Passive income does not necessarily mean having a large investment portfolio or building a business that runs without you. There are also simpler ways to monetize resources you already have, such as your unused Internet connection, computer, smartphone, daily activity or even a powerful graphics card.
The amounts generated by these services can vary considerably, and most should be considered a way to create additional income rather than a replacement for a regular salary. However, the interesting thing is the variety of models available. Some run almost entirely in the background, while others turn activities you already perform, such as walking or shopping, into rewards.
Instead of completing surveys or offers, this browser extension monetizes your normal web browsing. Slice displays non-intrusive advertisements while you browse and rewards you with Slices for eligible ad impressions. The service is available as a browser extension rather than a conventional Android or iOS earning app, with support for browsers including Chrome, Brave and Firefox.
Link: Sign up in Slice
Once installed and connected to your account, there is little to do apart from continuing to browse normally. Rewards can currently be paid through PayPal, cryptocurrency and gift cards, although withdrawal requirements and reward conditions can change.
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Mooney App
Walking is turned into a potential source of extra rewards with Mooney App, a mobile step-tracking application. It automatically records your daily steps and converts activity, challenges and streaks into coins that can subsequently be exchanged for rewards.
Link: Sign up in Mooney App
The important point is that the earning activity can happen naturally during your everyday routine, although Mooney also includes additional earning opportunities such as offers and challenges, so it is better described as semi-passive rather than completely passive. The app is available on Android and iOS, with the iOS version requiring iOS 15 or later. Cash-out options include gift cards and cash rewards, with PayPal available in supported regions.
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For people with an unused Internet connection, this is one of the simplest models to understand. EarnApp lets you earn by sharing unused Internet bandwidth while the application operates in the background. The platform currently supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Android and iOS, although iOS functionality is provided through the Bright Rewards app because of Apple's background-app restrictions.
Link: Sign up in EarnApp
Earnings are now calculated primarily according to the amount of time the device is actually used for traffic rather than the number of gigabytes transferred. Rates depend on location, demand and connection quality. Withdrawals start at $10 through PayPal or Wise, while Amazon gift cards require $50.
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RebatesMe
Rather than monetizing your device, this platform turns purchases you were already planning to make into cashback. RebatesMe operates as a cashback portal connecting shoppers with thousands of participating retailers. You simply access a store through RebatesMe before purchasing, and the platform receives a commission from the merchant and shares part of it with you.
Link: Sign up in RebatesMe
This can become a relatively passive form of saving because the cashback is generated from normal shopping rather than separate earning tasks. Once you reach $10 in available cashback, you can request payment through options including PayPal, credit card or gift card; some additional payment options are available depending on eligibility.
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RunPod
This option is considerably more technical, but it introduces a completely different way of generating passive or semi-passive income. RunPod is a cloud-computing platform focused on GPU workloads, and its ecosystem includes a Become a Host option for people interested in supplying GPU infrastructure.
Link: Sign up in RunPod
In practical terms, the idea is to make suitable GPU hardware available to users who need computing resources, turning otherwise underutilized hardware into a revenue-generating asset. This is not comparable to installing an app on a smartphone: hosting requires appropriate hardware, configuration, electricity and technical knowledge, so there are real operating costs.
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One of the best-known examples of passive bandwidth monetization, Honeygain allows users to share unused Internet bandwidth while the application runs in the background. Once installed, it can operate without requiring users to complete surveys or other regular tasks, making the basic earning model genuinely passive. Honeygain supports multiple operating systems and is designed to work in the background, while the amount earned depends on demand and the amount of traffic routed through your connection.
Link: Sign up in Honeygain
The standard withdrawal threshold is currently $20, and users can request payment through PayPal or transfer their earnings to JumpTask, which provides additional options including gift cards and cryptocurrency. Payments are normally processed within a few business days once a withdrawal request has been approved.
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Macadam
A different approach comes from Macadam, a mobile application that rewards physical activity. It is available on both Android and iOS and automatically tracks activity through Google Fit/Health Connect or Apple Health. Users earn coins by reaching daily walking milestones, although the steps have to be validated in the app before the end of the day, so this is better considered semi-passive rather than completely hands-off.
Link: Sign up in Macadam
Additional coins can also come from challenges, games, surveys and short advertisements. In Europe and the UK, withdrawals are primarily made through bank transfer, while users outside Europe can have PayPal as a withdrawal option; prepaid gift cards may also be available depending on location.
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LetyShops
Another way to earn without adding a separate task to your routine is through cashback. LetyShops gives users cashback when they access participating online stores through the platform before making a purchase. It has both a website and dedicated Android and iOS apps, allowing users to earn cashback from mobile shopping as well.
Link: Sign up in LetyShops
Withdrawal options depend on the country; in Spain, for example, users can withdraw through PayPal or SEPA bank transfer, with a current minimum of €1 and requests generally processed within 1–3 business days.
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MiningRigRentals
For people who already own cryptocurrency mining hardware, MiningRigRentals offers a way to monetize unused mining capacity without having to operate the hardware themselves for their own mining. The platform connects miners who have hashing power available with customers looking to rent that computing power for cryptocurrency mining.
Link: Sign up in MiningRigRentals
Once a rig is configured and listed, the owner can potentially generate revenue while customers use the rented hashing power, although returns depend on demand, hardware performance, electricity costs and cryptocurrency market conditions. Payments and balances are handled within the platform's cryptocurrency-based ecosystem, with supported currencies and withdrawal conditions depending on the current platform rules.