How to Make Money Online in UK?

Are you trying to find ways to make money online in the UK for free? With the internet, it's easier than ever to earn money online right from your home. The digital economy in the UK is booming, supporting £227 billion in economic activity and over 2.6 million jobs. On average, pay in the digital economy is around £45,700 per year, which is 37% more than the UK average. These jobs are found all across the UK, offering great opportunities for anyone looking to work online.

Whether you're looking to make extra cash or start a new job, plenty of options are available. You can do things like freelance writing, dropshipping, or even take paid surveys. These are all easy ways to turn your skills and time into money. Keep reading to learn how you can start making money online and take advantage of the UK's growing digital economy today!

Top 20 Ways to Make Money Online in UK

Following are the top 20 proven ways to make money online in the UK, from side hustles to full-time income streams, all from the comfort of your home.

Dropshipping: Start an Online Store with No Investment

Dropshipping is one of the best ways to earn money online without dealing with inventory or shipping. With dropshipping, the supplier handles product delivery while you manage the online store.

Specific Tips for Better Earnings:

• Niche Down: Instead of offering a wide range of products, focus on a specific niche (e.g., eco-friendly home goods or fitness apparel). Niches help you attract targeted customers, making it easier to market and sell products.
• Choose Quality Suppliers: Partner with reliable suppliers to ensure fast shipping and high-quality products. This will reduce customer complaints and returns, increasing your store’s reputation.
• Leverage Automation Tools: Use tools like Spocket to automate product listings and order fulfillment, saving you time and helping you scale your business faster.
• Run Ads: Invest in Facebook or Google ads to boost traffic. Target your ads to specific audiences (e.g., people interested in fashion or home decor) to increase conversions.

How to Get Started with Dropshipping in the UK:

• Use Spocket to source high-quality products from suppliers in the UK and Europe. Spocket integrates easily with Shopify, making it simple to set up your store.
• Focus on trending products like home decor, fashion, or electronics to attract more customers. Keep an eye on market trends to stay ahead.
• Promote your store through social media and SEO to drive traffic and boost sales. Create content and run ads to reach a broader audience.

Earning Potential: £500 to £10,000+ per month, depending on how well you scale and market your store.

Take Online Surveys and Get Paid

One of the easiest ways to make money online in the UK is by taking paid surveys. Many companies pay for your opinion on their products or services. The surveys usually take just a few minutes to complete, and you can do them at home or on the go.

Tips for Better Earnings:

• Sign up for multiple survey platforms: The more platforms you're on, the more surveys you'll get. Sign up for Swagbucks, Toluna, and YouGov to increase your opportunities.
• Take surveys regularly: Set aside specific times to complete surveys every day. The more active you are, the higher your earnings.
• Look for high-paying surveys: Some platforms offer surveys that pay more for longer or more detailed responses. Prioritize these to maximize your time.

Trusted Platforms for Online Surveys in the UK:

• Swagbucks: Offers various ways to earn money online, including surveys, watching videos, and cashback on purchases.
• Toluna: Known for paying UK users for taking quick surveys and testing products.
• YouGov: Pays users for giving opinions on current events, politics, and trends in the UK.

Earning Potential: £50 to £200+ per month, depending on how many surveys you take and the time you dedicate to it.

Start a Blog and Earn from Affiliate Marketing

If you love writing and want to earn money online, starting a blog is a great way to share your passion and make money at the same time. Blogging allows you to write about topics that interest you while using affiliate marketing to monetize your content.

Tips for Better Earnings:

• Pick a niche: Focus on a specific topic you're passionate about, such as travel, tech, or fashion. Niches make it easier to build an audience and target relevant affiliate products.
• Use SEO strategies: Optimize your blog posts with keywords and high-quality content to rank higher on Google, bringing in more readers and potential buyers.
• Promote your blog on social media: Share your blog posts on platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to grow your audience and drive traffic to your affiliate links.

How to Monetize a Blog with Affiliate Marketing:

• Sign up for Affiliate Programs: Platforms like Amazon Affiliates and Spocket offer affiliate programs where you can earn commissions on sales through your unique referral links.
• Write Product Reviews: Recommend products that you genuinely use and love. Earn a commission when readers make purchases through your affiliate links.
• Promote Digital Products: You can sell digital products like ebooks, online courses, or printables to earn even more through your blog.

Earning Potential: £200 to £2,500+ per month, depending on your traffic and how effectively you promote affiliate products.

Freelance Writing: Make Money with Your Writing Skills

If you're good at writing, freelancing is one of the simplest ways to make money online from home. Many companies in the UK are looking for content writers, and they pay for articles, blog posts, and website content.

