Guide November 1, 2025 • 12 min read

What Is the Best Way to Make Money Online in the UK?

There is no single "best" method. The smartest approach is combining fast-earning platforms (like surveys or cashback) with long-term strategies (like affiliate marketing, freelancing, or blogging). This complete guide will show you exactly how to get started.

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James Mitchell

Online Income Specialist at Eazykash

James has built multiple income streams online and helps beginners navigate the UK's online earning landscape.

1. Easiest Ways to Make Money Online in the UK

If you're brand new to making money online, these methods require zero experience and can start paying you within days. They're perfect for beginners who want to see results quickly.

1.1 Online Surveys & GPT Websites

Surveys and GPT (Get Paid To) platforms pay you for completing simple tasks such as surveys, quizzes, watching videos, or trying promotional offers. While you won't get rich, it's genuine money for minimal effort.

Popular UK Survey and GPT Sites

Swagbucks – One of the most established platforms with multiple earning options
InboxPounds – UK-focused with excellent reputation for reliable payments
Toluna – High-paying surveys and product testing opportunities
Branded Surveys – Consistently high survey availability for UK users

Why this works:

No skills needed – Anyone can do this
Quick signup – Get started in minutes
Reliable payouts – PayPal, bank transfer, or vouchers
Flexible timing – Work whenever you have spare time

Earnings Potential

Realistic expectation: £50-£200 per month with consistent effort (1-2 hours daily). Some dedicated users report earning up to £500/month by combining multiple platforms.

1.2 Cashback Websites

Cashback websites pay you a percentage back every time you shop online. If you're already spending money on necessities, you might as well get paid for it.

Top UK Cashback Platforms

Quidco – User-friendly interface with excellent customer service
TopCashback – Generally offers the highest cashback rates
Airtime Rewards – Automatic cashback on mobile phone bills

Tips for maximum cashback:

Always use voucher codes in combination with cashback
Activate cashback before checkout – Never forget this step
Shop during boosted cashback events (Black Friday, Cyber Monday)
Check both Quidco and TopCashback to compare rates

Real World Example

A family spending £500/month on groceries, utilities, and shopping online could easily earn £200-£400 back annually just by clicking through cashback sites first.

1.3 Selling Items Online

One of the fastest ways to earn extra cash is selling things you already own. Most people have hundreds of pounds worth of unused items sitting in their homes.

Best Platforms for Selling

eBay – Best for collectibles, electronics, and vintage items
Vinted – Perfect for clothing, shoes, and accessories
Facebook Marketplace – Great for local pickup items and furniture
Depop – Ideal for trendy fashion and streetwear

What sells best: Clothes, old tech (phones, tablets, laptops), trainers, kitchen appliances, designer items, and collectibles.

2. Medium-Skill Ways to Make Money Online

These methods require some skills but can generate significantly more income than beginner options. If you have any marketable abilities, these are worth exploring.

2.1 Freelancing

Freelancing allows you to earn from skills you already have—writing, coding, graphic design, video editing, translation, or customer service. The UK freelance market is thriving, with businesses constantly seeking remote talent.

Top Freelancing Platforms

Fiverr – Start with small gigs and build your reputation
Upwork – Professional platform for ongoing client relationships
PeoplePerHour – UK-focused platform with local clients
Toptal – High-end platform for experienced professionals

Beginner tips:

Start with simple gigs to build reviews quickly
Deliver on time, every time – Reputation is everything
Underprice initially to get your first 5-10 reviews
Create a professional portfolio showcasing your best work
Communicate clearly and professionally with clients

Income Potential

Entry-level freelancers: £10-£25/hour. Experienced professionals: £50-£150/hour. Full-time freelancers in the UK average £30,000-£60,000 annually.

2.2 Print-on-Demand (POD)

Sell customised designs on shirts, hoodies, mugs, and posters without holding any inventory. The platform handles printing, shipping, and customer service—you just create the designs.

Popular POD Platforms

Redbubble – Easiest to start, handles everything for you
Teespring (Spring) – Higher profit margins, more control
Merch by Amazon – Massive audience but requires application approval
Printful – Integrates with your own shop or Etsy

What sells best:

Trendy quotes and sayings
Minimalist designs that look professional
Niche communities (gaming, fitness, pets, hobbies)
Funny or relatable slogans
Holiday and seasonal designs

2.3 Selling Digital Products

Digital products offer incredible profit margins because they require no physical stock or shipping. Create once, sell forever.

Examples of digital products:

eBooks – Share your expertise on any topic
Printable planners – Budgeting, fitness, meal planning templates
Notion templates – Productivity systems are in high demand
Digital art – Illustrations, graphics, wallpapers
Photography presets – Lightroom and photo editing filters

Where to Sell Digital Products

Etsy – Huge marketplace for digital downloads
Gumroad – Simple platform with excellent payment processing
Payhip – Low fees and direct customer relationships
Teachable – Perfect for online courses

3. Long-Term Ways to Make Money Online in the UK

These methods take time to build but offer the highest income potential and can eventually become passive income streams.

3.1 Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing pays you for promoting products or services. When someone buys through your unique link, you earn a commission. This is one of the most scalable online income models.

Good Affiliate Networks for UK Users

Awin – Thousands of UK brands and retailers
Amazon Associates – Promote anything on Amazon (4-10% commission)
Impact – Premium brands with high commissions
CJ Affiliate – Established network with reliable payments

Why affiliate marketing is powerful:

No product creation or handling required
Passive income potential once systems are established
Infinitely scalable with traffic growth
Work from anywhere in the world

Getting Started

Start by promoting products you genuinely use and love. Authenticity converts better than aggressive sales tactics. Focus on building trust with your audience first.

