If you’ve been looking for real, flexible ways to earn extra income, these are some of my absolute favorite options. I’ve personally used many of these websites and apps! A lot of these have helped me build multiple income streams long before my blog became a six-figure business.😱
They’re flexible and beginner-friendly, but as always, take a moment to see which options make the most sense for your schedule and goals- make sure to do own research.
Whether you’re saving for something, paying off debt, or trying to create more financial breathing room, these resources are a great place to start. Let’s dive in!
Side Hustles Apps & Sites
1 . Swagbucks
One of my longtime favorite earning sites. Swagbucks pays you for completing surveys, watching videos, shopping online, and doing simple tasks. I’ve personally earned over $15k using this site over the years.
Here’s how it works:
Every time you complete a task on Swagbucks, you earn something called Swagbucks points, or SB for short.
Swagbucks calculates everything in points, and:
Every 100 SB = $1 USD.
So as you can see in my Swagbucks screenshot below 👇🏽, I have 1,585,079 SB, which is equal to about $15,850 earned over the years — just from completing simple tasks on the app and referring others to this awesome side-hustle app. 😭
Check out Swagbucks here!
2. TopSurveys
If one of your goals for 2026 is to make extra money while you grow your business, this one’s for you.
I’ve tested numerous side hustle apps over the years, and one I’m genuinely excited about in 2026 is TopSurveys.
TopSurveys pays you for sharing your opinions through short, easy surveys. It’s beginner-friendly, free to join, and a simple way to earn extra cash or gift cards in your spare time. Check out TopSurveys by clicking here! 🙂
3.MyPoints
MyPoints rewards you with cash or gift cards for taking surveys, shopping online, and watching videos. I’ve used this site for years — it’s a solid rewards platform for easy side income. Check out MyPoints Here!
4. Ibotta
For Ibotta rewards, you can shop at Walmart, LOWE’S, GAP, Domino’s Pizza, and other retailers via Ibotta mobile app or browser extension. Before shopping, compare prices and activate the cash-back button.
You must send them images of your receipt for in-store purchases. Ibotta deposits up to 30% of your purchase into your account and gives a minimum withdrawal of $20. Since joining Ibotta I have earned over $300. Click here to check out Ibotta!
5.InboxDollars
InboxDollars pays you to take surveys, watch videos, play games, read emails, and more. Free to join, and you earn real cash — not points. Check out Inbox Dollar Here!
6. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys is one of the most reliable survey sites for earning cash fast. Complete short surveys, earn points, and cash out through PayPal or gift cards. Perfect for making extra money in your free time. Click here to sign up for Branded Surveys!
7. YouGov
YouGov pays you to share your opinion on everyday topics, brands, and trends. It’s free to join, and you earn points for every survey you complete that can be redeemed for cash and gift cards. Check out YouGov by clicking here.
8. Monarch Money
Monarch Money is an all-in-one budgeting and financial management app that helps you organize your money in one simple dashboard. You can track your spending, create budgets, manage subscriptions, and monitor your net worth across every account you connect. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a clean, intuitive way to stay on top of their finances—without the overwhelm. Click here to sign up for Monarch Money!
Remote Side Hustles
1. Start A Blog & Monetize it
Starting a blog and turning it into a profitable business has been one of the best decisions I ever made. Since starting my blog in 2016, I have been able to turn my blog into a profitable business that now earns over $10k a month, and I currently teach others to do the same in my live course, Blog For Profit Academy. I will be bringing this course back this winter! Click here to sign up for the wait list!
To learn how to start a profitable blog, click here to read a full tutorial on my website.
If you are wondering how I earned my first paycheck from blogging here are some of the best ways bloggers can earn money each month.
With a blog, you can apply to join an ad management company and display ads on your website. When you join an ad management company they place ads on your website. My favorite ad publishing company is Mediavine! One month alone, I earned over $5k just from ads, without selling anything directly.
2. Proofreading
Proofreading is a great remote side hustle. Even as a beginner, there are several sites on which you can get good clients. All you need is proficiency in English and a keen eye for detail. To improve at proofreading, take online courses and use tools like Grammarly.
A great place to get started with a proofreading career is ProofreadingAnywhere. This program helps new proofreaders learn how to monetize their writing and editing skills. Check out proofreadingAnywhere by clicking here.
3. Test Websites & App From Home
Website testing is a great remote side hustle that you can do from home. Website testing is done to see how well a website works on laptops and smartphones. It also involves bug testing before a website goes live. Here are some websites you can check out for website & app testing opportunities.
4. Participate in Online Focus Groups
Remote focus groups collect data through Zoom calls, Google Meet, or an online survey. Participating in focus groups helps companies gather feedback on a product or service they offer or are about to launch. You only devote a few hours to each job, perhaps one or two hours per session. After every survey, most clients pay participants in cash, checks, wire transfers, or gift cards. Here are some places that conduct online focus groups.
5. Virtual Assistant
To be a freelance virtual assistant, you require typing, data entry, email, and phone skills. Some VAs handle social media and appointments for clients. If you are seeking to be a part-time VA, it’s best to learn these skills. The more skills you have, the more you can charge per hour.
Here are some places to check out for virtual assistant side hustles.
6. Transcription
What you’ll do: Listen to audio or video recordings and type them out into clear, accurate text. Many transcription jobs also include adding timestamps or identifying speakers. If you have good listening skills and can type fast, this is perfect for evenings when the house is quiet.
Where to find opportunities
These are some of my favorite side hustles to recommend to my audience. I’ll continue updating this page as I discover new opportunities and tools worth sharing.