33 Side Hustles for Introverts That Pay the Most Money

Last Updated on September 6, 2023 by Rebecca Lake

Side hustles can put extra money in your pocket when you need it. If you’re the quiet type, you might be interested in side hustles for introverts.

Some of the best side hustles for people with introverted personalities are ones that you can do online, from the comfort of your own home. Popular online side hustles for shy people include freelancing, offering virtual assistant services, and selling digital products or courses.

Online side hustles that don’t require talking are perfect if you tend to get tongue-tied in conversations. And not having to talk to people face to face is a plus if you’re completely weirded out by making eye contact. But there are always lots of ways introverts can make money offline, too.

Today, I’m sharing some of the best side hustles for introverts who want to earn extra cash in their spare time.

LIKE FREE MONEY?

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Survey Junkie. Earn up to $50 per survey just for sharing your opinions.

Swagbucks. Make money by playing games and watching videos. Join for free and get a $10 bonus when you sign up!

InboxDollars. Take surveys and get paid, no special skills or experience required!

Rakuten. Earn up to 40% cash back at hundreds of retailers, online or in stores. And get $30 for each person you refer, along with a $10 sign up bonus!

CashApp. Need a simple app for sending and receiving money? Get $5 free when you use code ‘VZXRXZN’ to join CashApp.

Making More Money as an Introvert

Statistically, being an extrovert can work in your favor when it comes to making money. Compared to introverts, extroverts tend to have higher earnings.

But that doesn’t mean introverts can’t be successful and make a lot of money. For example, some of the wealthiest introverts on the planet include Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffett. They’re all renowned entrepreneurs who have built billion-dollar empires.

And if you still think you can’t do it, here’s one more testimonial.

I’m extremely introverted with a healthy dash of anxiety disorder on top of that. Even making eye contact with people freaks me out, much less talking to them.

But I’ve still managed to build a business that earns multiple six figures every year. So if I can do it, then so can you!

Side Hustles for Introverts to Make Money Online

Working online has its perks. At the top of the list is not having to go into an office and talk to people every day.

Here are some of the best side hustles introverts can do from home, including a few I’ve tried myself.

1. Freelance writing

Freelance writing is one of the best high-paying side hustles for introverts who have solid writing skills.

There are plenty of ways to get paid to write that can earn you big bucks, including:

Copywriting
Content writing
Blog writing
Technical writing
White paper writing
Ghostwriting
Ebook writing

To get started as a freelance writer, you’ll need a few writing samples to show to prospective clients. You’ll also need a PayPal account to get paid.

If you’re looking for your first gigs as a freelance writer, these sites can help:

You can also look into setting up your own website and pitching editors through LinkedIn or social media.

Ready to start a blog or website? It’s easy to get started with a custom domain and hosting through Siteground. Plans are affordable, which is perfect for beginners!

2. Graphic design

Graphic design is another great side hustle for introverts that often doesn’t require much talking.

There are several ways to make money online using your graphic design skills. For example, you could make money designing and selling:

Pinterest templates
Canva templates
Website and blog logos
Infographics
Ebook covers
Printables
Hand-lettered fonts

You could start a blog or set up a website to showcase your portfolio and advertise your services. You can also look for graphic design gigs through Fiverr or Upwork.

If you’re interested in graphic design as a side hustle, consider:

What kind of design services you want to offer
How you’ll price them
What software you’ll need to create your designs

Canva, for example, is free and it’s very user-friendly. Just make sure you read the Canva licensing rules if you plan to sell any designs or templates you make with the software to avoid any copyright issues.

3. Proofreading

online proofreading jobs — Best Online Side Hustles for Introverts

Becoming a proofreader is another awesome side hustle for introverts who want to make money online, without having to talk to people.

Proofreading involves reviewing written copy for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.

You can offer general proofreading services or niche down and focus on working with one specific type of client. For example, you might specialize in legal proofreading jobs or proofing technical documents.

Being a general proofreader might appeal to shy and introverted people who want some variety. But specializing could help you level up your income and earn a full-time income from home.

