12 Developer Side Project Ideas That Make Money

Side project ideas for developers that can generate real revenue. Turn your coding skills into a profitable solo business.

1. Developer Tool or CLI

Medium$3K-$50K/mo

Build a tool that makes developers' lives easier. CLI tools, VS Code extensions, or browser extensions.

Real example: Many successful developer tools started as side projects. Tailwind CSS started as Adam Wathan's project.

2. API as a Service

Medium$3K-$30K/mo

Build a useful API and charge developers per request. Data APIs, processing APIs, or utility APIs.

Real example: API products have great unit economics. Build once, serve thousands of developers.

3. Open Source with Premium Features

High$5K-$50K/mo

Build an open-source tool with a paid cloud version or premium features. Community drives growth.

Real example: Caleb Porzio monetizes Livewire through screencasts. Plausible Analytics has open-source + cloud.

4. Chrome Extension

Low$2K-$30K/mo

Build a Chrome extension that solves a common problem. Freemium model with paid features.

Real example: Chrome extensions with millions of users generate $5K-$30K/mo from premium features.

5. Boilerplate / Starter Kit

Low$3K-$30K/mo

Create a paid starter template for popular frameworks. Save developers setup time on new projects.

Real example: Marc Lou's ShipFast generates significant revenue. SaaS boilerplates are in high demand.

6. Technical Blog with Products

Medium$3K-$50K/mo

Write deep technical content that attracts developers. Monetize with courses, tools, and sponsorships.

Real example: Technical bloggers like Wes Bos and Kent C. Dodds earn $50K+/mo from content + products.

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