The Ultimate Side Hustle List (2021) – 70+ Ideas To Make Extra Cash Today!

One of the reasons This Online World covers so many side hustle ideas is because of how powerful starting a side hustle is.

It doesn’t matter if you want to get out of debt, boost your investment portfolio, or just save up for a purchase you’ve had your eyes on: learning to make extra money on the side is an incredibly valuable skill.

It also doesn’t matter if you’re making money online or turning to gig economy apps… Every little bit counts!

So, today we’re going to create the ultimate side hustle list you can use to start improving your finances today.

The ideas in this list are going to be divided into different categories based on their earning potential or different types of hustles, so there’s something for everyone.

Let’s get to it!

High-Paying Gig Economy Jobs

The first category in our side hustle list has to be gig jobs.

There’s so many advantages to working with the gig economy: flexibility, few barriers to entry, and above minimum-wage pay to name a few.

So, here are some high-paying gig job that are worth trying.

1. Deliver With DoorDash

DoorDash is the leading food delivery service in North America, and is currently available in over 5,000 cities!

As a DoorDash courier, you can make money on the side by delivering with your car, bike, or scooter.

Delivery drivers typically earn anywhere from $10 to $20 per hour, although driving during busy periods and working for tips can go a long way.

A snapshot of DoorDash driver earnings from one driver who put in some serious hours one week!

Plus, the lack of strict vehicle and driver requirements and fast sign up process means you can boost your income with DoorDash pretty quickly!

Sign up for DoorDash and start making extra cash on your own schedule!

2. Postmates

Like DoorDash, Postmates is another lucrative option to make money as a courier in the United States.

However, unlike DoorDash, Postmates couriers can deliver a range of items, including fast food, groceries, everyday essentials, and more.

Postmates couriers earn around $14 to $22 per hour according to driver reviews, but again, it depends on your market and when you deliver.

An earnings screenshot from a Postmates courier who completed 153 deliveries.

However, you can deliver via car, bike, scooter, or even foot in some markets!

Sign up for Postmates today and start hustling!

3. Instacart

Instacart lets you make money on the side by delivering groceries to people in your city.

Unlike most delivery apps, there’s also two possible roles: an in-store shopper position and a full service shoppers.

In-store shoppers are W-2 Instacart employees, so you’re actually hired by Instacart and work in partner grocery stores, assembling orders for drivers.

On the flip side, full service shoppers are like Shipt shoppers and complete entire deliveries to customers.

Full service shoppers can also earn around $20 per hour or more depending on the market and tips, so it’s another high-paying side hustle to try.

Sign up to become an Instacart Shopper today!

4. Steady

Steady is a useful tool to have for any avid side hustler since it’s an app that helps you find local gig opportunities.

With the Steady app, you can browse your city for same-day job opportunties, gig economy work, or other ideas to make extra money.

The app is completely free, so if you don’t find an idea on our side hustle list, I suggest downloading this app and taking a look around at the opportunities in your city.

Download Steady today and find your next side hustle!

5. TaskRabbit

With TaskRabbit, you can make money by completing odd jobs for people in your city.

Now, TaskRabbit is a pretty diverse marketplace, and gigs are all over the place.

Some common gigs you can complete include:

• Furniture assembly
• Yard work
• Cleaning gigs
• Generaly handyman work
• Moving help

You get to set your own rates and schedule, so if you have a particular skill, there’s no harm in throwing up your services on TaskRabbit!

Become a Tasker today and start making more money!

Online Side Hustle Ideas

Alright, it wouldn’t be This Online World if we didn’t talk about some online money-making methods, right?

If you prefer to make money from the comfort of your own home, this is absolutley the category for you.

6. Start A Blog

Starting a blog is the type of side hustle that can honestly change your entire life.

I started This Online World when I was in college.

The blog helped me land a job in digital marketing. By my third year of blogging, it also made over $22,000 and now lets me write and travel the world.

The bottom line is that a blog can turn into a business.

Plus, even if it doesn’t, you learn so many marketable skills by starting your own blog. Skills like:

• Becoming a better writer.
• SEO.
• Graphic and web design.
• Social media marketing.

It’s honestly my favorite side hustle idea of all time, and I think it’s also incredibly valuable for students as well who want to develop real digital marketing skills.

Advertisement revenue for This Online World in 2020.

Plus, you can start your own blog for free or for under $100 a year…not bad for something that can change your life.

If you want to start a blog, I recommend using SiteGround for your host.

