12 Secret Ways to Make Money Online – For Beginners and Pros Alike

Inflation and economic instability have prompted more people to seek side jobs that can be done from home with minimal time investment. In this guide, we’ll walk you through secret ways to make money online, what to pay attention to, and what to avoid.

Who’s Earning Online and How?

There’s no exact data on the number of freelancers active in Ukraine or their average income – the numbers vary widely depending on the source. However, most research suggests that Ukrainian freelancers work around 20–30 hours a week on average.

Interestingly, only 6% of them work entirely online. That means most people use the internet only to receive orders, but provide services offline, such as taxi drivers or couriers.

During the Russian invasion in 2022, many people lost their traditional jobs and transitioned to freelance or remote work. The most significant increases in freelancers were observed in categories such as writing (+220%), management (+130%), translation (+190%), and mobile app development (+155%).

However, employers sought other skills – the highest demand grew in audio/video editing (+160%), game development (+125%), and online education and consulting (+110%). These roles are popular because they’re easy to do from home. Still, some of them require specialized knowledge or expensive gear, though others only need a laptop and some patience.

Let’s explore the most popular and in-demand methods for earning money online today.

Top Ways to Make Money Online

1. Writing

What you’ll do: Write articles and other content for media outlets, ad agencies, or businesses promoting their products and services.

Earnings: According to Business, writers in Ukraine typically earn between ₴8,000 and ₴ 20,000 per month. A small number makeover ₴100,000, but that requires working full-time and constantly improving your skills.

What you need: Solid writing skills, good grammar, the ability to research and verify facts, and a grasp of both creative and journalistic writing styles.

2. Content Creation

What you’ll do: Create original content – blogs, podcasts, YouTube tutorials, livestreams, and more. The format is totally up to you. The key is to identify your niche and establish a loyal audience.

Earnings: It’s hard to give an average because it depends heavily on your audience size and content type. Most creators earn through ads, affiliate links, and platform monetization tools.
For example, a Telegram blogger with 2,000–3,000 subscribers might earn ₴1,500 per promotional post. A Facebook post with 50k views could bring in around ₴1,000.

What you need: Deep knowledge of your topic. If you make video content, consider investing in decent gear – audiences expect quality. For most formats, you don’t need expert-level skills, but you do need to know how to grab attention.

3. Dropshipping

What you’ll do: Sell products without holding inventory. You promote items from suppliers and earn a profit on each sale. The supplier handles shipping.

Example: A furniture maker wants to sell chairs online but is unsure of how to do so. You step in, take great photos, list them in your online store, and drive traffic to boost their sales – and yours.

Earnings: There’s no cap. Your income depends on your pricing markup and the effectiveness of your marketing efforts.

What you need: Basic web design and online marketing skills and the ability to spot trending products. You don’t need a warehouse or office, making it a beginner-friendly option.

4. Translation

What you’ll do: Translate all kinds of texts – from short ads to formal documents. You can find gigs on freelance platforms and build a profile over time.

Earnings: Beginners can expect to start at around ₴15,000 per month. Experienced translators can earn up to ₴50,000 per month or more, depending on their workload and lproficiency in specific languages

What you need: Strong command of at least one foreign language. A degree in translation or an international certificate can be helpful. Translators for rare or in-demand languages (like Chinese) tend to earn more.

5. Online Tutoring

What you’ll do: Teach subjects online to kids or adults, help with school material, or run complete courses.
This field experienced significant growth during the COVID pandemic and continues to expand, particularly during wartime.

Earnings: Entry rates start at ₴200 per hour. Top tutors can earn up to ₴200,000 per month, depending on their qualifications, subject, and demand.

What you need: Expertise in your subject. A degree or certificate helps, but if you’re a student looking for quick cash, informal experience can be enough.

6. Social Media Management (SMM)

What you’ll do: Manage social media pages for brands or influencers – posting content, replying to comments, analyzing stats, and more.

Earnings: According to Work.ua, SMM managers in Ukraine earn an average of ₴17,500 per month, with the figure rising to ₴20,000 in Kyiv.

What you need: Understand platform algorithms, write well, follow trends, and know your audience. Some skills in basic photo and video editing, as well as analytics tools, are a plus.

7. Video Editing

What you’ll do: Edit simple videos for social media or YouTube.

Earnings: On freelancehunt.com, prices for basic edits start at ₴25, but can increase significantly with experience and skill.

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What you need: Familiarity with video editing tools (Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, After Effects, etc.), color correction, and ideally some knowledge of platform trends. Good equipment is essential.

8. Programming

What you’ll do: Develop websites, apps, or games.

Earnings: Android developers earn approximately ₴60,000 per month on average, according to Work.ua. Freelancers or those working with international companies can earn far more. Some top remote developers earn ₴200,000 per month.

What you need: Knowledge of languages like Java, Python, Swift, or Kotlin. Self-learning is possible, but structured courses can be beneficial. To thrive, you’ll need experience beyond the basics.

9. Web Design

What you’ll do: Create website layouts, define user experience, and choose design elements.

Earnings: Simple design gigs start at ₴1,000. A complete website design might cost around ₴20,000. On average, Kyiv-based web designers earn between ₴23,000 and ₴ 60,000 remotely.

What you need: Familiarity with design software, coding basics, and a strong portfolio. Having the right tools and a creative eye is essential.

10. Virtual Assistant

What you’ll do: Handle basic admin tasks – scheduling, answering emails, taking calls, looking up info. During the pandemic, it became clear that most of this work can be done remotely.

Earnings: Not the highest-paying field. According to Work.ua, remote assistants earn approximately ₴13,500 per month on average.

What you need: No special skills – just be organized, responsive, and good at following instructions–a good entry-level option for students.

11. Clicks and Likes

⚠️ Heads-up: This method is questionable and often tied to shady practices.

What you’ll do: Like posts, follow accounts, complete surveys, watch low-quality videos, and download sketchy apps – mainly to manipulate rankings and boost visibility.

How it works: Advertisers post tasks on “click sites” (also known as “bux sites”), and users are paid to complete them. It’s all about gaming the system rather than offering real value.

Earnings: Very low. A single click might pay ₴0.02. On a busy day, you might earn ₴200–600, but it requires a significant amount of work.

What you need: No skills at all. It’s just a computer and time to waste.

12. Traffic Arbitrage

What you’ll do: Buy cheap ads and resell the traffic at a profit. You use social media accounts and affiliate networks to drive this.

Earnings: This method is high-risk, high-reward. If you know what you’re doing, you could earn ₴ 100,000 or more. But beginners often lose money before they figure it out.

What you need: Deep knowledge of Facebook Ads (or another platform) is non-negotiable. You must thoroughly master the ad dashboard and its tools.

Can Teenagers Make Money Online?

Absolutely – many online jobs don’t require experience. Some roles are even doable by teens with basic computer skills and an interest in tech. They may not earn a lot of money, but they can gain valuable experience.

Some teens have even hit the jackpot. For instance, Ukrainian YouTuber EeOneGuy told interviewer Yuri Dud that at the peak of his career (2014–2016), he earned around $20,000 per month before turning 20 years old. Others have made millions before graduating from high school.

Legal Note (Ukraine):

Under the labor code, teenagers under 16 can work up to 24 hours per week during school breaks and 12 hours per week during the school year, with parental consent. From 16 to 18, they can work up to 36 hours a week in the summer and 17.5 hours during school without needing consent. They also can’t do jobs that are harmful to their health or moral development.

Bottom line: Teens can earn money online, but there are limits.

Frequently Asked Questions About Earning Online