Best Side Hustles For Teens [2024]: Get Cash In Your Free Time

Are you a teenager looking for ways to earn extra cash? You can make money by pet sitting, answering online surveys, tutoring, delivering food, and more. We've rounded up the best side hustles for teens that fit into a busy schedule of school, extracurriculars, and social activities.

Key takeaways

• Several gig platforms accept teenagers, including Fiverr and Swagbucks. Some platforms require contractors to be at least 18 years old, while others allow younger teens to use the platform with parental consent.
• You can earn money doing various tasks. For example, you can earn $1 to $5 a day for answering surveys on Swagbucks or charge $5 or more to do easy tasks like data entry on Fiverr.
• Some platforms, such as Cambly or Uber Eats, require that you have your own equipment, such as a laptop or a vehicle.
• It's important to keep in mind the tax regulations and restrictions on working hours for minor workers in your state.

The 7 best side hustles for teens

1. Offer services with Thumbtack
2. Pet sit with Rover
3. Complete online surveys with Swagbucks
4. Deliver food with Uber Eats
5. Win cash games with Bingo Clash
6. Do small tasks with Fiverr
7. Tutor English with Cambly

Comparison of the best side hustles for teens

	What it is	How old you need to be	Skills you can use
Offer services with Thumbtack	Teens can offer various freelance services on Thumbtack to people in their local area	At least 18	Home improvement skills House cleaning Lawn care Gardening Baby sitting
Pet sit with Rover	Rover is a gig platform where teens can offer pet-related services	At least 18	Dog walking Dog boarding Doggy day care Pet sitting
Complete online surveys with Swagbucks	Swagbucks allows teens to earn rewards by answering paid surveys and completing simple tasks like watching videos	At least 13 (teens ages 13 to 17 must have parental permission)	Taking surveys Video gaming Online shopping
Deliver food with Uber Eats	Teens can deliver food from local restaurants to customers who order through Uber Eats	At least 18 for delivery on foot or by bicycle At least 19 for delivery by car and by scooter	Driving skills Basic navigation skills
Win cash games with Bingo Clash	Bingo Clash is a mobile gaming app that allows teens to win cash rewards in Bingo competitions	At least 18	Video game skills Experience with Bingo
Do small tasks with Fiverr	Fiverr is a freelancing platform where teens can get paid to do small tasks for other people	At least 13 (teens ages 13 to 17 must have parental permission)	Data entry or Excel skills Graphic design skills Social media Voice over Writing
Tutor English with Cambly	Cambly is an online tutoring platform that connects tutors to students all over the world	At least 18	Tutoring English language skills

Offer services with Thumbtack

Pros	Cons
Open to a wide variety of freelance services, including tasks like lawn mowing and pet sitting All-in-one platform for getting leads and managing payments Reputable platform	Fees apply for using the platform Age restrictions require you to be at least 18

Thumbtack is a versatile gig platform that allows side hustlers to post their services and connect with potential local customers. You can offer a wide range of services, from simple ones, such as walking dogs, mowing lawns, or babysitting, to specialized offerings, such as cleaning services, photography, or freelance writing.

However, there are drawbacks. The platform requires you to be at least 18 years old to use Thumbtack. The platform also charges a fee for leads, whether or not the customer hires you, which reduces your earnings.

You can maximize your earning potential with Thumbtack by tailoring your quotes to your customer’s needs and communicating clearly with your customers.

For those younger than 18, it may be best to offer your services on other similar freelancing platforms, such as Fiverr, where younger teens can use the platform with parental consent.

Visit Thumbtack

… Or learn more in our Thumbtack review.

Pet sit with Rover

Pros	Cons
Enjoyable side hustle for pet lovers Flexibility to set your own prices and schedule User-friendly platform	Fees apply for using the platform You’re required to be at least 18

If you’re a pet lover, Rover would be an ideal platform for you to make extra cash by pet sitting or dog walking. You get to spend time with animals, and the platform allows you to set your own rates and schedule.

