27+ Ways to Make Money Online for Beginners [in 2024]

Making money online is a dream for many people. And why not? With the right skills and tools, you can earn income from anywhere in the world.

Whether you’re looking to earn a few dollars on the side or create an online business that can earn money for years to come, there’s something everyone can do to be successful online. Best of all, earning money online can help you get on the path to financial freedom.

In this article, we’ll discuss 27 different ways you can earn money online. This includes my top picks for how to make money online for beginners.

How to make money online for beginners

Some of these methods take some upfront work to get started, but they can be very lucrative to earn money once you get going. Others may be a little easier to start but have lower earning potential.

Making real money online requires real work. There’s no such thing as free money when it comes to making income. Making extra money is a skill that you can hone over time.

Lots of ways you can make money online are completely free or low-cost to start. Usually, all you need is a laptop and an internet connection. And, some of them may take just a few minutes to get started.

While growing your online income, you’re also learning how to build your digital skillset and gain experience in the online space – both of which are invaluable assets in today’s economy.

Over the course of 3 years, I went from making zero money online to making a great income (more than my full-time salary) that allowed me to quit my day job as a pharmacist. I now have more freedom than I ever thought possible, and it’s been so rewarding.

Making a full-time income online isn’t for everyone though. You may just be looking to make an extra $500 or $1000 per month. That can still be life-changing money, especially if you’re living paycheck to paycheck.

So whether you want to make a little extra cash or create a full-time income online, these options can help get you there!

1 – Become a freelancer or consultant

This is my number one choice for how to make money online for beginners. Freelancing allowed me to quit my full-time job, pursue lifestyle freedom, and work on other entrepreneurial ventures, like this blog.

Within the first few months of freelancing, I had several clients and my average hourly rate exceeded my pharmacist hourly rate. When the time was right and I had built enough business, I went full-time as a freelancer.

There are many paths to take as a freelancer. The most direct (and most lucrative) path likely involves converting your current skillset into freelancing. You set up yourself as a freelancer and offer your services to companies that need your specific skills.

Freelancing could also mean taking your professional skills and putting them to use as a contractor. For example, if you work as a graphic designer for a large firm, you could market yourself to other companies as a freelancer to help with projects that their usual staff needs extra help with.

You can also test out your skills and interests to see what works on freelance websites like Fiverr and Upwork.

If you’re doing freelancing on the side, you may need to make sure your current employer doesn’t prohibit you from doing this in your employment contract.

Overall, freelancing is one of the fastest and most lucrative ways to make money online, even if you’re a beginner. It’s something anyone can do and generate some income within a few months.

Freelance writing

For me, the writing path made the most sense. Becoming a freelance writer is something just about anyone can do with enough work and practice. And there are AI tools that can help you write as well.

If you enjoy writing, you can start freelancing as a writer. This is a great way to make money online, especially if you’re a beginner.

There are a few different ways to get started with freelance writing. The first is to find clients through your personal network. You can also use platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to find clients. Finally, you can reach out to companies directly and inquire about writing opportunities.

Freelance editing

If you’re good with grammar and have a keen eye for detail, you can make money online as a freelance editor.

As a freelance editor, you would review and edit written content for clients. This could include anything from blog posts to scientific journal articles to website copy and marketing communications.

2 – Work part-time for an online company

If you want to get started making money online but don’t want to go the freelancing route, consider working part-time for an online company. This can be a great way to get your feet wet in the online world and learn about how businesses operate in this space.

You can also build up your skillset and experience level, which will make you more attractive to potential employers (both online and “offline”) down the road.

Part-time work for online companies could be jobs like data entry, helping with digital marketing, managing social media accounts, or IT support for a successful mobile app. Anything an online business needs, they are likely willing to pay for if you have the skills to do it well.

There are a few different ways to find part-time work online. The first is to search job boards that focus on remote positions, like Indeed or LinkedIn. Applying for jobs or positions that fit your skills is a great way to start.

You can also reach out to companies directly and inquire about any open positions they may have. Finally, you can use your personal network to see if anyone you know is hiring part-time remote workers.

3 – Sell products or services online

Another great way to make money online is to sell products or services. It’s a bit different than freelancing or consulting because the idea is to sell a product or service that doesn’t use up your time. It allows you to scale.

This could involve setting up an eCommerce store, but it doesn’t have to. Having your own online store has some benefits like setting your own price and having your own terms.

