Legit Ways to Earn Money Online in Italy

Italy's digital economy is growing rapidly, with 36.5 million Italians actively using the internet, and online businesses flourishing across various sectors. As remote work continues to rise post-pandemic, more Italians are turning to the internet to find legitimate ways to earn money. In 2023, the Italian eCommerce market reached €48 billion, showcasing the demand for online goods and services. Freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiverr have seen significant growth in Italy, as more professionals offer services in digital marketing, web development, and content creation. Additionally, the gig economy is expanding, with platforms like Deliveroo and Glovo providing new income streams.

Whether you're looking to supplement your income or transition to a full-time online career, Italy offers a wealth of legitimate online opportunities. From freelancing and selling products online to offering digital services, the online space is full of possibilities. 

In this article, we’ll explore some of the most legitimate ways to make money online in Italy, helping you tap into the thriving digital economy and achieve financial independence.

10 Legit Ways to Make Money Online in Italy

Write and Sell Books or eBooks

Writing and selling books or eBooks is a lucrative and legitimate way to earn money online in Italy. With the growing shift towards digital reading, platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Kobo Writing Life, and Lulu allow authors to self-publish their work and reach a global audience without needing a traditional publisher. In Italy, the eBook market continues to rise, with over 13% of Italians reading eBooks as of 2023. Whether you specialize in fiction, non-fiction, or even educational materials, writing and selling eBooks offers a flexible and low-cost path to generating income online.

Some of the best websites to write and sell books online include:

• Amazon KDP: The most popular platform, offering global distribution for both eBooks and print.
• Kobo Writing Life: Known for its easy-to-use interface and great international reach.
• Lulu: Ideal for creating print and digital books with customizable options for both formats.
• Smashwords: Offers distribution across multiple platforms and formats, maximizing reach.

Become an Online Tutor

Becoming an online tutor is a legitimate and increasingly popular way to earn money online in Italy. With the global rise in demand for remote learning and e-learning, platforms like Preply, Tutor.com, and Italki offer excellent opportunities for Italian tutors skilled in subjects like languages, math, science, and test preparation. In 2023, the e-learning market in Italy saw substantial growth, with more students and professionals seeking online tutoring to improve their skills, particularly in English and other foreign languages.

As an online tutor, you can set flexible hours and choose your rates, making it an appealing option for anyone looking to earn from home. 

Some of the best websites to become an online tutor include:

• Preply: A global platform that connects tutors with students seeking help in a variety of subjects, including language learning.
• Tutor.com: Specializes in academic tutoring, offering subjects from K-12 to college-level courses.
• Italki: A leading platform for language tutors, where you can teach Italian, English, or other languages to students worldwide.
• Superprof: Popular in Europe, this platform allows tutors to offer lessons in a wide range of subjects, including arts, academics, and more.

With the right qualifications and teaching approach, online tutors can earn anywhere from €10 to €50+ per hour, depending on the subject and level of expertise. By marketing your tutoring services on multiple platforms and maintaining good student relationships, you can build a steady stream of income from the growing online education sector.

Start a Dropshipping Business

Starting a dropshipping business is one of the most profitable and legitimate ways to earn money online in Italy. As eCommerce continues to grow, the dropshipping model allows you to sell products without holding inventory, making it a low-risk business with minimal upfront costs. In Italy, the eCommerce market reached €48 billion in 2023, showing strong demand for online shopping, and dropshipping businesses are benefiting from this growth.

With dropshipping, you partner with suppliers who manage inventory, shipping, and fulfillment while you focus on marketing and customer service. This business model is ideal for entrepreneurs looking to run an online store without the hassle of logistics. Some of the best platforms to start a dropshipping business include:

• Spocket: A popular platform that connects you with dropshipping suppliers in the U.S., Europe, and Italy, allowing you to sell high-quality products with fast shipping times.

