Even with a full-time job, you might want to make a little extra cash to finance a special purchase or cover a surprise bill. But between working 40 hours a week and living your life, finding blocks of time can be difficult.
Fortunately, there are ways to earn cash in or in less than one hour.
Here’s a guide on how to make money in one hour so you can earn a few dollars in your spare time.
17 ways to make money in one hour or less
- Take online surveys
- Sell stuff via online marketplaces
- Sell unwanted gift cards
- Work as a freelance writer
- Walk dogs
- Deliver packages and groceries
- Deliver food
- Seek unclaimed money
- Offer social media management services
- Serve as a virtual assistant
- Freelance microtasks
- Do yard work
- Try house cleaning
- Rent out equipment
- Offer tech support
- Tutor or give specialized lessons
- Test websites and software
From dog walking gigs to taking online surveys, there are many ways to pad your bank account in an hour or less. Assess what skills or tools you may have and then determine how much demand exists for corresponding tasks.
For example, if you have a reliable vehicle, you can make good money quickly by delivering packages or food. If you prefer to stay home but have a gift for language, you could potentially start earning money by freelance writing.
If you’re ready to start making money in less than an hour, here’s where to start:
1. Take online surveys
Earn extra money fast via survey sites like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and Branded Surveys. After going through a brief sign-up process, you can make extra money by providing your opinion in various sponsored surveys. Some sites pay cash while others offer rewards in the form of gift cards.
2. Sell stuff via online marketplaces
If you have clothes or shoes you don’t wear anymore or tech gadgets you’re ready to part with, you have options.
You can go the old-fashioned route and take your items to a consignment boutique or pawn shop, or sell items online via marketplaces like eBay, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace. There are specialized stores as well, such as Crown & Caliber, a site people use to sell watches online.
3. Sell unwanted gift cards
Are your old gift cards collecting dust? Unload them via sites like CardCash, where you can sell gift cards for up to 92% of their value, or Gameflip, which is ideal for selling gaming-related gift cards.
You can also turn to platforms like eBay, but this may involve spending time building client relationships and verifying that your gift cards are legit. Consider a card-centric sales site to offload your gift cards quickly and efficiently.
4. Work as a freelance writer
If you have a knack for prose, pad your bank account with freelance writing work. In some cases, freelance writers can find clients on traditional gig apps like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer. Other sites, like WriterAccess and The Writer Finder, offer more specialized writing work, often for a higher pay rate.
If you have a niche you’re an expert in, you can reach out to companies directly. For instance, a personal finance writer might seek investing websites, while a grant writer might connect with nonprofits.
5. Walk dogs
If spending time with furry friends seems like a fun way to pass an hour, you can earn some quick cash as a dog walker. Connect with pet owners using platforms like Rover, which lets you set your own rates and availability.
6. Deliver packages and groceries
You can run errands or deliver groceries using a service like Instacart. Quick delivery jobs can pay $10 to $20 per delivery when you combine fees and tips. You can also work part time for a package delivery service like Amazon or UPS, but these jobs will claim far more than an hour of your time.
7. Deliver food
Food delivery is another fast way to earn money. You’ll need a reliable vehicle and a willingness to battle traffic, but you can find work via platforms like Grubhub and Uber Eats.
8. Seek unclaimed money
Organizations like the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) help people claim money they never received a payout for. The US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) can help you recover unclaimed wages.
Commercial sites like MissingMoney.com can efficiently connect people to their unclaimed assets. You can often complete the application process in under an hour.
9. Offer social media management services
If you have a keen understanding of social media best practices, you can offer your services as a social media manager. Gig work platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer can connect you to jobs like this.
10. Serve as a virtual assistant
Plenty of business professionals are in the market for virtual assistance. If you have a spare hour for scheduling, email management, or data entry, try advertising your services on gig economy platforms.
11. Freelance microtasks
Completing microtasks is one of the most efficient ways to make money online in under an hour. On freelance platforms like Upwork and Freelancer, expect to find postings for tasks like data entry, image tagging, proofreading, copywriting—even odd jobs like watching videos and indexing their content.
Some software companies will even pay people to play games and offer feedback about their experience.
12. Do yard work
Yard work could mean mowing a neighbor’s lawn, pulling weeds, shoveling snow, or raking leaves. You can often complete these quick tasks in an hour, set your own rates, and advertise your skills on neighborhood-oriented sites like Nextdoor.
13. Try house cleaning
If you don’t mind working with your hands—but you prefer to be inside—house cleaning may be the job for you. Sign up for house cleaning jobs that only last one hour. Or, if your schedule is flexible, clean longer for more money. You can find jobs and promote your cleaning skills on sites like Care.
14. Rent out equipment
If you have tools, sports equipment, or other useful items you’re willing to temporarily let out of your sight, try renting them out through a platform like Fat Llama. You can also find niche sites that cater to specific industries, like ShareGrid for film equipment.
15. Offer tech support
Plenty of people need tech support for setting up devices, troubleshooting software issues, or installing apps. You can connect to them on gig apps like Upwork and Fiverr.
You can also advertise your services via word of mouth and build a client base in your area. Referrals can be useful for getting work that requires house calls.
16. Tutor or give specialized lessons
There is a need for tutoring and teaching, and much of that work now takes place over the internet. Link up with a standardized test specialist like Kaplan or The Princeton Review. Other options include Tutor.com, Wyzant, and Preply. You can also sign up with a local tutoring service and visit clients at their houses.
17. Test websites and software
The internet abounds with platforms that pay users to test software and websites for functionality, user experience, and accessibility. These platforms include UserTesting, Trymata, Testbirds, and Validately. You can often test multiple sites or programs in a single hour.
How to make money in one hour FAQ
How can I make money ASAP?
To make money ASAP, apply for gig work on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer. If you have a car, try driving for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, or similar ride-share and delivery services.
Are there legitimate ways to make money in an hour?
Yes, you can make legitimate money in an hour by taking jobs posted on gig apps. These jobs include driving, pet sitting, copywriting, taking online surveys, and testing software.
Is it possible to make money in an hour?
Yes, it is possible to make money in an hour, either via in-person work like rideshare driving or on your computer using gig platforms like Fiverr.