You can also sell products on online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay. You could also sell on a social media platform. Or you can sell digital products like eBooks, courses, or webinars. really the sky’s the limit here – if someone is willing to buy it, there’s probably a market for it online.

You could even create and sell your own mobile app. You’d need an IT background to do this (or to partner with someone who does). But with so many people using smartphones and tablets, apps can be a great way to make extra money online.

The great thing about selling products or services online is that you can do it from anywhere in the world. All you need is an internet connection and a way to take payments. You can also use drop shipping to outsource the fulfillment of your orders, which can be a huge time-saver.

If you’re not sure what kind of product or service to sell, I recommend starting with something you have experience with. This will make it easier to create and market your product or service, and you’ll be more likely to be successful.

4 – Create and sell online courses

If you have knowledge or expertise in a specific area, you can create and sell an online course. This is a great way to share your knowledge with others and make money at the same time.

Creating an online course requires some upfront work, like creating the course content, recording videos (if applicable), and setting up a sales page. But once that’s done, you can launch your course and start making money almost immediately.

To get started, I recommend using a platform like Teachable or Thinkific to create and host your course. They make it easy to create and market your course, and they’ll even handle all the payments for you. You can also use a site like Udemy, which hosts and markets your course for you, but you have less control over the price and other technical aspects.

5 – Start a blog

Blogging is another great way to make money online. If you have the right strategy, market research, and motivation, starting a blog can be one of the most potentially lucrative ways to make an income over the long term.

With a blog, you have your own website, which allows you to have complete control of the content and business model. Other online platforms like social media or even YouTube don’t allow you to have that flexibility.

With a blog, you can make income with an affiliate link to sell other companies’ products, generate ad revenue through ad companies like Mediavine and Google Adsense, create an online store, a paid membership community, or start selling courses online.

Starting a blog does require some work upfront—in fact, lots of work upfront. You need to learn skills like SEO (search engine optimization), content creation, and building online partnerships to create a successful blog. But once you get it up and running, it can be a great way to make money passively – meaning you can make money even while you’re sleeping.

To get started, I recommend using hosting like Bluehost or Wix to set up your blog. They’re both easy to use for beginners, and they have lots of features and plugins to make blogging easy.

You’ll likely need other tools to analyze search engine results, do keyword research, and help plan your content strategy.

Once your blog is up and running, you can start monetizing it in a few different ways. You can sell advertising, become an affiliate for other products or services, or sell your own products or services directly from your blog.

6 – Provide coaching services

If you have expertise in a specific area, you can provide coaching services. This is a great way to help others succeed and make money at the same time. Usually, you’ll need credibility and experience in the area or topic you want to coach people on.

There are a few different ways to get started with coaching. The first is to find clients through your personal network. You can also use platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to find clients. Finally, you can reach out to companies directly and inquire about coaching needs or opportunities.

The great thing about coaching is that you can do it online from anywhere in the world. All you need is an internet connection. You can also use video conferencing platforms like Skype or Zoom to meet with your clients.

7 – Playing games online

Yes, you can actually make money playing games online. There are a few different ways to do this. The first is to find online tournaments and competitions that you can enter. These usually have cash prizes for the winners.

Another way to make money from games is to create and sell in-game items or content. This could be things like character skins, weapons, or other digital items. You can also create and sell game guides or other instructional materials.

Finally, you can stream yourself playing games on social media platforms. If you build up a large enough following, you can make money from donations or sponsorships.

8 – Create a webinar

Webinars are becoming increasingly popular, and they’re a great way to make money online. If you have something to say and you’re passionate about it, starting a webinar is a great way to share your knowledge with others and make some extra money.

Creating a webinar requires some upfront work, like creating the webinar content, setting up a sales page, and promoting the webinar. But once that’s done, you can launch your webinar and start making money almost immediately.

To get started, I recommend using a platform like GoToWebinar to create and host your webinar. They make it easy to create and market your webinar, and they’ll even handle all the payments for you.

9 – Sell stock photos

If you enjoy taking photographs, you can start selling them online. This is a great way to make money online, even if you’re a beginner.

There are a few different ways to get started with selling photographs. The first is to find clients through your personal network. You can also use platforms like 500px or SmugMug to sell your photographs. Finally, you can reach out to companies that sell photographs directly and ask about working with them.

The great thing about selling photographs is that you can do it from anywhere in the world. All you need is a camera and an internet connection. You can also use platforms like Shutterstock or iStockphoto to sell your photographs.

