Make money online UK: 20 realistic ways to earn extra money

There are plenty of genuine ways to make money online in the UK, from paid research and online selling to freelancing and building your own digital income stream.

Some methods can bring in a few pounds relatively quickly. Others take more time, skill or patience but have much more room to grow.

The important thing is to have realistic expectations. Paid surveys are unlikely to replace a salary, while freelancing, online selling or building an audience have much more room to grow over time.

Here are 20 realistic ways to make money online in the UK, including options for complete beginners and ideas you can build into something more substantial.

If you are also open to earning offline, local work or flexible jobs, see our guide to the best side hustles in the UK.

Best ways to make money online at a glance

Method	Cost to start	Beginner-friendly	How quickly you can get started	Best for
Paid surveys	None	Very high	Quick to set up	Simple spare-time earning
Paid market research	None	Very high	Quick to sign up; studies depend on qualifying	Occasional higher-paying research
Website testing	None	High	Quick to sign up; tests vary	Flexible online tasks
Virtual assistant work	None to very low	Medium	Usually takes time to find clients	Building regular client income
Online selling	None to low	High	Potentially quickly	Beginners with things to sell
Freelancing	None to very low	Medium	Usually takes time to find clients	Turning an existing skill into income

There is no single best way to make money online. The right choice depends on how much time you have, what you are good at and whether you need a little extra cash or want something you can grow.

Best ways to make money online for beginners

If you have never earned anything online before, keep it simple.

Paid research, website testing, surveys and product testing have very little financial risk because you do not need to buy stock or build a business before you can try them.

Selling unwanted items online is another good starting point because you can learn how marketplaces work using things you already own.

If you would rather build a more regular income, virtual assistant work or another freelance service can be a better next step.

You do not need to try everything at once. Pick one method, give it a proper test and decide whether the return is worth your time before adding something else.

Can you make money online quickly?

You can sometimes make a small amount of money online fairly quickly, but be wary of anyone promising large amounts of money with almost no effort.

If you need £10 or £20 quickly, selling something you already own is often more realistic than trying to create a completely new online business.

Website tests, small reward apps and research opportunities can also pay, but you cannot guarantee when work will be available or whether you will qualify.

For ideas specifically aimed at bringing in money sooner, see our guides to making money fast and ways to make money in one hour.

Flexible online tasks and research

1. Take paid surveys

Paid surveys are one of the easiest ways to start earning online because you do not need any special experience.

Research companies want to know what people think about products, services, advertising and everyday life. You answer questions and receive cash, points or vouchers in return.

The downside is that the pay is normally fairly modest, and you will not qualify for every survey you are offered.

That makes surveys better for filling spare time than for building a dependable monthly income.

See our guide to the best paid survey sites in the UK.

2. Take part in paid market research

Paid market research can pay considerably more per session than standard surveys.

You could be invited to an online interview, focus group, product discussion or research session where a company wants more detailed feedback about your experiences.

You will not qualify for every study, and opportunities can be irregular, but individual sessions can pay well.

Naomi from Skint Dad has taken part herself. One 35-minute online research session paid her £80, while another study paid £120.

That does not mean everyone will receive those amounts, but it shows why we think paid research is worth checking alongside ordinary surveys.

See our guide to paid market research and online focus groups.

3. Test websites and apps

Companies pay ordinary people to test websites and apps before or after they launch.

You might be asked to find something on a website, complete a checkout process or use a new feature while talking through what you are thinking.

You are usually being paid for your feedback rather than technical knowledge, so you do not need to be a web developer.

The amount of testing work available varies, and you may need to complete screening questions before being accepted for a test.

See our guide to getting paid to test websites and apps.

4. Test products

Product testing is another simple option if you like trying new things.

Companies and research panels may send you food, household products, toiletries, beauty products or gadgets and ask what you think about them.

We have received snacks, toiletries and small gadgets through product testing ourselves.

Some opportunities pay cash, while others simply let you keep the product. Because opportunities can be irregular, we would treat this as an occasional extra rather than a reliable income.

See our guide to the best product testing sites in the UK.

5. Use money-making apps and complete small online tasks

There are plenty of smaller ways to earn a few pounds or rewards using your phone or computer.

Depending on the service, you might earn for searching the web, scanning receipts, watching content, listening to music, walking, playing games or completing small tasks.