Pet boarding services have the highest earning potential on Rover, but it can be difficult for teenagers living with family to bring clients’ pets back to their homes. Dog walkers and pet sitters in the pet owner’s home can be more viable options for most teens, though they pay less.

While the Rover app is very easy to use to get new customers, the service fees range from 20% to 25%, which can significantly affect your income.

Rover has age restrictions requiring all users to be at least 18. The parents or guardians of contractors are not allowed to sign up for Rover on the teenagers’ behalf.

Visit Rover

… Or learn more in our Rover review.

Complete online surveys with Swagbucks

Pros	Cons
Cash rewards for completing simple tasks Redemption through gift cards or PayPal is available Open to teenagers who are at least 13 years old	Low earning potential Surveys may not be available every day, depending on your qualifications

A simple yet legitimate way to earn extra money on the side is by answering surveys and completing simple tasks on Swagbucks.

To set up an account, you must provide personal information, such as your demographic information, interests, and spending habits. This allows the platform to match you with relevant surveys.

The age restriction to join Swagbucks is much lower than most other side hustle options, making it a choice worth considering for teenagers who want to make money. Teens as young as 13 years old can join with parental consent.

However, you might not make a lot of money on Swagbucks, as the pay is, on average, $1 to $5 per day, and surveys are not consistently available, because availability depends largely on the platform's assessment of your qualifications. You can earn additional cash on Swagbucks by doing other tasks, such as watching videos.

Visit Swagbucks

… Or learn more in our Swagbucks review.

Deliver food with Uber Eats

Pros	Cons
You can choose your own schedule and workload Tips help you increase your earning potential Safety features help family and friends know you’re safe	For 18-year-olds, you can deliver only by bicycle or on foot For 19-year-olds, you need a valid driver’s license and must have your own car or scooter

Uber Eats is a popular side gig among teenagers and adults, and for good reasons: you get flexible hours, can choose your workload, and can increase your earnings with tips.

Teens delivering fast food or food from local businesses can share their location with friends or family members using Follow My Delivery and feel secure in knowing RideCheck will immediately notify Uber if they’ve gone off-course, stopped unexpectedly, or gotten in a crash.

However, your delivery options may be limited depending on your age: 18-year-olds can deliver only using a bicycle or on foot, while 19-year-olds with a driver’s license can deliver by car or scooter. You must also provide your own vehicle and pay for your fuel expenses.

While delivering food with Uber Eats is unavailable to younger teens, it’s still a good option for those 18 and older. To maximize your earnings, try to work during peak hours, such as lunch and dinner time. If you have classes during the day, you can work in the early morning and late evening hours.

Visit Uber Eats

Learn more in our Uber Eats review.

Win cash games with Bingo Clash

Pros	Cons
Fun way to earn while gaming Cash withdrawals are available Your competition is players with similar skill levels	Teens younger than 18 aren’t allowed Cash games are restricted in certain states You may lose money

Bingo Clash is a game app for Apple and Android mobile devices. You can play free games or enter cash games to compete against other players for a chance to win cash prizes. It’s simple to withdraw the money you win via PayPal, Venmo, or Apple Pay.

You need tickets or real money to enter cash games. Bingo Clash allows you to earn tickets by playing free games or watching ads. However, earning enough tickets to enter a cash game can take a while. An alternative method is depositing money, which introduces a potential for losing money.

Entering a cash game without winning means losing your entry fee. You may want to limit deposits to small amounts, to limit potential losses. Playing games that have small stakes allows you to build your experience gradually.

You must be at least 18 to participate in cash games. Cash games are unavailable in certain states, including Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Vermont. Users in these states can still play free games.

Visit Bingo Clash

… Or learn more in our Bingo Clash review.

