8 Easy Side Hustles You Can Do From Your Phone in Your 40s and 50s
There are several side hustles you can do from your phone in your 40s and 50s. These include affiliate marketing, reselling, content creation, and managing social media accounts for small businesses.
Most people use their phone to scroll on social media or watch videos. Yet, that smartphone can be used to make a side income. Middle-aged folks don’t want to sit at a desk after a long and busy day. That’s where your phone comes into play.
Your phone enables you to work from your couch, a waiting room, or wherever you have a moment to spend. Every side hustle listed below can be managed and grown from a smartphone.
Don’t worry. These side hustles aren’t survey apps that pay pocket change. These are income models that can be managed from your phone.
One of these hustles is what I personally recommend for people in their 40s and 50s who want real income from their phone. I share it (and a free training) if you want to jump ahead.
Can you really run a side hustle from just your phone?
What your phone can actually do
You may be wondering what you can do on your phone to run a side hustle. Here are some of the things you can manage from your phone:
- Write and publish blog content via WordPress mobile app
- Design pins and graphics in Canva mobile
- Manage social accounts, respond to messages, schedule posts
- Take and upload stock photos directly
- Process payments, send invoices, communicate with clients
What to look for in a phone-friendly hustle
In order to make your side hustle work from your phone, there are some things to look out for. A phone-friendly side hustle should have apps available for the core tasks. Your side hustle shouldn’t require heavy design or video editing.
It should be flexible enough to work in short bursts (15 to 30 minutes at a time.) You shouldn’t need a stable workspace or a second screen.
Also read: How to Earn From Home in Your 50s Without Any Tech Skills
Affiliate marketing via Pinterest
What it is
This hustle consists of designing pins in Canva for upload to Pinterest via their app. You link the pins to blog posts that contain your affiliate links or directly to affiliate offers using your links. Commissions are earned when visitors click your affiliate links and make a purchase.
Why it’s phone-friendly
Canva has a mobile app that makes designing pins quick and simple. Pinterest’s mobile app enables you to schedule and publish pins. You can complete one session in 20-30 minutes from anywhere.
Phone apps you’ll use
- Canva (design)
- Pinterest (publishing)
- WordPress (blog management)
- Google Analytics (tracking)
Earning potential: $500–$5,000+/mo
This is the combination I recommend most: affiliate marketing paired with Pinterest traffic. It’s what I cover here, and there’s a free training that walks through every step from your phone
Check out: 7 Legitimate Ways to Earn From Home in Your 50s | Side Hustles for People in Their 50s
Reselling on eBay, Poshmark, or Mercari
What it is
Reselling can be one of the lucrative side hustles you can do from your phone. I’ve done reselling in the past on eBay and it was a lot of fun. You may have to find your niche or you can be broad and resell whatever you can find that has some value. The idea is to buy low and resell for profit on platforms like eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, or Facebook Marketplace. Find your inventory at thrift stores, garage sales, or clearance racks.
Why it’s phone-friendly
You use your phone to photograph your items, write descriptions, list, and manage sales from the resell app you’re using. Create your shipping labels from home or when you drop your items off at the post office. Poshmark and Mercari are mobile-friendly resell apps.
Best niches for reselling in your 40s and 50s
Some of the best niches for reselling include:
- Vintage clothing
- Collectibles
- Name-brand items,
- Books
- Electronics
- Home goods
Earning potential: $200–$2,000+/mo
Selling stock photos from your phone
What it is
Your phone is all you need to begin selling stock photos. Take evergreen photos of everyday life like food, nature, home, people, and travel. Upload your photos to stock platforms like Shutterstock and iStock. You earn royalties each time someone licenses your images.
Why it’s phone-friendly
Most smartphones have excellent cameras that meet stock platforms quality standards. Both Shutterstock and Adobe Stock have contributor apps. Upload, add your keywords, and submit all from your phone in a matter of minutes.
Earning potential: $100–$1,500+/mo
Can I sell stock photos taken with my phone?
Yes. Most smartphones today have cameras that meet the quality requirements by stock photo platforms. The key is to focus on good lighting and taking photos of objects that have commercial appeal like nature, food, home interiors, and everyday objects. Start submitting your photos to the stock photo platforms and see which ones are approved.
Short-form video content (faceless)
What it is
Faceless short-form videos is a great side hustle you can do from our phone. It works by creating short videos using text overlays, voiceover, or B-roll footage. You monetize your videos with affiliate links in your bio or brand partnerships. Great niches to consider for short-form video content include:
- Personal finance
- Life advice
- Productivity
- Home
- Health & wellness
Why it’s phone-friendly
Short-form videos can be created and edited right from your phone using software like CapCut or editing directly in Instagram or TikTok. Faceless content is ideal if you are an introvert or do not want to be on camera and the 30-60 second video length fits into any schedule.
Earning potential: $300–$3,000+/mo
Bonus read: Middle-Aged People Earning Extra Income Online
Managing social media for local businesses
What it is
Many entrepreneurs and small businesses want to utilize social media for traffic but do not have the time to manage their accounts. You would handle posting on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest for restaurants, salons, and other local businesses. Create the captions, design graphics (use Canva), schedule posts, and reply to comments. No special requirements are necessary.
