Most 'earn cash from home' ads are cons. Yet if you've a computer or smartphone, there's a host of small ways to boost your coffers. Dedicated Money Savers earn £1,000s a year from their sofa, often with no special skill needed.
This guide lists 35 (legit) ways to make money online - including six brand-new ones. You can get paid just to watch videos, write, search on Google, make your own YouTube clips and much more.
Swagbucks* is a fun survey site that pays you for completing short online tasks in virtual cash - you can then exchange this for real money, Paypal credits or gift cards to spend at Amazon, M&S and more. The site's huge in America, and here in the UK many MSE forumites are dedicated users.
Tasks include filling in polls, watching videos and searching using its page instead of Google. Advertisers pay Swagbucks to publicise their wares or do market research, and the site passes a cut to you. The more dedicated you are, the more you earn, though every task pays a different amount.
For motivation, join other points-chasers in the forum's popular Swagbucks Challenge 2015 thread. One committed 'swagger' from the forum, cally6008, says:
It's all about stashing cash by filling in online surveys. All you have to do is sign up, wait for survey alerts to land in your inbox, then zip through the questions.
Polls are often fun. You get to vent about everything from video games to your sex life. For a full rundown of the top 20 free sites, plus tips to max your income, see the Online Survey Sites guide.
Committed survey-doers can get £200ish a year, but if you max it like MoneySaverfunnyguy:
It's possible to get paid hard cash just for searching the web with Qmee*. It just involves downloading an add-on that sits on your internet browser. You then search online as you normally would on Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo, Bing and Tesco.
Qmee will show extra results or adverts alongside normal search results (see picture). Some firms pay Qmee to appear in these ads, and Qmee gives you a cut of the cash. If the Qmee result interests you, click it and you'll earn a few pence, usually 7-15p.
Forumite The_Jakal says:
Online earning site Gift Hunter Club doles out points for watching videos, doing polls, entering competitions and completing other easy tasks.
You can convert these into cash through PayPal, Amazon vouchers and more. Just sign up and check the 'earn points' section. It shows the tasks available and what they pay.
MoneySavers reckon the site's fun, payment is quick and they earn a decent amount each week. Forumite mizzame says:
It's possible to earn high street vouchers just for watching videos though Maximiles. Clips are short adverts, for example, Andrex promos or Cheryl Cole videos.
New vids come up every day, so visit often, plus forumites post the latest ones in the Maximiles thread. One thing to watch out for: make sure you're logged in when you rate the videos, or you won't get points.
You can cash in points for gift vouchers. For example, 6,750 Maximiles can get you a £25 John Lewis voucher.
Similar to Swagbucks above, Gift Hulk pays for a host of web activities, including watching videos, answering polls and searching via its site instead of Google.
Many MoneySavers are fans. You get paid in Hulk Coins, which you then convert into rewards including Amazon vouchers (make sure you select vouchers in GBP, rather than US dollars).
Special codes give extra points - forumites post them in the Gift Hulk thread.
Comping's about systematically sourcing and entering hundreds of the right contests. Committed forumites use web gadgets to fill in forms at speed, answer questions and come up with tie-breakers. There are also tricks to enter TV premium phone comps free via the web. For full help, see our 40+ Insider Comping Tips.
Check out the forum's Competitions Time board, a reciprocal community of devoted compers. The idea is you post contests and cheer others when they win.
Eg, TopCashback pays £2 for a Gocompare home insurance quote. Its free cashback section lists the top offers. For a full explanation, see Top Cashback Sites.
Free smartphone app Qustodian pays you to read adverts. Simply download the app, and plug your likes and dislikes into your profile. It then sends adverts matching your interests to your Qustodian inbox. You get paid cash when you view messages, respond to questions or watch videos.
It pays cash via PayPal or via BACS into your bank account when you earn £10. Forumites report the slow trickle of messages means it takes a while to hit this, so this app's just one for committed online earners.
Ever fancied being a secret agent? If you’ve got an iPhone, a free app called Field Agent could be your chance. When companies need a small market research task done, it's sent out via the app.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to check prices in stores, take photos of products and pen reviews. It typically pays £4.50 per task, but can be between £2 and £10.
Fancy getting paid to buy beer? Free app Roamler pays for tasks such as counting stock in shops, snapping menu cards in restaurants and even buying a beer to photograph how it's served.
As with Field Agent, when firms need easy market research done, it's sent out via the app. Roamler typically pays £4 per task, but it can vary between £2 and £10.
The catch is the app is invite-only. Roamler's press office says it's pretty easy to get one if you monitor its Facebook page for hints on how (or you might get lucky if you request one).
Like a mildly addictive video game, new app Yoobic sends its ‘explorers’ on small quests such as snapping products in shops or ranking marketing displays. Missions pay in real-life cash, typically pay £4-£8 for 10 minutes’ work.
To get earning, download the app from the iTunes or Google Play, create an account and search for quests near you. It lets you reserve up to 10 jobs at a time, and you must complete them in a set time.
A French company, Yoobic launched here in June - it pays UK users in pounds.
Billed as a ‘grown-up treasure hunt’, Streetspotr is another app (for both iPhone and Android) that connects market research clients with users who carry out small tasks. Some MoneySavers have pocketed £15 for buying a hot drink at a muffin shop, though most tasks pay about a fiver.
Other jobs could include photographing supermarket product displays or checking restaurant menus.
Streetspotr is a German company that pays UK users in GBP. As with other location-based apps, the closer you are to a high street, the more jobs are up for grabs.
Fancy a change from the same old shop-based research tasks? Then have a gander at Task 360, an iPhone-only app from the people who brought you Field Agent above.
