14 Passive Income Ideas For Full Stack Developers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a full-stack developer in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a full-stack developer 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 full-stack developer.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog could be a practical way to supplement your income as a full-stack developer. You might focus on a specific area that ignites your passion, such as technology advancements, programming tutorials, or software reviews. By sharing your expertise and experiences, you can build a dedicated audience who values your insights.
To make your blog profitable, you could explore monetization strategies like affiliate marketing, collaborations with tech brands, or running ads. Additionally, gaining visibility through social media and possibly expanding into other content formats like YouTube videos can help grow your follower base. With dedication to creating engaging content and interacting with your audience, a niche blog could become a rewarding side hustle.
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.
2. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a full-stack developer, you could tap into a thriving market by creating and selling online courses. With your expertise in coding, web design, or other tech skills, you can design a course targeting beginners or those looking to upskill. Many people are eager to learn from professionals, and your unique perspective and experience can set your course apart.
You could start by identifying a specific topic within your skillset that has a broad appeal. Then, you could create easy-to-follow, structured lessons and choose an online platform to host and sell your course. Given the e-learning market's rapid growth, this could become a valuable source of passive income, complementing your current work and sharing your knowledge with others.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
3. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As a full-stack developer, you could leverage your coding skills to create a mobile app, turning your innovative ideas into a source of passive income. Building a mobile app allows you to develop software that can be used on smartphones and tablets, addressing various user needs from productivity tools to entertainment apps.
With your technical background, you could handle tasks like planning user experiences, designing interfaces, and debugging. You might also choose to collaborate with other developers for more complex features. Given the ubiquitous presence of mobile apps in daily life, a well-marketed, functional app has the potential to attract numerous users and generate steady revenue streams. If you have a unique solution or entertaining idea in mind, consider this rewarding venture into the world of app development.
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.
4. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
As a full-stack developer, you could consider starting a niche website to supplement your income and explore entrepreneurial opportunities. A niche website focuses on a specialized topic, allowing you to leverage your technical skills to create a polished and functional site that stands out. This venture offers you the creative freedom to design and develop a platform that showcases your expertise while also targeting a dedicated audience.
You could select a niche that you're passionate about and knowledgeable in, ensuring that creating content and engaging with your audience feels rewarding. By investing time in research, content creation, and optimizing your site for search engines, you could attract loyal visitors. Over time, monetization strategies like affiliate marketing, ad placements, and selling digital products could transform your niche website into a steady 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.
5. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
As a full-stack developer, you could start an affiliate marketing business to create an extra income stream by leveraging your technical skills. With your ability to build websites and optimize them for user experience, you could develop a blog or a product review site that attracts visitors interested in the products you are promoting. For example, you could become an affiliate for eCommerce stores or tech manufacturers, promoting their products on your site and earning a commission for each sale made through your affiliate links.
Finding the right products to promote is key to success. You could focus on products and brands that align with your interests or expertise, making your recommendations more genuine and trustworthy. Over time, as you create valuable content and your audience grows, your affiliate marketing efforts could start to pay off, providing you with a passive income while you continue working your main full-time job or engaging in new projects.
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.
6. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
As a full-stack developer, starting a WordPress plugin business could be a great way to supplement your income by leveraging your existing skills. You already understand how websites and web applications work, which positions you well for developing plugins that solve common problems or fulfill specific needs within the WordPress ecosystem. By creating a useful plugin, you could generate income each time a user purchases or subscribes to it.
To get started, identify a common issue or a gap in functionality that many WordPress users encounter. Developing a plugin to address that need could make your product popular and in demand. You can sell your plugin through platforms like CodeCanyon, promote it on your blog, or even create a dedicated website for it. This approach allows you to turn your coding expertise into passive income, making it an attractive side hustle.
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 terminal app
As a full-stack developer, you could take advantage of your coding skills to create a terminal app that addresses a common problem or need in the developer community. Since terminal apps often run natively in the command line, they require fewer resources and can be extremely efficient and minimalistic. For instance, you could develop a handy utility that automates tedious setup processes or optimizes certain workflows, which could save other developers valuable time.
Once developed, you could monetize your terminal app by offering paid versions with additional features or by providing a subscription model for ongoing updates and support. Hosting your project on platforms like GitHub can also open doors for sponsorships and contributions from satisfied users. With the right idea, your terminal app could become a reliable source of passive income in your portfolio.
8. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
Are you looking to tap into high-tech opportunities that can streamline business operations and boost your income? As a full-stack developer, you could start an AI-based business solution that leverages artificial intelligence to optimize various business processes. This could include automating repetitive tasks, providing customer insights, or even predicting market trends, allowing companies to operate more efficiently and make smarter decisions.
With your coding skills, you could integrate AI tools into existing systems, offering companies a way to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. The demand for AI solutions is growing rapidly, and businesses are increasingly turning to technology to stay competitive. Engaging in this field could be a strategic move, offering you the chance to innovate while providing companies with high-value services that improve their performance.
