Times have changed, and when a single salary could take care of an entire household, that no longer remains a reality. Thankfully, with rising costs, opportunities have grown just as much. So much so that it’s now become challenging choosing the right opportunities.
We’re here to clear the fog by bringing you 13 tested and actionable remote jobs you can work from the comfort of your own home. This not only gives more inclusive earning opportunities, but it also provides additional income streams to earn extra money on your own terms.
How to Spot Legitimate Online Jobs
The fact is, the need for work-from-home jobs is increasing at lightning speed. According to the State of Remote Work report from 2023, 98% of the study’s participants expressed wanting to work remotely for the rest of their careers.
This is just one study of many, but its summary points to a single conclusion: remote work is changing from being a benefit to a necessity.
Use Trusted Platforms
Whether you’re looking for a full-time job or a part-time opportunity, the market is full of choices, but they all require closer inspection. For one thing, companies seeking to attract more candidates advertise their roles as remote, but quite often turn out to be hybrid.
If you want to make money online and you’re just starting, the best and quickest way to land an opportunity is to:
- Stick to established job boards like FlexJobs, Upwork, Fiverr, and Indeed
- Research company reviews on Glassdoor or Trustpilot
- Look for platforms with robust payment protection systems
- Avoid platforms asking for upfront fees or personal information early on
Top 13 Easy Online Part-Time Jobs
1. Microtasking
Microtasking involves completing small-to-medium-sized tasks, often simple, which typically take between a few minutes to an hour to do. Most popular tasks typically include data verification, image tagging, content moderation, research, etc.
Popular platforms include Amazon MTurk for US workers and Clickworker for international users. Naturally, the smaller the task, the less pay you’ll get. However, consistency is key, and so is true in generating a steady income by completing micro tasks.
- Average income range: $2-15 per hour
- Getting started: Sign up for your preferred platforms and complete qualification tests to access higher-paying tasks.
2. Online Surveys
Market research companies pay for consumer opinions through paid online surveys. While micro tasks might require some effort, most online surveys will only require a few taps on your smartphone. While not as lucrative as microtasking, completing online surveys provides a legit earning opportunity with incredible flexibility.
Many platforms offer online surveys, but not all of them are equal. Pawns.app combines convenience, usability, and accessibility in one single mobile app and platform, offering quick and low-effort surveys. Other platforms, like Prolific, focus on qualitative research for academic purposes.
- Average income range: $1-20 per hour (varies significantly by survey length and complexity)
- Getting started: Sign up for multiple legitimate survey platforms to maximize opportunities.
3. Virtual Assistants
Virtual assistants help businesses and individuals with various administrative tasks. This could be anything from managing emails, scheduling, or social media accounts, to basic bookkeeping and customer service.
While it’s true that most virtual assistants provide a wide range of services, it’s typically advised to specialize in a single activity to maximize your chances of landing a VA job.
- Average income range: $10-25 per hour
- Getting started: Create a profile on platforms like Belay, Time etc., or general freelancing sites like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer.
4. Freelance Writing or Transcription
Content is a key driver for many businesses across different industries, resulting in a high demand for good-quality content. AI tools have only increased the demand due to unverified AI content flooding the digital space, creating a whole new genre of content – AI writing.
Whether you have previous experience or not, becoming a freelance writer is relatively simple, especially with so many useful tools and courses online. You can specialize in blog post writing, website copy, product description, social media content, email writing, and much more.
Alternatively, if switching to writing online sounds a bit complicated at the moment, you can always explore transcription. There are numerous platforms like TranscribeMe and GoTranscript that connect you with clients to convert audio or video content into text.
- Average income range: $15-50+ per hour for writing, $15-25 per hour for transcription
- Getting started: Build a portfolio or create sample pieces and start applying to freelance agencies or Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer.
5. User Testing
Good customer experience is important to any product or service. That’s why businesses invest heavily in user testing, collaborating with platforms to find suitable test participants to evaluate websites, apps, products, and services.
The best part about user testing is that more often than not, it doesn’t require any experience to get started, beyond the ability to give well-structured feedback. As an added bonus, you can choose from many different types of testing, from reviewing products for Amazon to completing reviews online.
- Average income range: $10-60 per test
- Getting started: Sign up on UserTesting, TryMyUI, or Userlytics, complete your profile, and get invited to do tests.
6. Customer Support or Chat Agent
If you’re looking for work online that doesn’t require much to get started, consider becoming a customer support agent. Many companies hire remote customer service specialists to provide support via phone, email, or live chat.
The only requirements for this online job are to have good language and communication skills with reliable internet. You will also be able to choose between different work hours, allowing considerable flexibility in managing your schedule. Training is usually provided, making it easy for beginners to become customer support agents.
- Average income range: $12-20 per hour
- Getting started: Search for openings on Indeed and FlexJobs, or create accounts on LiveWorld, The Chat Shop, and Arise, which frequently hire remote agents.
7. Online Tutoring or Teaching English
Getting a valid qualification today has become much more inclusive, allowing anyone with an internet connection to gain specialized knowledge to land great remote jobs to make money online. And if you have a specific skill set, you can become an online tutor.
In particular, teaching English as a second language has become especially popular in recent years, along with other skills like writing, coding, and others. Many platforms provide established workflows and subject materials, reducing preparation time.
- Average income range: $10-40 per hour
- Getting started: Apply to platforms like Cambly, Preply, iTalki, or Wyzant. Keep in mind that some platforms might require teaching credentials, while others only need native language proficiency.
8. Selling Digital Products
The popularity of digital products is at an all-time high, and there’s a reason why. It’s considerably easy, achievable, and accessible to a wide population of people. While it’s true that there’s a surge of digital products on the market, the benefit lies in diversification opportunities.
