• Your smartphone can become a money-making tool without spending money on expensive equipment
• These ten side hustles fit students, NYSC members, workers, and anyone looking for extra income
• The biggest advantage is choosing the right hustle and staying consistent

You might be carrying your next paycheck in your pocket without realising it.

With prices rising and salaries disappearing before month-end, more Nigerians are finding smart ways to earn extra cash using nothing but a smartphone. Most of these hustles cost almost nothing to start.

Here are ten that are worth trying this month.

10 side hustles you can start with your phone

1. Become a short-form video editor

Thousands of creators need someone to cut videos for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.

Apps like CapCut, VN Editor and Canva make editing easy on mobile. Once you build a few sample videos, you can start pitching creators or local businesses.

Some editors even specialise in subtitles, transitions or viral captions.

2. Start managing social media pages

Small businesses are too busy selling to post consistently. That's where you come in.

You can create posts, reply to messages, upload products and even schedule content directly from your phone.

Restaurants, fashion vendors, salons and small online stores are always looking for reliable social media managers.

3. Sell digital products

Instead of selling physical products, create digital ones once and sell them repeatedly.

Examples include CV templates, study notes, Canva templates, budget planners, e-books, and digital journals.

Once they're ready, every sale becomes mostly profit.

4. Become a UGC creator

You don't need 100,000 followers to make money. Brands now pay regular people to create authentic videos showing how they use products.

These videos are called User-Generated Content (UGC).

Your job is simply to create relatable content the brand can post on its own pages.

5. Offer virtual assistant services

Many entrepreneurs just need someone organised.

You can help with replying emails, booking appointments, research, customer support, data entry, and scheduling meetings.

Most of these tasks can be handled from a smartphone.

If you're reliable, clients often keep working with you for months.

6. Become an affiliate marketer

Instead of creating your own products, promote other people's products and earn commissions when someone buys through your link.

Many Nigerian fintechs, online stores and digital businesses run affiliate programmes.

The secret is recommending products people actually need.

7. Freelance your skills online

Start by building a small portfolio using free apps on your phone. Then pitch clients through LinkedIn, X, Facebook communities or freelance platforms.

Everyone starts somewhere.

8. Become a "slay reseller"

You've seen those pages that post shoes, wigs, and phone accessories and somehow sell out every week. Most of them don't hold a single item in stock.

It's called dropshipping. You post pictures from a supplier's catalog on WhatsApp Status or Instagram, collect orders, then the supplier ships directly (or you pick up locally and deliver).

All you need is a phone, a WhatsApp Business account, and the guts to post consistently.

9. App and website testing

There are platforms that pay you in dollars just to test apps and websites on your phone and record your honest reaction.

Sites like UserTesting and similar platforms pay per test, and payments often land in your bank via Payoneer or similar.

You literally get paid to complain — something Nigerians are already professionals at.

10. Sell data, airtime & betting codes on autopilot

VTU (Virtual Top-Up) apps let you sell data, airtime, exam pins, and cable subscriptions directly from your phone at a small margin.

Set your prices slightly above cost, share your link on your Status, and let people buy while you sleep. Some hustlers run this alongside a 9-5 and still clear a comfortable extra income monthly.

Your smartphone is already one of the most powerful business tools you own.

Whether you're a student, NYSC member, full-time worker or job seeker, there's a side hustle on this list that matches your current situation.

The hardest part is resisting the temptation to keep scrolling instead of building something that pays.

And who knows? The same phone you're reading this article on today could be paying your bills before the month ends.

20 lucrative business ideas you can explore in 2025

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier compiled a list of 20 Nigerian business ideas spanning agriculture, fashion, tech, and lifestyle industries to inspire you, whether your goal is to launch a low-cost company, take advantage of online business models, or develop creative concepts.

Nigeria offers endless opportunities for creative entrepreneurs.