How to Make Money Online as a Teenager: 14 Legit Methods (Ages 13-17)

This article is written for teens between 13 and 17, and also for the parents who'll likely be involved in setting up payment accounts, signing platform terms, and handling any tax reporting. We don't pretend that "teen" is a single category — what works for a 13-year-old is different from what works for a 17-year-old, and we'll flag those differences as we go.

Most articles ranking for "make money online as a teenager" steer toward methods that aren't actually available to most teens — they require an adult bank account, a verified PayPal account, or platform terms of service that specify 18+. We're going to be explicit about age requirements throughout. The methods on this list either work directly for teens at the listed ages, or work cleanly with parental oversight on the financial accounts.

What's actually legal and where parents come in

A few things to know up front. In the US, federal law allows teens to work in many roles starting at 14, with some restrictions on hours during the school year. Many online platforms set their minimum age at 13 (the COPPA threshold), at 16, or at 18. PayPal's standard accounts are 18+; teens younger than that typically need a parent-managed account or a teen-specific banking product like Greenlight, Step, or Current.

For taxes: in the US, a minor who earns more than the standard deduction (which adjusts annually) has filing obligations even if they're claimed as a dependent. Earnings on most platforms above $600/year generate a 1099. Parents reading this — your tax pro is the right person to ask about your specific situation.

We're not lawyers and not tax advisors. The information below is a starting point, not legal advice.

Tier 1: Methods that work at 13+ (with parent-managed accounts)

01. Selling art, stickers, or designs (13+ with parent-managed account)

Redbubble, TeePublic, and Society6 print and ship custom designs you create. The platforms typically require account holders to be 13+ or 18+ depending on jurisdiction; many teens use a parent-managed account. Free Procreate, Affinity, or Canva will get you usable designs. Realistic earnings: $0-100/month in the first 90 days while you build a catalogue.

02. Selling digital downloads on Etsy (parent-managed)

Etsy requires shop owners to be 18+. Teens typically work as designers under a parent's shop. Digital products — printable wall art, planner pages, digital stickers — sell for $3-20 per download. T.V.'s teen-supervised test: $180 in the first 60 days from a single set of habit tracker designs.

03. Faceless YouTube channel (13+ with parent's email)

YouTube requires 13+ for an account; the YouTube Partner Program (monetization) requires 18+, so teens earn with parent-managed AdSense. Faceless content — animations, voiceover explainers, tutorial slideshows — works without on-camera presence. Realistic ramp: 6-12 months to monetization. Pinterest is faster to monetize and we'd start there for teens.

04. Faceless Pinterest account (13+ in many regions, parent involvement recommended)

Pinterest requires 13+ for personal accounts; business accounts (needed for affiliate marketing) require 18+ in most regions. Teens often work with a parent-managed business account. The work — niche selection, pin design, scheduling — fits teen schedules well. Setup walkthrough.

05. Coding small games or apps (13+, varies by store)

App Store and Google Play require 18+ developer accounts; teens can work under a parent's developer account. itch.io accepts younger creators with parental involvement for monetization. If you have any programming skill, simple games or web tools can earn $20-500 per project.

Tier 2: Methods that work at 14-15+

06. Tutoring younger kids in subjects you know

Wyzant, Preply, and similar platforms typically require tutors to be 18+, but many local tutoring matches happen through parent networks, school groups, and platforms like Outschool that allow younger tutors (14+) for specific subjects. Realistic rates for teen tutors: $15-25/hour. The work is satisfying and the skills transfer everywhere.

07. Outschool teaching (varies)

Outschool allows some teen-led classes and project sessions for younger kids, with parental verification. If you have a specialty — chess, drawing, a programming language, a niche craft — you can teach it. Earnings depend entirely on enrollment.

08. Microtask platforms (varies, some 16+)

Mechanical Turk requires 18+. Clickworker is 18+ in most regions. Some smaller microtask platforms allow 16+ with parental involvement. The pay is mediocre ($4-7/hour), but the schedules are flexible. For the broader earning-app landscape (which apps actually pay versus which trap your earnings behind impossible cashout thresholds), see our 22 apps that pay real money.

09. Selling baked goods or crafts online with delivery (14+ with cottage food law compliance)

Most US states have cottage food laws allowing limited home-baked sales. Online ordering with local delivery is technically online income. Parental involvement is essentially mandatory for legal compliance. Realistic earnings: $40-300 per weekend for active sellers.

Tier 3: Methods that work at 16+

10. Freelance writing and editing on Upwork or Fiverr (16+ with parental consent)

Upwork requires 18+ but accepts 16-17 with parental consent and cosigned terms. Fiverr is 13+ for non-monetized accounts and 18+ for selling. The simplest path is a parent-supervised account where the teen does the work. Realistic teen earnings on freelance platforms: $100-500/month.

11. AI-augmented services (16+)

The teen version of our top adult method. Use AI tools to deliver service work much faster than typical, and charge accordingly. Examples: AI-assisted blog editing, simple transcription cleanup, social media post packs. Best for teens who already have writing or design skills.

12. Selling unused items on Marketplace (16+ in most states)

Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Mercari. Account ages vary; most require 18+ for account ownership but many teens transact through parent-supervised accounts. Selling personal items is generally low-risk and fast.

13. UserTesting (18+, but 13+ on Validately and similar)

Standard UserTesting requires 18+. Some smaller usability testing platforms allow 13+ contributors with parental consent. Each test is 5-30 minutes for $4-30.

14. Affiliate marketing on a niche topic (16+ with parental oversight)

If you have a small audience (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) on a topic you genuinely care about, affiliate links can monetize that audience. Most affiliate programs require 18+, so this typically requires a parent-managed account with the teen doing the content work. Realistic earnings: highly variable, $0-500 in the first 90 days for committed creators.

A note for parents

If you're reading this with a teen, the highest-leverage thing you can do is help them set up financial infrastructure correctly the first time. A teen-friendly bank account (Greenlight, Step, Current), a clear understanding of which platforms require which age verification, and a habit of tracking earnings from day one will save a lot of friction later. Your accountant can help with the question of whether the teen's earnings affect your filing or theirs, and whether a Roth IRA contribution makes sense given the earnings.

The skills teens build through any of these methods — communication with clients, project management, simple bookkeeping, learning a craft — are valuable independently of the dollar amounts earned. We've watched teens go from $40 in their first month to skill-led, sustainable side income a year later. The compounding is real, but it requires patience and consistent effort.

When you're ready to pick one method, our side-hustle picker lets you input your specific situation. For broader background, our 27 real ways to make money online for beginners covers methods at every age. And if you want one tested side-hustle idea per week, drop your email below — parents are welcome too.