You don’t need to be an AI expert to get started—many platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and robust support systems. By focusing on areas where AI can have the highest impact, you could create a profitable passive income stream that supplements your main job. It's an exciting avenue to explore for those with an entrepreneurial mindset looking to capitalize on the booming AI market.
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.
9. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
As a full-stack developer, you could leverage your existing coding skills to create an AI writing tool, a venture that aligns perfectly with the growing demand for technology-driven content creation solutions. This tool could help businesses, bloggers, and students by generating accurate, engaging content that saves time and reduces errors. By developing an automated, efficient writing assistant, you are not just offering a modern solution but meeting a genuine need in today's content-hungry world.
Moreover, this business idea is not only about coding but also about offering innovation that makes a real difference. You could build a product that provides substantial value by easing the workload of writers and significantly boosting their productivity. Starting an AI writing tool venture allows you to blend your technical expertise with entrepreneurial spirit, contributing to a revolutionary shift in how content is produced.
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.
10. Make passive income with a SEO & lead generation service ($60K/month)
Starting an SEO and lead generation service could be a great way to supplement your income as a full-stack developer. You already have many of the technical skills needed, such as coding, web development, and understanding how search engines work. By learning the basics of lead generation and digital marketing, you could offer businesses services that attract potential customers and convert them into leads.
With your technical background, you could create optimized websites and landing pages that rank higher on search engines, making it easier for potential customers to find these businesses. Plus, you could use your problem-solving skills to analyze data and improve marketing strategies over time. This side hustle leverages your existing skills while adding new ones in digital marketing, making it both practical and profitable.
How much you can make: $8,000 — $200,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
A link building company co-founded by Justas Markus has grown to make an average of $35k per month in recurring revenue with a focus on delivering high-quality services through manual processes and focusing on fewer markets.
11. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($139K/month)
If you’re a full-stack developer, starting a social media automation business could be an exciting way to make extra money. This involves creating tools that help businesses and influencers automate their social media posts, interactions, and data analysis. Imagine writing code that schedules tweets or responds to comments automatically—clients pay for these services because it saves them time and boosts their social media presence.
Given the increasing need for consistent social media engagement, there’s a huge demand for these kinds of automation tools. You'll be leveraging your technical skills to build and maintain software solutions, while also keeping up with the latest social media trends. This side hustle doesn't just supplement your income; it also allows you to develop relationships with clients and tailor your services to meet their specific needs.
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.
12. Make passive income with a corporate photographer ($23.4K/month)
As a full-stack developer, you could supplement your income by starting a corporate photography business. You already have an eye for detail, a crucial skill in both coding and photography, and you could leverage this to take professional photos for companies' marketing materials, websites, and events.
Additionally, your knowledge of online platforms could help you efficiently market your services through social media and local networking events. By creating a compelling online portfolio, you could attract potential clients and demonstrate your ability to understand and visually communicate their brand's vision and goals. This side hustle would not only diversify your skill set but also provide a creative and financially rewarding outlet.
How much you can make: $8,300 — $50,001/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 100 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of an Indian first-generation entrepreneur who built Studio 31, a profitable and award-winning wedding photography and film company capturing over 350 weddings annually, with a unique focus on customer experience and organic marketing, serving more than 90% NRI clients and generating an annual revenue of about a million dollars.
13. Make passive income with a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
As a full-stack developer, you could leverage your technical skills to create a health and wellness app that offers personalized fitness routines, nutrition plans, mental well-being exercises, and progress tracking. This app would act like a virtual coach, guiding users through yoga practices, meal plans, and even reminding them to stay hydrated. By tapping into the growing market of health and wellness, you have the potential to make a positive impact on people's lives while generating passive income.
Building such an app would require initial market research and collaboration with health experts to ensure the content is valuable and reliable. Once built and effectively marketed, the app could generate ongoing income through subscriptions, in-app purchases, or ad revenue. This approach not only aligns with your tech skills but also lets you contribute to the well-being of others in a meaningful way.
How much you can make: $600 — $300,000/month
How long does it take to build: 200 days (?)
Founder and CEO of SelfDecode, Joe Cohen, explains how his company helps people discover personalized diet, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations based on DNA and lab tests; generating about $2.7 million in revenue over the past year and raising $8 million in a crowdfunding campaign, SelfDecode provides personalized health recommendations prioritized on unique genetic variants, marking the future of healthcare.
14. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
As a full-stack developer, starting a YouTube channel could be an excellent way to share your knowledge and skills while creating an additional income stream. You could create tutorials, coding challenges, or explain various technologies and programming languages. Your channel might also focus on offering career advice for aspiring developers, which could attract a dedicated audience and lead to monetization through ads or sponsorships.
Creating a YouTube channel requires some upfront effort in planning, filming, and editing videos, but the long-term rewards can be significant. Over time, your channel could build a loyal following, leading to potential earnings from ads and merchandising. If you're consistent and engage actively with your audience, this side hustle could become a robust source of passive income.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
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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.
