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Passive income is the key to financial freedom. Instead of trading time for money, passive income allows you to earn money while you sleep. Whether you’re looking to make extra cash or replace your 9-to-5 job, passive income streams can help you achieve your goals. In this article, we’ll explore 50 passive income ideas, how they work, and their potential earnings.

What Is Passive Income?

Passive income is money earned with little to no daily effort. It’s different from active income, which requires your direct time and labor. Instead of trading hours for dollars, passive income streams let you build assets that generate revenue over time.

Types of Passive Income:

1. Investment-Based – Earn through interest, stocks, real estate, or cryptocurrency.
2. Business-Based – Generate money from e-commerce, digital products, or licensing.
3. Automation-Based – Use AI, apps, or outsourcing to create automated income.

Here’s 50 ways passive income ideas that you can start today:

Digital & Online Passive Income

1. Sell Canva Templates

Create and sell editable templates like social media graphics, planners, and business cards.

• Best Platforms: Etsy, Gumroad, Creative Market
• Potential Earnings: $100 – $5,000+/month

For a list of 200 digital products you can make with Canva, check out our article here.

2. Build & Sell Website Themes

Develop custom WordPress, Shopify, or Webflow themes and sell them online.

• Best Marketplaces: ThemeForest, TemplateMonster
• Potential Earnings: $500 – $50,000+ per theme

3. Create & Monetize a Podcast

Record a podcast on a niche topic and earn through ads, sponsorships, and listener donations.

• Best Platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Patreon
• Potential Earnings: $500 – $10,000+/month

4. License Your Designs for Merch

Upload your designs and earn royalties when people buy your products.

• Best Platforms: Redbubble, Spring, Printify
• Potential Earnings: $50 – $5,000+/month

5. Make & Sell eBooks

Write books and sell them on Amazon Kindle or Gumroad.

• Best Platforms: Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Gumroad
• Potential Earnings: $500 – $10,000+/month

6. Create & Sell Notion Templates

Design custom Notion templates for productivity, budgeting, or planning.

• Best Marketplaces: Gumroad, Etsy, Notion Marketplace
• Potential Earnings: $100 – $5,000+/month

7. Sell PLR (Private Label Rights) Content

Create eBooks, articles, or digital courses that people can resell as their own.

• Best Platforms: PLR.me, Sellfy
• Potential Earnings: $500 – $10,000+/month

8. License Your Code or Software

Develop and sell code snippets, plugins, or SaaS products.

• Best Marketplaces: CodeCanyon, Gumroad
• Potential Earnings: $1,000 – $50,000+/year

9. Develop & Monetize an App

Create an app that earns money through ads, subscriptions, or in-app purchases.

• Best Platforms: Google Play Store, Apple App Store
• Potential Earnings: $1,000 – $100,000+/year

10. Sell Printables on Etsy

Etsy is a goldmine for selling printables like planners, checklists, and invitations. Create a design once and sell it an unlimited number of times.

• Tools to Use: Canva, Adobe Illustrator
• Startup Cost: $0-$50

11. Create an Online Course

If you have expertise in any subject, you can create an online course and sell it on platforms like Udemy, Teachable, or Kajabi.

• Popular Topics: Business, fitness, personal finance, coding
• Potential Earnings: $500 – $50,000 per course

12. Sell Stock Photos & Videos

Photographers and videographers can make money by selling stock content on platforms like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock.

• Best Niches: Business, lifestyle, nature, abstract
• Earnings Per Download: $0.25 – $10

See our experience with Shutterstock here.

13. License Your Music or Sounds

If you’re a musician or sound designer, you can license your tracks on sites like Pond5 or AudioJungle.

• Great for: Musicians, beatmakers, sound designers
• Passive Potential: Earn royalties for years

14. Build a YouTube Channel

YouTube videos can generate passive income through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate links.

• Best Niches: Tutorials, product reviews, personal finance
• Potential Earnings: $500 – $10,000/month

Check out this article on how to make a YouTube channel for beginners.

15. Use Cashback & Rewards Apps

Passive income can come from cashback apps like Rakuten and Honey, which give you money for purchases you already make.

• Best Apps: Rakuten, Ibotta, Dosh, ShopBack
• Potential Savings: $50 – $500 per year

16. Automate Dropshipping Sales

Dropshipping lets you sell products without keeping inventory. Automation tools like Shopify and Oberlo handle order fulfillment.

• Best Niches: Tech gadgets, pet products, home decor
• Startup Cost: $50 – $300

Check out this article on how you need to tackle dropshipping in 2025.

17. License Your Photography to AI Training Companies

Companies pay for high-quality real-world images to train AI models. Websites like Bria.ai and Datatang buy image datasets.

