Thanks to the internet, you no longer have to worry about having a single source of income —that being your full-time job.
Nowadays, anyone with a highly sought-after skill can earn extra money online.
Even if you don’t plan on spending months honing your skills and building your career online, you can still earn money by doing tasks you already do, such as visiting websites, playing games, and watching videos.
We’ve curated a list of 10 websites that pay you for offering your skills or your spare time.
If you want to learn how to make money online, read on!
Best Websites That Pay You (Overview)
We’ve included an overview of our top picks below. For detailed information on each pick, scroll down.
- UpWork
- Fiverr
- Merch By Amazon
- Etsy
- FatLlama
- ListVerse
- UserInterviews
- SwagBucks
- QuickRewards
- ZoomBucks
How Can I Earn Money Online?
Before we delve into our list, let’s explain how making money online works.
If you’re skilled at anything from web design to animating, you can earn a lot of money by collaborating with individuals or businesses on their projects.
Many websites serve as hubs that allow people to offer their services for a price.
Note that this method generally takes a lot of time and dedication, but you’ll earn a lot this way!
If not, you can still earn online by sparing some of your time.
You can download apps, fill out paid surveys, or watch ads to get paid.
Since these tasks take minutes at most, the pay isn’t as impressive as that you’d get by offering in-demand skills.
10 Websites to Earn Money Online
We ranked these websites by time investment and potential payout.
We’ll start with the best ways to make money first!
1. UpWork
UpWork is an online freelance website that connects independent professionals with businesses.
It’s the perfect place to start if you’re an expert in a field and want to collaborate with businesses on high-value projects.
The advantage of working alongside businesses is that, compared to offering your services to individuals, the potential earnings are much higher.
If you’re excellent at what you do, said businesses could become long-term clients, which will help you immensely in building your online career.
Many businesses hire independent professionals, which UpWork has plenty of, to help them with their IT, web development, or writing needs.
This makes it a very competitive website.
It takes more than professional skills to make a strong impression.
As such, customer experience is vital in UpWork.
Remember that you’ll have to prove your expertise by passing a skills test before being hired as a freelancer.
Moreover, to combat underqualified users thoughtlessly applying for every available job, UpWork came up with a virtual currency called Connects.
Initially, you’ll get 40 connects, and you’ll spend from 1 to 6 every time you apply for a job.
If you run out of them, you’ll have to buy them for $0.15 each.
However, the catch is that if you become a reputable freelancer, businesses will start approaching you first.
So, until then, make sure the job you’re applying for is right for you to save money!
You also have to pay UpWork a commission fee, which becomes less severe the more you earn.
For example, a 20% fee applies when you earn less than $500, and a 10% fee applies when you earn over $10,000.
Once hired, you have to showcase your portfolio and give businesses a reason to hire you.
So, your experience will impact your earnings.
However, you could earn well over thousands of dollars per month if you land a long-term relationship with a business!
By the way, businesses will pay you on a fixed or hourly basis.
Additionally, the money you earn will be sent to you via deposit, wire transfer, or PayPal.
Pros:
- Enticing payouts
- Secure, fast payment methods
- Modern and stylish user interface
- Helpful customer support
- Handles all your contracts and finances
- Professional community
Cons:
- Requires certification for certain skills
- Pay-to-play system due to Connects
- Tough commission fees for beginners
Bottom Line
UpWork is the perfect website to earn cash if you’re a professional in a specific field and want to work alongside businesses on high-value projects.
However, remember that it’s very competitive and time-consuming.
It’ll take a lot of dedication to build your career on it!
2. Fiverr
Fiverr is the go-to place for freelancers looking for complete control over their services and a streamlined freelancing experience with individuals and businesses.
It’s a website where you can earn extra cash by creating gigs.
A gig is a well-defined package of the services you offer.
For example, if you have good writing skills, you can create a writing gig with specified price points for each word count.
Gigs are listed in a vast marketplace.
So, similar to UpWork, it’s a very competitive field where your presentation and interpersonal skills go a long way toward shaping your career.
While creating a gig, you have to title it, price each package accordingly, mention what you offer, set appropriate deadlines, and provide examples of your work.
