10 Proven Methods to Generate Income Online Instantly

Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links on our site, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend.

Woman Watching TV
Yuganov Konstantin / Shutterstock.com

Making money online has never been easier. Knowing where to begin and filtering the legitimate websites and apps from scams is the hardest part. Fortunately, we’ve done the dirty work for you and compiled our top list of easy money-making ideas and offers to fit any lifestyle.

With these tips and tricks, you can start bringing in extra cash in just a few days or weeks from the comfort of your home or on the go. All you need is a phone or computer and an email account to get started! Here are a dozen ideas.

1. Make money online by playing games

That’s right, you can get paid for playing games on your phone! Not only that, you can earn cash or rewards by scanning grocery receipts, taking surveys, watching videos, and surfing the web.

You might pocket as much as $200 a month with InboxDollars. Make side cash while stuck in line or hanging on the couch scrolling your phone. It won’t solve all your financial problems, but you can get paid for being on your phone, which you’ll probably do anyway.

InboxDollars has been in business since 2006 and has paid out over $80 million in cash rewards to members. To sign up, enter and confirm your email. You’ll even receive a $5 sign-on bonus to boost your earnings out of the gate. Then you get to participate in whichever options strike your fancy.

You need a minimum of $15 to cash out. Then, redeem your rewards for gift cards at places like Amazon, Target, and Starbucks or transfer them into PayPal cash which can take up to 10 days to receive.

Yes, it's really that easy.

Get Paid to Play Games

2. Make passive income while you sleep

Have you ever wanted to buy real estate but weren’t sure how to get involved? Let us introduce you to Fundrise, an online real estate company that lets ordinary people build a portfolio. Its “crowdfunding” model allows novice or experienced investors to access real estate deals like eFunds or eREITS.

It’s free to open an account. There are no hidden fees or gotchas. As of 2022, Fundrise has paid investors quarterly dividends of over $224 million.

It has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and tears down the barrier to entry with a minimum investment of $10. Choose from five investment plans based on your approach. All you have to do is sign up and let your assets work for you.

So, what are you waiting for? Get your piece of the real estate pie and let the passive income roll in while you sleep.

Note: This is a testimonial in partnership with Fundrise. We earn a commission from partner links on moneytalksnews.com. All opinions are our own.

Build Wealth with Real Estate

3. Talk about yourself and get paid!

Get paid real money by answering questions about yourself. Swagbucks, a rewards website and app, offers members SB, aka Swagbucks, to take surveys about themselves, go shopping online, watch videos and clip coupons.

You basically get paid to do the everyday things you do online. Every 100 SB equals $1 in cash or gift cards. Cash payouts come in the form of PayPal cash. Swagbucks has paid out over $850 million to users since 2008.

With a 4+ star rating from over 200,000 users on Google and Apple app stores combined, Swagbucks is an American favorite for making easy money online. One user reported earning $1,200 in a year.

Creating an account with an email and password takes less than a minute. Swagbucks will throw in $5 just for joining. Make sure you enable tracking, as you need this to earn SB.

Some cashback opportunities may require a purchase or credit card sign-up, but you can skip that and rack in SB by making Google Chrome your default browser and using the Swagbucks button when you shop. Cha-ching!

Get $5 Today From Swagbucks

4. This side hustle can pay for your coffee habit

Imagine having your next coffee, case of beer, or gas fill-up paid for. Well, it’s possible when you use KashKick.com. It’s a browser-based rewards website that will pay you for completing specific tasks like trying a new app or game, taking surveys, or watching videos.

KashKick doesn’t have any gotchas or hidden fees. What you see is what you get. Surveys range from 15 cents to $2 each, so your earnings add up quickly if you qualify for them. You must have a minimum of $10 before cashing out to your PayPal account. The payout time is usually three business days or less.

To sweeten the pot, you’ll receive 25% of your friend’s earnings if you refer them using your referral link. Ensure they’re in the U.S. because it’s only available to American citizens or permanent residents. So, try it in your downtime and let the drinks pay for themselves.

Get Paid for Things You Do All Day

5. Save serious bucks with NerdWallet

NerdWallet’s personal loans marketplace is the ultimate tool to make your life easier. Only takes a few minutes to apply — without affecting your credit score — and if approved by a lender, you’ll have money in your account in no time.

Whether you’re consolidating high-interest debt, financing your next home renovation project, or covering unexpected expenses, NerdWallet‘s platform makes finding the right loan quick and easy.

They’ve rated and reviewed loans from more than 35 financial institutions, with loan amounts ranging from $2,000 to $50,000 and APRs as low as 5.40%.

The marketplace also offers a range of helpful resources and tools, so you’ll feel confident and informed throughout the process. It’s never been this easy to find and compare personal loans.

Try out the NerdWallet loan marketplace right now. You’ll be glad you did!

Get Money Advice from Nerds

6. How to get debt-free fast

Consumer debt is rising. The average American household has over $9,000 in credit card debt alone. If you’re reading this and it sounds all too familiar, we may have a solution to your problem.

National Debt Relief is a debt settlement company that negotiates with your creditors on your behalf. Suppose you’re behind on payments and have $7,500 or more in credit card, personal loans, medical bills or other debts. In that case, an agent may be able to consolidate your debt into one lower monthly payment almost immediately.

National Debt Relief has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. They do charge a fee, but only once your debts are settled. Users report being debt free in just 24 to 48 months. See if you qualify here.