These methods can be useful if they fit around something you were doing anyway, but they are usually better for pocket money than a dependable income.

If you find yourself spending hours chasing tiny rewards, your time may be better spent on one of the skill-based methods further down this guide.

We have separate guides to getting paid for searching the web, earning money while you walk, getting paid to watch Netflix and receipt-scanning apps.

6. Help train and evaluate AI

The growth of artificial intelligence has created online project work helping companies improve AI systems.

Tasks can include comparing two AI answers, checking whether information is accurate, rating responses, writing example prompts or reviewing specialist material.

Some projects are open to general applicants, while others need knowledge in areas such as coding, maths, science, languages or writing.

You may have to pass an assessment before being accepted, and projects can come and go, so do not assume it will provide a fixed amount of work every week.

Treat it as flexible project work rather than a guaranteed source of regular income.

This is different from using AI to speed up a side hustle you already run. If that is what interests you, see our guide to ChatGPT side hustles.

Make money online using your skills

7. Become a virtual assistant

Virtual assistants help businesses or individuals with work that can be completed remotely.

That could include managing email, booking appointments, updating spreadsheets, researching information, arranging travel, uploading content or answering customer messages.

You do not need to offer every possible service. Starting with two or three things you are already comfortable doing can make it much easier to explain what you offer and find your first client.

With regular clients, virtual assistant work can become a more consistent source of income than surveys or reward apps.

8. Become a freelance writer

Businesses need written content for websites, emails, blogs, product descriptions, social media and marketing.

If you can write clearly and research a subject properly, you could offer freelance writing services online.

Having a few examples of your work will make it easier to approach potential clients. You can create your own samples rather than waiting until someone pays you to write them.

AI has changed freelance writing, and generic content is easier to produce than it used to be.

First-hand experience, subject knowledge, original research, interviews and careful editing can help your work stand out.

9. Proofread and edit

If you are good at spotting spelling mistakes, awkward sentences and formatting errors, proofreading or editing could be worth considering.

Clients may need help with reports, websites, newsletters, books, applications or marketing material.

Proofreading generally focuses on correcting mistakes, while editing can involve improving clarity, structure and readability.

Accuracy matters, particularly when someone is paying you to catch things they have already missed.

See our guide to becoming a proofreader in the UK.

10. Manage social media or edit videos

Many small businesses know they should be posting online but do not have the time or confidence to do it consistently.

You could help plan content, write captions, upload posts, answer comments or create basic graphics.

Video editing is another option. Businesses and creators often need short clips for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.

You do not need to start with a huge agency. One small business paying you to manage part of its social media or edit several videos each month is enough to test whether you enjoy the work.

11. Create UGC for brands

UGC stands for user-generated content.

Brands pay creators to make videos or photos they can use on social media, websites or advertising.

This might include demonstrating a product, recording an unboxing, giving a review or creating a short lifestyle video.

One important difference between UGC and influencer work is that the brand is paying for the content itself, so you do not usually need a large following of your own.

A simple portfolio of sample videos made using products you already own can give you something to show potential clients.

Before agreeing a fee, check how the brand plans to use the content and for how long, particularly if it will be used in paid advertising.

12. Sell specialist freelance services

There are dozens of specialist skills you can sell online as a freelancer.

You might offer graphic design, website development, SEO, digital marketing, bookkeeping, translation, transcription, caption correction or remote technical support.

The strongest place to start is usually with something you can already do rather than choosing a skill simply because somebody online says it pays well.

Think about work you have done in your career, hobbies you know particularly well or tasks people already ask you to help with.

Some services also come with additional responsibilities. For example, if you provide bookkeeping services commercially in the UK, check whether you need anti-money-laundering supervision through a professional body or HMRC before taking on clients.

Build an online income stream

13. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is when you recommend a product or service and receive a commission if someone buys through your tracked link.

It can work through a website, newsletter, YouTube channel or social media account.

The hard part is not joining an affiliate programme. It is getting people to trust your recommendations and having enough useful content or audience reach for people to click through and buy.

We would not treat affiliate marketing as effortless passive income. It normally works best when it sits alongside something useful you are already producing rather than filling social media with random affiliate links.

If you want to take it further, our guide to the best affiliate programmes and networks in the UK compares the main options, including the platforms we use ourselves at Skint Dad.

