Passive Income Ideas For Programmers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a programmer in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a programmer today. These will help you increase your quality of life by bringing in more income for yourself or your business.
For each income idea, we’ll show you real-world examples, revenue expectations for each idea, plus some things you might need to know before you start your passive income journey as a programmer.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with an email marketing tool ($992K/month)
As a programmer, you could explore the opportunity to supplement your income by developing an email marketing tool. An email marketing tool helps businesses send bulk emails, manage campaigns, and automate their marketing efforts. With your programming skills, you could build a user-friendly interface and robust features that can attract small businesses, startups, and even real estate agents looking to enhance their marketing strategies.
The email marketing industry is booming, with an expected market size reaching $2.53 billion by 2028. By creating an effective email marketing tool, you could tap into this growing market and create a steady stream of passive income. Plus, you could leverage your knowledge of software development to provide innovative solutions that stand out in the crowded space, building a valuable resource for other entrepreneurs.
How much you can make: $120 — $20,833,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.
2. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
Branching out into creating an AI writing tool as a programmer could be a smart move. With your coding skills, you could build a tool that generates accurate and engaging content, helping businesses, bloggers, and students to write more efficiently. This is particularly relevant in today's fast-paced environment, where the demand for quality content is ever-increasing.
By automating the writing process, your AI tool could save people time and reduce errors, making it a valuable asset for anyone who needs to produce content regularly. Not only could this ease the workload for writers, but it also opens up a revenue stream for you. Imagine developing a tool that transforms the writing process while also providing you with passive income.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)
Rytr, a new AI writing assistant developed by a startup platform and business incubator, has become a market leader, serving over 300,000 customers across the world and doing seven figures in ARR.
3. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
If you're a programmer looking to diversify your income, starting an AI-based business solution could be a strategic move. AI can help streamline business operations by optimizing tasks like customer service, inventory management, data analysis, and personalized marketing. Your programming skills can be a significant asset here, as you'll be able to customize AI tools to better serve specific business needs.
By integrating AI, you could help businesses enhance their efficiency, reduce costs, and make smarter data-driven decisions. The market for AI solutions is growing fast, providing ample opportunities to tap into the demand. Even if you don't have a deep background in AI, many platform providers offer user-friendly interfaces and support systems to get you started. This makes launching an AI-based service accessible and potentially lucrative for entrepreneurial-minded programmers.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month
How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)
Mikkelsen Twins grew an online education company from scratch with over 800 students, making over 6-figures in profit every month thanks to their successful program, Audiobook Income Academy 2.0.
4. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
If you're a programmer, creating a mobile app could be a great way to earn passive income while capitalizing on your existing skills. Developing a mobile app means building a software application for smartphones and tablets, addressing various user needs such as productivity, entertainment, or utility.
You could take an idea you’re passionate about and turn it into an app, planning the user experience and designing engaging interfaces. By ensuring the app functions well and attracts users through effective marketing, you create the potential for significant revenue as the app gains traction. With steady dedication and the right approach, your app could reach a wide audience and generate ongoing income.
How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.
5. Make passive income with a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
As a programmer, you could start earning passive income by developing a lead generation tool, which helps businesses find potential customers. This tool automates the often time-consuming task of gathering new client information, such as email addresses and phone numbers, from various online sources like websites and social media channels. By doing so, companies can concentrate on converting these leads into actual sales rather than spending time searching for them.
There's a significant demand for such tools, as businesses of all sizes are looking to streamline their processes and grow their customer bases efficiently. If you’re tech-savvy and also have an interest in marketing, creating this type of software could be a profitable side hustle. By leveraging your programming skills, you’d be providing a valuable service that many companies are willing to pay for, thus generating a steady stream of passive income for yourself.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Dux-Soup is a LinkedIn automation tool that helps business owners and sales & marketing professionals generate more leads, increase efficiency, and save time; with over 70,000 users and revenue of nearly $5 million, it offers automated top-of-the-funnel LinkedIn outreach activities, targeted LinkedIn campaigns and multi-touch & personalized LinkedIn drip campaigns for lead generation.
6. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
As a programmer, starting a WordPress plugin business could be a great way to earn passive income by leveraging your coding skills. Since many WordPress sites rely on plugins to function properly, creating a plugin that solves a particular problem can be very profitable. For instance, if you notice a recurring issue in WordPress functionality or user experience, you could develop a plugin to address that issue and begin selling it online.
Platforms like CodeCanyon or your own website are excellent places to market your plugin. By offering a solution to a specific need, you not only help website owners enhance their sites but also build a steady stream of income. Whether you work on it full-time or as a side project, a WordPress plugin business could be a practical and lucrative venture.
How much you can make: $120 — $120,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Wheely Sales CEO Josh created a lucky wheel popup that has grown revenue from $0 to $600/month in just 4 months since getting started and has attracted over 1.1 million users to his customers’ websites, all while proving that when it comes to creating a product, competition is validation.
7. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($139K/month)
As a programmer, starting a social media automation business could be a smart way to supplement your income or even establish a stream of passive income. You could create tools and services that automatically schedule posts, interact with followers, and analyze social media data, which saves your clients a lot of time and effort.
