Making money online is easier said than done. But, in this blog, you’ll find out it really isn’t that hard to make cash online for free.
Whether you are a student, taking a break from regular 9–5 work, or someone in need of some extra income from a side hustle, these websites offer a wide range of opportunities to earn money right from your home with zero investment.
Learn how anyone with a basic Internet connection and a laptop can start earning money easily in simple and quick steps flexibly with just a little free time at hand through different online earning websites.
How do Online Earning Websites Work?
Online earning websites usually allow you to work on your terms or publish your work from anywhere in the world, giving you the flexibility to choose your own terms with lighter rules.
These platforms usually help you reach and connect with viewers, audiences, or customers from around the world beyond geographical barriers, thus increasing your earning potential.
There are a variety of opportunities one can gain and in most cases, you can make money online for free.
Whether you’re a writer, designer, marketer, dancer, artist, or have unique skills the world loves to see and pay for, online earning websites offer ample space to monetize your talents and interests.
Online earning websites pave the way for people across age groups to earn extra income that can even replace your regular job.
Though it is a bit competitive to start earning sustainable revenue month-on-month, with consistency and good time spent on these platforms, it becomes extremely productive and well-provided with time.
The usual workflow of online earning websites includes:
- Sign up
- Publish work or become affiliate
- Drive viewership or customers
- Become eligible to monetize
- Start earning
In the next section, let’s explore the different platforms that help with good earning opportunities and helps save a good amount of money that can be used as savings or for daily expenses.
10 Trusted Websites to Make Money Online for Free
You might have already tried earning on some of these websites. However, with consistency, these are globally the best of the lot for earning money online for free.
1. Medium – Content Publishing site with Partner Program
Medium is a popular avenue for writers, authors, and bloggers to publish their content and start earning money. The Medium Partner Program helps people to earn money through their work.
Medium is available for global use, however, the monetization option is open only to a few countries. Content on any topic and expert ideas can be shared on this platform.
🌏︎ Restricted Countries
- Not available in India, Brazil, and Thailand.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- To qualify for monetization, you need to be a Medium member, have published a story within the last six months.
- And reside in an eligible country where you file taxes.
👉 Benefits
- Scope to reach a larger reader base
- Earn through the engagement and readership of your content
- Gain access to analytics
2. Google AdSense – Earn Money from Your Website
If you already have a blog or website that seeks revenue, signup with Google AdSense. Google places relevant ads on your website and every click will fetch you cash.
Google makes sure that most relevant ads are only placed on your websites without cluttering your platform. AdSense has been used by a wide range of businesses and individuals to earn extra cash from their site.
🌏︎ Restricted Countries
- AdSense isn’t available in Crimea, Cuba, DNR & LNR, Iran, North Korea & Syria.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- You must be 18 and above, have high-quality original content with easy site navigation, should be at least 6 months old and have sufficient traffic to be able to monetize via AdSense.
👉 Benefits
- Best earning site if you have a good website
- Trusted platform to earn from ads
- Make money based on your website traffic
3. YouTube – Video Sharing Site with Monetization
YouTube, as we all know, is not just an amazing platform for watching videos but also to earn. It helps creators create a channel and upload videos for the world to watch and share.
The YouTube monetization policy is well known and people are practically earning well from creating content and monetizing them on YouTube.
On being accepted for the YouTube partner program, you can start monetizing your videos once the policies are met.
YouTube also lets you earn by keeping your account premium, by posting shorts and by selling merchandise.
🌏︎ Restricted Countries
- YouTube monetization is not available in Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, CapeVerde (Cabo Verde), Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Iran, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, and a few other countries.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- Achieving 1,000 subscribers on your channel and accumulating 4,000 watch hours or gaining 10M valid public short views within the last 12 months is mandatory for YouTube monetization.
- And for YouTube Shorts, you’ll have to gain 500 subscribers, upload 3 public videos in the last 90 days, and either accumulate 3,000 public watch hours in the last 365 days or garner 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
👉 Benefits
- Good stream of passive income month-on-month.
- Best platform to become popular among audiences.
- Easy to earn money through sponsorships, merch, influencing, etc.
4. Facebook Marketplace – Sell Items Locally or Shipped
Facebook Marketplace is a platform for buying and selling goods in the local community.
You can earn online or make extra cash by listing your unwanted item on the platform and someone who needs it can buy it from you.
For merchants selling in the marketplace, a commission of 5% is charged by FB.
