There are plenty of legitimate ways to earn some extra income without needing to leave your home. All you’ll need to get started is an internet connection and a smartphone or laptop.
Just remember that you are responsible for paying any necessary tax on the money you earn. You can earn up to £1,000 tax-free each year from the types of self-employment activities mentioned below, thanks to the trading allowance. But if you earn anything over this, you may need to pay tax.
Take advantage of sign-up offers from banking apps
One of the easiest ways to earn yourself some free money is by signing up for an app, account or service. There’s a whole range of products that offer these sign-up bonuses, including bank accounts, investing accounts, pensions, cashback sites and money transfer providers. If you’re interested in a new product anyway then it’s an extra incentive to try it out.
Many companies have refer-a-friend bonuses to get new users of their products. They work in much the same way a sign-up bonus works, but you and the person you refer can both benefit from them, rather than just you. This can be in the form of cash, vouchers, shares, unlocking better features or reduced fees for a given amount of time.
If your wardrobe is full of clothes you never wear, start selling them on websites such as Vinted or Depop. You can sell pretty much anything, but items in excellent condition, as well as designer brands, are likely to sell for more. You could also bundle items together, so that buyers save on postage (shipping costs are usually covered by the buyer).
It’s important to take lots of good-quality photos of the items you’re selling and post an accurate description, including any flaws in the clothes, such as missing buttons.
Vinted is a popular online marketplace where users can buy, sell, and swap second-hand clothing, shoes, accessories and even beauty products. It allows individuals to list their unwanted items for sale and earn money.
Depop is an online community and marketplace for people to buy and sell second-hand clothing, with a focus on designer and vintage products.
How much it pays: Varies depending on what you’re selling.
How much time it takes: It takes about 10 minutes to photograph your item and write a listing. You’ll obviously have to wait for a buyer and you may need to negotiate on price.
Skills or experience needed: None.
What you’ll need to get started: Clothes that you’ve fallen out of love with, a smartphone or computer.
Beginner friendly: Yes.
Completely online: Yes.
Post a professional listing. Take the time to write a detailed listing and take high-quality photos. These will help your items stand out from the crowd.
Check out the market price. See how much similar items to yours are going for and price yours accordingly.
Be honest. If the item has any damage or imperfections, mention them in the listing and display them in the photograph.
Take surveys
There are lots of survey websites that pay you just for taking a survey and giving your opinion. You won’t earn a huge amount, but small sums can soon add up.
Avoid sites that charge a joining fee, but take a look at Swagbucks, YouGov, Ipsos i-Say and OnePoll to get started. It can be sensible to set up a separate email address so that you can keep your survey emails separate from your personal ones.
Depending on the survey site, you might get paid in cash or vouchers, and you’ll usually need to meet a certain threshold before you can receive a payout. This makes it crucial to compare websites carefully and check the small print, so that you know what you’re signing up to.
Swagbucks. With Swagbucks, you can earn gift cards for doing paid surveys, which can be spent at a number of leading retailers.
Ipsos iSay lets people do surveys and earn rewards for completing them. Those rewards can be converted into gift cards.
How much it pays: Typically £0.25 and £5 per survey.
How much time it takes: Flexible. Most survey range from a couple of minutes to half an hour.
Skills or experience needed: None.
What you’ll need to get started: A smartphone or computer.
Beginner friendly: Yes.
Completely online: Yes.
Be realistic. Don’t expect taking surveys to make you a millionaire – it’s just an easy way to earn a little extra income.
Check the fine print. Check the minimum limit you need to reach before cashing out. It might take longer than expected to be paid any cash or receive gift cards.
Make sure it’s legit. Scammers have been known to use fake survey sites as a way to trick you into handing over your personal information.
Trade in old electronics
If you’ve got an old phone, gaming system or even CDs and DVDs lying around collecting dust, sell them!
Take a look at websites such as Envirofone, MusicMagpie and CeX to see where you can get the best price. You can usually get a quick quote online and once you’re happy, you can package up your goods and send them in. After your items have been inspected, you should receive your cash.