Why it’s phone-friendly
Almost every social media platform has a mobile app and scheduling software apps like Buffer and Later let you schedule weeks of content right from your phone. You’ll be able to communicate with your clients via email or Slack app right from your phone.
Earning potential: $300–$1,200/mo per client
Managing social media is a solid phone-based hustl, but if I’m being honest, I’d pair it with something more passive long-term. I share my full recommendation on here, including a free training for getting started
Transcription and captioning work side hustles you can do from your phone
What it is
Listening to audio or video recordings from your phone and transcribing what is said is one of the lowest-energy side hustles you can do from your phone. You can use platforms like Rev, Scribie, GoTranscript, or Verbit. Just FYI: captioning pays slightly more than basic transcription.
Why it’s phone-friendly
You can work from anywhere with headphones using mobile apps like Rev and Scribie. Work when you have time so it is completely flexible. The only requirements are good listening skills and decent typing speed.
Earning potential: $200–$1,000/mo
Proofreading and editing
What it is
This is one of the easiest side hustles you can do from your phone. It requires reviewing and correcting grammar, spelling, and flow of content written for bloggers, authors, and businesses. You can find clients on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Proofreading Pal.
Why it’s phone-friendly
You can access Google Docs and Word docs on your mobile. Utilize the Grammarly app for assisting with catching grammar errors. You can proofread documents during your free time which makes it completely flexible.
Earning potential: $500–$2,500/mo
Read: 7 Side Hustles for Middle-Aged Beginners | 5 Realistic Side Hustles for Middle-Aged Women
Selling on Etsy (digital downloads)
What it is
This is probably one of my next favorite side hustles you can do from your phone next to affiliate marketing. It entails designing and selling digital downloads such as printable planners, wall art, templates, checklists, and journaling pages. You can sell on popular platforms like Etsy. Your customers can download your products instantly. Since they are digital there is no shipping, no handling, and no returns.
Why it’s phone-friendly
You have the option to design downloads using the Canva mobile app. The Etsy seller app lets you manage listings, orders, and messages. Once you’re set up, it is a passive income stream that can last for years.
Best-selling digital download niches on Etsy
Here are some digital download niches that you can start with:
- Budget planners
- Meal planners
- Habit trackers
- Wedding checklists
- Teacher resources
- Home orgnization
Earning potential: $200–$3,000+/mo
Check out: Best Side Hustles for People Over 50 Who Are Too Tired | Earning an Extra Few Hundred Dollars a Month Online in Your 50s
Quick comparison: all 8 phone-based side hustles at a glance
| Hustle | Startup Cost | Income Potential | Time to First $ | Passive? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affiliate Marketing | Free–$100 | High | 1–3 months | Yes |
| Reselling | Free | Medium | Days–weeks | No |
| Stock Photos | Free | Low–Medium | 2–6 weeks | Yes |
| Short-Form Video | Free | Medium–High | 1–3 months | Partially |
| Social Media Mgmt | Free | Medium | 1–3 weeks | No |
| Transcription | Free | Low | Same day | No |
| Proofreading | Free | Medium | 1–2 weeks | No |
| Etsy Digital Downloads | Free–$20 | Medium–High | 2–4 weeks | Yes |
Common questions about phone-based side hustles
Can I really run a side hustle entirely from my phone?
Yes. The 8 side hustles listed here can all be managed from your smartphone. Mobile apps like Canva, Pinterest, Etsy Seller, and more can handle content creation, designing, and client communication without needing a laptop or desktop computer.
What is the best side hustle to start from your phone with no experience?
Affiliate marking with Pinterest is a standout when it comes to the best side hustle you can do from your phone without experience. It has a low startup cost, no clients to manage, and the income can compound over time. Reselling on Poshmark or Mercari is a faster way to make your first side hustle income.
How much time does a phone-based side hustle take per week?
These side hustles don’t take up a lot of time. Most can be done in 30-60 minute sessions a few times per week. Stock photos and digital downloads require more time upfront but become passive income streams after your catalog is built.
Which phone side hustles are the most passive?
The most passive side hustles include stock photo licensing, Etsy digital downloads, and affiliate marketing. These three models can earn money even while you’re sleeping.
Also read: Build Online Income With a Full-Time Job in Your 40s and 50s | Side Hustles for Middle-Aged Women
The phone in your hand is already enough to get started
The side hustles you can do from your phone listed on this page are all suited for people in their 40s and 50s. There is no need for a full desktop setup and you have plenty of flexibility.
Each of these side hustles has a low barrier to entry. Mobile apps are free to use and each platform is beginner-friendly. You already have a smartphone so you can get started with one of these side hustles today.
All that is left is picking one that fits around your schedule and getting started. You’ll eventually get into the flow of how it works and begin building a new side income. Best of luck on your side hustle journey!
If I had to point you to one place to start, it would be the side hustle I recommend most for people in their 40s and 50s, and there’s a free training that walks you through getting it going from your phone. No laptop required.
