Everyone always needs a little extra cash, and this is especially true with it being the holiday season during one of the most stressful years to date. By making money from home, you can earn extra spending money all while social distancing safely. If you are interested in making money from home, here are four popular and safe ways to do it:
| Method | Effort Level | Potential Earnings | Speed to Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid Surveys | Low | $5–$15/hr | Fast |
| User Testing | Low–Medium | $10–$60/hr | Fast |
| Virtual Assistant | Medium | $20–$45/hr | Medium |
| AI Content Editing | Medium | $30–$75/hr | Medium |
| Online Tutoring | Medium | $25–$80/hr | Medium |
| Freelance Writing | Medium–High | $30–$100/hr | Medium |
| Selling Digital Products | High (setup) | Scalable | Medium |
| TikTok Shop Affiliate | Medium | Scalable | Medium |
| Prompt Engineering | High | $50–$150/hr | Medium |
| Blogging (Modern SEO) | High | Scalable | Slow |
1. Take Paid Surveys Online
Earn money by taking online surveys at home. Different websites will pay you simply for giving your opinion on items and products. You don’t need any special expertise or knowledge to make money this way. All you need is a computer, Internet connection, and some thoughts. It’s really that simple.
Branded Surveys is one of the most popular sites for taking paid surveys online. With Branded Surveys, all you need to do is sign up, verify your identity, and take surveys before cashing out. You can get paid via PayPal or Branded Pay with this site.
2. Create a Blog
Many people don’t realize that blogging is a great way to make a passive income from home. All you need to do is get a web domain and start writing about your favorite interest today. Any interest will do, whether it be cooking or movies.
To make the most of your blog, I recommend incorporating affiliate marketing into the site. With affiliate marketing, you promote other products. If any of your readers buy the product through your site, you receive a part of the commission. It is a super easy way to make more money on your blog without doing any extra work.
3. Sell Old Stuff Online
With the holiday season coming up, you might want to start making some extra space in your home. Start by cleaning out all the clutter. If you find things that are in good condition or that other people might want, consider selling them online.
Websites like eBay and Craigslist are great places for selling old stuff. Selling old stuff online is a great way to both declutter your house and make money from home.
4. Become a Virtual Assistant
Many workers and companies are in need of virtual assistance. Virtual assistants are hired to help perform different tasks. If you are organized, have a lot of extra time, and are interested in the digital services industry, then you might want to become a virtual assistant.
A virtual assistant job is a great way to make money from home, and it will give you a more consistent income than some of the other options on this list. By working as a part-time virtual assistant, you can start your career in the digital services industry all while wearing your pajamas.
5. Online Tutoring
Snapshot
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Best Platform: VIPKid, Wyzant
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Avg. Hourly Rate: $25–$80
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Prerequisites: Subject expertise
From math to language learning, online tutoring remains one of the most reliable home-based incomes.
6. Freelance Writing (Niche & AI-Assisted)
Snapshot
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Best Platform: ProBlogger, Upwork
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Avg. Hourly Rate: $30–$100
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Prerequisites: Writing samples
Writers who specialize in SEO, SaaS, finance, or healthcare earn significantly more in 2025.
7. Prompt Engineering for AI Tools
Snapshot
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Best Platform: Freelance marketplaces, direct clients
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Avg. Hourly Rate: $50–$150
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Prerequisites: AI tool expertise
Prompt engineering has evolved into a legit consulting skill for businesses using AI workflows.
8. Sell Digital Products
Snapshot
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Best Platform: Etsy, Gumroad
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Avg. Hourly Rate: Scalable
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Prerequisites: Design or content creation
Examples include planners, templates, Notion dashboards, and digital art.
9. TikTok Shop Affiliate Marketing
Snapshot
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Best Platform: TikTok Shop
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Avg. Hourly Rate: Performance-based
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Prerequisites: TikTok account
Short-form video + affiliate links = one of the fastest-growing income streams right now.
10. Modern Blogging (SEO + AI + Affiliate)
Snapshot
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Best Platform: WordPress
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Avg. Hourly Rate: Scalable
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Prerequisites: Consistency, SEO knowledge
Blogging still works — but only when combined with topical authority, AI tools, and affiliate strategy.