Alternatively, you can try to sell them yourself on Facebook Marketplace or eBay.
Music Magpie lets you sell your unwanted tech or electronics for cash. You can also buy other older tech and electronics.
Envirofone. With Envirofone you can sell your old phone, laptop, tablet or other tech. Even if it’s broken or not working properly any more, you might still be able to get some money.
How much it pays: Varies depending on what you’re selling.
How much time it takes: Under 10 minutes to get a quote online and then it’s a case of packaging up the item and sending it in.
Skills or experience needed: None.
What you’ll need to get started: A smartphone or computer.
Beginner friendly: Yes.
Completely online: Yes – if the buyer pays electronically and you mail them the item.
Be honest. Make sure to mention any faults when requesting a quote. Companies will usually inspect old electrical items for damage and will only pay if it’s in the condition you said it was in.
Package the item correctly. You don’t want the item damaged in transit, so make sure to package it securely and safely when sending.
Pick up freelance work
If you’ve got experience in writing, designing, video editing, programming or marketing, you could earn some extra cash by picking up freelance work through platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr.
You’ll typically need to create a free profile, and depending on the platform, you’ll either receive orders or get matched to suitable jobs, or you might need to bid on the work you wish to take on.
Upwork is one of the largest websites in the world for freelancers, with over 18 million users. There’s a wide range of industries available for you to bid on, with some skillsets being particularly popular.
Fiverr is smaller than Upwork, with around 4 million global users. It is also slightly different, as you create a profile there and potential clients can choose you for your skills.
How much it pays: You could get paid a fixed price per job or get an hourly rate. Prices vary depending on the type of work you offer and your experience.
How much time it takes: Varies.
Skills or experience needed: This will vary depending on your line of work, but a portfolio of relevant work or professional qualifications will help you secure commissions.
What you’ll need to get started: A computer.
Beginner friendly: It’s easy to sign up to freelancer platforms and offer your services, but many jobs require prior experience or qualifications.
Completely online: Yes – but depending on your line of freelance work you may have to step into the real world to create content.
Pitch for the right jobs. Make sure you’re the right fit for the job and can deliver what they want. A job well done will help you build a profile quickly.
Diverisfy. Don’t rely too heavily on one client, as you never know when freelance budgets may get cut. Protect yourself by earning come from multiple clients.
Be disciplined. Freelancing does offer a lot of flexibility, but make sure to set yourself goals and targets in order to stay on track.
Test websites and apps
Websites such as UserTesting and Web Usability let you test a range of websites and apps and provide feedback on what worked well and what didn’t. You don’t need to be a web expert to sign up, but you might need to pass a short practice test first.
Once you’re signed up, you can start taking paid tests straight away. To do this, you’ll need to look at a website and answer questions about it. The amount you can earn depends on the test type, duration, and customer demand, although Web Usability says payments are usually £40 to £50.
UserTesting is one of the biggest such sites in the world. You’re able to earn money and get paid with PayPal.
Web Usability. You can apply to become a tester with Web Usability. Its website says you can earn £40–£50 for each test.
How much it pays: Most get paid per test, typically between £5 and £50.
How much time it takes: It depends, it can be anything from 10 minutes to 30 minutes.
Skills or experience needed: None.
What you’ll need to get started: A smartphone or computer.
Beginner friendly: Yes.
Completely online: Yes.
Keep expectations low. Testing websites is very much a side hustle for a small amount of extra money. You won’t earn the big bucks going down this route.
Be prepared to speak. The platforms usually expect testers to provide feedback while recording their screen and thoughts.
Become a private tutor
These days it’s easy to tutor people online, whether you teach maths, foreign languages, science or a musical instrument. Use websites such as MyTutor or Tutorful to create your free profile and get access to students looking for tuition.
Depending on the site, you might need to have a short interview, but you don’t usually need to have a formal teaching qualification. The amount you earn will likely depend on your location and your experience, as well as what’s in demand. According to MyTutor, you can earn from £12 to £52 an hour.
MyTutor says you can start earning £12 as a tutor, and much more than that once you’ve built up your tutoring experience.