Tips for Better Earnings:

• Create a strong portfolio: Include a few high-quality writing samples on your profile, especially in popular niches like tech, finance, or health, to attract better-paying clients.
• Set competitive rates: Start with reasonable rates based on your skill level, but increase your prices as you gain more experience and positive reviews.
• Pitch to UK-based businesses: Many UK companies prefer working with local freelancers, so market yourself directly to them for more opportunities.

Top Freelance Writing Gigs You Can Start Today:

• PeoplePerHour: A UK-based platform where you can find writing jobs in various fields, including tech, finance, and lifestyle.
• Fiverr: Offers freelance gigs in writing, blogging, and content creation. Tailor your gigs to your expertise to stand out.
• Upwork: Connects freelancers with global companies looking for writing services. Be proactive in applying for jobs to increase your chances of landing gigs.

Earning Potential: £10 to £75+ per hour, depending on your experience and the type of content you’re writing.

Start a Print on Demand Service

Print on Demand (POD) is one of the easiest ways to make money online with minimal upfront investment. With POD, you can create custom designs for products like t-shirts, mugs, or phone cases, and have them printed only when a customer places an order. This means you don't need to worry about holding inventory or managing shipping. You can start your POD journey with Spocket, which is a top platform that connects you with high-quality suppliers in the UK and Europe for your print-on-demand business.

Specific Tips for Better Earnings:

• Offer Custom Designs: Create personalized designs that allow customers to add their own text or images. Personalization can command a higher price and increase sales.
• Focus on Niche Markets: Cater to specific audiences (e.g., pet lovers, fitness enthusiasts, or tech geeks). Niche products help you stand out from the competition and attract loyal customers.
• Leverage Social Media Marketing: Promote your custom products on social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, where visual content thrives. Use influencers or paid ads to drive traffic to your store.

Popular Products for Print on Demand:

• Custom T-Shirts: Create unique designs or slogans that cater to your target audience.
• Mugs and Tumblers: Personalized mugs for gifts or office use are always popular.
• Phone Cases: Offer trendy or personalized phone cases to attract tech-savvy customers.
• Wall Art: Create digital designs that can be printed as posters or framed art.

Earning Potential: £300 to £5,000+ per month, depending on how well you market and promote your products and the size of your audience.

Become a Virtual Assistant for UK-Based Companies

Virtual assistants (VAs) help businesses with tasks such as scheduling, answering emails, and managing social media. UK companies often hire VAs to work remotely, making this a great way to make money online from home.

Tips for Better Earnings:

• Specialize in a niche: Consider focusing on a specific industry, such as real estate or e-commerce. Specializing in a niche will help you stand out and charge higher rates.
• Learn advanced tools: Familiarize yourself with tools like Trello, Slack, and Asana to handle more complex tasks, making you more valuable to clients.
• Offer additional services: Go beyond basic tasks by offering content creation, social media management, or email marketing. This allows you to charge premium rates.

Skills You Need to Succeed as a Virtual Assistant:

• Organization: Keep tasks and schedules on track to help your clients stay productive.
• Communication: Professionally handle emails and phone calls.
• Technology: Be proficient in online tools like Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and social media platforms.

Earning Potential: £10 to £30 per hour, depending on your experience and services.

Sell Digital Products Like Ebooks or Templates

Selling digital products is a low-effort, scalable way to make money online. Once you create your product, you can sell it repeatedly without worrying about inventory or shipping.

Tips for Better Earnings:

• Focus on a profitable niche: Create ebooks, printables, or templates that cater to a specific audience, such as small business owners, teachers, or fitness enthusiasts.
• Bundle your products: Increase sales by offering bundled products (e.g., an ebook plus design templates), which provide more value to customers.
• Offer personalized services: You can charge extra for customizing your templates or digital designs to meet individual customer needs.

Digital Products You Can Sell for Free Online:

• Etsy: Great for selling printables, design templates, and artwork.
• Amazon Kindle: Publish and sell your own ebooks to a global audience.
• Creative Market: Perfect for selling design resources like logos, fonts, and digital templates.

Earning Potential: £50 to £500+ per month, depending on the popularity of your products.

Earn from Selling Handmade Crafts Online

If you're creative, selling handmade items is a rewarding way to earn money online. UK-based platforms allow you to reach a large audience, and handmade products like jewelry, art, and custom goods are always in demand.

Specific Tips for Better Earnings:

• Offer unique and personalized products: Handmade items that are one-of-a-kind or personalized (e.g., custom jewelry or engraved gifts) can sell for higher prices.
• Promote your products on social media: Use platforms like Instagram and Pinterest to showcase your crafts, run promotions, and attract more buyers.
• Create seasonal products: Take advantage of holidays or special events by creating limited-edition items for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or weddings.

