As a matter of fact, Well, you’ve most likely searched for “how to make money online” at least once, if you haven’t been doing it since midnight with the panic of tuition fees or during a lecture with an empty wallet. And each time, the same list of recycled, reused, and freelance sites you have seen: Fiverr, Upwork, Amazon, YouTube. You will be familiar with these and competition with thousands of others on such sites.
But there’s something no one tells you, there are a lot of secret websites to make money out there that you don’t know about, legit, and they pay real cash to normal humans. Girls at universities or children in their hostel accommodations. Part-time working and studying women. This easy to understand guide is for your personal use.
No confusion, no ‘get rich quick’ scheme. You will know fair platforms, expectations to earn money online and a clear road to your first online paycheck.
Before you get started, let’s discuss why you have not been successful thus far.
The vast majority of articles on the web out there are copied. They mention Fiverr and Upwork, but don’t tell you that it can take several months to find your first job on them. They’ll say you’ll need to put in thousands of dollars for Amazon FBA without disclosing this detail. They tell you to start a blog and you don’t even realize that it will take 12-18 months before you get one rupee from it. This is not helpful to a student who is in need of cash this month.
The secret websites to make money listed here are platforms where every platform is:
Let’s get into it.
This is actually one of the most convenient methods for earning on the web. There is a need for real human feedback in companies. This is very simple, they pay for it. You give it.
The typical survey sites don’t pay you many cents for a 45 minute survey. There is no comparison to Prolific. It brings you in touch with real-world academic research studies that are paid you by real universities and research institutions across the world. These are not simple “what’s your favorite shampoo” questions; it’s legitimate research of human behavior, decision-making and psychology. The pay is significantly higher due to the quality requirement.
Earning potential: $8–$15 per hour equivalent
Payout: PayPal
Who it’s for: Anyone with 20–30 minutes to spare. No experience needed.
Pro tip: Complete your profile fully when you sign up. More complete profiles get matched with more studies. Studies fill up fast, so check the app in the morning.
This one deserves a lot more than the rating it gets. Google’s own survey app asks you brief surveys, sometimes just 2 or 3 questions which are based on where and how you’re using Google. You have 60 seconds. There are Google Play credits or PayPal cash available.
It’s not going to make you a fortune. But it requires virtually no work and when combined with other platforms, it can add up.
Earning potential: 10 cents to $1 per survey
Payout: Google Play credit or PayPal
Who it’s for: Anyone with a smartphone. Seriously, just download it today.
Related Read: [How to Make Money Through Phone: The Ultimate Guide]
Swagbucks has been in existence for a number of years and has already dispersed more than $700 million to its members. This kind of track record is uncommon.
It’s not just about taking surveys, watching videos and shopping online (which all earn “SB” points) that it encompasses. The points can be converted into PayPal cash or PayPal gift cards. Of course it doesn’t pay you big money per task, but if you do it consistently, 30 minutes a day and you can realistically make $50 – $150 per month doing something you would be doing anyway.
Earning potential: $50–$150/month with regular use
Payout: PayPal, Amazon gift cards
Who it’s for: Students who want passive-style earnings built into their daily routine.
Like Swagbucks, InboxDollars will pay you to read emails that promote products, which is sort of satisfying. There are various activities such as surveys, games, video viewing, and product testing. The minimum amount to cash out is $15 (first time) and $30 (subsequent) so it’ll take a little while, but the tasks are actually diverse and simple.
Earning potential: $0.25–$5 per task
Payout: PayPal, check, gift cards
Who it’s for: Girls who want variety and don’t mind a slower cash-out.
This is a hidden jeweler’s box! Businesses invest millions in developing websites and apps before they go live but need real people to test them out before launch. You’re the one I need.
UserTesting is one of the most popular of the secret websites to make money platforms that those who already know about it are aware of. For example, Microsoft, Adobe, and other companies pay real users to test their Web sites and applications.
The method: You are given a task, for example, “Find and add a product to the cart on this site”. You do it whilst talking through your thinking aloud, and have your screen captured. The company observes the recording in order to comprehend what users may find confusing.
There is an overnight test that will cost $10 and takes 15-20 minutes. There are some advanced tests that can be paid up to $60. That’s pretty serious when it comes to how much you’ll be paying an hour.