The app focuses on helping companies solve logistical problems, such as giving sat nav firms info on new no-left-turn signs or checking billboard ads’ lights work.
It typically pays £5 to £10 for 15 minutes’ work. To bag the best jobs, check every morning before 9am, especially on Mondays.
Another free app that pays you to complete small tasks in shops, Clic and Walk is available on the Apple and Play store.
This one of the lower-paying apps. It's a French company but you get paid in pounds - the amount for shop-based tasks is normally 5 euros so you'll typically get £3.50ish.
Only sign up to this one for belt and braces, once you’ve exhausted other task-based apps.
Companies are desperate to make their websites better places for people to visit, so user testing is big business.
Sign up to What Users Do* and you can earn £8 for 15-minute website tests. These involve easy tasks such as trying to find something on a site or feeding back on a new homepage.
The company records your screen and voice, so you can feed back throughout the test. You need a computer with a built-in or separate microphone. But don’t worry, your face isn’t recorded, so you can still do it in your jim-jams.
Even better, What Users Do invites established members to test mobile sites, paying a tidy £15 per test. Forumite EGold says: "I’ve been a tester for over a year and have done over 50. At £8 per test that's £400."
“Legitimate work from home job. Earn £££s!” Adverts in the back of mags pulse with promises, yet often the reality's disappointing or even dodgy. Yet one work-from-home job that MoneySavers have had more luck with is Lionbridge.
You usually need a degree to apply, but heaps of MoneySavers have been accepted. It says it usually has 150 jobs on offer at any one time.
You choose your hours and don't have to travel from A to B, perfect if you want to earn cash while staying at home with the kids. You must work a minimum of 10 and maximum of 20 hours per week.
Forumite Ghost_2005 says:
While it doesn't pay cash, you can earn loads of free products through marketing company Bzz Agent. Forumites have grabbed everything from Vanish stain remover to E45 lotion and even electric toothbrushes.
The catch? As an 'agent', once you receive products, you must start "meaningful and authentic conversations" about them with online buddies and real life friends.
Many MoneySavers are fans. Forumite Mummybaker says:
Market research site Shop and Scan is a great way to give your finances a boost. Each time you buy something, you log on and scan the receipt with the specialist barcode scanner it sends you.
Forumites report Shop and Scan pays about £10 a month. You can then cash it in for high street vouchers, including Next, Debenhams and Argos.
Shop and Scan's press office wouldn't confirm any details with us, as market research is a secretive area. So many of the tips here come from our forum users.
Forumite hedgesparrow says:
It's possible to earn masses of freebies from Clicks Research. The site doles out free products in exchange for feedback on whether they work. MoneySavers have blagged everything from anti-ageing creams to chocolate bars.
Respond at speed, as places fill up fast. Clicks Research says products are all safe. It just wants to know how to improve them. Once you've signed up, Clicks Research emails invites.
It also sometimes sends out surveys which earn you Clicks points - usually between 25-200. Once you've earnt 2,500 points, you can exchange them for £25.
It's all about taking advantage of the offers betting sites run to encourage new players, usually involving free bets (eg, "bet £30 and we give you a free £30 bet"), and the fact different bookmakers offer different odds.
Thus, in some circumstances, by betting on all outcomes you guarantee a profit, whatever the outcome. However, this is complex and dangerous, and most people should run a million miles.
Internet companies such as AQA (formerly 63336) are occasionally on the lookout for researchers. It works like this: a customer sends a text to researchers to ask the answer to a random question. The researcher - you - replies with an answer.
The beauty of this work is that you can generally choose the type of questions you answer, and the hours you work. Check for vacancies on the AQA site or on its Facebook and Twitter pages. You'll have to pass a test before you get an interview.
There aren't vacancies all the time, but you can follow AQA on Twitter and we'll update here too. A spokesman tells us that they'll be hiring at the end of August, so be sure to check then if you're keen to get involved.
The site pays roughly 25p per question. Some can take just a few moments to answer, meaning that experienced researchers could rake in up to £100s - though of course, it depends how much time you're prepared to put in. Join the AQA discussion.
Try the My Lost Account website for bank accounts, savings and premium bonds. An estimated £1 billion's unclaimed in total.
If you've ever changed jobs, it's possible you've built up pension pots which now languish forgotten. The Pensions Service can help you trace and reclaim these. Full info in the Reclaim Lost Assets guide.
Do you have unused assets worth £100s or £1,000s? Stop hoarding, and declutter for cash. Here's some inspiration:
While most people earn a max £200 a day, taking a day to sort your finances leaves many a grand a year better off.
Always think in terms of annual savings - £15 a month doesn’t sound much but it’s £180 a year. Here’s some OOMPH! to get you going.
Always wanted to have a crack at the old writing game? Now's your chance. Textbroker pays for content for adverts, websites and newsletters. The company acts as a middleman between clients and writers, taking a cut from each piece sold.
Typical payments are £5 to £30 per article, and forumites have written about everything from sport and wildlife to finance and casinos. Some MoneySavers have suggested that article acceptions can be patchy and it's often slow to accept new writers - a couple of things to watch out for.
We're not talking Stephenie Meyer's Twilight sums. But some forumites, such as Sinkorswim, are turning over a grand a year:
As well as paying for written content, Clickworker offers other jobs, including data entry, web research, product reviews and data tagging.
MoneySavers report there's heaps of work on offer. They've penned Groupon adverts, travel destination descriptions, flight adverts and fashion articles, to name a few.
You must complete a test before you can work, and most jobs require a score of at least 90%. You can earn between £2 for shorter jobs and £5 for longer ones.
Consumer opinions site Dooyoo pays up to 60p for each product review you write. The amount you get depends on the product's category. For popular products it's 60p and many electronic items 30p, but for others, such as books, it's only 10p.
