best ways to earn money in india

15+ Best Ways to Earn Money in India and Build Financial Freedom (2025)

Published on September 29, 2025
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11 Min read time
best ways to earn money in india

Quick Summary

  • Discover 15+ proven ways to earn money in India in 2025, including freelancing, affiliate marketing, YouTube, and AI-driven content creation.
  • New opportunities like no-code app building, digital reselling, and AI tutoring enable Indians to earn ₹50K–₹1L+ per month.
  • Verified salary insights show freelancers earning up to ₹10 LPA, while top creators and resellers cross ₹1L/month—highlighting real potential with smart upskilling and legit platforms.

Table of Contents

Wondering how to earn money online in India? With digitalization booming in 2025, more students, homemakers, and professionals are exploring flexible and high-paying online income opportunities. Today, earning up to ₹1 lakh per month is possible with the right digital skills, strategy, and consistency.

The best ways to earn money in India range from leveraging digital skills to building long-term passive income streams. Popular opportunities include freelancing in areas like writing, graphic design, and web development, creating and monetizing content through YouTube or blogs, or starting digital marketing services for businesses. Those with capital can explore investments in stocks and mutual funds, while entrepreneurs may opt for dropshipping, handmade product sales, or even rental businesses.

From freelancing and affiliate marketing to passive income ideas and online ventures, this guide highlights the most effective ways to earn money online in India. Discover actionable steps to achieve financial freedom and build a sustainable income stream in today’s fast-paced digital economy.

Top 10 Best Ways to Earn Money in India – 2025

Out of the many ways to make money online, we’ve narrowed down the 10 best ways to earn money in India that can help you earn over Rs 1 lakh a month. These best ways to earn money in India are ideal for those looking to boost their income through flexible, online opportunities significantly. They are –

  1. Shopify and Dropshipping
  2. Blogging
  3. Affiliate Marketing
  4. Freelancing
  5. Instagram Influencer
  6. Start A YouTube channel
  7. Selling Online Courses
  8. Virtual Assistant
  9. Translator
  10. Web Development
best ways to earn money in india

1. Shopify and Dropshipping

It is one of the best ways to earn money in India and the best platform to start selling online and earn money. Shopify provides you with all the necessary tools to start your business from scratch.

It is easy to use and you don’t have to worry about the delivery part too.

There are literally hundreds of videos online teaching you how to start your own dropshipping business, using Shopify but if you want to go through a detailed process with an easy approach.

Here are some details you must keep in mind before starting your dropshipping journey:

  • Initial Investment: Rs 5,000-30,000/-
  • Experience and Skills Required: It’s for everyone.
  • Time Investment: 2-6 hours per day, depending on how much work you put into it.
  • Expected Return in 1 Year: Rs 50,000-10 Lacs/month.

Now, to start your drop-shipping business you need to follow some basic steps:

  1. Decide a niche for your website.
  2. Sign up on Shopify and get a 14-day free trial.
  3. Go to unsplash.com to get elegant, copyright-free images that you can later compress with tinypng.com to use on your website.
  4. Watch the above video and follow these simple steps, and you will be good to go.

2. Blogging

Searching for how to earn money online in India? Or easy and the best ways to earn money in India? Then this option is best for you. This field awaits you if you have a penchant for writing and expression.

You can start this online work from home anywhere. Blogging is one of the best ways to earn money in India. You can start by creating a WordPress website or a free one at wix.com. With very little investment, you can start hosting at hosting.in. It is very cheap, and you don’t have to worry about learning how to design a website, as you can take your blog online in just a few clicks through WordPress after buying a hosting plan for Hostinger.

Blogging can be on any topic or niche you like; it has no limitations. Once you are done setting up a website and hosting your domain, you need to have a niche to attract the right audience to your blog. Once that is done, all you need to do is register to Google AdSense or Media Vine to start getting ads on your website, for payment.

  • Initial Investment: Rs 1,500-5,000/-
  • Experience and Skills Required: For everyone and anyone.
  • Time Investment: 1-4 hours a day.
  • Expected Return in 1 Year: Rs 10,000-1 Lac/month.

