Before the rise of no-code platforms, AI copilots, and the modern indie hacking movement, developers were already making money in clever, scrappy ways. Many of those pre-2021 income methods still work—but they’re ripe for reinvention in a 2025 world.
Let’s explore some classic money-making methods developers used before 2021—and how you can breathe new life into them today.
1. Freelancing on Marketplaces
🕰️ Then: Platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr were go-to places for devs to earn by building websites, fixing bugs, or creating small tools. Most work was project-based, with high competition and price undercutting.
🔁 Reinvent It Now:
- Niche Down + Authority: Focus on verticals like “Shopify CRO optimization” or “Ghost blog customizations.” Build a mini-site or Notion portfolio instead of relying entirely on platforms.
- Use AI to Scale: Automate routine work (content scraping, image resizing, email templates) to handle more clients.
- Prebuilt Templates: Sell mini solutions (landing page templates, Zapier bundles) instead of custom builds every time.
2. Selling WordPress Plugins or Themes
🕰️ Then: Developers made passive income on marketplaces like ThemeForest and CodeCanyon by creating reusable WordPress assets.
🔁 Reinvent It Now:
- Modern CMS Plugins: Build for Ghost, Astro, or Next.js CMS setups. There’s fresh demand.
- Bundle + Sell: Use platforms like Lemon Squeezy or Gumroad to sell bundles with extra utility—documentation, starter templates, and onboarding scripts.
- Niche Themes: Micro-target niches (e.g., “coaches,” “indie podcast hosts,” “bootstrapped SaaS”) and offer unique UX design catered to their flows.
3. Building Chrome Extensions
🕰️ Then: Small browser utilities (ad blockers, productivity tools) gained traction and monetized through freemium upgrades or donations.
🔁 Reinvent It Now:
- AI-Enhanced Extensions: Add GPT-backed features—summarizers, translators, or AI writing helpers.
- Monetize Directly: Sell via Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, or through private downloads.
- B2B Utility Tools: Build extensions for SEO pros, virtual assistants, researchers—many still use browser-based tools daily.
4. Launching Micro SaaS
🕰️ Then: Developers bootstrapped tiny SaaS tools solving narrow problems—often marketed via Reddit, Product Hunt, or indie blogs.
🔁 Reinvent It Now:
- No-Code + AI MVPs: Build with Bubble, WeWeb, or Wized + APIs. No need to code full-stack from scratch.
- Subscription + Lifetime Hybrid: Offer LTDs (lifetime deals) with upgrade paths to recurring SaaS.
- Validation First: Use waitlists, landing pages, and AI to prevalidate with less than 48 hours of work.
5. Writing Technical Blogs + Tutorials
🕰️ Then: Platforms like Medium or Dev.to allowed devs to earn via views, affiliate links, or freelance opportunities that came from inbound traffic.
🔁 Reinvent It Now:
- Turn Into Digital Products: Bundle high-performing tutorials into ebooks, email courses, or paid communities.
- Use AI to Repurpose: Turn blog posts into YouTube scripts, carousel posts, or swipe files.
- Leverage Substack: Paid newsletters on niche topics (e.g., “React Security Weekly” or “AI Tools for Developers”) are in demand.
6. Selling Code Snippets or APIs
🕰️ Then: Developers shared reusable components or APIs—like image converters, form validators, or payment wrappers.
🔁 Reinvent It Now:
- Host + Monetize: Use marketplaces like RapidAPI or sell your own API as a microservice with rate limits + paid tiers.
- Bundle Dev Kits: Create toolkits (like “Stripe Onboarding Kit for Indie Hackers”) with copy-paste scripts, onboarding flows, and video walkthroughs.
- Developer Marketplaces: Tap into GitHub Sponsors or DevHunt to list your components and grow an audience.
7. Teaching & Online Courses
🕰️ Then: Selling courses on Udemy or Teachable was a common path for experienced devs.
🔁 Reinvent It Now:
- Cohort-less Mini Bootcamps: 5-day email bootcamps or one-week Notion + Loom-based microcourses are more digestible.
- Monetize via Communities: Pair your course with private Discords, Slack groups, or Notion hubs.
- AI-Aided Learning: Create GPT-based quiz bots or interactive code explainers to make your course more engaging.
8. Affiliate Tools + Resource Pages
🕰️ Then: Devs earned passive income by recommending hosting platforms, theme builders, or analytics tools.
🔁 Reinvent It Now:
- Tool Roundups on Niche Sites: Create “Top 5 tools for indie developers” landing pages.
- Use AI to Scale SEO Content: Rank for longtail keywords in underserved niches.
- Create Link-In-Bio Tools: Build your own affiliate hub (like bio.link) with analytics and optimization.
🧠 Final Thought: Old Doesn’t Mean Dead
Many of the pre-2021 developer income strategies still work—but they need modern packaging. AI tools, leaner platforms, and new consumer expectations mean the what might be similar, but the how is evolving rapidly.
If you’re a developer today, don’t ignore the past. Study it. Then reinvent it.
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