Generating an additional income online is based on a simple principle: exchanging time, a skill, or an already owned asset for recurring compensation. Reaching a regular level of a few hundred euros per month requires combining several sources, as no isolated method is sufficient on its own for the majority of profiles.
Testing digital tools and generative AI: an underutilized lever
Competitors often list paid surveys in the top position. The problem is that the compensation from traditional surveys remains very low compared to the time spent. A more profitable angle has recently emerged: testing panels for AI and SaaS tools.
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Since 2023, programs like the Microsoft Research Participant Recruitment Program or UserTesting have multiplied studies accessible to the general public. These sessions involve testing interfaces, providing feedback on features like ChatGPT, Bing, or Copilot, and filling out qualitative questionnaires.
The compensation per session is significantly higher than that of a traditional survey. By accumulating several tests per week, this channel can represent a significant part of a monthly goal. The number of available studies has clearly increased since 2024, making this lever more realistic than before for aiming at a regular supplement.
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To explore other complementary avenues, a guide details how to earn 300 euros per month on Slouppi by combining several methods.
Bank referral: turning your network into recurring income
The customer referral offered by online banks is rarely presented as a standalone method. However, it is one of the few approaches that generates high unit amounts without technical skills.
Boursorama Banque and Fortuneo, for example, regularly renew referral bonuses for each new customer signed up through a personal link. Very active clients in this niche can earn a few hundred euros per month, provided they adhere to the referral caps set in the pricing conditions for each calendar year.
The main limitation is the volume of contacts. Once the close circle is exhausted, it is necessary to create content (blog, social media, specialized forums) to reach new people. This is where referrals align with a web content creation logic.
Affiliate marketing and micro-services: two methods that combine well
Affiliate marketing involves recommending products or services via trackable links and earning a commission on each sale or registration generated. Affiliate platforms cover various sectors: web hosting, applications, financial services, digital products.
For an affiliate link to generate income, traffic is needed. And to have traffic, content is required. Even a modest blog, regularly updated on a specific theme, can generate a sufficient flow of visitors after a few months of publication.
In parallel, offering micro-services on specialized platforms (writing, translation, photo editing, video editing) allows monetizing skills without creating a structure. The combination of affiliate marketing and micro-services works well because the content created for one feeds the other.
Criteria for choosing service platforms
- Check the commission rate or pricing grid before signing up, as the differences can be significant from one platform to another
- Prefer platforms that allow you to set your own rates rather than those that impose reverse auctions
- Consult reviews from other providers regarding payment timelines and withdrawal conditions
Selling items and cashback: the passive income of everyday life
Selling unused items remains the fastest way to generate initial euros. Specialized sites allow you to list clothing, electronic equipment, furniture, or books in just a few minutes.
A common mistake is to consider this method as one-off. A regular flow of sales is possible by practicing sourcing: buying at low prices from flea markets, in lots, or through clearance sales, then reselling online with a margin. This approach requires a bit of logistics but no heavy investment.
Cashback, on the other hand, does not generate income per se. It reduces expenses on already planned purchases. Cashback applications return a percentage of the amount spent at partner retailers. Accumulated over a month, the gain remains modest, but it adds up to other sources.
Reporting obligations since the Digital Services Act
Since the implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) in 2024, major platforms (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Amazon) have applied a stricter framework on the transparency of income generated by creators and sellers.
This point has a direct impact on the methods described above. Platforms are transmitting more tax information, meaning online income is more easily traceable by the administration. Any regular activity generating income must be declared, even in the absence of formal professional status.
- Income from the sale of personal items is tax-exempt under certain thresholds, but platforms now report transaction volumes
- Income from affiliate marketing, referrals, and micro-services falls under the micro-entrepreneur regime or the declaration of supplementary income
- Ignoring these obligations exposes one to retroactive tax adjustments
The regularity of these online incomes depends less on the chosen method than on the consistency in execution. Combining two or three complementary channels (tool testing, affiliate marketing, referrals, or resale) and dedicating a few hours per week remains the most realistic scheme to achieve a stable level month after month.