10 – Become a virtual assistant

If you’re good at administrative tasks, you can start working as a virtual assistant. This is a great way to make money online, especially if you’re a beginner.

There are a few different ways to get started with becoming a virtual assistant. The first is to find clients through your personal network. You can also use platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to find clients. Finally, you can reach out to companies directly and inquire about opportunities.

11 – Online tutor

If you’re good at a specific subject, you can start tutoring students online. This is a great way to make money online, especially if you’re a beginner.

There are a few different ways to get started with online tutoring. The first is to find clients through your personal network. You can also use platforms like Tutor.com or Wyzant to find clients. Finally, you can reach out to companies directly and inquire about tutoring opportunities.

12 – Data entry

Data entry is a great way to make money online, especially if you’re a beginner. All you need is a computer and internet. You can find data entry jobs on websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com.

To get started, create a profile and start applying for jobs. Once you get a job, complete the work and submit it to the client. That’s it! You’ll get paid for every job you complete.

13 – Watching videos

Did you know you can make money just by watching videos? It’s true! There are a few different websites that will pay you to watch videos. The two I recommend are InboxDollars and Swagbucks.

To get started, create a profile on each website and start watching videos. You’ll earn points for every video you watch, which you can then redeem for gift cards or cash.

14 – Invest online using trading websites and apps

Investing money is a great way to earn passive income. For many people that invest money, it can be one of the truly passive ways to make money. You can place a few extra bucks, a few hundred dollars, or even more into different types of investments. But, to get large returns, investing tends to require large amounts of money.

Keep in mind that if you don’t have much experience with investing, you may need to be very conservative when you’re starting out. You can also seek out professional financial advice and learn as you go.

There are lots of websites where you can manage your own investments and trade online. These include Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, E-Trade, and more. Each website has different options and fees associated with trading. Review a few to find one that meets your needs.

You can also use investing apps where you manage your from your phone or tablet. Acorns is a popular micro-investing app that rounds up your spare change and invests it for you. With this app, you can start small and grow your investment over time.

Another option is Robinhood which offers commission-free stock, ETF, and options trading. With this app, you can trade stocks and other investments for free.

When you’re ready to start investing, do some research and decide what investment options are best for you. Here are a few assets that are popular to invest in.

High-yield online savings account

While you won’t make life-changing money this way, it’s better to save money in an interest-bearing account than to keep your money in a place where it’s not earning any interest.

A high-yield savings account is a type of account that typically has higher interest rates than a traditional savings account. You can also open the account online without going in-person to a bank or credit union.

Bonds

Bonds are a type of debt investment. When you buy a bond, you’re lending money to an entity (usually a government or corporation). In return, they agree to pay you interest and repay the money you lent them when the bond matures.

Bonds are a low-risk, low-return type of investment. You can usually earn cash better than with savings accounts though.

Index funds, mutual funds, and individual stocks

These are all options for investing your money in the stock market. Each has its own set of risks and rewards, so be sure to do your research before you invest you’re a beginner.

Index funds are a type of mutual fund that tracks a specific market index, such as the S&P 500. They tend to have the lowest risk and the lowest potential returns among the stock market, but over time they tend to substantially outperform bonds and savings accounts.

Mutual funds are a type of investment that pools money from many different investors and invests it in a portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other assets. By diversifying investment assets across many companies, the level of risk tends to be lower. Of “traditional” stock market investments, these tend to have a moderate risk and moderate returns.

Individual stocks are shares of ownership in a specific company. Of “traditional” stock market investments, these tend to have the highest risk and potentially the highest returns. High-yield dividend stocks are those that pay a dividend after a certain period of time as one of the ways to earn cash online with your investment.

You can generally buy and sell these investments online using websites or apps. You can also work with a financial professional to invest in the stock market.

15 – Trade cryptocurrency online

Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual asset designed to work as a medium of exchange. It uses cryptography to secure and verify transactions as well as to control the creation of new units of a particular cryptocurrency. Essentially, cryptocurrencies are limited entries in a database that no one can change unless specific conditions are fulfilled.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin are some of the most well-known cryptocurrencies.

Cryptocurrencies are a high-risk, high-return investment. If you don’t mind the volatility, they can offer the potential for large returns.

To get started, you’ll need to create an account on a cryptocurrency trading platform like Coinbase, KuCoin, or Binance.

16 – Participate in online surveys

If you’re interested in making some extra money, you can participate in online surveys. This is a great way to make money online, especially if you’re a beginner.

