Being able to code puts you in a very strong position when it comes to in demand skills. The beauty of programming is you don’t have to do it full-time to make money from it.
There’s plenty of people using their evenings and weekends to turn their coding skills into profitable side hustles in the UK.
This comprehensive guide will walk through how you can make money from coding in the UK and the top 10 roles a programmer can perform as a side hustle.
Reasons Coding Is A Top Side Hustle In The UK
- Flexibility: You can work when you want to and choose how much work you want to take on.
- High Demand: UK companies are constantly looking for developers.
- Low Overheads: You’ll need Wi-Fi, a laptop and relevant coding software.
- Scalable: You can keep it small or expand the business if you want to.
1 – Freelance Coding In The UK
Since the Covid pandemic, there’s been a huge rise in people doing freelance work from home. This is the most direct way to start earning. Sometimes clients need a developer but don’t want to hire full-time staff.
Finding Freelance Coding and Programming Jobs
- PeoplePerHour – A UK business popular with British companies.
- Upwork and Fiverr – Both are global platforms with plenty of opportunities. However, it’s very competitive so you should read our article on how to sell your services on Fiverr.
- Toptal – High earnings for more experienced developers.
- YunoJuno – highly regarded by London agencies.
Types of Freelance Coding Work
- Troubleshooting and bug fixing
- Building websites
- Automated business processes
- App or script development
Average Pay
- UK freelance coders can expect between £25 and £75 per hour. The rates will depend on the project complexity and your skill level.
2 – Short-Term Contracts
A lot of UK businesses prefer to hire programmers on a part-time or short-contract basis. Short-term roles tend to pay better than freelance jobs.
This role does require commitment but the rewards can be very lucrative.
- Earnings: £200 to £500 per day
- Find short-term contracts on Contractor UK, LinkedIn.
- May require a few days each rather than mini tasks
3 – Build Websites For Small Local Businesses
Many new start-ups or small businesses just don’t have the money to pay big agencies for an all singing and dancing website. This is where you can step in if you know Javascript, CSS, HTML or WordPress.
Getting Started
- Build a portfolio website to show off creations you’ve already done.
- Contact local companies directly (drop emails to businesses that have outdated or poor websites).
- Offer different packages such as a basic site, sites with payment options and sites with a booking system).
Potential Prices
- A basic website using WordPress: £250 to £500.
- Advanced sites such as e-commerce: £800 to £2,000+.
4 – Teaching Coding In The UK
If you have a knack for explaining concepts, teaching people can be both a rewarding and lucrative coding side hustle.
Teaching Options
- 1-2-1 Tutoring: Offer sessions to beginners and those considering a change of career.
- Workshops: Work with coding bootcamps or local community centres to offer evening or weekend classes.
- Online Courses: Create content and sell on platforms such as Teachable, Udemy and Skillshare. These courses can generate passive income long after you first publish them.
Tutoring Income
- A private programming tutor in the UK can expect income of approximately £20 to £50 per hour.
You can read more about the types of online tuition and benefits in the OddsMonkey ‘How to make money with online tuition and workshops’ article.
5 – Build And Sell Software Tools
This is a good option for coders that like solving problems. The tools you build don’t need to be massive solutions either. Smaller tools can sometimes sell better and can be very profitable.
Example Tools
- WordPress plugins
- Chrome extensions
- Mobile apps with in-app purchasing
- SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) micro-products for niche solutions.
Monetising
- Sell on platforms such as CodeCanyon and Gumroad.
- Sell subscription models
- Offer a basic version for free with charges for advanced versions.
- A basic Chrome extension could fetch £50 to £500 per month.
6 – Get Paid For Open Source Work
Contributing to open-source projects can sometimes lead to financial support from sponsorship platforms such as Patreon, GitHub Sponsors and OpenCollective.
This type of activity doesn’t guarantee income but it can definitely create freelance opportunities and add to your CV.
7 – Creating Technical Content
Coding knowledge can be incredibly valuable and often complex. Having a knack for explaining it in understandable terms can be very valuable. This can lead to making good money for writing and producing clear content for other developers.
Example Content Roles
- Write guides for blogs and tech companies.
- Teach programming on a YouTube channel.
- Charge to produce a coding and tech newsletter.
Monetising Content
- Companies will pay £100 to £300 per article for good articles.
- YouTube channels take a while to grow but can eventually bring in revenue from ads and sponsorships.
If you find content writing is your bag, you could consider doing freelance copywriting or self publish a book.
8 – Participate In Coding Competitions And Hackathons
Hackathons are short and intense competitions where people rapidly develop software or hardware. Most of them offer cash prizes or some sort of sponsored bounties.
- Prizes vary from £500 to £10,000+.
- Find upcoming events on Hackathons UK and Devpost.
- They are a great opportunity for networking.
9 – Automating Tasks For Business
Businesses (particularly small businesses) waste a lot of time on money carrying out repetitive admin tasks. Companies will happily pay you if you can automate tasks like report generation, email handling and data entry using JavaScript, VBA, Python etc.
Examples
- Automating stock ordering systems.
- Create spreadsheet macros that track sales
Earnings
- Depending on the complexity of the project, you can command between £100 and £500 per project.
10 – Sell Templates And Code Snippets
Creating digital products is a fantastic way to earn passive income as once created, they can sell repeatedly.
Example Ideas
- Website themes and templates (WordPress, Shopify).
- Mobile app templates.
- User Interface kits and libraries.
- Snippets and scripts for frameworks.
Earnings from this are very varied and can range from a few quid a month to thousands.
TIPS: Balancing Coding As A Side Hustle In The UK
As this article is about coding as a side hustle, you’ll need to plan strategically about utilising your time to the best effect.
- Start slowly: Don’t stretch yourself too much. In the beginning, do one project at a time.
- Time allocation: Try to allocate a fixed amount of hours each week to your coding hustle. It will help you keep to a schedule and avoid over committing.
- Remember your main job: Be sure your contract of employment doesn’t prevent you from taking on freelance work.
- Track finances: Keep your side hustle income separate from other finances as you may need to submit your earnings as self assessment.
- Taxation: Speaking of self assessment, you will be legally required to submit a self assessment to HMRC if you earn over £1,000.
Coding Side Hustle Pitfalls
- Undercharging: Don’t undervalue yourself or your skills. Cheap rates can lead to too many projects.
- Stick to the brief: Make sure clients understand what you’re delivering and don’t let them add extras in for free.
- Unreliable clients: Be sure to use contracts and gather deposits.
- Finances: Don’t fritter any income. Don’t forget you may owe the tax man some of it.
Coding Side Hustle FAQs
How much can you make freelancing as a coder in the UK?
- Anywhere from a few hundred a month to full-time income. Rates typically range £25–£75 an hour.
Is freelancing better than building products?
- Freelancing pays faster, but products (like templates or apps) offer long-term passive income. A mix of both is ideal.
What coding languages are best for side hustles?
- Web projects: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP.
- Automation: Python, VBA.
- Apps: Swift, Kotlin, React Native.
Can I do this alongside a full-time job?
- Yes—just manage your hours carefully and check your employer’s policy on side work.
Final Thoughts
Coding is one of the most versatile and rewarding skills you can do to make money on the side in the UK. Whether you want to freelance, build digital products, teach, or create content, there are countless ways to turn programming into extra income.
The key is to start small, choose a path that aligns with your skills and interests, and build from there. Even a few hours a week could translate into hundreds or thousands of pounds a year. And who knows—your side hustle might eventually grow into your main gig.
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