SiteGround is incredibly affordable, has great support, and it’s the same host I used to grow This Online World to 50,000 readers.

Start blogging with SiteGround & take on a new challenge!

7. Print On Demand

Print on demand, or POD, is one of the coolest business ideas out there because it doesn’t require money to get started.

Basically, POD companies manufacture and ship products with your unique designs on them.

This means you, the artist, just have to focus on creating new designs and promoting them online without worrying about logistics and manufacturing.

I used Printify, a POD company, to sell meme mugs on Etsy back in college as my college side hustle.

It was a very fun experiment, and if you have an eye for graphic design, I think starting a POD business is an amazing side hustle idea.

Get started with Printify & launch your POD business!

8. Freelance Writing

Back in 2020, I quit my day job at a marketing agency, moved to Colombia, and went all-in on making money through freelance writing, blogging, and other digital marketing services.

Today, freelance writing for other personal finance sites is how I make most of my income.

Took a trip to Colombia to write while living somewhere with a low cost of living. Only possible for me because of blogging!

What I love about freelance writing is that you create your own schedule and know exactly how much your time is worth…there’s no endless meetings, back and forth with clients, and time-wasting activities to distract you.

Instead, you get paid a certain amount per word or article, and it’s up to you to craft the best piece of content you can.

When I started freelance writing, I was ghostwriting for around $0.05 per word, which is quite low!

However, over the course of a year, I worked my way up to $0.07 to $0.10…Now, I have several contracts in the $0.10 to $0.25 per word range.

This means a single article can be a few hundred dollars, which is certainly pretty awesome!

I also know many other freelance writers who make awesome money, and if you love writing, I truly believe this is one of the most fulfilling side hustle ideas on this list.

Plus, if you’re looking for some guidance on how to get started, you’re in luck!

My friends Ashley Barnett and Clint Proctor have an incredible course called Freelance Writing for Bloggers that teaches you how to land freelance clients and turn your writing into your job!

9. Start A YouTube Channel

Now, I know what you’re thinking: starting a YouTube channel isn’t a viable side hustle idea because it’s too competitive.

YouTube is competitive. However, I definitely think it’s still possible to make money on YouTube.

I started my own YouTube channel, and within a year, we’re closing in on 10,000 subscribers and regularly clearing $500 per month in profit.

A snapshot of my earnings from the last year.

Anything is possible if you put your content out there.

And, like blogging, starting a YouTube channel also teaches you a range of marketable skills, like video editing, film, and how to be a better public speaker/storyteller!

Easy Side Hustle Ideas

If you want to make some serious cash, hopping in your car to drive for DoorDash or creating a money-making blog are awesome.

However, sometimes, it’s nice to earn a bit of extra cash in your spare time without having to put much thought into things.

That’s why this section of our side hustle list is all about the simple, zero-effort ways to earn some free money.

10. Mistplay

Mistplay is a loyalty rewards program where you can earn free gift cards for trying new Android mobile games.

The entire process is actually quite simple.

Just install Mistplay, browse for games you like, and play them.

As you level up in-game and with your overall Mistplay account, you earn points, which are redeemable for a range of free gift cards.

Plus, the redemption minimum is only $0.50, so you can actually earn some fun money to companies like Amazon after trying a few games.

There’s also a range of genres, including strategy, cards, adventure, puzzle, and multiplayer games.

Download Mistplay today & start earning free gift cards!

11. Survey Junkie

Now, I’m normally not a fan of online survey websites since many of them have high cash out requirements and are honestly pretty annoying.

However, one survey website that’s actually reasonable is Survey Junkie.

With Survey Junkie, you just answer online surveys and cash out through PayPal or free gift cards when you reach $5.

There’s no frills, fake sign up bonuses, or unrealistic cash out minimums to distract you from your earnings.

Again, this side hustle idea isn’t really for me, but it’s an easy option for making money in your spare time that’s worth mentioning.

Sign up for Survey Junkie & work towards your first reward!

12. Gamehag

Like Mistplay, Gamehag lets you earn rewards for playing video games, which is pretty cool!

However, what makes Gamehag different is that you can earn points by playing premium PC titles, not just mobile games.

Yes, you can make money playing GTA V, War Thunder, Stronghold Kingdoms, Soul Calibur, Magic: The Gathering Arena, and dozens of other games.

The points you earn from playing are also redeemable for dozens of free gift cards, free Steam games, cosmetic items, and more!

To learn more, checkout our Gamehag review!

Sign up for Gamehag and get your game on!

