How to Make Money with WordPress: 15 Real Ways

You’ve been thinking about making money with WordPress. Maybe you’ve already launched your site and are wondering where the income is… or maybe you’re still staring at a blank homepage, trying to figure out if it’s even worth starting. Either way, you’re asking the right question: How to make money with WordPress?

Having a website, or even getting traffic, doesn’t automatically lead to income. It’s your monetization model, not your pageviews, that makes the difference.

With this real-world breakdown of 15 proven ways to make money with WordPress, we’ll introduce you to tools, examples, and mini-action plans to help you get started. It doesn’t matter at what stage you are, these are the paths real creators use to earn online. Let’s find the one that fits you.

3 technical services to make money with WordPress

Ideal for: People comfortable with WordPress setup, plugins, design, or backend management.

1. Offer WordPress setup or customization

Think of this as selling relief. You know what’s confusing to non-tech people? Themes. Plugins. Menus. WordPress menus within menus. If you can help someone get from “blank page” to “functional website,” you’re really valuable. In fact, this is one of the main values with which someone can make money. 

People will pay for simple ideas like basic site setup (domain, theme, plugins, contact form), modernisation of the site (to make their homepage not look like a blog from 2009), speed fixes, mobile optimization, and more. 

Your next question should be: but how do I scale? How do I do this without burning out? The answer’s simple: use the right tools. For example, when you use 10Web AI Website Builder, you drastically cut your setup time in half (or more). Here’s how:

1. If they already have a site: Migrate it into your 10Web dashboard in one click. You can instantly redesign it with a modern layout using AI Co-Pilot, without touching code.
2. If they don’t: Ask them a few basic questions (what’s your business, what pages do you need?), plug that into 10Web AI, and it’ll generate a site with layout, copy, and images in seconds.
3. In both cases: You customize a little, make it personal, and send them a finished site that looks like you spent weeks on it.

You can even manage multiple client projects from your own 10Web dashboard, give clients their own login, branded under your name (10Web’s name is not visible). You get total control with zero technical headaches.

This works because most people just want a good-looking website that works. If you can deliver that in days instead of weeks, you’ll get referrals on referrals.

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2. Create monthly maintenance plans

This is where “get paid monthly” becomes real. Once a site is live, it needs updates, backups, security, and someone to freak out on when it crashes. That someone could be you. You can include monthly backups, plugin/theme updates, basic edits or content uploads, uptime, and performance monitoring. 

There are even more ways to make this dead simple (and profitable): Use 10Web to migrate their site, then manage everything from one dashboard, with most client concerns finding solutions automatically. Instead of you doing everything manually in the background, this way, most of the problems are solved on the spot:

• Automated backups: Daily backups, plus one before every plugin update
• Security monitoring: Firewall, bot protection, and downtime alerts
• Auto updates: Less grunt work, fewer oops
• Performance tools: Caching, CDN, image optimization
• Staging environments: Make changes safely before going live

You can offer a one-time “move your site to pro hosting” package, then sell ongoing maintenance as peace-of-mind insurance. 

3. Sell themes or plugins

If you’re the type who changes your own theme “just for fun,” this one’s calling your name. Selling WordPress themes or plugins can be crazy profitable, but only if you treat it like a product, not a side hustle.

Plus, shipping the product is only half the battle. The real work is:

• Writing documentation that doesn’t make people cry
• Answering “doesn’t work” tickets that turn out to be cache issues
• Updating regularly to stay compatible with WordPress changes

Still, it’s one of the few ways to build once and get paid many times, especially if you choose a niche with demand but not 500 other versions of the same thing.

5 ways to monetize WordPress with content creation

Ideal for: Writers, educators, creators, or experts in any topic.

4. Start a blog with affiliate links

Affiliate marketing gets a lot of hype, and for once, it’s kind of deserved. It works like this: You write helpful content (think tutorials, how-to guides, product reviews), sprinkle in links to products or services you like, and earn a commission when someone buys through your link.

First of all, you need your blog, then you need to link it to something relevant. It can be a a DIY blog linking to their go-to tools on Amazon, or a food blog recommending their favorite kitchen gear. Find your passion, start your blog, and try to be useful with your links.

Some handy tools you might need are Pretty Links and ThirstyAffiliates, They clean up your affiliate URLs and track clicks. 

5. Sell digital products

You’ve got knowledge. Package it, turn it into digital products, and start earning. It’s a low-cost and scalable way to make money with WordPress. You don’t need to worry about shipping or inventory. With just a few clicks, your customers can get ebooks, templates, design kits, printables, or any other digital product. They get a solution to a problem. You get a new income stream. 

See our guide on how to start a digital product business to learn more about how you should approach this. 

6. Create online courses

If people constantly ask you how you do what you do, there’s your course idea. Similar to digital products, online courses let you monetize your expertise without repeating yourself 100 times. You can teach others how to blog, run a photography course for beginners, or turn your language skills into video lessons. Options are endless. 

You can register on a platform that’s for freelance teachers, or build your own platform/website with AI. In both cases, make sure you have appropriate pricing by analyzing what the market prices are beforehand.  

7. Launch a paid newsletter

Newsletters are having their moment, and not just the free kind, but the helpful ones. As long as you share helpful information, a unique point of view, and something valuable enough that people want in their inbox every week, you can charge for it. What works well:

• Curated tips (e.g. “Best AI tools of the week”)
• Deep-dive analysis or industry insights
• Exclusive templates, prompts, or swipe files
• Behind-the-scenes content or case studies

You can try different monetization options. The most common one is probably charging a monthly subscription via Stripe or WooCommerce, but you can go the safe route at first and charge for “Support me” tiers on Patreon, or annual memberships with bonus content. 

