The best money making sites in 2026 are the ones that match what you can offer: Upwork and Fiverr for skills, Etsy, eBay and Poshmark for selling things, Prolific and Rev for small tasks, and YouTube or Amazon KDP for content. The real difference between them is the fee they keep and how fast you can cash out. This guide compares both, using each site’s own published terms.
Last updated: October 2026 ยท How we researched this: we read the official fee, payout and help pages of each site listed below, and cross-checked recent fee changes in 2025 and 2026 coverage.
Key takeaways
- Fees range from 0% (TaskRabbit self-set hourly rate) to 20% (Fiverr, Poshmark on sales of $15 or more).
- Skill sites pay best per hour; task sites are easiest to start but pay least.
- Check fees before you price your work, or the platform eats your margin.
- No legit site charges you a fee just to see job offers or “unlock” earnings.
Best money making sites compared by fees and payouts
All fees below come from each site’s published terms as of October 2026. They change, so check again before you commit.
| Site | Best for | What the site keeps | How you get paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upwork | Freelance skills | Variable fee of 0% to 15% per contract, plus paid Connects to apply | Bank, PayPal and other methods |
| Fiverr | Packaged services (“gigs”) | 20% of each order | Bank, PayPal, Payoneer |
| Etsy | Handmade, vintage, digital products | $0.20 listing fee + 6.5% transaction fee + payment processing | Bank deposit |
| eBay | Selling almost anything | 13.6% final value fee in most categories + $0.30 or $0.40 per order | Bank deposit |
| Poshmark | Clothes, shoes, accessories | 20% on sales of $15+, $2.95 under $15 | Direct deposit, PayPal, Venmo, debit card |
| TaskRabbit | Local tasks booked online | You keep 100% of a self-set hourly rate and tips | Bank deposit |
| Prolific | Paid research studies | Nothing; researchers pay you | PayPal, from $6 |
| Rev | Transcription and captions | Pays per audio minute | PayPal, weekly |
| Amazon KDP | eBooks and paperbacks | You earn a 35% or 70% eBook royalty | Bank deposit |
| YouTube | Video creators | Creators get 55% of long-form ad revenue and 45% on Shorts | AdSense |
Best money making sites by goal
For skills: Upwork and Fiverr
Upwork works well for ongoing, hourly client work, and its fee is shown on each proposal. Fiverr suits fixed packages, like “logo in 3 days”, but keeps 20% of every order. Writers can start with our guide to content writing jobs.
For selling things: eBay, Poshmark and Etsy
eBay gives you 250 free listings a month and reaches the widest audience. Poshmark is simpler for clothes because shipping labels are prepaid; read how you get paid on Poshmark before you list. Etsy is the go-to for handmade and digital downloads.
For quick small tasks: Prolific, Rev and TaskRabbit
Prolific is one of the more respected study sites, paying cash rather than points. Rev pays weekly but needs fast, accurate typing. TaskRabbit is booked online but done in person, like furniture assembly or moving help.
For long-term content: YouTube and Amazon KDP
These can pay for years, but they start slowly. YouTube requires 1,000 subscribers plus watch hours or Shorts views before ad revenue, per its official eligibility page. See our YouTube earnings list for what creators actually make.
Fee math: what you really keep on a $100 sale
This simple example shows why fees matter. It uses each site’s headline fee and leaves out payment processing, shipping and taxes.
| Site | Headline fee on $100 | You keep (before other costs) |
|---|---|---|
| TaskRabbit (self-set hourly) | $0 | $100 |
| Etsy | $0.20 + $6.50 | $93.30, before payment processing |
| Upwork (fee varies) | $0 to $15 | $85 to $100 |
| eBay (most categories) | $13.60 + $0.40 | $86.00 |
| Fiverr | $20 | $80 |
| Poshmark | $20 | $80 |
Sites to be careful with
Not every popular money site is a good use of your time. Watch out for:
- Survey and “rewards” apps: real, but often pay in points worth very little per hour. Check the cash-out minimum first.
- “Get paid to watch ads” or “like posts” sites: many are scams. The FTC warns that easy money for little work is a classic job scam sign on its job scams page.
- Sites that charge a joining fee to access jobs. Legit platforms make money from fees on completed work, not from you.
How to choose the right site in 5 minutes
- Write down what you have: a skill, things to sell, free time, or an idea for content.
- Pick the matching category above.
- Compare fees and the payout method you prefer.
- Read the site’s own help pages about holds and minimum cash-outs.
- Start with one site. Add a second only once the first one pays you.
FAQ
Which site is best for making money online?
It depends on what you offer. Upwork and Fiverr suit people with skills, eBay, Poshmark and Etsy suit sellers, and Prolific or Rev suit people who want small tasks with no interview.
Which money making sites pay instantly?
Prolific pays to PayPal instantly after your first four cash-outs, and Poshmark offers Instant Transfer to a debit card for a $2 fee. Most other sites hold funds for a few days first.
Are money making sites legit?
The well-known sites in this guide are legitimate businesses with published fees. Be careful with sites that charge you to join or promise high pay for watching ads or liking posts.
How much do these sites take from your earnings?
Fees vary from 0% to about 20%. Fiverr and Poshmark keep 20% on most sales, eBay keeps 13.6% plus a small per-order fee in most categories, and Upwork charges a variable 0% to 15%.
Conclusion
The best money making sites are the ones that fit your skill and take a fair cut. Compare fees with the table above, start with one site, and treat any platform that charges you to join as a warning sign. For more beginner ideas, read how to make money online for beginners.