Reviews need to be at least 250 words long, though try to stick to your personal experiences rather than padding with lists of technical specs.
Once you rack up £20, you can convert it into a £20 Amazon voucher. Beware: Dooyoo points ("miles") expire after one year, and a few MoneySavers have been caught out.
Committed reviewers, such as MoneySaver jenniewb, have made bundles of cash.
We can't promise you'll earn £100,000 like the dad who uploaded “Charlie bit my finger – again!”, the clip of two cheeky brothers that racked up 825m views. Yet even if your YouTube videos don't become global phenomena, it's possible to earn a little extra each month through the clip-sharing site.
Before we get started, here's forumite sophie.christie's story for inspiration:
Earnings vary dramatically, depending on how many views you rack up and how much revenue the ads generate.
Finally, ITV still pays £250 for funny videos selected to appear on You've Been Framed. No need to post a VHS tape – you can upload clips to its site.
If you've a blog or website, set up a free account with Amazon Associates, a scheme where you earn Amazon vouchers for linking to the site.
Just follow the steps to add links and banners to your website. When someone clicks on Amazon from your site and makes a transaction, it's recorded and you're paid 1%-12% commission, which you get in the form of cash or an Amazon discount.
What you earn depends on how much you sell and what category it's in - for example, you get 1% commission from TVs and smartphones and 12% from watches and jewellery. (See a full list of payments.)
Though don't just fill your site to the brim with Amazon links. What works best is ensuring you've quality editorial content, then adding the links after.
Products bought by you personally won't count towards your commission, nor will anything ordered for delivery to your home address or paid for on your credit card.
EL James's Fifty Shades of Grey started as a self-published e-book – now's your chance to emulate her success. Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing tool lets you upload your own e-books instantly, for free. Every time the book sells, Amazon gives you up to 70% of the list price (excludes VAT).
While not a guaranteed money-spinner, e-books don't have to be Booker Prize contenders. If you're a specialist in a niche subject, from worm composting to rollercoaster riding, you could pocket a little extra each month.
If you need inspiration, why not try the NaNoWriMo campaign to write a novel in a month, which runs every November.
Unsigned music review site Slicethepie pays you for each song you rate. As you build up a reputation, you can earn more. Read the site's tutorials before you start.
Typically, a dedicated fan willing to put in a couple of hours each night could expect to earn around £30/month, though forumites report this can vary. The amount you earn from each review differs depending on the track, length and detail of the review.
You can also earn more by encouraging friends to sign up - you'll receive a bonus of 10% of their earnings so, if they earn $0.20 for a review, you'll get $0.02.
Nostalgic for the days of Mad Men-era typing pools? Transcription company Take Note pays typists around £8/hour to type up audio.
You need Microsoft Word, at least a C in GCSE English and must be able bash out at least 65 words per minute. It pays per minute of audio, and not minute of your time, so it's only worth it for super-fast typists (take a speed test to see how you measure up).
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This guide lists 35 (legit) ways to make money online - including six brand-new ones. You can get paid just to watch videos, write, search on Google, make your own YouTube clips and much more.
35 ways to make money online, including...
Making money online - quick tips
Before you become an online earner, there are a few things worth knowing. The key is while some of these sites pay small amounts, add them all together and it can turn into an annual bonanza of £1,000s.Don't store cash in online-earning accounts
Set up a dedicated email address
Don't expect to be instantly rolling in it
Don't forget the taxman'll want his share
Spend gift vouchers ASAP
Watch videos, play games and earnSwagbucks
Swagbucks* is a fun survey site that pays you for completing short online tasks in virtual cash - you can then exchange this for real money, Paypal credits or gift cards to spend at Amazon, M&S and more. The site's huge in America, and here in the UK many MSE forumites are dedicated users.Tasks include filling in polls, watching videos and searching using its page instead of Google. Advertisers pay Swagbucks to publicise their wares or do market research, and the site passes a cut to you. The more dedicated you are, the more you earn, though every task pays a different amount.
For motivation, join other points-chasers in the forum's popular Swagbucks Challenge 2015 thread. One committed 'swagger' from the forum, cally6008, says:
Swagbucks is one of several online earning sites I use, but it's one of my favourites. I know for a fact that you can earn £25 a month using the site, because I do so nearly every month.
- cally6008
See a full list of ways to earn Swagbucks
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? People who want to grab quick cash for fun tasks
- Typical earnings: £25/month
- Payment method: Cash or Amazon voucher
- Amount you need to earn before it pays: 1 point (depends on reward)
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Swagbucks forum thread
Online survey sites Earn up to £800/year to give your opinion
Willing to give views on Justin Bieber, washing-up liquid or whether we should quit the EU? If so, it's possible to earn £100s a year, without any special skill or talent.It's all about stashing cash by filling in online surveys. All you have to do is sign up, wait for survey alerts to land in your inbox, then zip through the questions.
Polls are often fun. You get to vent about everything from video games to your sex life. For a full rundown of the top 20 free sites, plus tips to max your income, see the Online Survey Sites guide.
Committed survey-doers can get £200ish a year, but if you max it like MoneySaverfunnyguy:
It takes a few years to build up enough to cash out, but I earned £800 last year in cash and vouchers. Comes in very useful.
- funnyguy
Get paid to Google Qmee
It's possible to get paid hard cash just for searching the web with Qmee*. It just involves downloading an add-on that sits on your internet browser. You then search online as you normally would on Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo, Bing and Tesco. Qmee will show extra results or adverts alongside normal search results (see picture). Some firms pay Qmee to appear in these ads, and Qmee gives you a cut of the cash. If the Qmee result interests you, click it and you'll earn a few pence, usually 7-15p. Forumite The_Jakal says:
I've been using Qmee for three weeks and I'm on £14 now.