🌏︎ Restricted Countries
- China, Iran, North Korea, and Syria. Additionally, it may be limited or unavailable in other countries due to local regulations and restrictions
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- Anyone above the age of 18 with a valid FB account can sell on the Facebook marketplace.
- Based on the goods at hand, sellers don’t have any restrictions on the number of goods they sell.
👉 Benefits
- Sell products you don’t need anymore.
- Fix your own pricing.
- Earn as much as you want.
5. Shutterstock – Photo Selling Site
Shutterstock is a leading platform where you can photos and original and licensed work of yours that can be sold to the public.
Every time a user downloads the photo you own, the platform pays the contributor a certain amount, usually ranging from $0.25 to $120 for a single image.
🌏︎ Restricted Countries
- Available globally
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- You must contribute your original work.
- And, once you have accumulated a minimum of $25 for your licensed work, it can be transferred to your bank account.
👉 Benefits
- Get paid for each download
- Convert your photography passion into cash
- Access to a large customer base
6. Upwork – The World’s Best Freelancing Marketplace
Upwork is the world’s largest work marketplace where brands and businesses can easily find talents who freelance.
You can start earning money online by applying to any specific freelance / part-time job opening that suits your skills and expertise.
🌏︎ Restricted Countries
- Available globally
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- Once the business finds you eligible, you can freelance for the quoted amount.
- There is no restriction on the number of projects you take up on the platform.
👉 Benefits
- Work remotely and earn
- Suitable for part-timers and freelancers
- Flexible working hours
7. EarnKaro – India’s #1 Affiliate Marketing Platform
EarnKaro is an easy-to-use affiliate marketing site to earn some great income by becoming an affiliate marketer on the platform.
Via an affiliate link, you can make commissions for every purchase made from different brands listed on the website. The cash earned can be transferred to your bank account.
🌏︎ Restricted Countries
- EarnKaro is currently available in India only.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- Anyone can start earning with EarnKaro.
- With a little free time, you can become an affiliate on the platform and start earning.
👉 Benefits
- Amazing website for passive income generation
- Doesn’t require investments of any kind
- Flexible model to earn money
8. Fiverr – Freelance Services Marketplace
Fiverr is a freelance services marketplace where businesses can find skilled professionals on-demand.
If you are a writer, designer, data entry, or skilled in other niches with fields of expertise, you can easily take up projects in your spare time and earn good money online in quick steps once you get hired.
🌏︎ Restricted Countries
- Available in over 180 countries globally.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- Once you find work on Fiverr as a freelancer or part-timer, you can start earning easily from the convenience of your home.
- Anyone above the age of 18 can find work and make cash based on their skills and expertise.
👉 Benefits
- Earn flexibly.
- Make cash from data entry.
- Work remotely from anywhere online.
9. Dreamstime – Sell your Photos Easily
Dreamstime is a popular website for selling royalty-free stock photos and videos. If you have a licensed work, you can go ahead and sell your photos and videos on the platform for a fee.
There are certain rules you need to follow to upload images on the platform. Once your work meets the criteria, you can easily earn money online when a user downloads it.
🌏︎ Restricted Countries
- Not specified
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- All the photos, illustrations, and videos must be copyrighted and be an original work of yours.
- Offensive content or pictures of any kind is strictly prohibited.
👉 Benefits
- Sell original photos and earn online.
- No restrictions on the volume of uploads.
- Easy to make passive income from your work.
10. Meesho Supplier – Sell online on Meesho at 0% commission
Meesho is today’s leading eCommerce site. But, did you know that besides buying good quality goods, you can earn a good amount of money online on the website in your spare time?
Firstly, you can become an affiliate and start making money every time a user purchases from your affiliate link.
Secondly, you can sell products on the platform and earn a handsome amount on the platform.
🌏︎ Restricted Countries
- Available only in India.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- An active bank account and GSTIN is all you need to start selling on the Meesho app.
👉 Benefits
- Earn through affiliate marketing.
- Become a reseller with Meesho.
- Fix pricing and sell products directly to customers.
Key Takeaway
In today’s world, earning money online has become more accessible than ever before. There are many other platforms where you can make some extra cash in your spare time or after regular work hours, or even on the weekends.
With zero initial investment or capital, things have become easier to generate income. Simply invest your skills and creativity for a good volume of revenue from affiliate marketing, content publishing, freelancing, selling goods, and more.
With dedication and consistency, you can make money online for free within days of kickstarting the work. Traditional employment structures are shifting and it is time you make use of the spare time to earn online without having to stress through these free-to-use platforms.
