Top 10 best earning websites for students in 2024

The quote by Warren Buffet goes: “If you do not find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.”

And no one wants to become a slave to their job.

Whether you’re still a student or have graduated, listening to Buffett and his advice to create multiple income streams is a good idea — especially when there are many best earning websites to help us earn more money.

The best part about these best earning websites? They’re great for students with busy schedules — allowing us to earn extra income without compromising your coursework.

For international students, these online platforms are even more valuable — helping us cope with the financial demands of studying abroad, where it’s just not possible for us to go home and get a week’s worth of meals and groceries from our mums whenever we’re broke.

But before we proceed any further, it always pays to be critical.

In this case, we have to take a step back, assess the situation and ask whether the best earning websites are as flexible, convenient and effective as they portray themselves to be?

Or are they too good to be true?

Lucky for us, checking whether a site is legit or not isn’t as hard as it seems.

Microsoft has some easy steps we can follow:

• Domain name: This is one of the fastest ways to tell if a website is a scam or not. If the URL has .org, .com, .edu, or .gov, they are more legit. If they contain .biz or .info, proceed with caution.
• Contact page: If there’s a contact page and your calls and emails go through, these tell you that you’re not dealing with a scam site.
• Website design: Do the photos look stocky? Are there zero real photos? Are the fonts and photos oddly spaced out and disproportionate? If you answered yes to any or all three, you may be dealing with a deceptive site.
• Security indicators: HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is usually more secure than HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) as HTTPS authenticates your connection. This ensures that the website you’re interacting with is real.

10 best earning websites for students in 2024

Upwork 

Upwork is one of the best earning websites for students as it has many and diverse freelance opportunities. 

This is thanks to how the site serves as a meeting ground where businesses and freelancers connect and collaborate on various projects worldwide. 

Setting up on Upwork is easy and direct. You can create a profile showcasing your skills, qualifications and expertise in writing, web design or any work that can be done using a computer. 

Next, it’s time to actively bid on projects that match your skills and interests.

The platform’s payment system ensures that once your work is approved, you receive your payment, providing a reliable source of income for students.

Note that the platform takes 10% of your fee. It’s a small trade-off for accessing a huge pool of potential clients and a secure payment system. 

As Upwork is so popular, expect lots of competition, especially if you’re a newcomer.

The platform’s payment system ensures that once your work is approved, you receive your payment, providing a reliable source of income for students.

Fiverr

Fiverr is one of the best earning websites for students, providing many ways for us to showcase and monetise our skills. 

The platform operates on a gig-based model, allowing you to offer services such as graphic design, writing, voice-overs and social media management. 

Like Upwork, setting up on Fiverr is simple; you create a profile, list your skills, and offer gigs to potential clients. 

YouTube

If you have a passion for creating videos and vodcasts, YouTube is a great earning platform for you. 

YouTube is one of the best earning websites where you can share videos on many topics, including education, entertainment, gaming, lifestyle and technology. 

It’s really simple — all you need to do is create a channel, personalise it with your style and start uploading videos. 

To make money on YouTube, you can enable advertisements on your videos, join the YouTube Partner Programme, and even secure sponsorships from brands interested in your content.

To qualify for the YouTube Partner Programme (YPP), you must meet certain requirements, such as having more than 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months and maintaining a subscriber count of over 1,000. 

Once accepted into the programme, you can earn money from your video ads. Good luck! 

Chegg

Unlike other platforms, Chegg is unique in that it specifically focuses on educational support.

To earn on Chegg, you can apply as a tutor, and use your knowledge and skills to help other students.

Think of it as a way to revise that lets you earn up to US$20 per hour, depending on your proficiency in the subject matter.

You start by creating a profile highlighting your academic background, areas of expertise, and availability for tutoring sessions.

Shutterstock

Take good photos and videos? Shutterstock allows you to showcase and sell your images and videos to anyone with an account.

Getting started on Shutterstock is a seamless process – you create an account, upload your high-quality visuals, and make them available for purchase. 

If you love capturing moments through photos or creating engaging videos, Shutterstock is a chance to showcase your talent and make money from your creative juices.

When users download your stock images or videos from Shutterstock, they acquire a license, and you, as the contributor, receive a cut of the platform’s price for that license. 

There’s a caveat, though. To receive your earnings, you need to collect around US$35 from the purchases of your work on Shutterstock. 

