GoKawiilHacker News revives annual thread asking who's earning $500+/month from side projects
A user posted an 'Ask HN' thread inviting developers to share side projects generating at least $500 monthly income in 2026, continuing a tradition of similar posts from prior years. The poster noted a recent attempt at this question failed to gain traction, and admitted their own side projects currently earn nothing.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
These recurring threads serve as informal, crowdsourced surveys of what monetization strategies actually work for independent developers, offering real data points amid heavy market hype around indie hacking and solopreneurship. The mixed engagement history also hints at shifting community interest or saturation in this once-popular genre of self-reporting.
- The post is part of a yearly Hacker News tradition dating back to at least 2020.
- It seeks real examples of side projects earning $500+/month in 2026.
- The author admits earning nothing themselves and hopes for stronger engagement than a prior attempt.
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Published there as: “Ask HN: Those making $500/month on side projects in 2026 – Show and tell”
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