- The_Jakal
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? Folks with the patience to click ads for a few pence a go
- Typical earnings: £5/month
- Payment method: Cash via PayPal
- How much you need to earn before it pays: No minimum
- Have you tried it? Share your experience in the Qmee forum thread
Quick questions
What exactly do I have to do?
Can I boost earnings by repeating searches?
What does Qmee do with my data?
Why does Qmee sometimes pay for clicks to MoneySavingExpert.com?
Earn hard cash for fun tasks Gift Hunter Club
Online earning site Gift Hunter Club doles out points for watching videos, doing polls, entering competitions and completing other easy tasks.You can convert these into cash through PayPal, Amazon vouchers and more. Just sign up and check the 'earn points' section. It shows the tasks available and what they pay.
MoneySavers reckon the site's fun, payment is quick and they earn a decent amount each week. Forumite mizzame says:
I made £10 in PayPal cash very easily last week, £8 the week before. Mainly from videos and easy tasks. My best earning site at the moment!
- mizzame
Aim to redeem your points on rewards giving better value
A £10 Amazon gift card costs 1,690 points. But 10 US dollars in cash (£6.50ish) via PayPal is 1,000 points, which can be better value, depending on the exchange rate. While Gift Hunter Club lists cash payments in US dollars, PayPal converts the cash into pounds.Quick summary
- Who's it good for? Those already using Swagbucks who want to join a similar site
- Typical earnings: £7/week
- Payment method: PayPal, Amazon vouchers and more
- How much you need to earn before it pays: £1.20ish
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Gift Hunter Club forum thread
Get paid to watch videosMaximiles
It's possible to earn high street vouchers just for watching videos though Maximiles. Clips are short adverts, for example, Andrex promos or Cheryl Cole videos.New vids come up every day, so visit often, plus forumites post the latest ones in the Maximiles thread. One thing to watch out for: make sure you're logged in when you rate the videos, or you won't get points.
You can cash in points for gift vouchers. For example, 6,750 Maximiles can get you a £25 John Lewis voucher.
Stick to free points offers
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? Folks who like watching quick ads on their PC
- Typical earnings: £10 every two months
- Payment method: Vouchers, incl John Lewis and Debenhams
- How much you need to earn before it pays: Varies by reward
- Have you tried it? Share your experiencex on the Maximiles forum thread
Get paid to watch videos, search & moreGift Hulk
Similar to Swagbucks above, Gift Hulk pays for a host of web activities, including watching videos, answering polls and searching via its site instead of Google.Many MoneySavers are fans. You get paid in Hulk Coins, which you then convert into rewards including Amazon vouchers (make sure you select vouchers in GBP, rather than US dollars).
Special codes give extra points - forumites post them in the Gift Hulk thread.
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? Fans of fun web tasks
- Typical earnings: £5/month
- Payment method: PayPal cash, Amazon vouchers and more
- How much you need to earn before it pays: Varies by reward
- Have you tried it? Share you experiences on the Gift Hulk forum thread
Enter contests as a cash-boosting hobbyUse our 40+ insider comping tips
From cars to £20,000 cash, five-star USA holidays to £10,000 of Tesco gift cards, MoneySavers have won it all. It's all about 'comping', a potentially profitable online hobby for the lucky.Comping's about systematically sourcing and entering hundreds of the right contests. Committed forumites use web gadgets to fill in forms at speed, answer questions and come up with tie-breakers. There are also tricks to enter TV premium phone comps free via the web. For full help, see our 40+ Insider Comping Tips.
Check out the forum's Competitions Time board, a reciprocal community of devoted compers. The idea is you post contests and cheer others when they win.
'I won a Vegas trip & £26,000 of gadgets'
While big success isn't certain, it does happen. MoneySaver mrsrobertson is one of the lucky ones. She says:I started comping in May 2011 and I've won a £3,000 Las Vegas trip and gadgets worth over £26,000. I'm hooked.
- mrsrobertson
Grab FREE cashback Get cash for clicks - no need to buy
Cashback sites work by giving you a cut of the cash they earn for channelling web traffic. Yet you don't have to buy anything to earn cash via these sites - they often pay you just for clicking links on the internet.Eg, TopCashback pays £2 for a Gocompare home insurance quote. Its free cashback section lists the top offers. For a full explanation, see Top Cashback Sites.
Get paid to read adverts on your mobileQustodian
Free smartphone app Qustodian pays you to read adverts. Simply download the app, and plug your likes and dislikes into your profile. It then sends adverts matching your interests to your Qustodian inbox. You get paid cash when you view messages, respond to questions or watch videos.It pays cash via PayPal or via BACS into your bank account when you earn £10. Forumites report the slow trickle of messages means it takes a while to hit this, so this app's just one for committed online earners.
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? Patient people with a smartphone
- Typical earnings: £10 every six months
- Payment method: Cash via PayPal or BACS
- How much you need to earn before it pays: £10
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Qustodian forum thread
Quick questions
What's the best way to access the web on my mobile?
What does Qustodian do with my personal data?
Earn by checking prices & snapping photos Field Agent iPhone app
Ever fancied being a secret agent? If you’ve got an iPhone, a free app called Field Agent could be your chance. When companies need a small market research task done, it's sent out via the app. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to check prices in stores, take photos of products and pen reviews. It typically pays £4.50 per task, but can be between £2 and £10.
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? If you've got an iPhone, and can nip out to do quick tasks
- Typical earnings: £10/month
- Payment method: Cash via PayPal
- How much you need to earn before it pays: No minimum
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Field Agent forum thread
Quick questions
How do I get started?
How can I earn maximum cash?
