Students juggling classes, small-business owners seeking extra revenue streams, and anyone looking to pad their bank account can find real opportunities online.
The challenge isn’t finding money-making websites (there are thousands). It’s discovering the ones that actually pay well and fit your schedule. While everyone talks about the obvious platforms and side hustles, some of the best earning opportunities fly under the radar.
We’ve uncovered 17 lesser-known websites and apps that can help you generate steady income in your spare time. These platforms offer creative ways to make money—often with nothing more than your smartphone.
TL;DR:
- There are different websites you can use to make extra money online, ranging from survey and market research platforms to apps that pay you to do certain tasks.
- Typical earnings range between $10 and $450 per month, depending on commitment. Most share the same primary payout methods (PayPal and direct deposit), while others issue payouts as gift cards.
- How much you can earn depends on each platform’s time investment expectations. This can range from quick 10-minute online tasks to several hours daily.
- The best money-making websites for beginners are Swagbucks, Google Opinion Rewards, and InboxDollars.
17 top picks for earning extra income online
We’ve ranked these money-making websites by their income potential and ease of use. They’re not mainstream options you’ll find on most lists. They’re “secret,” as we’ve prioritized lesser-known platforms with verified payment histories, flexible schedules, and realistic earning potential.
- Swagbucks: Earn rewards for online activities
- InboxDollars: Get paid for surveys and tasks
- Google Opinion Rewards: Share your opinion for Google Play credit
- UserTesting: Provide feedback on websites and apps
- Second to None: Become a mystery shopper
- Shutterstock: Sell your photos and videos
- Printful: Design and sell custom products
- Rover: Earn money as a pet caregiver
- TaskRabbit: Get paid for completing local tasks
- Upwork: Find freelance opportunities
- Teachable: Create and sell online courses
- Wrapify: Get paid to advertise on your car
- Studypool: Earn money helping students with homework
- Prolific: Get paid to participate in academic research
- Honeygain: Earn passive income by sharing your internet
- Clickworker: Complete microtasks for pay
- Mistplay: Get paid to play mobile games
1. Swagbucks: Earn rewards for online activities
Swagbucks has paid more than $600 million to members who complete simple tasks. You can earn money online by:
- Watching videos
- Taking surveys
- Playing video games
Each task pays anywhere from a few cents to several dollars, depending on complexity and time required. Use the app for 10 to 25 minutes daily, and you could earn $100 to $200 per month, according to Swagbucks.
Redeem your points for gift cards to popular retailers like Walmart, Target, and Starbucks, or convert them to cash through PayPal once you have a verified account.
Swagbucks also offers cashback when you shop online at retailers including Home Depot, Best Buy, Lowe’s, Walmart, and Macy’s. If you’re already shopping with these brands, it’s an easy way to earn extra cash on purchases you’d make anyway.
2. InboxDollars: Get paid for surveys and tasks
InboxDollars works similarly to Swagbucks, paying you for surveys, playing games, watching videos, app testing, and online shopping. Brands pay the platform for user feedback, so you’re helping companies improve their products while earning money.
Tasks typically pay between 1¢ and several dollars, based on complexity. Most surveys pay up to $5.
You can cash out via check, gift card, or PayPal once you reach $15 for your first payment. After that, you’ll need at least a $10 balance to withdraw funds.
3. Google Opinion Rewards: Share your opinion for Google Play credit
The Google Opinion Rewards survey app pays you for quick tasks like sharing purchase history, reviewing local businesses, and answering opinion polls. Questions typically arise based on your device’s location history or Google search behavior.
These micro-surveys take less than a minute and pay 10¢ to $1 each. For most users, you can cash out by applying your earnings as Google Play credit, giving you the ability to purchase digital goods like books, movies, or apps. Users on iOS may also have the option to connect their PayPal account and cash out once they hit the $2 minimum.
The trade-off is limited survey availability. You’ll receive notifications only when surveys match your location and profile, meaning you’ll typically earn just a few dollars per day. Still, it’s one of the easiest ways to earn money from your phone during spare moments.
