The world has long moved past times when phones were made just for telecommunication. Today, smartphones are created to serve a great deal of purposes from surfing the internet to carrying out enterprises. In simpler words, making money with the phone in your pocket is now easier than ever. However, for the inexperienced folk, this endeavor still comes off as new and complex.
If you are in that number, then this is just the place to be. We’ve compiled just the guide to demystify making money with your phone while highlighting 7 proven ways to do so. Read on.
How to make money from your phone: real ways
Gary Vaynerchuk, Entrepreneur and Speaker – “The best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time is now. You have a phone, so you have access to all the tools you need to build a business.”
You can make money with your phone the same way as every other avenue, with the exchange of value. In other words, you’ll sell goods or offer valuable services via your phone and get paid in return. It is 2025, and lots of commercial activities are conducted online, so we are not short of opportunities.
Moving on, here are seven proven ways to make money just with your phone that aren’t capital intensive and are easy to get started.
Take paid surveys online
Andrew Greeley, American Sociologist – “Everyone takes surveys. Whoever makes a statement about human behavior has engaged in a survey of some sort.”
Paid surveys are one of the most tested ways to start making money on your device. It is not just easy to start but cost-effective and pretty much convenient. Here, companies and advertising agencies and websites will engage you with questions and campaigns to garner feedback. As you answer surveys and participate in the campaigns, you’ll earn cash that can be redeemed anytime.
However, it is important to note that payments from these surveys are typically meager due to the oversaturated nature of the online survey space. Notwithstanding, if you need a quick start with making some money on your phone, surveys are a good place to start. Furthermore, whatever your region, here are some of the reliable survey websites to get started with paid surveys online:
- Inboxdollars
- Swagbucks
- Survey Junkie
- Metroopinion
Fun Fact: Paid surveys started as a tool for market research in the 1940s. Companies realized they could gather opinions directly from consumers to improve products and services.
License photos
If you are already into photography then selling licensed pictures on websites is a pretty lucrative opportunity. However, you’d have to be a little experienced at photography to produce selling pieces, so it’s not ideal for beginners. Here, you gather standard photos from whatever niche and upload them to stock photo sites, and you’ll get notified every time a purchase is requested.
There are several websites that display and broker the sales of licensed photographs that are readily available to explore. Here are some of the most renowned ones:
- Getty Images
- Adobe Stock
- Shutterstock
- IStock
- Unsplash
Become an Affiliate Marketer
Affiliate marketing is also one of the most widespread means of generating income with just your smartphone. Thanks to digital sales channels, you can promote and sell certain products to earn sales commissions. It can be easy and cost-effective to begin depending on the scope you’re adopting.
All you need for a start is your phone, internet connection, and a strong media presence. It can be social media, a blog, or whatever gives you direct access and influence over the target audience or market. Then you’d want to contact the companies and distributors of the said product or service to establish an affiliate relationship. Going forward, you’d receive a percentage commission for every product that is purchased via your referral.
Play online games
Video game developers and survey platforms alike have developed in-game systems for users to get rewarded in cash for playing video games. This can come in the form of earning points that are redeemable for cash or gift cards. This way, you can entertain yourself and earn some extra cash on the side with your gaming endeavors.
Going further into gaming, you can also explore gambling and casino games, as they present an opportunity to make extra cash with little risk. Getting started is simple enough as you can select best-rated iGaming sites in Canada from prominent resources. It can be simple, thrilling and profitable at the same time.
Offer Freelance Services
Especially if you have valuable digital skills ready to go, freelancing is another proven way you can generate extra money with your phone. Since the gig market is thriving, there’s a bounty of people that will require your skills and services. All you have to do is connect with them and sell them skills. It doesn’t matter if your expertise is graphics design, social media management, writing, or virtual assistance.
In perspective, freelance marketplaces like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr allow you to put your skills out there to connect with buyers, all with a smartphone. As competitive as this space may be, you are sure to break even, provided your services are standard and well-positioned.
Start a YouTube channel
Starting a YouTube channel is more of a long-term than an instant way to make money with your phone, but it is proven. All you are going to need is a YouTube account and a passion for making videos. Provided you’ve got educating, useful, and entertaining content, you should be building viewership in little time. And with platforms like YouTube, viewership transcends money from ad revenue, sponsorships, gifts, and other streams.
Fun Fact: More than 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, covering virtually every niche imaginable.
Online Tutoring
Online tutoring also requires skill and vast knowledge in a relevant subject matter to pull off. Provided these things are in place, you can offer training and coaching sessions online with your phones for a stipulated fee. Utilizing platforms like Google Meet, Zoom, and its likes enables you to accommodate an extended audience.
Final Words
The mobile phone has evolved from just being a communication device to openly different possibilities. Millions of people around the world now rely on their phones to make money. Explore the options above and make cool money from the comfort of your bed.