• Shopify: A leading eCommerce platform that integrates seamlessly with dropshipping apps like Oberlo and Spocket, making it easy to build and manage your online store.
• AliExpress Dropshipping: This platform offers a wide variety of low-cost products from global suppliers, making it a popular choice for dropshipping businesses.
• Printify: Ideal for print-on-demand dropshipping, where you can sell custom-designed products like t-shirts, mugs, and home decor without managing inventory.

With the right product niche and marketing strategy, dropshipping businesses can earn anywhere from €500 to €5,000+ per month. By leveraging platforms like Spocket for efficient supplier management and focusing on promoting your online store through social media and digital marketing, you can build a successful and scalable dropshipping business in Italy.

Create Online Courses and Workshops

Creating online courses and workshops is a highly lucrative and legitimate way to earn money online in Italy. With the rise of e-learning, more professionals and students are turning to digital platforms for skill development and education. The global e-learning market is expected to grow by 14.6% annually, and Italy is no exception, with increasing demand for online courses in subjects ranging from business and technology to personal development and creative arts.

As an expert in your field, you can create online courses or host live workshops that cater to students and professionals seeking to learn new skills. Platforms like Udemy and Teachable provide easy-to-use tools for course creation, allowing you to upload videos, quizzes, and other resources while reaching a global audience. 

Some of the best platforms to create and sell online courses include:

• Udemy: One of the largest online learning platforms, offering a global marketplace for instructors to sell courses on virtually any topic.
• Teachable: Known for its customizable platform, Teachable allows you to create professional-looking courses with various pricing options, including one-time payments, subscriptions, and memberships.
• Skillshare: A popular platform for creative professionals and educators, Skillshare is ideal for shorter, project-based courses in design, photography, and entrepreneurship.
• Thinkific: Provides all the tools you need to create and market your online course, with options for interactive workshops and coaching.

Earnings from creating online courses and workshops can vary widely, with successful course creators making €500 to €10,000+ per month depending on the demand for their content and their marketing efforts. By leveraging platforms like Udemy and Teachable, combined with promoting your courses through social media, email marketing, and blogs, you can build a sustainable income stream while helping others learn and grow.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular and legitimate ways to earn money online in Italy, offering the potential for passive income by promoting products or services from other companies. The global affiliate marketing industry is expected to reach $12 billion by 2024, with Italy seeing significant growth as businesses increasingly adopt this strategy for online sales. As an affiliate marketer, you earn a commission for every sale or lead generated through your referral links, making it a low-cost and scalable way to earn income online.

The key to success in affiliate marketing is selecting the right products or services to promote, particularly ones that align with your audience or niche. You can create blogs, websites, or social media content to share valuable information while incorporating affiliate links that direct your followers to relevant products. Some of the best platforms to start affiliate marketing include:

• Amazon Associates: One of the largest affiliate programs globally, offering commissions on a wide range of products sold on Amazon.
• Spocket: A great platform for affiliate marketers interested in the dropshipping space, Spocket allows you to promote high-quality dropshipping products from Europe and the U.S., offering competitive commissions.
• ClickBank: Specializes in digital products, such as eBooks and online courses, making it ideal for affiliate marketers who focus on educational or informational content.
• Rakuten Marketing: Connects you with a wide variety of brands and offers competitive commission rates, perfect for diversifying your affiliate offerings.

Earnings from affiliate marketing can vary depending on the products you promote, your audience size, and your marketing strategies. Top affiliate marketers can earn anywhere from €1,000 to €10,000+ per month by building a loyal following and consistently sharing valuable content. By using platforms like Amazon Associates and Spocket, combined with effective content creation and promotion, affiliate marketing offers a flexible and scalable way to generate income online in Italy.

Print on Demand

Print on Demand (POD) is a highly profitable and legitimate way to earn money online in Italy, allowing you to sell custom-designed products without the hassle of managing inventory or fulfillment. The POD model enables entrepreneurs to create unique designs for items like t-shirts, mugs, posters, and phone cases, which are printed and shipped by a third-party supplier only after an order is placed. This business model is low-risk, requiring minimal upfront investment, making it perfect for those looking to start an online business.

With the rise of eCommerce, print on demand is growing rapidly, with global sales expected to reach $10 billion by 2025. Platforms like Printify, Printful, and Redbubble simplify the process of creating and selling custom products, handling everything from printing to shipping. Some of the best platforms to start a print-on-demand business include:

• Printify: A user-friendly platform that integrates with eCommerce sites like Shopify and Etsy, allowing you to design and sell a wide range of custom products with global shipping options.
• Printful: Known for its high-quality products and seamless integration with major eCommerce platforms, Printful offers a wide variety of products and handles fulfillment, printing, and shipping.
• Redbubble: Ideal for artists and designers, Redbubble allows you to upload your designs and sell them on various products like t-shirts, stickers, and home decor.
• Spocket: Primarily a dropshipping platform, Spocket also offers print-on-demand services, allowing you to sell custom-designed products like clothing, accessories, and home decor with reliable European and U.S. suppliers for faster shipping.

Earnings from print-on-demand businesses depend on the quality of your designs, your marketing strategy, and the platform you use. With successful branding and promotion, entrepreneurs can earn €500 to €5,000+ per month by selling custom products online. By leveraging platforms like Printify and Spocket, combined with effective marketing on social media and eCommerce platforms, you can create a thriving POD business in Italy.

Sell Photos Online

Selling photos online is a legitimate and rewarding way to earn money in Italy, especially for photographers looking to monetize their creative work. Stock photography has become a booming market with the increasing demand for high-quality visuals for websites, social media, marketing campaigns, and digital content. As of 2024, the global stock photography industry is projected to grow to over $4 billion, providing immense opportunities for photographers to sell their work to a global audience.

By uploading your photos to stock photography websites, you can earn passive income whenever someone purchases or downloads your images. Some of the best platforms to sell photos online include:

• Shutterstock: A leading stock photography site where photographers can earn royalties from every download of their images.
• Adobe Stock: Integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud, this platform allows photographers to sell their photos directly to a vast network of designers, marketers, and businesses.
• iStock: A part of Getty Images, iStock offers photographers access to a global marketplace, providing competitive royalties for every sale.
• Alamy: Known for its generous commission structure, Alamy allows photographers to sell their work non-exclusively and keep a larger share of their earnings.
• Spocket: Though primarily a dropshipping platform, Spocket also supports photographers who want to sell custom photo prints, allowing them to create and sell unique framed photos, canvases, and other custom photography merchandise.

The amount you can earn from selling photos online varies depending on the platform and the demand for your work. Photographers can make €200 to €5,000+ per month by selling stock images, especially if they build a large portfolio and market their photos effectively. By using popular platforms like Shutterstock and Spocket to reach a wide audience, you can turn your photography into a profitable business.

Sell Digital Products

Selling digital products is a great way to earn money online in Italy, particularly for creators, designers, and entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on their skills and expertise. The demand for digital products, such as eBooks, templates, courses, and digital art, has grown significantly, driven by the rise of eCommerce and digital marketing. In 2024, the global digital product market is expected to expand further, opening up huge opportunities for creators to sell to a global audience while generating passive income.

Once your digital products are uploaded to the right platform, you can start earning passive income whenever someone purchases or downloads them. The beauty of selling digital products is the scalability – a single product can be sold repeatedly without additional production costs. Some of the best platforms to sell digital products include:

• Etsy: Though known for handmade goods, Etsy has become a go-to marketplace for digital items like printables, planners, and graphic templates.
• Gumroad: A popular platform for creators selling eBooks, courses, music, and other digital products. Gumroad simplifies the process of selling digital content directly to your audience.
• Sellfy: Ideal for creators offering designs, digital downloads, or videos, Sellfy provides an easy-to-use platform for managing digital product sales.
• Teachable: If you're looking to sell educational content or online courses, Teachable offers a great platform for managing both your products and your audience.
• Spocket: Primarily known for dropshipping, Spocket also allows creators to sell custom-designed digital products and print-on-demand items such as downloadable art and templates.