Tutorful lets you set up a profile, choose the subjects you want to tutor in and set your prices. Students will then be able to contact you and discuss lessons.
How much it pays: Your hourly rate varies depending on the subject. Check platforms for average rates for online tutors in your area of expertise.
How much time it takes: Flexible. Each session tends to be between 30 minutes and an hour, and how many sessions you do is up to you.
Skills or experience needed: Knowledge of a specific subject and good communication skills.
What you’ll need to get started: A computer, a microphone or headset.
Beginner friendly: No, you need specialist knowledge to become a tutor.
Completely online: Yes.
Increase availability. It’ll be difficult to grow your tutoring business if you’re only available for an hour or two, once a week. Make yourself available as much as possible at the beginning to help build your client base.
Develop your skills. Stay abreast of the latest developments in your field, work on your communication skills or learn different teaching techniques to help make you more sought-after.
Sell your photos
If you love taking photos, you could think about selling some of them on stock photography sites such as Alamy, Getty Images and Shutterstock. You can often earn between 15% and 50% of an image’s sale price, but competition is high, so make sure your photos stand out.
Shutterstock has paid out more than $1 billion in royalties in the last 15 years. You can set up an account and start uploading photos to earn money.
Alamy lets you earn money for your photos. You just need to create a contributor account, upload photos and add keywords. Then you get paid when someone uses one of your photos.
How much it pays: Varies depending on the platform.
How much time it takes: Photography and editing can take several hours, but it’s impossible to predict how long it will take for your images to get noticed and downloaded (if at all).
Skills or experience needed: Photography or filmmaking skills.
What you’ll need to get started: A camera and editing software.
Beginner friendly: No.
Completely online: No, but you’ll need to devote a lot of time capturing high-quality images and videos.
Know your rights. Take your time to read the terms and conditions carefully before uploading your photos. This will help you understand how your images may be used and whether you retain copyright on your images.
Use social media. Use apps and sites like Instagram and Facebook to generate a following for your work.
Become a virtual assistant
A virtual assistant is someone who carries out administrative tasks for an organisation or clients, usually from their own home. You might have to schedule calls and meetings, monitor email accounts, and book travel arrangements, for instance. Some roles also involve bookkeeping and data entry.
Take a look at websites such as Upwork, LinkedIn and Reed to help you find a virtual assistant job.
Time etc lets you apply to become a freelance virtual assistant at this website designed for hiring virtual assistants.
Reed is another option for finding work as a virtual assistant, with hundreds of jobs available.
How much it pays: Entry level virtual assistants start around £25 per hour, with this increasing with the more experience and skills you can offer.
How much time it takes: It depends on the needs of your clients, but it can be full-time.
Skills or experience needed: Communication and time management skills are crucial. Prior experience isn’t needed but will help you stand out from the competition.
What you’ll need to get started: A smartphone, a computer and various software programmes (Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, etc.)
Beginner friendly: No, you’ll need a certain set of skills and proficiency in a range of programmes to get started.
Completely online: Yes, although answering and making phone calls may be one of your jobs.
Network. Experienced VAs commonly point to the benefits of networking and building relationships with other VAs. This will give you people to learn from and could lead to referrals coming your way.
Define your role. When starting out, it’s important to clearly define for clients what roles you can perform. If you’re asked to do something that’s not part of your job description, don’t be afraid to say no.
Start a blog
If you’ve got an original idea you’re passionate about, you could start your own blog, using platforms such as WordPress, Tumblr and Typepad to get started.
You’ll need to update your content regularly and make sure it’s engaging enough for your audience. As your blog builds, you might be able to start selling ad space, host sponsored content and work with affiliate programs to bring in more income.
WordPress has everything you need to start a blog. It’s also easy to scale up with the platform, so it will allow your blog to grow.
Tumblr is a micro blogging and social media platform. You can start a blog there easily and customise it to suit your needs.
How much it pays: Varies depending on the size of your audience and what deals you can secure.
How much time it takes: Varies depending on the research required for your content and how often you post.
