If you’re searching for Side Hustles in Programming and Web Development, you want options that are practical, ethical, and genuinely profitable—not vague “passive income” promises. A developer side hustle is any small, scoped service or product that leverages your coding or web skills to earn income outside your full-time role. In plain English: you solve a specific problem for a specific audience and get paid for it. Below you’ll find a curated set of 14 approaches, each with steps, pricing guardrails, and pitfalls so you can choose a route that fits your skills and schedule. Quick note: this guide is informational and not financial, legal, or tax advice—please consult qualified professionals for those topics.
Fast path overview: Pick a niche, validate with 3–5 real conversations, define a smallest viable offer (SVO), ship a basic landing page, and iterate. Then layer on recurring revenue where it makes sense (maintenance, subscriptions, or retainers).
Skimmable setup steps
- Choose one audience and one headache you can solve.
- Draft a 2–3 sentence offer with a clear outcome.
- Validate demand with 3–5 buyer calls or messages.
- Ship a one-page site with a checkout or booking link.
- Deliver the first project manually; take notes; productize the steps.
Quick picker table (keep it simple)
| Hustle type | Upfront build | Recurring potential | Client contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website care retainer | Low | High | Medium |
| WordPress plugin | Medium | Medium–High | Low |
| Chrome extension | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Automation consulting | Low | Medium | High |
| Technical writing | Low | Medium | Low–Medium |
Now, let’s dig into the 14 options—each one stands on its own so you can pick the best fit and get moving.
1. Fixed-Scope Freelance Web Development
The fastest way to earn money with dev skills is to sell small, fixed-scope projects with a defined outcome. Instead of taking open-ended “build me a site” work, package a narrow deliverable like “launch a performant 5-page marketing site with analytics and a CMS.” That framing does two important things: it sets expectations and limits revisions. You’ll still need to communicate clearly, but you won’t drown in scope creep. Start by choosing a stack you can ship quickly (e.g., WordPress + a lightweight theme, or a static site + headless CMS). Price the package based on outcome and time—clients don’t buy hours, they buy business results. If you’re new to pricing, consult reputable guidance on rate strategy and value framing to avoid undercharging early on.
How to do it
- Define a single offer (e.g., “Launch-Ready Site in 2 Weeks”).
- Create a one-page proposal template with scope, timeline, and three milestones.
- Require a deposit to book the slot; use e-sign and online invoicing.
- Limit revisions to one round per milestone; anything extra is a change order.
- Hand off a short loom video and care checklist at the end.
Numbers & guardrails
- Starter price band: Commonly US$2,000–US$6,000 for a tidy 5–8 page site, depending on complexity and your credibility (illustrative).
- Time budget: 25–60 hours; set a weekly cap so you don’t burn out.
- Payment flow: Card payments typically incur ~2.9% + 30¢ per successful charge on major processors; confirm your local rates before quoting.
Bottom line: Fixed-scope projects get you cash flow and experience fast. Keep the scope tight, document your process, and convert happy clients into maintenance retainers.
2. Website Care & Maintenance Retainers
Care retainers turn one-off builds into stable monthly income. You’ll monitor uptime, handle updates, fix minor issues, and report on performance and security. Clients love the predictability; you’ll love not chasing new projects to keep revenue steady. The secret is to define what’s included (and what isn’t). A good retainer is proactive, visible, and boring—in the best way. For deliverables, think plugin/theme updates, backups, patching, speed audits, accessibility checks, and a monthly report. Sell it to past build clients first; they already trust you.
Mini-checklist
- Scope: updates, backups, uptime, minor fixes; exclude major redesigns.
- Response times: e.g., same-day for critical, two business days for minor.
- Reporting: one concise monthly report with a 3-bullet recommendation.
- Tooling: managed hosting panel, monitoring, backup, security scanner.
- Add-ons: SEO checks, analytics dashboards, or content updates.
Numbers & guardrails
- Typical tiering (illustrative): US$99, US$249, US$499 per month per site.
- Capacity planning: 10–25 sites per solo dev with strong automation.
- Payment plumbing: If you use a payment platform, confirm fees and dispute processes before you go live. Reference official pricing docs for your region.
Bottom line: Retainers compound. Ten sites at US$249 each is US$2,490 in monthly revenue for work you can batch and automate.
3. WordPress Plugins or Themes
Selling a plugin or theme is a classic product side hustle. You build once, then sell licenses with updates and support. Start with a real niche pain point: content layout controls for a specific industry, admin UX improvements, or a small WooCommerce add-on. Learn the core architecture (hooks, actions, filters), follow coding standards, and secure your forms and endpoints. The official WordPress developer handbooks are your north star for structure, security, and best practices, and they’re updated by the community as the platform evolves.
