Secret websites to make money: 15 lesser-known platforms to earn online

Secret websites to make money are underutilized platforms where you can earn without competing against thousands of freelancers like on Upwork or Fiverr. They’re not hidden or illegal—just less saturated. Most pay for microtasks, user feedback, digital products, or resources you already own.

These platforms rarely provide a full-time income. Earnings depend on your skills, location, and time investment, and most work best as supplemental income.

The opportunities range from simple surveys and microtasks to digital product marketplaces, passive asset-sharing tools, expert-only services, and niche gigs with limited availability.

Task-based and survey websites

Task-based and survey websites are built for quick wins, paying you for activities such as:

• Answering survey questions – Sharing your opinions or basic info in short questionnaires.
• Joining short research sessions – Taking part in paid studies that follow a clear set of questions or tasks.
• Testing an app flow – Clicking through a website or feature and explaining what feels confusing or smooth.
• Completing simple online microtasks – Doing quick jobs like sorting data, checking content, or labeling items.

This earning method is flexible, beginner-friendly, and easy to set up. If you can spare 10–30 minutes a day, you can start building momentum and learn how to make money online without committing to a long-term project.

At the same time, these platforms have a ceiling. The pay-per-task rate is usually modest, and the best opportunities don’t always show up every day. Availability often depends on where you live, what languages you speak, and whether you match the demographics the platform needs at that moment.

1. Prolific

Prolific connects you with paid academic research studies, so you earn by taking part in real university-backed research instead of random marketing surveys.

These studies often focus on topics such as:

• Decision-making and problem-solving
• Habits and daily behavior
• Memory, attention, and learning
• Reactions to ads, messages, or online content

This is why Prolific surveys often feel more structured than many other survey websites that pay you for your insights.

You’ll notice that Prolific pays more than most survey sites. This is mainly because researchers want high-quality responses from real people.

Earning potential: $8–$15 per hour

Who is it best for: People who want better-paying surveys and don’t mind academic-style studies.

2. UserTesting

With UserTesting, you can do website testing for money by recording your feedback as you browse a site or try an app feature.

Instead of filling out long surveys, you complete short usability tests where you speak out loud as you click around, so companies can understand what’s confusing, what works well, and what needs improvement.

Most tests take around 10–20 minutes. How many tests you get depends on demand and how well you match the target audience.

UserTesting jobs can be a solid option for a side income, but they’re not always consistent. Some days you’ll see multiple tests available, and other times you might get none. If you treat it as a flexible side income and check in regularly, it can be a reliable add-on to your earning mix.

Earning potential: $10–$60 per test

Who is it best for: Anyone who can speak clearly and give honest feedback while testing apps.

3. Clickworker

Using Clickworker, you can complete online tasks for money without advanced skills or a commitment to long projects.

Most common Clickworker tasks include:

• Data categorization – Sorting items into the right labels, topics, or groups.
• Short surveys – Answering quick questions based on your profile and opinions.
• Writing micro-tasks – Creating short descriptions, short responses, or simple text snippets.
• Text and content checks – Reviewing short pieces of content for clarity, relevance, or basic quality issues.

Clickworker is one of the more beginner-friendly microtask websites, but task availability can change from day to day. Some weeks you’ll see plenty of work, and other times the list can be limited, depending on your location and the current demand.

If you check in regularly and focus on tasks you can complete quickly and accurately, it can become a steady side-income option.

Earning potential: $3–$9 per hour

Who is it best for: Beginners looking for quick microtasks, such as sorting data or short writing jobs.

4. Gigwalk

Gigwalk jobs pay you to complete simple tasks in nearby stores and locations.

Most gigs fall into a few common task types, such as:

• Verifying store displays – Checking if a product stand or promotion is set up correctly.
• Taking in-store photos – Snapping photos of shelves, pricing tags, or product placement.
• Checking product availability – Confirming whether a specific item is in stock at a location.
• Reporting basic store info – Answering quick questions about what you see in-store.

Gigwalk is one of the more practical task-based earning platforms, but it’s heavily location-dependent. If you live in a larger city, you’ll usually see more gigs available. If you’re in a smaller area, tasks can be limited.

