I analyzed 326 side projects featured on HN between 2024 and 2025 that claimed to earn $500+ monthly; I found that half of them make less than $1,000 a month. (Don't get me wrong, that’s still impressive—especially since I’m not even making $500 yet!)
Common Successful Models:
- Niche Job Boards: Often gross around $1,000/month by referring traffic or charging for featured posts.
- Micro-SaaS/Utilities: Services like online faxing or uptime monitors frequently sit in the $500–$1,000 range.
- Content/Education: Books and interactive courses often provide a steady $500/month floor after an initial launch.
rhelz•1h ago
Half make *more* than $1000 a month?? Not bad odds for a not bad amount of extra income.
s-stude•1h ago
10% make more than 10,000 a month. Nice! And that is only 16 makers who reported this, and only for 2024–2025. I was too lazy to scan past years, but I will do.
s-stude•1h ago
Common Successful Models:
- Niche Job Boards: Often gross around $1,000/month by referring traffic or charging for featured posts.
- Micro-SaaS/Utilities: Services like online faxing or uptime monitors frequently sit in the $500–$1,000 range.
- Content/Education: Books and interactive courses often provide a steady $500/month floor after an initial launch.