Ever found yourself scrolling through those “make money online” schemes on social media and thinking, “This can’t be real”?
Like that “Earn $10,000 in your sleep!”
Well, you’re right, most of them aren’t.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t make money online. You just need to know the right ways to do it.
I’ve spent hours trying different websites, learning what works and what doesn’t.
From all that, I’ve created this list of 12 secret websites that are real and can help you earn some good extra money.
Some websites might not feel like a big secret, and some might be completely new to you.
The most important thing is that they all need real effort and real skills, and some even need upfront investment.
Not only that, but how much you earn can be very different from what others make, and some websites may have fees or take a small cut of what you earn.
There’s no magic button to make money right away or at all.
If you’re ready for them, let’s get started!
1. Redbubble – Sell Your Artwork Online
Redbubble is like a magical online art store where you can put your designs on things like t-shirts, stickers, and phone cases, and when people buy them, you get paid.
This one’s perfect if you’re even slightly artistic, and your art doesn’t need to be museum-worthy, as Redbubble can become your own merchandise store without the hassle of actually managing inventory or shipping anything.
The concept is simple: you upload your designs, and Redbubble puts them on everything from t-shirts to phone cases. When someone buys something with your design, you get a cut of the sale.
The best part? Once you upload a design, it can help you earn what we call “passive income.”
It sounds pretty easy to start, right? But making good sales is not that easy because:
- You need designs that people actually want to buy.
- You need good keywords so people can find your products.
- There is a lot of competition since many people sell there.
If you just post random designs without checking what’s popular or what people are actually looking for, you probably won’t sell much.
2. Beehiiv – Make Money Writing Newsletters
Beehiiv is a name you might not have heard about before, but you may know that newsletters are having a moment right now, and Beehiiv is riding that wave perfectly.
Think of it as your personal newspaper publishing platform, but way easier to use and with built-in tools to help you make money online.
The great thing about starting a newsletter is that you can write about literally anything you’re passionate about.
Maybe you’re a tech nerd who wants to share the latest gadget news, or you’re really into fitness and want to help others get healthy.
You could share money tips in a way that’s easy for anyone to understand, write about your favorite recipes and meal planning ideas, or tell people about the books you’ve read, and so on.
And here’s how you can monetize your newsletter on Beehiiv:
- Paid Subscriptions: Offer premium content for monthly/yearly subscribers
- Sponsorships: Partner with relevant brands for sponsored content
- Affiliate Marketing: Include affiliate links to products you genuinely recommend
- Digital Products: Sell ebooks, guides, or templates to your subscribers
The most beautiful thing I see here is that Beehiiv makes creating, publishing, growing, and monetization easier with built-in tools, all in one single platform.
They even offer features like referral programs to help grow your audience faster.
If you browse their platform for a little while, you may feel that you can literally start building a media brand on Beehiiv.
3. Fiverr – Where People Buy and Sell Services
Fiverr is an online marketplace where you can sell your skills and talents to people who need them. If you’re good at something, you can offer it as a service and get paid for it.
I remember when I first discovered Fiverr. I thought, “Five bucks for a service? How does anyone make money here?” Well, turns out I was looking at it all wrong.
These days, Fiverr is like this massive digital talent show where people are making serious money.
Think of it as a huge online marketplace where people sell their skills instead of products.
Whether you’re a writer, designer, voice actor, or even someone who can create amazing PowerPoint presentations (yes, that’s a thing!), there’s probably someone looking for your skills.
The cool thing about Fiverr is that you can start small and grow big. I know a graphic designer who started doing simple logos for $10 and now charges $500+ for brand packages.
The key? Building a solid reputation, finding your niche.
To get started, sign up as a seller. Then pick what you’re good at, it could be writing, making designs, or coding. Next, create your service listing (called a “gig”) by writing a clear description and showing examples of your work.
Finally, publish your gig to find customers, but things take time, and you need to be patient.
You’ll need to compete with many experienced sellers, so focus on creating a standout profile and delivering excellent work to get those first reviews.
4. Flippa – Buy and Sell Websites
Flippa is a bit more advanced and may not be for everyone. Imagine being able to buy and sell websites, like people buy and sell houses. That’s Flippa in a nutshell.
And not just websites, it’s where entrepreneurs go to either buy existing online businesses, domains, websites, apps, or sell ones they’ve built.
I recently saw their platform even lets you sell YouTube channels, and one caught my eye as it was priced at $650,000 on Flippa. Wild, right?
But the thing is, you don’t need that kind of value to get started, as there are plenty of smaller websites and domains selling for a few hundred bucks, so you could potentially start flipping for a profit.
Before you start selling on Flippa, you need:
- A profitable website, app, or domain that you own
- A domain you purchased years ago that could be valuable now
- Or a new domain with a great keyword that you can list for sale
You can only sell what you legally own. However, there’s no guarantee you’ll make a profit. The digital marketplace changes quickly, and what seems valuable today might not be tomorrow.
Just like any investment, do your research and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
5. Podia – Sell Your Knowledge Online
Podia is an all-in-one platform that can benefit from your expertise. Have you ever thought, “I could totally teach people how to do this”? Well, Podia is where you can turn that knowledge into a good business.
It’s like having your own little digital school or store where you can sell courses, ebooks, or even access to exclusive communities.
What I love about Podia is how user-friendly it is.
You don’t need to be tech-savvy to set up shop. Plus, they handle all the boring stuff like hosting your content and processing payments.
I’ve seen people selling everything from guitar lessons to productivity workshops here.
And you don’t need to worry about getting lost, as they’ve got an extensive beginner’s guide and tutorials that walk you through everything, from setting up your first product to marketing strategies.