Earning potential: $10–$60 per test
Payout: PayPal (paid two weeks after completing the test)
Requirements: A computer, a working microphone, and decent English
Important: Tests should be taken in an appropriate quiet room. The submission may be rejected if it fails to come across well or if you are silent. Please take each test seriously, the ratings that you collect will determine the number of tests that you get.
Trymata is similar to UserTesting, but with a few nuances. Sign up as a tester, take a sample test to prove you can provide valuable feedback and receive notifications for paid tests. The easy answer as to why it’s worth pairing with UserTesting is that the greater the number of platforms the more tests are available. If there’s a lull in UserTesting, there may be some opportunities in Trymata. Plan on having more than one option available.
Earning potential: $10 per test
Payout: PayPal
Who it’s for: Anyone who has completed a UserTesting profile and wants more volume.
Yes, this is real. PlaytestCloud rewards players for playing un-released mobile games and providing feedback to the developers. It’s so good if you’re a girl who loves to play mobile games. You test games before they’re released, and inform them about the experience and submit sessions. Your feedback is used by the developers to fix bugs, enhance gameplay and get a better insight into what you are enjoying.
Earning potential: Similar to UserTesting per session
Payout: PayPal / gift cards
Who it’s for: Mobile gamers who want to earn from something they’re already doing.
These platforms give you an opportunity to convert your creativity, even a little, into cash without investing a single penny in the beginning.
It’s one of the best-kept design secrets for girls! Here’s the process:
What’s great is that you make it once, and sell it forever! A good resume design can sell 200 times during a year. In particular, students can create their own checklists, planners, budget trackers, college checklist templates and sell them to thousands of others in the same boat.
Earning potential: $200–$2,000+/month once you build a catalog
Investment: $0 (Canva free + Etsy’s $0.20 per listing)
Who it’s for: Creative girls with an eye for aesthetics.
Once you upload a design, it will be accessible at any time. It prints these on t-shirts, phone cases, tote bags, stickers, notebooks, and it even deals with all the manufacturing, shipping and customer service. It is only the royalties that you collect.
This is actually truly passive income after it actually has been arranged. They’re all selling with simple quote designs, cute illustrations and pretty patterns. Not an artist at all is required. Know the kind of products consumers are interested in purchasing.
Earning potential: 15–30% royalty on each sale
Investment: $0
Who it’s for: Girls who love art, typography, or trending aesthetic niches.
With a good smart phone and a curious eye, Shutterstock is willing to pay you anytime someone downloads your picture. From food photography to lifestyle images, study environments and nature shots, they are all in demand.
The thing we learned: When it comes to selling stock photos, it isn’t all about art. They can be helpful, relatable, quality pictures that businesses can use in their blogs and social media. This photo shows a girl using a computer at a desk. That sells constantly.
Earning potential: $0.25–$2.85 per download (adds up with volume)
Payout: PayPal, Payoneer
Who it’s for:Creatives who take good photos and have a photography mindset.
📌 Related Read: Ready to build your own mobile photography business? Read our step-by-step blueprint on How to Turn Smartphone Photos Into Make Your Own Schedule Jobs.
Clickworker is one of the lesser-known clickworker sites that pay for doing online tasks. These fall in three categories: short descriptions, categorization of data, transcription of audio clips and, more recently, the labelling of data for the training of AI systems.
The AI industry is booming and AI companies are looking for millions of humans to label images, sort data and verify information. Clickworker is one such platform that empowers you to connect with those tasks. It’s repetitive but it’s flexible, remote, and there are no tasks coming to an end.
Earning potential: $8–$15/hour equivalent
Payout: PayPal, bank transfer
Who it’s for: Students who want to work in short, focused sessions.
📌 Related Read: Looking for more flexible ways to make money with micro-tasks? Read our full review on How to Earn Money Using Your Phone: 7 AI Microtask Platforms.
Yandex’s (Russia’s Google) Clickworker is called Toloka. You perform duties such as confirming the information on web pages, adding tags to images, evaluating quality of search results and voice transcription. There are millions of tasks on this platform that can be found around the world. This is very beneficial for students who can work for short periods of time between classes; you can do 10 tasks in 20 minutes then return to the task.