Most tasks pay a fixed amount per gig, and the pay range depends on how long the assignment takes and how specific the requirements are.

Earning potential: $10–$50 per task

Who is it best for: People in larger cities who want paid errands, such as photo checks and store visits.

Websites to sell creative work or digital products

With creative platforms, you can earn by selling something you make, not just something you do. Instead of getting paid once for completing a task, you can monetize digital assets such as:

• Photos and stock images
• Designs and illustrations
• Templates and printable files
• Digital downloads like graphics or icons

The best part is that you can keep earning from the same work over and over again, especially if your products stay relevant.

This category usually has more competition, especially on bigger marketplaces, because the barrier to entry is still low, but your earning potential can be higher in the long run.

Creator-focused platforms can help you learn how to sell digital products and build income that doesn’t reset to zero every day.

5. Foap

Using the Foap app, you can turn your phone photos into income by uploading them to a marketplace where brands pay to legally use your images in ads, websites, and social media campaigns.

Foap works through licensing, which means buyers pay for the right to use your photo, not to own it outright. Your earnings depend on how marketable your photos are and whether they match what brands are currently looking for.

If you’re searching for beginner-friendly photography income websites, Foap is one of the easiest ways to start selling photos online.

Earning potential: $5–$50 per sale/mission

Who is it best for: Smartphone photographers who want to license photos without pro gear.

6. Shutterstock

Shutterstock works like a marketplace for stock photos and videos. You add your content, and you earn money each time a buyer downloads it.

Shutterstock uses a royalty-based model, which means you earn a percentage per download rather than a fixed one-time payment. Your earnings depend on the type of content you upload, how often it gets downloaded, and how well it matches what buyers are searching for.

If you’re patient and consistent, Shutterstock can become a long-term stream of stock photography income, especially if you upload regularly and build a strong portfolio around a clear niche.

Earning potential: $0.25–$0.40 per download

Who is it best for: Creators who can consistently upload high-quality stock photos or videos.

7. Redbubble

Redbubble lets you sell designs online without handling inventory, printing, or shipping. It uses a print-on-demand model, which means your artwork gets printed on products like t-shirts, stickers, phone cases, and posters only after someone places an order.

Your print-on-demand income is the profit you add on top of Redbubble’s base cost. For example, if Redbubble’s base price for a t-shirt is $15 and you add a $5 markup, you earn $5 per sale. A higher markup means more profit per item, but it can also make your product look expensive, so it’s worth testing what actually works best for customers.

Earning potential: $20–$1,000+ per month

Who is it best for: Designers who want to sell artwork on products without handling printing or shipping.

Passive or asset-sharing websites

Passive or asset-sharing websites help you earn from what you already have, not what you actively do. Instead of completing tasks or selling creative work, you make money by sharing unused resources such as spare internet bandwidth, extra storage space, or even ad space on your car.

This category is low effort once it’s set up, which makes it a good fit if you’re exploring online business ideas that can run in the background.

Just keep your expectations realistic. Earnings tend to build slowly, and your results depend on practical factors like where you live, how much you can share, and whether there’s demand in your area.

8. Honeygain

With Honeygain, you can earn money by sharing the internet you’re not using, which makes it one of the easiest options to set up if you want a side income that runs quietly in the background.

After you install the app, it uses a small portion of your unused bandwidth, and you earn credits based on how much data is shared.

Since this is a “set it and forget it” model, Honeygain passive income tends to be slow, but the effort is super low. Your earnings depend on factors like your location, internet speed, and how long your device stays online.

Before you use it, it’s also worth thinking about privacy and payout basics. You’re sharing bandwidth, not personal files, but you should still read the terms, understand how the network is used, and avoid installing it on devices you don’t fully control.

Earning potential: $5–$30 per month

Who is it best for: People with stable Wi-Fi who want low-effort earnings in the background.

9. Neighbor

Neighbor platform helps you earn by turning unused space into passive income assets, making it a practical option if you have a garage, basement, driveway, or a spare room you’re not fully using.