Best Platforms to Sell Handmade Products in the UK:

• Folksy: A UK-based marketplace perfect for selling unique handmade crafts.
• Etsy: One of the most popular platforms for selling crafts, jewelry, and custom items globally.
• Depop: Great for selling fashion and handmade accessories, especially to a younger audience.

Earning Potential: £100 to £1,000+ per month, depending on the number of products you sell and the uniqueness of your items.

Make Money from Stock Photography and Video

Photographers can make a steady income by selling stock photos and videos. Businesses, bloggers, and designers always need visuals, and stock photography is in high demand. Whether it's landscapes, business imagery, or creative shots, stock photos, and videos can be a profitable online income source.

Specific Tips for Better Earnings:

• Focus on in-demand niches: Subjects like technology, business, nature, and lifestyle are always in demand. Create photos and videos that are useful for websites, ads, and blogs.
• Tag your photos correctly: Use relevant keywords and descriptions to make your content easier to find. This will increase your chances of making sales.
• Upload consistently: The more photos and videos you have available, the better your chances of making sales. Aim to upload new content regularly to keep your portfolio fresh.

Where to Sell Your Photography Online in the UK:

• Alamy: A UK-based platform where you can sell stock photos globally. It’s great for photographers looking to sell both artistic and commercial images.
• Shutterstock: One of the most popular platforms for selling stock photos and videos, offering high visibility for your work.
• Adobe Stock: Perfect for selling high-quality images and videos to a global audience, especially for those using creative tools like Photoshop.

Earning Potential: £100 to £1,000+ per month, depending on the number and quality of your images and videos.

Teach English or Other Skills Online for Free

If you have a passion for teaching, then teaching English or other subjects like math, science, or music online is a flexible way to earn money from home. Many UK platforms let you share your skills and reach students all over the world, making it a rewarding way to make money online.

Specific Tips for Better Earnings:

• Get certified: If you're teaching English, getting a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification can increase your credibility and earnings.
• Offer specialized subjects: Tutoring in high-demand areas like science, coding, or exam preparation can help you charge more for your services.
• Teach group lessons: Consider teaching small group classes to increase your earning potential without spending more time on individual lessons.

Popular Websites to Offer Tutoring Services:

• MyTutor: A UK-based platform where you can tutor students online, offering competitive pay.
• Superprof: Allows you to teach a wide range of subjects, from academics to hobbies like guitar or yoga.
• Preply: A global platform where you can teach English and other languages, reaching students worldwide.

Earning Potential: £10 to £40 per hour, depending on the subject and your experience.

Become a Social Media Manager for Small Businesses

Social media managers help companies grow their online presence, and many small businesses in the UK are looking for people to manage their accounts. This is a great way to make money online if you're social media-savvy and know how to create engaging content.

Specific Tips for Better Earnings:

• Specialize in a niche: Focus on a specific industry, such as fashion, fitness, or restaurants. By becoming an expert in a niche, you can charge higher rates.
• Offer full-service management: Provide a complete package that includes content creation, posting schedules, audience engagement, and advertising to offer more value to clients.
• Learn advertising tools: Understanding platforms like Facebook Ads and Instagram Ads can make you more valuable to clients, allowing you to charge more for managing their advertising campaigns.

How to Land Your First Social Media Management Client:

• Create a Portfolio: Showcase your own social media growth or manage accounts for friends and family to build a strong portfolio.
• Use Freelance Platforms: Sites like Fiverr and PeoplePerHour list jobs for social media managers. Pitch to businesses actively looking for help.
• Contact Local Businesses: Many small businesses need help managing their social media. Reach out to them directly, offering your services at an affordable rate.

Earning Potential: £15 to £50+ per hour depending on your experience, the services you provide, and the size of the business.

Test Websites and Apps for Extra Income

Testing websites and apps is a fun and easy way to make money online. Companies pay you to give feedback on their websites and apps to improve the user experience before launching.

Specific Tips for Better Earnings:

• Be Detailed in Your Feedback: Provide clear, actionable feedback. Companies are willing to pay more for testers who offer valuable insights.
• Test on Multiple Devices: Use a range of devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, and desktops) to give comprehensive feedback. This increases your chances of landing more testing gigs.
• Sign Up for Multiple Platforms: Register on several testing sites to increase your earning opportunities. The more platforms you’re on, the more testing jobs you can take.

