top 12 Sites to Make Money Online

top 12 Sites to Make Money Online

Depending on whether you're looking to make a quick buck or create a long-term source of income, each of the following websites offers unique benefits (and sometimes drawbacks) tailored to different needs and interests. Read on for more information about each site.

Upwork

How it works: Upwork is essentially a dating site where companies and freelancers from around the world can connect and collaborate on certain projects. Companies hire freelancers for a variety of different services, including writing, web design, running SEO campaigns, and any work that can be done on a computer.

Strengths: Upwork takes a 5% to 20% commission, but the more money you make, the lower the commission.

Negatives: Upwork has been so successful that there's a lot of competition for the site, and that can be a real drawback for newcomers to the site, says Sacha Darusa, owner of a digital marketing agency. In Toronto, it's called The Shirtless Web. Young.

"Before I started my web design business, I was creating profiles on websites like Upwork. In the beginning, it was hard to get the attention of buyers on these platforms because there was so much competition. The competition was from overseas, which made it impossible for me to compete on price."

So Darusa lowered his prices and for a while he worked for nothing. But the positive feedback made his profile look better and Darusa started charging more.

"Wile platforms like Upwork can be helpful in building an initial portfolio and client base, I'm happy to be on my own and away from them," Darusa says.

[See: 12 Ways to Save Money Without Trying ]

Pfeiffer

How it works: It's also a popular site that can be useful for freelancers.. Are you drawn to digital animation? You can work with someone who doesn't have those skills and earn extra money. Better yet, you can offer to bundle some web searches for someone for a quick buck.

Strengths: You can make a lot of money on the site, says Dan Bochichio, a Web designer and digital strategist in Albany, New York, who runs a two-person business called Bocain Designs. His company teaches you to make between $3,000 and $5,000 per month from Fiverr. "To stay ahead of the competition, I make sure my Fiverr profile and gig descriptions are well written and demonstrate the value of the services I provide. And when someone contacts me, I make sure to respond as quickly as possible and continue to investigate with good A quick but carefully worded response will increase Your job prospects are greatly enhanced," said Bocchio.

The negatives: Aside from Bochichio's success, Fiverr's name comes from the fact that many people used to work for $5 a job. You can charge more (and probably should), but many of your potential customers will probably expect you to work for next to nothing.

etsy

How it works: if you're an artist and the kind of person who can make custom jewelry or refrigerator magnets, Etsy is the perfect place to sell your products.

Strengths: The site is easy to navigate and set up a store.

Disadvantages: There is a lot of competition on the site. On one hand, the brand is great and a lot of people know about Etsy. But once you set up your devices, like Upwork and Fiverr, you're one of a billion people selling products on Etsy. That can seem a little confusing.

RaccoonTask

How it works: are you willing to get your hands dirty? People come to this site to find people willing to do a variety of tasks, such as building a bookcase, cleaning a garage, or running an errand. Do as many tasks as you like, and it could become a part-time (or full-time) job.

Highlights: you can apply for tasks, but you can also create a profile, explaining what tasks you are available and qualified for, and people may end up looking for you for work.

Cons: As mentioned, most of the tasks you'll find on TaskRabbit are physical, like installing furniture. Of course, if this is your jam, that's a plus.

Wondering

How it works: People come to this site when they need to do research. Wonder doesn't hire just anyone, but you can apply. The process takes about five minutes, according to the website. And if Wonder thinks you have the skills to search, you'll have access to its dashboard. You can then choose to answer a question - perhaps from a business leader or an author writing a book.

Highlights: searchers report earning an average of $8 to $16 for each detailed answer, and job sites suggest that searchers can earn an average of about $20 an hour. In short, Wonder offers an ideal gig for those who truly enjoy the research process, as opposed to those who just want to make a quick buck.

Disadvantages: As mentioned, the money is not spectacular, especially if you spend a lot of time answering questions. If this happens to you a lot, you may be wondering why you use Wonder.

[READ: Paid online survey sites to earn extra money. ]

ThredUp

How it works: with the tagline "Secondhand clothing, firsthand fun," this e-commerce company caters to thrifty types looking to make money and sell their clutter for cash. The online thrift store sells women's and children's clothing. Here's how it works: you send your clothes in a ThredUp bag with a prepaid mailing label, and ThredUp will decide the value. They look for nice clothes and popular brands, and keep in mind that there is a fee if your items are not accepted. So, if you have clothes better suited for a garage sale, have a garage sale. But if you have quality outfits you no longer want, ThredUp allows you to sell unwanted items and may even pay you enough for you to buy new threads.

