make money online without paying anything

14 Real Ways To Make Money Online Without Paying Anything

Presented byTom Blake Hours Fresh Since

If you want to make money online these days, you certainly have plenty of options.

However, a lot of online income opportunities unfortunately require paying something upfront. Scams are also rampant, but most of us just want to make money online without paying anything.

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to earn money online for free that don't involve buying courses, memberships, or paying for the chance to make money.

In fact, the flexibility and freedom of working online is very realistic to achieve. And that's why this post is covering some of the best ways to make money online without paying.

How To Make Money Online Without Paying Anything

I've been making money as a freelance writer for a while. Similarly, Tom has been making all of his income online for the past few years.

Neither of us have to pay money to do so. And there are so many free online jobs and digital side hustles you can turn to for the same results.

Think about the type of work that interests you and your skills. Then, you're ready to learn how to make money online for free and boost your income.

1. Make Money Freelancing

If you have a valuable skill set, freelancing is a great way to make money online without paying anything. P

People hire freelancers for anything and everything. And as of 2023, there are approximately 73.3 million freelancers in the United States, and this number could reach 90 million by 2028.

Some of the most popular freelancing industries include:

  • Freelance Writing: If you enjoy writing, this could be a great way for you to earn money online for free. One of the best things about being a freelance writer is that all you need is a laptop and internet access, and you can do it from anywhere in the world.
  • Graphic Design: Whether it’s logo creation, advertisements, branding, or creative design, every business needs someone who can do graphic design work.
  • Web Design: With more than 150 new websites created every minute, there is a huge demand for web designers.
  • Voiceover Work: The most common voiceover jobs are narrating commercials, audio books, video games, live events, or tv and movie work.
  • Transcription: If you have strong typing skills, you can make money with transcription jobs. The pay varies by company, but typically you get paid per audio/video minute or hour, or per word transcribed.
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Companies need SEO to increase the likelihood of their content showing up in search results. This is a very lucrative digital marketing side hustle, and it's actually one way Tom makes money online without paying anything.
  • Social Media Management: Virtually every business has a social media presence, but many don’t know the best way to manage it. A social media manager does just that; helping clients create content, schedule posts, and engage with followers.

Tom also has a YouTube video that covers some popular remote job sites and freelancing resources you can use to find paid gigs.

The best part is most online job boards don't require paying for a membership. So, you can sell your skills and make money online without paying!

2. Answer Surveys For Money

Another easy way to make money online for free is to share your opinion with survey sites that pay.

Now, this no cost side hustle isn't a very lucrative way to get money online for free. But it does work, and Tom's used various get-paid-to sites ever since college to make extra cash.

Some legitimate and leading survey platforms you can use include:

Tom also has a YouTube video that covers even more leading survey sites you can use to get quick money in your spare time.

This is one of the easiest ways to make money online without paying anything. Just know that you'll probably make $10 to $20 a day maximum, and that's if you answer several surveys.

3. Become A Virtual Assistant

If you have strong organizational skills, then becoming a virtual assistant could be a good way for you to earn money online without paying anything.

Virtual assistants, or VAs, help businesses manage tasks such as:

  • Scheduling meetings and appointments
  • Sending and replying to emails
  • Data entry
  • Booking travel arrangements
  • Social media posting

Most Virtual assistant jobs only take up three or four hours per day, so it’s a good option as a second source of income. And according to Indeed, VAs earn about $1,000 a week on average.

Virtual-Assistant-Salary

Virtual administration is one of the top 10 fastest-growing remote job opportunities, so there are many options out there to make money online for free as a virtual assistant.

To look for gigs, you can turn to remote job sites like Fancy Hands or ask your network for job leads.

4. Play Games For Money

Do you spend time playing games? If so, you need to try some popular money apps without investment that pay you to play games.

There are actually numerous apps that pay you for playing games out there. This lets you turn a gaming hobby into a small side hustle, all without paying anything.

Several leading paid gaming apps include:

Tom made a video that shares even more win real money apps and games you can use in your spare time.

Like paid survey sites, game apps that pay you aren't going to make you rich. But this is more of a fun side hustle than anything else.

Mistplay and Rewarded Play are best if you're an Android user. PC gamers should stick with Gamehag. And if you have an iPhone, you can read our post on the best iOS game apps that pay.

5. Start A YouTube Channel

Do you enjoy making videos? If the answer is yes, then you may want to look into starting your own YouTube channel as a way to make money online without investment.

With over two billion monthly active users around the world on YouTube, there is a giant audience out there looking for creative and entertaining content. Some of the popular types of channels on YouTube include: 

  • Gaming
  • Make-up & Beauty
  • Unboxing & Reviews
  • Pranks/Challenges
  • Music
  • Health & Fitness

And it's not too late to make money on YouTube.

For example, Tom started his channel in 2020. It's since grown to 18,000+ subscribers and earns $50 a day or so in advertising revenue.

