This website uses cookies to remember users and understand ways to enhance their experience. Some cookies are essential, others help us improve your experience by providing insight into how the site is used. For more information, please visit our Privacy policy
Our guide shares five simple ways on how to earn money online without investment. These safe, scam-free money-earning opinions start from the easiest up to the ones that need more time to build.
Continue reading below to see which investment-free money-earning gig suits your college life.
1. Mobile-based micro jobs and simple earning apps (easiest)
These apps are the easiest way to earn money because you can just complete short tasks like answering surveys, watching ads, or downloading new apps. This is perfect if you have some free time in between classes.
Plus, you don’t need any cash to start. This is a great way for you to easily make money from your phone.
Popular mobile-based micro job apps:
Google Opinion Rewards: Answer short surveys related to your recent shopping trips or video-watching habits.
Swagbucks: Get paid to watch videos, shop online, or play games.
Realistic earnings: You can realistically earn ₹20 to ₹100 per day, depending on the number of tasks you can complete.
Payout types: PayPal, Amazon gift cards, UPI, bank transfers, or mobile top-ups.
Unique tip: Use multiple apps to increase your earning potential. For example, you can run Honeygain in the background of your device while you complete short tasks on Swagbucks or Google Opinion Rewards.
The easiest way to earn from your phone
Honeygain works quietly in the background while you use your phone like usual. No tasks to complete.
You can start a reselling business with zero cash because you don’t need to buy any stock. You act as a bridge between wholesale suppliers and buyers by sharing your affiliate link. When someone buys a product via your affiliate link, you earn a percentage of the revenue.
This is certainly a way on how to earn money online without investment in mobile devices.
Popular reseller-style platforms:
Meesho: The most famous platform in India for reselling, especially in fashion and electronics.
Shop 101: A user-friendly app that allows you to create your own online store in minutes.
Amazon Associates: Share product links (affiliate links) on social media platforms to earn commissions.
What to expect:
Realistic earnings: Initially, you can earn ₹500 to ₹5,000 per month as you build your customer base. When you get a larger following, that number could increase to around ₹20,000.
Payout types: PayPal, UPI, bank transfers, or wallet credits.
Unique tip: Share your affiliate links on social media platforms during optimal times when people check their phones. This could be between 12-2 PM or 8-10 PM.
3. Online tutoring or basic skill teaching
When teaching online, you have one investment, and it’s not money or anything tangible. Your only investment is your knowledge.
Online tutoring works well because you can teach from your room using your phone or laptop. You simply utilize the expertise you have. Sign up for a tutoring platform, provide your credentials, and you can apply for classes once verified.
Chegg India: Sign up as a “Subject Matter Expert” to answer students’ questions about their lessons at school. You get paid for every correct answer.
UrbanPro: Acts as a marketplace that connects students to certified tutors and experts.
Cuemath: This platform provides interactive tools that help you teach basic math to young children.
What to expect:
Realistic earnings: Beginners typically earn ₹300 to ₹600 per hour, depending on the subject and the level of the student.
Payout types: PayPal, UPI, or monthly salary deposits.
Unique tip: If you’re still a student, focus on subjects you just finished in your previous semester. This saves you prep time, since the subject is still fresh in your mind.
4. Freelancing for clients worldwide
Freelancing means you do paid work for clients, project by project. You offer specialized skills, such as content writing or graphic design, to individuals or businesses.
Being a freelancer lets you access an online earning platform without investment. You also control your own schedule, which is perfect if you still have classes to attend to.
The first thing you need to do is pick one skill that you rely on. Then, sign up for different freelancing platforms and wait for them to verify your account.
Once verified, you can go ahead and choose earning opportunities from their job boards.
Popular online freelancing platforms:
Upwork: Bid on entry jobs in content writing, virtual assistance, and graphic design among many others.
Fiverr: Set up your own pricing packages to potentially reel in more clients.
PeoplePerHour: Offer hourly services to clients, mostly in social media and administrative support.
What to expect:
Realistic earnings: You might earn ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 for your first few projects. Your income grows as you get better reviews.
Payout types: PayPal, Payoneer, UPI, or direct bank transfers.
Unique tip: Add college projects to your profile as samples. This presents proof of your expertise, helping you land your first gig faster.
5. Content creation for long-term income (hardest)
Content creation pays best over time, but it can also test your patience. You might earn nothing at the start, but things get positively different when your audience grows.
Creating content is a great way to make money without a job. You can record your daily routines, prepare tutorials for using kitchen equipment, or do food reviews. Then, you could get paid through ads, brand sponsorships, affiliate links, or fan donations.
Popular content creation platforms:
YouTube and socials: Upload short reels or long-form tutorials on college hacks or trips you had during the summer.
Medium or Blogger: Set up a personal blog about your life experiences and get paid per read.
Telegram channels: Share study materials or notes with other students, but make sure that you don’t share any copyrighted materials.
What to expect:
Realistic earnings: Beginners see little at first, but consistent creators reach ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 monthly after a year.
Payout types: Google Adsense, UPI, or direct bank transfers.
Unique tip: Don’t do a general vlog. Pick a specific topic that directly aligns with your lifestyle.
Tips to increase earnings without investment
You don’t need a fancy degree to start earning money online. Below, we list several smart habits that can even teach you how to make passive income without compromising your schedule at school.
Combine methods for more income
Mix two or more options from this guide to add up your earnings. Here’s an example:
Run Honeygain’s bandwidth-sharing platform in the background of your devices. If you want a daily 100 rupees earning app without investment, you can try bandwidth-sharing apps.
Then, either resell products on Amazon Associates or teach basic skills on UrbanPro.
Compare time spent versus payout
Treat your time like money and focus on what actually pays.
Pick a fixed time slot after your class. You can pair tasks with daily routines, like bus rides, to make habits stick.
Log your efforts on Google Sheets with notes on rupees earned per hour.
Review weekly or monthly logs, and drop low-pay options to focus on higher-paying ones.
Upskill to get higher payouts
You can start with basic tasks, but don’t stay there forever, especially if you’re freelancing or tutoring.
YouTube is a gold mine for free courses on video editing or social media marketing. Use your free time to watch some tutorials and build your skills.
Showcase your new certifications on your freelancing or tutoring accounts to show proof of your newly-learned skills.
Want income while your content grows?
Honeygain gives you a simple passive stream while you work toward long-term content revenue.