Do small tasks with Fiverr

Pros	Cons
You can offer a variety of services Available to teenagers 13 and up Choose your own hours	The platform charges fees when you use it Steep competition from other qualified freelancers

Fiverr is a good side hustle option for younger teens as it allows those aged 13 and above to use their parent or guardian's account with parental permission. Teens over 18 do not require parental consent to offer services on Fiverr.

Teens can offer various services on Fiverr, depending on their skills and interests. Simple tasks include data entry and typing tasks, while skilled teens can provide more specialized tasks, such as social media management and writing.

However, Fiverr’s popularity among freelancers can make the competition steep for gigs. It also charges a service fee, which could take a cut from what a teen earns.

Visit Fiverr

… Or learn more in our Fiverr review.

Tutor English with Cambly

Pros	Cons
Flexible schedule with no minimum hours No prior experience, teaching certificate, or bachelor’s degree is required Teaching materials are available	Tutors are required to be at least 18 Competition can make it difficult to earn a consistent income

Cambly is a tutoring service where you get to help people from all over the world learn English. It can be a great side hustle if you like teaching and are a native English speaker.

Working with Cambly counts as having your own business, so you can set your own hours and tutor as much as you like with this platform.

Cambly doesn’t require a bachelor's degree, prior teaching experience, or a teaching certificate. This makes it a good fit for teens aged 18 or older. The platform gives you access to lesson plans and teaching materials, but you can also use your own.

Given that Cambly's curriculum is created to be taught in English, you do not need to be fluent in any other language. However, you should consider the disparities in language and culture and the differences in time zones.

Cambly has an hourly rate of $10.20 to tutor adults and $12 to tutor kids. You get paid every Monday via PayPal. However, competition from fellow tutors can make it challenging to consistently earn good money.

Visit Cambly

How to choose the best side hustles for teens

Every job has pros and cons, but there are a few things to consider when choosing the best side hustle for you.

Your skills and interests

Choose a side hustle that you’re interested in and are good at to make the job more enjoyable and rewarding. Assess what your strengths are: Are you tech savvy? Are you good with kids or animals? Do you have experience in photography or design?

When you’re looking into how to make money as a teen, this will help narrow down your options and make it easier to find a side hustle that’s in line with your skill set.

Time commitment and availability

Factor in your availability and the amount of spare time you can commit to the side hustle. For instance, if you are working while attending high school, you can opt for a side hustle that lets you make your own hours.

Choose a side hustle that you can easily manage alongside your school work, extracurricular activities, and other commitments. This can help you decide whether you can do a full-time or part-time job.

Income potential and investment needed

Identify side hustles that will help you reach your financial goals. Consider the amount of effort you can put into the side hustle and how much money you can make in return.

Research the market and the competition before you decide on one. Be sure to factor in the time and money you will need to invest in it, such as purchasing any necessary supplies or marketing materials.

Reputation and work environment

Check out the reputation of the company or person you’re working for. Choose a reputable gig provider you can trust to deliver payments and one that will offer you a safe work environment. Be sure to be wary of signs of possible scams, such as being asked to pay a fee to start working.

FAQ about side hustles for teens

Best side hustles for teens: bottom line

Teens can choose from a variety of side hustle options ranging from simple tasks, such as survey taking and video gaming, to more specialized gigs like professional freelancing. The key is to choose a side hustle that fits your skills, interests, and availability while meeting the company’s age requirements.

Choose the side hustle that is a good fit for you, and then follow our guide for starting a side hustle to start earning cash on the side.

Methodology

To determine the best side hustles for teens, we analyzed various sources and compiled a list of the top opportunities that teenagers may find rewarding and enjoyable.

While choosing these specific side hustles for teens, we considered factors such as earning potential, flexibility, and ease of entry. We also considered the age, skillset, and experience required.

It is important to note that our list is not exhaustive, and there may be other side hustles for teens that we did not consider. Our recommendations are meant to be an educational resource for parents and teens to begin their research into the most appropriate side hustle.