There are plenty of online tools, resources, and classes you can use to learn about proofreading and how to make money as a freelance proofreader.

If you’re looking for THE authority on proofreading, then Caitlin Pyle of Proofread Anywhere is my go-to pick. She offers a free introductory webinar to proofreading that can help you decide if it’s a good side hustle fit.

You can sign up for the webinar here or click the button below to learn more.

Want to get paid to proofread?

Learn more

4. Be a virtual assistant

Starting a virtual assistant business is a hugely popular way to make money and it’s an ideal side hustle for introverts who have a variety of skills.

Virtual assistants or VAs help business owners, bloggers, and companies run their businesses. The kinds of services you can offer as a VA include:

Blog management
Social media management
Pinterest management
Customer service
Email management
Scheduling and project management
Copywriting
Database and spreadsheet management
Data entry

The great thing about being a VA if you’re an introvert is that you can do all of these things online. And you can cater your services to what you’re most interested in and knowledgeable about.

For example, you might really love hanging out on Pinterest. And you may have a great eye for repinning the most useful content.

That could translate to a side hustle as a Pinterest manager. A Pinterest manager could handle everything from pin design and creation to branding to pinning strategy for bloggers or online businesses.

5. Sell stock photos

Stock photography is an in-demand product among bloggers and business owners who need beautiful photos for their websites or social media accounts. If you know how to take great shots, you could start a side hustle selling stock photos online.

There are lots of websites that pay real money for stock photos, including:

Foap
Shutterstock
Smugmug
iStock Photo
Getty Images

You can also sell stock photos through your own website or blog. If you want to set up a website to sell your photos, you can get started with hosting from Siteground for pennies.

6. Become an online transcriptionist

Online transcription jobs can offer one of the best money-making opportunities for introverts who have excellent typing skills.

Transcriptionists get paid to turn audio files into written documents.

For example, you might get paid to transcribe podcasts, YouTube videos or recordings of legal proceedings. Online transcriptionist jobs can pay well and you don’t need a ton of experience to get started.

If you’d like to learn more, then you’ll want to sign up for this free mini-course. It covers all of the most essential things to know about becoming a transcriptionist.

Want to get paid to type?

Learn how to become an online transcriptionist in this free mini-course!

enroll now!

And if you’re ready to start looking for transcription jobs online, you can try GoTranscript or Fiverr.

7. Start a scoping side hustle

Scoping is similar to transcription and it’s also one of the best side hustles for introverts with strong typing skills.

As a scopist, you can get paid to edit transcripts of official court proceedings.

For example, a court reporter takes down notes of a proceeding in their special shorthand. Then a scopist translates that shorthand into a written document.

Scoping is a more specialized form of transcription and the top scopists earn close to $80,000 a year on average.

If you’re interested in scoping, then you can sign up for this free mini-course to learn how to get paid to scope.

8. Get paid to read books

Getting paid to read books is a dream side hustle for introverts who are dedicated bibliophiles.

There are lots of ways you can get paid to read. For example, you could make money:

Writing book reviews
Becoming a freelance copyeditor
Narrating audiobooks
Translating books into different languages
Formatting ebooks for publication

If you want to get paid to read books in your spare time, here are a few sites that will pay you for your reviews. (Plus, some even give you free books!)

Another way to get paid to read is by starting your own book review blog.

You could earn money writing sponsored posts, running ads on your site, or offering your services as a freelance book reviewer. Again, if you want to start a blog you absolutely can’t go wrong with Siteground for web hosting.

9. Get paid to read emails

If you don’t mind reading emails, you could get paid for it and make some extra cash in the bargain.

Here are some of the best sites that will pay you to read emails:

If you’re looking for another idea on how to get paid to read emails, you could also start an email decluttering service. Basically, it means being a VA that specializes in reading emails and inbox management.

10. Become a virtual bookkeeper

Virtual bookkeeping is one of the best side hustles for introverts who love numbers, math, and finance.

As a virtual bookkeeper, you can make money online by managing the books for your clients.

Again, this is another awesome side hustle idea that doesn’t require a college degree. But you do need to know the basics of online bookkeeping programs and bookkeeping practices.