13. Drop

Alright, time to talk about one of my all time favorite reward apps.

With Drop, you can earn free gift cards for shopping online at your favorite stores.

The way Drop works is also pretty simple:

1. Download the Drop app for Android or IOS.
2. Link a debit or credit card to your Drop account.
3. Search for and select retailers you want to shop at within the app.
4. Shop with a linked card at those merchants and earn points.
5. Redeem Drop points for free gift cards.

Drop has plenty of partners. Plus, there’s even a category where you earn $25 or more for your purchases.

Now, for more of a side hustle vibe, Drop also lets you earn points for playing new mobile games, just like Mistplay.

In any case, with dozens of free gift card options, I think Drop is certainly worth the download.

Get started with Drop today and earn free gift cards!

14. Zap Surveys

If you want another fast, simple money-maker, you can also check out Zap Surveys.

This survey website guarantees $6.25 on your first survey, which is a pretty stellar sign up bonus.

If you want to get paid to share your opinion, this is definitely one of the popular survey platforms in the space.

Again, this isn’t my cup of tea since I don’t really enjoy answering surveys. But, for lazy earnings while watching TV, you can give it a go!

There’s also 12+ cash out options, including PayPal cash, free gift cards, Visa gift cards, and more!

Sign up for Zap Surveys and score $6.25 on your first survey!

Passive Side Hustle Ideas

Alright, if you’re looking at our side hustle list and feel like you want something a little more passive, this category is up your alley.

The ideas in this category either involve putting your assets and money to work for you so it does that hard work instead of you.

In my opinion, starting another side hustle and using the extra money to start building passive income is the way to go, so hopefully some of these tools help you out!

15. BlockFi

If you’re interested in a cryptocurrency-based side hustle, BlockFi is absolutely for you.

With BlockFi, you can earn up to 8.6% APY with your cryptocurrency rather than have it sit in a wallet without earning anything at all.

Interest accrues daily and is paid monthly. Plus, BlockFi doesn’t charge monthly fees and there isn’t a minimum account balance to worry about.

You can even earn bonus Bitcoin by signing up for the BlockFi Visa credit card, and there’s several other nifty perks relating to borrowing and selling your crypto with this platform.

Sign up for BlockFi today and put your crypto to work!

16. DiversyFund

In the past, investing in real estate was prohibitively expensive for investors.

Thankfully, companies like DiversyFund are working to change that.

With DiversyFund, you can invest in income-generating real estate properties with just $500.

DiversfyFund acquires undervalued properties, rennovates them, and ultimately earns from rental payments and the eventual appreciation of the property.

As an investor, you receive regular dividend payments and also benefit from this appreciation.

According to DiversyFund, their Growth REIT has seen average annual returns of 18% and 17.3% in 2017 and 2018 respectively!

Start investing today with DiversyFund!

17. M1 Finance

If you’re looking for a zero-fee online stock brokerage account, M1 Finance is for you.

With M1 Finance, you can buy stocks, ETFs, and other securities to start putting your money to work for you.

There’s also numerous perks like fractional share investing or automation features, which are useful if you’re new to investing and need some guidance for your first steps.

Plus, the account minimum is only $100, so you can start investing by putting money aside from your paycheck pretty quickly!

Start investing with M1 Finance today!

18. Groundfloor

Like DiversyFund, Groundfloor lets you get into the real estate investment game without having to be a millionaire.

However, while DiversyFund invests in real estate equity, Groundfloor focuses on earning interest from real estate debt.

According to Groundfloor, real estate debt products carry less risk and also have shorter timeframes; 12-18 months in fact compared to DiversyFund’s 5 year targets.

Plus, Groundfloor lets you start investing with just $10 and has an average return of approximately 10% according to their website.

If you’re looking to diversify your investment portfolio with another type of real estate investing, Groundfloor is absolutely worth trying.

Invest with Groundfloor for as low as $10!

19. Passive Income Apps & Websites

At This Online World, we love talking about passive income apps.

There’s just something satisfying about earnings bits of extra cash with your smartphone or computer without having to do much work.

If this sounds like it’s up your alley, some of the best passive income apps and websites you can try include:

• Rakuten – My favorite cash back website that pays you for shopping at thousands of stores.
• Capital One Shopping – Automatically apply coupon codes and earn free gift cards with this U.S. browser extension.
• Lolli – Earn small amounts of Bitcoin in the form of cash back for shopping online.
• Pei – Earn cash back or free Bitcoin for shopping online or in-store at hundreds of different retail partners.
• Mobile Performance Meter – Earn $0.10 per day or more with your smartphone for joining this market research panel.
• Bumped – Earn fractional shares of the companies you shop at with this awesome rewards app.