Earning potential: Varies by task, roughly $5–$12/hour equivalent
Payout: Payoneer, QIWI
Who it’s for: Students looking for highly flexible micro-work.
Preply will allow you to start working with students from other countries and can give you the opportunity to choose when to work, if English is your native language (or any other language). While it is not required for jobs, it will enable you to make more money. You might also be able to tutor others at the university if you excel in subjects such as math, chemistry, programming or even writing essays. Preply manages the platform, you take care of the teaching.
Earning potential: $15–$40+/hour depending on experience and language
Payout: PayPal, Payoneer
Who it’s for: Girls who are strong in a subject and communicate clearly.
This one is a labor of love and more work in the beginning, but will pay off in the long run. You only need to record a course once, which could be any subject you are familiar with (makeup, cooking, computer programming, a language or a study technique), then you can sell it forever. There’s a built-in audience that will discover your course. With Teachable, you’ll have greater control. In any case, a good course can make money for years and while you’re sleeping.
Earning potential: $500–$5,000+/month at scale
Investment: Minimal, a decent phone camera and free screen recording software
Who it’s for: Girls who love teaching or have a specific expertise.
This is the least active on this list. Honeygain rewards consumers with money for using unused bandwidth of internet connection. You download a mini-app, leave it on your system and then it rewards you when other people use your internet connection (for example, businesses conducting market research, ad verification).
You don’t do anything. Your internet is there, you don’t need to pay for it. It’s best to get paid.
Earning potential: $15–$45/month passively
Payout: PayPal or Bitcoin
Who it’s for: Anyone with a stable internet connection and a laptop.
The truth is, not any of these platforms here will be an alternative to a salary. However, magic occurs when they secret websites to make money combined.
The following is a realistic combination of students that can make $150–$400/month.
| Platform | Time/Week | Monthly Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Prolific (surveys) | 3–4 hrs | $40–$60 |
| UserTesting | 2 hrs | $40–$60 |
| Swagbucks | 30 min/day | $50–$80 |
| Canva + Etsy templates | Set up once | $50–$200+ over time |
| Honeygain | Passive | $15–$25 |
| Google Opinion Rewards | 5 min/day | $5–$10 |
It’s a number that is not negative. It is tuition fees which is not life changing money on day one, but $150 to $400/month. It’s groceries. It’s the burden of money off your shoulders.
Not everything online is legitimate. Here are things to watch out for:
Run away immediately if:
Signs a site is legit:
Girls and students who do manage to make these work do not play them as a slot machine. They consider them as part time jobs. They appear regularly, take the work seriously (and have good sound on UserTesting, thoughtfully complete surveys on Prolific), and keep track of what is working.
No special skills are required to get started. You’ll need a mobile phone or computer, access to the internet and the commitment to using the mobile platforms rather than bookmarking this article. This week, two platforms will be installed. Not five or not ten. Take your first prize. Experience the satisfaction of earning on your own merit. Then add more.
Yes. All the platforms mentioned above do not call for any registration costs or initial capital. All you have to do is have an internet connection and a computer or smartphone to begin.
Payments to most websites are processed on a secure basis, using Paypal or Payoneer. Others may also give direct bank transfers or gift cards on reaching the minimum payout level.
Yes. These platforms can provide full flexibility in scheduling without the need for minimum commitments on an hourly basis. You can select which micro-tasks and/or tests to take and when you have time.
No. These websites are primarily aimed at the general public, students and other voices. Relying on your own opinions and native language ability and not a professional portfolio, testing, surveys, and conversational tutoring are utilized.
The amount of earnings depends upon the time spent and the platform you choose. Micro-tasks and tests can provide additional income of $50-$300 per month and creative asset marketplaces can expand with time to create bigger passive income sources.
The Internet has revolutionized making money. There is no need to have a degree, work permit or an interview to begin to make real money online. You need information, the correct information on working platforms and you need to be willing to start. This article did just that.
These are not secret websites to make money in the sense that they’re hidden away in some dark corner of the internet. These are not hidden secrets (not in the sense that they are lurking in some corner of the internet, that is). They’re secret because most of the people are too busy to look a little deeper since most of the obvious options are available. You know what they don’t know, now.
Your phone, your laptop, your internet connection-those are not just entertainment devices. They are your income generators from now on.
Go earn something.
