From freelance projects and stock photography to affiliate marketing and AI-powered microtasks, these are some of the best money-making apps helping people earn extra income while living or traveling in Bali.
Whether you’re working from a coworking space in Canggu, running an online business from Ubud, or simply extending your stay in Bali, earning extra income has become part of everyday life for many remote workers.
A smartphone is no longer just a travel companion for booking flights or ordering food. Increasingly, it’s becoming a portable business, allowing people to generate income from virtually anywhere with an internet connection.
Researchers Jamie Woodcock and Mark Graham describe this transformation in The Gig Economy: A Critical Introduction (2019), arguing that digital platforms have fundamentally changed how people monetize their time and skills without relying on traditional employment. That shift has become especially visible in Bali, where thousands of digital nomads, freelancers, and entrepreneurs now build flexible careers from cafés, coworking spaces, and villas across the island.
Editor’s Note
The platforms below are legitimate services with established user communities. However, income varies depending on your skills, consistency, audience, and the amount of time you invest. None of these apps should be viewed as a guaranteed way to make money overnight.
Content Creation and Entertainment Platforms
These platforms require relatively little equipment and work particularly well for creators who enjoy producing videos, writing, or engaging with online audiences.
1. TikTok Creator & Affiliate Program
TikTok remains one of the world’s largest creator economies. Users can earn through advertising revenue, affiliate commissions, and live gifts, while the platform’s recommendation algorithm continues to give smaller creators opportunities to reach large audiences without millions of followers.
2. Shopee Video & Affiliate
Shopee has evolved into more than an online marketplace. Its affiliate tools allow creators to recommend products through short-form videos and earn commissions whenever viewers complete a purchase.
3. SnackVideo
For beginners looking for low-barrier opportunities, SnackVideo rewards users through simple activities such as watching videos, daily check-ins, and referrals. Earnings are relatively small but can provide supplemental income.
4. Fizzo Novel
Readers can also generate modest rewards through Fizzo Novel by reading or listening to serialized stories. While it won’t replace a salary, it’s one of the more relaxed earning options available.
5. YouTube Shorts
Google continues expanding monetization through YouTube Shorts, making it one of the strongest long-term platforms for creators willing to build an audience around original content.
Survey and AI Microtask Platforms
These apps are better suited for users who enjoy completing structured tasks, contributing to AI training, or participating in market research.
6. Google Opinion Rewards
Google’s own survey platform rewards users for answering short questionnaires based on shopping habits and location history. It’s quick, reliable, and ideal for Android users.
7. Toloka
Toloka offers AI-related microtasks, including image verification, audio transcription, and search evaluation. Payments are typically made in U.S. dollars, making it attractive for people earning while living in countries with lower living costs.
8. JakPat
Focused primarily on Indonesia, JakPat connects brands with local consumers through surveys covering everything from food to shopping habits. Rewards can be redeemed for cash or digital vouchers.
9. Premise
Premise pays users to complete location-based assignments such as checking retail prices, photographing public facilities, or reporting infrastructure conditions. Field assignments often pay more than standard online surveys.
10. Streetbees
Streetbees uses a conversational format that asks users to document everyday habits through photos and videos. Payments are made through PayPal, making it convenient for many international users.
Freelancing and Digital Assets
For professionals with marketable skills, this category offers the greatest long-term earning potential.
11. Fiverr
Fiverr allows freelancers to sell services ranging from graphic design and SEO writing to voice-over work and programming. Many freelancers based in Bali use Fiverr to serve clients around the world while enjoying the island’s flexible lifestyle.
Hey Bali Tip
If you’re already working remotely from Bali, Fiverr can be an excellent way to diversify your income rather than relying on a single employer or contract.
12. Upwork
Unlike Fiverr, Upwork focuses on larger projects and long-term contracts. Professionals in software development, marketing, consulting, accounting, and virtual assistance continue to find steady work through the platform.
13. Foap
Foap lets photographers license smartphone photos to global buyers, including partners such as Getty Images. The platform also runs themed competitions with cash prizes.
Hey Bali Tip
Bali remains one of Southeast Asia’s most photographed destinations. High-quality images of temples, beaches, waterfalls, rice terraces, cafés, and local culture continue to perform well on stock photography platforms when properly tagged and licensed.
14. Shutterstock Contributor
For photographers, videographers, and designers seeking passive income, Shutterstock remains one of the industry’s largest marketplaces. A single well-keyworded image or video can continue generating downloads for years.
15. Bibit
Although primarily an investment platform, Bibit also offers referral incentives while helping users build long-term wealth through regulated mutual funds.
Our Top Picks
If you’re unsure where to start, here’s our recommendation based on different goals.
| Goal | Recommended Platform |
| Best for Beginners | Google Opinion Rewards |
| Best for Content Creators | TikTok |
| Best for Freelancers | Fiverr |
| Best for Long-Term Careers | Upwork |
| Best Passive Income | Shutterstock Contributor |
| Best for Travel Photography | Foap |
| Best AI Microtasks | Toloka |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do legitimate money-making apps require identity verification?
Know Your Customer (KYC) verification helps prevent fraud, money laundering, and fake accounts. Legitimate platforms typically require identity verification before allowing withdrawals.
How can I avoid burnout from repetitive microtasks?
The most effective strategy is diversification. Combining surveys, photography, freelance work, and content creation generally produces better long-term results than relying on a single app.
Do expats or digital nomads need to pay tax on income earned through international platforms?
Tax obligations depend on your residency status, visa, citizenship, and applicable tax treaties. If you spend significant time living in Bali while earning through platforms such as Fiverr or Upwork, it’s worth consulting a qualified tax adviser familiar with Indonesian tax regulations before assuming your income is exempt.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Paying upfront to join “money-making” platforms.
- Trusting apps that promise guaranteed or unrealistic returns.
- Ignoring identity verification requirements.
- Uploading copyrighted or low-quality content.
- Depending on a single platform as your only source of income.
Why This Matters for Bali’s Digital Nomad Community
Bali has evolved far beyond a tropical holiday destination. Today, it is one of Asia’s leading hubs for remote workers, freelancers, creators, and entrepreneurs.
The most successful people earning online rarely rely on a single platform. Instead, they combine freelance projects through Fiverr or Upwork, affiliate commissions from TikTok or Shopee, passive income from Shutterstock or Foap, and occasional survey or AI-powered microtasks.
No app will make you wealthy overnight. But together, these platforms illustrate why Bali continues to attract people who value the freedom to work from anywhere with little more than a laptop, a smartphone, and a reliable internet connection. For anyone planning a longer stay on the island, building multiple income streams can be just as valuable as finding the perfect coworking space or café with fast Wi-Fi.