Get paid to snap photos, count stock & more Roamler smartphone app
Fancy getting paid to buy beer? Free app Roamler pays for tasks such as counting stock in shops, snapping menu cards in restaurants and even buying a beer to photograph how it's served. As with Field Agent, when firms need easy market research done, it's sent out via the app. Roamler typically pays £4 per task, but it can vary between £2 and £10.
The catch is the app is invite-only. Roamler's press office says it's pretty easy to get one if you monitor its Facebook page for hints on how (or you might get lucky if you request one).
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? Smartphone users
- Typical earnings: £10/month
- Payment method: Cash via PayPal
- How much you need to earn before it pays: No minimum
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Roamler forum thread
New. Get paid to take photos of products and rank shop displays Yoobic smartphone app
Like a mildly addictive video game, new app Yoobic sends its ‘explorers’ on small quests such as snapping products in shops or ranking marketing displays. Missions pay in real-life cash, typically pay £4-£8 for 10 minutes’ work.To get earning, download the app from the iTunes or Google Play, create an account and search for quests near you. It lets you reserve up to 10 jobs at a time, and you must complete them in a set time.
A French company, Yoobic launched here in June - it pays UK users in pounds.
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? Smartphone users
- Typical earnings: £20/month
- Payment method: Cash via PayPal
- How much you need to earn before it pays: No minimum
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the earning apps forum thread
New. Get paid for easy market research tasks Streetspotr app
Billed as a ‘grown-up treasure hunt’, Streetspotr is another app (for both iPhone and Android) that connects market research clients with users who carry out small tasks. Some MoneySavers have pocketed £15 for buying a hot drink at a muffin shop, though most tasks pay about a fiver. Other jobs could include photographing supermarket product displays or checking restaurant menus.
Streetspotr is a German company that pays UK users in GBP. As with other location-based apps, the closer you are to a high street, the more jobs are up for grabs.
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? Town-dwelling smartphone users
- Typical earnings: £10/month
- Payment method: Cash via PayPal
- How much you need to earn before it pays: £10
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the earning apps forum thread
New. Get paid for small research tasks Task 360 iPhone app
Fancy a change from the same old shop-based research tasks? Then have a gander at Task 360, an iPhone-only app from the people who brought you Field Agent above. The app focuses on helping companies solve logistical problems, such as giving sat nav firms info on new no-left-turn signs or checking billboard ads’ lights work.
It typically pays £5 to £10 for 15 minutes’ work. To bag the best jobs, check every morning before 9am, especially on Mondays.
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? iPhone users
- Typical earnings: £20/month
- Payment method: Cash via PayPal
- How much you need to earn before it pays: £7.50
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the earning apps forum thread
New. Get paid for small tasks in shops Clic and Walk smartphone app
Another free app that pays you to complete small tasks in shops, Clic and Walk is available on the Apple and Play store. This one of the lower-paying apps. It's a French company but you get paid in pounds - the amount for shop-based tasks is normally 5 euros so you'll typically get £3.50ish.
Only sign up to this one for belt and braces, once you’ve exhausted other task-based apps.
Clic and Walk really is something to do for fun rather than the £s. I quite enjoy the little photo missions. I am going to keep doing it for the jollies, but anyone looking for a quick payout should look elsewhere.
- VisionThing
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? Web enthusiasts
- Typical earnings: £3/month if you’re lucky
- Payment method: Cash via PayPal
- How much you need to earn before it pays: £3
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the What Users Do forum thread
New. Get paid to test companies' websites What Users Do
Companies are desperate to make their websites better places for people to visit, so user testing is big business.Sign up to What Users Do* and you can earn £8 for 15-minute website tests. These involve easy tasks such as trying to find something on a site or feeding back on a new homepage.
The company records your screen and voice, so you can feed back throughout the test. You need a computer with a built-in or separate microphone. But don’t worry, your face isn’t recorded, so you can still do it in your jim-jams.
Even better, What Users Do invites established members to test mobile sites, paying a tidy £15 per test. Forumite EGold says: "I’ve been a tester for over a year and have done over 50. At £8 per test that's £400."
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? Web enthusiasts
- Typical earnings: £40/month if you’re committed
- Payment method: Cash via PayPal
- How much you need to earn before it pays: No minimum
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the What Users Do forum thread
A serious remote-working job Lionbridge
“Legitimate work from home job. Earn £££s!” Adverts in the back of mags pulse with promises, yet often the reality's disappointing or even dodgy. Yet one work-from-home job that MoneySavers have had more luck with is Lionbridge.You usually need a degree to apply, but heaps of MoneySavers have been accepted. It says it usually has 150 jobs on offer at any one time.
What's the work like?
The web firm offers several part-time posts, most aimed at helping companies improve their search engine results. Tasks can include checking search results, gathering data and testing mobile apps.You choose your hours and don't have to travel from A to B, perfect if you want to earn cash while staying at home with the kids. You must work a minimum of 10 and maximum of 20 hours per week.
Forumite Ghost_2005 says:
It's a genuine work-from-home opportunity that pays real money. There are precious few of them, so if that's what you're looking for, it's a good opportunity. In the grand scheme of employment, there are better and more fulfilling jobs. In the grand scheme of home-working opportunities, it's a decent job.On the downside, others say it's about as exciting as a hangover on a rainy Sunday.
- Ghost_2005
I can honestly say when I had the job I had never felt so bored. An hour's work felt like three hours. Be aware of what you're actually applying for – it demands concentration!Stay motivated with other forumites in the Lionbridge forum thread.
- daz501
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? Those with a degree and a high boredom threshold, who want to earn cash from home
- Typical earnings: £140-£200/month (depending on hours)
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Lionbridge forum thread
Quick questions
What qualifications do you need?