ThreadUp

As one of the leading online consignment and thrift stores, ThredUp is where you can sell used clothing items. 

What better way to Marie Kondo our wardrobes, gain inner peace, do good for the planet and make some extra money?

Here’s how it works: You request a “Clean Out Kit” from ThredUp, which includes a prepaid shipping label.

Then, you fill the kit with the clothing items you want to sell, send it back, and ThredUp takes care of the rest. 

Once your items are processed, ThredUp lists them on their platform, and you earn a percentage of the sale price when your items are sold. 

The only downside is only gently used clothes can be sold. So none of those 10-year-old rags you’re wearing a t-shirts please!

TaskRabbit

If you are looking for one of the best earning websites, TaskRabbit is a great option. 

The platform covers a range of categories, from cleaning and assembling furniture to running errands and delivering stuff — with the chance to earn up to US$60 per task. 

To get started on TaskRabbit, you can either apply for available tasks or proactively create a profile that highlights your skills, allowing people to seek you out for work. 

It can seem like a lot when the platform takes a 15% commission fee from your earnings, but the variety of tasks available kind of makes up for it. 

Rover

If you love animals, Rover is for you. One of the best earning websites for dog and cat lovers, this is where you can offer your pet-sitting services to pet owners.

These include dog walking, housesitting at the pet owner’s residence, or taking care of the client’s pet in their home. 

While Rover offers a great way for students to make money, it’s important to consider some aspects.

The platform takes a commission ranging from 20% to 25%, higher than the platforms above.

Working with pets also involves inherent risks, such as potential dog bites or damage to personal property. 

However, Rover has insurance coverage to reimburse sitters in case of unexpected incidents, though a deductible of US$250 may apply. 

Swagbucks

Those who don’t want to leave their room can still make money.

Thanks to Swagbucks, students can sign up for free and earn points by completing activities such as taking surveys, watching videos and even shopping online. 

The flexibility of tasks allows students to integrate earning opportunities into their daily routines.

Swagbucks rewards you for common activities like online shopping, making it a seamless addition to students’ lifestyles.

Points earned can be redeemed for gift cards or cash via PayPal, giving you a convenient way to convert their efforts into valuable rewards.

With the potential to earn US$5 every day effortlessly,we think Swagbucks is one of the best earning websites for students.  

Neighbor.com

Neighbor.com is a good opportunity for students to earn money if they have extra storage space. 

Like Airbnb, Neighbor.com allows you to rent out unused areas in your home, such as basements, garages or storage sheds. 

Setting up on Neighbor.com involves listing your available space, setting your own prices, and receiving rental requests from those needing storage. 

The platform facilitates the transaction, collecting a service fee from the renter, and you receive payment via direct deposit or a debit card at the end of the month. 

However, the website does deduct fees, including a processing fee of 4.9% of the total reservation plus 30 cents per monthly payout.

If you suddenly need to reclaim your storage space, you must provide the renter with 30 days’ advance notice, or else you may incur a US$60 early eviction fee. 

Best budgeting apps for students in 2-23

As you earn more money, it is crucial that you learn how to budget as well. Managing your finances efficiently is key to making the most of your earnings. 

Investing effort and making money from the best earning website and then blowing it all away is just a surefire way to burnout.

Fortunately, several budgeting apps are designed to help you track your expenses, set financial goals and save for the future. 

One of the best budgeting apps is PocketGuard. It is a user-friendly tool that links to your bank accounts to categorise and track your spending automatically. 

It provides a clear overview of your financial situation, allowing you to set budget limits for different categories and receive alerts when approaching your limits. 

PocketGuard’s simplicity and real-time updates make it an excellent choice for students who want a quick and easy way to stay on top of their finances.

Another option is Mint, a popular budgeting app that offers a holistic view of your financial health. 

Mint allows you to connect your bank accounts, credit cards and other financial accounts in one place, automatically categorising transactions and providing insights into your spending habits. 

Its goal-setting feature sets Mint apart, helping students establish and work towards financial milestones, such as building an emergency fund or paying off student loans.

YNAB (You Need A Budget) is another top choice for those who prefer a proactive approach to budgeting. 

YNAB focuses on assigning every dollar a job, emphasising the importance of giving each budget aspect a specific purpose. 

With YNAB, you actively allocate your income to various categories, ensuring we’re accountable for every expense.

This encourages mindful spending and helps you organise the earnings generated from the best websites for students.