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Lazy Ways To Make Money [2024]

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Let’s face it: A lot of us are lazy. In fact, the average person sits for 12 hours a day. 

So, if you prefer staying home and earning money on your terms, you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll explore the top lazy ways to make money online. 

Read on to learn how you can use these lazy side hustles to earn money without breaking a sweat!

The Best Lazy Ways To Make Money

Watch Videos

You probably already watch videos and TV shows, so why not get paid for it?

Here’s how you can do it with InboxDollars and Swagbucks:

Since 2000, InboxDollars has paid over $80 million in cash rewards. Using the free InboxDollars app, you can get paid to watch Netflix and other videos. Plus, you can earn cash and gift cards for taking surveys, reading emails, playing games, and more. 

With Swagbucks, you can make money by watching video playlists on their website or mobile apps. The categories include Entertainment, Food, Home & Garden, Health, Tech, and Travel. You can even make money watching videos on the go with their mobile apps. With a little dedication, you can earn about $5 per day.

These platforms offer perfect lazy ways to make money. They won’t make you rich, but every little bit helps, right?

Learn more in our full review, Is Inbox Dollars Legit

Share Your Browser History

Another one of my top lazy ways to make money is by browsing the web.  

It’s really that simple! Let me explain. 

With Survey Junkie’s  “Surf to Earn” program, you can get paid to share your digital activity, like what you search for and the websites you visit. Just install it on your computer (or use the app, which is currently only available for Android), and your activities will be tracked in the background. You earn points that you can turn into real money through PayPal, wire transfer, or gift cards. 

Want to learn more? Check out this full Survey Junkie review.

The Survey Junkie website showing a breakdown of how Surf to Earn works on your computer or on the app.
Survey Junkie’s Surf to Earn program will soon be available for iOS.
Source: Survey Junkie

Swagbucks is another great site where you can earn points just by searching the web. Make Swagbucks your default search engine, and you’ll earn points every time you search. Then, you can trade those points for cash or gift cards from places like Amazon or Walmart. 

Looking for more lazy side hustle options? Explore these other survey sites like Swagbucks.

Play Games Online

Playing games online is one of my absolute favorite lazy ways to make money when I’m bored.

Check out these platforms that let you earn money just by gaming!

Mistplay is an Android app where you play new mobile games to earn “Units,” which can be redeemed for gift cards or PayPal cash. You don’t need to be a pro gamer. How much you earn is based on your playtime and your level of progress within the game. 

Learn more about the differences between Cash Giraffe vs Mistplay.

Freecash is a website and app that pays you to play games. Your earnings will be in coins, and 1,000 coins equal $1 — which can be withdrawn to PayPal, gift cards, or even crypto.

Check out this article that answers the question, “Is Freecash legit?” for more details.

Scrambly is another website and app (available for Android and iOS) that lets you earn coins by playing a variety of games and completing small tasks, and you can exchange your coins for cash or gift cards. Payout options on Scrambly include PayPal and gift cards to places like Amazon and Walmart. 

And you can read our full review, “Is Scrambly Legit?” for more info.

So, if you’re looking for lazy ways to make money, these platforms offer an easy and enjoyable way to turn your gaming hobby into extra dough.

Get Cash Back

Getting cash back is one of the best lazy ways to make money, because you’re just shopping for things you already buy!

Here are two platforms I recommend to help get you started:

Rakuten is a cashback platform that rewards you when you make purchases through their website, browser extension, or app or when you shop with a linked card. You can shop and earn cash back on your purchases from over 3,500 retailers, including big names like Walmart and Target. Every three months, you’ll receive your cashback payment via check or PayPal. 

For more details, check out our complete Rakuten review.

The Upside app is available for both iOS and Android and gives you cash back on purchases from partner businesses, including gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. Simply find and claim offers in the app, then either check in or upload your receipt after making a purchase to earn cash back. You can cash out your earnings via PayPal, direct deposit, or digital gift cards to popular retailers. 

You can check out this detailed Upside app review to learn more.

By using these platforms, you can earn extra money just by shopping and dining out. Talk about lazy ways to make money!

Take Surveys Online

Taking surveys online is another of the top lazy ways to make money in your spare time. Imagine getting paid just for sharing your opinions! 

Here are some legit platforms to help you get going:

Branded Surveys is an online platform where you earn cash or gift cards by sharing your opinions. Simply create an account, answer some basic questions, and start taking surveys through their mobile app (available for both iOS and Android) or website. You’ll earn points for each survey you complete, which you can redeem for over 300 different types of rewards — including cash or gift cards. 

For a deeper dive, check out this Branded Surveys review.

MyPoints rewards you for taking surveys, playing games, and shopping. You can earn points for each survey you complete, which can be redeemed for gift cards to popular retailers or as cash through PayPal. MyPoints also offers opportunities to test and review products.