11. Print-on-Demand Products
Snapshot
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Best Platform: Printify, Redbubble
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Avg. Hourly Rate: Scalable
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Prerequisites: Basic design skills
Sell custom shirts, mugs, and posters without handling inventory.
12. Social Media Management
Snapshot
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Best Platform: Upwork, direct outreach
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Avg. Hourly Rate: $20–$60
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Prerequisites: Platform knowledge
Small businesses outsource posting, engagement, and analytics.
13. Online Course Creation
Snapshot
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Best Platform: Teachable, Kajabi
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Avg. Hourly Rate: Scalable
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Prerequisites: Expertise in a topic
Package what you already know into structured lessons.
14. Transcription Services
Snapshot
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Best Platform: Rev, TranscribeMe
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Avg. Hourly Rate: $15–$30
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Prerequisites: Fast typing
Still in demand for podcasts, legal, and medical content.
15. Resume & LinkedIn Profile Writing
Snapshot
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Best Platform: Fiverr, direct clients
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Avg. Hourly Rate: $40–$100
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Prerequisites: Career writing skills
Job seekers pay well for polished applications.
16. Online Community Moderation
Snapshot
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Best Platform: ModSquad
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Avg. Hourly Rate: $15–$30
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Prerequisites: Communication skills
Moderate forums, Discords, and social platforms.
17. Stock Photography & AI-Assisted Art
Snapshot
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Best Platform: Adobe Stock
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Avg. Hourly Rate: Royalty-based
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Prerequisites: Photography or AI art skills
Upload once, earn repeatedly.
18. Data Annotation for AI Models
Snapshot
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Best Platform: Remotasks
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Avg. Hourly Rate: $15–$40
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Prerequisites: Attention to detail
AI companies need labeled data to train models.
19. Bookkeeping for Small Businesses
Snapshot
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Best Platform: Upwork
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Avg. Hourly Rate: $25–$70
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Prerequisites: Accounting basics
QuickBooks knowledge goes a long way.
20. Website Testing & QA
Snapshot
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Best Platform: Test IO
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Avg. Hourly Rate: $20–$50
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Prerequisites: Tech awareness
Test bugs, UX, and responsiveness.
21. Voiceover & AI Voice Training
Snapshot
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Best Platform: Voices.com
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Avg. Hourly Rate: $50–$200
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Prerequisites: Clear voice, mic
Human voices are still needed even in the AI era.
22. Remote Customer Support
Snapshot
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Best Platform: LiveOps
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Avg. Hourly Rate: $15–$25
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Prerequisites: Communication skills
Flexible shifts, consistent pay.
Expert Verify: How to Spot Work-From-Home Scams
Before committing to any opportunity, protect yourself:
Red Flags
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Upfront fees to “unlock” work
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Promises of guaranteed income
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No clear company website or reviews
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Requests for personal banking info early
Best Practices
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Use well-known platforms
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Read recent reviews
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Start small before scaling
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Never pay to apply
Safety is a top-ranking concern for remote work — legitimate jobs will never rush or pressure you.
Final Thoughts
Make money from home by taking paid surveys online, creating a blog, selling old stuff, or becoming a virtual assistant. Any one of these jobs is a great way to make some extra cash, all while social distancing.
FAQs
How can I make money from home with no experience?
Beginners can start with micro-task platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk, online surveys (Swagbucks, Branded Surveys), or website testing (UserTesting), which require no specialized skills.
What are the most profitable ways to make money from home in 2026?
Top earners in 2026 include freelance digital marketing, AI prompt engineering, specialized consulting, and selling high-ticket digital courses.
How can I make $100 a day from home?
To earn $100/day, combine active gigs like freelance writing or virtual assistant work (approx. $20-$30/hr) with passive income streams like affiliate marketing.
What are legitimate work-from-home jobs that aren’t scams?
Legitimate roles include Customer Service Reps (Amazon, Apple), Transcription (Rev), and Freelancing (Upwork). Always avoid jobs asking for upfront payment.
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