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Whether you have an emergency expense to cover or are just sick of being broke, we could all use some extra cash fast. Luckily, there are tons of ways to make money online quickly. But some options are better than others.
In this post, we’ll share the best ways to make money online fast. So roll up your sleeves. Let’s get started!
1. Become a Freelancer on Upwork
This is always my top recommendation for friends looking to make extra money. I have been a successful full-time freelancer for years and consider quitting my full-time job one of the best decisions I ever made.
Now, you might not be ready to wave bye-bye to the 9-to-5 right away. But by doing some freelance work on the side, you can earn good money and perhaps explore what a life beyond full-time might look like.
Although I’m a freelance writer and editor, there are many other skills you could turn into extra income as a freelancer. And one of the best ways to find gigs is Upwork.
Upwork lists thousands of freelance jobs, from writing to graphic design, to consulting. You can use the platform to pick up anything from long-term assignments to quick gigs.
Best of all, Upwork handles all of the invoicing for you. So it’s easy to get paid. Most Upwork jobs pay five business days after completion. You can choose to have the extra cash deposited in your bank account automatically, too.
2. Take Surveys and More with InboxDollars or Survey Junkie
InboxDollars and Survey Junkie are best known as online survey sites, but these apps offer many more ways to make extra cash.
In addition to taking surveys, you can earn money by reading emails, watching videos, playing app games, and even doing some online shopping while using coupons.
Now, you won’t get rich by using an online survey site. But you can make easy money by using the InboxDollars or Survey Junkie app while waiting in line at the coffee shop, sitting on the bus, or watching TV at home.
How much money you earn depends on how much time you spend on the app and what type of tasks you complete. While some users are happy to just receive a gift card as payment, if you want fast money, you can get InboxDollars or Survey Junkie to send you funds via PayPal.
3. Sell Unwanted Gold or Silver for Cash
If you have old, unwanted gold or silver items taking up space in your drawer, turn those precious metals into cash.
Right now, both gold and silver are above their pre-pandemic prices. And websites like the Money Metals Exchange, APMEX, and Cash for Gold USA are more than happy to exchange your precious metals for money.
You’ll need to mail in your jewelry or coins and wait for an evaluation and offer. But these sites pay real money for unwanted items.
These sites tend to pay per ounce. Vintage or antique jewelry might be worth more than that. Consider selling jewelry items that might be valuable on a platform such as Worthy.com or Etsy.
4. Share Your Knowledge as a Tutor
What was your favorite subject in school? Whether it was geometry, language arts, physics, history, or anything else, there are kids struggling to master it who need your help.
Tutoring is an especially popular way for college students to make extra cash. Back when I was at uni, I worked as a Latin tutor for quick money (dork alert, I know).
These days, it’s easier than ever to become an online tutor. TutorMe is a website that matches students with tutors for 30-minute one-on-one sessions. It pays as much as $20 per hour.
If you’re a math wizard, check out Yup Tutors, which pays about $20. You can use Yup to help students in kindergarten through college improve their mathematical abilities.
5. Teach English Online
I have several friends who have taught English to kids both online and abroad, and they all agree it’s an extremely rewarding experience.
There are several legit websites that can connect you to kids — and adults — who are looking for an English teacher or conversation buddy.
VIPKid is one of the most trusted sites for teaching English online. You can teach from anywhere, on your own time. However, it’s worth noting that many of your students will be in Asia. So you might have to get up early in the morning to help them after their school day!
You don’t need a teaching degree to work for VIPKid. However, you will need a bachelor’s degree and be able to meet the technical requirements. Teaching experience isn’t mandatory, but it is recommended.
During the application process, you’ll need to submit a short demo video of yourself. You’ll also get to do a live one-on-one training session with another VIPKid teacher.
So it’s not a way to start making money right away. But VIPKid could be a rewarding side hustle or part-time gig for you.
On the other hand, if you’re a native English speaker, you can easily sign up to get started with Cambly. It’s a service that connects English learners with speakers to help improve their skills. You’ll make 17 cents for every minute you spend chatting.
6. Sell Unwanted Stuff on Facebook Marketplace or Decluttr
If you have stuff cluttering your house, why not post it for sale on a selling app like Facebook Marketplace or Decluttr? If somebody wants what you have, you could get it out the door and make some quick cash today.