YouTube 2022 Income

Once you have 1000 subscribers you begin to earn money through AdSense by running advertisements on your videos.

This means videos from years ago can make money on autopilot if they still get views. And YouTube has the potential to go viral overnight, so even new channels can grow very quickly.

You don't need to spend money to get started either. A good smartphone is all you need, and you can invest in extra gear like a camera and microphone as your channel grows.

6. Start A Print On Demand Business

If you enjoy creative design, starting a print on demand business could be a good way for you to earn money online without paying anything.

The basic idea of ‘print on demand’ is that you create a brand design, sell it on your online store, and then outsource your production and shipping to a manufacturer.

When customers order items with your logo or design on it, the orders get printed and shipped by your printing partner and then you get paid for each order, minus what your printing partner charges.

This is actually one way Tom tried making money in college. He ran an Etsy Printify store, selling meme mugs and other meme-related merchandise.

printify-mug-setup
Creating products with Printify.

The store wasn't very successful. But POD is an excellent way to earn passive income with Etsy since when you get an order, you use those funds to pay for manufacturing and shipping the product to your customer.

For example, you can create a hoodie with your logo on it and you pay your printing partner $14 for it. You list it on your website for $30. When someone orders it, your printing partner ships it out and you make $16 in profit.

And the best part about having a POD business is that you don’t need to keep all your inventory at your house or in storage. And, you don’t have to worry about the hassles of shipping products.

All you need is a laptop and talent, and you can turn a Print on Demand business into a great side hustle, that allows you to make money online for free.

Extra Reading – How To Make Money With Memes.

7. Use Passive Income Apps

Did you know it's possible to get paid for your data and to earn passive income without lifting a finger?

That's right: there are plenty of passive income apps out there that are an effective way to earn money online without paying anything.

This is one way Tom made money for years when he was phone farming in college. Some of the most popular apps you can use include:

Tom's video covers even more passive income apps and sites you can use to earn free money online.

As long as you're comfortable sharing your data, there's no reason you can't make $5 to $20 or more per month.

8. Write On Medium

Medium is a free blogging platform that's another way to get money online for free.

In fact, Medium is one of the largest open blogging platforms in the world with more than 85 million monthly active users. And you can make money writing on Medium by publishing your stories and having people read them.

Tom has been writing on Medium, on and off, for a few years. And he's made over $1,000 a year just by reposting some of WebMonkey's content there:

Earnings-from-Medium
Tom's Medium earnings.

Some popular blogging topics on Medium Include:

  • Tech
  • Self-Improvement
  • Productivity
  • Relationships
  • Politics

To make money, Medium pays you when premium members spend time reading your articles. So, the more readers you get, the more money you make.

Overall, Medium can turn into a pretty nice source of passive income. And again, you don't have to pay anything to join and write.

Just note that over 90% of writers on Medium earn under $100 a month, and it typically takes a long time to build up the kind of following that will generate a lucrative income.

So, if you’re looking to make a lot of money, prepare to work hard at it. That said, sites like Medium can be a good way to earn money online for free.

9. Test Websites & Apps

Like paid gaming apps, one more way to make money online for free is to become a website and app tester.

Many companies pay you to test the performance of their websites, or to provide reviews, feedback, or testimonials. Some companies also hire “Bug testers” who look for problems with the functionality of the website or app.

Some of the most popular user-testing platforms include:

  • PlaytestCloud: Lets you test new mobile games and apps and pays $10 per test.
  • Usercrowd: Pays small amounts of cash for completing very short tests and giving your feedback.
  • TestingTime: Pays up to $50 per hour and has a wider variety of testing gigs.
  • TryMyUI: Another popular platform that pays $10 for each test.
  • Userlytics: Another fun way to make money testing apps and websites.

TryMyUI

You can earn up to $60 per test with some user-testing gigs. However, most gigs pay $10 for every short test you complete.

You don't need any experience; all you need is a computer and high-speed internet. But having a microphone and webcam gives you more opportunities as some companies require you to record your tests.

Extra Reading – The Best Sites Like UserTesting.

10. Sell Digital Products

Selling digital products online is another effective way to make money online without investment. And the great news is that you have plenty of ways to get started.

For example, you can sell your expertise by selling eBooks, coaching programs, and books online.

This is what Tom is doing with his freelance writing eBook. All it took was a few days of writing and launching his eBook on Sellfy, and now his eBook makes $200 to $300 a month in semi-passive income.

Freelance Writing For Freedom

You can do this in practically any niche, including:

  • Beauty
  • Cooking
  • Finance
  • Fitness and health
  • Organization
  • Parenting
  • Travel

People are willing to spend small amounts of money on plenty of digital products and printables. This is especially true if the products you're selling help people accomplish a very specific goal.

You don't need to be a graphic design pro to make these products either. In fact, you can make them for free with Canva and market them for free on social media and Pinterest.