Cons: You won't get paid (naturally) until your clothes reach ThredUp and are accepted. But if they're not accepted, you'll have to pay a fee to have them sent back to you - or they can recycle them responsibly.

Exchange

How it works: Like ThredUp, Swap is an online consignment store. After you send in used clothes, toys and games, Swap will sell them for you. As for how much you can earn, the website explains that if something costs less than $10, you'll get a 30 percent credit for buying something on Swap.com - or 20 percent of the sale price in cash. If your item sells for between $10 and $20, you'll earn a 50% credit or 40% cash back. If it sells for more than $20, you'll receive a 70% credit or 60% cash back.

Highlights: it's easier than, say, selling on Facebook Marketplace, where you usually have to meet with someone to hand over an item. And besides picking up items from your home and putting them in a prepaid box that's sent to you, the process is pretty simple.

Cons: As with ThredUp, your clothes can be rejected, which means you either won't get them back or you'll pay a fee to have them returned.

Gazelle

How it works: if you have an old cell phone or other device (think iPads and computers), you can sell your electronics here. The website will make you a cash offer for your device. If you agree, you will receive packing materials. Gazelle pays the shipping fee, a check, gift card, or cash transfer is mailed to your PayPal account. You may not make a fortune, but it's better than letting an unused device collect dust on a shelf - and much better for the environment to sell it than to throw it in a landfill.

Strengths: As you might expect, this is a fairly seamless process from start to finish.

Cons: If you send in, say, a phone, and the phone isn't what Gazelle thought it might be, the offer for what it will pay can drop considerably. On the other hand, Gazelle will send your phone back to you for free. So you don't risk much, other than time.

CarteVente

How it works: This is a popular site for selling gift cards. Maybe some of the gift cards you received last Christmas are sitting around unused, and you don't think you'll ever use them. Well, tell CardSell what you have, they'll make you an offer and if you agree, you can redeem it for cash or, ironically, another gift card.

Strengths: There's no cost to send your gift cards to CardSell, and the process is pretty straightforward, as you'd expect.

Disadvantages: Of course, you'll never get the full value of your gift card. So you might wonder: isn't there a friend or family member I can sell this to?

Gift

How it works: If you don't have the energy to hold a garage sale, OfferUp may be the next best thing. After you take a picture of what you have and appraise it, hopefully someone nearby will see it online, like it, send you a note, and you'll meet - in a public place, OfferUp's website recommends - and you can get your money. That said, OfferUp also offers ways to send items to buyers.

Strengths: OfferUp is often compared to the popular Craigslist, but some users claim it's an easier site to post to, probably because if you download the app, you can instant message buyers and sellers, and members have profiles, so you can get a better sense that people are who they say they are. If someone has earned badges offered by OfferUp, that's also a good sign that they are considered a trusted and reputable seller on the website. Nevertheless, you would still do well to use your common sense and buy and sell OfferUp items in public places.

Cons: As mentioned, if you meet a buyer to sell an item, go to a public place. You don't really know who you're dealing with. On its website, OfferUp says, "Keep in mind that just because someone is buying or selling online does not guarantee your safety: you are responsible for your safety. Therefore, when arranging a meeting, take reasonable precautions. In case of an emergency or danger, call 911 or your local emergency number."

[READ: Websites to sell your stuff for money ]

Neighborhood

How it works: Do you have a storage space in your home? Or maybe an empty garage or storage shed? You can sign up with Neighbor.com and offer to store your neighbors' stuff. It's kind of like Airbnb for the self-storage industry. You don't pay a dime and set your own prices. The person renting your space will pay Neighbor.com a service fee to get the two of you together. And on the plus side, if it goes well, you now have an incentive to clean out your attic or garage.

Highlights: You get paid by direct deposit or you can receive a debit card at the end of the month. There is a small fee taken from your payment for using the Neighbor website (a processing fee of 4.9% of the total booking plus 30 cents per payment).

Disadvantages: There don't seem to be many. Well, if you suddenly need to use your storage space, you may be in trouble. If that's the case, you need to give your tenant 30 days' notice to get their stuff back. If you don't give them enough notice, according to the Neighbor website, you will receive a $60 eviction fee.