You can earn more than the mentioned amount, but it takes time to scale a blog and there is no limit to what you can make using this online earning technique.

Read More:

3. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing promotes somebody else’s product online using various mediums like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Blogs, Websites, etc. So, your job is only successfully to sell a product to earn money out of it. You will be paid based on commission after every successful transaction. A successful transaction will get you a 2-15% commission on the MRP of the product.

  • Initial Investment: Rs 2,000-5,000/-
  • Experience and Skills Required: For everyone and anyone.
  • Time Investment: 3-8 Hours a day.
  • Expected Return in 1 Year: Rs 10,000-5 Lac/month.

Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to earn money in India. You can begin by creating a free Amazon Associates account or exploring other affiliate programs. During registration, you may need to link a website, but a Facebook page with many friends and followers works too.

Once registered, your job involves promoting Amazon’s top-listed products, with the list already provided to you. If you enjoy writing, crafting product descriptions can boost the chances of making sales through your affiliate links. For every successful sale, you earn a commission ranging from 2% to 20%, depending on the product’s price.

Read More: Best Affiliate Marketing Platforms for Beginners

4. Freelancing

The questions of how to earn from home and how to make money online, are quite popular and very commonly asked. The answer to this question has many tangents, but if I talk about this particular one which is freelancing, there are various freelancing sites. I will say it’s one of the best ways to earn money in India online and eventually build a career out of it.

  • Initial Investment: Rs 0/-
  • Experience and Skill Required: For everyone and anyone.
  • Time Investment: 2-8 hours a day, depending on how much you want to make.
  • Expected Return in 1 Year: Rs 10,000-2 Lac/month.

The money earned varies from person to person and line of work. There are many options available in freelancing. You can become a content writer, graphic designer, artist, translator, virtual assistant, video editor, and more.

To start freelancing in any of the fields mentioned above, you can go to Freelancer.com, Fiverr.com, and Upwork.com. With no investment and excellent ROI, freelancing is a boon for anyone ready to put in some hours of their day to it.

5. Instagram Influencer

The best way to earn money in India is to be an Instagram influencer in 2025, which is a great idea. The job of an Instagram influencer is to build an audience, establish credibility, and persuade followers through honesty and integrity.

Instagram is one of the biggest social media platforms. There are more than 2.4 billion monthly active users on this platform, and it is used by almost every generation.

Nowadays, most big and small companies are using Instagram as a marketing tool to grow their business online. These companies contact Instagram influencers or similar pages with a huge following for promotions to attract followers to their pages.

  • Initial Investment: Rs 0/-
  • Experience and Skills Required: For everyone and anyone.
  • Time Investment: 1-2 Hours a day depending on how much you want to earn.
  • Expected Return in 1 Year: Rs 1-2 Lac/month.

Note: You need a minimum of 10,000 followers to become an influencer.

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6. Start A YouTube Channel

Starting a YouTube channel comes in sixth place on the list of best ways to earn money in India. It is no big deal to start a YouTube channel, but making it popular and turning it into a profession takes time, energy, and determination. If you are thinking about how to earn 1 lakh per month, then this is the way.

Prominent YouTubers like Bhuvan Bam, CarryMinati, and Ashish Chanchlani took months and years to reach this level. Their popularity and acceptance have increased in these couple of yours only.

They started with whatever camera and phone they had and reached this level, so consider this way of earning online in India, one the best and most lucrative.

  • Initial Investment: Rs 0/-
  • Experience and Skills Required: For everyone and anyone.
  • Time Investment: 1-6 Hours/Day, depending on how much you want to work and your niche.
  • Expected Return in 1 Year: Rs 50,000-8 Lac/month which depends on the niche.

The monetization part comes after this, now to answer the question of how to earn money without investment, you have to reach a benchmark of 10,000 subscribers and register on google AdSense, and you start earning through ads on your channel.

Note: You can also earn through product placements, promotions, and sponsors.

Read More:

7. Selling Online Courses

If you have great skills in any particular niche(s), you can teach them to others, too. You don’t have to have a degree or be a teacher. You can make videos explaining the topic in detail and providing a great learning experience to your audience in 10-20 videos, fully covering the topic.

