How To Get Paid to Chat [9 Options For 2024]

In today’s economy, everyone struggles to keep up with the high cost of living. Even those with well-paying jobs like to make a little extra cash for a rainy day.

Luckily, it’s easier than you might think. You could make money from things you do every day, like chatting.

The thing about a side gig is it has to be relatively easy and not time-consuming. That’s why getting paid to chat is one of the most sought-after ways to make some extra money.

We’ve compiled a list of companies that are the perfect side hustle to get paid to chat in 2023.

How To Get Paid to Chat (Overview)

1. Rent A Friend
2. Rent A Local Friend
3. Cambly
4. FriendPC
5. Papa
6. iTalki
7. Phrendly
8. Flirtbucks
9. The Chat Shop

Can You Get Paid to Chat?

Absolutely! People will pay you to chat as virtual friends, a customer service representative, or an adult chat service.

Payment varies depending on the website and service, but you can make anywhere from $5 to $100 an hour online. But, of course, it depends on your skills and how much time you’re willing to commit to the gig.

For example, customer service agents typically make around $15.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

What You’ll Need to Get Paid to Chat

Getting paid to chat is relatively easy. You don’t need much to get started as an online chat operator, a chat hostess, or an online friend. Here are the most vital things you need:

• A Mobile Phone: A device with access to the internet.
• A Computer: Preferably with a webcam or camera if you choose video call services.
• Time: Enough time to hit most websites’ minimum chat time requirement.
• English: Conversational-level English skills (in most cases).
• An ID: In a few instances, websites might require identification.
• A Method For Receiving Payments: Depending on the website’s payment plan, you might need a Paypal, Payoneer, or bank account.
• An Extensive List of Websites: You need to know what websites pay you to chat (that’s where this article comes in).

Where to Get Paid to Chat

We’ve gathered an extensive list of companies where you can get paid to chat. Here are the top nine:

1. Rent A Friend

Rent A Friend is one of the best websites for making extra cash online through chatting.

People all over the world use Rent A Friend as a side hustle that takes very little time and effort.

There are several options you can choose from.

For example, if you’d like, you can meet up with people in person and chat.

Seeing a movie, grabbing a drink, or even teaching a new skill are all high-demand services.

If you’d prefer to keep it online, you can chat with people worldwide through video calls using Zoom or FaceTime.

You can also talk to your online friend over mobile phone calls or via texting.

How Much Money You Can Make

With Rent A Friend, you set your hourly rate. The average hourly rate on the website is between $15 and $50. You might want to start near the lower end of this range and work up from there as you become more familiar with the site.

What Makes This Option Great

The great thing about this side hustle is that you get paid to go out and have fun with people for money or to be someone’s online friend.

There are tons of lonely people, so all you need is your fun and sense of adventure! Plus, you might make a few virtual friendships in the process!

• Typical Fees/Commission: Rent A Friend doesn’t take any commission. You get to keep all money you make through the platform.
• Typical Payment Methods: Direct deposits to a bank account or Paypal.

2. Rent A Local Friend

It’s just as the name suggests. Rent A Local Friend puts their customers in touch with people living nearby or in their city. You could easily be one of those people.

These customers could be lonely people who live in the city and are looking for a friend or someone who is just visiting and wants to explore the city with a local.

While customers on this website typically prefer face-to-face meetings, you can still make money through the internet. You can agree on calls, video calls, or even texting.

How Much Money You Can Make

With Rent A Local Friend, you can expect to make around $20 an hour at a flat rate. This is the average rate they suggest, but you can modify it later as you gain popularity.

What Makes This Option Great

You can make extra cash by showing lonely people or tourists around your city. It’s like being paid to be a physical or virtual tour guide.

You can choose when you’re free and whether you want to meet in person or stick to video calls, phone chats, or simply texting.

• Typical Fees/Commission: Rent A Local Friend takes 30% of the agreed-upon rate as commission fees.
• Typical Payment Methods: Paypal.

3. Cambly

For Native English speakers, Cambly is a goldmine of a side hustle.

It pays you to chat and teach English to children or adults. You don’t even have to hold an English degree; you only need to be a native speaker.

When you become a Cambly tutor, you can make extra cash online by teaching ESL (English as a Second Language).

How Much Money You Can Make

With Cambly, you can get paid about $10.20 to $12 an hour to chat with students and teach them English. That’s about $0.17 to $0.20 per minute of texting.

The best part is Cambly pays you every Monday of every week.

What Makes This Option Great

With Cambly, you control your class schedule and when you’re available to chat and teach English. It’s all about flexibility.

You don’t even have to prepare a lesson. Cambly provides you and your students with pre-set courses and content to help make things easier. Log on, get matched with a student, and start making money!