Tools/Examples
- Docs: WordPress Plugin Developer Handbook; Theme Handbook for presentation and block templating.
- Distribution: Self-hosted sales, marketplaces, or WordPress.com marketplace guidelines for best practices. WordPress.com Developer Resources
Numbers & guardrails
- Pricing pattern (illustrative): US$29–US$99 per year for a single-site license; higher for multisite or lifetime.
- Support budget: plan 15–25 minutes per seat per month on average.
- Security: follow the handbooks’ guidance for sanitization, nonce checks, and privacy.
Bottom line: Plugins and themes reward craftsmanship and documentation. Nail one niche and grow from there.
4. Shopify App Development
Shopify’s app ecosystem is a strong path for web devs who enjoy product work but want a defined customer base. You’ll solve merchant problems like order tagging, reporting, or post-purchase flows. Before building, read Shopify’s app requirements and testing checklist: your app must be operational, error-free, and transparent about any secondary payments you add to a merchant’s orders. Shipping with those expectations in mind reduces review friction and churn.
How to do it
- Interview 5–10 merchants; validate a small, painful gap.
- Build a minimal UI, document permissions, and ensure clean uninstall.
- Add analytics; iterate on one core metric (installs → active use).
- Write clear merchant-facing help docs and an in-app onboarding tour.
Numbers & guardrails
- Early traction metric: first 50+ installs and several reviews signal fit for Shopify’s quality badges—check the current criteria in the docs. Shopify
- Review readiness: use the official launch checklist to reduce rejections.
Bottom line: A small app that reduces friction in a merchant’s day can sustain meaningful recurring revenue with lean support.
5. Browser Extensions (Chrome, etc.)
Browser extensions are great for micro-utilities and power-user workflows. Think “save any invoice to my drive in one click,” or “highlight and export structured data.” Distribution through the Chrome Web Store gives you discovery and auto-updates. Monetization methods include external subscriptions, licenses, or one-time purchases via your own payment stack, because Google deprecated the Chrome Web Store’s native payments—so you’ll integrate payments yourself. Read the Web Store guidelines and policies before publishing.
How to do it
- Create a minimal MVP that solves a task in <10 seconds for users.
- Add telemetry respectfully to learn which features people use.
- Build a landing page with FAQs, a pricing card, and support contact.
- Implement licensing checks and graceful feature limitations when unpaid.
Numbers & guardrails
- Monetization realism: External payments mean standard card-processing fees apply (confirm exact rates with your provider).
- Risk: Store policy violations can lead to takedowns; follow program policies closely.
Bottom line: Extensions are ideal for narrow, frequent tasks. Keep it fast, private, and easy to purchase.
6. Micro-SaaS or Paid API
A micro-SaaS (single-purpose web app) or paid API (metered endpoint) trades one-off project hours for subscription dollars. The key is a tiny, well-defined problem: image optimization for a niche CMS, domain monitoring, webhook inspectors, or CSV validation. Start with a single endpoint or one workflow, then price on usage or tiered limits. You’ll need authentication, billing, logging, and support—but you can keep the surface area tiny. For billing mechanics and fees, consult your processor’s pricing pages and test failure scenarios like chargebacks and expired cards.
Mini-checklist
- MVP: one job, one screen, one metric.
- Guardrails: rate limits, retries, and clear error messages.
- Docs: copy-pastable examples in cURL, JS, and Python.
- Support: a searchable knowledge base and status page.
Numbers & guardrails
- Starter pricing (illustrative): US$9–US$49/month for light usage; US$0.002–US$0.02 per call for APIs with volume tiers.
- Churn control: aim for sub-3% monthly churn by fixing onboarding gaps.
- Fees: Budget ~2–4% blended processing fees; verify in your country.
Bottom line: Micro-SaaS wins when you solve one sharp pain and keep ops minimal.
7. Technical Writing & Documentation
If you can explain complex topics clearly, technical writing is a lucrative side hustle with compounding benefits. You can write docs, developer tutorials, SDK guides, or integration walk-throughs. Strong writing builds your reputation, attracts clients, and sharpens your own understanding. To get started, pitch companies with developer platforms, tooling vendors, or agencies. Show a short sample (700–1,200 words) with code, screenshots, and a reproducible example. Workflow automation platforms and integration ecosystems often need tutorials that explain triggers, actions, and authentication concepts plainly—learn how these systems actually work so your content is both accurate and helpful.
How to do it
- Build a portfolio with two polished samples and a style guide you follow.
