When most people search for ways to make money online, they get the same suggestions over and over: start a blog, become a virtual assistant, take surveys, sell something on Etsy.
And sure, some of those work. But the internet is a strange and beautiful little money-making ecosystem, and there are way more ways to earn online than most people realize.
I’ve spent a lot of time experimenting with different income streams, from affiliate marketing and micro-investing to selling domains, testing games, monetizing websites and flipping things I already own.
Some have made me more money than others. Some are ridiculously simple. Some are still experiments.
So instead of promising you that you’ll become a millionaire while drinking coffee in your pajamas, here are some real, easy, odd and sometimes surprisingly overlooked ways to make money online.
Disclosure: Some links in this post are referral or affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through one of them, I may receive a commission or referral reward at no additional cost to you. Offers, eligibility requirements and reward amounts can change, so always check the platform’s current terms.
Get Paid to Play Games & Complete Offers
1. Freecash
Freecash is one of those sites that sounds almost too straightforward: you can earn money for playing and testing games, trying apps and completing paid offers.
If you already spend time playing games on your phone, this is one of the easier ways to turn some of that screen time into actual earnings.
There’s also a referral program, so you can potentially earn from recommending Freecash to other people.
Try Freecash: Join Freecash here
2. InboxDollars
InboxDollars has been around for years and offers several different ways to earn, including surveys, games, offers and other online activities.
I wouldn’t treat it as a replacement for a paycheck, but it can be an easy little side-income option when you have spare time.
You can also earn referral rewards for bringing new users to the platform.
Try InboxDollars: Join InboxDollars here
Resell Things You Might Not Have Thought About Selling
3. Atom
This one is much more interesting than the usual “sell your old clothes” recommendation.
Atom is a marketplace where you can buy, list and resell domain names.
Yes, internet real estate is a thing.
A good domain can have value to a business, entrepreneur or future brand, which means buying interesting names and reselling them can become its own side hustle.
There is no guarantee that a particular domain will sell, so think of this as speculative reselling rather than instant income.
Explore Atom: Join Atom.com here
4. Poshmark
Okay, this one isn’t particularly weird, but it’s easy enough that it deserves a spot.
Poshmark lets you resell clothing, accessories, home items and other products you no longer want.
It can also become a more intentional reselling business if you start sourcing items specifically to flip.
And because Poshmark has a referral program, there’s another potential income stream beyond your own sales.
Join Poshmark: Sign up through my Poshmark link
Referral code: LINDSEYLU212
5. CardCash
Here’s one people often forget about: gift cards are sellable assets.
CardCash lets people buy discounted gift cards and sell gift cards they don’t want.
So if you have a random gift card sitting in a drawer that you’re never going to use, you may be able to turn it into cash instead.
CardCash also offers referrals, giving you another way to potentially earn.
Try CardCash: Join CardCash here
Make Money Recommending Things
6. Benable
Benable is one of my favorite examples of an income stream people still don’t seem to talk about enough.
You create curated lists of things you recommend, such as products, apps, tools, books, gifts or resources. Benable works with thousands of brands, and eligible recommendations can earn affiliate commissions.
Think Pinterest-meets-affiliate-marketing, without needing to build an entire website first.
You can create extremely niche lists too, which is part of what makes it fun.
Try Benable: Join Benable here
7. Printify
Printify is usually associated with print-on-demand businesses, but it also has an affiliate program.
That means you don’t necessarily have to sell a single T-shirt yourself to potentially make money from the platform. You can create content teaching other people about print-on-demand and earn commissions through eligible referrals.
If your audience includes creators, Etsy sellers or people looking for online business ideas, this one makes a lot of sense.
Explore Printify: Try Printify here
8. Temu Affiliate
Temu’s affiliate ecosystem is a little more complicated than a basic “share a link and earn” program, but that also gives you multiple angles to work with.
You can promote products and deals as a Temu affiliate, and Temu also has opportunities to recruit other affiliates.
That means there can potentially be earnings connected to shopper activity as well as qualifying affiliate recruitment activity.
Program rules, commissions and bonuses change, so definitely read whatever current offers appear in your own dashboard.
Shop through my Temu link: Temu shopper/affiliate link
Interested in becoming a Temu affiliate? Join through my affiliate recruitment link
Make Money From Referral Bonuses
9. Capital One Shopping
Capital One Shopping is a browser extension and shopping tool designed to help users find available coupons, compare prices and earn shopping rewards.