Skills or experience needed: No specific qualifications are needed, but an engaging writing style and an artisic eye for a professional webpage will help.
What you’ll need to get started: A computer.
Beginner friendly: Yes.
Completely online: Yes.
Plan each post. Create a schedule for each post and what you’ll write about. Writing and posting original and engaging content regularly will encourage people to come back to your blog.
Edit your writing. Take a look over your posts and think how you can improve them. If you’re looking to make money, consider using some keywords that will perform well on Google so that people can find your website.
Use rental sites
These days you can rent out pretty much anything to earn some extra money through online platforms. For example, if you have space on your driveway you can rent this out through sites like JustPark or YourParkingSpace – you’re likely to earn more if you live near a busy station, city centre or big attraction.
Alternatively, you could rent out spare storage space, such as your garage or loft, though sites like Stashbee. Or you could rent out your car when it’s not in use, through sites like Hiyacar and Turo.
Be aware you might need to pay a joining fee for these platforms, and you should always check how insurance works and whether you need to inform your own insurance provider first.
Justpark. If you have a driveway that you’re not using, you can list it on JustPark and earn money when other people pay to park there. It’s an easy way to get some passive income.
Stashbee lets you rent out your unused space so other people can then use it to store their belongings. You get paid and your space gets used. Win-win.
Turo. If you own a car but don’t use it all the time, you can list it on Turo for other people to rent from you. That could help you cover the cost of your car, so you can still have it when you need it.
How much it pays: Varies depending on your location and how often you’re renting it out.
How much time it takes: You can list your spot or storage space in a matter of minutes.
Skills or experience needed: None.
What you’ll need to get started: A vacant car parking space, storage space or a car.
Beginner friendly: Yes.
Completely online: Yes.
Check local rates. Do some research to find out how much people are paying to rent in your area. This will help you decide how to price your spot/storage space/car.
Get approval. Check with your landlord or the convenant on your property to make sure you’re allowed to rent your parking space or part of your property for storage.
Become a pet sitter or dog walker
If you’re an animal lover, then you could turn your passion into a side hustle and offer up your services for pet sitting or dog walking.
You don’t need any formal qualifications to become a pet sitter, but experience with animal care is obviously a plus. It’s also important to consider getting some insurance. While it’s not a legal requirement in the UK, it’s highly recommended that pet sitters have some public liability insurance.
To get started, you could build your own website or create a profile on platforms like Rover.com or Pawshake to showcase your skills and experience.
Rover.com. Create a profile and set your own schedule and prices, as well as other pet preferences that work for you.
Pawshake is an online network which connect you with pet parents. All bookings are secure and cashless, and protected by free veterinary coverage.
How much it pays: According to Indeed the average salary for a dog walker in the UK is £13.73 per hour, while the average salary for a pet sitter is £6.70 per hour.
How much time it takes: Dog walks start at 20-30 minutes. Pet sitting could be anything from regularly daily visits to overnight or even multiple-day stays.
Skills or experience needed: None required, but qualifications like completing a pet first aid course will help you get work.
What you’ll need to get started: You’ll need to feel comfortable handling dogs and/or other pets.
Beginner friendly: Yes.
Completely online: No.
Keep owners updated. Many pet owners absolutely adore their fur-babies, so keep them updated with photos and emails of their pet enjoying a walk or overnight stay.
Upskill. Completing a pet first aid or dog training course can help reassue prospective customers that their pet will be in safe hands.
Get to know your four-legged clients. Ask pet owners for details about their pet’s temperament, their likes and dislikes, and any other little quirks that will help you provide them with top-quality care.
Shop on cashback websites
Cashback apps and websites like TopCashback, Quidco and Rakuten offer a simple way to boost your bank account. By doing your regular shopping through these platforms at partner retailers, you can earn a certain percentage of cashback on all your purchases.
Remember to check for bonus offers, as sometimes you can maximise the amount you earn through bonuses on specific purchases or for signing up.
TopCashback. You can earn cashback on airport parking, car hire, home insurance, mobile phones as well as fashion and homeware brands.
Quidco allows you to earn cashback at over 5,000 brands including Deliveroo, ASOS and Trainline.
