win real cash. You set a target, decide how much to wager, and if you succeed within your chosen timeframe, you can win up to $10,000. The bigger your bet and the more weight you lose, the higher your payout.
This isn’t just free money—you’re literally putting your own cash on the line, so if you don’t reach your goal, you lose your bet. But if financial stakes motivate you, it can be a powerful way to stay on track. Their calculator shows exactly how much you can win, so if you’re serious about losing weight and want extra incentive, this could be worth a shot.
- Choose how much weight you want to lose and your target timeline.
- Decide how much money you want to win—up to $10,000!
- Stay motivated, hit your goal, and cash in. The average winner earns between $1,100 and $1,400!
12. Start investing
Looking for easy, hands-off beer money? Acorns might be right up your alley. It’s a simple way to invest without the hassle: Acorns automatically rounds up spare change from your everyday purchases and puts it into a diversified portfolio.
To give you a sense of the growth potential, investing just $50 a month could balloon to around $75,000 over 30 years, assuming a 8% average annual return with monthly compounding—proof that small steps can lead to big rewards.
Right now, Acorns is offering a $20 sign-up bonus (direct link here) when you create a new account, link your bank, and set up recurring investments (minimum $5). After your first successful deposit, you’ll receive $20 within 10 days of the following month. It’s a legit, low-effort way to start investing.
- Effortless investing: Acorns rounds up your spare change and invests it automatically—no extra work required
- Big potential growth: Investing $100 a month could grow to over $180,000 in 30 years with a 9% return
- Free money: Sign up, fund your account with $5, and set up recurring investments to get a $20 bonus
13. Start a podcast
Podcasting is a legit way to make money from home, and you don’t need a fancy setup to start. A decent mic, a quiet space, and a topic you’re passionate about—whether it’s true crime, finance, or pop culture—are all you really need.
The catch? You have to build an audience first. Once people start tuning in, you can make money through sponsorships, ads, affiliate deals, and even listener donations. Platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts give you access to thousands of potential listeners, and you can record straight from your laptop or phone. If you’ve got something to say and are willing to put in the work, podcasting can turn into a real income stream.
14. Start dropshipping
Dropshipping is one of the easiest ways to start an online business without worrying about inventory or shipping. Here’s how it works: you create an online store, list products from suppliers, and when someone makes a purchase, the supplier handles the packing and shipping directly to the customer. You earn the profit from the price difference.
To get started quickly and efficiently, Shopify is the best platform for building your dropshipping store. It’s user-friendly, offers customizable templates, and integrates seamlessly with dropshipping apps like Oberlo or Spocket. With Shopify, you can manage everything from product listings to payments in one place. If you’re looking for a low-risk way to make money from home, dropshipping with Shopify is a smart and scalable option.
If you’re good at writing captions, engaging with people online, or promoting products, you can make money as a remote social media manager. Companies hire people to run their social media accounts, create posts, and respond to comments or customer questions. Some jobs also involve handling complaints or troubleshooting issues for customers who message the company.
If there’s a brand or product you love, check if they’re hiring for a social media role. Many of these jobs are fully remote, so you can work from anywhere.
16. Trade stocks, crypto, or forex
If you know what you’re doing, trading stocks, crypto, or forex can be a way to make money—but it’s risky. Prices fluctuate fast, and if you don’t have a solid strategy, you can lose more than you make.
Day trading, swing trading, or long-term investing all have different approaches, and success takes research, discipline, and risk management. If you’re serious about it, start small, learn the market, and don’t trade with money you can’t afford to lose.
16. Sell on eBay
Sell your unwanted items around your household on eBay is a good way to declutter and earn side income. I’ve been using eBay for about 7 years now and it is very easy to sell things around your home that you no longer use or find items that you can purchase for cheap and then flip them on eBay for a profit. Just make sure that you keep the fees into consideration.
17. Become a virtual assistant
If you’re organized and good at handling tasks like email management, scheduling, social media, or data entry, you can make money as a Virtual Assistant (VA). Businesses and entrepreneurs hire VAs to handle work they don’t have time for, and the best part? You don’t need special training—just solid organization and communication skills.
You can find VA gigs on Upwork, Fiverr, or by reaching out to small businesses directly. Many people start part-time and eventually turn it into a full-time income, setting their own rates and choosing their clients. If you want a flexible, in-demand way to make steady money from home, this is a solid option.
18. Find a remote job
To find legitimate remote opportunities, FlexJobs is a top platform that specializes in remote and flexible job listings. Unlike other sites, FlexJobs screens every job posting to ensure it’s scam-free, so you can apply with confidence. You’ll find everything from short-term projects to long-term contracts, giving you the freedom to work as much—or as little—as you want. If you’re looking for a reliable way to make money from home, freelancing with FlexJobs is a smart place to start.
Final Thoughts: Start Earning from Home Today
Making money from home has never been easier, and as you’ve seen, there are plenty of real ways to boost your income—whether you want to earn a little extra cash in your free time or build a full-on side hustle. The key is to find what works best for you. Some people thrive with apps like Freecash or InboxDollars, while others prefer more flexible options like freelancing, dropshipping, or becoming a virtual assistant.
The best part? You don’t need to invest a lot of money to get started. Most of these methods require nothing more than your time, effort, and a bit of consistency. Try out a few, see what clicks, and don’t be afraid to stack multiple income streams—that’s how many people maximize their earnings.
At the end of the day, the only thing standing between you and extra cash is taking action. So pick an idea, get started today, and watch how quickly it adds up. Your future self will thank you. 🚀