The income potential from selling digital products depends largely on the platform, the type of product, and its demand. On average, creators can earn between €200 and €10,000+ per month, particularly if they build an extensive portfolio and promote their products effectively. By utilizing platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, and Spocket, you can turn your creativity into a profitable venture and grow your business in Italy’s digital market.

Become an Influencer

Becoming an influencer is one of the most popular and lucrative ways to earn money online in Italy, particularly with the rise of social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. As an influencer, you create content that resonates with a specific audience and collaborate with brands to promote products or services. In 2023, the global influencer marketing industry was valued at €16.4 billion, and Italy has seen a rapid rise in influencer culture, particularly in niches like fashion, travel, beauty, and lifestyle.

Influencer marketing offers multiple income streams, including sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and brand partnerships. Some influencers also sell their products or services, such as eBooks, courses, or merchandise. To succeed as an influencer, it’s important to choose a niche, build a loyal audience, and consistently create engaging content.

Some of the best platforms to grow as an influencer include:

• Instagram: The most popular platform for influencers, Instagram offers opportunities for sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and brand partnerships in niches like fashion, beauty, and travel.
• YouTube: Ideal for video content creators, YouTube allows influencers to earn money through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.
• TikTok: A fast-growing platform for short-form video content, TikTok is perfect for influencers who want to reach younger audiences and collaborate with brands through creative and viral content.

Earnings as an influencer can vary widely, with micro-influencers earning €100 to €1,000 per sponsored post, while top influencers can earn €10,000 to €100,000+ per campaign. By building a loyal following, creating high-quality content, and collaborating with brands, you can turn your influence into a sustainable source of income.

Develop and Sell a Unique Product

Developing and selling a unique product is a fantastic way to earn money online in Italy, especially if you have a creative idea or solution that addresses a specific market need. With the growth of eCommerce and global marketplaces, it has never been easier to bring a product to market and sell it directly to consumers. Platforms like Shopify and Etsy make it simple to set up an online store, while services like Spocket allow you to integrate dropshipping for production and fulfillment, minimizing upfront costs and inventory management.

Whether you're creating handmade goods, custom-designed products, or innovative tech gadgets, developing a unique product can be highly profitable. Italy’s eCommerce market reached €48 billion in 2023, offering vast opportunities for entrepreneurs who want to sell their products locally and globally.

Some of the best platforms to develop and sell unique products include:

• Shopify: A leading eCommerce platform that allows you to build a fully functional online store, complete with payment processing, marketing tools, and integrations for product fulfillment.
• Etsy: Ideal for selling handmade or vintage products, Etsy connects you with a global audience of customers who value unique and creative goods.
• Spocket: Perfect for those who want to sell custom-made products through dropshipping. Spocket allows you to develop a unique product line and sell items like custom-designed clothing, accessories, or home decor, with suppliers handling production and shipping.
• BigCommerce: Another robust eCommerce platform that helps you scale your business while offering customization and integration options for unique product development.

Earnings from selling a unique product depend on market demand, product pricing, and marketing efforts. Entrepreneurs can earn anywhere from €500 to €10,000+ per month by developing and selling a product that resonates with their target audience. By leveraging platforms like Shopify and Spocket, combined with strategic marketing and quality product design, you can build a successful online business in Italy.

Conclusion

Earning money online in Italy has never been easier, thanks to the diverse range of legitimate opportunities available. Whether you're looking to start a freelancing career, build an eCommerce store, engage in affiliate marketing, or offer online tutoring, the digital landscape provides endless possibilities. Platforms like Spocket, Shopify, and Udemy make it simple to start and scale an online business or side hustle, offering flexibility and the chance to earn a steady income from the comfort of your home. By leveraging the right tools and strategies, you can tap into Italy’s growing digital economy and create a sustainable source of income online.