A lot of money-making advice sounds simple until you try to act on it. One site wants a skill. Another wants a product. A third promises paid tasks, but the opportunities come and go.
The useful question isn’t just “Which website pays the most?” It’s “What would I actually have to do, what could I earn from it, and can I receive the payout where I live?”
Some platforms pay for tasks or research. Others help you find clients, sell things, or earn commissions from an audience you build. Those are very different paths, so this guide compares them by how approachable they are for a beginner and how the payout works.
Quick answer: Prolific, UserTesting, and Clickworker are relatively straightforward places to try research, testing, or small online tasks. If you already have something to sell, eBay may be a practical starting point. Fiverr, Upwork, and Preply require a service or skill. Etsy, Gumroad, and Amazon Associates take more planning because you need a product, an audience, or both.
“Easy” means easy to try. It doesn’t mean regular work or guaranteed income.
How the ranking works
These websites don’t all pay in the same way, so comparing them by one income figure wouldn’t tell you much. This ranking weighs how much setup is needed, whether you can try the platform without bringing your own audience, how clear the payout terms are, and whether you’re doing a task, selling a service, or waiting for a sale.
The ranking is an editorial comparison of entry difficulty and payout paths. Your results depend on your location, available opportunities, skills, time, and the platform’s current rules.
| Rank | Website | How you earn | Ease to try | Payout reality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prolific | Participate in research studies | Easy once accepted | Study rates are clear; availability varies |
| 2 | UserTesting | Test websites and apps | Easy to understand; tests require matching | Pay varies by test; usually paid after completion |
| 3 | Clickworker | Complete online tasks | Easy to try | Small tasks; payment methods and minimums vary |
| 4 | User Interviews | Join research interviews and studies | Moderate; selection is limited | Reward type varies by study and location |
| 5 | Respondent | Apply for research studies | Moderate; often selective | Incentives can be worthwhile, but selection isn’t assured |
| 6 | eBay | Sell items | Easy if you already have items to sell | You earn when an item sells; fees come out of proceeds |
| 7 | Fiverr | Sell a defined service | Moderate; finding the first buyer takes work | Sellers receive 80% of a completed order amount |
| 8 | Upwork | Apply for freelance projects | Moderate to challenging | Service fee varies by contract |
| 9 | Preply | Tutor students online | Requires teaching ability and time | Trial lesson commission is 100%; later lessons have a fee |
| 10 | Etsy | Sell products | Requires a product and listing work | Selling and payment processing fees apply |
| 11 | Gumroad | Sell digital products | Simple storefront; marketing is up to you | Direct-sale and marketplace fees differ |
| 12 | Amazon Associates | Earn commission on qualifying purchases | Harder without a website or audience | Sales, thresholds, and payment timing matter |
1. Prolific: a straightforward way to try paid research
Prolific connects research teams with people willing to take part in online studies. You fill out a profile, then can join studies that match your background and eligibility.
The reward for each study is shown before you begin. Prolific says researchers must pay at least £6 or $8 per hour for a study, and recommends £9 or $12 per hour or more. That rate applies to the study itself; it doesn’t mean studies will be available whenever you want them or provide a steady weekly income. Some people may also be waitlisted, depending on location and demand. participant-help.prolific.com
Best for: People who are comfortable answering questions carefully and waiting for studies that fit their profile.
Keep in mind: Check the supported-country list, waitlist information, and payout requirements before counting on the platform.
2. UserTesting: get paid to give feedback on websites and apps
UserTesting asks participants to try websites or apps and talk through what they notice as they complete tasks. You may need to pass a practice test, then answer screening questions before you’re offered a paid test.
Payment varies with the type and length of the test and customer demand. The amount is shown on your dashboard. UserTesting says payments are sent to a verified PayPal account, usually 14 days after a completed test. support.usertesting.com
Best for: People who can explain their reactions clearly while using a website or app.
Keep in mind: A practice test doesn’t guarantee an invitation, and screeners may rule you out of some opportunities.
3. Clickworker: small tasks, with payment details to check
Clickworker offers short online assignments that can include research, data processing, writing, surveys, and other tasks. What appears in your account can depend on your location, language, qualifications, and current demand.
For EU participants using SEPA, Clickworker currently lists a €10 minimum payable amount, with weekly payment runs from Wednesday to Friday. Other payment methods have different minimums, and not every method is available to every worker. support-workplace.clickworker.com
Best for: People who want to try different kinds of short tasks without pitching directly to clients.