6. Gumroad – Sell Your Digital Products
Gumroad is like that friend who makes it easier to sell digital products online. Want to sell a PDF guide? Done. Digital art? Easy. Online course? No problem.
It is probably the simplest platform I have ever used to sell digital products.
Yes, what makes Gumroad special is its simplicity. You can literally start selling something in minutes. No complex setup, no crazy fees.
Just upload your product, set a price, and share the link. They even handle all the boring stuff like tax calculations.
7. Gelato – Print Your Designs Anywhere in the World
Gelato is like Redbubble’s sophisticated cousin. The cool thing about Gelato is that they have printing facilities all over the world, which means your products can be printed closer to your customers, reducing shipping times and costs.
You can connect Gelato to online stores like Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, and even to a TikTok Shop without any hassle.
This means you can run your store from whatever platform you’re comfortable with, while Gelato takes care of making and sending your products to customers.
Let’s say you have a Shopify store selling custom t-shirts. You can connect Gelato to your Shopify store in just a few clicks.
When a customer orders a t-shirt from your store in, say, Australia, instead of shipping it from the US, Gelato will automatically print and ship it from their nearest facility in Australia.
Start selling online with Shopify
Learn how to sell online, in Person, and everywhere in between.
This means your customer gets their order faster, you pay less for shipping, and you don’t have to worry about inventory or printing equipment.
You can sell your designs to people all around the world, and you don’t have to worry about finding different companies to print your stuff or figure out how to ship it to other countries.
Gelato handles all of that for you, so if you’re dreaming about building a global merchandise brand, this is definitely worth checking out.
8. Swagbucks – Get Paid for Easy Online Tasks
Swagbucks is a rewards platform where users can earn points (called SB) by completing various online activities like surveys, watching videos, and shopping, which can then be redeemed for gift cards.
The most important thing to mention here is that Swagbucks won’t make you a rich person, but it’s a nice way to earn in your free time.
It’s basically like getting paid to do things you probably already do online: watching videos, taking surveys, or shopping through their portal.
It’s not life-changing money, but at least, you may earn enough to cover your Netflix subscription and grab a few drinks.
Not bad for something you can do in your pajamas!
9. TaskRabbit – Work When You Want
TaskRabbit is like the “get-me-someone-fast to go to the mall” app, but for everyday tasks. Good with tools? Someone needs their furniture assembled. Got a truck? Someone’s moving apartments.
Unlike doing something online, TaskRabbit is all about helping people in person. It’s great for anyone who likes getting out there, meeting people, and working with their hands in their own neighborhood.
You choose what tasks you want to do and when you want to do them.
Just keep in mind that your earnings can vary based on a few things: where you live, what kind of work you do, and how good your ratings are (the more 5-star reviews you get, the more you can charge).
If you want to know what it’s really like, head over to the TaskRabbit subreddit to get an idea about who uses it, how much they make, what problems they face, and their tips for what works best.
10. Amazon Associates – Earn Money by Recommending Products
Amazon Associates is simply Amazon’s affiliate program. You know how you’re always recommending products to friends? Amazon Associates lets you get paid for doing exactly that, just on a larger scale.
It’s probably the most well-known affiliate program out there, and for good reason.
While the commission rates aren’t as high as they used to be, the volume of products you can promote makes it worthwhile.
Plus, people trust Amazon, which makes your recommendations more credible.
You can put these affiliate links on your blog, Instagram, or even under your YouTube videos (if they’re qualified). When your followers click and buy something, you get a small reward as a thank you from Amazon.
Curious about blogging?
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So yes, this works best mostly for content creators out there; otherwise, it’s super hard to make even a cent.
To get started with Amazon Associates, you’ll need to make at least three sales to other people (not yourself!) in your first 6 months.
You’ll also need a website or social media platform that’s open to the public, with at least 10 quality posts that you’ve created yourself. Amazon will check to make sure everything looks good before saying yes to your application.
11. Rover – Share Your Love for Pets
Rover is a friendly neighborhood app where pet lovers can help other pet lovers take care of their furry friends.
Whether it’s walking dogs, pet sitting, or just checking in on pets while their owners are away, Rover brings everyone together.
If you’re like me and think hanging out with dogs is the best way to spend a day, Rover might be your dream side hustle. It’s basically a marketplace for pet services, walking, sitting, boarding, and you name it.
The best part? You can set your own rates and schedule. Plus, you get exercise and nice puppy cuddles while making money.
However, this is a responsibility as much as it is a job because these are people’s fur babies we’re talking about!
12. Twitch – Make Money While Streaming
Twitch is simply a live streaming platform where creators can broadcast their content, what they’re really doing, in real-time while interacting with viewers through chat.
Remember when parents used to say you can’t make money playing video games? Well, Twitch proved them wrong!
It’s not just for gamers anymore, as there are successful streamers in art, music, and even just chatting.
In numbers, what’s even more surprising is, nearly 70% of Twitch viewers are young people, between 18 and 34 years old, and many of these viewers don’t spend much time on other social media platforms.
So yes, as we can see, Twitch is a unique place with a unique audience.
However, building an audience takes time, but once you get going, there are multiple ways to monetize: subscriptions, donations, ads, and sponsorships.
Wrapping It Up
There you have it, 12 legitimate websites to make money in 2025!
The most important thing here is to pick something that aligns with your skills, interests, and something people actually see value in.
Don’t try to force yourself into something just because it’s profitable for someone else.
If you asked me, the things that usually work best in the long run are when you have your own product, offer a service, or even create content that keeps helping people.
Start with one website, give it your genuine effort, and see how it goes.
If one thing doesn’t work out, there are always other options to try!
And one last thing: If you found this helpful, do not keep it to yourself; share it with a friend who would love to see this.
Good luck on your journey!
