Another excellent way to earn decent money as a cyber friend is to join the friendship site called FriendPC.
In this platform, you can get paid to chat online, play video games with your friend, or become a virtual girlfriend or life coach for someone.
FriendPC allows you to meet paying members and become their online friend. You can run your “friendship business” on your own terms. That is, you can set your rates, offer various kinds of services, get contacted with your preferred methods, and more. You are practically in control of almost every aspect of making money as a virtual friend.
Additionally, as part of FriendPC’s digital marketing campaign, you can also get paid to refer friends into the platform.
Pay: $10-$30 per hour
PROS
- You can set your own rates and method of communication with your online friends
- Payment is released immediately after completing the booking
- You can offer both in person and virtual friendship services
CONS
- FriendPC takes a commission fee off your earnings
- You need to pay for a higher package to access more listing options
3. RENT A CYBER FRIEND
You can also earn money as someone’s friend online on Rent A Cyber Friend, a platform that works just like FriendPC and Rent a Friend.
Rent A Cyber Friend offers people a good way to connect with others online who share their interests via a video chat. You get paid per minute of the calls (starting on the second minute), so the longer you stay on the line and keep your online friends company, the more money you earn.
To apply as a virtual friend on Rent A Cyber Friend, you only need to be at least 18 years old, have a high-speed internet connection, and be friendly, cheerful, and engaging. Cyber friends from all over the world are welcome.
Just so you know, Rent A Cyber Friend comes at a cost, starting at $29.99 per month. Most virtual sites charge a fee to filter out spam, so consider these charges before diving in.
On the upside, you can charge as much as you like for the services that you offer. You can also customize your rates based on interests. For instance, you can charge a different rate for friends looking to play online games with you than with friends who share similar interests in music or movies.
Pay: average of $20 an hour
PROS
- You can search for online friends based on similar interests so you have something in common.
- You decide your own rates.
- You keep 100% of your earnings.
CONS
- You need to pay at least $29.99 per month to maintain membership.
- You need to get busy, otherwise, you won’t make more money.
4. RENT A LOCAL FRIEND
Some people online would try to look for friends before they move into a new area, and this is where Rent a Local Friend comes in.
At Rent A Local Friend, you basically act as a local expert in your town or community and help newcomers get a better grasp of the area by showing them the sights.
According to its website, thousands of travelers make use of Rent A Local Friend whenever they visit a new destination.
Also, there are over 1500 local friends online in 325 cities. If you live in a touristy area and can communicate in English, then working for Rent a Local Friend is a great idea.
To become a local friend at Rent a Local Friend, simply sign up and create a profile on the website.
You will be invited for an interview with the community manager and activate the friendship you wish to offer. Finally, you need to pay a contribution to verify your profile and start making money as a local friend.
Pay: Up to $30 an hour
PROS
- Set your own prices and schedule.
- Works well in you live in touristy areas.
CONS
- You need to pay a contribution fee to start making money.
5. FIVERR FRIENDSHIP
Fiverr is an online marketplace to buy and sell freelance services, and selling your friendship to lonely people could work here too.
It’s quite easy to become a virtual friend online and make money from Fiverr. Simply set up your account, create your profile, and set your rates.
It’s good to include relevant keywords in your profile because Fiverr works like a search engine for remote workers. You’ll easily attract potential clients if they know that you are a good match for them.
One of the key ways to succeed and build online friendships on Fiverr is to be a bit more specific on the kind of services that you offer.
Scouring through the Fiverr Friendship section, I’ve found that most online friends offer one or more of the following: provide friendship and relationship advice, life coaching, playing online games with online friends.
Pay: at least $5 an hour, but you’ll probably make more if you offer your services in various packages
PROS
- Fiverr is one of the most established sites for freelancing, and its payment system is quite secure
- You can set your own rates and packages
CONS
- Fiverr takes 20% off your earnings as commission
- There is a lot of competition
- Lower pay grade as compared to other sites
6. YOUR OWN WEBSITE
Finally, you can earn money as a virtual friend by promoting your services on your own website. Fortunately, building your own business website doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated.
You can set up your own website in minutes for less than $3 per month by simply following this easy step-by-step tutorial.
With your own website, you can set your own rates and rules.
As always, be sure to discuss your hobbies and interests, the friendship services you offer, financial details, and how potential clients can contact you.
