All Side Hustle Ideas

Software and apps side hustle ideas

A web app, SaaS, mobile app, browser extension, bot or API that people pay for or that earns from ads.

Startup cost
Under $100$100 to $1k$1k to $10kOver $10k
Time
Hands-offA few hours a weekPart-timeNear full-time
Where
OnlineIn personOnline and in person
Earns from
AdsAffiliateSubscriptionsOne-time salesService feesRentMarketplace cutSponsors and donations
Coding
No coding neededNeeds coding

44 ideas

  • Software and apps
    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.
    Online
    Starter Story, 2026
  • Software and apps
    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.
    Online
    Niche Pursuits Podcast, 2026
  • Software and apps
    Online text case converter tool
    A free web tool for converting text case, built up over years.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Software and apps
    Checklist web app for repeated routines
    A checklist app built for the owner's own routines that now earns recurring income.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Software and apps
    Cloud true random number generator
    A random number service sold through a website and a cloud marketplace listing, left running with little attention.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Software and apps
    GIF meme maker with watermark removal sales
    A GIF meme site that earns from one-off sales of watermark removal.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Software and apps
    Meme maker with animated text tracking
    Created a web tool for making GIF memes with text that follows motion, after finding it hard to do elsewhere.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Software and apps
    PDF bank statement data extraction web app
    A web app that pulls transaction data out of PDF bank statements, built after the owner needed it for personal spending analysis.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Software and apps
    Weekly email of saved Twitter bookmarks
    Built a small tool that emails a weekly digest of newly saved Twitter bookmarks, with paid subscribers.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Software and apps
    Coupon site and tiny developer tools
    A coupon site for developers plus a set of single-purpose web tools such as encoders and HTML cleaners.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2021
  • Software and apps
    Configurable announcement banner service for websites
    Runs a subscription service that lets sites display announcement banners.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Software and apps
    Web service that texts kids to call parents
    Sells a web service that randomly sends text reminders for kids to call their parents or for adults to call theirs.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Software and apps
    Average weather lookup tool for travelers
    Runs a site showing historical average weather by city and month. Income so far is from ad revenue, with plans to add more features.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    Custom CMS and CRM billed per user
    Built a simple CMS and CRM for a freelance client and set up automated billing per user. Income grows as the client's user base grows.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    Domain name idea generator
    Built a tool that takes a keyword, translates it into many languages and shows available .com domains. It has earned some revenue from users.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    Hosted instance of open source software for friends
    Lets a couple of people use a personal instance of an open source program they run, so they do not have to host it themselves, in exchange for a small monthly fee.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    Mac screen recorder app with GIF export
    A lossless screen recording app for macOS sold through the Mac App Store and its own site. Adds features like animated GIF export to keep sales coming in.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    Text a photo, send a postcard service
    A service where customers text a photo and a physical postcard is mailed. Built with a web framework and an SMS API, and paid per postcard.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    Watermarking tool and live productivity course
    Sells a watermarking tool, and also runs a multi-week video productivity course that is paid for each time a new class fills.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    Free online map chart maker funded by ads
    Runs a free tool that lets people make colored maps of countries and regions. Income comes from display ads and occasional donations.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    Subscription RSS reader on cloud hosting
    A paid RSS reader that is open source and runs on a managed cloud platform. Users pay a subscription handled through a payment processor, and it needs almost no ongoing effort.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    Portfolio of paid iPhone apps
    Builds and sells many iPhone apps, with updates and freelance on the side.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Simple wine cataloging iOS app
    Built a minimalist wine catalog app for iPhone, sold as a paid app.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Android shopping app with affiliate links
    Built a simple Android shopping app that earned from Amazon affiliate links and ads.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Anonymous messaging web app
    A web app for sending and reading anonymous messages, with paid accounts adding extra features.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Daily photo reminder app for iPhone
    Built an iPhone photo reminder app that Apple featured, earning without marketing spend.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Fitness tracker companion iPhone app
    An iPhone app that converts tracker activity to diet program points and offers calorie tracking, sold through the App Store.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Pay-per-character message site using Bitcoin
    Built a website where people pay in Bitcoin per character to post a message.
    $100 to $1kHands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Piano app for iPad
    Built an iPad piano app that stays in music charts and sells without marketing.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Phone GPS tracker with ad revenue
    A web tool that tracks phones periodically and shows locations on a map, earning from site and YouTube ads.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Puzzle game for iOS
    Built a puzzle game for iPhone that earns a tiny amount from sales.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Audio analysis apps for iPhone
    Built iPhone apps like an oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer, used by sound engineers and teachers.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Cribbage game for iOS
    Built and released a cribbage card game for iPhone and iPad.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Music notation training web app
    Built a site for practicing reading music notation while learning piano. It earns on its own without promotion.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Online PC building tool with ads
    Runs a tool for assembling a PC online and earns from ads and affiliate programs.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Paid iOS utility and study apps
    Sells a clipboard manager app and a study summaries app for students with in-app purchases.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    UK bank account validation web app and API
    Offers a tool and API to validate UK bank account details, and sells a data file of sort codes.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Unicode text effects tool
    A free site for playing with Unicode text and ASCII art, earning small ad income.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Call filtering app for phones
    An app that filters unimportant calls and lets urgent ones from chosen contacts through. Sold as a paid app.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Software and apps
    Captcha recognition service paid per solve
    Built a machine learning system that solves captchas, paid per captcha, so income continues after the build.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Software and apps
    Cheap bulk SMS sending service
    Runs a text messaging service with low per-message pricing. Earns from message volume.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Software and apps
    Licensing system for Android app developers
    Built an anti-piracy licensing system for their own Android apps and then sold it to other developers as a subscription service.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Software and apps
    Logic puzzle game on the iOS App Store
    Built a puzzle game for iPhone sold on the App Store.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Software and apps
    Self-hosted social network software
    Sold software that lets people build their own social network, later releasing the code for free.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2011