Best Platforms for Testing Websites in the UK:

• UserTesting: Pays users to test websites and apps and give detailed feedback.
• TestingTime: You get paid to test websites and apps from various companies.
• WhatUsersDo: A UK-based platform that offers website testing opportunities and pays for your feedback.

Earning Potential: £10 to £50 per test, depending on the platform and the complexity of the test.

Work as a Proofreader or Transcriptionist

If you have a keen eye for detail, working as a proofreader or transcriptionist is an excellent way to make money online. Many UK companies need help reviewing documents or converting audio files into text.

Tips for Better Earnings:

• Specialize in a Niche: Offer proofreading or transcription services in specific industries like legal, medical, or academic fields. Niche expertise can help you charge higher rates.
• Improve Your Speed and Accuracy: The faster and more accurately you can proofread or transcribe, the more jobs you can take on, boosting your income.
• Build a Portfolio: Create a portfolio of your work to showcase your skills. Offering samples can help you secure higher-paying clients.

High-Demand Online Jobs for Proofreaders and Transcriptionists:

• Scribendi: Offers freelance proofreading jobs to experienced proofreaders.
• Reedsy: Connects freelance proofreaders with authors and businesses, particularly in publishing.
• Rev: A transcription service that pays freelancers to convert audio files into text. Ideal for people looking for flexible, work-from-home opportunities.

Earning Potential:

• Proofreading: £15 to £40 per hour, depending on experience and the type of documents you're reviewing.
• Transcription: £10 to £30 per hour, with specialized fields like legal or medical transcription often paying more.

Rent Out Your Spare Room on Airbnb

If you have extra space in your home, renting out a room on Airbnb is a great way to earn money online. With Airbnb, you can rent out a room or your entire home to travelers visiting the UK, providing a simple way to make money at home.

Tips for Better Earnings:

• Offer Additional Amenities: Provide extras like breakfast, Wi-Fi, or local guides to stand out from the competition and justify higher prices.
• Target Seasonal Events: Increase your rates during peak seasons or events in your area, like festivals or sporting events. This can significantly boost your income.
• Use Dynamic Pricing: Take advantage of Airbnb’s dynamic pricing feature, which adjusts your rates based on demand, ensuring you’re always getting the best price for your space.
• Ensure Guest Satisfaction: Respond to guest inquiries promptly, maintain a clean space, and ask for reviews. Positive reviews lead to more bookings.

Earning Potential: £500 to £2,500+ per month depending on your location, the size of your space, and the demand in your area.

Start a YouTube Channel and Monetize Your Content

Creating a YouTube channel is a great way to earn money online for free. By producing engaging video content, you can build an audience and monetize your content through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.

Specific Tips for Better Earnings:

• Focus on Evergreen Content: Create videos on topics that remain relevant over time (e.g., tutorials, how-tos). This will keep your content earning views and revenue long after it’s published.
• Engage with Your Audience: Reply to comments and ask viewers to like and subscribe. Engaging with your audience helps increase video views and keeps people coming back for more.
• Diversify Your Revenue Streams: Besides ads and sponsorships, sell merchandise, create Patreon accounts, or offer paid courses to supplement your income.
• Optimize for SEO: Use the right keywords in your video titles, descriptions, and tags to increase visibility in YouTube search results.

How to Earn from YouTube:

• Ad Revenue: You earn money based on the number of views and ad clicks your videos generate.
• Sponsorships: Brands may pay you to feature their products in your videos.
• Affiliate Marketing: Include affiliate links in your video descriptions and earn commissions from sales.
• Sell Merchandise: Once you have enough followers, you can sell your merchandise.

Earning Potential: £100 to £10,000+ per month depending on your subscriber count, video views, and monetization strategies.

Offer Freelance Graphic Design Services

If you have graphic design skills, offering your services as a freelancer is a lucrative way to make money online. Many businesses in the UK need logos, social media graphics, and marketing materials, and are willing to pay for quality design work.

Specific Tips for Better Earnings:

• Specialize in a Niche: Focus on specific types of design (e.g., logos, social media posts, or packaging). Niching down makes it easier to target clients and charge premium rates.
• Offer Bundled Packages: Instead of offering one-off designs, provide package deals (e.g., logos, business cards, and social media templates). This increases your overall earnings per client.
• Leverage Testimonials and Reviews: Positive reviews from previous clients will build trust and help you win more projects.
• Upsell Additional Services: Offer complementary services such as branding consultations, social media management, or web design to increase your earnings.

Where to Find Graphic Design Gigs:

• Upwork: Freelancers can bid on graphic design jobs from companies worldwide, offering a range of projects.
• PeoplePerHour: A UK-based platform that connects freelancers with local and global clients seeking graphic design services.
• Fiverr: Start by offering smaller design gigs like logos or flyers, and gradually build your portfolio and prices as you gain experience.