4. UserTesting: Provide feedback on websites and apps
UserTesting pays you to share your thoughts on websites, apps, and prototypes through recorded video or audio feedback. Tests typically take 10 to 20 minutes, and you’ll walk through tasks while explaining your experience out loud.
To get started, complete UserTesting’s application process and set up a PayPal account (required for payments). You’ll need a decent microphone to record clear feedback. Once approved, you’ll receive test opportunities based on your profile and demographic.
Earnings vary by project complexity. Simple website reviews might pay less, while testing complex prototypes can earn significantly more. You can track your earnings through the mobile app.
PayPal is the only payout option, with payments arriving two weeks after completing tests. There’s no minimum balance required to cash out.
5. Second to None: Become a mystery shopper
Second to None connects you with mystery shopping assignments where you evaluate customer experiences at restaurants, retail stores, and online businesses. Your detailed feedback helps companies improve their service quality.
Create a free account to access assignments that pay depending on complexity. You might test a new restaurant dish, evaluate a store’s checkout process, or assess how well staff handle customer questions.
Payments arrive via direct bank transfer once a month, so expect delays between completing assignments and receiving payment. The platform offers flexible work, but the payout schedule requires patience.
6. Shutterstock: Sell your photos and videos
If you enjoy photography, Shutterstock offers a way to earn passive income from your images. The platform has paid more than $1 billion to contributors who license their photos to businesses, marketers, and content creators.
You earn 15% to 40% of the licensing fee each time someone downloads your photos, typically ranging from a few cents to several dollars per download. Your earning percentage increases as your download count grows, rewarding consistent contributors—more photos mean more earning potential.
Shutterstock offers true passive income potential—upload your photo library once and earn repeatedly as customers license your work. Contributors report that older photos continue generating income years after upload.
Shutterstock pays monthly between the 7th and 15th of the following month. You can withdraw funds to PayPal, Payoneer, or Skrill once you reach the minimum payout amount that you've set.
7. Printful: Design and sell custom products
If you have design skills and want to turn your creativity into cash, the print-on-demand service Printful lets you create and sell custom trending products like t-shirts, hoodies, phone cases, and tote bags without upfront costs or inventory management.
Once you’ve uploaded your designs, Printful handles production and fulfillment automatically, creating a largely passive income stream.
Here’s how it works: You design the product, Printful prints your products on demand when someone orders, and they handle shipping. Shopify users can install the Printful app to start selling even more easily. You keep the profit after Printful’s base costs.
For print-on-demand products, aim for a 40% profit margin. You may be able to charge more if you have a strong brand, a unique design, and an existing customer base to tap into.
“With Printful, I really appreciate the ability to connect everything together,” says Raven Gibson, founder of Legendary Rootz, on Shopify Masters. “I have an idea. I’m able to go in, see if they have a product that serves that idea, get a sample created. Once it’s approved, it’s all connected to Shopify. I love it.”
8. Rover: Earn money as a pet caregiver
Rover connects you with pet owners who need dog walking, pet sitting, or boarding services.
Create a profile specifying your services and availability. Pet owners browse profiles and book directly through the platform. Rates vary by location and service type, but average $21.80 for a drop-in visit and $55.45 per day for dog sitting in your clients' home. Rover takes a 20% service fee (higher in some states) from each booking.
The payout schedule beats most platforms: Payments appear in your account two days after completing services, then transfer to your bank within three to five business days.
Once you’ve built up a client base through Rover, you may be able to attract even more clients through word of mouth. At that point, with a steady, trusted client base, you could decide to move off the platform to avoid service fees and earn 100% of your rates.
Reality check: Taking care of pets is not an easy job. People need to trust you with their animals—and you must maintain their safety while they’re in your care. Make sure you can stick to this commitment before you agree to board animals as a side hustle.
9. TaskRabbit: Get paid for completing local tasks
TaskRabbit connects you with people who need help with furniture assembly, home repairs, cleaning, and administrative tasks. As a “Tasker,” you set your own rates and choose which jobs to accept.
You’ll need to pass an ID check and have the right tools for your chosen services (like a screwdriver for furniture assembly). All tasks have a one-hour minimum, with rates ranging from $35 to $90 per hour, based on task type and complexity. TaskRabbit offers challenges to help new Taskers build momentum.