Your earnings depend on how much space you have, how accessible it is, and whether there’s local demand in your area.

Before you list anything, it’s worth checking the basics around protection and eligibility. Neighbor storage typically includes insurance coverage for stored items, but the exact terms can vary, so it’s smart to review what’s covered and what isn’t.

Location matters too. You’ll get the best results in areas with high storage demand, where people prefer nearby, affordable alternatives to traditional storage units.

Earning potential: $100–$500+ per month

Who is it best for: Anyone with a garage, basement, or driveway they can rent out for storage.

10. Wrapify

Wrapify pays you to turn your car into moving ad space, so you can get paid to advertise on your car while driving like you normally do. Brands run campaigns through Wrapify car ads, which are applied as full or partial wraps, depending on the offer and the campaign’s visibility needs.

Wrapify typically looks at factors like your mileage, driving routes, and location, since advertisers want their ads seen in specific cities and neighborhoods.

In other words, it’s not guaranteed income for everyone. If you don’t drive often or you live outside major campaign areas, you may see fewer opportunities. But if you’re already commuting daily, Wrapify can be a simple way to earn extra cash while doing what you already do.

Earning potential: $200–$500 per month

Who is it best for: Regular commuters who drive often in campaign-heavy areas.

Freelancing and expert-only platforms

On freelancing and expert-only platforms, you can earn by selling what you know, not just what you can do quickly. Instead of competing for generic gigs, you get paid for specialized knowledge, real experience, and the ability to give clear answers or deliver quality help.

This category usually comes with higher standards. Many platforms screen applicants, require proof of skills, or only accept people with strong communication and professional backgrounds. The upside is that payouts can be more consistent and higher per session compared to microtasks or surveys.

If you’re exploring side hustle ideas that feel more serious and skill-based, these platforms can be a strong next step.

11. Cambly

The Cambly platform pays you for having real conversations with English learners, making it a beginner-friendly option if you want to teach English online without a degree or creating lesson plans.

You’re not expected to act like a traditional teacher. Instead, you help students practice real conversations, improve pronunciation, and build confidence speaking English.

Sessions are usually one-on-one, and they can range from casual small talk to more structured practice, depending on what the student wants.

Cambly typically pays by the minute, so your earnings depend on how many minutes you spend in calls. This makes it flexible, but it also means your income can vary based on student demand and your availability.

Earning potential: $0.17–$0.20 base per minute + bonuses

Who is it best for: Fluent English speakers looking to provide casual, conversation-based tutoring sessions.

12. JustAnswer

JustAnswer is one of the most established paid Q&A platforms where you get paid to answer questions in your area of expertise, including tech, legal, medical, automotive, and home improvement. Instead of hunting for clients, you respond to real user questions and earn money for helping them solve specific problems.

To join as one of the JustAnswer experts, you’ll need to prove your qualifications during the application process. Approval usually depends on your credentials and experience, since the platform is built around trusted advice rather than casual opinions.

Earning potential: $2,000–$7,000 per month for active users

Who is it best for: Verified experts who can answer questions in fields like legal, tech, or healthcare.

Unique and unconventional money-making websites

Unique and unconventional platforms pay you for niche activities that don’t fit the usual “freelance” or “survey” categories. These options can be surprisingly profitable, but they’re also less predictable. Availability is often limited, onboarding can be selective, and many gigs depend on your location.

If you’re open to unusual work and you don’t mind waiting for the right opportunities, this category can be a great way to diversify your side income.

13. WeGoLook

WeGoLook offers verification tasks for money that involve real-world work, like on-site inspections. Most WeGoLook jobs are straightforward: you visit a location, follow a checklist, take clear photos, and submit your report through the platform.

Common inspection gigs include:

• Photographing properties for basic condition checks
• Inspecting vehicles and capturing key details
• Verifying equipment, inventory, or business locations

Since these tasks are location-based, you’ll need reliable transportation and enough flexibility to travel to the assignment site.

Earning potential: $15–$50 per gig

Who is it best for: People with a car who can complete on-site photo and verification tasks.