Rakuten is another cashback website which has over 500 partner brands.
How much it pays: The cashback rate is commonly between 1% and 20% but can be more in some cases.
How much time it takes: The same time it takes you to shop for whatever products you’re buying.
Skills or experience needed: None.
What you’ll need to get started: A smartphone or computer.
Beginner friendly: Yes.
Completely online: No.
Only purchase what you need. Don’t get sucked into the temptation to make unnecessary purchases just to earn extra cashback. Only use cashback apps and websites to do the regular shopping you always do.
Keep an eye out for special offers. Check your email and log in to your account regularly for details of any special offers that will allow you to earn extra cashback.
Create and sell handmade items
If you’re a crafty person, you can put your skills to work and make yourself some money online. Sites like Etsy, Amazon Handmade and Not On The High Street make it easy to sell creations like personalised gifts, jewellery, homeware and birthday decorations. Just make sure to account for the costs of the materials and research what the average market price is for the type of item you’re selling, to make sure it’s worth your while.
Etsy is an online marketplace of independent sellers. There is a small fee to list an item and then you pay transaction, payment processing, and offsite advertising when you make a sale.
Amazon Handmade. If you have an Amazon selling account, you can apply to become part of Amazon’s artisan-only community.
Not On The High Street has an application process for sellers, but if you are successful you’ll get promotional support and access to business insights to help your growth.
How much it pays: Varies depending on what you’re selling and in what quantity.
How much time it takes: The time it takes to craft items depends on what you make. You can list an item in under 10 minutes, and then it’s a matter of waiting for a buyer to come along.
Skills or experience needed: Some sort of talent for creating handmade items.
What you’ll need to get started: Craft supplies/materials for whatever you make.
Beginner friendly: Yes.
Completely online: Yes (aside from the time you spend making each item).
Create detailed listings. Take high-quality photos of your items and create detailed listings with all the info a prospective buyer would need to know.
Be prompt. Respond quickly and helpfully whenever a customer contacts you with a question about an item you’re selling.
Understand fees. When pricing your items, make sure you’ll still make a profit after taking into account any platform fees that apply.
Become a freelance photographer
Have you got a keen eye for what makes a good picture? If so, you could set yourself up as a freelance photographer. This could be as a wedding photography, family portrait photographer or pet photographer. You’ll need to invest in some kit and photo editing software, but there are no formal training or qualifications required.
Upwork is one of the largest websites in the world for freelancers, including photography.
Fiverr is smaller than Upwork, with around 4 million global users. It is also slightly different, as you create a profile there and can then showcase what your photography specialism is.
How much it pays: According to Indeed the average salary for a freelance photographer in the UK is £23.76 per hour.
How much time it takes: Varies.
Skills or experience needed: No specific qualifications are required, but skills in using a digital camera and photo editing are essential.
What you’ll need to get started: A camera and editing software.
Beginner friendly: No.
Completely online: No, you’ll need to spend a lot of time capturing high-quality images.
Create a portfolio. Collate a portfolio of your the best images that showcase your skills and style to help market yourself to new clients.
Network. Word of mouth is a powerful tool when you’re setting up as a freelance photographer, so make sure to network and ask people to recommend you.
Bottom line
There are plenty of different ways to earn some extra cash online – all you need to decide is where your skills and preferences lie, as well as how much time you’re happy to devote to your project.
If you’re signing up to any online platforms, remember to check the small print to find out whether you need to pay any fees. It’s also worth looking into how much you might earn before getting started.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
Rachel Wait is a freelance journalist and has been writing about personal finance for more than a decade, covering everything from insurance to mortgages. She has written for a range of personal finance websites and national newspapers, including The Observer, The Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the Evening Standard. Rachel is a keen baker in her spare time. See full bio
Jason is a writer and editor. He worked as a senior subeditor for Finder for 5 years and in that time became familiar with a wide range of financial products and services. Before that, he worked for Australian Associated Press. He has a BA from Macquarie University in Australia. Jason loves to help other people find new ways to save money. See full bio
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