Generate Passive Income by Sharing Your Internet Bandwidth With These Apps
We often overlook the hidden potential in our internet subscriptions. Many of us only use a fraction of our bandwidth, leaving the rest untouched. A rising trend involves letting businesses securely channel certain data tasks through your spare capacity, in exchange for extra income. It might not turn you into a millionaire, but it can offset a portion of your monthly bill. Below are the active platforms in 2025 that invite users worldwide to share their internet and earn some cash.
Key Benefits and Risks
On the plus side, it’s typically free to join, requires little more than installing an app, and can generate money day and night. The main drawback is you become a mini proxy, so if someone does something shady, it initially traces to your IP. Fortunately, the leading companies vet their clients and encrypt traffic to reduce abuse. Still, it’s wise to stick with well-known apps, follow ISP rules, and keep expectations reasonable—most folks see small but welcome passive gains rather than giant paydays.
Getting Started
To begin earning money by sharing your bandwidth, you will need:
A computer.
An internet connection.
An Android phone (optional, if sharing cellular data).
Here’s what you need to do:
Visit the website for each of the apps listed below.
Create an account if required.
Download and install the app on your PC, phone, or both.
Leave the app running in the background.
Top Apps to Share Your Bandwidth
Honeygain revolves around a straightforward idea: install the software, let it route background traffic, and earn roughly $0.10 per gigabyte. You can run it on Windows, macOS, Linux, or Android, then watch your “credits” accumulate until you reach $20 for cash-out through PayPal or its JumpToken crypto alternative. Users appreciate Honeygain’s daily bonus features, though they mention it can take time to hit the threshold. Each device must be on a unique IP, so if you want to scale up, consider different networks. Referrals add a recurring 10% from anyone who joins using your link, which sweetens the deal if you can recruit friends or a social audience.
Pawns stands out by offering a higher base rate—$0.20 per gig—while also including optional surveys for those wanting more ways to earn. It has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and even iOS in beta, although the rules limit you to one device per IP. Most users don’t see any slowdown, and you can withdraw at just $5 via PayPal, BTC, or gift cards. New joiners often find it straightforward to run. The referral program also gives you a percentage of referrals’ lifetime earnings, plus a one-off bonus when they first cash out, making Pawns especially lucrative for folks who can spread the word.
PacketStream was among the first to create a true bandwidth marketplace. You become a “PacketStreamer” by installing its lightweight node software, allowing you to earn $0.10 for each gig shared. Payouts come through PayPal, starting at $5. Some mention slower earnings, especially in areas with fewer client requests, but many appreciate its simplicity and reliability. The user feedback is mixed: some get consistent traffic, others hardly see a trickle, but the community regards it as fully legitimate. There’s also a 20% referral commission, which is higher than most, although volume depends heavily on a friend’s activity.
EarnApp taps into Bright Data’s enormous proxy service. This often means more stable usage if you’re in a high-demand region, with some people reporting anywhere from $0.30 up to $0.50 per gig. It covers numerous platforms, including Pi-based setups, and you can withdraw as soon as $2.50 via PayPal or opt for Amazon gift cards (though the latter has a higher minimum). Bright Data is a major enterprise provider, so it ensures traffic remains legitimate and encrypted. Just remember that your experience might vary based on location—some see lots of traffic, others less so—but many trust it for its established business background.
TraffMonetizer made headlines for its array of payout options, though these days it mostly pays via USDT (Tether) on the Tron network, requiring a $10 minimum. That shift irritated some who preferred PayPal, but the app itself remains easy to install on Windows, macOS, Linux, or Android. The base rate is about $0.10 per gig. You can run multiple devices if they each have unique IPs. The sign-up typically includes a $5 bonus that helps you reach the threshold a bit quicker, but you should be comfortable with crypto if you plan to cash out. Despite the changes, it’s still recognized for steady, if slow, payouts.
Repocket is relatively fresh on the scene and entices users with a rate of $0.20 per gig plus a $5 sign-up bonus. You only need two devices max per account, so that’s a small drawback for power users wanting to saturate multiple IPs. Nevertheless, it supports Windows, Mac, Linux, Docker, Android, and iOS (beta). Payout is through PayPal at a $20 threshold, effectively $15 after your bonus. Referrals here are very enticing: you get $5 once a friend withdraws, plus 10% of everything they earn going forward. That setup has earned Repocket a wave of early adopters testing whether its rates hold up in the long run.
ProxyRack’s peer program claims you can get up to $0.50 per gig, although not all notice the highest rate in practice. Once you install its Windows or Docker-based app, it routes traffic for the company’s enterprise clients. The first payout requires $20, but subsequent withdrawals can be done at just $5, all via PayPal. ProxyRack has worked in the proxy sphere for years, so there’s trust in their brand, albeit their new consumer offering is still gaining traction. They do give both you and your referred friend a $5 bonus upon starting, plus a standard 10% commission on that referral’s earnings.
Mysterium appeals to a slightly more tech-savvy crowd. By running its node, you become part of a decentralized VPN platform, earning MYST tokens for every gig you relay. The token’s value fluctuates, so your dollar equivalent might vary by the time you convert it. Many find it rewarding to host Mysterium on a Raspberry Pi for minimal power consumption. Although it’s primarily for those who don’t mind managing a crypto wallet, the entire system is open-source and designed to block prohibited traffic. If you’re keen on a Web3 approach and comfortable with potential price swings, Mysterium can be a fun way to share bandwidth.
Other Ways to Earn
Sharing unused internet bandwidth is not the only way to make money. You can also share your social media data or computer resources. Here are some apps that pay you for sharing other resources:
LoadTeam (CPU): LoadTeam allows users to monetize their computer's CPU power. The app runs in the background, performing tasks that utilize the CPU, and pays users via PayPal. It supports Windows platforms.
Earn.FM: Earn.FM allows users to monetize their unused internet bandwidth by sharing it with the platform. This bandwidth is used for legitimate business purposes such as data collection and market research. Earn.FM operates seamlessly in the background, and users can cash out their earnings via PayPal or cryptocurrency. It supports Windows, Mac, and Android platforms.
Benefits and Risks
Having seen all these platforms, it’s clear there’s no “one size fits all” solution. You’ll want to pick based on how you prefer to receive your money (PayPal, crypto, or gift cards), how many devices and IPs you can offer, and whether you’re comfortable with a brand-new startup or prefer an established name. We personally recommend to run as many as possible in order to maximize profits.
Some apps pay better in certain countries, so it can be wise to try two or three at once to see where you get the most traffic. Above all, remember that it’s not a big moneymaker—just a neat trick to cover some bills, get gift cards, or accumulate a bit of crypto for the future. If you manage your expectations, stay aware of privacy concerns, and keep to trustworthy companies, bandwidth-sharing in 2025 remains a genuinely low-effort side hustle.