Want to learn more?

Read this guide on how to start a virtual bookkeeping business and make $3,000+ every month!

Then sign up for this free seminar to learn how to launch a successful virtual bookkeeping biz!

11. Make extra money taking surveys

Taking surveys is a fun way to make extra money in your spare time. And it’s one of the easiest online side hustles for introverts who don’t like talking.

Will you get rich from taking surveys?

Probably not.

But can you make some extra cash without having to talk to people or get a real job?

Absolutely!

There are a ton of survey sites out there to choose from. But to make it easy for you, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite survey sites to try:

Survey Junkie (I’ve made over $5,000 with this one!)
InboxDollars
Swagbucks
InboxPays
Opinion Inn
SurveyVoices
Reward Survey
SurveySavvy
Zap Surveys

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Making extra money is that easy when you create an account with Survey Junkie. It’s free to sign up and you can earn real cash in your PayPal account or free gift cards, just for answering questions and sharing your opinions.

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12. Self-publish ebooks

Love to write but don’t want to write for freelance clients or start a blog?

You could still make money with your writing skills by publishing ebooks.

This is one of the best side hustles for introverts who want to make money without talking! You can write an ebook, list it for sale on a site like Payhip or Amazon Kindle Direct Publish and make money passively.

It’s a perfect way to earn an income in your sleep!

If you don’t know the first thing about writing an ebook, here’s a great explainer from Smartblogger.

13. Create an evergreen course

Teaching online is a booming side hustle option these days.

With more people working from home and learning from home, there’s money to be made from online tutoring and teaching.

If you don’t feel comfortable leading a live class, you can always create an evergreen course.

This is another awesome passive income idea since you can create the course and earn money on autopilot as people sign up for it. You might need to update the course every once in awhile, but otherwise, it’s a simple side hustle for introverts to start and maintain.

If you’re not sure where to create and sell your online course, I highly recommend Thinkific and Teachable.

Their platforms are user-friendly so you can get your course up and running in no time. And both offer a risk-free trial period so you can try them out without having to invest any money.

14. Get paid to play games

My son is an extroverted introvert (if that makes sense) and he would probably spend all day playing video games if I let him.

To keep him from draining my bank account, I let him create a Mistplay account.

With Mistplay, you can earn points for playing video games. Rack up enough points and you can turn them into gift cards.

This is a great side hustle for introverts who are into gaming and want to earn gift cards to their favorite brands. Or you can exchange points for a Visa gift card, which is just as good as cash!

15. Start a blog

Any time you search for “online side hustles” or “side hustle for introverts”, blogging is one that always makes the list.

There are lots of ways to make money blogging, including:

Affiliate marketing
Ads
Sponsored posts
Selling digital products
Selling services
Lead generation

Starting a blog or niche website can be a great way to make money without having to talk to people fact to face. And if you pick the right niche, it’s entirely possible to make a solid part-time or full-time income from your blog.

If you’re planning to give starting a blog a try, here are a few pointers.

Choose a good hosting platform for your blog

If you plan to use your blog to make money, definitely go with a self-hosted blog through WordPress.org, NOT WordPress.com.

To set up a WordPress.org blog, you’ll need to get a domain name and a hosting plan. I originally bought my domain and hosting through Siteground to keep things simple.

Learn the basics of setting up your blog

There are lots of tutorials for how to start a blog online — you can read my guide to setting up your first blog here.

And if you’re struggling, I recommend taking a blogging course. That can help you avoid a lot of the most common mistakes new bloggers make.

The one I took is Ready, Set, Blog for Traffic by Elna Cain. Elna is a freelance writer and blogging expert who has built a six-figure blog empire from home.

16. Publish low content books

Low content books and no content books can be a great money-maker for introverts who are looking for creative ways to make money.

Low content books and no content books are books that have little to no content. Think lined journals, logbooks, blank recipe books and composition notebooks.

You can use a tool like Canva to create simple low content and no content books that you can then upload to Amazon KDP.

