If you’ve ever spent just 15 minutes scrolling through TikTok, you’ve probably come across someone shouting, “Side hustle alert!” or claiming you can make ₹40,000 a day from your phone — whether you’re sitting on your sofa, lying in bed, or chilling in your car.
Naturally, I got curious.
Could TikTok really be the secret to earning money online in 2025?
So I did something totally wild — I decided to try every trending money-making idea I saw on TikTok (at least the most popular and practical ones) and share what actually worked, what kind of worked, and what’s better left in TikTok’s digital trash bin.
Here’s what I discovered when I dove deep into the viral world of “TikTok side hustles.”
1. Selling Notion Templates
Claim: Earn ₹25,000 per day selling productivity templates.
Test: I created a Student Planner and Side Hustle Tracker using Notion. Uploaded to Etsy and Gumroad.
Result:
First week? Zero sales.
Then I made a TikTok showcasing the planner — boom! 4 sales in 48 hours.
Earnings: ₹4,300 approx
Verdict: Works! But only if you market it smartly. TikTok + Pinterest is a power combo.
2. Dropshipping from AliExpress
Claim: Set up a Shopify store, run TikTok ads, and get rich quick.
Test: Followed a viral video, picked a trendy pet hair remover product.
Result:
Spent ₹4,800 on ads.
Got 3 orders, one refund due to shipping delay.
Earnings: Loss of ₹1,000
Verdict: High risk. Needs real business skills like customer service, fast logistics, and ad mastery. Not for the faint-hearted.
3. Flipping Facebook Marketplace Finds
Claim: Buy cheap furniture, clean/paint it, and resell for a profit.
Test: Bought an old coffee table for ₹800. Painted it white and sold for ₹3,600.
Result:
Total 2 hours work.
Profit: ₹2,800
Verdict: 100% legit and great for hands-on people. Perfect if you enjoy DIY.
4. UGC (User-Generated Content) Creator
Claim: Brands will pay you to create product videos — no need to be an influencer.
Test: Made a demo skincare video, listed myself on Fiverr and UGC platforms.
Result:
First paid gig in 6 days — ₹3,400
Earnings: ₹3,400
Verdict: Highly promising. If you’re confident on camera, this is gold. Great for beginners too.
5. AI Side Hustles
Claim: Use tools like ChatGPT and Canva to create digital products, resumes, journals etc.
Test: Made an affirmation-based digital journal using Canva + ChatGPT. Listed on Etsy.
Result:
3 sales in the first week after sharing a behind-the-scenes TikTok.
Earnings: ₹2,300
Verdict: Scalable and passive. A solid hustle if you pick the right niche.
6. Affiliate Marketing on TikTok
Claim: Recommend products via TikToks and earn commissions.
Test: Signed up for Amazon Associates, made a “TikTok Made Me Buy It” video.
Result:
1,000 views → 7 clicks → 2 sales
Earnings: ₹340
Verdict: Works, but slow without an audience. Better if you can go viral.
7. Online Surveys & GPT Apps
Claim: Earn by completing surveys and small tasks.
Test: Tried Swagbucks, Freecash, and similar platforms.
Result:
2 hours of soul-numbing questions
Earnings: ₹430
Verdict: Real, but very slow. Good if you’re stuck in a long queue with a phone and time to kill.
8. Renting Out Your Stuff
Claim: Rent out unused items like tools, camera gear, or even your parking space.
Test: Listed my DSLR camera on a local rental site.
Result:
2-day rental at ₹3,300
Earnings: ₹3,300
Verdict: Easy money. If you’ve got idle gear — rent it!
9. Selling Digital Stickers & Printables
Claim: Design and sell aesthetic stickers or planners online.
Test: Created 20 sticker designs using Canva, uploaded with SEO titles on Etsy.
Result:
First week sales: ₹1,200
Earnings: ₹1,200
Verdict: Low-maintenance, evergreen. TikTok + Etsy = long-term win.
10. Becoming a “Side Hustle Guru”
Claim: Post side hustle tips to build an audience and earn via brand deals later.
Test: Started a new TikTok account and posted one monetisation tip daily.
Result:
3,000 followers in 30 days
Brand offered ₹5,800 to promote their finance app
Earnings: ₹5,800
Verdict: Surprisingly effective. Share your journey — people love real stories.
Final Thoughts
TikTok isn’t some magical money-making machine…
But if you treat it less like entertainment and more like a crash course in modern entrepreneurship (with a weird soundtrack), it can actually teach you a lot — and even help you earn.
The truth?
Most people just scroll and dream.
I took action.
Sure, a few ideas were total duds. But some genuinely surprised me — and turned into real income streams.
I walked away not only with new skills and side earnings, but also with stories I’ll be telling for years.
