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Finding a legitimate website to earn extra money from shouldn’t be difficult. That’s why we curated this list of eight secret websites to make money and earn passive income.
But don’t gatekeep this list. Go ahead and share it with your friends.
Make money together with your loved ones. There’s no better feeling.
Read this first: what “secret” really means (and how to vet sites)
When we say secret, we don’t mean shady hacks or get-rich-quick schemes. These secret websites to make money are simply lesser-known platforms that you can use for side hustles.
Of course, not every money-making site is worth your time. To avoid scams, run this quick 5-point legitimacy check before signing up:
Free to join: If the website requires upfront costs, it’s a sign to exit that platform.
Clear payout method: The website should list all available payout methods. These include bank account transfer, PayPal cash transfer, crypto, or gift cards. Plus, they should tell you when you can withdraw your earnings.
Real company footprint: These websites should have a support or help center, company page, and LinkedIn page. This tells you that a real company is running the website.
Reviews and testimonials: Search for the company’s name on Google or social media platforms. Forums like Reddit also have existing threads on these secret websites. Check what people have to say to see if you can really earn money without investment or extra costs.
Data privacy policies: A legitimate website should have clear privacy policies. They should tell you how they secure your personal information and keep your digital wallet safe.
The availability of these secret websites might vary by country. Moreover, some payout options might be unavailable in your region. Always check these factors first before completing tasks.
How to choose the best secret website for extra income (fast cash vs. long-term)
This list of secret websites to make money from varies in required time commitment and skill level. For easier reference, we created this decision grid for you.
These sites offer simple tasks like completing surveys. Reach the minimum payout if you have the free time to work on the tasks quickly.
Highest hourly upside
Respondent, Rare Patient Voice
These sites connect you to high-paying academic research. If you qualify, you can earn up to $100 per hour. However, projects are selective and have target personas.
Apps you can run in the background with minimal effort
Honeygain
An app like Honeygain pays you for sharing unused internet bandwidth. You can install the app on your devices and let it run in the background. It’s a simple way on how to earn money with a laptop or smartphone.
Selective or professional work
Wynter, Data Annotation
If you have the right expertise for the job, these websites pay more than other platforms. These require professional experience and particular skills, though.
Read more below to dive deeper into each of these money-making websites.
Passive or background earners you can set-and-forget
If you don’t have the free time but you want to earn some extra cash, these apps are the best for you.
1. Background bandwidth sharing for passive income
A bandwidth-sharing site pays you for sharing unused internet bandwidth. One of these platforms is Honeygain, an app that you can install and run simultaneously on multiple devices.
You just need a steady internet connection to keep things running. These apps use your internet data for testing websites and networks, including ad testing and optimizations. They only use unused bandwidth, so it won’t affect your internet performance.
Typical payout: $5 to $25 per month, depending on your internet speed and regional demand. You can increase your earnings if you run the app on multiple devices.
Payout method and speed: Withdraw your earnings through PayPal or cryptocurrency. Honeygain requires a minimum $20 cashout threshold.
Skill level and approval difficulty: Zero skill level and difficulty. Anyone can use the app, as there is no approval process.
Starter tip: Use low-consumption devices like Raspberry Pi to run the app the whole day without consuming much electricity.
2. Cashback & referral portals
Get a percentage of your money back when you shop through cashback apps like Rakuten. These platforms earn a commission for every purchase, and they will share a portion with you. This way, you save some money while shopping online.
Typical payout: In 2024, Rakuten paid an average cash back of $101.46 per member. You can also refer friends to earn an extra $30.
Payout method and speed: Withdraw your earnings through PayPal, check, or gift cards. To ensure no item returns, it might take up to 90 days to get paid after a purchase.
Skill level and approval difficulty: Zero skill level and difficulty. As long as you continue shopping, you can earn a passive income stream.
Starter tip: Along with the mobile app, you can also install the Rakuten browser extension on your PC or laptop.
Quick-win websites with fast payouts
Can’t wait for a month or two to get a payout? These quick-win secret websites to make money can help you.
Make money online!
Join Honeygain and collect $2 starter gift for free
Research panels like Respondent offer services for companies doing detailed studies. To achieve this objective, they need people to take surveys and provide feedback. However, each study requires target personas with specific traits and backgrounds.
Typical payout: $50 to $100 per study, depending on the nature of the research. You might need 30-90 minutes to complete the surveys.
Payout method and speed: Withdraw your earnings through PayPal, direct deposit, or gift cards. You can process your earnings three to five days after completion.
Skill level and approval difficulty: Approval depends on your qualifications. You must match the demographics required by the study.
Starter tip: List out all details and skills on your profile to qualify for more studies.
4. Academic survey panels that actually pay
Participate in academic research to earn income by the hour. Academic survey platforms like Prolific will refer you to schools and universities. These studies are often about human behavior and social psychology.
Typical payout: $8 to $10 per hour. Hourly rates might depend on the complexity and scope of the research.
