I analyzed 326 side projects featured on HN between 2024 and 2025 that claimed to earn $500+ monthly; I found that half of them make less than $1,000 a month. (Don't get me wrong, that’s still impressive—especially since I’m not even making $500 yet!)

Common Successful Models:

- Niche Job Boards: Often gross around $1,000/month by referring traffic or charging for featured posts.

- Micro-SaaS/Utilities: Services like online faxing or uptime monitors frequently sit in the $500–$1,000 range.

- Content/Education: Books and interactive courses often provide a steady $500/month floor after an initial launch.

Half make *more* than $1000 a month?? Not bad odds for a not bad amount of extra income.