10 weird ways to make money in Canada

You don’t necessarily need to be workin’ nine to five to make a living. There are several legit ways you can make money online from home in Canada—some of them are simple, some are a little unique and others are right out of left field. So, if you’re looking for weird ways to make money in Canada and earn some extra cash, check out these 10 unique side hustles.

1. Complete surveys

How it works: Companies are willing to pay for feedback and market research information from real people like you. Surveys are available from several legit sites, and it’s free to create an account and start completing surveys online or via mobile app.

How much you can earn: Between approximately $0.50 and $5 per survey.

How to get started: Go to sites like Freecash, Branded Surveys or Survey Junkie and create an account profile.

• Tips to succeed

  • Sign up to multiple sites. Create accounts on multiple paid survey sites to maximize your money-making opportunities.
  • Download apps. Most survey platforms offer their own mobile apps that make it easy to answer surveys on the go whenever you have a few minutes of spare time.
  • Take care with your responses. Take the time to provide detailed and honest answers to survey questions. If you try to rush through a survey or provide inaccurate answers, your responses will be rejected and you’ll miss out on your reward.

Play Games & Test Apps

Go to site

• Make an average of $300 per offer
• Cash out at $2
• Get a $5 sign-up bonus when you start your first offer

Best for Mobile

Go to site

• Earn up to $120 per test
• No limit on how much you play games or complete surveys
• Earn money while playing games

Survey Variety

Go to site

• Earn between $5 and $100 per month
• Cash out at just $5
• 300+ rewards

2. Play games online

How it works: You can get paid for playing online and mobile games and earn rewards for completing specific in-game tasks.

How much you can earn: Varies depending on the game and any specific tasks you have to complete, but you could earn $5 or more per day.

How to get started: Create an account on sites like Freecash, Swagbucks or Pawns.app, then find games you like to play. Learn more about game apps that pay real money.

• Tips to succeed

  • Choose the right game. Gaming is meant to be fun, so you might as well shop around to find a game you actually enjoy playing.
  • Devote time. Set aside time each day to devote to playing games, such as when you catch the bus to work or watch TV at night. Making it part of your regular routine will help boost your earning power.

3. Share your internet

How it works: If you’re not using all of your home or mobile internet bandwidth, you can share it with other people to earn money.

How much you can earn: Approximately $0.10 - $0.20 per GB of internet you share with a site like Pawns.app.

How to get started: Create an account on sites like Pawns.app or Honeygain to start sharing your bandwidth.

• Tips to succeed

  • Use multiple devices. Share data from multiple devices and plans to maximize your earning power.
  • Shop around. Compare internet sharing apps and platforms to find those that offer the highest payouts.
  • Refer friends. Refer friends to different platforms to earn a commission when they sign up and start sharing their internet.

4. Help train AI

How it works: You can get paid to train AI chatbots by interacting with them, completing specific writing and editing tasks and, in some cases, coding. While you don’t need any specific experience, you’ll need to be a strong writer, researcher and critical thinker.

How much you can earn: US$20+ per hour.

How to get started: Create an account with DataAnnotation and complete the Starter Assessment to find out if you qualify.

• Tips to succeed

  • Check the instructions. Read the instructions for each job carefully so you know exactly what you’re required to do.
  • Provide detailed feedback. Take the time to provide detailed and concise feedback for each job—this will help you earn future work.

5. Share your browsing data

How it works: If you give permission to a mobile app or browser extension to track your web browsing history, you can get paid to share the details of the sites you visit and the other apps you have open on your phone. This information is used for market research purposes, and some platforms will also use it to help match you with online survey opportunities based on your interests.

How much you can earn: Varies.

How to get started: Create an account with a platform like MobileXpression or Survey Junkie (and download its Surf to Earn browser extension) to start sharing your browsing data.

• Tips to succeed

  • Follow the instructions. Make sure you follow any download and installation instructions to the letter to ensure that the app or extension is reliably tracking your data.
  • Compare platforms. Shop around to find the provider that pays the highest rewards, and keep in mind that you may only be able to run one tracking app at a time for it to work properly.

6. Go shopping

How it works: Some market research panels will pay you for sharing your receipts when you go shopping or scanning and uploading the barcodes of the products you buy. Alternatively, you can get paid to shop for and deliver groceries to other people.

How much you can earn: Varies.

