I'd understand if you're a bit skeptical, but you really can get paid to talk to lonely people and without compromising your safety. Many Americans want someone to blow off some steam, flirt with, or commiserate with about daily life, and a surprising number of them are willing to pay for it.
Do you enjoy being someone's shoulder to lean on, engaging in casual banter, or simply providing companionship? If so, here's how you can indulge those sides of yourself and make some money while you do it.
What kind of platforms are there?
There are many platforms that can help you get paid to talk to lonely people in one form or another. You can connect with customers looking for text, audio, video and even face-to-face conversations.
Some cater more to sexual interaction, but many others focus solely on platonic conversations. However, as one might expect, there seems to be more demand for the former, so fewer platforms exclusively cater to the latter.
Of course, if you're more entrepreneurial and willing to branch out on your own (as opposed to working for a third-party platform), you could sell whatever chat service you want. If you can generate demand yourself, you can use more flexible marketplaces like Fiverr or Freelancer to connect with customers.
How much can you expect to earn?
Most chat platforms pay a flat rate per hour or message. If it's time, you can expect to receive between about $10 and $50 per hour (often communicated to the minute). On message-based platforms where you chat via SMS, you'll likely find rates between $0,10 and $0,20 per message.
Keep in mind that it's theoretically possible that it falls on the higher end of these ranges, but it's not guaranteed. And while rates play a significant role in your profitability, the most limiting determinants of your earnings will likely be the level of demand you can generate and the amount of time you can invest.
Now, let's look at specific examples of sites that will pay you to talk to lonely people.
The best platonic platforms
First, let's take a look at some of the best platforms for those who would rather not engage in sexual conversation. Each of these sites specifically prohibits people from using them for romantic or sexual activity.
1. Rent a friend
www.rentafriend.com
How it works
Rent a Friend is aimed primarily at people looking for someone to meet in person. The site allows you to register as a friend to rent by the hour, after which users can purchase your time. They may book you for conversation or company during a social activity.
The risks
With any site that allows in-person meetings, there is a risk that your client may be untrustworthy. Rent A Friend requires users to pay a fee before they can contact you, however, and you're free to chat with people before meeting them (or deny requests altogether).
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Rates generally start at $10 an hour, but you can negotiate both ways. Friends can set their rates individually and keep 100% of their proceeds. The site makes money by charging users a monthly fee.
Reviews and ratings
Rent a Friend has some positive testimonials on their site and a generally positive online reputation. There are no official ratings, but there is no shortage of positive internet anecdotes from previous users.
2. Pope
www.joinpapà.com
How it works
Working for dad might be the healthiest way to get paid to talk to lonely people. The clientele is made up exclusively of the elderly and infirm. If you've ever visited a convalescent home, working with Dad should be familiar to you.
The risks
There is always some privacy and security risk when conversing or meeting with strangers (Dad allows you to offer both virtual and in-person services), but Dad does a great job of connecting you with people in real need. of what you want to sell.
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Papa's website states that their basic hourly rate is $15 per hour. There are also daily and weekly bonuses available that will reimburse you for the cost of commuting to client sites.
Reviews and ratings
Dad averages three out of five stars Indeed from past and present workers. On Porta di Vetro they have an average score of 4,4.
3. PC friend
www.friendpc.com
How it works
FriendPC is the most flexible of the three platforms on this list. If you “become a virtual friend,” you can choose to offer a wide variety of services. This includes conversation and companionship over the phone or in person.
The risks
FriendPC is more likely to expose you to people seeking sexual services than the others on this list. The platform allows friends to provide “services for girls”.
While they define them as platonically role-playing as someone's girlfriend to fool a third party, some people might get the wrong idea.
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Friends can set prices for their services. No fees or commissions are publicly quoted.
Reviews and ratings
The internet makes similar accusations against FriendsPC as any paid advertising website would for talking to lonely people. Otherwise, the site has a generally positive reputation, although it has no official ratings.
The best sex platforms
Next, we look at some of the best platforms where you can get paid to flirt, discuss sexual topics, or otherwise engage in sexual conversation. None of these sites facilitate paying for in-person sex services, of course.
1. FlirtBucks
www.flirtbucks.net
How it works
FlirtBucks is a platform designed specifically for flirty text and video conversations (hence the name). The site makes it clear that video calls are also conversations, not shows, no nudity. They only hire female chat hostesses.
The risks
FlirtBucks' Better Business Bureau page shows the complaints of many who regret giving them sensitive information after not getting a response to their question. There's no confirmation that FlirtBucks did anything malicious with their data, but there's always a risk.
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FlirtBucks pays between $0,10 and $0,15 per minute for text chat. The pay range is $0,40 to $0,50 per minute for video chats. Your rates will increase the longer you work with them.
Reviews and ratings
FlirtBucks' digital reputation is split fairly evenly between positive and negative. Comprehensive reviewers support it as a legitimate business, but crowdsourcing sites report consistent privacy issues (although none with documented issues).
2. MyGirlFund
www.mygirlfund.com
How it works
FlirtBucks is a platform designed specifically for flirts MyGirlFund follows a traditional platform model and connects men interested in paying to talk to attractive women. They support text chat, video chat and even live webcam shows.
The risks
MyGirlFund only supports remote services, so there is no risk to anyone's security. Your personal information is also somewhat protected from the public since you don't talk to customers on personal devices, but the site still logs your data, so be careful.
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Girls can set the rates for their services as they please, but the site takes a service fee from any earnings.
Reviews and ratings
Like its peers, MyGirlFund receives generally mixed reviews online. Some tout it as a great way to make extra money and others are about equally suspicious of it.
3. Friendly
www.phrendly.com
How it works
Phrendly is a less traditional platform than others on this list. It's not so much an hourly chat service as a social media that rewards popularity with money. People who receive chat requests and hold them for long periods make more money.
The risks
Phrendly is 100% remote, so there is no risk of meeting people in person. Since all interactions between people take place through the app, your personal data is also protected from customers.
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Reviews and ratings
Phrendly has a good reputation online as a small business with all the pros and cons you'd expect. The site has some technical issues, but they seem legitimate. The app receives three out of five stars on the Google Play Store.
You should do it?
Side businesses are a great way to top up your monthly cash flows, but you should be selective about which one you decide to pursue. Many of them (including this one) involve trading your time for money, which will only get you so far. Your time is limited, after all, so selling your free hours is unlikely to make or break your finances.
Ultimately, it's very likely worth the time if you do something fun that also fits into your lifestyle. For example, if you have a dog that you already walk three times a day, signing up with Rover as a professional dog sitter makes a lot of sense.
All in all, that means you should consider this second job if you really enjoy (or already spend time with) chatting with strangers. Just do your due diligence and select a secure platform that supports your desired experience.
Other job ideas and extra income:
Ideas for extra income
Gig Economy: real people, real stories