By the way, if you take the time to create a professional thumbnail for your gig and price a basic package at a minimum of $5, you’ll stand out better in the marketplace.
While starting, you’ll have to offer your services via the buyer requests feed, as individuals are unlikely to approach you first.
Remember that you can only send 10 offers per day.
Getting good reviews and star ratings should be your focus, as that’ll give you more exposure and bring in more customers.
Additionally, once you meet some criteria, you can apply to become a Fiverr Pro.
It proves that you provide the best services and allows you many new benefits, such as offering gigs at prices of up to $20,000 and faster payment clearances.
The website considers your higher education, external projects, and general background before accepting you.
Fiverr is fantastic because you don’t necessarily have to be a highly qualified or dedicated individual to earn money.
For example, if you dedicate time, you can earn up to thousands of dollars per month.
But if you’re a student just getting into freelance writing, you can take on some writing jobs now and then and earn a few hundred dollars per month.
The disadvantage for buyers is that the quality of the work will vary from one freelancer to another.
So, this is another reason to keep your ratings high to reflect on your services — it’d help if you were listed next to the professionals.
By the way, Fiverr takes a 20% fee on each completed offer.
Moreover, you can’t discuss the job details with your customer outside Fiverr, or else they’ll deactivate your account.
The money you earn can be withdrawn via PayPal, Payoneer, or direct deposit if you’re a US resident, and it takes about five business days to process.
Pros:
- Streamlined freelancing experience
- Total control over deadlines and pricing
- Modern user interface
- Handles all payments
Cons:
- Strict policies
- High fees
- A bit challenging for beginners
Bottom Line
Fiverr is a viable option if you want complete control over the services you offer.
While it can be tough for beginners, you can earn anywhere from hundreds to thousands per month by dedicating time and working on your ratings.
3. Merch By Amazon
Merch By Amazon is the best place for designers to turn their art into a source of passive income.
Individuals can buy products with your art printed, and you’ll earn royalties without worrying about producing or shipping said products.
To start, you’ll need an Amazon account to sign up for its Merch on Demand service.
You’ll then upload any art piece you’ve created, as long as it conforms with Amazon’s policies and fits the printable area of the products you’ll choose.
After that, pick a product type and color and add a description.
Amazon then publishes your products in its store, and you earn royalties on them whenever they’re bought.
By the way, you’re limited to the number of designs you can upload at first.
Amazon works on a tier system, where you have to sell enough products to go up a tier.
While what you’ll earn is little compared to the product’s price, they add up, and you don’t have to do anything other than upload your art.
So, you can earn a few hundred dollars if you have a couple of designs or up to thousands of dollars if you’re a dedicated artist.
Pros:
- Fussless process; you get paid for your art
- Amazon handles producing, printing, and shipping
- The more designs you have, the more you earn
Cons:
- Very competitive
- Beginners may need to learn SEO optimization and marketing techniques
Bottom Line
We recommend Merch By Amazon for every digital artist looking for a way to get paid for their art.
Since Amazon handles everything else, and all you have to do is upload your artwork, it’s a fantastic way to turn your hobby into a source of passive income.
4. Etsy
If you’re creative and have a knack for creating handmade objects such as jewelry or have a collection of vintage items, consider selling them on Etsy.
Etsy is an online marketplace where you list your goods for people to buy.
It’s worth considering if you’re a creative person who tends to craft a lot and is looking for a way to make money off this hobby.
Since there are many sellers on Etsy, it’ll be hard to stand out at first.
We recommend that you focus on one specific field and provide quality over quantity.
For example, you’re more likely to make a lot of money if you’re known as the best at crafting quality handmade dog toys.
Providing your customers with the best experience is critical.
Consider handwritten letters with each sold item, free shipping (include the fees in pricing or check Etsy’s free shipping guarantee), and aesthetically pleasing packaging.
And you’re not limited to selling what you create.
If you have a collection of vintage items you’re not interested in anymore, you can sell them, too.
But, before you start, you need to create a shop on Etsy.
Pick your shop country and preferred currency, find an unused name, and list your first item.
