Reddit side hustles: The best side hustles according to the Reddit community

According to data from Insuranks, 93% of working Americans also have a side hustle. It’s not hard to see why.

For one thing, there’s an ongoing cost of living crisis. On top of that, side hustles can be surprisingly lucrative. They’re also a great way to focus on your passions - and earn good money while you do it.

But how do you find the right one? From writing to coding, there are hundreds to choose from.

It’s better not to take a blind leap of faith. Instead, it helps to see how other entrepreneurs have won big with their own side hustles. And where better to find that info than Reddit?

If you don’t have the time to scour Reddit communities for side hustle inspo, don’t sweat it. Whop has compiled a guide to some of the best tried-and-tested hustles shared by real people on the platform. 

So, let’s get stuck in!

Should you take Reddit side hustles seriously?

First, it’s good to explore Reddit as a source for information. As a (relatively) anonymous social media platform, you might wonder how credible business advice from Reddit could be. 

Of course, if someone on a burner account posts outlandish business claims, or links to scams or MLMs, it’s best to steer clear. On the other hand, if a commenter is a consistent member of the community, posts realistic information, adds trustworthy links and meaningful details, they’re more likely to be legit.

When in doubt - and there’s the potential for high financial loss - it’s better to err on the side of caution. Still, as long as you’re careful, you can find some great ideas on platforms like Reddit.

What makes Reddit stand out is that the advice comes from real people, so it’s more likely to:

• Be attainable to everyone (i.e. doesn’t require $$$ to already be in your bank)
• Be practical and sustainable (because it’s actually been tried)
• Be authentic (as it’s shared for free, and typically not to market anything)

So, ultimately, you can find inspiration for side hustles on Reddit. But you need to find the right posts - and even then, read them with your own experiences and circumstances in mind.

12 best side hustles according to the Reddit community

1. Software development

For the first side hustle on this list, we’ve gone with software development. It’s a popular choice in the Reddit community - and with good reason. Developers create and maintain software, including web apps, mobile apps, and games. 

On r/sidehustle, u/hennobit describes their experience leaving a corporate career in software development. They quit to rebuild their mental well-being, and focused on software side projects.

It wasn’t plain sailing, but after a couple of months, they made their first sale of $39. Over time, that grew to cover bills - and at the time of writing, their entire rent! 

In the comments, they went into more detail about their projects and how these developed. u/hennobit is open about projects that didn’t work out. Their first couple of projects didn’t make any sales. What’s interesting is that they started to earn once they established an important pain point from their own experience.

For the website that’s paid their rent, “DontPostYet.com”, they created a tool to identify the best Reddit posting times for organic traffic. According to their comment, this one started selling within a week of development.

Other subreddits also promote software development as one of the best side hustles, and provide some useful guidance.

For example, this commenter in r/workonline recommends focusing on one programming language and mastering it, rather than trying to learn everything.

To get started with software development, you’ll need to learn coding languages, such as Javascript, C#, etc first. Although degrees can help you to stand out in the job market, you can also learn from online courses, communities, and start your own business. 

Best for: Tech fans who are interested in coding. If you’re looking for a quick fix this might not be for you (unless you’re interested in no-code websites).

Find out how to start a software company in our step-by-step guide.

2. Print on demand 

You've probably already heard of print-on-demand. It enables creatives to see their designs on printed products. You'll create the design, for example, through digital illustration, graphic design, or typography. Then, you’ll outsource production to a print-on-demand company.

As the name suggests, the service is on demand. So, like dropshipping, you won’t be stuck with lots of deadstock that you can’t sell. Your products will only be produced when a customer orders from you.

Whilst print-on-demand has become more popular recently, there's still plenty of money to be found in the market. 

In r/passive_income, u/yomatt41 goes into detail about his success with print-on-demand, and why he feels it's the best type of passive income. At the time of writing, he was earning 2 to 3k per month from royalties. His earnings reach 10k+ in the lead-up to Christmas.