Facebook Marketplace is a great option if you’re selling something somebody local is likely to want. I have listed many items on Marketplace and had someone come out and buy it for cash on the same day.
If you have unwanted tech items that you’re not using, Decluttr can be a great way to get rid of them. This app will even buy old phones for quick cash—and if you’re like me, you have one or two old mobile devices in the bottom of your bedside drawer.
If you find out that you enjoy selling stuff online, you might decide to set up an online store using Shopify, Etsy, or even Facebook Marketplace and make it a steady side gig.
7. Do Odd Jobs on TaskRabbit
If you’re handy, TaskRabbit could be a great way for you to earn some money online.
It’s a website that can connect you with people in your area who need some odd jobs and other little tasks completed. From assembling IKEA furniture to clearing out a garden bed, there are lots of easy jobs on TaskRabbit.
Here’s a pro tip: Before signing up, browse the TaskRabbit listings for your area. You’ll get a good idea of what services are needed, as well as what to charge.
You’ll need to submit an invoice once you’ve completed the job. However, typically, TaskRabbit will send you a direct deposit within 24 hours of receiving your invoice.
8. Start a Blog
If you love to write, starting a blog can be a rewarding way to make extra money. I’m not going to lie: It’s not easy to set up a lucrative blog. But it is doable.
The trickiest thing about making money from a blog is properly monetizing it. That’s where affiliate marketing comes in handy.
Through affiliate marketing, you’ll get paid whenever someone clicks an outbound link or buys an item that you’ve linked to in your blog.
An easy way to get started is by becoming an Amazon Associate. All you have to do is mention an item in your blog and provide an affiliate link. You’ll get paid when your reader purchases the product.
Whether your passion is homeschooling your kids, fixing up real estate, or playing video games, there’s a blog niche for you. Best of all, this is largely passive income—once your blog is published, you just have to wait for the clicks to occur.
9. Set Up an Online Course
Speaking of passive income, here’s another great way to earn some extra cash by sharing your knowledge.
You can develop a course to teach people how to do anything from belly-dancing to cooking and sell it on a platform like Coursera or Teachable.
This is a great option for people who are passionate about a subject and don’t mind being in front of the camera. Once you have your course set up you just have to collect your payments.
10. Sell Stock Photos
Shutterbugs, this one’s for you. If you’re talented at taking photographs, you can earn some easy money just by uploading your photos to an app like Foap, Dreamstime, or Scoopshot.
If a person or company buys your photo, you’ll receive a portion of the sale. It’s worth checking each app’s terms—ownership rights vary.
But if you take a lot of photos for fun anyway, selling stock photos could be like making free money.
11. Use Rakuten for Rebates
Rakuten—formerly known as eBates—is a service that rewards you for your normal online shopping.
All you have to do is install the Rakuten extension on your browser and go about your daily basis. When you make an applicable purchase online, you’ll earn cashback points.
Rakuten will reward you with either a monthly check, a direct deposit, or a gift card once you have enough points earned. Obviously, you’ll earn more points for larger purchases. So buying big-ticket items like appliances or computer hardware can pay off.
12. Join the Real-Life Baby-Sitters Club
Whether you consider yourself an entrepreneurial Kristy or an artistic Claudia—or have no idea what the heck I’m talking about—Care.com is a great way to connect with baby-sitting clients in your neighborhood.
You can use the platform to connect with real families who need your help fast. And if changing diapers isn’t your thing, rest easy—Care.com also hires for house-sitters, pet-sitters, and errand-runners.
You can use the site to pick up a few quick gigs here and there or establish a long-time relationship with a family in your area.
13. Become a DoorDash or Grubhub Deliverer
I have to confess: I am a delivery service addict.
It’s not that I’m super lazy and never want to get out of my pajamas (well . . . OK, maybe that has something to do with it). But I tell myself it’s because I’m too busy with my successful freelance writing career to go out.
Well, if you’re not a total sloth like me, you can make extra money by becoming a delivery driver with a service like DoorDash or Grubhub. All you have to do is accept assignments, pick up food or convenience store orders, and deliver them to happy, hungry people.