Payout method and speed: Withdraw your earnings through PayPal. The payout gets processed 3-5 days after the researcher approves your submission.
Skill level and approval difficulty: Most people qualify, but your demographics must match the research’s requirements.
Starter tip: Check Prolific’s website regularly, as new studies might appear each day.
5. Get paid to test games and earn money
Turn your favorite hobby into an opportunity to earn easy money. PlaytestCloud pays users for playing games and testing for bugs and errors. You’re like a market tester, but for beta versions of new, unreleased games.
Typical payout: $7 to $15 per game that you test. Each test might require 15-30 minutes for you to play the game.
Payout method and speed: Once your review is approved, you can request a payout through PayPal after 3-5 days.
Skill level and approval difficulty: Low to medium approval difficulty. Anyone can apply, but slots fill up quickly.
Starter tip: On your profile, list all devices and consoles you have. Some games might require testing on other consoles.
Earn extra cash playing games. It’s really a fun way on how to make money from home. Video creators and gaming streamers can easily complete simple tasks like game-testing.
Niche professional panels and marketplaces most people miss
If you have a few hours of spare time, you can earn your own rates on professional marketplaces and apps.
6. B2B message-testing panels to provide detailed feedback
One of the secret websites to make money from is Wynter. This platform pays you for reviewing marketing materials of a traditional or online business. However, you need to have professional credentials. You must have an expert background in advertisement-related niches like marketing, HR, or finance.
Typical payout: $20 to $100 per marketing review or test. This could increase if you’re tasked with a complex marketing test.
Payout method and speed: Withdraw your earnings through PayPal. Payout processing might take 7-10 days to appear in your account.
Skill level and approval difficulty: High approval difficulty, since you need a specific professional expertise. Other panels might also require years of experience in the industry.
Starter tip: Use your professional email when signing up for a free account. Include your job title and list down relevant experiences in the industry.
7. Data annotation platforms
Platforms like Remotasks pay you for labeling and categorizing data. You might be tasked to transcribe audio files, label images, and evaluate chatbot responses. You complete online tasks like these to help improve the quality of AI tools.
It’s not exactly how you earn passive income, but you can do tasks at your own pace.
Typical payout: $10 to $15 per hour on complex projects. Simpler tasks might only pay several cents each.
Payout method and speed: Withdraw your earnings through PayPal or AirTM. Remotasks pays your approved tasks every week.
Skill level and approval difficulty: Medium skill level and approval difficulty. You must pass a screening test before you’re allowed to choose a project.
Starter tip: Your performance on the screening test might dictate the number of projects you receive. Take the test seriously, and hopefully, you will do well.
8. Tester networks for ongoing gigs
Tester networks like UserTesting help you land gigs testing products for different companies. You might get paid for testing the interface of an online store or a mobile app. You can pick your tasks, so this is perfect if you need a side hustle with flexible hours.
Typical payout: $10 to $15 for a 20-minute test. This could be less or higher, depending on the complexity of the product you’re testing.
Payout method and speed: Withdraw your earnings through PayPal. You can process your completed tasks weekly.
Skill level and approval difficulty: Anyone can test the products, but you often need to record your voice while testing.
Starter tip: Detail out your demographics and interests to match with more projects.
Payment methods, thresholds, and timelines (what to expect)
These secret websites to make money from might differ in payment methods and timelines. Some require a minimum payout threshold, while others offer scheduled payments.
Here’s how websites pay you for completing required tasks:
PayPal: PayPal remains the most common payment method for platforms like UserTesting, Prolific, and Respondent.
Virtual gift cards: Earn rewards on cashback apps through gift cards. You can still select real cash rewards on Rakuten, but gift cards are also an option.
Cryptocurrency: Honeygain allows you to withdraw earnings through JumpTask, a cryptocurrency.
To avoid confusion, create a primary wallet for all platforms. This way, you can easily track your earnings across every channel.
Key takeaways
Delivery jobs, pet-sitting gigs, and platforms to sell online courses are some of the trending side hustles today. However, there’s still an overlooked list of secret websites to make money for free.
But it doesn’t mean that you’ll just get money for free. It just means that you don’t need upfront investment or upfront fees to land these gigs. That, and these factors as well:
There’s no get-rich-quick scheme, ever.
Check app reviews on forums like Reddit and other social media platforms.
Review data privacy policies in each app to ensure that your information is protected.
Each app might have different payment methods and minimums.
Create a verified digital wallet (like PayPal) before doing any work.
Some websites, like Google Opinion Rewards, offer payments when you complete surveys and user interviews. Others, like Honeygain, let you earn money online just by running an app in the background.
To achieve a steady income, you can diversify across different websites. Just make sure to review each site’s legitimacy through our 5-step checklist above.
FAQs
What are truly legit “secret” websites that pay well?
How fast can I get my first payout and earn online?
Are there passive options I can run in the background?