• Potential Earnings: $500 – $5,000+

18. Sell AI-Generated Digital Art

AI tools allow you to create and sell unique digital art online. But it is important to avoid copyright issues with AI image generation tools. Look for those explicitly stating they use datasets of free-to-use images or have commercial usage rights for their outputs, like “Generative AI by iStock”.

• Best Marketplaces: Etsy, OpenSea (NFTs)
• Potential Earnings: $100 – $10,000+

19. Coloring Books

Create and sell unique colouring books for adults or children, capitalizing on their popularity in the self-care and creative industries.

• Best Marketplaces: Amazon KDP, Etsy, or personal eCommerce websites.
• Potential Earnings: $500 – $10,000+ per book, depending on sales volume and marketing efforts.

For our experience on selling coloring books, see our article here.

20. Create a Niche Website

Create a niche website that earns money through ads and affiliate links.

• Best Tools: WordPress, Mediavine, AdSense
• Potential Earnings: $500 – $50,000+/month

21. Start a Blog

Blogging can become a passive income stream through ads, affiliate marketing, and digital products. Once your blog ranks on Google, it can generate income for years.

• Best Platforms: WordPress.org, Medium
• Income Sources: Google AdSense, sponsored posts, affiliate links

You will need a webhost for your blog – this makes your website live and available to the public. Side Hustles Uncut uses bluehost for our webhosting.

Check out our link here to receive webhosting starting from $1.99 USD per month. We may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.

The benefits of bluehost are:

• SSL Certificate: You will get a free SSL certificate, meaning your site will be more secure;
• WordPress: bluehost has a one-click WordPress installation;
• Free Domain: When you sign up, you get a free website address (domain) for the first year; and
• 24/7 Support: Bluehost offers customer service if you need help.

Check out this list of blogging tools and resources for beginners.

22. Affiliate Marketing

Promote other people’s products and earn commissions for every sale. You can do this through a blog, YouTube, or social media.

• Best Affiliate Programs: Amazon Associates, ShareASale, ClickBank
• Commission Rates: 2% – 50%

23. License an Invention or Idea

If you have a unique invention or product, you can license it to a company and earn royalties.

• Best for: Engineers, designers, entrepreneurs
• Potential Royalties: 5% – 15% per sale

Investment-Based Passive Income

24. Buy Real Estate for Rental Income

Owning rental properties can provide long-term passive income through monthly rent payments.

• Options: Long-term rentals, Airbnb
• Startup Cost: High, but scalable

25. Real Estate Crowdfunding

If you don’t want to buy physical properties, you can invest in real estate crowdfunding platforms like Fundrise or RealtyMogul.

• Minimum Investment: $10 – $500
• Returns: 5% – 12% annually

26. Buy & Hold Cryptocurrency for Passive Income

Cryptocurrency staking and lending can generate passive returns. Platforms like Binance and Coinbase offer staking rewards for holding certain coins.

• Best Cryptos for Staking: Ethereum, Solana, Cardano
• Potential Returns: 5% – 20% annually

27. Peer-to-Peer Lending

Lend money through P2P platforms and earn interest over time.

• Potential Platforms: LendingClub, Prosper

28. Buy & Sell Domain Names

Purchase valuable domain names and resell them for a profit.

• Best Marketplaces: GoDaddy Auctions, Flippa
• Potential Earnings: $100 – $50,000+ per domain

For more information on domain flipping, check out our article here.

29. Farmland Investing

Invest in agricultural real estate for passive income.

• Best Platforms: AcreTrader, FarmTogether
• Potential Earnings: 6% – 12% annually

30. Buy & Hold Vintage Collectibles

Invest in rare sneakers or trading cards that appreciate in value.

• Best Marketplaces: StockX, eBay, Rally Rd
• Potential Earnings: 10% – 100% ROI over time

31. Wine Investment

Invest in collectible wines, allowing them to appreciate in value over time, and sell them for a profit or store them for long-term returns.

• Best Marketplaces: Wine auction sites, private wine dealers, or direct selling to collectors.
• Potential Earnings: $5,000 – $100,000+ depending on the wine’s rarity and market demand.

32. Luxury Watches

Invest in luxury watches from prestigious brands such as Rolex, as they can increase in value over time and be sold later for a profit.

• Best Marketplaces: WatchBox, Chrono24, or luxury watch dealers.
• Potential Earnings: $1,000 – $100,000+, depending on the brand and condition of the watch.

33. Vintage Cars

Buy and hold vintage cars that are likely to appreciate in value over time. Sell them for a significant profit when the time is right.

• Best Marketplaces: Classic car auctions, websites like Bring a Trailer, or car collector shows.
• Potential Earnings: $10,000 – $1,000,000+, depending on the car’s make, model, and rarity.

