How to Make Money While You Sleep

Looking for the best passive income ideas that actually work? I'll share 24 passive income ideas to make money while you sleep.

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Do you want to learn how you can make money while you sleep? Today, you’re going to see some passive income ideas so you can get paid while you sleep.

The best part?

It's not that difficult to make money while you sleep with passive income.

And in this article, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process so that you can make passive income and can make money while you sleep.

How to Make Money While You Sleep (With Investments)

Yes, you've probably heard the phrase before. Let your money make you money.

You can find ways to generate residual income by using your money in your bank account.

How?

1. Do research on dividend-paying stocks

It’s been said that the average millionaire has seven streams of income, and investing is almost always one of them. With SoFi Invest, you can easily build a portfolio that works for you, whether you’re into dividend-paying stocks, ETFs, or automated investing.

SoFi makes it simple to get started, even if you’re brand new to investing. You can buy fractional shares of your favorite companies with as little as $5, automate your portfolio, and track your progress right from the app.

Start investing with SoFi Invest and take the first step toward building wealth while you sleep.

2. Get free money to invest

Yup, it’s true!  There are several brokerages out there that will give you free money to invest in stocks. The best offer currently is:

Acorns: CNBC calls it “the new millennial investing strategy.” Once you connect the app to a debit or credit card, it rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and funnels your digital change into an investment account.

Sign up to try it risk-free with a $20 sign up bonus to start investing and make money while you sleep!

3. Invest in real estate with only $10

Wouldn’t it be great if you could invest in commercial real estate and apartments without dealing with all the hassle of buying, improving, and re-selling real estate?

You don’t have to be a millionaire to invest in these types of properties. You can now invest in large-scale real estate for as little as $10 with Fundrise.

Through its real estate investing app, investors earned an average of 8 – 11 percent on their money last year, and all without painting a wall or dealing with unruly tenants.

$10 bonus
Fundrise
5.0
  • Earn passive income with real estate investing starting at just $10
  • Easy-to-use app for seamless access to crowd-funded real estate deals
  • Perfect for those who want their money to work for them
Start Investing With $10
We earn a commission for this endorsement of Fundrise.

How to Make Money in Your Sleep (If You Have Time)

You need to put in the time to get that passive income.

Passive income doesn't come easy or else everyone would be doing it.

Of course, there are ways to make money while you sleep. The trick is putting in the time, and then you will be able to reap the benefits of getting hundreds and even thousands of dollars a month of passive income.

Let's explore your options:

4. Get paid to watch videos

The next thing you can do is sign up for InboxDollars which pays you, in cash, to watch fun videos & take surveys and they’ll also give you a $5 free bonus just to give it a try. By spending just 5-10 minutes per day on this (either on your lunch break or during TV commercial breaks) you can earn an extra $150/month.

$5 bonus
InboxDollars
4.5
  • InboxDollars is a legitimate way to make extra money online
  • Been around for 20 years
  • Paid its members more than $59 million since 2000
  • Free $5 welcome bonus
Claim $5 Bonus after Email Confirm

More people should be doing this as you can make passive income with no money. If you are interested in taking surveys online, here are our other favorites:

  • Survey Junkie: Makeup to $3 per survey in your spare time from home to take online surveys, participating in focus groups and trying new products.
  • Swagbucks: Watch videos, take surveys, shop and more to earn real money.

6. Score cash by taking surveys

So, let me preface by saying I’m not a fan of wasting my time taking boring surveys.

But taking online surveys to make extra money is one of the easiest ways to make money on your phone, fast. 

Survey Junkie lets you get paid for taking online surveys from brands you use every day.

You can also participate in focus groups, try new products (free stuff, yay!) and get paid to listen to new music.

This is one legit survey company, and you can get started with a registration bonus here.

Survey Junkie
5.0
  • Share your opinion to help brands deliver better products and services
  • Fast payouts, legit, and our favorite survey site
  • Has paid out more than $25 million to its members
Join and Claim $5 Promo

7. Join a top rewards site

Swagbucks is another survey site that can help you earn money just for taking surveys. The cool thing about Swagbucks is that you can earn money in a bunch of different ways (other than just boring surveys).

Your options include watching videos, playing fun games, and even trying new products and listening to music. If you wanted to try it out, be sure to claim a $10 welcome bonus.