With the increasing need for consistent social media presence, many small businesses and influencers are willing to pay for such services. Your background in programming makes you well-suited to develop or integrate these automation tools, leveraging your technical skills to offer something of real value. This could become a lucrative and fulfilling venture, especially if you stay current with social media trends and build strong relationships with your clients.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
8. Make passive income with a cold email service business ($170K/month)
Starting a cold email service business could make sense as a programmer because you already have a logical and analytical mindset that’s crucial for creating data-driven strategies. This venture involves crafting and sending targeted email campaigns to help companies reach new clients, which requires not only creativity in writing compelling emails but also proficiency in using email marketing tools.
You could leverage your programming skills to automate and optimize various tasks, such as segmenting email lists and tracking metrics like open rates and conversions. This reduces manual effort and improves efficiency. By analyzing client needs and researching target audiences, you could create valuable services that help businesses generate leads and grow. Over time, as you build success stories with small businesses, you could scale your operations and attract more significant clients, making this a sustainable and profitable side hustle.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $450,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)
How long does it take to build: 35 days (?)
GMass, an email marketing platform that allows users to send cold emails and email marketing campaigns with Gmail, has attracted over 500,000 user signups, including major tech companies like Uber, LinkedIn, and Google, and now generates over $200K in monthly recurring revenue through a successful content marketing strategy and focused ad spend.
9. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
As a programmer, starting a niche website could be an excellent way to supplement your income while leveraging your technical skills. A niche website centers around a specialized topic, serving a dedicated audience with targeted content and products. By selecting a topic you’re passionate about or knowledgeable in, you can create compelling content that attracts loyal visitors.
You could monetize the site through various methods such as affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products related to your niche. With your background in programming, you can also handle the technical aspects of the site, including optimizing for SEO and maintaining the backend, making this a potentially rewarding venture. Once established, a niche website could become a reliable source of passive income.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
10. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
As a programmer, you could start an affiliate marketing business to create a passive income stream alongside your primary job. Affiliate marketing involves promoting other companies' products and services and earning a commission for each sale you drive. You might find this appealing because it allows you to leverage your existing tech skills to build and manage your own affiliate website or automate parts of your marketing efforts.
To get started, you could learn how to find the right product and brand to partner with. For instance, you could choose to become an affiliate marketer for an eCommerce store or partner with a tech manufacturer and promote their products for a commission. This approach will enable you to use your familiarity with technology to tap into a niche market, generate extra income, and potentially grow your affiliate business over time.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
11. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog could be a great way for you as a programmer to share your expertise and insights with an enthusiastic online community. You might focus your blog on a specific area you are passionate about, such as coding tutorials, software reviews, or industry news. The key is to identify a niche that is both profitable and underserved.
Creating engaging and informative content, like how-to guides, top product lists, and video interviews, could attract a loyal following. This would not only supplement your income but also provide opportunities to monetize through affiliate links, collaborations with relevant brands, and even speaking engagements. The most important thing is to consistently produce valuable content and actively connect with your audience.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
12. Make passive income with an online survey tool ($304K/month)
As a programmer, developing an online survey tool could be a promising side venture to supplement your income. Businesses are increasingly turning to online surveys to gather valuable customer feedback, and a well-designed survey tool offers various features like survey building, data collection, and detailed reporting. The demand for these tools is high, as companies need insights to improve products and services.
Creating a survey tool similar to Typeform, which has seen substantial growth and success, could be particularly lucrative. In 2021, Typeform's annual recurring revenue exceeded $70 million, showcasing a strong market for such platforms. By leveraging your programming skills, you could develop a user-friendly and efficient tool that caters to this growing need and start earning passive income through subscription fees or premium features.
How much you can make: $40 — $1,600,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.
13. Make passive income with an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)
Starting an ecommerce reselling business could be a great fit for you as a programmer. You could easily leverage your tech skills to set up automated processes for product listings, inventory management, and sales tracking, which would save you time and effort. Plus, launching a reselling business doesn't require you to produce goods yourself, so you can focus on finding the right products and reaching potential customers.
You do not need to invest in a website right away; many resellers start on social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook and build a following there. As your business grows, your coding skills could be invaluable in creating a sleek, efficient website that improves user experiences and drives sales. This approach allows you to test the waters with minimal upfront costs and scale your business at your own pace.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $150,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,999 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Empyre Off-Road, an e-commerce business founded by Greg Shuey which sells aftermarket parts for Toyota Tacomas, Tundras, and 4Runners, generated approximately $100,000 a month in revenue and was able to expand its product offering, focusing on content marketing, email marketing campaigns, and organic social media to attract and retain customers.
14. Make passive income with a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
Starting a stock photography business could be a great way for programmers to supplement their income. Though it may seem unrelated to coding, your technical skills can give you a competitive edge. You could create and optimize your own website to showcase and sell your portfolio. Additionally, your understanding of digital marketing and SEO could help you attract potential clients effectively.
You don't need to be an expert photographer to get started. With some investment in good photography gear and a bit of practice, you could begin building a collection of high-quality images. Businesses are always in need of fresh and unique stock photos for their marketing. By licensing your photos, you could earn passive income without a significant ongoing effort.
Once your portfolio is ready, uploading your images to stock photography platforms could help you reach a wider audience. Your coding and website management skills could also help you create an online presence that sets you apart from competitors. Leveraging these skills could facilitate faster sales and better profit margins.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