Most payouts arrive within one to three business days, via Stripe.
10. Upwork: Find freelance opportunities
Upwork connects freelancers with clients who need specific skills, from virtual assistance and graphic design to web development and copywriting. You can sign up for free and start bidding on jobs immediately.
The challenge is that competition is fierce as the gig economy continues to thrive. You might compete against thousands of freelancers for a single job. Stand out by optimizing your profile with client results, setting competitive rates, and building a strong portfolio.
Entry-level gigs pay $10 to $25 an hour on average, intermediate gigs pay an average of $25 to $75 per hour, with technical roles like business consulting reaching up to $150 an hour, on average. Keep in mind, Upwork takes up to a 15% service fee.
Payment timing depends on your contract type. Hourly work pays weekly (available for withdrawal after 10 days).
11. Teachable: Create and sell online courses
Turn your expertise into income by creating online courses on Teachable. You set the price and keep control of your content. Like Shutterstock and Printful, online courses generate passive income. Invest time upfront creating quality content, then earn while you sleep as students enroll.
The downside is upfront costs. Creating your course content takes time and money. Teachable’s Starter plan allows you to publish one digital product for $29 monthly (billed annually). You’ll also pay a 7.5% transaction fee on sales.
Tip: Consider using Shopify to sell digital products instead. You’ll avoid monthly platform fees and can integrate additional features like membership sites and consultation booking.
12. Wrapify: Get paid to advertise on your car
If you drive regularly—especially for commuting, rideshare, or delivery—Wrapify pays you to display ads on your vehicle.
This is one of the most passive income streams available. You earn simply by driving routes you’d take anyway, with zero additional time investment.
Download the app and provide details about yourself, your car, and your driving patterns. When campaigns match your area and driving routes, Wrapify provides vinyl decals for your car.
You earn ~$180 to $450 monthly, based on mileage, location, and wrap coverage level, with payments every two weeks via direct deposit.
Important note: You’ll need to submit regular photos proving the ads remain intact and visible. You’ll also need to pass a background check and have a clean driving record to be approved for this secret money-making website.
13. Studypool: Earn money helping students with homework
Studypool connects tutors with students who need help across virtually every subject—from basic math and English to specialized topics like coding and law.
According to Indeed, Studypool tutors make $24.27 per hour on average. Studypool takes a service fee starting at 20% from each completed job.
Beyond tutoring, you can create passive income by selling study materials like practice exams and lecture notes. Each time a student views your document, you earn up to $10.
You’ll need at least $50 to withdraw earnings via bank transfer or PayPal (though PayPal takes longer to process than direct deposit).
14. Prolific: Get paid to participate in academic research
Prolific pays you to participate in university research studies. Tasks might include playing behavioral games, sharing opinions on products, or evaluating AI models.
Start by completing an application and joining the waitlist. Once approved after identity verification and a practice task, you’ll receive invitations to participate in studies.
Prolific stands out for higher pay rates—there’s an $8 minimum hourly rate, significantly more than typical survey sites. You can withdraw earnings once you reach $6, with daily cashouts available through PayPal or direct deposit.
15. Honeygain: Earn passive income by sharing your internet
Honeygain is an app that pays you to share unused internet bandwidth with businesses, data analysts, and researchers. It’s best for anyone with unlimited internet who wants truly hands-off income.
You’ll earn money by installing the Honeygain app, which runs in the background and allows its clients to jump on your internet connection.
What’s great about Honeygain is that it’s completely passive—you don’t have to complete active tasks to earn money through the secret website. That said, the earning rate is slow: Honeygain pays around $1 per 10 gigabytes you share. Receive your money via PayPal or Bitcoin once you’ve surpassed the $20 minimum payout threshold.
Keep in mind: This source of income raises privacy concerns for some users—you’re essentially lending your IP address to someone else.
16. Clickworker: Complete microtasks for pay
Clickworker is an online earning platform for small digital tasks like data entry, research, and content creation. Once you’ve created an account, you can claim available tasks from the dashboard and complete them on your schedule.