Keep in mind: Some tasks may pay very little, and the work available can change. Check the payment options in your account before spending much time on the platform.
4. User Interviews: apply for studies that fit your background
User Interviews recruits people for market research. You apply to studies that match your experience, then wait to see whether you’re selected. The study details show the incentive type before you apply.
When User Interviews distributes the reward, it offers a choice of digital gift cards through Tremendous. Some researchers distribute incentives themselves and choose the payment method. Project availability and reward options vary by country and study type. support.userinterviews.com
Best for: People whose work, habits, or experience fit the group a researcher wants to hear from.
Keep in mind: Applying doesn’t mean you’ll be selected. Check whether the reward is cash, a gift card, or another type of incentive before applying.
5. Respondent: apply for research that matches your experience
Respondent lists research projects and interviews. Some projects seek a broad group of consumers; others are looking for people with particular professional or personal experience. You apply and complete any screening the researcher requires.
Respondent’s help center says participant incentives are issued through Tremendous virtual gift cards, with other options potentially available in specific location-based circumstances. Applying itself doesn’t earn a payment; the incentive is tied to completing the study. help.respondent.io
Best for: People who match a study’s requirements, especially when it asks for a specific type of work or experience.
Keep in mind: A posted incentive isn’t guaranteed income. Keep payment and communication on the platform, and read each project’s requirements closely.
6. eBay: start with something you already own
If there are unused items around the house that you’re willing to part with, eBay can be a simple way to try online selling. Start with one or two items. Look at similar sold listings, take clear photos, and work out postage and packaging costs before setting a price.
eBay deducts selling costs and other fees from sale proceeds before payout. Payout timing and schedules depend on your account and settings. www.ebay.com
Best for: Beginners who have items to sell and are willing to photograph, describe, package, and ship them.
Keep in mind: A listing isn’t a sale. It’s safer to learn the process with items you already own before buying stock.
7. Fiverr: turn one clear skill into a service
Fiverr lets you list a service for potential customers to buy. That might be proofreading a short document, editing a video clip, or formatting a WordPress post. One specific, well-explained offer is easier to understand than a profile that claims to do everything.
Fiverr says sellers earn 80% of the purchase amount for a completed order, including extras and tips. Price your service with the time, revisions, and amount you want to keep in mind. help.fiverr.com
Best for: Someone with a skill they can describe and deliver reliably.
Keep in mind: Opening a profile doesn’t guarantee orders. Your offer, examples, customer reviews, and competition all affect whether a buyer chooses you.
8. Upwork: find freelance projects and pitch your work
Upwork is a freelance marketplace where you create a profile and submit proposals for projects. It covers areas such as writing, design, virtual assistance, web development, and research.
The freelancer service fee varies by contract. Upwork shows the applicable fee when you submit a proposal or receive an offer, and fixes it once the contract begins. Its public freelancer page currently describes fees ranging from 0% to 15%. support.upwork.com
Best for: Someone who can show relevant work and explain how they would solve a client’s particular problem.
Keep in mind: A tailored proposal takes more thought than a generic one, but it also gives a client a clearer reason to consider you. Check the contract fee before accepting work.
9. Preply: tutor students online
Preply connects tutors with students. You’ll need a subject or language you can teach, a profile that explains what students can expect, and time for lessons. This is a service business: your schedule and the relationships you build with students matter.
Read the commission terms before setting your rate. Preply says its commission on each trial lesson with a new student is 100%. For later lessons, the commission ranges from 18% to 33%, depending on the tutor’s total teaching hours on the platform. help.preply.com
Best for: People who enjoy teaching and can support students over multiple sessions.
Keep in mind: Factor in the trial lesson arrangement and ongoing commission before deciding whether the platform suits you.
10. Etsy: sell products through a marketplace
Etsy is a marketplace for products such as handmade goods, vintage items, and digital downloads. You need something suitable to list, good photos or previews, a clear description, and a price that accounts for your costs.
Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee on the order amount, including shipping and gift wrapping when charged. Payment processing fees vary by seller country, and other fees may apply. help.etsy.com
Best for: Someone who already makes, designs, or sources products that fit Etsy’s rules.
Keep in mind: Opening a shop can be quick. Getting customers to find and buy from it takes more work. Calculate your costs before you list.
11. Gumroad: sell a digital product from a simple storefront
Gumroad can host digital products such as guides, templates, and downloads. Setting up a product page can be simpler than building a full online store, but you still need something useful to sell—and a way to reach potential buyers.