34. Art Crowdfunding

Participate in art crowdfunding platforms where investors pool money to buy and sell art, earning from the appreciation of artwork over time.

• Best Marketplaces: Masterworks, ArtVest.
• Potential Earnings: Varies; typically 8%-15% annual returns depending on the success of the investments.

35. Music Collectibles

Invest in limited edition vinyl records, signed albums, and other music memorabilia, as they can appreciate in value as they become rarer.

• Best Marketplaces: Discogs, eBay, specialized music memorabilia stores.
• Potential Earnings: $100 – $50,000+, depending on the rarity and condition of the collectible.

36. Designer Bags

Invest in high-end designer bags like Louis Vuitton and Chanel, and either resell them for a profit or lease them out for short-term use, benefiting from their increasing value over time.

• Best Marketplaces: The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective, eBay, or luxury consignment stores.
• Potential Earnings: $500 – $10,000+ per bag, depending on the brand, condition, and rarity.

37. LEGO Investment

Invest in limited edition, rare, or retired LEGO sets that appreciate in value over time, and resell them for a profit when demand increases.

• Best Marketplaces: eBay, BrickLink, or specialty LEGO collector groups and websites.
• Potential Earnings: $50 – $5,000+ per set, depending on the rarity, condition, and market demand.

Real Estate & Property-Based Passive Income

38. Rent Out Space

List unused garage or storage space for rent.

• Best Platforms: Neighbor.com, Stache
• Potential Earnings: $50 – $500+/month

39. Rent Out Fine Art

Develop a collection of fine art and lease the pieces to businesses, galleries, or individuals for regular income.

• Best Marketplaces: Local galleries, art leasing companies, or online platforms like Artspace.
• Potential Earnings: $1,000 – $20,000+ per artwork annually, depending on the value and demand.

40. Buy & Rent Out Vending Machines

Set up vending machines in high-traffic areas to earn passive income.

• Best Locations: Malls, offices, schools, hospitals
• Potential Earnings: $500 – $5,000+/month

For more information on how to get started with a vending machine business, check out our article here.

41. Automate a Laundromat Business

Invest in a self-service laundromat for passive earnings.

• Best for: People with upfront capital
• Potential Earnings: $1,000 – $10,000+/month

42. Buy Land & Sell for Profit Later

Land appreciates over time, making it a long-term passive income strategy.

• Best Platforms: LandWatch, LandFlip
• Potential Earnings: 10% – 50% ROI over time

43. Invest in Short-Term Rental Arbitrage

Rent properties and sublease them on Airbnb for profit. Just make sure you read the terms and conditions of your rental!

• Best Platforms: Airbnb, Vrbo, Bookabach
• Potential Earnings: $1,000 – $10,000+/month

44. Install & Rent Out ATMs

ATM businesses earn money from transaction fees.

• Best Locations: Bars, hotels, event venues
• Potential Earnings: $300 – $3,000+/month per ATM

45. Lease Billboard Space

If you own land in a high-traffic area, lease it for billboards.

• Best Companies: Clear Channel, Outfront Media
• Potential Earnings: $500 – $10,000+/month

46. Rent Out an Extra Room on Airbnb

Turn your spare bedroom into passive income through short-term rentals.

• Best Platforms: Airbnb, Vrbo, Bookabach
• Potential Earnings: $500 – $3,000+/month

Check out this experience in having a roommate or flatmate.

47. Storage Units

Invest in or develop storage unit facilities, then rent out individual storage spaces to individuals or businesses for a steady stream of passive income.

• Best Marketplaces: Local listings, online property management systems, or specialized storage companies.
• Potential Earnings: $1,000 – $50,000+ annually per facility, depending on location, size, and demand.

48. Own & Rent Parking Spaces

List unused parking spaces for rent to commuters or event-goers.

• Best Platforms: SpotHero, CurbFlip
• Potential Earnings: $100 – $1,000+/month

49. Rent Out Your Car

If you don’t drive often, you can rent your car on Turo or Getaround for passive income. Just make sure you have the correct insurance in the event of a crash or theft.

• Average Earnings: $500 – $1,500/month
• Best for: People with extra vehicles

50. Rent Out Party Supplies & Equipment

Offer bounce houses (“bouncy castles”), wedding decor, or event equipment for rental.

• Best Marketplaces: Facebook Marketplace, Fat Llama
• Potential Earnings: $500 – $5,000+/month

The Verdict

Building passive income takes time and effort upfront, but once established, it can provide long-term financial security. Whether you choose digital products, real estate, or investments, the key is to get started today. Which passive income idea will you try first?