The first time I realized that you could make money online was my senior year of college.
I was scrolling through Pinterest when I came across an article on how some woman had made a full-time income working online while traveling the world. Like any free-spirited, early-20-something, that was my dream. So of course I thought, “How can I make money online so I can travel whenever and wherever I want?”
I decided to do a little digging to see if there were any others out there living the “laptop lifestyle,” working from anywhere with an internet connection and cell reception. As it turns out, thousands, if not millions, of people make money online every day.
Once I realized there are many legit ways to make money online, I decided to give it a try for myself. Since then, I’ve earned thousands per year all while working from my laptop. And it’s not as difficult to get started as you may think.
Easy Ways to Make Money Online
Some methods of making money online pay higher rates than others, so choose the ones that best suit your lifestyle. Here are some ideas and resources to get started learning how to make money online for free.
1. Participate in market research
Online surveys won’t net you a hefty income, but you can earn a few dollars here and there. Many survey sites pay in gift cards, but some, like Branded Surveys, allow you to cash out your earnings via PayPal or direct deposit. By consistently taking surveys and earning points, you’ll become a Branded Elite member and qualify for additional bonus points and rewards.
We’ve audited dozens of paid survey sites, many of which are scams purporting to represent legitimate entities, so be careful when handing out personal information to a brand you haven’t heard much about.
2. Get cash back and rewards when you shop
Cash-back and reward apps and browser extensions help you save money on everything from groceries to books. Again, you won’t earn a fortune, but you will save money on things you already buy. My personal favorite is CapitalOne Shopping because it works with my favorite stores like Overstock, Vitacost, and eBay.
If you already use CapitalOne, you can create a CapitalOne Shopping account using your regular banking log in. If you don’t use CapitalOne, signing up is still a quick process. Once you create an account and get the browser extension, CapitalOne will let you know while you’re shopping if there’s a deal available for that retailer. You can cash in your rewards for gift cards to Walmart, Redbox, Sephora, and other retailers.
Note: CapitalOne Shopping compensates us when you get the CapitalOne Shopping extension using the links provided.
3. Complete micro tasks
Micro tasks are one of the easiest ways to make money online. But micro jobs come with micro pay. You can earn a few dollars a month with Swagbucks by watching videos, playing games, and using the Swagbucks search engine. Other micro job sites pay users for reviewing content, verifying data, or testing apps and websites.
4. Trade in old phones or unused technology
I used to have a habit of holding on to all my old laptops and cell phones, even after I upgraded to a newer model. That changed when I discovered Buyback Boss and sites like it where you can sell your old electronics. I recently got $60 for trading in my old iPhone 7 that’s been sitting in my closet for two years. Buyback Boss gives you an instant quote and offers a highest-price guarantee. If you find a better deal on another site, send it your quote and it’ll match it, no questions asked.
5. Start a blog of your own

Making money by starting a blog is more realistic than you may think. Bloggers make money by advertising for companies they’re affiliated with. When users click an affiliate link and make a purchase, the website owner earns a commission. There are other ways to make money blogging such as by displaying advertising, selling your own products, or writing sponsored content.
Related: 40 First Blog Post Ideas That P
Show more...