- Pitch “topic + outline + outcome” instead of “need any writing?”
- Include runnable code snippets and a zipped repo for editors.
- Offer optional diagrams and a short screen recording.
Numbers & guardrails
- Rates (illustrative): US$300–US$1,500 per article; US$50–US$150 per page of API docs.
- Content quality: define audience, prerequisites, and expected results up front.
- Platform accuracy: for automation tutorials, cite official docs for triggers/actions so readers can replicate without guesswork.
Bottom line: Clear, accurate tutorials are evergreen; they open doors to consulting and product gigs.
8. Coding Tutoring & Mentoring
Tutoring and mentoring pay you to teach what you know while leveling up your own communication skills. Package sessions around tangible outcomes: “build your first REST API,” “prep for a front-end interview,” or “ship a React component library.” You can offer one-off sessions, short cohorts, or ongoing mentorship with code reviews and accountability. The format matters less than structure: pre-work, live practice, and a small take-home project beat lectures every time. Create a booking page, publish a concise syllabus, and set cancellation policies.
Mini-checklist
- Define outcomes: one sentence each; avoid vague promises.
- Materials: starter repo, cheatsheets, and solution walkthroughs.
- Schedule: fixed weekly slots; rescheduling rules in writing.
- Feedback loop: a form after each session; iterate quickly.
Numbers & guardrails
- Rates (illustrative): US$40–US$150 per hour depending on specialization.
- Capacity: two evenings per week can support 4–8 students.
- Boundaries: you’re a coach, not a contract cheat; keep ethics clear.
Bottom line: Teaching makes you sharper and expands your network; it’s also flexible and resilient.
9. Courses & Workshops
If you like teaching at scale, package your knowledge into a short course or a paid live workshop. Unlike massive, never-ending curricula, short formats sell better and are easier to maintain. Think “Design Accessible Forms in an Afternoon” or “Ship a JSON API Weekend.” Choose your platform thoughtfully—self-hosted checkout for control, a marketplace for discoverability, or a simple payment link paired with a private community. Market with a sample lesson, a project brief, and strong outcomes.
How to do it
- Outline 6–10 lessons: problem → demo → exercise → solution.
- Record screen-first, face-optional videos; prioritize audio clarity.
- Add transcripts, starter repos, and grading rubrics.
- Offer a cohort option with live Q&A and feedback.
Numbers & guardrails
- Pricing (illustrative): US$49–US$199 for a short course; US$99–US$399 for a live workshop seat.
- Merchant fees: Confirm your checkout provider’s per-transaction fees and dispute policies in advance; official pricing pages explain what to expect.
Bottom line: A focused course with a real project sells—make the transformation obvious and the logistics simple.
10. Bug Bounty & Security Research
Security-minded developers can earn by finding and responsibly reporting vulnerabilities. Bug bounties pay for valid security issues, usually via platforms with defined scopes and rules. Start by learning the basics of recon, injection flaws, authentication issues, and safe disclosure. Respect scope and ethics: only test what’s permitted, never access data you’re not authorized to view, and follow each program’s reporting templates. Reinvest in your lab environment and note-taking; reproducibility is everything here. For a platform-level primer on how bug bounties work, read the well-regarded overviews that explain the incentives and flows.
How to do it
- Pick one program and read scope carefully.
- Set up a local lab and common payload libraries.
- Practice on intentionally vulnerable apps and CTFs.
- Submit concise, reproducible reports with proof of impact.
Numbers & guardrails
- Payouts: vary widely by severity and target; many programs publish ranges.
- Timeboxing: cap weekly hours so this doesn’t crowd out paid client work.
- Ethics: follow responsible disclosure guidelines to the letter.
Bottom line: Bounties reward methodical, ethical testing and clear reports; treat it like a craft.
11. Data Dashboards & Lightweight Analytics for Small Businesses
Many small businesses drown in spreadsheets and copy-pasted reports. You can package and sell a simple analytics setup: connect their website, ads, and CRM; clean the data; and ship a dashboard with weekly insights. The magic is not flashy visuals—it’s picking metrics that actually change decisions. Lead velocity, cost per qualified lead, and funnel drop-offs beat vanity metrics every time. Scope this as a one-month project with an optional monthly check-in.
How to do it
- Audit current reports and tools; identify three decisions they make weekly.
- Choose a lightweight BI tool or build in a spreadsheet with connectors.
- Document the data model and a glossary of definitions.
- Train one owner to maintain the pipeline.
Numbers & guardrails
- Pricing (illustrative): US$1,500–US$5,000 for setup; US$150–US$600 for monthly updates.