He also describes how he had more success on some platforms than others, and how 90% of his Amazon sales came from just 10 best selling designs.

OP also goes into detail about how develops ideas for his designs, which typically come from everyday life.

Once you’ve created a design on Canva, Photoshop, Illustrator, or another platform, you’ll need to choose a POD platform for your production. Platforms like Printify and Printful are big industry names, or you could go with Merch By Amazon. 

In terms of products, T-shirts might be your first thought. Or you might prefer to go for other popular products, like stickers, tote bags, or tumblers. There’s lots of scope to scale, as you won’t be limited to the type of products you can make yourself.

Best for: If you want to create designs, but have the other stages of product development taken care of, this is for you.

3. Digital templates

If illustrations or graphic design is your bag, then this might be the side hustle for you. Digital templates can cover schedulers, digital planners, social media designs, and much more. 

For example, this poster in r/sidehustle earned an additional $200 per month through selling digital products on Etsy. Although they had heard the market was oversaturated, they still gave it a try - and found real success. 

One key takeaway is that it’s absolutely possible to break into a popular market if you understand the niche well, and have good design skills.

Of course, $200 per month is a modest amount. Still, for a relatively passive side hustle, it’s a solid achievement.

Meanwhile, earnings from digital templates can shoot much higher. Some top earners have brought in over $30,000 each month. Others have leveled out at a steady $1,000+ per month. 

You can create digital templates easily with platforms like Canva and Notion. Unless you want to upgrade to Canva Pro, they’re also free to make. So, they’re a good way to jumpstart your digital product business if you’re low on start-up cash. You can then sell them on online marketplaces, like Whop or Etsy. 

If you have an area of expertise, you can tailor your templates to popular niches. Counselors and therapists create therapeutic templates to support mental well-being. Event planners sell wedding schedulers and invitations. 

On Whop, MVM Trader offers the Ultimate Trading Journal. This Notion template provides an all-inclusive tool for structuring trading workflows.

It features access to databases for journaling and backtesting to help traders to improve their performance. (As well as the template, MVM Trader also sells premium membership to their Discord community. So, your hustle won’t just be limited to digital downloads, either.)

Best for: Creatives with graphic design skills who want to launch a passive income business, and have unique ideas to stand out from the competition.

4.“Get-Paid-To” sites

Not every side hustle has to pay for a new Lambo. If you’re looking for some extra pocket money, then taking Get-Paid-To sites could be a good solution. r/beermoney is dedicated to sharing these smaller side hustles. Several Get-Paid-To and paid survey sites appear on their common 'beer money' sites megathread.

That includes SwagBucks, which provides lots of different ways to earn. These include completing surveys, playing games, downloading apps, and using the platform’s internet browser. You’ll then earn “SB” points, which you can exchange for gift cards, cash, and other rewards.

Again, it’s not a huge money maker. But as the tasks are simple, they’re easy to embed in your day-to-day routines.

For example, you can even earn 1-3 SB each time you search with the platform’s internet browser. That’s equivalent to around $0.01 to $0.03 per search. With higher-paying games on the platform, you can earn $300+. So, your earnings can soon build up, despite the low hourly rate.

Reddit users also have plenty of tips and tricks for maximizing income on platforms like Swagbucks. For example, the r/beermoney commenter below made $100+ playing games. They recommend using the Swagbucks Reddit to find out more about different games on the platform before trying. 

Best for: Low-effort side hustle for making extra cash for drinks, etc., in your free time. 

5. Handyperson jobs

If you like to be hands-on with your work, then you might enjoy a side hustle as a handyperson. There’s lots of scope to specialize - for example, in cleaning, home repairs, furniture assembly, home decorating, or gardening. Or you could generalize as an odd-job person.

This side hustle can be a hobby - or a real hustle. It’s all up to you! For example, this r/sidehustle commenter found some easy tasks on the community app Nextdoor:

u/hbigmike1 does hauling with his teenage sons. Again, the business is a relatively laid-back side hustle. They only post about the business on Facebook, rather than proactively advertising, as he’s retired. So, for him and his family, it’s just a cool side hustle that provides extra income.