Keep in mind: Paid newsletters only work if you’re consistently helpful. If you show up for your readers, they’ll show up for you, credit card in hand.

8. Offer freelance writing, coaching, or consulting

When you look for how to make money with WordPress, you probably believe that the tool itself will earn you money. However, sometimes, it’s just the doorway to bigger things.

If you’re a writer, designer, career coach, or consultant of any kind, your site should help people hire you. For starters, you can have your portfolio or resume on your website. It can be even simpler than that: a “hire me” or “work with me” page with a few testimonials (even if they’re from past coworkers), and a way to contact you.

Building your WordPress website is the simplest part here, when done with AI Website Builder, so you should focus on understanding how you present your skills and lead the right people to your page. This path doesn’t need a lot of traffic. You just need the right person to land on your site, and believe that they need to work with you. 

2 product-based ways to sell without storing inventory

Ideal for: Creators who want to sell physical or digital goods without stock, shipping, or tech headaches.

9. Open a WooCommerce store

If you’ve got something to sell, setting up a store with WooCommerce is one of the most flexible ways to do it. It’s free, works seamlessly with WordPress, and gives you full control over your brand and pricing.

To keep things simple, WooPayments handles secure checkouts without needing extra plugins. Plus, if you want to avoid setup delays or performance headaches, 10Web can help you launch faster with built-in speed tools, ecommerce templates, and managed hosting. You just need your product and a plan. Here’s how easily you can build your store (without involving developers): 

1. Describe your store: What are you selling and who’s it for?
2. Let AI do its part: Instantly get a full WordPress site with WooCommerce integration, product pages, and design.
3. Customize & launch: Change colors, fonts, and more, then hit publish.

Once it’s live, the store is yours. You own the site, the customer list, and the income.

10. Try dropshipping

Dropshipping lets you run an online store without holding any inventory. You list products on your site, a customer places an order, and a supplier takes care of the shipping. It’s low risk, which makes it perfect if you’re testing new ideas or don’t want to deal with fulfillment.

Platforms like Spocket or AliDropship simplify the process of sourcing products and automatically sync orders. The key is choosing the right product. Ideally, it’s something with high profit margins and low return rates. Stay away from complicated tech items or trending products that are likely to break or disappoint.

If this interests you, you can explore how dropshipping works with our quick guide. 

5 creative and alternative paths to make money with WordPress

Ideal for: Creators and community builders who want more than just ads and affiliate links.

11. Launch a white label website business

This one’s for those who want to earn like an agency without building everything from zero or hiring a team of developers. This is your shortcut. 

All you have to do is use 10Web’s White Label Website Builder to start offering site creation and management under your brand. What makes this model powerful: 

• Use AI to build full websites in minutes: layout, images, text
• Add your own branding: dashboard, emails, even URLs 
• Set custom pricing and manage subscriptions 
• Let clients DIY or keep you on retainer for ongoing help 
• Everything’s hosted on fast, secure infrastructure (with daily backups, 99.99% uptime, and more) 

Plus, you manage it all from one place. You see traffic stats, add/remove clients, handle billing (Stripe, PayPal, 10Web Payments), and keep control over everything from one user-friendly dashboard. You don’t even need to touch cPanel or set up WordPress manually ever again. 

This is a serious income model. Some people charge a few hundred per site, others build monthly retainers. You can even turn it into a full-on subscription business that runs without you touching WordPress ever again.

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12. Create a directory or job board

Directories still work in 2025. It can be a local business listing or a niche job board for a specific industry, and as long as it solves a real discovery problem, there’s a place for it. 

You can use tools like GeoDirectory or WP Job Manager to set it up. Once it’s live, you monetize through paid listings, ads, or premium placement spots. It takes a bit of effort to grow, but once it gains traction, it’s a nice blend of passive income and community service.

13. Start a podcast

WordPress can be your podcast HQ. With plugins like Seriously Simple Podcasting, you can publish episodes, embed players, and manage your show right from your site.

The money comes from sponsorships, affiliate mentions, premium episodes, or offering paid extras like behind-the-scenes content. The site itself helps you build an audience, collect emails, and stay in control of your brand. You can explore how others did it in our detailed review of podcast websites. 

14. Accept tips or donations

Sometimes you’re not selling a product, but sharing value. In this case, tips and donations can add up. Anyone from educators and writers to designers can use this method.

You can embed tools like GiveWP or Buy Me a Coffee to let readers throw you a few bucks. It won’t make you rich, but it can help fund your next project or just feel like your work is appreciated. Plenty of creators use this as a stepping stone to bigger monetization down the road.

15. Flip your website

One of the most underrated income strategies: build a site, grow it, and sell it. If you’ve built up some traffic, content, and income (even modest), there’s a buyer out there. Platforms like Flippa or Empire Flippers simplify the selling process.

Before you flip, make sure the site runs smoothly, earns consistent revenue, and doesn’t depend on you personally. The more automated and niche-focused it is, the higher the valuation. It’s not passive, but if you’re the builder type, this might be your perfect exit strategy.

How to make money with WordPress: What’s right for you?

Not every path fits every person. Your time, skills, and audience size all shape what makes sense right now. Use this quick table to find a starting point that aligns with where you are, and grow from there:

Making money with WordPress is possible!

Now you know 15 ways to make money with WordPress. Some take more time, some more tech skills, but all of them are doable. Most people quit just before things click. Traffic feels slow. Sales aren’t instant. Imposter syndrome shows up. That’s normal. What matters is sticking with it long enough to see results.

So here’s your challenge: Choose one idea. Launch a simple version in the next 7 days. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be real.

Plus, if you want to build fast and skip the tech stress? Whichever option you choose, 10Web can help you go live in minutes with no code, no hosting headaches, just results.

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