Gumroad lists a 10% plus $0.50 fee for direct sales through your profile or links, and a 30% fee for sales made through its Discover marketplace. Build those fees into your pricing, and don’t assume marketplace discovery will bring regular sales. gumroad.com
Best for: Someone with a practical digital resource and a way to reach the people who might need it.
Keep in mind: A checkout page is only one piece of the work. The product needs to solve a clear problem, and buyers need a reason to visit the page.
12. Amazon Associates: earn commission by referring buyers
Amazon Associates is an affiliate program. You publish useful content for a specific audience, share relevant product links, and may earn a commission when someone makes a qualifying purchase.
This is usually a slower route for a beginner without a website, social audience, or steady visitors. Amazon’s rules and payment terms depend on the marketplace. Its U.S. program says payments are made monthly once the minimum threshold is met, approximately 60 days after the month in which the earnings were made. Check the rules for the country program you plan to use. affiliate-program.amazon.com
Best for: People who already publish useful content and can attract readers looking for product information.
Keep in mind: Clicks don’t guarantee commissions. Qualifying purchases, local program rules, and payment thresholds all matter.
Which kind of website fits you right now?
Sometimes the easiest choice becomes clearer once you name what you have to offer:
- A little free time, no product: Try a research, testing, or microtask platform. Think of it as occasional income.
- A skill you can demonstrate: Consider Fiverr or Upwork, where the work is finding and serving clients.
- Items you’re ready to part with: Try listing one on eBay before you buy inventory.
- A product or download you’ve made: Compare Etsy and Gumroad fees and decide how buyers will discover it.
- An interest in building a site of your own: Affiliate content can fit, but plan to create useful pages and attract visitors before expecting commissions.
If building a site is the path you want to explore, see our guide to creating a website that makes money and our beginner plan for launching a paid-listing website.
You can also start with the free 24-Hour Money-Making Website Blueprint.
Try one platform for seven days
You don’t need to join all 12 sites. Pick one that fits your circumstances and give it a small, honest test.
- Choose one platform. Check that it accepts people in your country and offers a payout method you can use.
- Read its payment terms. Note the minimum payout, waiting period, eligibility rules, and any selling costs.
- Complete one real setup task. Create a profile, list an item, or prepare a sample service.
- Track your time and expenses. Include screeners, proposals, product preparation, postage, and fees.
- Look at what happened. Did you find an opportunity? Was the work worth the time? Decide whether to continue, improve your offer, or try a different route.
A small test can teach you more than a dozen sign-ups. It gives you a clearer sense of the work before you invest more time.
How to spot money-making website scams
A legitimate platform can still have fees, strict rules, or limited work. The danger sign is a promise that you must pay someone to unlock guaranteed earnings.
Be careful if a recruiter asks you to pay a deposit, buy cryptocurrency, move payment off-platform, or hand over your account credentials. Use the platform’s official website and read its current terms. Keep records of your work, sales, expenses, and payouts, and check the tax and reporting rules where you live.
Questions beginners often ask
“What’s the easiest site to try if I’ve never done this before?”
Prolific, UserTesting, and Clickworker are reasonable places to start comparing research, testing, and task work. What’s available depends on your profile and location. If you have an item you’re ready to sell, listing it on eBay is another concrete first experiment.
“Which site could pay me sooner?”
It depends on when a suitable task or buyer appears, how quickly you complete the work, and the platform’s payout schedule. Check the payment rules before starting, and don’t plan around a specific payout date unless the platform confirms it.
“Can I really make $100 a day?”
These platforms don’t promise daily income. Tasks and studies can be irregular, freelance work depends on finding clients, and product or affiliate income depends on sales. Be cautious about fixed daily-income claims that don’t show clear, verifiable evidence.
Recommended reading: How Long Does It Take to Make Money From a Website? The Fastest Realistic Path to Your First $100
“Do these websites charge me to join?”
Some are free to join. Marketplaces may deduct listing, transaction, or service fees, and payment rules can include thresholds or other conditions. Check the official terms for your country before setting up.
“Should I sign up for several at once?”
Start with one or two. It’s easier to learn the rules, keep track of your time, and see whether the work suits you. Add another option once you understand what you’re getting from the first one.
Products / Tools / Resources
These are the official websites for the platforms covered above. Check their current terms and country availability before signing up.
Research and testing:
Online task work:
Freelance work and tutoring:
Selling and affiliate income
Website-building resource: