Not cut out for the 9-to-5 grind? There are plenty of ways you can earn extra income without working a traditional job. From online side hustles to real-world gigs, here’s how to make money without a job in Canada.
How much you can make: Approximately $0.50 to $5 per hour, up to $35
How it works: Sign up for GPT apps like Branded Surveys and Swagbucks, and you can get paid to complete surveys, play games on your phone and sign up for special offers. It won’t make you rich, but it’s a legit way to get more cash in your pocket.
Play Games & Take Surveys
Best for Mobile
Paid Surveys
How much you can make: $100 to $800
How it works: Banks and credit unions across Canada offer cash welcome bonuses as an incentive to attract new customers. You can earn several hundred dollars simply by signing up for a new bank account, but in some cases, you may need to perform specific transactions in order to qualify for the bonus.
Sign-up Offer
Credit Union
Earn Interest
How much you can make: $20 - $250+
How it works: Financial comparison sites like ours (Finder Canada) offer cash rewards when you take certain financial actions. For example, you could get rewarded for signing up for a credit card or switching bank accounts. These rewards can be stacked on top of the welcome bonuses that banks offer.
Get Paid Twice for Your Financial Moves
Earn $40–$175+ when you sign up for select financial products through our free rewards program. Plus, keep 100% of the provider's welcome bonus.
How much you can make: Typically 1% to 10% cashback
How it works: Cashback sites like Rakuten and Great Canadian Rebates pay cashback whenever you make a purchase from their network of retail partners. Simply click through to the retailer’s website from the cashback site, app or browser extension, then finish your shopping as normal to be rewarded with cashback.
How much you can make: $10 – $100.
How it works: Gig apps and websites like TaskRabbit and UrbanTasker offer a flexible work solution when you need some extra cash. Create an account and advertise your services, and you can get work doing odd jobs like assembling furniture, moving heavy items, mounting shelves or TVs and other basic household maintenance.
How much you can make: Varies depending on what you’re flipping.
How it works: Use Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji and thrift stores to find items you can buy at a low price and then sell at a profit. From vintage clothing to surfboards, furniture to musical instruments, power tools to sneakers, there are plenty of popular items that offer money-making potential for savvy flippers.
How much you can make: $3 to $5 per 5-minute test or $30 to $100+ for more complicated tests
How it works: User testing offers a flexible way to make money without a job. When you sign up with user testing platforms like UserTesting and TryMata, you can get paid to test out apps and websites in real-world situations. Provide detailed feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of your user experience, and in return, you’ll make real money.
How much you can make: $20 – $60 per hour
How it works: You can get paid to stay in someone else’s house while they’re away. You’ll need to look after the homeowner’s pets as well as perform basic maintenance like collecting mail, watering plants, and keeping the place neat and tidy. Get started by creating a profile on platforms like House Sitters Canada and TrustedHousesitters.
How much you can make: Varies depending on what you have to rent out and the level of demand for your items.
How it works: If you’ve got valuable tools and gadgets that you only need to use occasionally, make extra money by renting those items to other people on sites like Lend-it.ca and Hygglo (formerly Fat Llama). Popular rental items include everything from event furniture and musical instruments to power tools, projectors and Bluetooth speakers. Borrowers usually have to pay a security deposit to the rental platform to help protect you against the risk of theft or damage.
How much you can make: From $10 to hundreds of dollars.
How it works: Sites like CardSwap.ca let you sell your unused gift cards for cash. So if you’ve got an unused gift card burning a hole in your wallet, it’s quick and easy to turn it into money you can spend wherever you want.
That depends. Are you looking for the easiest way to make money without a job, or the way with the highest earning potential?
If you want a simple way to make money without working, signing up for special offers from Finder or switching bank accounts to earn a welcome cash bonus are top options.
But if you want to make maximum money without working a regular job, doing odd jobs through a gig app or housesitting are both lucrative choices.
And if you just want to earn some extra pocket money in your spare time, it’s hard to go past the convenience of a GPT app.
You don’t necessarily need a regular paycheque to get paid in Canada. There are lots of legit ways to make money without a job. Some are simple side hustles and hacks, while others provide the potential for ongoing income. Compare your money-making options and give your bank account a boost today.
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