How do you apply?
Got a top way to earn cash online that we haven't listed? Feed back in the Earn cash online discussion.
Grab free products for telling friends about them Bzz Agent
While it doesn't pay cash, you can earn loads of free products through marketing company Bzz Agent. Forumites have grabbed everything from Vanish stain remover to E45 lotion and even electric toothbrushes. The catch? As an 'agent', once you receive products, you must start "meaningful and authentic conversations" about them with online buddies and real life friends.
Many MoneySavers are fans. Forumite Mummybaker says:
I have had steam generator irons, wet ladyshaves, free cookies and all sorts. It's worth it - not much effort involved and they like you to be genuine about your thoughts.
- Mummybaker
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? Social media fans who love freebies and aren't embarrassed to tell friends about new products.
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Bzz Agent forum thread
Quick questions
What exactly does this involve?
Is this just about spamming my friends?
Get paid to scan shopping receipts (invite-only)Shop and Scan
Market research site Shop and Scan is a great way to give your finances a boost. Each time you buy something, you log on and scan the receipt with the specialist barcode scanner it sends you. Forumites report Shop and Scan pays about £10 a month. You can then cash it in for high street vouchers, including Next, Debenhams and Argos.
Shop and Scan's press office wouldn't confirm any details with us, as market research is a secretive area. So many of the tips here come from our forum users.
Forumite hedgesparrow says:
I would totally recommend Shop and Scan. I get £1.60 a week for scanning my barcodes. After six months, I still find it fun blipping the barcodes. Once your total's £10, you get a £10 voucher, which takes about six weeks, but is only an hour and half of my time.
- hedgesparrow
Quick summary
- Who's this good for? It's easy money, but you must wait to be selected.
- Typical earnings: £10/month.
- Payment method: Vouchers, incl Next and Debenhams.
- How much you need to earn before it pays: £10.
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Shop and Scan forum thread
Quick questions
How do you sign up?
How can I max my earnings?
Grab freebies in exchange for your views Clicks Research
It's possible to earn masses of freebies from Clicks Research. The site doles out free products in exchange for feedback on whether they work. MoneySavers have blagged everything from anti-ageing creams to chocolate bars. Respond at speed, as places fill up fast. Clicks Research says products are all safe. It just wants to know how to improve them. Once you've signed up, Clicks Research emails invites.
It also sometimes sends out surveys which earn you Clicks points - usually between 25-200. Once you've earnt 2,500 points, you can exchange them for £25.
Quick summary
- Who's this good for? If you've got time on your hands to give feedback on freebies.
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Clicks Research forum thread
Matched betting Exploit online bookmakers' free betting offers
This is something we thought hard about before including. Yet as many who know exactly what they're doing make serious risk-free cash, we wanted to include it.It's all about taking advantage of the offers betting sites run to encourage new players, usually involving free bets (eg, "bet £30 and we give you a free £30 bet"), and the fact different bookmakers offer different odds.
Thus, in some circumstances, by betting on all outcomes you guarantee a profit, whatever the outcome. However, this is complex and dangerous, and most people should run a million miles.
Don't ever contemplate attempting it unless you've done detailed research.
Here are the key points:- Warning! This is NOT about gambling. Gambling is not MoneySaving; the bookies always win in the long run (see Gamblers Anonymous). This is only about manipulating gambling introductory loopholes.
- How much? With time and care, it's possible to make £1,000 over the year. Please don't go for it if you're desperate for cash. This is only for those with patience and who aren't under money pressure. Otherwise, you'll end up drawn into real gambling - and losing.
- How do I do it? Read the Matched Betting Introduction and FAQs discussion in the Matched Betting board and the other sticky threads at the top. Remember it's an open forum, anyone can post. Just because someone sounds like they know what they're doing, it doesn't mean they do.
Earn money online from internet research AQA
Internet companies such as AQA (formerly 63336) are occasionally on the lookout for researchers. It works like this: a customer sends a text to researchers to ask the answer to a random question. The researcher - you - replies with an answer. The beauty of this work is that you can generally choose the type of questions you answer, and the hours you work. Check for vacancies on the AQA site or on its Facebook and Twitter pages. You'll have to pass a test before you get an interview.
There aren't vacancies all the time, but you can follow AQA on Twitter and we'll update here too. A spokesman tells us that they'll be hiring at the end of August, so be sure to check then if you're keen to get involved.
The site pays roughly 25p per question. Some can take just a few moments to answer, meaning that experienced researchers could rake in up to £100s - though of course, it depends how much time you're prepared to put in. Join the AQA discussion.
Got a top way to earn cash online that we haven't listed? Feed back in the Earn cash online discussion.
Reclaim lost assets and inheritencePotential payback of £1,000s
There's BILLIONS of pounds-worth of unclaimed money out there. Whether it's yours or an unknown inheritance from a deceased relative, it can usually be reclaimed free.Try the My Lost Account website for bank accounts, savings and premium bonds. An estimated £1 billion's unclaimed in total.
If you've ever changed jobs, it's possible you've built up pension pots which now languish forgotten. The Pensions Service can help you trace and reclaim these. Full info in the Reclaim Lost Assets guide.
Flog what you've got
Do you have unused assets worth £100s or £1,000s? Stop hoarding, and declutter for cash. Here's some inspiration: - Get max cash for old mobiles. An easy way to start is our Mobilevaluer tool for old handsets, iPods, cameras, etc. An HTC Desire, for example, can fetch between £3 and £30, an iPhone 4S 16GB between £35 and £79.
- 40+ eBay tricks 'n' tools. Our 40+ eBay Selling Tricks guide offers a crash course, from cutting eBay fees by tweaking start prices and using no-charge listing weekends, to adding extra pics with special tools. Plus there are tools to create multiple listings in advance and bulk-upload them.