This control over your task list means it’s a flexible way to make money online. There are no long-term commitments and a variety of task types to choose from.
However, tasks can be very inconsistent—both in terms of pay and availability. Because of this, it’s best for detail-oriented people with spare time throughout the day.
Earning potential depends on the number of assignments, task complexity, and speed. It offers weekly PayPal or bank transfer payouts once you hit the $10 minimum.
17. Mistplay: Get paid to play mobile games
Mistplay is a rewards app that pays you to play mobile games. You’ll download featured games through Mistplay and earn units for play time and achievements.
Mistplay is a great money-making website if you want to monetize a gaming hobby. It has a wide game selection to keep things fun as you earn. However, it takes time to accumulate rewards. It also doesn’t offer cash payouts. It’s best for mobile gamers who already spend time on games and don’t need immediate cash.
Earn roughly $12 to $48 per month for casual play; more for dedicated gamers. Annual earnings are capped. Once you’ve hit the $5 minimum payout, you can receive your earnings as gift cards to Amazon, Visa, Google Play, or iTunes.
How to choose the right money-making website
Not all earning opportunities fit every person or schedule. With so many platforms available, focus on these four criteria to find your best matches:
Consider your skills and interests
Building sustainable income takes time and consistency. You’re more likely to stick with platforms you actually enjoy using.
Look for opportunities that match your interests and existing experience. If you tutored your nephew last summer, Studypool might be a natural fit. If you enjoy assembling flat-pack furniture, TaskRabbit could turn that hobby into cash.
Evaluate time commitment vs. earning potential
Most platforms promise “easy money in your spare time,” but earning significant income often requires substantial time investment—hours spent applying for gigs, completing tasks, or building your reputation.
Be realistic about your availability. If you’re working a full-time job with only weekend hours to spare, freelancing platforms might not offer the best return. Car advertising through Wrapify could be more practical since it monetizes time you’re already spending commuting.
Be honest about your available hours—earning $1,000 per month typically requires 40 to 60 hours across multiple platforms, which is not the “easy side income in your free time” some sites promise.
Survey sites and microtask platforms rarely exceed $200 to $300 monthly, even with daily participation, while freelancing and creative platforms offer higher ceilings but demand more skill and time investment.
Understand payment methods and thresholds
Fast earnings don’t always mean fast payment. Some secret websites to make money from home have significant delays—Second to None pays monthly, so May earnings won’t arrive until June.
Check minimum withdrawal amounts, too. If surveys pay $1 each but require a $20 minimum payout, you’ll wait weeks to see money. Factor in platform fees as well—that $15 hourly rate looks less attractive when the platform keeps 20%.
Assess website legitimacy
Online earning scams are everywhere, making “Is this website legit?” a crucial question before joining any platform. Many fraudulent schemes masquerade as legitimate earning opportunities, particularly pyramid schemes that make most of their money from membership fees rather than actual products or services.
Legitimate money-making websites have diverse reviews on independent forums like Reddit and Trustpilot. They provide clear explanations of exactly how you’ll earn money and share genuine testimonials from real users.
Red flags to watch out for include:
- Lack of customer support.
- Websites that require upfront fees to join.
- Platforms with vague payout terms or earning schedules.
- Suspicious domain names with hyphens or misspelled words.
- Claims that sound too good to be true (“Get rich quick!” or “Guaranteed income!”).
Before joining any online earning platform, spend 10 minutes researching. Search “[platform name] + reviews” on Reddit and Trustpilot to find unfiltered user experiences. Check the company’s domain registration age using WHOIS lookup—legitimate sites are typically several years old. Verify the company has a real headquarters address and identifiable leadership team listed on their About page.
Why you shouldn’t rely on a single income stream
Relying on one platform to make money online is risky. Sites can change their terms, lower payouts, or shut down entirely with minimal notice.
Take SurveyJunkie, for example. While the survey platform is active, Reddit users claim it “isn’t as profitable as it used to be.” Many have sought out alternative websites to make money.
The safest bet is a portfolio approach that mixes three to five active and passive income ideas. Combine quick-pay and higher-earning platforms across different categories to counteract the risk and downsides of each one.
