Side hustle ideas from people who actually run them

91 ideas, page 1 of 2

• Software and apps

  Language learning app that teaches through songs

  A consumer app that teaches languages through music and singing. The founder tested the idea with viral content before building a simple first version and runs it solo.

  Online

  Starter Story, 2026
• Software and apps

  Health and fitness app grown with paid ads

  An indie health and fitness app. The founder credits a repeatable marketing playbook built on paid ads, rather than the specific app, for its growth.

  $1k to $10kOnline

  Starter Story, 2026
• Software and apps

  Gym app built through constant testing

  A gym app whose founder treats product development like a science experiment, using A/B tests and feature validation to decide what to build.

  Online

  Starter Story, 2026
• Software and apps

  Marketing software for indie app developers

  A marketing SaaS for indie developers. The founder shaped the product through a very large number of customer calls with the ideal customer.

  Online

  Starter Story, 2026
• Software and apps

  Golf app built alongside a tech job

  A golf app the founder built as a side project while working full time at a big tech company, before deciding whether to go all in on it.

  Part-timeOnline

  Starter Story, 2026
• Software and apps

  AI track and field app

  An AI app for track and field, built by college students who did not know how to code.

  Online

  Starter Story, 2026
• Software and apps

  Road trip visualization tool

  A website for visualizing road trips, earning sales through organic traffic with peaks around holidays.

  Hands-offOnline

  Hacker News, 2024
• Software and apps

  AI tool for turning ideas into diagrams

  Built a tool for brainstorming and converting ideas into diagrams, now earning revenue and working on search traffic.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2024
• Software and apps

  AI conversation partner for language practice

  Built a web app to practice speaking languages with an AI, with a free tier and a paid tier.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2024
• Software and apps

  Chrome extension collecting casino login bonuses

  A browser extension that automatically claims daily login bonuses at online casinos for a monthly subscription.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2024
• Software and apps

  CMS publishing static sites to Cloudflare

  A content management system that publishes static sites to Cloudflare, earning recurring hosting fees.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2024
• Software and apps

  Japanese reading app with vocab tracking

  An app for learning Japanese by reading web articles, tracking known vocabulary and kanji, and syncing with flashcards.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2024
• Software and apps

  Kubernetes GUI app for multiple clusters

  A desktop app for managing several Kubernetes clusters at once, built for the owner's own use and then sold as a subscription.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2024
• Software and apps

  Record-keeping software for horse owners

  Built software for tracking all records about horses, and partners with racing associations to offer it to new owners of retired racehorses.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2024
• Software and apps

  Turn Google Drive folders into searchable wikis

  A tool that converts shared Drive folders into hosted searchable wikis, sold by subscription.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2024
• Software and apps

  Web scraping API as a service

  Runs an API service that handles web scraping for developers.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2024
• Software and apps

  Room booking system for workplaces

  Built a booking system after seeing colleagues reserve rooms in a paper book, and sells it as a product.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2022
• Software and apps

  Spreadsheet timetable to Google Calendar export

  A product that exports timetable data kept in spreadsheets into Google Calendar.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2022
• Software and apps

  Online multiplayer domino game with donations

  Built an online multiplayer version of a domino-based game, funded by donations after ads did poorly.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2022
• Software and apps

  Screen annotation app for Mac

  Built a Mac app for drawing and highlighting on screen during calls and presentations, after needing it personally.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2022
• Software and apps

  Chess variant mobile game funded by donations

  Built a single-player chess variant app without ads or in-app purchases, supported mostly by donations.

  Hands-offOnline

  Hacker News, 2022
• Software and apps

  Email newsletter tool for developers

  A newsletter platform built as a better alternative to a tool the owner used, with Markdown support and an API aimed at developers. Started as a side project.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2022
• Software and apps

  Screen recording tool with auto-polish

  A Mac app that creates polished product demo videos from screen recordings using cursor movements and clicks.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2022
• Software and apps

  Sports film review software

  Software that ties game stats to video footage for coaches, sold to schools in many states.

  Hands-offOnline

  Hacker News, 2022
• Software and apps

  Web scraping API service

  Started by scraping real estate listings for personal use, then built a scraping API that handles blocking and sold access to paying customers.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2022
• Software and apps

  Email unsubscribe by forwarding service

  A service where users forward unwanted emails and it finds unsubscribe links and fills web forms for them.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2021
• Software and apps

  Timestamped audio feedback sharing site

  A web app for sharing audio clips with timestamped comments, such as a music teacher giving feedback to a student.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2021
• Software and apps

  Document editor funded by protocol grants

  Built a document editor on a decentralized protocol alongside a day job. Revenue came from grant money from the protocol.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2021
• Software and apps

  Web hosting business started on the side

  Started a web hosting company on nights and weekends during grad school, which later became a full-time business.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2021
• Software and apps

  Niche Mac App Store app

  Wrote a Mac app years ago that still makes steady daily sales through the app store without marketing.

  Hands-offOnline

  Hacker News, 2020
• Software and apps

  Tool to convert CSV and JSON into SQL

  Runs a web tool that migrates data from files like CSV, JSON and XML into MySQL databases, sold to users who need conversions.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  White-label stock analysis tool with revenue share

  Built a web tool for stock technical analysis and offered it white-labeled to companies with distribution, splitting profits with them.

  Hands-offOnline

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  Chrome extension that audits websites

  A browser extension that tests sites for SEO, speed and security best practices, with free and paid tiers.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  API for sending cookies to customers

  Built a service with an API that lets businesses send cookies to customers and partners across Europe and the US.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  Chart image and QR code API

  An open source API that generates embeddable chart images and QR codes. Monetized as a hosted service.

  Hands-offOnline

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  Localized wedding registry platform

  An independent wedding registry site for a local market. Couples pay a one-time activation fee, and Google ads bring in traffic.

  $1k to $10kHands-offOnline

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  Mac app for browsing video collections

  Built a desktop app for managing video libraries and sells licenses. Donates the proceeds to charity.

  Hands-offOnline

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  Online gaming logo maker for esports teams

  A web tool that lets esports teams create mascot style gaming logos, currently in private beta.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  Pay-per-use SMS sending API

  An outgoing text message API with flat pricing, small packages for hobbyists, and a free daily message. Has an open source version.

  Hands-offOnline

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  Portfolio tracking tool for crypto investors

  Built a portfolio management tool for cryptocurrency investors and reached subscription revenue quickly with a basic version, while keeping a day job.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  Team calendar app sold as subscription

  A team calendar software product that earns recurring revenue and could grow with more marketing.

  $1k to $10kOnline

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  WordPress plugin and theme update service

  A service for WordPress plugin and theme developers covering updates, git deployment, analytics and load testing, paid by subscription.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  Marketing automation software for fitness businesses

  Started a company offering marketing automation to fitness businesses, with recurring revenue and a partnership with a martial arts actor's affiliates.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  Habit-based collaborative writing platform

  A platform for learning to write alongside others, built around habits and streaks.

  A few hours a weekOnline

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  Published indie games with small ongoing sales

  A few games the owner published that continue to sell a little each year without any input.

  Hands-offOnline

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  Subscription stock analysis service in German

  Publishes in-depth long-term stock analyses for German-speaking investors. Revenue comes from monthly subscriptions.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2019
• Software and apps

  Automated dependency update service for developers

  Built a service that keeps software dependencies up to date and supports multiple programming languages. It started as a passive project and became a full-time company.

  Online

  Hacker News, 2018
• Software and apps

  Documentation software product for teams

  Built a documentation product that earned its first revenue with little maintenance, and is planning a second version.

  Hands-offOnline

  Hacker News, 2018