- Data safety: avoid PII where possible; apply least-privilege access.
- SLA: define freshness (e.g., updated by 9 a.m. local time each Monday).
Bottom line: Clear dashboards create better decisions; clients happily pay for clarity and confidence.
12. Automation Consulting (Zapier, Make, Custom Scripts)
Automation consulting pays to connect tools, remove manual tasks, and design reliable workflows. You’ll map a process, replace copy-paste with triggers and actions, and hand over a documented system. Businesses value saved time, error reduction, and faster response times. Learn the fundamentals of how these platforms model triggers, actions, and authentication so your automations are robust and maintainable, and keep a list of common gotchas like rate limits and pagination. Official platform docs explain these concepts clearly.
How to do it
- Run a 60-minute process interview; list all “tabs clicked” and data handoffs.
- Design for failure: retries, alerts, dead-letter queues.
- Build a runbook with screenshots and clear ownership.
- Train one champion inside the client’s team.
Numbers & guardrails
- Value framing: “save 10 hours/week” × team hourly cost is your anchor.
- Rates (illustrative): US$75–US$200/hour or fixed mini-projects at US$750–US$3,000.
- Security: store credentials in vaults; follow platform best practices for auth and scopes.
Bottom line: Automation is leverage. Solve one chunky process, document it, and expand to adjacent workflows.
13. Template Packs, Starters, and Code Snippets
Developers love good scaffolds. You can sell template packs (email templates, landing pages, CMS blocks), starter repos, or polished code snippets with docs and examples. Aim for “drop-in value”: minimal configuration, strong defaults, and clear readmes. Pair each template with a short video and a live demo. Sell direct via your site or via a marketplace that handles tax and remittance for you; read the fee pages so you understand take-rates and processing costs before you choose a platform. For example, Gumroad publicly lists its transaction fees and explains marketplace vs. direct sales charges.
How to do it
- Pick one stack and one use case (e.g., email receipts with VAT/GST).
- Document install steps line-by-line.
- Include tests and a CI workflow for trust.
- Offer a “pro” version with extras and a support forum.
Numbers & guardrails
- Starter pricing (illustrative): US$9–US$49 for snippets; US$39–US$149 for template packs.
- Refund policy: plain-English, time-boxed, and fair.
- Fees: when selling through platforms, confirm the specific transaction and marketplace discovery fees.
Bottom line: Templates scale your expertise. Keep them clean, documented, and narrowly scoped.
14. Niche Content Sites & Developer Newsletters
Content sites and newsletters pay through sponsorships, affiliates, or paid memberships. This can be slow to ramp, but it compounds: consistent, high-quality posts build trust and deal flow. Focus on one theme (e.g., “frontend performance recipes” or “API product management”). Publish tutorials, small tools, and opinion pieces that help a specific persona do their job better. For monetization, you can layer on memberships or sponsor slots. If you maintain open-source libraries, you can direct supporters to recognized funding channels that are built for developers. GitHub Sponsors is a prominent, programmatic way for individuals and organizations to fund maintainers directly.
How to do it
- Define your audience, promises, and publishing cadence.
- Create pillar pages and interlink topic clusters.
- Offer a simple sponsor kit with audience stats and formats.
- Build an email capture and send one useful thing per issue.
Numbers & guardrails
- Pricing (illustrative): starter sponsors at US$100–US$500 per issue; premium packages higher with placement guarantees.
- Compliance: be transparent about sponsorship and affiliate relationships.
- Funding: if you accept contributions for open source, link to recognized platforms and explain benefits for sponsors.
Bottom line: Content plays the long game; pair generosity with clarity about how to support your work.
FAQs
How do I choose the right side hustle if I’m short on time?
Filter for low-coordination work with tight scopes. If you have only a few hours per week, website care retainers or templates are easier to manage than high-touch consulting. A simple litmus test: can you do meaningful progress in 45-minute blocks? If not, pick something smaller. Start with one client or one product, collect feedback, and expand only after delivery feels routine.
Should I charge hourly or fixed price?
Use fixed pricing for defined outcomes (e.g., “ship a landing page with analytics”), and reserve hourly for open-ended consulting or emergency support. Fixed pricing encourages efficiency and avoids the awkwardness of tracking every minute. If you’re unsure how to set numbers, read rater-setting guidance from major freelance marketplaces for practical framing, then convert those learnings into outcome-based packages.
What about payment processing fees and chargebacks?
Fees vary by provider and region. Major processors commonly show per-transaction card fees on their pricing pages, plus separate policies for disputes and chargebacks. Always verify the current rates where you operate, bake them into your pricing, and communicate refund terms clearly. Start with the official pricing pages and dispute policies provided by your processor.