Doing surveys might get you some free cash or help you earn free gift cards, but it can take a while. It can help you start making money online, but to make more money you’ll want to move on to something else.

There are a few different ways to get started. The first is to find companies that offer online surveys through your personal network. You can also use platforms like Survey Junkie or Swagbucks to find companies that offer them. Finally, you can reach out to companies directly and inquire about participating.

17 – Join a network marketing company

If you’re interested in network marketing, you can join a company like Amway or Herbalife. This is a great way to make money online, especially if you’re a beginner.

To get started, you’ll need to find a company that you’re interested in and join their team.

18 – Become a transcription specialist

If you’re good at transcribing audio, you can start transcription services. This is a great way to make money online, especially if you’re a beginner.

There are a few different ways to get started with transcription services. The first is to find clients through your personal network. You can also use platforms like Fiverr or Upwork to find clients. Finally, you can reach out to companies directly and inquire about transcription opportunities.

19 – Become a website designer

If you’re good at designing websites, you can start a website design business. This is a great way to make money online, especially if you’re a beginner.

To get started, you’ll need to create a portfolio of your work and start marketing yourself to potential clients. You can also use platforms like Fiverr or Upwork to

20 – Become an affiliate marketer

Affiliate marketing is a type of online advertising where you promote other people’s products and services in exchange for a commission on the sale. As an affiliate marketer, you can sign up with companies like Amazon, Clickbank, CJ Affiliate, and ShareASale to promote their products. You can also find products to promote on your own blog or website. To get started, all you need is a domain name and hosting. Once you have set up your website, you can start promoting products by writing product reviews and blog posts. When someone clicks on one of your affiliate links and makes a purchase, you will earn a commission.

21 – Start a Youtube channel

If you love making videos and are passionate about a certain topic, starting a Youtube channel can be a great way to make money online. You’ll need to create engaging videos and build up a large following in order to make any significant income from your channel.

However, if you can manage to build up a large enough following, you could make a full-time income from your Youtube channel.

22 – Invest in crowdfunded real estate

Crowdfunded real estate investing is a new way to invest in real estate without having to put down a large amount of money. With platforms like Fundrise, you can invest as little as $500 and get started with crowdfunded real estate investing. You’ll earn dividends from your investment, which can provide you with a passive income stream.

23 – Rent your home on Airbnb

If you have an extra room or entire home that you’re not using, you can make money by renting it out on Airbnb. You’ll need to create a listing for your space and set a price. Once your listing is live, you’ll start receiving guests who are interested in staying in your space.

24 – Rent your car on Turo

If you have a car that you’re not using all the time, you can make money by renting it out on Turo. You can choose to rent your car for short-term or long-term rentals. Turo will take a percentage of the rental fee, but you’ll get to keep the rest of the money.

25 – Shop online with cashback websites

There are a few different websites that will give you cash back for shopping online. With sites like Ebates and Rakuten, you can earn cash back on your online purchases.

To get started, you’ll need to create an account and start shopping at your favorite online stores. When you make a purchase, you’ll earn cash back based on a percentage of your total purchase.

26 – Test websites

You can make money by testing websites for companies. Companies will pay you to test their websites and give feedback on your experience.

This is a great way to make money online, especially if you’re a beginner.

26 – Food delivery service

If you have a car, you can sign up to be a food delivery driver for companies like Uber Eats and DoorDash. You can use your own car to make money by delivering food to people in your local area.

While the actual work isn’t done online, the internet is what connects people to food delivery services. It would help you get work as a delivery driver.

27 – Negotiate a remote work agreement with your employer

If you’re already employed, you can negotiate a remote work agreement with your employer. This will allow you to work from home, which can give you more flexibility and freedom.

You’ll need to be proactive in communicating your case to your employer and showing them how working remotely would benefit both of you.

You probably already collaborate on many things remotely with your employer using just a computer and the internet, like email and direct deposit.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the ways how to make money online for beginners. Many people dream of how they can earn money online. Now you know lots of practical ways you can earn money online for beginners to get some extra cash.

Even though you might think it seems overwhelming, just getting started is the key. Once you build momentum, you may find it’s simpler than you think. There are even plenty of online jobs you can start as a teenager.

You may even find that making money online is what you want to be doing full-time. It’s definitely possible to make a 6-figure income and beyond.

What’s important is that you get started and don’t give up. The more you work at it, the more success you’ll find. And soon enough, you’ll be making more money online than you may have thought possible.