Side hustle ideas from people who actually run them

651 side hustles, each one described by the person running it, in a podcast, a YouTube interview or a Hacker News thread. Every idea links to its source. Filter by what it costs to start, how much time it takes, and how it earns.

AllDigital products 67Software and apps 205Content and media 105Physical products 105Services and freelancing 103Rentals and assets 36Directories and marketplaces 11Teaching and coaching 19
Startup costUnder $100$100 to $1k$1k to $10kOver $10k
TimeHands-offA few hours a weekPart-timeNear full-time
WhereOnlineIn personOnline and in person
Earns fromAdsAffiliateSubscriptionsOne-time salesService feesRentMarketplace cutSponsors and donations
CodingNo coding neededNeeds coding
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140 ideas, page 1 of 3

  • 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.
    Software and apps
    Starter Story, 2026
  • AI chat and voice assistants for local businesses
    The operator sets up chatbots and voice receptionists for local businesses on a marketing platform, with a setup fee and a monthly plan. A free trial and a personalized demo are used to win clients.
    Services and freelancing
    The Koerner Office, 2026
  • One-person AI consultancy for small teams
    A solo consultant advises teams of five to two hundred people on AI, starting with a paid inbox audit that is credited toward a longer retainer.
    Services and freelancing
    The Side Hustle Show, 2026
  • AI consulting for established companies
    Offering AI assessments that show businesses what they can automate, then building the solutions with tools like Claude. The founders started by texting people they knew.
    Services and freelancingUnder $100
    The Koerner Office, 2026
  • 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.
    Software and apps$1k to $10k
    Starter Story, 2026
  • Gym fitness app built by a first-time coder
    An iOS fitness app built to solve the founder's own problem at the gym. The founder had never shipped code before and grew it with content and a personal brand.
    Software and apps$100 to $1k
    Starter Story, 2026
  • 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.
    Software and apps
    Starter Story, 2026
  • Goat-raising education media business
    A media business teaching people to raise goats, with a podcast, YouTube channel, online courses and a paid membership. It also runs paid goat farm tours.
    Side Hustle Nation, 2026
  • AI rendering tool for architects and designers
    An AI tool that lets architects and designers generate realistic home renders in seconds. Revenue stayed flat for years until a single product pivot changed the business.
    Software and apps
    Starter Story, 2026
  • 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.
    Software and apps
    Starter Story, 2026
  • Searchable database product sites
    The operator runs a few near-identical sites that each sell access to a niche database, such as investors, angels or journalists. The revenue model is not stated in the source and is likely paid access.
    Starter Story, 2026
  • 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.
    Software and appsPart-time
    Starter Story, 2026
  • AI track and field app
    An AI app for track and field, built by college students who did not know how to code.
    Software and apps
    Starter Story, 2026
  • Data analysis software for agencies and online stores
    A micro-SaaS that replaces messy spreadsheets for agencies and e-commerce brands trying to make sense of their data. The founder spotted the problem while consulting for these businesses and built the app with Claude.
    Software and apps
    Starter Story, 2026
  • Bedtime story podcast for adults
    An intentionally boring bedtime story podcast that helps grown-ups fall asleep. Income comes from a premium membership, books and other streams around the free show.
    Content and media
    Side Hustle Nation, 2026
  • Turmeric coffee brand sold by subscription
    An anti-inflammatory coffee brand made with turmeric, produced by a local manufacturing partner. Sales come from subscriptions, bundles and influencer-driven social proof, run alongside a full-time job.
    Physical products$1k to $10k
    Side Hustle Nation, 2026
  • Analytics software sold to agencies
    An analytics SaaS built specifically for agencies as the customer, a niche most builders overlook.
    Software and apps
    Starter Story, 2026
  • Directory tool with a lead generation focus
    After leaving an agency, the operator built a directory-related software tool that earns recurring revenue and is adding a lead-gen angle.
    Niche Pursuits Podcast, 2026
  • Flat-fee managed AI agent retainer for small businesses
    A one-person operator deploys AI agents for executives at small firms and handles their requests through a shared ticket board. The client pays one monthly price that covers every automation, model cost and upkeep.
    Services and freelancing
    Nick Vasilescu (YouTube), 2026
  • Fractional chief AI officer for mid-size companies
    An experienced operator sits in leadership meetings for companies without a technology chief, finds where AI helps, and builds or teaches the team to build it. It is billed as a monthly retainer, and a paid training day often leads into it.
    Services and freelancingPart-time
    Ryan Doser, 2026
  • Pet waste removal service