Get Debt-Free Today

7. Pay for your Netflix subscription with this side gig

If you’re not getting rewarded for sharing your opinion, then take note! Survey Junkie partners with market research companies to listen to your honest opinions and learn how you spend your time and money. Your input helps brands get better, and you get paid for it!

You can earn as much as $40 monthly if you complete three surveys daily. That’s enough to pay for a handful of monthly TV streaming services, a tank of gas, or to make a dent in your grocery bill.

Survey Junkie will even pay you for the surveys you don’t qualify for. It has a minimum payout of $10. Choose your rewards in cash or e-Giftcards to popular stores like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Sephora and more.

You must be a U.S., U.K., Canadian or Australian resident to participate. Join millions of members and get paid for making your voice heard by signing up here.

Get Paid for Your Opinion

8. Make M-O-N-E-Y by playing Bingo

Chances are you’ve been hooked to a game on your phone before. But have you earned any prizes or gotten paid to play any of those games?

Enter Bingo Tour. It’s classic Bingo with a twist. Compete with players all over the world to win cash and prizes. Play while watching TV, waiting in line, or having a snack. You won’t pay off your car but you will make side cash and we all know every little bit adds up.

Like some other freemium games, Bingo Tour has a pay-to-play option that nets cash payouts — which might be a good or bad thing, depending on your skill level! It can get a bit addicting.

The game is only available on the Apple app store (with a 4.9-star rating from over 83,000 users) and on the Galaxy Store. Get paid to have fun by downloading it here.

Play Bingo, Make Money

9. Get paid to pop bubbles

Data shows that playing games can relieve stress, boost memory and improve mood. But did you know that you can make some pocket money simultaneously? The Bubble Cash game allows users to shoot and match bubbles against other players for real money.

Play Bubble Cash any time of day — in bed (trust us, you may become addicted), on the couch, on break, or anywhere you have your phone. It’s entirely based on skill, so once you get the hang of it, join real cash tournaments for as little as 30 cents and start earning pocket money by doing something you enjoy!

Better yet, Bubble Cash is ad-free and uses PayPal for secure cash-outs. It boasts an average score of 4.6 with 80,000 reviews on the Apple Store. Boost your mood and bank account by downloading it here.

Get Bubble Cash Today

10. Stop overpaying for car insurance

If you’re like most Americans, you’re probably paying too much for car insurance. But shopping around for a better deal can be a hassle.

That’s why you should check out Provide Insurance, the largest online marketplace for insurance in the US. Provide Insurance lets you compare quotes from more than 175 different carriers in minutes.

All you have to do is answer a few questions about yourself and your driving history. Then Provide Insurance will show you the best options for your needs and budget.

You could save up to $610 a year on car insurance by using Provide Insurance. That’s money you could use for other things, like investing, saving or paying off debt.

Don’t let your current insurer charge extra. Try Provide Insurance today and see how much you can save on car insurance.

Save Money on Car Insurance

11. Pay less when shopping online

Let’s face it, shopping online is more convenient than going to a store. Plus, you’re more likely to find a deal, promotion, or coupon code and quickly cross-reference prices at several different retailers to save money.

Want to make that process even easier? Try Capital One Shopping. This handy dandy tool alerts you when a deal on an item you’re buying is available. Talk about effortlessness. All you have to do is add it as a browser extension, and it’ll search the internet for coupon codes to apply during checkout.

That’s not all. It also compares prices across the internet and will notify you when the item you’re purchasing is cheaper elsewhere. It’s free, and you don’t need to be a CapitalOne customer to use it. It’s just a friendly tool trying to save you money online.

Find better bargains now.

Save Money When You Shop Online

12. Invest in art and earn extra passive income

Defensive investing strategies are a requirement in this economic climate. Unfortunately, traditional equities are getting crushed between record levels of inflation and interest rate hikes.

Morgan Stanley says the markets are in a “death zone,” forecasting American stocks to sink as much as 26% further in 2023. Nowadays, even your defensive investments may need growth potential.

Tried-and-true hedges aren’t even immune to this level of volatility. But while most markets ran red in 2022, the art market had a record-setting season, headlined by tech mogul Paul Allen’s collection drawing a record $1.5 billion in sales at auction.

Asset managers from BlackRock to Goldman Sachs have praised art as an asset, primarily due to its near-zero correlation with traditional equities. It’s no passing trend: over the last 26 years, art prices have outpaced the S&P 500 by almost double.

Masterworks allows almost any investor to invest in contemporary art from legends like Picasso, Monet, and Banksy without spending millions on a single painting. Skip the waitlist and join 657,000 members today.

See important Reg A disclosures: Masterworks.com/cd

Make Money Investing in Fine Art

Bonus: Get free, expert advice on everything money-related

What’s free and gives you tips to spend less, make more and avoid rip-offs? The Money Talks Newsletter. Every day we provide free tips and tricks that will make you richer. And it doesn’t cost a dime.

Our readers report saving an average of $941 with our simple, direct advice.

Click here to sign up. It only takes two seconds. And if you don’t like it, it only takes two seconds to unsubscribe. Don’t worry about spam: We never share your email address.

Try it. You’ll be glad you did!

Bottom line

In the age of the internet, the options to make money online are endless with little to no effort. Instead of scrolling social media in your spare time, use a money-generating survey site, game, or tool that earns or saves you money. Try to see how much side money you can earn in one month!

So, what are you waiting for? Jump in and start making money online like millions of other people.

Get smarter with your money!

Want the best money-news and tips to help you make more and spend less? Then sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter to receive daily updates of personal finance news and advice, delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free newsletter today.