10 Side Hustle Ideas For Software Developers
Starting a side hustle is a good way to make extra cash in the UK 2024. There are hundreds of side hustles out there but not every side hustle is suited to everyone.
In this article, we will take a look at the 10 best side hustle ideas for software developers in the UK. The best side hustles for software developers include selling courses online, tutoring, and selling educational eBooks on Amazon. Keep reading to find out how to make extra cash as a software engineer in 2024.
10 Best Side Hustle Ideas for Software Developers
Here is an overview of the 10 best side hustles for software engineers in 2024. Keep reading to find out about how to start each money-making idea.
Selling educational courses online - The overall best side hustle for software developers in the UK.
Online tutoring - Easy software developer side hustle for beginners to start in 2024.
Selling educational eBooks on Amazon - The best software developer side hustle for passive income.
Freelance web development - High-paying side hustle for software developers.
Technical blogging - Flexible side hustle for software developers with good writing skills.
Software consulting - Side hustle idea for software developers that could easily become a small business.
UI/UX design - Creative side hustle idea for software developers.
Software testing/QA - Low-effort side hustle for software developers in the UK.
Mobile app development - Rewarding side hustle to start as a software developer.
IT support - Make extra money as a software engineer by helping others.
A Closer Looks at The Best Side Jobs for Software Developers
Let’s take a closer look at the best side hustles for software developers, including how you can start making money today.
1. Selling educational courses online - The overall best side hustle for software developers in the UK.
One of the best ways to make extra money as a software developer in 2024 is to sell online courses. This involves creating a course about software development using your existing knowledge and publishing it on a platform such as Thinkific or Teachable.
Online courses can sell for anything between £20 and £1000, which makes them a very worthwhile side hustle idea. As a software developer, the process of creating a course and publishing it on a marketplace should be fairly easy. Once the course is live, use marketing to attract potential customers and start making money passively.
It is possible to create an online course for free in the UK. As a result, selling courses online is one of the cheapest side hustles for software developers.
2. Online tutoring - Easy software developer side hustle to start in 2024
Software developers often possess knowledge and skills in subjects such as mathematics, science, and IT. It is possible to make extra money by teaching these subjects to students via online tutoring.
Online tutoring is one of the easiest beginner side hustles for software developers because there is a high demand for tutoring services in the UK. Online tutoring pays an average of £40 per hour but specialist subjects such as software development can earn a lot more.
Online tutoring platforms such as Tutorful allow tutors to pick and choose the hours that they work. This means that you can easily fit tutoring around a full-time job. To become an online tutor in the UK, you need a laptop, A level qualifications (or higher) and the ability to teach complex subjects to students.
3. Selling educational ebooks on Amazon - Best software developer side hustle for passive income
If you’re looking to start a side hustle that could turn into a stream of passive income, consider selling educational ebooks on Amazon KDP. Once you have written the book, it is possible to make sales in your sleep and earn revenue for years to come.
Software development is a complex industry which means that people are always on the lookout for useful ebook ideas that could help them to improve their knowledge. You could write your own ebooks or make money selling ebooks on Amazon without writing by hiring a ghostwriter to write the book using your knowledge.
Amazon KDP is an online platform that allows anyone to publish their own book for free. You can publish as many books as you like and choose your own price. Most ebooks sell for around £9.99. That means you would only have to sell 100 books each month to make an extra £1000 as a software developer.
4. Freelance web development - High-paying side hustle for software developers
Freelance work offers the flexibility to work whenever and wherever you want to. This is ideal for busy software developers who don’t want to quit their 9-5. One of the highest-paying freelance opportunities for software developers is freelance web development. This involves working with clients to develop websites that meet their needs.
According to Quora, the average freelance web developer makes around £100 per hour in the UK but actual earnings could be anything between £40 and £180 per hour, depending on the difficulty of the project.
If you’re looking to maximize the amount of money that you could make from a side hustle, freelance web development is certainly a good option to consider. The best way to start is to set up a profile on Fiverr. This is a platform that makes it easy for businesses to find freelancers.
Make your profile stand out by listing your experience and creating a professional portfolio. It may take a few days to find your first client. However, the process of finding freelance work gets easier as you start to receive positive reviews. If you start today, you could be making over £2000 per month in 3 months’ time!
5. Technical blogging - Flexible side hustle for software developers with good writing skills
Technical blogging involves writing blog articles about complex subjects such as programming and technology. Blog owners seek experts who can write engaging content that is factually correct. Software developers are often able to understand complex subjects and explain them to others in simplified terms. Therefore, technical blogging is a great side hustle idea for software developers who want to make extra money in 2024.
The best way to find technical blogging jobs is to look on freelance marketplaces such as Upwork. These platforms allow freelancers to apply for jobs that are posted by employers. The best way to be successful on Upwork is to craft a winning cover letter and build a portfolio of work. The average freelance blogger on Upwork will apply to 10 jobs before finding success. If you want to make money quickly, apply to as many jobs as possible and charge a competitive hourly rate.
In the UK, technical writing pays an average of £350 per day or £50 per hour. This means that you would only need to work 3 days each month to make an extra £1000.
6. Software consulting - Side hustle idea for software developers that could easily become a small business
Software consulting is a great side hustle idea that could easily be turned into a full-time business. This is a good side hustle for experienced software developers who are able to confidently advise businesses that are in need of software solutions. Software consultants work with businesses to solve problems using their knowledge and skills.
