Although prices have risen since the 1900s, unfortunately, salaries have not increased in proportion. As Obama’s second episode of “Working: What We Do All Day” Netflix series points out, today’s salaries are simply not enough to provide for anything more than make ends meet. Today’s generation can barely afford to save to put the down payment on a house, and mortgage prices and interest rates are rising, putting the housing market out of the reach of many Gen Z and Millennial professionals.
But thankfully, the gig economy, which is growing rapidly, offers a solution and a way out. Professionals can now find ways to bolster their salaries by doing what they love without chasing or begging their employer for a pay raise.
And the best part? You can start right from the smartphone in your pocket.
5 Remote Side Hustles Using Your Smartphone In 2025
Check out these mobile-friendly side hustles for you to try in 2025:
1. Employee Referral Program
One way to give your salary a significant bump is to make use of your company’s employee referral program. Every employer will have their own policy and guidelines as to how this works, so the reward may not be the same for all.
However, you can make significant money through helping to close the skills gap and identifying likely employees who might be a good fit for your organization. This side hustle is beneficial in so many ways, not only in benefiting the organization if your pick is selected, but in reducing unemployment, which is such a satisfactory feeling.
But, a word of caution: you need to be careful, as taking advantage of this provision in the wrong way and making wild suggestions for potential hires might wreck your reputation and trust within the company, and any future recommendations you make might not be viewed as credible or reliable. Take note, no one is asking you to do the job of a recruiter. Rather, if you see or hear about a potential job opening and know someone in your network who might be a good fit based on the criteria of the job description, go ahead and make that referral.
You can also increase their chances of success in landing the role by providing the candidate with information about your company (that is not top secret of course) to help them increase their chances of success in the job interview, and to tailor their resume more effectively.
This is why it’s always good to network strategically. You just never know when you’ll need to tap into your network of contacts. If you consistently provide high caliber, strong quality recommendations, your employer will view you as credible, reliable, and a strong asset to their business.
This can literally be accomplished with a few taps from your phone using the LinkedIn app, or giving one of your contacts a call or WhatsApp message to see if they’re interested in a potential opportunity. Even if they’re not actively looking for work, there’s no harm in trying as they might be passively looking or open to a new opportunity at an organization like yours.
And of course, look out for companies with strong employee referral programs and pay-outs, such as Salesforce, who has been known to sometimes pay out thousands of dollars for new hires that were referred internally.
2. Content Creation
Another fantastic side hustle which you can start from your phone is content creation. You can film bite-sized content to create TikTok and Instagram reels, and partner with brands for sponsorships and affiliate content. You can also grow an audience and monetize this on platforms such as YouTube using YouTube’s partner program.
3. Mobile Blogging/Newsletter
A third side hustle idea that you can start from your phone is blogging and creating meaningful content via apps, such as Substack and Medium. Both platforms allow subscribers to pay to access to exclusive content.
Over time, you can build a substantial following and use this as a reliable, secondary income source, and leverage your influence on these platforms to further your other side hustle activities.
4. Photography
If you have a smartphone or iPhone with a powerful camera, you’re sitting on gold. For example, the iPhone Pro 16 (Apple‘s most recent model) has a built-in camera and technology that enables you to capture photos with precision and detail, and you can also enhance the depth and color of the images. The Google Pixel 9 Pro is another phone that is great for photography lovers.
You can of course edit the photos afterwards using photo-editing apps, then upload them to platforms such as Shutterstock (using the Shutterstock app) and get paid for each time your photos are used.
5. E-commerce
And of course, don’t forget e-commerce you can sell pre-loved items that are in good condition on marketplaces such as eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Vinted is another good platform.
You can also use Etsy for handmade or custom items and accessories and download the Etsy seller app to start your own Etsy store.
Do you see how easy it is to start making money from your phone? You don’t even need your laptop—at least until you begin to scale. Whether you’re a student looking for a way to get some extra income to cover your college expenses, a busy professional tired of the 9-5 and wanting a way out to discover your passion, or you simply want to try your hand at entrepreneurship and see how far it takes you, your smartphone can be your ticket to financial freedom and career success.