Once your shop is live, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
You pay $0.20 to keep your listing live for the first four months.
Afterward, you must pay $0.20 to keep each listing live every month.
Furthermore, Etsy takes 5% of each completed sale.
There are also payment processing fees, but they differ from one withdrawal method to another.
You can schedule your withdrawals, and Etsy automatically releases your earnings to your bank account.
Typically, the money is released weekly each Monday, but you can also request daily deposits.
Pros:
- Established audience
- Easy store set-up
- Streamlined, fussless payment processing
- Helpful community and support
Cons:
- Very competitive
- Shops rarely become recognized brands due to their reliance on Etsy
- Marketing and SEO optimization may be necessary for beginners
Bottom Line
If you’ve got a knack for collecting vintage items or crafting handmade objects, be it knit sweaters or jewelry, consider selling them on Etsy to turn a profit.
It’s easy to set up a store and get paid, but it’ll take some marketing know-how to stand out.
5. FatLlama
If you’ve got a tool you rarely use, consider renting it on FatLlama to turn it into a source of passive income.
This website allows you to rent your belongings to people in your neighborhood in a few easy steps.
To get started, create an account on FatLlama, take pictures of the tool you are to rent, and list it with your desired price.
Those living in your vicinity will message you once they’re interested, and you can meet up with them to hand out said belonging.
You can rent out anything from telescopes and cameras to pressure washers and vacuum cleaners.
You can also discuss the rental period with your renters.
They’ll return it to you after they’re done.
Note that you’ll rent out objects per day and get paid 24 hours after the starting date of said rental.
Additionally, your belongings are insured for up to $30,000 if the renter damages them.
FatLlama also takes a 25% fee of the amount due.
After about three business days, the website will release your money to your bank account, so you’ll need to provide your bank details.
Remember that this website isn’t well-known outside the US, UK, and Canada, so you might have trouble renting your things elsewhere!
Pros:
- Guaranteed insurance
- Streamlined renting process
- Easy way to turn unused tools into a source of money
Cons:
- Experience varies from one person to another
- Responsibility for arranging pick-ups and drop-offs
- High commission fee
Bottom Line
Consider FatLlama if you’ve got a tool collecting dust in a closet.
It’s a great way to turn something you rarely use into a source of passive income if you don’t mind the occasional personal meeting with strangers.
6. ListVerse
ListVerse is a quick way for freelance writers to make hundreds of dollars by turning the world’s bizarre history into entertaining, informational articles.
There are few paid opportunities online for those who combine their writing expertise with a quirky sense of humor, and ListVerse is one of them.
If you enjoy watching videos, you’ve probably come across those top 10 lists that aim to share rarely known facts about historical figures or happenings.
ListVerse will pay you for writing articles in a similar fashion.
So, if you’re into freelance writing and unusual facts, research and write an entertaining article where you list 10 or more obscure facts about a person or a historical event.
If your article is accepted, ListVerse will send you $100 on PayPal.
So, it’s necessary to have a PayPal account ready.
For your article to be accepted, it has to be intriguing, original, and quirky.
For example, you can write an article about Queen Victoria’s weirdest habits or the funniest ways people lost their jobs.
Moreover, if you’re looking for a quick way to promote your website or social media account, ListVerse will also stick it at the end of your article for people to see.
However, Listverse only accepts submissions from the US, UK, NZ, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and South Africa!
Pros:
- Straightforward and transparent service
- Enticing cash rewards
- Minimum dedication required
Cons:
- Submissions are limited to a few countries
- Single payment method
Bottom Line:
If you’re good at combining your sense of humor with writing, you can earn a decent amount of money by writing articles for ListVerse.
Moreover, you can do it whenever you want — there’s no need to dedicate part of your daily routine to the website.
7. UserInterviews
UserInterviews allows you to participate in studies conducted by high-paying researchers.
You get paid for sharing your opinions and completing surveys.
The gist of this website is to connect researchers with willing participants so that they can collect data for their studies.
Once you create an account, you’ll have to add your personal information and fields of interest so that an appropriate list of studies can be curated for you.