• Typical Fees/Commission: Cambly doesn’t take commission, so you get to keep all the cash you make chatting and teaching English to individuals.
• Typical Payment Methods: Paypal.

4. FriendPC

FriendPC is another great way you can chat with lonely people on the internet for a lucrative hourly rate.

You can choose how you chat with individuals, whether through video chats, phone calls, texting, or even chat platforms. Plus, you set the times you’re free to chat.

How Much Money You Can Make

FriendPC doesn’t have a set flat rate. You can make anywhere from $5 to $30 an hour for chat services. Some people get paid up to $500 an hour, but that’s usually for an adult chat service.

What Makes This Option Great

With FriendPC, you can make virtual friendships, or you can choose to be a bit flirtatious with adult chat jobs.

Some people offer virtual girlfriend chat services, while others provide virtual companionship. Some people even hire a virtual gamer chat friend.

You might even find a request for an emotional wellness coach or a motivational coach.

FriendPC offers many ways to make money online; the only limitation is your skillset.

• Typical Fees/Commission: Commission rates vary from zero to 30% commission based on the package you choose.
• Typical Payment Methods: Paypal.

5. Papa

Papa is one of the more “official” websites where lonely people and customers can pay you for online companionship.

Not only can you make extra money, but you get a chance to make friendships and help out older individuals and families in your community.

You can work virtually or face-to-face, and the website will reimburse you if you travel to a senior living far away. With flexible work schedules, you determine the times you’re free.

How Much Money You Can Make

There isn’t a specific rate, but you can expect to make around $15 an hour. Papa also provides daily and weekly bonuses.

It comes down to the services you provide and how much time you’re willing to spend in person, texting, or on phone calls.

What Makes This Option Great

When you become a Papa Pal, you can get paid to go shopping with a senior living nearby or spend some time with them on the internet.

Papa is one of the most legit websites you can chat with people for money because some of their services are insured.  

• Typical Fees/Commission: Fees and taxes vary according to the State you’re in.
• Typical Payment Methods: Paypal.

6. iTalki

iTalki is one of the best online websites where you can get paid to teach different languages over video chats. The website supports over 150 different languages, and you can start without formal teaching qualifications.  

If you have a talent for teaching English, you can make some decent cash through webcam chats. All you need is a high-speed internet connection for a reliable chat session and some spare time.

You have full control of your class schedule.

How Much Money You Can Make

Depending on the language you teach, you can make anywhere from $5 to $80 an hour. A typical English teacher can make around $9.79 to $15.73 per hour.

What Makes This Option Great

While iTalki doesn’t provide lesson plans, there is a resource page where you can put together the materials you need.

If you have previous experience teaching and qualifications, you can sign up as a professional teacher and make more than community tutors.

While iTalki doesn’t offer bonuses, it’s one of the most reputable companies for making solid cash over a long period.

• Typical Fees/Commission: iTalki takes a 15% commission fee on completed lesson transactions. There’s no commission for trial lessons, nor do you have to pay a membership fee.
• Typical Payment Methods: Paypal, Hyperwallet, Payoneer, and bank transfer.

7. Phrendly

Phrendly is a great website for adult chat job opportunities. You can get paid to flirt or talk with lonely people on chat platforms.

Sometimes lonely individuals are looking for someone to talk to or motivate them. Other people prefer a more adult chat level.

Phrendly has two ways you can earn solid cash. For one, you could get paid in tips where customers can tip you a “drink” worth money for every 8 minutes of audio or video calls.

The second method is by cell phone texting or regular chatting. However, Phrendly is currently available only for Android phone users.

How Much Money You Can Make

A tip or “drink” is worth around $10; you can get a drink every eight minutes of talk time. That’s roughly $1.25 per chat time or video call minute.

If you prefer texting, you can make around $0.35 for every chat you reply to. Customers can also send you virtual gifts ranging from $5 to $100.

What Makes This Option Great

When communicating via phone calls or cell phone texting, Phrendly hides your number as long as you use the app.

Very few mobile text chat apps take this privacy issue into consideration.

• Typical Fees/Commission: Phrendly takes a 30% commission fee on regular transactions and a 10% fee on virtual gifts.
• Typical Payment Methods: Either direct bank deposits or checks. Phrendly does not support Paypal, Swift, Payoneer, or wire transfers.

8. Flirtbucks

If you have spare time and enjoy talking or flirting online, you can become a chat hostess on Flirtbucks.

How Much Money You Can Make

It boils down to how much spare time you have to be a chat hostess. You can expect to make around 10 cents per minute of online text chat and 40 cents per minute of video call.

What Makes This Option Great

As a chat hostess, you can make solid cash by talking or flirting with lonely individuals for a few minutes. Flirtbucks pays well compared to other adult chat jobs.