- Sell for free on Facebook. Local Facebook selling groups are fast rivalling eBay as the place to earn cash by flogging unwanted stuff. The best bit is there are NO fees. Our Facebook Selling guide shows how to find the right local groups and get the best price, plus make sure you stay safe.
- Safely sell old gold for max cash. TV ads yell "sell old gold for cash". Yet many are kicked in the crown jewels as they get a fraction of the promised price. Amid the scrap, though, are shining examples. Our Top Gold Selling Sites takes you through it.
60+ more ways to boost your income
If you're looking to rake in a little more, our 60+ Tricks To Boost Your Income guide can add to the coffers. Here's a taster:- Become a mystery shopper. High street retailers are desperate to check their customer service is up to scratch, so mystery shopping agencies pay you to visit specific shops or restaurants to rate quality.
- Send pics to mags. For example, Love It! magazine pays £50 for a shameful shot of yourself on holiday or even £50 for readers' shirtless fellas (Mrs MSE's been banned from sending 'em in).
Rent it - spare rooms, storage, parking spaces
The Rent It Out For Cash section of our Boost Your Income guide lists easy ways to earn extra from your property. Here's a taster:- Rent your driveway for up to £200/mth. Live near a city centre, airport, train station or football ground? It's possible to earn up to £200/mth or more renting out your drive. See Rent Your Parking Space for a full how-to and the top free-to-list online marketplaces.
- Get cash for spare storage space. If you've unused space in a loft, garage or spare room, website Storemates lets you rent it out to others looking for cheap storage. See Rent Your Storage.
- Rent your spare room. The 'rent a room' scheme means you can take in a lodger to live in a furnished room in your home. It has a special exemption meaning you won't have to pay tax on the first £4,250 each year (this rises £7,500 from April 2016). From See Take A Lodger.
Give yourself a money makeoverPut thousands back in your pocket
While most people earn a max £200 a day, taking a day to sort your finances leaves many a grand a year better off. Always think in terms of annual savings - £15 a month doesn’t sound much but it’s £180 a year. Here’s some OOMPH! to get you going.
- Owed £10,000s in PPI? If you've had a loan or credit card, check if you were mis-sold PPI. Don't worry if you don't have the paperwork, see the FAQs in Reclaim PPI for Free.
Proof from Steverandall1965:
You inspired me to claim. Put it off for ages, then downloaded the template, sent it off and got £12,225, no fuss or bother.
- Steverandall1965
- Slash car insurance costs. Prices are expected to go up by 10% this year, so now's a good time to get a quote and see if you can lock it down. You might be able to halve costs by combining the results of comparison sites. See Cheap Car Insurance for a full step-by-step guide.
- Can you cut your mortgage cost? If you’ve decent equity in your house and aren’t locked into a deal, speak to a mortgage broker. See the MSE Remortgage Booklet: Instant PDF | Printed
- Credit card interest costs. Those with decent credit histories can now ‘balance transfer’ debts to new cards at 0%. Full info in Best Balance Transfers.
- Save £100s with a water meter. If your home has more or the same number of bedrooms as people, check our Water Meter guide. Helen Bevington tweeted: "Thanks to MSE, we've water-metered. Monthly DD down from £80 to £25." That's £660/year less.
Get paid to write Textbroker
Always wanted to have a crack at the old writing game? Now's your chance. Textbroker pays for content for adverts, websites and newsletters. The company acts as a middleman between clients and writers, taking a cut from each piece sold. Typical payments are £5 to £30 per article, and forumites have written about everything from sport and wildlife to finance and casinos. Some MoneySavers have suggested that article acceptions can be patchy and it's often slow to accept new writers - a couple of things to watch out for.
We're not talking Stephenie Meyer's Twilight sums. But some forumites, such as Sinkorswim, are turning over a grand a year:
I've been with Textbroker for nine months, and have made over £1,000. It's a godsend, as I had to give up my part-time job due to a back problem. I got another job, but am reluctant to stop writing, as I really enjoy it.Forumite Farmers-wife says:
- Sinkorswim
I have recently started with Textbroker as a writer. Six articles down and I'm hooked. As a stay-at-home mum and farmer's wife it's lovely to be doing something for myself. Getting praise for writing is doing wonders for my confidence.
- Farmers-wife
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? People who enjoy writing and have high grammatical standards
- Typical earnings: £50/month (if you're committed)
- Payment method: Cash via PayPal
- How much you need to earn before it pays out: £7ish (pays in euros)
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Textbroker forum thread
Quick questions
How do I get accepted as an author?
How can I earn maximum cash?
Is it worth pitching to papers and mags too?
Get paid to write, enter data & moreClickworker
As well as paying for written content, Clickworker offers other jobs, including data entry, web research, product reviews and data tagging. MoneySavers report there's heaps of work on offer. They've penned Groupon adverts, travel destination descriptions, flight adverts and fashion articles, to name a few.
You must complete a test before you can work, and most jobs require a score of at least 90%. You can earn between £2 for shorter jobs and £5 for longer ones.
See more tips to earn maximum cash
Quick summary
- Who's this good for? People who can write winning adverts
- Typical earnings: £20/month (note, it pays in euros)
- Payment method: PayPal
- How much you need to earn before it pays: €5 (£3.50ish)
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Clickworker forum thread
Get paid to write product reviewsDooYoo
Consumer opinions site Dooyoo pays up to 60p for each product review you write. The amount you get depends on the product's category. For popular products it's 60p and many electronic items 30p, but for others, such as books, it's only 10p. Reviews need to be at least 250 words long, though try to stick to your personal experiences rather than padding with lists of technical specs.