As with the r/sidehustle commenter below, you could even start off by offering services to your family members or neighbors. This can help you to build a portfolio of work and testimonials, as well as extra pay.

If you want to take your handyperson business further, you could also create a profile on platforms like TaskRabbit and Handy. Here you can advertise your services, and people can hire you for their tasks. 

You’ll also need to make sure you’re recording and managing your self-employment tax returns. Plus, ensure you have the right equipment and materials before you start - as your clients might not have everything you need to hand.

Best for: Workers who prefer practical, in-person tasks for their side hustle, and like to help local people in their community.

6. Pet sitting

If you’re an animal lover, then you might like to earn extra cash with pet-sitting services. This is another popular side hustle with Redditors. For example, the r/sidehustle commenter below shares their experience pet sitting on the platform Rover. 

As with many side hustlers, they started off with lower rates. Once they had some client reviews under their belt, they increased their rates. Within a two-year period, they brought in a whopping 70k through pet sitting.

Other Redditors have commented on the rising demand for dogsitting and dogwalking services. These commenters both use Rover - but there are also other pet and house sitting platforms to try.

Pet sitters help cat and dog owners to save money on kennels and pet hotels. Plus, they give peace of mind that pets are being taken care of in their home environment. 

Keep in mind that dogs will also need to be taken for a walk each day. You’ll also need to put down fresh food and water, take pets to the vet (if there’s an emergency), and clean and replenish litter trays for cats. Don’t forget to give them lots of attention too!

Best for: Pet lovers who wouldn’t mind spending time in (or even staying at) other people’s homes. Great option for students or as a weekend job.

7. Fitness coaching and services

Passionate about workouts? You could be onto one of the most popular Reddit side hustles. The Redditor below offers coaching at CrossFit gyms as a side hustle. That’s brought them in an additional $300 per month.

Plus, the online fitness market is hugely lucrative. Back in 2022, it was valued at $14.9 billion. By 2032, that’s set to hit a staggering $250.7 billion. On platforms like Whop, there are lots of ways to be an online fitness coach, including through:

• Pre-recorded courses or workshops
• Live group sessions
• One-to-one, personalized coaching calls
• Managing a paid, online fitness community

You could also sell digital templates for meal or exercise plans, or eBook guides for pilates, yoga, or cardio workouts.

For example, on Whop, Higher Level Coaching offers course materials, access to an exclusive Discord server, and group calls. That’s on top of booking 1-1 coaching sessions. This provides clients with lots of different ways to work towards their goals.

Best for: Experienced fitness professionals and instructors who want to help others with their fitness journey.

8. Selling crafts

For creative souls, creating and selling crafts is the dream side hustle. But can it be profitable? According to the Reddit community, it’s absolutely attainable. 

For example, u/EternityLeave makes bowls and sculptures from burl wood. It takes them a few hours to create bowls that sell for $400. However, they clarify that it’s not something they could manage frequently, due to the intense physical demands of the work.

Of course, crafting can be a labor of love. You’ll need design and technical skills, and a good imagination. As the Redditor above mentions in r/sidehustle, some crafts can also be physically demanding, so keep this in mind too. 

Other crafts are less demanding and can bring in good revenue. u/otplovimofe crafts with a laser machine and sells on Etsy. They make about $1,000 in revenue from a few hours of daily work. But, there are some health and safety measures to consider when working with this kind of machinery - such as working in well-ventilated spaces.

Even if you’re not big on design, there are still lots of profitable things to create. Redditor u/Lucky-Pie9875 found they could earn good money by making and selling Ethernet cables online.

It’s relatively easy to get started selling crafts. First, you’ll need to decide what you want to make. You might already have an idea in mind, but it’s best to conduct market research first to see if there’s an audience. Personalized gifts are hugely popular - or you could tailor to eco-friendly customers with upcycled materials.

