Top 5 AI Tools to Earn Money as a Student in 2025

Students around the world can now use free AI-powered platforms to earn extra cash online in 2025. These tools connect people to simple micro-tasks that help train or improve AI and pay in US dollars. Each service is free to join and pays you per task, usually via PayPal or similar. Below are five top options, how they work, and how you can sign up.

1. Neevo (by DefinedCrowd)

Neevo (by DefinedCrowd) is a global community for training AI. You sign up for free at Neevo’s site and then pick from small tasks – like labeling text, tagging images, or classifying audio – whenever you have spare time. For example, you might help transcribe a short audio clip, or mark whether an AI’s answer is relevant. The tasks are simple and there’s no special skill needed (just being able to follow instructions).

How to start:

Go to Neevo’s “Join Today” page (neevo.definedcrowd.com) and register with email or Facebook. After signing up, complete any required tutorial or qualification tests.

Getting paid: 

Neevo pays in US dollars. You need a PayPal account to receive earnings. Once tasks are approved, funds appear in your account and you withdraw to PayPal.

Why it’s good for students: 

Neevo tasks can often be done on your phone or laptop in free moments. For example, you might earn a few cents per image labeling task. Over time, committed workers report earning around \$10/hr depending on speed. Because tasks are available around the clock and in dozens of languages (Neevo has \~1,000,000 contributors across 50+ languages), you can jump in any time to earn extra pocket money.

2. CrowdGen (Appen’s AI Microtasks)

CrowdGen (run by Appen) is another popular platform for AI training tasks. It offers lots of projects in data annotation, search evaluation, and more. You join CrowdGen for free and apply to projects that fit your skills. Each project usually has a small qualification quiz or training, but once approved you do tasks on your own schedule. For example, a project might ask you to rate search results or identify objects in images.

How to start:

Visit CrowdGen’s site and “Check our openings and apply directly”. Follow their email instructions to set up your account and complete the required tests. No payment is ever requested – joining and qualifying is free.

Getting paid:

CrowdGen pays in USD. They emphasize that almost all payments go out in US dollars. In fact, they paid over \$157 million to contributors in 2022 alone. You’ll usually withdraw via PayPal, Payoneer, or similar once your tasks are approved.

Why it’s good for students: 

CrowdGen projects range from quick one-hour tasks to longer hourly gigs. Pay rates are competitive (some projects list per-hour rates before you join). Since it’s by Appen (a big AI-data company), there are often new tasks popping up, and you can do multiple projects if you like. You get flexible hours and build resume-worthy AI experience without paying anything upfront.

3. Toloka (by Yandex)

Toloka is Yandex’s crowdwork platform for simple online tasks. It’s completely free to join and aimed at global users. Task examples include judging whether ads match search queries, tagging objects in pictures, or even reviewing short videos. No special skills or degrees are needed, and everything is self-paced.

How to start: 

Go to Toloka.ai and register with just a few minutes of info. You’ll take a brief training to learn how to do the tasks correctly.

How tasks work:

Once onboard, browse the tasks list and pick ones marked available in your region. If a task requires, you complete a quick test to unlock it. For example, you might listen to a spoken sentence and type what you hear, or pick the right caption for an image.

Getting paid: 

Toloka pays out when you reach a minimum. You withdraw earnings via Payoneer or Papara (Payoneer works in most countries). Payments are in USD or other major currency depending on region. Pay attention to task pay rates; small tasks might pay a few cents, but fast workers can make \$5–\$10 per hour on average, according to user reports.

Why it’s good for students:

Toloka’s flexible timing means you can work in free moments between classes. Tasks are very short, so you can finish one while waiting for a lecture to start. The platform shows tasks that match your profile, and no capital is needed. It’s an easy way to earn a few dollars from your phone or computer by doing micro jobs like quick surveys or data labeling.

4. Clickworker

Clickworker is an international microtask marketplace that includes many AI-related gigs (like data tagging) as well as surveys, writing, and app testing. Students can join Clickworker for free, create a profile, and then pick from a variety of tasks suited to their interests. For example, you could write short product descriptions, test a mobile app for glitches, or even do on-site mystery shopping (simple errands like taking photos in a store).

How to start:

Visit Clickworker.com and create an account. You’ll take a short assessment (to see which tasks fit your skills) and then gain access to many gigs. There’s also a smartphone app to get job alerts.

How tasks work:

 Clickworker shows tasks (“micro-jobs”) ranging from text creation to audio recordings. Each task has instructions and a pay rate. After submission and approval, you earn the stated amount. For instance, writing a 100-word text might pay a dollar or two, while a survey could pay 50¢.

Getting paid: 

Clickworker offers weekly payments via secure methods (PayPal, Payoneer, or direct bank transfer). You choose when to cash out as long as you meet the minimum.

Why it’s good for students:

 Clickworker’s large task pool means you can often find something new daily. It caters to beginners – many tasks don’t require prior experience. Since you set your own schedule, you can work after school or on weekends. Community reviews say fast workers can average a comfortable side income just by grabbing tasks quickly. One advantage: it’s not limited to purely AI-labeling tasks, so you get more variety if you enjoy writing or testing apps.

5. Stellar AI

Stellar AI is a newer platform where you earn by doing data annotation and chatbot evaluation tasks. In other words, you help make chatbots and AI models better by checking or writing answers. Stellar emphasizes flexible, contract-style gigs with no fixed hours.

How to start:

Head to joinstellar.ai and sign up. You’ll take a “skill match” test to see which projects suit you best. Projects could involve writing a question and judging chatbot responses or correcting AI-generated answers in your field of knowledge.

Task examples:

 For instance, one task might ask you to fix a chatbot’s answer about a topic you know well (fact-check and improve it). Another could have you write your own questions and compare two AI answers to pick the better one. These tasks train real AI systems and typically take a few minutes each.

Getting paid:

 Stellar pays a base rate around \$25 per hour (though exact pay varies by project). They pay you weekly for hours worked at the agreed rate. You must be 18+ and fluent in English, and have a PayPal account to receive payments.

Why it’s good for students:

 The pay rates are relatively high for microtasks, and you can work anytime from anywhere in the world. Since tasks often relate to general knowledge or reasoning, you don’t need technical AI skills—just good English and attention to detail. Because Stellar offers a variety of projects, you can pick ones that match your interests (like tech, science, or everyday topics). This platform is great if you want a steadier hourly rate and weekly pay without any cost to join.

Tips for Success

Check daily for new tasks:

 Platforms like CrowdGen and Toloka refresh tasks frequently. If you don’t see tasks now, check again later or the next day.

Practice accuracy:

 Many sites give bonuses or long-term invites if you do high-quality work. Read instructions carefully and double-check answers.

Use mobile apps wisely:

 Clickworker, Toloka and others have apps so you can work on the go. Turn on notifications to never miss a task.

Withdraw earnings early:

 As soon as you hit the minimum payout, cash out via PayPal/Payoneer to ensure funds come in quickly.

By using these free AI gig platforms, students can earn money in their spare time without any upfront investment. The tasks are easy to learn and pay in dollars, making them an accessible way to boost your budget in 2025. Each platform is beginner-friendly and only requires basic internet skills and often a PayPal or Payoneer account to get paid. So pick a couple to try, follow their onboarding steps, and start earning with AI today!