Are browser extensions still worth it if the store doesn’t handle payments?
Yes—many successful extensions monetize via external subscriptions or licenses. The Chrome Web Store ended native payments and documents alternative monetization options and policies. You’ll integrate your own checkout and license checks and follow the program policies to avoid enforcement issues.
How do I validate a micro-SaaS idea without writing tons of code?
Interview potential users, create a demo with mocked data, and pre-sell limited early access. If a few people commit, build the smallest workflow that delivers the promised outcome. Publish docs first, then the endpoint. Expect to iterate. Keep billing simple at launch; confirm fees and dispute processes on your payment platform’s documentation.
What tools do I need for website care retainers?
You can start with a managed host, a backup solution, uptime monitoring, a security scanner, and a reporting template. Add a ticketing inbox for client requests and a standard playbook for updates. Limit what’s included to avoid scope creep, and upsell add-ons like SEO checks or minor content updates. This model works because it solves predictable pains.
Is technical writing viable if I’m not a native English speaker?
Absolutely. Editors value accuracy, structure, and reproducibility. Focus on clear problem statements, runnable code, and step-by-step explanations. Study how automation platforms describe triggers, actions, and authentication so your guides line up with how the systems actually work; official docs are your style anchor.
Can open-source maintainers really earn from sponsorships?
Yes—sponsorship programs exist specifically to fund people and organizations that maintain open-source projects. They provide recurring or one-time contributions and tooling to manage tiers and visibility. Use these platforms to centralize support and communicate how funds are used. GitHub Docs
Where should I sell small digital products like templates?
You can sell direct on your site or through platforms that act as merchant of record (handling taxes and remittance). Read the platform’s fee page so you understand take-rates for direct vs. marketplace discovery sales and whether additional processing fees apply. Transparent pricing docs from marketplaces are handy references.
How do I avoid scope creep on fixed projects?
Write a crisp scope with inclusions and exclusions, tie milestones to specific deliverables, and cap revisions. Change requests go through a simple form and quote. This isn’t about being rigid; it’s about protecting both parties’ time so you can deliver on schedule and quality.
Conclusion
The most reliable Side Hustles in Programming and Web Development share three traits: they solve a real, narrow problem; they are scoped to fit your calendar; and they include a path to recurring revenue. Whether you pick care retainers, a small plugin, an automation package, or a niche newsletter, you’ll progress faster by committing to a single offer, validating with a handful of real conversations, and shipping the smallest version that works. From there, iteration beats ideation. Track a single metric (installs, retained sites, paying subscribers), reroute your effort toward what moves that metric, and prune everything else. If you do that consistently, you’ll build a calm, compounding side business that doesn’t hijack your nights and weekends. Ready to start? Choose one idea above, book one conversation this week, and ship one meaningful deliverable—then do it again.
CTA: Pick one hustle, write a 2–3 sentence offer, and send it to three potential buyers today.
References
- Pricing & Fees — Stripe. Publication date varies by region; refer to the pricing page for current rates. https://stripe.com/pricing Stripe
- How to Set Your Freelancer Rates and Project Pricing — Upwork Resources, May 28, 2024. https://www.upwork.com/resources/how-to-set-your-freelance-rate Upwork
- About GitHub Sponsors — GitHub Docs, ongoing documentation. GitHub Docs
- GitHub Sponsors — GitHub program page. GitHub
- What Are Bug Bounties and How Do They Work? — HackerOne Blog, March 25, 2024. https://www.hackerone.com/blog/what-are-bug-bounties-and-how-do-they-work HackerOne
- Chrome Web Store — Developer Documentation & Program Policies — Chrome for Developers, ongoing documentation including payments deprecation. https://developer.chrome.com/docs/webstore and https://developer.chrome.com/docs/webstore/program-policies Chrome for Developers
- Checklist of Requirements for Apps in the Shopify App Store — Shopify Developer Docs, ongoing documentation. https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/launch/app-requirements-checklist Shopify
- How Zapier Works — Zapier Platform Docs, ongoing documentation. https://docs.zapier.com/platform/quickstart/how-zapier-works docs.zapier.com
- Plugin Developer Handbook — WordPress Developer Resources, updated community handbook. WordPress Developer Resources
- Workflow Automation: Definition, Tutorial, and Tools — Zapier Blog, August 14, 2025. https://zapier.com/blog/workflow-automation/ Zapier
- Gumroad Pricing — Gumroad, pricing and fee details. https://gumroad.com/pricing and fee help article https://gumroad.com/help/article/66-gumroads-fees Gumroad