Both delivery services pay drivers a set per-order rate (it varies depending on the local market), and both allow drivers to keep 100% of their tips. Drivers who really hustle can make thousands of dollars per month.
Both DoorDash and Grubhub also let you cash out your money (up to a limit) without waiting for a set payday.
To make the most money from being a delivery driver, you’ll have to work during peak hours (lunch and dinnertime). But if you like to drive, it’s an easy way to make money online.
14. Become a Lyft or Uber Driver
If you enjoy driving and meeting new people, signing up for Lyft or Uber—or both!—could be an exciting way to make some fast cash. You can drive for one of these ride-sharing services on your own time, although you’ll stand to make more if you drive during peak hours.
In order to sign up to drive for one of these apps and make money online, you’ll need to be an insured driver. You’ll also need a car, which must meet particular safety requirements.
However, you can also choose to rent a car through Uber or Lyft. You can also use Hyrecar.com to rent a car to drive for one of the apps.
15. Drive for Amazon Flex
If you love to drive but don’t feel quite social enough for Lyft or Uber, you can always sign up to drive for Amazon Flex.
Through this service, you can reserve time blocks to make deliveries in your area from the comfort of your own car. You can even bring your pet with you, provided they stay in the car while you’re picking up or dropping off packages.
You can reserve blocks ahead of time or grab them when you have extra time to kill that day.
Amazon Flex automatically processes direct deposit payments to your bank, making it a no-brainer to get paid. The service reports that most drivers earn up to $25 per hour.
Here’s the catch with Amazon Flex: It’s not always hiring in every location at every time. So keep checking the Flex website for an opportunity to sign up in your region.
16. Rent Out Your Car Through Turo or Getaround
Turo and Getaround are two alternative car rental services you can use to make money online.
All you need to do is create a listing for your vehicle and decide how much you want to charge. You can charge more if you have an unusual car people might want to rent for special occasions.
You can also demand higher rates if you have a pickup truck or van—vehicles people will want to carry stuff around in.
Perhaps best of all, both apps pre-vet drivers. So it’s unlikely your wheels will go for a crazy illegal drive a la Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
17. Walk Dogs or Pet Sit
Walking dogs is a fun way to make fast cash while getting your steps in (two birds, meet one stone). Plus, you get to play with some fur babies!
Wag and Rover are two apps that help connect you with doggos who need walks. With office employees returning to work, there are bound to be a lot of clients in your neighborhood.
In addition, you can use Rover to find pet-sitting gigs for animals of all stripes (or spots). You can get paid to make sure they’re fed, watered, and played with while their beloved people are out of town. It’s a public service, really!
18. Rent Out a Spare Room with Airbnb
If you have a spare bedroom, why not try renting it out on Airbnb? You can also try renting your entire home out while you’re on vacation.
I have a friend in Upstate New York who converted her garden shed into a little getaway cottage. She rents it out on Airbnb for $250 per night and is booked up through the rest of the year.
If you live in a desirable area, Airbnb could be an easy way to make money online.
If you don’t fancy the idea of anyone sleeping in your extra space, what about letting them keep your stuff there?
Neighbor is an app that homeowners use to rent out storage space—from garages to attics to closets. It’s another effective way to make passive money.
Here’s the trickiest bit: You’ll need to decide how and when your renter will access their stuff. Make sure to work out those details ahead of time.
20. Rent Your Parking Spot
This is pretty much the easiest way to make free money. If you have an assigned parking spot you’re not using, let someone else use it for quick cash.
You can even rent out your spot while you’re out of town or at work.
You can easily do this through the Neighbor app (see above).
21. Invest in the Stock Market
You knew we’d have to sneak this one in somewhere, right?
If you have money to spare, put it to work. We favor dividend-paying stocks, because in addition to relatively safe investment gains, they pay their shareholders on a regular basis.
Before making any investment, make sure to do your due diligence. You’ll find plenty of beginner-friendly stock research right here on our site.
Here’s one of the best tips for making money online fast: Don’t try just one of these income streams. Try several!
If you hustle, you can make great money online in no time at all. Just think about how you can maximize your talents, while at the same time trying no-brainer ideas for making passive income.