If you use affiliate links, make sure the advertising is clearly identifiable. The ASA has guidance on affiliate marketing.

14. Start a blog

We started Skint Dad from our kitchen table while sharing what our family was doing to survive on a very tight budget.

It eventually became a full-time business for us, so we know first-hand that a blog can become a genuine source of income.

We also know it is not quick.

A useful website takes time to build, and publishing hundreds of generic articles is not a shortcut. You need content that answers real questions, first-hand experience where possible and a reason for people to trust what you publish.

Blogs can earn through advertising, affiliate links, partnerships, digital products and services.

If you need money this week, start somewhere else on this list. If you want to build something over the longer term, blogging can still be worth considering.

15. Create content on TikTok, YouTube or social media

You can also build an audience without running your own website.

Creators can earn from platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram in different ways, including advertising, sponsorships, affiliate marketing and selling their own products or services.

Creators can also build newsletters, memberships or paid communities around their audience.

Live social shopping is another route, where creators demonstrate or recommend products during live video and may earn through product sales, affiliate commission or paid work for brands.

Building an audience normally takes much longer than social media success stories make it appear.

Choose a subject you can realistically produce useful content about for months rather than chasing whatever happens to be popular this week.

See our guides to making money from TikTok and making money from live social shopping in the UK.

16. Sell digital products

A digital product is something customers can buy and receive online without you having to package and post a physical item.

Examples include eBooks, templates, spreadsheets, planners, printables, design assets and online courses.

That does not mean sales are automatic. Creating the product is only part of the job. You still need to solve a problem people care about and find a way for potential customers to discover what you have made.

Start small. A simple product that solves one specific problem is a much better test than spending months creating a huge course nobody has asked for.

17. Teach, tutor, coach or consult online

If you know something that other people want to learn, you may be able to teach it online.

That could include academic tutoring, languages, music, software, business skills, crafts or another specialist subject.

If you have genuine professional experience in a particular area, you could also offer coaching or consulting online.

Video calls mean you can work with students or clients anywhere in the UK, or potentially further afield.

Be realistic about your expertise and avoid presenting yourself as qualified to give regulated or specialist professional advice when you are not.

18. License photos, video or other creative assets

If you already enjoy photography, filming or illustration, you can potentially license your work online.

Stock libraries allow businesses, publishers and creators to pay to use photos, video clips, illustrations and other creative assets.

You can earn a royalty or share of the licensing fee when somebody pays to use your work.

This is unlikely to be a quick route to large earnings. Individual sales may be small and building a useful portfolio takes time.

It can give photos, videos or illustrations you have already created another chance to earn rather than leaving them sitting on a hard drive.

Make money selling online

19. Sell and resell items online

Selling online is simple in principle: find something people want and sell it for more than your total costs.

You could start by selling unwanted things around your home before spending money on stock.

Marketplaces such as eBay, Vinted and Facebook Marketplace can give you access to buyers without building your own website.

If you start buying stock specifically to resell, check each platform’s rules for business or professional sellers before listing.

We once bought a bike for £5 and sold it for £30.

We are also currently testing reselling ourselves with physical media and other second-hand stock.

Rather than treating the selling price as profit, we are tracking what we paid, packaging, postage, fees and how long things take to sell.

Those costs matter. A £20 sale is not a £20 profit.

For more ideas, see our guide to the best things to buy and sell for profit.

20. Sell your own products online

Instead of reselling somebody else’s products, you could make or design something of your own.

That might be jewellery, prints, personalised gifts, clothing, artwork, home décor or another product people are prepared to buy.

Marketplaces such as Etsy can make it easier to get started, although you need to account for the platform’s current fees when deciding what to charge.

Print-on-demand is another option if you want to sell your own designs without making or holding the finished products yourself.

A fulfilment company can put your designs onto products such as T-shirts, mugs or posters and send orders to customers, meaning you do not need to keep finished stock yourself.

The trade-off is that fulfilment costs reduce your margin, so calculate the numbers before assuming every sale will be profitable.

How to choose the right way to make money online

The best method depends on what you are trying to achieve.

If you simply want a little extra money in your spare time, surveys, research, testing and reward apps are easy places to experiment.

If you want something capable of producing more regular income, look at services such as virtual assistance, writing, editing, social media management or another freelance skill.