It’s free to list books for sale on Amazon and Amazon handles the printing and shipping. You collect a royalty for each book you sell, so it’s a great way for introverts to make passive income.

17. Open a print on demand (POD) shop

Print on demand is another awesome passive income side hustle for introverts.

With a print on demand shop, you can upload your designs and list them for sale on items like coffee mugs, t-shirts or bags. Customers can shop your designs, purchase them and have them printed on their selected items.

The shop does all the printing and shipping for you and you collect a royalty. You can try a site like Redbubble if you’re interested in setting up a POD shop to make money.

I set up a Redbubble shop to support the Etsy shop I opened with my teen daughter. It’s been fun coming up with new designs and making our first sales, without having to talk to customers at all!

18. Join a paid research group

Research groups and focus groups allow people to get paid for sharing their opinions and experiences. Companies use research groups and focus groups to test out products, gather information and formulate studies.

The best part about joining a focus group these days is that you don’t have to leave home to make money.

Sites like Respondent and User Interviews pay focus group participants $100+ an hour for their time. Not only can you make money from home but you don’t need any special skills to do it.

19. Open an Etsy shop

Etsy is one of the most popular online marketplaces for selling handmade goods, including:

Jewelry
Clothing
Crafts
Printables
Vintage items
Cash envelope wallets

My daughter, who’s a complete introvert, has her own Etsy shop where she sells kpop jewelry and printables. It’s been a great way for her to make money from home as a shy teen.

If you’re interested in setting up an Etsy shop, take time to browse around to see what kind of items are most popular. And take a look at Etsy’s fees so you understand what you’ll pay to sell through the platform.

20. Sell feet pics

Selling feet pics could be one of the best side hustles for introverts who like taking pictures of feet (their own or someone else’s.)

Sites like Instafeet and Feetfinder allow you to create a profile and sell feet pics online for real money. Feet pics are in demand items and there are lots of people willing to pay good money for them.

If you’re interested in making money from feet pictures, check out this guide to selling to feet pics without getting scammed.

21. Data entry

Data entry jobs could be perfect for introverts with solid typing skills. I did data entry work when I first started working from home and it’s one of the best side hustles for introverts who are comfortable using a computer.

There are a few websites you can try to find online data entry jobs. You’ll just want to make sure you’re filtering for remote jobs.

Here are the sites I recommend:

You’ll need a laptop, internet access, and data entry software to start this side hustle. The good news is that most companies use programs you might already be familiar with, like Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Docs, and Google Sheets.

22. Refer people

Earning referral bonuses is one of my favorite side hustles for introverts because there’s very little work involved. Essentially, you’re getting paid to tell friends and family about companies and brands.

Each time someone you refer signs up, you get a bonus. How easy is that to make money?

One of my favorite options for earning referral bonuses is CashApp. With CashApp, you can earn up to a $15 bonus for each person who creates an eligible account. And you can get a $5 bonus yourself when you sign up!

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Best Offline Side Hustles for Introverts

In addition to making money online, there are plenty of ways for introverts to earn an income offline with minimal interaction.

If you’re looking for ways to make money in your spare time with limited talking, try these low-stress side hustles for introverts.

23. Get paid to grocery shop

Grocery shopping isn’t my favorite chore and it might not be yours either. But it could be a way to pick up extra cash in your spare time.

For example, you might try becoming an Instacart shopper. It can be one of the best side hustles for introverts who want to make money working a flexible schedule.

You can sign up for Instacart and get paid to shop. Instacart shoppers earn an hourly rate, plus tips. The amount of money you can earn as an Instacart shopper depends largely on the number of shops you complete each week and the dollar value of those shops.

Learn more about becoming an Instacart shopper.

24. Deliver food with DoorDash

If you have a reliable vehicle but don’t want to grocery shop for extra cash, you could also try delivering food. One of the best-known food delivery services is DoorDash.

Similar to Instacart, Dashers earn an hourly rate and tips. The more you dash, the more you might be able to earn.

Since DoorDash offers contactless delivery, it’s one of the easiest side hustles for introverts who’d rather not get chatty with people.