Earning Potential: £15 to £100+ per hour depending on your experience, niche, and the complexity of the design work.

Offer Online Coaching or Consulting Services

If you have expertise in a specific field like fitness, business, or life coaching, offering online coaching or consulting services is an excellent way to earn money online. Many people are willing to pay for one-on-one guidance or advice from a professional.

Tips for Better Earnings:

• Niche Down: Specializing in a particular area (e.g., business coaching for startups or fitness coaching for beginners) helps you attract a targeted audience and charge higher rates.
• Offer Group Sessions: In addition to one-on-one coaching, consider offering group coaching sessions or webinars. This allows you to help more people at once while maximizing your income.
• Create Packages: Instead of charging per session, offer coaching packages (e.g., a 3-month program with weekly sessions). This builds a steady income and keeps clients committed.

Popular Coaching Niches:

• Business Coaching: Help entrepreneurs and small business owners grow their businesses through strategy and planning.
• Fitness Coaching: Create personalized workout and nutrition plans for individuals.
• Life Coaching: Offer advice on personal development, career growth, and setting life goals.

Earning Potential: £50 to £200+ per hour, depending on your niche and experience.

Become a Translator and Earn from Your Language Skills

If you're fluent in more than one language, working as an online translator is a great way to make money online. Many UK-based companies need documents, websites, and marketing materials translated into multiple languages.

Specific Tips for Better Earnings:

• Specialize in a Niche: Focus on specific industries like legal, medical, or technical translation. These fields often pay more due to the specialized knowledge required.
• Certifications Matter: Obtaining translation certifications (e.g., from the Chartered Institute of Linguists in the UK) can help you secure higher-paying jobs and more clients.
• Offer Rush Services: Clients often need translations done quickly. Offering an expedited service allows you to charge premium rates.

Where to Find Translation Jobs:

• ProZ: A platform for professional translators that offers high-quality job listings.
• Gengo: Offers freelance translation jobs with flexible schedules.
• Upwork: Find a wide range of translation gigs for various languages and industries.

Earning Potential: £10 to £50+ per hour, depending on the language and the complexity of the project.

Create and Sell an Online Course

If you're an expert in a subject, creating and selling an online course is a highly profitable way to make money online. You can share your knowledge on platforms like Udemy, Teachable, or Skillshare, and earn passive income every time someone enrolls.

Specific Tips for Better Earnings:

• Choose a High-Demand Topic: Research topics that are in high demand, such as digital marketing, coding, or productivity. Focus on areas where people are willing to pay for expertise.
• Offer Bonus Content: Include extras like worksheets, quizzes, and downloadable resources to add more value to your course, justifying a higher price.
• Promote on Social Media: Use platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, or Instagram to promote your course and attract more students.

Popular Course Topics:

• Digital Marketing: Teach businesses how to grow their online presence through SEO, social media, and paid advertising.
• Photography: Offer tips on taking professional photos with both smartphones and DSLRs.
• Coding: Help beginners learn programming languages like Python or JavaScript.

Earning Potential: £500 to £10,000+ per course, depending on the popularity and quality of the content.

Sell Stock Videos and Earn Passive Income

If you have video production skills, creating and selling stock videos is an excellent way to earn money online. The demand for high-quality video content is growing, and businesses and content creators constantly need new footage.

Specific Tips for Better Earnings:

• Create Evergreen Content: Focus on themes like nature, business, or technology that remain relevant year-round and continue to sell over time.
• Film in 4K: Many platforms prefer high-quality, 4K resolution videos, which are more likely to get purchased.
• Diversify Your Portfolio: Upload a variety of videos across different genres to appeal to a wider range of buyers. This can include drone footage, slow-motion clips, and time-lapse videos.

Where to Sell Stock Videos:

• Pond5: One of the largest platforms for selling stock videos, offering flexibility in pricing.
• Shutterstock: Allows videographers to upload and sell video clips to a global market.
• Adobe Stock: Great for selling both stock photos and videos, with integration into Adobe’s creative tools.

Earning Potential: £200 to £1,500+ per month, depending on the number and quality of your videos.

Conclusion

Making money online in the UK has never been easier with so many flexible options available, from taking online surveys and freelance writing to starting a blog or offering virtual services. Each method provides a legitimate way to earn income, whether you're looking for a side hustle or a full-time opportunity. For those interested in starting an eCommerce business with minimal investment, Spocket offers a great way to get into dropshipping. By connecting you with reliable UK and European suppliers, Spocket helps you easily set up an online store and start earning money from home.