  • Initial Investment: Rs 0-5000 month/-
  • Experience/ Skill Required: For everyone and anyone.
  • Time Investment: 2-6 Hours a day, depending on your course topic..
  • Expected Return in 1 Year: Rs 1-10 Lac/month which depends on the topic (Digital Marketing courses are more in demand these days).

8. Virtual Assistant

One of the best ways to earn money in India is to work as a virtual assistant. This role involves managing a business’s data through administrative tasks and organizing everything. Virtual assistants, often freelancers working remotely, handle tasks like composing and responding to emails, creating business documents using PowerPoint, and performing data entry in Excel. Additionally, they manage business inquiries, blogs, websites, and sales data. Beginners can kickstart their journey on platforms like Fiverr.com or Upwork.com.

  • Initial Investment: Rs 0/-
  • Experience and Skills Required: For everyone and anyone.
  • Time Investment: 9 hours a day.
  • Expected Return in 1 Year: Rs 50,000-4 Lac/month which depends on the number of hours.

9. Translator

Knowing your own language can be such a beneficial thing, you can simply start working as a translator online as it is one of the best ways to earn money in India. Translators are super helpful for people/companies who work in their native language.

Being a translator requires you to know your language thoroughly and adequately, whether it’s a second or third language. Many international and even national businesses seek people who can translate for them.

Having good proficiency is the only thing you need to start your journey as a translator.

  • Initial Investment: Rs 0/-
  • Experience and Skills Required: For everyone and anyone.
  • Time Investment: 9 hours a day.
  • Expected Return in 1 Year: Rs 50,000 – 2Lac/month which depends on the language and the company hiring you.

10. Web Development

As you are aware, Online earning in India in the future, no matter if you have an offline job or not, you can still have a side hustle, a part-time job, or a niche where you explore your passions and earn some extra income. Web development is also one of the best ways to earn money in India.

Web development is a great field, but it’s becoming ordinary day by day, so your aim should be to become the best in class to get hired for a heavy paycheck. You can start by registering yourself on Fiverr and Upwork

  • Initial Investment: Rs 0/-
  • Experience and Skills Required: For everyone and anyone.
  • Time Investment: 9 hours a day.
  • Expected Return in 1 Year: Rs 20,000- 1Lac/month which depends on the number of hours.

2025’s Most Lucrative Ways to Earn Online in India

Here are the most in‑demand online earning methods, each paired with current salary insights from Glassdoor to help you gauge real earning potential:

1. AI Content Creation (with ChatGPT & Other Tools)

Use AI like ChatGPT to generate blog posts, repurpose content, or craft marketing copy. Salary: ₹4–5 LPA for an AI Content Writer at major firms like Amazon in India.

Source: Glassdoor.co.in

2. Voiceover & Text-to-Speech Services

Create voiceovers, audiobooks, or regional dubs using your voice or AI voices. Freelance rates vary: typically ₹20,000–₹50,000 per project depending on length and language.

3. No-Code Website & App Building

Build websites or MVPs using Bubble, Webflow, Glide. Average pay for No-Code Developers: ₹6–7.5 LPA in India.

4. Subscription Newsletters (Substack, Revue, etc.)

Publish niche digital newsletters (finance, parenting, tech). Monetize via subscriptions or sponsorships—top newsletters earn ₹2–5 LPA through paid subscribers.

5. Remote Tech Support & Cybersecurity Freelancing

Offer IT support or security audits to small businesses. Entry-level salaries begin at ₹3–4 LPA, with experienced freelancers earning ₹8–10 LPA or more.

6. Short Video Platforms (Moj, Josh, YouTube Shorts)

Create short-form videos to earn via creator funds, brand collabs, and affiliate links. Monthly earnings range from ₹10,000 to over ₹1 Lakh for viral creators.

7. Online Reselling (Meesho, Amazon, Flipkart)

Use platforms like Meesho for zero-investment reselling. Successful resellers report monthly revenues of ₹50,000–₹2 Lakh.

8. AI-Based Online Tutoring

Teach via platforms like Filo, Chegg, TutorMe. Tutors earn ₹300–₹1,500 per hour, with top educators making ₹6–8 LPA.

9. NFT & Digital Asset Flipping

Sell digital art, music, or domains. Income varies widely, from ₹20,000 per month for part-timers to ₹5–10 LPA for full-time creators.

10. Print-on-Demand (Blinkstore, Qikink)

Design and sell custom products with no inventory. Average monthly profits range from ₹20,000–₹75,000, scaling with niche and quality.

Key Tips for Online Jobs

When exploring best ways to earn money in India online, keep these essential points in mind:

  1. Be Cautious of Scams: Always verify the legitimacy of any online money-making opportunity by conducting thorough research and reading reviews.
  2. Consider Effort: Assess the time and effort required for each job and ensure you have the skills and experience to succeed.
  3. Invest in Skills: Boost your competitiveness and earning potential by learning new skills through online courses and resources.
  4. Follow Your Passions: Choose jobs or ventures that align with your interests to increase both satisfaction and the likelihood of success.
  5. Choose Reliable Platforms: For a secure earning experience, stick to reputable online platforms with positive reviews and transparent payment systems.
  6. Diversify Income Sources: To increase financial stability, explore multiple avenues, such as freelancing, affiliate marketing, online tutoring, or selling products.
  7. Network and Collaborate: Build connections by engaging with professionals in your field on online communities and social media, opening doors for collaboration and new opportunities.
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Conclusion

There are many ways to earn money online in India today. From freelancing to selling digital products, each method offers flexibility and growth potential. The best ways to earn money in India require dedication, patience, and the willingness to learn new skills.

Anyone can build a steady income by choosing the right platform, improving digital skills, and staying consistent. If you’re ready to put in the effort, online income can become a reliable and rewarding source of earnings.

Explore the various methods outlined in this article to find the best ways to earn money in India that fit your skills and interests. Be cautious about fraudulent websites or opportunities that seem too good to be true. Always choose legitimate and trustworthy ways to earn money online. By carefully selecting reliable options and staying focused, you can begin your journey toward financial independence today. With the right mindset and determination, the best ways to earn money in India can lead you to lasting success.

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Frequently Asked Question (FAQ’s)

  1. How can you earn Rs. 1 lakh per month?

    Some of the popular options include:
    1. Freelancing
    2. Online Tutoring
    3. Selling Products Online
    4. Delivery Services
    5. Paid Surveys

    Remember that you can explore various options and you need to do multiple things to earn 1 lakh per month.

  2. How can you earn Rs. 1000 per day?

    To earn Rs 1000 per day, you can explore the best ways to earn money in India, such as online tutoring, affiliate marketing, freelance work, content writing, or social media management. Additionally, starting a small business, investing in the stock market, or driving for ride-sharing services are great options. These are some of the best ways to earn money in India with flexibility and potential for growth.

  3. How can I earn extra income in India?

    The best ways to earn money in India include part-time jobs, freelancing, selling products online, participating in surveys, renting out property, or offering services like tutoring or pet-sitting. You can also explore starting a side business. These are some of the best ways to earn money in India, offering flexible options to boost your income.

  4. How to earn 5000 rupees per day?

    To earn 5000 per day, you can:

    1. Freelance in high-demand fields like software development or consulting.
    2. Invest in high-yield assets or day trading (note the risk).
    3. Start a business with a scalable model.
    4. Offer premium services or products with high margins.

  5. Can you make money from home in India?

    Yes, there are many best ways to earn money in India from home, such as freelancing, affiliate marketing, online tutoring, blogging, e-commerce, and participating in paid surveys or reviews. With the right platforms and skills, you can easily start earning from the comfort of your home.

  6. What is the best source of income in India?

    The best source of income in India depends on your skills, but popular options include freelancing, starting an online business, or investing in the stock market. High-income earners also explore tech jobs, content creation, and affiliate marketing for sustainable growth.

Authored by, Anshika Sharma
Digital Content Writer

Anshika specializes in writing informational content designed to educate and engage readers at all levels. She aims to spark curiosity and make learning a genuinely enjoyable experience. When she’s not writing, she’s often immersed in research for her next piece or exploring new topics to expand her knowledge and creativity.

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