Thanks to the internet, many second jobs don’t require late-night shifts at restaurants and stores. Now, with a little time and know-how, anyone can start a side hustle right from their homes.
But while the online world offers many opportunities, figuring out where to start can be tricky. In this guide, we’ll provide some tips on how to monetize your skills, create passive income, and make a little extra cash in your free time via 10 popular online side hustles in 2025.
Table of Contents
10 online side hustles worth considering in 2025
1. Start a blog or newsletter
2. Record a podcast
3. Participate in online surveys
4. Get paid to test apps
5. Secure social media sponsorships
6. Become an affiliate marketer
7. Sell digital products
8. Start a dropshipping business
9. Offer digital marketing services
10. Monetize a YouTube channel
Final words
10 online side hustles worth considering in 2025
1. Start a blog or newsletter
In the world of AI, writing might sound old-school, but blogs and newsletters are still huge money-makers, especially if you focus on niche topics with high demand.
Blogging, especially, has been a go-to side hustle for years, but making money from it isn’t always easy. Many writers now use platforms like Substack, where they can publish their work and get paid directly via reader subscriptions. This approach allows bloggers to grow their audience comfortably while earning a steady monthly income — no relying on ads, sponsorships, or constantly searching for freelance writing jobs.
Profitable blogging niches to consider
- Personal finance
- Health and fitness
- Tech and gadgets
- Parenting and relationships
- Travel and lifestyle
2. Record a podcast
Podcasting has exploded in the last decade, and you don’t need a huge following to make money. If you love talking about sports, business, self-improvement, pop culture, or any niche interest, podcasting is a great way to turn that into income.
The best part is that starting a podcast is not that expensive and won’t take much time. Good-quality USB podcasting microphones can be bought for under USD 100, and there are a plethora of free, user-friendly recording programs, like Audacity, to get you up and running. All you need is a small investment to start sharing your voice and ideas (and earning side cash even with a full-time job).
How to make money with a podcast:
- Ad sponsorships from companies in your niche
- Affiliate marketing (promote relevant products)
- Premium content (paid subscriptions via Patreon)
- Selling your services or courses
3. Participate in online surveys
Surveys won’t make you rich, but they’re one of the easiest ways to make quick money online with minimal effort. Many companies and market researchers are eager to hear people’s opinions on their products and services. So, it’s a great way to cover small expenses or treat yourself over the weekend.
Best survey websites to work with
- Swagbucks
- Survey Junkie
- InboxDollars
- Respondent.io (higher-paying focus groups)
4. Get paid to test apps
Companies need real users to test their apps before launch, and they’ll pay you for feedback on design, functionality, and bugs. A broken website or glitchy app can be a nightmare for any business, so developers hire testers to check everything before launch.
What this usually involves is clicking links, pressing buttons, and generally making sure the app runs smoothly. Some testing gigs even offer up to USD 100 for an hour of your time, making it a great way to earn extra cash.
Best platforms for app testing
- UserTesting (pays USD 10 per test)
- TryMyUI
- Testbirds
- Userlytics
- uTest
- UserCrowd
5. Secure social media sponsorships
If you have a small but engaged following on Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter, many brands will pay you to promote their products, offering sponsorships and product shoutouts and helping you to turn your passion or unique hobby into a potential income stream.
How to get social media sponsorships:
- Grow a niche audience (fitness, fashion, travel, etc.)
- Use influencer marketplaces like AspireIQ & Brandbassador
- Pitch brands directly if you have 5,000+ engaged followers
6. Become an affiliate marketer
Affiliate marketing is one of the best passive income side hustles because it allows you to earn money every time someone buys through a referral link. That makes affiliate marketing a smart way to earn a passive income if you run a podcast, have a social media following, or own an online store.
The money you make can even help fund your content or grow a business. Starting is easy – just sign up with an affiliate marketplace like Leadpages, ClickBank, ConverKit, or ShareAsale. From there, you can find products that align with your brand and earn commissions for every successful sale through your unique link.
7. Sell digital products
Selling digital products is one of the easiest ways to earn a passive income. Since digital products are online-only items (such as MP3s, PDFs, templates, and videos) that people can download or stream, you can sell them repeatedly.
For this reason, making and selling these products can be a great side hustle. A graphic designer, for example, can create unique fonts or website layouts and sell them to businesses that want to stand out.
Profitable digital products
- Printable planners, eBooks, stock photos
- Resume templates, business templates
- Online courses, memberships
8. Start a dropshipping business
Dropshipping lets you sell products online without ever touching inventory. You set up an online store, and suppliers handle the shipping. It’s perfect for anyone who doesn’t want the hassle of buying and storing inventory.
Dropshipping is a low-risk way to start a business. You’ll only purchase and ship items after consumers place an order. More importantly, the supplier fulfills the order, so you can spend more time on things like marketing and growing your brand.
9. Offer digital marketing services
If you understand SEO, Facebook Ads, email marketing, or social media growth, businesses will pay top dollar for your expertise. Many business owners need freelancers to help with content creation, website optimization, and social media management.
How can you take advantage of this growing market? It’s easy: start by promoting your services on freelancing platforms. Building a demo website or creating a portfolio can showcase your skills and attract potential clients.
Where to find clients
- Fiverr and Upwork
- LinkedIn and Facebook Groups
- Cold outreach to small businesses
10. Monetize a YouTube channel
Think YouTube is only for celebrities and viral sensations? Think again. Millions of small creators are making real money by sharing videos about topics they love (tech reviews, fitness tips, personal finance, gaming, DIY projects, travel vlogs—you name it). After all, YouTube is home to a massive audience – over 2.5 billion people watch a billion hours of video daily.
That means creators have plenty of opportunities to earn extra cash by creating content. One way to do this is to join the YouTube Partner Program, which allows creators to earn money from ads displayed on their videos.
However, building an audience and making significant ad revenue takes time. That’s why many YouTubers explore other ways to earn money, such as sponsorships, merchandise, or fan memberships, to turn their content into a steady income stream.
Best ways to make money on YouTube
- Ad revenue (Google AdSense)
- Sponsorships and brand deals
- Affiliate marketing (linking to products)
- Selling online courses, digital products, or merch
MembershipsFinal words
You don’t need much experience or huge startup costs to make money online. The key is to pick one hustle, start small, and stay consistent. It’s also best to keep things simple and avoid pay-to-play gigs, multi-level marketing schemes, time-consuming surveys, and travel-intensive tasks as side hustles, as these can often be more time and resource-heavy than they’re worth.