14. Second to None

Second to None includes mystery shopper work where you evaluate real customer experiences, following clear instructions and structured reporting.

Second to None mystery shopping assignments fall into a few common task types, such as:

• In-store audits – Checking product placement, pricing, cleanliness, or promotions.
• Service evaluations – Rating how staff greet you, answer questions, and handle requests.
• Detailed reporting – Completing a report after your visit, sometimes with photos or receipts

This type of work can be a solid side-income option, but it’s not always consistent. Retail audit jobs depend on your location and the current demand, and pay varies by assignment based on how long the visit takes and how detailed the reporting needs to be.

Earning potential: $20–$100 per assignment

Who is it best for: Detail-oriented shoppers who can do store audits and write clear reports.

15. HealthyWage

HealthyWage is one of the most unusual platforms on this list because it lets you get paid to lose weight through goal-based challenges. Instead of earning money from tasks or creative work, you earn by hitting a personal weight-loss target within a set timeframe.

HealthyWage works through paid challenges, where you commit to a goal and track your progress as you go. If you reach your target on time, you qualify for HealthyWage payouts. If you don’t, you typically lose the money you put into the challenge, so this option only makes sense if you’re confident you can stay consistent.

This is a clear example of incentive-based income. Your earnings depend entirely on your commitment and results, not on how many hours you work, and it’s best treated as a motivational bonus rather than a reliable income stream.

Earning potential: Up to $1,000+ per challenge

Who is it best for: People who need extra motivation to commit to a weight-loss goal.

Are “secret” money websites legit?

Some secret platforms are completely real, but not every “opportunity” online is worth your time. The safest approach is to treat every new site like a risk check: confirm how it pays, who runs it, and what you’re agreeing to before you sign up. That’s how you find legit money websites and avoid wasting hours on empty promises.

Here’s how to verify a platform quickly:

• Check the payout method – Real platforms clearly explain how you get paid (PayPal, bank transfer, gift cards) and when.
• Read recent reviews – Look for consistent feedback about payments, support, and account bans.
• Search for real proof of payouts – Try to find payment screenshots or timelines from people who used the platforms.
• Review the terms carefully – Examine rules around approvals, disqualifications, and minimum payout thresholds.

Watch out for red flags that often signal online earning scams:

• Upfront fees to “unlock” work, access tasks, or withdraw money.
• Vague payment terms, like “earn unlimited income” with no clear rates.
• Pressure tactics, such as countdown timers or “limited spots” everywhere.
• No clear company info, support contact, or refund policy.
• Overpromising, like guaranteed income with zero effort.

How to choose the right secret website for you

The best secret website is the one that fits your skills, schedule, and goals, so you can stay consistent long enough to see results. The easiest way to choose money-making websites is to start with what you can realistically do every week, not what sounds impressive.

Here’s a simple way to narrow it down:

• Match the platform to your skills – Surveys and microtasks are easy to start, while testing, tutoring, and expert platforms pay more if you have stronger experience.
• Be honest about your time – If you only have 15 minutes a day, quick tasks make more sense than building a creative portfolio.
• Consider your location – Local gigs and asset-sharing apps depend heavily on where you live.

To avoid burnout, start small. Test one or two niche income platforms for a week, track what you earn, and keep the ones that feel worth your time. Most people get better results by stacking a few reliable side income options instead of chasing every new platform they find.

What to do after you find a secret website that works

Once you find a platform that consistently pays and fits your routine, your next goal is stability. One website can slow down, change its rules, or run out of available tasks, so it’s smarter to build a setup that doesn’t depend on a single source.

A simple way to do that is to combine two or three niche platforms that match different strengths. For example, you can pair quick tasks with a creative platform, or mix local gigs with passive apps. This approach helps you build multiple income streams without doubling your workload.

Over time, it also helps to shift from “paid per task” work to scale online income and move toward something that keeps earning even when you’re not actively working, like digital products, content, or skill-based services.

If you want to turn side income into long-term online income, the next step is building assets you control. Our guide to starting an online business can help you map out that transition in a simple, practical way.

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