Software consultants often work remotely and communicate with businesses over Skype or Slack. However, some consultants will offer face-to-face services and can often charge more for these. The average software consultant in the UK charges anywhere between £50 and £300 per hour. The amount that you can charge typically increases with experience.
To start your own software consultancy side business, create a personal website that showcases your knowledge and then reach out to businesses via LinkedIn. It may take a few days of messaging and emailing before finding your first client. However, this becomes easier as you get more positive reviews.
7. UI/UX design - Creative side hustle idea for software developers
UI/UX designers work with businesses to improve the user experience of their applications. Businesses are willing to pay well for talented designers who are able to increase, reduce bounce rates and increase conversions.
It is possible to start a UI/UX design side hustle as a software developer by creating a profile on Fiverr and advertising your skills. It is also possible to find clients by messaging businesses on LinkedIn. The best way to make yourself stand out is to develop your own website or application that showcases your skills.
UI/UX designers charge anything from £30 to £150 per hour, depending on the type of client and the work that is required. Most UI designers work on a freelance basis which offers the flexibility to work around a full-time job.
8. Software testing/QA - Low-effort side hustle for software developers in the UK
So far, the side hustles for software developers that we have mentioned require quite a bit of work. While it is certainly possible to start a high-effort side hustle whilst working as a software developer, some people may prefer a side hustle option that is a little less strenuous.
Software testing and quality assurance (QA) is one of the best side hustle ideas for software developers that are seeking something a little easier than web development or technical writing. This side job involves testing out software that has been created by other developers and providing valuable feedback.
As a software developer, you know how to test new software for bugs and errors. This means that you could provide excellent feedback to businesses that are looking to improve their products.
To become a software tester, you need to hold a degree in a relevant discipline and have experience in the industry. To start a software testing side hustle, you could apply for part-time or freelance positions that are available or reach out to potential clients directly through LinkedIn.
9. Mobile app development - Rewarding side hustle to start as a software developer
Software developers could use their skills to develop mobile apps that could bring in side income passively for years. Creating your own app is one of the best passive side hustles to start in 2024. Anyone can publish their own app on the Google Play store and start making money daily.
Apps can be monetized in several ways. The most popular way to make money from an app is ad revenue - this is usually paid per view or click. It is also possible to make money by charging users to access the app through a subscription fee or an installation fee.
The key to success with this software developer side hustle idea is to create an app that will appeal to a wide range of users. Photo editing tools, quiz apps, brain training games, and tracking apps are good examples of apps that are easy to develop but very popular on app stores.
As a software developer, you probably already know how to develop a mobile app. If you don’t already have access to the tools that are needed, you can easily download app creation tools onto your PC.
Successful apps can continue to make money for years after being created.
10. IT support - Make extra money as a software engineer by helping others
IT support involves offering your assistance on a freelance basis to projects that need IT solutions. This is a very lucrative remote side hustle idea for software developers because most businesses will find themselves in need of an IT expert somewhere along the line.
The typical duties of an IT support freelancer include consulting with businesses to understand current problems and then working to fix any existing bugs, errors, or difficulties. The main difference between IT support and software consultancy is that IT support requires developers to actually fix the problems. Whereas, consultants simply make informed suggestions.
The best way to start an IT support side hustle as a software developer is to create a blog that showcases your knowledge. This will drive traffic to your side hustle and establish yourself as an industry expert. Then provide visitors with a contact form that they can use to get in touch about the services that you offer.
Blogs take a minimum of 6 months to start seeing traffic. Therefore, this side hustle may take some time to kick off. However, once you do manage to get some clients, IT support can be a well-paid way to make extra cash as a software developer.
Conclusion
The best side hustle ideas for software developers in the UK 2024 include selling courses online, tutoring, writing and selling education eBooks, freelance web development, and technical writing. Many of the side hustle opportunities mentioned above are very well paid which means that it is possible to make an extra £1000 per month with just a few hours of work. Starting a side hustle is a great way to increase your income as a software developer in the UK.
FAQs
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There are several ways to make extra money on the side as a software developer including: selling online courses, tutoring, selling ebooks, technical writing, freelance web development and software testing. Most software development side hustles are well paid and can be done remotely.
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Yes, it is possible to tur your full-time software development job into a side hustle. The best way to do this in the UK is to create a website with an educational blog and advertise your services to visitors. You can also fund freelance work through Fiverr and LinkedIn.
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The best way to turn your programming into a side hustle is to set up a gig on Fiverr and attract freelance clients. Overtime, you will be able to grow the number of clients that you have and make a very good income from a programming side hustle.
Related posts
All of our articles are written to help our readers to learn about different side hustles, how they work and how to start earning money from them. Although we mention potential earnings, it is important to understand that there is no guarantee that you will make money from any of the side hustles that are mentioned on our site. Making money from a side hustle requires consistency and significant effort. While we aim to provide useful insight into each side hustle opportunity, it is down to you to follow the right steps towards making any profits.
About The Author
Ruby is the founder of The Rich Girl Guide and has been writing content around personal finance, side hustles and wellbeing for over 3 years. You can find some of Ruby’s published articles on The Motley Fool UK, Tradingplatforms.com and Buyshares.co.uk.