3 New Ways to Make Money Online in 2025 (That Nobody’s Talking About Yet)

• By Clinton Wanjala

• 550

• Last updated Sep 20, 2025

I'll take a wild guess, you’ve been googling “how to make money online” for weeks now. You are frustrated because each site seems to give you the same answers: freelancing, dropshipping, affiliate marketing and a long list that sounds like a broken record. 

I feel you.

Well, bookmark this article because it is new and fresh with ideas you've probably never heard before. 

The way people make money online has changed. In 2025, there are some brand new, exciting, and honestly underrated ways to earn online; no big upfront investment, no fancy degree. Just you, your laptop, and a little curiosity seasoned with a little patience and resilience. 

Let me show you 3 new ways few people are already making money online this year. And yes, they’re beginner-friendly, scalable, and weirdly fun too.

1. Virtual Local Guide Packs" (City-Specific Digital Travel Assistants)

You know those big bulky guidebooks from the 2000s? Yeah, forget that.

In 2025, travelers want fast, personalized, digital experiences, and you can be the one to give it to them.

Imagine this: a traveler is heading to Beverly Hills for a weekend. Instead of scrolling through blogs for hours, they download your $9 digital guide called “Beverly Hills in 72 Hours: AI-Powered Local Guide Pack.”

What’s inside?

• Hidden gems only locals know
• Safety tips
• Cheap eats that don’t show up on TripAdvisor
• A “Swahili Cheat Sheet” or other language tools
• AI prompt they can use to generate their own trip updates

These packs don’t have to be 100 pages. Even 10-15 solid pages can sell well, especially if they’re fun, helpful, and easy to use on mobile.

How to start:

• Pick a city you know well (or research one you’re curious about)
• Use ChatGPT or Perplexity to gather ideas
• Create a simple PDF or Notion template
• Sell on Etsy, Gumroad, or even through your blog/Instagram

Bonus idea: Sell personalized guides. For example: “Planning your solo trip to Lagos? I’ll build a custom 3-day itinerary with nightlife, safety tips, and street food maps at only 1500 Naira.”

2. Get Paid to Talk | Narrating Audiobooks

You don’t need to sound like Morgan Freeman. In fact, many authors are looking for normal voices, ones that are real, relatable, and clear.

If you’ve ever been told “you have a nice voice” or “you explain things well,” this one’s for you.

Why it works in 2025:

• Audiobook sales are booming worldwide.
• Self-published authors are constantly looking for affordable narrators.
• You don’t need a studio, just a quiet room and a decent mic (like the Fifine K669B or Blue Yeti).

 Platforms to start:

1. ACX – Best if you want to work with authors on Amazon/Audible. You can get paid per finished hour or earn royalties.
2. Voices – Great for commercial work, too.
3. VoiceBunny – Offers quick-turnaround jobs. Great if you’re confident and fast.
4. Fiverr + Upwork – Tons of gigs for beginners like “read my meditation script” or “record English learning phrases.”

Pro Tip: Start by recording a short sample reel. Read from a public domain book (like Alice in Wonderland or The Art of War) and upload it to your profile.

I know a guy from Nairobi who started with a $25 mic, landed a few gigs on Fiverr, and now works full-time with indie authors from Canada and the U.S. His side hustle turned into a steady income stream in just 6 months.

3. Use an AI Fanfic Generator to Sell Custom Stories

Let me tell you something wild: people love personalised stories. Especially if they fall under the steamy, fantasy, or “I’d never admit I read this in public” category.

Now, thanks to AI fanfic generators, you don’t even have to be a writer to start a mini story business.

Here’s how it works:

• You use an AI tool (like NovelAI, ChatGPT or NSFW with creative prompts) to generate custom stories.
• Clients send you their wildest ideas, maybe a forbidden vampire love triangle or a sci-fi alien romance and you turn it into a story.
• Price? Around $10–$25 for 1000 words, depending on how spicy or specific they want it.
• Light editing, formatting, done.

Where to sell:

• Fiverr – Create a gig for “Custom Fantasy or NSFW Stories.”
• Gumroad or Ko-fi – Offer different story packs or subscription bundles.
• Reddit – There are many Subreddits are filled with folks who love custom tales.

Real talk: A friend of mine cleared $300 in one weekend just by writing short NSFW stories. They weren’t even writing from scratch, just editing AI output.

Tip: Focus on specific niches. “Custom werewolf romance,” “Steamy billionaire boss fantasy,” etc. That way, clients come looking for you.

Final Thoughts – What’s the Lesson Here?

The internet is still the Wild West of opportunity. While everyone is chasing the same tired strategies, these 3 fresh ways to make money online in 2025 are quietly booming.

Here’s what I want you to take away:

• You don’t need to be perfect, the hack here is just starting.
• Use AI as your assistant, not your replacement.
• Solve a real problem (stories, travel help, narration), and people will pay you.

There’s no single path to success online. But there’s always room for someone who’s creative, curious, and a little gutsy.

So what are you waiting for? Pick one. Try it for 30 days. And if it flops? Cool. You’ve learned. If it works? Even better because you'll have just unlocked your next income stream.

Let’s get it.