You can choose to create eBooks, printables, T-shirt designs, planners, templates, courses, stickers… The list goes on. All you have to do is pick a single product and start creating products, testing designs, and formats.
- Average income range: $50-1000+ per month (highly variable)
- Getting started: Identify your skills and create products using free tools like Canva. Sell on platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, or your website.
9. Social Media Content Creation & UGC
Creating user-generated content (UGC) is another popular online job, especially with recent trends shifting to everyday users rather than just focusing on big-name social media accounts. UGC content allows anyone with an Instagram or a TikTok account to do product reviews, unboxing videos, and lifestyle content featuring specific products or services.
If you’re comfortable with being in front of a camera and sharing your feedback openly, this could be the part-time online job you’re looking for. Be open, communicative, and more importantly, authentic when working with brands.
- Average income range: $5-50 per post
- Getting started: Build a social media presence showing your content creation skills. Apply to UGC platforms like AspireIQ, Grin, or reach out to brands directly.
10. Micro-Gigs on Fiverr or Upwork
Much like microtasting, doing micro-gigs on Fiverr and Upwork can be a great way to make extra money on a flexible schedule that suits you. You could offer specific services like logo design, voiceovers, data entry, and social media posts.
These “gigs” are typically small, well-defined projects. It’s true that initially it might be tricky to land gigs, but if you spend some time creating a small portfolio with several examples of your work, assignments will start to come in.
- Average income range: $5-100+ per gig
- Getting started: Create detailed service listings on Fiverr, Upwork, or 99designs. Start with low pricing to build reviews and reputation.
11. Data Entry
Data entry has always been a good and reliable way to make money, especially after the major shift to remote work. Opportunities that require data entry typically involve inputting information into databases, spreadsheets, or content management systems.
Overall, data entry is highly repetitive, and the work requires accuracy with optimal attention to detail. While not the highest-paying option, data entry provides steady work for those who prefer consistency and structured tasks.
- Average income range: $8-15 per hour
- Getting started: Apply through staffing agencies, a good example would be Robert Half, or search job boards for “remote data entry” positions.
12. Search Engine Evaluation
Googling has become not just a verb, but an action we all rely on multiple times a day, much like getting a cup of water. To ensure it remains so, search engines pour vast resources into search engine development and betterment, and one of the key driving activities here is search engine evaluation.
Search engine evaluators play an important role by reviewing the quality and relevance of search results to help improve algorithms for Google or Bing. To ensure the best results, companies like Google provide highly detailed guidelines on how to rate web pages and search queries.
- Average income range: $12-18 per hour
- Getting started: Apply to companies like Appen, TELUS International, or iSoftStone. You’ll have to pass qualification exams to show your understanding of evaluation guidelines.
13. AI Prompting or Training
AI prompt writing and model training is the next most popular part-time job, offering the ability to work online remotely with a flexible schedule. As AI usage increases, companies need more and more humans to test and improve AI systems, responses, and AI-generated content.
While there are different categories to be tested, from coding to content, AI testing does require a certain caliber of analytical thinking and some degree of specific subject matter knowledge. For example, expertise in content writing to improve AI outputs.
- Average income range: $15-25 per hour
- Getting started: Look for opportunities on AI company websites, LinkedIn, specialized platforms like Scale AI, or through research institutions.
How to Pick the Best Job for You
A list of 13 legit part-time job opportunities can be exciting, but how to know which is the best to start exploring additional ways to make money? More often than not, people scatter their attention and try out multiple things, hoping to start earning faster. But doing so will only prolong the process. Let’s explore the key factors to look into to land your next best side hustle.
Match Jobs to Your Lifestyle
Whatever your reason or goal, it’s important to lay down some ground rules for yourself. While all 13 opportunities are great choices, they all have different requirements. First and foremost, consider your availability and work preferences, and be honest with yourself.
We always want to do the best we can, but unrealistic expectations can result in disappointment and burnout, whereas consistency will help track results and adjust your efforts accordingly.
For example, if you want maximum flexibility, survey work or microtasking might suit you better than customer service roles with set hours.
Focus on Skills You Already Have
Evaluate what you have and move from there. Leverage your existing abilities to get started faster. Strong writers should consider content creation, while organized individuals might excel as virtual assistants, helping businesses with keeping processes in check.
Or perhaps you’re really good at explaining and teaching, in which case you could record courses and help others gain new skills.
Think About Your Goals
Set a clear goal in front of you that would help guide your actions. If you want to earn quick cash, online surveys provide immediate rewards for very little effort. In contrast, if you’re looking to grow and scale, engaging in long-term freelance work could be a beneficial choice for you.
Tips to Boost Your Earnings
- Diversify your income streams. Focusing on a single part-time job category is essential, but try to provide your services on more than one platform.
- Track your performance. Monitor your progress and check in on your hourly earnings, use spreadsheets to time-track your work, and identify which opportunities bring the most value.
- Invest in gradual skill development. The internet is full of free resources you can take advantage of, like YouTube tutorials, Coursera courses, or skill-sharing platforms to learn new abilities.
- Build a strong profile and reputation. Spend some time polishing your profiles on platforms you use regularly. Positive reviews and ratings can increase your chances of getting new clients.
Conclusion
Earning money through online part-time jobs has never been more accessible than today. The key to success here is consistency and focus, something you can start and manage while you gain more experience and grow.
Remember, building a sustainable online income will be far more rewarding than going all out by starting multiple activities at the same time. Start small, focus on delivering quality work, and you’ll see your earnings grow.
