In 2025, the side hustle game is stronger than ever. But here’s the interesting thing: Millennials and Gen Z approach side hustles very differently.
Millennials, who are now in their late 20s to early 40s, are looking for stability, scalable income, and side hustles that complement their established careers. Gen Z, on the other hand — those born between 1997 and 2012 — are all about creativity, instant gratification, and digital-first platforms.
In this article, we’ll break down the best side hustles millennials love versus what Gen Z is actually doing right now. Whether you’re looking for your next money-making idea or just curious about the generational differences in side hustles, keep reading.
Why Millennials Love Certain Side Hustles
1. Freelancing: Stability + Freedom
Millennials have been leading the charge on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal. Why? Because freelancing offers a flexible way to monetize skills they’ve built in their careers — writing, design, programming, consulting — while still having the option to scale.
Top Millennial freelancing side hustles:
- Copywriting & content creation
- Graphic design
- Social media management
- Website development
- Resume and LinkedIn optimization services
SEO tip: If you’re a millennial, start by building a profile on Fiverr or Upwork, and optimize your gig description with keywords like professional freelance writer or experienced web designer.
2. Blogging and Affiliate Marketing
Millennials love the idea of passive income. Blogs have been a popular side hustle for years, and they’re not going anywhere. But the key now is niching down and using SEO and Pinterest traffic to scale.
Popular millennial blog niches:
- Personal finance
- Parenting
- Fitness and wellness
- Sustainable living
- Career development
Why millennials stick with blogging: It’s a slow-burn side hustle that can lead to affiliate revenue, ad income, and digital product sales.
For more tips on blogging, check out our ultimate guide here.
3. Etsy Shops and Handmade Goods
Millennials are embracing creativity through Etsy, selling everything from custom mugs and printable planners to hand-poured candles and jewelry.
Why it appeals to millennials:
- Combines creativity with commerce
- Easy to start alongside a 9-5
- Can scale with digital products (like templates and printables)
4. Online Courses and Coaching
Millennials, with their years of experience in certain fields, are packaging their knowledge into online courses and coaching programs. Platforms like Teachable, Thinkific, and Podia make it easy.
Examples of popular course topics:
- How to start a freelance business
- Social media growth strategies
- Personal finance for beginners
- Fitness coaching
5. Real Estate Side Hustles
Millennials are also turning toward Airbnb hosting, house hacking, and rental property investing as side hustles that build long-term wealth.
What Gen Z Is Actually Doing
Gen Z is rewriting the side hustle rulebook. They’re digital natives, unafraid to experiment, and hyper-focused on immediacy and creativity.
1. Content Creation on TikTok and YouTube Shorts
While millennials might consume TikTok, Gen Z is making money from it.
How Gen Z is monetizing TikTok:
- Creator Fund payouts
- Brand sponsorships
- Affiliate marketing links in bio
- Selling digital products (like Notion templates or preset packs)
Gen Z understands the power of viral content and builds mini-businesses around their personal brands.
2. Reselling & Flipping (But Make It Vintage & Sustainable)
While millennials may flip furniture or electronics, Gen Z is flipping vintage clothes, Y2K fashion, and limited-edition sneakers on platforms like Depop, Grailed, and Poshmark.
Why Gen Z loves it:
- Fast returns
- Taps into their love for sustainability and individuality
- Low startup cost — just raid your own closet
3. Print-On-Demand (With a Twist)
Yes, both generations love print-on-demand, but Gen Z adds their own spin with niche meme-based apparel and super-targeted micro-trends.
They don’t just sell cute t-shirts; they sell hyper-specific, viral trend-based t-shirts that catch on quickly and die out just as fast.
4. UGC (User-Generated Content) for Brands
Gen Z has discovered a goldmine in UGC creation. Instead of building large influencer followings, they create authentic content for brands to use in their ads.
Why Gen Z loves UGC:
- No need for thousands of followers
- Quick turnaround
- Pay ranges from $100–$500+ per video
5. Micro-SaaS and No-Code Startups
Surprisingly, tech-savvy Gen Zers are building micro-SaaS products using no-code tools like Bubble, Webflow, and Glide. They focus on solving hyper-niche problems and either selling subscriptions or flipping the product.
Example: A Gen Z creator built a simple app to help Etsy sellers track expenses — and sold it for $20,000.
Key Differences: Millennials vs. Gen Z Side Hustles
| Side Hustle Factor | Millennials | Gen Z |
|---|---|---|
| Platform focus | Blogging, Etsy, Fiverr, Airbnb | TikTok, Depop, YouTube Shorts, UGC platforms |
| Goal | Long-term income, stability | Fast money, creativity, virality |
| Time horizon | Willing to play the long game (SEO, courses) | Prefer quick wins with viral or trending ideas |
| Digital product focus | Ebooks, courses, printables | Notion templates, presets, trendy merch |
| Community focus | Facebook groups, LinkedIn | Discord servers, Telegram groups |
What Can Millennials Learn From Gen Z?
- Speed over perfection.
Gen Z doesn’t wait until things are “ready.” They launch, test, pivot, repeat. Millennials can sometimes get stuck in the planning phase. - Video-first strategy.
Gen Z knows video is king — short-form video is the fastest way to build trust and visibility. Millennials can adapt by incorporating Reels, Shorts, and TikTok into their strategy. - Viral trends are monetizable.
Gen Z monetizes trends fast. Millennials can benefit by riding trends early, whether through viral blog posts, trending product designs, or timely YouTube content.
What Can Gen Z Learn From Millennials?
- Sustainability matters.
While chasing trends can work short-term, millennials understand the value of building long-term assets like blogs, email lists, and passive income streams. - Diversifying income is key.
Millennials often have multiple monetization channels — affiliate income, ads, digital products, services. Gen Z creators can learn to build a more stable income stream by diversifying too. - Building systems scales your hustle.
Millennials excel at using tools like Trello, Asana, and automation to scale side hustles. Gen Z can adopt these strategies to avoid burnout and grow faster.
Side Hustle Platforms Popular With Both Generations
| Platform | Why They Love It |
|---|---|
| Etsy | Creative freedom + passive income from digital products |
| TikTok | Viral growth potential + monetization opportunities |
| YouTube Shorts | Fast subscriber growth + ad revenue + brand deals |
| Strong for personal brands, influencer marketing, and affiliate | |
| Printify/Printful | Easy to start print-on-demand businesses |
| Fiverr/Upwork | Service-based income with room for growth |
Which Side Hustle Is Right For You?
The truth? There’s no “best” side hustle — only the best one for your personality, skills, and time commitment.
If you’re a Millennial:
- Start with a skill-based hustle (freelancing, coaching, or blogging).
- Build long-term digital assets that pay you over time.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment with short-form video to stay current.
If you’re Gen Z:
- Monetize your creativity through UGC, TikTok, and digital products.
- Don’t overlook long-term assets like email lists and community building.
- Learn from Millennials when it comes to scaling and systematizing.
SEO Tip: Start Small, Niche Down, and Scale
Whatever your generation, here’s the best side hustle advice:
- Pick one hustle and master it.
- Niche down — don’t just sell “shirts,” sell “funny shirts for teachers who love coffee.”
- Focus on organic growth through platforms like Pinterest, TikTok, and SEO.
- Once profitable, reinvest into automation tools and paid ads.
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