Learn more about how to become a dasher with DoorDash.

25. Get paid to clean houses

Cleaning houses is a side hustle for introverts that usually doesn’t require much talking.

You may get some initial instructions from the homeowner or cleaning service you’re working with. But after that, you can pop in your Airpods and clean, free of interruptions.

If you’re wondering how to start a cleaning side hustle, you can try offering your services locally through Facebook. I regularly see people who are hoping to make a little extra money posting their cleaning services in local Facebook bargain groups.

You can also try these sites for finding cleaning gigs:

26. Become a dog walker or pet-sitter

Walking dogs or pet-sitting are great side hustles for introverts who prefer animals to people.

You can get paid to care for pets and spend time with furry friends, which can be relaxing. And you don’t have to do any talking to your four-legged pals (unless you want to).

Similar to cleaning houses, you can offer dog-walking or pet-sitting services through a local Facebook bargains group. Or you can sign up with a site like Rover to get matched with pet owners who need pet care services.

27. Try flea market flipping

Flea market flipping and reselling can be highly lucrative side hustles for introverts who have an eye for bargains.

The idea behind flipping items is simple: find things for low-cost (or no cost) and then resell them for a profit.

There are lots of things you can sell to make money. Some of the easiest items to flip include:

Designer purses
Jewelry
Unused gift cards
Watches
Designer shoes
Tools
Collectibles

Those are also some of the best things to sell to a pawn shop when you need quick cash.

Here are some of the best places to flip items online:

eBay
Facebook Marketplace
Etsy (for vintage items or collectibles)
Craigslist
Offer Up

If you’re looking for a course on flea market flipping, take a look at Flea Market Flipper University.

Course creators Rob & Melissa have grown their flipping side hustle from a $42,000 a year part-time job to a six-figure full-time job and now they teach others how to do the same.

Learn more about how to become a professional flea market flipper.

28. Earn cashback when you shop

Earning cashback probably isn’t one of the most lucrative side hustles for introverts. But it can be one of the easiest ways to make money.

Cashback apps pay you back a percentage of what you spend when you shop in stores or online. Some of the best cashback apps even pay you cash bonuses for signing up or for referring friends and family.

If you’re looking for cash back apps to try to earn some extra money, here are a few to check out:

Rakuten. Rakuten pays you cash back when you shop partner merchants online or in person. You can earn a $10 bonus when you join Rakuten and make your first purchase!
Ibotta. Ibotta is a cashback app that pays you back when you buy groceries, clothes, and other everyday items. Like Rakuten, Ibotta offers a new account bonus when you make qualifying purchases.
Dosh. Dosh is another app that pays you back when you spend on dining, entertainment, and travel. You can use Dosh to earn cashback at places that Rakuten or Ibotta doesn’t partner with.

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29. Get paid to walk

If you’re looking for side hustles for introverts that reward you for getting healthy, getting paid to walk is a great option.

There are plenty of companies that will pay you to walk and get moving. Sweatcoin is one of the most popular.

When you sign up with Sweatcoin and similar fitness apps, you can earn money from starting a healthy routine. And in case you’re interested in apps that pay you to lose weight, you can also check out HealthyWage!

30. Do yard work

Next up on the list of side hustles for introverts is doing yardwork.

Plenty of people (myself included) are willing to pay good money to have someone else cut the grass, weed eat, or rake up leaves. And you don’t have to spend a lot of time talking to clients while you’re working.

You may need some basic supplies to start this side hustle. A rake, lawnmower, and trash bags might be essential. But it’s a great way to earn money, no talking required, while enjoying the great outdoors.

31. House sit

Housesitters make money by caring for other people’s homes while they’re away. This could be one of the best side hustles for introverts who are homebodies.

As a housesitter, you might get paid to:

Check the mail
Pick up packages from the front door
Water plants
Feed pets that might be in the home
Turn outside lights on or off
Monitor the sprinkler system for the yard
Take out garbage or recycling cans
Making sure the security system is set

Housesitting is a low-stress side hustle since you don’t have to talk to anyone while you’re doing it. You can advertise your services through Facebook or social media, or ask friends and family to spread the word for you.