The referral program adds another opportunity to earn when eligible friends sign up through your link.
It’s particularly easy to recommend because you’re not asking someone to buy an expensive course or join some mysterious business opportunity. You’re showing them a free shopping tool.
Try Capital One Shopping: Join here
10. Chase Refer-A-Friend
Bank referral programs are another income source people tend to overlook.
Chase periodically offers referral bonuses to eligible existing customers when friends open qualifying accounts through their personalized referral links.
Offers and eligibility vary, so check the current terms before signing up.
See the current Chase offer: Use my Chase referral link
Investing + Referral Income
11. Acorns
Acorns makes investing less intimidating by focusing heavily on micro-investing.
Instead of feeling like you need thousands of dollars before you’re “allowed” to start investing, Acorns is designed to help people begin with much smaller amounts.
Potential investment growth is one component, and eligible referral promotions can create an additional way to earn.
Of course, investments can gain or lose value, so investment returns aren’t guaranteed.
Try Acorns: Join Acorns here
12. Coinbase
Coinbase is a cryptocurrency platform where users can buy, sell and hold crypto assets.
That creates two very different potential money-making angles: possible investment gains and eligible referral rewards.
Crypto prices can be extremely volatile, so I consider this an investment platform, not an easy-money machine. Never invest money you can’t afford to lose.
Explore Coinbase: Join Coinbase here
Create Something Once & Sell It Online
13. Etsy
Etsy is still one of the most accessible places to experiment with selling online.
And you absolutely don’t have to make jewelry or ship handmade candles.
Digital products can include printables, planners, templates, worksheets, artwork, coloring pages, invitations, trackers and countless other downloadable products.
The beautiful thing about digital inventory is that you create the file once and can potentially sell that same file repeatedly.
I actively sell both digital and physical products through Etsy, so this one definitely isn’t theoretical for me.
There isn’t an affiliate link attached to this recommendation. I simply use Etsy as one of my own income streams.
14. Canva Creators
This is one I’m watching rather than claiming as an established income stream.
Canva’s creator programs provide opportunities for accepted creators to contribute eligible designs and templates to Canva’s library and potentially earn royalties.
Acceptance requirements and program availability can change, so it’s something to research and prepare for rather than assuming you’ll immediately be accepted.
If you’re already designing templates anyway, though, it’s worth having on your radar.
Make Your Website Pay You
15. Google AdSense
If you have a blog or website getting traffic, advertising can turn those visitors into another income stream.
Google AdSense allows approved publishers to display advertising on eligible websites and earn revenue from that traffic.
You do need content and visitors before this becomes particularly exciting, but it has one major advantage: content you’ve already created can continue generating income long after you publish it.
There is no affiliate link here. AdSense is simply one of the website monetization methods I use.
16. Monetag
Monetag is another website monetization platform, and it’s particularly interesting if you’re looking beyond traditional display advertising.
Depending on your site and traffic, it offers different advertising formats and monetization options.
Monetag also has a referral program, which creates another potential earning layer if you recommend the platform to other publishers.
Explore Monetag: Join Monetag here
One I’m Keeping an Eye On
17. Notion
I already use Notion as a business organization tool, and it’s one I’m keeping on my money-making radar as well.
Notion has offered affiliate opportunities, although program availability and application status can change.
So this isn’t one I’m attaching an affiliate link to right now. It’s simply one I’d watch if you’re a creator who already teaches productivity, digital planning, organization or small-business systems.
The Real Trick: Stack Small Income Streams
I think this is the part that gets lost whenever people talk about making money online.
You don’t necessarily need to discover one magical side hustle that suddenly makes thousands of dollars.
You might make a little from affiliate links.
A little from digital products.
A referral bonus.
Some website ad revenue.
A Poshmark sale.
A domain sale.
A few dollars from testing a game.
An investment grows over time.
Then one of those little experiments starts working better than the rest, and you put more energy into it.
That’s much closer to how online income has actually worked for me: lots of small doors instead of waiting for one giant door to magically appear.
And I’m still experimenting.
I’ll keep adding to this list as I find more legitimate, interesting and slightly unexpected ways to make money online.
Because somewhere on the internet, there is almost certainly another bizarre little income stream I haven’t found yet.
And obviously, now I have to find it.
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