$10 welcome bonus
Swagbucks
5.0
  • Earn points by taking surveys, playing games, and shopping online
  • Redeem rewards like PayPal cash or gift cards to top brands
  • Join millions who’ve earned over $800 million with Swagbucks and get a $10 welcome bonus
Claim Your $10 Bonus

8. Dropshipping can make you money in your sleep

Did you know that Oberlo allows you to easily import products from AliExpress directly into your Shopify store and ship directly to your customers – in only a few clicks?

It’s very simple to open a shop on Shopify and drop ship items in order to create a business without too much risk.  You can literally start and set up a dropshipping business without any type of product in one afternoon with minimal risk as Shopify has a 3-day free trial and Oberlo is completely free!

No credit card required for free trial
Shopify
4.8
  • Over 5.1 million businesses trust Shopify to power their online stores.
  • Built for beginners & pros—easy-to-use tools with powerful eCommerce features.
  • Try it risk-free with a 3-day free trial + $1/month for 3 months.
Start Free Trial

Make Passive Income by Doing Things You Already Do

9. Get paid for playing games

We all heard the old saying “Time is money” right?

Instead of playing games on your phone like everyone else and feeling bad for wasting your time — now you can get paid for it.

Getting paid for playing games sounds like a dream. But if you download a free new app, and then download games from it and play, you earn money.

As you level up you can earn more money for cash rewards or gift cards.

This is a great opportunity for those looking to get paid for something they enjoy, like winning free gift cards and cash for playing games. I use it and it is legit and has over 35,404 positive reviews in the Google Play store.

If you’re interested, I recommend you download the app from the Google Play store for free by clicking here.

Mistplay (Android Only)
4.5

The Verdict:

  • Earn free gift cards just for playing new mobile games
  • 100% free to use, no deposits or hidden fees required
  • Discover and play games while earning rewards effortlessly
Sign Up

10. Get paid for your online searches

When you google make money from home, you probably won’t find this option. The self-proclaimed king of the internet, Google, can now be found on almost every device whether it’s a PC or a phone. This is why Swagbucks is now offering you the big bucks – relatively speaking – to use their own search engine: Search with Swagbucks.

How does it work? Simply ditch Google, sign up to Swagbucks, and earn as much as $5-$10 every month as you search which can then be cashed in for gift cards for big sites like Amazon.

$10 welcome bonus
Swagbucks
5.0
  • Earn points by taking surveys, playing games, and shopping online
  • Redeem rewards like PayPal cash or gift cards to top brands
  • Join millions who’ve earned over $800 million with Swagbucks and get a $10 welcome bonus
Claim Your $10 Bonus

11. Get paid to play games (+ grab a $15 bonus)

There is no limit to how much you can earn by playing games on your phone with Bigcash. They have over 3,200 live offers available right now with payouts up to $170 per offer. Pretty much anyone can start earning extra cash this way.

It's kind of crazy to think about, but Bigcash works with major brands across the country who pay real people to play their games and test their apps. These companies pay Bigcash, and Bigcash pays you. They've paid out over $20 million since 2015.

Start earning with Bigcash here. Most offers take just 5 to 10 minutes to complete, so stack as many as you want during your free time. US users also get a free $15 welcome bonus just for signing up.

Cash out your balance via PayPal, bank transfer, or by choosing from 200+ different gift cards. Withdrawals are fast with low minimum thresholds.

Sign up and claim your $15 bonus here

$15 bonus
Bigcash
4.9
  • Over 3,000 live offers on the platform now
  • Cash out anytime through PayPal or gift cards with no complicated steps
  • Get $15 bonus just for signing up and getting started
Claim $15 Bonus

12. Download the Nielsen app and claim $60 this year

By using the internet as you do every day, Nielsen invites you to make a difference – and you can make a passive income too. I downloaded this app and make around $60-100 passively… it’s a legit app. You don’t really have to do anything other than initially registering your computer or phone.

This company will pay you $60 a year to keep their app on your favorite internet browsing device and they also give away $10,000 each month. So you can possibly make more than $100. Sign up through here for a registration bonus.

Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel
4.9
  • Collects anonymous phone and internet usage data to help Nielsen study consumer trends
  • Runs quietly in the background after you install the app on your phone
  • Pays users in gift cards or cash-equivalent rewards, usually around $60 per year
Open Account

13. Unlock $100 rewards by exploring new apps!

With KashKick, your everyday online activities are rewarded. From answering intriguing surveys to downloading exciting game apps, you could earn up to $100 per app. 

Not just that, there are opportunities to earn while playing games, watching videos, and even simply reading emails. Although surveys remain a major earnings avenue, the sky's the limit with the variety of tasks available.

The best part? As soon as your balance hits $10, you can swiftly cash out through Paypal. Picture this: making some extra cash while lounging comfortably, phone or computer in hand.

Ready to dive in? Signing up is a breeze, and as a warm welcome, you'll instantly receive $1 just for completing your profile. One step closer to your rewards!

KashKick
5.0
  • Earn cash by playing games, taking surveys, and completing offers
  • Get paid directly to your PayPal with no hassle
  • Join over 2 million users and start earning today
Sign Up & Start Earning Cash

Use Your Things to Make You Money While You Sleep

If you don't want to invest any money and don't really have the time to invest either…what do you do? Well, you can take a good look at your possessions and see if you can use any of them to make passive income. Here's how:

If you have a car and some spare time, then this service gives you the flexibility to earn some extra cash when and where you want.

Lyft has revolutionized the transport industry. Taxis? Those are so last decade. Ride-sharing is the new face of transport, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.

A lot of people drive full time for Lyft so you can imagine that’s it definitely possible to do this on the side and make extra money and be able to save it.

Once you’re a driver you can choose to turn the app on or off and drive whenever you have some time to spare.

14. Drive for Lyft

They also have a feature that allows you to select your destination, so if you are leaving work (or any other long commute), you could pick up a ride that was going in the same direction.

You can do this 3-4 times a week on your commute and can easily make $1,500+ each month and save it all. They are also conveniently offering a $1,000 sign up bonus for new drivers, so act fast.

15. Turn your car into a second paycheck

Let your car pay for itself!  Similar to Turo, Getaround lets you turn your car into a second paycheck with no driving necessary. You’re paid monthly. Earn $10,000 per year actively sharing your parked car.

It’s great and you can set up your own schedule. Listing your car is free and managing rentals is easy. You can choose how and when to rent your car. Rentals are managed through the app and smart car technology. Don’t worry, every trip includes $1,000,000 insurance and 24/7 roadside assistance. Drivers are screened to ensure they have a safe driving record.

16. List your spare room on Airbnb

If you have extra room in your house, you can make passive income hosting guests on Airbnb.com. By becoming an Airbnb Host, you can start having their own weekend side hustle listing your home and open bedrooms to travelers looking to book through Airbnb. With a little bit of traction, you can easily earn extra money that can go towards your rent or mortgage by hosting guests on Airbnb.

17. Deliver food with DoorDash

If you’re free on nights and weekends, you can earn extra money delivering food for fellow citizens around your city. It’s easy to deliver food with DoorDash – if you have a car, it’s a perfect way to make a good amount of extra cash whenever it’s convenient for you. A lot of people do this full time, so you can imagine that it’s definitely possible to do this on the side and make extra money by delivering food with DoorDash, and be on your own schedule.

DoorDash Dasher
5.0
  • Work whenever you want, no set shifts
  • Cash out earnings daily with Fast Pay
  • Unlike rideshare, no dealing with riders
  • Keep 100% of customer tips
Start Dashing Today Our Review

More Resources to Make Money While You Sleep

Making passive income is possible while you sleep, but it will take time and effort.

How much effort? There are countless ways to earn money online, but they all boil down to two things: time and hustle.

You can find success through passive income strategies that you invest your time into once but benefit from for years or even decades. This often means investing in the stock market, real estate, or any of the ideas in this article — basically, something that requires a little elbow grease upfront but pays off later.

Brian Meiggs
Brian Meiggs is the founder of My Millennial Guide, where he’s been helping readers take control of their money for over a decade. As a seasoned personal finance writer and entrepreneur, Brian shares practical strategies on saving, investing, and building wealth through side hustles and smart financial habits. His work and insights have been featured in Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Yahoo Finance, and other major publications. Brian’s mission is simple — to help everyday people make smarter money decisions and create financial freedom for themselves.