How to make money coding from home in India

Here is an unpopular belief:

This is the century of coders. I know it sounds ridiculous, but give me a second to explain.

Looking back at the late 19^th century, there was what we now know as the Industrial Revolution. People rushed around creating big processing corporations. Industries were sprouted everywhere.

The early 19^th century saw things like the agricultural revolution (that’s how the slave trade came into being).

Not to teach you history lessons, but am trying to make a point.

And before I do that, there is another thing.

Towards the late 20^th century, there was what came to be known as the dotcom rush. Everyone and their grandma rushing to cash in on internet inventions.

21^st century, where we are today, everyone agrees it’s the information age. We’ve seen exponential growth of online businesses. There are over 600 million blogs in the world in 2024.

Here is another one:

6.7 million people publish articles on a blogging website regularly, with 12 million sharing the blogs on their social media.

Looking at the numbers alone, that is enough to convince you this is the age of coders.

Now, this article is not about whether you believe this or not. Rather, it is about showing you how to make money coding from home.

But first things first;

What is coding?

That may sound like a dumb question to some of you geeks out there, but trust me, a good number of people who are just getting a footing on this topic got no idea.

In a nutshell, coding is the process of developing applications (apps), either for mobile phones or for computers.

See that favorite app you can’t go even for a minute without swiping (yes am referring to Instagram)? Somebody sat down and developed (coded) that full product you are addicted to now.

We can say the people who coded popular apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and how can I forget Google (yes, it’s an application) were lucky.

They indeed made millions, I mean, look at Zuckerberg, he is one of the youngest billionaires in the world.

Do you think he is special?

Do you think the rest of the codders have some special magic to throw around and boom, things happen?

No, they don’t.

They are just coders like you who believed in themselves and look at where that has got them.

How to make money coding from home in India

You don’t need to be like the elite programmers to make money from home as a coder.

What I am about to show you is so simple, you will be on your way to making your first dollars within a week!

Since I want you to start making money as soon as possible, I will give you one or two pointers after each idea. For this reason, it might not be a good idea to skim this article.

Requirements to start earning from home as a programmer

First, let me tell you what you don’t need to become a programmer:

You don’t need a billion dollars, you don’t need rich parents or a famous uncle.

All you need is:

• A computer, laptop, or a PC – if you don’t have a personal one, borrow from a friend. Funny enough, I have heard programmers who started by writing code on a piece of paper. You don’t have an excuse
• Reliable internet connection – if you are in college, leverage school Wi-Fi, it is free and reliable.
• Coding knowledge – if you don’t have any, go to YouTube and search for ‘How to code’ there are a ton of tutorials.

Who knew the answer to how to make money coding from home in India would come down to three things.

Armed with these things, there is one step, though it is not that necessary. Decide on the niche.

What is a niche, you may wonder?

You see, coding/programming in itself is a broad industry. By broad, this is what I mean:

• There are people coding websites (web development)
• Coding apps (app development) either mobile apps or computer apps
• Decide to focus on only one coding language, say C++ or Java

And the list goes on.

The goal is not to overthink this step. Just pick what your gut tells you is right. And consider your long-term goals.

Done?

Here are your answers to how to make money coding from home in India.

#1. Start freelancing and make money

Yes, you don’t need a fulltime job where you are working in a cubicle to make money as a programmer.

As a freelancer, you can take any number of clients you want, hiring, and firing them as you please.

Once you know what direction you want to take your programming skills, say developing websites, start hunting for clients right in your pajamas at home.

To do that, go to marketplaces like Upwork and open an account, showcase your portfolio, and start pitching your services.

 

Other ways to make it as a freelance programmer:

• Start blogging about your area of expertise. The goal here is to show that you are an expert and know what you are talking about.
• Ask for referrals from your past and existing clients. If you are doing a great job, they will give you all of their contact lists.

#2. Create and sell online courses

This is for those who trust their skills. The last thing you want is charging people for things they can find for free somewhere else.

So, if you think you have mastered the art and science of coding, consider this idea.

You wonder how you going to do that from home.

Well, armed with a phone and laptop, record videos talking about what you know.

Once done, edit them to remove unnecessary parts (trust me, they are plenty), and upload them somewhere, say DropBox.

Charge people who want to access it.

Here is a little nugget:

Maybe you have developed a system of coding faster without compromising on the quality of codes or burning out. Go ahead and document the whole process and sell it to fellow programmers.

You will save them time and make money in the process without leaving your home.

#3. Create viral apps (mobile or web)

You are creative. But do you know how to identify emerging trends?

Well, if you do, there is money to be made.

Here is what you ought to do:

• Do a quick research online on a growing topic or problem.
• Think of a way in which an app can help solve the problem.
• Go ahead and create the app
• Launch

So you have the app, now what?

To make money, you can either sell the app to users.

Or better yet, offer it for a free download. Then partner with brands to advertise on your app. They reach a wider audience and you make money, everybody wins.

#4. Participate in bounty programs and contests

Recently, Microsoft launched a $100K bug bounty program.

Companies are embracing the idea of bounties now more than ever.

The idea is that a bunch of coders compete to successfully ‘hack’ a given product. The winner walks away with hefty prizes.

What is happening here?

You are helping companies save billions of losses by identifying vulnerabilities in their systems. The prizes are just a token of appreciation.

And yes, you can do this fulltime from home. All you have to do is look for such contests, register, and start hunting for dem bugs.

#5. Develop games from your bedroom

See how the Candy Crush mobile app has hooked girls?

How about Temple Run when it came out?

Do you have a game idea? Go ahead and create it. You will need:

• Impressive designs
• 3D works
• Code

If you don’t have all of these, bring in a partner who does and form a partnership.

Once done, upload the app to the Google Play store and other marketplaces. Once you have a decent user base, start offering advertisements as a way of generating revenue.

Better yet, offer in-app purchases. Here, users have to part with some Rupees to access certain features on the app, say unlock extra levels, special powers, etc.

Bonus idea for how to make money coding

Once you start ‘feeling’ your expertise, you know that point you ooze coding knowledge, consider taking in consultation locally. Technically, you are still at home because you are.

Visit local businesses and help them figure things out. Charge per hour or session. You can even start speaking at events.

Final thoughts on how to make money coding

Believe me when I say:

You don’t need fancy stuff to start making money as a programmer. You only need you.