32. Sell jewelry or scrap metal

Got unwanted jewelry you don’t know what to do with? You could sell it and any other scrap metal you might have for cash.

If you’re selling jewelry, then it might make sense to take it to a local jeweler for an appraisal. You can then decide where to sell it.

For instance, you might pawn it, sell it to a jewelry store, or sell it to a private buyer.

With scrap metal, you can look for a local scrap yard near you. Scrap yards buy all sorts of metal, including aluminum, copper, and steel. Comparing prices at different scrap yards can help you get the most money for your metal.

33. Wash and detail cars

Washing cars could be one of the best side hustles for introverts to do in the spring and summer months. If you live in an area that gets a lot of pollen in spring, for example, you might have plenty of potential customers in need of a car wash.

You’ll need to get your supplies together. That can include buckets, sponges, and cleaning solutions. A handheld vacuum might also be good to have.

From there, you can start advertising your car washing business on social media to get your first clients.

best side hustles for introverts pinterest image — Best Side Hustles for Introverts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to make money as an introvert?

Working a regular job can be challenging for introverts who are shy or just don’t like talking. That’s why it helps to some of the best ways to make money as an introvert that won’t test your social skills.

Some of the best jobs for introverts include:

Actuary
Bookkeeping (virtual, of course)
Data analysis
Insurance claims adjuster
Online chat support technician
Software development
Coding jobs
Website design
App development
Editing jobs
Grant writing jobs
Technical writer
Video editing

You could also look into the side hustles for introverts listed above if you don’t want to get a regular job.

How to make money without human interaction?

Making money without human interaction is a challenge, but it’s not impossible. There are some introvert side hustles that don’t require regular contact with other humans and if they do, it’s usually done via email vs. in person or through a Zoom call.

For example, you might try:

Virtual assistant jobs
Proofreading
Transcription
Online translation jobs
Blogging
Search engine evaluation
Dropshipping
Freelance writing
Website user testing
Data entry jobs

If you’re the antisocial type then you might consider any of these side hustles for introverts.

How can introverts make money online?

There are lots of ways introverts can make money online and I should know, as I’ve tried quite a few of them. Some of the best online side hustles for introverts include freelance writing, blogging, starting an Etsy shop, selling POD products through a site like Redbubble, proofreading, and transcription. Virtual assistant jobs can also be a good introvert side hustle option if your human interaction is mostly limited to email.

Some other online side hustles for introverts include:

Taking surveys
Getting paid to read emails
Getting paid to read books
Joining focus groups
Joining a mock jury
Selling stock photos
Self-publishing on Amazon
Selling printables

The main thing to keep in mind when considering different side hustles as an introvert is to think about what you’re comfortable doing. And don’t be afraid to experiment if you’re ready to move outside of your comfort zone.

What is the number one side hustle?

There are lots of arguments over which side hustle is the best for introverts or anyone else. Some of the most popular side hustles include delivering food with DoorDash, shopping for groceries with Instacart, and driving people around for Uber or Lyft.

My personal opinion on the best side hustle for introverts is freelance writing. The earning potential is huge and you don’t really need to spend any money to get started. And best of all, you don’t have to worry about talking to people all the time.

What’s the easiest side hustle to start?

The easiest side hustle to start is the one that requires the least amount of time and money to set up and creates income for you right away. Some easy side hustles for introverts include:

Taking surveys
Selling feet pics
Website testing
Joining focus groups
Playing online games
Selling gift cards for cash
Creating digital printables to sell

Is there any way to make money with zero effort at all? Not really. But there are still plenty of side hustles for introverts that can make you real money even without a job.

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Final Thoughts

Side hustles for introverts do exist and chances are, there’s at least one way you can make money without having to talk or even leave home. The more side hustle ideas you explore, the more chances you have of growing a sustainable side income. And the easier it is to avoid the worst jobs for introverts.

This guide should be a jumping-off point for finding the best ways to make money, online or off, when you hate talking!

Need more ideas for making money? Read these posts next: