If you're looking for ways to make some extra cash online, watching videos is a cool option to consider. You won't get rich, but you can earn a little extra money pretty easily just by watching videos, ads, and doing other simple online activities. In this article, we'll look at 10 different ways you can get paid to watch videos from the comfort of your home.
10 Ways to Earn Money Watching Videos
1. Reuploading Viral Videos on TikTok
Competition: 9/10
One way to make money watching videos is by reuploading popular, viral videos on TikTok and growing a following. If you have a knack for spotting video trends early and reuploading them before they totally blow up, you can build a sizable audience on TikTok. Once you have a lot of followers, you can start making money through sponsorships and brand deals with companies who will pay you to promote their products in your viral videos.
It takes work to constantly be on the lookout for fresh viral video trends and be one of the first to reupload them. But if you can crack that code, you can earn a decent side income from TikTok's Creator Fund and sponsors.
2. Sign Up for Swagbucks
Competition: 1/10
Swagbucks is one of the most popular "get paid to" sites that allows you to earn money watching videos, taking surveys, playing games, and doing other simple online tasks. You earn points called Swagbucks that can be redeemed for cash via PayPal or gift cards.
To get started, just sign up for a free Swagbucks account. Then you can start earning points immediately by watching videos from a variety of channels and categories like news, sports, entertainment and more. You can get paid for leaving the videos playing too, even if you aren't actively watching.
In addition to watching videos, Swagbucks has tons of other ways to earn money like doing online searches, playing games, answering polls and surveys, shopping online, and more. It's a really easy way to earn a little extra cash or gift cards just by using Swagbucks in your free time.
3. Earn Cash with InboxDollars
Competition: 1/10
Similar to Swagbucks, InboxDollars is another popular get-paid-to website that lets you make money by watching videos and completing other online tasks. You can earn cash straight to your PayPal account or choose from a variety of gift card options.
After signing up for free, you can start earning right away by watching short video clips from brands, celebrities, movie trailers and more across different categories like news, finance, automotive, etc. You'll be credited a few cents for each video you watch.
In addition to watching videos, InboxDollars has paid task walls, paid surveys, paid search engine tasks, online cash games, printing coupons and more ways to stack up your earnings. It's a legit way to make some extra money online just by giving some of your time and attention.
4. Movie/TV Show Reviews on YouTube
Competition: 7/10
If you're a movie buff or TV junkie, why not turn your passion into profit? You can start your own YouTube channel to review and discuss the latest movie releases, popular shows, trailers, and more.
As your channel grows and you build an audience, you can enable monetization through YouTube's Partner Program to earn a cut of the advertising revenue. You can also seek out sponsorships from companies relevant to the entertainment niche.
The key is to upload consistently, engage with your audience, and produce insightful, well-edited video reviews that people actually want to watch. With dedication and personality, you can make decent money sharing your thoughts on films and shows you're watching anyway.
It does take effort to build a successful review channel. But it lets you earn by simply watching movies and shows while voicing your opinions - something many people would do for free!
5. Become a Netflix Tagger
Competition: 5/10
Netflix hires real people as freelance "taggers" to watch movies and shows, and then describe/categorize them by assigning relevant tags and detailed descriptions. This metadata helps improve Netflix's recommendation algorithms.
As a Netflix tagger, you'll watch content across all genres and provide specific descriptive tags about the plot, characters, scenes, themes and more. You need a strong grasp of English, attention to detail, and the ability to analyze and summarize content accurately.
This freelance role allows you to work from home on a flexible schedule watching Netflix shows and movies on your own time. Payment is per title/episode analyzed, not hourly. While not a full-time gig, it's a neat way for film/TV enthusiasts to make a little extra income simply by watching and describing content.
6. Transcribe Video Subtitles
Competition: 4/10
If you have a good ear and can type quickly, you may be able to make money by transcribing audio and video subtitles for companies like Rev. As a transcript worker, you'll listen to videos and accurately type out the dialogue and sounds to create closed captions.
Rev hires freelance captioners in both English and other languages. No experience is required as they provide an editor tool and style guide. You just need a computer, secure high-speed internet, and the ability to understand audio recordings.
Payment at Rev is per audio/video minute transcribed, typically a few cents per minute. The rates are relatively low, but it's flexible work you can do anywhere just by listening to videos. Experienced transcribers can make $300+ per month working part-time.
It's tedious work, but it lets you earn a little extra income online just by watching videos and typing out what you hear. A good side gig for fast typists.
7. MyPoints: Videos + Other Tasks
Competition: 1/10
MyPoints is another popular get-paid-to (GPT) site similar to Swagbucks and InboxDollars that lets you earn points (which can be redeemed for cash or gift cards) by watching videos, taking surveys, playing games, printing coupons, and more.
After signing up for a free MyPoints account, you can immediately start earning points by watching short video clips across different categories. MyPoints has partnered with brands to have you watch their videos, ads, tutorials, and other content.
In addition to videos, MyPoints offers a ton of other ways to rack up points like online shopping through their portal, searching the web, reading emails, taking polls, and more. It's a legit way to score some extra money or gift card codes just for doing simple online activities in your spare time.
8. Shorten Links with Shrinkme.io & Get Paid
Competition: 7/10 (depending on your marketing strategy)
Here's an interesting way to make money by watching and sharing certain types of videos online. Sites like Shrinkme.io allow you to shorten long YouTube video links, and then get paid when people click on your shortened link.
It works like this - you find videos on YouTube that are really enticing and make people curious, like videos with cliffhangers, shocking moments, leaked game footage, or innovative new products. You then shorten that video's link on Shrinkme.io.
When you share that shortened link, Shrinkme.io runs ads before someone can access the full YouTube video. You earn a small amount every time someone clicks your shortened link to get to the juicy video content.
Tip: Share these links on subreddits related to the video subject
The keys are finding extremely engaging videos that pique curiosity, shortening the links, and promoting those links across sites and social media. It's an easy way to make a few bucks just by watching cool videos and sharing links, though income potential is limited.
9. Affiliate Marketing with Video Reviews
Competition: 9/10 (depending on your marketing strategy)
If you have your own blog, website or YouTube channel with an engaged audience, you can make money by creating video reviews of products and services, and including your affiliate links.
With affiliate marketing, you earn commissions whenever someone purchases a product or service through your special affiliate tracking link. Commission rates can range from a few percent to over 50% depending on the company and product.
For example, you could review tech products, makeup, courses, software, and more by showing them in use through videos on your channels and sites. Include your affiliate links in the video descriptions so viewers can easily purchase anything that interests them.
The key is picking quality products relevant to your niche that you can authentically review. With compelling video reviews and an audience that trusts your opinions, you can earn nice passive income through affiliate sales without really "selling."
While building an audience takes work upfront, affiliate marketing through video reviews can translate into long-term passive earnings.
Note: Build your blog/website with Wordpress
10. Fiverr: Freelance Video-Related Gigs
Competition: 7/10
Fiverr and other freelancing platforms are great places to find paid gig work related to watching and working with videos. From video editing to closed captioning to analyzing videos, there are all kinds of one-off jobs you can do in your spare time.
For example, on Fiverr you could get paid for tasks like:
- Adding captions/subtitles to videos
- Transcribing audio/video files
- Editing/splicing video clips
- Reviewing/testing mobile apps with video capabilities
- Describing video content for training AI models
- And more video-related micro-jobs
The pay rates can be low for simple tasks, but it allows you to make a little extra money really easily just by watching videos and doing small associated tasks. It's a flexible way to generate some income from home.
Regularly check for new gig postings on Fiverr and other freelance job sites, build up your ratings/reviews, and you can gradually increase your earnings over time.
Key Takeaways
While watching videos alone won't make you rich, there are plenty of legitimate ways to earn a little extra cash or gift cards just by watching videos, ads, and other simple online tasks. The methods covered like reuploading on TikTok, review sites, Netflix tagging, transcription, GPT sites and more provide decent supplemental income opportunities you can do from home during free time.
The key is managing expectations, you likely won't replace a full-time job, but can make some nice extra money each month by watching videos and combining multiple income streams. It's easy money that can add up with some effort!
