How to Make Money Online for Beginners: 10 Easy Options

If you’ve only worked a traditional, in-person job, you may not know the number of easy ways to make money online. These range from side gigs to full-time work. If you’re wondering how to make money online for beginners, we’ve curated a list of places to start. And as a bonus, these don’t need any advanced skills or a large upfront investment. 

We’re going to go over some of the best ways to earn money online, from surveys and games to freelancing and selling digital products.

1. Take Paid Online Surveys

Companies are always looking for consumer feedback to improve their products and services. They pay users to take online surveys, which typically take just a few minutes. In exchange, participants earn points that can be redeemed for cash or gift cards.

Some of the best survey sites we recommend include: 

• Swagbucks
• InboxDollars
• Go Branded
• YouGov
• MyPoints

Pros:

• You don’t need any experience or special skills.
• It’s both a quick and flexible way to earn.

Cons:

• Earnings are relatively low.
• Some sites disqualify users from surveys, which limits earning potential.

2. Phone Games That Pay You to Play

Certain mobile games offer real cash rewards for playing. Some games let users compete in skill-based tournaments where they can win money, while others provide small earnings just for playing regularly.

A few of the best money-making games are:

• Solitaire Cash
• Bingo Cash
• Solitaire Smash

To see The Penny Hoarder’s full list of games that pay real money here. 

Pros:

• Earn your extra cash doing something fun.
• There’s no large upfront investment.

Cons:

• Winnings will depend on gameplay skills.
• Some apps do require deposits for tournaments.

3. Use Money-Making Apps

Apps reward people just like you for doing simple tasks like shopping, scanning receipts, answering surveys, testing apps or trying new services.

Money-making apps apps we recommend include: 

• UpLevelRewards (mobile only)
• Free Cash

See our full list of our favorite money-making apps here.

Pros:

• Doesn’t require any advanced skills.
• No upfront costs.

Cons:

• You need to use the apps consistently to see a high payout. 

4. Try Microtask Websites

Microtask platforms pay users for small jobs like data entry, transcription or labeling images to train AI systems. While these tasks are relatively simple, they do require time and consistency.

Examples of microtask websites: 

• Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk)
• Clickworker
• Appen
• Lionbridge

Pros:

• No special skills required.
• Small earnings can add up over time.

Cons: 

• Tasks are somewhat repetitive and low paying.

5. Sell Unused Items Online

Selling items you no longer need is one of the fastest ways to make money. Clothes, electronics, furniture and collectibles all have potential buyers online. 

Best platforms for selling items:

• eBay
• Facebook Marketplace
• Poshmark (for clothing)
• Decluttr (for electronics)

Check out our guides to selling used clothes here and selling used books here.

Pros:

• It’s one of the fastest ways to get cash.
• No special skills required.

Cons:

• It’s limited to the items you own.
• Posting listings takes effort.

6. Start a Low-Cost Print-on-Demand Business

With print-on-demand, you create designs for t-shirts, mugs, phone cases and more. The platform prints and ships the product when a customer orders, so you never have to handle inventory.

Best print-on-demand services:

• Printful
• Redbubble
• Teespring

Pros:

• No upfront inventory costs.
• Can potentially become passive income.

Cons: 

• Requires marketing to get consistent sales.

7. Get Paid for Watching Videos and Ads

Some websites and apps pay users to watch promotional videos, movie trailers or advertisements. The earnings are small but require minimal effort.

Platforms that pay you to watch videos: 

• KashKick
• Free Cash

Pros:

• Extremely easy.
• No sign-up cost.

Cons:

• Low earnings per video.

8. Test Websites and Apps for Cash

Companies want feedback on their websites and apps to improve user experience. They pay testers to navigate through platforms and provide insights on functionality and usability.

Best usability testing sites:

• UserTesting
• Respondent.io
• TryMyUI

Pros:

• High earning potential ($10-$60 per test).
• No advanced skills required.

Cons:

• Test availability depends on demographics.

9. Try Freelancing for Beginners

Freelancing allows you to use your skills in writing, graphic design or data entry for pay. Even if you’re a beginner, you can find clients looking for basic services.

Best platforms for freelancers:

• Fiverr
• Upwork
• PeoplePerHour

Pros:

• High earning potential.
• No upfront costs.

Cons: 

• Requires effort to build a client base.
• Need a basic understanding of the service you’re offering.

10. Offer Virtual Assistant Services

Virtual assistants help businesses and entrepreneurs with administrative tasks like managing emails, scheduling appointments and social media management.

Platforms for virtual assistants:

• Zirtual
• Belay
• Fiverr

Pros

• No certain degree required.
• This could turn into a full-time remote career.

Cons:

• Clients may require flexible availability.
• You need project management skills.

Tips for Making Money Online as a Beginner

There are plenty of online side hustles for beginners. Even though they’re novice-friendly, there are certain habits that will set you up for success.

• Start small and experiment – Try multiple options to see what works best for you.
• Be wary of scams – If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Stick to reputable platforms.
• Stay consistent – Many online income streams require time and effort before they pay off.
• Set realistic expectations – Making money online isn’t always instant. Some methods require persistence.
• Learn basic digital skills – Understanding SEO, social media marketing or basic graphic design can help maximize earnings.
• Diversify your income – Combine multiple methods (e.g., surveys + freelancing + selling digital products) for better results.

FAQs About Making Money Online