These days, finding a side hustle is easier than ever. With the internet at our fingertips, there’s no shortage of ways to make a little extra money on the side.
What’s even better is that you don’t need to spend money to get started. There are a lot of side hustle ideas that will only require your time, some creativity, and a bit of effort.
In this article, I will list down all the best free side hustle ideas I have discovered in the many years of testing online earning opportunities. They don’t require any experience or special skills, so you will find at least one method you can immediately start working on.
So, let’s begin.
Who can benefit from this guide?
Before we talk about the options you can choose from, let me discuss who can benefit from these side hustle ideas.
In my opinion, these ideas are great for anyone with no money to invest but who still wants to find a profitable side hustle.
They can also be great options for students or stay-at-home parents looking to earn extra cash.
But really, these ideas are suitable for anyone with a bit of spare time who is looking to earn some extra money, because, as mentioned, all you really need is time and a little bit of effort.
This guide can also help you if you are looking to test different side hustle methods before going all in, since it will give you an overview of what you are in for, so you can easily find the best methods for you.
Key tips before you start
When you decide which methods to go for, it is important to note that to succeed in these side hustle methods, you need to do the following things:
1.) Be consistent with the effort you put in:
You should focus on doing things regularly and not be afraid to do things wrong or fail. Because let’s face it, if you are new to something, you are bound to make some mistakes. The most important thing is to learn from those mistakes and keep taking action.
2.) Avoid scammy platforms:
Unfortunately, where there is money to be made, there are also people trying to scam you. So, you must learn how to identify these scams to avoid them.
The best way to identify if a site or platform is a scam is to always ask yourself, “Is it too good to be true?” Because if it is, then it is most likely a scam.
Aside from that, if a platform asks for payment before you can receive your earnings, you must stay away from them immediately because they are just scamming you and don’t intend to pay you. This is a very common scam, so always be aware of it.
3.) Pick two to three methods to start with:
Only start with 2-3 different methods at the most, so you don’t get overwhelmed. Once you have explored these methods and become more experienced, you can then think about expanding to other side hustles.
20 Best Free Side Hustle Ideas
Keep in mind that this is not a prioritized list. However, I have organized it so that the methods are grouped under general categories. That way, you can just skip to the ones you are interested in.
I will keep updating this list if I find new great side hustle ideas in the future, so make sure to bookmark it and visit it from time to time for new ideas.
Easy Online Tasks & Micro Job Ideas:
#1 – Paid Surveys
One of the easiest side hustles online is to answer paid surveys. These can be found on survey or Get-Paid-To (GPT) sites, and they don’t take up a lot of your time.
Just bear in mind that the amount you can earn from this method won’t come close to what you can earn from a full-time job, but it is an easy way to earn some extra money right away.
For a list of great survey sites to join, you can check out the best survey sites in your country.
#2 – Paid Offers
Paid offers are short tasks you can do to earn rewards. Typically, these tasks will ask you to download and play games, watch videos, sign up for free trials, and more. It is best for people who enjoy playing mobile games because they are, by far, the most common offers you will encounter on GPT sites, where these offers can be found.
Some offers can take some time to complete, so you need make sure you have enough time to complete them. The rewards aren’t that high, but they can be fun to do. You can find these offers on the best GPT sites.
#3 – Micro Jobs
Micro jobs are small, quick tasks that usually take just a few minutes to complete and pay a small amount of money. Often, it will be small social media tasks. The good thing about this method is that it can be done by anyone because you don’t need any special skills to complete the tasks.
You can check out the best micro job sites for a list of great sites to join.
#4 – Paid-to-Click Sites
Paid-to-click (PTC) sites offer a very simple way to earn rewards. You just have to click links and watch ads, or visit websites. The rewards you earn are quite low, but they don’t take a lot of effort, so it is best suited for people who just want a quick way to earn some cash and who do not expect to earn much.
You can check out the best PTC sites to earn by clicking.
#5 – Watching Videos for Money
Just like PTC sites, this method won’t require a lot of effort. Just bear in mind that it also yields very low rewards, so you should only go for this option if you’ve got plenty of spare time.
You can check out this list of the best sites to earn by watching videos for a list of sites to join.
#6 – AI Training Tasks
Working on AI training tasks can be a good way to earn extra cash. Usually, these tasks will involve labeling data, transcribing speech, or categorizing images, so anyone can do it. The pay is quite decent, but be prepared to commit some time because these tasks take some time to finish.
You can usually find these tasks on Remotasks or Clickworker.
#7 – User Testing
Testing sites and apps can be a great way to earn extra cash online, provided you are great at spotting minute details. So, this is best for people who enjoy giving feedback, have an eye for detail, and can clearly express their thoughts.
You can earn a decent amount from these opportunities, so it’s a great source of extra income. You can check out the best user testing sites for great options.
#8 – Playing Games
There are a lot of apps and sites that will reward you for playing games. This method is fun to do, so you won’t easily get bored. The pay is decent and doesn’t require any special skills or experience. Just be aware that this method can take up a bit of your time, so make sure you have enough time to complete it.
You can check out this list on the best ways to earn money by playing games online for a list of great sites to join.
Apps & Passive Income:
#9 – Sharing Unused Internet Bandwidth
Sharing your unused internet bandwidth is a great way to earn extra cash because it is practically effortless. In my experience, the pay these sites and apps offer will mostly depend on your location. But the good thing is that the software is easy to set up, so you don’t need any specialized computer skills to run it.