These apps won’t make you rich, but I firmly believe you can earn around $100 to $200 per year or more with a mixture of these platforms!

Note: Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up with the provided link.

Active Side Hustles

Earning money while you sleep is, obviously, pretty sweet.

However, if you want to get your sweat on to earn some cash, there’s two awesome fitness apps that pay you to workout you should consider.

20. HealthyWage

With HealthyWage, you bet on yourself to reach a weight loss goal.

There’s also a lot of money on the line; up to $10,000 in fact for teams that win a HealthyWage weight loss challenge.

Ready for a challenge?

Now, you can compete in teams or on your own, and the entire point of HealthyWage is to hold yourself accountable while you tackle your fitness goal.

To use HealthyWage, you choose a weight loss goal, timeframe, and then decide how much money you want to bet on yourself.

If you win, you get your entire bet back and then some. If you lose, you’re out of luck and your money is gone!

It’s intense, but it’s meant to be. If you struggle to stay on track with your fitness, this could be the financial motivation model you need.

Discover your potential prize with the HealthyWage Calculator!

21. StepBet

Like HealthyWage, StepBet lets you bet on yourself to reach your weekly step goal.

To use the platform, you buy-in to step challenges with other players for around $45.

At the end of 6 weeks, the players who consistently hit their weekly step goals split the prize pot, meaning you can earn some fun pocket change if you make it to the end!

StepBet is definitely less intense than HealthyWage, but it’s still a fun, motivational tool to keep you off of the sofa!

Even More Money Making Ideas!

Alright, that does it for the main section of our side hustle list.

However, if you’re still looking for more unique ways to boost your income, here’s another 50 ideas to help you get inspired.

25 Online Side Hustle Ideas

If you like working from home or remotely, some online side gigs you can try include:

1. Sell crafts on websites like Etsy
2. Flip stuff from flea markets and thirft stores online
3. Sell Pokemon cards online
4. Offer online coaching
5. Stream video games on Twitch
6. Sell your designs on sites like Redbubble
7. Sell guides on websites like Udemy
8. Try online tutoring with websites like QKids
9. Become a virtual assistant
10. Make money on Upwork
11. Make money testing games and websites with companies like PlaytestCloud
12. Try micro task websites that pay you for completing short online gigs
13. Sell Yugioh cards online
14. Create audiobooks or become a voice actor
15. Rent out things for money
16. Try selling on Amazon
17. Publish a book on Kindle
18. Become a freelance editor or proofreader
19. Try selling on Fiverr
20. Use apps like Dosh to earn free cash back
21. Join online focus groups
22. Create a niche affiliate marketing blog
23. Offer video editing services
24. Make money writing on Medium
25. Use different beermoney websites

25 Offline Side Hustle Ideas

For more money-making ideas that involve getting out and about, checkout:

1. Walk dogs with Rover
2. Try driving apps that pay
3. Do yard work or landscaping for people
4. Start a babysitting side hustle
5. Offer cleaning services in your city
6. Rent out things for money
7. Drive for Uber or Lyft
8. Become a caretaker with Care.com
9. Start a local baking business
10. Rent out your car for passive income with Turo or HyreCar
11. Offer pool cleaning in summer
12. Offer car washing or detailing
13. Make money with P2P delivery jobs
14. Teach music lessons
15. Teach art lessons
16. Work part-time at a summer camp
17. Find and resell golf balls
18. Host a garage sale
19. Try mystery shopping gigs with Field Agent
20. Work for a local pizza joint as a delivery driver
21. Shovel snow
22. Clean gutters and windows for people
23. Offer a painting service in your city
24. Help people with junk removal if you have a pickup truck
25. Get an online certification for a new skill (and then land a higher-paying job!)

Final Thoughts

Well, there you have it: that’s our ultimate side hustle list to help you boost your income.

My final piece of advice is to really just pick something that fits your skill set and to stick with it.

It doesn’t matter if it’s blogging, delivering for DoorDash or Uber Eats, or some other side hustle idea: persistence is always the key to success.

I mean, if I had quit blogging in my first year, I would have missed out on over $30,000 of extra income over the course of the next two years!

Side hustles have a snowballing effect, and you’d be amazed at what a few months or year or hard work can produce.

Anyway, best of luck with your next money-making endeavor!

I’ll catch you guys in the next one.

Tom from This Online World.