10 Ways to Make Money Online in 2025
There has never been an easier time to make money outside of a regular job, than in 2025. The opportunities and AI-powered tools that are available to freelancers and others seeking to make money online are endless—and you can do it, even with inflation and the rising costs of living.
Regardless of one’s skill set, there is literally something to suit every professional. From the comfort of your laptop, you can do work that is highly flexible and can be performed on the go, or in between your regular job. And if you work remotely in your main job, you have even more time which you can dedicate to making money online.
With the following side hustles that can earn you money with little or no initial capital, you can start a career that only requires a laptop, a stable internet connection, and your talent. This article explores different ways to make money online in 2024:
1. The blog
If you want to make money online, you should consider starting a blog or website. There are many ways to monetize a blog, such as selling advertising space, affiliate marketing, or even charging for services. The best thing about blogging is that there are endless opportunities to make money from it. You can create a blog about anything you want, whether it’s fashion, cooking, travel, or even sports, and if you write well, people will read what you have to say. Once you get enough traffic to your site, you can sell advertising space on your blog. Or you can offer other types of products and services, such as consulting, coaching, or freelance writing.
If you’re looking to make some extra money, starting a blog can be a great option. There are many different ways to monetize a blog, and each has its own pros and cons. For example, you can use Google AdSense to display ads on your website. However, you won’t see much income until you reach a certain number of page views per month. Another popular method is affiliate marketing, where you partner with brands to promote their products.
In exchange for placing an ad on your blog, you will receive a commission when a sale is made. Finally, you can charge money for your expertise in a certain area. For example, if you are a professional photographer, you can offer your services to clients who want high-quality photos taken at events.
2. Virtual assistance
If you enjoy working with people, virtual assisting is a great way to make money online. You can set your own hours, make your own schedule, and have a lot of flexibility in your daily life. Companies hire virtual assistants for everything from data entry to customer service. If you can find one that fits your skills, it can be a great side hustle to make some extra money, especially if you work from home.
Virtual assistants help business owners free up time to focus on other aspects of running their business. Virtual assistants can help with a variety of tasks, including social media, accounting, marketing, and more. If you want to work as a virtual assistant online, you’ll need strong communication skills, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to manage your time effectively.
3. Become an online tutor
If you have a specific skill and enjoy teaching others, you may want to consider becoming an online tutor. Companies like tutor allow you to make money online by tutoring others in almost any subject you can think of, from algebra to yoga.
4. Social Media Marketing (SMM)/Influencer Marketing
- Average annual earnings: $10,000 – $50,000 (depending on platform and following size)
- Difficulty of Getting Started:Moderate to high. Requires time to build a following and an understanding of social media algorithms.
Building a strong social media following can lead to lucrative opportunities through influencer marketing. Brands are always on the lookout for influencers with engaged followings that align with their target demographics.
With as few as 1,000 followers, nano influencers can secure brand deals on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and Instagram. The key is understanding what your audience wants and consistently delivering content that resonates with them.
In addition to influencer marketing, you can monetize your social media presence through ads, sponsored content, or by creating and selling your own products.
5. Dropshipping
- Average annual earnings: $20,000 – $120,000 (depending on product selection and marketing strategy)
- Difficulty of Getting Started:Low to moderate. Easy to set up with minimal upfront costs, but requires research into reliable suppliers and trending products
Dropshipping is a low-cost business model where products are shipped directly from the supplier to the customer, eliminating the need for the seller to handle inventory.
This model is particularly appealing to beginners because it allows them to start an online store with minimal upfront investment. The key to success in dropshipping lies in finding trending products, effective marketing, and providing excellent customer service.
Challenges:
While dropshipping may seem like an easy path to passive income, it requires ongoing effort to drive traffic to your store, handle customer inquiries, and manage orders efficiently.
Pro tip: While great customer service and timely delivery would play key roles in your success, your early focus should be finding a reliable supplier with fast shipping times and high-quality products. Your supply will make or mar your business. You should also check out our beginner’s guide to dropshipping for more insights.
6. Freelancing
- Average annual earnings: $30,000 – $80,000 (depending on skill level and specialization)
- Difficulty of Getting Started:Low. Easy entry with platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, but building a client base and reputation takes time.
Freelancing offers diverse online income opportunities across various skills, from graphic design, web development, and content creation to virtual assistance, data entry, and customer support.
Platforms like Fiverr, Toptal, and Upwork connect freelancers with clients from around the world, allowing them to showcase their talents and build a portfolio.
Challenges: Competition in freelancing can be fierce, especially for beginners. Building a strong portfolio, gaining client trust, and setting competitive rates are essential steps to succeed.
Pro tip: In your early days, freelancing will be a game of numbers, competitive edge, and perceived value – in that order. You should prepare a portfolio of your best works and apply to as many jobs that fit your skills as possible.
7. Content Creation and Blogging
- Average annual earnings: $15,000 – $75,000 (depending on traffic and monetization strategies)
- Difficulty of Getting Started:Low. Minimal financial investment required; but significant time is needed to create content and build an audience.
Content creation and blogging are long-term strategies for making money online. You’d have to produce valuable content over time to build a loyal audience which you can then monetize.
Popular bloggers like Darren Rowse (of ProBlogger) make money through ads, sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and selling digital products. Consistency and SEO are critical to driving organic traffic and growing your blog or content channel.
Challenges: Building a blog or content channel that generates significant income requires time, patience, and a deep understanding of your target audience’s needs.
Pro tip: Focus on quality over quantity. While consistency is crucial, it’s more beneficial to produce high-quality, well-researched, and engaging content that resonates with your audience. One good video is all it takes for you to go viral.
8. Digital marketing
You may want to consider digital marketing if you are looking into a more sophisticated way to make money using the internet. Although it may seem intimidating at first, it is relatively simple and many businesses are turning to digital marketing to increase their online presence. In order to make money online through digital marketing, you must first learn about the different types of marketing.
Search engine optimization, social media marketing, email marketing, and content marketing are all examples of marketing strategies. Someone prefers temp mail to provide these digital marketing services. You can then start researching and applying for jobs in those fields.
9. Find work from home jobs
If you are looking for work from home jobs, check out Flex Jobs. There are thousands of jobs available right now. And there are plenty of companies that will pay you by the hour to search and apply for these jobs.
The company makes it easy to find remote jobs, freelance jobs, hourly jobs, seasonal jobs, and coffee shop jobs. All you have to do is sign up for free and then fill out an application. After that, employers will review your profile and if they think you’re qualified, they’ll contact you.
10. Print on Demand (POD)
- Average Annual Earnings: $10,000 – $50,000+ (varies based on marketing and design appeal).
- Difficulty of Getting Started: Easy to start with platforms like Printful or Teespring. Requires minimal upfront investment, but success depends on your ability to create appealing designs and market them.
Print on Demand (POD) is basically a twist on Dropshipping. Instead of scouting for products to sell, you sell custom-designed products like t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more without holding inventory.
The seller creates designs, uploads them to a POD platform like Printful, and the platform handles printing, shipping, and customer service. This is a great option for creatives looking to monetize their designs with minimal upfront investment.
Challenges:Success in POD requires a good eye for design, an understanding of current trends, and effective marketing to drive sales. The profit margins can be thin, so high volume is key.