How to get started: Join a panel like Homescan to get paid to share details of your own shopping, or sign up for platforms like Instacart or DoorDash to shop for other people.

• Tips to succeed

  • Scan at home. If you’re scanning the barcodes of the items you buy, do it once you get home and start unpacking your groceries to help streamline the process.
  • Shop the familiar. If you’re grocery shopping for customers, select orders at familiar stores so you can be as fast and efficient as possible when filling orders.

7. Participate in medical research

How it works: You can earn a surprising amount of money if you’re willing to participate in medical research trials, for example, to trial a new drug. There are risks to be aware of, but the pay can be lucrative.

How much you can earn: Earnings can vary greatly, ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.

How to get started: Search for trials on the websites of legitimate pharmaceutical companies and universities.

• Tips to succeed

  • Check eligibility criteria. Medical research trials usually come with strict eligibility requirements, so check the criteria carefully before you apply.
  • Do your research. Research trial providers beforehand to make sure you only apply for trials run by legitimate organizations.

8. Rent out your home for parties, meetings and film/photo shoots

How it works: Most people have heard about renting out your home for travellers on platforms like Airbnb. But did you know that you can also rent out your home, or a specific area of it, for private parties, film shoots, photo shoots and even business meetings?

How much you can earn: Varies depending on where you live. As an example, property listings on Giggster in Toronto commonly range from $40 to $150 per hour, but keep in mind that the platform takes a 19% commission.

How to get started: Create an account on sites like Giggster and Peerspace and list your home for rent.

• Tips to succeed

  • List on multiple platforms. List your property on multiple rental websites to maximize your booking opportunities.
  • Respond quickly. Be sure to respond quickly and helpfully to any queries you get from potential renters.
  • Research prices. Research what similar properties are listed for in your area before deciding on a suitable hourly rate for your home.

9. Talk to people

How it works: On sites like Cambly, you can get paid simply to chat with people from all around the world to help them learn English. You don’t need a teaching certificate, bachelor’s degree or prior teaching experience to offer your tutoring services.

How much you can earn: You can earn US$0.17/min (US$10.20/hour) on Cambly and US$0.20/min (US$12/hour) on Cambly Kids.

How to get started: Create an account with Cambly and offer your tutoring services.

• Tips to succeed

  • Get used to talking. You’ll need to be friendly, approachable and a good conversationalist to succeed as a tutor.
  • Set student goals. Contact your student before the lesson or speak to them at the start of the lesson about what they want to learn and any particular areas they want to focus on. This will allow you to tailor your lessons to suit their needs.

10. Lose weight

How it works: HealthyWage allows users to make personalized bets on how much weight they can lose. You’ll need to set your weight loss goal, time frame and the amount you want to wager, and if you hit your target, you’ll get paid. There are also individual and team weight loss and step challenges available.

How much you can earn: Up to $10,000.

How to get started: Visit the HealthyWage website and set a HealthyWager challenge.

• Tips to succeed

  • Talk to your doctor. Check with your doctor about any health issues before beginning a weight-loss program. Your doctor will be able to help you plan your diet and exercise regime to ensure that you lose weight and keep it off.
  • Participate in challenges. Maximize your earning potential by competing in HealthyWage challenges. You can compete in up to 10 challenges at once.
  • Refer friends. You’ll get a $40 prize boost for each friend you refer who signs up to HealthyWage.

Bottom line

If you’re searching for unique side hustles in Canada, there are plenty of unconventional and sometimes downright bizarre ways to earn an extra buck. Compare them all to find the easiest and most lucrative ways to boost your bank account.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the best side hustle in Canada?

  The best side hustle depends on your personal situation. If you're looking for something with no barriers to entry that anyone can do, getting paid to play online games or complete surveys might be your best bet. However, more lucrative side hustles may be available if you have specific skills, such as working as a freelancer or handyman, or if you have possessions you can sell or rent out.

• How can I make money fast in Canada?

  There are many ways you can make money fast from side hustles in Canada. Options range from simple methods like completing surveys and selling unused possessions to more involved methods like becoming an online tutor, house sitter or rideshare driver. Learn how to make money fast in our guide.

• Can I make money online without any skills or experience?

  Yes, it's possible to make money online without any specific skills or training. Some popular options include completing surveys, playing online games and selling unused possessions. Learn about more ways to earn extra income in our guide to making money online.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Leanne Escobal as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

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