I started looking for the best side hustles out of pure desperation. I have always searched on YouTube: “how to make money online,” and let’s be real, most side hustle advice online is either outdated, exaggerated, or completely made up.
Some of us are already working and still can’t afford decent groceries.I wasn’t trying to get rich or anything. I just wanted something that worked and didn’t need a fancy degree or 10 years of experience (which most companies seem to want these days).
Whether you’re a student, someone between jobs, or already working full-time, this post is for you. These are real side hustles I’ve either tried myself or researched deeply through Reddit, forums, and user reviews.
If you’re looking for the best side hustles in 2025 that are practical and beginner-friendly, this list will help.
1. UserTesting and UserCrowd – Get Paid for Sharing Your Opinions
UserCrowd and UserTesting pay you to test websites, prototypes, and apps and give feedback.
I saw a few Redditors claim they made $270 in a week, just from clicking around some design prototypes and sharing their opinions.
How it works:
UserCrowd connects companies with people to give feedback on apps, designs, and product ideas. You sign up, take a short profile survey, and wait for test invites via email or real-time alerts. Most tasks are super quick—1 to 5 minutes—and they pay between $0.20 to $0.75 per minute. Sometimes, you just click through a new website layout and answer simple questions like, “What do you expect to happen if you click here?” You need to be at least 18, have internet access, and have a PayPal account.
The payout threshold is $10, which you can reach in 2–3 good days if you’re consistent.
Some Reddit users mentioned getting better-paying tests over time.
UserCrowd is one of the Best Side Hustles if you’re looking for flexible, low-effort online gigs.
Pros:
No experience required
Paid via PayPal (minimum payout is just $10)
Cons:
Test availability can be limited based on your location
2. Rover – Earn by Pet Sitting
Rover is perfect for pet lovers living in a pet-friendly neighborhood. If you’re based in the US, UK, or Canada, Rover is an amazing app for pet lovers.
You set up a profile, list the pet types you’re comfortable with, and choose services you want to offer boarding, dog walking, drop-ins, house-sitting, etc. Boarding pays the most. Like, significantly more. According to Rover’s site, sitters who offer boarding can make twice what others do.
That said, you might not get instant request. You need to be responsive, build a solid profile, and ideally, get reviews from friends who have pets (yes, this is allowed).
Payments are ready to withdraw just 48 hours after the job ends.
Caution: If you’re not confident with handling animals—especially large or reactive dogs, this may not be for you although Rover provide insurance.
3. Gigwalk – Get Paid to Run Simple Errands Near You
Gigwalk lets you earn money for doing real-world tasks near your location ,like snapping photos of store shelves, checking prices, or verifying a business exists.
How it works:
Download the Gigwalk app
Turn on location services
Browse tasks nearby
Complete them (usually takes 5–15 mins)
Get paid via PayPal
Example tasks I did:
Took photos of a Walmart product display
Checked if a certain product was in stock
Verified business signage and hours
I earned $6–$25 per gig. One weekend, I made $48 just running these errands.
Gigwalk is among the best side hustles if you’re on the move and want quick payouts for simple work.
Tip:
Tasks go fast, especially in big cities. Turn on push notifications and check the app in the morning.
4. Remote Microtasking (Appen, Clickworker, Remotasks)
If you’re okay with repetitive tasks like tagging photos, transcribing short clips, or categorizing data these platforms are worth checking out. You can do everything from your laptop, and the work is usually flexible.
Top Platforms:
Appen – Lots of AI training tasks, some long-term
Clickworker – Great for quick, short gigs
Remotasks – Especially for image annotation, vehicle data, etc.
Pay range:
Tasks range from $0.10 to $20, depending on complexity
Some long projects pay $200–$800/week if you stick with them.
Even though Appen lists many projects, you might never hear back after applying. In my case, I worked on one project, and after a while, they emailed me saying that the client no longer wanted contributors from my locale — just like that, it ended. It’s common. Many apply for 10+ projects and hear nothing back, sometimes even after 6 months.
Payment: Monthly via Payoneer or bank transfer
Downside: Very unpredictable. Even after qualifying for a task, you’re not guaranteed work.
5. Faceless YouTube Channels – Long-Term Passive Hustle
Faceless YouTube channels won’t make you fast money, but they’re a long-term hustle. You can create a YouTube channel without showing your face, using free stock video, AI voiceovers, and scriptwriting tools. This is working and has become popular, as you might have seen on YouTube, there are lots of voiceover videos created without a lot of effort and people are earning from these videos. I think this is one of the Best side Hustles if you are consitent enough.
Ideas for channels:
Top 10 lists
Weird facts
Fan theories (movies, shows, games)
Motivation/inspiration
AI-generated animations or stories
What you need:
A script (you can write it or use tools like ChatGPT)
Voiceover (use ElevenLabs or a natural AI voice)
Stock video (Pexels, Pixabay, Videezy, etc.)
Editor (CapCut, Canva, or VN Editor)
Earnings:
Channels can earn through ads once they hit 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours. Some creators make $100–$500/month within a few months if videos go viral.
Bonus: Survey sites
Prolific is decent (if you’re in the UK/US)
YouGov can add up slowly over time
Toluna & Swagbucks = hit or miss
Earning potential: $10–$300/month
My top recommendation is Prolific; some on the Beermoney forum claimed they earn over $500 a month regularly through Prolific.
Final Tip: Sign up to multiple platforms. The more active you are, the better your chances of getting high-paying tasks. Most platforms prioritize consistent users.
Final Thoughts
These Side Hustles are not going to make you rich, it’s not even regular. But it does help. A few dollars here and there can go toward mobile recharges, small bills, or just saving up slowly for something you need.
I’ve had times where I waited for months on Appen or Remotasks to hear back, and nothing ever came. Other times, I worked for a while, and then suddenly, the project just stopped because the client didn’t want tasks from my region anymore. That’s pretty common. So please don’t feel bad if it happens to you.
Even with Clickworker, I didn’t continue because the pay was too low for me. But it might work for someone else who just wants to earn a little during their free time.
If you’re someone who’s just starting out, or trying to make use of your free time in a useful way, I think these platforms are still worth checking out, just keep your expectations low and don’t put all your fruits in one basket. And if one doesn’t work out, try another. You never know which one might surprise you.