And if you're willing to spend a bit of money, you can sell digital products on Etsy. This is especially popular for printables and stickers, but you have to pay $0.20 per item you list on your shop.

11. Complete Microtasks For Money

If you're still wondering how to make money online without paying anything, you can always make money with microtask websites.

Micro task sites pay you with PayPal money, gift cards, or direct deposits for completing short online tasks. Examples of gigs you can complete include:

  • Audio transcription
  • Data entry
  • Image categorization
  • Social media moderation
  • Taking surveys

The work isn't glamorous, but you can earn money online for free. Plus, you don't need previous work experience.

Appen and Clickworker are two reputable platforms you can check out to get started. But other sites like Appen, like Amazon MTurk and Lionbridge, are also worth considering.

12. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services on behalf of another company. If you generate a sale for them, you earn a commission.

Affiliate marketing is also an excellent way to make money online for free. That's because you don't need to pay to create something to sell. So, as long as you can drive traffic to your affiliate partner that converts, you can earn.

This is also a very lucrative passive income side hustle. For example, Tom made over $100,000 from affiliate marketing in 2022, largely from his blog and YouTube channel.

Impact Radius Income
Tom's 2022 affiliate income from one network.

These days, WebMonkey makes $10,000 a month or more from affiliate marketing alone. And it's had months where it's made $50,000 or even more!

The best way to make money through affiliate marketing is to develop your following and become a trusted source to your target audience. This way when you recommend a product, your audience will have confidence in your recommendation and consider buying it based on your credibility.

This could mean starting a blog, YouTube channel or podcast, email newsletter, or just creating social media content in a certain niche.

It can take a while to build this trust and loyalty with your following. But you don't have to pay if you post on social media and provide value to your audience.

Once you build your audience, you can apply to affiliate marketing programs and networks and start promoting products to earn.

13. Online Tutoring

If you have a knack for teaching, tutoring can be a great way to make money online without paying anything.

Though the educational requirements differ between tutoring companies, you generally get more tutoring opportunities if you already have teaching experience or have a degree.

On average, online tutors can earn between $11-$20 per hour for subjects such as Math, English, and Science. The rate varies depending on your level of education, if you have previous teaching experience, and if you specialize in a certain subject.

However, some companies can pay even more. For example, BookNook hires U.S. tutors to teach English and Math to students, and it pays upwards of $22 an hour.

BookNook Tutor

There are also plenty of websites where you can get paid to do homework or even sell notes to students. And ESL tutoring gigs are another lucrative category you can explore.

Again, you don't have to pay to become an online tutor, so this is a very lucrative and rewarding way to make money online for free.

14. Become An Influencer

One final way to make money online without paying is to make money with influencer marketing.

This is a similar idea to affiliate marketing. And the huge popularity of social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook have opened the door for people to grow their following and become influencers.

These sites all allow you to post content for free on their platforms, which gives you the opportunity to land brand deals, sell products, offer subscriptions, and find other ways to earn money online for free.

Some popular categories for influencers include:

  • Beauty
  • Travel
  • Parenting
  • Health & fitness
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle

This YouTube video from The Break provides some insight into how much influencers make per post and in general.

Again, influencer marketing is competitive, and it takes a while to grow a following. But if you have the time, personality, and passion, then becoming an influencer can be a great way to make money online for free.

Extra Reading – The Best Online Jobs For Beginners.

Tips For Getting Started

Now that you know some legit, free ways to make money online, here are some tips to help increase your odds of success:

  1. Set An Income Target: Do you want to make an extra $500 a month, or an extra $5,000 per month? Different online hustles have different income potential, so pick one that makes sense for your goal.
  2. Stick To Your Strengths: What are your most marketable skills? If you play to your strengths, you have a higher chance of making money rather than chasing the latest side hustle trend.
  3. Learn High-Value Skills: Developing new skills can help you land lucrative freelancing gigs or an excellent remote job. And the Internet has so many free resources you can use to learn skills with.

Extra Reading – The Best Work From Phone Jobs.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of great opportunities to make money online for free! Really, the option you choose probably depends on your goals and the amount of time you have.

If you’re looking to make money quickly, micro tasks, tutoring, or website testing would be a good option. If you have more time, ideas like freelancing or starting some sort of online business might be better.

As long as you set goals and work towards them, there's no reason you can't earn money online without paying. 

Thanks for reading, and best of luck!

Want even more free money-making ideas? Checkout:

Tom is a full-time blogger and freelance writer with a passion for side hustling, passive income, and making money online. His work has appeared on dozens of personal finance websites like Money Crashers, The College Investor, Forbes, and more.

Tom also founded the blog This Online World - a finance site dedicated to helping people make money online - in 2018. After 6 years, that site merged with WebMonkey, with the goal of helping even more people earn their first dollar of online income.

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