For example, you could combine income streams from:
- Swagbucks for quick daily cash.
- Shutterstock for passive income.
- Upwork for higher-earning projects.
Also think about a platform’s seasonality. Some secret websites have slow and busy periods, like the new year, when people want to explore other side hustle options as their goal for the coming months. Diversification smooths out your income so you’ll have money coming in year-round.
While platform diversification reduces risk, building your own business eliminates platform dependency. Selling your own products through an online store offers complete control over what you sell. The sky is the limit.
Entrepreneurs have made millions of dollars by selling their own creations on a platform they own—like Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, the co-founders of Beekman 1802, a skin care brand with a $92 million valuation. It’d be difficult to achieve those figures if their revenue were dependent on a third-party platform’s terms and conditions.
Build your own income stream with Shopify
The most sustainable way to earn money online is to create your own business. With an online store, you control your products, pricing, website monetization strategies, and customer base completely.
Unlike platform-based earning, where you’re subject to policy changes and payout cuts, your own store gives you complete control. Many successful entrepreneurs start with platforms like Printful or Upwork to generate initial capital, then invest earnings into their own Shopify business. This approach combines immediate income with long-term asset building.
Shopify makes launching an ecommerce business straightforward, with built-in payment processing, inventory management, and checkout tools. Whether you’re selling handmade products or launching a dropshipping business, you’re building an asset that grows over time—no secrets required.
Million-dollar ideas start here
Learn how to build an online business from the ground up with Shopify’s new free course, First Day to First Sale. You’ll develop a winning product, build a brand, launch a marketing strategy, and more.
Learn More
Secret websites to make money FAQ
What are secret websites to make money?
A “secret” website to make money is a lesser-known platform that offers legitimate income opportunities, often overlooked in favor of obvious options like Uber or Etsy. They offer verified payment histories, flexible schedules, range of skill requirements, and diverse earning methods. They’re “secret” as each platform has less mainstream marketing, word-of-mouth discovery, and niche user bases, which means they often have less competition than well-known platforms.
Which sites pay without any upfront investment?
Sites like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, Google Opinion Rewards, UserTesting, Prolific, Clickworker, and Honeygain let you earn money without upfront investment. The only requirements are time and an internet connection, unlike online earning platforms such as Teachable or some TaskRabbit services that may need tools, materials, or specific expertise.
How can I make $1,000 fast online?
Focus on higher-paying platforms like Upwork for freelancing, TaskRabbit for local services, or Teachable for digital products. Selling stock photos on Shutterstock can also generate ongoing income.
Are there actually legitimate websites where you can earn income?
Yes. Platforms like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, UserTesting, and Second to None offer genuine earning opportunities. However, income levels vary significantly based on time invested.
What’s the fastest paying platform?
The fastest paying platforms to make money online include:
- Google Opinion Rewards (cashout once you hit $2 or immediate cash out through Google Play store with no minimum requirements).
- Rover (two days after service completion).
- Prolific (daily PayPal cashouts after $6 threshold).
In contrast, slower platforms like Second to None only issue payouts monthly. Just be aware that that “instant” usually means two to five business days for actual bank deposit.
Which platforms are best for complete beginners?
Beginner-friendly ways to make money online include:
- Swagbucks (no skills needed, instant start)
- InboxDollars (simple tasks)
- Google Opinion Rewards (one-tap surveys)
- Mistplay (if you already play mobile games)
These differ from skill-based platforms like Upwork, Shutterstock, and Teachable, where you’ll need to demonstrate your skill and convince clients to hire you for a project.
Can I earn money by creating a website?
Absolutely. Building a profitable blog or ecommerce store takes more effort upfront but offers better long-term potential and more control over your branding, rates, and offerings. Shopify makes it easy to launch an online store or dropshipping business.
Which website is best for earning money?
The best platform depends on your skills, time availability, and income goals. Top options include Swagbucks, UserTesting, Upwork, TaskRabbit, Printful, and others detailed above.
Which site or app pays you instantly?
Swagbucks and InboxDollars offer relatively quick payouts, though both have minimum threshold requirements. Most platforms have some delay between earning and receiving payment.