Once you’ve developed a design, you could handmake your items or use machinery to help you. If you don’t personally enjoy crafting, you could also outsource the production. 

Ready to sell? You could upload your products to Etsy or one of the many Etsy alternatives, reaching global audiences. Or if you prefer something more local, pack up your creations and sell at a craft fair or event. 

Best for: Letting out your creative side and earning from a hobby.

Discover the best crafts to make and sell online in our guide.

9. eBooks

Other Redditors have found success with creating and selling eBooks. As u/sitric28 points out, they’re a good passive income source, as once the eBook is made, they don’t require additional work. You’ll just upload them to an online marketplace like Whop, and set your price. 

Afterwards, you’ll only need to take care of the marketing, which can easily be managed through social media. 

As with other side hustles, aim to find a niche you’re passionate about. Once you’ve completed the draft, have a professional editor review your eBook, and get an artist to create a book cover.

Alternatively, you could make your own cover with Canva, like this Redditor on r/beermoneyglobal:

For their eBooks, this Redditor used Draft2Digital, but Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing is another popular choice. 

Digital marketplaces also provide a high level of flexibility for selling your eBooks. For example, on Whop, you can sell eBooks in a bundle with other digital products, like courses, 1-1 coaching calls, access to exclusive online communities, and more.

Alternatively, you can offer your eBook as a standalone product, and create a free community to promote it. That’s what TsugiTrades did with their Ultimate Guide Ebook on Whop.

700+ have bought the eBook to date, and it currently sits at an impressive 5* rating. Hundreds have joined the free community, too.

Best for: Aspiring writers who want to share their expertise with a wider audience - and earn some passive income.

10. Course creation

Another popular side hustle for Redditors is online course creation. It’s not a big surprise. Online learning revenue is expected to grow to over $279 billion by 2029. 

Redditors also seem to have a lot of success with online learning. For example, the r/coursecreators poster below laid out their experience of launching an online course. The course was intended to supplement their coaching services, and they chose to promote it with a free masterclass.

Through this, they earned $10k through the launch, and 3 years later had 1,000+ students on the course. 

They continue to update the course, but personally recommend keeping it as a side hustle to a main revenue stream. They recommend having recurring revenue, such as through a subscription model.  

You can use a subscription model to sell on a yearly, monthly, or weekly basis, including:

• Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
• Access to exclusive digital communities
• Coaching services
• Physical products, like subscription boxes

But it’s also possible to sell digital courses on a subscription basis. Students would pay a certain amount per month to maintain access to your course content. You could also offer them extra perks, like group coaching sessions or personalized, 1-1 training calls.

• Master TikTok affiliating with our in-depth A-Z course
• Advanced Live Course
• Join our Discord to connect with verified members
• Engage in insightful video calls for personalized mentorship
• 45 lessons + 10 quizzes 

Best for: Creators with experience in their niche looking for a one-off or recurring revenue source.

Check out profitable online course ideas from an experienced course creator.

11. Blogging

We’ve all read blogs - but did you know they’re a lucrative money-maker? 

For example, the commenter below shared their journey from working as a school janitor in the late 90’s to becoming a successful blogger, earning 6 figures.

With over 600,000 blogs online, it’s a relatively saturated market. But if you choose the right blog niche - and a unique perspective to share - you could earn big bucks. 

As u/mickmeaney explores in his post, blogging isn’t a quick fix. Blogging is a great side hustle if you’re passionate about your topic and provide real value to your readers. You’ll need to post to a regular schedule, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends. So, it’s not really something you just dip in and out from. 

In their r/Blogging post, u/GetaSubaru advises bloggers to avoid moving too fast, and starting on monetization too early. 

That said, once you’re ready to monetize, there’s lots of scope to earn from blogs. Many paid bloggers earn through:

• Affiliate marketing schemes
• Sponsored articles and content
• Allowing ads onto your website (by linking up with an online advertising network)
• Selling digital products, like eBooks and planners
• Selling services, like coaching sessions
• Running in-person or online events/workshops

Blogging can also lead to further monetization opportunities, including as a social media influencer.