Online selling can work particularly well if you enjoy sourcing products and dealing with customers.

Blogging, content creation, digital products and affiliate marketing have more room to grow, but they usually require much more patience before they generate meaningful income.

Also consider what an hour of your time is worth. An activity that pays £3 after two hours may technically have made you money, but it may not be the best use of your time if another option could give you a much better return.

How much can you realistically make online?

There is no sensible single figure.

Someone doing a few surveys each week might earn a small amount, while a freelancer with several regular clients could build a much larger monthly income.

Online selling, blogging or content creation can potentially grow into something full-time, but that usually takes time and is never guaranteed.

That is why we would avoid setting a target based on what somebody else claims to earn.

Measure your own results instead. Track how much time you spend, how much you receive and any costs involved.

That tells you whether something is actually worthwhile for you.

Do you have to pay tax on money earned online?

It depends on your circumstances.

The UK has a £1,000 trading allowance for certain trading and miscellaneous income.

If your total annual gross trading income is £1,000 or less, you may not need to tell HMRC, although there are exceptions. If it is more than £1,000, you need to tell HMRC and may need to register for Self Assessment if you are not already registered.

Earning more than £1,000 does not automatically mean you will have tax to pay. Your tax position depends on your taxable income, allowable expenses or whether you use the trading allowance, and your wider circumstances.

Gross income means the amount you receive before expenses or allowances are deducted. Keep records of your income and relevant costs even if you are starting small.

Some online platforms also have reporting requirements and may send information about sellers to HMRC. A platform reporting your details does not automatically mean you owe tax.

Selling your own unwanted possessions is also different from deliberately buying or making things to sell for profit.

Tax depends on your circumstances, so check the current HMRC trading allowance guidance and HMRC guidance for people selling through digital platforms if you are unsure.

How to avoid make money online scams

Unfortunately, people looking for extra money are a popular target for scammers.

Be particularly cautious if somebody promises a guaranteed income for very little work, pressures you to transfer money before you can withdraw supposed earnings, or asks for online banking login details, passwords or one-time security codes.

Also be wary of schemes where you need to recruit other people before you can make money.

Fake online task jobs are another risk. You may initially appear to earn money before being told you need to deposit more of your own money to continue or unlock your balance.

Research the company independently and do not let screenshots of somebody else’s supposed earnings persuade you to send money.

A genuine opportunity can still have costs – running an Etsy shop or starting a website are obvious examples – so the test is not simply whether money is involved.

Check what you are paying for, who you are paying and whether there is a real business or service behind it.

For a fuller checklist, read our guide to avoiding online scams while making money.

Make money online FAQs

Can I make money online without paying anything?

Yes. You can start surveys, paid research, website testing, AI training and evaluation, and many freelance services without spending money.

You can also begin online selling with things you already own.

Other methods, including websites or physical-product businesses, may have start-up or ongoing costs.

What is the easiest way to make money online?

For a complete beginner, surveys, paid research, website testing and product testing are among the simplest because you do not need to find your own customers.

They are also usually harder to turn into a regular income. If you want more earning potential, selling a skill or service is generally a better route.

How can a beginner make money online?

Start with one low-risk method.

You could join a reputable research or testing platform, sell something you no longer need, or identify a simple service you can offer based on skills you already have.

Avoid spending large amounts of money before you know whether the idea suits you.

Can I make money online from my phone?

Yes, some methods can be done almost entirely from a phone, including surveys, reward apps, selling through marketplaces and some social media work.

Other methods, such as writing, virtual assistance, website work and video editing, are usually much easier with a computer.

Can you make a full-time income online?

It is possible, but there is a big difference between making a few pounds online and building a dependable full-time income.

Freelancing, online selling, content businesses and other online services can grow substantially, but that usually takes skills, customers, an audience or time.

Do not build your plans around somebody else’s best month.

Start with one way to make money online

Twenty ideas can quickly become twenty tabs open on your phone and nothing actually started.

Pick one.

If you need a small amount of extra money, try one of the simple options near the top of this guide.

If you want to build something bigger, choose one skill, service or business model that fits you and give it enough time to see whether it works for you.

Track what you earn, what it costs and how much time it takes.

Then you can make a sensible decision about whether to continue, improve it or try something else.