It’s also a good idea to cross-promote your website with your social media account. Who knows, one of your Facebook friends would want to hire you as a virtual friend?
There’s always a good chance that the friend requests you get can bring you to a high-paying lead.
PROS
- You can set your rates and rules.
- You’ll get all your earnings.
- You are not dependent on a platform. This means your business will not go with the platform if they decide to shut it down.
CONS
- You’ll need to learn how to market your services.
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR INCOME AS A VIRTUAL FRIEND
Working as a virtual friend does pay good money, but only if you put in the work.
Starting and building virtual friendships can take some work, so if you want to keep the extra money rolling into your bank account, then consider the following tips:
- Be as detailed as possible without giving away sensitive personal information. Most clients want friends they can easily relate with, so make sure to describe your personality, what you like, what your hobbies and interests are, the languages you speak, places that you’ve been to and more.
- Be genuine and helpful. A lot of people online seek and pay for friends online because they are lonely and they want someone to chat with. It means a lot to them to have someone listen. If they ask for advice, give it to them. Your sincerity in engaging with your clients will show, and they’ll keep coming back if they feel happier and better after talking to you.
- Make it easy for friends to reach you. Indicate how you wish to communicate and the times when you are available. Grab every opportunity to engage. More friends means more money.
VIRTUAL FRIEND TIPS: HOW TO STAY SAFE WHILE MAKING MONEY AS AN ONLINE FRIEND
We’ve just discussed how to make money online as a virtual friend, now it’s time you learn how to go about this business safely.
Let’s face it: we are living in an online world and we don’t know the true person behind someone’s avatar or profile picture. So to establish virtual friendships that earn extra money, always keep these safety precautions in mind:
- Set clear boundaries. Most friendship sites are very clear about their no-dating policy. If you are to market yourself as a virtual friend on Fiverr or your own website or social media, for example, then you should put it out there that you are only offering platonic relationships and online companionship, nothing more.
- Do not reveal sensitive personal information. Don’t reveal your real name and location to your virtual friends. You never know if you’re dealing with a stalker or pervert, so it’s best to keep your identity private.
- Cut connections with your friend if you feel uncomfortable or threatened. Block the person and report him to the site’s customer service team.
- Be extra careful when meeting up with your virtual friends. Always let another person know who you’re meeting up with, when and where. If you decide to bring your friendship to the next level and are meeting up for the first time, consider bringing a friend along and doing the rendezvous in a public place.
- Beware of sugar daddy scams. Some people may try to scam you by offering you a large sum of money in exchange for your friendship. Once you give your bank details, they would try to ask for an upfront payment, but quickly disappear as soon as you send them the money.
GET PAID TO BE AN ONLINE FRIEND: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
CAN I GET PAID TO JUST TALK TO PEOPLE?
Sure you can. A lot of people are looking for virtual friends they can just chat with when they’re lonely or depressed. Others are looking to connect with people they share the same interests with. You just need to find the best platforms to offer your online friendship services.
HOW CAN I HAVE A VIRTUAL FRIEND?
You can find a virtual friend by going to friendship sites like Rent A Friend, FriendPC and Rent A Cyber Friend. A lot of people there seek online friends, while others are getting paid to offer their friendship.
HOW DO YOU GET PAID ON RENT A FRIEND?
Indicate your hourly rate on Rent A Friend and then get paid in person, right after you’ve done your tasks as an online friend.
IS RENT A FRIEND REAL?
Yes, it is one of the most established platforms that allow you to find virtual friend jobs on the internet.
HOW CAN I AND MY FRIEND MAKE MONEY?
You can make money as a virtual friend. You can get paid to chat or video call with someone. You could also meet in person so you can do things together, like going to the movies, exploring the outdoors or learning new skills.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Making money from virtual friendships can be a good way to boost your income. Getting jobs as a virtual friend doesn’t require much: you just need to be of legal age and have a pleasant, friendly personality. There are absolutely no specialized skills, certification, or bachelor’s degree required.
If you want to make money in your spare time in the least stressful way, then working as a virtual friend can be a great idea.
However, this business has its own risks, so be on your guard and only divulge information you are comfortable sharing. If you are clear with your boundaries and do your tasks excellently as an online friend, then you should reap the financial benefits of this side hustle.