Afterward, you fill out the surveys provided by researchers and wait for them to contact you.
You can, for example, test video tools, share your opinion on personal finance, or discuss a specific real-life product with said researchers.
Once done, you’ll get paid via PayPal or gift cards, but remember that it can take up to 10 days.
Note that sometimes, you might not have the opportunity to participate in studies that interest you.
Still, earning up to a hundred dollars for sharing your opinion on matters is fantastic!
Pros:
- Wide range of opportunities for all interests
- Easy participation in high-paying research
- Minimum dedication required
- High earning potential
Cons:
- Long payment process
- Experience varies depending on the research conductor
Bottom Line
UserInterviews is an easy way to get paid with minimum dedication.
While you may not get the opportunity to participate in exactly what you want, you’ll still earn up to a hundred dollars just for sharing your thoughts with researchers.
8. SwagBucks
Swagbucks will pay you for things you already do, such as playing games, watching videos, and shopping at online stores.
While it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, it’s worth considering Swagbucks if you want to make money off things you already do.
Once you create an account, your focus will be earning Swag Bucks, which can be redeemed for gift cards or PayPal.
Most of your earned Swagbucks will come from watching TV programs, completing offers, or referring your friends.
Your earnings will vary from one source to another.
For example, you can earn a few cents off a survey or up to a few dollars from downloading apps from websites.
It’s worth mentioning that 100 Swagbucks amount to $1.
You can redeem your points for free gift cards to your favorite retailers or PayPal balance.
Pros:
- Many ways to make money
- Reliable cashback shopping
- Easy user interface
- Getting paid for things you already do
- Excellent browser extension
Cons:
- Payments take time to process
- Requires time to make substantial amounts of money
Bottom Line
Swagbucks is a great way to get paid on the side by doing things you already do, such as watching videos and downloading apps.
If you dedicate your time, you can earn up to a hundred dollars every month.
9. QuickRewards
You can get paid on QuickRewards for doing things you already do on your computer, such as playing games and shopping online.
Once you create an account, you’ll have to earn points.
So, you’ll need to watch videos, take surveys, play games, or shop online.
The amount you gain will vary depending on the task you complete, but you can earn a lot if you dedicate some of your time to this website.
The best part about QuickRewards is that there’s no minimum payout wall standing in your way.
The minimum you can redeem is 1¢!
Regarding payment, you receive your money via PayPal or gift cards.
While you’re not going to turn this into a sustainable source of money, it’s a fun way to earn extra cash or gift cards in your free time.
Pros:
- Fast payment processing
- Helpful customer support
- Several ways to get paid
- No minimum payout policy
Cons:
- Requires a long time to make considerable amounts of money
Bottom Line
If you have time to spare, consider taking surveys or shopping online via QuickRewards.
It’s a quick way to get a few extra dollars by doing things you already do.
10. ZoomBucks
ZoomBucks will pay you for winning contests, taking surveys, playing games, and much more.
Once done, you can redeem your earned points for gift cards for many platforms, including Xbox and Amazon.
The gist of this website is to take on several tasks in your free time to earn points, which you can redeem for gift cards.
Also, ZoomBucks has many payout options.
Remember that 1000 points equal $1 in ZoomBucks, so it’ll take a long time to earn a decent amount of money.
Still, it’s a nice way to get paid for doing entertaining things you already do.
Keep in mind that it takes two business days for payments to process!
Pros:
- Several ways to earn points
- Quick payment processing
- Countless payout methods
Cons:
- Takes a long time to make a lot of money
Bottom Line
ZoomBucks is an option if you want to earn some extra money through fun online activities.
It’s perfect for teenagers looking for a way to get gift cards for their favorite platforms, such as Xbox and PlayStation.
Wrapping Up
The internet offers individuals countless ways to earn money.
If you’re an expert at something, you can offer your skills to other individuals or businesses and make a lot of money.
Sometimes, you can even turn your online career into a full-time job — UpWork and Fiverr are the perfect places to do that.
However, if you’re already burdened by your real-life job and looking for a quick and fun way to get paid online, consider websites such as Swagbucks and QuickRewards.