KashKick is a great way to make money by completing simple online tasks like taking surveys. Create an account, fill out your profile, and start taking surveys to earn cash. The best part is that each survey tells you your potential earnings upfront, so you always know what to expect.

Learn more with our KashKick review.

With these platforms, you can make money while relaxing at home or even on the go. So, why not turn your opinions into cash with these lazy ways to make money? 

Get a Bank Bonus

Another smart way to make easy money is to take advantage of bank promotions. 

Here’s how you can earn a quick cash bonus:

Upgrade is a financial technology company that offers various banking services through its partners, including checking and savings accounts as well as credit and debit cards. 

Currently, you can get a $200 cash bonus by getting an Upgrade Card and pairing it with an Upgrade Rewards Checking account. Just open the account, make three debit card purchases within the first 60 days, and you’re set to receive your bonus!

To explore more ways to earn bank bonuses, check out these banks with immediate sign up bonus and these other lucrative bank promotions.

Get a High Yield Savings Account (HYSA)

Getting a high yield savings account (HYSA) is one of the best lazy ways to make money — and also make your money work for you. 

Here are two companies that will allow you to do just that:

CIT Bank offers high-yield savings accounts with great interest rates and no monthly fees. The Platinum Savings account, for example, gives you a 5.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on balances of $5,000 or more (rate is current at the time of this publication). Opening an account is quick and simple, and you can start earning right away. 

For more details, read this CIT Bank review.

Upgrade offers a Premier Savings account with a 5.21% APY on balances of $1,000 or more (rate is current at the time of this publication). There are no monthly fees, and you can manage your money easily with their mobile app — available for iOS and Android. 

Learn more about high-interest savings accounts in this 7% interest savings account guide.

Sell Stock Photos Online

If you love photography, selling stock photos online is a fantastic way to make money with minimal effort (a.k.a. lazy side hustles). 

Shutterstock is one of the biggest platforms where you can sell your photos, videos, and illustrations online. To start, sign up as a contributor, upload your high-quality content, and get paid every time someone downloads your work.

Check out these other apps that pay cash and secret websites to make money online for more earning opportunities.

Look For Free Money

Apps like Rocket Money are lazy ways to make money that can help you find free money you didn’t even know you had lost!

Rocket Money is a personal finance app designed to help you save more and spend less. Its most popular feature is the subscription manager, which saves you money by tracking and canceling unwanted subscriptions. Rocket Money also offers tools to break down your spending habits, create budgets, automate savings, monitor your credit score, and track debts and investments. 

Read this complete Rocket Money review to find out everything you need to know.

The Rocket Money app showing progress toward saving goals.
The Rocket Money app helps you save money from wherever, whenever, and it’s available for iOS and Android.
Source: Rocket Money

Sell Your Plasma

Donating your plasma is one of the best lazy side hustles. You can feel good about it, too, because you’re helping others!

You can earn $50 to $75 per visit, and with companies like CSL Plasma, you can make over $700 in your first month as a new donor. The process is simple: Find a nearby donation center, go through a health screening, and donate! 

For more details, check out this guide on how to donate plasma for money.

Also explore these unconventional ways to make money to further boost your income.

Invest

Investing is another great example of lazy ways to make money. 

Here are two platforms to get you started on your lazy side hustles:

Fundrise lets you invest in real estate with as little as $10 and earn returns through quarterly payouts. Read our Fundrise review to learn more.

Public is an investing app where you can buy stocks, bonds, ETFs, and even crypto. You can start investing with just a few dollars, and there are no trading fees during regular hours. Public also offers a high-yield cash account with a competitive APY. Read our Public review to learn more.

And you can explore these alternative investments to discover more lazy ways to make money, and learn more about the best way to invest money.

Our #1 Choice
Our #1 Choice

Passive real estate investing opportunity

Low, transparent fees

Investments starting at $10

Commonly Asked Questions About Lazy Ways To Make Money 

Lazy Ways To Make Money Online?

The best lazy ways to make money online are:

Lazy Ways To Make Money From Home?

Here are some lazy ways to make money from the comfort of your own home:

Lazy Ways To Make Money For Free?

Here are the top lazy ways to make money for free:

How Do I Make Money If I’m Lazy?

If you’re lazy but want to make money, try these easy, lazy side hustles and lazy ways to make money: Watch videos, share your browser history, play games, get cashback on purchases, take surveys, sign up for bank bonuses, open high-yield savings accounts, sell photos online, and use money-saving apps.

How Can I Make Easy Money Fast?

Here are popular lazy ways to make money fast: 

How to Earn Money Without Money?

Here are some easy, lazy side hustles to earn money without money:

How To Make Money By Doing Nothing?

Here are some lazy side hustles that require minimal effort:

  • Invest your money through platforms like Fundrise (read our Fundrise review) and Public (read our Public review).
  • Use high-yield savings accounts like the ones available at CIT Bank (read our CIT Bank review) and Upgrade.
  • Share your browser history with Survey Junkie (read our Survey Junkie review) for cash rewards.