3.2 Blogging & SEO

A high-traffic blog can earn money through display ads, affiliate links, sponsored content, and brand partnerships. The key is choosing a profitable niche and publishing consistently.

Good niches for beginners:

Money saving – Always in demand in the UK
Tech reviews – High affiliate commission rates
Travel deals – Popular and profitable
Fitness and health – Massive audience
Fashion and beauty – Strong commercial intent
Cashback and budgeting – Perfect for UK audiences

Success comes from consistent publishing (2-4 posts per week) and basic SEO skills like keyword research and on-page optimization. The first 6-12 months require consistent effort with minimal returns, but once you reach critical mass (50+ quality articles), traffic and income can grow exponentially.

Monetization Timeline

Months 1-6: £0-£100/month. Months 6-12: £100-£500/month. Year 2+: £1,000-£5,000+/month for successful blogs. Some UK bloggers earn £10,000+ monthly after 3-5 years of consistent work.

3.3 YouTube & TikTok Content Creation

Video content can generate income through ads, sponsorships, affiliate links, and brand partnerships. Short-form content especially grows fast on TikTok and YouTube Shorts.

High-performing topics for UK audiences:

Top 5/10 lists – Easy to consume, highly shareable
Product reviews – Strong commercial intent
How-to tutorials – Evergreen content that ranks well
Savings hacks – Always popular in the UK market
Travel recommendations – Weekend trips, budget travel
Tech unboxings – High engagement rates

Content Creation Tips

YouTube – Requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours for monetization
TikTok – Creator Fund requires 10,000 followers but sponsorships come much earlier
Instagram Reels – Great for affiliate marketing and brand partnerships
Consistency matters – Post 3-7 times per week for best algorithm performance

Short-form content (under 60 seconds) grows especially fast because platforms heavily promote it. You don't need expensive equipment—many successful creators film entirely on smartphones.

4. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learning from others' mistakes can save you months of wasted effort. Here are the most common pitfalls UK beginners face when starting their online income journey.

Mistake #1: Expecting Quick Results

Reality check: Most long-term methods take 6-12 months before generating meaningful income. Quick methods (surveys, cashback) pay immediately but offer limited earning potential. Set realistic expectations to avoid burnout.

Mistake #2: Joining "Too Good to Be True" Schemes

If someone promises £5,000/month with zero effort, it's a scam. Legitimate opportunities require either time, skills, or both. Avoid MLMs, pyramid schemes, and platforms requiring large upfront investments.

Mistake #3: Not Being Consistent

Sporadic effort produces sporadic results. Whether freelancing, blogging, or creating content, consistency is what separates success from failure. Set a realistic schedule and stick to it.

Mistake #4: Ignoring Skills That Can Earn Money

Many people overlook their existing abilities. Can you write well? Design graphics? Speak another language? Code? These skills are worth £20-£100+ per hour on freelancing platforms.

Mistake #5: Only Relying on One Income Stream

The most successful online earners diversify. Combine surveys + cashback + freelancing, or blogging + affiliate marketing + digital products. Multiple streams create stability and accelerate income growth.

5. How to Start Making Money Online Today

Ready to get started? Follow this actionable roadmap to begin earning within the next 24-48 hours while building towards long-term income.

1Choose One Beginner Method

Don't overwhelm yourself trying everything at once. Pick one fast-earning method to start today:

Sign up for 2-3 survey sites (Swagbucks, InboxPounds, Toluna)
Register for cashback sites (Quidco, TopCashback)
List 5-10 items you can sell on eBay or Vinted

2Create Accounts on Trusted Platforms

Spend your first hour setting up profiles properly. Complete profile information thoroughly—platforms with complete profiles often receive better opportunities and higher survey availability.

3Set a Weekly Goal

Commit to 5-10 hours per week initially. This is enough to earn £50-£200/month from beginner methods while exploring medium-term opportunities. Track your time to understand your true hourly rate.

4Track Your Earnings

Use a simple spreadsheet to log daily earnings from each platform. Seeing progress—even small amounts—keeps you motivated and helps identify your most profitable activities.

Tracking Template

Date | Platform | Time Spent | Amount Earned | Hourly Rate. This simple system shows exactly which activities are worth your time.

5Add Long-Term Methods

Once you're earning consistently from quick methods (typically after 2-4 weeks), dedicate 25-50% of your online income time to building long-term streams:

Start a blog in a profitable niche
Create your first Fiverr or Upwork profile
Begin learning affiliate marketing basics
Test print-on-demand with 5-10 designs

The key is balancing immediate income (surveys, cashback) with future income (affiliate marketing, content creation). This hybrid approach keeps you financially motivated while building towards larger earnings.

Final Thoughts

Making money online in the UK is genuinely achievable for complete beginners. The landscape offers something for everyone—whether you have 30 minutes or 30 hours per week, whether you're tech-savvy or a complete novice.

Start with quick methods you can implement today: surveys, cashback, or selling unused items. These create immediate momentum and prove that online income is real. Then progressively build long-term income streams through freelancing, affiliate marketing, blogging, or content creation.

The most important factor isn't choosing the "perfect" method—it's choosing something and staying consistent. Most people who fail at making money online quit within the first 3 months. Those who succeed simply keep showing up, learning from mistakes, and gradually increasing their income over time.

Your Action Plan

Today: Sign up for 2 survey sites and 1 cashback site. This week: Earn your first £20-£50. This month: Explore one medium-term opportunity. This year: Build a sustainable £500-£2,000/month online income.

Remember: every successful online earner started exactly where you are now—at zero. The difference between them and those still dreaming is simply that they took the first step. Your financial freedom journey begins with a single action today.

Ready to start your online income journey? Join Eazykash today and get access to the best UK-focused earning opportunities.

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