Flirtbucks doesn’t tolerate explicit content, but it’s a great solution for people looking to make solid cash using their mobile phones.

• Typical Fees/Commission: None.
• Typical Payment Methods: Paypal or checks on a bimonthly basis.

9. The Chat Shop

This is another great option where you can get paid to chat, but it’ll feel like a full-time job rather than a side gig. With The Chat Shop, you’re required to work at least 20-30 hours a week.

You must also be based in the UK or the US to sign up and train as full-time agents. As part of The Chat Shop team, you’ll be required to chat as a customer service, sales, or tech support agent.

There’s also a requirement that you must be able to write at least 80 WPM (words per minute) and have native-level English.  

How Much Money You Can Make

You can make about $10 per hour on The Chat Shop.

What Makes This Option Great

The Chat Shop is more professional and formal than most online side hustles, so you won’t have to flirt. It’s completely different from adult chat services.

The pay is relatively good, even higher than several state minimum wages.

• Typical Fees/Commission: None.
• Typical Payment Methods: Direct bank deposits.

Why You Should Consider Chatting As a Side Hustle

Everyone these days is looking for a side hustle to make some solid cash on the side. The question is: what makes chatting such a sought-after side gig? Well, here’s why:

• No Manual Labor: You can do it from the comfort of your home or anywhere without worrying about a daily commute.
• Flexible Work Schedules: You control your schedule and when you’re free for a chat session.
• You’re The Boss: You don’t have to report to anyone or wear a uniform; you’re the boss.
• Variety: You can get paid for different services like consulting or an adult chat service.

Problems With Getting Paid to Chat

While getting paid to chat can be lucrative, there are a few drawbacks that you might encounter depending on the websites you choose. Here’s what you should look out for:

• Not For Shy People: If you’re uncomfortable chatting with a stranger, making an online friend, or teaching online, it’s not the best gig for you.
• Adult Chat Service: Some websites only offer adult chat jobs where you must flirt.
• Personal Safety: Not all websites keep your personal information private, so be careful when sharing it with strangers.

How To Get Paid to Chat: Step-By-Step Instructions

Chatting online is a relatively easy solution if you’re looking to make some extra money.

While each website has its own process, there are some general steps you can follow to start making money on chat platforms.

Step 1: Choose Your Websites

The first thing you need to do is choose a few websites to apply to. You can start with the list of companies in this article.

Step 2: Sign Up

You’ll be asked to sign up with your personal information, such as name, email, and mobile phone number.

Never enter your bank information or social security number.

Step 3: Wait For Approval

Sometimes it takes time for websites to approve you as a new agent.

Step 4: Start the Chat Process

Some websites require a trial period or a minimum number of chatting hours to ensure you’re committed.

Treat it like a business, and make sure to hit the daily or weekly minimum target.

Step 5: Get Paid

This is the best part: get paid!

Things to Consider When Chatting

While chatting can be a great way to make solid cash, there are some things you need to consider before signing up to get the best experience. These are:

Time and Effort vs. Reward

Pick something you’re good at when choosing online websites to chat with people. Ideally, you want minimum effort for maximum reward. Don’t learn a new language, for example, just to teach it online.

Personal Safety Tips

Never volunteer or share your personal information or location with strangers on chat platforms. Using a nickname or pseudonym as an online chat operator might be a smart idea.

Picking the Right Service

Online websites offer many services, such as adult chat jobs, English tutoring, and virtual friendship services. Before you commit to a website, do your homework and pick the service you’re most comfortable with.

Keep It in the App

Online chat agents should try to keep their conversations within the app or website they’re using. Phone calls might be okay but never share social media platforms with strangers.

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

Use this article to make a list of companies or online websites you’re interested in and try them all. It can be a wise idea to have several sources of income instead of sticking to one platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Chat Payment?

Chat Payment is a way for customers to pay online chat agents for their services during a live chat conversation.

It takes place inside the conversation window of chat apps or platforms.

What Is the Best Company to Try to Get Paid to Chat?

It depends on the type of chatting or services you prefer. From a purely financial point of view, Rent A Friend offers the best average rate for online chat agents.

Similar Ways to Get Paid

Getting paid to chat is one of the easiest ways to make money online, but there are several other easy things you can try.

Wrapping Up

Expenses can pop up out of nowhere. So it’s always nice to have some extra cash for a rainy day. That’s why having a side gig like getting paid to chat is a great idea.

You can turn many different websites and services into your side hustle. Hopefully, this article has brought you one step closer to a thicker bank account with these nine reliable options.

Let us know what you think in the comments, and if you liked the article, share it so other people can start making more money, too!