    A recurring dog poop cleanup service for homeowners, started with almost no money as a side project. The founder also teaches the model to others through a paid community.
    Services and freelancingPart-time
    Side Hustle Nation, 2026
  • Local lead generation agency
    An agency generates customer leads for local businesses and charges a monthly fee. It was dropped later for opportunity cost.
    Services and freelancing
    The Koerner Office, 2025
  • Paid online community for a niche audience
    A members-only group charges a recurring or lifetime fee for access to a niche audience and its resources. The host promotes it from an existing audience.
    The Koerner Office, 2025
  • Cleaning motivation podcast membership
    A paid membership that delivers private podcast episodes mixing public domain radio shows with cleaning routines and prompts. Members pay a monthly or quarterly fee.
    Content and media
    Side Hustle Nation, 2025
  • GraphQL middleware for Airtable and Sheets
    Sells middleware that lets developers access Airtable and Google Sheets data through GraphQL.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • 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.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Browser extensions named for popular searches
    Builds browser extensions that fix common site annoyances. Revenue comes from them, helped by search-friendly names and store reviews.
    Software and appsUnder $100Hands-off
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Mobile order-taking app for field sales
    Built an app for creating orders and invoices on the road, syncing with local accounting software. A partner handles sales.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • 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.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Checklist web app for repeated routines
    A checklist app built for the owner's own routines that now earns recurring income.
    Software and appsHands-off
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Chrome extension collecting casino login bonuses
    A browser extension that automatically claims daily login bonuses at online casinos for a monthly subscription.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Cloud true random number generator
    A random number service sold through a website and a cloud marketplace listing, left running with little attention.
    Software and appsHands-off
    Hacker News, 2024
  • CMS publishing static sites to Cloudflare
    A content management system that publishes static sites to Cloudflare, earning recurring hosting fees.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Continuous web app security scanning service
    Offers automated recurring security scans of web apps with reports sent to team tools like Slack.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Japanese reading app with vocab tracking
    An app for learning Japanese by reading web articles, tracking known vocabulary and kanji, and syncing with flashcards.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • 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.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Open source app analytics tool
    A privacy-friendly open source analytics tool for apps.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • PDF bank statement to CSV converter
    Runs a subscription tool that converts PDF bank statements into CSV, used mostly by individuals, bookkeepers and small business owners.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • 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.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Shipping data model for options trading
    Built an algorithm using maritime trade data to trade options on shipping firms, also selling subscriptions to friends.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Turn Google Drive folders into searchable wikis
    A tool that converts shared Drive folders into hosted searchable wikis, sold by subscription.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Web scraping API as a service
    Runs an API service that handles web scraping for developers.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Room booking system for workplaces
    Built a booking system after seeing colleagues reserve rooms in a paper book, and sells it as a product.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Spreadsheet timetable to Google Calendar export
    A product that exports timetable data kept in spreadsheets into Google Calendar.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Backtesting service for options traders
    Runs a simulation service that lets traders backtest advanced options strategies, built from a background in processor simulation.
    Software and appsOver $10k
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Email marketing tool for creators
    Grew from blogging and a self-published book into building an email marketing tool for bloggers and creators.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2022
  • 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.
    Software and apps
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Newsletter featuring creators' workspace tours
    Runs a newsletter that profiles the home workspaces of makers and creators, earning recurring revenue.
    Content and media
    Hacker News, 2022