It is best for people who have an unlimited internet plan, which guarantees that there will be unused internet bandwidth. One good example of a site that offers this kind of opportunity is Pawns.
#10 – Passive Income Apps
Passive income apps will let you earn extra cash without putting a lot of effort. Most (if not all) of them will involve installing an app or a program to earn. They don’t pay as well as other methods on this list, but since you don’t have to put in a lot of effort to earn, it’s still worth it, in my opinion.
This is a great option for people who don’t have a lot of extra time on their hands since they can just let it run in the background to earn. You can check out the best passive income apps for great options.
#11 – Free Crypto Mining
While this method typically doesn’t yield the highest earnings, it’s a great way to get into the crypto world without spending a dime. You’ll typically just have to press a button to start earning, so it can be used by anyone.
For a list of good crypto mining options, I suggest you check out the best mining apps for Android and iOS devices.
#12 – Cashback Sites
Cashback sites are a great way to earn extra cash, and they are best suited for people who love to shop online. Great cashback sites also offer decent cashback rates (more than 10%), so you can earn a decent amount quickly if you shop frequently.
Here’s a list of the best cashback sites you can join.
Skill-Based or Remote Work:
#13 – Freelancing
Freelancing, by far, is one of the most common side hustles online, in my opinion. You can earn a good amount from the freelance jobs you take on. Some can even earn a full-time income from freelance jobs.
They usually require previous experience as a freelancer, as well as specialized skills, so it’s not for everyone. Here’s a list of the best freelance sites you can join to get you started.
#14 – Transcription Jobs
Transcription jobs are great for fast typers. They can serve as a good source of extra income, but they require certain equipment (a foot pedal, to be exact) to do it properly. So, only go for this method if you are willing to invest in the hardware needed for the job.
You can check out this list for the best transcription sites for beginners to get started.
#15 – Data Entry Jobs
Data entry jobs are a great option for people with no specialized computer skills. As long as you’ve got a stable internet and a computer, you’ll be able to earn a decent amount from these jobs.
This is one of the methods where there are lots of scams, though, so here’s a guide on how to avoid data entry scams.
#16 – Chat Support Jobs
Chat support jobs can be a good source of extra income. Some of them are full-time positions, while some are just part-time opportunities. In my experience, sites that offer these jobs pay well within the market rate, so you should be able to earn a decent amount from it.
For a list of great sites that offer this kind of opportunity, I recommend you check out the best chat support jobs from home.
Human Interaction & Gig-Based:
#17 – Online Tutoring
Online tutoring can be a great side hustle for patient people. That’s because it’s not easy trying to teach someone a certain subject. That being said, this method can let you earn a good chunk of cash regularly.
You can check out this list of the best online tutoring sites for great options that offer this kind of opportunity.
#18 – Focus Groups
If you love giving feedback verbally and talking to others, joining focus groups can be a great source of extra income. These opportunities typically pay well, especially if you will be asked to go to a certain location to participate.
You should check out this list of the best online focus groups for sites you can join.
#19 – Mystery Shopping
If you have a good eye for detail and you don’t mind visiting physical stores, taking on mystery shopping assignments can be a viable method to earn extra cash. These assignments typically pay a decent amount, but you must be prepared to shell out some cash for some assignments. The good thing is that they usually reimburse the amount you spend.
Here’s a list of great mystery shopping sites you can join.
#20 – Gig Economy Jobs
Gig economy jobs are a lot like freelancing, but the difference is that you can’t do them remotely. If you don’t mind taking care of children or pets, delivering items, working in restaurants or warehouses, then this can be a good side hustle.
You just have to be careful when picking jobs and make sure that the pay is well within the market rate. Here’s a list of great gig economy sites you can join.
How to choose the right side hustle for you?
Now that you know what your options are, you must be wondering, which ones are best for you?
Well, the first thing you must consider is the free time you have and the amount you can typically earn from these methods.
For example, if you don’t have a lot of free time and you are okay with not earning a lot, then you can go for paid surveys and passive income apps. If you want to earn a significant amount and you have the time to spare, you can go for any of the human interaction and gig-based opportunities.
You can also consider whether you want an active or passive form of earning. Typically, free passive opportunities don’t yield very high earnings, but they require very little effort on your end. Active earning opportunities, on the other hand, offer higher rewards, but they take up some time and effort to finish.
Lastly, you must align your choices with your interests, lifestyle, and most of all, your skills.
You can’t go for transcription jobs if you are not a fast typist. Similarly, you can’t go for user testing if you don’t like giving feedback or speaking out your thoughts. So, before you choose any side hustle idea, you must always think about the skill, your interests, and the time required to do it.
That’s the best way to find out which idea/s you should go for, in my opinion.
How Much Can You Realistically Earn?
The table below will give you a good idea of how much you can realistically earn from these side hustle ideas.
Take note that your earnings from your side hustle can grow through consistency and combining several ideas, so the amount you can earn won’t be limited to the numbers mentioned below.
Also, be aware that for some of these methods, the earning potential will depend a lot on the country you live in. Some methods are just not great for certain locations, so if you find one of the methods is not great for your country, just use other methods instead.
Final Thoughts
That concludes my list of the best free side hustle ideas you can go for.
Remember that it is best to combine two to three methods before you think about doing more. That way, you won’t be overwhelmed, and you will still have the time to do other things you want to do.
I will keep updating this article if I find new methods in the future, so make sure to bookmark this page and check on it from time to time.
If you have any comments, questions, or know of great free side hustle ideas that you think belong in this guide, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.