Once you rack up £20, you can convert it into a £20 Amazon voucher. Beware: Dooyoo points ("miles") expire after one year, and a few MoneySavers have been caught out.
Committed reviewers, such as MoneySaver jenniewb, have made bundles of cash.
In two months, I have reviewed literally everything I have used bar one or two uninteresting items, and have earned myself £70.
- jenniewb
Quick summary
- Who's this good for? Speedy writers with lots of products to review
- Typical earnings: £20 every two months
- Payment method: Amazon vouchers
- How much you need to earn before it pays: £20 Amazon vch
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Dooyoo forum thread
Earn cash from homemade videosYouTube
We can't promise you'll earn £100,000 like the dad who uploaded “Charlie bit my finger – again!”, the clip of two cheeky brothers that racked up 825m views. Yet even if your YouTube videos don't become global phenomena, it's possible to earn a little extra each month through the clip-sharing site. Before we get started, here's forumite sophie.christie's story for inspiration:
About two years ago I started a YouTube account. One of my videos started to do quite well and the site asked me to become a partner.
I started to receive a very low income from this. However, over the last year I've been posting new videos on birthday party tips. I have now have 80, and a daily income of more than £20. It's rising by about 10% each month.
- sophie.christie
How YouTube's partner programme works
YouTube's Partner Programme lets users take a cut of the cash from the adverts that run alongside their videos. You must apply to become a partner, but YouTube says anyone who regularly uploads original clips which get a fair amount of views should be eligible.Earnings vary dramatically, depending on how many views you rack up and how much revenue the ads generate.
Quick summary
- Who's this good for? People who enjoy making funny or specialist clips, and are a whizz with video cameras
- Typical earnings: £60 every two months (though it varies dramatically)
- Payment method: Cheque from Google Adsense
- How much you need to earn before it pays: £60
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the YouTube forum thread
Quick questions
How can I max my YouTube earnings?
How can I become a partner and earn money?
How much can I earn?
Earn cash from your blog or websiteAmazon Associates
If you've a blog or website, set up a free account with Amazon Associates, a scheme where you earn Amazon vouchers for linking to the site. Just follow the steps to add links and banners to your website. When someone clicks on Amazon from your site and makes a transaction, it's recorded and you're paid 1%-12% commission, which you get in the form of cash or an Amazon discount.
What you earn depends on how much you sell and what category it's in - for example, you get 1% commission from TVs and smartphones and 12% from watches and jewellery. (See a full list of payments.)
Though don't just fill your site to the brim with Amazon links. What works best is ensuring you've quality editorial content, then adding the links after.
Products bought by you personally won't count towards your commission, nor will anything ordered for delivery to your home address or paid for on your credit card.
Quick summary
- Who's this good for? Those with a blog or site that they'd like to earn cash from.
- Typical earnings: £25/month (depending on your site's popularity).
- Payment method: Amazon credit and cash.
- Amount you need to earn before it pays out: £25 for Amazon credit, £50 for cash payouts.
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Amazon Associates forum thread
Write a Kindle e-book Earn up to 70% of the LIST price when you self-publish
EL James's Fifty Shades of Grey started as a self-published e-book – now's your chance to emulate her success. Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing tool lets you upload your own e-books instantly, for free. Every time the book sells, Amazon gives you up to 70% of the list price (excludes VAT).While not a guaranteed money-spinner, e-books don't have to be Booker Prize contenders. If you're a specialist in a niche subject, from worm composting to rollercoaster riding, you could pocket a little extra each month.
If you need inspiration, why not try the NaNoWriMo campaign to write a novel in a month, which runs every November.
Quick summary
- Who's this good for? Folks who want a bash at a bestseller, though money's not guaranteed
- Payment method: Electronic bank transfer (see full payment details)
- How much you need to earn before it pays: No min
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Kindle Direct forum thread
Quick questions
What's my cut?
How do you publish a Kindle e-book?
Is it worth paying for a professional editing service?
Get paid to write music reviews Slicethepie
Unsigned music review site Slicethepie pays you for each song you rate. As you build up a reputation, you can earn more. Read the site's tutorials before you start.Typically, a dedicated fan willing to put in a couple of hours each night could expect to earn around £30/month, though forumites report this can vary. The amount you earn from each review differs depending on the track, length and detail of the review.
You can also earn more by encouraging friends to sign up - you'll receive a bonus of 10% of their earnings so, if they earn $0.20 for a review, you'll get $0.02.
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? You'll need a pretty open mind, as you can't choose specific music genres. MoneySavers have reported earnings slowing recently
- Typical earnings: You earn in dollars and get between $0.10 and $0.20 per review - forumites report monthly earnings of up to £30/month.
- Payment method: Cash via PayPal
- How much you need to earn before it pays: $10 (so, just over £6.40).
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Slicethepie forum thread
New. Get paid to type up audio Take Note
Nostalgic for the days of Mad Men-era typing pools? Transcription company Take Note pays typists around £8/hour to type up audio.You need Microsoft Word, at least a C in GCSE English and must be able bash out at least 65 words per minute. It pays per minute of audio, and not minute of your time, so it's only worth it for super-fast typists (take a speed test to see how you measure up).
- To apply, you take tests in typing speed, formatting and English language. You must sign up for at least two shifts per week, roughly six hours each (evenings and weekends are available).
I'm one of their freelance transcribers and so far so good – payment's been on time every month and it works out at £7 - £9 an hour.
- cazmanian_minx
Quick summary
- Who's it good for? Fast typists with a C in GCSE English.
- Typical earnings: From £20/mth depending on your commitment.
- Payment method: Cash into your bank account.
- How much you need to earn before it pays: No min (it pays once a month).
- Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Take Note forum thread
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