As u/kindoflikeit mentions in r/Blogging, building relationships is essential to bloggers. So, as your following grows, you could leverage this to create an exclusive, paid community around your blog.

Best for: Writers looking to share their knowledge and outlook with a niche audience - and make money with a long-term project.

12. Reselling/flipping

If you have a good eye when it comes to bestsellers, you could turn this into a nifty side hustle through reselling or flipping. These two terms are slightly different, so here’s a quick definition:

• As it sounds, with reselling, you buy existing products and resell them on for a profit
• With flipping, you buy second-hand items, then refurbish or upcycle them and sell for a profit

So, they require different skills. Both options need you to have a good awareness of trending products and market prices. But flipping also requires some technical, sewing, or crafting skills for updating furniture, clothes, or other items.

There are several ways to earn through reselling - though many Reddit resellers opt for thrifting and second-hand or discount events. If you love hunting for hidden gems, this could be for you! 

For example, u/KI207 uses sales and warehouse events for their clothing hauls, then sells them online. They spend around 25-30 hours per month on this, and average out at around $2k per month in profits. 

Flipping second-hand items can make a great sustainable side hustle idea - both for you and the environment.

The r/sidehustle poster below focuses on estate sales and thrifting outlets (also known as “blue bins”), and occasionally sells vintage items and collectibles. They’ve even had some great experiences with online customers who were searching for rare items.

Best for: Creative entrepreneurs who understand their niche and want to give items a new lease of life.

Top Reddit communities for side hustle ideas

Deciding on a side hustle takes time. Before you make a choice, it’s a good idea to spend time exploring relevant communities. Make sure you read the group rules carefully before posting.

r/sidehustle

Subreddit members: 2.8 million

As it sounds, this is the main subreddit for people looking for a second income source. Redditors can use this group to ask for hustle ideas and advice, share their successes, and more. 

You’ll need to make sure your expectations are balanced when posting - don’t ask how to make millions in a few days, for example.

r/blogging

Subreddit members: 160,000

If you’d like to blog as a side hustle, you might want to keep an eye on r/blogging. This subreddit provides a space for bloggers to ask questions, give tips and tricks, and share their progress.

r/beermoney

Subreddit members: 1.4 million

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make extra money online, then this subreddit is a good way to find new opportunities. “Beermoney” isn’t the same as freelance work. Y

ou get paid for simple tasks that you can pick up as and when you feel like it. So, that includes online surveys, paid studies, etc. 

It’s nowhere near as lucrative as freelancing, but it’s another way to earn.

r/entrepreneur 

Subreddit members: 4.5 million

This subreddit is for aspiring entrepreneurs to share ideas, and ask for advice and recommendations. It’s suitable for full-timers and side hustlers alike. But it’s not suitable for self-promotion.

r/passive_income

Subreddit members: 649,000

Looking for a side hustle that requires minimal activity (or even none at all)? r/passive_income focuses on personal experiences, advice, and resources about these hands-off hustles.

Reddit communities can provide insights and guidance from like-minded people. But if you’re looking for a space to connect with the experts, you could also join an exclusive business community on Whop for tailored support. 

For example, the Side Hustle Collection includes their exclusive Discord for tips and deals for reselling and flipping.

Start your dream side hustle in minutes with Whop

Now you have side hustle inspo from Reddit, why not start your side hustle on Whop? 

On Whop, you’ll have everything you need to launch and monetize digital products and services online. That includes downloadable eBooks, in-depth courses, and exclusive online communities. Whatever your interest or skill, you can monetize it with Whop.

• Build unique courses using the free, built-in course creation tool
• Offer free versions or trials to let customers try your products
• Schedule calls with your clients for 1-1 support
• Sell access to coaching services and masterminds
• Keep up to 97% of your earnings

Plus, it’s super easy to get started. All you need to do is sign up for a free account, and then set up a “whop” (also free!).

Set up your own whop and start earning from a digital side hustle.